JP2007322481A - Imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

An imaging apparatus capable of avoiding the occurrence of vignetting in advance is provided.
A lens 101 is disposed on the widest angle side (S11). Next, a guide is displayed on the display unit 204 so as to capture the entire surface of the white subject (S12). Next, when the menu determination switch 201c is operated to start scanning (S13; Yes), the vignetting detection unit 300b acquires the luminance levels at the four corners of the screen (S14). If even one point is below the threshold value (S16; Yes), a command is transmitted to the lens control unit 203, the lens 101 is moved to the telephoto side by a fixed amount, and S14 and S15 are repeated again. When there is no point below the threshold value (S15; No), the zoom setting unit 300a sets the zoom position of the lens 101 as the lower limit of the lens movable range and stores it as the lower limit value 205a in the storage unit 205 (S17). When the lower limit is set, zooming is restricted when the lens control unit 203 is operated.
[Selection] Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus having an optical zoom function using a lens, and more particularly to an imaging apparatus having an optical zoom function capable of controlling a zoom range.

  As a conventional technique, for example, there is an imaging apparatus that notifies a photographer of vignetting caused by attaching an accessory such as a conversion lens (for example, Patent Document 1).

According to this imaging apparatus, by operating a vignetting detection switch provided in the apparatus, a portion of the image formed on a CCD (Charge-Coupled Devices) in the signal processing circuit that has a light amount that is less than a certain amount is detected. Detect as vignetting. When vignetting is detected, a message indicating that vignetting has occurred is displayed on the display unit. Therefore, even when the conversion lens is used, the photographer can prevent the vignetting from appearing in the photographed image by adjusting the zoom range while referring to the message.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-210471

  However, according to the conventional imaging device, the occurrence of vignetting is informed to the photographer to urge the photographer to avoid the state in which vignetting has occurred. Therefore, the occurrence of vignetting cannot be avoided in advance.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus that can avoid the occurrence of vignetting in advance.

(1) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention displays a recorded image of a subject recorded through a lens capable of controlling the angle of view, a vignetting detection unit that detects vignetting in the recorded image, A lower limit value detecting unit for detecting a lower limit value of the angle of view of the lens in which vignetting occurs, a storage unit for storing the lower limit value, and during recording of a subject, the lens has an angle of view greater than the lower limit value. There is provided an imaging apparatus having a lens control unit for limiting.

  According to such a configuration, since the angle of view at which vignetting occurs can be outside the zoom range of the lens, it is possible to avoid vignetting in advance during shooting of a moving image or the like.

(2) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a display unit for displaying a recorded image of a subject recorded via a lens capable of controlling the angle of view, and a lower limit value of the angle of view of the lens desired to be recorded. A lower limit value setting unit to be set, an upper limit value setting unit for setting an upper limit value of the angle of view of the lens desired to be recorded, a storage unit for storing the lower limit value or the upper limit value, and a control of the angle of view of the lens The imaging unit is characterized in that the display unit displays the lower limit value and the upper limit value.

  According to such a configuration, the zoom range of the lens can be limited by the photographer selecting an arbitrary angle of view, so that shooting can be performed in a desired zoom range.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to capture an image without recording vignetting.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of an imaging apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
(Configuration of imaging device)
FIG. 1A is a perspective view from the front direction of the imaging apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1B is a perspective view from the back side of the imaging apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG.1 (c) is a perspective view at the time of accessory attachment of the imaging device regarding the 1st Embodiment of this invention.

  An imaging apparatus 10 includes a lens body 101 including a main body 100 having electronic components such as a CCD, a CPU, and a small HDD (Hard Disc Drive) inside, and a plurality of lens groups having a zoom function and forming an image on the CCD. A filter screw portion 102 for locking an accessory 102a such as a filter, a conversion lens, and a lens hood on the front surface of the lens 101, a zoom button 103 capable of electronically controlling the zoom state of the lens 101, and the main body 100 side. The monitor 104 includes a display unit 204 that is movably attached to the display unit and displays characters, images, and the like, and a key input unit 201 that can perform various operations.

  The key input unit 201 includes a menu display switch 201a capable of displaying a menu, a selection switch 201b capable of selecting a menu item, and a menu determination switch 201c for determining the selected menu item.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the imaging apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The imaging apparatus 10 transmits a command to each unit according to an operation of the key input unit 201, performs a signal processing of each unit, a lens control unit 203 that controls the zoom state of the lens 101, and an incident image as an image signal. Output CCD 209, A / D converter 208 for digitally converting the CCD 209 signal, a signal processing unit 202 for comprehensively managing the input image signal, and for temporarily storing the image signal It has a memory 207, a moving image codec unit 206 that compresses and expands an image signal, a storage unit 205 that stores the compressed image signal, and a display unit 204 as an image monitor during shooting and playback.

(Software configuration)
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a software configuration according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The software 20 includes an application group 3000, an operating system 301, and a driver group 3001, and a device group 2000 as hardware corresponding to each driver is connected. The software 20 is stored in the storage unit 201 and is processed and operated by the CPU 200.

  The application group 3000 includes a mode control 300A for controlling recording and playback modes, a menu process 300B for processing various menu items, a shooting process 300C for performing image encoding processing, moving image recording processing, and the like at the time of shooting, and at the time of playback. And reproduction processing 300D for performing image decoding processing and the like.

  The menu processing 300B detects a zoom setting unit 300a that can set the zoom area of the lens control unit 203, a vignetting detection unit 300b that can measure the luminance of the image being shot, and a lower limit value of the angle of view at which vignetting does not occur. It has a lower limit detection unit 300c.

  The operating system 301 manages the application group 3000 and the driver group 3001 in an integrated manner.

  The driver group 3001 includes an input driver 302 that manages the key input unit 201, an image processing driver 303 that manages the signal processing unit 202 during reproduction, and a camera control that manages the signal processing unit 202 and the lens control unit 203 during moving image recording. A driver 304; a display driver 305 that manages the display unit 204; a media control driver 306 that manages the storage unit 205; and a codec driver 307 that manages the moving image codec unit 206.

(Configuration of display screen)
FIG. 4A is a diagram showing a display screen configuration at the time of shooting in the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4B is a diagram showing a configuration of a display screen when vignetting occurs at the time of shooting in the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4C is a diagram illustrating a display screen configuration at the time of shooting when the zoom range is limited in the first embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the display unit 204 indicates the state of the lens control unit 203 with a zoom bar 204a and a zoom pointer 204b. If the zoom pointer 204b is on the W (wide) side of the zoom bar 204a, the lens is displayed. When 101 is disposed on the wide angle side and the zoom pointer 204b is on the T (tele) side of the zoom bar 204a, the lens 101 is disposed on the telephoto side.

  FIG. 4B shows a case where the lens 101 is arranged on the wide angle side and the vignetting 204A occurs.

  As shown in FIG. 4C, when the zoom prohibition band 204c is set in the zoom bar 204a, the zoom pointer 204b cannot be moved into the zoom prohibition band 204c.

(Operation)
Hereinafter, the operation of the imaging apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing vignetting detection and lens movable range limitation according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  When the user operates the menu display switch 201a to activate the menu processing 300B application, a shooting menu, a playback menu, and a vignetting detection menu are displayed on the display unit 204. By selecting the vignetting detection menu, the imaging apparatus 10 operates according to the flow shown in FIG.

  First, the menu processing 300B transmits a command to the lens control unit 203 via the camera control driver 304, and places the lens 101 on the widest angle side (S11). Next, a guide is displayed on the display unit 204 so as to capture the entire surface of the white subject (S12). Next, as shown in FIG. 4A, when the photographer takes a white subject according to the guide and operates the menu determination switch 201c to start detection (S13; Yes), the vignetting detection unit 300b displays the screen. The brightness levels of the four corners are acquired (S14). When canceling the scan (S13; No), the menu display switch 201a is operated again.

  As shown in FIG. 4 (b), if there is one that falls below the threshold (S16; Yes), the lower limit detector 300c sends a command to the lens controller 203 to move the lens 101 to the telephoto side by a certain amount. Move and place and repeat S14 and S15 again. When there is no point below the threshold value (S15; No), the lower limit value detection unit 300c sets the zoom position of the lens 101 as the lower limit of the lens movable range and stores it as the lower limit value 205a in the storage unit 205 (S17). At this time, as shown in FIG. 4C, the wide angle side from the lens movable range is displayed as a zoom prohibition band 204c in a net shape.

  When the vignetting detection and the lens movable range limitation shown in FIG. 5 are performed and the lower limit value 205a is set, the zoom setting unit 300a is activated simultaneously with the shooting process 300C during shooting, and the lower limit value 205a stored in the storage unit 205 is started. The zoom is limited when the lens control unit 203 operates.

(Effects of the first embodiment)
According to the above-described embodiment, only the zoom range in which vignetting does not occur is limited as the lens movable range, so that vignetting is not mistakenly recorded in an image in moving image shooting.

  Note that the amount of movement for scanning the angle of view of the lens 101 when vignetting is detected can be set by the designer.

  Further, although the present embodiment has been described with respect to moving image shooting, similar effects can be obtained with still images.

[Second Embodiment]
FIGS. 6A to 6G are diagrams showing a configuration of a display screen at the time of shooting in the second embodiment of the present invention. In the following description, parts having the same configuration and function as those of the first embodiment are denoted by common reference numerals.

  When the photographer operates the menu display switch 201a to activate the menu processing 300B application, a shooting menu, a reproduction menu, and an vignetting detection menu are displayed on the display unit 204. The lower limit setting guide 204d and the upper limit setting guide 204e shown in FIGS. 6C and 6F can be selected by the shooting menu, and are displayed on the display unit 204 by selection.

(Operation)
Hereinafter, the operation of the imaging apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the lens movable range limitation according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  First, the photographer operates the zoom button 103 to place the lens 101 at the wide angle side from the state shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 6B, when a non-subject 204C that does not want to appear other than the subject 204B enters, the zoom button 103 is operated again, and the lens 101 is telephoto until the non-subject 204C does not enter. Move to the side (S21).

  Next, the photographer operates the menu display switch 201a to display a lower limit setting guide 204d shown in FIG. 6C (S22). Next, when the current position of the lens 101 may be set as the lower limit value of the lens movable range (S23; Yes), the current zoom is selected by selecting and determining “Yes” in the lower limit value setting guide 204d. The position is set to the lower limit of the lens movable range, stored as the lower limit value 205a in the storage unit 205, and the zoom prohibition band 204c is displayed as shown in FIG. 6D (S24).

  When the lens movable range shown in FIG. 7 is limited and the lower limit is set, the zoom setting unit 300a is activated simultaneously with the shooting process 300C at the time of shooting, and the lens is referenced with reference to the lower limit value 205a stored in the storage unit 205. Zooming is limited when the control unit 203 operates.

  On the telephoto side, the upper limit value 205b can be set and stored in the storage unit 205 in the same manner as the lower limit value 205a of the lens movable range, and the operation is completed in the same manner as the process shown in FIG. When the telephoto side is operated, as shown in FIG. 6E, it is used when the subject 204B does not fit on the screen, and the lens 101 is moved to the wide angle side until the angle of view at which the subject 204B fits is reached. By setting with the upper limit setting guide 204e shown in FIG. 6 (f), the zoom prohibition band 204c is set to the telephoto side as shown in FIG. 6 (g).

(Effect of the second embodiment)

  According to the above-described embodiment, since the lens movable range can be arbitrarily set, it is possible to shoot a moving image without exceeding the desired zoom range, avoiding the non-subject 204C that is not desired to be displayed in the image, or excessively over the subject 204B. Zooming up can be prevented.

  Note that the zoom prohibition band 204c may be set on the wide-angle side and the telephoto side simultaneously.

(A) is a perspective view from the front direction of the imaging device regarding the 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2B is a perspective view from the back side of the imaging apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. (C) is a perspective view at the time of accessory attachment of the imaging device regarding the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram of the imaging device regarding the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the software structure in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. (A) is a figure which shows the display screen structure at the time of imaging | photography in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. (B) is a figure which shows a display screen structure when vignetting generate | occur | produces at the time of imaging | photography in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. (C) is a figure which shows the display screen structure at the time of imaging | photography when the restriction | limiting is provided in the zoom range in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the vignetting detection and lens movable range restriction | limiting regarding the 1st Embodiment of this invention. (A)-(g) is a figure which shows the display screen structure at the time of imaging | photography in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the lens movable range restriction | limiting regarding the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Imaging device, 20 ... Software, 100 ... Main body, 101 ... Lens, 102a ... Accessory, 102 ... Filter screw part, 103 ... Zoom button, 104 ... Monitor, 200 ... CPU, 201 ... Key input part, 201c ... Menu decision Switch 201a ... Menu display switch 201b ... Selection switch 202 ... Signal processing unit 203 ... Lens control unit 204 ... Display unit 204A ... Vignetting 204B ... Subject, 204C ... Non-subject, 204a ... Zoom bar, 204b ... Zoom Pointer, 204c ... Zoom prohibited band, 204d ... Lower limit setting guide, 204e ... Upper limit setting guide, 205 ... Storage unit, 205a ... Lower limit value, 205b ... Upper limit value, 206 ... Movie codec unit, 207 ... Memory, 208 ... A / D converter, 209 ... CCD, 300A ... mode control , 300B ... menu processing, 300C ... shooting processing, 300D ... reproduction processing, 300a ... zoom setting unit, 300b ... eclipse detection unit, 300c ... lower limit detection unit, 301 ... operating system, 302 ... input driver, 303 ... image processing driver , 304 ... Camera control driver, 305 ... Display driver, 306 ... Media control driver, 307 ... Codec driver, 2000 ... Device group, 3000 ... Application group, 3001 ... Driver group

Claims (7)

A display unit for displaying a recorded image of a subject recorded through a lens capable of controlling an angle of view;
A vignetting detector for detecting vignetting in the recorded image;
A lower limit detection unit that detects a lower limit of the angle of view of the lens at which the vignetting occurs;
A storage unit for storing the lower limit;
An image pickup apparatus comprising: a lens control unit that restricts the angle of view of the lens from being equal to or greater than the lower limit value during recording of a subject. The vignetting detection unit records a reference subject whose recorded image has a predetermined luminance through the lens, and detects an area having a luminance equal to or lower than the predetermined luminance in the recorded image of the reference subject. A vignetting determination unit that determines the region as the vignetting,
The lower limit detection unit detects an angle of view when the lens control unit controls the angle of view of the lens and changes from a state where the region is detected to a state where the region is not detected as the lower limit value. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an angle-of-view detection unit that performs the operation.   The imaging device according to claim 2, wherein the vignetting determination unit determines the vignetting by comparing luminances of four corners in the recorded image with the predetermined luminance.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays the lower limit value. A display unit for displaying a recorded image of a subject recorded through a lens capable of controlling an angle of view;
A lower limit setting unit for setting a lower limit of the angle of view of the lens to be recorded;
An upper limit setting unit for setting an upper limit of the angle of view of the lens desired to be recorded;
A storage unit for storing the lower limit value or the upper limit value;
A lens control unit for controlling the angle of view of the lens,
The said display part displays the said lower limit and the said upper limit, The imaging device characterized by the above-mentioned.   The image pickup apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the lens control unit restricts the angle of view of the lens from being greater than or equal to the lower limit value or less than or equal to the upper limit value during recording of a subject. The imaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the display unit displays an angle of view that is greater than or equal to the lower limit value or an angle of view that is less than or equal to the upper limit value.