JPH0763980A - Camera provided with line-of-sight detecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To save time and labor for changing setting required for each photographer and to improve operability by storing the setting of camera function for each photographer, and accessing the setting by the work for accessing an eyeball measured value in the case of photographing. CONSTITUTION:This camera is provided with an observing means 13 observing the eyeball 20 of an observer, a line-of-sight detecting means 17 calculating the direction of the line of sight of the observer based on information obtained from the observing means 13 in the case of detecting the line of sight and the previously recorded eyeball measured value, and a storing means 12 storing the previously recorded plural eyeball measured values. The camera is also provided with a position selecting means 11 selecting a desired eyeball measured value among the plural eyeball measured values recorded in the storing means 12, a response method setting means 15 setting the camera function, and the storing means 12 storing the plural settings for camera function. The setting of camera function is accessed from the storing means 12 by using the position selecting means 11 selecting the desired eyeball measured value. Consequently, the time and labor can be saved and the camera with good handleability can be provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera having a visual axis detecting device for detecting the visual axis of a photographer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a camera having a conventional line-of-sight detection device, the state of the eyeball of the photographer is measured and stored in advance before photographing, and the measured value of the eyeball of the photographer is called at the time of photographing and the called measurement value is called. Was used to detect the line of sight.

On the other hand, recently, various camera functions can be set. These functions can be set by operating dials or buttons provided on the camera body or the taking lens.

[0004]

However, in the conventional camera, since only one setting is stored in one function for one camera, it is necessary to change the setting once to restore the setting. The same operation must be performed again by operating the dials and buttons of the camera body and shooting lens again. Therefore, when one camera is used by a plurality of photographers, the setting of the desired function differs depending on the photographers, and it is necessary to restore the setting of the user's preference each time.

However, various types of functions have been registered in the current cameras, and it has been time-consuming and labor-consuming to check all of these functions at the time of shooting. In addition, in a camera having a line-of-sight detection device, in order to retrieve the eyeball measurement values required for line-of-sight detection, an operation must be performed separately from the above operation, and therefore, further time and labor must be spent. It had a drawback.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and the setting of the camera function is stored for each photographer and is called by performing an operation of calling the eyeball measurement value at the time of shooting, so that one camera can be used. It is an object of the present invention to provide a camera having excellent operability, which saves time and labor required for changing the setting for each photographer when the camera is used by a plurality of photographers.

[0007]

In order to achieve this object, a camera having a line-of-sight detection device according to the present invention comprises an observation means for observing an eyeball of an observer, information obtained from the observation means at the time of detecting the line of sight, A line-of-sight detection device that calculates the line-of-sight direction of the observer from previously recorded eyeball measurement values, a first storage unit that stores a plurality of prerecorded eyeball measurement values, and a plurality of eyeballs that are recorded in the storage unit. Of the measured values,
The system includes a selecting unit for selecting a desired eyeball measurement value, a setting unit for setting a camera function (response method), and a second storage unit for storing a plurality of camera function settings. It is configured to call the setting of the camera function from the second storage means by using the selecting means for selecting.

[0008]

In the camera having the line-of-sight detection device having the above-mentioned structure, the camera function setting is stored for each photographer and is called by performing the operation of calling the eyeball measurement value at the time of shooting, which saves time and labor. However, it becomes possible to provide a camera that is easy to use.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block connection diagram showing an embodiment of a camera having a visual axis detection device according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, the photographer uses the position selecting means 11 to select at which position of the storage means 12 the measurement value (eyeball measurement value) regarding the eyeball of the photographer himself is to be stored. At the selected storage position, a value peculiar to the photographer's eyeball or the camera 1
The setting values of the various functions of are stored. The storage unit 12 stores, for each storage position, that is, for each photographer, a value peculiar to the photographer's eyeball and set values for various functions of the camera 1. It is most preferable that the number of storage positions is provided by the required number of people, but it is finally determined by the capacity of the storage means 12 and the like.

The value peculiar to the eyeball of the photographer is measured by the observation means 13 mounted on the camera 1. The measured information is calculated by the preliminary measurement value calculation means 14 and then stored in the storage means 12. Further, the set values of the various functions of the camera 1 are set by operating the response method setting means 15, and the set values are stored in the storage means 12. When the photographer uses the camera 1 to take a picture, the position selecting means 11 calls the position where the above information is stored in the storage means 12, and the initial setting of the camera 1 is made by the response means 16. The function is set, and the line-of-sight calculation unit 17 can perform image capturing by using the line-of-sight detection using a value unique to each eyeball of each photographer.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the camera having the visual axis detection device according to the present invention.

The program starts when the photographer turns on the main switch of the camera 1. In step S1, the photographer determines whether or not he / she intends to perform the preliminary measurement operation. Whether or not there is an intention to perform the preliminary measurement operation is determined by whether or not the preliminary measurement operation is possible by operating the dial, lever or button provided on the surface of the camera 1. If there is an intention to perform the preliminary measurement operation, the process proceeds to step S2 to enter the preliminary measurement operation. If there is no intention to perform the preliminary measurement operation, the process proceeds to step S4.

In step S2, the position selecting means 11 such as a dial, lever or button provided on the surface of the camera 1
A storage position on the storage unit 12 used by the photographer is selected.
Step S3 is a subroutine of preliminary measurement operation,
The preliminary measurement values measured and calculated in the preliminary measurement operation of this routine differ depending on the gaze detection method used, but in any method, if the detection method requires the preliminary measurement operation, the calculated preliminary measurement value is stored. It is stored in the position selected by the position selecting means 11 on the means 12. When the required preliminary measurement value is stored, the subroutine of the preliminary measurement operation is ended and the process proceeds to step S4.

In step S4, it is determined whether or not the photographer intends to perform the response method setting operation. If the photographer intends to perform the response method setting operation, he or she operates a dial, a lever, a button, or the like provided on the surface of the camera 1 so that the response method setting operation is possible. If it is determined in step S4 that the user intends to perform the response method setting operation, the response method setting operation routine is entered, and the process proceeds to step S5. When it is determined that there is no intention to perform the response method setting operation, the process proceeds to step S7.

In step S5, the position selecting means 11 such as a dial, lever or button provided on the surface of the camera 1
The storage position on the storage means 12 used by the photographer is selected, and the process proceeds to step S6. At this time, if the above-described preliminary measurement operation is performed and then the response method setting operation is performed, since the position has already been selected, the photographer does not need to perform a new operation. Step S6 is a subroutine of the response method setting operation, and the response method is set by operating the response method setting means 15. Various functions of the camera 1 that can be set by the response method setting operation will be described later. The response method set by the response method setting means 15 is stored at the position selected by the position selecting means 11 on the storage means 12 together with the above-mentioned preliminary measurement value. When the setting of the response method is stored, the response method setting means 15 is terminated and the process proceeds to step S7.

In step S7, it is determined whether or not the photographer has an intention to photograph. When the photographer intends to take a picture, the dial, lever, or button provided on the surface of the camera 1 is operated so that the response method setting operation is possible. If it is determined that the photographer has the intention of taking a photograph, the process proceeds to step S8. If it is determined that the photographer has no intention of taking a picture, for example, if there is an operation such as turning off the main switch of the camera 1, the program is immediately terminated.

In step S8, the position selecting means 11 such as a dial, lever or button provided on the surface of the camera 1
A storage position on the storage unit 12 used by the photographer is selected.
When the photographer selects a position in step S8, step S9
Proceed to step S6 and the response method set in step S6 is automatically set. At this time, if the shooting operation is performed after performing the preliminary measurement operation or the response method setting operation described above,
Since the position has already been selected, the photographer does not need to perform a new operation.

Step S10 is a subroutine for performing the photographing operation of the camera 1. The line of sight is detected using the preliminary measurement value calculated in step S3, and the control is performed by the response method set in step S6. After the photographer has taken the desired number of times, the series of operations ends when the shooting ends.

Next, the preliminary measurement operation shown in step S3 of FIG. 2 will be described. In the preliminary measurement operation, a value specific to the eyeball of the photographer necessary for detecting the line of sight is preset, and calculation and storage are performed. The visual axis detection method used in the camera having the visual axis detection device of the present invention is a method of obtaining from the image detected by the light receiving element and the stored parameters, and various methods have been proposed so far. Hereinafter, an example of the above-described line-of-sight detection method will be briefly described.

The line-of-sight direction to be obtained can be expressed by the eyeball rotation angle θ as follows.

Θ = sin ⁻¹ (a × K) −b (1) Here,
K is the distance between the center position of the pupil and the center position of the corneal curvature, and can be obtained from the boundary between the pupil and the iris formed on the light receiving element and the Purkinje first image position P.

A and b are constants which differ depending on the eyeball. When the formula (1) is expanded using sin θ to θ,

Θ = a × K−b can be described as in (2).

Therefore, if the values of a and b are determined from the equation (2) as parameters necessary for detecting the line of sight and these values are registered, the direction of the line of sight can be determined. a
For a method of determining the values b and b, see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-16862.
It is introduced in Japanese Patent No. 3, but the method will be briefly described here.

In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-168623,
By giving two values of θ and K in the equation (2), a
And b. Therefore, a display as shown in FIG. 3 is provided in the finder mat. The camera 1 has an optical system for distance measurement capable of performing distance measurement at three locations within the field of view.
Reference numerals 81 and 82 denote distance measuring areas corresponding to the respective distance measuring areas of the distance measuring optical system. Reference numerals 91 and 92 are indicators for the photographer to gaze at the time of preliminary measurement, and the left and right distance measurement area displays 80 and 8 are displayed.
It is provided in the center of 2.

The photographer who intends to register operates the camera 1 by operating a predetermined dial or button provided on the camera 1.
Make the registration possible, and look into the viewfinder. Inside the finder, a display (not shown) indicating that registration is being performed and a display of the finder mat portion shown in FIG. 3 are provided around the finder mat. Display 8 of FIG.
It is preferable that 0, 81 and 82 and indicators 91 and 92 are constituted by light emitting diodes, liquid crystal displays and the like, and that only necessary displays are sequentially displayed and other displays are not displayed.

First, the photographer turns on the switch for starting the driving of the observation means 13 while gazing at the index 91 on the left side. The preliminary measurement value calculation means 14 calculates the coordinates of the gazing point by actual measurement at that time. In the calculation of coordinates, the configuration is such that the average value of the detection results of multiple times is obtained when setting once,
Improves data reliability.

Further, the photographer turns on the switch for starting the driving of the observation means 13 again while gazing at the index 92 on the right side. Also at this time, the coordinates are calculated as described above. Then, the preliminary measurement value calculating means 14 obtains two equations by substituting the above-mentioned two coordinates into the equation (2). The parameters a and b of the photographer can be calculated by solving these two equations simultaneously. The photographer-specific parameters a and b thus obtained
Is stored in the position on the storage means 12 selected by the position selection means 11.

Next, the response method setting operation shown in step S6 of FIG. 2 will be described.

The current camera 1 has various functions. In the response method setting operation, the photographer himself or herself sets some or all of the functions selected from among these various functions according to his / her preference.

First, various functions of the camera 1 that can be set are sequentially selected and determined using an input device such as a dial, a lever or a button provided on a camera body, a taking lens, an accessory or the like. The set various functions are stored as settings at the start of shooting for each photographer. When the photographer selects all the functions he / she wants to set, the response method setting operation is ended by operating the camera 1 from the state in which the response method can be set to the state in which shooting can be performed.

Representative examples of functions that can be specifically set by the photographer will be introduced.

First, the photographer selects the so-called manual focus mode in which the focus ring of the taking lens is manually turned to focus, or the camera 1 automatically detects the in-focus position to drive the lens. You can set whether to select the auto focus mode. Further, when the auto focus mode is selected, it is possible to set which of the plurality of focus areas is used, whether to use a part of the focus area or the entire range. Furthermore, it is possible to set whether or not to perform predictive driving for a moving object, release priority, focus priority, or the like. Further, when changing the focus area, it is possible to select whether to use a dial or the like or a line-of-sight detection device or the like.

The metering mode is also a multi-segment metering mode in which the finder field of view is divided into three or more areas for metering, a center-weighted metering mode in which the finder field is divided into a central portion and a peripheral portion to determine exposure, and a finder. It is possible to select spot metering or the like for metering an extremely narrow area in the visual field. When there are a plurality of spot photometric areas, it is possible to set which photometric area is used.

In the exposure mode combined with the above-described photometry mode, the program auto exposure mode in which the camera 1 controls both the aperture and the shutter speed, and the camera 1 controls only the shutter speed, and the aperture value is manually set by the photographer. Aperture priority auto exposure mode, camera 1 controls the aperture value, shutter speed priority auto exposure mode in which the photographer manually sets the shutter speed, and manual setting in which the photographer sets the aperture value and shutter speed The mode etc. can be set. For functions that are set by the photographer to manually adjust in these exposure modes, for example,
If the shutter speed is always set to 1/250 second, it is possible to instantly determine how much to change from the setting.

Various programmed automatic exposure modes have been developed for the latest single-lens reflex cameras. For example, the program auto exposure mode, which is called a portrait mode in which the aperture value is opened as much as possible, corresponds to this. There is also known a camera having an exposure mode called a custom program in which the photographer himself or herself freely combines the aperture value and the shutter speed value according to need and preference. It is possible to set which mode is used among these many exposure modes.

The photometric mode described above can be given a desired combination by the photographer. For example, when the exposure mode is the manual mode, the metering mode can be set to the spot metering mode, and in the aperture priority auto-exposure mode, a combination such as center-weighted metering can be set for each photographer. This can be set by combining all the functions registered in the camera 1 for each photographer.

In the film winding method, one frame can be wound, a specified number of frames can be continuously wound, high speed and low speed can be continuously wound at various speeds, and whether or not the rewind is automatically started after the last frame is photographed is instructed by the photographer. You can set whether to hold the film, rewind at high speed, gently rewind at low speed, wind the end of the film into the patrone at the end of rewinding, or leave it outside the patrone.

The sensitivity of the film can be set to be DX compatible or to be manually operated.

The same setting can be made for the strobe mode. In the flash mode of recent cameras, the camera automatically determines whether the subject has low brightness and whether or not a flash is required, a flash off mode that prohibits flashing, and a forced flash regardless of the low brightness and high brightness of the subject. Forced flash mode to fire at, mode to reduce red eye phenomenon,
Various strobe modes can be set, such as balanced sync for shooting both the person and the background with proper exposure, slow sync, front curtain sync for synchronizing with the front curtain of the focal plane shutter, and rear curtain sync for synchronizing with the rear curtain.

It is possible to set not only the control mode of the camera but also the exposure correction, that is, the correction by half step or by the third step. Similarly, it is possible to set whether to change the shutter speed or the aperture value step by step, or to change the value by one half or one third. For exposure compensation, the automatic bracketing function, in which the exposure is automatically and stepwise, is performed in half steps.
For each one-third stage, it is possible to select and set in advance whether to properly expose the third frame, the fifth frame, the first sheet, or the corrected exposure.

In addition, whether or not various warning sounds should be sounded, how long they should be sounded, how many seconds the self-timer should be set, whether the self-timer is used, the number of releases should be one or two, etc. All of the configurable camera control modes listed in can be set.

The functions in charge of various dials and various buttons arranged on the front surface of the camera can be set for each photographer. For example, as shown in FIG.
1. In the camera 1 having the dial 302, a photographer uses the dial 301 as a shutter speed setting dial,
While 302 is used as an aperture value setting dial,
Another photographer uses the dial 301 in the aperture priority mode.
Can be used as an aperture value setting dial, and the dial 302 can be used as an exposure correction dial. In a camera having three or more dials, the range of selection is further expanded.

Further, the timing for driving the shutter is also
Normally, this is done when the release button 303 is pressed all the way to the end, but it is also possible to select a so-called focus priority function that automatically drives the shutter when the subject moves to a preset distance. .

With respect to the release button 303, normally, the first switch is turned on in the half-pushed state where it is half-pushed, and the photometry and distance measurement are driven, and the shutter curtain is driven in the fully-pushed state where it is fully depressed. , Exposure is performed. It is also possible to set in the camera 1 which function is driven in these half-pressed or full-pressed states. That is, the exposure and the distance measurement are performed in the half-pressed state, respectively, but the exposure and the distance measurement are continuously updated until the half-pressed state is released, or the metering value and the measured value at the time of the half-pressed state You can set whether to fix the distance value. Of course, the metering may not be fixed in the half-pushed state and only the distance measuring may be fixed, or vice versa.

If a dedicated button or lever for fixing the photometry value and the distance measurement value is provided, these buttons and levers may be used together, or only one button or lever is provided. Even in cameras that do not have it, you can fix the metering value and distance measurement value at the same time with one button or lever, or use one dedicated button or lever only for fixing the metering value, and fix the distance measurement value with the release button 303. It can also be set to do so.

When the auto standby zoom function is used, it is necessary to set whether to automatically perform zooming by pressing the release button 303 halfway, or to perform it when the photographer is identified. You can also Of course, it is possible to set not to use the auto standby zoom function. Even when a dedicated fixed button or lever separate from the release button 303 of the auto standby zoom is provided, the dedicated button or lever is metered as described in the description of the case where the dedicated switch for the photometry value and the distance measurement value is provided. It is also possible to fix both the value and the distance measurement value or both.

In a camera equipped with an eye approach detection device for detecting the approach of the photographer to the viewfinder of the camera, when the photographer approaches, the photometry is not started, the distance measurement is not performed, and the lens is driven. It is also possible to set such as not performing or not performing auto standby zoom.

Some recent single-lens reflex cameras have a learning function for learning the photographer's favorite exposure. If the camera of the present invention is applied to a camera having a learning function, the learning effect can be obtained for each photographer. Can be memorized.

When the photographer who has not performed the preliminary measurement operation uses the camera according to the present invention, the line-of-sight detection device naturally does not operate normally. In such a case, shooting can be performed by setting the eye gaze detection not to operate.

[0053]

As described above, according to the camera having the line-of-sight detection device of the present invention, the setting of the camera function is stored for each photographer and is called by performing the operation of calling the eyeball measurement value at the time of photographing. Therefore, it is possible to save the time and labor and provide the camera which is easy to use.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block connection diagram showing an embodiment of a camera having a visual axis detection device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of a camera having a visual line detection device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing an embodiment of a camera having a visual line detection device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a camera having a visual line detection device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of Codes] 1 camera 11 position selection means 12 storage means 13 observation means 14 preliminary measurement value calculation means 15 response method setting means 16 response means 17 line-of-sight calculation means 80 distance measuring range display 81 distance measuring range display 82 distance measuring range display 91 index 92 index 301 dial 302 dial 303 release button

Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Office reference number FI Technical display location G03B 13/02 9120-2K 17/02 7513-2K

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An observing means for observing an eyeball of an observer, a line-of-sight detection for calculating a line-of-sight direction of the observer from information obtained from the observing means at the time of detecting the line-of-sight, and a previously recorded eyeball measurement value. A device, a first storage means for storing a plurality of eyeball measurement values recorded in advance, and a plurality of eyeball measurement values recorded in the storage means,
The selection means includes a selection means for selecting a desired eyeball measurement value, a setting means for setting a camera function, and a second storage means for storing a plurality of camera function settings, and the selection for selecting a desired eyeball measurement value. A camera having a line-of-sight detection device, characterized in that the setting of the camera function is called from the second storage means by using the means. 2. The number of eyeball measurement values recorded in advance in the first storage device and the number of a plurality of camera functions stored in the first storage device are the same. A camera having a line-of-sight detection device.