JP2000029120A - Imaging equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] The probability of being overlooked by the photographer is extremely low,
Provide reliable and real-time alerts. SOLUTION: A first display section (1a-1) for superimposing and displaying a predetermined area in a photographing field of view frame in a viewfinder.
e, 1f to 1g, 1h to 1i), and a second area in which an area different from the predetermined area in the imaging visual field frame is superimposed and displayed.
Display unit (1a to 1e, 1f to 1 different from the first display unit)
g, 1h-1i), detecting means (21-26) for detecting the state of the imaging device, and determining whether the imaging device is in an abnormal state based on the detection result by the detecting means (21-26). Determining means (20), and a control means (20) for causing the first display unit and the second display unit to execute a warning operation when an abnormal state is determined by the determining means (20).
And

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus such as a camera and a video.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image pickup apparatus such as a still camera or a video camera, a superimposed display is provided for displaying a focus adjustment area, an exposure measurement area, a line-of-sight target for line-of-sight input, and the like inside a viewfinder screen. There is. For example, in the case of a focus detection area display, the area being operated for distance measurement is lit or darkened so as to light up.

[0003] These image pickup devices have various functions such as a distance measuring function and a photometric function. In order to perform an image pickup operation following the movement of a subject even at the time of movie shooting or continuous shooting, measured values of distance measurement and exposure are used. There is a function to perform focus and exposure control within a predetermined time period.

[0004] In these continuous controls, there are some cases in which the behavior of the subject exceeds the assumption on the software of the imaging apparatus, and it becomes impossible for the imaging apparatus to adjust the focus and exposure for the behavior, or In some cases, the distance measurement, the photometry, and the control may not be able to catch up with a subject whose operation can be normally controlled because the operation portion of the imaging apparatus is malfunctioning.

[0005]

Even if the control cannot keep up, if the imaging apparatus continues the same operation as in the normal operation, the photographer cannot immediately notice the malfunction of the control. In addition, the photographer at the time of photographing concentrates on the finder screen during photographing, and there is an extremely high probability that the photographer will not enter the eyes except for consciously checking various displays outside the screen. Even if a warning display is performed using a display member outside or around the screen, it is difficult for the photographer to immediately notice, and in some cases, the photographer may not notice it until the end.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a reliable and real-time warning with a very low probability of being overlooked by a photographer.

[0007]

In order to achieve this object, an image pickup apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises a first display section (1a to 1e, 1a to 1e) which superimposes and displays a predetermined area in a photographing field of view in a viewfinder. 1f to 1g, 1h to 1i), and a second display unit (1a to 1e different from the first display unit, which superimposes and displays an area different from the predetermined area in the imaging visual field frame.
1f to 1g, 1h to 1i), detecting means (21 to 26) for detecting the state of the imaging device, and detecting means (21 to 26)
(20) for determining whether or not the imaging device is in an abnormal state based on the detection result by
And a control unit (20) for causing the first display unit and the second display unit to execute a warning operation when it is determined that the state is an abnormal state according to (0).

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the control means includes any one of a lighting operation, a turning-off operation, a blinking operation, and a display density changing operation of the first display unit and the second display unit. The warning operation is performed by an operation or a combination of two or more operations.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the imaging device according to any one of the first to second aspects, the control unit controls a blinking cycle of the first display unit or the second display unit to thereby control the first display unit or the second display unit. 2. A warning operation is performed on the display unit.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first to third aspects, the detecting means includes a focus detecting state, an exposure state,
At least one of a light control state, a film feeding state, a shutter operation state, and an aperture control state is detected.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image pickup apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the first display unit and the second display unit may include a photograph size display member indicating an aspect ratio of a photograph and / or a subject in a photographing field frame. The measurement area display member indicates the measurement area of the luminance or the focus state.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A warning method for various operational abnormalities or control malfunctions using a superimposed member in a screen of an image pickup apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to an autofocus-lens reflex camera having a plurality of ranging areas. This will be described using an example.

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an example of a finder field of view of a single-lens reflex camera having a plurality of distance measurement areas in a screen. FIG. 1 is a front view showing a situation where the center distance measurement area display section 1a is highlighted and the selected distance measurement area is located at the center of the screen. FIG. 2 shows a central ranging area display unit 1 in the camera having a plurality of ranging areas shown in FIG.
FIG. 9 is a front view showing a display state in which auto-focus control has failed due to blinking of “a”.

The example of the finder display according to the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is an example of a camera in which the distance measuring area has a center and a total of five places in the vertical, horizontal and horizontal directions. The selection of these distance measurement areas is manually performed using a selection button or dial (not shown), or is automatically selected by operating automatic selection software built in the camera.

FIG. 1 shows a state in the viewfinder screen 2 when the photographer selects the center ranging area 1a from the five ranging areas as described above. FIG. 2 shows a superimposed display when a focus adjustment operation is interrupted in the finder according to the present invention shown in FIG. The selected distance measurement area display 1a flashes to warn of a malfunction in focus adjustment.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 described above, the case where the photographer selects the center ranging area 1a is shown. However, even if any other ranging area is selected, each of the selected ranging areas 1a is selected. The display units 1a to 1e perform similar operations.

FIG. 3 shows an operation flowchart of software for displaying a warning according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is an external view showing an external operation member of a camera that performs a warning display according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an algorithm for displaying an autofocus (hereinafter referred to as AF) control malfunction warning of the autofocus camera according to the present invention.

At the same time as the AF shooting of the camera is started,
After the AF control malfunction detection software is activated in step S1, the process proceeds to step S2. The AF control malfunction detection software continues to operate until the camera completes the AF shooting.
Note that the start of the AF shooting is a point in time when the shutter button 41 of the camera shown in FIG. The stop of the AF shooting is when the shutter button 41 is half-pressed or the AF operation button 42 is stopped.

When the AF control malfunction detecting software determines that the AF operation is malfunctioning, first, the subject suddenly shows irregular behavior while the moving body is continuously performing the AF operation. If the actual image plane position of the subject suddenly differs from the expected image plane position of the camera, or the distance measurement sensor loses the image plane position of the subject, and continuous AF control is continued. Is no longer possible. Secondly, the continuous moving object tracking AF control as in the first case is not impossible. However, in the case of moving object tracking shooting while performing continuous shooting, although shooting was performed with a cut during continuous shooting, focus adjustment was performed. May not be performed at a level within the specified accuracy.

In step S2, it is determined whether it is time to determine the operation of the AF control. If it is determined that the timing is the determination timing, the process proceeds to step S3. If it is determined that the timing is still before the determination timing, the process proceeds to step S11.
In step S11, it is determined whether or not the AF shooting has been completed. If it is determined that the AF shooting is continuing, the process returns to step S2. If it is determined that the AF shooting has ended, the operation of the AF control malfunction detection software also ends.

In step S3, it is determined whether or not the AF control has failed. When it is determined that the AF control has failed, the process proceeds to step S4, and when it is determined that the AF control is normal, the process proceeds to step S21. In step S21, it is determined whether or not the flashing of the distance measurement area display unit, which is an AF control malfunction warning described later, has already been performed. If the AF control malfunction warning has not been issued, the process directly proceeds to step S23 to determine whether or not the AF shooting has ended. If the AF shooting has ended, the operation of the AF control malfunction detection software ends. If it is determined that the AF shooting is continuing, the process returns to step S2. If it is determined in step S21 that the AF control malfunction warning has been issued, the process proceeds to step S21.
Proceeding to step 22, the flashing of the distance measurement area display section for the AF control malfunction warning is stopped, and normal continuous lighting is returned.

When the process proceeds from step S3 to step S4, as shown in FIG. 2, the display of the selected distance measuring area in the finder is changed to a blinking display instead of a normal continuous lighting state. In the moving object continuous tracking AF shooting, the photographer is always trying to superimpose the selected ranging area on the subject image. Distance measurement area display 1
At the moment when a ~ 1e becomes blinking display from normal continuous lighting,
Since the photographer always knows the change in the display of the focus adjustment area,
This is a reliable warning display. In FIG. 2, the warning is displayed only in the selected ranging area display section 1a. However, in order to give a more conspicuous warning, blinking may be performed in all five ranging areas 1a to 1e.

When the warning operation is started in step S4, the process proceeds to step S5, where it is determined whether or not the AF photographing is completed. If it is completed, the process proceeds to step S6 to stop the pointing of the distance measurement area display. Then, the program ends, and if the AF shooting has not ended, the process returns to step S2, and the above operation is repeated.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the imaging apparatus according to the present invention.

The CPU circuit 20 is connected with an AF sensor 21, a photometric sensor 22, a light control sensor 23, a shutter monitor, a film feed sensor 25, and an aperture control sensor 26. Can be detected. The detection result is displayed on the display 27 and notified to the photographer.

FIGS. 6 to 8 are front views of the finder screen 2 showing an example of the display of a defective film feed. 6, 7, and 8, in each state, the ranging area display unit 1
d, the ranging area display section 1a and the ranging area display section 1b
Each point is repeated. In addition, even if the display is a combination of blinking in the forward direction and the reverse direction, and a display for distinguishing the contents (such as jamming in the middle of the film, film END, and abnormal output in the film drawing) is also displayed by the flashing in the reverse direction. Good.

FIG. 9 is a front view of the finder screen 2 displaying that the flash light control has been normally performed with proper exposure. Four distance measurement area display sections 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e
However, by repeating the blinking at the same time, it indicates that the flash dimming has been normally performed with the proper exposure.

FIG. 10 is a front view of the finder screen 2 displaying a flash dimming abnormality (excessive or insufficient exposure). Five ranging area display sections 1a, 1b, 1c,
1d and 1e indicate that the flash light control is abnormal (excessive or insufficient exposure) by repeating blinking at the same time.

FIGS. 11 to 13 show focus aid displays when the focus is manually adjusted. 11 to 13
Indicates three ranging area display units 1 located at the vertices of a triangle.
b, 1c, and 1e repeatedly blink at the same time (FIG. 1)
1), three ranging area display sections 1b, 1a,
1e repeatedly blinks simultaneously (FIG. 12), and three distance measurement area display sections 1b, 1d,
1e shows a state in which blinking is repeated simultaneously (FIG. 13). That is, the focus information from the distance measuring sensor 21 is used to indicate in which direction the focus adjustment ring or dial of the lens or body should be turned.
11 indicates “turn right”, FIG. 12 indicates “focus and stop”, and FIG. 13 indicates “turn left”.

FIG. 14 shows an under-state outside the exposure adjustable range. This shows a case where the image is underexposed if photographing is performed as it is outside the shutter speed and aperture adjustment range or outside the exposure meter interlocking range. The three ranging area display units 1d, 1e, and 1b located at the vertexes of the downward triangle are blinking at the same time, indicating that the camera is in the under state.

FIG. 15 shows an overexposure state outside the exposure adjustable range. This shows a case where the image is overexposed if photographing is performed outside the shutter speed and aperture adjustment range or outside the exposure meter interlocking range. The three ranging area display units 1d, 1c, and 1b located at the apexes of the upward triangle are blinking at the same time to indicate that the state is over.

FIG. 16 shows that the flash dimming result is underexposed. A total of four ranging area displays, including three ranging area displays 1d, 1e, and 1b located at the vertices of the downward triangle and a center ranging area display 1a,
Repeated blinking at the same time indicates that the flash dimming result is underexposed.

FIG. 17 shows that the flash dimming result is overexposed. A total of four ranging area displays, including three ranging area displays 1d, 1c, and 1b located at the vertices of the upward triangle and a center ranging area display 1a,
Repeated blinking at the same time indicates that the flash dimming result is overexposed.

FIG. 18 shows a viewfinder display of a camera having a panoramic photographing function at the time of panoramic photographing. The upper and lower non-photographing portions 1f and 1g are displayed as hatched areas by liquid crystal or electrochromic.

FIG. 19 shows a display indicating that the flash dimming result using the panorama photographing display unit is under, or an underexposure warning outside the adjustable range of exposure. By displaying only the lower non-photographing portion 1g as a hatched area, it is warned that the image is underexposed.

FIG. 20 shows a display indicating that the flash dimming result is over using the panorama photographing display unit, or an overexposure warning outside the exposure adjustable range. By displaying only the upper non-photographing portion 1f as a hatched area, it is warned that overexposure has occurred.

FIG. 21 is a viewfinder display showing a desired non-photographing range in the standard size photographing by the APS camera. The left and right non-photographing desired portions 1h and 1i are displayed as hatched areas by liquid crystal, electrochromic, or the like.

As shown in FIGS. 22 and 23, the left and right non-photographing desired portions 1h or 1i are alternately displayed in a dotted manner, thereby giving a warning of a film feeding failure accident.

FIG. 24 shows the concept of flash dimming.
The intensity of the flash light that started emitting light at time 0 is shown in FIG.
It is drawn with a curve as shown in FIG. The amount of exposure light given to the film is represented by the area surrounded by this curve and the time axis. Flash dimming refers to integrating the amount of light emitted after the flash starts to emit light with the light control sensor and stopping the light emission at the time Ts when the appropriate amount of light is emitted. In this case, the hatched portion in FIG. 24 indicates the light emission amount. Note that if the subject does not stop in the middle of flashing at a distance and does not reach the proper flash output, it is under-dimming, and the time until the subject is too close to reach the proper flash output is too short. ,
When the light emission is stopped (T
In the case of s), the case where overexposure has already occurred is called overdimming. 9, FIG. 10, FIG. 16, FIG. 17,
The display examples described with reference to FIGS. 19 and 20 are related.

FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram of how to focus during continuous moving object tracking autofocus, and relates to the display example described with reference to FIG.

The continuous tracking autofocus is a method of calculating an expected image plane position of a subject at a certain point in the near future from a near past movement of the object, and matching the AF image plane position with the expected object image plane position at the expected point in time. Refers to auto-focusing that controls the focus. In FIG. 25, the image plane of the moving subject is indicated by a thick solid line, and the depth of field is indicated by a two-dot chain line above and below it. At time 0, the continuous moving object tracking autofocus function of the camera starts to work, and the focus image plane of the camera catches up with the object image plane as shown by a broken line in FIG.

At time T1, the camera reaches the depth of field, and the camera determines that it is in focus. Next, when the subject is at time T2
It is assumed that a motion different from that before time T2 has started with respect to the camera. Then, immediately after time T3, the focus plane of the camera deviates from the depth of field with respect to the subject,
The camera determines that "out of focus". However, since the subject tracking autofocus function is still operating, the camera returns to the “focused state” after time T4.

[0043]

As described above, according to the imaging apparatus of the present invention, the first display section (1a to 1e, 1f to 1) for superimposing and displaying a predetermined area in the field of view in the finder.
g, 1h to 1i) and a second display unit (first display unit) that superimposes and displays an area different from a predetermined area in the imaging visual field frame.
1a-1e, 1f-1g, 1h-1 different from the display unit
According to i), the operation state of the imaging device is displayed using the superimposed display in the viewfinder.

In this way, a warning can be given to the photographer by using the superimpose display section inside the screen that the photographer is always watching while the photographer concentrates on the screen at the time of photographing.
It is possible to achieve a reliable and real-time warning of the imaging apparatus with a very low probability of being overlooked by the photographer without increasing the number of components or the mounting space.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of an imaging device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing an embodiment of an imaging device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of an imaging device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an imaging device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block connection diagram showing an embodiment of an imaging device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing an embodiment of an imaging device according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing an embodiment of an imaging device according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a front view showing an embodiment of an imaging device according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a front view showing an embodiment of an imaging device according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a front view showing an embodiment of an imaging device according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a front view showing an embodiment of an imaging device according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a front view showing an embodiment of an imaging device according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a front view showing an embodiment of an imaging device according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a front view showing an embodiment of an imaging device according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a front view showing an embodiment of an imaging device according to the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a front view showing an embodiment of an imaging device according to the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a front view showing an embodiment of an imaging device according to the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a front view showing an embodiment of an imaging device according to the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a front view showing an embodiment of an imaging device according to the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a front view showing an embodiment of an imaging device according to the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a front view showing an embodiment of an imaging device according to the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a front view showing an embodiment of an imaging device according to the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a front view showing an embodiment of an imaging device according to the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a characteristic diagram showing an embodiment of an imaging device according to the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a characteristic diagram showing an embodiment of the imaging device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1a Central ranging area display section 1b Right ranging area displaying section 1c Upper ranging area displaying section 1d Left ranging area displaying section 1e Lower ranging area displaying section 1f Non-photographing portion 1g Non-photographing portion 1h Non-photographing desired portion 1i Non-shooting desired portion 2 Viewfinder field frame 4 Camera 41 Shutter button 42 AF operation button 43 AF area selection button

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A first display section for superimposing and displaying a predetermined area in a photographing visual field frame in a viewfinder, and a second display section for superimposing and displaying an area different from the predetermined area in the image capturing visual field frame. Detecting means for detecting a state of the imaging device; determining means for determining whether or not the imaging device is in an abnormal state based on a detection result by the detecting means; and detecting the abnormal state by the determining means. Control means for causing the first display unit and the second display unit to execute a warning operation when the determination is made. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to perform one or more of a lighting operation, a turning-off operation, a blinking operation, and a display density changing operation of the first display unit and the second display unit. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the warning operation is executed by a combination of operations. 3. The first control unit controls a blinking cycle of the first display unit or the second display unit to control the first display unit or the second display unit.
The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the warning operation is performed on a display unit or the second display unit. 4. The detecting means includes: a focus detection state, an exposure state, a dimming state, a film feeding state, a shutter operation state,
The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the aperture control states is detected. 5. The first display unit and the second display unit,
5. A photograph size display member indicating an aspect ratio of a photograph and / or a measurement region display member indicating a measurement region of a luminance or a focus state of a subject in the photographing field of view frame. Imaging equipment.