Imaging apparatus, method for controlling imaging apparatus, and storage medium

Abstract

To provide an imaging apparatus that can perform tally display according to a photographing situation that is easily recognized from a subject side and easily creates a photographing environment.SOLUTION: An imaging apparatus has: control means that performs control to display live images obtained by an imaging unit performing imaging; and receiving means that receives a tally signal. In response to the receiving means receiving the tally signal, the control means performs control to display tally information corresponding to the tally signal on a display, and performs control to determine a method for displaying the tally information according to the direction of a display screen of the display.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an imaging device that performs control for displaying tally information based on a tally signal. [Background technology]

[0002] One method for communicating the shooting status to a subject is to use a tally lamp attached to an imaging device such as a camera. By lighting up the tally lamp or changing color, the subject can know information such as the shooting status, such as which imaging device is currently shooting the subject, and whether shooting or streaming is in progress. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2000-350061 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the method of notifying the subject of the shooting status using a tally lamp, the display of the tally lamp becomes difficult to see when the subject is far away from the tally display by the tally lamp, or when the brightness of the shooting location is high in a sunny environment, etc. Thus, there was a problem that the tally display by the tally lamp becomes difficult for the subject to see depending on the shooting environment.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENTS Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an imaging device capable of performing tally display according to the shooting conditions. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the imaging device of the present invention comprises: The display device has a control means for controlling the display unit to display a live image captured by the imaging unit, and a receiving means for receiving a tally signal, and the control means controls the display unit to display tally information corresponding to the tally signal in response to reception of the tally signal by the receiving means, and controls the display unit to determine a method of displaying the tally information in response to an orientation of a display screen of the display unit. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to perform tally display according to the shooting situation. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] Block diagram showing the configuration of a digital video camera [Diagram 2] Flowchart showing the operation of tally display in the first embodiment [Diagram 3] Tally display example [Figure 4] Flowchart showing the operation of tally display in the second embodiment [Diagram 5] Tally display settings screen DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] <Digital video camera configuration> FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a digital video camera, which is an image capturing apparatus.

[0010] Reference numeral 100 denotes a digital video camera, and reference numeral 106 denotes a display unit that is installed in a position that can be changed with respect to the digital video camera body 100. The display unit 106 is connected to the digital video camera body via a hinge unit or the like, and is rotatable with respect to the digital video camera body 100. Therefore, the position of the display unit 106 can be changed to a position where the display surface of the display unit 106 faces the camera operator side, or a position where the display surface of the display unit 106 faces the subject side (the shooting direction side) opposite the camera operator side.

[0011] The digital video camera body 100 includes the following components:

[0012] Reference numeral 101 denotes a lens barrel, which is made up of an imaging lens including a focus lens and an anti-vibration lens, and an aperture. The lens barrel 101 may be integrated with the housing 100 or may be separable therefrom.

[0013] Reference numeral 102 denotes an imaging unit, which includes an imaging sensor that converts an optical image focused by the lens of the lens barrel 101 into an electrical signal, and an A / D converter that converts an analog signal into a digital signal.

[0014] Reference numeral 103 denotes an image processing unit, which performs predetermined resizing, trimming, color conversion, distortion correction, etc., on image data from the imaging unit 102 or image data from the memory control unit 107, and stores the result in the memory 108 via the memory control unit 107. Through these processes, the image processing unit 103 generates image data for live images as display data to be displayed on the display unit 106 and stores the image data in the memory 108, or creates image data for recording on the recording medium 120 and stores the image data in the memory 108. Furthermore, the image processing unit 103 performs predetermined arithmetic processing using the captured image data, and the system control unit 109 performs exposure control, distance measurement control, and vibration reduction control based on the obtained arithmetic results. The predetermined arithmetic processing also includes a function for detecting a subject such as a face. As a result, AF (autofocus) processing, AE (automatic exposure) processing, AWB (auto white balance) processing, and vibration reduction processing are performed. In playback mode, the video processing unit 103 inputs video data obtained by decoding encoded video data read from the recording medium 120 by the CODEC 104, and performs resizing and color conversion processing to generate display data and store the data in the memory 108.

[0015] The CODEC 104 encodes the video data generated by the video processing unit 103 using a video compression format such as MPEG2 or H.264, and decodes the encoded video data.

[0016] Reference numeral 105 denotes a video output unit which reads out display data stored in memory 108 via memory control unit 107, superimposes ODS data drawn by an OSD drawing unit 118 (described later) on the display data, converts it into a video signal, and outputs it to display unit 106. If the display data is a live image, a video signal in which the OSD is superimposed on the live image is output to the display unit, and if the display data is video data played back from recording medium 120, a video signal in which the OSD is superimposed on a recorded image is output to the display unit.

[0017] A display unit 106 displays the video signal received from the video output unit 105 .

[0018] Reference numeral 107 denotes a memory control unit, which has a function of arbitrating access requests from each block to a memory 108 .

[0019] Memory 108 stores video data and display data from video processing unit 103, CODEC 104, video output unit 105, OSD drawing unit 118, etc. It also temporarily stores encoded video data output from CODEC 104 and encoded video data read from recording medium 120. Memory 108 has a storage capacity sufficient to store video data and audio data for a predetermined period of time.

[0020] A system control unit 109 controls the entire digital video camera. It reads and executes programs recorded in a non-volatile memory 113 to control each unit and perform various arithmetic processing to realize each operation. The system control unit 109 may include multiple CPU cores. In that case, the tasks described in the programs can be shared and processed by the multiple CPU cores.

[0021] A mode switch 110 is used to select the operation mode of the video camera. Depending on the position of the switch, one of the modes, such as camera mode or playback mode, is determined and notified to the system control unit 109.

[0022] The operation unit 111 is an operation means for inputting various operation instructions to the system control unit 109. The operation unit 111 includes a menu button, a cancel button, a cross key (upward key, downward key, leftward key, rightward key), a SET button, various device switching buttons such as AF / MF, a REC button for instructing start and stop of recording, and an assign button to which a function can be assigned in the menu setting. For example, when the menu button is pressed, a menu screen is displayed on the display unit 106. While viewing the menu screen displayed on the display unit 106, the user can use the cross key or the SET button to select a setting item on the menu screen or change the setting value of the selected setting item, thereby performing various settings.

[0023] The power switch 112 is a push button for switching the power on and off.

[0024] Reference numeral 113 denotes a non-volatile memory that can be electrically erased and recorded. For example, an EEPROM or the like is used. Constants, programs, and the like for the operation of the system control unit 109 are recorded in the non-volatile memory 113. The programs referred to here are programs for executing the operations of various flowcharts described later in this embodiment.

[0025] Reference numeral 114 denotes a power supply control unit, which is composed of a battery detection circuit, a DC-DC converter, a switch circuit for switching between blocks to which electricity is applied, and the like, and detects whether a battery is attached, the type of battery, and the remaining battery power. The power supply control unit 114 also controls the DC-DC converter based on the detection results and instructions from the system control unit 109, and supplies the necessary voltage to each unit, including the recording medium 120, for the necessary period of time.

[0026] Reference numeral 115 denotes a power supply unit, which is made up of primary batteries such as alkaline batteries or lithium batteries, secondary batteries such as NiCd batteries, NiMH batteries, or Li batteries, an AC adapter, or the like.

[0027] Reference numeral 116 denotes a system memory, which is implemented by a RAM. Constants and variables for the operation of the system control unit 109, programs read from the non-volatile memory 113, and the like are loaded into the system memory 116. The system control unit also controls the memory 108, the OSD drawing unit 118, and the video output unit 105 to perform display control. The system memory 116 may be common to the memory 108. In that case, access is arbitrated by the memory control unit 107, and therefore a small-capacity memory that can be accessed at high speed may be provided separately and directly connected to the system control unit 109.

[0028] A system timer 117 is a timing unit that measures the time used for various controls and the time of a built-in clock.

[0029] An OSD drawing unit 118 generates OSD data for displaying text and icons indicating the status and settings of the digital video camera, as well as tally frames and markers, superimposed on video data, and stores the data in memory 108. Data corresponding to the text and icons is stored in non-volatile memory 113, and the OSD drawing unit 118 reads this data, arranges it in the display position, and stores the data in memory 108 as OSD data.

[0030] Reference numeral 119 denotes an interface with a recording medium 120 such as a memory card or a hard disk.

[0031] Reference numeral 120 denotes a recording medium for recording encoded video data stored in memory 108 via I / F 119, and for reading encoded video data and associated data recorded therein via I / F 119 and transferring the data to memory 108. Recording medium 120 may be a memory card, hard disk drive, or disk that is attached to the digital video camera, or may be a flash memory or hard disk drive built into the digital video camera.

[0032] Reference numeral 121 denotes a tally signal receiving unit that receives a tally signal from an external device (a tally signal input device 122). The signal received here is notified to the system control unit 109. The system control unit 109 causes the OSD drawing unit 118 to generate OSD data indicating that a tally signal has been received, according to the content of the received tally signal, and thereby an OSD indicating the tally state is displayed superimposed on a live image.

[0033] The display unit position detection unit 123 is a sensor for detecting whether the position state of the display unit 106 is a position where the display surface of the display unit 106 faces the photographer side or a position where the display surface of the display unit 106 faces the subject side (shooting direction side) opposite to the photographer side. The display unit position detection unit 123 detects the position state of the display unit 106 and determines whether the display screen of the display unit 106 faces the photographer side or the subject side. The detection result by the display unit position detection unit 123 is notified to the system control unit 109. Note that the system control unit 109 may determine the position state of the display unit based on the detection result of the display unit position detection unit 123. The system control unit 109 can secure the position state of the display unit in the system memory 116.

[0034] <Operation of Digital Video Camera> (First Embodiment) The operation of the tally display in the digital video camera of this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS.

[0035] In the digital video camera of this embodiment, when the display screen of the display unit 106 faces the subject side (shooting direction side), the display unit 106 can be used as a full-screen tally lamp (full-screen tally display).

[0036] FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the tally display of the digital video camera.

[0037] Each process in this flowchart is realized by system control unit 109 reading out a program stored in non-volatile memory 113, expanding it in system memory 116, and executing the program.

[0038] In S201, the system control unit 109 determines whether or not a tally signal has been received from an external device by the tally signal receiving unit 121. If it is determined that a tally signal has been received, the process proceeds to S203, and if it is determined that a tally signal has not been received, the process proceeds to S202.

[0039] In S202, the system control unit 109 performs display control so as to display a live image on the display unit 106 without displaying tally information (tally frame) based on the tally signal. Fig. 3(a) shows an example of display in this case. Information such as shooting settings and remaining capacity of the recording medium is displayed superimposed on the live image using OSD, but tally information based on the tally signal is not displayed.

[0040] In S203, the system control unit 109 determines whether the tally display setting is ON (enabled) or OFF (disabled). In the digital video camera of this embodiment, the tally display setting (ON / OFF) can be set via the menu screen, and the system control unit 109 reads this tally display setting from the system memory 116. If the tally display setting is ON, the process proceeds to S204. If the tally display setting is OFF, the process proceeds to S202. In other words, if the tally display setting is OFF, no tally information is displayed even if a tally signal is received.

[0041] In S204, the system control unit 109 reads the position state of the display unit notified by the display unit position detection unit 123 and secured in the system memory 116, and determines whether the display unit 106 faces the photographer side (opposite the shooting direction side) or the subject side (shooting direction side). If it is determined that the display unit 106 faces the photographer side, the process proceeds to S205. If it is determined that the display unit 106 faces the subject side, the process proceeds to S206.

[0042] In S205, the system control unit 109 controls the display unit 106 to display a tally frame based on the tally signal together with the live image. FIG. 3B shows a display example in this case. Information such as shooting settings and the remaining amount of the recording medium is displayed superimposed on the live image by OSD, and a tally frame, which is a normal tally display, is displayed on the live image based on the tally signal. In the tally frame display, as shown in FIG. 3B, the tally frame is displayed superimposed on the live image so as to surround the live image. When the image is displayed not on the entire display screen of the display unit 106 but on a partial area, a frame that fits the display screen may be displayed instead of a frame that surrounds the live image. In addition, the system control unit 109 changes the display color of the tally frame according to the tally signal. For example, a red tally frame is displayed when a red tally signal is received, and a green tally frame is displayed when a green tally signal is received.

[0043] In S206, the system control unit 109 performs full-screen tally display on the display unit 106 without displaying a live image. FIG. 3C is a display example of full-screen tally display. The live image and shooting information are not displayed, and the tally information is displayed on the entire surface of the display unit 106. In this embodiment, a color corresponding to the tally signal (red for a red tally signal, green for a green tally signal) is displayed on the entire screen of the display unit 106. When the display screen of the display unit 106 faces the subject side, the photographer does not check the live image. Therefore, the tally information is displayed on the entire display screen of the display unit 106, and the display unit 106 is used exclusively for displaying the tally information. Therefore, even if the subject is located far from the display unit 106, the tally information can be easily checked. In addition, since the tally information is displayed on the entire screen, it is easy to check the tally information even when the brightness of the shooting site is high. In the above description, it has been described that the shooting information is not displayed in the full-screen tally display, but it is also possible to display a background of a color corresponding to the tally signal on the entire display screen and display the shooting information on top of it.

[0044] In this way, by automatically changing the way the tally information is displayed depending on the direction in which the display screen of the display unit 106 is facing (towards the photographer or towards the subject), it becomes possible to display tally information suited to the shooting conditions.

[0045] In the above description, a tally frame is displayed as a normal method of displaying tally information, but a tally icon corresponding to a tally signal may be displayed superimposed on a live image.

[0046] Second Embodiment In the first embodiment, when the display screen faces the subject, the tally information is displayed full screen, but in the second embodiment, it is possible to change whether the information is displayed full screen or in a normal tally frame, depending on the user settings.

[0047] 4 is a flowchart showing the tally display operation of the digital video camera in the second embodiment. The same processes as those in the first embodiment are given the same numbers, so different parts will be explained. Each process in this flowchart is realized by the system control unit 109 expanding a program stored in the non-volatile memory 113 into the system memory 116 and executing it.

[0048] The processes in S201 to S202 are the same as those in the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, if the system control unit 109 determines in S204 that the position state of the display unit read from the system memory 116 is that the display screen of the display unit 106 faces the subject side (shooting direction side), the process proceeds to S401 instead of S206.

[0049] In S401, the system control unit reads out the subject tally display setting from the system memory 116, and determines whether full screen tally display or tally frame display is set. In this embodiment, the user can select the display method of the tally display when the display screen faces the subject side by operating the operation unit 111 on the subject tally display setting setting screen as shown in FIG. 5(a). The setting selected by the user on the subject tally display setting setting screen is held in the system memory 116. If it is determined in S401 that full screen tally display is set, the process of S206 is executed, and if it is determined that tally frame display is set, the process of S205 is executed.

[0050] In this way, in the second embodiment, the user can set the tally display method when the display screen faces the subject side to full screen tally display or tally frame display. In addition to full screen tally display and tally frame display, a tally icon may be selectable as shown in Fig. 5(b). When tally icon display is set, an icon indicating a tally is displayed superimposed on a live image in response to reception of a tally signal.

[0051] In the second embodiment, the subject tally display setting is configured to be configurable by the user. However, the tally display when the display screen faces the photographer may also be configured to be configurable by the user's operation in the photographer tally display setting as shown in Fig. 5(c) separately from the subject tally display setting. In the photographer tally display setting, the photographer normally uses the display unit 106 to check live images, so unlike the subject tally display setting, full-screen tally display cannot be selected.

[0052] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, the user may be able to set not only the display form of the tally display but also the transparency of the tally display (full screen, frame, icon, etc.) with respect to the live image, and the tally display may be configured to be performed at a transparency according to the user setting.

[0053] In the above embodiment, when the display screen faces the subject, the subject tally display can be changed between full screen display and normal tally frame display, but it may also be possible to set the tally frame to be displayed in a thicker frame than in normal display. By displaying the tally frame in a thicker frame, it is possible to easily check the tally information.

[0054] <Other embodiments> Although the present invention has been described in detail based on the preferred embodiments, 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. Parts of the above-described embodiments may be combined as appropriate.

[0055] The present invention can also be realized by supplying a program for realizing one or more functions of the above-mentioned embodiments to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and having one or more processors in the computer of the system or device read and execute the program. The present invention can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) for realizing one or more functions. Therefore, the program code itself that is supplied to and installed in a computer to realize the functional processing of the present invention also realizes the present invention. In other words, the computer program itself for realizing the functional processing of the present invention is also included in the present invention.

Claims

1. A control means for controlling the display unit to display the live image obtained by the imaging unit, It has a receiving unit that receives a tally signal, The control means is Upon receiving a tally signal from the receiving unit, the system controls the display unit to display tally information corresponding to the tally signal. An imaging device characterized by controlling the method of displaying the tally information according to the orientation of the display screen of the display unit.

2. The control means is If the display screen of the display unit is facing the shooting direction side of the imaging unit, the system is controlled to perform a first tally display that displays the tally information without displaying the live image. If the display screen of the display unit is not facing the shooting direction of the imaging unit, the system is controlled to perform a second tally display that displays the tally information together with the live image. The imaging apparatus according to feature 1.

3. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the control means controls the tally information to be displayed on the entire screen of the display unit in the first tally display.

4. The imaging apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the control means controls the entire screen of the display unit to display the tally information in the first tally display.

5. The imaging apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the control means controls the display of an icon corresponding to the tally information superimposed on the live image in the second tally display.

6. The imaging apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the control means controls the display of a frame corresponding to the tally information together with the live image in the second tally display.

7. The system has a first setting means for setting the method of displaying the tally information when the display screen of the display unit is facing the shooting direction side of the imaging unit, according to user operation. The control means determines, based on the setting by the first setting means, how to display the tally information when the display screen is facing that side. The first setting means allows setting a first tally display method that is not executed when the display screen is not facing that side. The imaging apparatus according to feature 1.

8. The display screen has a second setting means for setting the method of displaying the tally information when the display screen is not facing the shooting direction, according to user operation. The first setting means allows setting the first tally display method and the second tally display method. In the second setting means, the second tally display method can be set, but the first tally display method cannot. The imaging apparatus according to feature 7.

9. The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it has the imaging unit.

10. A control process that controls the display unit to display the live image obtained by the imaging unit, It includes a receiving step for receiving a tally signal, In the control process described above, In response to receiving a tally signal in the aforementioned receiving process, the system controls the display unit to display tally information corresponding to the tally signal. The display unit controls the method of displaying the tally information according to the orientation of the display screen. A control method for an imaging device, characterized by the following:

11. A program for causing a computer to function as one of the means of an imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

Images