Electronic apparatus, method for controlling electronic apparatus, program, and storage medium

Abstract

To provide an electronic apparatus that achieves immediacy of setting change in registering settings related to an AF area, a method for controlling an electronic apparatus, a program, and a storage medium.SOLUTION: An electronic apparatus such as a digital camera performs focus detection based on information on an AF area. A control method calls settings related to the type of the AF area and settings of the type to be detected stored in a storage step according to a user's specific operation, and selects the type of the AF area and a subject to be detected according to the settings after the call, thereby executing subject detection processing and focus detection processing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10A

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic device, a control method for an electronic device, a program, and a storage medium. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, imaging devices have improved in auto exposure, AF performance, and subject detection performance, making it possible to shoot almost any scene in automatic mode. However, depending on the shooting scene, there are times when it is better to set the shooting conditions individually, and in such cases, immediate setting changes are required.

[0003] Patent Document 1 proposes an imaging device that includes a setting means for setting each of a plurality of setting items, a designation means for designating a registration target item among the plurality of setting items, a registration control means for registering the registered shooting conditions, and a registration control means for calling up the registered shooting conditions in response to a call-up operation by a user, thereby realizing immediate setting changes by allowing the user to register shooting settings in advance and then call them up. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-71433 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the method of Patent Document 1 does not disclose any method for registering settings related to subject detection, and does not show any method for fully utilizing advances in detection performance.

[0006] As such, many of the conventional shooting function calls are limited to exposure and AF settings, and none take into account subject detection conditions.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to realize immediate setting changes that take subject detection into consideration. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A technical feature of the present invention is that it comprises a first setting step of setting a first item related to a type of detection target, a second setting step of setting a second item related to an AF area, a detection step of executing a process of detecting a subject of the type set in the first setting step, a focus detection step of executing a focus detection process based on information about the AF area set in the second setting step, and a storage step of combining the first and second set items to store the settings, wherein the type of detection target can be set to automatic, which automatically selects a type from a plurality of types, and the settings stored in the storage step are called up by a specific operation by the user, and the process of detecting the subject and the focus detection process are executed according to the called up settings. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to realize immediate setting changes that take subject detection into consideration. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an external view of a digital camera. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a digital camera. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram relating to a menu for changing setting values. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a menu for setting button customization functions for activating tracking and calling functions. [Figure 5] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing icons indicating shooting information displays and setting values. [Figure 6] This is a diagram showing the frame display before and after AF (operation) is activated. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a frame display based on a combination of an AF area and a tracking setting. [Figure 8] 10A to 10C are diagrams for explaining screen transitions and operations for calling a function. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an implementation pattern of a function call. [Figure 10A] 10 is a flowchart showing control for calling up a combination of subject detection type and AF area. [Figure 10B] 10 is a flowchart showing details of a function call. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0012] ●Digital camera configuration FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) show external views of a digital camera 100 as an example of a device (electronic device) to which the present invention can be applied. FIG. 1(a) is a front perspective view of the digital camera 100, and FIG. 1(b) is a rear perspective view of the digital camera 100. In FIG. 1, a display unit 28 is a display unit provided on the back of the camera that displays images and various information. A touch panel 70a can detect touch operations on the display surface (operation surface) of the display unit 28. An outside-finder display unit 43 is a display unit provided on the top surface of the camera that displays various camera settings such as shutter speed and aperture. A shutter button 61 is an operation unit for issuing shooting instructions. A mode selector switch 60 is an operation unit for switching between various modes. A terminal cover 40 is a cover that protects a connector (not shown) that connects the digital camera 100 to a connection cable for external devices.

[0013] The main electronic dial 71 is a rotary operation member that can be turned to change settings such as shutter speed and aperture. The power switch 72 is an operation member used to turn the digital camera 100 on and off. The sub electronic dial 73 is a rotary operation member used to move the selection frame and advance through images. The cross key 74 is a cross key operation member (four-way key) with push buttons that can be pressed in four directions: up, down, left, and right. The operation corresponding to the part pressed in the direction of the cross key 74 is possible. The SET button 75 is a push button that is mainly used to confirm selections. The video button 76 is used to start and stop video shooting (recording). The AE lock button 77 can be pressed in shooting standby mode to fix the exposure. The magnification button 78 is an operation button used to turn magnification mode on and off in the live view display in shooting mode. After turning magnification mode on, the live view image can be enlarged or reduced by operating the main electronic dial 71. In playback mode, it functions as a magnification button for enlarging the playback image and increasing the magnification ratio. The playback button 79 is an operation button for switching between shooting mode and playback mode. Pressing the playback button 79 during shooting mode switches to playback mode, and the most recent image recorded on the recording medium 200 can be displayed on the display unit 28. Pressing the menu button 81 displays a menu screen on the display unit 28 that allows various settings to be made. The user can intuitively make various settings using the menu screen displayed on the display unit 28, the cross key 74, the SET button 75, or the multi-controller (hereinafter referred to as MC) 65. The MC 65 can accept directional commands in eight directions and pressing its center.

[0014] The communication terminal 10 is a communication terminal that enables the digital camera 100 to communicate with a lens unit 150 (detachable) described below. The eyepiece 16 is the eyepiece of an eyepiece finder (a peer-type finder), and the user can view an image displayed on an internal EVF (Electric View Finder) 29 through the eyepiece 16. The eyepiece detection unit 57 is an eyepiece detection sensor that detects whether the user has placed their eye on the eyepiece 16. The lid 202 is the lid of a slot that stores a recording medium 200.

[0015] Grip unit 90 is a holding unit shaped to be easily gripped in the user's right hand when holding digital camera 100. When the digital camera is held by gripping grip unit 90 with the little finger, ring finger, and middle finger of the right hand, shutter button 61 and main electronic dial 71 are positioned so that they can be operated with the index finger of the right hand. In the same state, sub electronic dial 73 is positioned so that it can be operated with the thumb of the right hand.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a digital camera 100 according to this embodiment. In FIG. 2, lens unit 150 is a lens unit equipped with an interchangeable photographic lens. Lens 103 is usually composed of multiple lenses, but here, for simplicity, only a single lens is shown. Communication terminal 6 is a communication terminal that enables lens unit 150 to communicate with digital camera 100. Lens unit 150 communicates with system control unit 50 via communication terminal 6 and the aforementioned communication terminal 10, and controls aperture 1 via aperture drive circuit 2 using an internal lens system control circuit 4. Thereafter, lens 103 is displaced via AF drive circuit 3 to adjust the focus.

[0017] The shutter 101 is a focal plane shutter that can freely control the exposure time of the imaging unit 22 under the control of the system control unit 50.

[0018] The imaging unit 22 is an imaging element that converts an optical image into an electrical signal and is composed of a CCD, CMOS element, etc. The A / D converter 23 is used to convert an analog signal output from the imaging unit 22 into a digital signal.

[0019] The image processing unit 24 performs predetermined pixel interpolation, resizing such as reduction, and color conversion processing on data from the A / D converter 23 or data from the memory control unit 15 (described later). The image processing unit 24 also performs predetermined arithmetic processing using the captured image data. Based on the arithmetic results obtained by the image processing unit 24, the system control unit 50 performs exposure control, focus detection processing, and adjustment control. This results in TTL (through-the-lens) AF (autofocus) processing, AE (autoexposure) processing, and EF (flash pre-flash) processing. The image processing unit 24 also performs predetermined arithmetic processing using the captured image data, and performs TTL AWB (auto white balance) processing based on the arithmetic results obtained.

[0020] The memory control unit 15 controls data transmission and reception between the A / D converter 23, the image processing unit 24, and the memory 32. The output data from the A / D converter 23 is written into the memory 32 via the image processing unit 24 and the memory control unit 15, or directly via the memory control unit 15.

[0021] The memory 32 stores image data obtained by the imaging unit 22 and converted into digital data by the A / D converter 23. The memory 32 has a storage capacity sufficient to store a predetermined number of still images and a predetermined period of moving images and audio. The memory 32 also serves as a memory for displaying images (video memory). The display image data written to the memory 32 is displayed on the display unit 28 and EVF 29 via the memory control unit 15. The display unit 28 and EVF 29 perform display on a display device such as an LCD or organic EL display in accordance with a signal from the memory control unit 15. A live view display (LV display) can be performed by sequentially transferring and displaying data that has been A / D converted by the A / D converter 23 and stored in the memory 32 to the display unit 28 or EVF 29. Hereinafter, an image displayed in live view will be referred to as a live view image (LV image).

[0022] The infrared light emitting diode 166 is a light emitting element for detecting the position of the user's line of sight within the viewfinder screen, and irradiates infrared light onto the user's eyeball (eye) 161 placed in the eyepiece 16. The infrared light emitted from the infrared light emitting diode 166 is reflected by the eyeball (eye) 161, and the reflected infrared light reaches the dichroic mirror 162. The dichroic mirror 162 reflects only the infrared light and transmits visible light. The reflected infrared light, whose optical path has been changed, forms an image on the imaging surface of the line of sight detection sensor 164 via the imaging lens 163. The imaging lens 163 is an optical component that constitutes the line of sight detection optical system. The line of sight detection sensor 164 is made up of an imaging device such as a CCD image sensor.

[0023] The gaze detection sensor 164 photoelectrically converts the incident reflected infrared light into an electric signal and outputs it to the gaze detection circuit 165. The gaze detection circuit 165 includes at least one processor, and detects the gaze position of the user from the image or movement of the user's eyeball (eye) 161 based on the output signal of the gaze detection sensor 164, and outputs the detected information to the system control unit 50. In this way, the dichroic mirror 162, the imaging lens 163, the gaze detection sensor 164, the infrared light emitting diode 166, and the gaze detection circuit 165 configure the gaze detection block 160.

[0024] In this embodiment, the gaze detection block 160 is used to detect the gaze using a method called the corneal reflex method. The corneal reflex method is a method of detecting the direction and position of the gaze from the positional relationship between the light reflected by the cornea of ​​the eyeball (eye) 161 and the pupil of the eyeball (eye) 161 when infrared light emitted from the infrared light emitting diode 166 is reflected. In addition to this, there are various other methods for detecting the direction and position of the gaze, such as a method called the scleral reflex method, which utilizes the difference in light reflectance between the black and white of the eye. Note that gaze detection means other than those described above may also be used as long as they are capable of detecting the direction and position of the gaze.

[0025] The outside-finder liquid crystal display 43 displays various camera settings such as shutter speed and aperture via an outside-finder display drive circuit 44 .

[0026] The nonvolatile memory 56 is an electrically erasable and recordable memory, such as a Flash ROM. The nonvolatile memory 56 stores constants, programs, and the like for the operation of the system control unit 50. The programs referred to here are computer programs for executing various flowcharts described later in this embodiment.

[0027] The system control unit 50 is a control unit made up of at least one processor or circuit, and controls the entire digital camera 100. By executing the programs recorded in the nonvolatile memory 56 described above, the various processes of this embodiment, which will be described later, are realized. The system memory 52, for example, is made up of RAM, and stores constants and variables for the operation of the system control unit 50, programs read from the nonvolatile memory 56, and the like. The system control unit 50 also performs display control by controlling the memory 32, the display unit 28, and the like.

[0028] The system timer 53 is a timekeeping unit that measures the time used for various controls and the time of a built-in clock.

[0029] The various operation members serving as input units that accept operations from the user include at least the following operation units: Operation unit 70, which includes the shutter button 61, MC 65, touch panel 70a, main electronic dial 71, sub electronic dial 73, cross key 74, SET button 75, movie button 76, AE lock button 77, magnify button 78, playback button 79, and menu button 81. In addition, the mode selector switch 60 and power switch 72 are also operation members that accept operations from the user.

[0030] The operation unit 70 , the mode changeover switch 60 , and the power switch 72 function as operation means for inputting various operation instructions to the system control unit 50 .

[0031] The mode selector switch 60 switches the operating mode of the system control unit 50 between a still image capture mode, a video capture mode, etc. Modes included in the still image capture mode include an auto capture mode, an auto scene determination mode, a manual mode, an aperture priority mode (Av mode), a shutter speed priority mode (Tv mode), and a program AE mode (P mode). There are also various scene modes and custom modes that provide capture settings for specific capture scenes. The mode selector switch 60 allows the user to directly switch to one of these modes. Alternatively, the user may first switch to a list screen of capture modes using the mode selector switch 60, then select one of the displayed modes and switch using other operating members. Similarly, the video capture mode may also include multiple modes.

[0032] The shutter button 61 is a two-stage switch consisting of a first shutter switch 62 and a second shutter switch 64.

[0033] The first shutter switch 62 is turned on and generates a first shutter switch signal SW1 when the shutter button 61 provided on the digital camera 100 is pressed halfway (a shooting preparation command) during operation. The first shutter switch signal SW1 starts shooting preparation operations such as AF (autofocus) processing, AE (auto exposure) processing, AWB (auto white balance) processing, and EF (pre-flash) processing.

[0034] The second shutter switch 64 is turned on when the shutter button 61 is fully pressed (photographing instruction) and generates a second shutter switch signal SW2. The system control unit 50 starts a series of photographing processing operations, from reading out a signal from the imaging unit 22 to writing the captured image to the recording medium 200 as an image file, in response to the second shutter switch signal SW2.

[0035] The power supply control unit 80 is composed of a battery detection circuit, a DC-DC converter, a switch circuit for switching between powered blocks, etc., and detects whether a battery is installed, the battery type, and the remaining battery charge. The power supply control unit 80 also controls the DC-DC converter based on the detection results and instructions from the system control unit 50, and supplies the required voltage for the required period to each unit, including the recording medium 200. The power supply unit 30 is composed of primary batteries such as alkaline batteries or lithium batteries, secondary batteries such as NiCd batteries, NiMH batteries, or Li batteries, an AC adapter, etc.

[0036] The recording medium I / F 18 is an interface with a recording medium 200 such as a memory card or a hard disk. The recording medium 200 is a recording medium such as a memory card for recording captured images, and is composed of a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, or the like.

[0037] The communication unit 54 is connected wirelessly or via a wired cable, and transmits and receives video signals and audio signals. The communication unit 54 can also be connected to a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet. The communication unit 54 can also communicate with external devices via Bluetooth (registered trademark) or Bluetooth Low Energy. The communication unit 54 can transmit images (including live view images) captured by the imaging unit 22 and images recorded on the recording medium 200, and can also receive images and various other information from external devices.

[0038] The orientation detection unit 55 detects the orientation of the digital camera 100 with respect to the direction of gravity. Based on the orientation detected by the orientation detection unit 55, it is possible to determine whether an image captured by the imaging unit 22 was captured with the digital camera 100 held horizontally or vertically. The system control unit 50 can add orientation information corresponding to the orientation detected by the orientation detection unit 55 to the image file of the image captured by the imaging unit 22, or rotate and record the image. An acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, or the like can be used as the orientation detection unit 55. The acceleration sensor or gyro sensor of the orientation detection unit 55 can also be used to detect movement of the digital camera 100 (panning, tilting, lifting, whether it is stationary, etc.).

[0039] The eye-contact detection unit 57 is an eye-contact detection sensor that detects (approach detection) whether the eye (object) 161 approaches (approach) or moves away (away from) the viewfinder eyepiece 16. The system control unit 50 switches the display unit 28 and the EVF 29 between on (display state) and off (non-display state) depending on the state detected by the eye-contact detection unit 57. More specifically, at least when the digital camera 100 is in a shooting standby state and the display destination switching setting for the live view image captured by the imaging unit 22 is set to automatic switching, when the eye is not in contact with the viewfinder, the display is turned on as the display unit 28 and the EVF 29 is hidden. When the eye is in contact with the viewfinder, the display is turned on as the display unit 28 and the EVF 29 is hidden. The eye-contact detection unit 57 can be, for example, an infrared proximity sensor, and can detect the approach of an object to the viewfinder eyepiece 16 incorporating the EVF 29. When an object approaches, infrared light projected from a light-projecting unit (not shown) of the eyepiece detection unit 57 is reflected and received by a light-receiving unit (not shown) of the infrared proximity sensor. The amount of received infrared light can also determine the distance the object is approaching the eyepiece 16 (eyepiece distance). In this manner, the eyepiece detection unit 57 performs eyepiece detection, detecting the proximity of the object to the eyepiece 16. Note that in this embodiment, the light-projecting unit and light-receiving unit of the eyepiece detection unit 57 are separate devices from the aforementioned infrared light-emitting diode 166 and line-of-sight detection sensor 164. However, the infrared light-emitting diode 166 may also serve as the light-projecting unit of the eyepiece detection unit 57. The line-of-sight detection sensor 164 may also serve as the light-receiving unit. When an object is detected approaching within a predetermined distance from the eyepiece 16 from a non-eyepiece state (non-approach state), it is detected that the eyepiece has been placed in close proximity. When an object whose proximity has been detected moves away from the eye-contact state (approaching state) by a distance greater than a predetermined distance, it is detected that the eye has been removed. The threshold for detecting eye-contact and the threshold for detecting eye-removal may be different, for example, by providing hysteresis. Furthermore, after detecting eye-contact, the eye-contact state is maintained until eye-removal is detected. After detecting eye-removal, the eye-removal state is maintained until eye-contact is detected. Note that the infrared proximity sensor is just one example, and other sensors that can detect the approach of an eye or object that can be considered as eye-contact may be used for the eye-contact detection unit 57.

[0040] The system control unit 50 can detect the following operations or states based on the output from the line-of-sight detection block 160. The gaze of the user who has placed his / her eye on the eyepiece unit 16 is newly input (detected). In other words, gaze input has started. The eyepiece 16 is receiving gaze input from the user. The user is gazing at the eyepiece 16. The user who has placed his / her eye on the eyepiece unit 16 moves his / her gaze away from the eyepiece unit 16. In other words, the end of the gaze input. A state in which the user has placed their eye on the eyepiece 16 but is not inputting any gaze.

[0041] The term "gazing" as used herein refers to a case where the user's line of sight does not move beyond a predetermined distance within a predetermined time.

[0042] The touch panel 70a and the display unit 28 can be configured as an integrated unit. For example, the touch panel 70a is configured so that its light transmittance does not interfere with the display of the display unit 28, and is attached to the upper layer of the display surface of the display unit 28. Input coordinates on the touch panel 70a are then associated with display coordinates on the display screen of the display unit 28. This makes it possible to provide a GUI (Graphical User Interface) that allows the user to directly operate the screen displayed on the display unit 28. The system control unit 50 can detect the following operations or states on the touch panel 70a: A finger or pen that has not been touching the touch panel 70a touches the touch panel 70a again, that is, the start of touching (hereinafter referred to as touch-down). The touch panel 70a is in a state where it is touched with a finger or a pen (hereinafter referred to as Touch-On). Touching the touch panel 70a with a finger or a pen and moving it (hereinafter referred to as Touch-Move). The finger or pen that has been touching the touch panel 70a is released, that is, the touch ends (hereinafter referred to as "touch-up"). A state in which nothing is touching the touch panel 70a (hereinafter referred to as Touch-Off).

[0043] When touch down is detected, touch on is also detected at the same time. After touch down, touch on will usually continue to be detected unless touch up is detected. Touch move is also detected when touch on is detected. Even if touch on is detected, touch move will not be detected unless the touch position moves. Once it is detected that all fingers or pens that were touching have touched up, touch off occurs.

[0044] These operations and states, as well as the coordinates of the position where the finger or pen touches the touch panel 70a, are notified to the system control unit 50 via the internal bus. The system control unit 50 determines what kind of operation (touch operation) was performed on the touch panel 70a based on the notified information. Regarding touch moves, the direction of movement of the finger or pen moving on the touch panel 70a can also be determined for each vertical and horizontal component on the touch panel 70a based on changes in the position coordinates. If a touch move of a predetermined distance or more is detected, it is determined that a slide operation has been performed. An operation in which a finger is touched on the touch panel, quickly moved a certain distance, and then released is called a flick. In other words, a flick is an operation in which the finger is quickly traced across the touch panel 70a as if flicking. If a touch move of a predetermined distance or more at a predetermined speed or faster is detected and a touch up is then detected, it is determined that a flick has been performed (it can be determined that a flick occurred following a slide operation). Furthermore, a touch operation in which multiple points (for example, two points) are touched simultaneously and the touch positions are brought closer together is called a pinch in, and a touch operation in which the touch positions are moved farther apart is called a pinch out. Pinch out and pinch in are collectively called a pinch operation (or simply pinch). The touch panel 70a may be of any of a variety of touch panel types, including resistive film type, capacitive type, surface acoustic wave type, infrared type, electromagnetic induction type, image recognition type, and optical sensor type. Depending on the type, there are types that detect a touch by contact with the touch panel, and types that detect a touch by the approach of a finger or pen to the touch panel, but either type is acceptable.

[0045] When a TouchMove operation is performed with the eyepiece in close proximity, the user can set the method of specifying the position of the position indicator corresponding to the TouchMove operation to either absolute position specification or relative position specification. For example, if the position indicator is an AF frame, in the case of absolute position specification, when the touch panel 70a is touched, an AF position corresponding to the touched position (position where coordinates are input) is set. In other words, the position coordinates where the touch operation was performed are associated with the position coordinates of the display unit 28. On the other hand, in the case of relative position specification, the position coordinates where the touch operation was performed are not associated with the position coordinates of the display unit 28. In the case of relative position specification, the touch position is moved from the currently set AF position in the direction of TouchMove movement by a distance corresponding to the amount of TouchMove movement, regardless of the touchdown position on the touch panel 70a.

[0046] ●Settings screen FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a menu for changing the setting values ​​displayed on the display unit 28 or the EVF 29. As shown in FIG.

[0047] FIG. 3(a) is a menu setting screen, and 301 to 305 indicate the setting items and setting values.

[0048] The setting item for 301 is AF operation, and you can set it to "One-shot AF," which locks the focus after AF is activated (after the shooting preparation command is given), or "Servo AF," which tracks the focus.

[0049] The setting item 302 is related to the AF area (information), and allows you to set the size of the area where AF is performed. If there are many setting values, you can go deeper into the hierarchy and set them on a dedicated screen (Figure 3(b)). As shown in Figure 3(b), the user selects a setting value from the list of setting values ​​(306).

[0050] The setting item 303 is the tracking setting, which allows you to set whether or not to track after AF is activated (after a shooting preparation command is issued). The subject to track is determined from the AF area before AF is activated (before a shooting preparation command is issued), and after AF is activated (after a shooting preparation command is issued), the size of the AF area is expanded to cover the entire screen and tracking is performed.

[0051] The setting item 304 is the detection subject setting, which selects the type of detection target to prioritize when determining the main subject. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3(d), the setting can be set from "Auto," "People," "Animal," "Vehicle," or "None" (310). With this setting, if the main subject is detected, a detection frame is displayed around the main subject to notify the user. Furthermore, as shown in 311, more detailed settings can be configured depending on the setting value. Here, the image processing unit 24 can perform subject detection processing to detect specific subjects using captured image data. In this embodiment, specific subjects include people, animals such as dogs, cats, and birds, vehicles, and even key areas within the subject (spot detection). For example, spot detection for people involves detecting the torso, head, eyes, and face. For example, spot detection for animals involves detecting the eyes, face, and body. Furthermore, for example, when a vehicle is selected, spot detection can be set to local, which prioritizes detection of the driver of a car, the lead car of a train, or the cockpit of an airplane.

[0052] These detection methods use machine learning techniques and recognition processing using image processing.

[0053] For example, the types of machine learning include: (1) Support Vector Machine (2) Convolutional Neural Network (3) Recurrent Neural Network

[0054] As an example of recognition processing, for example, when detecting a face, there is a method of extracting a skin color area from the gradation color of each pixel represented by image data and detecting the face based on the degree of match with a face outline plate prepared in advance. There is also a method of detecting a face by extracting facial feature points such as the eyes, nose, and mouth using well-known pattern recognition technology. Furthermore, the main area detection methods applicable to the present invention are not limited to these methods, and other methods may also be used.

[0055] As shown in Figure 3(c), there is also a screen for simultaneously setting the AF area (309) and tracking (308) settings. Here, a live view through image is displayed in the background, and the settings can be changed while viewing the AF area 307 display.

[0056] Furthermore, if "Auto" is set in the setting item 304, the optimum type of detection target is automatically selected from multiple types, so other items (AF operation, AF area) may be set in advance in association with the type of detection target.

[0057] ● Button customization function FIG. 4 is a diagram relating to a menu for setting a button customization function for activating tracking and calling functions displayed on the display unit 28 or the EVF 29.

[0058] To customize the tracking activation button, for example, as shown in 401 in Figure 4(a), when the user aligns the cursor (index) indicating the current processing target position with the desired operating component (such as a button) on the screen, a selectable function is displayed, as shown in 402 in Figure 4(b). In this figure, "Start / Stop Tracking" is assigned to the SET button. Start / Stop Tracking is a function that starts tracking based on the position of the AF area, regardless of the tracking setting, and stops tracking that has started. This function can be activated while waiting to shoot (SW0), while AF is activated (while the first shutter switch is held down, SW1 is ON), and during servo AF continuous shooting (SW2 is ON).

[0059] Also, for example, when the user places the cursor on the button on the screen to which they want to assign a function, as in 403 in Figure 4(c), the functions to be assigned are displayed in a selectable manner, as in 404 in Figure 4(d). In this figure, "Call registered function" is assigned to the AEL (AE lock) button.

[0060] The registered function recall function recalls a function previously registered by the user. When the user presses 405 in Figure 4(d), the detailed settings screen in Figure 4(e) opens. 406 in Figure 4(e) is a checkbox, and the user can register the function to be recalled by setting the setting item 407 and setting value 408 they want to recall and checking 406. In the figure, "One Shot" is registered for the AF operation and "HP (Home Position)" is registered for the recall position. Note that while each item is being set, other items may be grayed out to indicate that they cannot be registered. For example, in Figure 4(e), the AF area is grayed out to indicate that it cannot be registered. Furthermore, if the user does not check the tracking setting or spot detection in Figure 4(e), the current setting value will not be changed.

[0061] ● Shooting information display and icons showing setting values FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the shooting information display and icons indicating setting values ​​displayed on the display unit 28 or the EVF 29. In FIG.

[0062] 5(a) is an example of the display screen of the display unit 28. Reference numeral 501 denotes an icon indicating the AF area and tracking settings, 502 denotes an AF operation setting, 503 denotes a setting for the subject to be detected, and 504 denotes an icon indicating the pupil detection setting. Reference numeral 505 denotes an icon indicating the tracking activation status. By checking 501 to 505, the current settings and status can be known.

[0063] Fig. 5(b) is an example of an icon display list. An icon represented by a combination of AF area and tracking setting, such as icon 506, is displayed in 501. Icons prepared according to setting values, such as icons 507, 508, and 509, are displayed in 502 to 504. An icon indicating the tracking control status, such as icon 510, is displayed in 505.

[0064] Frame display before and after AF activation FIG. 6 shows the frame displayed on the display unit 28 or the EVF 29 before and after AF is activated.

[0065] In Figure 6, the frame display is different before and after AF activation, but it can be the same. It is also possible to distinguish between them by color, such as green for one-shot AF and blue for servo AF.

[0066] 601 is the AF area frame that represents a small area such as a spot, single point, or area expansion. Before AF is activated, it is a rectangle, and after AF is activated, it becomes a thick rectangle like 602.

[0067] Reference numeral 603 denotes an AF area frame that represents a wide area such as a zone or the entire area. Before AF is activated, the area 603 is shown surrounded by brackets [ ], and after AF is activated, a small rectangular frame like 604 is displayed for only the portion of the area 603 that is in focus. It is also possible to display multiple rectangular frames 604 within an area. When representing the entire area of ​​the screen, such as the entire area, the brackets 603 may not be displayed before AF is activated.

[0068] Reference numeral 605 denotes a detection frame. This is a frame displayed around a specific subject that is automatically detected depending on the setting for the specific subject to be detected. In the figure, the setting is "People," and a frame is displayed around a person's face. Depending on the pupil detection setting, it is also possible to display a detection frame 605 around the pupil area. Furthermore, if the setting is "Animals" or "Vehicles," a detection frame is displayed around the entire body or face of an animal or vehicle. After AF is activated, a rectangular frame 606 is displayed in line with the detection frame 605. In this embodiment, it is represented by a dotted line to distinguish it from 602. The detection frame can be updated every frame to track the subject, but the frame position is fixed at the in-focus position only after one-shot AF is activated.

[0069] Reference numeral 607 denotes a tracking frame. This is displayed when the user selects the detection frame 605 or when the user selects a tracking target through user operation. There are several selection operations by the user, such as selection based on the operation position on the touch panel 70a, selection by operating to start tracking, and selection of the detection frame using the cross pad. After AF is activated, it is represented by a dotted double rectangle (608). Like the detection frame, the tracking frame can be updated for each frame to track the subject, but the frame position is fixed at the in-focus position only after one-shot AF is activated.

[0070] 609 indicates the HP frame (home position frame). This is stored by the user setting the AF area frame 601 or 603 to the position they want to register and performing the registration operation. It can be called up using the "Call HP" or "Call shooting function" button customization. The call period can be set to only during operation or to continue until called again. After AF is activated, it is represented by a thick rectangular line (610), just like the AF area.

[0071] Frame expression according to the combination of AF area and tracking settings FIG. 7 shows frame representations according to combinations of AF areas and tracking settings.

[0072] The combinations of the AF area when the subject to be detected is set to "No" are states 7-A to 7-I, and the combinations of the subject to be detected (when a setting other than "No" is selected) and the AF area are states 7-J to 7-R, and the conditions under which the "AF area frame," "detection frame," and "tracking frame" are active are illustrated respectively.

[0073] First, the cases where the subject to be detected is "not detected" in states 7-A to 7-I will be described.

[0074] When the AF area frame is activated, an AF area frame according to each setting, such as a single-point AF area frame 701 or a zone AF area frame 702, is displayed (7-A, 7-B, 7-C).

[0075] When "No" is selected for subject detection, subject detection is not performed, and the detection frame is never active. As a result, the frame is not displayed in states 7-D, 7-E, and 7-F. For the sake of explanation, the screen is grayed out in states 7-D, 7-E, and 7-F in Figure 7, but live view display is still performed.

[0076] Furthermore, when tracking is performed by user selection, tracking frame 703 is displayed (7-G, 7-H, 7-I). The tracking frame here corresponds to the tracking frame when tracking is started based on the operation position on touch panel 70a, or the tracking frame when tracking is started based on the operation position for starting tracking.

[0077] Next, the cases other than when no subject is detected will be described for states 7-J to 7-R.

[0078] In states 7-J to 7-O, if tracking is enabled and the main subject is detected, both the AF area frame and the detection frame are displayed, and the frame that actually focuses when AF is activated is activated. If the main subject is not detected, only the AF area frame is displayed, which is the same as when subject detection is disabled.

[0079] When the main subject is detected and AF is activated, the frame to actually focus on is selected as follows.

[0080] First, when the detection frame does not overlap the AF area frame, the AF area frame becomes active (7-J, 7-K, 7-L). Furthermore, when the AF area is the entire screen, if no subject is detected within the AF area, the entire AF area becomes active (7-L) as the detection frame does not overlap the AF area frame, but since the AF area is the entire screen, the frame is not displayed. For this reason, the screen is grayed out for the sake of explanation, but the live view display is still performed. When the AF area frame is active, the AF area frame (704) or (706) is displayed as a solid line, and the detection frame is represented by a transparent line (705). When AF is activated, the AF area frame is used to adjust the focus.

[0081] Next, when the detection frame overlaps with the AF area frame, the detection frame becomes active (7-M, 7-N, 7-O). In the case of pupil or spot detection, even if the pupil or spot does not overlap with the AF area, the detection frame may become active if the entire face or subject's body overlaps with the AF area frame. When the detection frame is active, the detection frame is displayed with a solid line (707) and the AF area frame is displayed with a transparent line (708).

[0082] When tracking is performed by user selection, and tracking is "on," if the main subject is detected, the tracking frame is active and only the tracking frame is displayed (709) while tracking is in progress (7-P, 7-Q, 7-R). Also, if the main subject is not detected, the tracking frame is displayed in the same way as in the pattern when the subject is "not detected."

[0083] ● State transitions between shooting standby state, shooting preparation state, and shooting state FIG. 8(a) shows state transitions between a shooting standby state (8-A, 8-D), a shooting preparation state (8-B, 8-E), and a shooting state (8-C, 8-F).

[0084] An icon 801 indicates the setting value of the AF area x tracking setting. An icon 802 indicates the setting value of the AF operation. An icon 803 indicates the setting value of the subject to be detected. An icon 804 indicates the setting value of the pupil detection. An icon 805 indicates the tracking status. An icon 806 is a frame display indicating the AF area of ​​zone AF.

[0085] Reference numeral 807 denotes a frame display that indicates the detection frame of the detected subject. In the example of FIG. 8(a), since the subject is detected within the AF area, the detection frame becomes active and the AF area becomes inactive (see FIG. 7).

[0086] When AF start (SW1), which is operation 8a, is performed in the state of 8-A, the state transitions to 8-B, where AF operation is performed within the area of ​​the active frame.

[0087] In the 8-B state, the frame 808 indicates focus. Since the AF operation is set to one shot, the frame position is locked. The color changes to green when in focus and red when out of focus to notify the user of the focus status. When operation 8b, which starts shooting (SW2), is performed, the state transitions to 8-C.

[0088] In the 8-C state, shooting is performed. 809 indicates that shooting is in progress. In the embodiment, this can be determined by the shooting sound, so it may not be displayed, but it is often displayed during silent shooting. Note that during continuous shooting in one-shot AF shooting, the focus is locked, so the in-focus display 808 that was displayed when SW1 was selected is not displayed.

[0089] The above is the basic transition for shooting, and next we will explain the function call patterns.

[0090] When the shooting function is called in operation 8c while in 8-A, the state transitions to 8-D. At this time, icon 801 changes to "Full area x tracking," icon 802 changes to "Servo AF," icon 803 changes to "Animal," and icon 804 changes to "No eye detection." After calling, animal detection is performed across the entire area, so the small bird in the lower right is detected as the main subject, and detection frame 810 is displayed. Because the AF area is the entire area, 810 becomes the active frame.

[0091] In state 8-A, if the shooting function is called up as in operation 8d, the state transitions to state 8-E. The display etc. is the same as in operation 8c, but the difference is that AF operation is performed at the same time, and the in-focus frame 811 is displayed after AF is performed. Note that operation 8d can also be performed in states 8-B and 8-C, and the transitions shown in the figures will occur in each case.

[0092] If AF operation is performed by operation 8a while in 8-D state, the state will transition to 8-E. Only when the tracking setting is "On" and the AF operation is Servo AF, the AF area will be expanded to the entire area to track the subject while AF operation is maintained. To stop subject tracking, stop AF operation or use the "Stop Tracking" button customization operation.

[0093] If shooting is started by operation 8b while in the 8-E state, the state will transition to 8-F. In servo continuous shooting, the camera continues to focus while tracking the subject, and continues to shoot.

[0094] Figure 8(b) shows the menus set by the button customization function described above with reference to Figure 4. The menu on the left is called up by operation 8c, and the menu on the right is called up by operation 8d.

[0095] ● Call pattern FIG. 9 shows the call patterns of this embodiment, and three patterns are introduced in FIG. 9(a) to FIG. 9(c).

[0096] Figure 9(a) shows a pattern where "Full Area x Person Detection" is switched to "Zone x No Tracking x Detection OFF." Before this is switched, people are given priority throughout the entire scene, and as the subject moves significantly, the camera shoots using servo. From this point, if you want to primarily photograph objects rather than people, you can turn off the detection setting and perform automatic selection within a specific area. AF can also be started at the same time, and you can also shoot in a sequence where you shoot immediately after calling the one-shot setting. This is effective when you want to focus on the flower closest to the front within the area, as in Figure 9(a). It is also effective when switching to the bouquet being thrown up by the bride at a wedding bouquet toss.

[0097] Figure 9(b) shows a pattern where "Full area x Person detection" is switched to "1 point (HP) x Tracking x Animal detection." Before this is switched, people are given priority throughout the entire area when shooting. In case a subject with large movements appears, one point is registered as the HP near the center as the point from which Servo AF will begin. From here, when a subject with large movements such as an animal appears, this function can be switched on to grab the subject from near the center and begin tracking. Even if a fast-moving dog appears, as in Figure 9(a), it is possible to grab the subject in the center and track it. The HP can store the size (1 point, zone) and position, so switching it on at the same time as the detection settings can broaden the scope of shooting.

[0098] Figure 9(c) shows a pattern in which "Zone x Person Detection" is switched to "Full Area x Vehicle Detection." Before this is called, people are given priority in the overall shooting, and this is effective when you want to shift the main subject to a vehicle. In addition to cars, motorcycles, trains, and airplanes can also be detected as vehicles, making this effective for commemorative photography, circuit photography, and event photography. By using the spot detection setting explained in Figure 3, it is also possible to pinpoint focus even within a vehicle.

[0099] Figure 9(d) shows a pattern where "Full Area x Person Detection" is switched to "Full Area x Automatic Detection." Before this is switched, people are prioritized for the entire image, and the camera temporarily automatically selects the optimal subject from among people, animals, and vehicles, making it effective when shifting the main subject for further shooting. While people are the primary focus, this is effective for capturing everyday scenes, such as when you want to temporarily detect subjects like animals or vehicles. When switching to automatic subject selection, it is also possible to switch to the full AF area and prioritize the camera's automatic selection. Alternatively, as mentioned above, if "Auto" is selected and other settings (AF operation, AF area) have also been set in advance in association with the type of subject to be detected, the stored settings will be recalled.

[0100] There are many other effective scenes besides the patterns introduced here, and by combining and calling up AF areas and detection settings, users can customize the settings to their liking and avoid missing photo opportunities.

[0101] Control flow when calling up a combination of subject detection type and AF area 10A is a flowchart showing the control of this embodiment. Each process is realized by the system control unit 50 loading a program stored in the non-volatile memory 56 into the system memory 52 and executing it.

[0102] The processing and control of the following flowcharts are performed by the system control unit 50.

[0103] In S1001, it is determined whether a function call has been made. If a function call has been made, the process proceeds to S1002, and if not, the process proceeds to S1003.

[0104] In S1002, control of the function call is initiated.

[0105] In S1003, it is determined whether AF operation (SW1) has been performed. If AF operation has been performed, the process proceeds to S1004, and if not, the process returns to S1001. If normal shooting preparation settings (exposure change, AF area movement, other settings) have been made during this time, the settings are changed.

[0106] In step S1004, the AF operation is performed. When One-Shot AF is set, the focus position is fixed after AF is completed, and when Servo AF is set, the focus is tracked even after AF is completed.

[0107] In S1005, it is determined whether a function call has been made. If a function call has been made, the process proceeds to S1006, and if not, the process proceeds to S1008.

[0108] In S1006, control of the function call is initiated.

[0109] In step S1007, the AF operation is performed. If there is no change in the setting value in step S1006, the AF operation is not performed in step S1007 and is skipped.

[0110] In S1008, it is determined whether or not a shooting operation (SW2) has been performed. If a shooting operation has been performed, the process proceeds to S1010, and if not, the process proceeds to S1009.

[0111] In S1009, it is determined whether the AF operation (SW1) is held. If it is held, the process returns to S1005, and if it is not held, the process returns to S1001.

[0112] In S1010, the photographing operation is performed.

[0113] In S1011, it is determined whether a function call has been made. If a function call has been made, the process proceeds to S1012, and if not, the process proceeds to S1017.

[0114] In S1012, it is determined whether or not servo AF is in operation. If servo AF is in operation, the process proceeds to S1014, and if not, the process proceeds to S1013.

[0115] In S1013, it is determined in advance whether there is a change in the AF operation due to the function call. If there is a change, the process proceeds to S1015, and if not, the process proceeds to S1017.

[0116] In S1014 and S1015, control of the function call is initiated.

[0117] In step S1016, the AF operation is performed. If there are no changes to the setting values ​​in steps S1014 and S1015, the AF operation is not performed in step S1016 and is skipped.

[0118] In S1017, it is determined whether continuous shooting is to be performed. If continuous shooting is to be performed, the process proceeds to S1018, and if not, the process proceeds to S1019.

[0119] In S1018, the shooting operation is executed. Since continuous shooting is performed in this case, shooting is performed according to the drive settings that have been set.

[0120] In S1019, it is determined whether or not the photographing is completed. If it is completed, the processing of this flow is completed, and if it is not completed, the processing returns to S1011.

[0121] ● Control flow for reading functions Fig. 10B is a flowchart showing the details of function reading in S1002, S1006, S1014, and S1015 in Fig. 10. Each process is realized by the system control unit 50 expanding a program stored in the non-volatile memory 56 into the system memory 52 and executing it.

[0122] The processing and control of the following flowcharts are performed by the system control unit 50.

[0123] In S1020, it is determined whether or not there has been a change in the setting value. If there has been a change, the process proceeds to S1021, and if there has not been a change, the subflow for calling the function is terminated.

[0124] In S1021, it is determined whether or not there is a call to the home position (HP). If there is a call to the HP, the process proceeds to S1024, and if not, the process proceeds to S1022.

[0125] In S1022, it is determined whether or not the AF area has been changed. If the AF area has been changed, the process proceeds to S1023, and if not, the process proceeds to S1025.

[0126] In S1023, the AF area is changed.

[0127] In S1024, the AF position is set to the HP position.

[0128] In S1025, it is determined whether there is a change in the AF operation. If there is a change in the AF operation, the process proceeds to S1026, and if there is no change, the process proceeds to S1027.

[0129] In S1026, the AF operation is changed.

[0130] In S1027, it is determined whether or not the tracking settings have been changed. If the tracking settings have been changed, the process proceeds to S1028, and if not, the process proceeds to S1029.

[0131] In S1028, the tracking settings are changed.

[0132] In S1029, it is determined whether or not there has been a change in the setting of the subject to be detected. If there has been a change in the setting of the subject to be detected, the process proceeds to S1030, and if not, the process proceeds to S1033.

[0133] In S1030, it is determined whether or not there has been a change in the detailed settings of the subject to be detected. If there has been a change in the detailed settings, the process proceeds to S1032, and if not, the process proceeds to S1031.

[0134] In S1031, the settings for the subject to be detected are changed.

[0135] In S1032, the settings for the subject to be detected and the detailed settings are changed.

[0136] In S1033, an active determination is made based on Fig. 7, and the main subject is determined based on the subject to be detected after the setting is called up. When the subject to be detected "automatic" is called up, the camera automatically selects a subject to be the main subject.

[0137] In S1034, it is determined whether the pupil detection settings have been changed. If the pupil detection settings have been changed, the process proceeds to S1035, and if not, the process proceeds to S1036.

[0138] In S1035, the pupil detection settings are changed.

[0139] In S1036, it is determined whether or not a tracking operation is to be performed. If an operation is to be performed, the process proceeds to S1037, and if not, the subflow for calling the function is terminated.

[0140] In S1037, the AF area is expanded to the entire area and tracking of the main subject begins.

[0141] In S1038, the screen display is lit for a certain period of time so that the user can see the changed setting value. The display position and icon pattern are as explained in FIG.

[0142] As described above, by using the state transitions and flowcharts based on the embodiment, various combinations of shooting settings and detection settings can be called up, enabling comfortable shooting and improving operability.

[0143] It is particularly effective as a means for determining the shooting conditions in digital cameras, allowing for comfortable shooting without missing a photo opportunity.

[0144] In this embodiment, an example has been described in which the display frame is represented by a rectangle as an indicator showing the position and size on the screen, but it does not necessarily have to be rectangular and may be any shape, such as a circle, hexagon, etc. Also, a crosshair or other target-like display that only indicates the position may be used.

[0145] The system control unit 50 can also generate metadata based on shooting conditions that combine shooting settings and detection settings, add it to image data captured by the imaging unit 22, and record it on the recording medium 200. When displaying a recorded image, metadata recorded in association with the image data may be displayed. The image data and metadata to be recorded are recorded in accordance with standards such as Exif (Exchangeable Image File Format).

[0146] Furthermore, the various controls described above as being performed by the system control unit 50 may be performed by a single piece of hardware, or the entire device may be controlled by multiple pieces of hardware sharing the processing.

[0147] Furthermore, although the present invention has been described in detail based on preferred embodiments thereof, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments, and various forms within the scope of the gist of the present invention are also included in the present invention. Furthermore, each of the above-described embodiments merely represents one embodiment of the present invention, and each embodiment can be combined as appropriate.

[0148] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the present invention has been described as being applied to digital camera 100, but the present invention is not limited to this example and can be applied to any display control device that can control image processing. In other words, the present invention can be applied to mobile phone terminals, portable image viewers, PCs, printer devices with viewfinders, home appliances with displays, digital photo frames, projectors, tablet PCs, music players, game consoles, e-book readers, and the like.

[0149] (Other embodiments) The present invention can also be realized by executing the following process. That is, readable software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or device via a network or various storage media, and the computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or device reads and executes the program code. In this case, the program and the storage medium storing the program constitute the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0150] 100 digital cameras 150 Lens Unit 50 System control section 28 Display section 70a Touch Panel 22 Imaging unit 32 memory 70 Operation section 77 AE lock button 78 Enlarge button 75 SET button 79 Play button

Claims

1. a first setting means for setting a first item related to a type of a detection target; A second setting means for setting a second item related to the AF area; a detection means for executing a process of detecting a subject based on the set first item; a focus detection unit that executes a focus detection process based on information about the AF area set by the second setting unit; a storage means for storing the set first and second items in combination, As the type of the detection target, an automatic setting can be set to automatically select a type from a plurality of types, An electronic device characterized in that the settings stored in the memory means are recalled by a specific operation of a user, and the subject detection process by the detection means and the focus detection process by the focus detection means are executed in accordance with the recalled settings.

2. 2 . The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein, when the type of the detection target is automatically selected, the type is automatically selected from a plurality of types including a person and an animal.

3. 2 . The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein, when the type of the detection target is automatically selected, the type is automatically selected from a plurality of types including a person, an animal, and a vehicle.

4. 4. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the first setting means can further set at least one of a person, an animal, and a vehicle as the type of the detection target.

5. 5. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the first setting means further sets a specific part of a type of detection target.

6. 6. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein when the type of the detection target is a human, the specific part is at least one of an eye, a face, a head, and a torso.

7. 6. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein when the type of the detection target is an animal, the specific part is at least one of an eye, a face, and a whole body.

8. 6. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein when the type of the detection target is a vehicle, the specific portion is at least one of a local portion and an entire portion.

9. 9. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein when the setting stored in the memory means is called up by a specific operation of the user, the detection means executes a process of detecting the subject by giving priority to the type of detection target set by the first setting means.

10. 2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the first setting means sets the type of the detection target to "none."

11. 11. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the second setting means sets a size of an AF area.

12. 12. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the second setting means sets a position of an AF area.

13. the storage means stores a plurality of combinations of the first and second items; 13. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of combinations are assigned to a plurality of operation members, respectively.

14. 14. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a third setting unit for setting a third item relating to exposure.

15. 15. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the specific operation can be performed even after a shooting preparation instruction has been given or during continuous shooting.

16. 16. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein when the specific operation is performed, the setting value to be changed is displayed on a screen for a certain period of time to notify the user.

17. 17. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the process of detecting the subject is performed in an area corresponding to the AF area set by the second setting means.

18. 2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit is capable of detecting at least one of a dog, a cat, a bird, a car, a motorcycle, a train, and an airplane as a type of detection object.

19. 19. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising an image capturing unit.

20. a first setting step of setting a first item related to a type of a detection target; a second setting step of setting a second item related to the AF area; a detection step of executing a process of detecting a subject based on the set first item; a focus detection step of executing a focus detection process based on information about the AF area set in the second setting step; A storage step of storing the set first and second items in combination, As the type of the detection target, an automatic setting can be set to automatically select a type from a plurality of types, A control method for an electronic device, comprising the steps of: recalling the settings stored in the memory step by a specific operation of a user; and executing the subject detection process and the focus detection process according to the recalled settings.

21. A program for causing a computer to function as each of the means of the electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 19.

22. A computer is used as each means of the electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 19. A computer-readable storage medium that stores a program for causing the device to function in accordance with the instructions of the user.

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