JP6397454B2 - IMAGING CONTROL DEVICE, ITS CONTROL METHOD, PROGRAM, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an imaging control apparatus capable of changing a focus position by a touch operation.

  Some recent imaging devices such as digital cameras can perform shooting while easily moving the autofocus position (AF position) by a touch operation on the display screen. However, when shooting while looking through the conventional viewfinder (finder shooting), many digital cameras can specify the AF position only with physical operation means such as buttons and dials. The AF position could not be changed.

  Against this background, Patent Document 1 proposes a technique (touch pad operation) that enables a touch operation on a touch panel provided separately from the viewfinder while looking into the viewfinder. In Patent Document 1, as an AF position designation method in a touch operation, an absolute coordinate method in which the touch panel and the coordinates in the finder are associated one-to-one, and a movement amount of a touch move (sliding operation) on the touch panel are described. A relative coordinate method for moving the AF position in response to this has been proposed.

JP2012-089973A

  However, according to Patent Document 1, in the relative coordinate method, after the user moves the cursor (AF frame) indicating the AF position to an arbitrary subject, the cursor position is determined as the AF position by performing a touchdown operation again. For this reason, the time and effort required for the determination are increased. In response to such a problem, it is possible to reduce the labor of the operation by determining the subject according to the touch-up operation performed after the cursor is moved. However, in the relative coordinate method, since it is assumed that the touch move (touch-up) operation is performed a plurality of times while the AF frame is moved to the desired subject, tracking of the subject is started immediately after the touch-up operation. The operability is not good.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to realize an imaging control device that reduces the time and effort of selecting a tracking target by a touch operation and improves convenience.

In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, an imaging control apparatus of the present invention detects a specific subject from a tracking unit that tracks a tracking target in a live view image captured by an imaging unit, and the live view image. Subject detection means, touch detection means capable of detecting a touch operation, and detection of a movement operation for moving the touch position by the touch detection means, and an indicator on the display means in accordance with the amount of movement of the movement operation. Display control means for controlling the display to be displayed at the selected position, and the tracking means determined based on the position of the index according to the elapse of a predetermined time after the touch for performing the moving operation is released. in possess control means for controlling so as to track, and said control means, before in response to the touch if the specific subject is within the predetermined range is released Start tracking without waiting for the elapse of a predetermined time, when the the specific subject is not within the predetermined range is controlled to perform the tracking after the elapse of the predetermined time.

According to the present invention, it is possible to realize an imaging control apparatus that reduces the time and effort of selecting a tracking target by a touch operation and improves convenience.

The external view of the back of a digital camera. The block diagram which shows the structure of a digital camera. The flowchart which shows imaging | photography mode processing. The flowchart which shows AF frame display update processing. The flowchart which shows a display destination switching process. The flowchart which shows a touchdown process. The flowchart which shows a touch move process. The flowchart which shows a touch-up process. The flowchart which shows a touch cancellation process. The flowchart which shows a frame button process. The figure which illustrates the display screen in imaging | photography mode. The figure which shows the example of a display of a menu screen. The figure which shows the example of a screen display by a touch & drag AF function. The figure which shows the example of a screen display by a touch & drag AF function.

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

  <Apparatus Configuration> The function and appearance of the digital camera of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In FIG. 1 showing the external appearance of the back of the digital camera 100 of the present embodiment, the display unit 101 is composed of a liquid crystal display panel (LCD) or the like for displaying images and various information. The display unit 101 includes a rear display panel 101a that is a display unit arranged outside the viewfinder, and an electronic viewfinder (hereinafter, EVF) 101b that is a display unit in the viewfinder. The EVF 101b allows the user to monitor the imaging screen via the eyepiece part of the eyepiece type eyepiece finder (viewable). The shutter button 102 is an operation unit for issuing a shooting instruction. A mode switching button 103 is an operation unit for switching various modes. A connector 107 is an interface for connecting the connection cable 108 and the digital camera 100. The operation unit 104 is an operation unit including operation members such as various switches, buttons, and a touch panel that accept various operations from the user. The controller wheel 106 is a rotatable electronic dial included in the operation unit 104. The power switch 105 is an operation unit that switches power on and off. The recording medium 109 is a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk. The recording medium slot 110 is a slot for storing the recording medium 109. The recording medium 109 stored in the recording medium slot 110 can communicate with the digital camera 100. A lid 111 is a lid of the recording medium slot 110. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the lid 111 is opened and a part of the recording medium 109 is taken out from the recording medium slot 110 and exposed.

  In FIG. 2 showing the internal configuration of the digital camera 100 of the present embodiment, a photographing lens 203 is a lens group including a zoom lens and a focus lens. The shutter 204 has an aperture function. The image pickup unit 205 is an image pickup element configured by a CCD, a CMOS, or the like that converts an optical image of a subject into an electric signal. The A / D converter 206 converts an analog signal into a digital signal. The A / D converter 206 is used to convert an analog signal output from the imaging unit 205 into a digital signal. The barrier 202 covers the imaging system including the imaging lens 203 of the digital camera 100, thereby preventing the imaging system including the imaging lens 203, the shutter 204, and the imaging unit 205 from becoming dirty or damaged.

  The image processing unit 207 performs resizing processing and color conversion processing such as predetermined pixel interpolation and reduction on the data from the A / D converter 206 or the data from the memory control unit 209. The image processing unit 207 performs predetermined calculation processing using the captured image data, and the system control unit 201 performs exposure control and distance measurement control based on the obtained calculation result. Thereby, AF (autofocus) processing, AE (automatic exposure) processing, and EF (flash pre-emission) processing of the TTL (through-the-lens) method are performed. The image processing unit 207 further performs predetermined arithmetic processing using the captured image data, and also performs TTL AWB (auto white balance) processing based on the obtained arithmetic result.

  Output data from the A / D converter 206 is directly written into the memory 210 via the image processing unit 207 and the memory control unit 209 or via the memory control unit 209. The memory 210 stores image data obtained by the imaging unit 205 and converted into digital data by the A / D converter 206 and image data to be displayed on the display unit 101. The memory 210 has a storage capacity sufficient to store a predetermined number of still images and a predetermined time of moving images and audio.

  The memory 210 also serves as an image display memory (video memory). The D / A converter 208 converts the image display data stored in the memory 210 into an analog signal and supplies the analog signal to the display unit 101. Thus, the display image data written in the memory 210 is displayed on the display unit 101 via the D / A converter 208. The display unit 101 performs display according to an analog signal from the D / A converter 208 on a display such as an LCD. The digital signal once A / D converted by the A / D converter 206 and stored in the memory 210 is converted into an analog signal by the D / A converter 208 and sequentially transferred to the display unit 101 for display. Can be displayed.

  The nonvolatile memory 213 is an electrically erasable / storable memory, and for example, an EEPROM or the like is used. The nonvolatile memory 213 stores constants, programs, and the like for operating the system control unit 201. Here, the program is a program for executing various flowcharts described later in the present embodiment.

  The system control unit 201 controls the entire digital camera 100. By executing the program stored in the non-volatile memory 213 described above, each process of the present embodiment to be described later is realized. A system memory 212 uses a RAM. In the system memory 212, constants and variables for operation of the system control unit 201, programs read from the nonvolatile memory 213, and the like are expanded. The system control unit 201 also performs display control by controlling the memory 210, the D / A converter 208, the display unit 101, and the like.

  The system timer 211 is a time measuring unit that measures the time used for various controls and the time of a built-in clock.

  The mode switching button 103, the first shutter switch 102a, the second shutter switch 102b, and the operation unit 104 are operation means for inputting various operation instructions to the system control unit 201.

  A mode switching button 103 switches the operation mode of the system control unit 201 to any one of a still image shooting mode, a moving image recording mode, a reproduction mode, and the like. As modes included in the still image shooting mode, there are an auto mode, an auto scene discrimination mode, a manual mode, various scene modes for setting shooting for each scene, a program AE mode, a custom mode, and the like. A mode switching button 103 is used to switch directly to one of these modes. Alternatively, after switching to the shooting mode selection screen once with the mode switching button 103, switching is performed by selecting one of the options corresponding to each shooting mode displayed on the shooting mode selection screen using another operation member. It may be. Similarly, the moving image recording mode may include a plurality of modes.

  The first shutter switch 102a is turned on when the shutter button 102 provided in the digital camera 100 is being operated, so-called half-press (shooting preparation instruction), and generates a first shutter switch signal SW1. In response to the first shutter switch signal SW1, shooting preparation processing such as AF processing, AE processing, AWB processing, and EF processing is started.

  The second shutter switch 102b is turned on when the operation of the shutter button 102 is completed, so-called full press (shooting instruction), and generates a second shutter switch signal SW2. In response to the second shutter switch signal SW2, the system control unit 201 starts a series of shooting processes from reading a signal from the imaging unit 205 to writing image data on the recording medium 109.

  Each operation member of the operation unit 104 is appropriately assigned a function for each scene by selecting and operating various function icons displayed on the display unit 101, and functions as various function buttons. Examples of the function buttons include an end button, a return button, an image advance button, a jump button, a narrowing button, and an attribute change button. For example, when a menu button is pressed, various setting menu screens are displayed on the display unit 101. The user can make various settings intuitively using the menu screen displayed on the display unit 101 and the four-way buttons and the SET button.

  The controller wheel 106 is a rotatable operation member included in the operation unit 104, and is used when a selection item is designated together with a direction button.

  The power control unit 214 includes a battery detection circuit, a DC-DC converter, a switch circuit that switches a block to be energized, and the like, and detects whether or not a battery is attached, the type of battery, and the remaining battery level. Further, the power control unit 214 controls the DC-DC converter based on the detection result and an instruction from the system control unit 201, and supplies a necessary voltage to each unit including the recording medium 109 for a necessary period.

  The power supply unit 215 includes a primary battery such as an alkaline battery or a lithium battery, a secondary battery such as a NiCd battery, a NiMH battery, or a lithium ion battery, an AC adapter, or the like. The recording medium I / F 216 is an interface with the recording medium 109 such as a memory card or a hard disk. The recording medium 109 is a recording medium such as a memory card for recording a captured image, and includes a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, or the like.

  The communication unit 217 is communicably connected to an external device via a wireless antenna or a wired cable, and transmits and receives video and audio. The communication unit 217 can be connected to a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet. The communication unit 217 can transmit image data (including a live view image) captured by the imaging unit 205 and an image file recorded on the recording medium 109 to an external device, and can also transmit image data and other various types from the external device. Can receive information.

  The posture detection unit 218 detects the posture of the digital camera 100 with respect to the direction of gravity. Depending on the attitude detected by the attitude detection unit 218, it is possible to determine whether an image captured by the imaging unit 205 was captured with the digital camera 100 held sideways or captured vertically. . The system control unit 201 can add information related to the posture detected by the posture detection unit 218 to the image data captured by the imaging unit 205, or rotate and store the image data. As the posture detection unit, an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, or the like can be used.

  The eyepiece detection unit 219 detects the approach (eyepiece) and separation (eyepiece) of the eye (object) with respect to the eyepiece part of the viewfinder (approach detection). The system control unit 201 switches display (display state) / non-display (non-display state) of the rear display panel 101a and the EVF 101b according to the state detected by the eyepiece detection unit 219. The eyepiece detection unit 219 can use, for example, an infrared proximity sensor, and can detect the approach of some object to the eyepiece of the finder incorporating the EVF 101b. When the object approaches, the infrared light projected from the light projecting unit (not shown) of the eyepiece detecting unit 219 is reflected and received by the light receiving unit (not shown) of the infrared proximity sensor. It is also possible to determine how far the object is approaching from the eyepiece (eyepiece distance) based on the amount of received infrared light. Thus, the eyepiece detection unit 219 performs eyepiece detection for detecting the proximity distance of the object to the eyepiece unit. When an object approaching within a predetermined distance from the eyepiece portion of the finder is detected from the non-eyepiece state (non-closed state), it is detected that the eyepiece is in contact. It is assumed that the eye is detected to be removed when the object whose approach has been detected is separated by a predetermined distance or more from the eyepiece state (approaching state). The threshold value for detecting the eyepiece and the threshold value for detecting the eye separation may be different, for example, by providing hysteresis. In addition, after detecting the eyepiece, it is assumed that the eyepiece state is maintained until eye separation is detected. After the eye separation is detected, it is assumed that the eyepiece is in the non-eyepiece state until the eyepiece is detected. Note that the infrared proximity sensor is an example, and the eyepiece detection unit 219 may employ another sensor as long as it can detect the approach of an eye or an object that can be regarded as an eyepiece.

As one of the operation units 104, a touch panel 104a capable of detecting contact with the rear display panel 101a is provided. The touch panel 104a and the rear display panel 101a can be configured integrally. For example, the touch panel 104a is configured such that the light transmittance does not hinder the display of the rear display panel 101a, and is attached to the upper layer of the display surface of the rear display panel 101a. Then, the input coordinates on the touch panel 104a are associated with the display coordinates on the rear display panel 101a. Thereby, it is possible to configure a GUI (Graphical User Interface) as if the user can directly operate the screen displayed on the rear display panel 101a. That is, the touch detection surface of the touch panel 104a becomes the display surface of the rear display panel 101a. Further, an in-cell type touch panel display in which the display element of the rear display panel 101a and the capacitive touch detection (touch detection) electrode are integrally configured without sandwiching the separator may be used. The system control unit 201 can detect the following operations or states on the touch panel 104a.
-A finger or pen that has not touched the touch panel 104a newly touched the touch panel 104a. That is, the start of touch (hereinafter referred to as touch-down).
The touch panel 104a is touched with a finger or a pen (hereinafter referred to as touch-on).
The touch panel 104a is moved while being touched with a finger or a pen (hereinafter referred to as touch-move).
-The finger or pen that touched the touch panel 104a was released. That is, the end of the touch (hereinafter referred to as touch-up).
A state where nothing is touched on the touch panel 104a (hereinafter referred to as touch-off).

  When touchdown is detected, it is also detected that touch-on is performed at the same time. After touch-down, unless touch-up is detected, normally touch-on continues to be detected. The touch move is detected in a state where touch-on is detected. Even if the touch-on is detected, the touch move is not detected unless the touch position is moved. After it is detected that all fingers or pens that have been touched are touched up, the touch is turned off.

  These operations / states and position coordinates where a finger or pen touches the touch panel 104a are notified to the system control unit 201 through the internal bus. The system control unit 201 determines what operation (touch operation) has been performed on the touch panel 104a based on the notified information. Regarding the touch move, the moving direction of the finger or pen moving on the touch panel 104a can be determined for each vertical component / horizontal component on the touch panel 104a based on the change of the position coordinates. When it is detected that a touch movement has been performed for a predetermined distance or more, it is determined that a slide operation has been performed. An operation of quickly moving a certain distance while touching a finger on the touch panel and releasing it is called a flick. In other words, the flick is an operation of quickly tracing the touch panel 104a with a finger. If it is detected that a touch move is performed at a predetermined speed or more at a predetermined speed or more, and a touch-up is detected as it is, it can be determined that a flick has been performed. In addition, when it is detected that a touch move is performed at a predetermined distance or more at a speed lower than a predetermined speed, it is determined that a drag has been performed. Further, touch up on the touch panel 104a without touch moving from the touch down is performed quickly. Is called a tap. Performing the tap twice in quick succession is called a double tap. Furthermore, a touch operation in which a plurality of locations (for example, two points) are simultaneously touched to bring the touch positions closer to each other is referred to as a pinch-in, and a touch operation that moves the touch positions away from each other is referred to as a pinch-out. Pinch-out and pinch-in are collectively referred to as pinch operation (or simply pinch).

  The touch panel 104a may be any of various types of touch panels such as a resistive film type, a capacitance type, a surface acoustic wave type, an infrared type, an electromagnetic induction type, an image recognition type, and an optical sensor type. Good. Depending on the method, there are a method for detecting that there is a touch due to contact with the touch panel, and a method for detecting that there is a touch due to the approach of a finger or pen to the touch panel, but either method may be used.

  The hardware configuration is not limited to that shown in FIG. 2. For example, one piece of hardware may perform display control, communication control, shooting control, image processing control, and the like and function as each unit of the digital camera 100. Good. A plurality of hardware may function as one means in cooperation.

The digital camera 100 can be switched between at least a playback mode for playing back an image and a shooting mode for shooting. As shooting modes, an auto mode, a manual mode, and a plurality of scene-specific shooting modes are provided. The auto mode is a mode in which various parameters of the camera are automatically determined by a program incorporated in the digital camera 100 based on the measured exposure value. The manual mode is a mode in which the user can freely change various parameters of the camera. The scene-specific shooting mode is a mode realized by combining a shutter speed and an aperture value, a strobe light emission state, sensitivity setting, white balance (WB) setting, and the like suitable for each shooting scene. The digital camera 100 has, for example, the following scene-specific shooting modes (1) to (3). However, it is not limited to these scene-specific shooting modes.
(1) Portrait shooting mode: A mode specialized in shooting a person by blurring the background to make the person stand up (2) Flower shooting mode: A mode in which the macro mode is set and the saturation is set higher (3) Sports shooting mode: Shooting mode with special settings for shooting a fast-moving subject The photographer can set the digital camera 100 to a desired shooting mode and take a picture from the shooting mode selection screen.

  In addition, the present invention can be applied not only to a camera body but also to a control device that communicates with an imaging device (including a network camera) via wired or wireless communication and controls the imaging device remotely. Examples of the control device that remotely controls the imaging device include devices such as a smartphone, a tablet PC, and a desktop PC as a kind of mobile phone. The imaging apparatus can be remotely controlled by notifying the imaging apparatus of commands for performing various operations and settings from the control apparatus based on operations performed by the control apparatus and processing performed by the control apparatus. Further, a live view image captured by the imaging device may be received via wired or wireless communication and displayed on the control device.

  <Shooting Process> Next, referring to FIGS. 3 to 11, a shooting mode by the digital camera 100 of this embodiment will be described.

  3 is realized by reading a program recorded in the nonvolatile memory 213 to the system memory 212 and executing it by the system control unit 201. When the digital camera 100 is activated in the shooting mode, the shooting mode process of FIG. 3 is started.

  In step S301, the system control unit 201 performs imaging mode initialization processing. The initialization processing is processing such as reading parameters, setting values, and setting modes including flags and control variables from the nonvolatile memory 213. In addition, the system control unit 201 confirms the state of the recording medium 109, and if there is an abnormality, displays a warning or the like when displaying shooting information described later.

  In step S <b> 302, the system control unit 201 captures an image with the image capturing unit 205, and displays a live view of the captured image on the display that is currently the display destination among the rear display panel 101 a and the EVF 101 b included in the display unit 101. It displays as an image (hereinafter referred to as LV image). Hereinafter, displaying on the display which is the current display destination among the rear display panel 101a and the EVF 101b included in the display unit 101 is simply referred to as “display on the display unit 101”.

  In step S <b> 303, the system control unit 201 displays an information display related to photographing on the display unit 101 by superimposing the information display on the LV image. As the information display, for example, a shooting mode icon representing the current shooting mode, a battery remaining amount display, a remaining number of shots displayed, shooting setting information such as shutter speed, aperture value, sensitivity, and recording image quality are displayed.

  In step S304, the system control unit 201 performs AF frame display update processing (display content change). The AF frame display update process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In step S <b> 305, the system control unit 201 determines whether the detection state of the eyepiece detection unit 219 has changed. The case where there is a change in the detection state is a case where there is either detection of an eyepiece from the non-eyepiece state or detection of an eye separation from the eyepiece state. If there is a change in the detection state, the process proceeds to S306, and if there is no change, the process proceeds to S307.

  In step S306, the system control unit 201 performs display destination switching processing. The display destination switching process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In step S <b> 307, the system control unit 201 determines whether a menu button included in the operation unit 104 has been pressed. If the menu button has been pressed, the process proceeds to S308, and if not, the process proceeds to S309.

  In step S308, the system control unit 201 performs menu screen display processing. In the menu screen display process, a menu screen is displayed on the display unit 101, and various settings are performed in accordance with user operations. If there is an operation for closing the menu screen (an operation for completing the setting operation, an operation for exiting the menu screen, or a half-press operation for the shutter button 102), the menu screen processing is terminated and the process returns to S302.

  FIG. 12A to FIG. 12C show display examples of the menu screen. FIG. 12A is a display example of the shooting setting menu screen. The menu screen is grouped by function group, such as the shooting setting menu, system setting menu, and playback setting menu, and the corresponding group can be displayed by selecting the tab corresponding to each group. it can. FIG. 12A shows a state where the shooting setting menu tab 1201 is selected and the shooting setting menu is displayed. The user moves the cursor 1204 by pressing an up / down / left / right button included in the operation unit 104, and transitions to a setting change screen for an arbitrary function by pressing the SET button. The menu item 1202 is a menu item for setting the AF mode. By selecting this item, the AF mode can be set (AF mode setting). A plurality of AF modes are prepared for each position determination method for performing AF (autofocus), and the user can select and set one of the plurality of AF modes. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that either the single point AF mode or the tracking mode can be set as the AF mode. The one-point AF mode is an AF mode in which an AF frame representing the focus adjustment position is set at the center of the shooting range or at one point designated by the user. In the one-point AF mode, the AF frame does not move even if the subject changes, and information (contrast value and phase difference AF) obtained from the position of the AF frame regardless of whether a subject such as a face is detected or not. AF is performed on the basis of the defocus amount). In the tracking mode, when there is no tracking designation from the user (when tracking is on standby or in the tracking release state), the subject that the digital camera 100 automatically determines as the main subject is the AF target (focus adjustment position). When a human face is detected, the face is prioritized and set as an AF target as the main subject. When a human face is not detected, the digital camera 100 automatically determines the main subject as an AF target according to predetermined conditions such as a moving object, a subject with a high contrast value, and a subject near the center. Further, after the tracking designation from the user is made, the subject designated in the LV image is continuously tracked, and the subject being tracked is set as the AF target. For example, when the user designates tracking of the face of the person A (during tracking), even if the person A moves on the LV image, the face of the person A is continuously tracked and set as an AF target. In addition, it is possible to set a tracking target other than a person (mono tracking), and the tracking continues even if the same subject moves in the LV image, on the condition of the color, contrast, shape, etc. of the tracking specified position. Set as AF target. That is, the tracking mode is an AF mode in which the AF position can be determined by performing tracking. The AF mode is not limited to the single point AF mode and the tracking mode. For example, there may be an AF mode (“zone AF”) in which tracking is performed within a limited area designated by the user. The set AF mode is stored in the nonvolatile memory 213, and is read out to the system memory 212 in the photographing mode processing.

  FIG. 12B is a display example of a setting screen related to touch and drag AF displayed on the display unit 101. The touch & drag AF setting screen is displayed when the touch & drag AF item is selected from the menu items included in the shooting setting menu. On the setting screen for touch & drag AF, a screen title 1211 and setting items 1212, 1213 and 1214 are displayed.

  In the setting item 1212, either “Yes” or “No” can be set for the touch and drag AF. When “Yes” is set, touch & drag AF is enabled (ON), and the AF position can be changed according to the touch move in the eyepiece state. When “No” is set, the touch and drag AF is disabled (OFF), and the AF position is not changed even if the touch move is performed in the eyepiece state. When the touch & drag AF is set to “No”, detection of touch on the touch panel 104a is stopped in response to detection of the eyepiece, and power consumption for driving the touch panel 104a is reduced. Also good. The set contents are stored in the non-volatile memory 213 and read out to the system memory 212 in the shooting mode process.

  In the setting item 1213, when touch & drag AF is set to “Yes”, the AF position designation method corresponding to the touch operation during eyepiece detection can be set to either absolute position designation or relative position designation. The initial value is an absolute position specification. In the case of absolute position designation, the position coordinates in the operation surface of the touch panel 104a and the AF-enabled area in the shooting range are uniquely associated, and when the touch panel 104a is touched, the shooting range associated with the touched position. The AF position is set at the inner position. Therefore, for example, when it is desired to set the position of the lower right subject in the LV image as the AF position, the user can set the AF position to the lower right by touching the lower right position of the touch panel 104a. On the other hand, in the case of relative position designation, the position coordinates in the operation surface of the touch panel 104a and the AF enabled area in the imaging range are not uniquely associated. In the relative position designation, when a touch move is performed on the touch panel 104a, the touch is moved by a distance corresponding to the amount of movement of the touch move from the currently set AF position to the movement direction of the touch move regardless of the touchdown position. Move position. This is an operation similar to cursor movement with a mouse in a personal computer. The set contents are stored in the non-volatile memory 213 and read out to the system memory 212 in the shooting mode process.

  In the setting item 1214, when touch & drag AF is set to “Yes”, it is possible to set a touch area range (touch reaction area) of the touch panel 104a that accepts a touch operation during eyepiece detection. In the touch and drag AF, a touch operation is performed while looking into the EVF 101b. For example, the user's nose may touch the touch panel 104a. When this nose touch is accepted as a touch position movement instruction operation, the AF position moves to an undesired position. In order to prevent this, a means for limiting the touch reaction area is provided. Even if the nose touches an area that is not a touch reaction area, it is not accepted as a movement operation of the touch position, so that it is possible to prevent the AF position from moving to an undesired position due to the nose touch. When the setting item 1214 is selected, a detailed setting screen shown in FIG. 12C is displayed. On the detailed setting screen, options that can select which area of the touch panel 104a is to be used as the touch reaction area are displayed. An area selected from these options is set as a touch reaction area in the eyepiece state, and areas other than the area set as the touch reaction area are inactive areas in the eyepiece state. Options that can be set as a touch response area include “all”, “right”, “left”, “upper right”, “lower right”, “upper left”, and “lower left”. Absent. Note that the setting of the touch reaction area is a setting reflected in the eyepiece state when the touch & drag AF is set to “Yes”. When the touch & drag AF is set to “OFF”, the entire touch panel 104a becomes a touch invalid area (non-reactive area) regardless of the setting of the setting item 1214. In the non-eyepiece state, the entire touch panel 104a becomes the touch effective area (reaction area) regardless of the setting of the touch & drag AF and the setting of the setting item 1214.

  Returning to the description of FIG. 3, in step S <b> 309, the system control unit 201 determines whether the touch and drag AF button included in the operation unit 104 has been pressed. If the touch & drag AF button is pressed, the process proceeds to S310, and if not, the process proceeds to S311.

  In step S310, the system control unit 201 switches the touch and drag AF setting to “Yes” or “No”, and displays guidance indicating that the setting has been changed. That is, it is possible to change the setting of the setting item 1212 while displaying the LV image without displaying the setting screen described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11A shows a display example on the display unit 101 when the touch & drag AF setting is changed from “No” to “Yes” by pressing the touch & drag AF button. As shown in FIG. 11A, the guidance 1132 representing the setting value of the touch and drag AF is displayed superimposed on the LV image 1131 (FIG. 11A “sets” the setting of the touch and drag AF. Guidance when changing to). The guidance 1132 is not displayed after a predetermined time (for example, 2 seconds) has elapsed. Note that the touch & drag AF button can be assigned in advance by the user, and a function other than switching between “Yes” and “No” of Touch & Drag AF can be assigned (registered). is there. If a function other than the touch / drag AF switching “Yes” or “No” is assigned, the process of S310 is not performed. It is assumed that the function assigned to the touch & drag AF button at that time is executed. Functions that can be assigned to the touch & drag AF button include, for example, an instruction to start recording a movie, a setting to turn on / off the flash, a touch shutter on / off switch for shooting in response to a touchdown, a narrowing function, etc. There is. In addition, the narrowing-down function is a function that allows the user to check what kind of focus is achieved (how much blurring is achieved) when shooting with a set aperture. When the narrowing function is assigned, the narrowing function is activated while the button is kept pressed.

  In step S311, the system control unit 201 determines whether touchdown has been detected. If there is a touchdown, the process proceeds to S312; otherwise, the process proceeds to S313. In step S312, the system control unit 201 performs touchdown processing. The touchdown process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In step S313, the system control unit 201 determines whether a touch move is detected in a touch-on state. If there is a touch move, the process proceeds to S314; otherwise (including the touch-off state), the process proceeds to S315. In step S314, the system control unit 201 performs touch move processing. The touch move process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In step S315, the system control unit 201 determines whether touch-up has been detected. If there is a touch-up, the process proceeds to S316; otherwise (the case where the touch-off is originally included, including the case after the touch is canceled by a touch cancel process described later), the process proceeds to S317. In step S316, the system control unit 201 performs touch-up processing. The touch-up process will be described later with reference to FIG.

In step S317, the system control unit 201 determines whether a touch cancel operation has been detected. If there was a touch cancel the process proceeds to S31 8, place is not the case, the process proceeds to S3 19. The touch cancel operation is, for example, an operation other than the touch panel 104a in a touch-on state (an operation on the operation unit 104 other than the touch panel 104a). When the operation unit 104 is operated in the touch-on state, the touch-on state is canceled and the operation of the operation unit 104 is validated. For example, when the shutter button 102 is half-pressed, a touch cancel process is performed and a shooting preparation process is started. In step S318, the system control unit 201 performs touch cancellation processing. The touch cancellation process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In step S319, the system control unit 201 determines whether the frame button included in the operation unit 104 has been pressed. If the frame button has been pressed, the process proceeds to S320, and if not, the process proceeds to S321. In S320, the system control unit 201 performs a frame button process. The frame button process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In step S321, the system control unit 201 determines whether the first shutter switch 102a and the second shutter switch 102b are turned on. If these switches are turned on, the process proceeds to S322, and if not, the process proceeds to S323.

  In step S322, the system control unit 201 responds to the shooting preparation process in response to the first shutter switch 102a being turned on (half-pressing the shutter button 102) and the second shutter switch 102b being turned on (full pressing of the shutter button 102). Perform the shooting process. In the shooting preparation processing in S322, AF, AE, AWB, and the like are performed based on the AF position set at that time by touch & drag AF or the like.

  In step S323, the system control unit 201 determines whether a shooting mode end operation (such as an operation for turning off the power or an operation for switching to the playback mode) has been performed. If the termination operation has not been performed, the process proceeds to S324, and the system control unit 201 performs other processing. For example, processing such as changing the shutter speed is performed in response to the operation unit 104 being operated. If the end operation is performed in S323, the shooting mode process is ended.

  <AF Frame Display Update Processing> Next, details of the AF frame display update processing in S304 of FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In step S401, the system control unit 201 refers to the setting information stored in the system memory 212, and determines whether or not the AF mode is single point AF. If it is one point AF, it will progress to S402, and if that is not right, it will progress to S404.

  In step S404, the system control unit 201 determines whether the subject is being tracked. If tracking is in progress, the process proceeds to S405. If not, the process proceeds to S406.

  In step S <b> 402, the system control unit 201 displays a one-point AF frame on the display unit 101. A display example of the single point AF frame display is shown in FIG. In FIG. 11B, a one-point AF frame 1134 and shooting information 1135 indicating shooting parameters are displayed superimposed on the LV image including the subject 1133. The position of the one-point AF frame 1134 can be moved to a position designated by the user in the LV image by an operation on the touch panel 104a or an operation of the up / down / left / right buttons included in the operation unit 104 in the frame movement mode. The position of the one-point AF frame 1134 becomes the AF position in S403 described later.

  In step S <b> 405, the system control unit 201 displays a tracking target position and a tracking frame indicating that tracking is being performed on the display unit 101. An example of a tracking frame display screen is shown in FIG. FIG. 11D shows a state in which the subject 1137 in the LV image is being tracked. A tracking frame 1138 is displayed around the subject to be tracked to indicate that this subject is being tracked. Even if the shooting range is changed by framing the digital camera 100, if the subject 1137 is within the shooting range, the tracking frame 1138 continues to show the subject 1137. The position of the tracking frame 1138 becomes an AF position in S403 described later.

  In step S406, the system control unit 201 determines whether a face (specific subject) is detected from the LV image by the face detection processing (specific subject detection processing). If a face has been detected, the process proceeds to S407, and if no face has been detected, the process proceeds to S408.

  In step S <b> 407, the system control unit 201 displays a detection frame (detection index) indicating the detected face position on the display unit 101. An example of a detection frame display screen is shown in FIG. FIG. 11C shows a state in which the face 1133 is detected from the LV image. A detection frame 1136 is displayed around the subject (face) body to be detected to indicate that this face is being detected. A plurality of detection frames 1136 may be displayed according to the detection result of the subject. That is, if a plurality of faces are detected, a plurality of detection frames 1136 (face frames) are displayed. Note that the face can be detected by analyzing the LV image by the image processing unit 207. In the present embodiment, an example in which a face can be detected as a specific subject that can be detected by the image processing unit 207 is described. However, the digital camera 100 is not limited to a person's face and the digital camera 100 is automatically used as a main subject in an LV image. Detection frames 1136 may be displayed for other determined subjects. For example, when an animal face, moving object, high-contrast subject, etc. can be detected in addition to the face, a detection frame may be displayed as the AF position. When a face is detected, the priority is basically high as the face is the main subject. The position of the detection frame 1136 becomes an AF position in S403 described later.

In S40 8, the system control unit 201, and hides the detection frame. That is, when the detection frame is displayed until immediately before, the displayed detection frame is deleted, and when the detection frame is not displayed immediately before, the detection frame is not continuously displayed.

In S40 3, the system control unit 201, the position for continuous AF, and updates the current AF position, performs continuous AF. Continuous AF is a function that performs an AF operation continuously (continuously) so as to automatically keep the focus at the AF position in the shooting standby state even if the user does not perform an AF execution operation.

  <Display Destination Switching Process> Next, the details of the display destination switching process in S306 of FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In step S <b> 501, the system control unit 201 determines whether the state change detected by the eyepiece detection unit 219 is a change from a non-eyepiece state to an eyepiece state (that is, whether an eyepiece is detected). If it is a change from the non-eyepiece state to the eyepiece state, the process proceeds to S506, and if not, the process proceeds to S502.

  In step S506, the system control unit 201 switches the display destination from the rear display panel 101a to the EVF 101b. In S506, even when the touch is detected (touch-on) before the change to the eyepiece state (detection of the eyepiece) that causes the switching of the display destination, the display destination is immediately displayed on the rear display panel 101a. To EVF 101b. On the other hand, as will be described later in S507, if it is determined NO in S501 (when eye separation is detected), the display destination is immediately switched if the touch-on has occurred before the change to the eyepiece state. Absent.

  In step S <b> 508, the system control unit 201 refers to the setting information stored in the system memory 212 and determines whether the AF mode is single point AF. If it is a single point AF, the process proceeds to S515, and if not (the tracking mode), the process proceeds to S510.

  In step S510, the system control unit 201 determines whether the subject specified by the user is being tracked. If it is determined that tracking is in progress, the process proceeds to S512, and if not, the process proceeds to S515.

  In S512, the system control unit 201 displays a tracking cancellation guide indicating the tracking cancellation method on the EVF 101b. The user can see the display and cancel subject tracking as necessary. The tracking cancellation guide includes message display and icon display. The tracking cancellation can be performed by a touch operation on an icon as a tracking cancellation guide (only when the display destination is the rear display panel 101a) or a button operation included in the operation unit 104.

  On the other hand, in step S <b> 502, the system control unit 201 refers to the setting information stored in the system memory 212 and determines whether or not the above-described touch and drag AF setting is “Yes”. If it is set to “Yes”, the process proceeds to S503, and if not, the process proceeds to S507. In step S503, the system control unit 201 determines whether the current state is touch-on (a valid touch is detected). If it is touch-on, the process proceeds to S504, and if not, the process proceeds to S507.

  In step S <b> 504, the system control unit 201 determines whether the non-eyepiece state has continued for a predetermined time (for example, continued for 2 seconds) in the eyepiece detection unit 219. If it continues for a predetermined time, the process proceeds to S505, and if not, the process proceeds to S507.

  In step S <b> 505, the system control unit 201 determines whether the detection state of the eyepiece detection unit 219 has changed. Since the eyepiece is in the non-eyepiece state before the detection in S505, the process in S505 is to determine whether or not an eyepiece has been detected. If there is a change (when an eyepiece is detected), the process proceeds to S501. If there is no change (if the eyepiece remains in the non-eyepiece state), the process returns to S503, and the display of the EVF 101b is maintained.

  In step S507, the system control unit 201 switches the display destination from the EVF 101b to the rear display panel 101a. The switching of the display destination is not immediately performed when touch-on is performed before the eyepiece state changes (before eye separation detection) as described in S503 to S505. If touch-off was detected at the time of eye separation detection and touch-on at the time of detection of eye separation (YES in S503), but the non-eyepiece state continued for a predetermined time after detection of eye separation (YES in S504), or touch-off occurred If this is the case (NO in S803), the process is performed. In addition to switching to the rear display panel 101a, calibration (initialization processing) of the touch panel 104a is performed. In a capacitive touch panel, the calibration adjusts the reference capacitance value or the threshold value of the capacitance by calibration. In a capacitive touch panel, if calibration is performed in a touched state, there is a risk of misjudgment or misalignment in determining whether there is a touch and / or calculating the touch position in a touch-on state. . In the in-cell type touch panel, since the display element and the touch detection electrode are configured without sandwiching the separator, the drive of the display element and the touch detection may interfere with each other. Therefore, if the display start and calibration of the rear display panel 101a are simultaneously performed while being touched, there is a high possibility of erroneous determination or misalignment in the determination of the presence or absence of touch and / or the calculation of the touch position. In contrast, in S507, when touch-on is performed before the eyepiece state changes (before eye separation detection), the calibration is controlled so that the calibration is not performed immediately. Can do. If the non-eyepiece state continues for a predetermined time after the eye separation (YES in S504), the display destination is switched from the EVF 101b to the rear display panel 101a, but the calibration may not be performed until the touch-off is performed. In this case, calibration is performed when touch-off occurs. Even if it is determined that the touch-on is not performed in S503, it is assumed that the touch is in the middle of a series of touch operations while a later-described designated position index is displayed, so that the switching of the display destination is suppressed in S504. You may make it go.

  In step S509, the system control unit 201 refers to the setting information stored in the system memory 212 and determines whether the AF mode is single point AF. If it is one point AF, the process proceeds to S515, and if not (in the tracking mode), the process proceeds to S511.

  In step S511, the system control unit 201 determines whether a specified position index (details will be described later) is being displayed. If it is being displayed, the process is terminated; otherwise, the process proceeds to S513.

  In step S513, the system control unit 201 determines whether a tracking cancellation guide is displayed on the EVF 101b. If it is displayed, the process proceeds to S514, and if not, the process ends.

  In S514, the system control unit 201 displays a tracking cancellation guide on the rear display panel 101a. The tracking cancellation guide is the same as that described in S512.

  In step S515, the system control unit 201 performs AF frame display update processing. This process is the process described with reference to FIG. When the A frame display update process is performed, the display destination switching process is terminated.

  As described above, even if eye separation is detected by the eyepiece detection unit 219, the display destination is not switched while the user is performing a touch operation using the touch panel 104a (S501 to S507). On the other hand, when the eye contact detection unit 219 detects eye separation, if the touch operation is not performed, the display destination is switched without waiting for a predetermined time (S501 to S506).

  Touch & drag AF is a function for operating the touch panel 104a while looking at the rear display panel 101a. Then, when the user moves his / her finger close to the eyepiece detection unit 219 or by moving the finger between the face and the touch panel 104a in order to operate the touch panel 104a, the eye is erroneously separated from the eyepiece detection unit 219. May end up. In this case, if the system control unit 201 immediately switches the display destination, an operation on the rear display panel 101a is required. Therefore, for a user who wants to take a picture while looking into the EVF 101b, a time-consuming photography opportunity is required for the operation. There is a risk of missing. Furthermore, display / non-display of the EVF 101b is repeatedly performed due to repeated detection / non-detection of the eyepiece, which is not convenient. Furthermore, when the eye is mistakenly moved away from the eyepiece detection unit 219, it is possible to display the rear display panel 101a at the same time without hiding the EVF 101b. In this case, however, the power consumption increases. End up. In order to solve such a problem, processing as shown in FIG. 5 is performed.

  Depending on the shooting scene, it may be desired to switch the display destination while touching. Therefore, when the non-eyepiece state continues for a predetermined time (YES in S504), the display destination is switched to the rear display panel 101a. ing. However, regardless of the duration during which the eyepiece detection unit 219 detects the non-eyepiece state, as long as the touch operation continues (as long as the touch is on), the display destination is not switched to the rear display panel 101a. The display on the EVF 101b may be maintained.

  If NO is obtained in S501, the process may proceed from S502 to S505 without performing the process from S502. That is, when eye separation is detected, the display destination may be switched from the EVF 101b to the rear display panel 101a regardless of whether or not touch-on is detected.

  Further, whether to perform the processing from S502 to S505 may be divided depending on whether the touch-on is performed in the area set as the touch reaction area or the touch-on is performed in an area other than the touch reaction area. For example, when an eye separation is detected when touch-on is detected in a region other than the touch reaction region (touch invalid region), the above-described processing from S502 to S505 is performed for a touch outside the touch reaction region. There is a high possibility that the touch detected in the touch invalid area is a contact with the nose. By doing so, the eyepiece is not detected because the nose is in contact (that is, the eyepiece is actually in contact), the camera is changed, etc., and the display destination is not switched in a situation where it is detected that the eye is separated. Can be. On the other hand, if touch-on is not detected in areas other than the touch reaction area, and if an eye separation is detected when touch-on is detected in the touch reaction area, the process proceeds to S507 without performing the processing from S502 to S505 described above. The display destination may be switched with. This situation is because the user may intentionally remove his / her eye while touching with the finger operating the touch panel 104a to check the rear display panel 101a.

  Further, the rear display panel 101a may be configured as a tilt type monitor or a vari-angle type monitor that can be rotated to an arbitrary position or posture with respect to the main body of the digital camera 100. In this case, the digital camera 100 includes a monitor position detection unit that detects the position and orientation of the vari-angle monitor with respect to the camera body. When it is detected that the vari-angle monitor is closed in a direction in which the display surface of the rear display panel 101a is exposed on the camera rear side (that is, in the same direction as shown in FIG. 1), the above-described S502 is started. The process of S505 is performed. On the other hand, if the vari-angle monitor is open, the display destination may be switched to S507 without performing the processing from S502 to S505 described above. This is because when the vari-angle monitor is open, a finger for operating the touch panel 104a is not positioned near the face or eyes, and the above-described problem does not occur.

  In addition, although control which suppresses switching of a display destination by the presence or absence of touch-on was illustrated, you may make it suppress not only touch operation but switching of a display destination when there exists operation of another operation member. For example, the display destination may not be switched if a button to which the above-described narrowing function is assigned is being operated. In addition, an operation member close to the eyepiece portion of the EVF 101b or an operation member that is provided on the rear surface of the camera and that inserts a finger between the user's face that is in eye contact during operation and the rear surface of the camera is displayed. Control (S502 to S505) that suppresses switching may be performed. For example, a controller wheel 106 can be considered as an operation member that inserts a finger between the face of the user who is in eye contact with the digital camera 100 when operating. As another operation member, for example, a zoom lever provided around the shutter button 102 can be considered. In this case, when eye separation detection is determined in the middle of the rotation operation of the controller wheel 106, the processing of S504 and S505 is performed without proceeding to S507, and the rotation operation of the controller wheel 106 is completed or the eyepiece is not in the eyepiece. When the time elapses, the process proceeds to S507. On the other hand, even if the zoom lever is operated when eye separation is detected, the process proceeds to S507 without proceeding to S505 from S503. The zoom lever is an operation member provided on a surface (for example, the upper part or around the lens barrel of the lens on the front surface of the camera) different from the surface (back surface) of the EVF 101b with the eyepiece portion of the digital camera 100. Therefore, it is unlikely that the user's face is unintentionally separated from the eyepiece due to the influence of the finger operating the zoom lever.

  Moreover, although control which suppresses switching of a display destination when there is touch-on according to presence / absence of touch-on is illustrated, even if switching which controls to suppress switching of display destination according to the type of touch operation is switched Good. For example, when the touch-on state is continued, it may be considered that the AF frame related operation is not performed, and the control for suppressing the switching of the display destination may not be performed. Then, in a state where the touch move operation is repeatedly performed within a predetermined time, it is assumed that the AF frame related operation (AF frame moving operation by touch & drag AF) is being performed, and the display destination You may make it perform control which suppresses switching.

  <Touchdown Processing> Next, details of the touchdown processing in S312 of FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In step S601, the system control unit 201 determines whether the display destination is the rear display panel 101a. If it is a rear display panel, the process proceeds to S602, and if not, the process proceeds to S610.

  In step S <b> 602, the system control unit 201 refers to the setting information stored in the system memory 212 and determines whether the AF mode is the single point AF mode. If it is the one-point AF mode, the process proceeds to S603; otherwise (if the tracking mode), the process proceeds to S606.

  In step S603, the system control unit 201 displays a one-point AF frame at coordinates on the rear display panel 101a corresponding to the touchdown position on the touch panel 104a.

  In step S604, the system control unit 201 updates the position where the continuous AF is performed to the current position of the one-point AF frame, and performs the continuous AF.

  In step S605, the system control unit 201 displays a guide for returning the position of the one-point AF frame to the center on the rear display panel 101a. The guide may be a text guidance or an icon. The operation for returning the position of the one-point AF frame to the center may be a button operation included in the operation unit 104 or a touch operation on the touch panel 104a.

  In S606, the system control unit 201 tracks the subject detected in the vicinity of the coordinates of the rear display panel 101a corresponding to the touchdown position of the touch panel 104a. This transitions to a tracking state.

  In step S <b> 607, the system control unit 201 displays a tracking frame 1138 in a range indicating the subject being tracked in the LV image displayed on the rear display panel 101 a.

  In step S <b> 608, the system control unit 201 updates the position for performing continuous AF to the current tracking position, and performs continuous AF.

  In step S609, the system control unit 201 displays a tracking cancellation guide on the rear display panel 101a. The tracking cancellation guide is the same as that described in S512.

  In step S <b> 610, the system control unit 201 refers to the setting information stored in the system memory 212 and determines whether the above-described touch & drag AF setting is “Yes”. If it is set to “Yes”, the process proceeds to S611, and if not, the process ends.

  In step S611, the system control unit 201 refers to the setting information stored in the system memory 212, and determines whether or not the setting of the AF position designation method is set to absolute position designation. If the absolute position designation is set, the process proceeds to S612, and if not, the process proceeds to S620.

  In step S612, the system control unit 201 refers to the setting information stored in the system memory 212, and determines whether or not the AF mode is the single point AF mode. If it is single point AF, the process proceeds to S613, and if not (if tracking mode), the process proceeds to S616.

  In step S613, the system control unit 201 displays a one-point AF frame at a position on the EVF 101b corresponding to the touchdown position on the touch panel 104a.

  In step S614, the system control unit 201 updates the position where continuous AF is performed to the current one-point AF frame position, and performs continuous AF.

  In step S615, the system control unit 201 displays a guide for returning the position of the one-point AF frame to the center on the EVF 101b.

  In step S616, the system control unit 201 determines whether the subject is currently being tracked. If tracking is in progress, the process proceeds to S618, and if not, the process proceeds to S617.

  In step S617, the system control unit 201 cancels the tracking of the subject and makes a transition to the tracking cancellation state. As a result, the tracking frame 1138 is not displayed.

  In step S618, the system control unit 201 displays the designated position index at coordinates on the EVF 101b corresponding to the touchdown position on the touch panel 104a. That is, when touchdown is performed during tracking execution, tracking is canceled, and instead, a specified position index is displayed to specify a new tracking destination. FIG. 11E shows a display example of the designated position index in the EVF 101b. The designated position index 1139 is an index (cursor) that can be moved according to the user's touch move operation, and indicates the current designated position with respect to the LV image by the touch & drag AF function. The designated position index 1139 is displayed in the eyepiece state and during the touch operation (touch-on state), and is not displayed when the non-eyepiece state, the EVF 101b is not displayed, and the touch and drag AF is set to “No”. The designated position index 1139 is displayed on the EVF 101b and is not displayed on the rear display panel 101a. When the designated position index 1139 is set to the absolute position designation, the designated position index 1139 is displayed at a position uniquely associated with the touch position of the touch panel 104a. When the designated position index 1139 is set to the relative position designation, the designated position index 1139 is moved from the current position in accordance with the direction and amount of movement of the touch move regardless of where the touch position is on the touch panel 104a. The Even when the designated position index 1139 is displayed, if a specific subject is detected, a detection frame 1136 is displayed.

  In step S619, the system control unit 201 updates the position where continuous AF is performed to a position based on the current subject detection result, and performs continuous AF. The position at which the continuous AF is performed is not a position based on the designated position index 1139 but a position based on the subject that the digital camera 100 automatically determines as the main subject. That is, the AF control is the same as in the tracking release state.

  In step S620, the system control unit 201 refers to the setting information stored in the system memory 212, and determines whether or not the AF mode is the single point AF mode. If it is one-point AF, the process ends. If not (if in tracking mode), the process proceeds to S621.

  In step S621, the system control unit 201 determines whether the subject is currently being tracked. If tracking is in progress, the process advances to step S622; otherwise, the process advances to step S627.

  In step S622, the system control unit 201 cancels the tracking of the subject and makes a transition to the tracking cancellation state. As a result, the tracking frame 1138 is not displayed. That is, when touchdown is performed during tracking, tracking is canceled, and instead, a suction detection frame is displayed in S624 to specify a new tracking destination, or a specified position index is displayed in S625. Is done.

  In step S623, the system control unit 201 detects whether the tracking position when the tracking is canceled is in the vicinity of the detection position of the face (specific subject) (the tracking position when the tracking is canceled is the detection of the face (specific subject)). It is determined whether or not it is within a predetermined range from the position. In this determination, for example, when a face (specific subject) is detected, at least partly overlaps the range of the face (specific subject) in which the tracking target range (tracking range) at the time of tracking cancellation is detected. If it is, it is determined to be near. Also, when a face (specific subject) is detected, it is close when the center of the tracking target range (tracking range) at the time of tracking cancellation is within the detected face (specific subject) range It may be determined that Further, it may be determined whether or not the tracked target is a face, and YES may be determined when the tracked target is a face. If it is determined that the tracking position when the tracking is canceled is near the detection position of the face (specific subject), the process proceeds to S624; otherwise, the process proceeds to S625.

  In S624, the system control unit 201 displays the during-suction detection frame 1140 in a range indicating the detected face (specific subject), which is determined in S623 to be near the tracking position at the time of tracking cancellation.

  In step S625, the system control unit 201 displays the specified position index 1139 at the coordinates on the EVF 101b that has displayed the tracking frame until immediately before the tracking is canceled.

  In S626, as in S619, the system control unit 201 updates the position where the continuous AF is performed to a position based on the current subject detection result regardless of the position of the designated position index. Do.

  In step S627, the system control unit 201 determines whether the designated position index 1139 is being displayed on the EVF 101b. When the relative position designation is set in the tracking mode, if the object detected at the position of the designated position index 1139 is not attracted during the touch-up process to be described later, the tracking target even after the touch-up is performed. The specified position index 1139 remains displayed for a predetermined time without confirming. Accordingly, the designated position index 1139 can be moved to a desired position by a touch move operation by continuous touch divided into several times by specifying the relative position.

  In step S627, the system control unit 201 determines whether the designated position index 1139 is being displayed. If it is being displayed, the process proceeds to S629. Otherwise, the process proceeds to S628.

In step S628, the system control unit 201 displays the designated position index 1139 at the center of the LV image displayed on the EVF 101b. That is, in the relative position designation, when the touchdown is performed without the designated position index 1139 being displayed, the designated position index 1139 is displayed at the initial position (center) regardless of the touchdown position. In S629, as in S619, the position for performing continuous AF is updated to a position based on the current subject detection result, and continuous AF is performed.

  <Touch Move Process> Next, the details of the touch move process in S314 of FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In step S701, the system control unit 201 determines whether the display destination is the rear display panel 101a. If it is a rear display panel, the process proceeds to S702, and if not, the process proceeds to S706.

  In step S <b> 702, the system control unit 201 refers to the setting information stored in the system memory 212 and determines whether or not the AF mode is the single point AF mode. In the case of single point AF, the process proceeds to S703, and if not (if in tracking mode), the process ends. That is, when the display destination is the rear display panel 101a and the tracking mode is selected, the tracking target is not changed according to the touch move, and the AF to the position according to the touch move is not performed. As described above in S606 to S608, the tracking target is determined based on the touch-down position, and the tracking of the tracking target determined based on the touch-down position continues even after the touch is continuously performed and the touch move is performed. Is done.

  In step S703, the system control unit 201 displays a one-point AF frame at coordinates on the rear display panel 101a corresponding to the position after the touch move on the touch panel 104a.

  In step S704, the system control unit 201 updates the position where the continuous AF is performed to the current position of the one-point AF frame, and performs the continuous AF.

  In step S705, the system control unit 201 displays a guide for returning the position of the one-point AF frame to the center on the rear display panel 101a. The guide to return to the center is the same as that described in S605.

  In step S <b> 706, the system control unit 201 refers to the setting information stored in the system memory 212 and determines whether or not the above-described touch & drag AF setting is “Yes”. If it is set to “Yes”, the process proceeds to S707, and if it is set to “No”, the process ends.

  In step S <b> 707, the system control unit 201 refers to the setting information stored in the system memory 212 and determines whether or not the setting of the AF position designation method is set to absolute position designation. If the absolute position designation is set, the process proceeds to S708; otherwise (if relative position designation), the process proceeds to S715.

  In step S <b> 708, the system control unit 201 refers to the setting information stored in the system memory 212 and determines whether or not the AF mode is the single point AF mode. If it is one point AF, the process proceeds to S709, and if not, the process proceeds to S712.

  In step S709, the system control unit 201 displays a one-point AF frame at coordinates on the EVF 101b corresponding to the position after the touch move on the touch panel 104a.

  In step S710, the system control unit 201 updates the position where the continuous AF is performed to the current one-point AF frame position, and performs the continuous AF.

  In step S711, the system control unit 201 displays a guide for returning the position of the one-point AF frame to the center on the EVF 101b. The guide to return to the center is the same as that described in S605.

  In step S712, the system control unit 201 determines whether the coordinates on the EVF 101b (designated position on the LV image) corresponding to the touch position after the touch move on the touch panel 104a are in the vicinity of the detected subject. . That is, it is determined whether or not the designated position on the LV image is within a predetermined range from the position of the detected subject. This determination is made when the face (specific subject) is detected and the coordinates on the EVF 101b corresponding to the touch position after the touch move are within the displayed detection frame 1136 (face detection frame). Assume that it is in the vicinity. Further, when a face (specific subject) is detected, and the coordinates on the EVF 101b corresponding to the touch position after the touch move are outside the displayed detection frame 1136 (face detection frame), Assume that it is not near. Further, even when a face (specific subject) is not detected, it is determined that the face is not near. The determination of the neighborhood is not limited to this. For example, when a face (specific subject) is detected, the coordinates on the EVF 101b corresponding to the touch position after the touch move are multiplied by a predetermined number (for example, 1.. If it is within the range of (5 times), it may be determined to be near. Further, when a face (specific subject) is detected, the range indicated by the designated position index 1139 moved by the touch move at least partially overlaps the range of the displayed detection frame 1136 (face detection frame). If it is a position, it may be determined as a neighborhood. If it is near, the process proceeds to S713, and if not, the process proceeds to S714.

  In step S713, the system control unit 201 hides the detection frame 1136 and the specified position index 1139 displayed on the EVF 101b, and displays the suction detection frame 1140. FIG. 11F shows a display example of the during-adsorption detection frame 1140. The during-adsorption detection frame 1140 is displayed so as to be superimposed on the LV image, and when touch-up is performed in this state, it indicates that the subject surrounded by the during-adsorption detection frame 1140 is a tracking target. The suction detection frame 1140 is displayed in the same shape as the tracking frame 1138 to indicate that it becomes a tracking target when touched up, but is different from the tracking frame 1138 so that the difference from the tracking frame 1138 can be identified. Displayed in color. The display form of the during-adsorption detection frame 1140 is not limited to this example, and may be any expression that can identify that tracking is started when touched up, although tracking is not in progress. For example, with the specified position index 1139 being displayed, a trackable icon or a trackable guide may be displayed, or only the color of the specified position index 1139 may be changed.

  In S714, the system control unit 201 displays the designated position index 1139 at the coordinates on the EVF 101b corresponding to the touch position after the touch move on the touch panel 104a.

  In step S715, the system control unit 201 refers to the setting information stored in the system memory 212, and determines whether or not the AF mode is the single point AF mode. If it is one point AF, the process proceeds to S716, and if not (in the tracking mode), the process proceeds to S719.

  In step S716, the system control unit 201 displays a one-point AF frame at coordinates on the EVF 101b corresponding to the position according to the movement direction and movement amount of the touch move operation on the touch panel 104a. Since this position is a relative position designation, it is not a position uniquely corresponding to the touch position.

  In step S717, the system control unit 201 updates the position where continuous AF is performed to the current one-point AF frame position, and performs continuous AF.

  In step S718, the system control unit 201 displays a guide for returning the position of the one-point AF frame to the center on the EVF 101b. The guide to return to the center is the same as that described in S605.

  In step S719, the system control unit 201 sets the coordinates (designated position on the LV image) on the EVF 101b corresponding to the position according to the moving direction and the moving amount of the touch move operation on the touch panel 104a in the vicinity of the detected subject. It is determined whether or not there is. This determination is the same as the determination in S712 described above, but since the comparison target with the detection frame 1136 (face detection frame) is not the absolute position designation, the position uniquely corresponds to the touch position after the touch move. It is not the position specified by relative position specification. If it is determined to be near, the process proceeds to S720, and if not, the process proceeds to S721.

  In S720, as in S713, the system control unit 201 hides the detection frame 1136 and the specified position index 1139 displayed on the EVF 101b, and displays the during-adsorption detection frame 1140.

  In step S721, the system control unit 201 displays the designated position index 1139 at coordinates on the EVF 101b corresponding to the designated position corresponding to the movement direction and amount of the touch move operation on the touch panel 104a (index display position change process). ). In this state, continuous AF is not performed at the position of the designated position index 1139, and continuous AF is performed at a position based on the current subject detection result. In this state, the AF operation may be stopped (AF is not performed).

  <Touch-Up Process> Next, the details of the touch-up process in S316 of FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In step S801, the system control unit 201 determines whether the display destination is the rear display panel 101a. If it is a rear display panel, the process ends. If not, the process proceeds to S802.

  In step S <b> 802, the system control unit 201 refers to the setting information stored in the system memory 212 and determines whether or not the above-described touch & drag AF setting is “Yes”. If it is set to “Yes”, the process proceeds to S803, and if not, the process ends.

  In step S803, the system control unit 201 refers to the setting information stored in the system memory 212, and determines whether or not the setting of the AF position designation method is set to absolute position designation. If the absolute position designation is set, the process proceeds to S804, and if not, the process proceeds to S809.

  In step S804, the system control unit 201 refers to the setting information stored in the system memory 212, and determines whether or not the AF mode is the single point AF mode. If it is the one-point AF mode, the process is terminated. If not (the tracking mode is selected), the process proceeds to S805.

  In step S805, the system control unit 201 starts tracking the subject detected near the specified position based on the coordinates (specified position) on the EVF 101b corresponding to the touch-up position on the touch panel 104a (being tracking). .

  In step S806, the system control unit 201 displays the tracking frame 1138 in a range indicating the subject being tracked in the LV image displayed on the EVF 101b.

  In step S807, the system control unit 201 updates the position for performing continuous AF to the current tracking position, and performs continuous AF.

  In step S808, the system control unit 201 displays a tracking cancellation guide on the rear display panel 101a. The tracking cancellation guide is the same as that described in S512.

  In step S809, the system control unit 201 refers to the setting information stored in the system memory 212 and determines whether the AF mode is the single point AF mode. If it is the one-point AF mode, the process ends. If not (the tracking mode), the process proceeds to S810.

  In step S810, the system control unit 201 determines whether or not the adsorption detection frame 1140 is displayed on the EVF 101b. If it is displayed, the process proceeds to S813, and if not, the process proceeds to S811.

  In step S <b> 811, the system control unit 201 determines whether an operation for interrupting the tracking determination wait has been performed on the operation unit 104. The operation for interrupting the tracking confirmation wait is, for example, a new touchdown or an instruction to display another screen (menu screen) by pressing a menu button included in the operation unit 104. If an operation to interrupt is performed, the process is terminated, and if not, the process proceeds to S812. If there is a new touchdown, it is determined in S311 in FIG. 3 that there has been a touchdown, and it is determined in S627 in FIG. 6 that there has been a touchdown during display of the designated position index 1139.

  In step S812, the system control unit 201 determines whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the touch-up was detected. The predetermined time only needs to be sufficient as the time until the next new touch in a series of continuous touch operations in order for the user to continuously move the designated position index 1139, and is, for example, about 1 second. If the predetermined time has elapsed, the process proceeds to S813, and if not, the process returns to S811.

  In step S813, the system control unit 201 starts tracking the subject detected in the vicinity of the specified position index 1139 based on the position of the specified position index 1139 displayed on the EVF 101b (being tracking).

  Since the processing from S814 to S816 is the same as the processing from S806 to S808, description thereof will be omitted.

  As described above, when the AF mode is the tracking mode and the position designation method is the relative position designation, when the designated position index 1139 is moved to an arbitrary position on the LV image by the touch & drag AF function, the predetermined position after the touch-up is determined. The subject to be tracked is determined after a lapse of time.

  This is because, in tracking mode, if AF starts while moving the AF position from one subject to another, for example, the background is in focus and the subject you want to track is blurred. This is to prevent the inconvenience of being detected.

  Further, when the position designation method is the relative position designation method, it is assumed that the user performs a touch move operation a plurality of times in order to move the designated position index to a desired subject. If tracking is started, operability is not good. On the other hand, it is not preferable for the user to separately instruct to start tracking immediately after the touch-up because the trouble of operation increases. In order to solve such a problem, forms such as S721 in FIG. 7 and S811 and S812 in FIG. 8 are adopted.

  In addition, if the subject has already been detected for the designated position index (the detection frame is displayed during suction), it is assumed that the user has moved the designated position index to the desired subject, and the predetermined position index is determined until confirmation. The tracking subject is determined immediately without waiting for the passage of time. This makes it easy to specify a tracking target even when the subject to be tracked is moving.

  <Touch Cancel Processing> Next, details of the touch cancel processing in S318 of FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In step S901, the system control unit 201 determines whether the display destination is the rear display panel 101a. If it is a rear display panel, the process proceeds to S911, and if not, the process proceeds to S902.

  In step S <b> 902, the system control unit 201 refers to the setting information stored in the system memory 212 and determines whether or not the above-described touch & drag AF setting is “Yes”. If “Yes” is set, the process proceeds to S903, and if not, the process proceeds to S911.

  In step S903, the system control unit 201 refers to the setting information stored in the system memory 212, and determines whether or not the AF mode is the single point AF mode. If the one-point AF mode is selected, the process proceeds to S911. If not, the process proceeds to S904.

  In step S904, the system control unit 201 determines whether the designated position index 1139 is being displayed on the EVF 101b. If it is being displayed, the process proceeds to S905, and if not, the process proceeds to S911.

  In step S <b> 905, the system control unit 201 determines whether the touch cancel operation is on (SW <b> 1 on) of the first shutter switch 102 a due to half-pressing of the shutter button 102. If SW1 is on, the process proceeds to S906, and if not, the process proceeds to S907.

  In step S <b> 906, the system control unit 201 hides the designated position index 1139. In step S907, the system control unit 201 starts tracking the subject detected in the vicinity of the specified position index 1139 based on the position of the specified position index 1139 displayed on the EVF 101b (being tracking). This process is the same as S813 in FIG. In other words, if there is a touch cancel operation, even if the touch is kept being touched, and there is a shooting preparation instruction by turning on SW1, the tracking target is determined based on the position of the designated position index 1139 at that time, and tracking is performed. At the same time, the shooting preparation process is performed at the tracking position. Accordingly, it is possible to quickly perform shooting with AF on a desired subject when the designated position index 1139 reaches the position of the desired subject without performing touch-up. If there is an operation other than the first shutter switch 102a while being touched, the touch operation is canceled while the tracking release state is not established without determining the tracking target.

Since the processing from S908 to S910 is the same as S806 to S808 in FIG. In step S911, the system control unit 201 performs the touch-up process illustrated in FIG.

  Note that the operation for interrupting the tracking confirmation waiting in S811 described in FIG. 8 and the operation for starting tracking even during the touch being YES in S905 are not limited to the example described above. The operation of another operation member included in the operation unit 104 may be performed, or the tracking determination waiting may be interrupted or tracking may be triggered by switching the display destination of the rear display panel 101a / EVF 101b by the user's eyepiece / eye separation. .

  <Frame Button Processing> Next, details of the frame button processing in S320 of FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In step S1001, the system control unit 201 refers to the setting information stored in the system memory 212, and determines whether or not the AF mode is the single point AF mode. If it is a one-point AF, the process proceeds to S1002, and if not (the tracking mode), the process proceeds to S1005.

  In step S <b> 1002, the system control unit 201 determines whether the frame button included in the operation unit 104 has been pressed for a long time (whether it has been pressed for a predetermined time or more). If the button is pressed for a long time, the process proceeds to S1004. Otherwise, the process proceeds to S1003.

  In step S1003, the system control unit 201 shifts to a frame movement mode in which the position of the one-point AF frame can be changed. In this mode, it is possible to move the one-point AF frame according to the operation of the up / down / left / right buttons and the controller wheel 106 included in the operation unit 104 in addition to the operation using the touch panel 104a described so far. It is also possible to enlarge the LV image at an arbitrary position.

  In step S1004, the system control unit 201 returns the position of the one-point AF frame to the center. In step S1005, the system control unit 201 determines whether the display destination is the rear display panel 101a. If it is a rear display panel, the process proceeds to S1006, and if not, the process proceeds to S1007.

  In step S1006, the system control unit 201 transitions to the face selection mode. The face selection mode is a function for tracking the most suitable subject in the currently detected subject.

  In step S <b> 1007, the system control unit 201 refers to the setting information held in the system memory 212 and determines whether or not the above-described AF position designation method is set to absolute position designation. If the absolute position designation is set, the process proceeds to S1008, and if not, the process proceeds to S1006.

  In step S1008, the system control unit 201 determines whether the subject is being tracked. If tracking is in progress, the process proceeds to S1009, and if not, the process proceeds to S1006.

  In step S1009, the system control unit 201 cancels the tracking of the subject and makes a transition to the tracking cancellation state. As a result, the tracking frame 1138 is not displayed.

  In step S1010, the system control unit 201 updates the position for performing continuous AF to a position based on the current subject detection result, and performs continuous AF, as in step S619 of FIG.

  Although the EVF 101b has been described as an example so far, the present invention can be applied to an imaging apparatus including an optical viewfinder instead of the EVF 101b. In that case, replace and apply as follows. The eyepiece detection unit 219 detects an eyepiece to the eyepiece part of the optical viewfinder. In the eyepiece state, the rear display panel 101a is not displayed, and driving of an information display liquid crystal display element provided in the optical viewfinder is started. The display element in the optical viewfinder may be displayed in a non-eyepiece state. On the rear display panel 101a, an LV image may not be displayed in a non-eyepiece state, information other than the LV image may be displayed, or may not be displayed. However, when the touch & drag AF is set to “Yes”, the touch panel 104a is driven. In the optical viewfinder, the LV image is not displayed even in the eyepiece state, and the optical image can be visually recognized instead. The tracking frame, the specified position index, and the during-adsorption detection frame described as being displayed in the eyepiece state are displayed by a plurality of predetermined display elements superimposed on the optical image in the optical viewfinder. The detection frame may or may not be displayed.

  It should be noted that the frame representation described so far may be variable in size depending on the situation, or may not be composed of one frame. For example, when a plurality of AF points are previously displayed on the display unit such as an optical viewfinder, the colors of the plurality of AF points are changed according to the position and area of the touched finger when indicating the touch position. For example, the touch position may be indicated.

  Further, the length of the waiting time until tracking is confirmed in S811 may be changed by the user, or may be automatically changed according to the shooting scene. For example, when a moving object can be detected from an LV image and a moving object is detected, the tracking target is determined immediately even when the suction detection frame is not displayed in response to touch-up. Also good. Alternatively, in a scene where the digital camera 100 itself is determined to be moving based on the output from the posture detection unit 218 or the analysis of the time axis correlation of the LV image, the detection frame during suction may not be displayed in response to touch-up. The tracking target may be fixed immediately. This is because in these scenes, it can be assumed that the user wants to track the moving object on the LV image. Further, when the shooting mode is set on the assumption that a subject with much movement is shot, the tracking target may be determined immediately even when the suction detection frame is not being displayed in response to touch-up. Shooting modes that are intended to shoot subjects with much movement include, for example, a sports shooting mode (described above), a fireworks display mode, a pet (animal) shooting mode, and a children (kids) shooting mode among a plurality of shooting modes by scene. . Moreover, as a shooting mode that is not a shooting mode that assumes shooting of a subject with a lot of movement (a shooting mode for shooting a subject with little movement), for example, a portrait shooting mode, a flower shooting mode, a cooking shooting mode, an auction exhibition product There are shooting modes and landscape shooting modes.

  On the other hand, if an undesired subject is accidentally tracked during movie shooting (movie recording), and the focus is adjusted to an undesired subject, the undesired subject is also recorded in focus. This is undesirable. Therefore, during movie shooting (during movie recording), even when the specified position index is moved to the subject detection position to prevent the subject from focusing on an unintended focus, a predetermined time is required from touch-up to tracking confirmation. You may wait. In this case, depending on whether or not the position of the designated position index is the subject detection position, there is a difference in the waiting time, and if the position of the designated position index is the subject detection position, the determination waiting time can be shortened. Good.

  In addition, the expression “neighbor” is used when tracking is confirmed or when the specified position index is attracted to the detection frame. However, the user may be able to change the threshold of how close each process is performed. However, it may be automatically changed according to the shooting scene. For example, in a scene where moving body shooting is performed and in a shooting mode based on moving body shooting, it is determined that it is difficult to capture a moving subject, and it may be determined to be near even if the specified position index is far from the subject. .

<Screen display example by touch & drag AF function>
Next, using FIG. 13 (a) to FIG. 13 (f2), the tracking target is changed from the state of tracking the position of the right flower in the LV image to the left person by the touch and drag AF function. An example of the operation when the user performs a touch move will be described.

FIG. 13A to FIG. 13C, FIG. 13D2, FIG. 13E2 and FIG. 13F2 show operation examples in this embodiment. FIG. 13 (d1), FIG. 13 (e1), and FIG. 13 (f1) show operation examples when the present embodiment is not applied, and are comparisons for explaining the effects of the present embodiment. Each figure from FIG. 13A to FIG. 13F2 is in the following state.
Touch & Drag AF: “Yes”
Position designation method: relative position designation touch reaction area: full eyepiece / non-eyepiece: eyepiece state FIG. 13A shows an example of tracking when no touch is made (touch-off). A flower that is a part of the subject in the LV image is tracked, and a tracking frame 1138 is displayed for the flower in the LV image in the EVF 101b. A finger is not touched on the touch panel 104a.

  FIG. 13B is an example of a case where touchdown is performed from the state of FIG. Flower tracking is canceled and a designated position index 1139 is displayed instead. Since a human face is detected by subject detection, a detection frame 1136 is displayed for the human face in the LV image in the EVF 101b. A finger F touches the touch panel 104a.

  FIG.13 (c) is an example at the time of touch-moving the finger F toward the upper left from the state of FIG.13 (b). The designated position index 1139 moves to the upper left according to the touch move. In this example, it is the position of the butterfly of the subject that happened to move at that time. Since the finger F has moved to near the left end of the touch panel 104a, it is difficult for the user to touch move to the left. However, since the designated position index 1139 has not yet reached the position of the desired person, the user touches up once, touches down to the right again, and tries to touch move to the left.

  FIG. 13D1 shows an example in which the touch-up is performed in the state of FIG. 13C and the tracking target is confirmed without performing the tracking confirmation waiting (S811, S812) described in the present embodiment. Tracking is immediately confirmed for the butterfly at the position of the designated position index 1139 at the time of touch-up, and a tracking frame 1138 is displayed for the butterfly that is not the subject desired by the user, and tracking is started. .

  FIG. 13 (e1) is an example of a case where the butterfly has moved before the user touches down again from the state of FIG. 13 (d1). Since the tracking is performed with respect to the butterfly, the tracking frame 1138 has moved near the flower on the right side together with the butterfly.

  FIG. 13 (f1) shows an example in which the user touches down again from the state of FIG. 13 (e1) and performs a touch move from the right side to the left side (second touch move). The specified position index 1139 is moved from the position of the tracking frame 1138 (FIG. 13 (e1)) that has been tracked by the butterfly and moved to the right against the user's intention, so the second touch move is performed. However, the designated position index 1139 cannot be moved to the desired position of the person. As described above, when the tracking confirmation wait (S811, S812) described in the present embodiment is not performed, the user performs an AF position designation operation (tracking position designation operation) by tracking an unintended subject. It may be obstructed.

  On the other hand, an example in which the tracking confirmation wait (S811, S812) described in the present embodiment is performed will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 (d2), 13 (e2), and 13 (f2).

  FIG. 13D2 shows an example of a state in which the touch-up is performed in the state of FIG. 13C and the tracking confirmation wait (S811, S812) described in the present embodiment is performed. Since the suction detection frame is not displayed at the time of FIG. 13C (immediately before touch-up), NO is determined in S810, and the tracking confirmation process in S813 is not performed immediately.

  FIG. 13 (e2) is an example in the case where the butterfly has moved before the user touches down again from the state of FIG. 13 (d2), and the situation of the subject is the same as in FIG. 13 (e1). is there. If the interruption operation for waiting for tracking confirmation is not performed in S811 and the predetermined time has not passed after touch-up in S812, the butterfly is not tracked. Therefore, the butterfly has moved to the right, but the designated position index 1139 has not moved since the touch-up time.

  FIG. 13 (f2) is an example when the user touches down again from the state of FIG. 13 (e2) and performs a touch move from the right side to the left side (second touch move). Since the movement of the designated position index 1139 is resumed from the position displayed at the previous touch-up (FIG. 13 (d2)), the movement can be made to the position of the desired person by the second touch move. . As a result, the designated position index 1139 is attracted to the detection frame 1136 of the desired person, and the during-adsorption detection frame 1140 is displayed. If touch-up is performed at this time, tracking to a desired person is started without waiting for a predetermined time, so that even if the person is moving, tracking can be performed reliably. As described above, when the tracking confirmation waiting (S811, S812) described in the present embodiment is performed, it is possible to specify the tracking of the intended subject with higher operability and more certainty. In the situation of FIG. 13C, if the subject that the user wants to track is a butterfly, if the shutter button 102 is half-pressed at this time, the butterfly is tracked by the touch cancel processing of S907 of FIG. Can do. That is, according to the present embodiment, even if the subject is a moving subject without the detection frame 1136 being displayed, tracking is designated without waiting for tracking confirmation (without missing the subject) if the subject is to be tracked. It is possible.

  14 (a) to 14 (e2), the user tries to change the tracking target from the state of tracking the right person in the LV image to the left person by the touch and drag AF function. An example of the operation when performing a touch move will be described.

  FIG. 14A, FIG. 14B, FIG. 14C2, FIG. 14D2, and FIG. 14E2 show operation examples in this embodiment. FIGS. 14 (c1), 14 (d1), 14 (e1), and 14 (f1) show examples of operations when the present embodiment is not applied, and are for explaining the effects of the present embodiment. It is a comparison.

14A to 14E2 are assumed to be in the following states.
Touch & Drag AF: “Yes”
Position designation method: Absolute position designation Touch reaction area: Full-eyepiece / non-eyepiece: eyepiece state FIG. 14A shows an example of tracking when no touch is made (touch-off). In the LV image, one person is shown on the right side and one person is shown on the left side, and the right person is tracked. In the EVF 101b, a tracking frame 1138 is displayed for the right person in the LV image. In addition, there is a mountain at a far distance in the back of the person on the right and the person on the left. A finger is not touched on the touch panel 104a.

  FIG. 14B is an example when the touchdown is performed from the state of FIG. The tracking of the right person is canceled, and instead, a suction detection frame 1140 is displayed for the face of the right person detected at the position corresponding to the touch position. A finger F touches the right side of the touch panel 104a.

  14 (c1), FIG. 14 (d1), FIG. 14 (e1), and FIG. 14 (f1) are different from S626 and S627 described in FIG. 6 in that continuous AF is performed at the position of the designated position index 1139. It is an example of operation in the case of.

  FIG. 14C1 is an example in the middle of touch moving the finger F toward the left person from the state of FIG. 14B. The designated position index 1139 moves to the left according to the touch move and is a mountain position. In this example, since the continuous AF is performed at the position of the designated position index 1139, the AF is performed so that the mountain is in focus, and the two people in front are out of focus because the mountain is in focus. Since the two persons in the foreground are blurred, they cannot be detected as faces from the LV image, and the subject frame 1136 is not displayed. At this time, there is a possibility that the person may be blurred so that the person cannot be determined from the user's viewpoint. In this case, the user loses sight of the desired left person, cannot know where to continue the touch move, and cannot specify the tracking well. In addition, regardless of whether or not the designated position index 1139 is the position of the subject that the user wants to focus on, the focus state frequently varies depending on the position of the designated position index 1139, so that the LV image is difficult to see. Become.

  FIG. 14 (d1) shows an operation example immediately after the left side touch move from the state of FIG. 14 (c1) and the designated position index 1139 is moved to the desired left person position. Although continuous AF is performed with the designated position index 1139, the left person in FIG. 14 (c1) is out of focus, so there is a slight time difference until the left person is focused, and the left person's face is detected. It has not been. Therefore, the suction detection frame 1140 is not displayed even though the designated position index 1139 has reached the desired position of the left person. Therefore, the user may misunderstand that the desired left person cannot be specified for tracking.

  FIG. 14 (e1) is an example when touched up from the state of FIG. 14 (d1). Since the touch-up is performed in a state where the during-adsorption detection frame 1140 is not displayed, the tracking confirmation wait (S811, S812) is performed, and the tracking target is not immediately determined to the left person. If the left person moves while waiting for tracking confirmation, the left person cannot be specified for tracking even though the position of the left person can be specified at the time of touch-up. End up.

  FIG. 14 (f1) is an example in the case where tracking of the desired left person is started from the state of FIG. 14 (e1) through tracking confirmation waiting (S811, S812). As described above, in FIG. 14C1, FIG. 14D1, FIG. 14E1, and FIG. 14F1 to which the present embodiment is not applied, the tracking position is moved to the desired subject (left person). The operation cannot be performed well. Further, when the designated position index 1139 is moved to a desired subject (left person), the desired subject (left person) may not be in focus. In this case, when shooting is performed immediately, the shooting timing is delayed by an amount of time until focusing is performed in the shooting preparation operation. That is, there is a risk of missing a photographing opportunity.

  On the other hand, as described in the present embodiment, an example in which AF based on the position of the designated position index 1139 is not performed while the designated position index 1139 is displayed is shown in FIGS. 14 (c2), 14 (d2), and FIG. 14 (e2).

  FIG. 14 (c2) is an example in the middle of touch moving the finger F toward the left person from the state of FIG. 14 (b). The designated position index 1139 moves to the left according to the touch move and is a mountain position. In this embodiment, continuous AF is not performed at the position of the designated position index 1139 in this state (S626, S629, S721). Therefore, the two persons in front are in focus, each face is detected, and a detection frame 1136 is displayed at each face position. Accordingly, the user only needs to continue the touch move aiming at the detection frame 1136 of the left person, and can easily move the AF position to the desired subject (change the tracking target). Further, since the in-focus state does not vary much regardless of the position of the designated position index 1139, the LV image does not become difficult to see.

  FIG. 14 (d2) shows an operation example immediately after the touch movement is further performed to the left from the state of FIG. 14 (c2) and the designated position index 1139 is moved to the desired position of the left person. Since the designated position index 1139 is in the vicinity of the left detection frame 1136, the specified position index 1139 is attracted to the left person detection frame, and the during-adsorption detection frame 1140 is displayed.

  FIG. 14 (e2) is an example of a case where touch-up is performed from the state of FIG. 14 (d2). Since the touch-up is performed in a state where the during-adsorption detection frame 1140 is displayed, the person on the left side is immediately determined as a tracking target without performing tracking determination waiting (S811, S812), and tracking is started. Therefore, even when the left person moves after touch-up, the left person can be reliably tracked. Also, when the designated position index 1139 is moved to the desired subject (left person), the desired subject (left person) is in focus, so even if shooting is performed immediately, The photo is taken immediately after focusing. In other words, it is possible to shoot without missing the shooting opportunity.

  Note that the various controls described as being performed by the system control unit 201 may be performed by a single piece of hardware, or the entire apparatus may be controlled by a plurality of pieces of hardware sharing the processing. .

  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 without departing from the gist of the present invention are also included in the present invention. included. Furthermore, each embodiment mentioned above shows only one embodiment of this invention, and it is also possible to combine each embodiment suitably.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a digital camera having a touch & drag AF function for designating an AF frame by performing a touch operation while looking into the EVF is described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this example. Not. Any device having a function capable of photographing while moving the AF frame by a touch operation can be applied. Further, the display destination switching process according to FIG. 5 can be applied to any display control apparatus that controls the display of the eyepiece finder without having an imaging function. That is, the present invention can be applied to personal computers, PDAs, mobile phone terminals, portable image viewers, digital photo frames, music players, game machines, electronic book readers, tablet terminals, smartphones, and the like. Further, the present invention can be applied to a home appliance, a vehicle-mounted device, a medical device, and the like provided with a projection device and a display.

[Other Embodiments]
The present invention supplies a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in the computer of the system or apparatus read and execute the program This process can be realized. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Digital camera, 101 ... Display part, 104 ... Operation part, 201 ... System control part

Claims (23)

Tracking means for tracking the tracking target in the live view image captured by the imaging means;
Subject detection means for detecting a specific subject from the live view image;
Touch detection means capable of detecting a touch operation;
Display control means for controlling the display means to display an index at a position corresponding to the amount of movement of the moving operation in response to detecting the moving operation for moving the touch position by the touch detecting means;
Control means for controlling the tracking means to track the tracking target determined based on the position of the index when a predetermined time has passed since the touch for performing the moving operation was released. And
The control means starts tracking without waiting for the predetermined time to elapse according to the touch being released if the control means is within a predetermined range, and is within the predetermined range from the specific subject. If not , the imaging control apparatus controls to perform tracking after the predetermined time has elapsed . Said display control means, the position of the index is within a predetermined range from the specific subject while the touch is detected, according to claim 1, characterized in that display different detection frame and the indicator Imaging control device.   Tracking means for tracking the tracking target in the live view image captured by the imaging means;
  Touch detection means capable of detecting a touch operation;
  Display control means for controlling the display means to display an index at a position corresponding to the amount of movement of the moving operation in response to detecting the moving operation for moving the touch position by the touch detecting means;
  Control means for controlling the tracking means to track the tracking target determined based on the position of the index when a predetermined time has passed since the touch for performing the moving operation was released. And
  The tracking target position designation method can be set to either absolute position designation in which the touch position is associated with position coordinates in the operation surface or relative position designation in which the touch position is not associated with position coordinates in the operation surface. And
  The control means starts tracking without waiting for the predetermined time to elapse in response to the touch being released in the case of the absolute position designation, and elapses of the predetermined time in the case of the relative position designation. Then, the imaging control apparatus is controlled so as to perform tracking. The tracking target position designation method can be set to either absolute position designation in which the touch position is associated with position coordinates in the operation surface or relative position designation in which the touch position is not associated with position coordinates in the operation surface. And
The control means starts tracking without waiting for the predetermined time to elapse in response to the touch being released in the case of the absolute position designation, and elapses of the predetermined time in the case of the relative position designation. imaging control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controlled from to to perform tracking. The control means, during the recording of the moving image, regardless of whether or not the position of the index is within a predetermined range from a specific subject, and regardless of the position designation method, after the touch is released, 5. The imaging control apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein control is performed so that tracking is performed after a predetermined time has elapsed.   Tracking means for tracking the tracking target in the live view image captured by the imaging means;
  Touch detection means capable of detecting a touch operation;
  Display control means for controlling the display means to display an index at a position corresponding to the amount of movement of the moving operation in response to detecting the moving operation for moving the touch position by the touch detecting means;
  Control means for controlling the tracking means to track the tracking target determined based on the position of the index when a predetermined time has passed since the touch for performing the moving operation was released. And
  The imaging control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit performs control so that tracking is started from a certain time when a specific operation is detected while waiting for the predetermined time to elapse.   6. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein when a specific operation is detected while waiting for the predetermined time to elapse, tracking is started from that point. The imaging control device according to any one of claims. AF control in which AF operation is performed in either the first AF mode in which auto-focusing is performed on a tracking target or the second AF mode in which auto-focusing is not performed on a tracking target and auto-focusing is performed at a predetermined position. imaging control apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising means. The imaging control apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the AF operation is a continuous AF that continuously performs the AF operation so as to automatically keep the AF position in focus. The case of the second AF mode, the control means, the imaging control apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the touch to perform an autofocus immediately in response to no longer detected. It also has a viewfinder
The display means is a display means in the finder,
It said touch detection means, the imaging control device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it is capable of detecting a touch operation on the operating surface of the outside of the viewfinder. The imaging control apparatus according to claim 11 , further comprising a second display unit outside the viewfinder, wherein the touch detection unit is capable of detecting a touch operation on the operation surface of the second display unit. The display destination can be switched to either the display means in the viewfinder or the second display means,
The imaging control apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the display control unit performs display control of the index according to the moving operation when the display unit in the finder is a display destination. When the display destination is the second display unit, the control unit starts tracking when a touch operation is detected, and is subject to tracking even when the touch position is moved. 14. The imaging control apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein control is performed so as not to change. Wherein the predetermined time, the imaging control device according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in varies depending on the conditions of shooting. In the case of the first shooting mode, the predetermined time is made shorter than in the case of the second shooting mode,
16. The imaging control apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the first shooting mode is at least one of a sports shooting mode, a fireworks display mode, an animal shooting mode, and a child shooting mode. The imaging control apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein when the moving object is detected as a subject, the predetermined time is made shorter than when the moving object is not detected. 16. The imaging control apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein when the predetermined movement of the imaging control apparatus is detected, the predetermined time is made shorter than when the predetermined movement is not detected. Imaging control comprising: tracking means for tracking a tracking target in a live view image captured by the imaging means ; subject detection means for detecting a specific subject from the live view image ; and touch detection means capable of detecting a touch operation. An apparatus control method comprising:
A display control step for controlling the display unit to display an index at a position corresponding to the movement amount of the moving operation in response to detecting the moving operation for moving the touch position by the touch detection unit;
Wherein in response to a moving operation time from when the touch is released in a predetermined performing has elapsed, have a, a control step for controlling to tracking by the tracking means tracking target determined based on the position of the indicator And
In the control step, if it is within a predetermined range from the specific subject, tracking is started without waiting for the predetermined time to elapse according to the touch being released, and within the predetermined range from the specific subject. If not, the control method of the imaging control apparatus, wherein the tracking is performed after the predetermined time has elapsed .   A control method of an imaging control apparatus comprising: tracking means for tracking a tracking target in a live view image captured by an imaging means; and touch detection means capable of detecting a touch operation.
  A display control step for controlling the display unit to display an index at a position corresponding to the movement amount of the moving operation in response to detecting the moving operation for moving the touch position by the touch detection unit;
  And a control step for controlling the tracking unit to track the tracking target determined based on the position of the index in response to a lapse of a predetermined time after the touch for performing the moving operation is released. And
  The tracking target position designation method can be set to either absolute position designation in which the touch position is associated with position coordinates in the operation surface or relative position designation in which the touch position is not associated with position coordinates in the operation surface. And
  In the control step, tracking is started without waiting for the predetermined time to elapse in response to the touch being released in the case of the absolute position designation, and the predetermined time elapses in the case of the relative position designation. Then, the control method of the imaging control apparatus, wherein control is performed so that tracking is performed.   A control method of an imaging control apparatus comprising: tracking means for tracking a tracking target in a live view image captured by an imaging means; and touch detection means capable of detecting a touch operation.
  A display control step for controlling the display unit to display an index at a position corresponding to the movement amount of the moving operation in response to detecting the moving operation for moving the touch position by the touch detection unit;
  And a control step for controlling the tracking unit to track the tracking target determined based on the position of the index in response to a lapse of a predetermined time after the touch for performing the moving operation is released. And
  In the control step, when a specific operation is detected while waiting for the predetermined time to elapse, control is performed so that tracking is started from that time point. . A program for causing a computer to function as each unit of the imaging control apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 18 . A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to function as each unit of the imaging control apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 18 .