JP4517876B2 - Digital camera - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a digital camera that images a subject.

Today's digital cameras have a wide variety of shooting functions, and by using the shooting functions, you can acquire your favorite shot image data.
JP 2004-336326 A

  However, it is assumed that the setting operation of the shooting function is complicated and difficult to understand, and cannot be set without an instruction manual. It is an object of the present invention to provide a digital camera that is easy to understand the setting operation and does not place a burden on the user.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the digital camera, based on the operation of the display unit, the first operation member , the second operation member, the third operation member, and the first operation member, the display and setting selection mode for displaying a plurality of setting items on the display unit as a first screen relating shooting, a description of the setting item corresponding to one of said plurality of setting items as a second screen a mode changeover means for switching to the other from one of the settings described mode of displaying the unit, in a case where the setting selection mode is switched, based on the operation of the second operating member, said plurality of a setting item specifying means for specifying one of the setting items, if you are switched before Symbol set selection mode, the third operation based on the operation of the member, setting terms specified by the setting item specifying means A setting means for selecting and setting one displayed setting item based on an operation of the third operating member when the eye is selected and set and the mode is switched to the setting explanation mode . .

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the digital camera according to the first aspect, the setting item is a photographing scene mode for controlling to an optimum photographing condition for each predetermined photographing scene.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the digital camera according to the first aspect, the first operation member is a zoom button for changing a photographing magnification.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the digital camera according to the first aspect, the photographing operation start means for starting the photographing operation is provided, and the photographing is performed in a state where the mode switching means is switched to the setting explanation mode. When the operation start means is operated, the photographing operation is executed.

In the invention described in claim 5, the digital camera described in claim 4 is configured to return to the setting explanation mode when the photographing operation is completed.
The invention according to claim 6, in the digital camera according to claim 1 to 5, when being switched to the setting described mode, based on the operation of the second operating member, displayed on the display means and further comprising up the content explanation display control means for switching the display of the description of one setting item being displayed in the contents description of the other setting items.
In the invention described in claim 7, in the digital camera, a display unit, a first operating member, and a second operating member, based on the operation of the first operating member, a plurality of setting items related to photographing Is displayed on the display means as a first screen, and a setting explanation mode is displayed on the display means as a second screen for a description of a setting item corresponding to one of the plurality of setting items. Mode switching means for switching the setting from one to the other;
When switched to the setting selection mode, the setting item specifying means for specifying one of the plurality of setting items and the setting explanation mode are switched based on the operation of the second operation member . in case, on the basis of the operation the second operating member, before Symbol display means description display control to switch the content description of the display of other setting items displayed in the description of one setting item being displayed Means.

  According to the present invention, setting items can be selected and set in a state where the mode is switched to the setting explanation mode, so that items can be easily set without any confusion for the user.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
First, the configuration of the digital camera 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 is an external view of a digital camera 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the digital camera 1 includes a shutter button 101, a cross key 102, a monitor 103, an enter button 104, a mode dial 105, a zoom button 106, a menu button 107, a playback button 108, a macro shooting button 109, and an optical viewfinder 110. Prepare.

  The shutter button 101 is a button that can detect two stages, a half-pressed stage and a fully-pressed stage. The shutter button 101 is operated for the user to instruct the start of shooting. The cross key 102 is operated to move a cursor or the like on the monitor 103. The determination button 104 is a button operated when determining an item selected by the cross key 102. The enter button 104 is operated to switch the monitor 103 between the on state and the off state.

  The mode dial 105 is a dial that can change camera functions such as shooting scene selection by rotating. The zoom button 106 is a button operated to optically and electronically enlarge or reduce an image to be recorded at the time of shooting. The zoom button 106 is operated to electronically enlarge or reduce the reproduced image when reproducing the image data. The menu button 107 is a button operated when it is desired to display a menu screen. The play button 108 is a button that is operated when playing back image data recorded in the memory. The macro shooting button 109 is a button operated when shooting a close subject such as a close plant. The optical viewfinder 110 is for optically confirming the object scene.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing functions of the digital camera 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, the digital camera 1 includes a CPU 111, an illumination device 112, a built-in memory 113, an operation circuit 114, a display circuit 115, a monitor 103, an image processing circuit 116, an imaging element 117, a zoom lens 118, a zoom driver 119, a focus. The lens 120, the focus driver 121, the aperture 122, the aperture driver 123, and the memory card slot 124 are included. Of course, there are other circuits for realizing the functions of the digital camera, but the description is omitted because they are not related to the present invention.

  The CPU 111 is a circuit that processes programs for realizing various functions executed by the digital camera 1. The CPU 111 executes a program stored in the memory in the CPU 111 and the built-in memory 113 and controls various circuits in the digital camera 1. The illumination device 112 is a device for illuminating a subject during shooting. For example, there are flashlights and LED light emitting elements.

  The built-in memory 113 is a memory for storing image data, a control program, and the like. For example, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory is used. The operation circuit 114 is a circuit that detects the operation of operation buttons such as the shutter button 101, the cross key 102, and the enter button 104 provided in the digital camera 1, and transmits them to the CPU 111. The operation circuit 114 detects a half-press operation and a full-press operation of the shutter button 101. The display circuit 115 is a circuit that generates screen data to be displayed on the monitor 103. The monitor 103 is a liquid crystal display provided on the back surface of the digital camera 1 and displays the screen data generated by the display circuit 115.

  The photographing lens is composed of a zoom lens 118, a focus lens 120, and the like, and is an optical lens for forming a subject image on the light receiving surface of the image sensor 117. The zoom lens 118 is a lens that is moved by a motor to realize an enlargement and reduction of an optical image formed on the image sensor 117 among lenses constituting the photographing lens. The zoom driver 119 is a circuit for driving a motor according to a command from the CPU 111 and moving the zoom lens 118 to a predetermined position. The focus lens 120 is a lens that is moved by a motor in order to adjust the focus among the lenses constituting the photographing lens. The focus driver 121 is a circuit for driving a motor according to a command from the CPU 111 and moving the focus lens 120 to a predetermined position.

  The diaphragm 122 is for adjusting the amount of light of the object scene incident on the image sensor 117. The aperture driver 123 is a circuit that drives a motor in response to a command from the CPU 111 and controls the open / close state of the aperture 122. The imaging element 117 is an element configured by a CCD or the like that converts an optical image input via a photographing lens into an electric image signal. The image processing circuit 116 performs analog / digital conversion on the electrical signal output from the image sensor 117 to generate a digital signal. Further, the image processing circuit 116 performs interpolation processing or the like on the digital signal that has been digitally converted, and generates image data. The memory card slot 124 is a slot for inserting a memory card, writing data such as image data in the memory card, and erasing data in the memory card.

  Next, the operation of the digital camera 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. When the menu button 107 is operated in the shooting mode, the digital camera 1 displays a menu screen for selecting the scene shooting mode on the monitor 103. FIG. 3 shows a display example of the menu screen in the scene shooting mode. The user can shift to a desired scene shooting mode by selecting a shooting scene with the cross key 102 and operating the enter button 104 while the menu screen is displayed on the monitor 103. When the menu button 107 is operated while the menu screen is displayed, the digital camera 1 can return to the scene shooting mode set before the menu screen is displayed. When the zoom button 106 is operated while the menu screen is displayed, the screen shifts to a help screen that explains the scene shooting mode. FIG. 4 shows a display example of the help screen. When the zoom button 106 is operated with the help screen displayed, the digital camera 1 can return to the menu screen. When the cross key 102 is operated while the help screen is displayed, the help screen can be shifted from the display example shown in FIG. 4 to the display example shown in FIG. Further, when the menu button 107 is operated while the help screen is displayed, the scene shooting mode set before the menu screen is displayed can be returned to without returning to the menu screen. When the enter button 104 is operated, the scene shooting mode in which help is directly displayed can be shifted to without returning to the menu screen.

  As described above, it is possible to shift directly between the help screens, and further to shift directly from the help screen to the scene shooting mode, it is possible to provide a user-friendly digital camera.

  In addition, when the shutter button 101 is operated on the menu screen or the help screen, the current state is stored, the camera returns to the shooting mode, and can return to the stored state when shooting is completed. As a result, it is possible to return to the menu screen and the help screen during the setting without missing the shooting opportunity.

  The above operation will be specifically described below. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the scene shooting mode setting control executed by the CPU 111 of the digital camera 1. This flow starts upon detecting that the menu button 107 is operated in the shooting mode.

  First, in step S101, it is detected whether or not the cross key 101 has been operated. If detected, the process proceeds to step S102, and if not detected, the process proceeds to step S103. In step S102, the cursor on the icon for selecting the scene shooting mode on the menu screen shown in FIG. 3 is moved. Subsequently, in step S103, it is detected whether or not the zoom button 106 has been operated, and if detected, the process proceeds to step S104, and if not detected, the process proceeds to step S108.

  In step S104, a help screen (see FIG. 4) corresponding to the scene shooting mode selected on the menu screen shown in FIG. Subsequently, in step S105, it is detected whether the cross key 101 has been operated, and if detected, the process proceeds to step S106, and if not detected, the process proceeds to step S107. In step S106, the display on the monitor 103 is switched from, for example, the help screen shown in FIG. 4 to the help screen shown in FIG. In this way, it is now possible to move directly between the help screens that explain the scene shooting mode, so that it is possible to view the description of the scene shooting mode without returning to the menu screen. Next, in step S107, it is detected whether the zoom button 106 is operated. If it is detected, the process returns to step S101, and the display on the monitor 103 is returned from the help screen to the menu screen. If not detected, the process proceeds to step S108.

  In step S108, it is detected whether the shutter button 101 has been operated. If it is detected, the process proceeds to step S109, and if it is not detected, the process proceeds to step S113. In step S109, the current status information of the menu screen or help screen is stored in the built-in memory 113. Subsequently, in step S110, a transition is made to the shooting mode before the transition to the menu screen. By controlling in this way, it is possible to instantaneously shift to the shooting mode and prevent a missed photo opportunity. Next, in step S111, it is determined whether the shooting process has been completed. If the shooting process has been completed, the process proceeds to step S112. If the shooting process has not been completed, the determination of the completion of the shooting process is continued. In step S112, the state information stored in the built-in memory 113 in step S109 is read, and the state before the photographing process is restored. Then, the process returns to step S108.

On the other hand, in step S113, it is detected whether the menu button 107 has been operated. If it is detected, the process proceeds to step S114, and if it is not detected, the process proceeds to step S115. In step S114, the shooting mode before shifting to the menu screen is shifted to. In step S115, it is detected whether the enter button 104 has been operated. If detected, the process proceeds to step S116, and if not detected, the process returns to step S101. Next, in step S116, the scene shooting mode selected in the menu screen or help screen is entered. In this way, it is possible to shift to the shooting mode directly from the help screen as well as from the menu screen.

By controlling as described above, the shooting mode, menu screen, help screen switching, and the feeling of use of setting operations are greatly improved.
Next, control of the digital camera 1 when the underwater shooting mode is selected on the menu screen for selecting the scene shooting mode shown in FIG. 3 will be described.

The underwater shooting mode is a scene shooting mode in which shooting control is performed so that good image data can be obtained when shooting underwater.
In general, underwater photography is known to perform photography control that emphasizes red because the red component attenuates before the light flux from the subject enters the digital camera 1.

  In the digital camera 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, when photographing a distant view in the sea, it is finished to a color closer to the blue of the memory color, and when shooting a coral reef or fish at a relatively short distance, the red vividness Control to finish the color without impairing.

  When photographing a distant view in the sea, the macro photography mode is turned off, and the light from the illumination device 112 such as a strobe does not reach the subject. On the other hand, when shooting coral reefs and fish, the macro shooting mode is often turned on and the illumination device 112 is irradiated for shooting.

  The underwater shooting mode control executed by the digital camera 1 will be specifically described below. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the pre-shooting control in the underwater shooting mode executed by the CPU 111 of the digital camera 1. This flow starts when the monitor 103 is in a lighting state and the underwater shooting mode is selected as the scene shooting mode, and is executed until the shutter button 101 is fully pressed.

  First, in step S201, it is determined whether the macro shooting button 109 is operated and the macro shooting mode is set. If the macro shooting mode is set, the process proceeds to step S204. If not set, the process proceeds to step S202. Next, in step S202, it is determined whether the light emission mode of the illumination device 112 is set to the forced light emission mode. If the forced light emission mode is set, the process proceeds to step S204, and if not set, the process proceeds to step S203. In step S203, blue enhancement processing is executed. In the blue enhancement process, the white balance is controlled to around 4600K (blue in the sea is emphasized), the gradation is controlled to make the contrast stronger (cancellation of the contrast decrease in the sea), and the exposure is controlled to -0.7 steps (blue) To prevent saturation).

  On the other hand, in step S204, red enhancement processing is executed. In the red enhancement process, the white balance is controlled to be slightly red, the gradation is controlled normally, and the exposure is controlled normally. In step S205, the processed image is displayed on the monitor 103 as a viewfinder image.

  In the digital camera 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, as the light emission mode of the illuminating device 112, the forced light emission mode forcibly emitting light, the automatic light emission mode for detecting luminance and emitting light at low luminance, and red-eye There are red-eye reduction flash mode and forced flash inhibition mode to reduce.

  In the control described with reference to FIG. 7, the red emphasis process is performed only when the forced light emission mode that always emits light among the light emission modes is set. However, the red emphasis process may be performed even when the automatic light emission mode and the red-eye reduction light emission mode that may emit light are set. Further, since it seems that there are many cases where the viewfinder image displayed on the monitor 103 cannot be determined in the sea, it is possible to execute only the control at the time of photographing described later with reference to FIG. For example, the control shown in FIG. 7 is effective when photographing the inside of an aquarium in an aquarium.

  Next, photographing control executed by the digital camera 1 will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the photographing control executed by the CPU 111 of the digital camera 1. This flow starts when the underwater shooting mode is set as the scene shooting mode and it is detected that the shutter button 101 is fully pressed.

  First, in step S301, it is determined whether the macro shooting button 109 is operated and the macro shooting mode is set. If the macro shooting mode is set, the process proceeds to step S304. If not set, the process proceeds to step S302. Next, in step S302, it is determined whether the lighting device 112 has controlled light emission. If the light emission control is performed, the process proceeds to step S304. If the light emission control is not performed, the process proceeds to step S303. In step S303, blue emphasis processing is executed. The blue enhancement process is equivalent to the process in step S203 of FIG. On the other hand, in step S304, red enhancement processing is executed. The red enhancement process is equivalent to the process in step S204 in FIG. In step S305, the photographed image is recorded on the memory card.

In the above control, the shooting process is changed by the macro shooting mode and the light emission of the illumination device. However, the shooting process may be changed by measuring the distance to the subject.
By controlling as described above, when photographing a distant view in the sea, it is finished to a color closer to the blue of the memory color, and when shooting coral reefs and fish at a relatively short distance, the red vividness is not impaired. The color can be finished, and an underwater photographed image suitable for the user's intention can be obtained. In addition, by performing the process of emphasizing the blue color, it is possible to bring it closer to the expected blue color even in a crowded sea.

FIG. 1 is an external view of a digital camera 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing functions of the digital camera 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a screen displayed on the monitor 103. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a screen displayed on the monitor 103. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a screen displayed on the monitor 103. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing scene shooting mode setting control executed by the CPU 111 in the face recognition AF mode. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing pre-shooting control in the underwater shooting mode executed by the CPU 111. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the photographing control executed by the CPU 111.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Digital camera 101 ... Shutter button 102 ... Cross key 103 ... Monitor 104 ... Decision button 111 ... CPU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 112 ... Illuminating device 113 ... Built-in memory 114 ... Operation circuit 115 ... Display circuit 116 ... Image processing circuit 117 ... Imaging element 118 ... Zoom lens 119 ... Zoom driver 120 ... Focus lens 121 ... Focus driver 122 ... Aperture 123 ... Aperture driver 124 ... Memory card slot

Claims (7)

Display means;
A first operating member;
A second operating member;
A third operating member;
Based on the operation of the first operating member, a setting selection mode to be displayed on said display means a plurality of setting items related to photographing as the first screen, corresponding to one of said plurality of setting items and mode switching means for switching to the other from one of the settings described mode for displaying on said display means a description of the setting item as a second screen,
In the case where the setting selection mode is switched, a setting item specifying means for specifying one of the plurality of setting items based on an operation of the second operation member ;
If they are switched to the setting selection mode, based on the operation of the third operating member, selected and set the setting item identified by the setting item specifying means, it is switched to the setting described mode And a setting unit that selects and sets one displayed setting item based on an operation of the third operation member .     2. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the setting item is a shooting scene mode for controlling to an optimum shooting condition for each predetermined shooting scene. 2. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the first operation member is a zoom button for changing a photographing magnification. The digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising shooting operation start means for starting a shooting operation,
A digital camera that executes a shooting operation when the shooting operation start unit is operated in a state in which the mode switching unit is switched to the setting explanation mode.     5. The digital camera according to claim 4, wherein when the photographing operation is completed, the setting explanation mode is restored.   The digital camera according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
  When the mode is switched to the setting explanation mode, the second operating member is operated. The display of the description of one setting item displayed on the display means based on the other setting items It further comprises a content description display control means for switching to display of the content description of the eyes. Digital camera. Display means;
A first operating member;
A second operating member;
Based on the operation of the first control member, and setting selection mode to be displayed on said display means a plurality of setting items related to photographing as the first screen, corresponding to one of said plurality of setting items and mode switching means for switching the set on the other a description of the setting item from one of the settings described mode for displaying on said display means as a second screen,
A setting item specifying means for specifying one of the plurality of setting items based on an operation of the second operating member when the setting selection mode is switched ;
When being switched to the setting described mode, on the basis of the operation the second operating member, description of the other configuration item display description of one setting items displayed on the display means A digital camera comprising: a content explanation display control means for switching to the display .