JP6921798B2 - Imaging device, its control method, and its program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an imaging device capable of outputting sound.

In recent years, digital cameras can shoot with so-called electronic shutters, which do not use mechanical shutters. Shooting with an electronic shutter can achieve a shutter speed faster than that of a mechanical shutter and a large number of shots per unit time (hereinafter referred to as frame speed) in continuous shooting. In addition, the digital camera can output shutter sounds in accordance with the operations corresponding to the front curtain and the rear curtain of the mechanical shutter in shooting with the electronic shutter. Patent Document 1 discloses a digital camera that outputs a shutter sound at the start and end of a shooting operation in shooting with an electronic shutter.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-44506

However, when shooting with an electronic shutter, if the shutter speed is increased, the shutter sound corresponding to the front curtain is output while the shutter sound corresponding to the rear curtain is output, and the shutter sound that is uncomfortable for the user is output. There was a risk of being killed.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to output a shutter sound that does not cause discomfort to the user even when shooting with an electronic shutter.

In order to solve the above problems, one of the imaging devices of the present invention includes an imaging means, an output means for outputting sound, and a control means for controlling the imaging means so as to repeatedly perform imaging. control means, in the process of repeatedly captured by the image pickup means, and outputting a first sound in response to starting the imaging, followed by outputting the second sound, the output to perform in each of the imaging The means is controlled, and in the process of repeatedly imaging by the imaging means, the control means performs the next imaging after starting one imaging and before finishing outputting the first sound and the second sound. When starting, the output means is controlled so as to output the first sound according to the completion of outputting the second sound instead of starting the imaging .

Further, in order to solve the above problems, one of the imaging devices of the present invention includes an imaging means, an output means for outputting sound, and a control means for controlling the imaging means so as to repeatedly perform imaging. The control means controls the output means so as to output a first sound in response to starting the first imaging and then to output a second sound in the process of repeatedly imaging by the imaging means. In the process of repeatedly imaging by the imaging means, the control means outputs the first sound in response to starting the next imaging every time the imaging means captures images a predetermined number of times, which is two or more times. It is characterized in that the output means is controlled so as to do so.

According to the present invention, it is possible to output a shutter sound that does not cause discomfort to the user even when shooting with an electronic shutter.

It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the digital camera in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the relationship between the exposure area of an image sensor, the shutter sound, and time in the case of pattern 1 in the continuous shooting by an electronic shutter in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the case of operation of a digital camera in 1st Embodiment, and a conditional expression. (A) It is a figure which shows an example of the relationship between the exposure area of an image sensor, the shutter sound, and time in the case of pattern 2 in the continuous shooting by an electronic shutter in 1st Embodiment. (B) It is a figure which shows an example of the output method of the shutter sound in the case of the pattern 2 in the continuous shooting by the electronic shutter in 1st Embodiment. (A) It is a figure which shows an example of the relationship between the exposure area of an image sensor, the shutter sound, and time in the case of pattern 3 in the continuous shooting by an electronic shutter in 1st Embodiment. (B) It is a figure which shows an example of the output method of the shutter sound in the case of the pattern 3 in the continuous shooting by the electronic shutter in 1st Embodiment. (A) It is a figure which shows an example of the relationship between the exposure area of an image sensor, the shutter sound, and time in the case of the pattern 4 in the continuous shooting by an electronic shutter in the 1st Embodiment. (B) It is a figure which shows an example of the output method of the shutter sound in the case of the pattern 4 in the continuous shooting by the electronic shutter in 1st Embodiment. (A) It is a figure which shows an example of the exposure area of an image sensor, and the relationship between a shutter sound and time when a delay time is set after a rear curtain sound in the continuous shooting by an electronic shutter in 1st Embodiment. (B) It is a figure which shows an example of the relationship between the exposure area of an image sensor, a shutter sound, and time when the interval ratio is an integer in the first embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the operation of the digital camera in 1st Embodiment. This is a display example of the display unit of the digital camera when the interval ratio in continuous shooting by the electronic shutter in the first embodiment is larger than 1.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a digital camera 100, which is an example of the image pickup apparatus of the present embodiment. Although a digital camera is described here as an example of an imaging device, the imaging device is not limited to this. For example, the image pickup device may be a device having an image pickup element such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal.

The control unit 101 controls each unit of the digital camera 100 according to the input signal and a program described later. Instead of the control unit 101 controlling the entire device, a plurality of hardware may share the processing to control the entire device.

The image pickup unit 102 is, for example, an optical lens unit, an optical system for controlling aperture, zoom, focus, etc., and an image pickup element for converting light (image) introduced through the optical lens unit into an electrical image signal. It is composed. As the image sensor, CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) or CCD (Charge Coupled Device) is generally used. When the image pickup unit 102 is controlled by the control unit 101, the subject light imaged by the lens included in the image pickup unit 102 is converted into an electric signal by the image pickup element, noise reduction processing and the like are performed, and the digital data is imaged. Output as data. In the present embodiment, a series of processes for capturing and outputting the image data is referred to as "shooting". Further, the rolling shutter method is adopted for the shooting by the electronic shutter in the present embodiment. In the digital camera 100 of the present embodiment, the image data is recorded on the recording medium 110 described later in accordance with the DCF (Design Rule for Camera File system) standard.

The non-volatile memory 103 is a non-volatile memory that can be electrically erased and recorded, and stores a program or the like described later executed by the control unit 101. Further, a shutter sound, which will be described later, is recorded in the non-volatile memory 103. This shutter sound is recorded in PCM format, MP3 format, or the like.

The working memory 104 is used as a buffer memory that temporarily holds image data captured by the imaging unit 102, an image display memory of the display unit 106, a work area of the control unit 101, and the like. The working memory 104 has a recording capacity sufficient to store a predetermined number of still images and moving images for a predetermined time. As a result, the digital camera 100 enables continuous shooting and panoramic shooting in which a plurality of still images are continuously shot.

The operation unit 105 is a user interface for receiving an instruction to the digital camera 100 from the user. The operation unit 105 includes, for example, a power button for instructing the user to turn on / off the power of the digital camera 100, a release switch for instructing shooting, a playback button for instructing reproduction of image data, and the like. Can be done. Further, the touch panel formed on the display unit 106 can also be included in the operation unit 105. By operating the operation unit 105, the user can change settings related to imaging such as shutter speed and frame speed. The release switch has SW1 and SW2. When the release switch is in the so-called half-pressed state, SW1 is turned on. As a result, a preparatory instruction for performing an imaging preparatory operation such as AF (autofocus) processing, AE (autoexposure) processing, AWB (auto white balance) processing, and EF (flash pre-flash) processing is received. Further, when the release switch is in the so-called fully pressed state, SW2 is turned on. By such a user operation, an imaging instruction for performing an imaging operation is received. Further, in the continuous shooting mode, the digital camera 100 repeatedly and continuously shoots still images at predetermined time intervals as much as possible while the SW2 is held down by the user operation. This continuous shooting is so-called continuous shooting.

The display unit 106 displays a viewfinder image at the time of shooting, displays captured image data, displays characters for interactive operations, and the like. The display unit 106 does not necessarily have to be built in the digital camera 100, and may be configured to be externally connected to the digital camera 100. The digital camera 100 may be connected to the internal or external display unit 106, and may have at least a display control function for controlling the display of the display unit 106.

The recording medium 110 may be configured to be detachable from the digital camera 100, or may be built in the digital camera 100. The digital camera 100 may have at least a means for accessing the recording medium 110.

The communication unit 111 is an interface for connecting to an external device. The digital camera 100 of the present embodiment can exchange data with an external device via the communication unit 111. For example, the image data generated by the imaging unit 102 can be transmitted to an external device via the communication unit 111. In the present embodiment, the communication unit 111 includes an interface for communicating with an external device by a so-called wireless LAN in accordance with the standard of IEEE802.11. The control unit 101 realizes wireless communication with an external device by controlling the communication unit 111. The communication method is not limited to the wireless LAN, and includes, for example, an infrared communication method.

The power supply unit 112 can supply electric power to each element of the digital camera 100 by being controlled by the control unit 101. The power supply unit 112 is, for example, a lithium ion battery, a battery, or the like.

The microphone 115 collects the user's voice, surrounding sounds, and the like. By analyzing the sound collected by the microphone 115, the control unit 101 can execute processing according to the collected sound. This is referred to as a voice assistant function in this embodiment. Generally, a device having a voice assistant function recognizes a predetermined word (so-called wake word) included in the collected sound, and then analyzes the sound following the wake word. In the present embodiment, the digital camera 100 transmits the collected sound to the server connected via the communication unit 111, and analyzes the content of the sound using the server. The digital camera 100 of the present embodiment recognizes a wake word in the device and analyzes the content of the sound following the wake word by using a server.

The speaker 116 can output sounds such as a shutter sound and a warning sound. In the present embodiment, the control unit 101 outputs a shutter sound, a warning sound, and the like by the speaker 116. In the present embodiment, the shutter sound is a sound output to notify the start and end of imaging in shooting with an electronic shutter. In the present embodiment, the shutter sound indicating the start of imaging is the first sound, and the shutter sound indicating the end of imaging is the second sound. In the present embodiment, each shutter sound is an onomatopoeia that resembles the sound of the front curtain opening and the sound of the rear curtain closing of the mechanical shutter. Hereinafter, the onomatopoeia that resembles the sound of the front curtain opening is referred to as the front curtain sound, and the onomatopoeia that resembles the sound of the rear curtain closing is referred to as the rear curtain sound. Further, the shutter sound may be significantly different in tone color, length, etc. from the actual sound of the mechanical shutter as long as the user can recognize the start and end of imaging. Further, the speaker 116 may be an interface for connecting to an external audio output device such as headphones or earphones. For example, the speaker 116 may be a terminal for wired connection such as an earphone jack, or an interface for wireless communication using Bluetooth (registered trademark) or the like. In this case, the user hears the shutter sound, the warning sound, and the like output to the earphones, headphones, and the like via the speaker 116.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the relationship between the exposure area of the image sensor of the image pickup unit 102 and the shutter sound and time in continuous shooting with an electronic shutter. Further, in FIG. 2, the shutter speed and the frame speed of the digital camera 100 are as fast as the mechanical shutter.

The time Te1 indicates the time when the electric charge accumulation in the image sensor, which is the operation of starting the exposure, is started. The time Te2 indicates the time when the reading of the electric charge in the image sensor, which is the operation of ending the exposure, is started. The time Ta1 is the time when the control unit 101 starts outputting the front curtain sound. The time Tb1 is the time when the control unit 101 starts outputting the rear curtain sound.

Hereinafter, the start of charge accumulation is referred to as an exposure start, and the start of charge reading is referred to as an exposure end. Further, the time from the start of one exposure to the start of the next exposure is defined as the exposure interval ΔT1 (= time Te3-time Te1), and the time from the start of exposure to the end of exposure is defined as the exposure time ΔT2 (= time Te2-time Te1). Further, the time interval for outputting the first curtain sound is ΔT3 (= time Ta3-time Ta1), and the time from the start of outputting the first curtain sound to the output of the second curtain sound is ΔT4 (= time Tb1-time Ta1). do. As shown in FIG. 2, the exposure time ΔT2 is set to be longer than the output time ΔTa (= time Ta2-time Ta1) of the front curtain sound. Further, the exposure interval ΔT1 is set to be longer than the sum of the exposure time ΔT2 and the output time ΔTb (= time Tb2-time Tb1) of the trailing curtain sound. In other words, in this case, the exposure time is equal to or longer than the output time of the front curtain sound.

Here, the time Ta1 is after the time Te1. Further, it is desirable that the time Ta1 is the same time as possible at the time Te1. This is because the front curtain sound is output at the timing when the imaging is started, so that the user can easily recognize that the imaging has started. The time Tb1 is after the time Ta2. Further, the time Tb1 is preferably the time when the exposure time ΔT2 has elapsed from the time Ta1. In this case, the time ΔT4 from the start of outputting the first curtain sound to the output of the second curtain sound is equal to the exposure time ΔT2. This is because the trailing curtain sound is output so as to match the timing at which the imaging is finished or the shutter speed, so that the user can easily recognize that the imaging is finished at the set shutter speed. The first curtain sound and the second curtain sound are output by the same processing in the second and subsequent imaging. In this case, the time interval ΔT3 for outputting the front curtain sound is equal to the exposure interval ΔT1.

As described above, when the shutter speed and the frame speed are the same as those of the mechanical shutter, the front curtain sound and the rear curtain sound can be output at the same timing as the mechanical shutter even when shooting with the electronic shutter. Therefore, the user can hear the shutter sound in the same way as the mechanical shutter even when shooting with the electronic shutter.

Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the operation of the digital camera 100 can be divided into several cases from the relationship of the exposure interval ΔT1, the exposure time ΔT2, the output time ΔTa of the front curtain sound, and the output time ΔTb of the rear curtain sound. ..

As shown in FIG. 3, the operation of the digital camera 100 can be divided into four cases according to the conditional expressions 1 to 3. Conditional expression 1 is an expression expressing the magnitude relationship between the exposure time ΔT2 and the output time ΔTa of the front curtain sound. Conditional expression 2 is an expression expressing the magnitude relationship between the exposure interval ΔT1 and the sum of the exposure time ΔT2 and the output time ΔTb of the trailing curtain sound. Conditional expression 3 is an expression expressing the magnitude relationship between the exposure interval ΔT1 and the sum of the output time ΔTa of the front curtain sound and the output time ΔTb of the rear curtain sound. Here, pattern 1 corresponds to the case described in FIG. Note that this pattern 1 includes a case of shooting at a shutter speed or a frame speed that cannot be achieved by a mechanical shutter, but even in such a case, the digital camera 100 may perform the same processing as described in FIG.

4 (A) and 4 (B) show an example of the relationship between the exposure area of the image sensor of the image pickup unit 102 and the shutter sound and time in pattern 2 of FIG. 3 in continuous shooting by the electronic shutter of the digital camera 100. It is a figure. When the rear curtain sound is output at the time when the exposure time ΔT2 elapses from the time Ta1 as in the case of the pattern 1, the output of the rear curtain sound starts during the output of the front curtain sound as shown in FIG. 4 (A). Therefore, the shutter sound becomes uncomfortable for the user. In other words, in this case, the exposure time is less than the output time of the front curtain sound.

Therefore, in the case of pattern 2, as shown in FIG. 4B, the digital camera 100 outputs the trailing curtain sound after the time Ta2. Here, it is desirable that the time Tb1 is the same time as possible at the time Ta2. When the time Tb1 is the same time as the time Ta2, the time ΔT4 from the start of outputting the front curtain sound to the output of the rear curtain sound is equal to the output time ΔTa of the front curtain sound. This is because the time ΔT4 from the start of outputting the first curtain sound to the output of the second curtain sound is as close as possible to the exposure time ΔT2. In this case, the time ΔT4 from the start of outputting the first curtain sound to the output of the second curtain sound is longer than the exposure time ΔT2. The time interval ΔT3 for outputting the front curtain sound is equal to the exposure interval ΔT1. Since the exposure interval ΔT1 is equal to or greater than the sum of the output time ΔTa of the front curtain sound and the output time ΔTb of the rear curtain sound, the time Ta3 is after the time Tb2. In other words, the first curtain sound of the next imaging is not output during the output of the second curtain sound.

As described above, in the case of the pattern 2, by operating the digital camera 100 as shown in FIG. 4 (B), it is possible to realize shooting with less discomfort for the user. In addition, the time from the start of outputting the first curtain sound to the output of the second curtain sound can be made as close as possible to the shutter speed.

5 (A) and 5 (B) are diagrams showing an example of the relationship between the exposure area of the image sensor of the image pickup unit 102 and the shutter sound and time in pattern 3 of FIG. 3 in continuous shooting with an electronic shutter. When the rear curtain sound is output at the time when the exposure time ΔT2 elapses from the time Ta1 as in the case of the pattern 1, the output of the front curtain sound starts during the output of the rear curtain sound as shown in FIG. 5 (A). Therefore, the shutter sound becomes uncomfortable for the user.

Therefore, in the case of the pattern 3, as shown in FIG. 5B, the digital camera 100 outputs the front curtain sound after the output of the previous rear curtain sound is completed. In this case, the time Ta3 is after the time Tb2. In other words, the time interval ΔT3 for outputting the first curtain sound is longer than the exposure interval ΔT1. It is desirable that the time ΔT4 from the start of outputting the front curtain sound to the output of the rear curtain sound is equal to the exposure time ΔT2.

Here, the reason why the exposure time ΔT2 is prioritized over the exposure interval ΔT1 is that when the output of the front curtain sound is generally started during the output of the rear curtain sound, the user cares more about the shutter speed than the frame speed. This is because it is thought that. This is because, in the case of a frame speed higher than that of the mechanical shutter, the number of images taken per unit time becomes very large, and it is difficult for the user to recognize the exact number of frame speeds. However, since the shutter speed indicates the exposure time of one imaging, the user can recognize the accurate speed of the shutter speed only by listening to the shutter sound once.

If the rear curtain sound is not output when the continuous shooting is completed, the digital camera 100 outputs the rear curtain sound after the continuous shooting is completed. In other words, if the last output sound at the end of continuous shooting is the front curtain sound, the digital camera 100 outputs the rear curtain sound after the continuous shooting is completed. For example, in the case shown in FIG. 5B, the digital camera 100 outputs the trailing curtain sound at the time Tb3 even when the continuous shooting is completed at the time Te4. As a result, the user always hears the trailing curtain sound before and after the end of continuous shooting, so that the user can shoot with less discomfort regarding the shutter sound.

As described above, in the case of the pattern 3, by operating the digital camera 100 as shown in FIG. 5 (B), it is possible to realize shooting with less discomfort for the user. In addition, the user can shoot with the same shutter speed as possible in the actual shooting.

6 (A) and 6 (B) are diagrams showing an example of the relationship between the exposure area of the image sensor of the image pickup unit 102 and the shutter sound and time in pattern 4 of FIG. 3 in continuous shooting with an electronic shutter. As shown in FIG. 6A, when the exposure interval ΔT1 is smaller than the sum of the output time ΔTa of the front curtain sound and the output time ΔTb of the rear curtain sound, the rear curtain sound before the output of the front curtain sound ends. It is the timing to output the front curtain sound, and it is the timing to output the front curtain sound before the output of the rear curtain sound is finished.

Therefore, in the case of the pattern 4, as shown in FIG. 6B, the digital camera 100 alternately outputs the front curtain sound and the rear curtain sound. In this case, it is desirable that the time ΔT4 from the start of outputting the first curtain sound to the output of the second curtain sound be as close as possible to the exposure interval ΔT2. This is to make the number of shutter sounds and the number of imagings match as much as possible.

Here, it is desirable that the ratio I (hereinafter referred to as the interval ratio I) of the time interval ΔT3 for outputting the front curtain sound of the digital camera 100 to the exposure interval ΔT1 is constant during continuous shooting. For example, since the digital camera 100 records the captured image in the working memory 104 during continuous shooting, the free space of the working memory 104 decreases when the continuous shooting time is long. When the free space of the working memory 104 is reduced, the digital camera 100 may reduce the frame speed. At this time, in order to keep the interval ratio I constant, as shown in FIG. 7A, the control unit 101 has a delay time D from the end of the output of the rear curtain sound to the start of the output of the front curtain sound. To insert. In this way, the digital camera 100 changes the time interval ΔT3 for outputting the front curtain sound according to the change in the exposure interval ΔT1, so that the user can notice that the setting for continuous shooting such as the frame speed has changed. .. Further, if the interval ratio I is constant, the user is more likely to notice the change. However, if the exposure interval ΔT1 becomes larger than a predetermined value, the shutter sound may not be output for a while. Therefore, the digital camera 100 may set an upper limit value for the time interval ΔT3 for outputting the front curtain sound. Further, the digital camera 100 may notify a warning when the time interval ΔT3 for outputting the front curtain sound reaches the upper limit value.

The digital camera 100 may allow the interval ratio I to be set to any value of the user. For example, when the interval ratio I is set to 2, as shown in FIG. 7B, a shutter sound is output once for every two imaging shots. Since the number of imagings can be calculated by multiplying the number of shutter sounds by the interval ratio I in this way, it becomes easier for the user to grasp the number of imagings, especially when the interval ratio I is an integer of 2 or more. However, when the interval ratio I becomes larger than a predetermined value, the shutter sound may not be output for a while because the time interval ΔT3 for outputting the front curtain sound becomes too large. Therefore, the digital camera 100 uses the interval ratio I. An upper limit may be set for. This upper limit value may be changed according to a setting such as a shutter speed.

FIG. 8 is an example of a flowchart in which the digital camera 100 determines the output intervals of the front curtain sound and the rear curtain sound in continuous shooting. This process is realized by expanding the software recorded in the non-volatile memory 103 to the working memory 104 and executing it by the control unit 101. Further, this process is started when the SW2 of the digital camera 100 is pressed in the continuous shooting mode.

In step S801, the control unit 101 refers to the setting in continuous shooting and reads the frame speed and the shutter speed.

In step S802, the control unit 101 compares the length of the exposure interval ΔT2 with the output time ΔTa of the front curtain sound. When ΔT2 ≧ ΔTa, the control unit 101 proceeds to step S803. When ΔT2 <ΔTa, the control unit 101 proceeds to step S804.

In step S803, the control unit 101 sets the time ΔT4 from the start of outputting the front curtain sound to the output of the rear curtain sound so that the exposure time ΔT2 or more. In the present embodiment, the control unit 101 is set so that the time ΔT4 from the start of outputting the front curtain sound to the output of the rear curtain sound is equal to the exposure time ΔT2.

In step S804, the control unit 101 sets the time ΔT4 from the start of outputting the front curtain sound to the output of the rear curtain sound so as to be equal to or greater than the output time ΔTa of the front curtain sound. In the present embodiment, the control unit 101 sets the time ΔT4 from the start of outputting the front curtain sound to the output of the rear curtain sound so as to be equal to the output time ΔTa of the front curtain sound.

By the process of step S803 or step S804, the digital camera 100 does not output the rear curtain sound during the output of the front curtain sound. Further, the digital camera 100 can make the time from the start of outputting the front curtain sound to the output of the rear curtain sound as close as possible to the shutter speed.

In step S805, the control unit 101 compares the exposure interval ΔT1 with the sum of the time ΔT4 from the start of outputting the front curtain sound to the output of the rear curtain sound and the output time ΔTb of the rear curtain sound. When ΔT1 ≧ ΔT4 + ΔTb, the control unit 101 proceeds to step S806. When ΔT1 <ΔT4 + ΔTb, the control unit 101 proceeds to step S807.

In step S806, the control unit 101 sets the interval ratio I to 1.

In step S807, the control unit 101 sets the interval ratio I so as to satisfy ΔT1 × I ≧ ΔT4 + ΔTb. For example, the control unit 101 calculates an interval ratio I that satisfies ΔT1 × I = ΔT4 + ΔTb, and sets the interval ratio I to be equal to or greater than the calculated value.

In step S808, the control unit 101 sets the time interval ΔT3 for outputting the front curtain sound to a value obtained by multiplying the exposure interval ΔT1 by the interval ratio I.

In step S809, the control unit 101 determines whether or not to change the shutter speed or the frame speed. When changing the shutter speed or the frame speed, the control unit 101 changes the shutter speed or the frame speed of continuous shooting, and proceeds to step S810. When the shutter speed or the frame speed is not changed, the control unit 101 proceeds to step S811.

In step S810, the control unit 101 changes the value of the time interval ΔT3 for outputting the front curtain sound according to the shutter speed or the frame speed changed in step S809. For example, when the frame speed is reduced, the control unit 101 increases the time interval ΔT3 for outputting the front curtain sound.

In step S811, the control unit 101 determines whether or not an operation for ending continuous shooting has been performed. For example, when SW2 is released, the control unit 101 ends continuous shooting. If no operation is performed to end the continuous shooting, the control unit 101 returns to step S809 and continues the continuous shooting. When an operation for ending continuous shooting is performed, the control unit 101 ends the process.

By the process of step S807 or step S808, the digital camera 100 can not start the output of the next front curtain sound during the output of the rear curtain sound. Therefore, the user can hear the shutter sound with less discomfort during continuous shooting.

The operation of the digital camera 100 for determining the output intervals of the front curtain sound and the rear curtain sound has been described above. By setting the time interval for outputting the first curtain sound and the second curtain sound in this way, the user can hear the shutter sound with less discomfort even in continuous shooting with a shutter speed faster than that of the mechanical shutter or a frame speed higher than that of the mechanical shutter.

Here, when the interval ratio I is larger than 1 in continuous shooting, the time interval ΔT3 for outputting the front curtain sound is longer than the actual frame speed, so that the user may not know the number of shots from the shutter sound alone. Therefore, the digital camera 100 may use the display unit 106 to notify the interval ratio. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the digital camera 100 displays the reciprocal 901 of the interval ratio I on the display unit 106. This shows the ratio of the number of shutter sounds to the actual frame speed. Alternatively, the digital camera 100 may display the interval ratio I as it is. Further, depending on whether the interval ratio I is 1 or larger than 1, the digital camera 100 may notify the user by changing the tone color of the front curtain sound or the rear curtain sound, outputting another sound, or the like. .. As a result, the user can determine whether or not the shutter sound is equal to the frame speed, which makes it easier to count the number of shots taken in continuous shooting.

<Other Embodiments>
The present invention supplies a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiment to a system or device via a network or storage medium, and one or more processors in the computer of the system or device reads and executes the program. It can also be realized by the processing to be performed. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment as it is, and at the implementation stage, the components can be modified and embodied within a range that does not deviate from the gist thereof. In addition, various inventions can be formed by an appropriate combination of the plurality of components disclosed in the above-described embodiment. For example, some components may be removed from all the components shown in the embodiments. In addition, components across different embodiments may be combined as appropriate.

Claims (18)

Imaging means and
And output means for outputting a sound,
It has a control means for controlling the image pickup means so as to repeatedly take an image.
Wherein, the in the process of repeatedly captured by the image pickup means, and outputting a first sound in response to starting the imaging, followed by outputting the second sound, to perform the respective imaging Control the output means,
When the control means starts the next imaging after starting one imaging and before finishing outputting the second sound in the process of repeatedly imaging by the imaging means, the control means does not start the imaging. An imaging device characterized in that the output means is controlled so as to output the first sound in response to the completion of outputting the second sound. When the first time from the start to the end of the exposure in one imaging is equal to or longer than the output time of the first sound in the process of repeatedly imaging by the image pickup means. The output means is controlled so as to output the second sound when the exposure is completed.
When the first time is less than the output time of the first sound in the process of repeatedly imaging by the image pickup means, the control means responds to the completion of outputting the first sound. Control the output means to output a second sound
The imaging device according to claim 1. In the process of repeatedly imaging by the imaging means, the control means measures the sum of the first time and the output time of the second sound and the output of the first sound at intervals of repeated imaging by the imaging means. If it is time to or greater than the sum of the output time of the second sound, and controls the output unit to output the first sound in response to starting the shooting image,
In the process of repeatedly imaging by the imaging means, the control means measures the interval of repeated imaging by the imaging means as the sum of the first time and the output time of the second sound or the output of the first sound. is less than the sum of the output time of the time between the second sound, the controller controls the output unit to output the first sound depending especially has finished outputting the previous SL second sound The imaging apparatus according to claim 2. While repeatedly imaged by the imaging means, Repetitive returns situ you increase the interval at which the imaging case, the control unit controls so that said output means to increase the time interval for outputting the first sound The imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the image pickup apparatus is characterized by the above. When the output means increases the time interval for outputting the first sound , the control means said that the first is after a predetermined time has elapsed after the output of the second sound by the output means is completed. The imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the output means is controlled so as to output the sound of the above. Any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the control means controls the output means so that the ratio between the interval of repeated imaging by the imaging means and the time interval of outputting the first sound is constant. The imaging apparatus according to item 1. It also has a display
The imaging device according to claim 6 , wherein the control means displays a value related to the ratio on the display unit. The imaging device according to claim 6 or 7 , wherein the control means sets a value of the ratio by accepting a user operation. At the timing at which processing is completed you repeatedly captured by the imaging unit, if the sound output at the end by said output means of said first sound, the control means finally outputs the said first sound The imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the output means is controlled so as to output the second sound after the second sound. Before SL imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 interval for repeatedly captured by the image capturing means, which is a reciprocal of the number of photographs per unit time in the continuous shooting 9. From claim 1, the first sound is a sound that resembles the sound that the front curtain of the mechanical shutter opens, and the second sound is a sound that resembles the sound that the rear curtain of the mechanical shutter closes. The imaging apparatus according to any one of 10. Imaging means and
Output means to output sound and
It has a control means for controlling the image pickup means so as to repeatedly take an image.
The control means controls the output means so as to output a first sound in response to starting the first imaging and then to output a second sound in the process of repeatedly imaging by the imaging means.
The control means outputs the first sound in response to starting the next imaging every time the imaging means captures images a predetermined number of times, which is two or more times, in the process of repeatedly imaging by the imaging means. To control the output means
An imaging device characterized by this. Has more display means,
The control means controls the display means so as to display the predetermined number of times in the process of repeatedly imaging by the image pickup means.
The imaging apparatus according to claim 12. The control means sets an upper limit value at the predetermined number of times according to the shutter speed in the process of repeatedly imaging by the imaging means.
The imaging device according to claim 12 or 13. The control means controls the image pickup means so as to take an image with an electronic shutter in a process of repeatedly taking an image by the image pickup means.
The imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 14. Imaging means and
It is a control method of an image pickup apparatus having an output means for outputting sound.
In the process of repeatedly captured by the image pickup means, and outputting a first sound in response to starting the imaging, followed by outputting the second sound, and controls the output means to perform in each of the imaging Steps and
In the process of repeatedly imaging by the imaging means, when the next imaging is started before the first sound and the second sound are output after the start of one imaging, the imaging can be started. A step of controlling the output means so as to output the first sound in response to the completion of outputting the second sound.
A control method characterized by having. Imaging means and
It is a control method of an image pickup apparatus having an output means for outputting sound.
In the process of repeatedly imaging by the imaging means, a step of controlling the output means to output a first sound in response to starting the first imaging and then outputting a second sound.
In the process of repeatedly captured by the previous SL imaging means, every time a predetermined number of times imaging is two or more times by said image pickup means, said output means to output the first sound in response to start the next imaging And the steps to control
A control method characterized by having. A computer-readable program for operating a computer as each means of the imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 15.

Images