JP5882794B2 - Imaging device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus capable of performing enlarged display during electronic zoom.

  An electronic camera, which is an example of an imaging device, converts a light beam transmitted through an imaging lens into an electrical signal with an imaging device, and further converts it into a digital image signal with an imaging circuit, and then compresses it with a compression technique such as JPEG and stores it in a memory To do. In such an electronic camera, there is an electronic camera having an electronic zoom function instead of an optical zoom function using a lens. The electronic zoom function can perform display by enlarging the center of the screen steplessly by a zoom operation. When a shooting operation is performed in the zoom state, an area displayed on a display device such as a TFT is recorded. When the lens attached to the electronic camera is a single focus lens or a lens with a zoom function, but the lens has a low zoom magnification, when a zoom lens with a high magnification is attached with this electronic zoom function The same zoom effect can be expected.

  There is also an electronic camera having an enlarged display function that enlarges and displays an arbitrary place in the screen. The enlargement display function has a purpose different from that of the electronic zoom, and can be enlarged by designating an arbitrary place on the screen, and the focus can be confirmed.

  However, when the enlarged display area is not the center of the screen, the enlarged display area gradually protrudes from the screen as the electronic zoom magnification is increased. For this reason, the entire enlarged display area cannot be confirmed, or the entire enlarged display area goes out of the screen, and the image of the enlarged display area cannot be confirmed.

  On the other hand, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for combining and displaying reduced images so that information outside the electronic zoom range can be confirmed during electronic zoom.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-165012

  However, in the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above, it is described that a reduced display of the entire image is synthesized and displayed, but a technique that indicates where the enlarged display area is is described. Absent.

(Object of invention)
An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus capable of performing enlarged display during electronic zoom and capable of showing an enlarged display area even during electronic zoom.

To achieve the above object, an imaging apparatus of the present invention, the enlarged display instruction means for instructing the IMAGING device for obtaining image data by photoelectrically converting an object image, the setting and enlarged display of the execution of the enlarged display area Electronic zoom instruction means for instructing execution of electronic zoom, image display means for displaying an electronic zoom display image and the enlarged display area, and when the enlarged display area is out of the electronic zoom display range during electronic zoom. the small screen and the electronic zoom display image obtained by reducing the entire imaging screen obtained by the imaging device, and an image synthesizing means for synthesizing said image display means, superimposing the enlarged display area on the small screen It is characterized by being displayed.

  According to the present invention, in an imaging apparatus capable of performing enlarged display during electronic zoom, an enlarged display area can be shown even during electronic zoom.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an imaging apparatus that is an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the state which concerns on the enlarged display in the electronic zoom in an Example. It is a flowchart which shows the small screen production | generation of an Example. It is a flowchart which shows image data preservation | save according to the reading method of the image pick-up element of an Example. It is a figure which shows an electronic zoom image display.

  The mode for carrying out the present invention is as described in the following examples.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an imaging apparatus having an image processing function according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a single-lens reflex digital still camera with interchangeable lenses will be described as an example of an imaging apparatus.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the imaging apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment mainly includes a camera body 100 and an interchangeable lens type lens unit 300.

  In the lens unit 300, 310 is an imaging lens composed of a plurality of lenses, 312 is a diaphragm, and 306 is a lens mount that mechanically couples the lens unit 300 to the camera body 100. The lens mount 306 includes various functions for electrically connecting the lens unit 300 to the camera body 100. Reference numeral 320 denotes an interface for connecting the lens unit 300 to the camera body 100 in the lens mount 306, and 322 denotes a connector for electrically connecting the lens unit 300 to the camera body 100. The connector 322 has a function of transmitting control signals, status signals, data signals, and the like between the camera body 100 and the lens unit 300 and supplying currents of various voltages. The connector 322 may be configured to perform communication using not only electrical communication but also optical communication, voice communication, and the like. Reference numeral 340 denotes an aperture control unit that controls the aperture 312 in cooperation with a shutter control unit 40 that controls a shutter 12 of the camera body 100 described later based on photometry information from the photometry control unit 46. Reference numeral 342 denotes a focus control unit that controls focusing of the imaging lens 310, and 344 denotes a zoom control unit that controls zooming of the imaging lens 310.

  A lens system control circuit 350 controls the entire lens unit 300. The lens system control circuit 350 includes a memory for storing operation constants, variables, programs, and the like. Further, a non-volatile memory that holds identification information such as a unique number of the lens unit 300, management information, function information such as an open aperture value, a minimum aperture value, and a focal length, and current and past setting values is also provided.

Next, the configuration of the camera body 100 will be described.
Reference numeral 106 denotes a lens mount that mechanically couples the camera body 100 and the lens unit 300, 130 denotes a main mirror, and 132 denotes a mirror, which guides light incident on the imaging lens 310 to the optical viewfinder 104 by a single lens reflex system. The main mirror 130 may be either a quick return mirror or a half mirror. Reference numeral 12 denotes a focal plane shutter. Reference numeral 14 denotes a CCD, a CMOS sensor, or the like, which is an image sensor that photoelectrically converts a subject image. An optical element such as an optical low-pass filter (not shown) is disposed in front of the image sensor 14.

  The light beam incident on the imaging lens 310 is guided by the single-lens reflex system through the diaphragm 312, the lens mounts 306 and 106, the main mirror 130, and the shutter 12, which is a light amount limiting unit, and is formed on the imaging device 14 as an optical image. The

  Reference numeral 16 denotes an A / D converter that converts an analog signal (output signal) output from the image sensor 14 into a digital signal. Reference numeral 18 denotes a timing generation circuit that supplies a clock signal and a control signal to the image sensor 14, the A / D converter 16, and the D / A converter 26, respectively, and is controlled by the memory control circuit 22 and the system control circuit 50.

  An image processing circuit 20 performs predetermined pixel interpolation processing and color conversion processing on the data from the A / D converter 16 or the data from the memory control circuit 22. Further, the image processing circuit 20 performs predetermined arithmetic processing using the image data output from the A / D converter 16 as necessary. The system control circuit 50 controls the shutter control unit 40 and the focus detection unit 42 based on the obtained calculation result, so that contrast-type autofocus (AF) processing, automatic exposure (AE) processing, flash pre-emission (EF) ) Can be processed. Further, the image processing circuit 20 performs predetermined arithmetic processing using the image data output from the A / D converter 16, and also performs TTL auto white balance (AWB) processing based on the obtained arithmetic result. ing.

  A memory control circuit 22 controls the A / D converter 16, the timing generation circuit 18, the image processing circuit 20, the image display memory 24, the D / A converter 26, the memory 30, and the compression / decompression circuit 32. Image data output from the A / D converter 16 is written into the image display memory 24 or the memory 30 via the image processing circuit 20, the memory control circuit 22, or only through the memory control circuit 22.

  Reference numeral 24 denotes an image display memory, 26 denotes a D / A converter, and 28 denotes an image display unit made up of a TFT type LCD or the like. Display image data written in the image display memory 24 is stored in the D / A converter 26. Via the image display unit 28. An electronic viewfinder (EVF) function can be realized by sequentially displaying captured image data using the image display unit 28. Further, the image display unit 28 can arbitrarily turn on / off the display according to an instruction from the system control circuit 50, and when the display is turned off, the power consumption of the camera body 100 can be significantly reduced. it can.

  Reference numeral 30 denotes a memory for storing captured still images or moving images, and has a storage capacity sufficient to store a predetermined number of still images or a predetermined amount of moving images. This makes it possible to write a large amount of images to the memory 30 at high speed even in continuous shooting or panoramic shooting in which a plurality of still images are continuously shot. In moving image shooting, it is used as a frame buffer for images written continuously at a predetermined rate. Further, the memory 30 can be used as a work area for the system control circuit 50.

  Reference numeral 31 denotes an image composition circuit for composing a plurality of images to create one composite photograph. A plurality of pieces of image data written in the memory 30 are read simultaneously, a combining process is performed in the circuit, and the generated combined image data is written in the memory 30 or the image display memory 24. The image composition circuit 31 is a circuit that synthesizes the image data converted by the A / D converter 16 and written by the memory control circuit 22 or the image data processed by the image processing circuit 20.

  A compression / decompression circuit 32 compresses / decompresses image data using a known compression method. The compression / decompression circuit 32 reads an image stored in the memory 30, performs compression processing or decompression processing, and writes the processed data to the memory 30 again. It also has a function of compressing and encoding moving image data into a predetermined format, or expanding a moving image signal from predetermined compression-encoded data.

  A shutter control unit 40 controls the shutter 12 in cooperation with an aperture control unit 340 that controls the aperture 312 based on photometric information from the photometry control unit 46. Reference numeral 42 denotes a focus detection unit for performing AF (autofocus) processing. A light beam incident on the imaging lens 310 in the lens unit 300 is made incident as a single lens reflex system through a diaphragm 312, lens mounts 306 and 106, a main mirror 130, and a focus detection sub mirror (not shown), thereby forming an optical image. The in-focus state of the imaged image is measured.

  A photometry control unit 46 performs AE (automatic exposure) processing. A light beam incident on the imaging lens 310 in the lens unit 300 is made incident as a single lens reflex system through a diaphragm 312, lens mounts 306 and 106, a main mirror 130, and a photometric sub mirror (not shown), thereby forming an optical image. The exposure state of the image formed is measured.

  Further, AF control may be performed using a measurement result obtained by the focus detection unit 42 and a calculation result obtained by calculating the image data from the A / D converter 16 by the image processing circuit 20. Furthermore, exposure control may be performed using the measurement result obtained by the photometry control unit 46 and the calculation result obtained by calculating the image data from the A / D converter 16 by the image processing circuit 20.

  Reference numeral 50 denotes a system control circuit that controls the entire camera body 100, and incorporates a known CPU. A memory 52 stores constants, variables, programs, and the like for operating the system control circuit 50.

  Reference numeral 54 denotes a notification unit for notifying the outside of an operation state, a message, and the like using characters, images, sounds, and the like in accordance with execution of a program in the system control circuit 50. As the notification unit 54, for example, a display unit that performs visual display using an LCD, an LED, or the like, or a sound generation element that performs voice notification is used. The notification unit 54 is configured by a combination of one or more of these. . In particular, in the case of the display unit, the display unit is installed at a single or a plurality of locations in the vicinity of the operation unit 70 of the camera body 100 that are easy to see. In addition, a part of the notification unit 54 is installed in the optical viewfinder 104.

  Among the display contents of the notification unit 54, the following are displayed on the image display unit 28 such as an LCD. There are single shooting / continuous shooting display, self-timer display, display related to shooting mode, etc.

  Among the display contents of the notification unit 54, what is displayed in the optical viewfinder 104 includes, for example, in-focus display.

  Reference numeral 56 denotes an electrically erasable / recordable non-volatile memory in which programs and the like to be described later are stored. For example, an EEPROM or the like is used.

  Reference numerals 60, 62, 64, and 70 denote operation means for inputting various operation instructions of the system control circuit 50. The operation means 60, 62, 64, and 70 are a single or a combination of a switch, a dial, a touch panel, pointing by line-of-sight detection, a voice recognition device, and the like. Composed.

Here, a specific description of these operating means will be given.
Reference numeral 60 denotes a mode dial switch that can be used to switch and set various function shooting modes such as an automatic shooting mode, a program shooting mode, a shutter speed priority shooting mode, an aperture priority shooting mode, a manual shooting mode, and a focus depth priority (depth) shooting mode. it can. In addition, each function shooting mode such as portrait shooting mode, landscape shooting mode, close-up shooting mode, sports shooting mode, night view shooting mode, panoramic shooting mode, and the like can be switched and set.

  Reference numeral 62 denotes a shutter switch SW1, which is turned on while a shutter button (not shown) is being operated (for example, half-pressed), and instructs to start operations such as AF processing, AE processing, AWB processing, and EF processing.

  Reference numeral 64 denotes a shutter switch SW2, which is turned on when an operation of a shutter button (not shown) is completed (for example, fully pressed), and instructs the start of a series of processing operations including exposure processing, development processing, and recording processing. First, in the exposure process, a signal read from the image sensor 14 is written to the memory 30 via the A / D converter 16 and the memory control circuit 22, and further, an operation in the image processing circuit 20 and the memory control circuit 22 is used. Development processing is performed. Further, in the recording process, the image data is read from the memory 30, compressed by the compression / decompression circuit 32, and written to the recording medium 200.

  An operation unit 70 includes various buttons and a touch panel. For example, live view start / stop button, video recording start / stop button, electronic zoom + (plus) button, electronic zoom-(minus) button, live view enlargement + (plus) button, live view enlargement-(minus) button Etc. Furthermore, an enlargement display instruction button (enlargement display instruction means) and an electronic zoom instruction button (electronic zoom instruction means) according to the present invention are included.

  In addition, there is an image display ON / OFF switch for setting ON / OFF of the image display unit 28, and a quick review ON / OFF switch for setting a quick review function for automatically reproducing image data taken immediately after shooting. Further, there is a compression mode switch that is a switch for selecting a compression rate for JPEG compression or for selecting a RAW mode in which a signal from an image sensor is directly digitized and recorded on a recording medium. In addition, there is an AF mode setting switch that can set a one-shot AF mode and a servo AF mode. In the one-shot AF mode, an autofocus operation is started when the shutter switch SW1 (62) is pressed, and once focused, the focused state is maintained. In the servo AF mode, the autofocus operation continues continuously while the shutter switch SW1 (62) is being pressed.

  A power control unit 80 includes a battery detection circuit, a DC-DC converter, a switch circuit that switches a block to be energized, and the like. The power supply control unit 80 detects the presence / absence of a battery, the type of battery, and the remaining battery level, controls the DC-DC converter based on the detection result and the instruction of the system control circuit 50, and requires the necessary voltage. It is supplied to each part including the recording medium for a period.

  Reference numerals 82 and 84 denote connectors, and 86 denotes a primary battery such as an alkaline battery or a lithium battery, a secondary battery such as a NiCd battery, NiMH battery, Li-ion battery or Li polymer battery, an AC adapter, or the like.

  Reference numeral 90 denotes an interface with a recording medium such as a memory card or hard disk or a PC (personal computer), and reference numeral 92 denotes a connector for connecting with a recording medium such as a memory card or hard disk or the PC. A recording medium attachment / detachment detection circuit 98 detects whether or not the recording medium 200 is attached to the connector 92.

  Reference numeral 104 denotes an optical viewfinder, which guides a light beam incident on the imaging lens 310 through an aperture 312, lens mounts 306 and 106, a main mirror 130, and a mirror 132 and forms an optical image for display by a single lens reflex method. be able to. Thus, it is possible to take an image using only the optical viewfinder without using the electronic viewfinder function of the image display unit 28. In addition, in the optical viewfinder 104, some functions of the notification unit 54, for example, in-focus state, camera shake warning, flash charging, shutter speed, aperture value, exposure correction, and the like are displayed.

  Reference numeral 120 denotes an interface for connecting the camera body 100 to the lens unit 300 in the lens mount 106.

  A connector 122 electrically connects the camera body 100 to the lens unit 300. Further, whether or not the lens unit 300 is attached to the lens mount 106 and the connector 122 is detected by a lens attachment / detachment detection unit (not shown). The connector 122 transmits a control signal, a status signal, a data signal, and the like between the camera body 100 and the lens unit 300, and has a function of supplying currents of various voltages.

  Further, the connector 122 may be configured to perform communication by optical communication and voice communication as well as electrical communication.

  Reference numeral 200 denotes a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk. The recording medium 200 includes a recording unit 202 composed of a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, and the like, an interface 204 with the camera body 100, and a connector 206 for connecting with the camera body 100.

  First, a state in which a live view display is displayed on the image display unit 28 in the imaging apparatus having the above configuration will be described. FIG. 2A is a diagram showing a state where live view display is performed on the image display unit 28. An image captured by the image sensor 14 is subjected to image processing by the image processing circuit 20 and stored in the image display memory 24. The image stored in the image display memory 24 is converted by the D / A converter 26 and displayed on the image display unit 28. In addition to image display, the image display unit 28 displays a rectangular enlarged display area frame 400 that indicates an area to be enlarged when an enlarged display is instructed by operating an enlarged display instruction button. The enlarged display area frame 400 indicating the enlarged display area can be moved in the vertical and horizontal directions by an operation member such as a cross key or a rotary dial switch provided in the operation unit 70 to set the enlarged display area. Thereby, an arbitrary position in the screen can be enlarged and displayed.

  When the enlarged display is started by the enlarged display instruction button (enlarged display instruction means) provided in the operation unit 70 from the state shown in FIG. 2A, the display state shown in FIG. 2A shows a state in which the image within the enlarged display area frame 400 displayed in FIG. The driving method of the image sensor 14 may be different between FIG. 2A and FIG. In FIG. 2A, a driving method of reading image data from the entire image sensor 14 is employed so that the entire image obtained by the image sensor 14 can be displayed. However, if all the pixels are read out, the amount of data is too large and it takes a long time to read out, and a live view that can express smooth motion cannot be realized. In some cases, the data is read by reducing the amount of data, for example, by averaging the data. In FIG. 2C, high-definition display is required for purposes such as focus confirmation in enlarged display. For this reason, the driving method of the image sensor 14 reads only a part of the image sensor 14, and performs partial readout so that the read image data is high definition and the readout time is minimized.

  Next, the case of enlarging with the electronic zoom function from the state of FIG. In the state of FIG. 2A, when a zoom instruction is given by an electronic zoom instruction button (electronic zoom instruction means) provided on the operation unit 70, zoom display is started at the center of the optical axis of the lens. At this time, the electronic zoom display is performed by enlarging or reducing the image size stored in the image display memory 24 by the image processing circuit 20 using only the central portion of the image data read from the image sensor 14. Zoom display is realized. This process is illustrated in FIG. Reference numeral 501 denotes an electronic zoom display image read from the image sensor 14. When the electronic zoom is performed at a low magnification, the electronic zoom display is enabled by processing the image processing area 503 according to the magnification to obtain the electronic zoom display image 501. In the case of a high magnification, the electronic zoom display is enabled by obtaining an electronic zoom display image 502 by processing an image processing area 504 that is narrower than the image processing area 503 and adjusted to the high magnification.

  A process when the electronic zoom magnification is increased and the enlarged display area extends beyond the electronic zoom display range will be described. As the electronic zoom magnification is increased, the image processing area becomes narrower from 503 to 504 in FIG. As a result, the enlarged display area indicated by the enlarged display area frame 400 may protrude beyond the image processing area of the electronic zoom. In this case, since the enlarged display area cannot be confirmed on the image display unit 28, a small screen 411 for confirming the enlarged display area for the entire imaging screen is created and displayed on the image display unit 28. To confirm the enlarged display area. FIG. 2B shows a state in which the enlarged display area frame 412 is displayed on the image display unit 28 by the small screen 411.

  FIG. 3 shows a flowchart relating to the creation of the small screen 411 in FIG. In S101, an electronic zoom display image 410 is created. As described above with reference to FIG. 5, this image is a process of generating an image to be displayed on the image display unit 28 by performing image processing on a part of the center of the image data from the image sensor 14 by the image processing circuit 20. . The image data generated here is temporarily held in the memory 30. Next, in S102, it is determined whether or not the enlarged display area indicated by the enlarged display area frame 400 is out of the electronic zoom display range by the electronic zoom. If it is determined that it is outside the electronic zoom display range, the state moves to S103. S103 is a state in which a small screen 411 in which the entire imaging screen is reduced is created in order to indicate an enlarged display area with respect to the entire imaging screen. Since the small screen 411 needs to display the entire image data output from the image sensor 14, the entire area 500 in FIG. 5 is an area to be image processed. The small screen image data processed by the image processing circuit 20 is temporarily held in the memory 30. Next, in S104, an enlarged display area frame 412 indicating an area to be enlarged on the small screen image is drawn. With the small screen 411 and the enlarged display area frame 412 on the small screen 411, it is possible to confirm the enlarged display area even if there is an area that is enlarged outside the electronic zoom display range by the electronic zoom. Next, in S105, the generated electronic zoom display image 410 and the small screen 411 are combined. The electronic zoom display image 410 and the small screen 411 respectively held in the memory 30 are read out, and an image obtained by combining the electronic zoom display image and the small screen 411 is generated by the image composition circuit 31 and stored in the image display memory 24. As a result, the state of the image shown in FIG. 2B is obtained, and the image is converted by the D / A converter 26 and displayed by the image display unit 28.

  If it is determined in S102 that the enlarged display area is within the electronic zoom display range, the state moves to S106. In S106, the enlarged display area frame 400 is drawn on the electronic zoom display image.

  Next, a case where the electronic zoom magnification becomes very high and the driving method of the image sensor 14 is switched will be described. As the electronic zoom magnification increases, the image processing area for generating the electronic zoom display image becomes gradually narrower. When the image processing area becomes narrower, the enlargement magnification in the enlargement process to the image size stored in the image display memory 24 thereafter increases, and as a result, the display quality deteriorates. In order to avoid such a situation, the driving method of the image sensor 14 is switched, and only a part of the image sensor 14 is read out, so that the read image data is high-definition and the readout time is minimized. Partial reading is performed. In this case, since the image of the entire area 500 in FIG. 5 cannot be acquired, the small screen 411 cannot be created as it is. In order to solve this, the update of the image data for generating the small screen 411 is stopped when the driving state of the image sensor 14 is switched.

  The image data for generating the small screen 411 will be described with reference to FIG. First, in S201, the driving method of the image sensor 14 is determined. When the driving method is not the partial reading method, the process proceeds to S202. In S <b> 202, all pixel image data read from the image sensor 14 is stored in the memory 30. Using the image data held in the memory 30, the small screen 411 in S103 of FIG. 3 is generated. The driving method is determined each time image data is read from the image sensor 14. Alternatively, it may be determined when the driving method is switched. Since reading of image data to the memory 30 is performed every time image data is read from the image sensor 14, the image on the small screen 411 is also updated.

  If it is determined in S201 that the driving method of the image sensor 14 is partial reading, the image data read from the image sensor 14 is not held in the memory 30. In other words, the last image data for all pixel reading (reading data for the entire imaging screen stored before switching to partial reading) remains in the memory 30 and is not replaced with image data for partial reading. To. Thereby, even when it is determined that the small screen 411 is necessary, the last image data in the all-pixel reading remains in the memory 30, and the small screen 411 can be created.

  As described above, in the imaging apparatus capable of performing the enlarged display during the electronic zoom, it is possible to indicate the enlarged display range even during the electronic zoom.

  As mentioned above, although the preferable Example of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to this Example, A various deformation | transformation and change are possible within the range of the summary.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 14 Image sensor 20 Image processing circuit 28 Image display part 31 Image composition circuit 70 Operation part 344 Zoom control part 400 Enlarged display area frame 410 Electronic zoom display image 411 Small screen 412 Enlarged display area frame on a small screen

Claims (2)

And an imaging device obtaining image data by photoelectrically converting an object image,
An enlarged display instruction means for instructing setting of an enlarged display area and execution of enlarged display;
An electronic zoom instruction means for instructing execution of the electronic zoom;
An image display means for displaying an electronic zoom display image and the enlarged display area;
During the electronic zoom, when said enlarged display area is out of the electronic zoom display range, chromatic and image synthesis means for the small screen with the electronic zoom display image obtained by reducing the entire imaging screen obtained by the imaging device, to synthesize And
The image display means displays the enlarged display area in an overlapping manner on the small screen. Wherein when generating the small screen, when the driving method of the IMAGING element is partial reading method, the small image from the read data of the entire imaging screen saved before switching to the partial reading drive The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the imaging device is generated.

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