JPH08307765A - Imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] It is possible to easily display a subject image with a desired magnification without operating the operation unit,
An imaging device with improved operability is provided. [Structure] The object distance in the initial state is detected (step S
1) The display magnification is set according to the subject distance (step S2). Next, when the object distance detected again (step S4) changes with respect to the object distance in the initial state (step S5), the display magnification is linearly changed according to the object distance detected again. The display magnification is the zoom circuit 2 when the lens magnification is between the wide end and the tele end.
6 changes by driving the zoom lens 22 (steps S6, S8, S9), and above the telephoto end, changes by electronic zoom (steps S6, S8, S12). If the lower limit (wide end) or less and the upper limit (total magnification) or more, the display magnification is fixed at the lower or upper magnification (steps S10 and S11).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus such as a video camera, and more particularly to an image pickup apparatus capable of displaying an image of an imaged subject at a desired magnification.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a video camera or the like as an image pickup apparatus for picking up an image of a subject at a desired magnification and displaying the image. In this type of apparatus, the photographer himself or herself uses a zoom button or the like to magnify the image. Is usually changed to capture an image.

[0003]

However, in the conventional image pickup apparatus, in order to change the display magnification of the picked-up image, the photographer must operate the zoom button or the like regardless of the distance to the subject or the photographer. I had to operate the department.

Therefore, there is a problem that the operation is complicated, such as it takes time to confirm the operation portion, and the operation is mistakenly performed in the opposite direction.

Further, in the case of taking an image of a relatively close portion,
An image pickup device capable of observing and picking up a subject image with a natural feeling like an optical loupe has not been known, and there is room for improvement.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to easily display a subject image at a desired magnification with a natural feeling without operating the operation unit. An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging device that can be operated and has improved operability.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, an image pickup device according to claim 1 of the present invention is an image pickup means for picking up an object, a display means for displaying the picked up image of the object, and the object. An image pickup apparatus having a subject distance detecting means for detecting a distance to the subject, the display device having a display magnification changing means for changing a display magnification of a subject image displayed on the display means according to the detected subject distance. And

In order to achieve the above object, an image pickup device according to a second aspect of the present invention comprises an image pickup means for picking up an image of a subject.
In an image pickup apparatus having a display unit for displaying the imaged subject image, a photographer distance detection unit for detecting a distance from the image pickup apparatus to a photographer, and the display unit according to the detected photographer distance. Display magnification changing means for changing the display magnification of the subject image displayed in FIG.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the image pickup device according to claim 3 of the present invention is the image pickup device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the display magnification changing means is at least one of an optical means and an electronic means. Is used to change the display magnification.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, an image pickup device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the image pickup device according to any one of the first to third aspects, in which the image pickup means substantially coincides with a central axis of the display means. It is characterized by having an image pickup optical axis.

[0011]

According to the image pickup device of the first aspect, the display magnification of the subject image displayed on the display means is changed according to the detected subject distance.

According to the second aspect of the image pickup apparatus, the display magnification of the subject image displayed on the display means is changed according to the detected photographer distance.

Further, according to the image pickup device of claim 3, the display magnification is changed by using one or both of the optical means and the electronic means.

[0014]

EXAMPLES Examples of the present invention will be described below.

(First Embodiment) First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

2 (a) and 2 (b) are external perspective views of the upper surface and the lower surface of the image pickup apparatus according to this embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 1 is an image pickup apparatus body. The imaging device main body 1 includes an imaging opening 2, a display unit 3, a release button 4, and a switch 5 for selecting two modes of manual or electronic loupe,
A switch 6 for selecting three operation states of recording, reproduction and erasing, a zoom switch 7 for changing the imaging magnification, a strobe 8, a reflector 9 and a memory card as a recording medium are inserted while the power is turned off. Card slot 10 for ejecting, eject button 11 for ejecting the card, UP / DOW for sequentially displaying images during playback
An N button 12 and a distance sensor 13 that detects the distance between the imaging device 1 and the subject are provided. The reflection plate 9 is rotatably supported by the image pickup apparatus main body 1, has an opening portion having a shape corresponding to the strobe 8 in the central portion, and is a reflection plate that is in a macro mode by opening the opening portion, and The surface facing 8 is a diffusion surface, and a plurality of opening angles can be set by clicking.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of the image pickup apparatus according to this embodiment.

In the figure, a system control circuit 30 controls the entire image pickup apparatus 1. An image pickup optical system is connected to the system control circuit 30 via its drive circuit. That is, the imaging optical system includes the total reflection mirror 2
1, zoom lens 22, focus lens 23, diaphragm 2
4, the zoom lens 22 is driven by the zoom drive circuit 26 during the zooming operation, and the focus lens 23 is driven by the focus drive circuit 27 during the focusing operation. The aperture of the diaphragm 24 is adjusted by the iris drive circuit 28 during exposure control. Zoom drive circuit 26, focus drive circuit 27, and iris drive circuit 2
8 is controlled by the system control circuit 30.

In the image pickup apparatus main body 1, light rays from the outside are made to enter through the display unit 3 in a direction substantially orthogonal to the display surface, and the incident light rays are reflected by the total reflection mirror 21 and the zoom lens. 22, focus lens 23, diaphragm 2
It is guided to the image sensor 25 through 4 and a subject image is formed. The image pickup device 25 is driven by a CCD drive circuit 34, and an image signal corresponding to a subject image is supplied to the A / D converter 31. The image signal input to the A / D converter 31 is converted into a digital signal and stored in the image memory 32. The image signal stored in the image memory 32 is input to the system control circuit 30, and based on the signal, the system control circuit 30 causes the LCD drive circuit 3 to operate.
By controlling 3, the captured image is displayed on the display unit 3. The central axis of the display unit 3 is arranged so as to substantially coincide with the image pickup optical axis. The image signal from the image sensor 25 is also supplied to the focus detection circuit 35, and in the focus detection circuit 35,
For example, a high frequency component in the image signal is detected. The signal from the focus detection circuit 35 is input to the system control circuit 30, and the system control circuit 30 drives the focus lens 23 via the focus drive circuit 27 in the direction in which the high frequency component in the image signal increases based on the signal. Focus on it.

The photographer looks at the image displayed on the display unit 3 and presses the release button 4 when the display magnification or the like reaches the desired image, so that the moment the release button 4 is pressed on the recording medium 36 Images can be recorded. Further, when the subject to be imaged is dark, the strobe 8 is caused to emit light to properly expose the subject. The light from the strobe 8 is emitted from the opening of the reflector 9 and reaches the subject. The brightness of the subject is detected by the system control circuit 30 from the brightness level of the image signal, and the strobe 8 is controlled based on the output thereof. Furthermore,
The distance sensor 13 has a light emitting element and a light receiving element (both not shown) which are arranged apart from each other by a predetermined distance, detects the distance to the subject using a triangulation method, and the output of the distance sensor 13 is It is input to the system control circuit 30. Further, the image pickup apparatus 1 is powered by the battery 39. Further, the various switches 4 to 7 and 12 are connected to the system control circuit 30, and the system control circuit 30 controls the image pickup apparatus 1 according to their operating states.

Next, the operation of the image pickup apparatus 1 of the present embodiment having the above configuration will be described.

As the photographing mode, either one of two modes, manual and electronic loupe, is selected by the switch 5, and when the manual mode is selected, it is called "manual", and when the electronic loupe mode is selected, it is called "loupe". Characters are displayed at the bottom of the display unit 3 so as to be superimposed on the image signal.

First, the operation when the manual mode is selected will be described. The manual mode is a normal shooting mode. The release button 4 is 2 depending on the stroke
When the photographer presses the release button 4 for the first stroke, power is supplied to the imaging system and the display system circuit, and an image based on the signal currently being captured is displayed on the display unit 3. It Then, the zoom button 7 is operated according to the photographer's preference, the desired zoom magnification is reached, and when the photographer presses the release button 4 for the second stroke, the desired image is recorded.

Next, when performing macro photography, as shown in FIG. 2, the photographer opens the reflector 9 which also serves as a battery cover and sets it to a predetermined angle that can be recognized by clicking. This turns on the macro detection switch (not shown),
Here, when the photographer presses the release button 4 for the first stroke, the zoom lens 22 is moved to the macro position and the subject is focused. And release button 4
When is pressed for the second stroke, the image irradiated with the strobe 8 is recorded on the recording medium 36. At this time, the subject is irradiated with the direct light from the strobe and the indirect light via the diffusion surface of the reflector. Whether the indirect light hits or not can be confirmed by displaying it on the display unit 3 by setting the switch 6 to PLAY / ERASE after shooting, displaying sequentially the shot images with the UP / DOWN button 12, and selecting. At this time, if the captured image is dissatisfied, the angle of the reflection plate 9 may be changed and another image may be captured. For unnecessary images, the image currently displayed on the display unit 3 can be erased by setting the switch 6 in the PLAY / ERASE state and pressing the release button 4.

Next, the operation in the electronic loupe mode will be described. In a normal optical magnifying glass or magnifying glass, the portion directly under the lens being viewed is magnified and its image is formed on the human retina. In addition, the magnification increases as the lens moves away from the subject. In this embodiment, the image pickup apparatus 1 is provided with the same function as this.

The operation procedure when the electronic loupe mode is selected in the image pickup apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, in step S1, the object distance in the initial state is detected by the distance sensor 13, and the detected value is stored in a RAM or the like (not shown) in the system control circuit 30. The display magnification (hereinafter also referred to as "zoom magnification") is set according to the subject distance based on a table described later (step S2). Then, a focusing operation is performed on the subject based on the output of the focus detection circuit 35 (step S3), the subject distance is detected again (step S4), and the subject distance in the initial state (detection value in step S1) is set. On the other hand, it is determined whether or not the subject distance has changed (step S5), and if there is no change, the process returns to step S3 to repeat focusing and subject distance detection. On the other hand, if the subject distance has changed, the scaling processing from step S6 is executed.

The setting of the display magnification in step S2 and the change of the display magnification in steps S9 and S12, which will be described later, will be described.

The display magnification is set and changed so as to increase as the image pickup apparatus 1 is moved away from the subject, as in the optical magnifier. For example, the subject distance is 1
If it is less than 0 mm, the display magnification is fixed at the same magnification (minimum magnification),
If it is 200 mm or more, it is fixed at the maximum magnification and 10 mm to 20
Set and change so as to change linearly between 0 mm. Specifically, in a ROM (not shown) of the system control circuit 30, a table in which the horizontal axis indicates the subject distance and the vertical axis indicates the display magnification is stored in advance, and the zoom drive circuit 26 is controlled based on this table. Further, control is performed to change the electronic zoom magnification as necessary.

Here, the maximum magnification is the maximum zoom magnification obtained by varying the lens magnification by the optical means and the zoom magnification by the electronic zoom which is the electronic means. It is the sum (for example, 6 times). Further, the electronic zoom is a method of changing the display magnification by changing the image size using electronic means without using optical means, and the data between the pixels of the image data stored in the image memory is changed back and forth. , Is generated by complementing the left and right pixel data, and the image is enlarged or reduced.

Returning to the flowchart, in step S6, it is determined whether or not the display magnification has reached the wide-angle magnification, that is, the zoom magnification has reached the minimum magnification, and if it has not reached the wide-angle magnification, the display is performed. It is determined whether the magnification has reached all the magnifications, that is, whether the zoom magnification has reached the maximum magnification (step S7).
It is determined whether the display magnification has reached the magnification at the telephoto end, that is, whether the lens magnification is equal to or greater than the maximum magnification (step S8). As a result, when the display magnification reaches the magnification at the wide end, the answer to step S6 is affirmative (YES),
The display magnification is fixed to that magnification (step S10), and the process returns to step S3. On the other hand, if the display magnification reaches all the magnifications, the answer to the step S7 is affirmative (YES), and the display magnification is fixed to that magnification (step S1).
1) and returns to step S3. If the display magnification is between the wide-end magnification and the tele-end magnification, the answer to step S8 is negative (NO), and the display magnification is changed only by the optical means according to the subject distance (step S
9) and returns to step S3. On the other hand, if the display magnification is equal to or larger than the telephoto magnification and smaller than the total magnification, step S8.
If the answer is affirmative (YES), the display magnification is changed by electronic zoom according to the subject distance with the lens magnification fixed at the telephoto end (maximum) (step S12), and the process returns to step S3. Here, when the magnification by the electronic zoom becomes 2 times or more, the displayed image becomes rough, so the magnification of the electronic zoom in step S12 is set to be fixed at 2 times.

The image pickup apparatus 1 further includes an image pickup optical axis and a display section 3.
Since they are arranged so that their central axes substantially coincide with each other, the size of the displayed image changes as if they were looking at an optical loupe. When the release button 4 is pressed when the desired image is obtained, the image is recorded on the recording medium 36. Further, unlike the optical loupe in the present image pickup apparatus 1, the subject image is picked up by the focus lens 23 in a focused state, so that a situation in which the image is blurred and cannot be seen does not occur.

As described above, the image pickup optical axis and the central axis of the display unit 3 are made to substantially coincide with each other, and the display magnification is also changed according to the object distance. In addition, the display magnification can be changed by changing the distance to the subject without requiring any special operation. As a result, it is possible to easily perform imaging without erroneous operation.

In this embodiment, the image pickup optical axis and the central axis of the display unit 3 are made to substantially coincide with each other, but even if both axes are not necessarily coincident with each other, if they are substantially parallel to each other, the feeling of use will not be significantly deteriorated. .

Further, in this embodiment, the optical axis is set to the total reflection mirror 2.
Although it is bent by about 90 ° in No. 1, if the optical axis is not bent, the angle adjustment of the mirror and the mirror itself are unnecessary, so that the cost can be reduced.

Although the distance sensor 13 is used to detect the distance to the object in this embodiment, the object distance may be obtained from the position of the focus lens at the time of focusing. In this case, the object distance cannot be known unless the object is in focus, and thus it may take time to change the magnification according to the object distance, but the distance sensor 13 is not necessary, so that the cost can be reduced.

In the present embodiment, the display magnification is changed according to the subject distance, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it may be changed according to the change rate of the subject distance.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In the first embodiment described above, the image pickup apparatus is described in which the display magnification is changed according to the distance between the image pickup apparatus and the subject in the electronic magnifying glass mode. However, in the second embodiment, the image pickup apparatus and the image pickup apparatus are used. The display magnification is changed according to the distance to the person (hereinafter referred to as "photographer distance"). In this embodiment, the distance sensor 1 in the first embodiment is used.
3 is installed not for the subject but for the photographer in advance, the distance between the image pickup apparatus 1 and the photographer is measured, and the display magnification is changed according to the change rate of the distance.

Since the structure of the image pickup apparatus according to this embodiment is basically the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the description of the same parts as those of the first embodiment will be omitted. To do. In the present embodiment, the detection target of the distance sensor 13 is not the subject but the photographer, and the setting of the display magnification,
The difference from the first embodiment is that the change criterion is not the subject distance but the change rate of the photographer distance. Therefore, in FIG. 2 of the first embodiment, it is the same as the first embodiment except that the installation position of the distance sensor 13 in (b) is changed to the main body upper surface side (not shown) instead of the main body lower surface side.

The operation procedure when the electronic magnifying glass mode is selected in this embodiment will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the distance sensor 13 detects the photographer distance in the initial state, and the system control circuit 30
The detected value is stored in a RAM (not shown) or the like (step S21). Next, the zoom magnification is set to the square root magnification of all magnifications (for example, 3 times magnification for 9 times zoom) (step S22), and the focusing operation is performed on the subject based on the output of the focusing detection circuit 35. (Step S23),
The photographer distance is detected (step S24).

The following steps S25 to S28, S30 and S31 are the steps S5 to S8 in the first embodiment.
Since the processing is the same as the processing of S10 and S11, description thereof will be omitted.

In the display magnification change processing in steps S29 and S32, the magnification is changed according to the rate of change with respect to the photographer distance in the initial state. At this time, the zoom magnification is set so that the display magnification decreases as the photographer distance increases. For example, when the photographer distance is reduced by 20%, the zoom lens 22 and the focus lens 23 are driven so that the display magnification is doubled, and when the distance is increased by 20%, the display magnification is halved. Control to drive. When the display magnification reaches the magnification at the tele end, thereafter, the display magnification is increased by the electronic zoom as the photographer distance becomes smaller. However, since the displayed image becomes coarse when the electronic zoom magnification becomes 2 times or more, the electronic zoom magnification is fixed at 2 times thereafter, as in the first embodiment. In the scaling of steps S29 and S32, the zoom magnification is linearly changed at the above rate according to the rate of change.

Specifically, the system control circuit 30 calculates the rate of change of the photographer distance obtained in step S24 with respect to the detected value in the initial state. Then, a table in which the horizontal axis represents the rate of change and the vertical axis represents the display magnification is set in advance in a ROM (not shown), the zoom drive circuit 26 is controlled based on the table, and the electronic zoom is performed if necessary. It is controlled so that the magnification of is also changed.

When the release button 4 is pressed when the desired image is formed, the image is recorded on the recording medium 36.

As a result, the photographer can observe and image the subject with a natural sensation, as if he were looking into the optical loupe.

In the present embodiment, the display magnification is changed according to the change rate of the photographer distance with respect to the initial state in order to improve the practicality, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it is changed according to the photographer distance. It may be changed. Further, the setting magnification in the initial state may be changed at any time. Furthermore, in the first and second embodiments,
The display magnification is changed by driving the image pickup lens and electronic zooming, but this may be performed by only one of the image pickup lens and electronic zooming. However, if only the electronic zoom is used, there is a 2
It is desirable to set the size up to about 0.5 times in view of the narrowing of the display area on the double and reduction sides. As described above, the electronic zoom alone has a disadvantage in that the magnification of zooming cannot be increased, but the lens does not have to be driven, so that a function as a simple electronic magnifier with reduced power consumption can be obtained.

Further, although the display magnification is changed according to the subject distance in the first embodiment and according to the change rate of the photographer distance in the second embodiment, an appropriate display magnification is set based on both of them. You may

Furthermore, in the first and second embodiments,
Although the distance sensor 13 detects the distance by using the triangulation method, it may detect the distance by other methods.

[0051]

According to the image pickup device of claim 1 of the present invention,
An image pickup apparatus comprising: an image pickup means for picking up a subject, a display means for displaying the picked-up subject image, and a subject distance detecting means for detecting a distance to the subject, wherein the object is detected according to the detected subject distance. Since the display magnification changing means for changing the display magnification of the subject image displayed on the display means is provided, it is possible to easily and naturally display the subject image at a desired magnification according to the subject distance without operating the operation unit. It can be displayed and operability can be improved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image pickup device having an image pickup means for picking up a subject and a display means for displaying the picked-up subject image. Since the photographer distance detecting means for detecting the distance and the display magnification changing means for changing the display magnification of the subject image displayed on the display means in accordance with the detected photographer distance are provided, the operation of the operation unit can be performed. It is possible to easily and naturally display the subject image at a desired magnification according to the distance between the photographer and the apparatus, and improve operability.

According to the image pickup apparatus of claim 4 of the present invention, since the image pickup means has an image pickup optical axis which substantially coincides with the central axis of the display means, a more natural feeling can be obtained without operating the operation section. Then, as if you were looking through an optical loupe,
The subject image can be easily displayed at a desired magnification, and the operability can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an image pickup apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the image pickup apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure in an electronic loupe mode of the image pickup apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure in an electronic loupe mode of the image pickup apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 display unit 13 distance sensor 22 zoom lens 26 zoom drive circuit 30 system control circuit 32 image memory 33 LCD drive circuit 36 recording medium

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image pickup apparatus comprising: an image pickup means for picking up a subject, a display means for displaying the picked-up subject image; and a subject distance detecting means for detecting a distance to the subject. An image pickup apparatus comprising: a display magnification changing unit that changes a display magnification of a subject image displayed on the display unit according to a distance. 2. An image pickup apparatus having an image pickup means for picking up a subject and a display means for displaying the picked-up subject image, and a photographer distance detecting means for detecting a distance from the image pickup apparatus to a photographer. An image pickup apparatus, comprising: a display magnification changing unit that changes a display magnification of a subject image displayed on the display unit according to the detected photographer distance. 3. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display magnification changing unit changes the display magnification using at least one of an optical unit and an electronic unit. 4. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image pickup unit has an image pickup optical axis that substantially coincides with a central axis of the display unit.