Patent Publication Number: US-11381736-B2

Title: Image capture apparatus and control method

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a technique for detecting a touch operation. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     In a device that accepts an input from a user by a touch operation on a touch panel, processing by a touch operation unintended by the user may be performed in response to detection of an inadvertent touch operation on the touch panel. In order to suppress such a malfunction, a method has been proposed in which when the touch area is larger than a threshold, processing by the touch operation is not performed (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2016-212805). In addition, a method of operating a touch pad provided at a position different from a display unit (finder) on which a user is viewing when a user performs a touch operation has been proposed (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2012-089973). 
     Although the conventional techniques can suppress an operation unintentionally input when carrying a device, an operability may deteriorate when using the device, such as when shooting with a camera. For example, if the area of the touch input to be invalidated at the time of the touch pad operation in an eye approaching state as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-089973 is made too small, if the touch operation is performed with the touch input having a large touch area, even if the touch operation is intentionally performed by the user, the touch operation is invalidated. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been made in consideration of the aforementioned problems, and realizes techniques that can reduce a possibility of performing processing due to a touch operation unintended by a user and improve an operability of a device. 
     In order to solve the aforementioned problems, the present invention provides an image capture apparatus comprising: an approach detection unit configured to detect an approaching to a finder; a touch detecting unit configured to detect a touch operation on a touch operation surface provided outside the finder; and a control unit configured to perform control such that when the approaching to the finder is not made, a touch operation with an area that is less than a first threshold on the touch operation surface is validated, and a touch operation with an area that is not less than the first threshold on the touch operation surface is invalidated, and when the approaching to the finder is made, the touch operation with the area that is not less than the first threshold on the touch operation surface is validated even if the touch operation has the area that is not less than the first threshold on the touch operation surface. 
     In order to solve the aforementioned problems, the present invention provides a method of controlling an image capture apparatus having an approach detection unit configured to detect an approaching to a finder, and a touch detecting unit configured to detect a touch operation on a touch operation surface provided outside the finder, the method comprising: performing control such that when the approaching to the finder is not made, a touch operation with an area that is less than a first threshold on the touch operation surface is validated, and a touch operation with an area that is not less than the first threshold on the touch operation surface is invalidated, and when the approaching to the finder is made, the touch operation with the area that is not less than the first threshold on the touch operation surface is validated even if the touch operation has the area that is not less than the first threshold on the touch operation surface. 
     In order to solve the aforementioned problems, the present invention provides a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to function as the following units of an image capture apparatus, wherein an approach detection unit is configured to detect an approaching to a finder, a touch detecting unit is configured to detect a touch operation on a touch operation surface provided outside the finder, and a control unit is configured to perform control such that when the approaching to the finder is not made, a touch operation with an area that is less than a first threshold on the touch operation surface is validated, and a touch operation with an area that is not less than the first threshold on the touch operation surface is invalidated, and when the approaching to the finder is made, the touch operation with the area that is not less than the first threshold on the touch operation surface is validated even if the touch operation has the area that is not less than the first threshold on the touch operation surface. 
     According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the possibility of performing processing due to the touch operation unintended by the user and improve the operability of the device. 
     Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments (with reference to the attached drawings). 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1A and 1B  are external views of a digital camera of a present embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the digital camera of the present embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a touch panel of the present embodiment. 
       FIGS.  4 A 1 ,  4 A 2 ,  4 B 1  and  4 B 2  are diagrams illustrating calculation processing of a touch area of the present embodiment. 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are flowcharts illustrating touch detection processing of the first embodiment. 
       FIGS.  6 A 1 ,  6 A 2 ,  6 B 1  and  6 B 2  are diagrams illustrating a relationship between an eye approaching distance and a touch area of the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating a relationship between an eye approaching distance, a touch area and a touch determination threshold of the first embodiment. 
         FIGS. 8A and 8B  are flowcharts illustrating touch detection processing of a second embodiment. 
       FIGS.  9 A 1 ,  9 B 1 ,  9 C 1 ,  9 A 2 ,  9 B 2  and  9 C 2  are diagrams illustrating a relationship between an eye approaching distance and a touch area of the second embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating a relationship between an eye approaching distance, a touch area and a touch determination threshold of the second embodiment. 
         FIG. 11  is a diagram illustrating a relationship between an eye approaching distance, a touch area and a touch determination threshold of the second embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to be noted that the following exemplary embodiment is merely one example for implementing the present invention and can be appropriately modified or changed depending on individual constructions and various conditions of apparatuses to which the present invention is applied. Thus, the present invention is in no way limited to the following exemplary embodiment. Multiple features are described in the embodiments, but limitation is not made an invention that requires all such features, and multiple such features may be combined as appropriate. Furthermore, in the attached drawings, the same reference numerals are given to the same or similar configurations, and redundant description thereof is omitted. 
     First Embodiment 
     Hereinafter, embodiments in which an image capture apparatus of the present invention is applied to a single-lens reflex digital camera capable of shooting a still image and/or a moving image will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     &lt;Apparatus Configuration&gt; 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1A, 1B and 2 , the configuration and functions of a digital camera  100  according to the present embodiment will be described. 
       FIG. 1A  is a front perspective view of the digital camera  100  in a state where a lens unit  200  is detached.  FIG. 1B  is a back perspective view of the digital camera  100 . 
     In  FIGS. 1A and 1B , a backside display unit  101  is an out-of-finder display unit for displaying images and various types of information and a display device such as an LCD provided on the back surface of the camera body. Moreover, the backside display unit  101  has a function of reproducing a still image after the still image was shot, a function of displaying a moving image that is being recorded, and a live view display (through-the-lens display) function as well. A touch panel (touch screen)  270   a  is provided on the backside display unit  101 . The touch panel  270   a  is a touch operation member capable of detecting contact (touch operation) with the display surface (touch operation surface of the touch panel  270   a ) of the backside display unit  101 . 
     An out-of-finder display unit  243  is a display device provided on the upper surface of the camera body, and displays various setting values of the camera such as a shutter speed and a diaphragm aperture. A shutter-release button  102  is an operation member for giving a shooting instruction. A mode selection switch  103  is a rotating dial type operation member for switching between various modes. A terminal cover  104  is a cover member for protecting a connector (not illustrated) for connecting an external device and the digital camera  100  via a cable such as a USB cable. A main electronic dial  105  is a rotating operation member included in operation units  270  that will be described later with reference to  FIG. 2 , and by rotating this main electronic dial  105 , setting values such as a shutter speed and a diaphragm aperture can be changed. 
     A power supply switch  106  is an operation member for switching between on/off of the power supply to the digital camera  100 . A sub electronic dial  107  is a rotating operation member included in the operation units  270  that will be described later with reference to  FIG. 2 , and can move a selected frame, scroll images, and/or the like. A cross key  108  is also a movement instruction member included in the operation units  270  that will be described later with reference to  FIG. 2 , and is a four-directional operation button having push buttons that can be pressed in four directions of up, down, left, and right. The operation can be performed according to the portion of the cross key  108  pressed in the pressed direction. A SET button  109  is also a push button included in the operation units  270  that will be described later with reference to  FIG. 2 , and is mainly used for determining a selection item and/or the like. 
     A lock button  110  is also a push button included in the operation units  270  that will be described later with reference to  FIG. 2 , and in response to the button being pressed, it is possible to switch between setting/releasing of a lock state in which an operation on the main electronic dial  105 , the sub electronic dial  107 , the touch panel  270   a , the multi controller  115 , a control ring (not shown), or the like is validated/invalidated. 
     The control ring is an operation member capable of a rotation operation centered on an optical axis around a lens barrel of the lens unit  200  that will be described later in  FIG. 2 . When operating the control ring, an electrical pulse signal corresponding to the rotation amount (manipulated variable) is generated, the system control unit  201  controls each component of the digital camera  100  based on the pulse signal. When the function selection button of the control ring is pressed, a menu screen in which the function assigned to the control ring can be changed is displayed on the backside display unit  101 . The control ring is used to select setting items and change values. 
     An enlargement/reduction button  111  is also a push button included in the operation units  270  that will be described later in  FIG. 2 , during a live view display in a shooting mode, and can turn on/off the enlargement mode, change the enlargement ratio in the enlargement mode, and reduce the image by decreasing the enlargement ratio of the enlarged image. The enlargement/reduction button  111  can enlarge/reduce a reproduced image and increase/decrease the enlargement ratio in a reproduction mode. The delete button  112  is also a push button included in the operation units  270  that will be described later with reference to  FIG. 2 , and can delete an image file recorded on a recording medium  250  in shooting processing described later. A reproduction button  113  is also an operation member included in the operation units  270  that will be described later in  FIG. 2 , and can switch the operation mode of the digital camera  100  to the shooting mode or the reproduction mode. A menu button  114  is also a push button included in the operation units  270  that will be described later with reference to  FIG. 2 , and can display a menu screen on the backside display unit  101 . A multi-controller  115  is also included in the operation unit  270  that will be described later with reference to  FIG. 2 , and is an operation member, i.e., an operation bar, which can be slid in the lateral direction, and can assign various functions to the slide operation and the touch operation at both ends. 
     A grip portion  116  has a shape that makes it easy to be grasped by a user&#39;s a right hand when he or she holds the digital camera  100 . The shutter-release button  102  and the main electronic dial  105  are arranged at positions where the grip portion  116  can be operated by the index finger of the right hand while holding the digital camera  100  by gripping the grip portion  116  with the little finger, the ring finger and the middle finger of the right hand. In the same state, the sub electronic dial  107  is arranged at a position operable with the thumb of the right hand. A lid  117  is a member for opening or closing a slot for mounting/removing the recording medium  250  to/from the digital camera  100 . 
     A communication terminal  210  is an electric contact point for the digital camera  100  to perform communication with the lens unit  200 . An eyepiece part  216  is a look-through type eyepiece finder. The user can visually recognize an image displayed on an electronic viewfinder (EVF) which is the in-finder display unit  229  through the eyepiece part  216 , and can confirm the focus and composition of the captured object image through the lens unit  200  that will be described later in  FIG. 2 . 
     An eye approach detection unit  217  is arranged near the eyepiece part  216 , and can detect approach of any object to the eyepiece part  216 . As the eye approach detection unit  217 , for example, an infrared proximity sensor is used. 
     Next, with reference to  FIG. 2 , the internal configuration of the digital camera  100  and the lens unit  200  of the present embodiment will be described. In  FIG. 2 , components that are the same as those in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  are denoted by the same reference numerals. 
     In  FIG. 2 , the lens unit  200  is equipped with a shooting lens  207 , and is detachable from the digital camera  100 . The shooting lens  207  is usually constituted by a plurality of lenses, but is simplified here and is shown by one lens. A communication terminal  206  is an electric contact point for the lens unit  200  to perform communication with the digital camera  100 . The communication terminal  210  is an electric contact point for the digital camera  100  to perform communication with the lens unit  200 . The lens unit  200  performs communication with the system control unit  201  via the communication terminal  206 , and a built-in lens control unit  204  controls a diaphragm driving circuit  202  so as to drive a diaphragm aperture  205 , and controls an AF driving circuit  203  so as to displace the position of the shooting lens  207 , thereby bringing the object image in focus. 
     A focal plane shutter  221  can freely control the exposure time of the image capturing unit  222  in accordance with an instruction from the system control unit  201 . The image capturing unit  222  is an image sensor constituted by an imaging element such as a CCD or a CMOS for converting the object image into electrical signals. An A/D converter  223  converts an analog signal output from the image capturing unit  222  into a digital signal. 
     An image processing unit  224  performs resizing processing, such as predetermined pixel interpolation and reduction, and color conversion processing, with respect to data from the A/D converter  223  or data from a memory control unit  215 . Further, the image processing unit  224  performs predetermined calculation processing using the captured image data, and the system control unit  201  performs exposure control and focus control based on the calculation results. Thus, AF (Automatic Focus) processing, AE (Automatic Exposure) processing, and EF (flash pre-emission) processing of TTL (Through the Lens) type are performed. Furthermore, the image processing unit  224  performs predetermined calculation processing using the captured image data, and AWB (Automatic White Balance) processing of TTL type is performed on the basis of the calculation results. 
     A memory control unit  215  controls to exchange data between the A/D converter  223 , the image processing unit  224 , and the memory  232 . Digital data output from the A/D converter  223  is directly written into the memory  232  via both the image processing unit  224  and the memory control unit  215  or via the memory control unit  215 . The memory  232  stores image data obtained from the image capturing unit  222  and the A/D converter  223 , and display data for displaying the image on the backside display unit  101  or the in-finder display unit  229 . The memory  232  has a storage capacity that is sufficient for storing a predetermined number of still images as well as moving images and audio of a predetermined time period. The memory  232  also functions as a memory for image display (video memory). 
     A D/A converter  219  converts the display data for the image stored in the memory  232  into an analog signal and supplies the backside display unit  101  or the in-finder display unit  229  with the analog signal. The display data for the image that was written into the memory  232  is displayed by the backside display unit  101  or the in-finder display unit  229  via the D/A converter  219 . The backside display unit  101  and the in-finder display unit  229  display on the display device in accordance with the analog signal from the D/A converter  219 . In this manner, the digital signals stored in the memory  232  are converted into analog signals, and the analog signals are successively transmitted to the backside display unit  101  or the in-finder display unit  229  so as to be displayed thereon, making it possible to function as an electronic view finder (EVF) and to perform live view (LV) display (through-the lens image display). 
     Various setting values of the camera such as a shutter speed and a diaphragm aperture are displayed on the out-of-finder display unit  243  via an out-of-finder display unit driving circuit  244 . 
     A nonvolatile memory  256  is an electrically erasable/recordable memory, and for example, a flash ROM or the like is used. In the nonvolatile memory  256 , constants and programs, for example, for operating the system control unit  201  are stored. In this context, “programs” may refer to programs for executing flowcharts that will be described later. 
     The system control unit  201  is an arithmetic processing device comprising at least one processor or circuit, overall controlling the entire digital camera  100 . The system control unit  201  realizes, by executing the programs stored in the nonvolatile memory  256 , the procedures of the flowchart that will be described later. As the system memory  252 , for example, RAM is used, and the system memory  252  is used also as a work memory where constants and variables for operating the system control unit  201  and the programs read out from the nonvolatile memory  256  are expanded. The system control unit  201  controls the memory  232 , the D/A converter  219 , the backside display unit  101 , the in-finder display unit  229 , and/or the like, so as to perform display control. A system timer  253  is a time measurement unit for measuring time periods for various types of controls and the time of an inner clock. 
     The mode selection switch  103 , a first shutter switch  211 , a second shutter switch  212 , and the operation units  270  are operation devices for inputting various types of operating instructions to the system control unit  201 . The mode selection switch  103  switches the operation mode of the system control unit  201  to any of a still image shooting mode, a moving image recording mode, and a reproduction mode. The still image shooting mode includes an automatic shooting mode, an automatic scene determination mode, a manual mode, aperture-priority mode (Av mode), shutter-priority AE mode (Tv mode), and program AE mode (P mode), for example. The still image shooting mode also includes various scene modes each for which scene-specific shooting setting is made, custom mode, and/or the like. 
     The user may directly switch to any of these shooting modes by operating the mode selection switch  103 , or may switch to any of the shooting modes using another operation member after once being switched to a list screen of the operation modes with the mode selection switch  103  and selecting any of the plurality of shooting modes displayed in a list. Similarly, also the moving image recording mode and the reproduction mode may include a plurality of modes. 
     While the shutter-release button  102  provided on the digital camera  100  is being operated, that is, pressed halfway (the shooting preparation instruction), the first shutter switch  211  is turned on and generates a first shutter switch signal SW 1 . Upon receiving the first shutter switch signal SW 1 , the system control unit  201  starts shooting preparation operations such as AF (auto focus) processing, AE (auto exposure) processing, AWB (auto white balance) processing, and EF (flash pre-emission) processing. 
     When the operation of the shutter-release button  102  is completed, that is, the shutter-release button  102  is pressed fully (the shooting instruction), the second shutter switch  212  is turned on and generates a second shutter switch signal SW 2 . Upon receiving the second shutter switch signal SW 2 , the system control unit  201  starts a series of shooting processing from reading out the signal from the image capturing unit  222  to writing of the captured image data as an image file to the recording medium  250 . 
     The operation units  270  comprise operation members such as various switches and buttons for accepting various operations from a user, and notifying the system control unit  201  of the accepted operations, and include at least the following operation members: the shutter-release button  102 , the mode selection switch  103 , the main electronic dial  105 , the power supply switch  106 , the sub electronic dial  107 , the cross key  108 , the SET button  109 , the lock button  110 , the enlargement/reduction button  111 , the delete button  112 , the reproduction button  113 , the menu button  114 , multi-controller  115  and the control ring  271 . 
     A power control unit  280  is constituted by, for example, a battery detection circuit, a DC-DC converter, and a switch circuit for changing over the block to be supplied with power, and detects whether a battery has been inserted or not, the type of the battery, and the residual capacity thereof. Further, the power control unit  280  controls the DC-DC converter in accordance with the detection results and an instruction of the system control unit  201 , and supplies a necessary voltage for a necessary length of time to each component including the recording medium  250 . 
     A power supply unit  230  comprises a primary battery such as an alkaline battery or a lithium battery, a secondary battery such as a NiCd battery, a NiMH battery, or a Li-ion battery, or an AC adaptor. A recording medium interface (I/F)  218  is for interfacing with the recording medium  250  such as a memory card or a hard disk drive. The recording medium  250  is a recording medium such as a memory card for recording shot images, and is constituted by a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, or the like. 
     A communication unit  254  communicably connects an external device by a wireless antenna or a cable, and transmits and receives a video signal, an audio signal, and/or the like. The communication unit  254  can also connect to a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) and the Internet. The communication unit  254  can transmit image data (including a live view image) captured by the image capturing unit  222  and an image file recorded on the recording medium  250  to an external device, and can receive image data or other various information from the external device. Note that the communication unit  254  is not limited to a wireless LAN, but may use a wireless communication module such as an infrared communication, Bluetooth®, Bluetooth® Low Energy or Wireless USB, or a wired connection device such as a USB cable, HDMI®, IEEE 1394, or the like. 
     An attitude detection unit  255  detects the attitude (orientation) of the digital camera  100  with respect to the gravity direction. Based on the attitude detected by the attitude detection unit  255 , it is possible to discriminate whether an image captured by the image capturing unit  222  has been shot by setting the digital camera  100  in the landscape or portrait direction. The system control unit  201  can add information about the orientation information corresponding to the attitude detected by the attitude detection unit  255  to the image file, and rotate and record the captured image. An acceleration sensor, gyro sensor or the like may be used as the attitude detection unit  255 . The attitude detection unit  255  can also detect the movement (pan, tilt, lift, rest, etc.) of the digital camera  100  by using the acceleration sensor or the gyro sensor. 
     Included among the operation units  270  is also the touch panel  270   a  that is capable of detecting a touch operation on the backside display unit  101 . The touch panel  270   a  and the backside display unit  101  can be constructed as a single integrated unit. For example, the touch panel  270   a  is constructed in such a manner that the transmittance of light will not interfere with the display presented by the backside display unit  101 , and it is attached to the uppermost layer of the display face of the backside display unit  101 . In addition, input coordinates on the touch panel  270   a  and display coordinates on the backside display unit  101  are correlated. As a result, a GUI can be constructed so as to make it possible for the user to directly manipulate the screen displayed on the backside display unit  101 . The system control unit  201  is capable of detecting the following touch operations and/or conditions performed by contacting the touch panel  270   a.    
     Newly touching of the touch panel  270   a  by a finger or pen which has not been in contact with the touch panel  270   a , that is, a start of the touch (referred to as “touch-down” below). 
     A state in which the touch panel  270   a  is in contact with a finger or pen (referred to as “touch-on” below). 
     Movement of a finger or pen while in contact with the touch panel  270   a  (referred to as “touch-move” below). 
     Releasing a finger or pen that has been in contact with the touch panel  270   a , that is, an end of the touch (referred to as “touch-up” below). 
     A state in which the touch panel  270   a  is not being touched at all (referred to as “touch-off” below). 
     When touch-down is detected, the touch-on state is also detected at the same time. 
     These operations/conditions and position coordinates at which the touch panel  270   a  is being touched by the finger or pen are communicated to the system control unit  201  through an internal bus and, based upon the information thus communicated, the system control unit  201  determines what kind of operation (touch operation) was performed on the touch panel  270   a.    
     As for “touch-move”, the determination can be made also for every vertical component and horizontal component with regard to the direction of movement of the finger or pen, which is moved on the touch panel  270   a , based upon a change in the coordinate position. Further, the system control unit  201  can determine that a slide operation (drag) has been performed if it detects a touch-move over a predetermined distance. An operation in which a finger is touched against the touch panel, swiftly moved a certain distance, and then lifted away will be referred to as a “flick”. In other words, a flick is an operation in which a finger is swiftly flicked across the touch panel  270   a . If a touch-move with a predetermined distance or higher and a predetermined speed or higher is detected, and then a touch-up is detected, it can be determined that a flick has been performed (it can be determined that a flick was performed in succession to a drag). Furthermore, a touch operation in which the touch panel is touched at multiple locations (for example, two points) at the same time, and then the touch positions are moved closer to each other will be referred to as a “pinch-in”, and a touch operation in which the touch positions are moved away from each other will be referred to as a “pinch-out”. Pinch-out and pinch-in operations will be collectively referred to as “pinch operations” (or simply “pinching”). 
     The touch panel  270   a  may employ a method that relies upon any of the following: resistive film, electrostatic capacitance, surface acoustic waves, infrared radiation, electromagnetic induction, image recognition and optical sensing. There are methods in which a touch is detected based on contact with the touch panel, as well as methods in which a touch is detected based on approach of a finger or a pen to the touch panel, and any method may be employed. 
     The digital camera  100  of the present embodiment has a touch and drag function that allows the user to move the AF frame (AF, that is, an indicator indicating a focus adjustment position for performing focus adjustment) or change parameters while looking through the finder. For example, in the touch and drag AF, by performing the tap or the touch-move on the touch panel  270   a , it is possible to move the AF frame displayed on the in-finder display unit  229  to a desired position (a position of an object of a tracking target or an object of a focusing target). When the touch-move operation is performed in an eye approaching state, the user can set the method of designating the position indicator according to the touch-move operation to either an absolute position designation or a relative position designation. For example, if the position indicator is an AF frame, in the case of the absolute position designation, if there is the touch-down on the touch panel  270   a , the AF position associated with the touched-down position (the position at which coordinates are input) is set regardless of the AF position (current AF position) set before the touch-down. That is, the position coordinates at which the touch operation is performed and the position coordinates of the backside display unit  101  are associated with each other. On the other hand, in the case of the relative position designation, the position coordinates in which the touch operation is performed and the position coordinates of the backside display unit  101  are not associated with each other. In the relative position designation, the AF position does not move at the time of touch-down. If there is the touch-move after the touch-down is performed, the AF position is moved in a movement direction of the touch-move from the AF position (current AF position) set before the touch is performed by only a distance corresponding to the movement amount of the touch-move, regardless of the touch-down position on the touch panel  270   a.    
     The eye approach detection unit  217  detects whether an eye (an object) has approached or contacted (eye approaching) or has moved away from (eye detached) the eyepiece part  216  (approach detection). The system control unit  201  switches the backside display unit  101  and the in-finder display unit  229  between displaying (a display state) and not displaying (a non-display state) in accordance with the state detected by the eye approach detection unit  217 . The system control unit  201  sets a display destination as the backside display unit  101  and sets the in-finder display unit  229  to be not displaying during non-eye approach detection at least in a case where the shooting mode and the switching of the display destination are automatic. Further, the system control unit  201  sets the display destination as the in-finder display unit  229  and sets the backside display unit  101  to be not displaying during eye approach detection. 
     If an object has approached, infrared light irradiated from a light emitting unit (not illustrated) of the eye approach detection unit  217  is reflected and is made to be incident on a light receiving unit (not illustrated) of the infrared proximity sensor. In accordance with an incident light amount of the infrared light received by the infrared proximity sensor, it is possible to detect an approach of some kind of physical object to the eyepiece part  216 , and discriminate to what level of distance the object has gotten close to the eyepiece part  216  (an eye approaching distance). Upon detecting an approach of an object to the eyepiece part  216 , the system control unit  201  can cause display of the in-finder display unit  229  to start. With this, it is possible for the in-finder display unit  229  to display without delay as much as possible when a user looks through the eyepiece part  216 . 
     In addition, upon detecting that an object has approached within a predetermined distance with respect to the eyepiece part  216  from a non-eye approaching state (no approach state), the eye approach detection unit  217  determines that eye approaching is detected and transmits an eye approach detection notification to the system control unit  201 . In addition, if an object for which an approach was detected is apart by the predetermined distance or more from an eye approaching state (approach state), the eye approach detection unit  217  determines that eye separation is detected, and an eye separation detection notification is transmitted to the system control unit  201 . A threshold for detecting eye approaching and a threshold for detecting eye separation may be made different such as by providing hysteresis for example. In addition, it is assumed that, after eye approaching is detected, there is an eye approaching state until eye separation is detected. In addition, it is assumed that, after eye separation is detected, there is a non-eye approaching state until eye approaching is detected. With this, the system control unit  201  performs display control of the backside display unit  101  and the in-finder display unit  229  in response to an eye approaching state or an eye separation state detected by the eye approach detection unit  217 . 
     Note that the eye approach detection unit  217  is not limited to an infrared proximity sensor, and another sensor may be used if it can detect an approach of an object or an eye to be deemed as eye approaching. In the present embodiment, the light projecting portion and the light receiving portion of the approach detection unit  217  are separate devices from an infrared light-emission element  266  and a sight line detection sensor  264  of a sight line detection unit  260  that will be described later, but the light projecting portion of the eye approach detection unit  217  may also serve as the infrared light-emission element  266  and the light receiving portion as the sight line detection sensor  264 . 
     The sight-line detection unit  260  includes a dichroic mirror  262 , an image forming lens  263 , a sight line detection sensor  264 , a sight line detection circuit  265 , and an infrared light-emission element  266  which follow, and detects whether or not there is a sight line of a user and also detects movement or a position of the sight line. 
     The digital camera  100  of the present embodiment detects the sight line by the sight line detection unit  260  with a method called corneal reflection method. The corneal reflection method is a method of detecting a position and an orientation of the sight line from a positional relationship between a reflected light in which the infrared light emitted from the infrared light-emission element  266  is reflected by an eye ball (eye)  261  (especially the cornea) and the pupil of the eye ball (eye)  261 . In addition, there are various methods for detecting the position and orientation of the sight line, such as a method called scleral reflection method, which utilizes the fact that the light reflectance in the iris is different from that in the white of the eye. Note that other sight line detection methods may be used as long as they can detect the position and orientation of the sight line. 
     The infrared light-emission element  266  is a diode for emitting an infrared light for detecting a sight-line position of a user in a finder screen, and irradiates the infrared light onto an eye ball (eye)  261  of a user toward the vicinity of the center of the eyepiece part  216 . The infrared light irradiated from the infrared light-emission element  266  is reflected by the eye ball (eye)  261 , and the reflected infrared light reaches the dichroic mirror  262 . The dichroic mirror  262  has a function for reflecting only infrared light and allowing visible light to pass, and the reflected infrared light whose light path has been changed forms an image on an image capture plane of the sight line detection sensor  264  via the image forming lens  263 . 
     The image forming lens  263  is an optical member that configures a sight line detection optical system. The sight line detection sensor  264  includes an image sensor that uses a CCD, CMOS, or the like. The sight line detection sensor  264  photo-electrically converts incident reflected infrared light into an electric signal, and outputs the electric signal to the sight line detection circuit  265 . Based on the output signal from the sight line detection sensor  264 , the sight line detection circuit  265  detects a sight-line position of a user from a position of a pupil or movement of the eye ball (eye)  261  of the user, and outputs detected information to the system control unit  201 . The sight line detection sensor  264  can detect a pupil of an eye of a person, and thus, even if another object approaches or touches the eyepiece part  216 , the sight line detection sensor  264  does not detect that a sight line of a person has been inputted. By this, the eyepiece part  216  has a function as a sight line operation unit, but the sight line detection unit may be another configuration. 
     The system control unit  201  is capable of determining the following states and operations with respect to the eyepiece part  216 . 
     The sight line is not input to the eyepiece part  216 /the sight line is newly input to the eyepiece part  216  (start of sight line input). 
     Being in the state of ongoing sight line input to the eyepiece part  216 . Being in the state where a region of the eyepiece part  216  is being gazed at. 
     The sight line input to the eyepiece part  216  has been removed (end of sight line input). 
     Being in the state where no sight line is being input to the eyepiece part  216 . These operations/states and an input position of a sight line for the eyepiece part  216  are notified to the system control unit  201 , and the system control unit  201  can determine what kind of operation (sight line operation) has been performed for the eyepiece part  216  based on the notified information. 
     Note that a gaze refers to a case where the sight line position of the user does not exceed a predetermined movement amount within a predetermined time. That is, the system control unit  201  determines, based on the detection information received from the sight line detection circuit  265 , when the time period in which the sight line of the user is fixed in a certain region exceeds a predetermined threshold, that the user is gazing at the region. Therefore, it can be said that the region is a gaze position (gaze area) which is a position where the gaze is performed. Note that “the sight line is fixed in the certain region” means, for example, that the average position of the movement of the sight line is within the region until a predetermined time period elapses, and the variation (variance) is less than a predetermined value. 
     &lt;Touch Detection Method&gt; 
     Next, with reference to  FIGS. 3 to 7 , the touch detection method of the first embodiment will be described. 
     In the present embodiment, a threshold of a touch area (square measure) for determining a touch operation on the touch panel  270   a  as a touch operation unintended by the user is set. The threshold of the touch area is set to a different value depending on whether or not the eye approaching state in which the user is looking through the finder is. In the present embodiment, the threshold is set to one of the threshold 1 and the threshold 2 having a value larger than the threshold 1, but three or more thresholds may be provided. The set threshold is stored in the nonvolatile memory  256 , and is read by the system control unit  201  at the time of the eye approach detection by the eye approach detection unit  217 . 
     Next, a detailed configuration of the touch panel  270   a  of the present embodiment will be described with reference to  FIG. 3 . 
     In the touch panel sensor  270   b , a plurality of column electrodes (X0 to X8) are arranged in the lateral (horizontal) direction in  FIG. 3 , a plurality of row electrodes (Y0 to Y4) are arranged in the longitudinal (vertical) direction in  FIG. 3 , the column electrodes and the row electrodes intersect each other. The intersection point A indicates a sensor intersection point of the column electrode X7 and the row electrode Y2. The row electrodes are connected to a constant current circuit (not shown), the column electrode is fixed to a predetermined potential. When a weak current is made to flow by a constant current circuit (not shown), charges are accumulated in the mutual capacitance generated between the column electrode and the row electrode. A sub-scan in which a plurality of times of accumulation per one sensor intersection point is performed and the accumulated charges are integrated in the integrating circuit. The measurement result of one sensor intersection point (one scan) is converted into a digital signal, and it is possible to determine whether or not the touch detection is performed by measuring the change amount of the obtained signal value as the change amount of the capacitance. 
     A scan line driving circuit  276  is a circuit for sequentially selecting and driving the scan lines. A weak current is passed through the selected scan line by a constant current circuit. The number of times of sub-scans per scan line can be arbitrarily changed by a command from the system control unit  201  to the control circuit  281 . A detection signal processing circuit  275  is a circuit which sequentially selects the read line and reads the detection signal. The scan line driving circuit  276  and the detection signal processing circuit  275  are driven by clock signal supplied by the control circuit  281 . 
     The control circuit  281  detects whether or not the detection signal value of each electrode output by the detection signal processing circuit  275  exceeds the touch determination threshold, and if it exceeds, sets the touch detection flag to sequentially transfer the data to the touch panel memory  282 . When scanning of one frame is completed, grouping of the touch detection regions and calculation of the center of gravity of the touch position are performed on the detection data of one frame stored in the touch panel memory  282 , and the number of touch detections, the touch detection coordinates, and the touch are calculated. 
     In the present embodiment, the touch area is obtained by the total number of sensor intersection points (of the sensors included in the touch panel) at which a change amount of a capacitance being not less than a threshold has been measured. The method of determining the touch area is not limited to the method of determining by the number of sensor intersection points touched as described above, and the size of the touched area may be detected. 
     Next, with reference to FIGS.  4 A 1 ,  4 A 2 ,  4 B 1  and  4 B 2 , a method of calculating the touch area will be described. FIGS.  4 A 1 ,  4 A 2 ,  4 B 1  and  4 B 2  are diagrams illustrating a calculation method of a touch area by touch operation on the touch panel  270   a , and FIGS.  4 A 1  and  4 A 2  are diagrams illustrating cases in which the touch-on is performed with one finger in a normal state, and FIGS.  4 B 1  and  4 B 2  are diagrams illustrating cases in which the touch-on is performed with the finger lying down. 
     FIGS.  4 A 1  and  4 B 1  illustrate a condition in which the finger Y (conductive material) of the user touches the touch panel  270   a  when viewed from the side (the position of the sensor intersection point where the finger is touched) and an amount of change in capacitance at the respective coordinates. The amount of change in capacitance is displayed by aligning the amount of change in capacitance detected at each sensor intersection point at Y=α in FIGS.  4 A 2  and  4 B 2  with the X coordinates (a1 to a10 in FIG.  4 A 2  and b1 to b10 in FIG.  4 B 2 ) of each sensor intersection point. The amount of change in the capacitance is the amount of change in capacitance at each sensor intersection point generated between the finger Y and the touch panel  270   a , which is the sum of the amount of change in the capacitance detected within a predetermined period of time. The touch area is obtained by the number of sensor intersection points where the amount of change in capacitance being larger than the touch area threshold is detected. It is assumed that the sensor intersection point where the amount of change in capacitance being larger than a touch determination threshold that is larger than the touch area threshold is detected, is determined to have had a touch operation performed on the sensor intersection point. In this manner, the coordinates at which the touch operation is performed and the type of the touch operation are determined. The touch area has a threshold smaller than that of the touch-down and makes it easier to detect a touch operation or the like with a weaker force. This is to prevent the touch operation from being accepted as a valid operation with a weaker force (a weaker force such as the abdomen of the user who carries the camera hitting) rather than the case where the user intentionally performs the touch operation with a strong force. Thresholds for determining the touch operation unintended by the user and thresholds for determining the touch operation intentionally performed by the user are set. 
     In FIGS.  4 A 1  and  4 A 2 , since the change amount of the detected capacitance in the coordinates a1 and a6 to a10 is not less than the touch area threshold for determining whether to include the respective sensor intersection points in the touch area or not include in the touch area. The coordinates a2 and a5 are included in the touch area because the detected change amount of the capacitance is larger than the touch area threshold, but since the change amount is not more than the touch determination threshold for detecting the touch operation to each sensor intersection point, it is assumed that there is no touch operation to each sensor intersection point. Since the detected change amount of the capacitance is larger than the touch area threshold and the touch determination threshold, the coordinates a3 to a4 are included in the sensor intersection point for calculating the touch position, and it is determined that the touch operation to each sensor is performed. 
     FIGS.  4 A 2  and  4 B 2  illustrates the touch panel sensor  270   b  indicating the sensor intersection points of the touch panel  270   a , and each sensor intersection point is replaced by one box. In FIGS.  4 A 1  and  4 B 1 , the change amount of the capacitance at the sensor intersection point of Y=α is shown. In FIGS.  4 A 2  and  4 B 2 , however, the change amount of the capacitance detected at Y=α−1 to α+2 is shown. The change amount of the capacitance detected at the sensor intersection point of the boxes shown in black dots indicate the sensor intersection point exceeding the touch determination threshold, and the change amount of the capacitance detected at the sensor intersection point of the boxes shown in diagonal lines indicates the sensor intersection point exceeding the touch area threshold. 
     In FIG.  4 B 2 , there are four boxes shown in black dots, and the area (the number of sensor intersection points) where the touch operation is determined to have been performed is 4, and the coordinates determined by the center of gravity of the four points are the coordinates of the touch-down point. In addition, there are eight boxes shown in diagonal lines, and together with four boxes shown in black dots, the number of sensor intersection points exceeding the touch area threshold is 12, and the touch area is 12. 
     In FIG.  4 B 2 , there are eight boxes shown in black dots, and the area (the number of sensor intersection points) determined to have been touched is 8. In addition, there are 17 boxes shown in diagonal lines, and the number of sensor intersection points exceeding the touch area threshold is 25 together with 8 boxes shown in black dots, and the touch area is 25. 
     For example, when the touch area of the threshold 1 (the number of sensor intersection points) is 16 and the touch area of the threshold 2 is 30, in the case of FIGS.  4 A 1  and  4 A 2 , the threshold 1 and the threshold 2 are not both exceeded, and the touch operation is determined to be valid. Further, in the case of FIGS.  4 B 1  and  4 B 2 , since the threshold 1 is exceeded but the threshold 2 is not exceeded, it is determined that the touch operation is invalid when the threshold 1 is set, but it is determined that the touch operation is valid when the threshold 2 is set. 
     Note that the calculation of the touch area may be performed by the control circuit  281  of the touch panel  270   a  instead of the system control unit  201 . In this case, the system control unit  201  reads the touch area calculated by the control circuit  281  of the touch panel  270   a.    
     Next, with reference to FIGS.  6 A 1 ,  6 A 2 ,  6 B 1 ,  6 B 2  and  7 , the relationship between the eye approaching state and the touch area of the present embodiment will be described. 
     FIG.  6 A 1  illustrates the distance between the camera and the face in the eye approaching state. FIG.  6 A 2  illustrates the touch area in the eye approaching state. 
     In the eye approaching state, the distance between the camera and the face is short, and the touch area increases because the touch operation is performed while the finger is lying down. FIG.  6 B 1  illustrates the distance between the camera and the face in the eye separation state. FIG.  6 B 2  illustrates the touch area in the eye separation state. 
     Since the distance between the camera and the face is sufficiently large, the touch area becomes small because the touch operation is performed in the state in which the finger is raised.  FIG. 7  illustrates examples of the touch areas in the states of FIGS.  6 A 1 - 6 A 2  and FIGS.  6 B 1 - 6 B 2 . 
     The threshold of the touch area to be determined as the unintended touch operation by the user in the present embodiment is set to 10 as the threshold 1 and 30 as the threshold 2. In the cases of FIGS.  6 A 1  and  6 A 2 , the touch area is 25, and in the case of FIGS.  6 B 1  and  6 B 2 , the touch area is 8. That is, in the case of FIGS.  6 A 1  and  6 A 2 , since the threshold 1 is exceeded but the threshold 2 is not exceeded, it is determined that the touch operation is invalid when the threshold 1 is set, but it is determined that the touch operation is valid when the threshold 2 is set. In the cases of FIGS.  6 B 1  and  6 B 2 , since both the threshold 1 and the threshold 2 are not exceeded, it is determined that the touch operation is valid. Since the touch operation in the eye approaching state is performed in a state in which the finger is laid down more than the touch operation in the non-eye approaching state, the touch area is easily widened and the threshold is easily exceeded. Therefore, when the threshold is small, the touch operation in the eye approaching state is easily determined as an invalid touch operation, and when the threshold is large, the touch operation is easily determined as a valid touch operation. However, in any case, if the threshold is increased, all of the touch operations that do not exceed the threshold are determined to be valid, and there is a possibility that processing by the touch operation unintended by the user is executed. On the other hand, when the threshold is decreased, it is difficult to determine that the touch operation in the eye approaching state is valid. 
     Next, with reference to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the touch detection processing in the shooting mode of the present embodiment will be described. 
     Note that the processing of  FIGS. 5A and 5B  is realized by expanding the programs stored in the nonvolatile memory  256  into the system memory  252 , executing the programs by the system control unit  201 , and controlling the respective components. Further, the processing of  FIGS. 5A and 5B  is started when the power of the digital camera  100  is turned on and the shooting mode is selected. This also applies to  FIGS. 8A and 8B  described later. 
     In step S 501 , the system control unit  201  displays a live view image (LV image, through-the lens image) on the backside display unit  101 . 
     In step S 502 , the system control unit  201  determines whether or not a touch setting for performing a setting related to a touch operation has been selected on the menu screen. The menu screen is displayed by pressing the menu button  114 , and when the touch operation setting is selected on the menu screen, the touch setting can be selected. For the touch setting, it is possible to select whether to enable AF setting change (touch &amp; drag AF) by the touch operation in the eye approaching state, to set the position designation method to the absolute position designation or the relative position designation, or to select where to set the touch effective area. The touch effective area can be selected from all, right, left, upper right, upper left, lower right, and lower left (effective area setting). 
     In step S 503 , the system control unit  201  determines whether or not the AF setting change by the touch operation in the eye approaching state is enabled in the touch setting. If it is determined that the AF setting change (touch &amp; drag AF) by the touch manipulation in the eye approaching state is enabled (on), the processing proceeds to step S 504 , otherwise, the processing proceeds to step S 505 . 
     In step S 504 , the system control unit  201  enables (turns on) the AF setting change (touch &amp; drag AF) by the touch operation in the eye approaching state. When the photographer looks through the eyepiece part  216 , the backside display unit  101  is turned off, and while the live view image is displayed on the in-finder display unit  229 , if the AF setting change by the touch operation in the eye approaching state is enabled, the AF position can be set by the touch operation on the backside display unit  101  (the touch panel  270   a ). Therefore, when the AF setting change by the touch operation in the eye approaching state is enabled, the user can set the AF position with good operability while looking through the eyepiece part  216  even when the backside display unit  101  is the non-display state. 
     In step S 505 , the system control unit  201  determines whether or not the shooting mode is to be terminated. The shooting mode is terminated by switching to the reproduction mode, turning off the power of the digital camera  100 , etc. If it is determined that the shooting mode is to be terminated, the processing is ended, otherwise, the processing proceeds to step S 506 . 
     In step S 506 , the system control unit  201  determines whether or not the eye approach detection unit  217  of the eyepiece part  216  has detected the approaching of the object (the eye approaching of the user). If it is determined that the eye approach detection unit  217  has detected the approaching of the object, the processing proceeds to step S 507 , and if not, the processing proceeds to step S 515 . When it is determined as NO in step S 506 , the display destination is switched to the backside display unit  101  when the live view image is displayed on the in-finder display unit  229  (displayed in step S 508  of one cycle or more earlier). The AF setting change by the touch operation in the eye approaching state is enabled when the eye approach detection unit  217  detects that the user is looking through the eyepiece finder and the display destination is switched from the backside display unit  101  to the in-finder display unit  229 . 
     In step S 507 , the system control unit  201  sets the threshold of the touch area to be determined as the touch operation unintended by the user to the threshold 2 (&gt;the threshold 1). 
     In step S 508 , the system control unit  201  displays the live view image on the in-finder display unit  229 . In this case, the live view image of the backside display unit  101  is not displayed together with the display of the live view image on the in-finder display unit  229 , but the touch operation can be accepted at least when the AF setting change by the touch operation in the eye approaching state is enabled. 
     In step S 509 , the system control unit  201  determines whether or not the AF setting change by the touch operation in the eye approaching state set in step S 503  is enabled. If it is determined that the AF setting change by the touch operation in the eye approaching state is enabled, the processing proceeds to step S 510 , otherwise, the processing returns to step S 502 . 
     In step S 510 , the system control unit  201  determines whether or not the touch panel  270   a  has been touched. If it is determined that the touch operation has been performed, the processing proceeds to step S 511 , otherwise, the processing returns to step S 502 . 
     In step S 511 , the system control unit  201  calculates the touch area M. The touch area M is calculated by the number of sensor intersection points at which the change amount of the capacitance being not less than the touch area threshold is detected. 
     In step S 512 , the system control unit  201  determines whether or not the touch area M calculated in step S 511  is not less than the threshold to be determined as the touch operation unintended by the user. When the system control unit  201  determines that the touch area M is not less than the threshold, the processing proceeds to step S 513 , and when the system control unit  201  determines that the touch area M is less than the threshold, the processing proceeds to step S 514 . In this case, the threshold is the threshold 2. That is, in step S 512 , it is determined whether or not the number of sensor intersection points exceeding the touch area threshold is more than 30 which is the value of the threshold 2, and when the touch area is more than 30, the processing proceeds to step S 513 , and when the touch area is 30 or less, the processing proceeds to step S 514 . 
     In step S 513 , the system control unit  201  executes processing of invalidating the touch operation detected in step S 510 , and returns to step S 502 . That is, in step S 513 , since the touch area exceeds the threshold even if the touch operation is detected, the system control unit  201  determines that the touch operation is the touch operation unintended by the user. The system control unit  201  does not notify the command for executing the function or notifies that the touch operation is the touch operation unintended by the user so that the processing is not executed by the touch operation. As long as the touch is the touch-on, the command corresponding to the touch operation is not notified. That is, even when the touch-up caused by releasing the touch or the drag or the flick caused by the touch-move of the touch is detected, the function corresponding to the touch operation is not executed. 
     In step S 514 , the system control unit  201  executes touch pad operation processing by the touch detected in step S 510  and the processing returns to step S 502 . 
     In step S 515 , the system control unit  201  switches the display destination to the backside display unit  101 , and sets the threshold of the touch area to be determined as the touch operation unintended by the user to the threshold 1 (&lt;the threshold 2). 
     In step S 516 , the system control unit  201  determines whether or not the touch panel  270   a  has been touched. If it is determined that the touch operation has been performed, the processing proceeds to step S 517 , otherwise, the processing returns to step S 501 . 
     In step S 517 , the system control unit  201  calculates the touch area M. 
     In step S 518 , the system control unit  201  determines whether or not the touch area M calculated in step S 517  is not less than the threshold to be determined as the touch operation unintended by the user. When the system control unit  201  determines that the touch area M calculated in step S 517  is not less than the threshold, the processing proceeds to step S 513 , and when the system control unit  201  determines that the touch area M calculated in step S 517  is less than the threshold, the processing proceeds to step S 519 . The threshold in this case is the threshold 1. That is, in step S 518 , it is determined whether or not the number of sensor intersection points exceeding the touch area threshold is more than 10 which is the value of the threshold 1, and when the touch area is more than 10, the processing proceeds to step S 513 , and when the touch area is 10 or less, the processing proceeds to step S 519 . 
     In step S 519 , the system control unit  201  executes touch operation processing by the touch operation detected in step S 516  and the processing returns to step S 501 . 
     Note that during the eye approaching, the threshold of the touch area may not be set, and control may be performed such that the touch operation is not invalidated. Further, the setting threshold is not limited to the above-described example, it may be arbitrarily set by the user. 
     According to the present embodiment, by changing the threshold of the touch area to be determined as the touch operation unintended by the user in accordance with whether or not it is the eye approaching state, it is possible to reduce the possibility of executing the processing by the touch operation unintended by the user while suppressing the deterioration of the operability of the camera. 
     Second Embodiment 
     Next, a second embodiment will be described. 
     In the second embodiment, the threshold of the touch area to be determined as the touch operation unintended by the user is changed according to the distance (eye approaching distance) to the finder detected by the eye approach detection unit  217 . 
     Hereinafter, the differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described. The apparatus configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment. 
     First, with reference to FIGS.  9 A 1 ,  9 B 1 ,  9 C 1 ,  9 A 2 ,  9 B 2 ,  9 C 2 ,  10  and  11 , the relationship of the touch area according to the eye approaching distances of the present embodiment will be described. 
     FIG.  9 A 1  illustrates the eye approaching distance from the camera to the face in the state in which the eye fully contacts the eyepiece part  216 . FIG.  9 A 2  illustrates the touch area in which the eye fully contacts the eyepiece part  216 . Since the eye fully contacts the eyepiece part  216 , the eye approaching distance is very short, and the touch area becomes large because the touch operation is performed in the state in which the finger is lying down. FIG.  9 C 1  illustrates the eye approaching distances from the camera to the face in the eye separation state. FIG.  9 C 2  illustrates the touch area in the eye separation state, and since the eye approaching distance is sufficiently long, the touch operation is performed in the state in which the finger is raised, thereby making the touch area small. FIG.  9 B 1  illustrates the distance from the camera to the face slightly away from the eyepiece part  216 , and this distance relationship is also applied when wearing an eyeglasses. FIG.  9 B 2  illustrates the touch area slightly away from the eyepiece part  216 . Since the eye approaching distance is longer than the eye approaching distance in the state in which the eye fully contacts the eyepiece part  216  in FIGS.  9 C 1  and  9 C 2 , and there is a space to touch in the state in which the finger is raised a little, the touch area is an area between FIGS.  9 A 2  and  9 C 2 . 
       FIG. 10  illustrates examples of the touch areas in FIGS.  9 A 1 ,  9 B 1 ,  9 C 1 ,  9 A 2 ,  9 B 2  and  9 C 2 . The threshold of the touch area to be determined as the touch operation unintended by the user in the present embodiment is set to 10, 30, and 20, as the threshold 1, the threshold 2, and the threshold 3, respectively. In the cases of FIGS.  9 A 1  and  9 A 2 , the touch area becomes 25, in the cases of FIGS.  9 B 1  and  9 B 2 , the touch area becomes 16, and in the cases of FIGS.  9 C 1  and  9 C 2 , the touch area becomes 8. That is, in the cases of FIGS.  9 A 1  and  9 A 2 , since the threshold 1 and the threshold 3 are exceeded but the threshold 2 is not exceeded, the touch operation is determined to be invalid when the threshold 1 and the threshold 3 are set, but the touch operation is determined to be valid when the threshold 2 is set. In the cases of FIGS.  9 B 1  and  9 B 2 , since the threshold 1 is exceeded but the threshold 2 and the threshold 3 are not exceeded, the touch operation is determined to be invalid when the threshold 1 is set, but the touch operation is determined to be valid when the threshold 2 and the threshold 3 are set. In the cases of FIGS.  9 C 1  and  9 C 2 , all of the threshold 1, the threshold 2, and the threshold 3 are not exceeded, and the touch operation is determined to be valid. Since the shorter the eye approaching distance is, the more the touch operation is performed in the state in which the finger to be touched is laid down, the touch area is likely to be widened, and the threshold is likely to be exceeded when the threshold is set. Therefore, the shorter the eye approaching distance, the smaller the threshold, the easier the touch operation is determined as the invalid touch operation, and on the contrary, the larger the threshold, the easier the touch operation is determined as the valid touch operation. However, in any case, if the threshold is increased, all of the touch operations that do not exceed the threshold are determined to be valid, and there is a possibility that the processing by the touch operation unintended by the user is executed. On the other hand, when the threshold is decreased, the shorter the eye approaching distance, the more difficult the touch operation is determined as the valid touch operation. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates the thresholds of the touch areas to be determined as the touch operation unintended by the user in the eye approaching state of FIGS.  9 A 1 ,  9 B 1 ,  9 C 1 ,  9 A 2 ,  9 B 2  and  9 C 2  in a mode in which a detection sensitivity of a touch operation that is not directly touched by a finger is increased, for example, a mode in which a touch operation is enabled in a state in which a glove is worn. In such a mode, the values of the threshold 1, the threshold 2, and the threshold 3 are changed to be larger than those in the normal mode. For example, the threshold 1 is changed from 10 to 15, the threshold 2 is changed from 20 to 25, and the threshold 3 is changed from 30 to 35. 
     Next, with reference to  FIGS. 8A and 8B , the touch detection processing in the shooting mode of the present embodiment will be described. 
     In  FIGS. 8A and 8B , the same reference numerals are assigned to the same processing as those in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , and the processing of steps S 801  to S 804  are different from those in  FIG. 5A . 
     If it is determined in step S 505  that the shooting mode processing has not been completed, the processing proceeds to step S 801 . 
     In step S 801 , the system control unit  201  determines the eye approaching distance detected by the eye approach detection unit  217 . If the eye approaching distance is not more than the second distance, the processing proceeds to step S 802 . The second distance is, for example, less than 2 cm, which corresponds to FIG.  9 A 1 . If the eye approaching distance is longer than the first distance that is longer than the second distance, the processing proceeds to step S 804 . The first distance is, for example, 10 cm or more, which corresponds to FIG.  9 C 1 . If the eye approaching distance is a third distance between the first distance and the second distance, the processing proceeds to step S 803 . The third distance is, for example, 2 cm or more and less than 10 cm, which corresponds to FIGS.  9 C 1  and  9 C 2 . In the case of steps S 802  and S 803 , when the live view image is displayed on the in-finder display unit  229  (displayed in step S 508  of one cycle or more earlier), the display destination is switched to the backside display unit  101 . The AF setting change by the touch operation in the eye approaching state is enabled when the eye approach detection unit  217  detects that the user is looking through the finder and switches the display destination from the backside display unit  101  to the in-finder display unit  229 . 
     In step S 802 , the system control unit  201  sets the threshold of the touch area to be determined as the touch operation unintended by the user to the threshold 2. 
     In step S 803 , the system control unit  201  sets the threshold of the touch area to be determined as the touch operation unintended by the user to the threshold 3. 
     In step S 804 , the system control unit  201  switches the display destination to the backside display unit  101 , and sets the threshold of the touch area to be determined as the touch operation unintended by the user to the threshold 1. 
     Note that during the eye approaching, the threshold of the touch area may not be set, and control may be performed such that the touch operation is not invalidated. In the present embodiment, the threshold is set to three levels, but the threshold may be set to any number of levels. The threshold and the eye approaching distance are not limited to the above-described examples, and may be arbitrarily set by the user. 
     According to the present embodiment, by changing the threshold of the touch area to be determined as the touch operation unintended by the user in accordance with the eye approaching distance, it is possible to reduce the possibility of executing the processing by the touch operation unintended by the user while suppressing the deterioration of the operability of the camera. 
     Note that the foregoing various control described as something that the system control unit  201  performs may be performed by one piece of hardware, and a plurality of pieces of hardware (for example, a plurality of processor and/or circuit) may distribute processing to perform control of the entirety of the apparatus. 
     In addition, although the present invention was explained in detail based on suitable embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments, and various forms of a scope that does not deviate from the gist of this invention are included in the invention. Furthermore, the above-described embodiment is merely one embodiment of the present invention, and different embodiments can be combined as appropriate. 
     The foregoing embodiment describes an example of a case where the present invention is applied in a single-lens reflex digital camera. However, the present invention is not limited to this example. The present invention can be applied to an apparatus having a touch &amp; drag function in an eye approaching state. That is, the present invention can be applied in personal computers, PDAs, mobile phone terminals, smart phones which are a type of mobile phone terminals, tablet terminals, portable image viewers, digital photo frames, music players, game devices, e-book readers or other household apparatuses, vehicle-mounted apparatuses, medical equipment, electronic binoculars, or the like, which can perform shooting by attaching an external finder. 
     Further, the present invention is not limited to the camera body and is also applicable to a control device for communicating with a camera (including a network camera) via a wired or wireless communication and remotely controlling the camera. Apparatuses such as a smartphone, which is a type of mobile phone, a tablet PC, a desktop PC, or the like can be given as examples of control apparatuses that remotely control an image capture apparatus. The image capture apparatus can be controlled remotely by the control apparatus communicating commands for carrying out various types of operations, settings to the image capture apparatus, and/or the like on the basis of operations made in the control apparatus, processes carried out by the control apparatus, and the like. Additionally, a live view image shot by the image capture apparatus may be received by the control apparatus through wired or wireless communication and displayed. 
     Other Embodiment 
     Embodiment(s) of the present invention can also be realized by a computer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computer executable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on a storage medium (which may also be referred to more fully as a ‘non-transitory computer-readable storage medium’) to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or that includes one or more circuits (e.g., application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method performed by the computer of the system or apparatus by, for example, reading out and executing the computer executable instructions from the storage medium to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or controlling the one or more circuits to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s). The computer may comprise one or more processors (e.g., central processing unit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU)) and may include a network of separate computers or separate processors to read out and execute the computer executable instructions. The computer executable instructions may be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or the storage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or more of a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a storage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as a compact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™), a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like. 
     While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions. 
     This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-041216, filed Mar. 10, 2020 which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.