JP6218572B2 - Imaging apparatus, control method and program thereof, and storage medium - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus, a control method and program thereof, and a storage medium.

  Currently, portable electronic devices equipped with a display device such as a liquid crystal display panel (LCD) are widely used. In this type of portable electronic device, various technologies have been developed to reduce power consumption.

  Patent Document 1 describes a mobile phone that turns off the backlight when the display surface of the LCD is placed downward. Patent Document 2 describes a mobile phone that determines whether or not the display surface of the LCD is in a downward state and turns off the backlight when an object is present near the display surface.

  Patent Document 3 describes a digital camera that displays a framing assist composition frame when shooting in a vertical position and records the image rotated 90 degrees or 270 degrees when shot in that state. ing.

JP 2006-101331 A JP2012-257129A JP 2004-208096 A

  The technique described in Patent Document 1 cannot be applied to an apparatus that uses a touch panel together. Specifically, if the backlight is turned off while the display surface is placed face down, the user cannot visually recognize a place to be touched in the face-down state, and consequently cannot perform an appropriate touch operation.

  By providing the proximity sensor described in Patent Document 2 and turning on the backlight when the object approaches, the target of the touch operation can be visually recognized. However, the proximity sensor increases the cost and the circuit scale. End up.

  An object of the present invention is to present an imaging apparatus, a control method and program thereof, and a storage medium that can eliminate such inconvenience.

In order to achieve the above object, an imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes a display unit, an attitude detection unit that detects the attitude of the apparatus body, and a recording mode in which a captured image is recorded as it is, A setting unit that sets a rotational recording mode for rotating and recording in accordance with a predetermined state in which the posture of the apparatus main body detected by the posture detection unit is an inverted posture, and the recording mode is set In this case, the display means is set to a power saving operation, and in the state where the rotational recording mode is set, the display means includes a control means for controlling the display means not to enter the power saving operation. Features.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to more effectively suppress power consumption in accordance with the usage status of a user while suppressing an increase in cost.

It is a schematic block diagram of one Example of this invention. It is an external appearance perspective view of a present Example. It is an operation | movement flowchart of a present Example.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of an imaging apparatus according to the present invention.

  The video / audio input unit 102 of the digital camera 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an imaging unit that converts an optical image of a subject into an image signal and a microphone that captures external audio. The video / audio signal processing unit 104 performs predetermined processing on the video signal and audio signal from the video / audio input unit 102, and inputs the processed video data and audio data to the digital signal processing unit 108 of the system control unit 106. To do.

  The system control unit 106 reads a program stored in a ROM (or non-volatile memory) 110 into the RAM 112, controls each unit according to the program, and operates the digital signal processing unit 108. The RAM 112 is also used as a work area for programs operating on the system control unit 106.

  The digital signal processing unit 108 processes the video / audio data from the video / audio signal processing unit 104 for recording and supplies it to the recording / reproducing unit 114, generates video data for display, and displays the data on the display unit 116 with a touch panel. Applied to a liquid crystal display panel (LCD). The digital signal processing unit 108 can also perform image processing such as format conversion and image rotation on the video data from the video / audio signal processing unit 104 as necessary. The system control unit 106 can display various menu images, buttons, icons, and the like on the liquid crystal display panel 118.

  The display unit with a touch panel 116 includes a backlight 120 on which the backlight 120 illuminates the liquid crystal display panel, and a touch panel 122 disposed on the image surface of the liquid crystal display panel 118. The touch panel 122 supplies the two-dimensional position coordinates to the system control unit 106 in response to the user's touch operation.

  The power supply circuit 124 supplies necessary power to the display unit with a touch panel 116, particularly the backlight 120, under the control of the system control unit 106.

  The system control unit 106 is further connected to a power switch 126, an attitude sensor 128, and a timer 130. When the power switch 126 is turned on, the system control unit 106 activates each unit in the setting mode. The posture sensor (posture detection means) 128 is composed of an acceleration sensor or a gyro sensor, detects the posture of the main body (housing) of the camera 100 constantly or intermittently, and supplies the detection result to the system control unit 106. When an acceleration sensor is used as the posture sensor 128, the system control unit 106 can detect the direction of gravity acceleration and thus the posture of the camera 100 from the output of the acceleration sensor. The timer 130 incorporates a real-time clock that measures the current date and time, and supplies the current date and time information to the system control unit 106.

  The orientation sensor 132 detects the orientation or position of the display unit 116 with respect to the main body 201 and notifies the system control unit 106 of it. The system control unit 106 can determine the position of the display unit 116 (a storage position, a rearward position, and a forward position described later) based on the detection output of the direction sensor 132.

  FIG. 2 shows an external view of this embodiment. FIG. 2A shows a storage state in which the display screen of the display unit 116 is folded upward (or outward). FIG. 2B shows a state in which the display unit 116 is erected and the display screen is directed in the back direction. FIG. 2C shows a state where the camera 100 is turned upside down (inverted posture). FIG. 2D shows a state in which the display screen is directed toward the subject while the display unit 116 is erected. The display unit 116 is movable between a storage position shown in FIG. 2A, a standing position shown in FIG. 2C, and a standing position shown in FIG.

  The digital camera 100 has a photographing lens 202 on the front surface of a housing (main body or apparatus main body) 201, and the display unit 116 can be folded by a link mechanism having two horizontal axes A and B at both ends and a display screen. It is supported so that it can be changed forward and backward. That is, one end of the link mechanism is coupled to the center of the back surface of the display unit 116 so as to be pivotable about the axis A, and the other end of the link mechanism is pivoted about the axis B to the upper and back corners of the housing 201. Join as possible. With this two-axis link mechanism, the display unit 116 can take the positions shown in FIGS. 2A, 2 </ b> B, and 2 </ b> D with respect to the housing 201. Sensors for detecting the position of the display unit 116, which constitutes the orientation sensor 132, are incorporated in the coupling units constituting the horizontal axes A and B, respectively. In the storage state shown in FIG. 2A, the upper left corner of the display screen is the origin 203 (X coordinate = 0, Y coordinate = 0).

  Regarding the posture of the camera 100, specifically, the housing 201, the state shown in FIG. 2A is a normal posture, and the state reversed from FIG. 2A is an inverted posture as shown in FIG. Call. In the normal posture illustrated in FIG. 2A, for example, an upright person is imaged upright, and in the inverted posture illustrated in FIG. 2B, the image is captured upside down. In an upside down posture with the display unit 116 facing downward, the display screen of the display unit 116 faces downward. When placed on a desk or the like in this state, the photographer cannot visually recognize the display screen, but when fixed on a tripod screw hole or the like and installed on a ceiling or the like, the photographer can visually recognize the display screen from below.

  When the display unit 116 is raised about 90 degrees around the axis B from the storage state or storage position (FIG. 2A) in which the display unit 116 is in close contact with the housing 201, the standing position shown in FIG. Backward state or rearward position). This is a position where a photographer holding the camera 100 can check the composition of the subject on the display screen, and the display unit 116 is used as a so-called rear monitor.

  From the state shown in FIG. 2C, when the display unit 116 is rotated around the axis A so that the display screen faces the subject, the upright position shown in FIG. In the state shown in FIG. 2D, the imaging composition can be confirmed on the display screen from the subject side. The position is used for so-called self-portrait, and the display unit 116 is used as a so-called face-to-face monitor.

  Regarding the position of the display unit 116, the position shown in FIG. 2A is called a storage position, the position shown in FIG. 2B is called a backward position, and the position shown in FIG. 2D is called a forward position. At the rearward position, the origin 203 is located at the upper left of the display screen, whereas at the forward position, the origin 203 is located at the lower right, and the display image is inverted vertically and horizontally from that of the rearward position. The system control unit 106 can determine whether the display unit 116 is in the storage position, the rearward position, or the frontward position based on the output of the direction sensor 132. The digital signal processing unit 108 generates the display image by reversing the image data from the video / audio signal processing unit 104 when the display unit 116 is in the storage position or the rearward position, and when the display unit 116 is in the frontward position, upside down. And supplied to the liquid crystal display panel 118. The same result is obtained in the up / down / left / right inversion processing and the 180 ° rotation processing.

  FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart of this embodiment. With reference to FIG. 3, the characteristic operation of the present embodiment will be described. The system control unit 106 loads a program represented by the flowchart shown in FIG. 3 from the ROM 110 to the RAM 112 and executes it.

  In step S <b> 301, the system control unit 106 determines whether there is a rotation recording setting (on / off) change operation by a user's operation on the touch panel 122. Rotation recording is a mode in which a captured image is corrected (rotated) and recorded in the correct orientation when the casing 201 is turned upside down. That is, it is a mode for recording a photographed image by rotating it 180 degrees or turning it upside down. If there is a rotation recording setting change operation (S301), the system control unit 106 proceeds to S302. If there is no rotation recording setting change operation, the system control unit 106 proceeds to S303.

  In S302, the system control unit 106 changes the rotation recording setting according to the user's operation, and proceeds to S303.

  In step S <b> 303, the system control unit 106 determines whether the user has performed a shooting start operation for moving images by operating the touch panel 122. When the shooting start operation is performed, the system control unit 106 proceeds to S304, and when the shooting start operation is not performed, the system control unit 106 proceeds to S309.

  In S304, the system control unit 106 determines whether the rotational recording setting is on. When the rotational recording setting is on, the system control unit 106 proceeds to S305, and when the rotational recording setting is off, the system control unit 106 proceeds to S307.

  In step S <b> 305, the system control unit 106 detects the posture of the camera 100 (housing 201) based on the output value of the posture sensor 128 and determines whether the posture is an inverted posture. The system control unit 106 proceeds to S306 if the posture is upside down, and proceeds to S307 if the posture is not the upside down posture.

  In step S <b> 306, the system control unit 106 rotates the image data sent from the video / audio signal processing unit 104 by 180 ° by the digital signal processing unit 108 and supplies the rotated image data to the recording / playback unit 114. The recording / reproducing unit 114 records the image data from the digital signal processing unit 108 in a predetermined format. The digital signal processing unit 108 also generates display image data in the same image orientation as the image data sent from the video / audio signal processing unit 104 and supplies it to the liquid crystal display panel 118. The liquid crystal display panel 118 displays the image data from the digital signal processing unit 108 as an image. Thereby, even if the digital camera 100 is rotated and photographed, the subject can be recorded in the correct orientation.

  In step S <b> 307, the digital signal processing unit 108 of the system control unit 106 supplies the image data sent from the video / audio signal processing unit 104 to the recording / playback unit 114 in the same image orientation. The recording / reproducing unit 114 records the image data from the digital signal processing unit 108 in a predetermined format. The digital signal processing unit 108 also generates display image data in the same image orientation as the image data sent from the video / audio signal processing unit 104 and supplies it to the liquid crystal display panel 118. The liquid crystal display panel 118 displays the image data from the digital signal processing unit 108 as an image. As a result, the captured image is recorded and displayed in the same orientation according to the rotation of the camera 100.

  In step S <b> 308, the system control unit 106 determines whether the user has performed a shooting stop operation by operating the touch panel 122. When the photographing stop operation is performed, the system control unit 106 stops photographing recording and returns to S303. When the photographing stop operation is not performed, the system control unit 106 returns to S304.

  As shown in steps S304 to S308, the system control unit 106 does not operate the display unit 116 with low power consumption during moving image shooting.

  In step S <b> 309, the system control unit 106 stands by for shooting, and displays the live view image captured by the imaging unit on the liquid crystal display panel 118.

  In S <b> 310, the system control unit 106 detects the posture of the housing 201 based on the output value of the posture sensor 128 and determines whether the posture is an inverted posture. The system control unit 106 proceeds to S311 when the posture is upside down, and returns to S301 when the posture is not upside down.

  In step S311, the system control unit 106 determines whether the rotational recording setting is on. When the rotational recording setting is on, the system control unit 106 returns to S301, and when the rotational recording setting is off, the system control unit 106 proceeds to S312.

  In S <b> 312, the system control unit 106 measures the time when the touch panel 122 is not operated by the output of the timer 130. The system control unit 106 proceeds to S313 when the touch panel 122 has not been operated for a predetermined time, and returns to S301 when the touch panel 122 has been operated within the predetermined time. The time when the touch panel is not operated can be arbitrarily set.

  In S313, the system control unit 106 controls the power supply circuit 124 and turns off the backlight 120 of the display unit 116. Instead of turning off the backlight 120, the luminance may be reduced. In addition, the display on the liquid crystal display panel 118 may be hidden. In addition, the imaging of the live view image in the imaging unit may be stopped. However, in any case, the touch panel 122 is energized and can detect the touch position of the user.

  In step S <b> 314, the system control unit 106 determines whether there is a touch operation on the touch panel 122. The system control unit 106 proceeds to S315 when the operation of the touch panel 122 is performed, and proceeds to S316 when the operation of the touch panel 122 is not performed.

  In S <b> 315, the system control unit 106 controls the power supply circuit 124, turns on the backlight 120 in the display unit 116 or restores its luminance, and resumes live view display on the liquid crystal display panel 118.

  In S316, the system control unit 106 determines whether or not the auto power off setting is on. The auto power off is a function for automatically turning off the power of the digital camera 100 with respect to no operation for a certain period of time. The system control unit 106 proceeds to S317 when the auto power off setting is on, and returns to S314 when the auto power off setting is off.

  In S317, the system control unit 106 refers to the output of the timer 130 and determines whether or not the time until auto power off (auto power off time) has elapsed. The auto power off time can be arbitrarily set, for example, 1 minute. The auto power off time is set separately from the time for determining non-operation of the touch panel determined in S312. The system control unit 106 proceeds to S318 when the auto power-off time has elapsed, and returns to S314 when it has not elapsed.

  In step S318, the system control unit 106 turns off the digital camera 100 and ends the flow illustrated in FIG.

  Note that the touch panel non-operation determination (S312) may be omitted.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the power consumption of the display unit 116 is reduced on the condition that the digital camera 100 is in an inverted posture (S310) and the rotational recording mode is off (S311) (S513). Since the live view display by the display unit 116 is restored by the subsequent touch operation (S314) (S315), the operation of the touch panel 122 is not hindered.

  The reason why the display unit 116 is not operated in a power-saving manner only under the condition that the digital camera 100 is in the inverted posture is that the user intentionally holds the digital camera 100 in the inverted posture when the rotational shooting is on even in the inverted posture. This is because there is a high possibility that it is being used in. On the other hand, when the digital camera 100 is in the inverted posture and the rotational shooting is off, it is highly likely that the user is not looking at the display screen of the display unit 116, and thus the display unit 116 is operated in a power-saving manner. For example, there may be a situation where the display surface of the display unit 116 is placed on a desk or floor (FIG. 2B) without forgetting to turn off the power. In this case, power consumption can be more effectively prevented by putting the display unit 116 in the power saving state on the condition that the posture is upside down and the rotational shooting is off. Further, in order to rotate the captured image by 180 degrees when the rotational shooting is on and in the inverted posture, the posture sensor 128 may be provided, and means for detecting the use state of the display unit 116 is not necessary. Therefore, an additional member is not required for the characteristic operation of the present embodiment, and an increase in cost can be suppressed.

  In order to more accurately determine the situation where the display screen of the display unit 116 is placed facing the desk or floor without forgetting to turn off the power, the display unit 116 indicates that the display unit 116 is in the storage state. It may be added to the turn-off condition. For example, when the rotational recording is on in S311 (Yes), it is determined whether or not the display unit 116 is in the storage position. If the display unit 116 is in the storage position, the process proceeds to S312.

  The function executed by the system control unit 106 may be realized by a single hardware, or may be realized by a plurality of hardware that operates in cooperation.

  Although the present invention has been described in detail based on the preferred embodiments thereof, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments, and various forms within the scope of the present invention are also included in the present invention. included. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments are merely examples for explaining the present invention, and the embodiments can be appropriately combined.

  Although the embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a digital camera has been described, the present invention is an image capturing apparatus that captures a moving image or a still image, and can select upright posture shooting or upside down shooting, and a display device with a touch panel It is applicable to general imaging devices having The imaging device according to the present invention can be incorporated in a personal computer, a PDA, a mobile phone terminal, a portable image viewer, a printer device including a display, a digital photo frame, a music player, a game machine, an electronic book reader, or the like.

  The present invention is also realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus reads the program code. It is a process to be executed. In this case, the program and a computer-readable storage medium storing the program constitute the present invention.

Claims (12)

Display means;
Attitude detection means for detecting the attitude of the apparatus body;
A setting unit for setting a recording mode for recording a photographed image as it is, or a rotational recording mode for rotating and recording a photographed image according to the posture;
When the recording mode is set in a predetermined state in which the posture of the apparatus main body detected by the posture detection unit is an inverted posture, the display unit is set to a power saving operation, and the rotational recording mode is set to An imaging apparatus comprising: control means for controlling the display means so as not to perform the power saving operation in the set state.   2. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the display unit to perform a power saving operation when there is no operation for a predetermined time after the posture detection unit indicates an inverted posture in a state where the recording mode is set. Imaging device.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit turns off the power when no operation is performed for a second predetermined time after the control of the display unit to the power saving operation.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is movable between a storage position and a standing position with respect to the apparatus main body.   5. The imaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined state is a state in which the posture of the apparatus main body detected by the posture detection unit is an inverted posture and the display unit is in the storage position. .   The imaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the display unit is disposed on an upper surface of the apparatus main body.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit does not control the display unit to perform a power saving operation during imaging. The imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the power saving operation is either turning off the illumination of the display means or reducing the luminance. The rotary recording mode, in response to said detection result posture detecting unit, when a first position recorded without rotating the image captured by an imaging unit, wherein the first posture and upside down The imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein in the second posture, the mode is a mode in which an image captured by the imaging unit is rotated and recorded. Display means;
Attitude detection means for detecting the attitude of the apparatus body;
A method for controlling an imaging apparatus having a setting mode for setting a recording mode for recording a photographed image as it is or a rotation recording mode for rotating and recording a photographed image according to the posture,
When the recording mode is set in a predetermined state in which the posture of the apparatus main body detected by the posture detection unit is an inverted posture, the display unit is set to a power saving operation, and the rotational recording mode is set to An imaging apparatus control method comprising: a control step for controlling the display unit not to perform the power saving operation in the set state.   The program for functioning a computer as each means of the imaging device described in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 9.   A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to function as each unit of the imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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