JPH0831978B2 - Imaging device - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an imaging device that can be easily used even by a beginner.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, when a beginner operates an image pickup apparatus such as a video camera, there is a drawback that it cannot be used unless the instruction manual is thoroughly read.

In particular, in recent years, imaging devices such as video cameras have become more intelligent, and those having extremely many functions are emerging.

Under such circumstances, various kinds of displays are being made in the electronic viewfinder.

Therefore, even if you are not a beginner, you may have to re-read the instruction manual just because you have not operated the video camera for a while.

(Object) The object of the present invention is to provide an image pickup apparatus capable of solving the drawbacks of the prior art.

In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide an imaging device capable of easily performing advanced imaging even for a person who operates it for the first time.

(Example) Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on examples.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an image pickup apparatus of the present invention, in which 1 is an optical system, 2 is an image pickup element as an image pickup means, and is a CCD,
Including a solid-state image sensor such as, and an image pickup tube. Reference numeral 3 denotes a processing system for appropriately correcting the output of the image sensor. An encoder 4 converts the output of the processing system 3 into a standard television signal such as NTSC. 5 is an output terminal
It is connected to a VTR, etc. and supplies a recording start / stop signal and video signal to the VTR. 5a is a power supply terminal from the VTR 27 and is connected to each circuit. Reference numeral 6 is a control device as a control means, which includes a microcomputer. Reference numeral 7 denotes a switch system which gives an instruction for controlling the state of the image pickup apparatus, and includes various kinds of manual switches. Reference numeral 8 denotes a memory, which stores information on how to use the image pickup apparatus according to the present invention. Then, the control device sequentially reads out predetermined information from the memory 8. The character generator 9 forms a character signal in accordance with the read information, and the character signal is displayed on an electronic viewfinder (hereinafter abbreviated as EVF) 13 via the mixer 10.

On the other hand, the output of the NTSC encoder 4 is also input to the mixer 10 and displayed on the EVF 13.

A synchronous system 12 supplies a synchronous signal to the control device 6, the charactor generator 9, the EVF 13, the image pickup device 2, the processing system 3, and the like.

FIG. 2 is an external view of the image pickup apparatus 2000 of the present invention seen from the side,
Fig. 3 is a perspective view from the front, Fig. 4 is a perspective view from the rear, and 13 is a black and white electronic viewfinder. Various information of the camera, title and stopwatch display can be confirmed and playback is also possible in the finder. You can see the image. 14 is a recording indicator lamp, which blinks during recording. 15 is a microphone and 16 is an auto white balance button. White balance is automatically adjusted by pressing this button toward a white subject. 17 is a lever for manual zooming, which is used for switching macro shooting and for focusing during macro shooting. 18 is a CCA filter switching switch, which switches depending on the type of light source at the recording location. WF is a white filter switching switch,
When this switch WF is set to the IN side, the white filter enters the optical path, and when set to the OUT side, it exits the optical path. 19 is a switch for switching auto focus, manual focus, and one shot auto focus.

It should be noted that the one-shot autofocus is activated while the switch is being pushed up at the time of the manual focus, and returns to the manual focus when the switch is released. A control panel 20 is used for various operations such as zooming and display in the finder. 21 is a diopter adjustment ring that adjusts the ring to a position that is easy to see. twenty two
Attach a video light, microphone, etc. with the accessory shoe.

Also, the ID is turned on every time when the display of the EVF 13 is confirmed by the confirmation switch in the usage mode, and the next operation procedure is displayed on the EVF 13. Reference numeral 23 is a switch for power saving during standby of recording by the standby / image output switch and for switching the sensitivity when the image is output. 24 is a start stop button for starting / stopping recording, and 25 is a recording display lamp, which flashes during recording. MS is a usage mode switch, and when this switch is turned on, the shooting procedure is sequentially displayed on the EVF as described later.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which the image pickup device 2000 and the VTR 27 are connected via the signal cable 26. 28 is buttery, 29
Is a power switch.

Next, the operation of the control device 6 will be described based on the flow charts of FIGS. 6 (a) to 6 (f).

When the power switch 29 of VTR27 is turned on, steps 31 to 32
Proceed to and detect whether the usage mode switch MS is ON. If the switch MS is not turned on, the display mode becomes the same as the conventional video camera, and the display mode routine
Do 33.

On the other hand, when the switch MS is ON, the EVF 13 displays "Please set the cassette tape".
After this, the operator sets the tape and
When it is turned on, this is detected by step 35, and then step 36
Then, "Please set the recording time" is displayed on EVF13. The operator turns on the ID switch when the recording time is set according to this instruction. This is detected in step 37 and the process proceeds to step 38. Then, EVF13 will display "Please set diopter adjustment ring." If the ID switch is turned on and it is detected at step 39, the level of VTR27 battery is detected at 40, and if it is below the predetermined level. In Step 41, EVF13 is displayed with "charge battery or replace with new battery." After that, when it is detected in step 42 that the ID switch is ON, the process proceeds to step 43.

At step 43, the EVF 13 is displayed with "Please switch the CCA filter switching switch according to the light source". Then ID
When the switch ON is detected at 44, the process proceeds to step 45.

In step 45, EVF13 displays "Please set the white filter switching switch to OUT".

According to this, the operator switches the white filter
When WF is set to the OUT side, the white filter goes out of the optical path. If it is detected in step 46 that the switch WF is on the OUT side, then in step 47, "WBAL" is displayed blinking on the EVF 13.

Further, at 48, the EVF 13 displays "Please put a white paper or a white subject on the screen." ID switch ON
Detect at 49 and proceed to step 50.

With 50, in EVF13, "Hold the auto white balance button (ABW) until the" WBAL "blinking display in the finder changes to the" WBAL OK "display. When the white balance is achieved, the" WBAL OK "display disappears Is displayed. Accordingly, when the auto white balance button 16 is pressed for a predetermined time, whether or not the (RY) signal and the (BY) signal in the processing system 3 are at zero level is detected at step 51, and both are set to zero. Until step 50, the display operation of step 50 is continued. When both color difference signals become zero, the process proceeds to step 52, EVF1
Stop blinking “WBAL” in 3 and display “WBAL OK”.

Then, after a certain period of time at 53, proceed to step 54, where “WBAL
"OK" is erased. Next, at step 55, it is detected whether or not the AE level in the processing system is higher than a predetermined level.

That is, in the processing system 3, as shown in FIG.
And a smoothing circuit 3b for smoothing the amplifiers AMP and Y for increasing the luminance signal Y formed in this signal processing device, and the output (AE level) of this smoothing circuit 3b is compared with the reference voltages 3e, 3f, respectively. Comparators 3c and 3d are provided. Voltage 3e is A
E level upper limit, 3f defines lower limit.

Therefore, when the AE level is within this range (3e, 3f), the outputs of the comparators 3c, 3d are both high level,
When the upper limit value 3e is exceeded, the output of the comparator 3c becomes low level, and when the lower limit value 3f is exceeded, the output of the comparator 3d becomes low level, and these signals 3g and 3f are detected by the control circuit 6.

If 3g is low level, EVF13 is set to "ND (Nut
Please use a ral Density filter. Is displayed.

When the ID switch 57 ON is detected, the process proceeds to 58, and it is detected whether 3f is low level. If 3f is low level 59
At EVF13, the message "Please use auxiliary light such as video light. If there is no auxiliary light, set the standby / image output switch to" high "." Is displayed. When the operator sees this and switches the switch 23 to the "high" side, this is detected by the step 60, and 61 is displayed on the EVF 13 as "GAIN UP".
Further, at 62, the gain of the amplifier AMP shown in FIG. 7 is increased, and then the process proceeds to step 64.

If the switch 23 is not on the "high" side, the ID at step 63
It is detected whether the switch 63 is ON, and if it is ON, the process proceeds to 64.

In step 64, EVF13 is set to "When the auto focus switching switch is switched, the following three modes can be selected.

(1) Auto Focus Set the switch to "AUTO".

(2) Manual Alfa Orca Switch Set the switch to "MANUAL".

･ When focusing manually, be sure to set the zooming lever to the tele end.

(3) One-shot autofocus While the switch is pushed from the "MANUAL" position to the "ONE-SHOT AF" side, it becomes autofocus. When you release the switch, you will return to the Manual Alfa Orcas.

・ In case of (1) and (3), the distance measuring area is displayed in the finder. Is displayed. When the operator switches the auto focus switching switch 19 to an arbitrary position in accordance with this instruction, the focus control according to the state of the switch 19 is performed in the routine of step 65.

Next, at 66, EVF13 displays "Please press the record button and the play button of the recorder at the same time. The recorder will be in the recording pause state." When the operator presses both buttons at the same time according to this instruction and turns on the ID switch, this is detected at 67 and the process proceeds to 68. At 68, the message "Press the start / stop button on the camera to start recording." REC "blinks in the finder and the recording indicator lamps before and after the electronic viewfinder blink."

After that, this display continues until the start / stop button 24 turns on, and when the button 24 is turned on at 69, a recording start signal is generated at 70 to start the VTR recording operation, and at the same time, "REC" in the EVF13. Blinks.

Further, at step 71, the recording display lamps 14 and 25 are made to blink.

Furthermore, at step 72, "Press the camera start / stop button again to enter the recording pause state."
The EVF13 is displayed and this state is maintained until the start / stop button 24 is pressed again.

When the button 24 is turned on, this is detected at 73, a recording stop signal is formed at 74, and recording of the VTR 27 is stopped.

 Also, the blinking display of "REC" is stopped.

Also, the recording display lamps 14 and 25 are turned off. After that, in step 75, "When you finish recording, press the stop button of the recorder." Is displayed.

After that, if the start / stop button 24 is pressed, 76
Then, this is detected and the process returns to step 70 to repeat the recording sequence.

If the operator does not press the start / stop button 24 but presses the stop button of the recorder and then turns on the ID switch, it detects this at 77 and proceeds to step 78, but if the ID switch is not turned on, returns to step 75 and displays the display. to continue.

If the power switch 29 of the VTR remains ON at step 78, this is detected and the display at step 66 is returned to. The program ends when switch 29 is turned off.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the image pickup apparatus has the memory for storing the usage of the image pickup apparatus, which can be displayed on the electronic viewfinder, so that even a person who operates the image pickup apparatus for the first time can use it. You can use it perfectly. Further, since the operator is configured to proceed to the next step while interacting with the control device by pressing a predetermined switch, the operator will not miss the display.

Of course, since the usage indication on the viewfinder is not output to a recording device such as a VTR or the outside, this usage indication does not damage a part of the image. Also, it is not known to other people.

The electronic viewfinder of the present invention is a CRT, liquid crystal or P
Includes all types of displays such as LZT.

Further, in the embodiment, it is configured to proceed to the next step by checking the display by the ID switch or the like, but it may be configured to proceed to the next step after a predetermined waiting time.

The usage of the image pickup device is not limited to the embodiment.

In addition, zoom lens operation method, backlight shooting method, macro shooting method, other explanation in the finder, superimposition method of time information and title characters, connection method with peripheral devices, performance of other imaging devices, It also includes the usage of general imaging technology including specifications.

Further, the display in the EVF 13 may be displayed on the entire screen or may be displayed in the corner as much as possible.

(Effect) As described above, according to the present invention, even a person who operates the imaging device for the first time can perform imaging without failure.

[Brief description of drawings]

 1 is a configuration example of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of an image pickup apparatus, FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the image pickup apparatus, FIG. 4 is a rear side perspective view of the image pickup apparatus, and FIG. Is a diagram showing a combination state of an image pickup device and a VTR, FIGS. 6 (a) to 6 (f) are flow charts of the control device, and FIG. 7 is a configuration example diagram of the processing system 3. 2 ... Image sensor 13 ... Electronic viewfinder 8 ... Memory 6 ... Control device

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Kunio Imai 770, Shimonoge, Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Canon Inc. Tamagawa Business Office (56) Reference JP-A-59-123373 (JP, A) -164363 (JP, U) JP 59-29892 (JP, B2)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image pickup means, an electronic viewfinder that displays a video signal picked up by the image pickup means, a memory that stores information indicating how to use the image pickup apparatus, and the information read from the memory by the electronic means. Mode selection means for selecting a first mode that can be displayed on a viewfinder and a second mode in which the information is not displayed on the electronic viewfinder, and the information read from the memory is sequentially displayed on the electronic viewfinder. In a state where the first mode is selected by the operation unit that gives a command and the mode selection unit, information indicating a usage related to an operation state of the imaging device is displayed according to an operation of the operation unit. In addition to reading from the memory step by step in a predetermined order and displaying it on the electronic viewfinder, Imaging device comprising control means for each operation of the operation means to update the display of the electronic Biyu full Ain Dar, further comprising a.