JPH10191363A - Image pickup device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent mis-shot that an image in an unnatural color is picked up in mistake before chromaticity adjustment is finished by providing a control means inhibiting image pickup operation during the chromaticity adjustment operation by a chromaticity adjustment means. SOLUTION: In the case that R-Y, B-Y signals are within a criterion range (steps 302, 303), the device is set to the still image pickup mode and is in standby to store a still image to an image memory when a trigger signal is set (step 304), and a negative/positive inverting operation of a negative/positive inverting circuit is set to execute a negative/positive inverting operation (step 305). Whether or not white balance adjustment is finished is discriminated (step 308), image pickup inhibit relating processing is executed when not finished (step 309) and execution of the image pickup inhibit relating processing is continued till white balance adjustment is finished. When the end of white balance adjustment is discriminated (step 308), image pickup permission relating processing is executed (step 310).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an automatic setting function of an imaging mode of an imaging apparatus represented by a video camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the rapid technical improvement of personal computers and their peripheral devices, for example, it is possible to easily take pictures taken by an operator into a memory in the personal computer and edit them to create original postcards and posters. As a result, market demands for this technical field are increasing year by year.

[0003] For example, as a means for capturing a scene photographed by an operator as an electric signal, a method of directing a video camera at a target object, a photograph taken by a silver halide camera, a negative film, or a positive film is used. A method of re-photographing with a video camera can be given, but in each case, a video camera is interposed as a photoelectric conversion function.

For example, when an image such as a film is taken into a personal computer, it is necessary to use a video camera to convert image information of a photograph into an electric signal.

Therefore, there has been proposed a system in which an adapter capable of mounting a negative (positive) film or the like is attached to a photographing lens of a video camera or an electronic still video camera or the like, and an image of the film is taken and taken into a monitor display or a personal computer. I have.

[0006]

However, in the above-described system, the image pickup apparatus has two modes, ie, a normal moving image shooting and a still image shooting, and the operator sets the mode according to the shooting purpose at each time. However, there is only one imaging system circuit from the lens to the camera signal processing circuit, and in the basic part, the operation is not switched between moving image shooting and still image shooting.

That is, the white balance adjustment operation characteristic is basically provided only in one mode when shooting a moving image.
The white balance adjustment value varies depending on the scene to be photographed, but it takes a finite period of time in which steam cannot be steamed from the start to the end of the adjustment.

In the case of shooting a moving image, even when the white balance adjustment value changes greatly and the color tone of the screen gradually changes, the unnaturalness is not conspicuous because the shooting time is long, and rather it is critical. In some cases, the color tone may be more preferable than a change in color tone.

However, in the case of photographing a still image, the color at the moment when the image is taken must be appropriate. When the color of the screen gradually changes during the adjustment, the photographing is started when the trigger is pressed. Fail.

[0010] In addition to a video camera capable of capturing both moving images and still images, a white balance adjustment requires a finite time in an electronic still camera dedicated to capturing still images.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to prevent shooting when a still image is captured by a video camera until white balance adjustment is completed, and operate a warning display during white balance adjustment and the like. It is an object of the present invention to provide an imaging apparatus in which the above disadvantages are eliminated and the disadvantages of the related art are improved.

[0012]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a subject image formed through an imaging optical system is photoelectrically converted to obtain an image signal. Imaging means for outputting a video signal, a signal processing means for generating and outputting a video signal from the imaging signal, and a chromaticity adjusting means for adjusting the chromaticity so that the chromaticity of the video signal is appropriate,
An image pickup apparatus comprising a control unit for prohibiting a photographing operation during the chromaticity adjusting operation by the chromaticity adjusting unit.

According to the invention described in claim 2 of the present application, an image pickup means for photoelectrically converting a subject image formed via an image pickup optical system to output an image pickup signal, and converting a video signal from the image pickup signal Signal processing means for generating and outputting, chromaticity adjusting means for adjusting chromaticity in order to make the chromaticity of the video signal appropriate, and during the chromaticity adjusting operation by the chromaticity adjusting means,
An imaging apparatus comprising: a control unit that notifies an operator that a chromaticity adjustment operation is being performed.

According to the invention described in claim 3 of the present application, in claim 1 or 2, the control means includes:
When the chromaticity of the video signal becomes proper by the chromaticity adjusting means, the photographing operation is permitted.

According to the invention described in claim 4 of the present application, an image pickup means for photoelectrically converting a subject image formed via an image pickup optical system to output an image pickup signal, and converting an image signal from the image pickup signal Signal processing means for generating and outputting; moving picture shooting mode for moving picture recording of the video signal; mode setting means capable of setting a still picture shooting mode for shooting a still picture of the video signal; and chromaticity of the video signal In order to make
Chromaticity adjusting means for adjusting chromaticity, and the mode setting means, when the still image shooting mode is set,
An image pickup apparatus comprising a control unit for prohibiting a photographing operation during the chromaticity adjusting operation by the chromaticity adjusting unit.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, an imaging means for photoelectrically converting a subject image formed via an imaging optical system and outputting an imaging signal; Signal processing means for generating and outputting a video signal from a signal, a video shooting mode for recording the video signal as a moving image, and a mode setting means capable of setting a still image shooting mode for shooting the video signal as a still image; A chromaticity adjusting means for adjusting the chromaticity so as to make the chromaticity of the video signal appropriate; and a chromaticity adjusting operation by the chromaticity adjusting means when the still image shooting mode is set by the mode setting means. The inside is characterized by an image pickup apparatus including control means for notifying an operator that a chromaticity adjustment operation is being performed.

According to the invention described in claim 6 of the present application, in claim 4 or 5, the control means includes:
When the still image shooting mode is set, the chromaticity adjusting means permits the shooting operation when the chromaticity of the video signal becomes appropriate.

According to the invention described in claim 7 of the present application, an image pickup means for photoelectrically converting a subject image formed via an image pickup optical system to output an image pickup signal, and converting an image signal from the image pickup signal Signal processing means for generating and outputting; film photographing means for detecting that a film is being photographed to enter a film photographing mode; and chromaticity for adjusting chromaticity so that the chromaticity of the video signal is appropriate. An image pickup apparatus comprising: an adjustment unit; and a control unit that prohibits a shooting operation during the chromaticity adjustment operation performed by the chromaticity adjustment unit when the film shooting mode is set by the mode setting unit. I do.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, an image pickup means for photoelectrically converting a subject image formed through an image pickup optical system to output an image pickup signal, and Signal processing means for generating and outputting a video signal from a signal; film photographing means for detecting that a film is being filmed and setting a film photography mode; and chromaticity for appropriately adjusting the chromaticity of the video signal. When the film shooting mode is set by the chromaticity adjusting unit and the mode setting unit, the chromaticity adjusting operation is being performed during the chromaticity adjusting operation by the chromaticity adjusting unit. An image pickup apparatus comprising a control unit for notifying an operator is characterized.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, in the ninth aspect or the eighth aspect, when the film photographing mode is set, the chromaticity adjusting means controls the control means. When the chromaticity becomes appropriate, the photographing operation is permitted.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the seventh or eighth aspect, the film photographing means detects that a negative film is being photographed from a color signal component in the video signal. Then, the film photographing mode is automatically set.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the seventh or eighth aspect, the film photographing means detects that film photographing is being performed based on the position of the photographing optical system. The film photographing mode is automatically set.

[0023]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(First Embodiment) Hereinafter, an embodiment of an imaging apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

An embodiment of the present invention is directed to an image pickup apparatus capable of taking a negative or positive film using a film adapter detachable from a video camera or the like. First, in describing the embodiment of the present invention, A description will be given step by step starting from a prerequisite configuration of the system in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 shows a state in which the film adapter 3 is attached to the video-integrated camera 1104 and the negative film 1101 sandwiched between the film holders 1102 is photographed.
The film adapter 1103 illuminates the negative film 1101 from behind with a backlight in the not-shown 1103, and the transmitted image is captured by the video integrated camera 1104.

At this time, if the video-integrated camera 1104 has a function of converting a negative image into a positive image (negative-positive conversion), the output electric signal is a video signal of a positive image.

When this output signal is input to the personal computer 1105, it becomes possible to take in the positive image into the memory in the personal computer. Since the size of each frame of the negative film is uniform and the light source can be unified with the above backlight,
The method described above makes it much easier to take photographic images into a personal computer than to take pictures printed on photographic paper.

By the way, the image information of the negative film is literally inverted and displayed with respect to the positive image. FIG. 6 is an example of a color difference vector display of a color negative film in a negative state and a positive state. Indicates color difference vector coordinates,
The horizontal axis is the color difference signal BY axis and the vertical axis is the RY axis. As is apparent from the figure, the color difference vector is inverted by 180 ° between the two states before the negative / positive inversion and after the negative / positive inversion.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the camera-integrated video of FIG. 11, and a portion relating to the negative / positive inversion function is shown in detail in FIG. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 401 denotes a subject, and a person or a landscape is usually photographed.However, when using the method shown in FIG. 11, a negative film or a slide film is photographed, and the photographing is performed from the front of the lens system. Is also very close.

Referring to the image pickup optical system, reference numeral 402 denotes a fixed first lens unit, 403 denotes a variable power lens, 404 denotes an aperture, 405 denotes a fixed third lens unit, and 406 denotes a focal plane movement due to focus adjustment and zooming. This is a focus competition lens that also has the function of correcting the. Reference numeral 407 denotes an image pickup device such as a CCD constituting an image pickup means, 408 denotes an AGC circuit, and 409 denotes a camera signal processing circuit, the details of which are shown in FIG.

The video signal output from the camera signal processing circuit 409 is amplified by an amplifier 424 and displayed on an LCD (liquid crystal display) 426 via an LCD (liquid crystal) display circuit 425. This allows the operator to monitor the image being taken. This liquid crystal display may be an electronic viewfinder or a large liquid crystal monitor.

From a system controller 419 to be described later, various display data including a photographing mode is supplied to a character generator 427, and characters or marks corresponding to the various display contents are displayed on an LCD display circuit.
The video signal is supplied to the LCD 426 and superimposed on the video signal supplied from the camera signal processing circuit 409.

Reference numerals 410, 411, and 412 denote a variable-magnification lens motor, an IG meter, and a focus-compensation lens motor for driving a variable-magnification lens, an aperture, and a focus compensating lens, respectively. 413, 414, 415 are variable power lens 410, aperture 41, respectively
1. A driver for supplying a driving energy current to the focus compensating lens 412.

Reference numeral 416 is an aperture control circuit, 417 is a circuit for processing an evaluation value used for autofocus (AF) control, 418 is a circuit for controlling a lens and a camera, and 419 is a microcomputer for controlling the entire system of a video-integrated camera. System controller (syscon) configured by
420 is a switch group provided in the video integrated camera, and 421, 422, and 423 are communication lines for data communication between the circuits.

FIG. 9 shows a lens system including a fixed first group lens 402, a variable power lens 403, a stop 404, a fixed third group lens 405, and a focus compensating lens 406.

This type of construction is called an inner focus type lens system. In FIG. 10, the horizontal axis indicates the position of the variable power lens and the vertical axis indicates the position of the focus lens, and the focus lens for the object distance corresponding to each focal length. The in-focus position of the imaging surface 406 is indicated by a plurality of trajectories.

That is, in the lens system as shown in FIG. 9, when the focus compensating lens is moved on the image pickup surface 407 to focus an image, the focus compensating lens for the object distance according to each focal length. The position changes.
Especially on the short focal length side
It is known that moving the 407 to the vicinity of the close end reduces the minimum focusable subject distance to just before the fixed first group lens 402.

In order to accurately trace the locus of FIG. 10, the position of the variable power lens and the focus compensating lens is detected by using a step motor for each drive motor, and from the lens / camera control circuit 418 to each of the drivers 413 and 415. This can be performed by counting the driving pulses supplied in the lens / camera control circuit 418.

A curve 1001 is a focusing curve for a very short subject distance a few cm immediately before the lens 402. The focusable area of the variable power lens 403 with respect to this subject distance is the focal length from the wide end to the area 1002. It can be seen that the area is limited on the short side. Therefore, when photographing a film at a very short distance from the lens 402 using a film adapter as shown in FIG. 11, in order to obtain a focused image on the imaging surface of the imaging device 407, a variable power lens and a focus compensating lens are required. In FIG. 10, the combination of the positions of 1001, 1002, and 1003
Must be within a portion 1004 surrounded by two regions.

Therefore, when photographing a film as shown in FIG. 11, the position of the variable power lens and the position of the focus compensating lens are changed by the switches in the switch array 420 in FIG. FIG. 12 shows an example of the internal configuration of the switch array 420.The zoom lens position is set in an area 1002 by a magnification adjusting switch 1204 arranged in the switch array 420, and an autofocus circuit is set. Or the focus compensating lens must be moved into the area 1004 by the focus compensating lens manual movement switch 1205 arranged in the switch array 420.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the camera signal processing circuit 409. The portion surrounded by a broken line corresponds to the camera signal processing circuit 409. The camera signal processing circuit constitutes signal processing means for generating a video signal of the present invention.

Reference numeral 501 denotes an imaging optical system, and lenses 402 and 40
A lens system consisting of 3, 405, 406 and aperture 404.
It is shown in a simplified manner. Reference numeral 502 denotes a YC signal generation circuit that separates luminance signals YH and YL and color signals R (red) and B (blue) from the output of the AGC circuit 408 and outputs the separated signals.
Reference numerals 503 and 504 denote R and B gain control circuits, respectively, wherein the levels of the color difference signals RY and BY are detected by the camera control circuit 507, and the gain control circuits 503 and 503 are controlled so as to obtain an appropriate white balance. The gain of 504 is adjusted, and the adjusted color signal R ′,
B ′ are output.

As is well known, white balance adjustment is
This function is for taking a white image of a subject that is perceived as white by the naked eye. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, if the average color difference vector of the imaging screen of the subject image illuminated by the special light source is located at the position 701, the color difference vector is moved on a curve corresponding to the color temperature as 702. Adjust the gain of 503 and 504 in order to further move the color difference vector
5, that is, processing for adjusting the balance between RY and BY so that a white object can be photographed white.

In recent video cameras, an automatic white balance adjustment function capable of automatically executing the white balance adjustment is generally constituted by the camera control circuit 507 and its peripheral system.

Reference numeral 505 denotes a color difference signal RY,
A color difference signal generation circuit for generating BY, 506 are YH, R-
An encoder for generating a television signal from Y and BY, a synchronization signal generation circuit 508 for supplying a synchronization signal to a camera control circuit, and a reference signal 509 for adjusting the gains of 503 and 504 [RY] Ref, [BY] ref.

An image memory 511 connected to the camera control circuit 507 by a communication line 510 is for taking in a still image, and more specifically, a moving image shooting mode on a switch array 420 as shown in FIG. / Still image shooting mode switch 12
When the still image shooting mode is set by 01, the trigger switch 1202 on the switch row 420 is also pressed to
A luminance signal and a color difference signal from the YC signal generation circuit 502 and the color difference signal generation circuit 505 at the time of N are taken in, and still image information is output to 506 according to a control signal from 507. Thereby, the still image shooting mode is realized.

When the trigger switch 1202 is not pressed in the moving image shooting mode or in the still image shooting mode, 502
And 505 as it is.

When the video-integrated camera has both a moving image photographing function and a still image photographing function, it is conceivable to provide two trigger switches independently for moving images and for still images. From the viewpoint of miniaturization, cost reduction, and easy operability, it is designed so that one trigger switch can be used for both moving image shooting and still image shooting, as shown in FIG.

Next, the negative / positive inversion function will be described.
A negative / positive inversion circuit 513 is inserted in front of the image memory 511. The negative / positive inverting circuit inverts YH, RY, and BY, respectively. The configuration is shown in FIG. In FIG. 8, Y
As for H, the bright portion of the input luminance signal is inverted to a dark portion, and the dark portion is inverted to a bright portion. That is, as in the case of 801 for example, the absolute value of the luminance signal within the range of the 100% white luminance level from the input black level black level is subtracted from the 100% white luminance level to obtain the 100% white light / dark level. The inverted luminance component is extracted.

In 803, RY signal is applied to RY signal.
Inversion is performed in the opposite direction on the axis, and in 805, the BY signal is inverted in the reverse direction on the BY axis. As described above, it is possible to convert a negative image into a positive image by inverting the luminance signal and the color difference signal.

The switches 802, 804, and 806 operate in conjunction with the negative / positive inversion ON / OFF signal 512, respectively.
When the switch is ON, the inverted signal is output from the negative / positive inverting circuit 513 when the switch is OFF.

The negative / positive inversion ON / OFF signal is output from the camera control circuit 507. Whether or not to execute the negative / positive reversal is determined by the switch 1203 in the switch row 420.
Can be selected using. This information is
3, system controller 419, communication line 422, lens / camera control circuit 4
4 and 5, the signal is transmitted to the camera control circuit 407 via the communication line 421, and the camera control circuit outputs a negative / positive inversion ON / OFF signal based on this information.

As described above, when the switch 1201 in FIG. 12 is moved to the position of the still image, and the negative / positive inversion is selected by the switch 1203, the subject image 1302 shown in FIG. At the same time, a display 1304 indicating a negative / positive reversal mode and a display 1303 indicating a mode for capturing a still image by one operation of the trigger 1202 are made. Switch 12
When the moving image is selected in 01, the content of the moving image shooting mode indicated by 1305 is displayed at the position of 1303.

Next, the characteristic configuration of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The feature of this embodiment lies in the configuration inside the camera signal processing circuit 409, which is shown in FIG.

FIG. 1 shows a camera control circuit 507 different from FIG.
Only the peripheral portion of FIG. 5 is extracted, and the other configuration and the connection destination of each block in FIG.

In this embodiment, a camera control circuit
A microcomputer is used as 105, and further functions are added to the above-described system.

Further, Japanese Patent Application No. 8-32271 filed by the present applicant.
As described in No. 4, etc., the description will be made assuming that an automatic discriminating unit for mounting a negative film is provided.

Since the camera control circuit 105 is a microcomputer, the RY and BY signals output from the color difference signal generation circuit 505 shown in FIG.
D-converter converts the signal to a digital signal and the camera control circuit 105
The circuit configuration is such as to input to.

The outputs of A / D converters 101 and 102 are connected to terminals 106 and 1
07 are input to the camera control circuit 105, and are used to control the gain control circuits 503 and 504 for the R and B signals described with reference to FIG.

On the other hand, the outputs of the A / D converters 101 and 102 are also input to integrators 103 and 104, respectively, and the integrated results are input to terminals 108 and 109 to 105, respectively.

The transmitted light of the color negative film illuminated by a predetermined backlight is photographed by a video camera, and the color difference signal obtained by integrating the color difference signals by the integrators 103 and 104 in FIG.
The relationship between the Y component and the BY component is represented as a color difference vector in FIG.
They are roughly distributed in the range indicated by the area 201 in the color difference vector coordinate system of FIG.

Accordingly, in order to detect that a negative film is being photographed, the respective color difference component signals input from the terminals 108 and 109 of the integrators 103 and 104 are observed by the camera control circuit 105, and the RY component is detected. Is within the determination range 202 and the BY component is within the determination range 203.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for detecting a film mounting (film adapter mounting detection) in the camera control circuit 105 and automatically shifting to a still image photographing mode.

When the execution of the process is started in step 301, it is determined in step 302 whether the RY signal input from the integrator 104 via the terminal 109 is within the determination range 202. If the value is outside 202, the image memory 511 is set to the through state by setting the apparatus to the moving image mode in step 306, and the negative / positive inversion ON / OFF control signal 512
Accordingly, the negative / positive inversion operation of the negative / positive inversion circuit 513 is turned off.

If it is determined in step 302 that it is within the RY determination range 202, then in step 303, the integrator 103 outputs
It is determined whether or not the BY signal input through is within the determination range 203.
The process proceeds to 306.

If it is determined in step 303 that it is within the determination range 202, the apparatus is set to a still image photographing mode in step 304, and when the trigger is turned on, the apparatus waits for a still image to be taken into the image memory 511. The negative / positive inversion operation of the negative / positive inversion circuit 513 is performed by the control signal 512 from the camera control circuit 105 so that
Set to N. That is, when it is detected that the negative film is being imaged, the mode can be automatically set to the still image shooting mode. In this embodiment, since this case means that the film adapter is attached,
The camera enters the film shooting mode.

By configuring and controlling the circuit as described above,
Even if the operator does not select the “operation of the negative / positive reversal function” by using the switch 1203 in the switch array 420, the apparatus is automatically shifted to the film photographing mode only when the negative film is photographed, and A video-integrated camera can be configured so that the negative / positive reversal function operates.

Therefore, for example, when a moving image mode is set immediately after a normal video shooting, a complicated operation is not required even when a negative film image is taken and photographed, and it is possible to smoothly shift to the photographic film taking mode simply by attaching a film adapter. I can do it.

Incidentally, other than the above-mentioned application, there is a method for automatically discriminating a negative film as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 61-218268 and 62-10967.

As shown in FIG. 11, when a plurality of film images are stored in a video camera using a film adapter,
The image changes each time the film holder slides and a frame is sent, and each time the white balance circuit operates, and the above-mentioned white balance adjustment is automatically performed with a finite time. Completion of white balance adjustment means
That is, it means that the movement of the color difference vector 701 of FIG. 7 to the origin is completed.

In step 308, it is determined whether or not the white balance adjustment has been completed. If the adjustment has not been completed, the photographing prohibition-related processing 309 is executed, and the process returns to step 308. Continue execution of processing.

If it is determined in step 308 that the white balance adjustment has been completed, a photographing permission-related process 310 is executed, and the video camera is set to a state in which a still image can be photographed.

Here, an example of specific processing of the photographing prohibition-related processing 309 and the photographing permission-related processing 310 will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 15 shows an example of a specific process of the photographing prohibition-related process 309. In step 1501, the photographer sets the first image in order to prevent a video having incomplete white balance adjustment from being captured.
Even if the trigger 1202 in FIG. 12 is pressed, the acceptance of this is prohibited, and further, to warn the photographer in 1502, specifically, in a viewfinder attached to an imaging device (not shown),
A message such as 1605 in FIG. 16 is displayed.

FIG. 17 shows an example of the specific processing of the photographing permission-related processing 310. In step 1701, the photographer presses the trigger 1202 of FIG. 12 to permit the photographing of the image whose white balance has been adjusted. In order to capture the video when the trigger is received, the acceptance of the trigger is permitted, and further, in step 1702, in order to inform the photographer that a still image can be captured, a viewfinder attached to an imaging device (not shown) Display screens 1601 and 1603 as shown in FIG.
4. Perform 1605 and return in step 1703.

By configuring and controlling the circuit as described above, it becomes possible to capture a negative film positive converted image in which the white balance has been completely adjusted into a video camera.

Therefore, for example, even when a film is attached to the film adapter shown in FIG. 11 and video of a plurality of frames is continuously taken, no troublesome image confirmation is required. By simply pressing the trigger, multiple still images can be captured smoothly.

Further, according to the configuration of FIG. 5, the color difference signal after the negative / positive inversion is taken into the camera control circuit 507.
There is a possibility that a negative / positive reversal operation of negative color difference vector detection → conversion of negative to positive → positive color difference vector detection → conversion of positive to negative → detection of negative color difference vector →...

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 14, the operation of inverting the negative and the positive is executed only when the negative image is detected by the camera control circuit, and the current state is maintained when the positive image is detected. This malfunction can be avoided by providing a proper determination means.

Incidentally, the method for automatically discriminating a negative film as described above is not limited to one method, and a method as described in Japanese Patent Application No. 8-322714 can be employed.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 19 shows a camera signal processing circuit 409 according to a second embodiment showing the features of the present invention.
11 is a flowchart of processing in the camera control circuit 105 in FIG. 11, in addition to the determination conditions of the first embodiment, a lens in an in-focus state of an imaging surface when an object at an extremely close distance described in FIG. The position is added as a determination condition.

In the flowchart of FIG.
When execution of the process is started in 1901, it is determined in step 1902 whether or not the variable power lens is within the range of the wide area 1002 in FIG. 10. If not, the first embodiment (FIG. In the same manner as in steps 306 and 307), the processing shifts to steps 1911 and 1912 to set the apparatus so that a general subject is photographed in the moving image mode, and the negative / positive inversion function is also turned off.

In step 1902, the position of the zoom lens is set to the area 1002.
If it is within the range, it is determined in step 1903 whether or not the focus compensating lens position is within a range closer to the curve 1004 (the position condition of the focus compensating lens changes depending on the zoom lens position). If it is outside, the processes of steps 1911 and 1912 are executed as described above.

If the focus compensating lens position is within the range of 1003 in FIG. 10 in step 1903, the state of the RY and BY color difference signals is determined in steps 1904 and 1905 as in the first embodiment. When the color difference vector is within the range of 201, it is determined that the film adapter is attached and the photographic film is being photographed, and the apparatus is set to the still image photographing mode in steps 1906 and 1907. Turn the function ON. As a result, the image captured in the image memory 511 is displayed in the still image shooting mode. When the negative / positive reversal function is turned on, a film shooting mode is set.

Further, in Steps 1908 and 1909, the photographing is prohibited until the white balance adjustment is completed. When the white balance adjustment operation is completed, the photographing is permitted in Step 1910 and the operator waits for an image capture instruction from the operator.

As described above, by adding the state of the lens system as a determination condition, it becomes possible to clearly determine that a negative film is being photographed at a short distance, that is, using a film adapter. In addition, it is possible to automatically execute the switching to the still image shooting mode, the ON of the negative / positive inversion function, and the standby operation until the white balance adjustment is completed.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 20 is a flowchart of processing in a camera control circuit in a camera signal processing circuit according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 1 and FIG. 5 show a schematic configuration in the camera signal processing circuit.

In this embodiment, there is no automatic identification means for negative / positive film photographing as in the first and second embodiments, and the operator simply operates the negative / positive reversal function switch 1203 in the switch array 420. Then, when the negative / positive inversion function is turned on, the apparatus is automatically shifted to the still image mode, and when the white balance adjustment is completed, the image capture is permitted.

In FIG. 20, when execution of the process is started in step 2001, it is checked in step 2002 whether or not the operator has turned on the negative / positive inversion function. The ON information of the negative / positive inversion function is provided by the communication lines 422 and 423 as described above.

If it is determined in step 2002 that the negative / positive inversion function is ON, the apparatus sets the apparatus to the still image mode in steps 2003 and 2004, and then sends the signal line 512 to the negative / positive inversion circuit 513 to turn on the negative / positive inversion function. To output a negative / positive inversion ON signal via the.

Then, in steps 2005 and 2006, the process waits until the white balance adjustment is completed. During the white balance adjustment, a photographing prohibition-related process is executed to set the photographing to a prohibition state. To execute the shooting permission-related processing. by this,
An image obtained by converting a negative film into a positive one can be displayed or recorded.

In step 2002, the negative / positive inversion function is turned off.
Is detected, the process proceeds to steps 2008 and 2009, and the apparatus is set to the moving image mode.
In order to perform FF, a negative / positive inversion OFF signal is output to the negative / positive inversion circuit 513 via the signal line 512, whereby a normal moving image photographing operation is performed.

With the above configuration, even if the apparatus does not have the function of automatically discriminating the negative film shooting, the apparatus automatically shifts to the still image mode when the negative / positive reversal function is ON, and after the white balance adjustment is completed. Can be stored in a video camera.

(Fourth Embodiment) In the above description, as shown in FIG. 11, a mode in which film shooting is performed using a film adapter with a video camera to capture an image has been described. The present invention is not limited to the case where a film adapter is used, but is also applicable to normal shooting.

In the fourth embodiment, the operation at the time of normal photographing will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Note that a schematic configuration of the entire apparatus is as shown in FIG. 4, and a schematic configuration in the camera signal processing circuit 409 is as shown in FIG.

At the time of normal photographing, when the processing is started in step 2101, it is detected in step 2102 whether or not the switch 1201 in FIG. 12 is switched to the still image side. If it is on the moving image side, the device is switched to the moving image mode in step 2107.

If the switch 1201 is set to the still image side, the apparatus is switched to the still image mode in step 2103, and the photographing is prohibited and waits until the white balance adjustment is completed in steps 2104 and 2105. Upon completion, the photographing permission-related processing in step 2106 is executed.

By executing such processing, the present invention can be applied to normal photographing without using a film adapter.

In particular, in the case of ordinary photographing, the present invention is effective because the color temperature of the light source is not constant as in the case of a film adapter, and the light source must correspond to various color temperatures.

(Correspondence between Claims and Embodiments) Claim 1
, The imaging optical system is the lens 402, 403, 405, 4 of FIGS.
06, corresponds to the aperture 404, the imaging means corresponds to the imaging element 407 in FIG. 4, and the signal processing means for generating a video signal is Y
It corresponds to the C signal generation circuit 502, the color difference signal generation circuit 505, etc.
Chromaticity adjusting means for adjusting chromaticity includes gain control circuits 503 and 504.
And the camera control circuits 507 and 105, and the control means corresponds to the processing of the camera control circuit 105 shown in the flowcharts of FIGS.

In claim 2, the image pickup optical system is shown in FIGS.
The imaging means corresponds to the imaging element 407 in FIG. 4, and the signal processing means for generating a video signal is the YC signal generation circuit 502 in FIG. The chromaticity adjustment means for adjusting the chromaticity corresponds to the signal generation circuit 505 and the like, and corresponds to the gain control circuits 503 and 504 and the camera control circuits 507 and 105. Two
This corresponds to the processing shown in the flowcharts of 0 and 21.

In claim 4, the image pickup optical system is shown in FIGS.
The imaging means corresponds to the imaging element 407 in FIG. 4, and the signal processing means for generating a video signal is the YC signal generation circuit 502 in FIG. The mode setting means corresponds to the signal generation circuit 505 and the like, and includes a switch array 420 including the switch 1201 # in FIG. 12, a system controller 419 for switching modes according to the operation thereof, and a lens / camera control circuit 41.
8, corresponds to the processing of the camera control circuit 105 in the camera signal processing circuit 409, the chromaticity adjusting means for adjusting the chromaticity corresponds to the gain control circuits 503, 504 and the camera control circuits 507, 105, the control means This corresponds to the processing shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 3, 19, 20, and 21 by the camera control circuit 105.

In claims 4, 5, and 7, the imaging optical system corresponds to the lenses 402, 403, 405, and 406 and the aperture 404 in FIGS. 4 and 8, and the imaging means corresponds to the imaging element 407 in FIG. The signal processing means for generating a video signal corresponds to the YC signal generation circuit 502, the color difference signal generation circuit 505, and the like in FIG.
Switch row 420 including a switch 1201 and a system controller 419 for switching modes according to the operation thereof, a lens / camera control circuit 418, and a camera control circuit 1 in a camera signal processing circuit 409.
The chromaticity adjustment means for adjusting the chromaticity corresponds to the process of 05, and corresponds to the gain control circuits 503 and 504 and the camera control circuits 507 and 105. twenty one
Corresponds to the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG.

In claim 8, the film photographing means for detecting that a film is photographed and entering the film photographing mode corresponds to the processing shown by the camera control circuit 105 in the flowcharts of FIGS. .

In claim 9, the control means corresponds to the processing of the camera control circuit 105 shown in the flowcharts of FIGS.

In the tenth and eleventh aspects, the film photographing means detects that a film is being photographed and switches to the film photographing mode. This corresponds to the processing shown in the flowchart.

[0108]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the photographing operation is prohibited during the chromaticity adjusting operation by the chromaticity adjusting means. It is possible to prevent a shooting error in which an unnatural image of a color before the completion of the shooting is mistakenly shot.

Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention, the operator is notified that the chromaticity adjustment operation is being performed, so that the operator can be warned in advance of a photographing error. It is effective in preventing erroneous operations.

According to the invention described in claim 3 of the present application, when the chromaticity of the video signal becomes appropriate, the photographing operation is permitted, so that the chromaticity is always adjusted to a good level. The captured image can be reliably captured and recorded.

Since the operator can be notified that the chromaticity has been adjusted satisfactorily, the operator can surely know the timing of photographing, and the reliability can be improved.

According to the invention described in claim 4 of the present application, a moving image shooting mode and a still image shooting mode can be set, and when the still image shooting mode is set, the chromaticity adjusting means is set. During the chromaticity adjustment operation by, the shooting operation is prohibited, so when shooting still images on film etc. without impairing the characteristics of moving image shooting,
It is possible to prevent a shooting error in which an unnatural color image before the chromaticity adjustment is completed is shot by mistake.

According to the invention described in claim 5 of the present application, the moving image shooting mode and the still image shooting mode can be set, and when the still image shooting mode is set, the chromaticity adjusting means is set. During the chromaticity adjustment operation, the operator is notified that adjustment is being performed, so that when photographing a still image of a film or the like without impairing the characteristics of moving image shooting, the chromaticity adjustment before completion of the chromaticity adjustment is performed. It is possible to prevent a shooting error in which an unnatural color image is shot by mistake.

According to the invention described in claim 6 of the present application, when the chromaticity of the video signal becomes appropriate, the photographing operation is permitted, so that the chromaticity is always adjusted to a good level. The captured image can be reliably captured and recorded.

According to the seventh and eighth aspects of the present invention, when the film setting mode is set by the mode setting means, the shooting operation is prohibited during the chromaticity adjustment operation. , Negative film etc. can be positively converted to positive before shooting and recording, and unnatural color images for which color adjustment has not been completed can be prevented from being erroneously recorded by mistake, A good film image can always be captured.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, when the film photographing mode is set, the photographing operation is permitted when the chromaticity of the video signal becomes appropriate. An image adjusted to a good chromaticity can always be captured and recorded reliably.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the film photographing means detects that the negative film photographing is being performed from the color signal components in the video signal,
Since the film photographing mode is automatically set, a cumbersome manual operation is not required, and an image in which color signals are properly optimized can be photographed and recorded.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, the film photographing means detects that the negative film photographing is being performed from the color signal components in the video signal and the position of the photographing optical system. Since the film photographing mode is automatically set, a cumbersome manual operation is not required, and an image in which color signals are properly optimized can be photographed and recorded.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration common to each embodiment of an imaging apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the principle of an automatic negative / positive determination operation.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining a circuit configuration of a video camera (video integrated camera) to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a camera signal processing circuit in the system of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a difference in color difference signal coordinates between a negative film and a positive film.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a white balance adjustment operation.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a negative-positive inversion circuit.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a structure of an inner focus type lens.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating characteristics of an inner focus type lens.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration of a system in which a film image obtained by attaching a film adapter to a video integrated camera is taken into a personal computer.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a switch array including various switches provided in a video integrated camera.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a display in a viewfinder screen.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a negative-positive automatic reversal operation condition.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating shooting prohibition-related processing according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a display in a viewfinder screen.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a photographing permission-related process according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a display in a viewfinder screen.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1101 Film 1103 Film Adapter 1104 Video Integrated Camera 1105 Personal Computer 105 Camera Control Circuit 407 Image Sensor 409 Camera Signal Processing Circuit 419 System Controller (Syscon) 420 Switch Row 501 Imaging Optical System 502 YC Signal Generation Circuit 505 Color Signal Generation Circuit 511 Image Memory 513 Negative / positive inversion circuit 507 Camera control circuit

Claims (11)

[Claims] An imaging unit configured to photoelectrically convert a subject image formed through an imaging optical system to output an imaging signal; a signal processing unit configured to generate and output a video signal from the imaging signal; In order to make the chromaticity of the signal appropriate, chromaticity adjusting means for adjusting the chromaticity, and control means for prohibiting a photographing operation during the chromaticity adjusting operation by the chromaticity adjusting means are provided. Imaging device. 2. An imaging unit for photoelectrically converting a subject image formed via an imaging optical system to output an imaging signal; a signal processing unit for generating and outputting a video signal from the imaging signal; Chromaticity adjusting means for adjusting the chromaticity in order to make the chromaticity of the signal appropriate; and controlling the chromaticity adjusting operation by the chromaticity adjusting means to notify an operator that the chromaticity adjusting operation is being performed Means,
An imaging device comprising: 3. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit permits the photographing operation when the chromaticity of the video signal becomes appropriate by the chromaticity adjusting unit. An imaging device characterized by the above-mentioned. 4. An image pickup means for photoelectrically converting a subject image formed via an image pickup optical system to output an image pickup signal; a signal processing means for generating and outputting a video signal from the image pickup signal; Mode setting means capable of setting a moving image photographing mode for recording a signal as a moving image and a still image photographing mode for photographing the image signal as a still image; and a color adjusting a chromaticity to make the chromaticity of the image signal appropriate. When the still image shooting mode is set by the mode setting means, and during the chromaticity adjustment operation by the chromaticity adjusting means, the control means inhibits the shooting operation. Characteristic imaging device. 5. An image pickup means for photoelectrically converting a subject image formed through an image pickup optical system to output an image pickup signal; a signal processing means for generating and outputting a video signal from the image pickup signal; Mode setting means capable of setting a moving image photographing mode for recording a signal as a moving image and a still image photographing mode for photographing the image signal as a still image; and a color adjusting a chromaticity to make the chromaticity of the image signal appropriate. When the still image shooting mode is set by the mode setting unit and the mode setting unit, during the chromaticity adjusting operation by the chromaticity adjusting unit, the operator is informed that the chromaticity adjusting operation is being performed. An image pickup apparatus comprising: a control unit for notifying the user. 6. The control device according to claim 4, wherein, when the still image shooting mode is set, when the chromaticity of the video signal becomes appropriate by the chromaticity adjusting device, An imaging device, wherein the imaging device is configured to permit the photographing operation. 7. An image pickup means for photoelectrically converting a subject image formed through an image pickup optical system to output an image pickup signal; a signal processing means for generating and outputting a video signal from the image pickup signal; A film photographing means for detecting that the photographing is being performed and setting a film photographing mode; a chromaticity adjusting means for adjusting chromaticity so as to appropriately adjust a chromaticity of the video signal; and the film by the mode setting means. An image pickup apparatus comprising: a control unit for prohibiting a photographing operation during a chromaticity adjusting operation by the chromaticity adjusting unit when a photographing mode is set. 8. An image pickup means for photoelectrically converting a subject image formed via an image pickup optical system to output an image pickup signal; a signal processing means for generating and outputting a video signal from the image pickup signal; A film photographing means for detecting that the photographing is being performed and setting a film photographing mode; a chromaticity adjusting means for adjusting chromaticity so as to appropriately adjust a chromaticity of the video signal; and the film by the mode setting means. Control means for notifying an operator that the chromaticity adjusting operation is being performed while the chromaticity adjusting operation is being performed by the chromaticity adjusting means when a photographing mode is set. apparatus. 9. The control unit according to claim 7, wherein the control unit is configured to, when the chromaticity of the video signal becomes appropriate by the chromaticity adjustment unit when the film shooting mode is set, An imaging apparatus characterized by permitting a photographing operation. 10. The film photographing means according to claim 7, wherein the film photographing means detects that negative film photographing is being performed from a color signal component in the video signal, and automatically sets a film photographing mode. An imaging apparatus characterized in that it is configured to perform 11. The film photographing means according to claim 7, wherein the film photographing means detects that film photographing is being performed based on the position of the photographing optical system, and automatically sets a film photographing mode. An imaging device characterized by being configured as described above.