JP3885271B2 - CAMERA DEVICE, CAMERA DEVICE EXPOSURE CONTROL METHOD, AND RECORDING MEDIUM - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a camera device including a monitor that displays a captured image, an exposure control method for the camera device, and a recording medium.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a still camera is provided with a program AE that controls exposure based on a program diagram specific to the camera, and the program AE functions in response to the operation of the shutter so that proper exposure at the time of shooting can be performed. There are many things. On the other hand, apart from such a still camera, in recent years, a digital camera that displays a photographed image on a liquid crystal monitor and records the image using digital technology is becoming widespread. In such a digital camera, regardless of the operation of the shutter, the subject image is always displayed on the liquid crystal monitor when the shooting mode (REC mode) is set, so that the liquid crystal monitor has a function as a viewfinder. There are a lot of things.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described digital camera, when the above-described program AE type exposure control is adopted and an attempt is made to improve image quality by obtaining a more appropriate exposure at the time of shooting, the following problems arise. In other words, the LCD monitor displays a through screen regardless of the shutter operation when the REC mode is set. Therefore, the exposure control must be started when the REC mode is set. Since the subject has not yet been determined, the brightness of the through image displayed on the LCD monitor changes frequently, making it difficult to use. This is a factor that reduces the quality of the camera. In addition, the aperture must be frequently driven with exposure control, and the battery life is shortened.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and can improve the image quality without frequently changing the brightness of the through image or significantly reducing the battery life. And an exposure control method for the camera device, and a recording medium on which a program for realizing the method is recorded.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, the camera device of the present invention mainly includes an imaging unit that images a subject in a camera device that displays a subject image and records image data generated from the subject image at the time of photographing. An operation provided with a half operation position located between a non-operation position and an operation position for performing a photographing operation for generating and recording image data, and a display means for displaying a subject image picked up by the image pickup means And the first program AE data indicating the aperture value corresponding to the appropriate exposure value at the time of photographing, and the width of the exposure value corresponding to each of the plurality of aperture values to be output is that of the first program AE data. program AE data storage means for storing a second program AE data having a wider width than the aperture value for determining the amount of an object incident on said image pickup means And setting based on the second program AE data information stored in the program AE data storage means before the photographing operation by the operation means, and in response to the operation means being operated to the half-operation position, Program AE data setting means for setting based on the first program AE data stored in the program AE data storage means, and controlling exposure during imaging by the imaging means based on the aperture value set by the program AE data setting means Exposure control means.
[0006]
In this configuration, the exposure control unit controls the exposure at the time of imaging by the imaging unit based on the aperture value controlled by the program AE data setting unit. On the other hand, the program AE data setting means, at the time of non-shooting, the second program AE data width of the exposure value has a wider width than that of the first program AE data corresponding to each of a plurality of aperture that is output Based on the first program AE data, the aperture value is set based on the first program AE data indicating the aperture value corresponding to the proper exposure value. For this reason, when the amount of light of the subject changes by a fixed amount during non-shooting, the number of changes in the aperture value set by the program AE data determining means is smaller than that during shooting. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the number of times of aperture operation during non-shooting while ensuring an appropriate exposure during shooting.
[0007]
According to the method of the present invention, in the exposure control method at the time of imaging in the camera device that displays the captured subject image and records the image data generated from the subject image at the time of shooting, before the shooting operation of the operating means, Is stored corresponding to the exposure value of the second program AE data having a width of the exposure value corresponding to each of the plurality of output aperture values wider than that of the first program AE data . The exposure is controlled based on the aperture value, and the aperture value of the first program AE data stored in correspondence with the appropriate exposure value is set during a half operation between the non-operation position and the operation position of the operation means. The exposure was controlled based on this.
[0008]
In such a method, when the amount of light of the subject changes by a certain amount during non-shooting, the number of aperture value changes associated with exposure control is smaller than during shooting. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the number of times of aperture operation during non-shooting while ensuring an appropriate exposure during shooting.
[0009]
In the recording medium of the present invention, a program for controlling the exposure at the time of imaging in a camera device that displays a captured subject image and records image data generated from the subject image at the time of shooting is recorded. In this recording medium, the exposure value width corresponding to each of the plurality of aperture values to be output has a wider value width than that of the first program AE data before the photographing operation of the operation means. The exposure is controlled based on the aperture value stored corresponding to the exposure value of the program AE data, and the halfway operation between the non-operation position and the operation position of the operation means corresponds to the appropriate exposure value. A program for controlling the exposure based on the aperture value of the stored first program AE data is included.
[0010]
By using a program recorded on such a recording medium, when the amount of light of the subject changes by a fixed amount during non-shooting, the computer performs exposure control such that the number of changes in aperture value associated with exposure control is smaller than that during shooting. Can do.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a digital camera according to the present invention. This digital camera is configured around a CPU 1, and a ROM 2, a RAM 3, a key input unit 4, and an I / O port 5 are connected to the CPU 1. The CPU 1 is also connected to a DRAM 7, a flash memory 8, a compression / expansion unit 9, a TG (Timing Generator) 10, an SG (Signal Generator) 11, and an aperture drive unit 12 via a bus.
[0012]
The ROM 2 includes an operation program of the CPU 1 and a program diagram showing a combination of an aperture value F and a shutter speed corresponding to an appropriate exposure value EV at the time of photographing, as shown in FIG. First program AE data constituting the same program diagram as that used, that is, the first imaging environment information in the present invention, and the aperture value in the program diagram of FIG. 2 as shown in FIG. The second program AE data constituting the program map indicating the combination of the aperture value F having a wider exposure value EV than F and the shutter speed, that is, various data such as the second imaging environment information in the present invention. Is remembered. The CPU 1 operates based on the operation program in the ROM 2 and the input from the key input unit 4, and controls each unit using the RAM 3 as a work memory.
[0013]
The key input unit 4 includes a power key that is operated when the power is turned on / off, a video capture key (shutter) that is operated when the video is stored in the flash memory 8, and a recording mode (REC mode) to a playback mode. Various keys such as a mode switching key operated when switching from the switching mode and the recording mode to the recording mode, and a reproducing key operated when reproducing an image based on the image data stored in the flash memory 8 are provided. It has been. A serial I / O terminal 13 is connected to the I / O port 5. The I / O port 5 is an interface for inputting and outputting a video signal converted into a serial signal to other devices such as a general personal computer via the serial I / O terminal 13.
[0014]
The DRAM 7 is a memory that temporarily stores the captured digital video signal, and the flash memory 8 is a memory that stores the compressed video signal. The compression / decompression unit 9 performs compression / decompression processing by encoding / decoding the captured digital video signal. A CCD 15 is connected to the TG 10 via a drive circuit (Driver) 14. The drive circuit 14 is controlled by a timing signal generated by the TG 10 and drives the CCD 15 based on the timing signal. On the front side of the CCD 15, a lens 16 that forms an optical image of a subject and a diaphragm 17 that is driven by a drive signal generated by the diaphragm drive unit 12 and adjusts the amount of light of the subject image incident on the CCD 15 are disposed. The CCD 15 is connected to the TG 10 via an amplifier 18 and an A / D converter 19, and the A / D converter 19 converts the analog video signal captured by the CCD 15 into a digital signal and outputs it to the TG 10.
[0015]
Further, a VRAM 20 and a D / A converter 21 are connected to the SG 11. SG 11 adds a synchronization signal or the like to the luminance signal and color signal read from flash memory 8 and then expanded by compression / decompression unit 9, and the luminance signal and color signal transferred from TG 10, that is, the digital video signal. Thus, a digital video signal is created, and the digital video signal created by SG 11 is stored in the VRAM 20. The D / A converter 21 converts the digital video signal taken from the SG 11 into an analog video signal. A video output terminal 23 and an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 24 are connected to the D / A converter 21 via an amplifier 22. The LCD 24 drives the liquid crystal based on the analog video signal sent from the D / A 18 to display an image.
[0016]
Next, in the digital camera device having the above configuration, the operation when the recording mode is set by operating the mode switching key of the key input unit 4 will be described according to the flowchart shown in FIG. That is, the digital camera device starts its operation when the power is turned on, and when the recording mode is set (YES in S1), after performing a blue back display on the LCD 24 (S2), the second program stored in the ROM 2 Exposure control based on AE data is started (S3). That is, the aperture value F and the shutter speed are set based on the second program AE data, the aperture 17 is driven so as to achieve the set aperture value F, and thereby control of the light amount of the subject image formed on the CCD 15 is started. To do. Thereafter, the blue back display of the LCD 24 is canceled (S4), and a through screen of the subject is displayed on the LCD 24. Thereafter, the exposure control based on the second program AE data is continued (S5).
[0017]
On the other hand, if the video capture key of the key input unit 4 is half-pressed during this period, that is, if the video input key is at the half-operation position (YES in S6), the first program AE data stored in the ROM 2 is controlled so far. Switch to exposure control based on (S7). Thereafter, when the video capture key is fully pressed, that is, when the operation position is reached (YES in S8), the subject image at that time is recorded as image data (S9). That is, the video signal taken in by the CCD 15 is temporarily stored in the DRAM 7, and the CPU 1 performs a color calculation process on the video signal and creates a luminance signal and a color signal. After being compressed, the data is stored in the flash memory 8. Then, the process returns to step S5, and the exposure control is switched again to the exposure control based on the second program AE data. Thereafter, the operations in steps S5 to S9 are repeated until the power key is turned off. If the video capture key is half-pressed during this operation and then the non-operating position is reached without being fully pressed, the process returns to step S5 at that time, and exposure control is performed again with the second program AE data. Switch to exposure control based on.
[0018]
That is, in the present embodiment, at the time of shooting for recording image data, appropriate exposure can be obtained by performing exposure control based on the first program AE data. Therefore, high image quality is realized. Further, during non-shooting, exposure control is performed based on second program AE data indicating a combination of an aperture value F and a shutter speed corresponding to an exposure value EV having a value range wider than an appropriate exposure value EV at the time of shooting. The aperture value F is prevented from frequently changing when the amount of light of the subject changes by a certain amount. Therefore, even when the recording mode is set, the number of times the diaphragm 17 is operated during non-shooting is smaller than that during shooting, and the brightness of the subject video displayed on the LCD 24 is not frequently changed. Cheap. Further, for the same reason, the battery life can be extended without remarkably decreasing.
[0019]
In the present embodiment, since the exposure control based on the first program AE data described above is performed when the video capture key is in the half-pressed position, the video capture key is set halfway when the recording mode is set. When pressed, the brightness of the subject video displayed on the LCD 24 is the same as that of an image recorded as image data. Therefore, by pressing the video capture key halfway, it is possible to determine the framing of the subject while confirming the actually recorded subject image, thereby providing a better shooting environment for the photographer. it can.
[0020]
In this embodiment, the exposure control is performed by combining the aperture value F and the shutter speed. However, the shutter speed may be fixedly set to a predetermined speed. In that case, the ROM 2 may store data indicating only the aperture value F with respect to the exposure value EV. In addition, although the operation program of the CPU 1 and the first and second program AE data are stored in the ROM 2 in advance, the data may be stored in another recording medium such as the flash memory 8. .
[0021]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the present invention, when the amount of light of the subject changes by a certain amount, the number of times the aperture value changes due to exposure control is smaller when shooting than when shooting, and this is appropriate when shooting. It was made possible to reduce the number of aperture operations during non-shooting while ensuring exposure. Therefore, even when ensuring appropriate exposure during shooting and improving image quality, the brightness of the subject image displayed on the display means is often reduced by preventing frequent operation of the aperture during non-shooting. It is easy to use without changing. In addition, it is possible to prevent the battery life from deteriorating and prolong it.
[0022]
In the apparatus of the present invention, the operation means is provided with a half operation position located between the non-operation position and the operation position, and the program AE data setting means indicates that the operation means is operated to the half operation position. If the aperture value is set based on the first program AE data stored in the program AE data storage means in response, the subject image displayed on the display means when the operation means is operated and becomes a half-operated state. Is the same brightness as an image recorded as image data. Therefore, by setting the operating means to the half-operated state, it is possible to determine the framing of the subject while confirming the actually recorded subject image, thereby providing a better shooting environment for the photographer. be able to.
[0023]
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a digital camera to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a program diagram showing a combination of an aperture value and a shutter speed with respect to an exposure value used for exposure control in the same embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a program map representing a combination of an aperture value and a shutter speed with respect to an exposure value used for exposure control in the same embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation in the embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 CPU
2 ROM
4 Key input section 15 CCD
17 Aperture 24 LCD

Claims (3)

In a camera device that displays a subject image and records image data generated from the subject image at the time of shooting,
Imaging means for imaging the subject; display means for displaying a subject image captured by the imaging means;
An operation means provided with a half operation position located between a non-operation position and an operation position for performing a photographing operation for recording image data;
The first program AE data indicating the aperture value corresponding to the appropriate exposure value at the time of shooting, and the width of the exposure value corresponding to each of the plurality of output aperture values is wider than that of the first program AE data. Program AE data storage means for storing second program AE data having a value width;
An aperture value that determines the amount of light incident on the imaging means is set based on the second program AE data stored in the program AE data storage means before the photographing operation by the operation means, and the operation means Program AE data setting means for setting based on the first program AE data stored in the program AE data storage means in response to being operated to the half operation position;
An exposure control means for controlling an exposure at the time of image pickup by the image pickup means based on an aperture value set by the program AE data setting means. In the exposure control method at the time of imaging in the camera device that displays the captured subject image and records the image data generated from the subject image at the time of shooting , each of the plurality of aperture values that are output before the shooting operation of the operating means controls the exposure based on the aperture value of the second program AE data stored has a wide width than a width of the first program AE data exposure value corresponding to a non-operating position of the operating means An exposure control method comprising: controlling the exposure based on an aperture value of the first program AE data stored in correspondence with an appropriate exposure value during a half operation that is positioned between the control position and the operation position. A recording medium for recording a program for controlling the exposure at the time of imaging in a camera device that displays a captured subject image and records image data generated from the subject image at the time of shooting, Previously, the aperture value of the second program AE data stored with a width of the exposure value corresponding to each of the plurality of output aperture values having a wider value range than that of the first program AE data. The exposure is controlled based on the exposure value, and the exposure is performed based on the aperture value of the first program AE data stored corresponding to the appropriate exposure value when the operation unit is half-operated between the non-operation position and the operation position. A recording medium comprising a program for controlling the recording medium.

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