JPH11242152A - Image pickup device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent failures such as a main object being out of focus even in automatic swing photographing by preferring that a focusing degree of a central area among plural areas isn't worse than other areas when a swing control means accompanies an automatic focus operation. SOLUTION: A swing angle calculation means calculates a swing angle based on individual focus information in respective area related to respective objects corresponding to plural areas of an imager 4 outputted by a focus information generation means. The swing control means (a swing drive mechanism 5 and an actuator driver 8) performs the position control of the imager 4 based on swing angle information, and sets a swing control angle being an angle between the normal of the photoelectric conversion surface of the imager 4 and an optical axis of a photographing lens 1 in the swing angle. The swing control means performs swing control preferring so that the focusing degree of the central area among plural areas of the imager 4 isn't worse at least than other areas in the case of accompanying an automatic focus operation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus, and more particularly to an image pickup apparatus for automatically setting a tilt of an image pickup device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, tilting has been performed with a silver halide film camera, but in recent years, video cameras and still video cameras using a solid-state imaging device as an image pickup device have a film surface which is smaller than that of a film. There is no need for a means for keeping the surface flat, and since the size of the image sensor is smaller than the film size of a normal camera, some proposals have been made since it is particularly suitable for tilt shooting. I have. In particular, the actual fairness 1 proposed by the applicant
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. -15258 discloses a technique in which the image pickup device is shifted or tilted by manual operation to enable tilt photographing. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei.
The device disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 74 is to calculate a tilt angle by controlling a driving force generating means and change the inclination of the image pickup device in response to the data.

[0003]

However, in the apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 1-91574, the tilting amount of the image pickup device can be designated and the tilting operation can be performed. There is no description at all about a specific method for automatically obtaining a proper tilt angle, and no specific means for automatically performing a proper tilt shooting has been proposed.

[0004] Since the tilt angle to be set in tilt shooting is an extremely advanced technique, it is difficult for ordinary photographers except for some skilled persons to find the tilt angle. Also, even a skilled person could not perform proper tilt shooting without using a high-performance TTL finder. Generally speaking, there has been no imaging device that allows a general photographer to perform a tilt photograph by a simple operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image pickup apparatus which allows a general photographer to perform tilting photographing with a simple operation, thereby enabling appropriate tilting photographing to be easily performed.

[0006] In particular, in this case, depending on the shape of the subject or the photographing situation, the tilt photographing may be inappropriate, or a special judgment may be required in the tilt control.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a high-performance and operable imaging apparatus capable of coping with such various cases, and to provide photographers with appropriate information.

[0007]

An image pickup apparatus according to the present invention comprises an image pickup optical system, an image pickup element corresponding to the image pickup optical system, and an individual area for each subject corresponding to a plurality of predetermined areas in a photographing area. A focus information generating means for obtaining focus information of the image pickup device; Tilt angle calculating means for calculating the position of the image sensor based on the tilt angle information calculated by the tilt angle calculating means, so that the normal of the photoelectric conversion surface of the image sensor and the light of the imaging optical system are controlled. And a tilt control means for setting a tilt control angle, which is an angle with an axis, to the tilt angle, wherein the tilt control means includes a center of the plurality of regions when an automatic focusing operation is performed. And performing tilt control of the focus degree of the area to preferentially as not inferior at least than other regions.

[0008] An image pickup apparatus according to the present invention includes an image pickup optical system, an image pickup element corresponding to the image pickup optical system, and focus information for each region corresponding to a plurality of predetermined regions in a photographing area. A focus information generating means for obtaining, and a tilt angle which is an angle between a normal line of a photoelectric conversion surface of the image sensor and an optical axis of the imaging optical system at the time of photographing, based on an output of the focus information generating means. An angle calculation unit configured to control a position of the imaging device based on the tilt angle information calculated by the tilt angle calculation unit, thereby forming a normal line of a photoelectric conversion surface of the imaging device and an optical axis of the imaging optical system. Tilt control means for setting the tilt control angle, which is an angle, to the tilt angle, wherein the tilt angle calculating means outputs three or more of the plurality of the predetermined plural numbers output by the focus information generating means. When a plurality of tilt angles obtained based on focus information of each region for each subject corresponding to the region is different, an average value of the plurality of tilt angles is calculated as the tilt angle. .

Further, the image pickup apparatus according to the present invention includes an image pickup optical system, an image pickup element corresponding to the image pickup optical system, and focus information for each region corresponding to a plurality of predetermined regions in the photographing area. A focus information generating means for obtaining, and a tilt angle which is an angle between a normal line of a photoelectric conversion surface of the image sensor and an optical axis of the imaging optical system at the time of photographing, based on an output of the focus information generating means. An angle calculation unit configured to control a position of the imaging device based on the tilt angle information calculated by the tilt angle calculation unit, thereby forming a normal line of a photoelectric conversion surface of the imaging device and an optical axis of the imaging optical system. Tilt control means for setting the tilt control angle, which is an angle, to the tilt angle, wherein the tilt angle calculating means outputs three or more of the plurality of the predetermined plural numbers output by the focus information generating means. A plurality of tilt angles obtained based on the focus information of each of the regions corresponding to the respective regions, and a correlation evaluation unit for evaluating a tilt correlation which is a degree of mutual coincidence of the tilt angles. When the degree of correlation is higher than a predetermined value, an average value of the plurality of tilt angles is calculated as the tilt angle.

An image pickup apparatus according to the present invention includes an image pickup optical system, an image pickup element corresponding to the image pickup optical system, and focus information for each area corresponding to each of a plurality of predetermined areas in an image pickup area. A focus information generating means for obtaining, and a tilt angle which is an angle between a normal line of a photoelectric conversion surface of the image sensor and an optical axis of the imaging optical system at the time of photographing, based on an output of the focus information generating means. An angle calculation unit configured to control a position of the imaging device based on the tilt angle information calculated by the tilt angle calculation unit, thereby forming a normal line of a photoelectric conversion surface of the imaging device and an optical axis of the imaging optical system. Tilt control means for setting the tilt control angle, which is an angle, to the tilt angle, wherein the tilt angle calculating means outputs three or more of the plurality of the predetermined plural numbers output by the focus information generating means. A plurality of tilt angles obtained based on the focus information of each of the regions corresponding to the respective regions, and a correlation evaluation unit for evaluating a tilt correlation which is a degree of mutual coincidence of the tilt angles. When the degree of correlation is lower than a predetermined value, a control command for prohibiting the tilt corresponding to the calculation of the tilt angle 0 is output.

Further, the image pickup apparatus according to the present invention includes an image pickup optical system, an image pickup element corresponding to the image pickup optical system, and focus information for each region corresponding to a plurality of predetermined regions in the photographing area. A focus information generating means for obtaining, and a tilt angle which is an angle between a normal line of a photoelectric conversion surface of the image sensor and an optical axis of the imaging optical system at the time of photographing, based on an output of the focus information generating means. An angle calculation unit configured to control a position of the imaging device based on the tilt angle information calculated by the tilt angle calculation unit, thereby forming a normal line of a photoelectric conversion surface of the imaging device and an optical axis of the imaging optical system. Tilt control means for setting the tilt control angle, which is an angle, to the tilt angle, wherein the tilt angle calculating means outputs three or more of the plurality of the predetermined plural numbers output by the focus information generating means. A plurality of tilt angles obtained based on the focus information of each of the regions corresponding to the respective regions, and a correlation evaluation unit for evaluating a tilt correlation which is a degree of mutual coincidence of the tilt angles. When the degree of correlation is lower than a predetermined value, a value obtained by selecting one of the plurality of tilt angles is calculated as the tilt angle.

Further, the image pickup apparatus according to the present invention comprises an image pickup optical system, an image pickup device corresponding to the image pickup optical system, and focus information for each area corresponding to each of a plurality of predetermined areas in the photographing area. And a tilt angle which is an angle between a normal line of the photoelectric conversion surface of the image sensor and the optical axis of the imaging optical system at the time of photographing is calculated based on the output of the focus information generation unit. Tilt angle calculating means, and by performing position control of the image sensor based on tilt angle information calculated by the tilt angle calculating means, the normal of the photoelectric conversion surface of the image sensor and the optical axis of the imaging optical system Tilt control means for setting a tilt control angle, which is an angle to be formed, to the tilt angle, wherein the tilt angle calculation means outputs the three or more of the predetermined complex numbers output by the focus information generation means. A plurality of tilt angles obtained based on the focus information of each area for each subject corresponding to the area corresponding to the area, and a correlation degree evaluating means for evaluating a tilt degree correlation degree which is a degree of mutual coincidence of a plurality of tilt angles. A first calculation mode for outputting a control command for inhibiting tilt corresponding to the calculation of the tilt angle 0 when the tilt correlation is lower than a predetermined value; A second calculation mode for calculating a value selected from among the tilt angles as the tilt angle is selectable, and the first calculation mode and the second calculation mode are different from each other. An input operation switch for instructing switching is provided.

An image pickup apparatus according to the present invention includes an image pickup optical system, an image pickup element corresponding to the image pickup optical system, and focus information for each region corresponding to a plurality of predetermined regions in a photographing area. A focus information generating means for obtaining, and a tilt angle which is an angle between a normal line of a photoelectric conversion surface of the image sensor and an optical axis of the imaging optical system at the time of photographing, based on an output of the focus information generating means. An angle calculation unit configured to control a position of the imaging device based on the tilt angle information calculated by the tilt angle calculation unit, thereby forming a normal line of a photoelectric conversion surface of the imaging device and an optical axis of the imaging optical system. Tilt control means for setting the tilt control angle, which is an angle, to the tilt angle, wherein the tilt angle calculating means outputs three or more of the plurality of the predetermined plural numbers output by the focus information generating means. A plurality of tilt angles obtained based on focus information of each region for each subject corresponding to the region, and a correlation evaluation unit that evaluates a tilt correlation that is a degree of mutual coincidence of the tilt angles. A display control unit for displaying information on the tilt correlation calculated by the degree evaluation unit.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a tilt photographing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted that the photometric system, the image recording system, and the power supply system are not shown in FIG. Driven by the focus actuator 3, image pickup light is taken in via the image pickup lens 1 supported by the lens barrel 2 which is an image pickup optical system, and output as an image pickup signal by the imager 4 which is an image pickup device. The tilt control means includes a tilt drive mechanism 5 and an actuator driver 8 for driving the same. The imager 4 is mounted on the tilt drive mechanism 5 and is tilt-driven. The actuator driver 8 also controls and drives the focus actuator 3.

The output signal from the imager 4 is S / H
After being subjected to the sample-hold processing by the circuit 9, the signal is output as a luminance signal via the LPF 10 of the low-pass filter. On the other hand, the output signal from the S / H circuit 9 is processed by an image pickup recording system and recorded as a video signal.

The output from the LPF 10 is further processed by a band-pass filter BPF 11 and a detection circuit 12, and output as a contrast value (focus information) indicating the in-focus state of the video signal. This contrast value is
This is applicable as focus information for controlling a conventional autofocus (imager AF) mechanism by an imager. In this embodiment, the output of the detection circuit 12 calculates the tilt information, so that the integration circuit (U) constituting the focus information generating means is used.
13, (L) 14, (C) 15, (R) 16, and (Le) 17, respectively. Each of the integrating circuits integrates contrast information of an upper part, a lower part, a center part, a right part, and a left part of the subject on the imager. In this way, the focus information generating means is provided with the multi-area gate generator 18 so that the measurement area corresponds to each integrating circuit, and the imager output timing matches the integration timing of the integrating circuit by controlling each integrating circuit. The measurement area is selected.

Each of the contrast information corresponding to each area is converted into a digital signal by an A / D conversion circuit 19 and stored in a memory 20. Based on the contrast information, the imager is driven to each tilt position by the CPU 22 as information processing means via tilt control means. The imager 4 is reset to the zero tilt position at the beginning of the tilt operation. In this reset operation, the photo sensors 7a and 7b detect a tilt reference position via a gear train, and the zero tilt position is detected from the reference position. The tilt drive mechanism is driven by the number of motor reset steps up to this point. The number of reset steps is assumed to be stored in the EEPROM 21 in advance.

Next, details of the lens barrel and the tilt drive mechanism 5 will be described with reference to FIGS.

The lens barrel is a photographing lens 1 which is supported by the lens barrel 2 and AF driven by a focus actuator 3 (not shown) which is a focus actuator means.
The legs 2a and 2b supporting the lens barrel 2 are fixed to a screw 50a provided on the support base 50 by screws 31.

The tilt drive mechanism 5 is connected to the image pickup unit 40 in a horizontal direction (left and right) and a vertical direction (up and down).
It is constituted by a tilt drive unit. Imaging unit 4
3, as shown in FIG. 3, the imager 4 is inserted into a C frame 41 having an opening 41 c which is a support of the imager 4, and is fixed by screws 43 via a holding plate 42. Further, the C frame 41 is provided with screws 41a and 41b at vertical positions on a vertical axis orthogonal to the optical axis O.

The horizontal tilt drive section pivotally supports the image pickup unit 40 on a support frame 44 on a vertical axis, and performs left and right tilt drive by a motor 6a which is a horizontal tilt actuator. To explain the details,
Pins 45 a and 45 b forming a vertical axis are rotatably fitted into the vertical shaft holes 44 a and 44 b of the support frame 44, and are further screwed into the screw holes 41 a and 41 b of the C frame 41. The pin 45a has a gear portion formed on the head. On the other hand, the motor 6 a having the gear 46 fixed to the output shaft is fixed to the support frame 44 with screws 47. Gears 48 and 49 forming a gear train between the gear 46 and the gear of the pin 45 a are supported by a shaft provided on the support frame 44. Further, a photosensor 7a of a reflection type is disposed to face the end face of the gear 48. A reflection portion and a non-reflection portion of the sensor light are provided on the end surface of the gear 48, and a horizontal tilt reference position with respect to the photographing lens 1 is detected by the sensor 7a.

On the other hand, the vertical tilt drive unit is a vertical tilt actuator which pivotally supports a support frame 44 for supporting the image pickup unit 40 on a support base 50 by pins 51a and 51b so as to be rotatable on a horizontal axis. The vertical tilt drive is performed by the motor 6b. More specifically, the pins 51a and 51b are rotatably fitted into the shaft holes 50c and 50d of the support base 50, and
4 are screwed into screw holes 44c and 44d provided in the screw hole 4c. The pin 51b has a gear portion on its head. On the other hand, the motor 6b in which the gear 52 is fixed to the output shaft is fixed to the support base 50 by screws 53, and the gears 54, which form a gear train between the gear 52 and the gear portion of the pin 51b,
55 is rotatably supported on a shaft (not shown) provided on the support base 50. A reflect type photosensor 7b is disposed facing the end face of the gear 54, and a reflection part and a non-reflection part of the sensor light are provided on the end face of the gear 54. The vertical shift reference position of the photographing lens 1 is detected by the detection unit via the sensor 7b.

The vertical axes of the pins 45a and 45b and the horizontal axes of the pins 51a and 51b are arranged so as to pass through the photoelectric conversion surface (imaging surface) of the imager 4 when the imaging unit 40 is mounted. Is established. Accordingly, the imager 4 performs a tilting operation with respect to each of the axes, and the center of the imager 4 (portion C 'in FIG. 10) is located at the optical axis O.
Can be changed without offsetting with respect to.

When the tilt drive mechanism including the lens barrel and the image pickup unit 40 is mounted on the support table 50, the barrel 41d of the opening 41c of the C frame 41 of the photographing unit 40 is connected to the lens barrel 2 as shown in FIG. Of the C-shaped frame 41 at the time of the tilting operation. In addition, a shielding ring 60 of a shielding means, which is a U-shaped flexible member, is inserted into the gap, and has a dust-proof function against foreign matter intrusion or an effect of a light-shielding function without hindering relative displacement. Shall be The shielding ring 60 can be replaced with a bellows-shaped one.

As shown in FIG. 4, a flexible printed circuit board 61 for transmitting and receiving signals is attached to the imager 4 of the image pickup unit 40. However, since the image pickup unit 40 performs relative movement for tilting operation, Flexible printed circuit board 6 so as not to interfere with its movement.
1 is arranged in a U-shape.

The operation of the tilt drive mechanism configured as described above will be described. First, the tilt reference position of the tilt setting position of the imager 4 is detected by the sensors 7a and 7b, and the number of tilt reset steps stored in the EEPROM 21 is determined. The imager 4 is driven by the motors 6a and 6b to the reset position (the position where the optical axis and the normal line of the photoelectric conversion surface match) based on the data of (1). After that, focus information is measured for each area. Based on the tilt control signal calculated based on the data, the motor 6a
Is driven, and the imaging unit 40 performs a tilt operation in the horizontal direction via a gear train. On the other hand, the motor 6b performs a vertical tilting operation of the imaging unit by similarly rotating the vertical position of the support frame 44 about a horizontal axis via a gear train.

Next, a method of determining the amount of tilt for causing the tilt operation to be performed will be specifically described.

FIG. 5 shows the side arrangement of the photographing lens 1 and the imager 4. The extension amount of the taking lens is indicated by a value S as shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the image forming area of the imager 4 is directed to a two-dimensional area in the vertical and horizontal directions. However, for the sake of explanation, a description will be given to a one-dimensional area in the vertical direction. Points L, C, and U at equal distances d on the photoelectric conversion surface of the imager 4 indicate inverted imaging points at the lower, central, and upper portions of the subject, respectively. FIG.
Although a front view of the photoelectric conversion surface of the imager 4 is shown, for the sake of explanation, the inverted image is displayed upside down so as to match the top and bottom of the subject. Then, measurement areas lU, lC, and lL having predetermined lengths corresponding to points U, C, and L are set as shown in the figure. The direction of this area corresponds to the scanning line of the imager.

Of the imaging signals of the imager 4, the detection signals corresponding to the above-mentioned region lines lU, lC and lL are the above-mentioned integrating circuits (U) 13, (C) 15, and (L) respectively.
The output of the multi-area gate generator 18 is also input to each integration circuit in order to limit the data capture area. And an integration circuit (U) 1
Contrast information corresponding to each area is obtained from 3, (C) 15 and (L) 14. In the measurement operation, data is fetched while the photographing lens 1 is extended in the direction of the extension amount S, and a change in the value of the contrast information of each region with respect to the extension amount S is stored in the memory 20. FIG. 7 shows a specific example of the contrast information diagram, in which the peak points of the contrast information corresponding to the respective areas lU, lC, and lL above, in the middle, and below the object are the feeding amounts SU, SC of the in-focus position. , SL. Then, based on the extension amount at the center of the subject, the extension amount δ1 for the upper portion U and the extension amount δ2 for the lower portion L are respectively δ1 = k (Z) · (SU−SC) (1) δ2 = k (Z) · (SL−SC) (2) Here, k (Z) is a correction coefficient related to the zoom value (focal length) Z, and is equal to the vertical magnification of the optical system closer to the imager than the focusing lens. The value of k (Z) is 1 when the focusing system of the photographing lens is fully extended or rear focusing. When the focusing method is other than the above, k
It is necessary to calculate the feeding amounts δ1 and δ2 by substituting the value corresponding to (Z).

In the case of this embodiment, the latter k (Z) = 1
Therefore, the expression of the feed amounts δ1 and δ2 is given by δ1 = SU−SC (3) δ2 = SL−SC (4) In the example shown in FIG. 7, δ1> 0, δ2 <0
And the distances to the top, middle, and bottom of the subject are different,
It is necessary to tilt the imager to bring each part into focus. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, a plane Q orthogonal to the optical axis O
It is necessary to incline the photoelectric conversion surface P of the imager 4 by the angle θ. Note that the angle θ is the tilt angle.

An equation for calculating the tilt angle θ from the feed amounts δ 1 and δ 2 is as follows: θ 1 = tan −1 (δ 1 / d) (5) θ 2 = tan −1 (δ 2 / d) (6) θ 3 = tan −1 ｛(Δ1-δ2) / 2d｝ (7) However, the angle .theta.1 is a tilt angle for focusing on the areas lU and lC, the angle .theta.2 is a tilt angle for focusing on the areas lL and lC, and the angle .theta.3 is an average focusing on the areas lU, lC and lL. Indicates the tilt angle.

Next, the setting of the actual tilt angle based on the data obtained as described above will be described. In the present embodiment, focusing at the time of shooting focuses on the center of the screen, and focuses on the center.
It is assumed that the lens extension SC with respect to the central area C of the imager 4 is used for the AF operation.

First, the feed amount δ1 for the regions lU and lL.
, Δ2 is δ1 + δ2 ≒ 0, that is, if ε is a predetermined allowable value, if | δ1 + δ2 | ≦ ε (8), it corresponds to the imaging points U, C, L in FIG. It is considered that the subject is located on a substantially straight line within a predetermined allowable range. Therefore, the angle θ obtained by equation (7)
If 3 is applied to the tilt angle θ of the imager 4, it is possible to make the whole of the upper, middle, and lower portions of the subject almost in focus. Then, the tilt angle θ is calculated by θ = tan −1 [(δ 1 −δ 2) / 2] (9).

If the subject does not satisfy the above equation (8), that is, if the subject is not located on a straight line, two modes A and B can be considered for setting the tilt angle. First, the A mode is a mode in which the tilting operation is prohibited because the subject is not located on a straight line. The B mode is a mode in which a tilt operation is performed so as to focus on either the upper or lower subject. In this case, for example, if the upper object is focused, the tilt angle is calculated by θ = tan -1 (δ1 / d) (10) if the tilt angle θ is given by using equation (5).

Next, a tilt processing routine relating to the tilt setting according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the tilt processing is called in a state where various modes for the tilt setting are set, the tilt driving mechanism 5 is reset to drive the tilt angle to zero. Details of the reset operation will be described later. Subsequently, the control waits for the output of the AF trigger signal, and the next tilt mode is determined in accordance with the output of the trigger signal. If the tilt mode is not set, the normal AF process is performed, and the process proceeds to step S16. If the tilt mode has been set, then the tilt lock mode is determined (step S10). If the tilt lock mode has been set, the process jumps to step S11 to perform tilt drive based on the tilt angle θ set immediately before. Then, the process proceeds to step S16.

On the other hand, if the camera is not in the tilt lock mode in the tilt lock mode, the photographing lens 1
After the resetting of the feeding amount, the contrast information of each of the regions lU, lC, and lL is taken in and stored in the memory 20 at the same time, while the feeding drive is performed in increments of +1 (step S12). And the above delivery is MA
When the X-stage, that is, the shortest distance is reached, the memory 2
The lens extension amounts SU and S corresponding to the respective peak points are obtained based on the contrast information for each area taken into 0.
Calculate C and SL. Then, the taking lens 1 is moved out of the feeding amount S.
Drive to C. Subsequently, the difference Δ in the feeding amount is calculated by the arithmetic expressions (3) and (4).

Then, in step S13, | δ1 +
δ2 | is compared with the predetermined value ε. If | δ1 + δ2 | is a large value, the process jumps to step S14. Therefore, the A / B mode is determined. If the A mode (the tilt is not performed when the subject is not linear), the process jumps to step S16. If the B mode is designated, it corresponds to the area lU above the subject (10)
The tilt angle θ is calculated by applying the equation, and the process proceeds to step S15. If the value | δ1 + δ2 | is not larger than the predetermined value ε, the tilt angle θ is calculated by the equation (9), and step S1 is performed.
Go to 5.

In step S15, based on the above calculation result, the CPU 22 makes the actuator driver 8
, A motor 6a as a tilt actuator is driven, and the imager 4 is tilted by the tilt angle θ by the tilt drive mechanism 5. Subsequently, a display process of step S16 is performed, and this process is performed based on the value of the tilt angle θ or
A display relating to the tilt, such as the result of the determination in step S13, is performed. Then, the present routine is terminated, and the camera enters a shooting standby state waiting for a second-stage trigger.
The tilt mode, tilt lock mode, A / B
The designation of the mode such as the mode is performed by the operation switch means 23.

Next, the two-dimensional tilt setting will be described. FIG. 10 shows a two-dimensional region setting state with respect to FIG. 6, which is a plan view in which the imager 4 is placed upside down in the case of setting a one-dimensional region. In the drawing, U ', C', L ', Le', and R 'indicate measurement areas, respectively, and have a predetermined area unlike the case of FIG. 6 which is a linear area. The contrast information is calculated based on the measurement data in each area. The distances dV and dH between the regions are
By employing the center-of-gravity position interval of each area, the arithmetic expression of the tilt angle can be handled in the same way as the one-dimensional case.
Further, as described above, the vertical and horizontal driving of the tilt drive mechanism 5 is independent of each other. Therefore, the above-described equation for calculating the tilt angle of the tilt operation using the one-dimensional areas lU, lC, and lL can be applied to two dimensions as it is.
That is, in one dimension, the upper and lower areas lU and lL with respect to the center area lC are two-dimensionally defined as areas U 'and L' in the vertical direction around the measurement area C 'of the imager 4 and further in the left and right directions Le', R 'is made to correspond to the distance d, and the distances dV and dH are made to correspond to the distance d.

Although the above-described two-dimensional tilt operation and operation have been described as a system that handles vertical and horizontal independently, it is not always necessary to make them independent, and a tilt operation is performed as a system that handles components in both vertical and horizontal directions. It is of course also possible to perform the operation.

Next, the initial reset setting of the tilt drive mechanism for the tilt processing will be described in detail. Although there are two photosensors 7a and 7b for the horizontal and vertical sensors, since both have the same operation, the description will be made with respect to the horizontal sensor 7a.
This is performed only for a. Reflection of gear 48
The position where the non-reflection boundary (indicated by S in FIG. 12) is detected by the sensor 7a is treated as a tilt reference position, and the position is set to be the end of the tilt drive range. The gear ratio is set such that the non-reflective portion of the gear 48 always faces the sensor 7a. The position where the tilt angle is 0 is set to a reset state, and the number of drive steps of the motor 6a from the reference position to the reset state is stored in advance in the EEPROM 21 as the number of reset steps. Then, in the reset operation at the beginning of the tilting process, first, the sensor 7a is once driven to the reference position. So the above EEPROM
Read the number of reset steps stored in 21;
When the motor 6a is driven by the number of pulses, the tilt drive mechanism is set to the reset position.

It is necessary to measure the number of reset steps for each photographing device and write the number in the EEPROM 21. A specific method will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 11 is a time chart showing the output change of the sensor 7a or 7b and the parallelism discrimination output of the tilt angle 0 with respect to the number of driving steps of the motor 6a or 6b. FIG. 12 shows a planar arrangement of the sensors 7a or 7b disposed on the gear 48 or 54 driven by the motor 6a or 6b so as to face each other. FIG. 1 shows the flow of the reset step number writing process.
3 will be described.

First, the reference chart is mounted perpendicular to the lens optical axis O of the photographing apparatus. This reference chart is created so that it is possible to determine that the tilt angle is 0 from the contrast information extracted from the image pickup signal output from the imager 4. First, the motor 6a is reversed and stopped at the position where the reference position is detected. S in FIG.
The position where the sensor 7a faces the position is the reference position. Further, in the time chart of FIG. 11, the position of step Ms corresponds. Then, the motor 6a is driven one step at a time, and a signal is output at the tilt angle 0 according to the parallelism determination of the reference chart, and the motor 6a is stopped. On the time chart, the position in the step diagram Mo indicates the position where the signal of the tilt angle 0 is output. Then, the number of steps from step Ms to Mo is written in the EEPROM 21, and the processing routine is terminated. In this way, the number of reset steps used in the initial reset operation of the tilting process can be written in the EEPROM 21.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the tilting operation can be prohibited if necessary according to the situation of the subject by the evaluation means for the degree of correlation of the tilt information of the subject area. Further, it is possible to display information on the tilt angle and the degree of correlation. Further, it is characterized in that it has an EEPROM as a storage means for storing the number of steps from the reference position with respect to the tilt angle 0 as the reset position.

[0047]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an image pickup apparatus which enables a general photographer to perform a tilt photograph by a simple operation.

In the image pickup apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, when an automatic focusing operation is performed, the tilt control is performed with priority given to focusing on the central area. This has a remarkable effect that a problem such as blurring does not occur.

In the image pickup apparatus according to the present invention, when the plurality of tilt angles obtained are different, an average value of the plurality of tilt angles is calculated as the tilt angle and tilt control is performed. In this way, it is possible to perform tilt shooting in which the entire subject is averagely focused, and in particular, the whole subject that is suitable for normal tilt shooting is less susceptible to errors or the like that occur during automatic measurement of a flat subject. This has a remarkable effect that a high-performance tilt image can be obtained.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, when the obtained tilt angle, which is the degree of mutual agreement between the tilt angles, is higher than a predetermined value, an average value of the tilt angles is calculated as the tilt angle. Since the tilt control is performed, in the automatic tilt shooting, if it is determined that the entire subject is a subject suitable for the normal tilt shooting and the entire subject is a planar subject, the tilt is adjusted to the entire subject in average. This has a remarkable effect that photographing can be performed.

According to the image pickup apparatus of the present invention, if the obtained tilt angle, which is the degree of mutual agreement between a plurality of tilt angles, is lower than a predetermined value, tilt is prohibited. This has a remarkable effect that, when it is determined that the whole subject that is a suitable subject is not a planar subject, there is no problem that a tilt photograph is performed by mistake.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, when the obtained tilt angle, which is the degree of mutual agreement between the tilt angles, is lower than a predetermined value, a value selected from the tilt angles is set as the tilt angle. It calculates and performs tilt control,
Even if it is determined that the subject is a subject suitable for the normal tilt shooting in the automatic tilt shooting, even if it is determined that the entire subject is not a planar object, the tilt shooting is performed with priority given to the selected portion of the subject. It has the remarkable effect of being able to.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first calculation mode in which tilt is prohibited when the tilt correlation is lower than a predetermined value, and one of a plurality of tilt angles when the tilt correlation is lower than a predetermined value. A second calculation mode for calculating the selected value as the tilt angle, and in the automatic tilt shooting, when it is determined that the subject that is suitable for normal tilt shooting is not entirely a planar subject This has a remarkable effect that it is possible to select whether the tilt is prohibited or the tilt is focused on the selected portion of the subject with priority.

Since the imaging apparatus of the present invention has the operation switch for switching between the first and second calculation modes, it has a remarkable effect that the mode can be selected and set easily and reliably.

Since the image pickup apparatus of the present invention has display control means for displaying information on the tilt correlation calculated by the correlation evaluation means, information on the tilt correlation, that is, for example, a subject is suitable for normal tilt shooting This has a remarkable effect that it is possible to easily know whether or not the entire subject is a planar subject.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a tilt photographing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a tilt drive mechanism of the tilt photographing apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an imaging unit of the tilt photographing apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a main part of a lens barrel and an image pickup unit of the tilt photographing apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part of an imaging optical system of the tilt photographing apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a main part front view showing a measurement area of an imager of the tilt photographing apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a characteristic diagram of contrast information corresponding to the tilt information of the tilt shooting apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a view showing a tilt angle setting state of an image sensor photoelectric conversion surface of the tilt image capturing apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a tilt processing routine of the tilt photographing apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a measurement area of a two-dimensional image sensor of the tilt photographing apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a time chart of a photosensor output and a parallelism determination output with respect to the number of motor steps in the tilt image pickup apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of a main part of a photo sensor unit of the tilt photographing apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart for setting and writing the number of reset steps of the tilt photographing apparatus of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Shooting lens (shooting optical system) 2 ... Barrel (shooting optical system) 3 ... Focus actuator (focus actuator means) 4 ... Imager (imaging element) 5 ... Tilt drive mechanism ( Tilt control means) 8 Actuator driver (Tilt control means) 22 CPU (information processing means) 60 Shield ring (Shield means)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H04N 5/232 G03B 3/00 A

Claims (8)

[Claims] An image pickup optical system; an image pickup device corresponding to the image pickup optical system; and focus information generating means for obtaining focus information for each area of each subject corresponding to a plurality of predetermined areas in a shooting area; A tilt angle calculating means for calculating a tilt angle, which is an angle between a normal line of a photoelectric conversion surface of the imaging element and an optical axis of the imaging optical system at the time of photographing, based on an output of the focus information generating means; By performing position control of the imaging device based on the tilt angle information calculated by the angle calculation means, a tilt control angle that is an angle between a normal line of a photoelectric conversion surface of the imaging device and an optical axis of the imaging optical system is obtained. Tilt control means for setting the tilt angle, the tilt control means, when accompanied by an automatic focusing operation,
An image pickup apparatus, wherein tilt control is performed to give priority so that the degree of focus of a central area of the plurality of areas is at least not inferior to other areas. 2. An image pickup optical system, an image pickup device corresponding to the image pickup optical system, and focus information generating means for obtaining region-specific focus information on each subject corresponding to a plurality of predetermined regions in a photographing area; A tilt angle calculating means for calculating a tilt angle, which is an angle between a normal line of a photoelectric conversion surface of the imaging element and an optical axis of the imaging optical system at the time of photographing, based on an output of the focus information generating means; By performing position control of the imaging device based on the tilt angle information calculated by the angle calculation means, a tilt control angle that is an angle between a normal line of a photoelectric conversion surface of the imaging device and an optical axis of the imaging optical system is obtained. Tilt control means for setting the tilt angle, wherein the tilt angle calculating means is configured to control each subject corresponding to three or more of the plurality of predetermined areas output by the focus information generating means. That when a plurality of tilt angle obtained based differs for each region individual focus information, an image pickup apparatus and calculates the average values for the plurality of tilt angle as a tilt angle. 3. An image pickup optical system, an image pickup device corresponding to the image pickup optical system, and focus information generating means for obtaining focus information for each area of each subject corresponding to a plurality of predetermined areas in a shooting area; A tilt angle calculating means for calculating a tilt angle, which is an angle between a normal line of a photoelectric conversion surface of the imaging element and an optical axis of the imaging optical system at the time of photographing, based on an output of the focus information generating means; By performing position control of the imaging device based on the tilt angle information calculated by the angle calculation means, a tilt control angle that is an angle between a normal line of a photoelectric conversion surface of the imaging device and an optical axis of the imaging optical system is obtained. Tilt control means for setting the tilt angle, wherein the tilt angle calculating means is configured to control each subject corresponding to three or more of the plurality of predetermined areas output by the focus information generating means. A plurality of tilt angles obtained based on the focus information of each region. An image pickup apparatus characterized in that when it is high, an average value of the plurality of tilt angles is calculated as the tilt angle. 4. An image pickup optical system, an image pickup device corresponding to the image pickup optical system, and focus information generation means for obtaining focus information for each region of each subject corresponding to a plurality of predetermined regions in a shooting area; A tilt angle calculating means for calculating a tilt angle, which is an angle between a normal line of a photoelectric conversion surface of the imaging element and an optical axis of the imaging optical system at the time of photographing, based on an output of the focus information generating means; By performing position control of the imaging device based on the tilt angle information calculated by the angle calculation means, a tilt control angle that is an angle between a normal line of a photoelectric conversion surface of the imaging device and an optical axis of the imaging optical system is obtained. A tilt control means for setting the tilt angle, wherein the tilt angle calculation means is configured to detect a position of each subject corresponding to three or more of the plurality of predetermined areas output by the focus information generation means. A plurality of tilt angles obtained based on the focus information of each region. An image pickup apparatus, which outputs a control command for prohibiting the tilt corresponding to the calculation of the tilt angle 0 when the angle is low. 5. An image pickup optical system, an image pickup device corresponding to the image pickup optical system, and focus information generating means for obtaining focus information for each area of each subject corresponding to a plurality of predetermined areas in a shooting area; A tilt angle calculating means for calculating a tilt angle, which is an angle between a normal line of a photoelectric conversion surface of the imaging element and an optical axis of the imaging optical system at the time of photographing, based on an output of the focus information generating means; By performing position control of the imaging device based on the tilt angle information calculated by the angle calculation means, a tilt control angle that is an angle between a normal line of a photoelectric conversion surface of the imaging device and an optical axis of the imaging optical system is obtained. Tilt control means for setting the tilt angle, wherein the tilt angle calculating means is configured to control each subject corresponding to three or more of the plurality of predetermined areas output by the focus information generating means. A plurality of tilt angles obtained based on the focus information of each region. An image pickup apparatus characterized in that when it is low, a value selected from any of the plurality of tilt angles is calculated as the tilt angle. 6. An image pickup optical system, an image pickup device corresponding to the image pickup optical system, and focus information generating means for obtaining focus information for each region of each subject corresponding to a plurality of predetermined regions in a shooting area; A tilt angle calculating means for calculating a tilt angle, which is an angle between a normal line of a photoelectric conversion surface of the imaging element and an optical axis of the imaging optical system at the time of photographing, based on an output of the focus information generating means; By performing position control of the imaging device based on the tilt angle information calculated by the angle calculation means, a tilt control angle that is an angle between a normal line of a photoelectric conversion surface of the imaging device and an optical axis of the imaging optical system is obtained. Tilt control means for setting the tilt angle, wherein the tilt angle calculating means is configured to control each subject corresponding to three or more of the plurality of predetermined areas output by the focus information generating means. A plurality of tilt angles obtained based on the focus information of each region. When the tilt is low, a first calculation mode for outputting a control command for inhibiting tilt corresponding to the calculation of tilt angle 0, and when the tilt correlation is lower than a predetermined value, one of the plurality of tilt angles is determined. An imaging apparatus characterized in that a second calculation mode for calculating a selected value as a tilt angle is selectable. 7. The imaging apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising an input operation switch for instructing switching between the first calculation mode and the second calculation mode. 8. An image pickup optical system, an image pickup device corresponding to the image pickup optical system, focus information generating means for obtaining focus information for each area of each subject corresponding to a plurality of predetermined areas in a shooting area, A tilt angle calculating means for calculating a tilt angle, which is an angle between a normal line of a photoelectric conversion surface of the imaging element and an optical axis of the imaging optical system at the time of photographing, based on an output of the focus information generating means; By performing position control of the imaging device based on the tilt angle information calculated by the angle calculation means, a tilt control angle that is an angle between a normal line of a photoelectric conversion surface of the imaging device and an optical axis of the imaging optical system is obtained. Tilt control means for setting the tilt angle, wherein the tilt angle calculating means is configured to control each subject corresponding to three or more of the plurality of predetermined areas output by the focus information generating means. And a correlation evaluation unit that evaluates a tilt correlation that is a degree of mutual agreement between a plurality of tilt angles obtained based on focus information of each region. An imaging apparatus, comprising: display control means for displaying information on a tilt correlation.