JPH04156526A - Line of sight detection-operated camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To release a camera with good operability and minimize a camera blur by releasing the camera when the line of sight is moved from the first preset region to the second preset region through the preset shift region. CONSTITUTION:A photographer gazes a portion 32 of a major photographed body 31 in the visual field frame, then the visual field is moved toward the outside of the visual field frame in the preset angle range theta e.g. theta=30 deg., around the vertical direction as shown by an arrow 33. The shift of the line of sight is detected by a line of sight detecting means 3, and whether the shift satisfies the preset conditions or not is judged by a CPU 1. If the conditions are satisfied, the CPU 1 performs a release action of a shutter device 10 via an exposure control means 9.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a line-of-sight detection activated camera, for example, a camera in which the photographer can release the camera by moving his or her line of sight within the finder.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, the release of a camera has generally been performed by pressing a release button.

In addition, a device that detects the photographer's line of sight - Tojito, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
-241511 and those disclosed in JP-A-2-5 are known. These systems detect the photographer's line of sight within the shooting screen, identify the main subject that the photographer intends to photograph, and use this information to more accurately control focus and fog. there were.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The conventional release method as described above has a problem in that camera shake in the stroke direction is extremely likely to occur when pressing the release button.

The present invention has been made in view of the problems with conventional devices, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a camera that can release the camera with good operability without pressing the release button.

Another object of the present invention is to eliminate or minimize camera shake that may occur due to camera release operation.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the line-of-sight detection activated camera according to the first aspect of the present invention includes: a finder means for observing a subject; a line of sight detection means for detecting the line of sight of an observing eye to observe; and a line of sight detection means for detecting that the line of sight has moved from a first predetermined area within the field of view of the finder means to a second predetermined area through a predetermined moving area. The camera includes movement detection means for outputting a control signal, and release means for releasing the camera based on the control signal.

Further, a line-of-sight detection activated camera according to a second aspect of the present invention includes: finder means for observing a subject; line-of-sight detection means for detecting the line of sight of an observing eye observed by the finder means; After remaining at or near a point in the first predetermined area within the field of view of the finder means for a predetermined period of time or more, it is detected that the point has moved to a second predetermined area within a predetermined angular direction range, and a control signal is output. The camera includes a movement detection means and a release means for releasing the camera based on the control signal.

[Operation] In the line-of-sight detection activated camera according to the first example B, the line of sight of the observation eye observed by the finder means moves from the first predetermined area to the second predetermined area through a predetermined movement area. Then, the movement detection means outputs a control signal. The release means releases the camera in response to this control signal. That is, the camera can be released with good operability without pressing the release button.

Further, in the line-of-sight detection activated camera according to the second aspect, after the line of sight of the observation eye observed by the finder means is present at or near one point in the first predetermined area for a predetermined period or longer, the second When the device moves to a predetermined area within a predetermined angular direction range, the movement detection means outputs a control signal. The release means releases the camera in response to this control signal. That is, after a photographer using a camera observes a point or the vicinity of a subject within the field of view of the finder means for a predetermined period of time or longer, the photographer moves the line of sight to a second predetermined area within a predetermined angular direction range, thereby resetting the camera. A release is performed. That is, the release is performed by gazing at the subject and then moving the line of sight, and the photograph is taken without pressing the release button in a procedure consistent with conventional photographing operations.

[Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a line-of-sight detection activated camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The device shown in the figure includes a CPU (central processing unit) 1, a release button 2 connected to the CPU 1 via an input/output interface circuit (not shown), a line of sight detection means 3, a release mode selection means 4, a photometry means 5, and a focal point. detection means 6,
and posture detection means 7. The CPtJl further includes a display means 8, an exposure control means 9, a shutter device 10 and an aperture device 11 connected thereto, a lens drive control means 12 and a lens 13 driven thereby, via an input/output interface circuit (not shown). etc. are connected.

The CPUI is composed of, for example, a microprocessor and controls the overall system operation of the camera.The CPUI actually stores a ROM that stores programs and data, and a ROM that stores temporary data and is used as a work area. RAM, etc., that are used are connected or built-in. Release button 2 is a well-known push button for releasing the camera. The line of sight detection means 3 is a means for detecting the gaze point of the photographer's line of sight in the finder, as disclosed in the above-mentioned publication. The release mode selection means 4 is means, such as a switch, that allows the photographer to select a mode in which the release is performed using the release button 2 and a mode in which the release is performed using the line of sight. The photometering means 5 may be a well-known means for photometering the brightness of the object field. The focus detection means 6 may be any known means for detecting the focal position of the subject.The posture detection means 7 may be
The 0 display means 8 is a means for detecting the posture of the camera, such as the vertical position and the horizontal position, and may be a known one. This means is composed of light emitting diodes and other devices that display the exposure control mode, shutter speed, photographing aperture value, etc.

The exposure control means 9 performs photometry with the photometer Pi5, and the CPU1
This is a known means for controlling the shutter 10 and the aperture 11 in accordance with the exposure value calculated by.

The shutter device 10 is a known means controlled by the exposure control means 9. The aperture device 11 may be a known means that is also controlled by the exposure control means.The lens drive control means 12 moves the focus matching lens calculated by the CPU with respect to the focus position detected by the focus detection means 6. This is a means for controlling the lens 13 according to the amount. The lens 13 is a known photographic lens.

FIG. 2 shows the inside of the finder of the line-of-sight detection activated camera according to the present invention. In the figure, 21 is a finder frame, and a field frame 22 is provided within this finder frame. An aperture value display section 23 is provided above the field frame 22, and the aperture value of the photographic lens is displayed. In FIG. 2, the display is at F5.6. A shutter speed display section 24 is provided on the right side of the field frame 22, and displays the shutter speed. The figure shows a case where the shutter speed is between 1/60 (S) and 1/125 (S). At the bottom of the field frame 22, there are, for example, a focus mark 25, an exposure mode display section 26, a metering mode display section 27, a frame number display section 28, and a flash means use recommendation display section 29.
Or is provided.

For example, the focus mark 25 lights up when the image is in focus.

The exposure mode display section 26 displays P (program), A (aperture priority), S (shutter priority), M (manual), etc., depending on the selected exposure mode. In Figure 2, P
Displays the selected mode. The photometry mode display section 27 displays modes such as multi photometry, center-weighted photometry, and spot photometry. FIG. 2 shows a case where the center-weighted metering mode is selected. The frame number display section 28 displays the number of frames on a recording medium such as film.

In FIG. 2, it is displayed that the next photographing is the 25th frame. The flash means use recommendation display section 29 is a display that recommends the use of flash means such as a strobe device.

A method for performing a release operation in the line-of-sight detection activated camera having the above configuration will be explained. first,
The case where the camera is held in the horizontal position will be explained with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3, the same parts as in FIG. 2 are given the same numbers as in FIG. 2, and explanations thereof will be omitted.

In this case, since the camera is held in a horizontal position, the display below the field of view frame 22 (25.26.27.28 in FIG.
．． 29) are all turned off.

After gazing at a portion 32 of the main subject 31 within the field of view, the photographer selects a predetermined angle range θ around the vertical direction (for example, θ=30
°), move the line of sight toward the outside of the visual field frame as shown by arrow 33. This movement of the line of sight is detected by the line of sight detection means 3 (Fig. 1).
, and the CPU determines whether the movement satisfies a predetermined condition, which will be described later. If this condition is satisfied, the CPUI causes the exposure control means 9 to perform a release operation such as operation of the shutter device 9.

That is, the camera is released when the line of sight crosses the field frame 22.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing the operation of the present invention when the camera is laid down in a horizontal position. Components similar to those in FIGS. 2 and 3 are designated by the same numbers as in FIGS. 2 and 3, and description thereof will be omitted.

In this case, since the camera is set at the crest position, all the displays below the field of view frame 22 (24 in FIG. 2) are turned off.

In this case, the photographer should focus on the main subject 3 within the field of view.
After gazing at the portion 32 of 1, the user moves the line of sight outside the visual field frame as shown by an arrow 34 within a predetermined angular direction range θ (for example, θ=30°) around the vertical direction. As a result, the camera is released when the line of sight crosses the field frame 22 in the same way as described above.

In addition, the reason for turning off the line-of-sight release direction display in the above is to prevent the camera from being released inadvertently due to the nature of the eye's tendency to follow the changed object when the displayed content changes. This is to prevent it.

It would be convenient if the photographer could select this light-off function using an option switch, and it is also possible to make the display slightly darker and less noticeable without completely turning off the light.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 5, 6A, and 6B, CP
The release operation procedure performed by U11 (FIG. 1) will be explained. In addition, Fig. 5 shows the position of each part within the viewfinder field of view in χ-Y coordinates.6 First, as shown in step #1 at the beginning of the process in Fig. 6A, the photographer enters the release mode. A release mode is selected by selection means 4. In step #2, if the release mode selected in step #1 is the release mode using the release button 2, the process advances to step #3. In step #3, it is determined whether the release button 2 has been pressed; When the release button 2 is pressed, the process proceeds to step #24 in FIG. 6B, and the camera release operation is performed.2 If it is determined in step #2 that the release mode is by line of sight, step #2 Proceeding to step 4, the posture detection means 7 detects the posture in which the camera is held. Then, in step #5, if the orientation of the camera detected in #4 is the horizontal position, the process proceeds to step #6, and the display below the field of view frame in the finder is turned off.

In step #5, if the camera is not in the horizontal position, the process proceeds to step #7, where it is determined whether the camera is in the line position and the right side of the camera is facing down. If the right side of the camera is down, go to step #8 and
l! The display of I (when considered in 1 position) is turned off. If it is not on the right side or below in step #7, the process proceeds to step #9 and the display on the left side (when considered in the horizontal position) of the field of view frame in the finder is turned off.

After executing any one of steps #6, #8, and #9, in step #]0, the parameter n is set to 2000,
In step #11, the line of sight position is (X, , Y,)
is stored, and the value of n is decremented by 1 in step #12. In step #13, it is determined whether or not n is less than or equal to 0. If n is not less than 0, step #13 is performed again.
I'll be back at 11.

That is, the processing from steps #10 to #13 is performed by chronologically changing the line-of-sight position at a predetermined period (1 m5 in this example).
and D1~D2°. . This process stores up to 2000 items. Note that among D, to D2000, D2゜oo is the oldest in terms of time, and Dl is the newest.

If n is less than or equal to O in step #13, the process moves to step #14 and the position data of D2000 (X200°,
Y2゜. . ). Next, in step #15, the position data (X, , Y,) of D is substituted into the position data of +, (n=1 to 1999). Then, in step #16, new position data (X, , Y
, ) is stored as data. In step #17, it is determined whether the Y coordinate Y of the new line of sight position D1 is less than -12, and if it is less than -12, the line of sight or the visual field frame 22 is determined.
If it is outside the range, the process proceeds to step #18; otherwise, the process returns to step #14. In step #18, data D, (X, , -4) when Y=-4 is retrieved from the stored data of the line-of-sight position. Then, in step #19, it is determined whether or not data corresponding to Dk exists. If not, the line of sight has started from below Dk, and the process returns to step #14.

In step #19, if data corresponding to Dk exists, the process moves to step #20, and the slope of the line segment connecting D and Dl is calculated as θ=tan-'((X+X,)/8) Calculate according to the formula. The value of this angle θ represents the moving direction angle when the line of sight crosses the line of sight frame 22.

Next, in step #21, it is determined whether the absolute value of the angle θ obtained as described above is 15° or less.

If it is not less than 15゛, return to step #14 and 1
If the angle is 5° or less, proceed to step #22. Step #2
2 (FIG. 6B), it is determined whether or not 100 or more identical numerical values consecutively exist within the X 200° from the X coordinate x2 of the stored position data. If it existed, since the sampling interval of the line-of-sight position was 1 ms, it would mean that there existed a point where the dark night line position of 100 m5 or more did not move in the X direction.

In this case, the process moves to step #23, and Y2° is obtained from the Y position @y* of the position data stored in the same manner. . 10 in
Determine whether 0 or more identical numerical values exist consecutively. If it existed, since the sampling interval of the line-of-sight position was 1 ms, it would mean that there existed a point where the dark night line position of 100 m5 or more did not move in the Y direction. Therefore, if both steps #22 and #23 are satisfied, the photographer will be able to
This means that the user has been gazing at a certain point for more than m5, and the process moves to step #24, where the camera release operation is performed.

In addition, Y2° from Y2. . If 100 or more identical numerical values do not exist consecutively during this period, the process returns to step #14.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the inside of a finder of a camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, the second
For parts similar to Figures 2 and 3, please refer to Figures 2 and 3.
The same numbers as in the figure are given, and the explanation is omitted.

In Fig. 7, the photographer focuses on the main subject 31 within the field of view.
After gazing at a portion 32, the user moves the line of sight along the outside of the visual field frame as shown by an arrow 36, and when the camera crosses a rectangle 38 that is a distance ad outward from each side of the visual field frame 22, the camera is released. Furthermore, if the user returns his/her line of sight before crossing the rectangle 38 as shown by the arrow 37, the camera will not be released.

In this case, the camera is held in a horizontal position or the release direction is not limited, so all displays are turned off.

FIG. 8 shows the inside and surroundings of the finder of a camera according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

In this case, after gazing at a portion 32 of the main subject 31 within the field of view frame, the photographer moves his/her line of sight toward the outside of the field of view frame 39 as shown by the arrow 39, and selects a predetermined radius R centered on the center of the field of view frame 22. When the camera crosses the circle 41 (for example, the frame of an eye bag), the camera is released. Furthermore, if the user returns his/her line of sight before crossing the circle 41 as shown by the arrow 40, the release will not occur.

Also, in this case as well, the camera is held in a horizontal position,
Since the release direction is not limited, all displays are turned off.

In addition, in the above-mentioned FIGS. 3 and 4, the direction of the line-of-sight release is vertically downward at a predetermined angle (for example, 30 degrees),
As shown in FIG. 9, the release may be made when the line of sight moves within a diagonal line that includes the allowable width θ in the direction of a predetermined position 139 that is not vertically downward outside the lower field of view frame. In either case, the line of sight is downward. We are considering the case where the user moves in a certain direction with a certain width, but the reason why we chose the downward direction is because the line of sight moves more when moving sideways or upwards than when moving downwards, which may feel unnatural from an ergonomic point of view. , and the reason for providing the tolerance range is to prevent erroneous release due to involuntary movement of the line of sight. For this purpose, it is appropriate for θ to be about 30° or less, but if θ is set to 20° or less, for example, the possibility of malfunction can be reduced.

Further, by performing the release when the line of sight moves, for example linearly, within the predetermined angle θ within a predetermined time, the N rate of malfunctions can be extremely reduced.

In addition, in the above description, the case where the line of sight moves downward is explained from an ergonomic point of view, but it is clear that the present invention is not necessarily limited to downward movement, and the direction of movement can be selected in any direction. You can also make it possible. Furthermore, it is also possible to automatically change the unlit portion of the display according to the selection of this direction.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, since the camera is released using the line of sight, the release can be performed with good operability without pressing the release button. Therefore, camera shake that occurs when pressing the release button can be completely eliminated. Furthermore, a camera that can be easily operated can be realized.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block #1 diagram showing the general configuration of the line-of-sight detection activated camera according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the inside of the viewfinder of the camera according to the present invention, and FIG. , an explanatory diagram showing the inside of the viewfinder when the camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention is held in a horizontal position; FIG. FIG. 5 is a graph for explaining the operating procedure of the camera according to the present invention. FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams showing the inside of the finder when the camera is held in the position FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the inside of the viewfinder of the camera according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the release operation procedure. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the inside of the finder of the camera according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. 1: CPU, 3: Line of sight detection means, 4 Lens mode selection means, 7: Posture detection means, 8: Display means, 9: Exposure control means, 10: Shutter, 21: Finder frame, 22: Field of view frame. Patent applicant Nikon Co., Ltd. Agent Patent attorney Jin Watanabe Male 0 - (r
),,35 Fig. 5 (=-D No. 6A) Fig. 6B Fig. 25, 2b Fig. 7 °04゛-9゜Fig. q

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A finder means for observing a subject; a line-of-sight detection means for detecting the line of sight of an observing eye observed by the finder means; movement detection means for detecting movement from the area to a second predetermined area through the predetermined movement area and outputting a control signal; and release means for releasing the camera based on the control signal. Features a line-of-sight detection activated camera. 2. The line of sight detection activated camera according to claim 1, wherein the first predetermined area is within the field of view of the finder means, and the second predetermined area is outside the field of view of the finder means. 3. Further, an attitude detecting means for detecting the angular attitude of the camera is provided, and the movement area is set in the first predetermined area or within the first predetermined area based on the angular attitude of the camera detected by the attitude detecting means. The line-of-sight detection activated camera according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the line-of-sight detection activated camera is defined as a predetermined angular direction range from the line-of-sight start area. 4. The line-of-sight detection activated camera according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined angular direction range is around the vertical direction. 5. The line of sight detection activated camera according to claim 3, wherein a display within the field of view of the finder means included in the predetermined angular direction range can be turned off or dimmed. 6. A finder means for observing a subject; a line-of-sight detection means for detecting the line of sight of the observation eye observed by the finder means; movement detecting means that detects movement within a predetermined angular direction range to a second predetermined area after being in the vicinity for a predetermined time or more and outputs a control signal; and a release that releases the camera based on the control signal. A line-of-sight detection activated camera characterized by comprising means and. 7. The control signal is applied after the line of sight has been present at or near one point in the first predetermined area for the predetermined period or more;
The line-of-sight detection activated camera according to claim 6, wherein the camera is generated in response to movement into the second predetermined area within a second predetermined time.