JP2010266604A - Imaging device and flash device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow bounce flash photography without turning a light emission part in an imaging device. <P>SOLUTION: The imaging device includes: a plurality of discharge tubes 75 and 76; trigger parts 72 and 73 making the respective discharge tubes emit light; a trigger selection part 71 making a selection among the respective trigger parts; a bounce flash switch 68 selecting a photographing mode; one control element 74 connected to the respective discharge tubes in series; and a light emission control part 80 controlling light emission quantity of the discharge tubes by controlling the control element 74. According to a photographing mode selected by the bounce flash switch 68, one of the respective trigger parts is selected by the trigger selection part 71, and by at least one of the selected trigger parts 72 and 73, the discharge tubes are made to emit light. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging device and a flash device incorporating a flash, and more particularly to an imaging device and a flash device having a bounce function.

  The flash has been built into most compact type cameras (hereinafter referred to as imaging devices), and has also been built into some single-lens reflex type cameras. The built-in strobe usually irradiates the subject directly with light, and there is a problem that the shadow is strong and unnatural depending on the subject (this case is hereinafter referred to as a general flash photographing mode). In order to cope with such a problem, there is bounce shooting in which irradiation light is reflected on a ceiling, a wall, a reflection plate, or the like and then irradiated on a subject. Since the subject is irradiated with the reflected light, the light wraps around, and the shadow can be relaxed with natural light or the shadow can be actively produced to produce the shadow.

  There are many external strobes that rotate the light emitting unit up and down and those that have a bounce function that can rotate up and down and left and right. However, there are no imaging devices such as compact cameras that can bounce shooting because the light emitting unit rotates. In an imaging device that can switch the shooting angle of view to tele or wide, the light distribution unit corresponding to the shooting angle of view is switched to a light distribution unit with a wide light distribution and a light emission unit with a narrow light distribution and a small light emission amount as a light distribution switching signal. A device that emits light in response to this is disclosed (Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 02-146027

  However, in the above-described prior art, the mechanism for rotating the light emitting unit is complicated, or extra space is required for rotation. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to enable bounce flash photography without rotating a light emitting unit.

  In order to solve the above object, an imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes a plurality of discharge tubes, a trigger unit that emits light from each of the discharge tubes, a trigger selection unit that selects any one of the trigger units, Selecting means for selecting a photographing mode; and one control element connected in series to each of the discharge tubes, and each trigger means by the trigger selecting means according to the photographing mode selected by the selecting means. Any one of the above is selected, and the discharge tube is caused to emit light by the selected trigger means.

  According to the present invention, the general flash photographing light-emitting unit and the bounce flash photographing light-emitting unit are separately fixedly arranged, so that the configuration is simplified. Therefore, the space required for the rotation is not necessary, and it is possible to realize a more preferable form from the viewpoint of strength and design. In addition, since the control circuit is made common, the cost can be reduced.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an imaging apparatus 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an imaging | photography process. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an overview of an imaging apparatus 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the imaging device 100 of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the example which provided the 1st and 2nd light emission part in the flash main body.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an imaging apparatus 100 as a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, an imaging apparatus 100 according to the present invention includes a photographing lens 10, a shutter 12, an imaging element 14 that converts an optical image into an electrical signal, and an A / D conversion that converts an analog signal into a digital signal. Device 16 and an image processing circuit 20. The shutter 12 has an aperture function. The image processing circuit 20 performs predetermined pixel interpolation processing and color conversion processing on the data output from the A / D converter 16 or the data output from the memory control circuit 22. The image processing circuit 20 performs predetermined arithmetic processing using the captured image data, and performs TTL AWB (auto white balance) processing based on the obtained arithmetic result.

  The imaging apparatus 100 includes a memory control circuit 22, an image display memory 24, a D / A converter 26, an image display unit 28, a memory 30, a compression / expansion circuit 32, an exposure control unit 40, a distance measurement. A control unit 42, a zoom control unit 44, and a flash 48 are provided. The memory control circuit 22 controls the A / D converter 16, the image processing circuit 20, the image display memory 24, the D / A converter 26, the memory 30, and the compression / decompression circuit 32. The data converted by the A / D converter 16 is written into the image display memory 24 or the memory 30 via the image processing circuit 20 and the memory control circuit 22 or only through the memory control circuit 22. The image display unit 28 includes a TFT, an LCD, and the like, and displays the display image data written in the image display memory 24 via the D / A converter 26. The memory 30 is a memory for storing captured still images and moving images.

  The compression / decompression circuit 32 is a circuit that compresses or decompresses image data by adaptive discrete cosine transform (ADCT) or the like. The compression / decompression circuit 32 reads an image stored in the memory 30, performs a compression process or an expansion process, and writes the processed data to the memory 30. The exposure control unit 40 controls the shutter 12 having a diaphragm function, and can adjust the flash 48 by cooperating with the flash 48. The distance measurement control unit 42 controls the focusing of the photographing lens 10. The zoom control unit 44 controls zooming of the taking lens 10.

  The flash 48 includes a plurality of discharge tubes, and projects AF auxiliary light or adjusts the flash light. The flash 48 includes a trigger selection unit 71, a first trigger unit 72, a second trigger unit 73, a control element 74, a first discharge tube 75, a second discharge tube 76, a main capacitor 77, and light emission control. The unit 80 and the booster 81 are included. The booster 81 charges the main capacitor 77. In addition, the imaging apparatus 100 includes a system control circuit 50.

  The system control circuit 50 controls the entire imaging apparatus 100. The system control circuit 50 controls the exposure control unit 40 and the distance measurement control unit 42 based on the calculation result obtained by the processing of the image processing circuit 20. The system control circuit 50 performs TTL (through-the-lens) AF (autofocus) processing, AE (automatic exposure) processing, and EF (flash pre-emission) processing. The system control circuit 50 causes the trigger selection unit 71 to selectively drive the first trigger unit 72 or the second trigger unit 73, thereby causing the first discharge tube 75 or the second discharge tube 76 to emit light. The trigger selection unit 71 functions as a trigger selection unit, the first trigger unit 72 and the second trigger unit 73 function as a trigger unit, and the light emission control unit 80 functions as a light emission control unit. The system control circuit 50 controls the control element 74 via the light emission control unit 80 to control the light emission amount of the first discharge tube 75 or the second discharge tube 76 to perform flash dimming. Booster 81 charges main capacitor 77 with a boosted voltage.

  The first discharge tube 75 and the second discharge tube 76 are the first discharge tube 75 or the second discharge tube 76 that receives the trigger output from the first trigger unit 72 or the second trigger unit 73 selected by the trigger selection unit 71. The capacitor 77 is discharged. The first discharge tube 75 and the second discharge tube are connected in series with the control element 74. The system control circuit 50 controls the exposure control unit 40 and the distance measurement control unit 42 based on the calculation result obtained by calculating the captured image data by the image processing circuit 20.

  The imaging apparatus 100 includes a mode dial 60, a shutter switch (SW1) 62, a shutter switch (SW2) 64, and a bounce flash switch 68 as selection means. Each of these units is provided for inputting various operation instructions in the system control circuit 50, functions as an operation means, and includes a switch, a dial, a touch panel, and the like. The mode dial 60 can switch and set each function mode such as power-off, shooting mode, playback mode, PC connection mode, and the like. The shutter switch (SW1) 62 is turned on during the operation of the shutter button 602 in FIG. 4, and AF (autofocus) processing, AE (automatic exposure) processing, AWB (auto white balance) processing, and EF (flash pre-flash) processing. Instruct the start of the operation. The shutter switch (SW2) 64 is turned on when the operation of a shutter button (not shown) is completed, and writes the signal read from the image sensor 14 to the memory 30 via the A / D converter 16 and the memory control circuit 22. Further, a series of development processes using operations in the image processing circuit 20 and the memory control circuit 22, a recording process in which the image data is read from the memory 30, compressed by the compression / decompression circuit 32, and written to the recording medium 200. Instructs the start of processing operation.

  The bounce flash switch 68 is a switch for switching the flash emission to bounce.

The imaging apparatus 100 includes an interface 90 and a connector 92. The interface 90 functions as an interface with a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk. The connector 92 is connected to the recording medium 200 such as a memory card or a hard disk.
The recording medium 200 includes a recording unit 202 composed of a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, and the like, an interface 204 that functions as an interface with the imaging apparatus 100, and a connector 206 that connects to the imaging apparatus 100. Yes.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an appearance of the imaging apparatus 100 shown in FIG. The imaging apparatus 100 includes a shutter button 602, a bounce flash switch 604, a second light emitting unit 606, a first light emitting unit 608, and a lens barrel 610. A shutter button 602 corresponds to the shutter switches 62 and 64 in FIG. The shutter button 602 transmits to the system control circuit 50 the shooting preparation state that is half pressed (SW1) and the shooting start state that is fully pressed (SW2).

  The bounce flash switch 604 is a bounce flash changeover switch and corresponds to the bounce flash switch 68 of FIG. The second light emitting unit 606 is a second light emitting unit in the bounce flash mode, and includes a second discharge tube 76 shown in FIG. 1 and a predetermined front panel provided with a reflector, a Fresnel lens, etc. (not shown). Is set to the irradiation angle. The first light emitting unit 608 is a first light emitting unit in the general flash photographing mode, includes the first discharge tube 75 shown in FIG. 1, and is formed by a front panel provided with a reflector, a Fresnel lens, etc. (not shown). The irradiation angle is set to cover the shooting angle of view of the taking lens 10. The first light emitting unit 608 is configured to directly irradiate light toward a subject existing at a shooting angle of view.

  In the case of flash photography by switching the bounce flash switch 604, the second light emitting unit 606 or the first light emitting unit 608 is selected. The second light emitting unit 606 is a light source in the bounce flash mode, and is disposed at a position where it does not directly enter the shooting field angle of the shooting lens 10 in the lens barrel 610. In the present embodiment, the second light emitting unit 606 is provided on the shutter button 602 side (upper surface) of the imaging device 100 and is arranged so that light is emitted upward at the normal position of the imaging device 100. In general bounce shooting, the irradiation angle is preferably 60 to 90 degrees with respect to the horizontal direction of the normal position of the imaging apparatus so that direct light does not enter the shooting angle of view. At the time of bounce, the light of the second light emitting unit 606 is reflected on the ceiling, the wall, or the reflection plate, and the subject is illuminated with the reflected light, so that it is possible to alleviate a strong shadow caused by the wraparound of the light. Here, it is desirable that the irradiation angle of the second light emitting unit 606 used in the bounce flash mode with respect to the first light emitting unit 608 used in the general flash photographing mode is the same or wider so that diffusion is easily performed.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. 2 and 3 show a flowchart of the main routine of the imaging apparatus 100 of the present embodiment. The operation of the imaging apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. When the power is turned on, the system control circuit 50 initializes flags, control variables, and the like (S101), and initializes the image display of the image display unit 28 to the OFF state (S102).

  If the mode dial 60 is set to the shooting mode (S103), the process proceeds to S105. If the mode dial 60 has been set to another mode (S103), the system control circuit 50 executes processing according to the selected mode (S104), and returns to S103 when the processing is completed.

  The system control circuit 50 checks the setting state of the bounce flash switch 68 (S105), and if it is set to bounce flash ON, sets the bounce flash flag (S106). If the bounce flash is set to OFF, the bounce flash flag is canceled (S107). The state of the bounce flash flag is stored in the internal memory of the system control circuit 50.

  The system control circuit 50 sets a through display state in which captured image data is sequentially displayed (S108), and proceeds to S109. In the through display state, the data sequentially written in the image display memory 24 via the image sensor 14, the A / D converter 16, the image processing circuit 20, and the memory control circuit 22 is converted into the memory control circuit 22 and the D / A conversion. Images are sequentially displayed by the image display unit 28 via the device 26. In this way, an electronic finder function is realized. If the shutter switch (SW1) 62 has not been pressed (S109), the process returns to S103 in FIG. If the shutter switch (SW1) 62 has been pressed (S109), the process proceeds to S110. The system control circuit 50 performs a distance measurement process to focus the photographing lens 10 on the subject, performs a photometry process, and determines an aperture value and a shutter time (S110). In the photometric process, if it is determined that the brightness of the subject is lower than the threshold value, or if it is determined that the subject is in a backlight state, the flash is also set. If the shutter switch (SW2) 64 is not pressed (S111) and the shutter switch (SW1) 62 is also released (S112), the process returns to S103 in FIG. If the shutter switch (SW2) 64 is pressed (S111), the process proceeds to S113. Here, the system control circuit 50 executes a photographing process including an exposure process for writing captured image data in the memory 30 and a developing process for reading out the image data written in the memory control circuit 22 and the memory 30 and performing various processes. (S113). At that time, the image processing circuit 20 is used as necessary. Details of the photographing process in S113 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The system control circuit 50 reads the captured image data written in the memory 30 and performs various image processing using the memory control circuit 22 and, if necessary, the image processing circuit 20. The image compression processing is performed according to the mode set by using it. Then, the system control circuit 50 executes a recording process for writing image data to the recording medium 200 (S114). When S114 ends, after a predetermined minimum review time has elapsed (S115), the system control circuit 50 sets the display state of the image display unit 28 to the through display state (S116), and proceeds to S117. If the shutter switch (SW1) 62 has been pressed (S117), the system control circuit 50 returns to S111 to prepare for the next shooting. If the shutter switch (SW1) 62 has been released (S117), the system control circuit 50 ends the series of photographing operations and returns to S103 in FIG.

  FIG. 3 shows a detailed flowchart of the photographing process in S113 of FIG. In accordance with the photometric data stored in the internal memory of the system control circuit 50, the system control circuit 50 exposes the image sensor 14 by opening the shutter 12 having the aperture function according to the aperture value by the exposure control unit 40 (S301). , S302). It is determined whether or not the flash 48 is necessary (S303), and if necessary, the bounce flash flag is confirmed (S304). If the bounce flash flag is confirmed and the bounce shooting is not performed, the trigger selection unit 71 selects the first trigger unit 72 and causes the first discharge tube 75 to emit light (S305, S307). The first discharge tube 75 emits light in response to the trigger signal of the first trigger unit 72 and discharges the charge of the main capacitor 77 via the control element 74 controlled by the light emission control unit 80. If it is bounce shooting, the trigger selection unit 71 selects the second trigger unit 73 to cause the second discharge tube 76 to emit light (S306, S307). The second discharge tube 76 emits light in response to the trigger signal of the second trigger unit 73 and discharges the charge of the main capacitor 77 via the control element 74 controlled by the light emission control unit 80. It is determined whether or not the flash 48 is necessary (S303). If it is not necessary, exposure is performed without flash emission. The system control circuit 50 waits for the end of exposure of the image sensor 14 according to the photometric data (S308). Then, the shutter 12 is closed (S309), the charge signal is read from the image sensor 14, and the captured image data is written in the memory 30 (S310). At that time, the processing is performed via the A / D converter 16, the image processing circuit 20, the memory control circuit 22, or directly from the A / D converter 16 via the memory control circuit 22. Here, in the case of performing flash emission, the system control circuit 50 waits for the exposure of the image sensor 14 to end according to the photometric data. When the exposure is completed, the control element 74 is stopped via the light emission controller 80, the discharge current of the first discharge tube 75 or the second discharge tube 76 is stopped (S308), and the shutter 12 is closed (S309). ) End the exposure.

  Next, if it is necessary to perform frame processing according to the set shooting mode (S311), the system control circuit 50 reads out the image data written in the memory 30 using the memory control circuit 22. Vertical addition processing is performed (S312). At that time, the image processing circuit 20 is used as necessary. Then, after the color processing (S313) is sequentially performed, the processed image data is written in the memory 30. The system control circuit 50 reads the image data from the memory 30 and transfers the display image data to the image display memory 24 via the memory control circuit 22 (S314). When the series of processing is finished, the photographing processing routine S113 is finished.

  In this embodiment, the embodiment in the case of shooting in the bounce flash mode has been described. However, because of the lens vignetting and the close range like the macro flash mode for shooting at a short distance, the parallax between the flash and the shooting optical axis causes shadows. It is also effective in modes where the influence cannot be ignored.

(Second Embodiment)
Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In FIG. 5, the structure of a different part from 1st Embodiment is demonstrated. The different configuration is the internal configuration of the flash 48, and this portion will be described. In the flash 48, the parts changed from the first embodiment are a first main capacitor 177, a second main capacitor 178, and a diode 179. In the system control circuit 50, the trigger selection unit 71 selectively drives the first trigger unit 72 or the second trigger unit 73 for causing the first discharge tube 75 or the second discharge tube 76 to emit light. The system control circuit 50 controls the control element 74 via the light emission control unit 80 to control the light emission amount of the first discharge tube 75 or the second discharge tube 76 to perform flash dimming. The booster 81 charges the first main capacitor 177 and the second main capacitor 178 with a boosted voltage. The first discharge tube 75 is discharged by the first main capacitor 177, and the second discharge tube 76 is discharged by the diode 179 so that both the first main capacitor 177 and the second main capacitor 178 are discharged. Yes.

  If the flash 48 shown in FIG. 5 is not bounce shooting, the trigger selection unit 71 selects the first trigger unit 72 to cause the first discharge tube 75 to emit light. The first discharge tube 75 emits light in response to the trigger signal of the first trigger unit 72 and discharges the charge of the first main capacitor 177 via the control element 74 controlled by the light emission control unit 80. The discharge of the first discharge tube 75 is only the charge of the first main capacitor 177, and the charge of the second main capacitor 178 is not discharged because the diode 179 prevents the discharge. In the case of bounce shooting, the trigger selection unit 71 selects the second trigger unit 73 and causes the second discharge tube 76 to emit light. The second discharge tube 76 emits light in response to a trigger signal from the second trigger unit 73 and is controlled by the light emission control unit 80 through the charge of the first main capacitor 177 and the charge of the second main capacitor 178 via the diode 179. Discharge through 74. Here, the discharge charges of the first discharge tube 75 and the second discharge tube 76 are different because, in the case of bounce shooting, the light diffuses because it is reflected on the ceiling, wall, or reflector (reflector), etc. This is because the amount of light to illuminate is less than that of direct light as in general flash photography. In the present embodiment, for the above reason, in general shooting, only the first main capacitor 177 is used to charge the charge of both the first main capacitor 177 and the second main capacitor 178 when bouncing. In the above embodiment, the imaging apparatus includes the light emitting unit. However, as shown in FIG. 6, the second light emitting unit 706 and the first light emitting unit 708 may be arranged in the flash body. Further, the bounce flash switch 704 may be provided in the flash main body, or may be set by communication via a shoe contact 702 from the camera.

  The present invention can be used for an imaging device that captures a still image, and specifically, can be used for a compact camera, a video camera, and the like.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 50 System control circuit 68 Bounce flash switch 71 Trigger selection part 72 1st trigger part 73 2nd trigger part 74 Control element 75 1st discharge tube 76 2nd discharge tube 77 Main capacitor 80 Light emission control part 81 Boosting part 100 Imaging device 604 Bounce Flash switch 606 Second light emitting unit 608 First light emitting unit

Claims (7)

A plurality of discharge tubes, trigger means for causing each of the discharge tubes to emit light, trigger selection means for selecting one of the trigger means, selection means for selecting a photographing mode, and a series connection to each discharge tube One control element to be provided,
An imaging apparatus comprising: selecting one of the trigger means by the trigger selection means in accordance with an imaging mode selected by the selection means; and causing the discharge tube to emit light by the selected trigger means.   2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photographing modes selected by the selection means are a general flash photographing mode in which light is directly emitted toward a subject existing at a photographing field angle and a bounce flash mode. .   2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photographing modes selected by the selection means are a general flash photographing mode and a macro flash mode in which light is emitted directly toward a subject existing at a photographing field angle. .   The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein light emitted in the bounce flash mode does not directly enter a shooting field angle at the time of shooting.   3. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the amount of light emitted in the bounce flash mode is equal to or greater than the amount of light emitted in the general flash photographing mode.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an irradiation angle of light emitted in the bounce flash mode is the same as or wider than an irradiation angle of light emitted in the general flash photographing mode. A plurality of discharge tubes, trigger means for causing each of the discharge tubes to emit light, trigger selection means for selecting any one of the trigger means, selection means for selecting an imaging mode, and each discharge tube are connected in series. A control element,
An imaging apparatus comprising: selecting one of the trigger means by the trigger selection means in accordance with an imaging mode selected by the selection means; and causing the discharge tube to emit light by the selected trigger means. A flash device provided.

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