Image capture apparatus and method of controlling the same

An image capture apparatus comprises an inclination detection unit which detects an inclination of the image capture apparatus, a display unit which displays the inclination of the image capture apparatus, and a predetermined reference orientation set for the image capture apparatus, a still state determination unit which determines that the image capture apparatus is in a still state, if a variation of the inclination falls within a predetermined range, and a reference orientation setting unit which sets the reference orientation of the image capture apparatus, wherein the reference orientation setting unit does not set the reference orientation if the still state determination unit determines that the image capture apparatus is not in the still state.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image capture apparatus and, more particularly, to an image capture apparatus having a function of detecting its orientation inclination.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, an image capture apparatus such as a digital camera can detect its inclination angle by detecting the direction of gravity using, for example, an acceleration sensor. Thus, a photograph with no inclination can be captured by notifying the photographer of the inclination of the image capture apparatus. The orientation of an image capture apparatus in the direction of gravity can also be detected by mounting a gravity sensor such as an acceleration sensor in it, so the number of image capture apparatuses which implement a electronic level function is increasing.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-261030, for example, discloses a technique of displaying the inclination status of an image capture apparatus with respect to the horizontal level on its display screen using its inclination information with respect to the direction of gravity. Also, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-92526 discloses a technique of adjusting the zero point by rotating the main body of an electronic level which uses an acceleration sensor through 180°.

However, the output value of a sensor such as an acceleration sensor for use in inclination detection changes in response to a change in environment such as temperature, thus posing a problem that the zero point position indicating the horizontal level may shift depending on the use environment.

As one method of solving this problem, zero point position correction by the user is known. An image capture apparatus is fixed horizontally, and the zero point position of a electronic level is corrected using the output value of an acceleration sensor at that time. However, this method results in erroneous zero point position correction without detecting a correct zero point if the output value of a sensor which detects the inclination varies due to the influence of vibration or an acceleration other than a gravitational acceleration during zero point position correction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problem, and prevents erroneous zero point position correction without detecting a correct zero point if the output value of a sensor which detects the inclination varies due to the influence of vibration or an acceleration other than a gravitational acceleration during zero point position correction in an image capture apparatus including the sensor.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image capture apparatus comprising: an inclination detection unit which detects an inclination of the image capture apparatus; a display unit which displays the inclination of the image capture apparatus, and a predetermined reference orientation set for the image capture apparatus; a still state determination unit which determines that the image capture apparatus is in a still state, if a variation of the inclination falls within a predetermined range, and a reference orientation setting unit which sets the reference orientation of the image capture apparatus, wherein the reference orientation setting unit does not set the reference orientation if the still state determination unit determines that the image capture apparatus is not in the still state.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling an image capture apparatus, comprising: an inclination detection step of causing an inclination detection unit to detect an inclination of the image capture apparatus; a display step of causing a display unit to display the inclination of the image capture apparatus and a predetermined reference orientation set for the image capture apparatus; a still state determination step of causing a still state determination unit to determine that the image capture apparatus is in a still state, if a variation of the inclination falls within a predetermined range; and a reference orientation setting step of causing a reference orientation setting unit to set the reference orientation of the image capture apparatus, wherein in the reference orientation setting step, the reference orientation is not set if it is determined in the still state determination step that the image capture apparatus is not in the still state.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.FIG. 1is a block diagram showing the schematic configuration of an image capture apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 1, an image capture apparatus100includes a scaling lens (to be referred to as a zoom lens hereinafter)10, a vibration correction lens (to be referred to as a shift lens hereinafter)11, a focus lens (to be referred to as a focusing lens hereinafter)12, a stop/shutter unit13including a stop and a shutter, and an image sensor14which converts an optical image into an electrical signal. The shift lens11is disposed to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis, and can reduce blurring of an optical image formed via an optical system by driving in accordance with vibration or shake acting on the apparatus. The image capture apparatus100also includes a gain amplifier120which amplifies an analog output signal from the image sensor14to set a given camera sensitivity, and an A/D converter16which converts an analog output signal from the image sensor14into a digital signal.

The image capture apparatus100also includes a timing generation unit18which supplies a clock signal and a control signal to the image sensor14, the A/D converter16, and a D/A converter26. The timing generation unit18is controlled by a memory control unit22and a system control unit50.

The image capture apparatus100also includes an image processing unit20. The image processing unit20performs predetermined pixel interpolation processing and color conversion processing for data from the A/D converter16or data from the memory control unit22. The image processing unit20also performs predetermined arithmetic processing using captured image data. Based on the obtained arithmetic result, the system control unit50performs AF (AutoFocus) processing, AE (AutoExposure) processing, and EF (Electronic Flash pre-emission) processing of the TTL (Through The Lens) type to control an exposure control unit40and a focus control unit42. The image processing unit20moreover performs predetermined arithmetic processing using captured image data, and performs AWB (Auto White Balance) processing of the TTL type based on the obtained arithmetic result.

The memory control unit22controls the A/D converter16, the timing generation unit18, the image processing unit20, an image display memory24, the D/A converter26, a memory30, and a compression/expansion unit32. Data from the A/D converter16is written in the image display memory24or memory30via the image processing unit20and memory control unit22or directly via the memory control unit22.

The system control unit50which controls the entire image capture apparatus100calculates a correct exposure value based on the luminance level obtained by TTL metering via the memory control unit22, and controls the exposure control unit40. An image display unit28which uses, for example, a TFT or an LCD displays image data for display, which is written in the image display memory24, via the D/A converter26. An electronic viewfinder function can be implemented by sequentially displaying image data captured using the image display unit28.

The memory30is used to store a captured still image and moving image, and has a storage capacity sufficient to store a predetermined number of still images and a moving image for a predetermined time. This makes it possible to write images in the memory30in large amounts at high speed even in panoramic shooting or continuous shooting, in which a plurality of still images are continuously shot. The memory30can also be used as a working area for the system control unit50. The memory30can moreover function as a storage unit which stores the information of the focus control unit42relative to the operation of a zoom control unit44serving as a scaling unit which scales an object image.

The compression/expansion unit32which compresses/expands image data by, for example, adaptive discrete cosine transformation (ADCT) reads an image stored in the memory30, performs its compression processing or expansion processing, and writes the data having undergone the processing in the memory30. A memory52stores, for example, a constant, variable, and program used to operate the system control unit50.

The exposure control unit40controls the stop/shutter unit13having both a stop function and a shutter function. The focus control unit42controls focusing of the focusing lens12. The zoom control unit44controls zooming of the zoom lens10. A shift lens control unit46controls the shift lens11which is disposed to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis, and can reduce blurring of an optical image formed via an optical system by driving in accordance with vibration acting on the apparatus. The exposure control unit40and focus control unit42are controlled by the system control unit50using the TTL scheme, based on the arithmetic result obtained by arithmetically processing captured image data by the image processing unit20.

A display unit54uses, for example, a loudspeaker or a liquid crystal display device which displays, for example, an operation status or a message using, for example, a text, an image, or a sound in accordance with execution of a program by the system control unit50. A single or a plurality of display units54are provided at a single or a plurality of positions which are near an operation unit of the image capture apparatus100and are easily visually recognizable.

Of the display contents of the display unit54, display contents displayed on, for example, an LCD include single-shot/continuous-shot image display, self-timer display, compression ratio display, recording pixel count display, recorded shot count display, remaining shot count display, shutter speed display, F-number display, and exposure correction display. Display contents displayed on, for example, an LCD also include red-eye reduction display, macrophotography display, buzzer setting display, remaining battery level display, error display, and information display which uses a number with a plurality of digits. Display contents displayed on, for example, an LCD moreover include display of the attachment/detachment of a recording medium200, and date/time display. An electrically erasable/recordable nonvolatile memory56uses, for example, a flash ROM.

Although operation members62,64, and70used to input various operation instructions to the system control unit50use switches or dials in this embodiment, their functions may be provided on the display unit54using a touch panel. These operation members will be described in detail herein.

The shutter switch SW162is turned on halfway through the operation of a shutter switch member (not shown) (by pressing it halfway), and instructs the start of an image capture preparatory operation for, for example, AF (AutoFocus) processing,

The shutter switch SW264is turned on upon completion of the operation of the shutter switch member (not shown) (by pressing it fully), and instructs the start of a series of processing, including exposure processing. The series of processing includes herein exposure processing of writing a signal read from the image sensor14in the memory30via the A/D converter16and memory control unit22, and development processing which uses arithmetic processing in the image processing unit20and memory control unit22. The series of processing also includes recording processing of reading out image data from the memory30, compressing it by the compression/expansion unit32, and writing it on the recording medium200.

An acceleration sensor300is a sensor which detects an acceleration acting on the image capture apparatus100, and serves as an inclination detection unit. An inclination detection control unit301provided in the system control unit50performs processing of detecting a gravitational acceleration by the acceleration sensor300to detect the orientation of the image capture apparatus100. An inclination status defined using a predetermined orientation as a reference position (zero point position) can be displayed on the image display unit28using the inclination angle of the image capture apparatus100detected by the inclination detection control unit301. An orientation determination processing unit304of the inclination detection control unit301performs processing of determining whether the image capture apparatus100falls within a predetermined orientation range. The orientation determination processing unit304can simultaneously serve as a vibration detection unit, like a vibration detection sensor such as a gyro-sensor. Note that the orientation determination processing unit304can also be used for a method of detecting different components of vibration acting on the image capture apparatus100, by simultaneously using a gyro-sensor and an acceleration sensor. Also, when the acceleration sensor300is used as a vibration detection unit, the output from the acceleration sensor300is sent to the shift lens control unit46and converted into an amount of driving of the shift lens11by the shift lens control unit46. The shift lens control unit46drives the shift lens11based on the obtained amount of driving to make it possible to reduce blurring of an optical image formed via an optical system.

A zero point position correction processing unit302of the system control unit50is a circuit which performs processing of correcting the zero point position (reference orientation) of the orientation of the image capture apparatus100. The angle relative to a zero point position (reference orientation setting) arbitrarily set with reference to the zero point position of the image capture apparatus100, which is stored in the nonvolatile memory56, is defined as a zero point position correction value and stored in the memory52or nonvolatile memory56. The system control unit50also includes a still determination processing unit303. The acceleration sensor300detects an acceleration different from gravitational acceleration or detects vibration acting on the image capture apparatus100.

The operation unit70which uses, for example, various buttons or a touch panel can switch an image capture mode for performing image capture, and a playback mode for displaying a captured image on the image display unit28. The operation unit also includes a menu button, set button, macro button, multiscreen playback/new page button, electronic flash set button, and single shooting/continuous shooting/self-timer switch button. The operation unit70can also be used to select settings corresponding to various image capture scenes as image capture modes such as not only an auto mode in which an image capture scene is automatically determined and set, a program mode, a stop priority mode, and a shutter speed priority mode, but also a night view mode, a child capture mode, a firework capture mode, and an underwater capture mode.

The operation unit70also includes a+(plus) menu move button, a−(minus) menu move button, a+(plus) playback image move button, a−(minus) playback image move button,.a shot quality select button, an exposure correct button, and a date/time set button.

A flash firing unit310calculates an appropriate amount Of firing based on the luminance level obtained by photometry using the system control unit50, and performs firing control.

A power supply control unit80uses, for example, a battery detection circuit, a DC-DC converter, and a switch circuit which switches a block to be energized. The power supply control unit80detects battery attachment/detachment, the battery type, the remaining battery level, and the power supply voltage, controls the DC-DC converter based on the detection result and an instruction from the system control unit50, and supplies the required voltage to each unit including a recording medium for a predetermined period of time.

A power supply86uses, for example, a primary battery such as an alkaline battery or a lithium battery, a secondary battery such as an NiMH battery or an Li-ion battery, and an AC adapter. The power supply control unit80and power supply86are connected to each other via connectors82and84.

An interface and a connector complying with a relevant standard, such as SecureDigital (SD®) cards, may be used. The recording medium200includes a recording unit202which uses a semiconductor memory or a magnetic disk, an interface (I/F)204for interfacing with the image capture apparatus100, and a connector206which performs connection to the image capture apparatus100. Also, the image capture apparatus100includes a connector92which performs connection to the recording medium200, and an interface90for interfacing with the recording medium200.

The orientation detection operation of the image capture apparatus in this embodiment will be described below. The influence that an error generated in orientation information due to the influence of vibration or an acceleration externally accepted by the image capture apparatus exerts on zero point position correction processing for the orientation of the image capture apparatus will be described first.

An example of a method of detecting the orientation of the image capture apparatus will be explained first.FIG. 2Ais a view showing the state of an acceleration accepted by the acceleration sensor300when the image capture apparatus100stands still. Referring toFIG. 2A, because the apparatus accepts neither external vibration nor an acceleration, the acceleration sensor detects only an acceleration g in the−(minus) Y-axis direction as a gravitational acceleration. A scale (setting result notification unit) shown on the lower side ofFIG. 2Ais used to indicate the orientation state of the image capture apparatus100, and may be displayed on the image display unit28of the image capture apparatus100to visually present the orientation state of the image capture apparatus100to the operator. In this case, the center position of the scale is defined as the zero point position of the orientation of the image capture apparatus100.

FIG. 2Bshows the state in which the apparatus accepts a gravitational acceleration g in the −(minus) Y-axis direction and an external acceleration b in the−(minus) X-axis direction. At this time, the acceleration sensor erroneously detects an orientation inclined by a=arc tan (b/g), as shown inFIG. 2B. A scale shown on the lower side ofFIG. 2Bindicates the state in which the display position of the scale is shifted by an amount corresponding to a from the state of the scale shown on the lower side ofFIG. 2A.

It is a common practice to determine the horizontal position of the image capture apparatus100as the zero point position when the above-mentioned orientation state is displayed. However, the photographer can desirably correct the zero point position to obtain an arbitrary orientation when, for example, he or she wants to allow the image capture apparatus100to capture an image while maintaining a desired inclination orientation or a horizontal position cannot be correctly detected because the acceleration level detected by the acceleration sensor300changes due to a change in environment such as temperature.

An example of the basic processing of a method of detecting the orientation of the image capture apparatus100will be explained with reference toFIG. 3.

When processing of detecting the orientation of the image capture apparatus100starts, output values are obtained from the acceleration sensor300(S100). An inclination angle γ of the acceleration sensor300is calculated from the obtained output values of the acceleration sensor300(S101), and a relative angle a between the image sensor14and the acceleration sensor300, which is stored in, for example, the nonvolatile memory56in advance, is obtained (S102). The relative angle α means the relative angular difference in the rotation direction between the image sensor14and the acceleration sensor300which are mounted in the image capture apparatus100upon assembly, as shown inFIG. 4.

When the above-mentioned zero point position correction function is provided, it is determined whether zero point position correction has been executed (S103). If zero point position correction has been executed (Yes in step S103), a zero point position correction angle β is obtained in step S104. The zero point position correction angle β is added to the inclination angle γ of the acceleration sensor300and the relative angle α between the image sensor14and the acceleration sensor300to calculate an angle θ of the image capture apparatus100(S105). This zero point position correction can be executed by, for example, selection in a menu mode of the operation unit70, and either an image capture mode or a playback mode can be used for this correction in this embodiment.

At this time, to visually notify the photographer that zero point position correction has been executed, a text, an icon, or information such as a change in color of the scale which indicates the orientation of the image capture apparatus100may be displayed on, for example, the image display unit28(setting notification unit).

If zero point position correction has not been executed (No in step S103), the zero point position correction angle β is set to zero (S108), and is added to the inclination angle γ of the acceleration sensor300and the relative angle α between the image sensor14and the acceleration sensor300to calculate an angle θ of the image capture apparatus100(S105).

If the angle θ of the image capture apparatus100calculated in step S105is different from an immediately preceding angle θ′ of the image capture apparatus100, the orientation state of the image capture apparatus100displayed on, for example, the image display unit28is updated (S107), and the orientation angle detection of the image capture apparatus100ends. If the angle θ of the image capture apparatus100is equal to the immediately preceding angle θ′ of the image capture apparatus100, the orientation angle detection of the image capture apparatus100directly ends.

The above-mentioned series of angle detection processing of the image capture apparatus100is repeated while the orientation state of the image capture apparatus100is displayed on, for example, the image display unit28.

An example of processing for solving the problem resulting from zero point position correction mentioned above will be explained next with reference toFIG. 5.

In step S200, the still determination processing unit303provided in the system control unit50of the image capture apparatus100determines a still state of this apparatus. An example of a method of determining a still state will be explained herein. The still determination processing unit303samples the output values of the acceleration sensor300for a predetermined period of time. If the variation in sampled output value (detected value) falls within a range within which it does not influence the inclination detection result within a predetermined time, a still state is determined (still state determination).

When, for example, the image capture apparatus100is riding on an accelerating vehicle, precise orientation detection is impossible even in a still state. Hence, it is necessary to determine the influence of an acceleration other than a gravitational acceleration accepted by the image capture apparatus100. An example of a method of determining the influence of an acceleration other than a gravitational acceleration will be explained below.

When the image capture apparatus100is free from the influence of an external acceleration in a still state, the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor300includes only a gravitational acceleration g. The acceleration sensor300is a three-axis acceleration sensor which uses the X-, Y-, and Z-axes that are orthogonal to each other and can detect accelerations on the respective axes. Note that when the image capture apparatus100is free from an acceleration other than a gravitational acceleration, the acceleration obtained by composing the accelerations detected on the three axes is the gravitational acceleration g.

When the image capture apparatus100is free from an acceleration other than a gravitational acceleration, we have:
Composite Acceleration σ=√(αx2+αy2+αz2)=Gravitational Accelerationg
where αx is the acceleration on the X-axis, αy is the acceleration on the Y-axis, and αz is the acceleration on the Z-axis.

Accordingly, when the image capture apparatus100is influenced by an acceleration other than a gravitational acceleration, Composite Acceleration σ≠ Gravitational Acceleration g. At this time, an acceleration level S (the difference between the composite acceleration and the gravitational acceleration) that does not influence the inclination detection result is defined as a threshold for a determination criterion. Then, if a condition:
Composite Acceleration σ<Gravitational Accelerationg−S
or
Composite Acceleration σ>Gravitational Accelerationg+S
is satisfied, it is determined that the image capture apparatus100is influenced by an acceleration other than a gravitational acceleration.

The still determination processing unit303performs still determination using one or both of the results of the variation in output value of the acceleration sensor300and the influence of an acceleration other than a gravitational acceleration.

If it is determined by still determination processing that the image capture apparatus100is in a still state (Yes in step S200), the orientation angle of the image capture apparatus100is calculated (S201). If the orientation angle at this time falls within a predetermined range (Yes in step S202), the angle relative to the zero point position is determined as a zero point position correction angle δ and stored in the memory52or nonvolatile memory56(S203), and completion of zero point position correction is displayed on the image display unit28(S204).

As for a determination criterion for the predetermined orientation angle determined in step S202mentioned above, if the orientation of the image capture apparatus100falls within a range (within a display range) within which this orientation can be displayed on, for example, the image display unit28, as shown inFIG. 6A, it is determined that the orientation of the image capture apparatus100falls within a predetermined orientation range. On the other hand, if the image capture apparatus100has an orientation that falls outside the display range, as shown inFIG. 6B, it is determined that the orientation of the image capture apparatus100falls outside the predetermined orientation range (No in step S202).

If it is determined by still determination processing in step S200that the image capture apparatus100is not in a still state (No in step S200), failure in zero point position correction is displayed on the image display unit28(S205). If it is determined that the orientation angle falls outside the predetermined range (No in step S202) as well, failure in zero point position correction is similarly displayed on the image display unit28(S205).

If zero point position correction results in failure, as mentioned above, the immediately preceding zero point position correction angle is enabled without rewriting the zero point position correction angle δ.

Although the result of zero point position correction is displayed on the image display unit28as a unit which provides notification of this result in the above description, notification of the result of zero point position correction may be provided using a sound or an LED (neither is shown).

In a conventional image capture apparatus which does not take into consideration the influence of vibration or an acceleration accepted by the image capture apparatus, the zero point position is directly corrected despite the fact that an error of the orientation of the image capture apparatus is detected, as has been described with reference toFIG. 2B. However, according to the present invention, the probability that no desired image capture result can be obtained reduces because image capture is never performed upon adjusting the orientation of the image capture apparatus to the corrected zero point position despite failure in zero point position correction. Also, the zero point position is never corrected while the image capture apparatus100has an orientation that falls outside the range of a scale which indicates its orientation state, the orientation of the zero point position at the time of correction can always be specified. Moreover, if the zero point position is corrected by a very small amount with respect to the initial position, it is possible to prevent the photographer from capturing an image without determining whether the zero point position of the image capture apparatus100is the initial state or the corrected position state.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-171178, filed Jul. 29, 2010, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.