JP6859385B2 - Imaging device, its control method, and its program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an imaging device having a viewfinder.

In recent years, a digital camera having two display units, a viewfinder and a rear liquid crystal, has been known. The digital camera can display an image on each display unit. In addition, the user can switch the display unit used for shooting and shoot. Since the position of the user's eyepiece on this viewfinder may be facing the rear LCD side, the position of the user's eyepiece is designed to be away from the rear LCD so that the user's facial organs do not touch the rear LCD. May be done. Patent Document 1 discloses an imaging device for pulling out and using a viewfinder.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-143445

However, if the user does not know how to use the viewfinder to be pulled out and used, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, this user may look into the viewfinder without pulling out the viewfinder. If such a viewfinder is not pulled out, the focus of the eyepiece will not be aligned with the display surface of the display inside it, so the user will not be able to see a clear image even if he looks through the viewfinder in the undrawn state. Sometimes. As a result, the user may misunderstand that the viewfinder of the image pickup apparatus is out of order.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to make it easier for the user to notice that the viewfinder of the image pickup apparatus is not pulled out.

To achieve the above object, an imaging apparatus of the present invention includes a viewfinder having an eyepiece and a first display unit, a detecting means for detecting the ocular Yu chromatography THE, and informing means for informing a warning to the user The viewfinder has an image pickup means and a control means, and the viewfinder has a first state in which the focus of the eyepiece is aligned with the first display unit, and the focus of the eyepiece is the first. The control means has a second state that does not match the display unit, and when the viewfinder detects the eyepiece of the user by the detection means in the first state, the first display unit. The control means displays the image captured by the imaging means, and the control means detects the user's eyepiece by the detection means in the second state, and then the user's eyepiece is no longer detected. , characterized by informing a warning before Symbol viewfinder indicates that the a second state by said informing means.

According to the present invention, the user can easily notice that the viewfinder of the image pickup apparatus is not pulled out.

It is an example of the external view of the digital camera in the initial state in the first embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the structure of the digital camera in 1st Embodiment. It is an example of the external view of the digital camera in the pop-up state in the first embodiment. This is an example of an external view of a digital camera in a used state according to the first embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the display process of the digital camera in 1st Embodiment. (A) This is an example of a screen for displaying a live view image of a digital camera according to the first embodiment. (B) This is an example of a screen for displaying a warning of a digital camera according to the first embodiment.

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

The embodiment described below is an example as a means for realizing the present invention, and may be appropriately modified or changed depending on the configuration of the device to which the present invention is applied and various conditions. Moreover, each embodiment can be combined as appropriate.

[First Embodiment]
<Configuration of digital camera 100>
FIG. 1 shows an example of an external view of a digital camera 100 as an example of an imaging device.

The display unit 28 is a display unit that displays images and various types of information. In this embodiment, the display unit 28 is mounted on the back surface of the digital camera 100. The finder display unit 29 is a display unit that displays images and various types of information. The finder display unit 29 is stored in the view finder 40, which will be described later. The display unit 28 and the finder display unit 29 are composed of light emitting elements such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence). Further, the display unit 28 may have a mechanism for freely moving the orientation of the screen between the zenith direction and the horizontal direction of the digital camera 100 (tilt drive).

The shutter button 61 is an operation unit for giving a shooting instruction. The mode changeover switch 60 is an operation unit for switching various modes. The connector 112 is a connector between the connection cable 111 for connecting to an external device such as a personal computer or a printer and the digital camera 100.

The operation unit 70 is an operation unit composed of operation members such as various switches, buttons, and a touch panel that receive various operations from the user. The controller wheel 73 is a rotation-operable operating member included in the operating unit 70. The power switch 72 is a push button for switching between power on and power off.

The recording medium 200 is a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk. The recording medium slot 201 is a slot for storing the recording medium 200. The recording medium 200 stored in the recording medium slot 201 can communicate with the digital camera 100, and can record and play back. The lid 202 is the lid of the recording medium slot 201. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the lid 202 is opened and a part of the recording medium 200 is taken out from the slot 201 to be exposed.

The lamp 46 is a light emitting element such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode) or a light bulb, and can control lighting, extinguishing, blinking, and the like. The lamp 46 can blink when the recording medium 200 is accessed, or can be turned on when an error of a predetermined function occurs.

The viewfinder 40 is composed of a finder display unit 29, a viewfinder movable part 42, an eyepiece (not shown), an elastic member such as a spring (not shown), and the like, and is initially stored inside the main body of the digital camera 100. There is. In this state, the viewfinder movable portion 42 is also housed inside the main body of the digital camera 100. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the viewfinder 40 is provided on the left side with respect to the center of the display unit 28. For example, when the user looks into the viewfinder 40 with his right eye, the display unit 28 is located on the right side of the user's face, so that the digital camera 100 is naturally held in a position where it is difficult to touch the user's nose. How to use this viewfinder 40 will be described later. The pop-up switch 41 is a switch for exposing the viewfinder 40 to the outside of the main body. For example, in response to the user operating the pop-up switch 41, an elastic member (not shown) such as a spring of the viewfinder 40 pushes the viewfinder 40 up to the upper part of the main body as shown in FIG. At this time, as shown in FIG. 3, the viewfinder movable portion 42 is exposed to the outside of the main body.

The eyepiece sensor 45 is a sensor that detects the proximity of an object. In the present embodiment, the eyepiece sensor 45 detects whether or not the viewfinder 40 has an eyepiece, that is, whether or not the user is looking into the viewfinder 40. The eyepiece sensor 45 is composed of, for example, a light emitting element (light emitting unit) and a light receiving element (light receiving unit). When the display unit 28 is tilt-driven, the eyepiece sensor 45 does not have to detect the user's eyepiece. For example, when the user turns the screen of the display unit 28 toward the lens, the eyepiece sensor 45 and the housing of the digital camera 100 are close to each other. In this state, for example, it is conceivable that the light emitted from the light emitting element of the eyepiece sensor 45 is reflected by the housing of the digital camera 100 and is incident on the light receiving element of the eyepiece sensor 45. As a result, the eyepiece sensor 45 may erroneously recognize that the user is eyepiece. Therefore, when the system control unit 50 (described later) detects that the display unit 28 is tilt-driven, the eyepiece sensor 45 does not detect the proximity of the object.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the digital camera 100 according to the present embodiment.

In FIG. 2, the photographing lens 103 is a lens group including a zoom lens and a focus lens. The shutter 101 is a shutter having an aperture function. The image pickup unit 22 is an image pickup device composed of a CCD, a CMOS element, or the like that converts an optical image into an electric signal. The A / D converter 23 converts an analog signal into a digital signal. The A / D converter 23 is used to convert an analog signal output from the imaging unit 22 into a digital signal. The barrier 102 covers the imaging system including the photographing lens 103 of the digital camera 100 to prevent the imaging system including the photographing lens 103, the shutter 101, and the imaging unit 22 from being soiled or damaged.

The image processing unit 24 performs resizing processing such as predetermined pixel interpolation and reduction and color conversion processing on the data from the A / D converter 23 or the data from the memory control unit 15. In addition, the image processing unit 24 performs predetermined arithmetic processing using the captured image data. The system control unit 50 performs exposure control and distance measurement control based on the calculation result obtained by the image processing unit 24. As a result, TTL (through-the-lens) AF (autofocus) processing, AE (autoexposure) processing, and EF (flash pre-flash) processing are performed. Further, the image processing unit 24 performs a predetermined calculation process using the captured image data, and performs a TTL-type AWB (auto white balance) process based on the obtained calculation result.

The output data from the A / D converter 23 is written directly to the memory 32 via the image processing unit 24 and the memory control unit 15 or via the memory control unit 15. The memory 32 records image data obtained by the imaging unit 22 and converted into digital data by the A / D converter 23, and image data to be displayed on the display unit 28 and the finder display unit 29. The memory 32 has a recording capacity sufficient for recording a predetermined number of still images and moving images and sounds for a predetermined time.

Further, the memory 32 also serves as a memory (video memory) for displaying an image. The D / A converter 13 can convert the image display data recorded in the memory 32 into an analog signal and supply it to the display unit 28 and the finder display unit 29. In this way, the image data for display written in the memory 32 is displayed by the display unit 28 and the finder display unit 29 via the D / A converter 13. The display unit 28 and the finder display unit 29 display according to the analog signal from the D / A converter 13. The digital signal once A / D converted by the A / D converter 23 and stored in the memory 32 is analog-converted by the D / A converter 13 and sequentially transferred to the display unit 28 and the finder display unit 29 for display. , Through image display (live view display) can be performed. Hereinafter, the image displayed in the live view is referred to as a live view image.

The non-volatile memory 56 is a memory as a recording medium that can be electrically erased and recorded, and for example, EEPROM or the like is used. The non-volatile memory 56 records constants, programs, and the like for the operation of the system control unit 50. The program referred to here is a computer program for executing various flowcharts described later in the present embodiment.

The system control unit 50 is a control unit having at least one processor or circuit, and controls the entire digital camera 100. By executing the program recorded in the non-volatile memory 56 described above, each process of the present embodiment described later is realized. For the system memory 52, for example, RAM is used. In the system memory 52, constants and variables for the operation of the system control unit 50, a program read from the non-volatile memory 56, and the like are expanded. The system control unit 50 also controls the display by controlling the memory 32, the D / A converter 13, the display unit 28, and the like.

The system timer 53 is a time measuring unit that measures the time used for various controls and the time of the built-in clock.

The mode changeover switch 60, the shutter button 61, and the operation unit 70 are operation means for inputting various operation instructions to the system control unit 50. The mode changeover switch 60 switches the operation mode of the system control unit 50 to any one of a still image recording mode, a moving image shooting mode, a playback mode, and the like. The modes included in the still image recording mode include an auto shooting mode, an auto scene determination mode, a manual mode, an aperture priority mode (Av mode), a shutter speed priority mode (Tv mode), and a program AE mode. In addition, there are various scene modes, custom modes, etc. that are shooting settings for each shooting scene. From the mode changeover switch 60, the user can directly switch to any of these modes. Alternatively, after switching to the shooting mode list screen once with the mode changeover switch 60, one of the displayed plurality of modes may be selected and switched using another operating member. Similarly, the moving image shooting mode may include a plurality of modes.

The first shutter switch 62 is turned on by a so-called half-press (shooting preparation instruction) during the operation of the shutter button 61 provided on the digital camera 100, and the first shutter switch signal SW1 is generated. The first shutter switch signal SW1 starts operations such as AF (autofocus) processing, AE (autoexposure) processing, AWB (auto white balance) processing, and EF (flash pre-flash) processing.

The second shutter switch 64 is turned on when the operation of the shutter button 61 is completed, so-called full pressing (shooting instruction), and the second shutter switch signal SW2 is generated. The system control unit 50 starts a series of shooting processing operations from reading the signal from the imaging unit 22 to writing the image data to the recording medium 200 by the second shutter switch signal SW2.

Each operation member of the operation unit 70 is assigned a function as appropriate for each scene by selecting and operating various function icons displayed on the display unit 28 and the finder display unit 29, and acts as various function buttons. The function buttons include, for example, an end button, a back button, an image feed button, a jump button, a narrowing down button, an attribute change button, and the like. For example, when the menu button is pressed, various settable menu screens are displayed on the display unit 28 and the finder display unit 29. The user can intuitively make various settings by using the menu screen displayed on the display unit 28 and the finder display unit 29, and the up / down / left / right four-direction buttons and the SET button.

The controller wheel 73 is a rotation-operable operation member included in the operation unit 70, and is used when instructing a selection item together with a direction button. When the controller wheel 73 is rotated, an electric pulse signal is generated according to the amount of operation, and the system control unit 50 controls each part of the digital camera 100 based on the pulse signal. From this pulse signal, it is possible to determine the angle at which the controller wheel 73 has been rotated, the number of rotations, and the like. The controller wheel 73 may be any operating member that can detect the rotation operation. For example, the controller wheel 73 itself may be a dial operation member that rotates in response to a user's rotation operation to generate a pulse signal. Further, the operation member including the touch sensor may be one that does not rotate the controller wheel 73 itself and detects the rotational movement of the user's finger on the controller wheel 73 (so-called touch wheel).

The power supply control unit 80 is composed of a battery detection circuit, a DC-DC converter, a switch circuit for switching a block to be energized, and the like, and detects whether or not a battery is installed, the type of battery, and the remaining battery level. Further, the power supply control unit 80 controls the DC-DC converter based on the detection result and the instruction of the system control unit 50, and supplies a necessary voltage to each unit including the recording medium 200 for a necessary period. The power supply unit 30 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 Li battery, an AC adapter, or the like.

The recording medium I / F18 is an interface with a recording medium 200 such as a memory card or a hard disk. The recording medium 200 is a recording medium such as a memory card for recording a captured image, and is composed of a semiconductor memory, an optical disk, a magnetic disk, or the like.

The communication unit 54 is connected by a wireless or wired cable to transmit and receive video signals, audio signals, and the like. The communication unit 54 can also be connected to a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) and the Internet. The communication unit 54 can also communicate with an external device using Bluetooth (registered trademark) or Bluetooth Low Energy. The communication unit 54 can transmit an image (including a live image) captured by the image pickup unit 22 and an image recorded on the recording medium 200, and can receive image data and various other information from an external device. it can.

The posture detection unit 55 detects the posture of the digital camera 100 with respect to the direction of gravity. Based on the posture detected by the posture detection unit 55, whether the image taken by the image pickup unit 22 is an image taken by holding the digital camera 100 horizontally or an image taken by holding the digital camera 100 vertically. Can be determined. The system control unit 50 adds orientation information corresponding to the posture according to the posture detected by the posture detection unit 55 to the metadata of the image captured by the image pickup unit 22, or rotates and records the image. It is possible to do it. As the posture detection unit 55, an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, or the like can be used. It is also possible to detect the movement (pan, tilt, lift, whether or not it is stationary, etc.) of the digital camera 100 by using the acceleration sensor or the gyro sensor, which is the posture detection unit 55.

<How to use the viewfinder>
The state and usage of the viewfinder 40 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. In the initial state, the viewfinder 40 is stored inside the main body as shown in FIG. In the initial state, the zenith of the viewfinder 40 of the present embodiment is at the same height as the zenith of the digital camera 100. As a result, the zenith of the digital camera 100 has less unevenness in the initial state of the viewfinder 40, so that even if the user stores the digital camera 100 in a bag, pocket, or the like, the digital camera 100 may get caught in the storage destination. Will be low.

FIG. 3 shows a state in which the viewfinder 40 is lifted upward from the state of being stored inside the main body of the digital camera 100. When the user operates the pop-up switch 41 in the initial state, the viewfinder 40 is lifted to the upper part of the main body by an elastic member such as a spring as shown in FIG. The viewfinder 40 may be configured to be manually lifted by the user. In this case, the viewfinder 40 does not have to have an elastic member such as a spring, a pop-up switch 41, or the like. Hereinafter, the state in which the viewfinder 40 is lifted is referred to as a pop-up state.

Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the eyepiece is moved by the user manually pulling out the viewfinder movable portion 42 toward the back side of the digital camera 100. When the viewfinder movable portion 42 is pulled out until the focus of the eyepiece is aligned with the display surface of the finder display unit 29, the user can see the finder display unit 29 most comfortably when looking into the viewfinder 40. .. In the present embodiment, the length to be pulled out is referred to as a predetermined length. The reason for pulling out and using the viewfinder 40 is to make it difficult for the user's nose to come into contact with the touch panel on the display unit 28, for example. By preventing the user's face from being too close to the display unit 28 even when the user looks at the viewfinder 40, it is possible to reduce the risk of erroneous operation of the touch panel due to contact with the user's facial organs. Hereinafter, the state in which the viewfinder movable portion 42 of the viewfinder 40 is pulled out so as to have a predetermined length is referred to as a use state.

If the pulled-out length of the viewfinder movable portion 42 is less than a predetermined length, the eyepiece lens does not focus on the viewfinder display portion 29, so that the user sees, for example, a blurred screen even when looking through the viewfinder. It will be. In this state, it is difficult for the user to take a desired photograph using the viewfinder 40. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the pulled-out length of the viewfinder movable portion 42 is less than a predetermined length, the system control unit 50 determines that the viewfinder 40 is in the pop-up state.

By pulling out the viewfinder 40 and transitioning to the used state in this way, the user can comfortably see the finder display unit 29. However, for example, if the user forgets to pull out the viewfinder 40, he / she will look into the viewfinder 40 in the pop-up state. In that case, the focus of the eyepiece may not be aligned with the finder display unit 29, and the user may have difficulty in seeing the screen display of the finder display unit 29. Further, for example, in this case, the organ of the user's face may touch the touch panel on the display unit 28, and the digital camera 100 may perform an operation unintended by the user. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when looking into the viewfinder 40 in the pop-up state, the digital camera 100 makes the user notice that the viewfinder 40 is in the pop-up state and prompts the user to pull out the viewfinder 40.

When the display unit 28 is tilt-driven, it is considered that the user does not use the viewfinder 40. Therefore, in this case, for example, the digital camera 100 may fix the viewfinder 40 in the initial state so that it cannot transition to the pop-up state.

<Live view display processing of digital camera 100>
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of live view display processing of the digital camera 100 in the shooting mode. This display process is realized by expanding the program recorded in the non-volatile memory 56 into the system memory 52 and executing it by the system control unit 50. This process is triggered by the transition of the digital camera 100 to the shooting mode. In the shooting mode, the user can shoot an image or a moving image with the digital camera 100. Further, in the present embodiment, the digital camera 100 can perform live view display using at least one of the display unit 28 and the finder display unit 29 in the shooting mode. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the user has not touched the viewfinder 40 of the digital camera 100 at the start of this process.

In step S500, the system control unit 50 displays a live view on the display unit 28, for example, as shown in FIG. 6 (A). Here, when an operation by the user is accepted, the system control unit 50 executes the process corresponding to the operation in this step. For example, when the first shutter switch 62 is pressed, the system control unit 50 executes AF processing or the like on the subject.

In step S501, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the viewfinder 40 is in the initial state. If the system control unit 50 determines that the viewfinder 40 is in the initial state, the process proceeds to step S502. If the system control unit 50 determines that the viewfinder 40 is not in the pop-up state, the process proceeds to step S503. First, the case where the viewfinder 40 is in the initial state will be described.

In step S502, the system control unit 50 stops the eyepiece sensor 45. This is because it is considered that the user does not touch the digital camera 100 because the viewfinder 40 is stored inside the digital camera 100 in the initial state. After this step, the process returns to step S500, and the system control unit 50 continues the live view display on the display unit 28. If the eyepiece sensor 45 has already been stopped, the system control unit 50 does not execute the process of this step. Next, a case where the viewfinder 40 is not in the initial state will be described.

In step S503, the system control unit 50 activates the eyepiece sensor 45. As a result, the system control unit 50 is in a state where the eyepiece sensor 45 can detect the user's eyepiece. If the eyepiece sensor 45 has already been activated, the system control unit 50 does not execute the process of this step.

In step S504, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the user is in the eyepiece by the eyepiece sensor 45. For example, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the eyepiece sensor 45 detects the proximity of an object. When the system control unit 50 determines that the user is in the eyepiece, that is, when the user changes from the state in which the eyepiece is not in the viewfinder 40 to the state in which the user is in the eyepiece in the viewfinder 40, the process proceeds to step S505. move on. If the system control unit 50 determines that the user is not in the eyepiece, that is, if the user has not changed from the state in which the eyepiece is not in the viewfinder 40, the process returns to step S500, and the system control unit 50 returns to the display unit 28. Continue to display the live view to.

In step S505, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the viewfinder 40 is in use. If the system control unit 50 determines that the viewfinder 40 is in use, the process proceeds to step S506. If the system control unit 50 determines that the viewfinder 40 is not in use, the process proceeds to step S510. First, the processing of the system control unit 50 when the viewfinder 40 is in use will be described.

In step S506, the system control unit 50 switches the display destination of the live view image from the display unit 28 to the finder display unit 29.

In step S507, the system control unit 50 displays the live view on the finder display unit 29. Here, when an operation by the user is accepted, the system control unit 50 executes the process corresponding to the operation in this step. For example, when the first shutter switch 62 is pressed, the system control unit 50 executes AF processing or the like on the subject.

In step S508, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the user is in the eyepiece. For example, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the eyepiece sensor 45 detects the proximity of an object. If the system control unit 50 determines that the user is in the eyepiece, that is, if the user has not changed from the state in which the eyepiece is in the viewfinder 40, the process returns to step S508, and the system control unit 50 displays the finder. The live view display to the unit 29 is continued. When the system control unit 50 determines that the user is not in the eyepiece, that is, when the user changes from the state in which the eyepiece is in contact with the viewfinder 40 to the state in which the user is not in contact with the viewfinder 40, the process proceeds to step S509. move on.

In step S509, the system control unit 50 switches the display destination of the live view image from the finder display unit 29 to the display unit 28. If the system control unit 50 determines in step S512 that the shooting mode is to be continued after the process of step S509, the process returns to step S500, and the system control unit 50 displays the live view on the display unit 28. When it is determined in step S512 that the shooting mode is terminated, the system control unit 50 ends the process of this flowchart. Next, in step S505, a case where the system control unit 50 determines that the viewfinder 40 is not in the used state will be described.

In step S510, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the user is in the eyepiece. For example, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the eyepiece sensor 45 detects the proximity of an object. When the system control unit 50 determines that the user is in the eyepiece, that is, when the user has not changed from the state in which the eyepiece is in contact, the process returns to the process of step S505. For example, when the user pulls out the viewfinder movable unit 42 while looking at the viewfinder 40, the system control unit 50 can determine that the viewfinder 40 is ready for use in step S505. When the viewfinder 40 is in the pop-up state and the system control unit 50 determines that the user is not in the eyepiece, that is, when the state is changed from the state in which the user is in the eyepiece to the state in which the user is not in the eyepiece, the process is step S511. Proceed to. In this step, since the system control unit 50 does not display the live view image on the finder display unit 29, the user cannot see the live view image even if he looks into the viewfinder 40. Since the live view image cannot be seen, the user feels uncomfortable and can notice that the viewfinder 40 cannot be used. Then, since it is conceivable that the user immediately takes his eyes off the viewfinder 40, it is considered that the process immediately transitions from this step to the next step S511.

In step S511, the system control unit 50 displays a warning on the display unit 28. For example, the system control unit 50 superimposes the window 601 shown in FIG. 6B on the live view image and displays it on the display unit 28. This window 601 contains a message urging the user to pull out the viewfinder movable portion 42. From this message, the user can also recognize that the viewfinder 40 is not pulled out and is in a pop-up state. The system control unit 50 satisfies any of the conditions such as that the viewfinder 40 has transitioned to the initial state or the used state, and that the operation member such as the shutter button 61 or the operation unit 70 has been operated. Correspondingly, the display of the window 601 is turned off. Further, the system control unit 50 may turn off the display of the window 601 according to the elapse of a predetermined time after displaying the window 601.

If the system control unit 50 determines in step S512 that the shooting mode is to be continued after the process of step S511, the process returns to step S500, and the system control unit 50 displays the live view on the display unit 28. If the condition for erasing the display of the window 601 is not satisfied, the system control unit 50 may continue to display the window 601 on the display unit 28 even in step S500. When it is determined in step S512 that the shooting mode is terminated, the system control unit 50 ends the process of this flowchart.

The example of the live view display processing of the digital camera 100 has been described above. By this process, even if the eyepiece is applied to the viewfinder 40 in the pop-up state, the user can immediately notice that the viewfinder 40 is not in the used state. Further, by prompting the system control unit 50 to pull out the viewfinder 40, the user can operate the viewfinder 40 in the used state without reading the manual.

Although the imaging mode has been described as an example in this embodiment, it may be applied to other modes. For example, even in the playback mode for displaying the image data recorded on the recording medium 200, the system control unit 50 warns the display unit 28 in response to the eyepiece of the viewfinder 40 in the pop-up state, as in the imaging mode. It may be displayed.

In step S511, the system control unit 50 turns off the display of the window 601 by operating any operation member such as the shutter button 61 or the operation unit 70. For example, when the operation unit 70 is operated while the window 601 is being displayed, the system control unit 50 regards the operation as an operation for erasing the display of the window 601 and does not execute the process corresponding to the operation unit 70. When the operation unit 70 is operated after the display of the window 601 is turned off, the system control unit 50 normally executes a process corresponding to the operation member. On the other hand, for example, when the shutter button 61 is pressed while the window 601 is being displayed, the system control unit 50 executes a shooting process. The operation of the user pressing the shutter button 61 is an operation indicating the user's intention to take a picture. That is, since immediacy may be required, the digital camera 100 takes a picture even if a warning is displayed. In this way, the system control unit 50 may change the operation for the user operation while displaying the warning according to the process assigned to the operation member.

In the present embodiment, when the viewfinder 40 is in use, the system control unit 50 switches the display of the display unit 28 and the finder display unit 29 depending on the detection state of the eyepiece sensor 45. Specifically, in the state where the eyepiece is detected by the eyepiece sensor 45, the system control unit 50 turns on the display of the finder display unit 29 and turns off the display of the display unit 28. Further, when the eyepiece was not detected by the eyepiece sensor 45, the system control unit 50 turned off the display of the finder display unit 29 and turned on the display of the display unit 28. However, if the viewfinder 40 is in use, the system control unit 50 switches the display of the display unit 28 and the finder display unit 29, respectively, according to the setting of the digital camera 100 or the like regardless of the detection state of the eyepiece sensor 45. You may.

At the time of the process of step S510, the system control unit 50 does not display the warning window 601 on the display unit 28. In the process of step S511 after the process of step S510, the system control unit 50 displays the window 601 on the display unit 28. The reason for this is that since the user is looking at the viewfinder 40, he / she may not notice the warning displayed on the display unit 28. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the system control unit 50 displays the window 601 in step S511 after the user stops looking into the viewfinder 40. However, even if the user looks into the viewfinder 40, at least the change in the display of the display unit 28 may be noticed. Therefore, the system control unit 50 executes the process of step S511 before the process of step S510 to display the display. A warning may be displayed on the unit 28.

When the eyepiece sensor 45 detects the proximity of an object for a predetermined time or longer, the system control unit 50 determines that the eyepiece has been eyepieced. Further, when the eyepiece sensor 45 detects the proximity of an object for less than a predetermined time, the system control unit 50 does not determine that the eyepiece has been eyepieced. This is to exclude the detection of the proximity of an object caused by the fact that a hand or the like touches the eyepiece sensor 45. On the other hand, depending on the position of the face when the user looks into the viewfinder 40, there is a case where the eyepiece sensor 45 repeatedly detects the proximity of an object for less than a predetermined time. In this case, the system control unit 50 determines that the user has eyepieced according to the fact that the eyepiece sensor 45 repeatedly detects the proximity of the object for a predetermined number of times or more within a predetermined time and less than a predetermined time. For example, the system control unit 50 determines that the user has eyepieced according to the fact that the eyepiece sensor 45 repeatedly detects the proximity of the object three times or more in 3 seconds and the eyepiece sensor 45 repeatedly detects the proximity of the object for less than 0.5 seconds.

As shown in FIG. 1, when there is a lamp 46 in the vicinity of the viewfinder 40, the system control unit 50 may notify the user of a warning by turning on or blinking the lamp 46. Since the light of the lamp 46 is in a position where it can be easily noticed even when looking into the viewfinder 40, in this case, it is preferable that the system control unit 50 lights or blinks the lamp 46 in step S510 rather than step S511.

In the present embodiment, the system control unit 50 does not notify the display unit 28 of the warning even if the user takes a picture without eyepieces while the viewfinder 40 is in the pop-up state. This is because even in this case, the user may be shooting while looking at the live view image displayed on the display unit 28, and displaying a warning on the display unit 28 may hinder the user's shooting. On the other hand, the operation of the user looking into the viewfinder 40 in the pop-up state is considered to indicate the user's intention to use the viewfinder 40. Therefore, if the system control unit 50 notifies the display unit 28 of the warning after this operation, there is little possibility of hindering the user's shooting. Not only that, in this case, the system control unit 50 displays the window 601 as shown in FIG. 6B on the display unit 28 and prompts the user to pull out the viewfinder 40, so that the user can use the viewfinder 40. You can notice that you pull it out.

Even when the system control unit 50 is displaying the window 601 as a warning on the display unit 28, when the second shutter switch 64 is pressed (when the shutter button 61 is fully pressed), the image pickup unit 50 is displayed. Image taken by 22. Since the operation of the user pressing the second shutter switch 64 is an operation indicating the user's intention to take a picture, the digital camera 100 takes a picture even if a warning is displayed. This reduces the possibility that the user will miss a so-called photo opportunity.

[Other Embodiments]
The present invention supplies a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiment to a system or device via a network or recording medium, and one or more processors in the computer of the system or device reads and executes the program. It can also be realized by the processing to be performed. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and at the implementation stage, the components can be modified and embodied within a range that does not deviate from the gist thereof. In addition, various inventions can be formed by an appropriate combination of the plurality of components disclosed in the above-described embodiment. For example, some components may be removed from all the components shown in the embodiments. In addition, components across different embodiments may be combined as appropriate.

Claims (38)

A viewfinder with an eyepiece and a first display,
A detection means that detects the user's eyepieces,
A notification means for notifying the user of a warning,
Imaging means and
Control means and
Have,
The viewfinder has a first state in which the eyepiece is in focus on the first display and a second state in which the eyepiece is not in focus on the first display. Have and
When the viewfinder detects the eyepiece of the user by the detection means in the first state, the control means displays an image captured by the imaging means on the first display unit.
Wherein, in the viewfinder is the second state, after detecting the user's eye by said detecting means, when the eye of the user is no longer detected in front Symbol viewfinder said second state An image pickup apparatus characterized in that a warning indicating that there is a presence is controlled to be notified by the notification means. The control means does not notify the warning by the notification means after the viewfinder starts detecting the user's eyepiece by the detection means and before detecting the user's eyepiece in the second state. The imaging device according to claim 1. Wherein, in the viewfinder is the second state, while detecting the user's eye by the detection means according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that no notification of the warning by the notification means The imaging apparatus according to. The control means 1 or 2 is characterized in that the viewfinder notifies the warning by the notification means in response to the detection of the user's eyepiece by the detection means in the second state. The imaging apparatus according to. The control means is characterized in that the image captured by the imaging means is not displayed on the first display unit even when the viewfinder detects the eyepiece of the user by the detecting means in the second state. The image pickup apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4. Further comprising a moving means having an operating member for changing the position of the eyepiece and the distance between the first display unit.
The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the moving means moves the position of the focal point of the eyepiece by manually operating the operating member by a user. The notification means, the imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that to display the previous SL alert to a second display unit provided on the outside of the viewfinder. Wherein, the case does not detect the user's eye by the detection means, among said images captured first display unit and the second display section by the imaging means and the second display unit Control to display on
Wherein, the in viewfinder said first state, said case of detecting a user's eye by the detection means, displaying the second of the first display unit and the images captured by the image pickup means The image pickup apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the image pickup apparatus is controlled so as to be displayed on the first display unit. Further comprising a mechanism for tilt driving the front Stories second display unit,
If the second display unit is tilt drive, the control means, the image pickup apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that does not perform eye detection of the user by said detecting means. Any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the viewfinder is provided on the left side of the center of the second display unit with respect to the surface on which the second display unit is mounted. The imaging apparatus according to the above. The warning imaging apparatus according to pre-Symbol viewfinder to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the message prompting the user to transition to the first state from said second state. Further comprising an operation means for receiving an operation of Yu over The,
The control means is characterized in that, when the warning is notified by the notification means, the notification means is controlled so as to stop the notification of the warning in response to the reception of the user's operation by the operation means. The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 11. When accepting an operation of a user by said operating means in a state that does not broadcast the warning by the notification means, executes a process corresponding to the operation of the user in a state in which no notification of the warning by the notification means,
When the user's operation received by the operating means is not an operation related to a shooting process in a state where the warning means is notified by the notification means, the control means does not notify the warning by the notification means. The imaging apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the process corresponding to the user's operation is not executed. When accepting an operation for instructing the imaging from the user by the operation means, according to claim 12 wherein the control means, characterized in that the imaging by the imaging means even when that notification of the warning by the notification means Or the imaging apparatus according to 13. The control means is characterized in that, when the warning means is notified by the notification means, the notification means is controlled so as to control the light emitting element provided in the vicinity of the viewfinder to light or blink. The imaging device according to any one of items 14 to 14. The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 15 , wherein when the detecting means detects the proximity of an object for a predetermined time or longer, the controlling means determines that the user is in the eyepiece. Any of claims 1 to 16 , wherein when the detection means detects the proximity of an object for less than a predetermined time a predetermined number of times or more within a predetermined time, the control means determines that the user is in contact with the eyepiece. The imaging apparatus according to item 1. Before SL viewfinder further comprises a third state that is stored in the image pickup device,
If the viewfinder is the first state or the second state, said control means controls so as to detect a user's eye by said detecting means,
If the viewfinder is the third state, the control means, the image pickup according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the controller controls so as not to detect the user's eye by said detecting means apparatus. A viewfinder with eyepiece and a first display unit,
A detection means that detects the user's eyepieces,
A notification means for notifying the user of a warning,
Imaging means and
Control means and
Have,
The viewfinder has a first state in which the distance between the eyepiece and the first display is a predetermined length, and the distance between the eyepiece and the first display is the predetermined length . With a second state, which is less than the length,
When the viewfinder detects the eyepiece of the user by the detection means in the first state, the control means displays an image captured by the imaging means on the first display unit.
Wherein, the in viewfinder said second state, after detecting the user's eye by the detection means, in response to the eyepiece of the user is no longer detected by the detection means, a warning by the notification means An imaging device characterized in that it is controlled so as to notify. The control means does not notify the warning by the notification means before the user's eyepiece is detected after the detection of the user's eyepiece by the detection means is started in the viewfinder in the second state. 19. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 19. 19 or 20. The control means does not notify the warning by the notification means while the viewfinder detects the eyepiece of the user by the detection means in the second state. The image pickup apparatus according to any one of the above items. In the second state, the control means notifies the warning by the notification means in response to the detection of the user's eyepiece by the detection means.
The imaging apparatus according to claim 19 or 20. The control means does not display the image captured by the imaging means on the first display unit even when the viewfinder detects the eyepiece of the user by the detecting means in the second state.
The imaging device according to any one of claims 19 to 22, wherein the image pickup apparatus is characterized. Further comprising a moving means having an operating member for changing the position of the eyepiece and the distance between the first display.
The imaging device according to any one of claims 19 to 23, wherein the moving means moves the position of the eyepiece portion by operating the operating member by a user. The imaging device according to any one of claims 19 to 24, wherein the notification means displays the warning on a second display unit provided outside the viewfinder. When the detection means does not detect the eyepiece of the user, the control means displays the image captured by the imaging means on the second display unit of the first display unit and the second display unit. Control to
When the viewfinder detects the eyepiece of the user by the detection means in the first state, the control means displays the image captured by the imaging means on the first display unit and the second display unit. Of these, control is performed so that the image is displayed on the first display unit.
25. The imaging device according to claim 25. It further has a mechanism for tilt-driving the second display unit.
When the second display unit is tilt-driven, the control means does not detect the user's eyepiece by the detection means.
The imaging device according to claim 25 or 26. One of claims 25 to 27, wherein the viewfinder is provided on the left side of the center of the second display unit with respect to the surface on which the second display unit is mounted. The imaging apparatus according to the above. The imaging device according to any one of claims 19 to 28, wherein the warning is a warning indicating that the viewfinder is in the second state. It also has an operation means for accepting user operations,
When the notification means notifies the warning, the control means controls the notification means so as to stop the notification of the warning in response to the reception of the user's operation by the operation means.
The imaging device according to any one of claims 19 to 29. When the operation means receives an operation instructing an image pickup from the user, the control means controls the image pickup means to take an image even when the warning means is notified by the notification means.
The imaging device according to claim 30, wherein the image pickup apparatus is characterized by the above. When the warning means is notified by the notification means, the control means controls the notification means so as to control the light emitting element provided in the vicinity of the viewfinder to light or blink.
The imaging device according to any one of claims 19 to 31, characterized in that. The imaging device according to any one of claims 19 to 32, wherein when the detecting means detects the proximity of an object for a predetermined time or longer, the controlling means determines that the user is in contact with the eyepiece. .. Any of claims 19 to 33, wherein when the detection means detects the proximity of an object for less than a predetermined time a predetermined number of times or more within a predetermined time, the control means determines that the user is in contact with the eyepiece. The imaging apparatus according to item 1. The viewfinder further has a third state stored in the imaging device.
When the viewfinder is in the first state or the second state, the control means controls the detection means to detect the eyepiece of the user.
When the viewfinder is in the third state, the control means controls the detection means so as not to detect the user's eyepiece.
The imaging device according to any one of claims 19 to 34. A viewfinder with an eyepiece and a first display,
A detection means that detects the user's eyepieces,
A notification means for notifying the user of a warning,
It is a control method of an image pickup apparatus having an image pickup means.
In a first state in which the focus is correct in the first display portion before Symbol eyepiece, when detecting a user's eye by said detecting means, an image captured by the imaging means to the first display unit Steps to display and
In a second state in which the focal point does not match the first display portion before Symbol eyepiece, after detecting the user's eye by said detecting means, when the eye of the user is no longer detected, before Symbol viewfinder a step of informing by the informing means a warning that but is the second state,
A control method characterized by having. A viewfinder with an eyepiece and a first display,
A detection means that detects the user's eyepieces,
A notification means for notifying the user of a warning,
It is a control method of an image pickup apparatus having an image pickup means.
When the user's eyepiece is detected by the detection means in the first state where the distance between the eyepiece and the first display is a predetermined length, the first display is displayed by the image pickup means. Steps to display the captured image and
In the second state where the distance between the eyepiece unit and the first display unit is less than the predetermined length, the user's eyepiece is detected by the detection means, and then the user's eyepiece is detected by the detection means. A step of notifying a warning by the notifying means according to the fact that the warning is no longer performed.
A control method characterized by having. A computer-readable program for operating a computer as each means of the imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 35.

Images