JP2001128036A - Electronic camera device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic camera device which properly displays a through picture to EVF at the time of a continuous photographing mode and can improve consecutive photographing operability. SOLUTION: An electronic camera having a continuous photographing mode function and an EVF function is displayed. The consecutive photographing control part 32 of a system controller 3 moves to a consecutive photographing mode in accordance with the operation of a release key 40 and controls the through picture display of EFV 7, which follows the type of a consecutive photographing mode that is set by a mode change-over switch 41. At a high speed consecutive photographing mode, the through picture display of EVF 7 is stopped. At a moving picture insertion mode, the through picture display of EVF 7 is executed while a still picture is photographed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic camera having an electronic viewfinder (EVF) function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, electronic cameras that convert a subject into image data by an electronic imaging function and record the image data on a recording medium have become widespread. The electronic camera includes a digital video camera whose main function is moving image shooting, in addition to an electronic still camera also called a digital camera.

Generally, an electronic camera is provided with a liquid crystal monitor for reproducing a captured image, for example, on the back side of the camera body. The liquid crystal monitor has a display panel (hereinafter, referred to as a liquid crystal panel) including an LCD (liquid crystal device) for displaying a captured image. By the way, in addition to the liquid crystal monitor, a viewing type optical viewfinder (hereinafter referred to as O
VF). OVF
Is provided for the photographer to set photographing conditions such as composition, and has an advantage that so-called camera shake hardly occurs when compared with a liquid crystal monitor. However, since the OVF requires an optical system different from the photographing system, it is a factor that hinders downsizing of the camera body due to space limitations. Also,
If the camera is not a single-lens reflex camera,
In F, parallax (parallax) occurs.

On the other hand, a recent electronic camera has an electronic viewfinder (hereinafter, referred to as EVF, EVF: Electro-v) which displays a photographed image (digital image data) obtained by processing an output of an image sensor and a recorded image on a liquid crystal panel.
view finder) function. EVF using a liquid crystal panel provided on the back side of the camera body (sometimes described as a monitor screen type EVF) is convenient,
Camera shake is likely to occur during shooting. Therefore, instead of OVF, a peep-type EVF using a small liquid crystal panel
An electronic camera provided with a “viewing type EVF” has been developed.

[0005]

The viewing type EVF has no parallax problem, and can suppress camera shake and set photographing conditions such as composition as compared with the monitor screen type EVF. It is.

Meanwhile, in an electronic camera, a function of displaying a still image for confirming a photographing result by a look-ahead EVF (including a monitor screen type EVF) and a through image when photographing is started are displayed. Function is required. In short, the user (photographer) immediately sets the EV
A photographed image (corresponding to a recorded image) is confirmed by F, and a through image is confirmed in the next photographing.

However, in the continuous shooting (continuous shooting) mode, a still image is continuously shot, so that a through image cannot be displayed on the EVF. Normally EV
As the F display, the still image at the start of continuous shooting is frozen (display fixed) or so-called blackout (non-display state)
Will do. When the number of continuous shootings is small and the continuous shooting time is short, this is not so problematic. However, if the number of continuous shots increases and the continuous shooting time becomes long, the user may be required to use EV.
Since the display of F cannot be confirmed, operations such as composition correction during continuous shooting cannot be performed.

Further, in recent years, the number of pixels of an image pickup device used in an electronic camera has been increasing in accordance with a demand for improvement in semiconductor technology and the like and improvement in image quality. Specifically, the number of pixels is about several hundred thousand for moving image shooting, but reaches several million pixels for still image shooting. However, for example, a CCD (Charge Co.)
In the case of using “updated device”, the read time of the image data from the CCD is becoming longer as the number of pixels increases. Specifically, for example, from a CCD having 2 million pixels or more, the read time of image data is 1 unit.
It is about 00 to 200 milliseconds. If continuous shooting is performed in such a situation, the continuous shooting time becomes longer and a through image cannot be displayed on the EVF.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic camera device which can appropriately display a through image on an EVF in a continuous photographing mode, thereby improving the operability of continuous photographing.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided an electronic camera apparatus having a function of executing display control of a through image on an EVF in accordance with selection from a preset type of continuous shooting in a continuous shooting mode. About. That is, the present invention provides imaging means for converting a subject image into image data, still image processing means for generating still image data corresponding to the subject image when capturing a still image, and through-image processing using image data from the imaging means. Through image processing means for generating image data, image display means (EVF) for displaying a through image using the through image data, and a plurality of types of continuous shooting types included in the continuous shooting mode in the continuous shooting mode An electronic camera device comprising: a continuous shooting control unit that controls a display operation of a through image by the image display unit in accordance with a selection.

The continuous shooting control means controls, for example, to prohibit the output of the through image from the through image processing means to the image display means when the high speed continuous shooting mode is selected from the continuous shooting type. As a result, the EVF display is frozen or blacked out, enabling a high-speed continuous shooting operation.
Further, for example, when the moving image insertion mode is selected from the type of continuous shooting, the continuous shooting control unit sets the time between the output period of the still image data from the still image processing unit and the output period of the next still image data. Is controlled so that the through image obtained by the through image processing means is displayed on the EVF. Thus, a through image that is an EVF display can be provided during continuous shooting, and thus operations such as composition correction during continuous shooting can be reliably performed.

With such a configuration of the present invention, in the continuous shooting mode, the display (including non-display) of the through image on the EVF can be appropriately executed, so that the continuous shooting operation such as the correction of the composition during the continuous shooting is performed. It is possible to improve the performance.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Configuration of Electronic Camera) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part of an electronic camera according to the embodiment.
The electronic camera according to the present embodiment is assumed to be an electronic still camera (digital camera) having a still image shooting function, but it is needless to say that a digital video camera having a moving image shooting function as a main function and a still image shooting function is also used. Applicable.

As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic camera of the embodiment is roughly divided into a photographing system 1, an image processing system 2, a system controller 3, an input operation unit 4, a recording system 5, and a display system. . In addition to this, there is an output system for outputting image data to the outside, but the description is omitted in this embodiment.

The photographing system 1 includes a lens 10, an aperture unit 11, a shutter 12, an image pickup device 13 including a CCD, and an image pickup circuit 1.
4 and an A / D converter 15. CCD13
Is a still image pickup device having several million pixels. The imaging circuit 14 is controlled by the system controller 3
Exposure, readout processing of the image pickup signal from the CCD 13, element shutter control, and power on / off of the CCD 13
Processing such as off control is performed. Also, as described below,
The imaging circuit 14 has a thinning function of thinning out and reading out the output lines of the CCD 13 under the control of the system controller 3.

Normally, the power supply to the CCD 13 is turned off, and the power supply is turned on by the imaging circuit 14 in response to the shutter release ON operation. The shutter release ON operation is performed by a release button 40 of the input operation unit 4 as described later. The A / D converter 15 converts the imaging signal read from the CCD 13 by the imaging circuit 14 into digital image data (still image photographed image data). Although not shown, the shutter 12 opens and closes under the control of the system controller 3 and closes when an image signal is read from the CCD 13 (at the time of photographing a still image). The lens 10 includes an A / F (not shown)
It is configured to be driven by focus (zoom) by a mechanism.

The image processing system 2 includes a buffer memory (DRA).
M) 20, an image processing unit 21, and a moving image processing unit (through image processing unit) 22. The buffer memory 20
The image data output from the A / D converter 15 is temporarily stored. Image processing unit 21 and moving image processing unit 22
Is composed of an image processing CPU (microprocessor) and a memory that stores a control program therefor.

The image processing unit 21 performs still image processing on the image data (still image data for one screen or one frame) stored in the buffer memory 20, and outputs the processed image data to the monitor type EVF 6 and the recording system 5. The still image processing includes image compression / decompression processing according to, for example, the JPEG method. The image processing unit 21 also has a function of decompressing image data read from the recording system 5 and displaying the image data on the monitor-type EVF 6. The moving image processing unit 22 generates a through image (moving image) capable of displaying a moving image of the image data output from the A / D converter 15 and sends the generated through image to the viewing type EVF 7.

The recording system 5 has a recording medium 50 such as a magneto-optical disk, a magnetic disk, or a memory card (flash memory), and a drive 51 including an interface (I / F).

The display system includes a monitor type EVF 6 and a viewing type E
VF7. The monitor type EVF 6 has a liquid crystal panel (for example, a TFT panel) disposed on the back side of the camera body, and displays a still image (a captured image or a recorded image) processed by the image processing unit 21 on the liquid crystal panel. .
The viewing type EVF 7 is equivalent to a normal OFV, and has a structure in which a viewing lens 70 is provided on a liquid crystal panel (for example, a TFT panel). The viewing type EVF 7 displays the through image processed by the moving image processing unit 22 on the liquid crystal panel.

The system controller 3 is a control CPU.
(Microprocessor) and a memory in which a control program is stored, and controls each element of a photographing system 1, an image processing system 2, a recording system 5, and a display system (AF,
AE and other controls are also included). Further, the system controller 3 receives operation inputs of various operation buttons (or operation keys) from the input operation unit 4. The operation buttons include a release button 40 and a mode changeover switch 41 related to the embodiment.

The system controller 3 has a still image photographing control unit 30, a moving image photographing control unit 31, and a continuous photographing control unit 32 as elements related to the embodiment. The still image capturing control unit 30 receives an operation input (release on) of the release button 40 and controls the image processing unit 21 and the imaging circuit 14. That is, the CCD 1
3 and instructs the image processing unit 21 to generate still image data.

The moving image shooting control section 31 controls the image pickup circuit 14 and the moving image processing section 22 according to the type of the continuous shooting mode from the continuous shooting control section 32. As described above, the imaging circuit 14 has a thinning function, and outputs image data in which pixels output from the CCD 13 are thinned out under the control of the moving image shooting control unit 31. The moving image processing unit 22 generates a through image from the thinned image data, and
Send to F7.

The continuous shooting control section 32 is an element for controlling a continuous shooting (continuous shooting) operation, and shifts to a continuous shooting mode in accordance with a continuous operation (press and hold operation) of the release button 40. The continuous shooting control unit 32 includes a mode changeover switch 4
According to the operation 1, the type of the continuous shooting mode prepared in advance (in the embodiment, three types of the high-speed continuous shooting mode, the moving image insertion mode, and the one-shot moving image insertion mode) is switched.
The still image photographing control unit 30 and the moving image photographing control unit 31 are controlled.

(Continuous Shooting Operation) Hereinafter, the continuous shooting operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the timing chart of FIG. 2 and the flowchart of FIG.

First, in the electronic camera of the embodiment, even when the continuous shooting mode is not set, the moving image shooting control section 31 of the system controller 3 controls the imaging circuit 14 and the moving image processing section 22. To display a through image on the liquid crystal panel of the viewing type EVF 7 (N in step S1).
O, S3). At this time, a through image display is performed by the EVF 7 using the image data obtained by thinning out the output pixels of the CCD 13 by the thinning function of the imaging circuit 14.

On the other hand, by operating the mode changeover switch 41 of the input operation unit 4, the user selects and selects one of three types of continuous shooting modes (high-speed continuous shooting mode, moving image insertion mode, and one-shot moving image insertion mode). Then, the continuous shooting control unit 32 sets (stores) the type of the continuous shooting mode (YES in step S1, S2).

When the release button 40 of the input operation unit 4 is operated, the system controller 3 shifts to the control of the photographing operation (YES in step S4). That is, in response to the release-on operation of the release button 40, the still image photographing control unit 30 instructs the image pickup circuit 14 to read image data from the CCD 13, and instructs the image processing unit 21 to read still image Is instructed to control generation (step S
No. 5, S6). In this case, since high-pixel image data is required for still image shooting, the imaging circuit 14
The control is performed so as to read out image data of all pixels of No. 3. The photographed still image is displayed on the liquid crystal panel of the monitor type EVF 6. At this time, the readout period (still image readout period ST) by the imaging circuit 14 is, for example, about 100 to 200 milliseconds. In the case of a moving image for EVF (through image), since the frame rate is 30 frames / sec, the reading period of one frame of a moving image is about 30 milliseconds.

When the release button 40 is continuously operated, the continuous shooting control section 32 executes a continuous shooting mode.
The still image shooting control unit 30 and the moving image shooting control unit 31 are controlled (YES in step S5). Here, the continuous shooting control unit 32
Executes the continuous shooting control according to the type of the continuous shooting mode set by the mode changeover switch 41 (branches A to C in step S7).

In the high-speed continuous shooting mode, the still image shooting control unit 3
0 controls the imaging circuit 14 and the image processing unit 21 so as to continuously execute the still image shooting operation (Step S).
8). That is, as shown in FIG. 2A, during a continuous still image shooting period, an exposure period (ET) synchronized with the ON operation of the shutter 12 and a still image reading period (S
T) are alternately continuous. During this still image shooting period, the function of the moving image shooting control unit 31 is stopped, and the output of the through image from the moving image processing unit 22 is prohibited. Therefore, the through-the-lens EVF 7 does not display a through image (moving image), but freezes, for example, a still image before the start of continuous shooting. Or, it is in a blackout state.

In the moving image insertion mode, the still image photographing control unit 3
For example, a moving image photographing process for a few frames (through image generation process) is executed by the moving image photographing control unit 31 between the still image photographing process by 0 and the next still image photographing process (step S9). That is, as shown in FIG. 2B, during a still image shooting period (consisting of an exposure period (ET) and a still image reading period (ST)), several times (several frames) of through images (moving images) There is a moving image shooting period consisting of a reading period (MT) of (image). The through image during the moving image shooting period is supplied to the viewing type EVF 7. Therefore, during continuous shooting,
Through images are displayed intermittently on the liquid crystal panel of the viewing type EVF 7. Note that, during the moving image shooting period, since the thinned image data is read from the CCD 13, the continuous shooting speed does not become so low. As described above, the still image readout period (ST) is about 100 to 200 milliseconds, whereas the through image readout period (MT) is about 30 milliseconds.

The one-shot moving image insertion mode is a modified example of the moving image insertion mode, and as shown in FIG. 2C, only one shot (one frame) of a through image (moving image) is taken during still image shooting. In this mode, the shooting period (MT) is inserted (step S10). In this mode, the EVF display of the through image is short, so that high-speed continuous shooting is possible as compared with the moving image insertion mode described above. However, on the other hand, EVF
The display state changes unnaturally as compared with the moving image insertion mode.

As described above, according to the embodiment, when the mode shifts to the continuous shooting (continuous shooting) mode other than the normal still image shooting, the viewing is performed according to the type selected from the plurality of continuous shooting modes. The display of a through image (moving image) by the embedded EVF 7 is controlled. That is, when the high-speed continuous shooting mode is selected, the display function of the through image (moving image) by the viewing type EVF 7 is stopped to realize the high-speed continuous shooting. On the other hand, when the moving image insertion mode (or the one-shot moving image insertion mode) is selected, during still image shooting during continuous shooting,
A through-the-lens image is displayed by the viewing type EVF 7. Therefore,
During continuous shooting, it is possible to perform a shooting operation such as correcting a composition.

(Modification) As a modification of the embodiment, the number of frames (the number of frames) to be taken out between still image shooting in the moving image insertion mode and the one-shot moving image insertion mode may be set. Specifically, when the number of moving images to be inserted is set and input by the input operation unit 4, the continuous shooting control unit 32 appropriately adjusts the through image display by the viewing type EVF 7 during still image shooting. Therefore, even in the case of the same moving image insertion mode (including the one-shot moving image insertion mode), the number of frames to be taken out of a through image during still image shooting can be relatively reduced, and the continuous shooting mode emphasizing high speed can be executed. Conversely, by increasing the number of frames to be taken out relatively, it is possible to execute a continuous shooting mode in which the display property of a through image during continuous shooting is emphasized.

[0036]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, a through image can be appropriately displayed on an EVF during continuous shooting in an electronic camera apparatus having a continuous shooting function and an EVF function. Therefore, since it is possible to realize shooting operations such as high-speed continuous shooting and composition correction during continuous shooting,
An electronic camera device excellent in continuous shooting operability can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part of an electronic camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a timing chart for explaining a continuous shooting control operation related to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary flowchart for explaining a continuous shooting control operation related to the embodiment;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Photographing system 2 ... Image processing system 3 ... System controller 4 ... Input operation part 5 ... Recording system 6 ... Monitor screen type EVF 7 ... Look-through type EVF 10 ... Lens 11 ... Aperture part 12 ... Shutter 13 ... Image sensor (CCD) 14) imaging circuit 15 ... A / D converter 20 ... buffer memory (DRAM) 21 ... image processing unit 22 ... moving image processing unit (through image processing unit) 30 ... still image shooting control unit 31 ... moving image shooting control unit 32 ... Continuous shooting control unit 40 Release button 41 Mode switch 50 Recording medium 51 Disk drive 70 Lens

Claims (7)

[Claims] An imaging unit configured to convert a subject image into image data; a still image processing unit configured to generate still image data using image data obtained from the imaging unit when capturing a still image; Through image processing means for generating through image data of the subject image using image data from the image processing apparatus; and image display for displaying a through image of the subject image using the through image data from the through image processing means. Means, and continuous shooting control means for controlling a display operation of the through image by the image display means in accordance with selection of a plurality of continuous shooting types included in the continuous shooting mode in a continuous shooting mode. An electronic camera device characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. When the moving image insertion mode is selected from the continuous shooting type, the continuous shooting control unit determines an output period of the still image data from the still image processing unit and the next still image data. 2. The electronic camera device according to claim 1, wherein control is performed such that the through image obtained by the through image processing unit is displayed on the image display unit during the output period. 3. When the high-speed continuous shooting mode is selected from the continuous shooting type, the continuous shooting control means inhibits the output of the through image from the through image processing means to the image display means. The electronic camera device according to claim 1, wherein: 4. The continuous photographing control means includes means for changing the number of outputs when outputting the through image from the through image processing means to the image display means during the output of the still image data. The electronic camera device according to claim 2, wherein: 5. The through image processing unit includes a thinning unit that thins out the number of pixels of image data from the imaging unit, and generates the through image data using the image data obtained by the thinning unit. The electronic camera device according to any one of claims 1, 2, and 4, wherein 6. The electronic camera device according to claim 1, wherein said image display means comprises an electronic viewfinder. 7. The image display means has a peeping type electronic viewfinder and a monitor screen type electronic viewfinder, and displays the through image from the through image processing means on the peeping type electronic viewfinder. The electronic camera device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: