JP2014085620A - Imaging device, control method thereof, program and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

Even after a touch operation, a user can move the touch position to change the designation of a subject and perform a shooting preparation operation.
An imaging unit captures a subject to obtain a subject image. The through image captured by the imaging unit is displayed on the display unit 215. When there is a touch operation on the display unit using the touch panel 217, the CPU 218 touches the through image and the movement of the touch position by the touch stops. In response to this, control is performed so that a shooting preparation operation is performed on the subject image corresponding to the touch position.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus, a control method thereof, a program, and a storage medium, and particularly relates to an imaging apparatus including a display unit with a touch panel.

  Generally, in an imaging apparatus such as a digital camera, a push button type release switch is provided. The release switch is in three states: a state in which the release button is not pressed, a state in which the push button is pushed to the movable end, and a half-press state in the middle.

  When the release switch is half-pressed (hereinafter referred to as SW1), the imaging apparatus performs shooting preparation operations such as automatic focus, automatic exposure control, and automatic white balance adjustment. When the release switch is pushed in and fully pressed (hereinafter referred to as SW2), the imaging device performs a shooting operation.

  By the way, there is an imaging apparatus that uses a touch panel as an operation instructing unit that can perform photographing while displaying and confirming a subject image on a liquid crystal panel screen. In such an image pickup apparatus, there is an image pickup apparatus in which a release switch half-press SW1 and full-press SW2 can be operated using a touch panel.

  For example, when it is detected that the touch panel is touched using a touch panel capable of detecting the touch position coordinate value and the touch contact pressure (hereinafter referred to as pressing pressure), the pressing pressure is less than a predetermined value. If there is, an imaging preparation operation is instructed to the imaging apparatus. In some cases, when the pressing pressure exceeds a predetermined value, an imaging operation is instructed to the imaging device (see Patent Document 1).

  Further, when it is detected that the touch panel is touched using a touch panel capable of detecting the touch area touched by the touch panel, the imaging apparatus is instructed to perform a shooting preparation operation when the touch touch area is equal to or less than a predetermined value. There is something like that (see Patent Document 2). When the contact area exceeds a predetermined value, an imaging operation is instructed to the imaging device.

  Furthermore, there is an imaging device that uses two touch sensors to suppress camera shake, and operates the half-press SW1 and full-press SW2 of the release switch using a touch panel (see Patent Document 3). Here, an imaging preparation operation is instructed to the imaging device by touching the two touch sensors with a finger or the like, and an imaging operation is instructed to the imaging device when one finger is released.

  In addition, when there is a so-called touchdown on the touch panel, there is one in which the imaging device performs a shooting preparation operation (see Patent Document 4). Then, when there is a touch-up in which a finger touching the touch panel is released, the imaging device performs shooting.

JP 2007-236008 A JP 2007-93967 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-160776 JP 2011-193249 A

  As described above, both Patent Documents 1 to 4 selectively operate the release switches SW1 and SW2 according to the touch operation on the touch panel. There is a problem like this.

  As described in Patent Document 1 or 2, when the SW1 and SW2 of the release switch are selectively operated according to the pressing pressure or contact area of the touch panel, the touch panel is strongly strengthened when the SW2 is operated. You need to press it with your finger. When the touch panel is strongly pressed with a finger, there is a high possibility that camera shake occurs during the shooting operation.

  Further, as described in Patent Document 2, if two touch sensors are used, that is, if two touch sensors are required, not only the cost is inevitably increased, but also the operation becomes complicated and one hand is required. It becomes difficult to operate with.

  Further, as described in Patent Document 4, when performing shooting preparation operation according to touchdown and shooting according to touchup, for example, it is determined which subject to perform AF after touchdown. Even if the touch position is moved, AF is first performed at the touch-down position. As a result, the AF target subject cannot be changed according to the user's intention after the touchdown.

  In other words, in the technique described in Patent Document 4, as a result of the operation of SW1 being performed in response to touchdown, the touch position is once released (touchup is performed), and after another shooting operation is performed, SW1 cannot be operated by designating.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus, a control method thereof, a program, and a recording medium that allow a user to change the subject designation by moving the touch position and perform a shooting preparation operation even after a touch operation There is to do.

  In order to achieve the above object, an imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes an imaging unit that captures a subject to obtain a subject image, a display unit that can display a through image captured by the imaging unit, and a touch on the display unit. A touch detection unit capable of detecting an operation, and a subject image corresponding to the touch position when there is a touch on a through image displayed on the display unit and movement of the touch position by the touch is stopped And a control means for controlling to perform a shooting preparation operation.

  According to the present invention, even after the touch operation, the user can move the touch position to change the subject designation and perform the shooting preparation operation, and the user can change the desired subject and perform the shooting preparation operation. .

It is a perspective view showing the appearance about an example of an imaging device by a 1st embodiment of the present invention, (A) is a perspective view seen from the front side, and (B) is a perspective view seen from the back side. It is a block diagram for demonstrating the structure of the camera shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows an example of operation on a touchscreen by a user in the camera shown in FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an example of photographing processing performed by the camera shown in FIG. 2. It is a flowchart for demonstrating an example of the imaging | photography process of the camera by the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating an example of the imaging | photography process of the camera 100 by the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, an example of an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of an example of an imaging apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 1A is a perspective view seen from the front side, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view seen from the back side.

  The illustrated imaging apparatus is, for example, a digital camera (hereinafter simply referred to as a camera) 100, and the camera 100 includes a camera housing 101. The camera casing 101 is formed with a battery chamber (not shown) in which a battery is stored, and the battery chamber is covered with a lid 102 that can be opened and closed.

  A power switch 212 is provided on the upper surface of the camera casing 101, and the power of the camera 100 is turned on or off by operating the power switch 212. A photographing lens 201 is attached to the front surface of the camera casing 101, and a subject image (optical image) is formed on an image sensor (not shown) via the photographing lens 201.

  An LCD panel with a touch panel (hereinafter also referred to as a display unit) 215 is arranged on the rear surface of the camera casing 101. The LCD panel 215 displays an image obtained as a result of shooting and various information about the camera. Is displayed. When a touch operation is performed on the touch panel arranged on the LCD panel 215, the camera 100 selectively performs a shooting preparation operation (hereinafter referred to as SW1 operation) and a shooting operation (hereinafter referred to as SW2 operation) as described later.

  In the illustrated camera 100, the SW1 operation and the SW2 operation by the operation of the release switch are performed by the operation of the touch panel. Therefore, a normal push button type release switch is not provided, but a push button type release switch is provided. You may enable it to selectively perform imaging using a release switch and a touch panel.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of the camera 100 shown in FIG.

  The camera 100 has an imaging unit 210, and the imaging unit 210 is connected to the internal bus 213. The imaging unit 210 includes a photographing lens (hereinafter simply referred to as a lens) 201. A shutter 202 having a diaphragm function is disposed behind the lens 201, and a subject image (optical image) incident from the lens 201 passes through the shutter 202 and forms an image on the image sensor 203.

  The image sensor 203 outputs an electrical signal (analog signal) corresponding to the optical image. The analog signal is converted into a digital signal (image signal) by the A / D converter 203 and supplied to the image processing circuit 205. A timing generator (TG) 208 supplies a clock signal or a control signal to the image sensor 203 and the A / D converter 204 under the control of the CPU 218.

  The image processing circuit 205 performs predetermined pixel interpolation processing and color conversion processing on the digital signal output from the A / D converter 204 or the image data stored in the RAM 220. Further, the image processing circuit 205 performs predetermined arithmetic processing using image data obtained as a result of shooting under the control of the CPU 218. Then, the CPU 218 performs autofocus processing (AF processing) and automatic exposure processing (AE processing) for automatically focusing on the subject based on the calculation result.

  Further, the image processing circuit 205 performs predetermined arithmetic processing using image data obtained as a result of photographing under the control of the CPU 218, and based on the arithmetic result, TTL auto white balance processing (AWB processing). I do.

  The exposure control circuit 207 controls the shutter 202 under the control of the COU 218. The lens control circuit 206 performs focusing control and zooming control of the lens 201 under the control of the CPU 218. Note that the exposure control circuit 207 and the lens control circuit 206 are controlled by the TTL method, and as described above, the CPU 218 controls the exposure control circuit 207 and the lens control circuit 206 based on the calculation result by the image processing circuit 205. .

  As shown in the figure, a CPU 218, ROM 219, RAM 220, display interface (I / F) 214, sensor I / F 216, digital signal processor (DSP) 211, power switch 212, and card I / F 221 are connected to the internal bus 213. ing. A memory card is detachably connected to the card I / F 221. A touch panel 217 is connected to the sensor I / F 216, and a display unit 215 is connected to the display I / F 214.

  The CPU 218 controls the camera 100. The CPU 218 is activated by operating the power switch 212, and the CPU 218 executes various programs stored in the ROM 219 and performs display control of the display unit 215 via the display I / F 214. The ROM 219 stores, as various programs, for example, a program for executing camera startup processing and basic input / output processing, which are operation processing procedures of the CPU 218, and a program for executing processing described later. Yes.

  The RAM 220 is used as a work area for the CPU 218. The display unit 215 displays a graphic user interface (GUI). Further, an image or a through image obtained as a result of photographing can be displayed on the display unit 21, and further, an image stored in the memory card 222 and various operation icons can be displayed on the display unit 21.

  When the user performs a touch operation on the operation icon on the touch panel 217, the CPU 218 executes a process according to the touched operation icon. That is, the touch panel 217 can detect a touch operation, outputs touch coordinates according to the touch position, and realizes a GUI in combination with an on-screen display (OSD) display.

  The memory card (recording medium) 222 is, for example, a flash memory, and the CPU 218 reads image data stored in the memory card 222 and stores image data (that is, an image file) obtained as a result of shooting as a memory card. 222.

  In FIG. 2, the touch panel 217 and the display unit 215 are separately illustrated, but the touch panel 217 and the display unit 215 are integrally configured. At this time, the touch panel 217 has a transmittance that does not hinder display on the display unit 215, and the touch panel 217 is attached to the upper layer of the display surface of the display unit 215. Then, the touch coordinates (input coordinates) of the touch panel 217 and the display coordinates of the display unit 215 are associated with each other. As a result, the GUI can be configured as if the user can directly operate the screen displayed on the display unit 215.

  The CPU 218 detects the next touch operation or touch state on the touch panel 217.

  Touching the touch panel 217 with a finger or a pen (hereinafter referred to as touchdown). The touch panel 217 is touched with a finger or a pen (hereinafter referred to as touch-on). The touch panel 217 is moved while being touched with a finger or a pen (hereinafter referred to as a move). The finger or pen that has been touching the touch panel 217 is released (hereinafter referred to as touch-up). A state where nothing is touched on the touch panel 217 (hereinafter referred to as touch-off).

  These operations or states, and the position coordinates (touch coordinates) where the finger or pen touches the touch panel 217 are sent as operation information to the CPU 218 via the internal bus 213. Then, the CPU 218 determines what operation has been performed on the touch panel 217 based on the operation information.

  The CPU 218 determines to be a move when the touch coordinate moves beyond a predetermined distance range that is about the error range. Further, the CPU 218 determines the moving direction of the finger or pen moving on the touch panel 217 for each vertical component and horizontal component on the touch panel 217 based on the change in the position coordinates.

  It is assumed that a stroke is drawn when touch-up is performed after a certain move from touch-down. The operation of drawing a stroke quickly is called a flick. A flick is an operation of quickly moving a certain distance while touching the finger or pen on the touch panel 217 and releasing it as it is, in other words, an operation of quickly tracing the touch panel 217 with a finger.

  When the CPU 218 detects that it has moved a predetermined distance or more at a predetermined speed or more, the CPU 218 determines that a flick has been performed when a touch-up is detected. Further, when the CPU 218 detects that it has moved a predetermined distance or more at a speed less than a predetermined speed, it determines that a drag has been performed.

  There are various types of touch panel 217 such as a resistive film type, a capacitance type, a surface acoustic wave type, an infrared type, an electromagnetic induction type, an image recognition type, and an optical sensor type. You may make it use.

  3 is a perspective view showing an example of an operation on the touch panel 217 by the user in the camera 100 shown in FIG.

  Now, when the user touches down the finger 301 on the subject 302 to be photographed on the screen displayed on the display unit 215 (that is, on the through image) and detects a pressing pressure of a predetermined amount or more without any movement. The CPU 218 starts a shooting preparation operation such as an AF operation in accordance with the subject 302.

  When the touch-up is detected, the CPU 218 starts a shooting operation. As will be described later, when the touch is continued without releasing the finger 301 from the screen, that is, when the touch is turned on, the CPU 218 maintains a state of completion of shooting preparation. As a result, the user can adjust the touch-up timing to the timing at which the user wants to shoot.

  As will be described later, the CPU 218 may start a shooting preparation operation such as an AF operation in accordance with the subject image when the user touches the subject image and a predetermined time elapses without moving. Good.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an example of photographing processing performed by the camera 100 shown in FIG. Note that the processing in the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 is executed by the CPU 218 by loading the program stored in the ROM 219 into the RAM 220.

  When the power switch 212 is turned on and the shooting mode is selected, the CPU 218 starts the shooting process. Then, the CPU 218 determines whether or not the touch panel 217 has been touched down on the screen displayed on the display unit 215 (step S401). If there is no touchdown (NO in step S401), CPU 218 waits.

  On the other hand, if there is a touchdown (YES in step S401), CPU 218 determines whether or not there is a touchup after the touchdown (step S402). If there is a touch-up (YES in step S402), CPU 218 returns to the process in step S401.

  If there is no touch-up (NO in step S402), CPU 218 determines whether there is a move after touch-down (step S403). If there is a move (YES in step S403), CPU 218 returns to the process in step S402.

  If there is no move (NO in step S403), the CPU 218 performs a shooting preparation operation for the subject image that is touched on (step S404). Then, the CPU 218 determines whether or not there has been a touch-up (step S405). If there is no touch-up (NO in step 405), CPU 218 determines whether there is a move (step S406).

  If there is a move (YES in step S406), CPU 218 returns to the process of step S402. On the other hand, if there is no move (NO in step S406), CPU 218 returns to the process in step S405.

  When there is a touch-up (NO in step 405), the CPU 218 performs a shooting operation (also referred to as a main shooting process) as described above (step S407), and ends a series of shooting processes.

  As described above, in the first embodiment of the present invention, if there is no move by touching down the subject image displayed on the display unit 215, the CPU 218 performs a shooting preparation operation for focusing the subject image. If there is no touch-up, the CPU 218 executes a shooting operation.

  That is, when there is a touch on the through image displayed on the display unit 215 and the movement of the touch position by the touch is stopped, the CPU 218 performs a shooting preparation operation on the subject image corresponding to the touch position. Will do.

  In addition, when the CPU 218 starts the shooting preparation operation corresponding to the touch position and then moves again and stops again without being released, the CPU 218 prepares for shooting the subject corresponding to the stopped touch position again. The operation will be performed again.

  Therefore, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the shooting preparation operation is not performed if there is a move, and the shooting preparation operation is performed if there is no touch-up after the move is completed, and even after the touch operation is started. A shooting preparation operation can be performed in accordance with a subject image desired by the user.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The configuration of the camera according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the camera shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the photographing process of the camera 100 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 5, the same steps as those in the flowchart shown in FIG. Further, the processing in the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 is executed by the CPU 218 by developing a program stored in the ROM 219 in the RAM 220.

  If there is no touch-up in step S402 described with reference to FIG. 4, after the touch-down, the CPU 218 determines whether a predetermined time has passed without a move (step S501). If the predetermined time has not elapsed (NO in step S501), CPU 218 returns to the process in step S402 and determines whether or not there has been a touch-up.

  On the other hand, when the predetermined time has elapsed (YES in step S501), that is, when the movement of the touch position is stopped for a predetermined time or more, the CPU 218 proceeds to the process of step S404 and performs a shooting preparation operation. Thereafter, the CPU 218 performs the processes of steps S405 to S407, and the series of shooting processes ends.

  As described above, in the second embodiment of the present invention, when a predetermined time has passed without touching the subject image displayed on the display unit 215 after touching down, the CPU 218 adjusts the focus on the subject image. Perform shooting preparation. Therefore, in the second embodiment of the present invention, the shooting preparation operation is not performed unless the state where there is no move after touchdown continues for a predetermined time, and the shooting preparation operation is performed after the predetermined time has elapsed. Even after the operation is started, the shooting preparation operation can be performed in accordance with the subject image desired by the user.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a camera according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that the configuration of the camera according to the third embodiment is the same as that of the camera shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and a description thereof will be omitted here.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an example of photographing processing of the camera 100 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 6, the same steps as those in the flowchart shown in FIG. Further, the processing in the flowchart shown in FIG. 6 is executed by the CPU 218 by developing a program stored in the ROM 219 in the RAM 220.

  In the touch panel 217 used in the third embodiment, in three dimensions, it is possible to detect the Z coordinate corresponding to the XY coordinate and the pressure to press the touch panel in the Z-axis direction. That is, the touch panel 217 can detect the pressing pressure (contact pressure).

  If there is no move in step S403 described with reference to FIG. 4, the CPU 218 calculates a pressing pressure by touch-on according to the change of the Z coordinate, and determines whether the pressing pressure is equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure (step). S601). If the pressure applied by touch-on is less than the predetermined pressure (NO in step S601), CPU 218 returns to the process in step S403 and determines whether or not there has been a move.

  On the other hand, if the pressure applied by touch-on is equal to or higher than the predetermined pressure (YES in step S601), CPU 218 proceeds to the process in step S404 and performs a shooting preparation operation. Thereafter, the CPU 218 performs the processes of steps S405 to S407, and the series of shooting processes ends.

  As described above, in the third embodiment of the present invention, when the pressure applied by touch-on is equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure without touching the subject image displayed on the display unit 215 after touching down, the CPU 218 Performs shooting preparations to focus on the image.

  Therefore, in the third embodiment of the present invention, if the pressing pressure by touch-on is less than a predetermined pressure without a move after touchdown, the shooting preparation operation is not performed, and the pressing pressure is equal to or higher than the predetermined pressure. A preparatory operation will be performed. Thereby, even after the touch operation is started, the shooting preparation operation can be performed in accordance with the subject image desired by the user.

  As described above, in the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to easily change the subject to be photographed and start the photographing preparation operation.

  In the first to third embodiments described above, a predetermined area frame, that is, an AF frame (for example, a square area of 1 cm square) is displayed as a range for the touched subject image, and the user is displayed. May be able to easily grasp the subject image to be photographed. At this time, the CPU 218 also moves the display position of the AF frame following the movement of the touch position.

  In addition, when shooting preparation is completed, for example, the user can easily know that shooting preparation is completed by changing the AF frame from a broken line to a solid line.

  As is clear from the above description, in the example shown in FIG. 2, the imaging unit 210 functions as an imaging unit, and the CPU 218 and the touch panel 217 function as a touch detection unit. The CPU 218 functions as a control unit. The CPU 218 also functions as a display control unit. Further, the above-described shooting preparation operation includes at least AF control and AE processing.

  Note that the control in the CPU 218 may be performed by a single piece of hardware, or the entire apparatus may be controlled by a plurality of pieces of hardware sharing the processing.

  Although the present invention has been described in detail based on preferred embodiments thereof, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments, and various forms within the scope of the present invention are also included in the present invention. . Furthermore, each embodiment mentioned above shows only one embodiment of this invention, and it is also possible to combine each embodiment suitably.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a digital camera has been described as an example. However, this is not limited to this example, and any device having an imaging unit and a touch panel can be applied. For example, it can be applied to PDAs and mobile phone terminals.

[Other Embodiments]
The present invention is also realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus reads the program code. It is a process to be executed. In this case, the program and the storage medium storing the program constitute the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 210 Image pick-up part 203 Image pick-up element 205 Image processing circuit 206 Lens control circuit 207 Exposure control circuit 212 Power switch 215 Display part 217 Touch panel 218 CPU
222 memory card

Claims (12)

Imaging means for capturing a subject and obtaining a subject image;
Display means capable of displaying a through image captured by the imaging means;
Touch detection means capable of detecting a touch operation on the display means;
In response to the touch on the through image displayed on the display means and the movement of the touch position due to the touch being stopped, the photographing preparation operation is performed on the subject image corresponding to the touch position. Control means for controlling;
An imaging device comprising:   The control means starts the shooting preparation operation corresponding to the touch position, and when the touch position moves and stops again without being released, the control means applies to the subject corresponding to the touch position stopped again. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging apparatus is controlled to perform the imaging preparation operation again.   It further comprises display control means for performing a range display indicating a range in which the shooting preparation operation is performed with respect to the touch position, and controlling the display position of the range display to move following the movement of the touch position. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging apparatus is characterized.   The imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the photographing preparation operation includes at least automatic focusing for automatically focusing on a subject.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photographing preparation operation includes AE processing for adjusting exposure to a subject.   The control unit performs control so as to perform a main photographing process of capturing an image by the imaging unit and recording the captured image as an image file on a recording medium in response to the touch on the display unit being released. The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit determines that the touch position has stopped when the touch position does not move beyond a predetermined distance range.   8. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein, when the movement of the touch position is stopped for a predetermined time or more, the control unit performs control so as to perform the photographing preparation operation on a subject image corresponding to the touch position. The imaging device according to any one of the above. The touch detection means can also detect a contact pressure by a touch operation,
The control means controls to perform the shooting preparation operation on the subject image corresponding to the touch position in response to the movement of the touch position being stopped and a contact pressure equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure being detected. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein Control of an imaging apparatus having imaging means for imaging a subject to obtain a subject image, display means capable of displaying a through image taken by the imaging means, and touch detection means capable of detecting a touch operation on the display means A method,
In response to the touch on the through image displayed on the display means and the movement of the touch position due to the touch being stopped, the photographing preparation operation is performed on the subject image corresponding to the touch position. A control method for an imaging apparatus, comprising a control step for controlling.   A program that causes a computer to function as each unit of the imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 9.   A computer-readable storage medium storing a program that causes a computer to function as each unit of the imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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