JP2007104038A - Imaging apparatus, high speed start photographing method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus, a high speed start photographing method, and a program whereby photographing at a momentary photo opportunity can be attained by decreasing a time from the application of power until photographing to the utmost extent and no interruption of photographing caused by a dead battery is caused. <P>SOLUTION: When a shutter key is fully depressed (S1) in the case that a power supply of a digital camera provided with an optical zoom function and an automatic focus function is turned off, power is turned on (S2). When a power supply voltage reaches a prescribed value or over, processing blocks essential to the photographing among various processing blocks started at the photographing are divided into some groups which are started in parallel (S4 to S8), when starting is finished, a first picture is photographed (S9), the other processing blocks are started (S10), a liquid crystal monitor screen 4 is driven (S11), and the photographed picture is displayed (S12). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a high-speed startup shooting technique for an imaging apparatus when shooting is performed with an imaging apparatus such as a digital camera.

  In an imaging device such as a digital camera, there is a technique in which a release button operation is performed without pressing a power switch to enable a photographing state (see, for example, Patent Document 1). According to this technique, even if the photographing is stopped, if the shutter key is pressed, power is supplied and the photographing is possible without turning on the power switch.

  In addition, in order to shorten the time from when the photographer gets a photo opportunity to when shooting is performed, a switch that can be used for immediate shooting is provided, which is different from the power switch. There is one in which various mechanism units incorporated in the imaging apparatus are shifted to a state in which imaging can be immediately performed in a sequence different from that of turning on the power switch (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

  Also, in order to shorten the startup time until the camera can be turned on and the camera can be shot at system startup, the minimum startup program necessary for starting up the CCD imaging system is executed to enable shooting, and shooting operations are performed. In such a case, there is a digital camera that stores captured image data in a buffer memory and executes the remaining activation program including a program for acquiring information on a recording medium (see, for example, Patent Document 3). .

JP 07-013222 A JP 2003-295282 A JP 2003-189165 A

  Since many commercially available digital cameras are equipped with a wide variety of functions, it is necessary to activate a shooting mode function among these functions from power-on to shooting. In the case of a digital camera having a high-speed activation function, for example, as shown in the activation sequence of FIG. 8, since it takes time to activate the lens, system activation (that is, reading and execution of an activation program) (P1) and The through image display (P2) and the CCD imaging system activation (Q1 to Q5) are executed in parallel, and the imaging is enabled, and imaging is performed after the shutter key (release button) is operated.

  The technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 uses a release button instead of a power switch. When this technique is applied to a digital camera currently on the market as described above, the release button is operated to turn on the power. Since it is necessary to start up the shooting functions sequentially, there is a problem in that it takes too much time to move from the release button operation to the shooting ready state, and there is a possibility of missing a momentary photo opportunity. Further, since the voltage of the battery being used is not checked, there is a possibility that the start-up is interrupted due to a shortage of the battery voltage during the start-up. -

  Further, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2, a switch capable of immediate shooting that operates when the camera is held is provided, so that the photographer can turn on the power just by holding the camera body, and is incorporated in the imaging apparatus. Since the mechanism is activated sequentially, you can take a picture with a momentary shutter chance as long as you hold the camera body, but after you hold the camera (that is, after pressing the ready-to-shoot switch) When the time until the key is pressed is long, it is necessary to repeat several operations of various mechanisms incorporated in the image pickup apparatus, so that there is a problem that battery consumption is accelerated. Further, since the voltage of the battery used is not checked as in the case of Patent Document 1, the battery is consumed while waiting for a photo opportunity while the power is on, and there is a possibility that start-up is interrupted due to insufficient battery voltage. was there.

  Further, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 3, when a power is turned on, a minimum program for starting up the CCD image pickup system is taken in and executed, and shooting is performed when the release button is pressed, and the shot image is buffered. After memorizing in memory, you can capture and execute the rest of the startup program without starting up all the startup programs, reducing the time from power-on to shooting ready state However, since the voltage of the battery used is not checked in the same manner as in Patent Documents 1 and 2, there is a possibility that start-up interruption may occur due to a shortage of battery voltage while waiting for a photo opportunity. In addition, even if shooting is possible, the remaining startup program cannot be fetched and executed after shooting due to battery exhaustion, and there is a possibility that the image captured in the buffer memory cannot be recorded on the recording medium. .

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problem, and shortens the time from power-on to shooting as much as possible to enable shooting at an instant photo opportunity and stop shooting due to battery exhaustion. An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus, a fast start-up imaging method, and a program that do not cause the occurrence of the problem.

In order to solve the above-described problem, in the invention described in claim 1, in an imaging device that captures an image of a subject and generates and records the image data, among a plurality of imaging mechanism components that are activated at the time of shooting, A plurality of essential activation groups obtained by grouping imaging mechanism components that require activation, activation means associated with each imaging mechanism component, power supply voltage detection means for detecting a power supply voltage, and power supply voltage detection And a start control means for controlling the start by each start means and starting the essential start groups in parallel in a predetermined sequence when the power supply voltage detected by the means is equal to or higher than a predetermined value. An imaging device is provided.
As a result, the startup process required before shooting is divided into several groups and the startup process is performed in parallel, so the time from power-on to shooting of the first image can be extremely shortened, Never miss a photo opportunity. In addition, the battery is burdened because each drive unit is driven simultaneously during the startup process, but the power supply voltage required for the startup process performed in parallel is checked, and the power supply voltage is a predetermined value (that is, the startup process performed in parallel). Since only the indispensable start-up process is performed before shooting only when the power supply voltage is higher than the necessary power supply voltage), the start-up process is not interrupted in the middle.

In the invention according to claim 2, the activation control means controls the activation by each activation means, the means for determining the combination of the essential activation groups according to the width of the power supply voltage detected by the power supply voltage detection means. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: means for activating the essential activation group after the combination is determined in parallel.
This places a burden on the battery to drive each drive unit at the same time during the startup process, but the number of groups to be started can be changed according to the width of the power supply voltage required for the startup process performed in parallel. Even if the voltage is low, essential startup processing can be performed in parallel before shooting. In addition, the start-up time differs depending on whether the power supply voltage is high or low, but the start-up process is not interrupted midway.

In the invention according to claim 3, the starting means is associated with each of an imaging system for obtaining image data from an imaging signal obtained by photoelectrically converting an image formed by the optical system and an optical system including a single focus lens. An imaging apparatus according to claim 1 is provided.
As a result, with a single-focus camera, the power is turned on by a shutter operation, and the minimum start-up process necessary for shooting is performed, so that the time from the power-on to the shooting of the first image is reduced. Compared to, it can be made extremely short, so you never miss a momentary photo opportunity.

In addition, in the invention according to claim 4, the activation control means further requires the activation by each activation means when the power supply voltage V detected by the power supply voltage detection means is less than the first predetermined value. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for activating activation groups in parallel in another sequence.
As a result, even in the normal shooting mode, the startup process required for shooting is divided into several groups and the startup process is performed in parallel, so that the startup process time can be minimized. In addition, since the respective driving units are driven simultaneously during the startup process, the battery is burdened. However, the power supply voltage necessary for the startup process performed in parallel is checked. If the power supply voltage is equal to or higher than the first predetermined value, the battery is charged in parallel. The number of groups to be activated is increased, and when the power supply voltage is lower than the first predetermined value, the number of groups to be activated in parallel is reduced to perform the activation processing necessary for shooting. Although the start-up time is different when it is low, the start-up process is not interrupted midway.

Further, the invention described in claim 5 includes: a shooting instruction operation means for giving a shooting instruction; and a shooting instruction operation detection means for detecting the presence or absence of a shooting instruction operation by the shooting instruction operation means when the power is off. The power supply voltage detecting means detects the power supply voltage when an operation of the shooting instruction operation means is detected by the shooting instruction operation detecting means, and the activation control means detects the operation of the shooting instruction operation means by the shooting instruction operation detecting means. And when the power supply voltage value detected by the power supply voltage detection means is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the activation by each activation means is controlled to activate a plurality of essential activation groups in parallel in a predetermined sequence. An imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 is provided.
As a result, when the power is turned off, it is turned on by the shooting instruction operation, and the startup processing required before shooting is divided into several groups and the startup processing is performed in parallel. Since there is no need to perform shooting instruction operations (press the shutter button) after starting up as in the case of shooting in the shooting mode, the time from power-on to shooting of the first image is extremely short, and the photo opportunity There is no such thing as missing.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the imaging apparatus according to the fifth aspect, wherein the photographing instruction operation means is a shutter key and includes a lock means for locking the shutter key.
As a result, when the shutter key is operated, the power is turned on and parallel activation processing is executed.However, when the imaging device is not used, for example, the shutter key touches something while being carried and the shutter key is pressed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the phenomenon that the power is turned on and the battery is consumed.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, a start instruction means for giving a start instruction, a start instruction detecting means for detecting presence / absence of a start instruction operation by the start instruction means when the power is off, and an essential start by each start means 5. An imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising imaging control means for imaging when activation of the group is completed.
As a result, even in the normal shooting mode, the startup time before shooting can be shortened, so that it is possible to deal with a photo opportunity.

The invention according to claim 8 further includes display means for displaying the photographed image after the photographing by the photographing control means is completed. The imaging apparatus according to claim 5 or 7 is provided. .
As a result, the first image is taken immediately after the start-up process performed within a very short time, so there is a possibility that the composition is not good, the subject protrudes from the shooting screen, or blurring occurs. Since the photographed image is automatically displayed after photographing, the user can select whether or not to record the image after confirming the photographing condition of the image.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in an imaging apparatus that shoots an object, generates image data thereof, and records the same, a power source voltage detecting unit that detects a power source voltage, and a power source voltage detected by the power source voltage detecting unit Activation control means for executing a predetermined activation sequence when the predetermined activation sequence is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, and the activation control means includes a plurality of activation operations included in the predetermined activation sequence when executing the predetermined activation sequence. The image pickup apparatus is characterized by preferentially executing a start-up operation of a portion essential for photographing.
As a result, when the power supply voltage is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, only the essential part of the predetermined start-up sequence is started, so the time from the power-on to the shooting of the first image can be extremely shortened. Never miss a chance.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in an imaging apparatus that shoots a subject and generates and records the image data, a power supply voltage detecting means for detecting a power supply voltage, and a power supply voltage detected by the power supply voltage detecting means Activation control means for executing a predetermined activation sequence when the predetermined activation sequence is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and the activation control means includes a plurality of activations included in the predetermined activation sequence when executing the predetermined activation sequence. An imaging apparatus characterized by performing operations in parallel is provided.
As a result, the required startup process is divided into several groups and the startup sequence is executed in parallel, so the battery is burdened, but the power supply voltage required for the startup process performed in parallel is checked, Only when the voltage is higher than the predetermined value (that is, the power supply voltage necessary for the startup process performed in parallel), only the required startup process is performed before shooting, so the startup process is interrupted during startup. Does not occur.

The invention according to claim 11 further comprises means for issuing a warning when the power supply voltage detected by the power supply voltage detection means is less than a predetermined value. I will provide a.
Thereby, when the battery voltage is insufficient at the time of high-speed shooting, the user can replace the battery with a warning, so that it is possible to prevent the activation process from being interrupted during the activation.

The invention according to claim 12 further comprises means for executing a startup sequence different from the fast startup sequence when the power supply voltage detected by the power supply voltage detection means is less than a predetermined value. An imaging apparatus according to 9 or 10 is provided.
As a result, when the battery voltage is insufficient during high-speed shooting, it is possible to start up with a startup sequence (normal startup sequence) different from the high-speed startup sequence, so that startup processing is interrupted during high-speed startup. It can be prevented beforehand.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a high-speed image capturing method in an image capturing apparatus that captures an image of a subject, generates image data thereof, and records the image data. The imaging mechanism components that must be activated before are grouped together, the activation means for the essential imaging mechanism components are respectively associated with the imaging mechanism components that are essential, the power supply voltage is detected, and the detected power supply voltage Fast start shooting, characterized in that when each required start group is started in parallel by controlling the start by each start means and when the start of each required start group is completed Provide a method.
As a result, the startup process required before shooting is divided into several groups and the startup process is performed in parallel, so the time from power-on to shooting of the first image can be extremely shortened, Never miss a photo opportunity. In addition, each drive unit is driven at the same time during the startup process, so there is a burden on the battery, but the power supply voltage required for the startup process performed in parallel is checked, and is required only before shooting only when the power supply voltage is above the specified value. Since only the starting process is performed, the starting process is not interrupted in the middle.

According to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a high-speed image capturing method in an imaging apparatus that captures an image of a subject, generates image data thereof, and records the detected image, the power supply voltage is detected, and the detected power supply voltage is a predetermined value or more. In this case, there is provided a high-speed startup imaging method characterized by preferentially executing a startup operation of a portion essential for imaging among a plurality of startup operations included in a predetermined startup sequence.
As a result, it is possible to preferentially activate only the part of the predetermined activation sequence that is essential for photographing, so that the time from power-on to photographing of the first image can be extremely shortened, and a photo opportunity is missed. There is nothing.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a high-speed image capturing method in an imaging apparatus that captures an object, generates image data thereof, and records the detected object, the power supply voltage is detected, and the detected power supply voltage is a predetermined value. There is provided a high-speed startup imaging method characterized in that a plurality of startup operations included in a predetermined startup sequence are executed in parallel in the above case.
Thereby, a starting sequence can be performed in parallel. The battery is burdened at startup, but the power supply voltage required for the startup process performed in parallel is checked, and the startup process is performed only when the power supply voltage is higher than the power supply voltage necessary for executing the startup sequence in parallel. Therefore, the activation process is not interrupted during the activation.

In the invention according to claim 16, the computer of the imaging device to be recorded has a function of detecting the power supply voltage and a plurality of start operations included in the predetermined start sequence when the detected power supply voltage is equal to or higher than a predetermined value. There is provided a program characterized by executing a function that preferentially executes a starting operation of a part essential for photographing.
As a result, when the power supply voltage is equal to or higher than the predetermined value, the imaging apparatus can preferentially start only the part essential for shooting in the predetermined startup sequence, so that the time from power-on to shooting of the first image can be minimized. It can be shortened, so you never miss a photo opportunity.

According to the seventeenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a function of detecting a power supply voltage in a computer of an image pickup apparatus that shoots a subject, generates image data thereof, and records the same, and the detected power supply voltage is a predetermined value or more. And a function for executing a plurality of startup operations included in the predetermined startup sequence in parallel.
Thereby, the imaging device can execute the startup sequence in parallel. The battery is burdened at startup, but the power supply voltage required for the startup process performed in parallel is checked, and the startup process is performed only when the power supply voltage is higher than the power supply voltage necessary for executing the startup sequence in parallel. Therefore, the activation process is not interrupted during the activation.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to divide the essential start-up processing before shooting into several groups and perform the start-up processing in parallel, so that the time from the power-on to the shooting of the first image is extremely shortened. And never miss a photo opportunity. In addition, each drive unit is driven at the same time during the startup process, so there is a burden on the battery, but the power supply voltage required for the startup process performed in parallel is checked, and is required only before shooting only when the power supply voltage is above the specified value. Since only the starting process is performed, the starting process is not interrupted in the middle.

(Embodiment 1)
In this embodiment, when a digital camera having an optical zoom function and an autofocus function is turned off, the power is turned on when the shutter key is fully pressed. When the power supply voltage is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, among the various processing blocks activated at the time of photographing, only the essential ones for photographing are divided into several groups and operated in parallel. Take one image and activate other processing blocks. The second and subsequent images are subject to the normal shooting operation of a digital camera with an autofocus function, that is, the zoom operation performed as necessary, the autofocus and autoiris processing by half-pressing the shutter key, and the full press of the shutter key. Taken.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an external appearance of a digital camera that is an embodiment of an imaging apparatus according to the present invention, and here mainly shows the external appearance of the front surface (FIG. 1 (a)) and the back surface (FIG. 1 (b)). .
As shown in FIG. 1A, the digital camera 100 includes a strobe light emitting unit 1 and an imaging lens (lens group) 2 on the front side. Further, as shown in FIG. 1B, the back of the digital camera 100 has a mode dial 3, a liquid crystal monitor screen 4, a cursor key 5, a SET key 6, a zoom button 7 (W button 7-1, T button 7- 2) etc. are provided. In addition, a shutter key 8 and a power button 9 are provided on the top surface, and a USB terminal connection used when connecting to a USB cable with an external device such as a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a personal computer) or a modem is provided on the side, although not shown. Is provided.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the circuit configuration of the digital camera 100. As shown in FIG. The digital camera 100 has a zoom function and an autofocus (AF) function, and has a lens block 11 for realizing the function.
The lens block 11 includes a lens group 2 composed of a zoom lens and a focus lens arranged so as to be movable in the optical axis direction, and a position detection sensor 12 for a zoom position (zoom step number) and a focus position in the lens group 2. 13, a zoom motor 14 that moves the zoom lens, a focus motor 15 that moves the focus lens, a diaphragm actuator 16 that opens and closes a diaphragm (not shown), and a shutter actuator 17 that opens and closes the mechanical shutter. . Further, the motors and actuators 14 to 17 described above are driven by zoom (ZOOM), focus (Focus), aperture (Iris), and shutter (Shutter) drivers 21 to 24 provided in the driver block 20, respectively. Driven.

  The position detection sensors 12 and 13 and the drivers 21 to 24 of the driver block 20 are operated by a control signal from the lens control block 55, and information such as sensor output and motor rotation speed is controlled by the control unit via the lens control block 55. (CPU / ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit)) 50.

  The digital camera 100 includes a CCD 31, which is an image pickup device disposed mainly behind the photographing optical axis of the lens group 2, a CDS (Correlated Double Sampling) / AD block 32, and a TG (Timing Generator) 33. A CCD imaging system block 30 is provided. When the digital camera is set to the recording mode, the CCD 31 photoelectrically converts the optical image of the subject formed by the lens group 2 and scan-driven by the TG 33 to output a photoelectric conversion output for one screen at a certain period. To do. The CDS / AD block 32 performs noise removal and conversion into a digital signal by performing correlated double sampling on an analog output signal that has been gain-adjusted appropriately for each RGB color component after being output from the CCD 31. Output to 40. The CCD is a kind of imaging device and may be another device such as a CMOS.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the audio system block 35 includes a microphone (MIC) 36 that inputs audio and converts it into an analog audio signal, and an A / A that converts the analog audio signal into a digital audio signal and sends it to the control unit 50. An audio input system including a D converter (ADC) 37 and the like, a D / A converter (DAC) 38 that converts a digital audio signal into an analog audio signal, and an analog audio signal received from the control unit 50 are converted into audio. And a sound output system composed of a speaker 39 and the like that reproduces, amplifies and outputs to the outside. The sound recording and the shooting operation are performed in parallel, and the recording operation is continued even when the moving image shooting mode is paused and switched to the still image shooting mode, and is continued even after the moving image shooting is resumed. The voice signal sent to the control unit 50 via the microphone 36 and the A / D converter 37 is input to the work memory 60, and the compressed video file is compressed after being subjected to voice compression processing during recording. At the same time, a moving image file (moving image data + audio data) is recorded and stored in a recording medium (for example, an SD card) that is detachably attached to the image recording unit 80.

  The color process circuit 40 performs color process processing for performing pixel interpolation processing on the input image pickup signal, generates a digital luminance signal (Y) and color difference signals (Cb, Cr), and is a control means of the present invention. To the control unit 50 that controls the entire digital camera 100.

In the still image shooting mode, the JPEG / MPEG unit 45 performs ADCT (Adaptive Discrete Cosine Transform), Huffman coding, which is an entropy coding method, on still image data captured in the work memory 60 during recording. Data compression is performed by such processing. The obtained code data is output as a data file for one image, and is recorded and stored in the SD card of the image recording unit 80.
In the moving image shooting mode, the JPEG / MPEG unit 45 compresses a series of moving image data captured in the work memory 60 by the MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) method or the like during recording. The obtained code data is output as a data file for one image, and is recorded and stored in the SD card of the image recording unit 80.

The JPEG / MPEG unit 45 supports a plurality of compression ratios, and the mode corresponding to the compression ratio is a mode corresponding to a high resolution (generally called high precision, fine, normal, etc.) with a low compression ratio. And a low-resolution (commonly called economy) mode with a high compression ratio.
It also supports high to low pixel counts. It also supports high to low pixel counts. For example, QXGA (Quad eXtended Graphics Array (2048 × 1536)), UXGA (Ultra eXtended Graphics Array (1600 × 1200)), SXGA + (SXGA Plus (1400 × 1050)), SXGA (Super eXtended Graphics Array (1280 × 1024)) )), XGA (eXtended Graphics Array (1024 × 786)), SVGA (Super Video Graphics Array (800 × 600)), VGA (Video Graphics Array (640 × 480)), QVGA (Quarter VGA (320 × 240)) , Etc. There is a pixel size called.

  The control unit 50 is actually a microprocessor including a program storage memory such as a RAM and a ROM, an internal memory such as a flash memory, various arithmetic processing circuits, a data input / output interface, and the like. The sent digital signal (image signal) is temporarily stored in a work memory 60 such as a DRAM and sent to the image display unit 70. Then, along with the compression processing of the luminance and color difference signals for one frame and the writing of all the compressed data to the recording medium (for example, SD card) of the image recording unit 80, the control unit 50 passes the path from the CCD 31 to the work memory 60. Start again

  The control unit 50 controls the lens control block 55 with various drivers of the driver block 20 based on various lens operation control programs stored in the program storage memory, operation signals from the sub-microcomputer 90, and the like. Drive signals to be sent to 21 to 24 are generated, thereby controlling high-speed startup shooting based on the present invention, position control of the zoom lens and focus lens, aperture opening, and mechanical opening / closing operation. At that time, the position information of the zoom lens and the focus lens detected by the position detection sensors 12 and 13 for the zoom position and the focus position is sequentially input to the control unit 50 via the lens control block 55.

  The image display unit 70 includes a video encoder, a VRAM controller, a VRAM, a liquid crystal monitor screen 4 and a driving circuit thereof. The video display unit 70 generates a video signal based on the transmitted digital signal by the video encoder and picks up a display image based on the generated video signal, that is, the CCD 31. The through image of the subject, menu data, and the like are displayed on the liquid crystal monitor screen 4.

The image display unit 70 functions as a monitor display unit (electronic finder), and performs display based on the video signal from the video encoder, so that the image based on the image information captured from the VRAM controller at that time is displayed. Will be displayed in real time.
In this manner, when the shutter key 8 is operated in a so-called through image display state in which the image at that time is displayed in real time on the image display unit 70, a trigger signal is generated.

In response to this trigger signal, the control unit 50 immediately follows the path from the CCD 31 to the work memory 60 after the DMA transfer of the luminance and color difference signals for one screen captured from the CCD 31 to the work memory 60 is completed. Stop and transition to record save state.
Specifically, the image recording unit 80 includes a card interface and various nonvolatile memory cards (for example, SD cards) that are connected to the control unit 50 via the card interface and are detachably attached to the camera body. The The image data recorded in the image recording unit 80 is read to the control unit 50 in the reproduction mode, decompressed by the JPEG / MPEG unit 45, sent to the image display unit 70, and displayed on the liquid crystal monitor screen 4. .

  The sub-microcomputer 90 is composed of a sub CPU / ASIC (not shown) that sends signals corresponding to the operation of various keys provided in the key circuit 95 to the control unit 50. Further, the sub-microcomputer 90 performs on / off control of the power supply circuit 96, detects the voltage of the battery 97, and sends the detection result to the control unit 50. Further, the sub-microcomputer 90 sends a status signal (hereinafter, key information) indicating the status of each key to the control unit 50 as necessary.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the key circuit 95 includes a mode dial 3, a liquid crystal monitor screen 4, a cursor key 5, a SET key 6, a zoom button 7 (W button 7-1, T button 7-2), and a shutter key 8. , And a power button 9 are provided. When these keys are operated, a signal corresponding to the key type and operation state is output to the sub-microcomputer 90.

  The mode dial 3 is a button for switching between the movie shooting mode and the still image shooting mode with one touch. When the mode dial 3 is pressed during movie shooting, the mode is changed to the still image shooting mode. When the mode dial 3 is pressed during still image shooting, the movie shooting is performed. It becomes a mode.

  The cursor key 5 is a key operated when pointing (designating) a menu or icon displayed on the liquid crystal monitor screen 4 with the cursor when setting a mode or selecting a menu. Can be moved to. The SET key 6 is a confirmation key that is pressed when the item displayed by the cursor key 5 is selected or set or confirmed.

  The zoom button 7 is used for zoom operation. In the case of optical zoom, the zoom lens (variable focal length lens) 12 is set to the wide side corresponding to the operation of the zoom button 7 (W button 7-1 or T button 7-2). Further, the zoom value is determined by moving to the tele side, the angle of view actually changes following the change of the zoom value, and a wide (wide angle) image or a tele (telephoto) image is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor screen 4. . In the case of digital zoom, the zoom value is determined in response to the operation of the zoom buttons 7-1 and 7-2, but the actual angle of view does not change, and the LCD monitor screen 4 has an image of a size corresponding to the zoom value. Is cropped and displayed.

  The shutter key 8 performs a release operation at the time of shooting. The shutter key 8 has a two-step stroke. When the power is turned on, the first step (half-pressed state) causes autofocus (AF) and automatic exposure (AE). ) And a shooting instruction signal for performing shooting processing in the second stage operation (fully pressed state). Further, when the second stage operation (fully pressed state) is performed when the power is off, the fast start shooting function of the present invention is executed, the power is turned on, and the first image is shot by the high speed start. . The second and subsequent images are subject to through-image display and zoom processing based on the zoom operation that is performed as necessary, similar to when the power is turned on, and then autofocus and automatic exposure by the first-stage operation (half-pressed state). And shooting is performed by the second stage operation (fully pressed state). As a result, when the user does not use the camera, for example, in the pocket, even if the shutter key 8 is accidentally pressed, shooting is not performed unless the shutter key 8 is fully pressed. Consumption can be prevented.

  The key 10 is a key that functions as a menu key. When the key 10 is pressed, functions that can be selected at that time are displayed in a menu, and the user can select a menu displayed by a cursor operation or the like. Further, the key 10 can be used as a start instruction means before photographing.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an outline of the operation at the time of shooting of the digital camera 100 according to the present embodiment. This flowchart is for explaining a program for causing the computer of the digital camera 100 to realize the fast start shooting function of the present invention. Is. The processing shown below is basically described by an example in which the control unit 50 executes in accordance with a program stored in advance in a program storage memory such as a flash memory, but it is not necessary to store all functions in the program storage memory. Accordingly, a part or all of the information may be received via a network. Hereinafter, description will be given with reference to FIGS.

  When the digital camera 100 is turned off and the user fully presses the shutter key 8 (step S1), the sub-microcomputer 90 controls the power supply circuit 96 to turn on the power (step S2).

  The controller 50 reads from the program storage memory a program for starting the minimum system for photographing into the RAM, and then proceeds to step S4. Here, the minimum system to be activated is a CCD imaging system drive start process in step S6, an initial drive process (excluding zoom lens drive) of various lenses in step S7, and a zoom lens initial drive process in step S8. In addition to the CCD imaging system driving process program, the lens driving process program, and the zoom lens driving program for performing the processes in steps S6, S7, and S8, the program read in this step is the battery voltage determination in the following step S4. And a program for performing parallel processing control such as step S5 (step S3).

  The control unit 50 checks the battery voltage detection signal from the sub-microcomputer 90. If the voltage of the battery 97 is equal to or higher than a predetermined value V1 (for example, 3.6V), the control unit 50 proceeds to step S5. . Note that the predetermined value (= threshold value) of the battery voltage is not limited to 3.6 V as long as it is a voltage required to operate the minimum activation processes (or groups of activation processes) necessary for shooting in parallel. Step S4).

  When the battery voltage is equal to or higher than the predetermined value, the control unit 50 performs the CCD drive start process in step S6, the initial drive process (excluding zoom lens drive) of various lenses in step S7, and the zoom lens initial drive process in step S8. The parallel processing is controlled, and when each processing is completed, the process proceeds to step S9. At this time, the control unit 50 sends a control signal (drive start signal) to the CCD image pickup system 30 and the lens control block 55 to start the drive of the CCD image pickup system 30 in step S6. The driver block 20 starts the zoom lens initial drive in step S8 (step S5).

  Since the control unit 50 sends a drive start signal to the TG (timing generator) 33 of the CCD imaging system 30 in step S5, the TG 33 that has received the drive start signal from the control unit 50 starts scanning the CCD 31. As a result, the CCD 31 photoelectrically converts the optical image of the subject imaged by the lens group 2 and scan-driven by the TG 33 to start photoelectric conversion output at regular intervals. Further, the CDS / AD block 32 removes noise by correlated double sampling with respect to an analog output signal whose gain is appropriately adjusted for each RGB color component after being output from the CCD 31, and converts it into a digital signal and a color process circuit. The output to 40 is started, and the process proceeds to step S9 (step S6).

  In step S5, the control unit 50 sends a drive start signal (shutter drive start signal) to the shutter driver 24 via the lens control block 55, and drives the shutter actuator 17 to open the mechanical shutter (OPEN). When the shutter driver 24 detects the end of opening of the mechanical shutter, it sends a shutter opening end signal to the control unit 50 (step S7-1).

  Upon receipt of the shutter opening end signal, the control unit 50 sends an iris (aperture) drive start signal to the iris driver 23 via the lens control block 55, and drives the aperture actuator 16 to reduce the aperture (close the iris). (CLOSE)). When the iris motor driver 23 detects the end of the aperture, it sends an aperture end signal to the control unit 50 (step S7-2).

  When the control unit 50 receives the aperture end signal, it sends a focus initialization start signal to the focus driver 22 via the lens control block 55 and drives the focus motor 15 to move the focus lens to the initial position. The focus position detection sensor 13 sends the position information of the focus lens to the control unit 50, and when the focus lens moves to the initialization position, the control unit 50 proceeds to step S7-4 assuming that the focus initialization is completed. Note that the initial position of the focus lens can be, for example, a point for detecting the position of the lens (step S7-3).

  When the focus initialization is completed, the control unit 50 sends a pan-focus control signal to the iris motor driver 23 and the focus driver 22 via the lens control block 55 to drive the diaphragm actuator 16 and the focus driver 22. The aperture is opened for pan focus, and the focus lens is moved to the pan focus position. When the control unit 50 receives the opening end signal for pan focus of the iris from the iris motor driver 23 and the movement end signal of the focus lens to the pan focus position from the focus position detection sensor 13, the control unit 50 moves the focus lens to the pan focus position. Is completed, the process proceeds to step S9 (step S7-4).

  In step S5, the control unit 50 sends a drive start signal to the zoom driver 24 via the lens control block 55, and drives the zoom motor 14 to move the zoom lens to the initial position. When the control unit 50 receives the movement end signal from the zoom position detection sensor 12 to the initial position of the zoom lens, the control unit 50 proceeds to step S9 assuming that the initialization of the zoom position is completed. The initial position of the zoom lens is, for example, the wide (WIDE) position (step S8).

  When the parallel processing of the initial drive in Step S6, Steps S7-1 to S7-4, and Step S8 is completed, the control unit 50 controls the color process circuit 40 from the CCD imaging system 30 captured at the end of the parallel processing. The image signal for one screen is processed, and the digital signal (image signal) sent from the color process circuit 40 to the control unit 50 is stored in the work memory 60, thereby taking the first image (step S9). ).

  Next, the control unit 50 reads out the photographing program other than the minimum system read in step S3 from the program storage memory to the RAM (step S10), starts the liquid crystal monitor screen 4, reads icon data, and displays the liquid crystal monitor screen. The remaining shooting processing such as icon display to 4 is started (step S11).

  Further, the control unit 50 sends the image captured in step S9 (image data stored in the work memory 60) to the image display unit 70, displays a still image on the liquid crystal monitor screen 4, and ends the activation process (step S12). .

  When the voltage of the battery 97 is less than the predetermined value in step S4, the control unit 50 reads the remaining programs other than the minimum program read in step S3 from the program storage memory into the RAM (step S13), and the liquid crystal The monitor screen 4 is activated to display a warning that the activation is impossible because the battery voltage is low, and the battery is exchanged to end the process (step S14).

  As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3, the power is turned on by the shutter operation in the digital camera 100, and the minimum startup processing necessary for shooting is divided into several groups and the startup processing is performed in parallel. By doing so, it is possible to minimize the time from when the power is turned on to when the first image is taken, so there is no chance of missing a photo opportunity. Further, since the respective driving units are simultaneously driven during the startup process, the battery is burdened. However, as shown in step S4, the power supply voltage necessary for the startup process performed in parallel is checked, and the power supply voltage is set to a predetermined value ( That is, since the minimum start-up process necessary for photographing is performed only when the power supply voltage is higher than or equal to the power supply voltage required for the start-up process performed in parallel, the start-up process is not interrupted midway.

  Further, in addition to the start-up time shortening process in steps S3 to S8, the remaining start-up program is read in step S10, and the liquid crystal monitor screen 4 is driven and displayed in step S11. By taking a picture in step S11 before reading data, displaying icons, etc., the first picture can be taken at high speed.

If the power supply voltage V is equal to or lower than the predetermined value V1 in the determination of the power supply voltage in step S4 in FIG. 13, the fact that the start is impossible is displayed in step S14 in FIG. 3 to prompt the user to replace the battery. However, when the power supply voltage is equal to or lower than the predetermined value (V1), the step of determining whether the power supply voltage is equal to or higher than the second predetermined value (V2) and the power supply voltage is less than V1 and the second predetermined value ( V2) If it is equal to or higher, a step of starting with another sequence that can be started with the power supply voltage (voltage less than the second predetermined value (V2)), for example, a startup process as shown in steps U10 to U15 of FIG. Steps for performing the parallel processing control may be provided, and when the power supply voltage is less than the second predetermined value (V2), the operation after step S14 in FIG. 13 may be performed. In this way, when V ≧ V1, high-speed startup is performed, when V2 ≦ V <V1, non-high-speed startup (normal startup) is performed, and when V <V2, no startup is performed and a warning is performed. Can be urged to replace the battery.

  If the power supply voltage is determined to be equal to or lower than the predetermined value in step S4 in FIG. 13, the fact that the start is impossible is displayed in step S14 in FIG. 3 to prompt the user to replace the battery. The step of turning on the power button 9 and prompting activation by another sequence that can be activated at a low voltage is provided. When the power is turned on manually, parallel processing control of activation processing as shown in steps U11 to U15 of FIG. May be performed.

  Further, when the power is turned off in step S1 in FIG. 3 above, when the shutter key 8 is fully pressed, the power is turned on and the activation process after step S2 is executed. If the digital camera 100 is not used, for example, it is being carried. The shutter lock function is assigned to a specific key to prevent the phenomenon that the shutter key 8 touches something and the shutter key 8 is pressed and the power is turned on and the battery is consumed. When not in use, the lock key may be operated to lock the shutter, and when used, the lock key or a lock release key assigned separately may be operated to release the shutter lock.

  In the flowchart of FIG. 3, the minimum start-up process required for shooting is divided into three groups and the start-up process is performed in parallel. However, the start-up process is not limited to three groups. The processing may be divided into four or more groups and processed in parallel. In this way, the start-up time can be further shortened, and the time from when the shutter key is fully pressed until the first image is taken can be further shortened.

  Further, in the flowchart of FIG. 3, a step of performing compression recording processing of the photographed image after the image display in step S12, for example, “the control unit 50 examines a signal from the sub-microcomputer 90 and uses the key circuit 95 for the user When the image recording instruction operation is performed, the image data stored in the work memory 60 is transferred to the JPEG / MPEG unit 45 and subjected to compression processing of luminance and color difference signals for one frame, and then the image recording unit 80. The compressed data is recorded on the recording medium (for example, an SD card), the activation process is terminated, the path from the CCD 31 to the work memory 60 is made operable again, and the next photo opportunity is waited. If there is no recording instruction operation by the user, the start-up process is terminated, and the path from the CCD 31 to the work memory 60 can be operated again. Wait for the decisive moment ", it may be provided.

  In the flowchart of FIG. 3, since the start-up time is mainly shortened, step S9 is performed by fully pressing the shutter key 8 with the camera pointing toward the subject at a photo opportunity without confirming the composition by using the through image and confirming the focus. Since shooting is performed immediately, there is a possibility that the composition is not good, the subject protrudes from the shooting screen, or the image is out of focus, but by adding the above-described steps, the image shot in step S12 may be displayed. In addition to being able to do so, there is a chance for the user to check the captured image (the opportunity for the user to decide whether or not to issue a captured image recording instruction). Can be recorded.

(Embodiment 2)
In the first embodiment, the case of a digital camera provided with an optical zoom lens and an autofocus lens is taken as an example. However, the present invention is a digital camera provided with a short focus lens (a lens with a fixed focal length and a fixed shooting angle of view). It can also be applied to cameras. In this embodiment, when the power of the digital camera provided with the short focus lens is off, the power is turned on when the shutter key is fully pressed. When the power supply voltage is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, among the various processing blocks activated at the time of photographing, only the essential ones for photographing are divided into several groups and operated in parallel. Take one image and activate other processing blocks. The second and subsequent images are taken by fully pressing the shutter key.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the appearance of a digital camera that is an embodiment of the imaging apparatus according to the present invention, and here mainly shows the appearance of the front surface (FIG. 1 (a)) and the back surface (FIG. 1 (b)). .
As shown in FIG. 1A, the digital camera 200 has a strobe light emitting unit 1 and a short focus imaging lens (lens group) 2 on the front side. Further, as shown in FIG. 1B, a mode dial 3, a liquid crystal monitor screen 4, a cursor key 5, a SET key 6, and the like are provided on the back of the digital camera 200. In addition, a shutter key 8 and a power button 9 are provided on the top surface, and a USB terminal connection used when connecting to a USB cable with an external device such as a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a personal computer) or a modem is provided on the side, although not shown. Is provided.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a circuit configuration of a digital camera (hereinafter, digital camera 200) having a short focus lens.

  In the digital camera 200, a short-focus lens group 2, a diaphragm actuator 16 for opening and closing a diaphragm (not shown), and a shutter actuator 17 for opening and closing a mechanical shutter are provided on a lens block 11. The actuators 16 and 17 are driven by the iris (Iris) and shutter (Shutter) drivers 23 and 24 provided in the driver block 20.

The digital camera 200 is mainly composed of a CCD 31 that is an imaging device disposed behind the photographing optical axis of the lens group 2, a CDS (Correlated Double Sampling) / AD block 32, and a TG (Timing Generator) 33. A CCD imaging system block 30 is provided.
When the digital camera is set to the recording mode, the CCD 31 photoelectrically converts the optical image of the subject formed by the lens group 2 and scan-driven by the TG 33 to output a photoelectric conversion output for one screen at a certain period. To do. The CDS / AD block 32 performs noise removal and conversion into a digital signal by performing correlated double sampling on an analog output signal that has been gain-adjusted appropriately for each RGB color component after being output from the CCD 31. Output to 40. The CCD is a kind of imaging device and may be another device such as a CMOS.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the audio system block 35 includes a microphone (MIC) 36 that inputs audio and converts it into an analog audio signal, and an A / A that converts the analog audio signal into a digital audio signal and sends it to the control unit 50. An audio input system including a D converter (ADC) 37 and the like, a D / A converter (DAC) 38 that converts a digital audio signal into an analog audio signal, and an analog audio signal received from the control unit 50 are converted into audio. And a sound output system composed of a speaker 39 and the like that reproduces, amplifies and outputs to the outside. The sound recording and the shooting operation are performed in parallel, and the recording operation is continued even when the moving image shooting mode is paused and switched to the still image shooting mode, and is continued even after the moving image shooting is resumed. The voice signal sent to the control unit 50 via the microphone 36 and the A / D converter 37 is input to the work memory 60, and the compressed video file is compressed after being subjected to voice compression processing during recording. At the same time, a moving image file (moving image data + audio data) is recorded and stored in a recording medium (for example, an SD card) that is detachably attached to the image recording unit 80.

  The color process circuit 40 performs color process processing for performing pixel interpolation processing on the input image pickup signal, generates a digital luminance signal (Y) and color difference signals (Cb, Cr), and is a control means of the present invention. To the control unit 50 that controls the entire digital camera 200.

In the still image shooting mode, the JPEG / MPEG unit 45 performs ADCT (Adaptive Discrete Cosine Transform), Huffman coding, which is an entropy coding method, etc. on still image data captured in the work memory 60 during recording. The data is compressed by the process. The obtained code data is output as a data file of one image, and is recorded and stored in the SD card of the image recording unit 80.
In the moving image shooting mode, a series of moving image data captured in the work memory 60 is compressed by the MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) method or the like during recording. The obtained code data is output as a data file of one image, and is recorded and stored in the SD card of the image recording unit 80.

The JPEG / MPEG unit 45 supports a plurality of compression ratios, and the mode corresponding to the compression ratio is a mode corresponding to a high resolution (generally called high precision, fine, normal, etc.) with a low compression ratio. And a low-resolution (commonly called economy) mode with a high compression ratio.
It also supports high to low pixel counts. It also supports high to low pixel counts. For example, QXGA (Quad eXtended Graphics Array (2048 × 1536)), UXGA (Ultra eXtended Graphics Array (1600 × 1200)), SXGA + (SXGA Plus (1400 × 1050)), SXGA (Super eXtended Graphics Array (1280 × 1024)) )), XGA (eXtended Graphics Array (1024 × 786)), SVGA (Super Video Graphics Array (800 × 600)), VGA (Video Graphics Array (640 × 480)), QVGA (Quarter VGA (320 × 240)) , Etc. There is a pixel size called.

  The control unit 50 is actually a microprocessor including a program storage memory such as a RAM and a ROM, an internal memory such as a flash memory, various arithmetic processing circuits, a data input / output interface, and the like. The sent digital signal (image signal) is temporarily stored in a work memory 60 such as a DRAM and sent to the image display unit 70. Then, along with the compression processing of the luminance and color difference signals for one frame and the writing of all the compressed data to the recording medium (for example, SD card) of the image recording unit 80, the control unit 50 passes the path from the CCD 31 to the work memory 60. Start again

  The control unit 50 controls the motor driver of the driver block 20 with respect to the lens control block 55 based on various lens operation control programs stored in the program storage memory, operation signals from the sub-microcomputer 90, and the like. Drive signals to be sent to 23 and 24 are generated, thereby controlling high-speed start-up photography, aperture opening, and mechanical opening / closing operation according to the present invention.

  The image display unit 70 includes a video encoder, a VRAM controller, a VRAM, a liquid crystal monitor screen 4 and a driving circuit thereof. The video display unit 70 generates a video signal based on the transmitted digital signal by the video encoder and picks up a display image based on the generated video signal, that is, the CCD 31. A live view image of the subject and menu data are displayed on the liquid crystal monitor screen 4.

The image display unit 70 functions as a monitor display unit (electronic finder), and performs display based on the video signal from the video encoder, so that the image based on the image information captured from the VRAM controller at that time is displayed. Will be displayed in real time.
In this manner, when the shutter key 8 is operated in a so-called through image display state in which the image at that time is displayed in real time on the image display unit 70, a trigger signal is generated.

In response to this trigger signal, the control unit 50 immediately follows the path from the CCD 31 to the work memory 60 after the DMA transfer of the luminance and color difference signals for one screen captured from the CCD 31 to the work memory 60 is completed. Stop and transition to record save state.
Specifically, the image recording unit 80 includes a card interface and various nonvolatile memory cards (for example, SD cards) that are connected to the control unit 50 via the card interface and are detachably attached to the camera body. The The image data recorded in the image recording unit 80 is read to the control unit 50 in the reproduction mode, decompressed by the JPEG / MPEG unit 45, sent to the image display unit 70, and displayed on the liquid crystal monitor screen 4. .

  The sub-microcomputer 90 is composed of a sub CPU / ASIC (not shown) that sends signals corresponding to the operation of various keys provided in the key circuit 95 to the control unit 50. Further, the sub-microcomputer 90 performs on / off control of the power supply circuit 96, detects the voltage of the battery 97, and sends the detection result to the control unit 50. Further, the sub-microcomputer 90 sends a state signal (hereinafter, key information) indicating the state of the mode dial 3 to the control unit 50 as necessary.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the key circuit 95 is provided with a mode dial 3, a liquid crystal monitor screen 4, a cursor key 5, a SET key 6, a shutter key 8, a power button 9, and the like. When these keys are operated, a signal corresponding to the key type and operation state is output to the sub-microcomputer 90.

  The mode dial 3 is a button for switching between the movie shooting mode and the still image shooting mode with one touch. When the mode dial 3 is pressed during movie shooting, the mode is changed to the still image shooting mode. When the mode dial 3 is pressed during still image shooting, the movie shooting is performed. It becomes a mode.

  The cursor key 5 is a key operated when pointing (designating) a menu or icon displayed on the liquid crystal monitor screen 4 with the cursor when setting a mode or selecting a menu. Can be moved to. The SET key 6 is a confirmation key that is pressed when the item displayed by the cursor key 5 is selected or set or confirmed.

  The shutter key 8 performs a release operation at the time of shooting and generates a shooting instruction signal for performing a shooting process by pressing down. Further, when the operation is performed when the power is on, the fast start shooting function of the present invention is executed, the power is turned on, and the first image is shot by the high speed start. The second and subsequent images are photographed by a shutter operation through a through image display in the same manner as when the power button 9 is turned on.

  The key 10 is a key that functions as a menu key. When the key 10 is pressed, functions that can be selected at that time are displayed in a menu, and the user can select a menu displayed by a cursor operation or the like.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an outline of operations at the time of shooting of the digital camera 200 according to the present embodiment. This flowchart is for explaining a program for causing the computer of the digital camera 200 to realize the fast start shooting function of the present invention. Is. The processing shown below is basically described by an example in which the control unit 50 executes in accordance with a program stored in advance in a program storage memory such as a flash memory, but it is not necessary to store all functions in the program storage memory. Accordingly, a part or all of the information may be received via a network. Hereinafter, a description will be given with reference to FIGS.

  When the digital camera 200 is turned off and the user fully presses the shutter key 8 (step T1), the sub-microcomputer 90 controls the power supply circuit 96 to turn on the power (step T2).

  The controller 50 reads from the program storage memory a program for starting the minimum system for photographing into the RAM, and then proceeds to step T4. Here, the minimum system to be activated may be the CCD image pickup system drive start process in step T4 (step T3).

  Since the control unit 50 sends a drive start signal to the TG (timing generator) 33 of the CCD imaging system 30, the TG 33 that has received the drive start signal from the control unit 50 starts scanning the CCD 31. As a result, the CCD 31 photoelectrically converts the optical image of the subject imaged by the lens group 2 and is scanned and driven by the TG 33 to start photoelectric conversion output at regular intervals. Further, the CDS / AD block 32 removes noise by correlated double sampling with respect to an analog output signal whose gain is appropriately adjusted for each RGB color component after being output from the CCD 31, and converts it into a digital signal and a color process circuit. The output to 40 is started, and the process proceeds to Step T5 (Step T4).

  When the CCD image pickup system drive start process in step T4 is completed, the control unit 50 controls the color process circuit 40 to process the image pickup signal for one screen from the CCD image pickup system 30 taken in at the end of the parallel processing. The digital signal (image signal) sent from the process circuit 40 to the control unit 50 is stored in the work memory 60, and the first image is taken (step T5).

  Next, the control unit 50 reads out a shooting program other than the minimum system read in step S3 from the program storage memory to the RAM (step T6), starts the liquid crystal monitor screen 4, reads icon data, and displays the liquid crystal monitor screen. The remaining photographing processing such as the icon display to 4 is started (step T7).

  Further, the control unit 50 sends the image (image data stored in the work memory 60) taken in step T5 to the image display unit 70, displays a still image, and ends the activation process (step T8).

  As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6, the digital camera 200 is turned on by a shutter operation, and the minimum start-up process necessary for shooting is performed. The time until the shooting of was able to be extremely shortened, so there was no chance of missing a momentary photo opportunity.

  Further, in addition to the startup time shortening process in steps T3 and T4, the remaining startup program is read in step T6, the LCD monitor screen 4 is driven in step T7, icon data is read, icon display, etc. Shooting was performed at step T6 prior to the above, thereby realizing high-speed shooting.

  In addition, when the power is turned off in step T1 in FIG. 6, the power is turned on when the shutter key 8 is fully pressed, and the starting process after step S2 is executed. However, when the digital camera 200 is not used, for example, carrying is performed. In order to prevent the phenomenon that the shutter key 8 touches something and the shutter key 8 is pressed and the power is turned on and the battery is consumed, a shutter lock function is provided for a specific key. The shutter may be locked by operating the lock key when assigned or not used, and the shutter lock may be released by operating the lock key or a lock release key assigned separately when used.

  Further, in the flowchart of FIG. 6, a step of performing compression recording processing of the photographed image after the image display in step T8, for example, “the control unit 50 examines a signal from the sub-microcomputer 90 and the key circuit 95 performs an image by the user. When there is a recording instruction operation, the image data stored in the work memory 60 is transferred to the JPEG / MPEG unit 45 and subjected to compression processing of luminance and color difference signals for one frame, and then recorded in the image recording unit 80. The compressed data is recorded on a medium (for example, an SD card), the activation process is terminated, the path from the CCD 31 to the work memory 60 is made operational again, and the next photo opportunity is waited. If there is no instruction operation, the start-up process is terminated, the path from the CCD 31 to the work memory 60 is made operable again, and the next shutter is Wait for Yansu ", it may be provided.

  In the flowchart of FIG. 6, since the start-up time is mainly shortened, step S9 is performed by fully pressing the shutter key 8 while pointing the camera toward the subject at a photo opportunity without confirming the composition with the through image and confirming the focus. In this case, there is a possibility that the composition is not good, the subject protrudes from the shooting screen, or the image is out of focus. However, by adding the above-described steps, the image taken in step T8 may be displayed. In addition to being able to do so, there is a chance for the user to check the captured image (the opportunity for the user to decide whether or not to issue a captured image recording instruction). Can be recorded.

(Embodiment 3)
In the first and second embodiments, when a digital camera having an optical zoom function and an autofocus function is turned off, the power is turned on when the shutter key is fully pressed, and the power supply voltage is equal to or higher than a predetermined value. In the various processing blocks activated at the time of shooting, only the essential ones for shooting are divided into several groups and operated in parallel to shorten the startup time and take the first image. However, during normal start-up, that is, when the power supply is turned on by operating the power button, if the power supply voltage is higher than the specified value, only some of the various processing blocks that are started up for shooting are essential for shooting. It is possible to reduce the start-up time by starting by operating in parallel.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an outline of operations at the time of shooting of the digital camera 100 according to the present embodiment. This flowchart is for explaining a program for causing the computer of the digital camera 100 to realize the fast start shooting function of the present invention. Is. The processing shown below is basically described by an example in which the control unit 50 executes in accordance with a program stored in advance in a program storage memory such as a flash memory, but it is not necessary to store all functions in the program storage memory. Accordingly, a part or all of the information may be received via a network. Hereinafter, description will be made based on FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG.

  When the user presses the key 10 as the start button when the power is on (step U1), the control unit 50 reads out a program for starting the lowest system for battery voltage detection from the program storage memory to the RAM. Then, the process proceeds to step U3 (step U2).

  The control unit 50 checks the battery voltage detection signal from the sub-microcomputer 90. If the voltage V of the battery 97 is greater than or equal to a predetermined value V1 (eg, 3.6V), the control unit 50 proceeds to step U5. Proceed to Note that the predetermined value V1 (= first threshold value) of the battery voltage is not limited to 3.6 V as long as it is a voltage necessary for operating the activation processes (or groups of activation processes) necessary for imaging in parallel. (Step U3).

  When the battery voltage is equal to or higher than the predetermined value V1, the control unit 50 reads a program for starting a system necessary for photographing from the program storage memory into the RAM, and then proceeds to Step U5. Here, the system to be activated is the CCD image pickup system and display system drive start process in step U6, the initial drive process (excluding zoom lens drive) of various lenses in step U7, and the zoom lens initial drive process in step U8. . In addition to the CCD imaging system driving process program, the image display system processing program, the lens driving process program, and the zoom lens driving program for performing the processes of the following steps U6, U7, and U8, the program read in this step is as follows. It is assumed that a program for performing parallel processing control in step U5 is included (step U4).

  The control unit 50 controls parallel processing of the CCD image pickup system and display system drive start processing in step U6, the initial drive processing (excluding zoom lens drive) of various lenses in step U7, and the zoom lens initial drive processing in step U8. When the respective processes are completed, the process proceeds to step U9. At this time, the control unit 50 sends a control signal (drive start signal) to the CCD image pickup system 30 and the lens control block 55 to start the drive of the CCD image pickup system 30 in step U6-1 and the shutter in step U8-1. The initial drive and the zoom lens initial drive in step U9 are started by the driver block 20 (step U5).

  Since the control unit 50 sends a drive start signal to the TG (timing generator) 33 of the CCD imaging system 30 in step U5, the TG 33 that has received the drive start signal from the control unit 50 starts scanning the CCD 31. As a result, the CCD 31 photoelectrically converts the optical image of the subject imaged by the lens group 2 and is scanned and driven by the TG 33 to start photoelectric conversion output at regular intervals. Further, the CDS / AD block 32 removes noise by correlated double sampling with respect to an analog output signal whose gain is appropriately adjusted for each RGB color component after being output from the CCD 31, and converts it into a digital signal and a color process circuit. The output to 40 is started, and the process proceeds to Step U6-2 (Step U6-1).

  Next, the control unit 50 sends an activation start signal to the image display unit 70 to activate the liquid crystal display monitor 4 of the image display unit 70 (step U6-2), obtains image data from the color process circuit 40, and converts the image into an image. When the real-time display (so-called through image display) on the liquid crystal monitor screen 4 of the display unit 70 is started and the start-up process of steps U7-1 to U7-4 and the zoom start-up process of step U8 are completed in parallel, step Proceed to U9 (step U6-3).

  In step U5, the control unit 50 sends a drive start signal (shutter drive start signal) to the shutter driver 24 via the lens control block 55, and drives the shutter actuator 17 to open the mechanical shutter (OPEN). When the shutter driver 24 detects the end of opening of the mechanical shutter, it sends a shutter opening end signal to the control unit 50 (step U7-1).

  Upon receiving the shutter release end signal, the control unit 50 sends a focus initialization start signal to the focus driver 22 via the lens control block 55 and drives the focus motor 15 to move the focus lens to the initial position. The focus position detection sensor 13 sends the position information of the focus lens to the control unit 50, and when the focus lens moves to the initialization position, the control unit 50 proceeds to step U7-3 assuming that the focus initialization is completed (step U7-3). 2).

  When the focus initialization is completed, the control unit 50 sends an iris (aperture) drive start signal to the iris driver 23 via the lens control block 55 and drives the aperture actuator 16 to reduce the aperture (close the iris ( CLOSE)). When the iris driver 23 detects the end of the aperture, it sends an aperture end signal to the control unit 50 (step U7-3).

  When the control unit 50 receives the aperture end signal, it sends a focus OPEN control signal to the iris motor driver 23 and the focus driver 22 via the lens control block 55 to drive the iris driver 23 and the focus driver 22. The aperture is opened by a predetermined value, and the focus lens is moved to a predetermined focus start position (focus OPEN). When the control unit 50 receives the aperture opening end signal from the iris driver 23 and the movement end signal to the predetermined position of the focus lens from the focus position detection sensor 13, the control unit 50 determines that the focus OPEN process has ended and proceeds to step U9 (step S9). U7-4).

  In step U5, the control unit 50 sends a drive start signal to the zoom driver 21 via the lens control block 55, and causes the zoom driver 21 to drive the zoom motor 14 to move the zoom lens to the initial position. When the control unit 50 receives the movement end signal from the zoom position detection sensor 12 to the initial position of the zoom lens, the control unit 50 proceeds to Step U9 assuming that the initialization of the zoom position has ended (Step U8).

  When the parallel processing of the initial drive in steps U6-1 to U6-3, steps U7-1 to U7-4, and step U8 is completed, the control unit 50 ends the activation process (step U9).

  The control unit 50 checks the battery voltage detection signal from the sub-microcomputer 90. If the voltage V of the battery 97 is greater than or equal to the predetermined value V2, that is, if the voltage V is greater than or equal to V2 and less than V1 (V1 <V ≦ V2), step U11 If it is less than V2, the process proceeds to Step U16 (Step U10).

  When the battery voltage V is not less than the predetermined value V2 and less than V1, the control unit 50 reads a program for starting a system necessary for photographing from the program storage memory into the RAM, and then proceeds to Step U12. Here, the system to be activated is the CCD image pickup system and display system drive start process in step U13 and the initial drive process for various lenses in step U14. In addition to the CCD imaging system driving process program, the image display system processing program, the lens driving process program, and the zoom lens driving program for performing the processes of the following steps U13 and U14, the program read in this step is the following step U12. It is assumed that a program for performing parallel processing control is included (step U11).

  The control unit 50 controls the CCD imaging system and display system drive start processing in step U13 below and the initial drive processing of various lenses in step U14 in parallel, and proceeds to step U15 when the respective processing ends. At this time, the control unit 50 sends a control signal (drive start signal) to the CCD image pickup system 30 and the lens control block 55 to start driving of the CCD image pickup system in step U13-1 and to start the shutter in step U14-1. Driving is started by the driver block 20 (step U12).

  Since the control unit 50 sends a drive start signal to the TG (timing generator) 33 of the CCD imaging system 30 in step U13, the TG 33 that has received the drive start signal from the control unit 50 starts scanning the CCD 31. As a result, the CCD image pickup system 30 including the CCD 31 starts to be driven in the same manner as in step U7-1, and proceeds to step U13-2 (step U13-1).

  Next, the control unit 50 sends an activation start signal to the image display unit 70, activates the liquid crystal display monitor 4 of the image display unit 70 (step U13-2), obtains image data from the color process circuit 40, and converts the image into an image. Real-time display (so-called through image display) on the liquid crystal monitor screen 4 of the display unit 70 is started, and when the activation process of steps U14-1 to U14-5 is completed, the process proceeds to step U15 (step U13-3).

  The controller 50 drives the shutter actuator 17 in the same manner as in Step U7-1 to open the mechanical shutter (OPEN). When the shutter motor driver 24 detects the end of opening of the mechanical shutter, it sends a shutter opening end signal to the control unit 50 (step U14-1).

  When receiving the shutter opening end signal, the controller 50 causes the zoom driver 24 to drive the zoom motor 14 and move the zoom lens to the initial position in the same manner as in Step U8. When the control unit 50 receives the movement end signal from the zoom position detection sensor 12 to the initial position of the zoom lens, the control unit 50 sends the zoom initialization end signal to the control unit 50 assuming that the initialization of the zoom position has ended (step U14-). 2).

  When receiving the zoom initialization end signal, the controller 50 drives the focus motor 15 to move the focus lens to the initial position in the same manner as in Step U7-2. The focus position detection sensor 13 sends the position information of the focus lens to the control unit 50, and when the focus lens moves to the initialization position, the control unit 50 proceeds to step U15-4 assuming that the focus initialization is completed (step U14- 3).

  When the focus initialization is completed, the control unit 50 sends an iris (aperture) drive start signal to the iris driver 23 via the lens control block 55 and drives the aperture actuator 16 to reduce the aperture (close the iris ( CLOSE)). When the iris driver 23 detects the end of the aperture, it sends an aperture end signal to the control unit 50 (step U14-4).

  When the control unit 50 receives the aperture end signal, it sends a pan-focus control signal to the iris motor driver 23 and the focus driver 22 via the lens control block 55 to drive the iris driver 23 and the focus driver 22. The aperture is opened by a predetermined value, and the focus lens is moved to a predetermined focus start position (focus OPEN). When the control unit 50 receives the aperture opening end signal from the iris driver 23 and the movement end signal of the focus lens to the predetermined position from the focus position detection sensor 13, the control unit 50 determines that the focus OPEN process has ended and proceeds to step U15 (step S15). U14-5).

  When the parallel processing of the initial drive in steps U13-1 to U13-3 and steps U14-1 to U14-5 is completed, the control unit 50 ends the activation process (step U15).

  If the voltage of the battery 97 is less than V2 in step U3, the control unit 50 reads the remaining shooting program other than the minimum program read in step U11 from the program storage memory into the RAM (step U16). The liquid crystal monitor screen 4 is activated to display a warning message indicating that the activation is impossible because the battery voltage is low, and the process is terminated after prompting the user to replace the battery (step U17).

  Note that after the activation process of step U9 or step U15 is completed, the user performs normal photographing operation of the digital camera with an autofocus function, that is, zoom operation performed as necessary, autofocus and auto iris by half-pressing the shutter key. Through the processing, shooting can be performed by fully pressing the shutter key.

  As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7 above, when the start button is pressed on the digital camera 100, the start processing necessary for shooting is divided into several groups and the start processing is performed in parallel. Time can be made extremely short. Further, since the respective driving units are simultaneously driven during the startup process, the battery is burdened. However, as shown in step U3, when the power supply voltage required for the startup process performed in parallel is checked and the power supply voltage V is high. When the power supply voltage V is low (that is, when V1 <V ≦ V2), the number of groups activated in parallel is decreased. Since the startup process necessary for shooting is performed, the startup time differs depending on whether the power supply voltage is high or low, but the startup process is not interrupted midway.

  As mentioned above, although several Example of this invention was described, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not limited to said each Example, A various deformation | transformation implementation is possible. For example, the term imaging device can be applied to a digital camera, a camera-equipped mobile phone, and an information device having an imaging unit.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments as they are, and can be embodied by modifying constituent elements without departing from the spirit of the invention in the implementation stage. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the above embodiments. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, constituent elements over different embodiments may be appropriately combined.

  In addition, the method described in each of the above embodiments can be applied to various apparatuses by writing in a recording medium such as a flash memory, a hard disk, or a removable memory card as a program that can be executed by a computer. The program itself can be transmitted through a transmission medium such as a network and applied to each device. The computer of various apparatuses reads the program recorded on the recording medium or the program provided via the transmission medium, and the operation is controlled by this program, thereby executing each process and realizing the present technique.

6 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of a digital camera that is an example of an imaging apparatus according to Embodiments 1 and 3. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a circuit configuration of a digital camera according to Embodiments 1 and 3. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an outline of a start-up operation at the time of shooting by the digital camera according to the first embodiment. 6 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of a digital camera that is an example of an imaging apparatus according to Embodiment 2. FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a circuit configuration of a digital camera according to Embodiment 2. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an outline of a start-up operation at the time of shooting by the digital camera according to the second embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an outline of a start-up operation at the time of shooting by the digital camera according to the third embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the starting sequence of the conventional digital camera.

Explanation of symbols

100, 200 Digital camera (imaging device)
4 LCD monitor screen (image display means, image display system)
8 Shutter key (shooting instruction operation means)
9 Power button 20 Lens block (zoom optical system, focus optical system)
30 CCD imaging system 50 control unit (startup control means, imaging control means, display control means)
70 Image display unit (image display means, image display system)
90 sub-microcomputer (power supply control means, power supply voltage detection means, photographing instruction operation detection means, activation instruction detection means)

Claims (17)

In an imaging device that shoots a subject, generates image data thereof, and records it,
Among a plurality of shooting mechanism components that are activated at the time of shooting, a plurality of required activation groups in which shooting mechanism components that are required to start before shooting are grouped, and
Activation means respectively associated with each imaging mechanism component,
Power supply voltage detecting means for detecting a power supply voltage;
An activation control means for controlling activation by the activation means to activate the plurality of essential activation groups in parallel in a predetermined sequence when a power supply voltage value detected by the power supply voltage detection means is a predetermined value or more; ,
An imaging apparatus comprising:   The activation control means includes a means for determining a combination of essential activation groups according to the width of the power supply voltage detected by the power supply voltage detection means, and an essential activation group after the combination is determined by controlling the activation by the activation means. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: means for activating in parallel.   The said starting means is respectively matched with the optical system containing the imaging system and single focus lens which acquire image data from the imaging signal obtained by photoelectrically converting the image formation by an optical system. Imaging device.   The activation control means further controls the activation by each activation means when the power supply voltage value detected by the power supply voltage detection means is less than a first predetermined value, and sets the essential activation group in another sequence. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for starting up in parallel. A shooting instruction operation means for giving a shooting instruction; and a shooting instruction operation detection means for detecting the presence or absence of a shooting instruction operation by the shooting instruction operation means when the power is off;
The power supply voltage detection means detects a power supply voltage when an operation of the shooting instruction operation means is detected by the shooting instruction operation detection means,
The activation control means is activated by each activation means when the operation of the imaging instruction operation means is detected by the imaging instruction operation detection means and the power supply voltage value detected by the power supply voltage detection means is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. 5. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of essential activation groups are activated in parallel in a predetermined sequence by controlling the plurality of essential activation groups.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the photographing instruction operation unit is a shutter key, and includes a lock unit that locks the shutter key.   Photographed when activation instruction means for performing activation instruction, activation instruction detection means for detecting presence / absence of activation instruction operation by the activation instruction means when the power is off, and activation of the essential activation group by each activation means have been completed The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an imaging control unit that performs the operation.   8. The imaging apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising display means for displaying a photographed image after photographing by the photographing control means. In an imaging device that shoots a subject, generates image data thereof, and records it,
Power supply voltage detecting means for detecting a power supply voltage;
A startup control means for executing a predetermined startup sequence when the power supply voltage detected by the power supply voltage detection means is greater than or equal to a predetermined value;
The activation control means preferentially executes an activation operation of a portion essential for photographing among a plurality of activation operations included in the predetermined activation sequence when executing the predetermined activation sequence. Imaging device. In an imaging device that shoots a subject, generates image data thereof, and records it,
Power supply voltage detecting means for detecting a power supply voltage;
A startup control means for executing a predetermined startup sequence when the power supply voltage detected by the power supply voltage detection means is greater than or equal to a predetermined value;
The startup control means, when executing the predetermined startup sequence, performs a plurality of startup operations included in the predetermined startup sequence in parallel.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, further comprising means for issuing a warning when the power supply voltage detected by the power supply voltage detection means is less than a predetermined value.   11. The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising means for executing a startup sequence different from the startup sequence executed by the startup control means when the power supply voltage detected by the power supply voltage detection means is less than a predetermined value. The imaging device described in 1. A high-speed image capturing method in an image capturing apparatus that captures a subject, generates image data thereof, and records the image data,
Among the plurality of imaging mechanism components that are activated at the time of shooting, the imaging mechanism components that are required to be activated before shooting are grouped, and the activation mechanisms for the essential imaging mechanism components are respectively required Corresponding, detecting the power supply voltage, and when the detected power supply voltage is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, controlling the activation by each activation means to activate each of the essential activation groups in parallel, and to activate each of the essential activation groups A high-speed start-up shooting method, characterized in that shooting is performed when the operation ends. A high-speed image capturing method in an image capturing apparatus that captures a subject, generates image data thereof, and records the image data,
A power supply voltage is detected, and when the detected power supply voltage is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, a start operation of a part essential for photographing among a plurality of start operations included in a predetermined start sequence is preferentially executed. Fast start shooting method. A high-speed image capturing method in an image capturing apparatus that captures a subject, generates image data thereof, and records the image data,
A high-speed startup imaging method characterized by detecting a power supply voltage and executing a plurality of startup operations included in a predetermined startup sequence in parallel when the detected power supply voltage is equal to or higher than a predetermined value.     A function of detecting a power supply voltage in a computer of an imaging device that shoots a subject, generates and records image data thereof, and a plurality of startup operations included in a predetermined startup sequence when the detected power supply voltage is a predetermined value or more And a function for preferentially executing a starting operation of a portion essential for photographing.   A function of detecting a power supply voltage in a computer of an imaging device that shoots a subject, generates and records image data thereof, and a plurality of included in the predetermined activation sequence when the detected power supply voltage is a predetermined value or more A program for executing a startup operation in parallel.

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