JPH07199321A - Camera capable of performing panoramic shot - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily realize a linked panoramic photograph with an easy photographic operation while holding a camera by a hand. CONSTITUTION:When panoramic shot is set by a mode selecting switch means 5, a display means 9 inside a finder is in a working condition, the postures of the camera on the number of frames on which pictures are photographed during the working condition and the present posture of the camera are inputted to a CPU 10 from a posture detecting means 11 constituted of a bearing magnet and an angular velocity sensor, etc., and are compared, and an arithmetic result is displayed on the display means 9. When a photographer presses a release switch based on the display of the display means 9, a film feeding means 8 is moved based on the compared result, the roller of a film feeding amount detecting means 7 rotates so as to imprint a mark to a film by an identification mark imprinting means 6, so that the panoramic photograph can be obtained by linking photographs according to the mark and can be appreciated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera suitable for so-called stitched panoramic photography for viewing a plurality of photographs side by side.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when performing this type of panoramic photography, the photographer should be fixed on a pan head or the like, and the photographer should rotate the camera at a sufficient distance to overlap the printed pictures so that the printed pictures are naturally connected. It is normal to view them in a line.

Further, as described in JP-A-64-49031, an electronic viewfinder having an image pickup device, a memory and a display means is used to display a part of the previous screen at the same time as the current screen. It is known that, by this means, it is possible to carry out accurate shooting screen alignment without holding the seam portion in the head and without misalignment.

[0004]

However, in the former example of the former case, when a panoramic picture is desired to be taken, a pan head is always required, and thus the mobility is lacking. Further, when the photograph is taken by hand, it is difficult to memorize the previous photographing range, so that a panoramic photograph whose top, bottom, left and right are deviated can be made. Further, there is a drawback that the joints cannot be properly connected when the pictures are viewed side by side.

Further, in the latter conventional example described above, since a part of the previous photographing screen is displayed by using an electronic viewfinder as a storage means for the previous photographing screen, there are the following drawbacks. (1) The components of the electronic viewfinder are image pickup elements,
A large amount of memory and a display element such as a liquid crystal are required, which makes it extremely expensive. (2) Since the photographer must perform alignment with the eyes of the photographer while looking at the image, it is difficult to perform alignment on a subject with many similar patterns, and it takes time for alignment. Further, there is a drawback that it causes eye fatigue when used for a long time. As the auxiliary means, a method of increasing the number of pixels of the electronic viewfinder or a method of making it easier to distinguish by color (automatic pattern recognition etc.) can be considered, but there is a high possibility that the cost will be further increased.

(3) Since a part of the previous photographing screen is displayed on the current photographing screen in order to stitch the pictures together, there is a drawback that the entire image of the current photographing screen cannot be observed at the time of alignment. there were. (4) When the subject brightness is low, the joint portion is dark and it is difficult to determine, and accurate alignment may not be possible. (5) There is a drawback that the operation becomes complicated because it is necessary to specify the stacking direction.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art and to provide a camera capable of taking a panoramic picture by connecting a plurality of pictures and viewing the panorama picture easily.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a posture detecting means for detecting and storing a posture in a camera body, and a display for displaying an output corresponding to the posture detection signal in a viewfinder. And a mode selection switch means for switching the display means between an operating state and a non-operating state, and a posture of the camera when a picture is taken while the switch means is in the operating state. Comparing at least one of these with the current camera pose,
It has a comparison display means for displaying the information in the finder. Further, when the switch means is operating the display means, there is a mark display means for displaying in the viewfinder an identification mark corresponding to a portion of the current photographing range which overlaps with the previous time, and the film feeding means is provided. It is preferable to have mark imprinting means for imprinting the identification mark at the time of sending. Further, the mark imprinting means may be the same as the means for imprinting information such as date and characters.

[0009]

With the above-described camera capable of panoramic photography, when a user wants to re-capture a specific one image while taking a continuous panoramic photo and divert another photo, that is, only a person is replaced in the same landscape. If you want to compose a panoramic picture, you only have to take a certain number of pictures without taking a picture of a similar landscape again. Further, by providing the mark imprinting means for imprinting the identification mark at the time of feeding the film, it becomes easy to identify the portion to be overlapped when the splicing panoramic photograph is taken and viewed by putting the identification mark on the film. Further, by sharing the identification mark imprinting means with the date imprinting means, it is not necessary to separately provide a device for imprinting the identification mark, the number of parts can be reduced, and the camera can be downsized.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a rear view of the camera of the present embodiment tilted to the left, FIG. 2 is a perspective view with a back cover removed, FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a posture detecting means of the camera, and FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration. . In FIG. 1, 1 is a camera body, 2 is a field-of-view frame for indicating a range to be photographed this time, 3 is an AF distance measuring mark for measuring a distance to a subject to be photographed this time, and 4 is a mode selection described later. Reference numeral 5 denotes a mode selection switch means, which shows a third view field frame representing a view field frame displayed by comparison with an arbitrary number of frames taken while the switch is operating the display means.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 6 is an identification mark imprinting means for imprinting an identification mark indicating an overlapping portion of the screen, and 7 is a film which is rotated by the feeding of the film and detects the feeding amount. This is a roller as a feeding amount detecting means. Then, in the identification mark imprinting means 6,
For example, an LED array is arranged, and the identification mark is printed on the film by controlling the turning amount of the roller 7 to turn on and off, and by turning on and off the LED, characters and pictures are displayed. It is also possible to imprint information such as the above at an arbitrary position.

3 (a) and 3 (b) show different examples of the attitude detecting means 11 provided in the camera body. In the example of FIG. 3A, the contact piece 13 rotating integrally with the compass 12 is slid on the conductor patterns 14 and 15, and the change in the resistance value is read from the voltage change of the terminals connected to both ends of the contact pattern 13 to determine the position. It is a potentiometer that detects (direction). By using this detecting means, the absolute position of the azimuth can be detected.

Further, the example of FIG. 3B is a detection mechanism capable of both absolute position detection and relative position detection of the azimuth. That is, the pattern 1 that rotates integrally with the azimuth magnet 16 and detects the absolute position (azimuth) in which the concentration formed concentrically with respect to the center of the azimuth magnet 16 gradually changes
7 and a pulse plate on which a pattern 18 for generating a pulse for detecting a detailed swing angle with respect to an absolute position is formed. The position of each pattern is detected by the density pattern 1
The absolute position of the azimuth is detected by the position detection device 19 including a light emitting / receiving unit 7 based on the light integrated value for a fixed time. For convenience of illustration, an example in which the density pattern 17 is detected in several steps has been shown, but if a pattern that changes the density change steplessly is formed and position detection is performed, a finer and more accurate position can be obtained. It can be detected.

On the other hand, the pulse pattern 18 is detected by the photo interrupter 20 and is used for setting the detailed swing angle after the absolute position is detected. In the illustrated example, a simple example is shown as the pattern, but the pattern 18 is devised. Thus, it is possible to detect the direction of rotation.

Further, in the example of FIG. 3B, the absolute position detection is detected by the density pattern 17, but the pattern is not necessarily limited to this pattern. For example, even in the same density pattern, the area of the light transmitting portion is gradually increased. The same effect can be obtained by changing the pattern.

In detecting the azimuth, the geomagnetism is used and the force is actually strong. Therefore, when the contact type shown in FIG. 3A is used, a deceleration mechanism separately provided,
A balancer etc. is required. On the other hand, non-contact type
The example of (b) is effective because the position can be directly detected.
Although the detection is performed by light in this embodiment, it may be performed by using a magnetic sensor or the like.

The above is the means for detecting the position in the horizontal direction, but since it is also necessary to detect the position when the camera is swung upward or downward, this is not shown in this embodiment, but the position in the vertical direction is not shown. The swing angle is detected using a gravity sensor. That is, an object on the earth is pulled toward the ground by an attractive force, but this direction is detected as an absolute position, and the absolute position of the elevation angle is detected by detecting the current direction in the same way as in the horizontal direction. It is possible.

Further, in the block diagram of FIG. 4, reference numeral 5 denotes the above-mentioned mode selection switch means for switching the display means 9 to be described later between the operating state and the non-operating state. 6 is the above-mentioned identification mark imprinting means, 7 is the above-mentioned film feeding amount detecting means, 8 is a film feeding means for winding and rewinding the film by a spool or fork driven by a motor, and 9 is the posture The display means for displaying the output corresponding to the detection signal output from the detection means 11 in the finder, and the reference numeral 11 is the attitude detection means of the camera for detecting the attitude of the camera by the azimuth magnetic needle or the angular velocity sensor as described above. An arithmetic processing circuit (CPU) 10 calculates an input signal of each means and generates an output signal.
Then, the data detected by the posture detecting means 11 is stored.

In this structure, the attitude of the camera of an arbitrary number of frames photographed while the mode selecting switch means 5 is operating the display means 9 and the current attitude are compared by the input from the attitude detecting means 11. The calculation result is displayed on the display means 9 in the finder. Therefore,
When the photographer presses a release switch (not shown) according to the display means 9, the film feeding means 8 is moved according to the comparison result, and as the roller of the film feeding amount detecting means 7 rotates,
The identification mark imprinting means 6 imprints the mark on the film.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram when a panoramic photograph is constructed from a plurality of photographs printed from a photographed film. In the figure, M is an identification mark and K is an overlapping portion. Therefore, from the plurality of photographs of FIG. 5A, the photographer cuts off the overlapping portion K according to the identification mark M as shown in FIG. Such panoramic pictures can be constructed. Further, in the same figure, if it is desired to replace only the (n + 1) th object with a different object after the shooting is completed with the mode selection switch means 5 in the ON state from the nth image to the (n + 2) th image, after the (n + 2) th object is taken, By calling the (n + 1) th field frame and photographing another subject, it is possible to compose a joint panoramic photograph of different persons in the same landscape.

Next, the panoramic photographing operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of. First, step 1
Then, after the photographer turns on the main switch, the mode selection switch 5 selects whether to perform panoramic photography or normal photography. In the case of panoramic shooting, the process proceeds to step 3, and in the case of normal shooting, the process proceeds to step 2. In step 2, normal photography is performed in which a plurality of dance pictures are not arranged side by side according to the selection result in step 1. On the other hand, in step 3, so-called joint panoramic photography is performed, in which a plurality of photographs are viewed side by side, and the process proceeds to step 4. In step 4, the photographer aligns the field frame 2 in the finder with the subject to be photographed and performs framing, and then proceeds to step 5.

In step 5, the photographer selects the first-stage switch SW-1 of the second-stage click of the release button (not shown).
When is turned on, the camera measures the distance to the object by the known AF and AE techniques, detects the brightness thereof, and proceeds to step 6. In step 6, it is determined whether or not the second-stage switch SW-2 is turned on by the photographer's subsequent pressing of the release button. When the switch SW-2 is turned on, the film is exposed by a shutter (not shown), and the photographing operation is completed. If it is not turned on, the process returns to step 4, and waits until the photographer completes shooting or the main switch is turned off.

In step 7, the switch S in step 6
When W-2 is turned on, that is, when the shooting is performed, the distance measurement data, the photometric data, the focal length, the number of shots, and the attitude of the camera at this time, that is, the shooting range are stored. This is used as a standard for composing a panoramic photograph by connecting them. Then, it proceeds to step 8. In step 8, as in step 4, the photographer looks through the viewfinder, and a range different from the range photographed in step 6 is matched with the field frame 2 for photographing, and the process proceeds to step 9. In step 9, the camera attitude during framing in step 8 is compared with the camera attitude stored in step 7. At this time, AF, A
E, the focal length is the same as in step 6. That is, the shooting range to be shot this time is compared with the previously shot range, and the process proceeds to step 10.

In step 10, the identification mark M is displayed in the finder based on the calculation result in step 9.
As a method of displaying the identification mark M, a part of the photographing range is displayed last time, and the photographer adjusts the visual field frames in the viewfinder to the adjacent upper, lower, left, and right positions, or a plurality of modes are set. Incidentally, there is a method in which the photographer sets the modes of vertical arrangement, horizontal arrangement, and diagonal arrangement, and the visual field frame 4 to be photographed next is displayed in advance in the viewfinder to align the photographing visual field frame 2. Further, as another identification mark display method, there is a method of lighting a plurality of LEDs or a display such as "3" shown in FIG. 1 in the viewfinder by an electronic viewfinder or the like.

Next, in step 11, similarly to step 6, it is determined whether or not the switch SW-2 is turned on to take a photograph. If it is on, the process proceeds to step 12, and if it is off, the process returns to step 8 to take a photograph. Wait until you do. However, when this photographing is performed, the photographing is performed based on the distance measuring data, the photometric data and the focal length stored in step 7. In step 12, the number of shots and the attitude of the camera at this time are stored as in step 7, and the process proceeds to step 13.

In step 13, it is determined whether or not an interrupt is to be performed. In other words, if the photographer wants to take only one specific image with the same composition while taking a series of panoramic photos, that is, if he wants to shoot with different people in the same landscape, he / she can use the P mode temporary release switch. Make a decision as to whether it has been turned on. Step 1 if you want to interrupt
If not 4, the process proceeds to step 15 to continue the continuous panorama shooting. In step 14, the photographer further inputs the number of frames to be photographed by the photographer using an operation member (not shown), and the camera posture stored in steps 7 and 12 is called, and the process returns to step 8. Display the identification mark in the viewfinder.

7 and 8 show the outline of another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 shows a case where each print photograph is desired to be viewed at an angle, and FIG. 8 shows a case where a plurality of service size photographs are desired to be arranged vertically and horizontally. In both cases, the camera can be set to a mode capable of taking such a photograph. In the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the target field frame tilted by a certain angle from the nth photo is displayed in the viewfinder, and the photographer sequentially selects the nth frame according to the field frame as shown in FIG. The n + 1th and n + 2th images are taken. Next, as shown in (b), cutting is performed along the tilted identification mark M of the (n + 1) th and (n + 2) th photographs, and as shown in (c), the nth and n + 1th photographs.
Connect the first and n + 2 pictures to make a panorama picture. In the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 as well, a multi-vision type photograph can be constructed by similarly taking a picture according to the field frame specified by the camera.

[0028]

As described above, the present invention has the mode selection switch means for switching the display means for displaying the output according to the attitude detection signal of the attitude detection means in the finder to the operating / non-operating state, Comparison display means for comparing at least one of the camera postures at the time of photographing and the current camera posture while the switch means is operating the display means, and displaying the information in the viewfinder. By providing the, it is possible to take a hand-held panorama photo without using a tripod or tripod.Also, if you want to replace only a specific number of panorama photos already taken, for example, only people, You can compose a panoramic photo without having to retake it.

Further, there is provided mark display means for displaying in the finder an identification mark corresponding to a portion of the current photographing range which overlaps with the previous time when the switch means activates the display means, and By providing the mark imprinting means for imprinting the identification mark at the time of feeding the film, the overlapping portion becomes clear when the stitched panoramic photograph is viewed, so that the stitching work can be performed easily. Further, if the identification mark imprinting means is also used as the imprinting means such as a date, the number of parts can be reduced and the camera can be miniaturized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a rear view of a camera according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in a state of being tilted to the left.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the camera as viewed from the back side with the back cover removed.

3A and 3B are plan views of the posture detecting means, in which FIG. 3A shows a contact type and FIG. 3B shows a non-contact type.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram for the operating configuration of the camera.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a process of a panoramic photograph configuration based on photographed photographs.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the shooting operation.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating a process of forming a panoramic photograph according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view illustrating a process of constructing a panoramic photograph according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... camera body, 2 ... current shooting range field frame, 3 ...
AF distance measuring mark, 4 ... target field frame or photographed field frame, 5 ... mode selection switch means, 6 ... identification mark imprinting means, 7 ... film feed amount detection means (roller), 8 ... Film feeding means, 9 ... Display means, 10
..Arithmetic processing circuit (CPU), 11 ...
12, 16 ... Compass, 13 ... Contact piece, 14, 15 ...
Conductor pattern, 17 ... Detection pattern, 18 ... Pulse generation pattern, 19 ... Position detection device, 20 ... Photo interrupter, M ... Identification mark, K ...

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A camera having attitude detection means for detecting and storing the attitude in a camera body, and display means for displaying an output according to the attitude detection signal in a viewfinder. Comparing at least one of the postures of the camera at the time of photographing with the current posture of the camera with a mode selection switch means for switching to and
A camera capable of panoramic photography, characterized by having a comparison display means for displaying the information in a viewfinder. 2. A camera having a posture detection means for detecting and storing a posture in a camera body and a display means for displaying an output according to the posture detection signal in a viewfinder, wherein the display means is in an activated / deactivated state. Mark for displaying in the finder an identification mark corresponding to a portion of the current photographing range that overlaps with the last time when the display means is operated by the mode selection switch means. A camera capable of taking a panoramic image, comprising a display means and a mark imprinting means for imprinting the identification mark at the time of feeding the film. 3. The camera according to claim 2, wherein the mark imprinting means is the same as the means for imprinting information such as date and characters.