Imaging device, control method thereof, program, and recording medium

Abstract

To allow a user to visually check the state of connection to an external device and availability.SOLUTION: An image capturing device configured to offer multiple image capturing modes including a first mode and a second mode different from the first mode is provided, the image capturing device comprising detection means for detecting the state of connection to an external device, determination means configured to determine enabling or disabling of functions of the external device according to the mode, and control means configured to provide control to display the state of connection to the external device and a result of determination made by the determination means on display means when the external device is connected to the image capturing device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus, a control method thereof, a program, and a recording medium. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, external devices such as a display, microphone, and flash unit are sometimes connected to a digital camera (imaging device) to improve the convenience and expand the functionality of the imaging device. Patent Document 1 discloses a technology in which, when the connection between the imaging device and the external device changes from a disconnected state to a connected state, a notification that the connection state with the external device has changed is displayed on a display unit of the imaging device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-26031 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in Patent Document 1, a notification is displayed only when the imaging device and external device are normally connected, and does not take into consideration a situation in which the connected external device cannot be used even when the imaging device and external device are normally connected.Furthermore, it does not take into consideration a situation in which an external device is usable / unusable depending on the mode being used.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to enable a user to visually check the connection status with an external device and whether or not it can be used. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides: An imaging device comprising: a setting means for setting a mode of the imaging device from a plurality of modes including a first mode related to imaging and a second mode different from the first mode in response to a user operation; a detection means for detecting a connection state of an external device; a determination means for determining whether or not a function of the external device is usable based on the mode currently set in the imaging device and information about the external device; and a control means for controlling the display means to display the connection state of the external device and the determination result by the determination means, wherein when the connection state detected by the detection means is normal and the determination means determines that the function of the external device is unusable, the control means controls the display means to display the same first item regardless of the cause of the determination that the function is unusable, and to The display of the second item is controlled to be different depending on whether it is determined to be unusable based on the information of the external device or whether it is determined to be unusable based on the information of the external device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, the user can visually check the connection status with the external device and whether it is available for use. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an imaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a notification display according to the present embodiment. [Figure 3] 3 is a diagram showing the correspondence between the display form of the icon shown in FIG. 2 and the connection state according to the present embodiment. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating processing of the imaging device according to the present embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] First Embodiment A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below. Fig. 1 is a configuration diagram of an imaging device 100. The imaging device 100 is an imaging device that records image data (image signals) input from a lens.

[0010] 1, the following components are connected to a bus 121: a lens 101, a sensor 102, an image processing unit 103, a display resizing circuit 104, a recording resizing circuit 105, an OSD generation circuit 106, and an LCD panel 107. A microcomputer 108, a ROM 110, a RAM 111, an SD card controller 112, an image compression / decompression circuit 114, a display output circuit 115, an external device detection circuit 116, and a notification output circuit 119. Each block is capable of exchanging data via the bus 121.

[0011] The lens unit 101 is composed of a fixed lens group for collecting light, a variable magnification lens group, an aperture, and a correction lens group that has the functions of correcting the image position that has moved due to the movement of the variable magnification lens group and of adjusting the focus. The lens unit 101 forms an image of a subject on the imaging screen of the image sensor 102, which will be described later.

[0012] The image sensor 102 converts light into an electric charge and generates an imaging signal. The generated imaging signal is output to the image processing unit 103. The image sensor 102 is an imaging element such as a CCD image sensor or a CMOS image sensor. Note that the imaging element may be a so-called dual pixel type, in which all pixels on the imaging screen are each composed of a pair of light receiving elements, and a pair of optical images formed by a microlens at each pixel can be photoelectrically converted by the pair of light receiving elements.

[0013] The image processing unit 103 converts the imaging signal input and acquired from the image sensor 102 into RAW data (RAW image). After that, it performs RAW development processes such as interpolation and image quality adjustment on the RAW data to generate YUV format image data corresponding to the RAW data, and outputs this to the display resizing circuit 104 and the recording resizing circuit 105. At the same time, it also writes image data for noise reduction used when generating the YUV format image data to the RAM 111. Note that YUV is a format for expressing color information, and is a method for expressing color using a combination of three components: a luminance signal (Y), the difference between the luminance signal and the blue component (U), and the difference between the luminance signal and the red component (V).

[0014] The display resizing circuit 104 performs resizing processing on the YUV format image data input from the image processing unit 103 to generate display image data and store it in the RAM 111 .

[0015] The recording resize circuit 105 performs resize processing on the YUV format image data input by the image processing unit 103 to generate recording image data and store it in the RAM 111 .

[0016] The OSD generation circuit 106 is an on-screen display unit. It stores OSD data such as various setting menus, titles, time, icons, warning messages, photos, external device information detected by an external device detection circuit 116 (described later), and notification information generated by a notification output circuit 119 in a RAM 111. The stored OSD data is combined with display image data stored in the RAM 111 and displayed on a liquid crystal panel 107, which is a display unit. The data is also output to an external display device such as an HDMI (registered trademark) or SDI (Serial Digital Interface) via an external display output circuit 119a. The external display device may have a recording function.

[0017] The liquid crystal panel 107 is used to display image data for display and OSD.

[0018] The microcomputer 108 is a control unit made up of at least one processor and / or at least one circuit, and controls the entire image capture device 100. By executing a program recorded in a ROM 110 (described later), each process of this embodiment (described later) is realized. Constants and variables for the operation of the microcomputer 108, programs read from the ROM 110, etc. are loaded into the RAM 111. The microcomputer 108 also controls the RAM 111, the liquid crystal panel 107, etc., thereby performing display control.

[0019] The operation switch group 109 is used by the user to input operations, and also includes switches for selecting a video camera mode for capturing video images, a still image camera mode for mainly capturing still images, a playback mode for mainly playing back images, and a power-off mode for turning off the power.

[0020] If the operation switch group 109 includes a touch panel, the microcomputer 108 can detect the following operations or states on the touch panel. 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).

[0021] 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.

[0022] These operations and states, as well as the coordinates of the position where the finger or pen is touching the touch panel 70a, are notified to the microcontroller 108 via the internal bus. The microcontroller 108 determines what kind of touch operation was performed on the touch panel 70a based on the notified information. Regarding touch-move, 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).

[0023] 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).

[0024] The touch panel 70a may be any of a variety of touch panel types, including resistive, capacitive, surface acoustic wave, infrared, electromagnetic induction, image recognition, and optical sensor types. 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.

[0025] The ROM 110 is a flash ROM, and stores programs executed by the microcomputer 108. A portion of the ROM 110 is used as a backup area to hold the system state and the like.

[0026] The RAM 111 is a volatile memory used as a work area by the microcomputer 108, image processing unit 103, image compression / expansion circuit 114, OSD generation circuit 106, external device detection circuit 116, notification output circuit 119, etc. The RAM 111 is also used as a temporary storage memory for compressing or expanding image data for recording generated by the recording resizing circuit 105 or image data read from the SD card 113 in the image compression / expansion circuit 114. Similarly, the RAM 111 is also used as a memory for temporarily storing image data for recording generated by the recording resizing circuit 105 or image data read from the SD card 113 for display on the liquid crystal panel 107 or the external display output circuit 119a. The RAM 111 is also used as a memory for temporarily storing the system status and the user setting status.

[0027] The SD card controller 112 is for recording moving image data generated by the image compression / decompression circuit 114 and output to the RAM 111 onto the SD card 113 in accordance with a computer-readable format such as a FAT file system. This SD card is a removable recording medium that can be removed from the imaging device 100, and can be attached to devices other than the imaging device 100, such as a PC. Although the imaging device 100 has been described as being configured to record image data onto a removable recording medium, it is also possible to consider a configuration in which image data is recorded onto a non-removable memory built into the imaging device 100.

[0028] The image compression / decompression circuit 114 performs MPEG compression (encoding) on ​​the image data in the RAM 111 to generate moving image data, and outputs the moving image data to the RAM 111. It also performs decompression (decoding) of image data read from the SD card 113.

[0029] The display output circuit 115 is a display output circuit for a non-detachable device such as an LCD / EVF, and can output icons, warning messages, photos, etc. generated by the OSD generating circuit 106 to a liquid crystal panel.

[0030] The external device detection circuit 116 detects an external device 118 connected to the imaging device 100 via an I / F (interface) 117. The external device 118 is, for example, a strobe, an exposure meter, a spirit level, a GPS receiver, an external microphone, or a wireless transmitter. These are connected to the imaging device 100 via an accessory shoe.

[0031] The external device detection circuit 116 can also detect the connection of devices with different connection circuits (connection versions) in wireless transmitters, etc. External devices that can be connected via wireless transmitters include, for example, external remote controls, Bluetooth (registered trademark), time code terminals, GENLOCK terminals, LANC terminals, HDMI terminals, USB terminals, Wi-Fi, and external speakers. The external device detection circuit 116 stores the detected external device information and external device connection information in the RAM 111.

[0032] Furthermore, external device detection circuit 116 determines the detected external device information and external device connection information, generates notification information, and stores it in RAM 111. The detected external device information and external device connection information can also be output to microcomputer 108 and determined by microcomputer 108. In this case, microcomputer 108 can also perform control so as not to switch modes in response to the detection of an external device connection.

[0033] The notification output circuit 191 issues notifications based on notification information generated by the external device detection circuit 116, and includes the following components: an external display output circuit 191a, an LED control circuit 191b, a sound control circuit 191c, and a vibration control circuit 191d. A notification may be generated when the mode is changed using the operation switch group 109.

[0034] The external display output circuit 191a is a display output circuit for external display devices such as HDMI / SDI (including external display devices with a recording function) and detachable LCD / EVF. It outputs display image data output to the RAM 111 by the display resizing circuit 104 to the external display device. It can output display image data as a signal of 4K60P, 2K60P, or the like. Furthermore, the external display output circuit 191a can output to the external display device icons, warning messages, photos, etc. output to the RAM 111 by the OSD generation circuit 106 and notification information output to the RAM 111 by the external device detection circuit 116. The OSD generation circuit 106 may read the notification information from the RAM 111, generate icons, warning messages, photos, etc., and store them in the RAM 111.

[0035] The LED control circuit 119b reads the notification information generated by the external device detection circuit 116 and stored in the RAM 111, and controls the LED to blink, light up, or turn off.

[0036] The audio control circuit 119c generates audio data such as a warning sound or a warning message to notify whether an external device is enabled or disabled, and outputs the sound from a stereo or the like.

[0037] The vibration control circuit 119d can vibrate the imaging device to notify whether the external device is enabled or disabled.

[0038] 2(a) to 2(d) are diagrams showing an example of a display screen relating to notification information displayed on the liquid crystal panel 107. A live view image (LV image) is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 107. At this time, the live view image displayed on the liquid crystal panel 107 is referred to as LV200. The display of LV200 may be displayed on an external display device via an HDMI or SDI via the external display output circuit 119a. Display items 201a to 201d are pop-up displays that display notification information generated by a display member or the external device detection circuit 116.

[0039] 2(a) to (d), the notifications displayed in S408 to S411 of FIG. 4, which will be described later, are displayed in display items 201a to 201d. The character strings written here may indicate which external device the content relates to. Display items 202a to 202d are examples of icons indicating the connection status and usability (enabled / disabled) of the external device. The icons shown in display items 202a to 202d are icons that resemble the currently connected external device (or indicate the function executed by the external device). Instead of being limited to icons, the model name of the connected external device may also be displayed. Display item 203b is an icon that is displayed when an external device is connected (the microcomputer 108 recognizes the connection of the external device) and is usable, but cannot be used for some reason.

[0040] 2(a) is an example of a display displayed on the LCD monitor 107 in S408 of Fig. 4. Display items 201a and 202a are displayed superimposed on the LV 200. Display item 201a displays the message "The external device connected to the imaging device is connected normally and can be used."

[0041] 2A shows an example of a display when an external device connected to the imaging device is properly connected and is a usable external device. Specifically, this display is made when the external device detection circuit 116 can detect the connected external device 118 via the I / F 117 and the microcomputer 108 determines that the external device is usable in the current mode.

[0042] Display item 202a is the display form of an icon displayed when the connection status of the external device is normal and the functions of the external device are enabled. The correspondence relationship of the display forms at this time is shown in Fig. 3. As shown in state 301a in Fig. 3, when the connection status of the external device is normal and the functions are enabled, the color of the display item is shown in white.

[0043] 2(b) is an example of a display displayed on the LCD monitor 107 in S409 of Fig. 4. Display items 201b, 202b, and 203b are displayed superimposed on the LV 200. Display item 201b displays the message "The external device connected to the imaging device is connected normally, but its capacity is insufficient for use."

[0044] 2(b) shows an example of a display in a situation where an external device connected to the imaging device is normally connected and usable, but cannot be used for some reason. Specifically, this is the case when the external device detection circuit 116 can detect the connected external device 118 via the I / F 117, and the microcomputer 108 determines that the external device 118 is usable in the current mode, but cannot be used for some reason.

[0045] 2(b) is displayed when the remaining charge or power supply capacity of the battery (power source) attached to the image capture device 100 is insufficient. It is also displayed when an external device cannot be used due to factors such as the outside temperature being too low or too high. It is also displayed when an external display monitor with a recording function is connected to the image capture device 100, no recording medium is attached to the external display monitor, and the recording setting is set to record to an external recording medium.

[0046] Note that the display is not limited to that of the display item 203b, as long as the user can visually confirm that the external device cannot be used. The display item 203b may flash, or the display item 202b may flash. The user may also be notified by lighting or flashing an LED via the LED control circuit 119b. If the LED is already lit, the notification may be made in a color different from the normal color of the LED, such as red. The notification may also be made by sound (e.g., a beep) via the sound control circuit 119c, or by vibrating the imaging device 100 via the vibration control circuit 119d.

[0047] Display item 202b is the display form of an icon displayed when the connection status of the external device is normal and the functions of the external device are disabled. The correspondence relationship of the display forms at this time is shown in Fig. 3. As shown in state 301b in Fig. 3, when the connection status of the external device is normal and the functions are disabled, the color of the display item is shown in light gray. Although this is the same display form as display item 202b in Fig. 2(c) described later, by displaying display item 203b, the user can visually recognize that the external device cannot be used.

[0048] 2(c) is an example of a display displayed on the LCD monitor 107 in S410 of Fig. 4. Display items 201c and 202c are displayed superimposed on the LV 200. Display item 201c displays the message "The external device connected to the imaging device is connected normally, but cannot be used in the current mode."

[0049] 2(c) is displayed when an external device connected to the imaging device is properly connected but unavailable, or when the current setting for shooting does not allow the external device to be used. Specifically, this is displayed when the external device detection circuit 116 can detect the connected external device 118 via the I / F 117, and the microcomputer 108 determines that the external device is unavailable in the current mode / current setting. The current setting for shooting will be described later in S404 of FIG. 4.

[0050] Similar to the display item 202b in Fig. 2(b), the display item 202c is an icon display form that is displayed when the external device is connected normally and its functions are disabled. The correspondence between the display forms at this time is shown in Fig. 3. As shown in state 301b in Fig. 3, when the external device is connected normally and its functions are disabled, the color of the display item is shown in light gray, similar to the display item 202b in Fig. 2(b).

[0051] FIG. 2(d) is an example of a display displayed on the LCD monitor 107 in S411 of FIG. 4. Display items 201d and 202d are displayed superimposed on the LV 200. Display item 201d displays the message "The external device connected to the imaging device is not connected properly." FIG. 2(d) is an example of a display displayed when an external device connected to the imaging device is not connected properly. Specifically, this message is displayed when the external device detection circuit 116 can detect via the I / F 117 that some external device 118 has been connected, but cannot identify what type of device the external device 118 is.

[0052] Display item 202d is the display form of an icon displayed when the external device is not usable because the connection status of the external device is abnormal. The correspondence relationship of the display forms at this time is shown in FIG. 3. As shown in state 301d in FIG. 3, when the external device is not usable because the connection status of the external device is abnormal, the color of the display item is shown in dark gray. In FIG. 2(d), the connection of the external device itself has been detected, so display item 202d is displayed. This allows the user to visually confirm that the connection of the external device itself has not been detected.

[0053] The change in the display form of the display items 202a to 202d according to the connection status of external devices and the enabled / disabled status of functions is not limited to this. The color of the icon itself may be differentiated by red, blue, yellow, etc. to indicate the status, or the shape of the icon may be changed to indicate the status.

[0054] 4 is a flowchart of a control process that starts when the imaging device 100 is started (powered on) and is in a shooting standby state. This control process is realized by the microcomputer 108 expanding a program stored in the ROM 110 into the RAM 111 and executing it.

[0055] In S401, the microcomputer 108 determines whether a mode switching operation has been performed. If a mode switching operation has been performed, the process proceeds to S402; if not, the process returns to S401. Mode switching is performed by a user operating the operation switch group 109. The mode here refers to a still image mode for capturing still images, a video mode for capturing video, etc. The enable / disable of functions of external devices connected to the imaging device 100 differs depending on the mode. The enable / disable of external devices depending on the mode will be described later in S406.

[0056] In S402, the microcomputer 108 determines whether or not the external device 118 is connected using the external device detection circuit 116. If the external device 118 is connected, the process proceeds to S403, and if not, the process proceeds to S415.

[0057] In S403, the microcomputer 108 acquires information about the connected external device 118. The information acquired in this step determines whether the connected external device 118 is usable in the current mode.

[0058] In S404, the microcomputer 108 references the RAM 111 and determines whether the user settings for external device use are valid. If the settings for external device use are valid, the process proceeds to S405. If not, i.e., if the settings are invalid, the process proceeds to S410. An example of a user setting an external device to be invalid is when the usage setting for an external display monitor connected via a priority SDI terminal is set to "Do not use." Other examples include when the time code setting is set to "Disabled," or when an external display monitor with a recording function is connected and the usage setting for the record command is set to "Do not use." In the case of a flash, if the user setting information, such as flash activation permission, prohibition, and fully automatic flash shooting setting, indicates that the flash is not to be used, the microcomputer 108 determines that the user has disabled the use of the external device.

[0059] In S405, the microcomputer 108 determines whether the connection status of the external device 118 detected by the external device detection circuit 116 is normal. If the connection is normal, the process proceeds to S406; if not, that is, if the connection status is not normal (abnormal), the process proceeds to S411. An abnormal connection status refers to a case where the external device connected to the I / F 117 is not connected to the correct connection position (terminal position, etc.). In such a case, the external device detection circuit 116 can detect that an external device is connected, but determines that the function cannot be executed because the connection is abnormal.

[0060] In S406, the microcomputer 108 determines whether the function of the connected external device is enabled. If the function is enabled, the process proceeds to S407; if not, the process proceeds to S409. As described above in S401, in this embodiment, the user can select either the still image mode or the video mode. Some external devices 118 connected to the imaging device 100 can be used only in the still image mode, and others can be used only in the video mode.

[0061] For example, a flash is a device that is only active in still image mode. In other words, external devices that are only active in still image mode will be disabled in video mode even if they are connected. Devices that are only active in video mode include an exposure meter, spirit level, GPS receiver, external microphone, wireless transmitter, external remote control, time code terminal, GENLOCK terminal, SDI terminal, and LANC terminal. In other words, external devices that are only active in video mode will be disabled in still image mode even if they are connected. On the other hand, devices that are active in both still image mode and video mode include the HDMI terminal, USB terminal, Wi-Fi, speaker, and Bluetooth.

[0062] That is, as described above, even if a device whose function is valid only in one of the modes is connected, the function will be valid or invalid depending on the current mode.

[0063] In S407, the microcomputer 108 determines whether or not the functions of the external device 118 are available, based on the information about the external device 118 acquired in S403. If the functions are available, the process proceeds to S408; if not, that is, if the functions are unavailable, the process proceeds to S409. Since the determinations in S404 to S406 are Yes, it can be seen that the state in which this step is reached is that the settings of the connected external device are available, the connection state is normal, and further, the functions of the external device are available.

[0064] In S408, the microcomputer 108 displays a notification on the display unit 28 that the external device is normally connected and available for use. An example of the display at this time is shown in Fig. 2(a). The notification in this step allows the user to visually confirm that the imaging device 100 and the external device are normally connected and available for use.

[0065] In S409, if the external device is properly connected and its functions are enabled, but the connected external device is unavailable, the microcomputer 108 displays a notification on the display unit 28 indicating that the external device has insufficient capabilities. An example of the display is shown in FIG. 2(b). The notification in this step allows the user to visually confirm that the imaging device 100 and the external device are properly connected and its functions are enabled, but that the capabilities are insufficient for use. This notification allows a user who wants to use the external device to change the shooting settings or battery (power source) to ensure that the capabilities are sufficient for use. By notifying the user of insufficient capabilities, as shown in FIG. 2(b), the user can understand why the external device cannot be used despite being connected, and can take the next action, such as improving the device, without any hassle.

[0066] In S410, since the microcomputer 108 has determined No in S404 or No in S406, it displays a notification on the display unit 28 indicating that the external device is connected normally but cannot be used. An example of the display at this time is shown in FIG. 2(c). The notification in this step is made based on the determination result of whether the external device is enabled or disabled in S404 or S406. The notification displayed in this step informs the user that the external device is connected normally. In other words, even though the external device is connected normally and the microcomputer 108 of the imaging device 100 recognizes that the external device is connected, the user can visually recognize that the external device cannot be used. This also reduces the possibility that the user will mistakenly recognize that the external device cannot be used due to a poor connection between the imaging device 100 and the external device.

[0067] In S411, since the microcomputer 108 has determined No in S405, it displays a notification on the display unit 28 that the connection of the external device is abnormal (not normal). An example of the display at this time is shown in FIG. 2(d). The notification in this step allows the user to visually recognize that the connection between the image capture device 100 and the external device is abnormal (not normal). This allows the user to consider the possibility that the external device or the I / F 117 is malfunctioning. It also reduces the possibility that the external device will be mistakenly recognized as unavailable even when the image capture device 100 and the external device are normally connected.

[0068] In S412, the microcomputer 108 determines whether a predetermined time has elapsed. Time measurement begins from the time when the notification display performed in S408 to S411 begins, and determines whether a predetermined time, for example, about 5 seconds, has elapsed. If the predetermined time has elapsed, the process proceeds to S414; if not, the process proceeds to S413.

[0069] In S413, the microcomputer 108 determines whether or not an operation member has been operated. If an operation member has been operated, the process proceeds to S414; if not, the control process flowchart in Figure 4 ends. An operation on an operation member refers to an operation on the operation switch group 109.

[0070] In S414, the microcomputer 108 hides the notification. The notification displayed in any of S408 to S411 is hidden (the display of the notification is ended). At this time, the display of the LV200 continues.

[0071] In S415, the microcomputer 108 determines whether the processing has ended. If the processing has ended, the control flowchart in FIG. 4 ends. If not, the process returns to S401. End of processing refers to, for example, turning off the power of the digital camera 100 or transitioning from video mode.

[0072] In addition, if an operation switch of the operation switch group 109 is operated in S413 to instruct a transition to a playback mode in which a captured video is played back, the control flowchart of Fig. 4 is terminated and the camera transitions to the shooting mode. Similarly, if an operation switch is operated to instruct shooting and recording of a video, shooting and recording of the video starts even if the control flowchart of Fig. 4 is in the middle of being executed.

[0073] Furthermore, in S401, no matter which step in the control flowchart of FIG. 4 is performed, if the mode switching operation described above is performed in S401, the mode is switched and the control of the control flowchart of FIG. 4 is started from the beginning.

[0074] Furthermore, external devices that can be connected to the imaging device 100 include external devices that are valid in both video mode and still image mode, such as an HDMI terminal, USB, Wi-Fi, speaker, and Bluetooth. For such external devices, in the determination in S407, the microcomputer 108 further determines whether the connected external device is usable in both video mode and still image mode. If the connected external device is usable in both video mode and still image mode, the process proceeds to S408. If the external device is usable in both video mode and still image mode, the notification displayed in S408 additionally notifies that the external device is normally connected and usable, and is not limited to the current mode.

[0075] As described above, in this embodiment, the connection status of an external device connected to the imaging device and whether or not functions of the external device can be used are determined, and the determination result is displayed on the display unit. This control allows the user to visually confirm whether the imaging device recognizes the external device connected by the user and whether the connected external device can be used in the current mode. This display allows the user to use the external device without any hassle when connecting it.

[0076] The various controls described above as being performed by the microcontroller 108 may be performed by a single piece of hardware, or the entire device may be controlled by multiple pieces of hardware (e.g., multiple processors or circuits) sharing the processing.

[0077] 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.

[0078] The present invention can be realized by supplying a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or a storage medium. Furthermore, the present invention can also be realized by a process in which one or more processors in a computer of the system or device read and execute the program. It can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

[0079] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the present invention has been described as being applied to an imaging device, but this is not limited to this example and the present invention can be applied to any electronic device to which an external device can be connected. That is, the present invention can be applied to personal computers, PDAs, mobile phone terminals, portable image viewers, printers with displays, digital photo frames, music players, game consoles, e-book readers, and the like.

[0080] The present invention is not limited to application to the imaging device itself, but can also be applied to a control device that communicates with an imaging device (including a network camera) via wired or wireless communication and remotely controls the imaging device. Examples of devices that remotely control an imaging device include smartphones, tablet PCs, and desktop PCs. The imaging device can be remotely controlled by issuing commands from the control device to the imaging device to perform various operations and settings based on operations or processes performed on the control device. Furthermore, a live view image captured by the imaging device may be received via wired or wireless communication and displayed on the control device.

[0081] (Other embodiments) The present invention can also be realized by executing the following process. That is, software (programs) that realize the functions of the above-described embodiments are 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 media storing the program constitute the present invention.

Claims

1. An imaging device, a setting unit that sets a mode of the imaging device from a plurality of modes including a first imaging mode and a second imaging mode different from the first imaging mode in response to a user operation; a detection means for detecting a connection state of an external device; a determination unit that determines whether or not a function of the external device is available based on a mode currently set in the imaging device and information about the external device; a control means for controlling a display means to display the connection state of the external device and the determination result by the determination means; and The control means controls the display of the second item to be different when the connection status detected by the detection means is normal and the determination means determines that the function of the external device is unusable, regardless of the reason for the determination that the function is unusable by the determination means, and when the connection status detected by the detection means is normal and the determination means determines that the function of the external device is unusable, and controls the display of the second item to be different when the function is determined to be unusable based on the mode currently set in the imaging device and when the function is determined to be unusable based on information about the external device.

2. The imaging device according to claim 1, characterized in that the control means controls the imaging device so that, when it is determined that the imaging device is unusable based on the mode currently set in the imaging device, it displays as the second item a message that the imaging device is unusable in the current mode, and, when it is determined that the imaging device is unusable based on information about the external device, it displays as the second item a message that the imaging device is unusable due to the external device.

3. The imaging device described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control means controls the second item to be displayed when it is determined that the external device is unusable based on information about the external device, and controls the second item not to be displayed when it is determined that the external device is unusable based on a mode currently set in the imaging device.

4. 4. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the control means controls the display form of the first item to change so as to display the connection status of the external device and the determination result by the determination means.

5. 5. The imaging device according to claim 4, wherein the control means controls the first item to have a different color to indicate the connection state of the external device and the determination result made by the determination means.

6. the control means controls the display of the connection state of the external device and the determination result by the determination means to be hidden when a predetermined time has elapsed since the display of the connection state of the external device and the determination result by the determination means, The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the imaging device is controlled to display the connection status of the external device and the determination result by the determination means in response to a user operation for changing the mode setting of the imaging device.

7. the first mode is a still image mode for capturing a still image, When the mode currently set in the imaging device is the first mode, the determining means determines that at least one of an external microphone, a wireless transmitter, an external remote control, a time code terminal, a GENLOCK terminal, an SDI terminal, and a LANC terminal is unusable.

7. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second lenses are arranged in a plane parallel to each other.

8. the second mode is a video mode for capturing video; The determining means determines that the flash cannot be used when the mode currently set in the imaging device is the second mode.

8. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the imaging device is a lens.

9. The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the display means is a display unit provided in the imaging device, and an external display device different from the display unit is controlled so as not to display the connection status of the external device and the judgment result by the judgment means.

10. 10. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein, when the function of the external device is valid in either the first mode or the second mode, a notification that the function is valid in either mode is displayed on the display means.

11. The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the external device is any one of a flash, an exposure meter, a spirit level, a GPS receiver, an external microphone, a wireless transmitter, an external remote control, Bluetooth, a time code terminal, a GENLOCK terminal, a LANC terminal, an HDMI terminal, a USB terminal, Wi-Fi, and an external speaker.

12. A control method for an imaging device, comprising: a setting step of setting a mode of the imaging device from a plurality of modes including a first mode related to imaging and a second mode different from the first mode in response to a user operation; a detection step of detecting a connection state of an external device connected to the imaging device; a determination step of determining whether or not a function of the external device is available based on a mode currently set in the imaging device and information on the external device; a control step of controlling the display means to display the connection state of the external device and the determination result of the determination step, A control method for an imaging device, characterized in that in the control step, when the connection status detected in the detection step is normal and it is determined in the judgment step that a function of the external device is unusable, the same first item is controlled to be displayed regardless of the factor that determined the function to be unusable in the judgment step, and the display of the second item is controlled to be different when it is determined that the function is unusable based on the mode currently set in the imaging device and when it is determined that the function is unusable based on information about the external device.

13. A program for causing a computer to function as each of the means of the imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

Images