JP2011188058A - Image pickup device - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus which can be recorded by a touch operation and is easy to operate.
To solve the above problems, a digital camera 100 includes a CCD image sensor 120 that captures a subject image to generate an image, a liquid crystal display 170 that outputs an image generated by the CCD image sensor 120, and a liquid crystal display. A touch panel 173 that is disposed on the display 170 and receives an operation, a controller 150 that receives a subject designation operation from a user and adjusts an imaging condition for the designated subject, and a subject image when the touch panel 173 is operated. And a controller 150 that controls the CCD image sensor 120 so as to continuously capture the image.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus. In particular, the present invention relates to an imaging device capable of continuously capturing images.

  A position input device such as a touch panel that detects a touch with a finger or the like and specifies the position coordinate is attracting attention as an excellent user interface means, and various types of touch panels such as a resistance film type and a capacitance type are used. Are known. In recent years, digital cameras equipped with a touch panel have become widespread. The user can cause the digital camera to execute a predetermined operation by touching the touch panel.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a camera device that performs focus adjustment around an image of a pressed location based on position coordinate information from a pressure-sensitive sensor and records an imaging signal on a recording medium. Thereby, an object at an arbitrary position on the screen can be designated as a target to be focused.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-142719

  However, in the camera device of Patent Document 1, when the user wants to perform the second shooting after the first shooting, the user needs to repeat the same shooting operation frequently, which is inconvenient.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus that can perform shooting and recording by a touch operation and is easy to operate.

  In order to solve the above problems, an imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes an imaging unit that captures a subject image and generates an image, a display unit that outputs an image generated by the imaging unit, and a display unit. A touch panel that accepts an operation, an imaging condition adjustment unit that accepts a subject designation operation and adjusts imaging conditions for the designated subject, and an imaging unit that continuously captures subject images when the touch panel is operated A continuous imaging control unit for controlling

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an imaging apparatus that can perform shooting and recording by a touch operation and can be easily operated.

Configuration diagram of the digital camera 100 Rear view of digital camera 100 Diagram for explaining single AF control operation Image of touch operation Sequence diagram for continuous imaging Sequence diagram for continuous imaging (interval change)

[Embodiment 1]
A first embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a digital camera 100 will be described. The digital camera 100 accepts designation of a subject to be focused by a user's touch operation. Further, the digital camera 100 controls the CCD image sensor 120 so as to continuously capture the subject image while the user maintains the operation of the touch panel 173. Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the digital camera 100 will be described in order.

[1-1. Constitution〕
First, the configuration of the digital camera 100 will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the digital camera 100. The digital camera 100 captures a subject image formed via the optical system 110 with the CCD image sensor 120. The CCD image sensor 120 generates image data based on the captured subject image. The image data generated by the imaging is subjected to various processes in an AFE (AFE: Analog Front End) 121 and an image processing unit 130. The image data is stored in the flash memory 160 or the memory card 192. The image data stored in the flash memory 160 or the memory card 192 is reproduced and displayed on the liquid crystal display 170 in response to an operation of the operation unit 180 by the user. In addition, image data captured by the CCD image sensor 120 and output from the image processing unit 130 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 170 as a through image.

  The optical system 110 includes a focus lens 111, a zoom lens 112, a diaphragm 113, and a shutter 114. Although not shown, the optical system 110 may include an optical image stabilization lens OIS (Optical Image Stabilizer). The various lenses constituting the optical system 110 may be composed of any number of lenses or any number of groups.

  The focus lens 111 is used for adjusting the focal length. The zoom lens 112 is used to adjust the enlargement / reduction ratio. The diaphragm 113 is used to adjust the amount of light incident on the CCD image sensor. The shutter 114 adjusts the exposure time of light incident on the CCD image sensor. The focus lens 111, the zoom lens 112, the diaphragm 113, and the shutter 114 are driven in accordance with control signals notified from the controller 150 by driving means (not shown) such as a DC motor and a stepping motor corresponding to each.

  The CCD image sensor 120 captures a subject image formed through the optical system 110 and generates image data. The CCD image sensor 120 generates image data of a new frame at a predetermined frame rate (for example, 30 frames / second). The image data generation timing and the electronic shutter operation of the CCD image sensor 120 are controlled by the controller 150. By displaying the image data as a through image on the liquid crystal display 170 one by one, the user can check the state of the subject on the liquid crystal display 170 in real time. In the present invention, instead of the CCD image sensor 120, another image pickup device such as a CMOS image sensor or an NMOS image sensor may be used.

  The AFE 121 executes processes such as correlated double sampling and gain adjustment on the image data generated by the CCD image sensor 120. In gain adjustment, a gain corresponding to ISO sensitivity is set. Also, conversion from analog image data to digital image data is performed. Thereafter, the AFE 121 outputs the image data to the image processing unit 130.

  The image processing unit 130 performs various processes on the image data. Examples of various processing include, but are not limited to, gamma correction, white balance correction, YC conversion processing, electronic zoom processing, compression processing, expansion processing, and the like. Moreover, it is good also as a structure which lacks these one part. The image processing unit 130 may be configured with a hard-wired electronic circuit, or may be configured with a microcomputer or the like that executes a program for performing these processes. Further, it may be configured as one integrated circuit together with the controller 150 or the like.

  A liquid crystal display 170 is provided on the back of the digital camera 100. The liquid crystal display 170 displays an image based on the image data processed by the image processing unit 130. The images displayed on the liquid crystal display 170 include a through image and a recorded image. The liquid crystal display 170 displays images generated by the CCD image sensor 120 at regular intervals as a through image in real time. The user can take a picture while confirming the composition of the subject by referring to the through image displayed on the liquid crystal display 170. The recorded image is an image recorded on the memory card 192 or the flash memory 160. The liquid crystal display 170 displays an image based on already recorded image data in accordance with a user operation. In addition, the liquid crystal display 170 can display various setting conditions of the digital camera 100.

  The touch panel 173 is provided on the surface of the liquid crystal display 170 and outputs information related to electrode positions on the touch panel touched by the user.

  The detection processing unit 177 calculates the position coordinates on the touch panel touched by the user based on the information on the electrode position output from the touch panel 173 and outputs the position coordinates to the controller 150. When the user maintains the touch, the detection processing unit 177 continues to output the calculated position coordinates on the touch panel to the controller 150. Therefore, the controller 150 can determine whether or not the user's touch is maintained by monitoring the output state of the detection processing unit 177.

  The controller 150 controls the overall operation of the digital camera 100. The controller 150 includes a ROM (not shown) that stores information such as a program, and a CPU (not shown) that processes information such as a program. The ROM stores a program for controlling the overall operation of the digital camera 100 in addition to programs related to autofocus control and auto exposure control. In addition, the ROM stores imaging initial data related to the aperture value and shutter speed when the imaging is first performed after the CCD image sensor 120 is activated, data related to the target luminance value for obtaining appropriate exposure, and the like.

  The controller 150 displays a menu on the liquid crystal display 170, makes the user perform various settings by operating the operation unit 180 and the touch panel 173 while viewing the menu, and acquires the setting contents. In particular, the controller 150 recognizes where the user touched in the photographing frame displayed on the liquid crystal display 170 from the position coordinate value output by the detection processing unit 177, and performs processing according to the operation.

  The controller 150 may be configured with a hard-wired electronic circuit or a microcomputer. Further, it may be configured as one integrated circuit together with the image processing unit 130 and the like. Further, the ROM does not have to be an internal configuration of the controller 150, and may be provided outside the controller 150.

  The buffer memory 140 is a storage unit that functions as a work memory for the image processing unit 130 and the controller 150. The buffer memory 140 can be realized by a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) or the like.

  The flash memory 160 functions as an internal memory for storing image data and the like. The controller 150 stores the image data processed by the image processing unit 130 in the flash memory 160 or the memory card 192.

  The card slot 191 is a connection means to / from which the memory card 192 can be attached / detached. The card slot 191 can connect the memory card 192 electrically and mechanically. The card slot 191 may have a function of controlling the memory card 192.

  The memory card 192 is an external memory provided with a storage unit such as a flash memory. The memory card 192 can store data such as image data processed by the image processing unit 130. In this embodiment, the memory card 192 is shown as an example of the external memory, but a storage medium such as an optical disk or an HDD may be used as the external memory. Further, a communication interface (wireless or wired) with the outside may be connected to the controller 150 to transmit image data to the outside.

  The operation unit 180 is a general term for buttons, levers, dials, and the like provided on the exterior of the digital camera 100, and accepts operations by the user. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, a release button 200, a zoom lever 201, a selection button 203, a determination button 204, a power button 202, and the like correspond to the operation unit 180. When the operation unit 180 accepts an operation by the user, the operation unit 180 notifies the controller 150 of various operation instruction signals.

  The release button 200 is a two-stage push button. When the release button 200 is pressed halfway by the user, the controller 150 executes autofocus control, auto exposure control, and the like. When the release button 200 is fully pressed by the user, the controller 150 records image data captured at the timing of the pressing operation as a recorded image in the memory card 192 or the like.

  The zoom lever 201 is a center-position self-returning lever having a wide-angle end and a telephoto end for adjusting the angle of view. When operated by the user, the zoom lever 201 notifies the controller 150 of an operation instruction signal for driving the zoom lens 112.

  The power button 202 is a push-down button for turning on / off the power supply to each part constituting the digital camera 100. When the power button 202 is pressed by the user when the power is turned off, the controller 150 supplies power to each unit constituting the digital camera 100 and activates it. When the power button 202 is pressed by the user when the power is turned on, the controller 150 stops supplying power to each unit.

  The selection button 203 is a push button provided in the up / down / left / right directions. The user can select various condition items displayed on the liquid crystal display 170 by pressing any direction of the selection button 203.

  The decision button 204 is a push button. When the determination button 204 is pressed by the user while the digital camera 100 is in the shooting mode or the playback mode, the controller 150 displays a menu screen on the liquid crystal display 170. The menu screen is a screen for setting various conditions for shooting / playback. When the determination button 204 is pressed when a setting item for various conditions is selected, the controller 150 determines the setting of the selected item.

  Here, the correspondence between the configuration of the digital camera 100 and the present invention is as follows. The CCD image sensor 120 is an example of an imaging unit of the present invention. The liquid crystal display 170 is an example of the display unit of the present invention. The touch panel 173 is an example of the touch panel of the present invention. The controller 150 is an example of a photographing condition adjusting unit according to the present invention. The controller 150 is an example of a continuous imaging control unit of the present invention. The digital camera 100 is an example of an imaging apparatus of the present invention.

[1-2. Operation)
Next, the operation of the digital camera 100 will be described. The digital camera 100 fixes the AF frame at a position where the user starts the touch operation, and controls the CCD image sensor 120 so as to continuously capture the subject image while the touch operation is continued. At this time, even if the user moves the touch position from the position where the touch operation is started, the AF frame is fixed at the position where the touch operation is started.

  Hereinafter, the autofocus control operation and the continuous imaging control operation of the digital camera 100 will be described.

[1-2-1. (Auto focus control operation)
First, the autofocus control operation of the digital camera 100 will be described. The digital camera 100 performs a single AF control operation as an autofocus control operation.

  The autofocus control is executed based on a contrast value calculated every time image data is generated. The contrast value is acquired by integrating the high-frequency components of the luminance signal constituting the image data set with the AF frame. The controller 150 determines the direction in which the focus lens 111 is moved by comparing the contrast values acquired while driving the focus lens 111, and detects the focus position of the subject image.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the single AF control operation. A focus motor for driving the focus lens 111 continues to drive the focus lens 111 from the infinite side or the closest side. The controller 150 continues to calculate the contrast value periodically in accordance with the driving of the focus lens 111 (hereinafter referred to as AF detection). The focus motor continues to drive the focus lens 111 in one direction as long as the acquired contrast value continues to rise. When the contrast value stops increasing and starts decreasing, the controller 150 determines that the in-focus position has been passed. At this time, the controller 150 detects the position of the focus lens 111 where the contrast value has reached a peak as the in-focus position. Then, the focus motor drives the focus lens 111 in the opposite direction, corrects the play of the focus motor, and moves it to the in-focus position.

[1-2-2. (Control operation for continuous imaging)
Next, the continuous imaging control operation of the digital camera 100 will be described. FIG. 4 is an image diagram showing a touch operation procedure of the digital camera 100.

  When the power of the digital camera 100 is turned on, the controller 150 supplies power to each unit and executes a startup program for each unit. At this time, the controller 150 extracts luminance information from the image data generated by the CCD image sensor 120, and controls the aperture 113, the shutter 114, and the image processing unit 130 so as to obtain an appropriate exposure. When the generated image data is adjusted to an appropriate exposure, the controller 150 notifies the liquid crystal display 170 of a control signal so as to start displaying a through image. Thereby, the liquid crystal display 170 starts displaying a through image.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, when the display of the through image is started, the user can confirm the subject in the photographing frame displayed on the liquid crystal display 170. In the example of FIG. 4A, a case of a person is shown, but it may be an animal such as a dog or a landscape.

  Subsequently, as illustrated in FIG. 4B, the user touches the area where the subject whose focus state is to be adjusted (focused) is displayed with a finger or the like via the touch panel 173. When touched, touch panel 173 outputs information related to electrode positions on the touch panel to detection processing unit 177. The detection processing unit 177 calculates position coordinates on the touch panel based on information on the electrode position output from the touch panel 173 and outputs the position coordinates to the controller 150. The controller 150 sets an AF frame in the image portion corresponding to the position coordinates on the touch panel.

  As shown in FIG. 4C, when the touch is continued without removing the finger touched by the user from the touch panel 173, the controller 150 controls the CCD image sensor 120 to continuously capture images. . At this time, even if the position of the finger touched by the user moves on the touch panel 173, the AF frame remains fixed at the position where the touch operation is started. The controller 150 performs single AF control on the subject at the touch operation start position. When the focus lens 111 is focused on the subject, the controller 150 controls the CCD image sensor 120 to execute an exposure operation, and records the generated image data on the memory card 192. At this time, when the user does not move the finger from the position where the touch operation is started, the exposure operation is not executed even if the touch operation is maintained. This solves the problem that when the user does not move the finger from the position where the touch operation is started, it is difficult to check the state of the subject from the shooting frame because the operated finger becomes an obstacle. it can.

  Next, the sequence of the continuous imaging operation of the digital camera 100 will be described using FIG. FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram of the continuous imaging operation of the digital camera 100. FIG. 5 shows the AF operation and exposure operation timing with respect to the vertical synchronization signal VD (for example, 1/30 sec) generated by the controller 150.

  The controller 150 acquires the touched position coordinate information from the detection processing unit 177 in each VD. The controller 150 uses the position coordinate information acquired in each VD for AF frame setting and continuous imaging interval setting. Details of how the controller 150 uses the position coordinate information for setting the continuous imaging interval will be described later.

  FIG. 5 shows a sequence when the user touches the touch panel 173 just before VD1. At this time, the controller 150 performs AF frame setting at the timing of VD2 for the subject touch-selected by the user based on the position coordinate information acquired at the timing of VD1. At this time, if the user has not moved the finger from the position where the user starts the touch operation, the controller 150 does not execute the exposure operation even if the user keeps the touch operation, and maintains the standby state (VD3-3). VD4). When the controller 150 detects that the user has moved the finger from the position where the touch operation is started, the controller 150 performs an AF detection operation from VD5 to VD6 to detect the in-focus position. Then, the controller 150 moves the focus lens 111 to the detected focus position. When the focus lens 111 reaches the in-focus position, the controller 150 controls the CCD image sensor 120 so that the subject image is exposed at the timing of VD7 to VD8. At the timing of VD9, image data generated by subject image exposure is read out.

  The controller 150 executes one-shot imaging by each operation control from VD5 to VD8. As long as the user continues to touch the touch panel 173, the controller 150 repeats this one-shot imaging operation (second and subsequent shots in FIG. 5). As described above, the user touches the subject displayed on the liquid crystal display 170 via the touch panel 173 disposed on the liquid crystal display 170, thereby selecting the subject corresponding to the touch start position as the focus target. it can. Further, the user can execute continuous imaging by continuing the touch operation on the touch panel 173.

  Next, details of the controller 150 using the position coordinate information for setting the continuous imaging interval will be described. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram of a continuous imaging operation for explaining setting of a time interval of continuous imaging. FIG. 6 shows AF operation, standby, and exposure operation timings for a vertical synchronization signal VD (for example, 1/30 sec) generated by the controller 150.

  FIG. 6 shows a sequence when the user touches the touch panel 173 immediately before the VD 20. At this time, the controller 150 performs AF frame setting at the timing of VD21 for the subject selected by the user based on the position coordinate information acquired at the timing of VD20. At this time, if the user has not moved the finger from the position where the user started the touch operation, the controller 150 does not execute the exposure operation even if the touch operation is maintained, and maintains the standby state (VD22˜). VD23). When the controller 150 detects that the user has moved the finger from the position where the touch operation is started, the controller 150 performs an AF detection operation from VD24 to VD25 to detect the in-focus position. Then, the controller 150 moves the focus lens 111 to the detected focus position.

  As described above, the controller 150 acquires the touched position coordinate information from the detection processing unit 177 in each VD. The controller 150 knows the width of the VD (for example, 1/30 sec). Therefore, the controller 150 can calculate the touch operation speed of the user from the change in the acquired position coordinate information. The controller 150 adjusts the time interval for continuous imaging based on the calculated touch operation speed. Specifically, after the focus lens 111 reaches the in-focus position, the controller 150 stands by without performing AF operation or imaging operation from VD26 to VD27. That is, the controller 150 adjusts the length of one shot by adjusting the waiting time. As a result, the controller 150 can adjust the time interval for continuous imaging. Thereby, the user can adjust the time interval for continuous imaging by an intuitive operation.

  When the standby time is over, the controller 150 controls the CCD image sensor 120 to expose the subject image at the timing of VD28 to VD29. Image data generated by exposure of the subject image is read at the timing of VD30.

  The controller 150 executes one-shot imaging by each operation control from VD24 to VD29. As long as the user continues to touch the touch panel 173, the controller 150 repeats this one-shot imaging operation (second and subsequent shots in FIG. 6). In FIG. 6, since the second shot and the third shot have a higher touch operation speed than the first shot, the standby time is set shorter.

  As described above, the user can adjust the time interval for continuously capturing the subject image to be focused by changing the speed at which the touch operation is performed on the touch panel 173.

[1-3. (Summary)
As described above, the digital camera 100 according to Embodiment 1 includes the CCD image sensor 120 that captures a subject image and generates an image, the liquid crystal display 170 that outputs the image generated by the CCD image sensor 120, and the liquid crystal display. A touch panel 173 that is disposed on the display 170 and receives a touch operation by a user, a controller 150 that receives a designation operation by touching a subject and adjusts the focus state with respect to the designated subject, and the touch panel 173 are touch-operated. And a controller 150 that controls the CCD image sensor 120 so as to continuously capture the subject image. Therefore, the digital camera 100 can select a target whose focus state is to be adjusted by a touch operation, and can continuously capture a subject image by continuing the touch operation. Accordingly, the user can perform a seamless operation with a touch operation (for example, one finger) to specify a subject and an instruction for continuous imaging, and thus the operation is easy.

  In the digital camera 100 of the first embodiment, the controller 150 controls the CCD image sensor 120 so as not to capture a subject image while receiving a touch operation. As a result, the user can perform an imaging operation while confirming the state of the subject in the shooting frame.

[2. Other embodiments]
The first embodiment of the present invention has been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to these. Therefore, other embodiments of the present invention will be described collectively in this section.

  In the above embodiment, the detection processing unit 177 is realized by a hard-wired circuit, but may have other configurations that can perform the same operation. For example, the detection processing unit 177 may include a microcomputer and a ROM that stores a detection processing program executed by the microcomputer, and the microcomputer may execute the program to calculate the touch position coordinates. Further, information regarding the touched electrode position output from the touch panel may be directly input to the controller 150, and the controller 150 may execute the detection processing program to calculate the touch position coordinates. That is, the controller 150 may also serve as the detection processing unit 177.

  In the first embodiment, the digital camera 100 adjusts the focus state of the subject image based on the image portion corresponding to the position of the touch panel that has accepted the touch operation. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the exposure state of the subject image may be adjusted based on the image portion corresponding to the position of the touch panel that has accepted the touch operation. Accordingly, the digital camera 100 can adjust the exposure state while confirming the state of the subject.

  In the first embodiment, the digital camera 100 designates a subject to be focused by a touch operation, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a subject's face detected by a known face detection technique may be designated as a focusing target. In this case, the user can instruct to focus on the detected face and continuously capture images by continuing the touch operation at an arbitrary place on the touch panel 173. Accordingly, the user can instruct continuous imaging while confirming the state of the subject whose face is detected in the shooting frame. At this time, since the face of the subject whose face is detected can move within the shooting frame, the controller 150 may update the setting position of the AF frame at every continuous shot.

  When the face of the subject whose face is detected is moving, the user moves the touch operation at an arbitrary position on the touch panel 173 in accordance with the moving speed. Thereby, the user can adjust the time interval for continuous imaging in accordance with the moving speed of the face of the subject whose face is detected. For example, when the user's touch operation speed is high, it is presumed that the moving speed of the face-detected subject within the shooting frame is high. In this case, since the moving speed of the subject within the shooting frame is fast, there is a possibility that the subject will be out of frame immediately. For this reason, it is desirable to continuously capture and record as many images as possible while the subject whose face is detected is present in the photographing frame. Therefore, at this time, the controller 150 sets the time interval for continuously capturing images to be short (the state where there is no standby time as shown in FIG. 5). On the other hand, when the user's touch operation speed is slow, it is presumed that the moving speed of the face-detected subject within the shooting frame is slow. In this case, since the moving speed of the subject within the shooting frame is slow, there is a possibility that a large number of images are captured and recorded if the time interval for continuously capturing images is short. For this reason, it is desirable not to continuously capture and record images excessively while the subject whose face is detected is present in the photographing frame. Therefore, at this time, the controller 150 sets a long time interval for continuous imaging. That is, the standby time for each shot shown in FIG. 6 is set long.

  As described above, the digital camera 100 can perform shooting and recording by a touch operation, and is easy to operate.

  The imaging device of the present invention is not limited to application to the digital camera 100. That is, the present invention can be applied to an imaging apparatus such as a movie camera equipped with a touch panel and a mobile phone with a camera.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Digital camera 111 ... Focus lens 112 ... Zoom lens 113 ... Aperture 114 ... Shutter 120 ... CCD image sensor 121 ... AFE
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 130 ... Image processing part 140 ... Buffer memory 150 ... Controller 160 ... Flash memory 170 ... Liquid crystal display 173 ... Touch panel 177 ... Detection processing part 180 ... Operation part 191 ... Card slot 192 ... Memory card 200 ... Release button 201 ... Zoom lever 202 ... Power button 203 ... Select button 204 ... Set button 205 ... Display button

Claims (5)

An imaging unit that captures a subject image and generates an image;
A display unit for outputting an image generated by the imaging unit;
A touch panel disposed on the display unit and accepting an operation by a user;
An imaging condition adjusting unit that accepts a subject specifying operation and adjusts imaging conditions for the specified subject;
A continuous imaging control unit that controls the imaging unit to continuously capture a subject image when the touch panel is operated;
An imaging apparatus comprising: The continuous imaging control unit controls the imaging unit so as not to capture a subject image while receiving the designation operation.
The imaging device according to claim 1. The continuous imaging control unit controls the imaging unit to continuously capture subject images at a time interval set based on the moving speed of the operation.
The imaging device according to claim 1 or 2. The imaging condition is a focus state.
The imaging device according to claim 1. The imaging condition is an exposure state.
The imaging device according to claim 1.

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