JP6236740B2 - Imaging apparatus and imaging method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a photographing apparatus, and more particularly to a photographing apparatus and a photographing method capable of shooting by throwing up.

  An imaging apparatus capable of shooting by throwing up has been proposed. The throw-up shooting is that the user throws up the shooting device and causes the shooting device in the air to execute shooting processing. Thereby, the picked-up image image | photographed in the position where a user's hand cannot reach can be obtained. As such a photographing apparatus, Patent Document 1 discloses a photographing apparatus that calculates the height at which the photographing apparatus is thrown up and automatically performs photographing when a predetermined height is reached.

JP2013-066606A

  However, in the imaging device described in Patent Document 1, when the distance from the imaging device to the subject changes according to the thrown-up height of the imaging device, a captured image that is not in focus with respect to the subject is obtained. There was a problem of being.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a photographing apparatus and a photographing method capable of shooting by throwing up, in which a photographed image focused on a subject can be obtained.

  An imaging apparatus capable of shooting by throwing up according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a focal length adjustment unit that adjusts a focal length of an imaging optical system mounted on the imaging apparatus, and an acceleration detection unit that detects acceleration of the imaging apparatus. . The focal length adjusting unit adjusts the focal length based on the acceleration detected by the acceleration detecting unit, thereby adjusting the focus of the photographing optical system to a predetermined subject.

  According to this embodiment, the focal length of the photographing optical system is adjusted based on the acceleration of the photographing device so that the subject is in focus. Therefore, even when the distance between the photographing device and the subject changes while the photographing device is thrown up, it is possible to obtain a photographed image in which the subject is in focus.

  The focal length adjusting means estimates the time point when the photographing apparatus is thrown up based on the acceleration detected by the acceleration detecting means, calculates the initial speed of the photographing apparatus at the estimated time point, and calculates the elapsed time from the time point. A time may be measured, a distance to the subject may be calculated based on the calculated initial speed and a measured elapsed time, and the focal length may be adjusted according to the calculated distance to the subject.

  The focal length adjusting means determines that the shooting device has started to be thrown up when the acceleration detected by the acceleration detecting means exceeds the first threshold, and when the detected acceleration falls below the second threshold, It is determined that the imaging device has been thrown up, and the acceleration of the imaging device during the period from when it is determined that the shooting device has started to be thrown up to when it is determined that the imaging device has been raised is time-integrated. It is good also as a structure which calculates speed.

  The imaging device may further include a projection angle detection unit that detects a projection angle of the thrown imaging device. In this case, the focal length adjusting means calculates the distance to the subject based on the calculated initial velocity, the detected projection angle, and the elapsed time that has been timed.

  The focal length adjustment means calculates the distance to the subject and adjusts the focal length of the photographing optical system based on the calculated distance from the time when the photographing apparatus is estimated to be thrown up until a predetermined time elapses. It is good also as a structure which continues.

  The photographing apparatus may be configured to photograph a subject via a photographing optical system at a predetermined timing.

  The shooting method capable of shooting by throwing up according to the present embodiment is a method including a focal length adjustment step for adjusting a focal length of a shooting optical system mounted on the shooting device, and an acceleration detection step for detecting the acceleration of the shooting device. is there. The focal length adjustment step includes a step of estimating a time point when the photographing apparatus is thrown up based on the acceleration detected in the acceleration detecting step, and calculating an initial speed of the photographing apparatus at the estimated time point and a lapse from the time point. Shooting time by measuring time, calculating the distance to the subject based on the calculated initial speed and the elapsed time, and adjusting the focal length according to the calculated distance to the subject Adjusting the focus of the optical system to a predetermined subject.

  According to the present embodiment, there are provided an imaging device and an imaging method capable of throwing up an image, in which a captured image focused on a subject can be obtained.

It is an external view of the imaging device of embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the imaging device of the embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the operation | movement which a user throws up the imaging device of embodiment of this invention. It is the operation | movement flow of the throwing imaging | photography of the imaging device of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the time change of the output from the acceleration sensor with which the imaging device of embodiment of this invention is provided.

  Hereinafter, a photographing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following, a compact digital camera will be described as an embodiment of the present invention. Note that this embodiment is not limited to a compact digital camera, and may be replaced with another type of apparatus having a photographing function, such as a digital single-lens reflex camera, a mirrorless single-lens camera, a smartphone, a feature phone, or a portable game machine.

  FIG. 1 is an external view of a compact digital camera (hereinafter simply referred to as “photographing device”) 1 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the photographing apparatus 1 includes a lens unit 11 and a flash window 12 on the front side of the housing 10, and a release button 13 on the top.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the photographing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 100, an operation unit 102, a drive circuit 104, an aperture / shutter 110, an image sensor 112, a signal processing circuit 114, an image are provided in a housing 10 of the photographing apparatus 1. Processing engine 116, buffer memory 118, card interface 120, LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) control circuit 122, LCD 124, ROM (Read
Only Memory) 126, a flash drive circuit 127, a flash 128, and an acceleration sensor 130 are provided. A focus lens 106 and a lens driving mechanism 107 are provided in the lens unit 11 of the photographing apparatus 1.

  The operation unit 102 includes various switches or buttons necessary for the user to operate the photographing apparatus 1, such as a power switch, a release button 13, and a photographing mode switch. When the user presses the power switch, power is supplied from the battery (not shown) to the various circuits of the photographing apparatus 1 through the power line. After supplying power, the CPU 100 accesses the ROM 126, reads out a control program, loads it into a work area (not shown), and executes the loaded control program to control the entire photographing apparatus 1.

  When the release button 13 is operated, the CPU 100 causes the drive circuit 104 to obtain an appropriate exposure based on a photometric value measured by a TTL (Through The Lens) exposure meter (not shown) built in the photographing apparatus 1. The diaphragm / shutter 110 is driven and controlled via Here, the aperture / shutter 110 has a function as a shutter and a function as an aperture for adjusting the aperture value. The drive circuit 104 drives the diaphragm / shutter 110 and adjusts the diaphragm value so that proper exposure can be obtained. The aperture value is adjusted based on the AE function specified by the shooting mode switch, such as program AE (Automatic Exposure) or shutter speed priority AE. Since the configuration and control of these AEs are well known, detailed description thereof is omitted here.

  Further, the CPU 100 performs AF (Auto Focus) control together with AE control. In the AF control, the lens driving mechanism 107 is driven and controlled via the driving circuit 104, and the positions and positional relationships of a plurality of lenses provided in the focus lens 106 are adjusted. As a result, the focal length of the focus lens 106 changes. In AF control, the focus lens 106 is automatically focused on the subject by changing the focal length of the focus lens 106.

  The light flux from the subject is received by the image sensor 112 via the focus lens 106 and the diaphragm / shutter 110. The image sensor 112 is, for example, a CCD (Charged Coupled Device) image sensor or a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensor. The time during which the image sensor 112 is exposed by the luminous flux of the subject is adjusted by the diaphragm / shutter 110. The image sensor 112 converts the light beam received by each pixel on the imaging surface into an electrical signal according to the amount of light, and outputs the converted electrical signal to the signal processing circuit 114. The signal processing circuit 114 performs predetermined signal processing on the electrical signal input from the image sensor 112 and outputs the processed signal to the image processing engine 116.

  The image processing engine 116 performs predetermined signal processing such as color interpolation, matrix calculation, and Y / C separation on the signal input from the signal processing circuit 114 to generate a luminance signal Y and color difference signals Cb, Cr, The image is compressed in a predetermined format such as JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group). The buffer memory 118 is used as a temporary storage location for processing data when the image processing engine 116 executes processing.

  The image processing engine 116 can communicate with the memory card 200 via the card interface 120. The image processing engine 116 stores the generated compressed image signal (captured image data) in a memory card 200 or a built-in memory (not shown) provided in the imaging device.

  Further, the image processing engine 116 performs predetermined signal processing on the signal after Y / C separation, and buffers it in a frame memory (not shown) in units of frames. The image processing engine 116 sweeps the buffered signal from each frame memory at a predetermined timing, converts it into a video signal of a predetermined format, and outputs it to the LCD control circuit 122. The LCD control circuit 122 modulates and controls the liquid crystal of the LCD 124 based on the image signal input from the image processing engine 116. Thereby, the photographed image of the subject is displayed on the display screen of the LCD 124. The user can visually recognize a photographed image photographed with appropriate brightness and focus based on the AE control and AF control through the display screen of the LCD 124.

  When the user inputs a reproduction operation of a captured image, the image processing engine 116 reads the captured image data designated by the user's operation from the memory card 200 or the built-in memory, converts it into an image signal of a predetermined format, and the LCD Output to the control circuit 122. The LCD control circuit 122 performs modulation control on the liquid crystal based on the image signal input from the image processing engine 116, so that a captured image of the subject is displayed on the display screen of the LCD 124.

  The flash drive circuit 127 applies a drive voltage to the flash 128 when a user inputs an operation for instructing flash photography to the operation unit 102. The flash 128 emits irradiation light (flash) corresponding to the driving voltage, and irradiates the subject through the flash window 12. Whether the photographing apparatus 1 performs flash photographing using flash light or photographing without flash light is automatically or manually set.

  The acceleration sensor 130 is a sensor that can detect accelerations in three directions orthogonal to each other, and is used to detect the acceleration of the photographing apparatus 1. The acceleration sensor unit 130 outputs three acceleration values based on the acceleration in three directions. The CPU 100 calculates the magnitude of acceleration and the direction of acceleration based on the output acceleration value. The state of the imaging apparatus 1 can be determined using the calculated magnitude of acceleration and direction of acceleration. For example, the direction of gravity applied to the photographing apparatus 1 is calculated using the direction of acceleration. By using the direction of gravity, the orientation of the photographing apparatus 1 is calculated. The orientation of the photographing apparatus 1 includes, for example, an elevation angle (pitch or tilt) in the vertical direction of the photographing apparatus 1 and a rotation angle (roll) around the optical axis of the optical system of the photographing apparatus 1. Note that a method for calculating the direction of gravity using acceleration in three directions and a method for calculating the direction of the photographing apparatus 1 using directions of gravity are well known, and a description thereof will be omitted here.

Further, it is possible to detect whether a force other than gravity is applied to the photographing apparatus 1 by using the calculated magnitude of acceleration. For example, when a vertical upward force is applied to the photographing apparatus 1, a vertical downward force (inertial force) is applied to the acceleration sensor 130. In this case, the magnitude of the calculated acceleration is larger than the gravitational acceleration g (about 9.8 m / s ² ).

  Next, throwing up shooting in which shooting is performed by the shooting device 1 thrown up by the user will be described. FIG. 3 schematically shows an operation in which the user throws up the photographing apparatus 1 vertically upward. When the user throws up the photographing apparatus 1, the photographing apparatus 1 is accelerated vertically upward from the start of the throw-up (time t = t0) to the end of the throw-up (t = t1). When the throwing up by the user is completed, the photographing apparatus 1 is thrown up vertically at the initial speed ν (t1), and is in a stagnant state. The imaging device 1 in the stagnant state falls after reaching the highest point and is received by the user. The photographing device 1 performs photographing processing of a subject (for example, a user who has thrown up the photographing device 1) at a predetermined timing during the staying state.

  Next, an operation flow of throwing shooting when the user throws up the photographing device 1 vertically upward and the user who throws up the photographing device 1 is a subject will be described. FIG. 4 is an operation flow of throwing shooting. The operation flow shown in FIG. 4 starts when a throw-up shooting start operation is input to the operation unit 102 of the photographing apparatus 1 and ends when the thrown photographing apparatus 1 is received by the user.

  When the operation mode of the photographing apparatus 1 is switched to the throwing-up operation mode by a user operation, the throwing-up photographing operation flow starts (processing step S10).

  In the processing step S11, a throwing shooting parameter is input to the photographing apparatus 1 by the user. The parameters for throwing shooting are, for example, whether to shoot still images or movies, how many times to shoot still images, and how long to shoot movies. To do, etc. Further, in processing step S11, a parameter regarding the timing of shooting is also input. After the user inputs the throwing shooting parameters, the user inputs an operation for putting the photographing device 1 into the throwing preparation state with respect to the photographing device 1.

  In process step S12, it is determined whether or not the photographing apparatus 1 is ready for throwing up. When the imaging device 1 is not ready to be thrown up (S12: No), the imaging device 1 stands by until an input operation is performed by the user. When the imaging device 1 is in the throwing-up preparation state (S12: Yes), the imaging device 1 stands by until the throwing-up operation by the user starts.

  In process step S13, the start (throwing-up start) of the raising operation | movement of the imaging device 1 by a user is detected. The start of throwing is detected using the acceleration value output from the acceleration sensor 130.

FIG. 5 shows the time change of the acceleration value output from the acceleration sensor 130 according to the throwing-up operation by the user. While the photographing apparatus 1 is in the throw-up preparation state (t <t0), the photographing apparatus 1 is held by the user and is almost stationary. Therefore, the acceleration value at this time is substantially equal to the gravitational acceleration g (about 9.8 m / s ² ). When the user performs a throw-up operation of the photographing apparatus 1 (t0 <t), a vertical downward force is applied to the acceleration sensor 130, and an acceleration value larger than the gravitational acceleration g is output from the acceleration sensor 130. Therefore, it is possible to detect whether or not the user has started a throw-up operation by providing a threshold A greater than the gravitational acceleration g for the acceleration value and detecting whether the acceleration value exceeds the threshold A. .

  In process step S13, when the acceleration value does not exceed the threshold value A (S13: No), since the user's throwing-up operation is not started, the photographing apparatus 1 stands by until the user's throwing-up operation is started. On the other hand, when the acceleration value exceeds the threshold value A (S13: Yes), it is detected that the throwing-up operation by the user has been started, and the next processing step S14 is executed.

  In processing step S14, acceleration value integration processing is performed. By performing the acceleration integration process, the speed of the photographing apparatus 1 can be calculated.

ここで、ｄｔは、加速度センサ１３０により検出された加速度値が読み取られる時間間隔である。なお、ユーザによる投げ上げ動作が開始される前の期間（ｔ＜ｔ０）は、式（１）の積算範囲に含まれていない。この積算処理は、投げ上げ動作が終了するまで実行される。 Assuming that the acceleration value output from the acceleration sensor 130 is a (t), the speed ν (t) of the photographing apparatus 1 at the time t after the start of the throwing-up operation is expressed by the following equation (1). .
Formula (1)

Here, dt is a time interval at which the acceleration value detected by the acceleration sensor 130 is read. Note that the period (t <t0) before the start of the throwing-up operation by the user is not included in the integration range of Expression (1). This integration process is executed until the throwing-up operation ends.

  In process step S15, the end of the throwing-up operation by the user (end of throwing-up) is detected. The end of the throw-up is detected using the acceleration value in the same manner as the start of the throw-up.

  A method for detecting the end of throwing will be described with reference to FIG. When the throwing-up operation starts, the acceleration value gradually becomes larger than the gravitational acceleration g. Then, as the speed of the photographing device 1 increases, the photographing device 1 gradually moves away from the user's hand as the photographing device is displaced vertically upward. As the imaging device 1 moves away from the user's hand, the force applied by the user to the imaging device 1 decreases, and the acceleration value detected by the acceleration sensor 130 decreases. When the photographing apparatus 1 is separated from the user's hand (t = t1), the photographing apparatus 1 is in a stagnant state, and the acceleration value output from the acceleration sensor 130 becomes zero. Therefore, it is possible to detect whether the throwing-up operation by the user is finished by providing a threshold value B greater than zero for the acceleration value and detecting whether the acceleration value is below the threshold value B.

In process step S15, when the acceleration value is not lower than the threshold value B (S15: No), the acceleration integration process in process step S14 is continuously executed. On the other hand, when the acceleration value falls below the threshold value B (S15: Yes), the acceleration integration process in process step S14 is stopped, and the next process step S16 is executed. Here, the speed ν (t1) at the time when the acceleration integration process is stopped is the initial speed at which the photographing apparatus 1 is thrown up. The initial velocity ν (t1) is expressed by the following equation (2).
Formula (2)

  The initial velocity ν (t1) is obtained by integrating acceleration values during a period from t = t0 to t = t1, as shown in the equation (2). However, as described in the processing steps S13 and S15, the start and end of the throwing are detected based on whether or not the acceleration value crosses the threshold value A and the threshold value B. Therefore, there is a slight time difference between the time point t0 when the throwing-up operation by the user is started and the time point t0 'when the throwing-up start is detected in the processing step S13. Similarly, there is a slight time difference between the time point t1 when the throwing-up operation by the user is finished and the time point t1 'when the throwing-up end is detected in the processing step S15. These time differences are not considered in accumulating acceleration values in equation (2). However, since these time differences are smaller than the acceleration value integration time (t1-t0), there is no problem even if they are not considered.

式（４）

ここで、式（４）の右辺の第１項は、ユーザによる投げ上げ動作が終了された時点の位置を基準とした撮影装置１の高さである。また、式（４）の右辺の第２項のＬ０は、被写体までの距離を補正するためのオフセット量である。 In processing step S16, the distance between the thrown photographing apparatus 1 and the subject is calculated. When the throwing-up operation by the user is completed, the photographing apparatus 1 is in a stagnant state. The speed of the imaging device 1 in the stagnant state and the distance to the subject of the imaging device 1 vary according to the initial speed ν (t1) and time t. When the subject is a user who throws up the photographing device 1, the speed ν (t) of the photographing device 1 and the distance L (t) to the subject in the hovering state are expressed by the following equations (3) and (4), respectively. Is done.
Formula (3)

Formula (4)

Here, the first term on the right side of Expression (4) is the height of the photographing apparatus 1 with reference to the position at the time when the throwing-up operation by the user is terminated. In addition, L0 in the second term on the right side of Equation (4) is an offset amount for correcting the distance to the subject.

  The offset amount L0 when the subject is the face of the user who throws up the photographing apparatus 1 will be described. When the height of the photographing device 1 is the same as the height of the user and the chest when the throwing-up operation by the user is completed, the first term on the right side of the equation (4) The distance to the imaging device 1 is represented. Therefore, by subtracting the distance L0 between the position of the user's face and the position of the chest from the first term on the right side, the distance from the photographing device 1 to the user's face that is the subject can be calculated (FIG. 3).

  Note that the optimum offset amount L0 varies depending on the user's physique and how to throw it up. Therefore, it is desirable that the offset amount L0 can be changed.

  In processing step S17, the positions and positional relationships of a plurality of lenses constituting the focus lens 106 are calculated according to the distance L (t) from the photographing apparatus 1 to the subject calculated in processing step S16.

  The focal length of the focus lens 106 can be changed within a predetermined range by adjusting the positions and positional relationships of the plurality of lenses. In the photographing apparatus 1, a correspondence relationship between the distance from the photographing apparatus 1 to the subject and the position and positional relationship of each lens that focuses on the subject is stored in advance as a table or an equation. By using this table or equation, the position and positional relationship of each lens in focus on the subject can be quickly obtained.

  In process step S18, each lens constituting the focus lens 106 is moved to the position calculated in process step S17. Accordingly, the focus lens 106 is focused on the subject.

  In the processing step S19, it is determined whether or not the photographing apparatus 1 in the stagnant state is at a predetermined photographing timing. The predetermined shooting timing is determined based on the parameters input in processing step S11.

  For example, consider a case in which parameters are input so that a still image is shot when the thrown shooting device 1 reaches the highest point in processing step S11. In this case, in processing step S19, it is determined whether or not the photographing apparatus 1 has reached the highest point. Specifically, when the photographing apparatus 1 has reached the highest point, the speed ν (t) of the photographing apparatus 1 is zero. Therefore, in processing step 19, it is determined whether or not the elapsed time (t−t1) after the end of the throwing-up operation by the user has reached a time at which the speed ν (t) shown in the equation (3) becomes zero. Determined. When the elapsed time (t-t1) reaches a time at which the speed ν (t) becomes zero (S19: Yes), the next processing step is executed. On the other hand, if the elapsed time (t−t1) has not reached a time at which the speed ν (t) becomes zero (S19: No), the elapsed time (t−t1) is determined again.

  In process step S20, the imaging process by the imaging device 1 is executed. If it is determined in processing step S19 that the predetermined photographing timing is reached, the photographing processing by the photographing apparatus 1 is automatically executed according to the parameters input in processing step 11. In the processing step S20, for example, the still image shooting process may be executed only once, or the still image shooting process may be executed a plurality of times. Also, moving image shooting may be executed.

  In process step S21, the end of the stagnant state of the photographing apparatus 1 is detected. The end of the hovering state is detected using the acceleration value.

  A method for detecting the end of the stagnant state will be described with reference to FIG. The shooting device 1 thrown up by the user first rises vertically upward in a stagnant state (t1 <t <t2), and falls vertically downward after reaching the highest point. During this time, the acceleration value output from the acceleration sensor 130 is zero. When the user receives the falling imaging device 1 (t = t2), a vertical downward force is generated in the acceleration sensor 130, and the acceleration sensor 130 outputs an acceleration value greater than zero. When the photographing apparatus 1 is received and stopped by the user, the acceleration value becomes substantially equal to the gravitational acceleration g. Therefore, by detecting whether or not the acceleration value exceeds the threshold value B greater than zero, it is possible to detect whether or not the airborne state of the photographing apparatus 1 has ended.

  When it is detected in the processing step S21 that the shooting device 1 is in the hovering state, the throwing-up shooting flow ends (S22).

  The above is the description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Embodiments of the present invention are not limited to those described above, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention.

  For example, in the present embodiment, the case where the user throws up the photographing device 1 vertically upward and the user who raised the photographing device 1 is a subject has been described, but in another embodiment, the finger photographing device 1 is A person or an object other than the thrown-up user may be the subject. In this case, when calculating the distance L (t) between the photographing apparatus 1 and the subject represented by the expression (4), the offset amount L0 is adjusted, or the calculated distance L (t) is a predetermined value. , The focus lens 106 is focused on a subject other than the user who has thrown up the photographing apparatus 1.

  In another embodiment, the projection angle may be detected together with the initial speed of the imaging device 1 in the processing step S14 of the operation flow shown in FIG. In this case, the distance from the photographing device 1 to the subject is calculated using the initial speed and projection angle at which the photographing device is thrown up. As a result, even when the photographing apparatus 1 is thrown obliquely upward rather than vertically upward, the focus lens 106 can be focused on the subject. The detection of the projection angle of the photographing apparatus 1 may use an acceleration value output from the acceleration sensor 130. Alternatively, the photographing apparatus 1 may be separately provided with a sensor for detecting the projection angle, and the projection angle may be detected using this sensor.

  In another embodiment, the user may take a picture by throwing the photographing apparatus 1 downward vertically or dropping it. Whether the photographing apparatus 1 is thrown down or dropped is detected using the acceleration value. As described in the processing step S13 of the operation flow shown in FIG. 5, the start of throwing up of the photographing apparatus 1 can be detected based on whether or not the acceleration value exceeds a threshold A larger than the gravitational acceleration g. On the other hand, whether or not the photographing apparatus 1 has been thrown down or has started to fall can be detected based on whether or not the acceleration value falls below a threshold smaller than the gravitational acceleration g.

  Moreover, the housing | casing 10 of the imaging device 1 may be spherical, for example so that a user may throw up easily. Further, the housing 10 of the photographing apparatus 1 may include a shock absorber. As a result, when the user fails to receive the falling photographing device 1 or when the user throws up the photographing device 1 at a high initial speed, the shock generated in the photographing device 1 is absorbed by the shock absorber. . Thereby, it can prevent that the imaging device 1 is damaged by the impact.

  Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the lens unit 11, the image sensor 112, the image processing engine 116, and the like are included one by one for photographing, one electric circuit, and the like. The embodiment is not limited to this. For example, in another embodiment, a plurality of members, electrical circuits, and the like for performing a photographing process may be provided in one housing 10. In this case, the plurality of lens units 11 and the image sensor 112 are arranged so that the respective photographing ranges are different. This makes it easier to capture a desired subject even when the orientation of the thrown imaging device 1 changes in the air.

  Further, in the present embodiment, when the start of throwing is detected in the process step S13 of the operation flow shown in FIG. 5, the acceleration integration process in the process step S14 is executed. When the end of the throw-up is detected in process step S15, the acceleration integration process that is being executed in process step S14 is stopped. However, the operation flow of the present embodiment is not limited to this. In another embodiment, the acceleration value output from the acceleration sensor 130 may be stored in a predetermined storage area during a period from when the start of the throwing is detected until the end of the throwing is detected. . In this case, after the throwing-up operation by the user is completed, the acceleration value is read from the predetermined storage area, and the acceleration integration process is executed.

1 photographing device 10 housing 11 lens unit 12 flash window 13 release button 100 CPU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 102 Operation part 104 Drive circuit 106 Focus lens 107 Lens drive mechanism 110 Aperture and shutter 112 Image sensor 114 Signal processing circuit 116 Image processing engine 118 Buffer memory 120 Card interface 122 LCD control circuit 124 LCD
126 ROM
127 Flash drive circuit 128 Flash 130 Acceleration sensor 200 Memory card

Claims (6)

A shooting device capable of shooting by throwing up,
A focal length adjusting means for adjusting a focal length of a photographing optical system mounted on the photographing device;
Acceleration detecting means for detecting the acceleration of the photographing device;
With
The focal length adjusting means is
By adjusting the focal length based on the acceleration detected by the acceleration detecting means, it is intended to focus the imaging optical system to a predetermined object,
Based on the acceleration detected by the acceleration detection means, estimate the time when the imaging device is thrown up,
Calculate the initial speed of the imaging device at the estimated time and time elapsed from that time,
Calculate the distance to the subject based on the calculated initial speed and the elapsed time,
Adjusting the focal length according to the calculated distance to the subject,
Shooting device. The focal length adjusting means is
When the acceleration detected by the acceleration detection means exceeds a first threshold, it is determined that the shooting device has started to be thrown up,
When the detected acceleration falls below a second threshold, it is determined that the imaging device has been thrown up,
Calculating the initial velocity of the imaging device by integrating the acceleration of the imaging device during a period from when it is determined that the shooting device has started to be thrown up to when it is determined that the imaging device has been thrown up,
The imaging device according to claim 1 . A projection angle detecting means for detecting a projection angle of the thrown-up imaging device;
The focal length adjusting means is
Calculating a distance to the subject based on the calculated initial velocity, the detected projection angle, and the time elapsed.
The imaging device according to claim 1 or 2 . The focal length adjusting means is
Continue to execute the calculation of the distance to the subject and the adjustment of the focal length of the imaging optical system based on the calculated distance from the time when the imaging apparatus is estimated to be thrown up until a predetermined time elapses.
Imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. Shooting a subject through the shooting optical system at a predetermined timing;
The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 . It is a shooting method that can be shot up,
A focal length adjustment step for adjusting a focal length of a photographing optical system mounted on the photographing device;
An acceleration detection step for detecting the acceleration of the imaging device;
Including
The focal length adjustment step includes:
Estimating the time point when the photographing apparatus is thrown up based on the acceleration detected in the acceleration detecting step;
Calculating an initial speed of the photographing apparatus at the estimated time and measuring an elapsed time from the time;
Calculating a distance to a predetermined subject based on the calculated initial speed and the elapsed time measured;
Adjusting the focal length according to the calculated distance to the subject to adjust the focus of the photographing optical system to a predetermined subject.
Shooting method.

Images