JPH089220A - Imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] Prevents the malfunction of AF that occurs with the movement of the capture area such as the focus detection area and the photometry area, and optimizes the display of the capture area and the control of the set position of the actual area. To do. A first display means for displaying a video signal on an electronic viewfinder screen, an extraction means for extracting the video signal corresponding to a predetermined area in the screen, and the area by the first display means. A second display unit for displaying the image signal on the screen so as to be superimposed on the display of the video signal, and an actual size of the region based on a display size of the region displayed by the second display unit. An imaging device with a large setting. Further, while the position of the area is being changed, only the display of the area is moved so as to prohibit movement of the actual position of the area, and the movement of the area is changed after the operation of changing the position of the area is completed. An imaging device that is designed to perform.

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 which designates a point or a region in a captured screen and adjusts a focus and an exposure of a designated place.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the field of consumer imaging devices such as video integrated cameras, various measures have been taken in order to obtain higher quality images more easily. In recent years, auto focus (AF) and automatic exposure adjustment (AE), which are standard equipments, are for eliminating the trouble of manually adjusting the focus and exposure each time of shooting.
It can be said that this is a direct example of the function that serves the purpose of easily obtaining a good image.

By the way, AF and AE are a mechanism for an imaging device such as a camera to "discriminately" determine a photographing situation and adjust a lens position and an aperture to a state suitable for the situation. It may occur that the shooting intention of is not reflected in the image.

For example, when a distant subject and a near subject coexist in the image pickup screen, the information of the entire image pickup screen is A.
When the F operation is executed, any one of the plurality of subjects will be in focus, but it is impossible for the imaging device to judge whether or not it is the main subject to be focused.

Similarly, when a main subject is photographed against a bright sky as a background, if the AE operation is executed based on the information of the entire screen, the aperture is adjusted according to the brightness of the sky, and the main subject is blackened. Result.

In order to avoid such a situation as much as possible,
It is common practice to focus and measure the distance to the object in the center of the image-pickup screen, and to perform AF and AE based on the results.

This is based on the fact that the photographer often places the main subject in the center of the screen when photographing.
This method has a drawback in that when the main subject is placed in a place other than the center of the screen, the focus or exposure may not be adjusted appropriately with respect to the main subject.

On the other hand, the applicant of the present invention, in Japanese Patent Application No. 4-154165 or the like, looks at the viewfinder so that the optimum focus and exposure can be obtained no matter where the main subject is in the image pickup screen. I proposed an imaging device that allows a person to select the main subject with his or her line of sight. According to this photographing device, the position of the main subject can be freely changed while limiting the distance measurement / photometry area.

In this case, the photographing device can detect the line-of-sight position of the photographer and immediately move the distance-measuring / photometric region corresponding to the detected position to obtain the optimum focus and exposure for the region. .

[0010]

With the device capable of changing the AF information fetching area as described above, the operability is remarkably improved, and the fetching area is moved by the input means for changing the area. In some cases, AF was always performed in the capturing area.

Further, if the capture area is too large for the screen, it becomes impossible to focus on a small portion of the subject, the freedom of subject selection is lost, and the photographer loses the ability to select the subject by moving the capture area. Therefore, it is desirable to make it as small as possible.

However, if it is too small, the display of the capture area may not be stable on the subject that the photographer wants to photograph. Therefore, a capture area having a size that takes them into consideration is set.

However, according to the above-mentioned conventional example, there are the following drawbacks. This will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 501 is a viewfinder screen of the image pickup apparatus, and 502 and 503 are subjects. Further, reference numerals 504 to 508 indicate the capture area on the screen, and the same applies to the actual AF information capture area.

It is assumed that the photographer is now looking at the presentation object 502 and the capture area is at 504. If the photographer moves his eyes to the subject 503, the capture area is 5
It moves in the order of 04 → 505 → 506 → 507 → 508.

At this time, if the AF operation is performed from 505 to 507, there is no subject intended by the photographer, so that the AF operation is performed on the background image without the subject, and as a result, the AF malfunctions. It will look like they are doing it.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6A, if the AF information fetching area is small, the subject in the fetching area 601 moves out of the fetching area 603 with only a small movement from the position 601 to 602. AF control signal in 603 fluctuates, and AF based on it
The operation is not stable.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks, and its problem is that the movement of the capture area is accompanied particularly in an image pickup apparatus in which the capture area of the distance measurement information or the like can be changed. This is to prevent the malfunction of the AF that occurs and the malfunction of the AF that occurs because the capture area is small.

Another object of the present invention is to smoothly change the capturing area, particularly in an image pickup apparatus in which the capturing area of the distance measurement information can be changed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an image pickup device capable of changing the fetching area of the distance measurement information or the like, in particular, when the fetching area is changed, the display of the fetching area on the screen can be smoothly performed. This is to prevent the malfunction of AF and AE due to the movement of the capture area.

[0021]

According to the invention of claim 1 in the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems,
First display means for displaying a video signal on the screen (corresponding to the LCD display circuit 23 and electronic viewfinder 24 in the embodiment) and a predetermined area (corresponding to the capturing area 604 'in the embodiment) in the screen. Means for extracting the video signal corresponding to (the AF evaluation value processing circuit 2 in the embodiment
6) corresponding to the gate circuit 261 in FIG. 6 and the gate circuit 251 in the aperture control circuit 25), and the second display for superimposing the area on the display of the video signal by the first display means and displaying it on the screen. Means (frame control circuit 27, L in the embodiment)
(Corresponding to a CD display circuit 23, an electronic viewfinder 24, and an AF microcomputer 29), and the size of the display of the area displayed by the second display means is extracted from the video signal of the area. Use a configuration that differs from the size of the range. This makes it possible to optimize the size of the capture area to be displayed to the photographer and the size of the actual capture area from the viewpoint of both operability and detection accuracy of information in the capture area. .

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the area is larger than the display size of the area by the second display means (corresponding to the capture area display 603 in FIG. 6 in the embodiment). A configuration for setting a large actual size (corresponding to the capture area 604 ′ in FIG. 6 in the embodiment) is used. As a result, the operator is given a degree of freedom in selecting the setting of the capture area, and the information in the actual capture area can be stably extracted without being affected by a minute change of the subject.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the area setting means (in the embodiment, the frame setting circuit 27) is configured to be able to change the setting position of the area within the screen.
Equivalent to). Thereby, the setting position of the capture area can be further changed arbitrarily.

According to the invention of claim 4, the visual axis detecting means (corresponding to the visual axis detecting block 1 in the embodiment) for detecting the gazing point position of the photographer in the screen, and the output of the visual axis detecting means. Based on this, the area setting means is controlled to set the area at the gazing point position detected by the line-of-sight detecting means, and the second display means is controlled to display the area at the gazing point position. And a control means (corresponding to the AF microcomputer 29 and the frame generation circuit 27 in the embodiment) for performing the above. As a result, the capture area can be set and displayed where the operator is looking.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, focus detection means for detecting focus by detecting a predetermined signal component that changes according to the focus state from the video signal extracted by the extraction means (implementation). In the example, a configuration including an AF evaluation value processing circuit 26) is used. As a result, the size of the focus detection area displayed to the photographer and the size of the actual focus detection area can be optimized from the viewpoints of both operability and focus detection accuracy.

According to the invention of claim 6, exposure control means for detecting the exposure state based on the level of the video signal extracted by the extraction means (corresponding to the aperture control circuit 25 in the embodiment). Is used. By this, the size of the photometric area to be displayed to the photographer,
It is possible to optimize the actual size of the photometric area in terms of both operability and photometric accuracy.

According to the invention of claim 7, the first display means (corresponding to the LCD display circuit 23 and the electronic viewfinder 24 in the embodiment) for displaying a video signal on the screen, and the inside of the screen are shown. Extraction means (in the embodiment, a gate circuit 261 in the AF evaluation value processing circuit 26, a gate in the aperture control circuit 25) for extracting the video signal corresponding to a predetermined area (corresponding to the capture area 604 'in the embodiment) (Corresponding to the circuit 251) and second display means (in the embodiment, the frame control circuit 2) for displaying the area on the screen by superimposing the area on the display of the video signal by the first display means.
7, LCD display circuit 23, electronic viewfinder 24,
Corresponding to the AF microcomputer 29), and the display position of the area displayed by the second display means in the screen is different from the set position of the area in the screen. . This makes it possible to optimize the positions of the capture area to be displayed to the photographer and the actual capture area in terms of both operability and detection accuracy of information in the capture area.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the area is larger than the display size of the area by the second display means (corresponding to the capture area display 603 of FIG. 6 in the embodiment). The actual size of the
(Corresponding to the capture area 604 ′ of 1) is set to a large value. As a result, the operator is given a degree of freedom in selecting the setting of the capture area, and the information in the actual capture area can be stably extracted without being affected by a minute change of the subject.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the area setting means (in the embodiment, the frame setting circuit 27) configured to change the setting position of the area within the screen is provided.
Corresponding to) is used. Thereby, the setting position of the capture area can be further changed arbitrarily.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, a line-of-sight detecting means (corresponding to the line-of-sight detecting block 1 in the embodiment) for detecting the position of the gazing point of the photographer on the screen, and the line-of-sight detecting means. Based on the output of the area setting means to set the area at the gazing point position detected by the line-of-sight detecting means, and at the same time to control the second display means at the gazing point position. A configuration including control means for displaying an area (corresponding to the AF microcomputer 29 and the frame generation circuit 27 in the embodiment) is disclosed. This allows the operator to set and display the capture area where the operator is looking.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, the focus detection means for performing focus detection by detecting a predetermined signal component that changes according to the focus state from the video signal extracted by the extraction means. A configuration including (corresponding to the AF evaluation value processing circuit 26 in the embodiment) is used. As a result, the size of the focus detection area displayed to the photographer and the size of the actual focus detection area can be optimized from the viewpoints of both operability and focus detection accuracy.

According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, the exposure control means (corresponding to the aperture control circuit 25 in the embodiment) for detecting the exposure state based on the level of the video signal extracted by the extraction means. To be used). As a result, the size of the photometric area displayed to the photographer and the actual size of the photometric area can be optimized from the aspects of both operability and photometric accuracy.

According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, display means for displaying a video signal on the front screen (corresponding to the LCD display circuit 23 and the electronic viewfinder 24 in the embodiment) and a predetermined area in the screen. An extracting means for extracting the video signal corresponding to the inside (corresponding to the gate circuit 261 in the AF evaluation value processing circuit 26 and the gate circuit 251 in the aperture control circuit 25 in the embodiment) and the area in the screen. Area setting means for changing the position (A in the embodiment
(Corresponding to the F microcomputer 29 and the frame generation circuit 27), an instruction means for instructing the area setting means to set a position of the area (corresponding to the line-of-sight detection block 1 in the embodiment), and the instructing means While the position of the area is being changed, a configuration including control means (corresponding to the AF microcomputer 29 in the embodiment) for prohibiting the change of the set position of the area is used. This prevents malfunctions caused by information extracted from objects other than the main subject while moving the position of the capture area.

According to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the area display means for displaying the area on the screen (corresponding to the frame control circuit 27, the LCD display circuit 23, the electronic viewfinder 24, the AF microcomputer 29 in the embodiment). ), And the actual size of the area is set larger than the display size of the area by the area display means. This makes it possible to optimize the size of the capture area to be displayed to the photographer and the size of the actual capture area from the viewpoint of both operability and detection accuracy of information in the capture area. . Further, the photographer is given a degree of freedom in selecting the setting of the capture area, and the information in the actual capture area can be stably extracted without being affected by a minute change of the subject.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the instructing means is a sight line detecting means (corresponding to the sight line detecting block 1 in the embodiment) for detecting the position of the gazing point of the photographer on the screen, and The area setting means is controlled based on the output of the line-of-sight detection means to set the area at the gazing point position detected by the line-of-sight detection means, and the area display means is controlled to set the gazing point position at the gazing point position. Control means for displaying the area (in the embodiment, A
(Corresponding to the F microcomputer 29).
As a result, the capture area can be set and displayed where the operator is looking.

According to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, the first display means (LCD display circuit 23, electronic viewfinder 24 in the embodiment) for displaying the video signal on the front screen is provided.
And the extraction means (in the embodiment, a gate in the AF evaluation value processing circuit 26) for extracting the video signal corresponding to a predetermined area (corresponding to the capture area 604 ′ in the embodiment) in the screen. Circuit 261, which corresponds to the gate circuit 251 in the aperture control circuit 25) and the first area
Second display means (in the embodiment, the frame control circuit 2) for displaying the image signal on the screen by superimposing it on the display of the video signal by
7, LCD display circuit 23, electronic viewfinder 24,
(Corresponding to the AF microcomputer 29), line-of-sight detection means (corresponding to the line-of-sight detection block 1 in the embodiment) for detecting the position of the gazing point of the photographer within the screen, and the area based on the output of the line-of-sight detection means. Control means for controlling the setting means to set the area at the gazing point position detected by the line-of-sight detection means, and for prohibiting change of the position of the area while the line-of-sight position is moving ( (Corresponding to the AF microcomputer 29) is used in the embodiment. This prevents malfunctions caused by information extracted from objects other than the main subject while moving the position of the capture area. Further, with respect to the movement of the gazing point, the display and the actual change of the area can be optimized respectively.

According to the seventeenth aspect of the present invention, the first display means (corresponding to the LCD display circuit 23 and the electronic viewfinder 24 in the embodiment) for displaying the video signal on the screen, and the predetermined display within the screen. Extraction means (corresponding to the AF evaluation value processing circuit 26 and the aperture control circuit 25 in the embodiment) for extracting the video signal corresponding to the area of, and the area of the video signal by the first display means. The second display means (corresponding to the frame control circuit 27, the LCD display circuit 23, the electronic viewfinder 24, the AF microcomputer 29 in the embodiment) which is superimposed on the display and displayed on the screen, and the setting position of the area are changed. When the position of the area is changed by the area setting means (corresponding to the line-of-sight detection block 1 in the embodiment) and the area setting means, the second display means To changes of the display position of the band (in the embodiment corresponds to the AF microcomputer 29) control means for delaying the movement of said region using the configuration that includes a. As a result, the area is actually changed after the display of the capture area has been moved, and malfunctions caused by information extracted from objects other than the main subject while the position of the capture area is being changed. Is prevented. Further, with respect to the movement of the gazing point, the display and the actual change of the area can be optimized respectively.

[0038]

【Example】

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic arrangement of the first embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a case where the present invention is used for a video integrated camera will be described.

In the figure, EYE is an eyeball of the operator excluding the finder of the video-integrated camera, and 1 is a line-of-sight detecting device block. Reference numeral 2 denotes an infrared light emitting diode (IRED) that irradiates infrared rays to the eyeball in order to detect the line-of-sight position of the operator's finder screen, 3 denotes a driver for driving the infrared light emitting diode, and 4 denotes infrared light reflected by the eyeball EYE. A light receiving sensor that receives infrared rays from the light emitting diode 2, for example, a CCD is used. Reference numeral 5 is an amplifier that amplifies the output signal of the light receiving sensor 4, and 6 is a visual axis detection circuit that analyzes the visual axis position of the eyeball EYE of the operator based on the output signal of the amplifier 5.

This line-of-sight detection device irradiates the operator's eye with infrared rays from IRED2 and reflects the reflected light on the CCD.
3 is received, and the eye-gaze image is analyzed by the line-of-sight detection circuit 6 to detect the gazing point in the finder screen.

In this embodiment, this line-of-sight detecting device is
It is unitized and placed in the finder of the video-integrated camera. Therefore, as a viewfinder unit with a line-of-sight detection device, various controls can be performed by gazing at the image displayed on the viewfinder screen, and it has high versatility and can be used for control and selection in fields other than video cameras. It can be widely applied as a line-of-sight detection unit equipped with a display screen for displaying an image to be used and a line-of-sight detection device for detecting a gazing point on the screen.

OB is a subject, 7 is a photographic lens optical system, and 8 is
Is a fixed first lens group, 9 is a variable power lens, 10 is a diaphragm,
Reference numeral 11 is a fixed third lens group, and 12 is a focus compensating lens which has a correction function for performing focus adjustment and also for correcting a focus plane movement at the time of zooming operation. With these, a photographing lens optical system is configured. There is.

Further, 13 is a variable power lens motor for moving the variable power lens 9, 14 is a variable power lens driver for driving the variable power lens motor 9, 15 is an IG meter for driving the diaphragm 10 to control the aperture amount, 16 Is an IG driver for driving the IG meter, 17 is a focus compensating lens motor for moving the focus compensating lens, and 18 is a focus compensating lens driver for driving the focus compensating lens motor.

Reference numeral 19 is an image pickup device such as a CCD, 20 is an amplifier for amplifying the image pickup signal outputted from the image pickup device 19 to a predetermined level, 21 is a luminance signal and a color signal from the output signal of the amplifier 20, and A camera signal processing block for converting a television signal standardized by performing signal processing such as ranking processing, addition of a synchronization signal, and gamma correction, 22 is an amplifier, 23 is a television signal output from the amplifier 22 is a liquid crystal monitor LCD display circuit for driving and displaying an electronic viewfinder composed of
24 is an electronic viewfinder with a liquid crystal monitor. The electronic viewfinder 24 may be, for example, a CRT.

The television signal output from the camera signal processing block 21 is supplied to a video tape recorder (not shown) and recorded on a magnetic tape or the like. The LCD display circuit 2 displays the image information reproduced by the VTR.
3 to supply electronic viewfinder 24
Can be played at.

Reference numeral 25 denotes a frame generation circuit 27, which will be described later, for the image pickup signal output from the image pickup device 19 via the amplifier 20.
The image pickup signal corresponding to the predetermined photometric area set in the screen based on the command of 1. is sampled, and the IG driver 16 is controlled so that the luminance level becomes constant, and the diaphragm 1
This is a diaphragm control circuit for adjusting the aperture amount of 0 and keeping the amount of imaging light appropriately.

In the aperture control circuit 25, there are provided a gate circuit for sampling an image pickup signal corresponding to the photometric area, an integrating circuit for obtaining an average value of the brightness levels of the image pickup signal in the photometric area, and the like. include. For aperture control, if only the image pickup signal in the photometry area is used, partial or spot photometry will be performed, and the method of increasing the weighting of the signal in the photometry area and reducing the weight of areas other than the photometry area and averaging Center-weighted metering. Furthermore, if a plurality of photometric areas are set on the screen and a plurality of weights are applied to each, so-called multi-division photometry is performed.

Reference numeral 26 denotes an AF evaluation value processing circuit for generating a focus evaluation signal such as a high-frequency component whose level changes in accordance with the focus state from the image pickup signal output from the image pickup device 19 via the amplifier 20. Is. In the AF evaluation value processing circuit 26, a bandpass filter for extracting the high frequency component in the image pickup signal, a predetermined area used for focus detection set in the screen based on a command of a frame generation circuit described later, that is, a focus. A gate circuit is provided which passes only the image pickup signal corresponding to the detection area (distance measurement area) and performs sampling.

Reference numeral 27 denotes a frame for generating a gate signal for controlling the opening / closing timing of the gate circuits provided in the AF evaluation value processing circuit 26 and the aperture control circuit 25 for setting the focus detection area and the photometric area, respectively. By controlling the opening and closing timing of each of the gate circuits in the generation circuit,
It is possible to freely set the position and size of the capture area when capturing the image information of the imaging screen.

Further, the frame generation circuit 27 outputs an area display signal to the LCD display circuit 23 in order to display the focus detection area and the photometric area in the window, so that the video signal from the amplifier 22 is focused. Display signals of the detection area and the photometry area can be superimposed and displayed on the screen of the electronic viewfinder 24.

Reference numeral 29 controls the focus compensating lens on the basis of the output signal of the AF evaluation value processing circuit 26 and the driving of the zoom lens 9 to perform focusing and focus correction at the time of zooming. An AF control microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as an AF microcomputer) that controls the frame generation circuit 27 to change the positions of the focus detection area and the photometric area in the screen based on the above. Further, the AF microcomputer 29 controls the line-of-sight detection circuit 6, receives the information of the line-of-sight position of the operator from the line-of-sight detection circuit 6, and moves the focus detection region and the photometric region, and controls using other line-of-sight detection.

28 is a sensor for detecting the line of sight, CC
It is a driver that drives D.

FIG. 2 is a detailed block diagram of the line-of-sight detection device block 1 of FIG. In the figure, blocks having the same functions as those in FIG. 1 will be described with the same numbers as in FIG.

The IRED driver 3 drives the IRED 2 to emit light by the control signal from the visual axis detection circuit 6.
Two IREDs are provided. The infrared light emitted from the IRED 2 is reflected by the eyeball EYE, and the reflected infrared light reflects only the infrared light through the eyepiece 101 and reaches the dichroic mirror 102 that transmits the visible light. The reflected infrared light whose optical path is changed by being reflected by the dichroic mirror 202 is imaged on the image pickup surface of the CCD image sensor 4 as a line-of-sight detection sensor via the imaging lens 103.
Reference numeral 28 is a circuit for driving a CCD which is an image sensor.

The eyeball reflected light incident on the CCD 4 is converted into an electric signal and supplied to the visual axis detection circuit 6 via the amplifier 5. The eyeball EYE is looking at the display screen of the electronic viewfinder 24, and the image pickup screen of the CCD 4 and the screen of the electronic viewfinder 24 correspond to each other.
If the gazing point in the image capturing screen of No. 4 is obtained, the gazing point in the display screen of the electronic viewfinder 24 can be detected.

With the configuration of this line-of-sight detection block, the line-of-sight detection circuit 6 detects the line-of-sight position coordinates in the display screen of the electronic viewfinder from the output signal of the amplifier 5. Then, the detected line-of-sight position coordinate information is transmitted to the AF microcomputer 29.

There are various methods for calculating the eye-gaze position coordinates based on the output of the eye-gaze CCD 4.
For example, Japanese Patent Application No. 3-218 filed by the present applicant
The method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 574 and Japanese Patent Application No. 4-154165 can be used.

The video-integrated camera having the configuration shown in FIG.
As the AF method, a so-called television AF method (TV-
A high frequency component is taken out by a band pass filter in the AF evaluation value processing circuit 26 in the image pickup signal, and the high frequency component level A is maximized.
The focus adjustment method in which the F microcomputer calculates the focus motor drive direction and drive speed at 29, drives the focus competition lens motor 17 via the focus competition lens driver 18, and moves the focus competition lens 12 in the optical axis direction. Is used.

In this AF method, since the high frequency component included in the video signal is detected as described above, the video signal taken into the AF evaluation value processing circuit 26 must include the edge portion (level change portion). . That is, at least one horizontal scanning line video signal must be used,
Practically, a capture area having a predetermined area is required. This area is a focus detection area (distance measurement area).

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the AF evaluation value processing circuit 26, the aperture control circuit 25, and the frame generation circuit 27 and their connection relationship. After the capture area, for example, the focus detection area is defined by the AF microcomputer 29. , Showing a circuit configuration for performing a gate process for taking in a video signal. In the figure, the same components as those in FIG.

In the figure, in the AF evaluation value processing circuit 26, with respect to the image pickup signal supplied from the amplifier 20, only the image pickup signal corresponding to the focus detection area in the screen is sampled and passed. A detection circuit 263 is provided which detects a high frequency component output from the band pass filters BPF and BPF 262 which extracts a high frequency component used for focus detection from the image pickup signal and converts it into a DC voltage. The value is detected and output to the AF microcomputer 29.

In the aperture control circuit 25, the amplifier 20
With respect to the image signal supplied from the gate circuit 251, the gate circuit 251 which samples and passes only the image signal corresponding to the photometric region in the screen, and the image signal sampled by the gate circuit 251 is integrated to obtain an average brightness level The control signal for driving the IG driver 16 is generated so as to control the aperture amount of the diaphragm 10 so that the average brightness level is always equal to and constant with the reference level. Iris controller 252.

In the frame generation circuit 27, the gate circuit 261 in the AF evaluation value processing circuit 26 is turned on only when the focus detection area is being scanned, whereby the image pickup signal corresponding to the focus detection area is obtained. An AF gate pulse generation circuit 271 for generating a gate pulse for sampling only the same, and similarly, a gate circuit 251 in the aperture control circuit 25 is turned on only when scanning in the photometric region, which corresponds to the photometric region. AE gate pulse generation circuit 27 for generating a gate pulse for sampling only the image pickup signal
2. A frame signal generation circuit 273 for transmitting a region display signal for displaying a capture region such as a focus detection region and a photometry region to the LCD display circuit 23, and a focus detection region, a photometry region, etc. supplied from the AF microcomputer 29. An area setting gate timing generation circuit 274 that outputs an area setting gate timing signal to the AF gate pulse generation circuit 271 and the AE gate pulse generation circuit 272 based on the area setting information regarding the position and size in the screen, and the AF An area display gate timing generation circuit 275 is provided which outputs a frame display timing signal based on area display information relating to the position and size in the screen such as the focus detection area and photometric area supplied from the microcomputer 29.

FIG. 4B is a drawing showing an example of a general capture area for capturing AF evaluation values, that is, a focus detection area. In the figure, 401 is an imaging screen, and 404 is a focus detection area. The photographer often has an opportunity to place a subject (main subject) OB to be photographed in the center of the screen for photographing. In addition, the focus detection area is generally narrower than the entire shooting screen in order to make it less likely to be affected by another subject when shooting the main subject. For this reason, the capture area is fixed at the position indicated by 404.

However, the photographer does not always fix the main subject in the center of the screen for shooting, and in order to shoot the main subject not in the center of the screen without changing the camera angle,
The focus detection area must be moved on the shooting screen.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the focus detection area is moved to a position on the screen viewed by the photographer in the AF microcomputer 29 based on the line-of-sight position coordinate information output from the line-of-sight detection circuit 6 of FIG. To do so, the position coordinates of the focus detection area are transmitted to the frame generation circuit 27.

In the frame generation circuit 27, the opening / closing timing of the gate circuit 261 in the AF evaluation value processing circuit 26 is controlled so as to move the focus detection area to a designated position, and the portion corresponding to the focus detection area is controlled by the electronic viewfinder. 24
In order to display on the LCD, a frame display signal indicating the corresponding area is displayed on the LCD
Output to the display circuit 23.

At the same time, the AF microcomputer 29 sets the frame display signal to L
The signal is supplied to the CD display circuit 23, superposed on the television signal from the amplifier 22, and superimposed on the electronic viewfinder 24.

FIG. 4 (a) shows the state of the screen at this time. 403 indicates the current position of the viewpoint of the photographer,
A focus detection area such as 402 is set around this position, the AF microcomputer 29 controls the gate circuit 261 of the AF evaluation value processing circuit 26 via the frame generation circuit 27, and the area is displayed as 402. .

Next, if the photographer moves the viewpoint to the position of 405, a new gazing point 405 is created by the same method.
A focus detection area 406 centered on is set, and the display of 402 is moved to 406.

By taking the method as described above, it becomes possible to focus on the subject the photographer is looking at. In this case, not only the focus but also the exposure adjustment is appropriately adjusted for the subject the photographer is looking at. It is preferable to do.

Therefore, in FIG. 1, the frame generation circuit 27 also transmits a signal for setting the capture area to the aperture control circuit 25. By doing so, it is possible to move the photometric information capturing area to the position viewed by the photographer and perform the exposure adjustment based on the photometric information of that portion for both AE and AF.

The operation of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. In the figure, reference numeral 501 denotes a screen displayed on the electronic viewfinder 24 corresponding to the image pickup surface of the image pickup device 19, and 502 and 503 are subjects.

Reference numerals 504 to 508 indicate display areas such as a focus detection area or a photometric area on the screen.

It is assumed that the photographer is looking at the presentation object 502 and the capture area is set to 504. If the photographer shifts his eyes to the subject 503, the captured area display on the screen is 504 → 505 → 506 → 507 → 5.
Move like 08. At this time, if the actual AF information acquisition area is also moved, the AF operation is performed even while moving from the position 505 to the position 507, and since there is no subject during this period, the AF malfunctions.

Therefore, in the present invention, while the line-of-sight detection position is moving like 505 to 507, the position display of the capturing area is moved as it is, but the actual movement of the capturing area of the AF signal is prohibited and fixed at the position of 504. To do.

After that, when the capture area display is fixed at 508 and becomes stable, the actual AF information capture area is moved from 504 to the position of 508 directly. As a result, it is possible to prevent the inconvenience that the focus detection area is set to something other than the main subject during the movement of the focus detection area and the AF malfunctions.

In other words, even if the focus detection area is instantaneously moved to the subject at the gazing point at a certain timing, the display of the focus detection area should be moved relatively slowly within a range visible to the photographer. Therefore, stable focus detection area display can be performed without impairing quality.

In FIG. 7, the AF microcomputer 29 changes the fetch position display based on the output of the sight line detecting circuit for analyzing the sight line position of the sight line detecting circuit 6, and at the same time controls the prohibition of movement of the AF signal fetching region. The flowchart to perform is shown.
This processing is performed in the AF microcomputer 29.

When the flow chart shown in the figure is executed, in step 701, the previous line-of-sight detection coordinates (X, Y) are converted into (X
1, Y1).

At step 702, the current visual axis detection coordinates (X, Y) are fetched from the visual axis detection circuit 6.

At step 703, it is judged whether or not the current visual axis detection position (X, Y) and the previous visual axis detection position (X1.Y1) are equal, and the previous visual axis detection position and the current visual axis detection position are different. If yes (No judgment), step 70
If the previous line-of-sight detection position and the current line-of-sight detection position are equal (Yes determination), the process proceeds to step 704.
The processing moves to step 705, and after updating the position coordinates (Xg, Yg) of the capture area such as the focus detection area or the photometric area to the current eye-gaze detection position coordinates (X, Y), the processing moves to step 705. .

In step 705, information about the center coordinates (X, Y) of the display of the capture area and the width of the display of the capture area is provided to the area display gate timing generation circuit 2 of the frame generation circuit 27.
To the frame signal generating circuit 273, and the area display signal is supplied to the LCD display circuit 23, so that the capture area is displayed on the screen of the electronic viewfinder 24.

In step 706, the information about the capture area center coordinates (Xg, Yg) and the capture area width is sent to the area setting gate timing generation circuit 274 of the frame generation circuit 27, and the gate timing generation circuit 274 receives the information. The AF gate pulse generating circuit 271, the AE gate pulse generating circuit 2
To 72.

Then, the gate circuit 261 in the AF evaluation value processing circuit 26 is ON / OFF controlled by the AF gate pulse generation circuit 271, and only the video signal in the focus detection area is extracted, and is passed through the BPF 262 and the detection circuit 263. The focus signal is output.

Further, the gate circuit 251 in the diaphragm control circuit 25 is turned ON / O by the AE gate pulse generation circuit 272.
FF control, only the video signal in the photometric area is extracted,
A diaphragm control signal is output via the iris controller 252.

By the above processing, since the capture areas such as the focus detection area and the photometric area do not move while the line-of-sight detection position is moving, the AF does not malfunction for a subject not intended by the photographer while the capture area is moving. It became so.

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

Information regarding the size and position of the captured area display is supplied from the AF microcomputer 29 to the area display gate timing generation circuit 275 in the frame generation circuit 27.
In the area setting gate timing generation circuit 274, A
Information regarding the size and position of the capture area is supplied from the F microcomputer 29.

In the present invention, the size of the actual capture area sent to the area setting gate timing generation circuit 274 is made larger than the size of the capture area display sent to the area display gate timing 275 by the AF microcomputer 29.

At the area display gate timing 275,
Based on the information of the position and size of the area display, a signal for displaying the acquisition area, that is, an acquisition timing signal is generated and supplied to the frame signal generation circuit 273, and the area is displayed on the LCD display circuit 23. By supplying a signal, the capture area is displayed on the screen of the electronic viewfinder 24.

Area setting gate timing generation circuit 27
In No. 4, an AF gate pulse generation circuit 271, an AE gate pulse generation circuit 272 is generated by generating a capture timing signal based on the information on the installation position and size of the area.
Supply to each.

In the AF evaluation value processing circuit 26, due to the configuration of the gate circuit 261, the BPF 262, and the detection circuit 263, the amplifier 20 outputs only while the gate circuit 261 is closed by the output signal of the AF gate pulse generation circuit 271. The image pickup signal is passed to the BPF 262, and focus detection based on the image pickup signal in the focus detection area is performed.

In the aperture control circuit 25, the gate circuit 251 and the iris controller 252 make up the gate circuit 251 so that the AE gate pulse generation circuit 27 can operate.
The image pickup signal from the amplifier 20 is supplied to the iris controller 252 only while it is closed by the output signal of No. 2, and the exposure control is performed based on the image pickup signal in the photometry area. It

As described above, by displaying and setting the capture area separately, the actual capture area such as the focus detection area or the photometric area can be made larger than the capture area displayed on the screen.

The effect obtained by this will be described in detail with reference to FIG. As described above, it is preferable that the display of the capture area is small. However, if the actual capture area 604 is made to have the same size as the capture area display 603 as shown in FIG. 6A, the subject in the capture area 604 moves slightly from the position 601 to the position 602. The AF operation is not stable because the subject falls out of the area 604 and the AF control signal fluctuates.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6B, the actual capture area is made larger than the capture area display 603 as indicated by 604 '. As a result, it is possible to prevent the AF control signal from fluctuating due to the subject moving out of the capture area 604 only when the subject moves small like 602 to 603, and the AF operation is stabilized.

Since it is usually difficult for the operator to continue to gaze at one point and variations occur, if the actual capture area is set larger than the capture area display, the operator will be able to see within the displayed capture area. Since the user is conscious of gazing at the subject, the probability that the subject is continuously captured increases, and the focus detection and exposure control are felt by the operator in a stable manner, which facilitates the operation.

Further, the capture area display can be made as small as possible, and the photographer is not deprived of the subject selecting ability by moving the capture area.

[0100]

As described above, according to the invention of claim 1 of the present application, by making the display of the image capturing area displayed in the screen different from the actual display size, It is possible to optimize the size of the capture area to be displayed as an actual size and the size of the actual capture area in terms of both operability and detection accuracy of information in the capture area.

Further, according to the invention of claim 2 of the present application, since the actual size of the area is set to be larger than the display of the area, the operator is given a degree of freedom in selecting the setting of the capture area, The information in the actual capture area can be stably extracted without being affected by a minute change in the subject.

Further, according to the invention of claim 3 of the present application, the setting position of the capturing area can be further arbitrarily changed, and the operability and the function can be improved.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the operator can set and display the capture area such as the focus detection area and the photometric area while the operator is looking, improving the operability and improving the gazing point. It is possible to stably extract the video signal without being affected by the movement, change, and variation of the.

According to the invention of claim 5 of the present application, the size of the focus detection area to be displayed to the photographer and the actual size of the focus detection area are optimal in terms of both operability and focus detection accuracy. Can be converted. In addition, it is possible to prevent the subject from falling out of the focus detection area, improve the stability of AF, and reduce the focus detection area display as much as possible, which can deprive the photographer of the subject selection ability by moving the capture area. Absent.

According to the invention of claim 6 of the present application, the size of the photometric area to be displayed to the photographer and the actual size of the photometric area are optimized in terms of both operability and photometric accuracy. Is possible. Further, it is possible to prevent the subject from falling out of the photometric region, improve the stability of the AE, and not deprive the photographer of the subject selection ability by moving the photometric region.

Further, according to the invention of claim 7 of the present application, since the display position of the video signal taking-in area in the screen is made different from the set position of the area in the screen, the photographer is informed. It is possible to optimize the positions of the capture area to be displayed and the actual capture area in terms of both operability and detection accuracy of information in the capture area.

Further, according to the invention of claim 8 of the present application, since the actual size of the video signal capturing area is set to be larger than the display of the area, the operator has a freedom to select the capturing area. It is possible to stably extract the information in the actual fetched area without being affected by a minute change in the subject. Further, it is possible to prevent the subject from falling out of the capture area, and to stably extract the video signal.

Further, according to the invention of claim 9 of the present application, since the setting position in the screen of the capture area can be changed, an arbitrary video signal can be extracted and the operability is improved.

According to the invention of claim 10 of the present application, the capture area can be set and displayed where the operator is looking, and the focus detection area,
It is possible to set and display the capture area such as the photometric area, which improves operability and enables stable extraction of video signals without being affected by movements, changes, and variations in the gazing point. Become.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, the size of the focus detection area displayed to the photographer and the size of the actual focus detection area are optimized in terms of both operability and focus detection accuracy. It becomes possible to do.

According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, the size of the photometric area displayed to the photographer and the actual size of the photometric area can be optimized in terms of both operability and photometric accuracy. It will be possible.

According to the invention of claim 13 of the present application, while the command for changing the position of the area is issued, the change of the set position of the area is prohibited. While moving, malfunctions such as AF and AE caused by subject information not intended by the photographer extracted from subjects other than the main subject not intended by the photographer are prevented.

According to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, since the display size of the area is set smaller than the actual size of the area, the size of the capture area to be displayed to the photographer and the actual size It is possible to optimize the size of the capture area for each of the operability and the detection accuracy of information in the capture area. Further, the photographer is given a degree of freedom in selecting the setting of the capture area, and the information in the actual capture area can be stably extracted without being affected by a minute change of the subject.

According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, since the position of the gazing point of the photographer is detected and the capture area is set, the capture area is set and displayed where the operator is looking. be able to.

According to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, the video signal taking-in area is set at the detected gazing point position, and the position change of the area is prohibited while the line-of-sight position is moving. Thus, while the position of the capture area is being moved, a malfunction caused by information extracted from a subject other than the main subject that the photographer does not intend can be prevented. Further, with respect to the movement of the gazing point, the display and the change of the actual capturing area can be optimized respectively.

According to the seventeenth aspect of the present invention, the movement of the actual area is delayed with respect to the movement of the display of the capture area such as the video signal capture area such as the focus detection area and the photometric area. While moving the position, it is possible to prevent malfunctions such as those caused by subject information not intended by the photographer extracted from subjects other than the main subject not intended by the photographer, and always stable AF and AE The action can be performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a line-of-sight detection block 1 in the block diagram of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of FIG.
5, a block diagram showing the configuration of an AF evaluation value processing circuit 26 and a frame control circuit 27.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a relationship between a subject and a capture area (focus detection area, photometric area) on the screen.

FIG. 5: Capture area (focus detection area,
It is a figure for demonstrating the movement of the display of a photometry area | region.

FIG. 6 shows a capture area (focus detection area,
It is a figure for explaining a photometric area) and its display.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the setting and changing operation of the capture area (focus detection area, photometric area) in the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Line-of-sight detection block 6 Line-of-sight detection circuit 7 Lens unit 23 LCD display circuit 24 Electronic viewfinder 25 Aperture control circuit 26 AF evaluation value processing circuit 27 Frame generation circuit 29 AF microcomputer 251 Gate circuit in aperture control circuit 25 261 AF evaluation value processing circuit 26 gate circuit 271 AF gate pulse generation circuit 272 AE gate pulse generation circuit 273 frame generation circuit 274 area setting gate timing pulse generation means 275 area display gate timing pulse generation means

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. A first display means for displaying a video signal on a screen, an extracting means for extracting the video signal corresponding to a predetermined area in the screen, and the area by the first display means. A second display unit for displaying the image signal on the screen so as to be superimposed on the display of the image signal, the display size of the region displayed by the second display unit being the image signal of the region. An image pickup device characterized in that the size of the range for extracting is different. 2. The image pickup device according to claim 1, wherein the actual size of the area is set to be larger than the display size of the area by the second display means. 3. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising area setting means configured to change a setting position of the area within the screen. 4. The line-of-sight detecting unit for detecting the position of the gazing point of the photographer in the screen according to claim 2, and controlling the area setting unit based on the output of the line-of-sight detecting unit to make the line-of-sight detecting unit And a control means for setting the area at the detected gazing point position and controlling the second display means to display the area at the gazing point position. Imaging device. 5. The focus detecting means according to claim 1, further comprising: focus detecting means for detecting a predetermined signal component, which changes according to a focus state, in the video signal extracted by the extracting means to detect the focus. A characteristic imaging device. 6. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising exposure control means for detecting an exposure state based on the level of the video signal extracted by the extraction means. 7. A first display means for displaying a video signal on a screen, an extraction means for extracting the video signal corresponding to a predetermined area in the screen, and the area by the first display means. A second display unit for displaying the image signal on the screen so as to be superimposed on the display of the video signal; and a display position in the screen of the region displayed by the second display unit, An image pickup apparatus, which is different from the set position on the screen. 8. The image pickup device according to claim 7, wherein the actual size of the area is set to be larger than the display size of the area by the second display means. 9. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising area setting means configured to change a setting position of the area within the screen. 10. The line-of-sight detecting means for detecting the position of the gaze point of the photographer in the screen, and the area setting means based on the output of the line-of-sight detecting means to control the line-of-sight detecting means. An image pickup device, comprising: a control unit for setting the region at the position of the point of interest detected by the control and controlling the second display unit to display the region at the position of the point of interest. apparatus. 11. The focus detection means according to claim 7, further comprising: focus detection means for detecting a predetermined signal component, which varies according to a focus state, in the video signal extracted by the extraction means to perform focus detection. A characteristic imaging device. 12. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising exposure control means for detecting an exposure state based on the level of the video signal extracted by the extraction means. 13. Display means for displaying a video signal on a screen, extraction means for extracting the video signal corresponding to a predetermined area in the screen, and area setting for changing the position of the area in the screen. Means, instructing means for instructing the area setting means to set the position of the area, and prohibiting the change of the setting position of the area while the position of the area is being changed by the instructing means. An image pickup apparatus comprising: a control unit. 14. The area display means for displaying the area on the screen according to claim 13, wherein an actual size of the area is set to be larger than a display size of the area by the area display means. An imaging device characterized by. 15. The line-of-sight detecting means for detecting the position of the gazing point of the photographer in the screen, and the area setting means based on the output of the line-of-sight detecting means to control the line-of-sight detecting means. An image pickup apparatus, comprising: a control unit that sets the region at the position of the point of gaze thus detected and controls the region display unit to display the region at the position of the point of gaze. 16. A first display means for displaying a video signal on a screen, an extraction means for extracting the video signal corresponding to a predetermined area in the screen, and the area by the first display means. Second display means for superimposing on the display of the video signal and displaying on the screen, line-of-sight detection means for detecting the position of the gazing point of the photographer in the screen, and the area based on the output of the line-of-sight detection means Control means for controlling the setting means to set the area at the gazing point position detected by the line-of-sight detection means, and control means for prohibiting the change of the position of the area while the line-of-sight position is moving. An imaging device comprising: 17. A first display means for displaying a video signal on a screen, an extraction means for extracting the video signal corresponding to a predetermined area in the screen, and the area by the first display means. When the position of the area is changed by the second display means for displaying on the screen so as to be superimposed on the display of the video signal, the area setting means for changing the setting position of the area, and the position of the area changed by the area setting means. An image pickup apparatus comprising: a control unit that delays the movement of the region in response to a change in the display position of the region by the second display unit.