JP2000253299A - Electronic camera device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To provide an electronic camera device capable of appropriately setting relatively complicated shooting conditions only by performing a simple operation and improving operability related to setting before shooting. Aim. An operator selects a desired guide image from a plurality of guide images stored in a guide image storage unit, and selects a subject image based on an image signal output from an electronic imaging unit and a user image. The displayed guide image is combined with the image display device and displayed. The image capturing apparatus further includes: a photographing control unit that controls the photographing lens system and / or the electronic photographing unit according to predetermined photographing conditions;

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic camera device for electronically photographing an image of a subject using a solid-state image sensor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Several techniques related to setting of photographing conditions for photographing a subject other than a general technique using a mode switch have been proposed.

[0003] For example, the automatic setting of photographing conditions in a silver halide camera described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-241511 is performed by controlling the automatic exposure (exposure) by detecting the line of sight of a photographer looking through an optical viewfinder. Exposure contr
ol), Automatic Focus control, Automatic White-Balance co
ntrol).

There is also a well-known type that uses an IC card in which data relating to photographing conditions is recorded and the IC card is mounted on a camera body. The setting of the photographing conditions using the IC card can make the use of the data storage capacity of the camera body more efficient. Further, the fact that the setting of the photographing conditions can be changed by replacing the IC card itself has the advantage that the configuration of the main body relating to the selection of the photographing conditions can be simplified. These techniques relating to the setting of photographing conditions can also be applied to electronic camera devices that have been rapidly spreading in recent years.

However, the conventional example of the setting of the photographing condition has the following problems.

[0006] The setting of the photographing conditions by gaze detection is rather difficult to use if the user is unfamiliar with the use of the function, and may even cause an erroneous operation. Further, it can be said that the setting itself cannot be performed without looking through the optical viewfinder, which is difficult for the user to use.

In the case of using an IC card, it is necessary to determine what kind of photographing conditions are currently set based on an identification mark or the like displayed at one corner of a viewfinder or the like. Understanding the identification mark is a difficult task, especially for a novice user or the like, and is not kind. This also applies to setting of photographing conditions using a general mode switch or the like.

As described above, the conventional photographing condition setting is not always easy for the user to operate.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to set a relatively cumbersome photographing condition by performing a simple operation.
For example, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic camera device that enables appropriate setting of shooting conditions for automatic exposure control, automatic focus control, and automatic white balance control, and that can improve operability of settings before shooting.

[0010]

In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, an electronic camera device according to the present invention is configured as follows.

An electronic camera device according to the present invention includes a photographing lens system for forming an optical image of a subject, an image of the subject formed by the photographing lens system, photoelectric conversion, and an image signal representing the subject image. Electronic imaging means for outputting, a guide image storage means for storing a plurality of guide images, and a guide image for allowing an operator to select a desired guide image from the plurality of guide images stored in the guide image storage means Selection means, display control means for displaying a subject image based on an image signal output from the electronic imaging means and a guide image selected by the user via the guide image selection means on an image display device, Photographing control means for controlling the photographing lens system and / or the electronic photographing means in accordance with photographing conditions; and photographing for setting photographing conditions indicated by the guide image in the photographing control means. Characterized by comprising a condition setting means.

According to this configuration, the user only has to perform a simple operation of selecting an appropriate guide image by the guide image selecting means according to the method to be photographed, and setting of relatively troublesome photographing conditions, for example, automatic setting It is possible to appropriately set shooting conditions related to exposure control, automatic focus control, and automatic white balance control.

[0013]

FIG. 1 is a view showing the appearance of an electronic camera device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1A is a rear view of the electronic camera device, FIG. 1B is a front view, and FIG.
(C) shows a guide image display example in vertical shooting. The back of the electronic camera device shown in FIG. 1A is the user (operator) side, and the front of the electronic camera device shown in FIG. 1B is the subject side.

As shown in FIG. 1A, an optical viewfinder 2, an image display unit 3,
A guide image display changeover switch 4 and a guide image selection switch 5 are provided, and as shown in FIG.
A photographing lens system 7 and a strobe 8 are provided at the front of the camera 1. A release switch 6 is provided at the top of the main body 1.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the electronic camera device according to the embodiment. The main body 1 of the electronic camera device according to the present embodiment includes a photographic lens system 7 for obtaining an optical image of a subject. The photographing lens system 7 includes a lens 10, a diaphragm 12, a shutter 14, and a focus lens 18 arranged in a line on the same optical axis. Further, an image pickup device 20, an image pickup circuit 22, an A / D circuit 2 for picking up an optical image of a subject obtained by the photographing lens system 7 by photoelectric conversion and obtaining image data of the optical image.
4 is provided. For example, image data is obtained as an analog electric signal by an image pickup device 20 composed of a CCD and an image pickup circuit 22, and converted into digital image data by an A / D circuit 24 and output. The image data is stored and held in the memory 26.

The electronic camera device of the present embodiment can set photographing conditions based on a selected guide image (described later), and performs automatic control for automatic control during photographing in accordance with the set photographing conditions. An exposure (exposure) (AE) circuit 28,
An automatic focus (AF) circuit 30 and an automatic white balance (AWB) circuit 32 are provided.

The automatic exposure circuit 28 performs exposure detection using image data of a subject obtained through the image pickup device 20, the image pickup circuit 22, and the A / D circuit 24. The system controller 34 uses the exposure detection result by the automatic exposure circuit 28,
A difference between the set exposure amount and the exposure detection area indicated by the selected guide image is obtained, and a control signal corresponding to the difference amount, that is, a control signal for operating the aperture 12 and the shutter 14 of the photographing lens system 7 is generated. And output.

In accordance with a control signal from the system controller 34, an aperture circuit 38 controls an aperture actuator 40, and a shutter circuit 42 controls a shutter actuator 44. The diaphragm actuator 40 is used for the diaphragm 12.
Is adjusted to a predetermined aperture amount, and the shutter actuator 4
4 adjusts the shutter speed of the shutter 14 to a predetermined speed. With this configuration, the exposure amount is controlled.

The autofocus circuit 30 detects the focus using the image data of the subject obtained through the imaging device 20, the imaging circuit 22, and the A / D circuit 24. The automatic focus (AF) method is, for example, a “hill climbing AF method”. The system controller 34 extracts a signal corresponding to the focus detection area indicated by the selected guide image using the focus detection result by the autofocus circuit 30, integrates a frequency of a fixed width by a frequency filter, and obtains the value. Is stored. Further, the above value is measured for each position of the focus lens 18 of the photographing lens system 7, and the maximum value is selected from among a plurality of values obtained thereby. The focus lens position corresponding to this maximum value is the focus value. In this case, the system controller 34 generates and outputs a control signal for operating the focus lens 18 of the photographing lens system 7. The focus motor drive circuit 46 controls the focus motor 48 according to the control signal. The focus motor 48 operates the focus lens 18. This is a configuration for realizing automatic focus control as described above.

Automatic white balance (AWB) circuit 32
Is a circuit for automatically adjusting the white balance using the image data of the subject obtained through the imaging circuit 22 and the A / D circuit 24. The system controller 34
Based on the output from the automatic white balance (AWB) circuit 32, the amount of white balance adjustment is determined for the white balance detection area indicated by the selected guide image, and the gain balance of each color of the imaging circuit 22 is controlled. With this configuration, the white balance is automatically controlled.

The electronic camera device of the present embodiment includes an operation unit 36 for a user to easily set photographing conditions and to instruct photographing. The operation unit 36 includes the guide image selection switch 5, the guide image display changeover switch 4, and the release button 6 shown in FIG. The user can select an appropriate guide image by the guide image selection switch 5 according to the shooting method or the like, or can switch the display between the subject image and the guide image by the guide image display changeover switch 4. .

The combining circuit 56 reads out the image data of the subject from the memory 26, reads out the image data of the currently selected guide image from the guide image memory 58, and combines them. The image data of the composite image is sent to the image display circuit 60. The image display circuit 60 includes the image display unit 3
The image data of the synthesized image sent from the synthesizing circuit 56 is sent to the image display unit 3 to perform display control, whereby the synthesized image of the subject image and the guide image is displayed. It is displayed on the display unit 3. Depending on the setting of the guide image display changeover switch 4, the combining circuit 56
Does not perform the image synthesis processing, and only one of the subject image and the guide image is displayed on the image display unit 3. FIG.
(A) shows an example of a guide image, (b) shows an example of a subject image, and (c) shows a composite image of the guide image and the subject image.

At the time of photographing, when the user presses down the release switch 6, the shutter 14 operates. When performing flash photography, use the release switch 6
The flash 8 operates in synchronization with the shutter operation by the operation of (1).

Image data at the time of shooting is supplied from the memory 26 to the compression / expansion circuit 50. The compression / expansion circuit 50 compresses the image data sent from the memory 26 according to a known image compression method conforming to, for example, JPEG. Compressed image data is stored in memory interface (I / F)
The data is written to the detachable memory 54 via 52. The removable memory 54 is, for example, an SSFDC (Solid State Floppy Disk).
Card) and is removably attached to a memory card slot (not shown). The user can pull out the removable memory 54 from the memory card slot and replace it with another removable memory as needed. Also, the detachable memory 54
Can store a guide image.

FIGS. 4A to 4D are views showing display examples of various guide images on the image display unit. Note that the subject image is omitted because the figure becomes complicated. In FIG. 4A, 62 is a guide image, 64 is a focus detection area related to automatic focus control, 66 is an exposure detection area related to automatic exposure control,
Reference numeral 68 denotes a white balance detection area related to automatic white balance control, and the guide image has these area information. Note that the above three detection areas are not directly displayed on the image display unit, and FIG. 3 is a view for explaining the position or size of the detection area with respect to the image in an easy-to-understand manner.

For example, the guide image shown in FIG. 4A is suitable for the case where the main body 1 of the electronic camera device is turned sideways and the upper body of one subject is photographed. As is clear from the figure, the focus detection area 64, the automatic exposure detection area 66, and the automatic white balance detection area 68 are set to appropriate areas corresponding to the guide image 62 that matches the upper body of one subject. I have.

Before photographing, the user operates the guide image selection switch 5 to select a desired guide image. When a guide image is selected, the system controller 34 performs automatic exposure control, automatic focus control, and automatic white balance control as described above using each area information included in the guide image. At the time of shooting, the user operates the image display unit 3
, The composition is determined and the release switch 6 is depressed while comparing the subject image with the guide image synthesized and displayed on the subject image.

For example, the guide image shown in FIG. 4B is suitable for the case where the main body 1 of the electronic camera device is turned sideways and the upper body of two subjects is photographed. As is clear from the figure, two humanoids 62a,
62b corresponding to each of the two focus detection areas 64
a, 64b, and the exposure detection area 66 and the white balance detection area 68 are humanoids 62a, 62b.
It is horizontally long so as to overlap with. The white balance detection area 68 generally has a larger area than the exposure detection area 66, and the white balance detection area 68 may be set to an area corresponding to the entire screen.

The guide image shown in FIG. 4C is suitable for photographing a subject with the main body 1 of the electronic camera device oriented vertically. The guide image shown in FIG. 4D is suitable for photographing a subject with the main body 1 of the electronic camera device oriented vertically and for photographing two subjects. This guide image has two focus detection areas 64a and 64b corresponding to the two human figures 62a and 62b, respectively, as in the case of FIG.
6 and the white balance detection area 68 are two humanoids 6.
It is horizontally long so as to overlap with 2a and 62b.

The guide image shown in FIG. 4E is suitable for performing landscape photography. An exposure detection area 66 is provided in a relatively large area superimposed on the guide image 62 conforming to the landscape mode.
Is set, and includes the exposure detection area 66.
A white balance detection area 68 is set on almost the entire screen.

One of the more advanced embodiments is to add shooting distance information to a guide image and control the focus lens 18 according to the shooting distance information. For example, with respect to a guide image of one subject as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4C, shooting distance information for automatically setting the focus lens 18 to “1 m” is added, and FIG. For the guide image of two subjects as shown in FIG. 4D, shooting distance information for automatically setting the focus lens 18 to “2 m” is added, and the image is captured when the landscape is shot as shown in FIG. Focus lens 18 for guide image
The shooting distance information for automatically setting to “infinity” is added.

As described above, the user only has to perform a simple operation of selecting an appropriate guide image by the guide image selection switch according to the method to be shot, and setting of the shooting conditions, which is relatively troublesome, It is possible to appropriately set shooting conditions related to exposure control, automatic focus control, and automatic white balance control. According to such an electronic camera device of the present embodiment, operability related to setting before photographing can be significantly improved.

(Features of the Embodiment) [1] In the electronic camera device shown in the embodiment, the photographing lens system (7) for forming an optical image of a subject and the photographing lens system (7) are formed. Electronic imaging means (20, 2) for capturing and subjecting the captured subject image to photoelectric conversion and outputting an image signal representing the subject image;
2, 24), a guide image storage means (58) for storing a plurality of guide images, and a desired guide image from the plurality of guide images stored in the guide image storage means (58) to the operator. The guide image selecting means (5) to be selected, and the subject image based on the image signal output from the electronic imaging means (20, 22, 24) and the user selected through the guide image selecting means (5) A display control means (60) for displaying the guide image on the image display device (3), and the photographic lens system (7) and / or the electronic imaging means (20, 22,
24), and the photographing control means (28, 30, 32, 3)
And imaging condition setting means (34) for setting in (4).

[2] The photographing control means comprises an automatic focusing circuit (30) for controlling the focusing of the photographing lens system (7), and the photographing condition setting means (34) controls the focusing control. Is set in the automatic focusing circuit (30) based on the guide image.

[3] The photographing control means comprises an automatic exposure circuit (28) for controlling the exposure amount of the photographing lens system (7), and the photographing condition setting means is used for the exposure amount control. An exposure detection area is set in the automatic exposure circuit (28) based on the guide image.

[4] The photographing control means is constituted by an automatic white balance circuit (32) for controlling white balance based on image signals output from the electronic image pickup means (20, 22, 24). The photographing condition setting means sets a white balance detection area used for the automatic white balance control in the automatic white balance circuit (32) based on the guide image.

[5] The photographing control means is constituted by an automatic focusing circuit (30) for controlling focusing of the photographing lens system (7), and the photographing condition setting means is adapted to carry out the photographing based on the guide image. It is characterized in that photographing distance information for controlling the photographing distance of the lens system (7) is set in the automatic focusing circuit (30).

[6] A display switching means (4) for switching between the display of the subject image and the display of the guide image by the display control means (60) is provided.

[7] A removable recording medium (54) and a reading means (52) for reading a guide image recorded on the recording medium (54) into the guide image storing means (58) are provided. It is characterized by having.

[8] The guide image storage means (58)
Is characterized in that it is built into the main body (1).

[9] Further, the recording medium is characterized by comprising a small memory card (54) detachable from the main body (1).

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be implemented with various modifications.

[0043]

As described above, according to the present invention, the user only has to perform a simple operation of selecting an appropriate guide image according to the method to be photographed, and the setting of photographing conditions which is relatively troublesome In other words, it is possible to provide an electronic camera device that can appropriately set photographing conditions related to automatic exposure control, automatic focus control, and automatic white balance control, and can greatly improve operability related to settings before photographing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing an appearance of an electronic camera device according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 1 (a) is a rear view of the electronic camera device, FIG. 1 (b) is a front view, and FIG. Diagram showing a guide image display example in shooting

FIG. 2 is an exemplary block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the electronic camera device according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary view showing a subject image, a guide image, and a composite image of the subject image and the guide image according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary view showing display examples of various guide images on the image display unit according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Body 2 ... Optical viewfinder 3 ... Image display part 4 ... Guide image changeover switch 5 ... Guide image selection switch 6 ... Release switch 7 ... Shooting lens system 8 ... Strobe 10 ... Shooting lens 12 ... Aperture 14 ... Shutter 15 ... Focus lens Reference Signs List 20 image pickup device 22 image pickup circuit 24 A / D circuit 26 memory 28 automatic exposure (AE) circuit 30 automatic focus (AF) circuit 32 automatic white balance (AWB) circuit 34 system controller 36 operation unit 38 ... diaphragm circuit 40 ... diaphragm actuator 42 ... shutter circuit 44 ... shutter actuator 46 ... focus motor drive circuit 48 ... focus motor 50 ... compression / expansion circuit 52 ... memory interface (I / F) 54 ... detachable memory 56 ... synthesis circuit 58 … Guide image memory 6 ... image display circuit

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI Theme coat II (reference) H04N 5/907 F term (reference) 2H054 AA01 5C022 AA13 AB06 AB22 AC01 AC13 AC31 AC54 AC69 5C052 GA02 GE04 GE06 GE08 5C082 AA27 BA12 BA20 CB01 CB06 MM09

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A photographing lens system for forming an optical image of a subject, and an electronic image pickup means for photographing and subjecting the subject image formed by the photographing lens system to photoelectric conversion and outputting an image signal representing the subject image. Guide image storage means for storing a plurality of guide images; guide image selection means for allowing an operator to select a desired guide image from the plurality of guide images stored in the guide image storage means; Display control means for displaying, on an image display device, a subject image based on an image signal output from a dynamic imaging means and a guide image selected by a user via the guide image selecting means, and the photographing lens according to predetermined photographing conditions A photographing control unit for controlling a system and / or an electronic photographing unit; and a photographing condition setting unit for setting a photographing condition indicated by the guide image in the photographing control unit. An electronic camera device comprising: 2. The photographing control means includes an automatic focusing circuit for controlling focusing of the photographing lens system, and the photographing condition setting means includes a focusing detection area used for the focusing control in the guide image. 2. The electronic camera device according to claim 1, wherein the setting is made in the automatic focusing circuit based on the setting. 3. The photographing control means includes an automatic exposure circuit for controlling an exposure amount of the photographing lens system, and the photographing condition setting means determines an exposure detection area used for the exposure amount control based on the guide image. 2. The electronic camera device according to claim 1, wherein the setting is performed in the automatic exposure circuit. 4. The photographing control means comprises an automatic white balance circuit for controlling a white balance based on an image signal output from the electronic image pickup means. The photographing condition setting means performs the automatic white balance control. The electronic camera device according to claim 1, wherein a white balance detection area to be used is set in the automatic white balance circuit based on the guide image. 5. The photographing control means includes an automatic focusing circuit for controlling focusing of the photographing lens system, and the photographing condition setting means controls a photographing distance of the photographing lens system based on the guide image. 2. The electronic camera apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photographing distance information is set in the automatic focusing circuit. 6. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising display switching means for switching between display of the subject image and display of the guide image by the display control means. Camera device. 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a removable recording medium; and reading means for reading a guide image recorded on said recording medium into said guide image storage means. The electronic camera device according to claim 1. 8. The electronic camera device according to claim 7, wherein said guide image storage means is built in a main body. 9. The electronic camera device according to claim 8, wherein the recording medium is formed of a small memory card detachable from a main body.