JPH11142910A - Electronic camera and photographing timing controlling method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic camera capable of photographing at a desired moment even in the cash where a variance in reaction time is caused by differences among individual photographers, and to provide a control method for a photographing timing. SOLUTION: A reaction time measuring mode is set by a switch S3, and an LED 13 is turned on after a lapse of random time set by a random timer 22, and the reaction time required until the operator depresses the release button or a measurement- only switch is measured by a counter 26, then, the time is registered by an E<2> PROM 7. After starting photographing, photographing is executed at prescribed intervals, and the latest image signals as many as the prescribed number of frames are always stored while refreshing a DRAM 8. When the release button is completely depressed, photographing is stopped, and the image photographed before a lapse of time as long as the reaction time after the button is depressed is selected, then, the image is displayed on an LCD display part 12, and also, the image is compressed by an image compression circuit 6 and stored by a flash memory 9. Thus, photographing is executed at an optimum timing while giving consideration to the variance in the reaction time caused by differences among individual photographers.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an electronic camera and a method for controlling timing of photographing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a camera for photographing using a film, when photographing a moving subject, it is necessary to predict a moment to be photographed in advance and press a release button earlier than the moment. For example, in a volleyball game, if you want to capture the moment when a player jumps and attacks the ball, or when the dolphin jumps out of the water aiming for an aerial ball in an aquarium, predict that moment and predict the moment. If you didn't press the release button, you couldn't shoot at the right time.

However, such operations are difficult for ordinary photographers. The reason for this is that the photographer sees a moving subject and requires a reaction time from the moment it is determined to be a photo opportunity to the moment he presses the release button, and that time varies from person to person. .

Further, in recent film cameras, the autofocus process takes a long time from when the photographer presses the release button to when the camera actually opens the shutter and starts exposure. It was not just a problem.

[0005] The problem of missing a photo opportunity due to the individual reaction time and the autofocus process has not been solved by a film camera. In some cases, the time between pressing the release button and performing the exposure has been shortened, but this has not yet been resolved.

Meanwhile, recently, a CCD (Charge Coupled D)
Electronic cameras that perform electronic photographing processing using evice have been widely used. Some of them have a function of taking several photographs before and after the release button is pressed. Such a function is similar to a kind of continuous shooting or interval shooting. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 13, one screen 101 serving as a reference is photographed at the time when the release button is pressed, and one second and 0.5 second before that, and 0.5 second and one second thereafter. Set to take a total of 5 pictures in seconds. However, since the reaction time varies among individuals, such a method cannot always capture the moment the photographer wants to take a picture.

[0007]

As described above, conventionally, it has been difficult for any of a film camera and an electronic camera to photograph a moment desired by a photographer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides an electronic camera and a method of controlling a photographing timing capable of photographing a moment to be photographed even when there is an individual difference in a reaction time of a photographer. With the goal.

[0009]

An electronic camera according to the present invention comprises:
A mode changeover switch for setting by switching between a reaction time measurement mode and a photographing mode; and a test mark display for displaying a test mark when a random time elapses after the reaction time measurement mode is set by the mode changeover switch. A reaction time measuring unit for measuring a reaction time from when the test mark display unit displays the test mark to when a photographer presses a release button or a reaction time measurement button, and the reaction time measurement unit measures the reaction time. Reaction time storage means for giving and storing the reaction time given, and a photographing mode set by the mode changeover switch, and at a predetermined time interval from a time when the release button is almost half pressed by the photographer until almost all the release button is pressed. A photographing means for sequentially performing photographing, and an image signal of an image photographed by the photographing means sequentially given. Image signal storage means for storing the latest predetermined number of image signals while refreshing, and the reaction time storage means from the time when a release button is pressed substantially all of the image signals stored in the image signal storage means And an image selecting means for selecting an image signal of an image taken before the reaction time stored in the memory.

Here, the test mark display section includes: a random timer for outputting a test mark display signal when a random time has elapsed when the photographer presses the release button or the reaction time measurement button; Display means for displaying the test mark when the test mark display signal is output from the random timer,
The reaction time measuring means may include a counter for counting a reaction time from when the test mark display signal is output from the random timer to when the photographer presses the release button substantially all times.

In the electronic camera, at least two types of time intervals are stored in advance as the predetermined time intervals when the photographing means performs photographing, and the reaction time stored in the reaction time storage means is stored. May be further provided for selecting any one of the time intervals according to.

A method for controlling a photographing timing according to the present invention comprises the steps of: displaying a test mark when a random time elapses after setting a reaction time measurement mode by a mode changeover switch; Measuring the response time from when the test mark is displayed until the release button or the reaction time measurement button is pressed by the photographer, and storing the measured response time; and setting the photographing mode by the mode change switch, and setting the release button by the photographer. A step of sequentially taking images at predetermined time intervals from when the button is pressed substantially halfway until the button is pressed substantially all the time, and storing the latest predetermined number of image signals while refreshing the image signal storage means; From the point in time when the release button is pressed substantially all of the image signals stored in the signal storage means. It is characterized in that it comprises a step of selecting an image signal of the measured image taken just before the reaction time.

Here, in the step of sequentially performing the photographing, the photographing is performed at any one of at least two types of time intervals set in advance as the predetermined time intervals according to the measured reaction time. May be performed.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, a schematic configuration of an electronic camera according to an embodiment of the present invention has a reaction time measuring mode in addition to various photographing modes similar to a normal camera. this is,
This is set to measure a reaction time from when the photographer determines that the photographing should be performed to when the release button is pressed. In order to measure such a reaction time, a test mark is displayed after a random time elapses after the mode is set, and the photographer sees this test mark, reacts and presses a switch. Measure and memorize the reaction time, switch to the shooting mode and start shooting from the point when the release button is almost half-pressed, and start the memorized reaction time from the point when the release button is almost completely pressed. Is provided for selecting an image that has been photographed.

FIG. 1A shows a block diagram of a circuit for controlling the photographing timing in the electronic camera of the present invention, and FIG. 1B shows a block diagram of a circuit for measuring the reaction time of the photographer.

The CPU 1 controls the photographing timing,
Alternatively, a control operation necessary for measuring the reaction time is performed.

The switch S1 is turned on when the release button is substantially half-pressed in the photographing mode, and notifies the CPU 1 that photographing should be started. The switch S2 is turned on when the release button is almost completely depressed,
The CPU 1 is notified that the photographing should be ended. The switch S3 has an a contact and a b contact. When the switch S3 is turned on on the a contact side, the switch S3 sets the reaction time measurement mode. The LED 13 is used to display a test mark, and is turned on after the switch S1 is turned on to notify the photographer of the fact.
The drive current is supplied from 1 to light up.

The photographing lens 2 and the CCD 3 are used in an ordinary electronic camera, and optical information passed through the photographing lens 2 is converted into an electric signal by the CCD 3 and output. The A / D (Analog / Degital) converter 4 converts an analog signal output from the CCD 3 into a digital signal. The converted digital signal is supplied to a signal processing circuit 5, where necessary processing such as conversion into an RGB signal and a synchronization signal is performed. The image signal processed by the signal processing circuit 5 is supplied to a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) 8 used as an image memory via the CPU 1.

The DRAM 8 stores the latest predetermined number of image signals while refreshing them, as will be described later. The flash memory 9 is provided with an image signal of an image of the number of processed images stored in the DRAM 8 which is obtained by compressing the image signal of the image preceding the measured reaction time by the image compression circuit 6, and stores the image signal. E ² PROM (Electric Erasabl)
e Programmable Read Only Memory 7 stores the measured reaction time.

PC / I / F (Personal Computer Interface)
ace) The circuit 10 performs interface processing such as conversion of a voltage and a frequency necessary for providing an image signal output from the CPU 1 to a computer (not shown). LCD (Liquid Crystal Device) drive circuit 11
Is based on the image signal output from the CPU 1
The D display unit 12 is driven for display.

The operation of the control circuit having the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the photographer switches the switch S3 to the contact a side, and sets the reaction time measurement mode as step S10.
The circuit for measuring the reaction time and its operation are shown in FIG.
This will be described later with reference to FIG.

When the reaction time is measured, step S12
Is stored in the E ² PROM 7.

The switch S3 is switched to the contact b side, and the photographing mode is set as step S16. When the release button is almost half pressed by the photographer, the switch S
Whether or not 1 has been turned on is determined as step S18,
If not, the process returns to step S18.

When the switch S1 is turned on, the process proceeds to step S20 for refreshing the image memory. While the switch S2 is not turned on after the switch S1 is turned on, the photographing is started and the image signals are sequentially stored at predetermined time intervals. More specifically, optical image information is supplied to the CCD 3 through the photographing lens 2, is supplied to the A / D converter 4, is converted into a digital signal, and is then subjected to signal processing and stored in the DRAM 8. . The procedure for storing the image information in the DRAM 8 will be described later with reference to FIGS. If the switch S4 is not turned on and the step S
If the switch S1 is not turned on in 23, it is determined that no image is to be taken, and the process ends.

When the release button is almost completely depressed and the switch S2 is turned on, the process proceeds to step S24,
From the image signals stored in the DRAM 8, the optimum image is determined based on the measured and stored reaction time. More specifically, an image that is earlier than the time when the switch S2 is turned on by the reaction time is selected.

The determined optimum image is determined in step S26.
, An image is displayed on the LCD display unit 12. Thereby, the screen shot by the photographer can be confirmed.
In step S28, the selected image signal is compressed by the image compression circuit 6, and the compressed image signal is stored in the flash memory 9 in step S30.

Next, the measurement of the reaction time will be described.
For this measurement, a measurement circuit as shown in FIG. 1B is used, and this circuit operates according to a flowchart as shown in FIG. FIG. 4 shows the relationship between the reaction time t0 and the timing at which the switches S3 and S4 are turned on.

When the switch S3 is turned on at the contact a side, the process is set to a reaction time measuring mode as step S40.
Further, the random timer 22 starts operating, and randomly determines the timing tx at which the test mark is displayed. The determined timing tx is given to the counter 26 to start the counting operation. Then, according to the determined timing tx, the driving current is changed to the LED through the buffer 14.
13 and a test mark is displayed as step S42.

At step S44, the random timer 2
The counter 26 starts the counting operation from the timing determined by 2 and determines whether or not the switch S4 dedicated to reaction time measurement has been turned on by the photographer in step S46. When the switch S4 is turned on, the counting operation stops in step S50.

When the switch S3 is turned on at time t1 and the random timer 22 sets the LED 13 to a random time tx, the LE 13 is turned on at time t2 after a lapse of time tx from time t1.
D13 displays a test mark. From this time t2,
The photographer turns on the switch S4 after the elapse of the reaction time t0, and the counter 26 stops counting at time t3. Here, the random timer 22 and the counter 26
Are included in the CPU 1. Counter 2 as described above
6 is the reaction time t0, the E ² PR
Stored in OM7.

The operation of storing the image signal in the memory while refreshing it in steps S20 to S24 in the flowchart of FIG. 2 will be described in detail below. As shown in FIG. 5, image signals for 14 sheets (1) to (14) are written in the memory area of the DRAM 8. These images (1) to (14) are always replaced with the latest images while being sequentially refreshed according to the arrows. Assuming that the photographer presses the release button when the image (11) is stored, the image (8) which is traced back by the registered reaction time t0 is selected as the image photographed at the optimal timing.

Here, the time interval for photographing 14 images is as follows.
A plurality of types can be set as shown in FIG. When the reaction time is in the range of 0 to 100 msec, 1
Photographing is performed at intervals of 0 msec. Reaction time 100 ~
When it is within the range of 300 msec, shooting is performed at intervals of 30 msec. Either interval can be selected according to the individual photographer's reaction time.

FIG. 7 shows that the DRAM 8 is refreshed.
3 shows a flowchart when storing image signals for 14 sheets. First, as step S60, any one of the plurality of image frames F as shown in FIG. 6 is selected. For example, when the reaction time is in the range of 0 to 100 msec, shooting is performed at intervals of 10 msec. In step S62, when the switch S1 is turned on to start photographing, the sequentially photographed image signals are stored in the image memory, in this case, the DRAM 8. In step S66, the current image number n is compared with the maximum storable value nmax (here, nmax = 14). If the image number n is smaller than the maximum value nmax, 1 is added as step S68, It is stored in the DRAM 8 as an image (n + 1).
When the current image number n reaches the maximum value nmax, it is stored as an image (1) in step S70.

Next, the appearance of the electronic camera according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 8, the electronic camera 31 is provided with a release button 32 on the upper surface thereof and a monitor LCD display unit 12 on the rear side thereof as in a normal electronic camera. LED for displaying test mark
13 are arranged. As described above, the switch S3
Is set to the reaction time measurement mode, the random timer 22 sets the LED 1 after a time set at random.
3 lights up. The operator presses the release button 32 when the LED 13 is turned on, and the time required during this time is measured as the reaction time.

Here, the back side of the electronic camera may be arranged as shown in FIG. In the electronic camera 31 shown in FIG. 8, the switch for measuring the reaction time is also used as the release button 32. On the other hand, in the camera shown in FIG.
2 are provided. Further, instead of displaying the test mark by the LED, the test mark is displayed in the LCD display unit 61.

Alternatively, switches and display means of the electronic camera 41 may be arranged as shown in FIG. In the electronic camera shown in FIG. 8 or FIG. 9, not only the monitor after shooting but also shooting is performed while viewing the screen displayed on the LCD display unit 12 during shooting. In contrast, FIG.
Is provided with an optical finder 46 on the back side thereof. An LED 45 for displaying a test mark for measuring a reaction time is provided around the optical finder 46. Alternatively, as in the electronic camera shown in FIG. 11, an LED 54 may be provided on the screen 51 in the optical viewfinder to turn on the test mark.

FIG. 12 shows the upper surface of the electronic camera 71.
An optical lens 77 is arranged on the front side, and an LCD display unit 76 is provided on the back side. Release button 7 on top
2. An LCD in which a switch S3 for mode switching is arranged, and further displays respective reaction times of a plurality of operators.
A display unit 74 is provided. The selection switch 78 is provided for selecting a reaction time of an operator who is about to take a picture.

As described above, according to the electronic camera and the method of controlling the photographing timing according to the present embodiment, the reaction time when the photographer presses a different release button is measured in advance, and the photographer presses the release button during photographing. Automatically select the photo taken the reaction time before it was done. Thus, it is possible to take a picture at an optimum timing simply by pressing the release button when the photographer wants to take a picture.

Here, the reaction time is measured and registered by the camera owner in advance so that it is not necessary to measure it again every time the camera is shot. When a person other than the owner performs photographing, the photographer may measure and register the reaction time, and then photograph. The multiple reaction times in this case are E
^{2 It} may be registered in different address areas of the PROM 7 respectively.

Further, the time interval for photographing a plurality of images can be changed according to the length of the registered response time. When the reaction time is short, the photographing interval is set short so as not to miss the optimal photographing timing, and when the reaction time is long, the time interval is set long so as to enable photographing over a long time. This makes it possible to take a picture at an optimal timing according to the reaction time.

The above embodiment is merely an example, and does not limit the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the captured image signal is stored in the DRAM 8, the compressed image signal is stored in the flash memory 9, and the measured reaction time is stored in the E ² PROM 7. It is not limited to this. Although the circuit shown in FIG. 1B is used for measuring the reaction time, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and is performed from when a display notifying that the button is pressed is performed until the operator presses the button. Other configurations may be used as long as the reaction time can be measured.
In addition, the arrangement of the display, buttons, and the like used for measuring the reaction time is not limited to those shown in FIGS.

[0043]

As described above, according to the electronic camera and the photographing timing control method of the present invention, the reaction time of the operator is measured and registered in advance, and the photographing is performed at a predetermined time interval from the start of photographing. By storing the latest predetermined number of images while going and refreshing, you can shoot at the optimal timing by selecting the screen shot just before the reaction time from the point when the release button is almost completely pressed It is.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a circuit for controlling a timing of photographing and a circuit for measuring a reaction time in an electronic camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure for controlling shooting timing in the electronic camera.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure for measuring a reaction time in the electronic camera.

FIG. 4 shows a mode changeover switch, a random timer, and an LED for measuring a reaction time in the electronic camera.
4 is a time chart showing the timing of each operation of the reaction switch.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing that when image capturing is sequentially performed by the electronic camera, a plurality of image signals are stored in different areas of an image memory and an optimal image is selected.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing that a photographing time interval is changed depending on a reaction time in the electronic camera.

FIG. 7 is a time chart showing a procedure for sequentially taking images in the electronic camera and storing the images in an image memory.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the electronic camera.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an LCD display unit in the electronic camera.

FIG. 10 is an exemplary perspective view showing the appearance of the electronic camera.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing display contents of an optical finder of the electronic camera.

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing the upper surface of the electronic camera.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which continuous photographing is performed at 0.5-second intervals in a conventional electronic camera.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 CPU 2 taking lens 3 CCD 4 A / D converter 5 the signal processing circuit 6 the image compression circuit 7 E ² PROM 8 DRAM 9 flash memory 10 PC · I / F circuit 11 LCD driver circuit 12,43,61,74,76 LCD display 13, 45 Test mark LED 14 Buffer 22 Random timer 26 Counter 31, 41, 71 Electronic camera 32, 72 Release button 46 Optical finder 51 Screen 52 Short-distance shooting frame 53 Auto focus mark 62 Switch for reaction time measurement 74 LCD display unit 77 Optical lens 78 Switch for exclusive use of reaction time measurement S1 to S4 switch

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A mode changeover switch for setting by switching between a reaction time measurement mode and a photographing mode, and a test mark is set when a random time elapses after being set to the reaction time measurement mode by the mode changeover switch. A test mark display section to be displayed; a reaction time measuring means for measuring a reaction time from when the test mark display section displays the test mark until the photographer presses a release button or a reaction time measurement button; and Reaction time storage means for giving and storing the reaction time measured by the time measurement means, and between the time when the release button is almost half pressed by the photographer and almost all the time when the release button is pressed by the photographer by the mode switch. A photographing means for sequentially photographing at a predetermined time interval, and an image signal of an image photographed by the photographing means. Are sequentially given, and image signal storage means for storing the latest predetermined number of image signals while refreshing, from among the image signals stored in the image signal storage means, from a point in time when a release button is substantially all pressed. An electronic camera, comprising: an image selection unit that selects an image signal of an image captured before the reaction time stored in the reaction time storage unit. 2. The test mark display section comprising: a random timer for outputting a test mark display signal when a random time elapses when the release button or the reaction time measurement button is pressed by a photographer; Display means for displaying the test mark when the test mark display signal is output from the random timer, the reaction time measuring means, by the photographer after the test mark display signal is output from the random timer The electronic camera according to claim 1, further comprising: a counter that counts a reaction time until substantially all of the release buttons are pressed. 3. The electronic camera according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined time interval at which the photographing means performs photographing is at least two times.
3. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising means for preliminarily storing types of time intervals, and selecting one of the time intervals according to the reaction time stored in the reaction time storage means. camera. 4. A step of displaying a test mark when a random time elapses after setting the reaction time measurement mode by a mode changeover switch, and photographing after the test mark display section displays the test mark. Measuring and storing the reaction time until the release button or the reaction time measurement button is pressed by the photographer, and setting the photographing mode by the mode change switch, and after the photographer presses the release button approximately halfway, Until all the buttons are pressed, sequentially taking images at predetermined time intervals, storing the latest predetermined number of image signals while refreshing the image signal storage means, and storing the image signals stored in the image signal storage means. Of the image signal, the image is taken just before the measured reaction time from the point when almost all the release buttons are pressed. Electronic camera, comprising the steps of: selecting an image signal of images, a. 5. In the step of sequentially performing photographing,
5. The electronic camera according to claim 4, wherein photographing is performed at any one of at least two types of predetermined time intervals as the predetermined time interval according to the measured reaction time. .