JPH1023302A - Image pickup device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately pick up an image of an object and to improve the operability by focusing an object at a position inputted by a touch through automatic focus drive. SOLUTION: When a switch SW of an electrode key 6 at a position of an object at a focus point is touched on an LCD display section 9, focus control with respect to the object is started in a focusing area corresponding to the switch SW. Succeedingly the processing for detecting a contrast signal based on a video signal at a position having key entry is conducted and after a peak is confirmed, drive control of an image pickup section is conducted. The object at the touch entry position is focused by an automatic focus drive to pick up an object accurately and to improve the operability.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an imaging device,
More specifically, the present invention relates to an imaging device having an autofocus (hereinafter, referred to as AF) function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image pickup apparatus of this type has a digital still camera (hereinafter referred to as a digital camera) provided with one or a plurality of distance measuring areas for measuring a distance with an AF sensor at a central portion of a screen in a viewfinder. There is.

[0003] In a digital camera in which only one ranging area is provided in the viewfinder, FIG.
As shown in (a) and (b), the distance is adjusted by moving the camera body so that the subject is located in one of the distance measurement areas M in the display unit DSP. For example, as shown in FIG. 10A, when the flower F is focused, the camera body is moved so that the flower F enters the ranging area M, and the person H is similarly focused. In this case, the camera body is moved so that the person H enters the distance measurement area M.

In a digital camera provided with a plurality of ranging areas in a finder, a desired ranging area is selected from the plurality of ranging areas in accordance with an operation of an external switch. For this reason, the distance is adjusted by moving the camera body so that the subject is located in the selected ranging area.

[0005]

However, in the above-described digital camera, the camera body is moved in order to arrange the distance measuring area on the subject, so that the screen tilts and shakes during the movement during the image pickup. May occur,
In this case, there is a problem that the subject cannot be accurately imaged.

Further, in a digital camera having a plurality of ranging areas, a ranging area is sequentially selected from the plurality of ranging areas, so that it takes time and effort to perform the operation, resulting in reduced operability. there were.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image pickup apparatus capable of accurately picking up an image of a subject and improving operability in order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the conventional example.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an imaging apparatus for displaying an image of a subject in an imaging apparatus for focusing on the subject by auto-focus driving. Touch input means provided, and focus control means for performing focus control based on a captured image displayed by the display means at a position touch-input by the touch input means, I do.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the display means displays a captured image of the subject, the touch input means is provided on the display means, and the focus control means is touch-input by the touch input means. The focusing control is performed based on the captured image displayed by the display unit at the position where the focus has been set.

Therefore, the subject at the position where the touch input has been made is focused by the auto-focus driving. Therefore, when a plurality of subjects exist in the captured image,
What is necessary is just to touch-input the position of a desired subject, and this makes it possible to focus on a single operation without moving the apparatus body, so that the subject can be accurately imaged and the operability can be improved. .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an imaging apparatus for focusing an object by auto-focus driving, a display means for displaying a captured image of the object, and a touch input means provided on the display means. Setting means for setting a plurality of positions with respect to a captured image displayed on the display means by a touch input by the touch input means; and a plurality of positions set by the setting means are displayed by the respective display means. And a sequential focusing control means for performing sequential focusing control based on the taken image.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the display means displays a captured image of the subject, the touch input means is provided on the display means, and the setting means is a display means by touch input by the touch input means. A plurality of positions are set for the captured image displayed in the step (a), and the focus control unit sequentially performs the focus control based on the captured image displayed by each display unit in the plurality of positions set by the setting unit. .

[0013] Therefore, each subject at a plurality of positions input by touch input is sequentially focused by auto-focus driving, so that when a plurality of subjects exist in a captured image, the number of desired subject positions is determined. However, it is sufficient to perform touch input, and this allows multiple objects to be focused at once by one operation without moving the apparatus main body, so that multiple objects can be accurately imaged and operability is improved. Will be possible.

The imaging device according to the first or second aspect of the present invention may comprise a plurality of transparent electrode switches in which touch input means are arranged in a matrix, as in the third aspect of the present invention.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the imaging apparatus for focusing an object by auto-focus driving, a display means for displaying a captured image of the object, and a display means for displaying the captured image on the display means. Setting means for setting a plurality of positions, and intermediate focus control means for performing focus control based on a captured image displayed by the display means at an intermediate position between the plurality of positions set by the setting means. It is characterized by having.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the display means displays the captured image of the subject, the setting means sets a plurality of positions with respect to the captured image displayed on the display means, and the intermediate focusing means Performs focus control based on the captured image displayed by the display unit at an intermediate position among the plurality of positions set by the setting unit.

Therefore, the subject at a plurality of positions input by touch input is focused by the auto-focus driving for the intermediate position. Therefore, when a plurality of subjects exist in the captured image, the desired position of the subject is determined. Can be input by touch, and the focus can be adjusted by one operation without moving the apparatus main body. Therefore, it is possible to accurately capture an image of a subject and improve operability.

[0018]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Embodiment 1 FIG. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an external shape of a digital camera which is an imaging apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.

A rectangular digital camera 1 shown in FIG.
Is composed of, for example, a main unit 2 and a camera unit 3, which are relatively rotatably connected.

The camera section 3 is provided with an imaging lens 7 on the rear surface.
By rotating 180 ° around the front or rear of the drawing, it can be moved to the position indicated by 70 (two-dot chain line portion).

On the front face 4a of the main body 2, an LCD display 9 and a transparent electrode key 6 mounted on the LCD display 9 are provided. The LCD display unit 9 can display an image captured by capturing a subject at the time of capturing or can reproduce the captured image after capturing. When the camera unit 3 is rotated backward by 180 ° with the LCD display unit 9 facing the photographer, the photographer himself is captured as a subject and the image is displayed on the LCD display unit 9 for confirmation. Can be.

As shown in FIG. 2, the electrode key section 6 is provided with an ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) film on the upper surface of a transparent glass, and a capacitance detection type transparent electrode switch (hereinafter referred to as a switch) there. SW are arranged in a matrix. In FIG. 2, COM1 to COM9 indicate drive lines to which a drive pulse is applied from a drive circuit (not shown), and KI1 to KI8 indicate key input lines of a switch SW that is touch-input to a main control unit 101 described later. I have. When any one of the switches SW is touch-input while the drive pulse is applied to each of the drive lines COM1 to COM9, the key input lines (KI1 to KI1) of the switch SW to which the touch input has been performed are input.
The key input signal flows to any one of KI8). The key input signal is output to a main control unit 101 described later.

A function switching key 18 is provided on the right side of the LCD display section 9 on the front surface 4a, and a mode for setting additional information such as a date and a memo for each subject image and an output terminal (not shown). From personal computers,
It is used for switching to a communication mode with an external device such as an electronic organizer.

On the upper surface 4b, a power switch 8,
"+" Key 11, "-" key 12, display key 1
4, zoom key 15, shutter key 16, "DEL"
Input keys such as a key 17 are provided.

Next, the internal configuration will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the digital camera 1.
The digital camera 1 includes, for example, a key unit 5, an electrode key unit 6, an LCD display unit 9, a main control unit 10, and an imaging unit 20.

The key unit 5 includes the power switch 8 described above,
"+" Key 11, "-" key 12, display key 1
4, zoom key 15, shutter key 16, "DEL"
Input keys such as a key 17 and a function switching key 18 are provided.

The main control unit 10 is a unit for controlling the operation of the entire digital camera 1.
It has an OM 102, a RAM 103, an I / O port, and the like. The CPU 101 operates according to various control programs stored in the ROM 102. The ROM 102 stores the various control programs described above, and includes programs according to the flowcharts partially shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

The main control unit 10 includes a key unit 5, an electrode key 6, an LCD display unit 9, a sub CPU 200 described later,
It is connected to a CCD unit 213 and the like to be described later via an I / O port, and communicates with the sub-control unit 200 in response to a key operation of the key unit 5 or the electrode key unit 6 to perform an imaging operation such as zoom, focus, and aperture. , And controls the display of a captured image.

The imaging unit 20 includes a sub-control unit 200, a CCD
Unit 213, motor driver 214, zoom motor 215, zoom lens 216, zoom encoder 21
7, AF motor 218, focus lens 219, AF
Encoder 220, aperture motor 221, aperture mechanism 22
2, an aperture encoder 223 and the like are provided.

The sub-control unit 200 includes a CPU 210, an RO
It has an M211, a RAM 213, an I / O port, and the like. The CPU 210 operates according to various control programs stored in the ROM 211. The ROM 211 stores the various control programs described above, and includes a program according to a part of the flowchart shown in FIG.

The sub-control unit 200 includes a motor driver 214, a zoom encoder 217, and an AF encoder 22.
0, is coupled to the aperture encoder 223 and the like via an I / O port, and communicates with the main control unit 10 in response to a key operation of the key unit 5 or the electrode key unit 6 to capture an image of zoom, focus, aperture, etc. Control behavior.

The CCD unit 213 includes the main control unit 1
In accordance with control 0, an image of a subject is captured and the captured image is captured.

The motor driver 214 is a zoom motor 2
15, the AF motor 218, and the aperture motor 221. The zoom motor 215, the AF motor 218, or the aperture motor 221 is driven under the control of the sub-control unit 200, and the zoom lens 216, the focus lens 219, Alternatively, the driving amount of the aperture mechanism 22 is controlled.

The zoom lens 216 is a zoom motor 215
And moves between wide and tele according to the zoom control of the zoom motor 215. Focus lens 21
9 is coupled to the AF motor 218 and the AF motor 21
The lens moves to the focal point according to the focus control of No. The aperture mechanism 222 is coupled to the aperture motor 221 and adjusts the aperture according to the aperture control of the aperture motor 221.

The zoom encoder 217 has a sub-controller 20
0, and detects the amount of movement of the zoom lens 216 and outputs a detection signal to the sub control unit 200. The focus lens 219 is coupled to the sub-control unit 200, detects the amount of movement of the focus lens 219, and outputs a detection signal to the sub-control unit 200. The aperture encoder 223 is coupled to the sub-control unit 200, detects an adjustment amount of the aperture mechanism 222, and outputs a detection signal to the sub-control unit 200.

Next, the operation will be described. 4 is a diagram illustrating a display example at the time of a focusing operation, FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an operation method at the time of a focusing operation, FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a main process of the main control unit 10, and FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining a focus control process in the main process of FIG.

After the power is turned on to the digital camera 1, initialization is performed. Thereafter, in step S1, when imaging is started, in the following step S2, C
An image is displayed on the LCD display unit 9 based on the video signal captured by the imaging by the CD unit 213. Or later,
Until there is an end operation such as turning off the power by operating the key unit 5,
The display operation of the LCD display section 9 is continued.

Next, in step S3, a key input is detected. If there is a key input on the electrode key section 6,
The key input signal of the operated switch SW is output from the electrode key unit 6 to the main control unit 10. In this case, the key input of the electrode key unit 6 is detected in step S4, and the processing shifts to the focusing control processing in step S5. Similarly, if there is a key operation on the key section 5, the input is detected in step S6, and the processing shifts to processing (zoom, aperture, shutter, etc.) corresponding to the key input in step S7. If there is no key input, the process returns to step S3.

When the focusing control processing in step S5 and the processing corresponding to the key input in step 7 are completed, the processing shifts to step S8, and if the power-off operation or the like is completed, the ending operation is started. Otherwise, if not ended, the process returns to step S3 to repeatedly execute the above-described operation.

Next, the focusing control process will be described with reference to FIG. In the following description, examples of FIGS. 4 and 5 will be described.

For example, assume that a person H is displayed at the upper left of the screen and a flower F is displayed at the center of the screen on the LCD display unit 9 (see FIG. 4A). In order to focus on the flower F, the user operates the switch S of the electrode key unit 6 at the position of the flower F at the camera angle shown in FIG.
Touch W (P1) (see FIG. 5A). As a result, as shown in FIG. 4A, the switch SW (P1)
The focus control for the flower F is started in the distance measurement area M1 corresponding to.

When the person H is to be focused, the user touches the switch SW (P2) of the electrode key unit 6 at the position of the person H with the camera angle of FIG. FIG. 5 (b)). As a result, as shown in FIG. 4B, focusing control on the person H is started in the distance measurement area M2 corresponding to the switch SW (P2).

The case of the flower F will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 7. In step S51, a process of detecting a contrast signal based on the video signal of the position (flower F) where the key input was made in step S4 is performed. Done. In a succeeding step S52, it is determined whether or not the contrast signal is a peak. If the contrast signal has not reached the peak, the imaging unit 20 is controlled in the next step S53 so as to reach the peak. Thereafter, the process returns to step S51 again, and it is determined again that the contrast signal has reached the peak.

When the peak is confirmed in step S52 in this way, the focusing of the flower F is completed, and the processing returns to the main processing.

In the control of the imaging unit 20 in step S53, the main control unit 10
A signal for driving and controlling the F motor 218 is sent.
The sub-control unit 200 drives the AF motor 218 based on the signal received from the main control unit 10, and moves the focus lens 219 to the focal point. At this time, the AF encoder 220 detects the amount of movement of the focus lens 220 and determines the position of the focus lens 220
Let it be 0.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the subject at the position where the touch input has been made is focused by the auto-focus driving. Therefore, when a plurality of subjects exist in the captured image, What is necessary is just to touch-input the position of a desired subject, and this makes it possible to focus on a single operation without moving the apparatus body, so that the subject can be accurately imaged and the operability can be improved. .

Embodiment 2 In the first embodiment, one subject is selected and the focus lens 219 is controlled to be focused on the position of the subject. However, in the second embodiment described below, the focus lens 219 is applied to a plurality of subjects. 219 is performed.

FIG. 8 is an external view showing the external shape of the digital camera according to the second embodiment. The digital camera shown in FIG. 8 includes an electrode key portion 61 different from the electrode key portion 6 of the digital camera 1 described above. The electrode keys 61 have switches FSW... Arranged as shown in FIG.

For example, of the switches FSC,.
When keys are operated in the order of 2, Q3, the Q
The positions of 1, Q2 and Q3 are stored in the RAM 103,
The focus control of the focus lens 219 can be performed while sequentially detecting the contrast at each of the positions 1, 1, and Q3.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, each subject at a plurality of positions input by touch input is sequentially focused by auto-focus driving, so that a plurality of subjects exist in a captured image. In such a case, it is only necessary to touch input any number of desired object positions, thereby
Since a plurality of subjects are focused at once by one operation without moving the apparatus main body, it is possible to accurately capture images of a plurality of subjects and improve operability.

In the first embodiment, one subject is selected and the focus lens 219 is controlled to be focused at the position of the subject. However, in the third embodiment described below, a plurality of subjects are selected. The focus control of the focus lens 219 is performed at an intermediate point of the above.

FIG. 9 is an external view showing the external shape of the digital camera according to the third embodiment. The digital camera shown in FIG. 9 does not include the electrode key section 6 of the digital camera 1 described above, and has a shift key 19A and an enter key 19B on the upper surface 4b.
Are provided.

In the third embodiment, a focus cursor FC (indicated by "x" in the figure) is displayed on the LCD display unit 9, and the focus cursor FC is moved by operating the shift key 19A, and the position is changed. To set the focus, the enter key 19B is operated. In this procedure, for example, two focal points can be set.

When two focusing points are set, focusing control of the focus lens 219 is performed at an intermediate point between the two points.

As described above, according to the third embodiment, a plurality of subjects are touched and input by auto-focus driving with respect to an intermediate position thereof, so that a plurality of subjects exist in a captured image. If
What is necessary is just to touch-input the position of a desired subject, and this makes it possible to focus on a single operation without moving the apparatus body, so that the subject can be accurately imaged and the operability can be improved. .

In the third embodiment, only two focus points are set, but three or more focus points may be set.

In the first to third embodiments described above, only the focus control of the focus lens 219 is performed by the key operation of the electrode key section 9. However, for example, the electrode operation is performed by the key operation of the function switching key 18 or the like. The role of the key unit 9 may be divided into a plurality of modes, and one of the modes may be a focus movement, and the other modes may include a zoom movement or the like.

[0058]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the subject at the position where the touch input has been made is focused by auto-focus driving, so that a plurality of subjects exist in the captured image. In this case, it is sufficient to touch-input the position of a desired subject, and the focus is adjusted by a single operation without moving the apparatus main body, so that the subject can be accurately imaged and operability is improved. There is an effect that an imaging device capable of performing the above can be obtained.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, each subject at a plurality of positions input by touch input is sequentially focused by auto-focus driving. Therefore, when a plurality of subjects exist in a captured image, What is necessary is just to touch input the number of positions of a desired subject as many as possible, and thereby, a plurality of subjects can be focused at once by a single operation without moving the apparatus main body, so that even a plurality of subjects can be accurately imaged, In addition, there is an effect that an imaging device capable of improving operability can be obtained.

The imaging device according to the first or second aspect of the present invention may be constituted by a plurality of transparent electrode switches in which touch input means are arranged in a matrix as in the third aspect of the present invention.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a plurality of objects at a plurality of positions input by a touch input are focused by auto-focus driving with respect to an intermediate position thereof, so that a plurality of objects exist in a captured image. In this case, it is only necessary to touch input the position of a desired subject, and thereby, the focus can be adjusted by one operation without moving the apparatus main body, so that the subject can be accurately imaged and the operability can be improved. There is an effect that a possible imaging device can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an external shape of a digital camera which is an imaging apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a switch structure of an electrode key unit according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the digital camera according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display example at the time of a focusing operation according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an operation method during a focusing operation according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating main processing according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a focus control process in the main process of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an external view showing an external shape of a digital camera according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an external view showing an external shape of a digital camera according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating focusing control according to a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 digital camera 5 key unit 6 electrode key unit 9 LCD display unit 10 main control unit 19A shift key 19B enter key 20 imaging unit 101, 210 CPU 102, 211 ROM 103, 212 RAM 200 sub control unit 213 CCD unit 214 motor driver 215 zoom Motor 216 Zoom lens 217 Zoom encoder 218 AF motor 219 Focus lens 221 AF encoder

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An imaging apparatus for focusing a subject by auto-focus driving, a display unit for displaying a captured image of the subject, a touch input unit provided on the display unit, and a touch input by the touch input unit. And a focusing control unit that performs focusing control based on a captured image displayed by the display unit at a position where the image is displayed. 2. An imaging apparatus for focusing a subject by autofocus driving, a display unit for displaying a captured image of the subject, a touch input unit provided on the display unit, and a touch input by the touch input unit. Setting means for setting a plurality of positions with respect to the picked-up image displayed on the display means; and focusing control sequentially based on the picked-up images displayed on the display means at the plurality of positions set by the setting means. And an in-focus control unit for performing the following. 3. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the touch input means is a plurality of transparent electrode switches arranged in a matrix. 4. An image pickup apparatus for picking up an image of a subject by auto-focus driving, a display means for displaying a captured image of the subject, a setting means for setting a plurality of positions with respect to the captured image displayed on the display means, An imaging apparatus comprising: an intermediate focusing control unit that performs focusing control based on a captured image displayed by the display unit at an intermediate position among a plurality of positions set by the setting unit.