JPH11355784A - Electronic camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic camera capable of performing white balance adjustment corresponding to the intention of a photographer. SOLUTION: This electronic camera is provided with a key matrix 14 capable of selecting an automatic white balance adjustment mode and a manual white balance adjustment mode and inputting color temperature information further in the case that the latter manual white balance adjustment mode is selected, an LCD 13 for displaying an image for displaying the color temperature information settable by the key matrix 14 on a screen and a correction circuit 24 for automatically adjusting the white balance of video signals outputted from a CCD 21 when the automatic white balance adjustment mode is selected and adjusting it based on the inputted color temperature information when the manual white balance adjustment mode is selected.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic camera, and more particularly, to an electronic camera having a function of adjusting a white balance of a video signal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the recent progress and spread of functions in electronic devices such as personal computers and printers, electronic cameras are rapidly expanding their markets as a means for inputting images to these electronic devices. is there.

In such an electronic camera, an image of a subject is formed on an image pickup device such as a CCD by a photographing lens, converted into an electric signal by the image pickup device, and further converted into a digital signal to perform various processes. Application and recording on a recording medium or the like.

In an environment where such an electronic camera is used, various light sources such as sunlight, a fluorescent lamp, a light bulb and the like exist, and unless the color is adjusted in accordance with the light source, the color tone of an obtained image becomes poor. It becomes unnatural.

In view of the above, a conventional electronic camera that automatically determines the type of light source and performs white balance adjustment according to the light source has been proposed and is commercially available.

An example of such a device is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 65189 discloses an imaging unit for imaging an object,
Adjusting mode selecting means for externally selecting a white balance adjusting mode according to the type of light source for illuminating the subject; and adjusting the white balance of the output of the imaging means according to the adjusting mode selected by the adjusting mode selecting means. A white balance adjusting device for adjusting the color temperature information of the light irradiating the subject, wherein the white balance adjusting device is configured to adjust the fluorescent light by the adjustment mode selecting device. There is described a white balance adjustment device that performs white balance adjustment based on color temperature information measured by the colorimetric means when an adjustment mode according to a lamp light source is selected.

[0007]

However, in the technique of discriminating the color temperature information of the light source by the colorimetric means or the like as disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-165189, the light source type automatically discriminated is May be different from the actual one, and in such a case, it is desirable that the photographer can set it by himself.

In some cases, a photographer may wish to select an appropriate color balance irrespective of the type of light source for advanced shooting intentions. However, a conventional electronic camera that automatically determines the type of light source Then, it was not possible to cope with such a photographing intention.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic camera capable of performing white balance adjustment according to a photographer's intention.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, an electronic camera according to a first aspect of the present invention includes: an image pickup unit that converts an optical subject image into an electric video signal and outputs the image signal;
White balance adjustment means for adjusting the white balance of the video signal output from the imaging means, an automatic white balance adjustment mode for automatically performing adjustment by the white balance adjustment means, and manual white balance adjustment for manually setting. And a color balance input unit for inputting color balance information when a manual white balance adjustment mode is selected by the adjustment mode selection unit. When the automatic white balance adjustment mode is selected, the balance adjustment unit performs automatic white balance adjustment according to a video signal output from the imaging unit, and the manual white balance adjustment mode is selected. When It is intended to perform a white balance adjustment based on the color balance information input by the color balance input unit.

The electronic camera according to a second aspect of the present invention is the electronic camera according to the first aspect, further comprising a display device for displaying color balance information settable by the color balance input means on a screen. .

Further, an electronic camera according to a third aspect of the present invention includes:
In the electronic camera according to the first aspect, the color balance input means is a color temperature input means for inputting color temperature information.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1 to 3 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of an electronic camera from the back side. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing mainly an electric configuration of the electronic camera. FIG. 3 is a rear view showing a display of the image display LCD when performing color temperature adjustment and a key matrix arranged near the image display LCD.

The electronic camera 1 is a CCD which serves as an image pickup means for capturing a subject image captured through a photographing lens 4.
21 (see FIG. 2), the image is displayed on an image display LCD 13 as a display device, and when the release switch 8 is pressed, the image is recorded on a recording medium 30 such as a memory card described later (see FIG. 2). 2).

The electronic camera 1 is, as shown in FIG.
An exterior body is formed by fitting the front cover 2 and the rear cover 3, and the front cover 2 is provided with a lens barrel that incorporates the photographing lens 4.

On the upper surface of the front cover 2, a pop-up strobe light emitting unit 5, a power switch 6 for enabling the electronic camera 1 to be used, and a power switch 6 are disposed near the periphery of the power switch 6. For switching the mode of the electronic camera 1 between a recording mode and a playback mode.
A reproduction switch 7, a release switch 8 for inputting an instruction to record on the recording medium 30, and a display for displaying the recording / reproduction mode, a shooting mode described later, and other various information related to the electronic camera 1. LC for mode display
D9 and, for example, landscape photography mode or sports photography mode,
A shooting mode setting switch group 12 for setting various shooting modes such as a portrait shooting mode is provided.

A finder eyepiece 11 for confirming a subject image is provided on the back side of the rear cover 3 for confirming a subject image formed on the CCD 21 at the time of photographing or the recording medium at the time of reproduction. The image display LCD 13 composed of, for example, a TFT panel for displaying an image recorded in the LCD 30 and also displaying operation information, while checking the operation information displayed on the image display LCD 13. A key matrix 14 which is an adjustment mode selection means for performing an input operation and also serves as a color balance input means and a color temperature input means is provided.

As shown in FIG. 3, the key matrix 14 displays a selectable menu on the image display LCD 13.
Menu button (MENU) 1 for displaying a list
4a and a plus button (+) 14 for moving in one direction a target of interest among the menus displayed in a list
b, a minus button (-) 14c for moving in the opposite direction, and an enter button (OK) 14d for selecting and determining the menu of interest.

Further, on the right side of the camera exterior body, a grip portion 15 for gripping with the right hand during normal photographing is provided, and the grip portion 15 is viewed from the photographer on the right front side, that is, the rear cover. A memory card cover 16 that opens and closes when the recording medium 30 is inserted and removed is provided at the right end corner of the memory card 3.

Next, an electrical configuration inside the electronic camera 1 as described above will be described with reference to FIG.

The electronic camera 1 receives a light beam from a subject to form an optical image and forms an optical image. A CCD 21 for outputting as a simple signal;
An image pickup circuit 22 for performing, for example, AGC or clamp processing on the output of the CCD 21 and an analog-to-digital converter (A / A /
D) 23, a correction circuit 24 as white balance adjusting means for performing various correction processes including white balance and the like on the video signal converted into the digital signal, and the corrected image data in units of frames via the bus line 33. A frame memory 25 for inputting and temporarily storing, a FIFO memory 26 for receiving image data read from the frame memory 25 and transmitted via the bus line 33, and outputting the received image data in the order in which they are received; An on-screen circuit 27 for superimposing a character signal on a video signal output from the FIFO memory 26; an LCD driving circuit 28 for generating an LCD driving signal based on the output of the on-screen circuit 27; Circuit 28
Image display LC for displaying images driven by
A second CPU 32 connected to the bus line 33 and having an image compression function, an image decompression function, a frame memory control function, and a recording medium access function;
The bus line 33 is controlled based on the control of the second CPU 32.
A recording medium I / F 29 for transmitting and receiving compressed image data to and from the recording medium 30 via the recording medium I / F 29
A recording medium 30 such as a memory card for recording image data transmitted through the camera, the strobe light emitting section 5 for irradiating the subject with auxiliary light, the strobe light emitting section 5 and the image pickup circuit 22 , On-screen circuit 2
7, LCD drive circuit 28, LCD display circuit 3 described later
5, a first CPU 31 having a system control function for comprehensively controlling each circuit inside the electronic camera 1 including a power supply circuit 37 and a second CPU 32 connected via the bus line 33; An EEPROM 34 in which various data such as a control program for operating the LCD and various correction values are stored, the mode display LCD 9, an LCD display circuit 35 for driving and controlling the mode display LCD 9 to perform display. A battery 36 housed in the camera 1, a power supply circuit 37 connected to the battery 36 for supplying power to each circuit in the electronic camera 1, detecting a power state and outputting the result to the first CPU 31. , The power switch 6 connected to the first CPU 31, the recording / reproduction switch 7, the release switch Pitch 8, photographing mode setting switch group 12 is configured by and a respective switch such as a key matrix 14.

The operation of the electronic camera 1 at the time of photographing is as follows.

The signal formed on the CCD 21 via the photographing lens 4 and photoelectrically converted is converted into a digital signal by an analog-to-digital converter 23 after automatic adjustment of gain and removal of low-frequency noise by an image pickup circuit 22. Is converted to

This digital signal is temporarily written to a frame memory 25 after white balance correction and the like are performed by a correction circuit 24, and then output to an on-screen circuit 27 via a FIFO memory 26, and the character After the data and the like are superimposed, the data is displayed on the image display LCD 13 by the LCD drive circuit 28.

The photographer can adjust the composition while watching the display on the image display LCD 13. Then, when the release switch 8 is pressed to record an image, the second CPU 32 reads out the image data stored in the frame memory 25, performs image compression processing, and outputs a recording address or the like for recording. Medium I / F2
9, image data is recorded on the recording medium 30.

Next, the operation of the electronic camera 1 for reproducing the image data recorded on the recording medium 30 is as follows.

When the reproduction mode is switched by the recording / reproduction switch 7 and the reproduction operation is started, the recording medium I / F is output by outputting a reproduction start address and the like.
Image data is read from the recording medium 30 via the recording medium 29.

Since the data of the recording medium 30 is compressed and recorded so as to reduce the data size, the second CPU 32 performs image decompression processing to temporarily store data for one screen in the frame memory 25. Keep it.

The data in the frame memory 25 is displayed on the image display LCD 13 via the FIFO memory 26, the on-screen circuit 27, and the LCD drive circuit 28, similarly to the above-described recording.

Next, the operation of the electronic camera 1 for adjusting the white balance will be described.

When the recording mode is set by the recording / reproduction switch 7, the key matrix 1
When the menu button 14a in 4 is pressed, the image display LCD 13 displays a menu that can be selected in the recording mode, for example, image quality, exposure correction, white balance adjustment, and the like during recording.

By operating the plus button 14b and the minus button 14c, the image display LCD shown in FIG.
13 is moved to the left side of the white balance adjustment, and the enter button 14d
Pressing displays a white balance adjustment menu as shown in FIG.

The menu includes an auto white balance adjustment (Auto) 42 and a color temperature 41 which is selected at the time of manual white balance adjustment and is discretely arranged from 3000 degrees to 6000 degrees, for example, every 1000 degrees. Is displayed.

When the electronic camera 1 has not been set, the automatic white balance adjustment (Auto) 42 is selected. To manually set the desired color temperature from this state, the plus button 1
By operating the 4b and minus button 14c, the index 43 is moved to a position corresponding to a desired color temperature, and the color temperature is selected by pressing the confirm button 14d at that position.

In the example shown in FIG. 3, the index 43 is 500
At a position corresponding to the color temperature of 0 degrees, when the enter button 14d is pressed at this time, a white balance suitable for the case where the color temperature of the light source is 5000 degrees is set.

That is, the first CPU 31 that has been operated by the key matrix 14 is replaced by the second CPU 3.
2 and information on the color temperature to be corrected is output to the correction circuit 24 via the bus line 33. The correction circuit 24 receiving this information performs white balance adjustment suitable for the color temperature on the digital signal output from the analog-to-digital converter 23. Therefore, an image stored in the frame memory 25 and displayed on the image display LCD 13 thereafter,
The image data recorded on the recording medium 30 is after the white balance adjustment has been performed.

When the automatic white balance adjustment 42 is selected, the color temperature of the light source is automatically estimated based on the signal input from the CCD 21 and the correction suitable for the color temperature is performed by the correction circuit. 24 automatically performs this operation.

In the above description, the color temperatures are arranged by discrete numbers and selected by the key matrix while viewing these displays. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The temperature range up to may be displayed continuously by a scroll bar or the like, and the color temperature may be selected by scrolling the scroll bar.

Alternatively, for a photographer who wants to perform more specialized color balance setting, a chromaticity diagram or the like is displayed in a two-dimensional plane, and a desired color balance point is selected in the chromaticity diagram. You may be able to.

Further, paying attention to the fact that the image display LCD 13 is usually constituted by a color type LCD, it is intuitive to display the numbers indicating the respective color temperatures as colored numbers corresponding to the color temperatures. It may be easier to grasp.

Further, the selection is not limited to the color temperature. For example, light sources such as sunlight, fluorescent lamps and incandescent lamps are listed in a selectable manner, and a desired light source is manually selected from these. It does not matter.

According to such an embodiment, a desired white balance adjustment according to the photographer's intention can be performed with good operability.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and it is needless to say that various modifications and applications are possible without departing from the gist of the invention.

[Appendix] According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention as described in detail above, the following configuration can be obtained.

(1) Imaging means for converting an optical subject image into an electric video signal and outputting the same, white balance adjusting means for adjusting the white balance of the video signal output from the imaging means, and white At least selectable adjustment between an auto white balance adjustment mode in which the adjustment by the balance adjustment unit is automatically performed according to the video signal output from the imaging unit and a manual white balance adjustment mode in which the adjustment can be manually performed. A mode selection unit; and a color balance input unit for inputting color balance information when the manual white balance adjustment mode is selected by the adjustment mode selection unit. Automatic when white balance adjustment mode is selected To make a basic white balance adjustment,
An electronic camera, wherein when the manual white balance adjustment mode is selected, white balance adjustment is performed based on the color balance information input by the color balance input means.

(2) The electronic camera according to (1), further comprising a display device for displaying color balance information settable by the color balance input means on a screen.

(3) The electronic camera according to (2), wherein the display device further displays a mode that can be set by the adjustment mode selection means on a screen.

(4) The electronic camera according to the appendix (2), wherein the display device also serves as an image display device for displaying an image taken by the imaging means.

(5) The color balance input means is
The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the electronic camera is color temperature input means for inputting color temperature information.

(6) The electronic camera according to (5), wherein the color temperature input means is capable of selecting a plurality of color temperatures arranged discretely.

According to the invention described in the appendix (1), by selecting the manual white balance adjustment mode and inputting the color balance information, the white balance is adjusted in accordance with the color balance information. White balance adjustment according to the intention of the user.

According to the invention described in the supplementary note (2), the same effect as that of the invention described in the supplementary note (1) can be obtained, and the color balance information can be input while confirming the color balance information that can be set by the display device. Operability is improved.

According to the invention described in the supplementary note (3), the same effects as those of the invention described in the supplementary note (2) can be obtained, and the mode can be set while confirming the mode that can be set by the display device. Since it is possible, the operability is further improved.

According to the invention described in the supplementary note (4), the same effect as that of the invention described in the supplementary note (2) can be obtained, and an existing image display device can be effectively used without providing a dedicated display device. can do.

According to the invention described in the supplementary note (5), the same effects as those of the invention described in the supplementary note (1) can be obtained, and the color balance information can be easily and clearly input by the color temperature information.

According to the invention described in the supplementary note (6), the same effects as those of the invention described in the supplementary note (5) can be obtained, and necessary color temperatures can be set in an appropriate discrete arrangement to provide a necessary arrangement. The processing load can be reduced.

[0057]

As described above, according to the electronic camera of the first aspect of the present invention, by selecting the manual white balance adjustment mode and inputting the color balance information, the white balance according to the color balance information is obtained. Since the adjustment is performed, white balance adjustment according to the photographer's intention can be performed.

According to the electronic camera of the second aspect of the present invention, the same effects as those of the first aspect of the invention can be obtained, and the color balance information can be set while confirming the color balance information that can be set by the display device. Operability is improved because the user can input the information.

According to the electronic camera of the third aspect of the present invention, the same effects as those of the first aspect of the invention can be obtained, and the color balance information can be easily and clearly input by the color temperature information. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exemplary perspective view showing the external appearance of an electronic camera according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the rear side.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing mainly an electric configuration of the electronic camera of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a rear view showing a display of an image display LCD and a key matrix disposed near the image display LCD when performing color temperature adjustment in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electronic camera 13 ... LCD (display device) for image display 14 ... Key matrix (adjustment mode selection means, color balance input means, color temperature input means) 21 ... CCD (imaging means) 24 ... Correction circuit (white balance adjustment means) 31: first CPU 32: second CPU

Claims (3)

[Claims] An imaging unit configured to convert an optical image of an object into an electric video signal and output the electrical image signal; a white balance adjustment unit configured to adjust a white balance of a video signal output from the imaging unit; An adjusting mode selecting means capable of selecting at least an automatic white balance adjusting mode for automatically performing adjustment by the adjusting means and a manual white balance adjusting mode for manually setting the white balance; And a color balance input unit for inputting color balance information when the balance adjustment mode is selected. The white balance adjustment unit is configured to perform the above-described automatic white balance adjustment when the automatic white balance adjustment mode is selected. Automatically according to the video signal output from the imaging means Electronic white balance adjustment based on the color balance information input by the color balance input means when the manual white balance adjustment mode is selected. camera. 2. The electronic camera according to claim 1, further comprising a display device for displaying color balance information settable by said color balance input means on a screen. 3. The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein said color balance input means is color temperature input means for inputting color temperature information.