JPH1144903A - Optical filter device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical filter device capable of simulating the dimming function of plural kinds of color filters without one by one exchanging an optical filter in the optical filter device arranged on the optical path of a photographing equipment and dimming subject light. SOLUTION: This optical filter device arranged on the optical path of the photographing equipment and dimming subject light is provided with an optical filter plate 1 in which the plural kinds of color filters mixedly exist to be arranged, a spatial optical modulation element 2 which is superposed and provided on the plate 1 and whose light transmittance can be changed by each unit segment arranged in a matrix-state, and a control means 3 controlling the unit segment of the element 2 and adjusting the transmitting rate of the color component of the subject light.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an optical filter device arranged on an optical path of a photographing device and dimming subject light.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various optical filters are mounted and used on a photographing device in accordance with a high demand for correction of a photographing state and a photographing expression.

[0003] For example, in cloudy weather, a color temperature correction filter for temperature control is used to alleviate the phenomenon that a subject appears bluish. On the other hand, in the morning and evening, a color temperature correction filter for cooling is used to alleviate the phenomenon that the subject becomes reddish. When the entire screen is colored according to a special color effect, a color filter of one color on the entire surface is used.

Further, when framing a color around a subject, a color filter in which only the periphery is colored is used. Also, when emphasizing colors such as the sky,
A color filter whose upper half is colored is used. Further, when deforming the background blur into a special shape, an iris mask having a special aperture shape at the center of the screen is used.

[0005] When a part of the screen is shielded during multiple exposure or the like, a mask pattern that shields a part of the screen is used. Further, in black-and-white shooting, a yellow, orange or red color filter is used to enhance the contrast of the subject. As described above, by appropriately using various optical filters, free and various photographing expressions can be realized.

[0006]

However, in order to flexibly perform the above-described photographing, it is necessary to carry many types of optical filters at all times, which is inconvenient. . Further, in photographing, the optical filter must be replaced one by one according to the photographing situation and the photographing intention, and there is a problem that the replacement work is complicated and troublesome.

Particularly, in natural photographing at a mountain or the like, it is difficult to find a suitable place for changing the filter, and it is difficult to quickly change the filter. Due to the problems described above, it has been extremely difficult to easily perform photographing using filter work. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an optical filter device capable of simulating color filters of various colors without replacing optical filters one by one.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an optical filter device capable of simulating a filter divided into a plurality of colors, in addition to the object of the first aspect. According to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the object of the first aspect, there is provided an optical filter device capable of simulating at least one of a color filter, a mask pattern, and an iris mask for coloring only a part of a screen. The purpose is to:

[0009]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the invention according to the first to third aspects of the present invention. Hereinafter, the means for solving the above problem will be described with reference to FIG. The invention according to claim 1 is an optical filter device arranged on an optical path of a photographing device and dimming subject light, comprising: an optical filter plate 1 in which a plurality of types of color filters are mixedly arranged; A spatial light modulation element 2 which is provided in a superimposed manner and whose light transmittance can be changed for each unit segment arranged in a matrix;
A control unit for controlling a unit segment of the spatial light modulation element to adjust a transmission ratio of a color component of subject light.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the optical filter device according to the first aspect, the control means 3 controls the optical filter plate 1 for each of a plurality of divided control sections.
The transmission ratio of the color component of the subject light is adjusted. The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2
In the optical filter device described in (1), the control means 3 controls all the unit segments of the spatial light modulator 2 overlapping the pattern region to be in a transmission state or a complete shielding state in accordance with a predetermined pattern region. .

(Function) In the optical filter device according to the first aspect, the optical filter plate 1 and the spatial light modulation element 2 are arranged in an overlapping manner. For the spatial light modulator 2 having such an arrangement, the control means 3 controls the light transmittance for each unit segment. With respect to the unit segments whose light transmittance is increased, the amount of transmitted color components by the color filters arranged in an overlapping manner increases.

On the other hand, for a unit segment having a reduced light transmittance, the amount of transmitted color components by the color filters arranged in a superimposed manner decreases. Thus, the hue of the subject image can be freely changed by adjusting the transmission ratio of the color component of the subject light. Therefore, a dimming function similar to that of color filters of various colors is realized by one optical filter device.

In the optical filter device according to the second aspect, the control means 3 adjusts the transmission ratio of the color component of the subject light for each control section provided by dividing the optical filter plate 1. Therefore, the hue of the subject image can be changed independently for each control section. In such an optical filter device, it is possible to simulate a color filter divided into a plurality of colors, a color filter with gradation, and the like.

In the optical filter device according to the third aspect, the control means 3 controls all of the unit segments overlapping the predetermined pattern area to be in the transmission state or the all-blocking state. Therefore, it is possible to change the hue of only a part of the shooting screen or mask a part of the shooting screen. In such an optical filter device, it is possible to simulate a color filter for coloring a part of the screen, an iris mask, a mask pattern, and the like.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is an optical path diagram of a camera equipped with an optical filter device according to the first to third aspects.

In FIG. 2, a photographing lens 12 is mounted on a lens mount 11a of a camera body 11. A quick return mirror 14 is arranged on the optical axis of the taking lens 12. A finder screen 15 is arranged in the reflection direction of the quick return mirror 14. Behind the quick return mirror 14, a shutter mechanism 16 and a film 17 are arranged.

The optical filter plate 20 and the liquid crystal panel 21 are arranged so as to overlap with each other so as to cover the opening of the lens mount 11a. The control terminal of the liquid crystal panel 21 is connected to a microprocessor 23 in the camera body 11 via a liquid crystal driver 21a. FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of the microprocessor 23.

In FIG. 3, a liquid crystal driver 31 is connected to the microprocessor 23 in addition to the liquid crystal driver 21a described above. The liquid crystal driver 31 includes a liquid crystal display unit 32 disposed on a housing of the camera body 11 and a liquid crystal display unit 3 in a finder disposed on a finder optical path.
3 is connected. The microprocessor 23 has a photometric element 34 for TTL photometry and a focus detection CC.
D35, a switch interface 36, and a motor driver 37 are individually connected.

The interface 36 has a selection button 3
8, the determination button 39 and the release button 40 are individually connected. The motor driver 37 includes a feed motor 41,
The mechanical charge motor 42 and the focus adjustment motor 43 are individually connected. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a color arrangement of the optical filter plate 20. 4, the optical filter plate 20 includes an R filter 20r, a B filter 20b, and a G filter.
Each of the filters 20g is arranged in a stripe pattern. These color filters are used for forming optical thin films,
It is created by applying a pigment or the like.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing one of the control sections on the liquid crystal panel 21. As shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, the liquid crystal panel 21 has unit segments 24 whose light transmittances can be individually changed arranged in a matrix. Each of the vertical columns of the unit segments 24 is arranged in alignment with the color filter column of the optical filter plate 20. Such an optical filter plate 20 is divided into a control section 25 composed of 3 horizontal × 4 vertical unit segments 24.

In these control sections 25, four unit segments 24 are assigned per color. Therefore, when each of the unit segments 24 is controlled to either the shielded state or the transmissive state, the light transmittance per color is adjusted in five steps. Therefore, in each control section 25, dimming for 5 3 = 125 colors can be performed.

As for the correspondence between the present invention and the present embodiment, the optical filter plate 1 corresponds to the optical filter plate 20, and the spatial light modulator 2 corresponds to the liquid crystal panel 21. , The control means 3 is a microprocessor 23
And the liquid crystal driver 21a. Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the main operation of the microprocessor 23. Hereinafter, the main operation will be described with reference to FIG.

First, when the main power of the camera body 11 is turned on, the microprocessor 23 executes a subroutine of AE control (automatic exposure control). Here, the subject brightness is detected from the photometric element 34, and an appropriate shutter speed and aperture value are determined based on the brightness value and the film sensitivity (step S1). Next, the microprocessor 23
Executes the automatic focus control subroutine. Here, the amount of defocus is calculated using the focus detection CCD 35, and the focus adjustment motor 43 is driven to drive the photographing lens 12 to the in-focus state (step S2).

After such automatic focus control, the microprocessor 23 performs an exposure display and a focus display on the liquid crystal display section 32 and the liquid crystal display section 33 in the viewfinder via the liquid crystal driver 31 (step S3). ). Subsequently, the microprocessor 23 executes a “control routine for the liquid crystal panel 21” described later (step S4).

After returning from the control routine of the liquid crystal panel 21, the microprocessor 23 detects the operation state of the release button 40. If the release button 40 has not been pressed (NO in step S5), the microprocessor 23 returns to step S1 without performing release control. On the other hand, when the release button 40 is pressed (YES in step S5), the microprocessor 23 performs release control to expose the film 17. After such film exposure, film feeding and mechanical charging are executed in preparation for the next photographing, and the process returns to step S1 (step S6).

By repeating such a main operation, a photographing operation of the camera is executed. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a control routine of the liquid crystal panel 21. Hereinafter, FIG.
The control routine of the liquid crystal panel 21 will be described with reference to FIG.
First, the microprocessor 23 determines whether or not the selection button 38 is on for more than one second (step S1).
1).

If the selection button 38 is not on for more than one second (NO in step S11), the microprocessor 23 determines that the operator has no intention to adjust the liquid crystal panel 21. The operation immediately returns to the main operation shown in FIG. On the other hand, when the selection button 38 is on for more than one second (YES in step S11), the microprocessor 2
No. 3 determines that the operator intends to adjust the liquid crystal panel 21, and executes the following control routine.

First, the microprocessor 23 illuminates and displays "Red Adjustment" on the LCD 33 in the finder (step S12). In this state, every time the selection button 38 is pressed (step S13), the microprocessor 23 sets the R filter 2
The numerical aperture of the unit segment 24 overlapping with 0r is increased by one. However, when the numerical aperture is the maximum (four), the numerical aperture is returned to zero (step S14). In this manner, the operation of adjusting the transmittance of the red component is performed.

On the other hand, when the enter button 39 is pressed during such a red adjustment period (step S13), the microprocessor 23 changes the display of the liquid crystal display section 33 in the finder from "red adjustment" to "blue adjustment". Switching is performed (step S15). In this state, every time the selection button 38 is pressed (step S16), the microprocessor 23
For all the control sections 25, the numerical aperture of the unit segment 24 overlapping with the B filter 20b is increased by one. However,
When the numerical aperture is the maximum (four), the numerical aperture is returned to zero (step S17). In this manner, the operation of adjusting the transmittance of the blue component is performed.

On the other hand, when the enter button 39 is pressed during such a blue adjustment period (step S16), the microprocessor 23 changes the display of the LCD 33 in the finder from "blue adjustment" to "green adjustment". Switching is performed (step S18).

In this state, every time the selection button 38 is pressed (step S19), the microprocessor 23
Increases the numerical aperture of the unit segment 24 that overlaps the G filter 20g by one for all the control sections 25. However, when the numerical aperture is the maximum (four), the numerical aperture is returned to zero (step S20). In this way, the operation of adjusting the transmittance of the green component is performed.

On the other hand, when the enter button 39 is pressed during such a green adjustment period (step S19), the microprocessor 23 changes the display on the liquid crystal display section 33 in the finder from "green adjustment" to "pattern selection". Switching is performed (step S21). Here, when the selection button 38 is pressed (step S22), the microprocessor 23 changes the selection number of the pattern area (step S23). A plurality of pattern areas (FIG. 8) are stored in the memory in the microprocessor 23 in advance in association with the selection numbers.

Each time the selection number is changed,
The microprocessor 23 switches all the unit segments 24 corresponding to the inside of the pattern area to the transparent state (step S24). The selection numbers (8) and (8) shown in FIG.
Regarding (9), the left and right sides of the screen are divided into two colors by inverting all the opening states of the control sections 25 corresponding to the pattern area.

On the other hand, when the determination button 39 is pressed during such a pattern area selection period (step S22), the microprocessor 23 ends the control routine of the liquid crystal panel 21 and performs the main operation shown in FIG. Return to (Effects of Embodiment) According to the operation described above, in the present embodiment, by controlling the liquid crystal panel 21,
The composition ratio of the light transmittance of the R filter 20r, the G filter 20g, and the B filter 20b can be freely adjusted. By such adjustment, the hue of the subject image can be freely changed.

In particular, in the present embodiment, the optical filter plate 2
Since 0 is assigned to the three primary colors of RGB, the hue adjustment range can be remarkably expanded as compared with an optical filter in which the color changes linearly between the two hues. Further, in the present embodiment, by independently controlling the control sections 25 in the left half and the right half of the screen, a color filter divided into two colors can be simulated.

Further, in the present embodiment, by controlling all the predetermined pattern areas to be in the transmission state, it is possible to change only the hue of a part of the photographing screen. In the above-described embodiment, the optical filter plate 20 is arranged in three primary colors of RGB, but is not limited to this.
Generally, "two colors of different hues"
If at least the colors are arranged, an optical filter device whose hue changes can be realized.

As a particularly preferred example, as shown in FIG. 9, two colors of cyan and amber may be arranged on the optical filter plate. In the optical filter device that performs such a color arrangement, the color temperature of light can be adjusted stepwise or continuously from temperature control to cold control. Therefore,
The same dimming function as a plurality of color temperature conversion filters can be realized with one optical filter device.

In the above-described embodiment, the color of the optical filter plate 20 is arranged in a stripe pattern. However, the arrangement of the color filters is not limited. Generally, it is sufficient that a plurality of color filters are mixedly arranged. For example, the color filters may be arranged in a checkerboard pattern or diagonal stripe pattern. Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the control section 25 is configured by combining the unit segments 24 having the same area, but the present invention is not limited to this. The control section may be configured by combining “unit segments having different areas”. As an example, the control section may be configured by combining unit segments having an area ratio of 1: 1: 1. In such a configuration, the light transmittance of the control section is set to 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%.
Can be adjusted.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the unit segment 24 is controlled to a binary state of a shielding state or a transmitting state. However, the present invention is not limited to such a binary control. For example, by applying an intermediate potential to the unit segment 24, the light transmittance of the unit segment 24 can be changed stepwise or continuously. By controlling the light transmittance in this manner, the hue of the subject image can be changed more finely.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the 3 × 4 control sections 25 are set, but the present invention is not limited to such control section settings. In particular, when the light transmittance of the unit segments 24 is changed stepwise or continuously, it is sufficient to provide a control section having one unit segment per color. By dividing the control section into smaller sections in this way, the degree of mixing of the colors of the transmitted light becomes less noticeable, and the hue of the screen can be made more uniform.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the pattern regions shown in FIG. 8 are given. However, these pattern regions are naturally design examples, and the pattern regions are limited to the types of these pattern regions. is not. further,
In the above-described embodiment, the liquid crystal panel 21 is used as the spatial light modulator, but the present invention is not limited to this. Generally, any material that can control the light transmittance may be used. For example, an electrochromic device or the like may be used as the spatial light modulator. In the case of a functional element in which the spectral distribution of transmitted light changes due to a control voltage or the like,
It can also function as an optical filter plate and a spatial light modulator.

In the above embodiment, the optical filter device is mounted on the camera, but the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. The optical filter device (for example, a range surrounded by a dotted line in FIG. 2) may be configured as a single unit, and may be an external accessory attached to a photographic lens, a camera, or the like. At this time, some or all of the control functions of the optical filter device may be realized using a microprocessor in the camera or the photographic lens. With such a configuration, the size and cost of the external accessory can be reduced.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the liquid crystal panel 21 is disposed behind the optical filter plate 20.
The same function can be obtained by disposing the optical filter plate 20 behind the liquid crystal panel 21. In the above-described embodiment, the unit segment 24 corresponding to the pattern area is used.
Are all controlled to be in the transmission state, but the invention is not limited to this. Unit segment 2 corresponding to the pattern area
4 may be controlled to be in the shielding state. By such control, a dimming function similar to that of a mask pattern or an iris mask can be realized.

[0045]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the hue of the subject image can be freely changed by adjusting the ratio of the color components of the subject light using the control means. Becomes Therefore, a dimming function almost the same as that of the color filters of a plurality of colors can be realized by one optical filter device.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the hue of the subject image can be independently changed for each control section by adjusting the ratio of the color component of the subject light for each control section. Therefore, the same dimming function as that of the color filters divided into a plurality of colors can be realized by one optical filter device.

In the third aspect of the present invention, when all the predetermined pattern areas are controlled to be in the transmission state, the hue of the subject light can be changed only outside the pattern areas. Therefore, a dimming function similar to a color filter that colors only a part of the screen can be realized.
On the other hand, according to the third aspect of the invention, when all the predetermined pattern areas are controlled to be in the shielding state, the predetermined pattern areas can be masked. Therefore, a dimming function similar to that of the mask pattern or the iris mask can be realized.

As described above, in the optical filter device according to the first to third aspects, it is possible to simulate many types of optical filters, so that it is not necessary to carry many types of optical filters at all times. In addition, the optical filter device according to the first to third aspects can adjust the dimming function without detaching and replacing the photographing device, so that the trouble of repeatedly attaching and detaching the optical filter can be eliminated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the invention according to claims 1 to 3;

FIG. 2 is an optical path diagram of a camera equipped with an optical filter device according to claims 1 to 3;

FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of a microprocessor 23.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a color arrangement of an optical filter plate 20;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a control section of the liquid crystal panel 21.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a main operation of the microprocessor 23;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a control routine of the liquid crystal panel 21.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of setting a pattern area.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a color arrangement of an optical filter plate.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Optical filter board 2 Spatial light modulation element 3 Control means 11 Camera body 11a Lens mount part 12 Shooting lens 14 Quick return mirror 15 Finder screen 16 Shutter mechanism 17 Film 20 Optical filter board 20b B filter 20g G filter 20r R filter 21 Liquid crystal panel 21a Liquid crystal driver 23 Microprocessor 24 Unit segment 25 Control section 31 Liquid crystal driver 32 Liquid crystal display 33 Liquid crystal display in finder 34 Photometric element 35 Focus detection CCD 36 Interface 37 Motor driver 38 Select button 39 Enter button 40 Release button 41 Feeding Motor 42 Mechanical charge motor 43 Focus adjustment motor

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An optical filter device arranged on an optical path of a photographing device and dimming subject light, comprising: an optical filter plate in which a plurality of types of color filters are arranged in a mixed manner; A spatial light modulator capable of changing the light transmittance for each unit segment arranged in a matrix; and controlling the unit segment of the spatial light modulator to adjust a transmission ratio of a color component of the subject light. And an optical filter device. 2. The optical filter device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit adjusts a transmission ratio of a color component of the subject light for each control section provided by dividing the optical filter plate into a plurality of sections. An optical filter device comprising: 3. The optical filter device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit transmits all the unit segments of the spatial light modulation element overlapping the pattern area according to a predetermined pattern area. Alternatively, the optical filter device is controlled to be in a shielded state.