JP5644488B2 - Imaging device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus.

  For example, in order to make it easier to find a subject outside the shooting range during telephoto, the zoom lens is temporarily moved to the wide-angle side in response to a button press, and the zoom lens is returned to its original position by releasing the button press. There has been proposed an imaging apparatus including

Canon Inc., Digital Camera Power Shot General Catalog September 2010, page 23 "PowerShot SX30IS"

  In the above prior art, the zoom lens is only temporarily moved to the wide angle side by a predetermined amount. Therefore, there are many cases where the composition and subject at the time of shooting cannot be confirmed as intended by the user during framing, and there is still room for improvement.

  In view of the above circumstances, an image pickup apparatus having a zoom function provides means for making it easier to check a composition and a subject during framing.

  An imaging apparatus according to one aspect includes an operation unit that receives a zoom operation, and a control unit that adjusts the zoom position of the imaging optical system in accordance with the zoom operation. The operation unit includes a first member that changes the zoom position by a predetermined amount for each input, a second member, and a third member. The second member changes the zoom position in one direction on the wide-angle side or the telephoto side in a plurality of steps according to the number of inputs, and changes the zoom position for each input in increments larger than the input of the first member. The third member returns the zoom position to the initial state before the zoom operation by the second member is performed.

  The imaging device according to one aspect described above may further include a display unit that displays an image of the light beam that has passed through the imaging optical system. In addition, the display unit may superimpose a display indicating the imaging range in the initial state on the image when the zoom position is changed toward the wide-angle side by the zoom operation using the second member.

  In one aspect described above, the control unit may reset the zoom position in the initial state when receiving an input from the first member after inputting from the second member.

  In one aspect described above, the second member and the third member may be disposed in a lens barrel portion that houses the photographing optical system.

  According to one aspect, in an imaging apparatus having a zoom function, composition and subject can be confirmed more easily during framing.

The figure which shows the structural example of the imaging device in one embodiment. (A): Perspective view showing an example of an imaging device in one embodiment, (b): Rear view showing an example of an imaging device in one embodiment. The figure which shows the example of zoom operation to the wide angle side in one Embodiment The figure which shows the example of the through image in each zoom position of FIG. The figure which shows the example of zoom operation to the telephoto side in one Embodiment

<Description of One Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the appearance of the imaging apparatus according to the embodiment. In one embodiment, a configuration example of a lens-integrated electronic camera (compact electronic camera) including a high-magnification zoom lens will be described as an example of an imaging apparatus.

  The electronic camera shown in FIG. 1 includes an imaging optical system 11, a lens driver 12, an image sensor 13, a signal processing unit 14, a camera microcomputer 15, a first memory 16, a second memory 17, and a media I / O. F18, a display unit 19, and an operation unit 20 are provided. Here, the lens driver 12, the image sensor 13, the signal processing unit 14, the first memory 16, the second memory 17, the media I / F 18, the display unit 19, and the operation unit 20 are each connected to the camera microcomputer 15. Each component of the electronic camera is housed in a housing 21 having a lens barrel portion 21a.

  The photographing optical system 11 includes a plurality of lens groups including a zoom lens 11 a and is housed in a lens barrel portion 21 a of the housing 21. The lens position (zoom position) of the zoom lens 11a is adjusted in the optical axis direction by the lens driver 12 controlled by the camera microcomputer 15. Due to the movement of the zoom lens 11a, the focal length of the photographing optical system 11 changes. Note that the zoom range of the zoom lens 11a in one embodiment is divided into 36 in the optical axis direction, and the zoom position of the zoom lens 11a changes in increments of 36.

  The image pickup device 13 is a device that picks up an image of an object formed by a light beam that has passed through the photographing optical system 11. The image pickup device 13 in one embodiment may be a progressive scanning solid-state image pickup device (for example, a CCD) or an XY address type solid-state image pickup device (for example, a CMOS). The output of the image sensor 13 is connected to the signal processing unit 14. Further, the charge accumulation time and signal readout timing of the image sensor 13 are controlled by the camera microcomputer 15.

  Further, in the shooting mode of the electronic camera, the imaging device 13 captures a still image for recording accompanied by recording on a nonvolatile recording medium in response to an imaging start instruction by a release button (not shown in FIG. 1). In addition, the imaging device 13 continuously captures images for observation (through images) at predetermined intervals even during standby for capturing. The through-image data acquired in time series is used for moving image display on the display unit 19 and various arithmetic processes by the camera microcomputer 15.

  The signal processing unit 14 performs analog signal processing (correlated double sampling, black level correction, etc.), A / D conversion processing, and digital signal processing (defective pixel correction, etc.) on the image signal input from the image sensor 13. ) In order. Image data output from the signal processing unit 14 is input to the camera microcomputer 15.

  The camera microcomputer 15 is a processor that comprehensively controls the operation of the electronic camera. For example, the camera microcomputer 15 adjusts the zoom position of the photographing optical system 11 by driving the lens driver 12 in accordance with a zoom operation described later received by the operation unit 20.

  In addition, the camera microcomputer 15 performs, for example, image processing (gradation conversion processing, white balance adjustment processing, noise removal processing, contour enhancement processing, color conversion processing, etc.) on image data for one frame.

  The first memory 16 temporarily stores image data in the pre-process and post-process of image processing. For example, the first memory 16 is an SDRAM that is a volatile storage medium. The second memory 17 is a non-volatile memory that stores programs executed by the camera microcomputer 15 and various data.

  The media I / F 18 has a connector for connecting a nonvolatile storage medium 18a. The media I / F 18 executes data writing / reading with respect to the storage medium 18a connected to the connector. The storage medium 18a is, for example, a hard disk or a memory card with a built-in semiconductor memory. In FIG. 1, a memory card is illustrated as an example of the storage medium 18a.

  The display unit 19 is a display device that displays various images. For example, under the control of the camera microcomputer 15, the display unit 19 displays a moving image of a through image (viewfinder display) under the shooting mode and plays back and displays an image under the playback mode. The camera microcomputer 15 can display various information on the through image in an overlay manner when the through image is displayed on the display unit 19.

  The operation unit 20 has a plurality of switches that accept zoom operations of the photographing optical system 11. As an example, the operation unit 20 in one embodiment includes a first zoom switch 22 and second zoom switches 23 and 24.

  The first zoom switch 22 accepts an operation for changing the zoom position of the photographic optical system 11 step by step. The first zoom switch 22 includes a wide-angle switch 22a that changes the zoom position of the zoom lens 11a to the wide-angle side by one step for each input, and a zoom position of the zoom lens 11a that is set to one for the telephoto side for each input. Two switches, a telephoto switch 22b for changing the increment, are provided. In one embodiment, the first zoom switch 22 is disposed, for example, on the right side of the back surface of the housing 21 (see FIG. 2B).

  On the other hand, the second zoom switches 23 and 24 are arranged in a barrel portion 21a that houses the photographing optical system 11 in the housing 21 (see FIG. 2A).

The second zoom switch 23 in one embodiment accepts an operation for changing the zoom position of the photographing optical system 11 from the telephoto side to the wide angle side. The second zoom switch 24 accepts an operation for changing the zoom position of the photographing optical system 11 from the wide-angle side to the telephoto side.
In the operation of the second zoom switches 23 and 24, the zoom position of the zoom lens 11a changes in a plurality of steps according to the number of continuous operations of each zoom switch, and the zoom position of the zoom lens 11a is grouped into a plurality of steps for each input. Change. Therefore, in the operation of the second zoom switches 23 and 24, the zoom position of the zoom lens 11a changes in a larger increment toward the wide angle side than when the wide angle switch 22a is operated.

  As an example, the camera microcomputer 15 in one embodiment has a zoom lens so that the focal length of the photographic optical system 11 when converted to a 35 mm film becomes 1/4 each time the second zoom switch 23 is operated once. The zoom position of 11a is changed. When the zoom operation on the wide-angle side is performed with the second zoom switch 23, the second zoom switch 24 controls the zoom position of the photographing optical system 11 in the initial state (the second zoom switch 23 under the control of the camera microcomputer 15. It functions as a zoom back switch for returning to the state before zooming operation is performed.

  On the other hand, each time the second zoom switch 24 is operated, the camera microcomputer 15 changes the zoom position of the zoom lens 11a so that the focal length of the photographing optical system 11 when converted to 35 mm film is four times. When the zoom operation on the telephoto side is performed with the second zoom switch 24, the second zoom switch 23 controls the zoom position of the photographing optical system 11 in the initial state (the second zoom switch 24 under the control of the camera microcomputer 15. It functions as a zoom back switch for returning to the state before zooming operation is performed.

  Hereinafter, an operation example of the shooting mode in the electronic camera of one embodiment will be described.

  When the photographing mode of the electronic camera is activated, the camera microcomputer 15 drives the image sensor 13 to start capturing a through image. Thereafter, the through images are sequentially generated at predetermined intervals. In addition, the camera microcomputer 15 displays the through image on the display unit 19 as a moving image. Therefore, at the time of shooting standby in the shooting mode, the user can perform framing for determining the shooting composition by referring to the through image on the display unit 19.

  Here, with reference to FIG. 3, an example of zoom operation to the wide angle side in one embodiment will be described.

  When the user presses the wide-angle switch 22a of the first zoom switch 22 during the shooting standby, the camera microcomputer 15 drives the lens driver 12 to move the zoom position of the zoom lens 11a to the wide-angle side by one step. Similarly, when the user presses the telephoto switch 22b of the first zoom switch 22, the camera microcomputer 15 drives the lens driver 12 to move the zoom position of the zoom lens 11a to the telephoto side by one step. Therefore, in the zoom operation of the first zoom switch 22, the user can finely adjust the zoom position of the photographing optical system 11 manually.

  On the other hand, when the user presses the second zoom switch 23 during the above-described shooting standby, the camera microcomputer 15 registers the current zoom position in the second memory 17 as the zoom position in the initial state. Thereafter, the camera microcomputer 15 drives the lens driver 12 to move the zoom position of the zoom lens 11a by a plurality of steps toward the wide angle side.

  As shown in FIG. 3, each time the second zoom switch 23 is operated once, the camera microcomputer 15 sets a plurality of lens positions of the zoom lens 11a so that the focal length of the photographing optical system 11 becomes 1/4. Change in increments. By the zoom operation of the second zoom switch 23, the zoom position of the photographing optical system 11 can be quickly moved to the wide angle side. Further, the wide-angle zoom by the second zoom switch 23 is performed stepwise according to the number of continuous operations of the second zoom switch 23. For example, when the subject is out of the frame at the telephoto zoom position, the zoom position of the second zoom switch 23 can be repeated to move the zoom position to the wide angle view angle suitable for searching for the subject.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a through image at each zoom position in FIG. 3. In one embodiment, when the second zoom switch 23 is pressed, the camera microcomputer 15 superimposes an area display indicating the shooting range at the zoom position in the initial state on the through image of the display unit 19. For example, the above-mentioned area display may indicate a shooting range at the zoom position in the initial state with a rectangular frame, or change the color of the image included in the shooting range at the zoom position in the initial state. But you can. FIG. 4 shows an example in which a frame is superimposed and displayed as a region display on the through image. The above-mentioned area display is superimposed on the through image during wide-angle zooming with the second zoom switch 23, so that the user can grasp the shooting range before and after zooming at a glance. Thereby, even in the angle of view after the wide-angle zoom by the second zoom switch 23, it becomes easy to perform framing so that the subject is within the angle of view in the initial state using the above-described area display as a clue.

  When the second zoom switch 24 (zoom back switch) is pressed after the second zoom switch 23 is pressed, the camera microcomputer 15 reads information on the zoom position in the initial state registered in the second memory 17. Then, the camera microcomputer 15 drives the lens driver 12 to return the lens position of the zoom lens 11a to the zoom position in the initial state. For example, in the angle of view after the wide-angle zoom by the second zoom switch 23, after framing the subject so that it falls within the initial angle of view, the second zoom switch 24 is operated so that the subject out of the frame is displayed as the original image. Easy to fit in the corner. In FIG. 3, a change in the zoom position when the second zoom switch 24 is pressed is indicated by a dashed arrow.

  On the other hand, when the first zoom switch 22 is operated after the second zoom switch 23 is pressed, the camera microcomputer 15 resets the zoom position in the initial state registered in the second memory 17, and then Zooming with the wide-angle switch 22a or zooming with the telephoto switch 22b is performed. In the above case, zooming back to the zoom position before the operation of the second zoom switch 23 confuses the user, so the zoom operation by the most recent first zoom switch 22 is prioritized.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the zoom operation toward the telephoto side in the embodiment. In the description of FIG. 5, only differences from the case of FIG. 3 will be briefly described.

  When the user presses the second zoom switch 24 during shooting standby in the shooting mode, the camera microcomputer 15 registers the current zoom position in the second memory 17 as the zoom position in the initial state. Thereafter, the camera microcomputer 15 drives the lens driver 12 to move the zoom position of the zoom lens 11a by a plurality of steps toward the telephoto side. In the example of FIG. 5, as in the example of FIG. 3, the zoom position of the zoom lens 11a can be returned to the initial state by operating the second zoom switch 23 (zoom back switch).

  In the case of the example of FIG. 5, the zoom lens 11a zooms greatly to the telephoto side by operating the second zoom switch 24, so that the angle of view after zooming becomes narrower than the angle of view before zooming. For this reason, the camera microcomputer 15 in other embodiments does not display the initial imaging range in a superimposed manner on the through image.

  In the example of FIG. 5, the zoom position of the photographic optical system 11 can be quickly moved to the telephoto side by the zoom operation of the second zoom switch 24. For example, in another embodiment, it is easy to take a picture by returning to the original angle of view after temporarily enlarging and confirming the framed subject.

<Supplementary items of the embodiment>
(Supplementary Item 1) The image pickup apparatus of the present invention performs only one of zooming to the wide angle side by the second zoom switch (FIG. 3) or zooming to the telephoto side by the second zoom switch (FIG. 5). Also good.

  (Supplementary Item 2) In one embodiment, when the second zoom switch 23 is operated, the zoom is performed so that the focal length of the photographing optical system 11 when converted to a 35 mm film becomes 1/4, and the second zoom switch 24 is operated. In some cases, the zooming is performed so that the focal length of the photographing optical system 11 is four times. However, the above numerical value is merely an example, and in the present invention, the amount of change in the zoom position when the second zoom switches 23 and 24 are operated can be appropriately changed. For example, the imaging apparatus of the present invention zooms so that the focal length of the photographic optical system when converted to a 35 mm film is halved when the second zoom switch 23 is operated, and photographic optics when the second zoom switch 24 is operated. Zooming may be performed so that the focal length of the system 11 is doubled.

  (Supplementary Item 3) In the above embodiment, the example in which the second zoom switches 23 and 24 are provided in the lens barrel portion 21a of the electronic camera has been described. However, in the imaging apparatus of the present invention, the arrangement of the second zoom switches 23 and 24 can be changed as appropriate. In the imaging apparatus of the present invention, the second zoom switches 23 and 24 may be operation members used for operations other than the zoom operation of the electronic camera.

  (Supplementary Item 4) In the above embodiment, only the example in which the zoom position of the zoom lens 11a is changed by the second zoom switches 23 and 24 has been described. However, in the imaging apparatus of the present invention, when performing zooming on the telephoto side by operating the second zoom switch 24, telephoto zooming that partially cuts and enlarges an image may be further combined.

  (Supplementary Item 5) In the above-described embodiment, the configuration example of the lens-integrated electronic camera has been described. However, the imaging apparatus of the present invention can be mounted with an interchangeable lens having an electric zoom mechanism. It can also be applied to.

  From the above detailed description, features and advantages of the embodiments will become apparent. It is intended that the scope of the claims extend to the features and advantages of the embodiments as described above without departing from the spirit and scope of the right. Further, any person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field should be able to easily come up with any improvements and modifications, and there is no intention to limit the scope of the embodiments having the invention to those described above. It is also possible to use appropriate improvements and equivalents within the scope disclosed in.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Shooting optical system, 11a ... Zoom lens, 12 ... Lens driver, 13 ... Image sensor, 14 ... Signal processing part, 15 ... Camera microcomputer, 16 ... 1st memory, 17 ... 2nd memory, 18 ...
Media I / F, 18a ... storage medium, 19 ... display unit, 20 ... operation unit, 21 ... housing, 21a ... barrel part, 22 ... first zoom switch, 22a ... wide-angle switch, 22b ... telephoto switch, 23, 24. Second zoom switch

Claims (3)

An operation unit for accepting zoom operation;
And a control unit for adjusting the zoom position of the projection optical system shooting in response to the zooming operation,
The operation unit is
A first member that changes the zoom position by a predetermined amount per one input;
A second member that changes the zoom position in one direction on the wide-angle side or the telephoto side in a plurality of steps according to the number of inputs, and changes the zoom position in increments larger than the input of the first member for each input; ,
Said zoom position, seen including a third member to return to the initial state before the zoom operation is performed by the second member,
The image pickup apparatus that resets the zoom position in the initial state when the control unit receives input from the first member after input from the second member . The imaging device according to claim 1,
A display unit for displaying an image of the light beam that has passed through the photographing optical system;
The display unit is configured to superimpose a display indicating a shooting range in the initial state on the image when the zoom position is changed toward a wide angle side by a zoom operation by the second member. In the imaging device according to claim 1 or 2,
The image pickup apparatus, wherein the second member and the third member are arranged in a lens barrel portion that houses the photographing optical system.

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