Digital Camera Patent Abstract
A digital camera has a mounting part to mount a shooting lens or
other optical equipment, and includes a mode switch that changes
between a mode that shoots using the shooting lens and a mode that
shoots using the other equipment. The camera includes an information
interface that communicates with the shooting lens or with the other
equipment, and receives information from the shooting lens or from
the other equipment corresponding to the set mode. A camera controller
controls the camera to change a type of information received through
the interface from the shooting lens or from the other equipment
based upon the set mode. When changed to the mode that shoots using
the other equipment, the interface receives information corresponding
to a color temperature or a brightness of a light source of the
other equipment, and the controller controls the camera shooting
state based upon that received information. Digital Camera Patent Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A digital camera having a mounting part to mount a shooting
lens or other optical equipment, comprising: image capturing means
for capturing image data corresponding to an object image; converting
means for converting the image data into digital format; changing
means for changing between a mode in which shooting is performed
using the shooting lens and a mode in which shooting is performed
using the other optical equipment; information receiving means for
communicating with the shooting lens or with the other optical equipment
mounted on the mounting part and for receiving information from
the shooting lens or from the other optical equipment; and control
means for controlling the camera so as to change a type of information
that is received through the information receiving means from the
shooting lens or from the other optical equipment based upon the
mode that has been changed by the changing means, wherein when changed
to the mode that shoots using the other optical equipment by the
changing means: the information receiving means receives information
corresponding to a color temperature of a light source of the other
optical equipment from the other optical equipment; and the control
means controls a shooting state of the camera based upon the information
received by the information receiving means.
2. A digital camera having a mounting part to mount a shooting
lens or other optical equipment, comprising: image capturing means
for capturing image data corresponding to an object image; converting
means for converting the image data into digital format; changing
means for changing between a mode in which shooting is performed
using the shooting lens and a mode in which shooting is performed
using the other optical equipment; information receiving means for
communicating with the shooting lens or with the other optical equipment
mounted on the mounting part and for receiving information from
the shooting lens or from the other optical equipment; and control
means for controlling the camera so as to change a type of information
that is received through the information receiving means from the
shooting lens or from the other optical equipment based upon the
mode that has been changed by the changing means, wherein when changed
to the mode in which shooting is performed using the other optical
equipment by the changing means: the information receiving means
receives information corresponding to brightness of a light source
of the other optical equipment from the other optical equipment;
and further comprising calculation means for calculating a color
temperature of the light source from the information corresponding
to the brightness of the light source; and the control means controls
a shooting state of the camera based upon the color temperature
calculated by the calculation means.
3. The digital camera as set forth in claim 1, wherein the other
optical equipment is a microscope, and the mounting part is connectable
to the microscope.
4. The digital camera as set forth in claim 1, wherein: when the
mode is changed to the mode in which shooting is performed by the
shooting lens, color temperature data is obtained by a white balance
detector of the camera, without receiving the color temperature
data from the shooting lens through the information receiving means,
and the control means controls the converting means to convert the
image data using the color temperature data obtained by the white
balance detector; and when the mode is changed to the mode in which
shooting is performed by the other optical equipment, color temperature
data is transmitted to the camera from the other optical equipment
through the information receiving means, and the control means controls
the converting means to convert the image data using the color temperature
data transmitted from the other optical equipment.
5. A digital camera having a mounting part to mount a shooting
lens or other optical equipment, comprising: image capturing means
for capturing image data corresponding to an object image; converting
means for converting the image data into digital format; communication
means for communicating with the shooting lens or with the other
optical equipment mounted onto the mounting part; determination
means for determining whether the shooting lens or the other optical
equipment is mounted onto the mounting part based upon the communication
by the communication means; setting means for setting a mode in
which shooting is performed by the camera using the shooting lens
or a mode in which shooting is performed by the camera using the
other optical equipment, corresponding to the determination result
of the determination means; wherein the setting means controls the
camera so as to change a type of information that is received through
the communication means from the shooting lens or from the other
optical equipment based upon the mode that has been set by the setting
means, and wherein when the mode in which shooting is performed
using the other optical equipment is set, the communication means
receives information corresponding to a color temperature of a light
source of the other optical equipment from the other optical equipment;
and further comprising control means for controlling a shooting
state of the camera based upon the information received by the communication
means.
6. A digital camera having a mounting part to mount a shooting
lens or other optical equipment, comprising: image capturing means
for capturing image data corresponding to an object image; converting
means for converting the image data into digital format; communication
means for communicating with the shooting lens or with the other
optical equipment mounted onto the mounting part; determination
means for determining whether the shooting lens or the other optical
equipment is mounted onto the mounting part based upon the communication
by the communication means; setting means for setting a mode in
which shooting is performed by the camera using the shooting lens
or a mode in which shooting is performed by the camera using the
other optical, equipment corresponding to the determination result
of the determination means; wherein the setting means controls the
camera so as to change a type of information that is received through
the communication means from the shooting lens or from the other
optical equipment based upon the mode that has been set by the setting
means, and wherein when the mode in which shooting is performed
using the other optical equipment is set, the communication means
receives information corresponding to a brightness of a light source
of the other optical equipment from the other optical equipment;
and further comprising: calculation means for calculating a color
temperature of the light source from the information corresponding
to the brightness of the light source; and control means for controlling
a shooting state of the camera based upon the color temperature
calculated by the calculation means.
7. The digital camera as set forth in claim 5, wherein when the
mode is set to the mode in which shooting is performed by the shooting
lens, color temperature data is obtained by a white balance detector
of the camera, without receiving the color temperature data from
the shooting lens through the communication means, and the control
means controls the converting means to convert the image data using
the color temperature data obtained by the white balance detector.
8. A digital camera having a mounting part to mount a shooting
lens or other optical equipment, comprising: a photoelectric converter
that converts an object image into image data corresponding to the
object image; a converter that converts the image data into digital
format; a mode switch that changes between a mode in which shooting
is performed using the shooting lens and a mode in which shooting
is performed using the other optical equipment; an information interface
that communicates with the shooting lens or with the other optical
equipment mounted on the mounting part and that receives information
from the shooting lens or from the other optical equipment corresponding
to the mode that has been changed by the mode switch; and a controller
that controls the camera so as to change a type of information that
is received through the information interface from the shooting
lens or from the other optical equipment based upon the mode that
has been changed by the mode switch, wherein when changed to the
mode that shoots using the other optical equipment by the mode switch:
the information interface receives information corresponding to
a color temperature of a light source of the other optical equipment
from the other optical equipment; and the controller controls a
shooting state of the camera based upon the information received
by the information interface.
9. A digital camera having a mounting part to mount a shooting
lens or other optical equipment, comprising: a photoelectric converter
that converts an object image into image data corresponding to the
object image; a converter that converts the image data into digital
format; a mode switch that changes between a mode in which shooting
is performed using the shooting lens and a mode in which shooting
is performed using the other optical equipment; an information interface
that communicates with the shooting lens or with the other optical
equipment mounted on the mounting part and that receives information
from the shooting lens or from the other optical equipment corresponding
to the mode that has been changed by the mode switch; and a controller
that controls the camera so as to change a type of information that
is received through the information interface from the shooting
lens or from the other optical equipment based upon the mode that
has been changed by the mode switch, wherein when changed to the
mode in which shooting is performed using the other optical equipment
by the mode switch: the information interface receives information
corresponding to brightness of a light source of the other optical
equipment from the other optical equipment; and the controller calculates
a color temperature of the light source from the information corresponding
to the brightness of the light source, and controls a shooting state
of the camera based upon the color temperature calculated by the
controller.
10. The digital camera as set forth in claim 8, wherein the other
optical equipment is a microscope, and the mounting part is connectable
to the microscope.
11. The digital camera as set forth in claim 8, wherein: when the
mode is changed to the mode in which shooting is performed by the
shooting lens, color temperature data is obtained by a white balance
detector of the camera, without receiving the color temperature
data from the shooting lens through the information interface, and
the controller controls the converter to convert the image data
using the color temperature data obtained by the white balance detector;
and when the mode is changed to the mode in which shooting is performed
by the other optical equipment, color temperature data is transmitted
to the camera from the other optical equipment through the information
interface, and the controller controls the converter to convert
the image data using the color temperature data transmitted from
the other optical equipment.
12. A digital camera having a mounting part to mount a shooting
lens or other optical equipment, comprising: a photoelectric converter
that converts an object image into image data corresponding to the
object image; a converter that converts the image data into digital
format; an information interface that communicates with the shooting
lens or with the other optical equipment mounted onto the mounting
part; and a controller that (i) determines whether the shooting
lens or the other optical equipment is mounted onto the mounting
part based upon the communication through the information interface,
(ii) sets a mode in which shooting is performed by the camera using
the shooting lens or a mode in which shooting is performed by the
camera using the other optical equipment, corresponding to the determination
result, and (iii) controls the camera so as to change a type of
information that is received through the information interface from
the shooting lens or from the other optical equipment based upon
the mode that has been set, wherein when the mode in which shooting
is performed using the other optical equipment is set, the information
interface receives information corresponding to a color temperature
of a light source of the other optical equipment from the other
optical equipment; and the controller controls a shooting state
of the camera based upon the information received by the information
interface.
13. A digital camera having a mounting part to mount a shooting
lens or other optical equipment, comprising: a photoelectric converter
that converts an object image into image data corresponding to the
object image; a converter that converts the image data into digital
format; an information interface that communicates with the shooting
lens or with the other optical equipment mounted onto the mounting
part; and a controller that (i) determines whether the shooting
lens or the other optical equipment is mounted onto the mounting
part based upon the communication through the information interface,
(ii) sets a mode in which shooting is performed by the camera using
the shooting lens or a mode in which shooting is performed by the
camera using the other optical equipment, corresponding to the determination
result, and (iii) controls the camera so as to change a type of
information that is received through the information interface from
the shooting lens or from the other optical equipment based upon
the mode that has been set, wherein when the mode in which shooting
is performed using the other optical equipment is set, the information
interface receives information corresponding to a brightness of
a light source of the other optical equipment from the other optical
equipment; and the controller calculates a color temperature of
the light source from the information corresponding to the brightness
of the light source, and controls a shooting state of the camera
based upon the calculated color temperature.
14. The digital camera set forth in claim 12, wherein when the
mode is set to the mode in which shooting is performed by the shooting
lens, color temperature data is obtained by measurements made by
a white balance detector of the camera, and the controller controls
the converter to convert the image data using the color temperature
data obtained by the white balance detector.
Digital Camera Patent Description
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
The disclosure of the following priority application is herein
incorporated by reference:
Japanese Patent Application No. 9-342397 filed Dec. 12, 1997.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a digital camera and to a recording medium,
and more particularly to a digital camera and recording medium that
are mounted on and used with a microscope.
2. Description of the Related Art
A digital camera shoots an object image using an imaging element
such as a CCD (charge coupled device) or the like. After converting
the image data resulting from this shooting operation into digital
format, it is recorded to a recording medium such as a memory card.
An image corresponding to the recorded data is displayed on a monitor
connected externally to the digital camera, or is displayed on a
monitor such as a liquid crystal display or the like housed in the
digital camera.
Furthermore, there are also shooting lenses that are attachable
to, or on which a microscope can be mounted.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
When a shooting mode changeover switch 24 is operated by a user
and a mode of a digital camera is changed over to a microscope shooting
mode, a controlling circuit 14 recognizes that a microscope is mounted
on a lens mounting part of the camera main body instead of a lens
1, controls various settings of the digital camera, and can perform
an appropriate microscope shooting.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front view of a digital camera to which a shooting
device of this invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a rear view of a digital camera to which a shooting device
of this invention is applied.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of a digital camera to which a shooting device
of this invention is applied.
FIG. 4 is a view showing a display example of an external LCD panel
(display device) 15.
FIG. 5 is a right side view of a digital camera to which a shooting
device of this invention is applied.
FIG. 6 is a view showing a batch erasing switch and a frame erasing
switch.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a detailed structural example
of a digital camera to which a shooting device of this invention
is applied.
FIG. 8 is a flow chart explaining a procedure used to perform communication
corresponding to a shooting mode of a camera main body 100.
FIG. 9 is a flow chart explaining a procedure used to determine
a white balance control value corresponding to a shooting lens or
to a microscope mounted on a camera main body 100.
FIG. 10 is another flow chart explaining a procedure used to perform
communication of a camera main body 100.
FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a detailed structural example
of a digital camera to which a shooting device of this invention
is applied.
FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing processing performed by a controlling
circuit 14 when a digital camera of this embodiment is set at a
microscope shooting mode.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
FIG. 1 shows a front view of one embodiment of a digital camera
of this invention (hereafter referred to as a camera). Here, an
example is shown when an undepicted microscope is not mounted to
the camera. The later-mentioned controlling circuit 14 performs
communication of signals with the lens 1 or the microscope through
a lens communication terminal 28 disposed in a lens mounting part
(mounting face) 27 that fixes the lens 1 or the microscope onto
the camera main body 100, and thereby detects whether a lens 1 or
a microscope is mounted on the camera main body 100. The later-mentioned
quick return mirror 3 is disposed in the interior of the lens mounting
part 27. A stop dial 39 is used when a stop value is set.
FIG. 2 is a rear view of the camera shown in FIG. 1. A card insertion/eject
lever 29 can open and close a rear cover (card insertion part) 31
as an eject lever lock button 30 is pressed and slid. In the rear
cover 31, a memory card confirmation window 32 is disposed through
which it can be visually confirmed whether the memory card 13 is
inserted into the main body.
A command dial 33 can be endlessly rotated, clicking as it rotates.
When this is independently used, a shutter speed value can be set,
and when it is used with each setting button, setting of specified
information can be performed. A finder display part 46 is structured
by an LCD, LED (light emitting diode), or the like, and is disposed
within the finder 45, and displays various information.
FIG. 3 is a front view of the camera shown in FIG. 1. A sensitivity
changeover switch 21 can perform sensitivity changeover when used
with the command dial 33. An exposure correction changeover switch
23 can set an exposure correction value when used with the command
dial 33. A photometry mode changeover switch 22 can change a photometry
mode when used with the command dial 33. For example, in multiple
pattern photometry, an object to be photometered can be selected
and determined.
A release button 34 turns on an operation circuit, which will be
discussed hereafter with reference to FIG. 7, when it is half-pressed,
and focus control is performed. Furthermore, when release button
34 is full-pressed, release is performed. A display device (external
LCD (liquid crystal display) panel) 15 displays various information
as shown in FIG. 4. A compression mode is displayed in a display
area A. Sensitivity during the shooting, that is, the sensitivity
of the CCD 9, which will be discussed later, is displayed in a display
area B. A white balance setting mode is displayed in a display area
C. An exposure mode is displayed in a display area D. The existence
of exposure correction is displayed in a display area E. A photometry
mode is displayed in a display area F. A battery remaining amount
is displayed in a display area G. A stop value is displayed in a
display area H. Shutter speed is displayed in a display area I.
The number of remaining frames that can be recorded to the memory
card 13 is displayed in a display area J. A frame number for the
following shooting operation is displayed in a display area K.
FIG. 5 is a right side view of the camera of FIG. 1. When the command
dial 33 is rotated in either the right or left direction, while
pressing the command lock button 35, the shutter speed setting value
displayed on the display device 15 is locked. Furthermore, when
the stop dial 39 is rotated to either the right or left direction
while pressing the command lock button 35, the stop value setting
displayed on the display device 15 is locked.
In FIG. 5, within the cover 40, three buttons are disposed as shown
in FIG. 6. The top and middle buttons comprise a batch erasing switch
38. By pressing these buttons simultaneously, it is possible to
erase all the data recorded in the memory card 13. Additionally,
the middle and bottom buttons comprise a frame erasing switch 25.
By pressing these buttons simultaneously, it is possible to erase
the data (frame) recorded previously among the data recorded in
the memory card 13.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a detailed structural example
of the digital camera shown in FIGS. 1-6. A lens 1 collects light
rays from an object. A stop 2 adjusts the light amount of the light
rays from the lens 1. A quick return mirror 3 reflects part of the
light rays from the object incident through the stop 2 and the lens
1 and directs them to a multiple division SPD (silicon photo diode)
4, and transmits the other parts of the light therethrough. The
multiple division SPD 4 is structured by a plurality of photometry
elements, divides the field into a plurality of areas, and performs
photometry. A photometry amp 6 amplifies the output of each photometry
element.
A stop driver 7 changes the stop amount of the stop 2. A shutter
driving circuit 8 controls the opening and closing of the shutter
5. A CCD (charge coupled device) 9 receives the light rays from
the object in accordance with the opening and closing of the shutter
5. A signal charge corresponding to the received light amount is
accumulated, and the accumulated signal charge is output as image
data. A CCD driving circuit 10 controls the charge accumulation
and the charge transmission of the CCD 9. The signal processing
circuit 11 performs correction processing such as white balance
adjustment, .gamma. correction, and edge correction, with respect
to the image data that has been output from the CCD 9.
A frame memory 51 temporarily stores the image data that has been
correction processed in the signal processing circuit 11. A compression/decompression
circuit 12 compresses image data from the frame memory 51 by, for
example, the JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) method, and
the image data is provided to the memory card 13. Furthermore, image
data that has been read from the memory card 13 is decompressed
and is output to an external monitor 56 connected to a connector
55. The memory card 13 stores the image data provided from the compression/decompression
circuit 12, and supplies stored image data to the compression/decompression
circuit 12.
The controlling circuit 14 controls the stop driver 7, the shutter
driver 8, the CCD driver 10, and the like and performs calculation
processing such as exposure calculation. Additionally, it controls
the motor 26 and rotates the quick return mirror 3 during shooting,
and the quick return mirror 3 is withdrawn out of the path of the
light rays incident through the lens 1 and the stop 2. Furthermore,
an auto focus (AF) motor 43 is controlled and focus control is performed.
In addition, through the lens communication terminal 28, it is detected
whether the lens 1 or a microscope is mounted on the camera main
body 100.
As described earlier, with reference to FIG. 4, the display device
15 is structured by, for example, an LCD, and displays various information
needed for shooting and replaying. The display device 15 is disposed,
for example, on the top of the camera main body 100.
A switch 16 changes whether power is provided to each part of the
camera. A switch 17 is turned on when the release button 34 is half-pressed.
A switch 18 is turned on when the release button 34 is full-pressed.
A shooting/replaying selection switch 19 is operated when changing
whether shooting or replaying is to be performed. A pulse generator
20 outputs pulse signals whenever the command dial 33 is rotated
by a specified amount. A sensitivity changeover switch 21 is operated
when the sensitivity of the CCD 9 is changed. A photometry mode
changeover switch 22 is operated when the photometry mode is changed.
An exposure correction changeover switch 23 is operated when the
exposure correction is changed.
A shooting mode changeover switch 24 is operated when changing
between a normal shooting mode that performs shooting by using a
program mode, a stop priority mode, a shutter priority mode, a normal
shooting lens and a microscope shooting mode that performs shooting
using a microscope. A frame erasing switch 25 is operated when image
data is erased from the memory card 13. A white balance setting
switch 47 is operated when the white balance setting mode is set.
A shooting system is structured by the above-mentioned CCD 9, signal
processing circuit 11, CCD driver 10, and compression/decompression
circuit 12. Furthermore, a photometry system is structured by the
multiple division SPD 4 and the photometry amp 6.
Among the recent shooting lenses, there are many lenses that house
a CPU. It is possible to transmit the lens information (focal distance
information, aperture f value information, largest stop step, lens
shading information, ejection pupil position information, or the
like) to the camera main body 100 by communication between the controlling
circuit 14 of the camera main body 100 and the CPU of the shooting
lens through the lens communication terminal 28. Furthermore, based
upon the information relating to the shooting lens obtained by the
communication with the shooting lens, the controlling circuit 14
of the camera main body 100 performs the photometry calculation.
Additionally, through the lens communication terminal 28 disposed
in the mounting face (lens mounting part) 27 of the camera main
body 100, the controlling circuit 14 of the camera main body 100
communicates not only with the lens 1 but also with the microscope
main body, and it is possible to obtain necessary information relating
to the lens and the light source from the CPU of the microscope
side.
Serial communication is mainly used for the communicating method.
The lens communication terminal 28 normally has five electrical
connecting points for communication. That is, there are a power
source line to provide power to the CPU within the lens 1, a ground
line, a clock line for communication, a data line to transmit data,
and a data control line to transmit controlling signals to control
the transmission of data. When the lens 1 is mounted onto the camera
main body 100, power is provided to the lens 1 through the power
source line from the camera main body 100. When the CPU disposed
in the lens 1 is activated, it performs serial communication with
the camera main body 100 by using the communication lines structured
by the data line, data control line, and/or the like.
Normally, in the communication between the CPU of the lens 1 and
the controlling circuit 14 of the camera main body 100, there are
many cases in which the camera main body 100 receives information
from the lens 1 and that there is hardly any information to be transmitted
to the lens 1 from the camera main body 100. Therefore, in this
type of communication, the transmission data to be transmitted from
the camera main body 100 to the lens 1 is 0 bytes and the data to
be transmitted from the lens 1 to the camera main body 100 is several
bytes.
Meanwhile, when the camera 100 is mounted onto the microscope,
the camera main body 100 must receive data from the microscope,
so the communication content has to be changed by something that
is connected to the lens communication terminal 28. For this type
of case, the camera main body 100 needs to determine whether a normal
shooting lens is mounted and it should operate in the normal shooting
mode, or a microscope is mounted and it should operate in the microscope
shooting mode. Because of this, for example, a method can be considered
such that a switch is provided that is turned on only when the microscope
is mounted onto the lens mounting part 27 of the camera main body
100, and the microscope shooting mode is thus detected.
Incidentally, when a digital camera of a single lens reflex type
is mounted onto the microscope and shooting is performed, a microscope
shooting mode is loaded such that the shooting is performed by controlling
the electronic shutter after vibration of camera due to the mirror
up operation and the front curtain travel operation is stopped.
Therefore, the photograph cannot be blurry because of the effects
of the mirror up operation and the front curtain travel operation.
The setting of the microscope shooting mode can be performed by,
for example, operating the shooting mode changeover switch 24. Therefore,
the determination as to whether the microscope shooting mode is
entered can be easily detected without providing a special switch.
Therefore, by taking advantage of the existence of this mode, when
it is set at the microscope shooting mode, communication with the
microscope main body is performed and when it is set at the normal
shooting mode, communication with the lens 1 is performed.
That is, as shown in the flow chart of FIG. 8, initially, when
the power of the camera main body 100 is turned on in step S1, various
initial settings are performed in step S2. Next, in step S3, it
is determined whether the shooting mode of the camera main body
100 is set at the microscope shooting mode or the normal shooting
mode. When it is determined that the microscope shooting mode is
set, the program proceeds to step S4, the controlling circuit 14
performs communication with the microscope main body through the
lens communication terminal 28, and the camera main body 100 receives
information relating to the light source and the lens of the microscope
from the microscope.
Meanwhile, when it is determined that the normal shooting mode
is set in step S3, the program proceeds to step S5, the controlling
circuit 14 performs communication with the lens 1 through the lens
communication terminal 28 and receives the information relating
to the lens 1. When the processing is completed in step S4 or step
S5, this routine is completed.
When the white balance is set, normally based upon the setting
information from a specified white balance setting device, the white
balance control value is set. For example, when the white balance
setting switch 47 is operated and the white balance is set at "automatic
adjustment mode", the color temperature is measured by a specified
white balance daylighting window and white balance control appropriate
for the color temperature is performed. Furthermore, when the white
balance is set at the "light bulb mode", the color temperature
is set at the temperature of the halogen lamp (absolute temperature
3000K), and the white balance control is performed.
With respect to the light source of the microscope, various light
sources can be used for the microscope, so the color temperature
varies depending upon the light source. Therefore, the color temperature
information of the light source is transmitted to the camera main
body 100 by the communication from the microscope main body, the
camera main body 100 performs the white-balance control based upon
the information, and the optimum shooting can be performed.
That is, as shown in FIG. 9, initially, the shooting mode of the
camera main body 100 is determined to be set at either the microscope
shooting mode or the normal shooting mode in step S11. If it is
determined that it is set at the microscope shooting mode, the program
proceeds to step S12. The camera main body 100 receives information
relating to the color temperature of the light source from the microscope
through the lens communication terminal 28, and the controlling
circuit 14 sets the white balance control value based upon this
information. Meanwhile, when it is determined that it is set at
the normal shooting mode in step S11, the white balance control
value is set in step S13, based upon the setting information from
the white balance setting device.
There are some microscopes in which the light source can be changed
to an arbitrary brightness. For example, when a light source adjustment
knob or the like is rotated, the brightness of the light source
is determined by the position of the knob. In this case, the position
information indicating the rotation position of the light source
adjustment knob is transmitted to the camera main body 100 through
the lens communication terminal 28, the controlling circuit 14 of
the camera main body 100 can calculate the color temperature of
the light source based upon the position information, and change
the setting of the white balance. By so doing, it is possible to
perform the optimum shooting.
Thus, by setting a switch that can be turned on only when the microscope
is mounted onto the mounting part 27, it is determined from the
ON or OFF condition of the switch, whether it is a shooting lens
or a microscope that is mounted or, alternatively, a mode determination
is performed by detecting the operation of the shooting mode changeover
switch 24. In either case, by performing communication with the
mounted equipment, it is also possible to detect whether it was
a shooting lens or a microscope that was mounted. The flow chart
of FIG. 10 shows a processing example of this case.
First, the power source of the camera main body 100 is turned on
in step S21, and various initial setting processing is performed
in step S22. The above processing is the same processing as the
processing in steps S1 and S2.
Next, in step S23, the controlling circuit 14 performs communication
with the device that is mounted onto the mounting part 27 (a shooting
lens or a microscope for this case) through the lens communication
terminal 28. Each of these devices has an ID including an identification
code showing the type of device (whether it is a shooting lens or
a microscope). The controlling circuit 14 receives the ID from each
device, and whether the device is a shooting lens is determined
in step S24 from the ID that has been provided.
When it is not a shooting lens that is mounted (in the case of
a microscope), the program proceeds to S25, and the controlling
circuit 14 sets the microscope shooting mode. In step S24, if it
is determined that it is a shooting lens that is mounted, the program
proceeds to step S26, and the controlling circuit 14 sets the normal
shooting mode.
In each mode, the controlling circuit 14 further receives the information
of the color temperature from the microscope or the shooting lens,
controls the white balance, receives information corresponding to
the brightness, calculates the color temperature from this information,
and controls the white balance corresponding to the calculation
result. These are all the same as the case described earlier.
In the above-described embodiment, the program that performs the
processing shown in the flow charts of FIGS. 8, 9, and 10 can be
stored in the memory card 13, memory housed in the controlling circuit
14, or the like. Furthermore, this program can be supplied to the
user in a condition where it is stored in the memory and/or the
memory card 13 in advance, and it can also be supplied to the user
in a condition where it is stored in CD-ROM (compact disk-read only
memory) or the like where it can be copied to the memory and/or
to the memory card 13.
Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, a structure where
an external monitor is connected to a digital camera is used, but
it is also possible to apply this invention to a digital camera
that has a monitor such as a liquid crystal display.
In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the case is described
where this invention is applied to a digital camera, but it is also
possible to apply this invention to other imaging devices such as
a digital video camera that uses a moving image.
Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, communication between
the microscope or the lens 1 and the camera main body 100 is performed
by serial communication, but it is also possible to use other communication
methods. Furthermore, it is also possible to communicate by using
infrared radiation, radio waves, light, or the like.
Additionally, in the above embodiment, the optical equipment mounted
on the camera main body 100 is a shooting lens or a microscope,
but other optical equipment can be mounted. Furthermore, it is also
possible to control a shooting condition other than the white balance.
The following explains a second embodiment of this invention.
FIG. 11 is a block diagram- showing a detailed structural example
of a digital camera of the second embodiment. The difference between
the block diagram of FIG. 7 of the first embodiment is that it has
an external white balance device 61, a strobe 62, and an internal
monitor 63.
The external white balance device 61 detects light rays of the
object that do not go through the lens 1. The external white balance
device 61 can detect the color information from the object regardless
of the output from the CCD 9.
The strobe 62 illuminates the object.
The internal monitor 63 is structured by an LCD and is disposed
on, for example, a rear face of the camera. The internal monitor
63 is used as an electronic viewfinder and as an image replaying
monitor. Other structures are the same as in FIG. 7, so their explanation
is omitted.
FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing processing performed by the controlling
circuit 14 when the digital camera in this embodiment is set at
the microscope shooting mode. This flow starts having been previously
set at the microscope shooting mode.
When it is set at the microscope shooting mode, charging of the
strobe 62 is prohibited in step S31. Furthermore, even if the charging
of the strobe 62 is completed and is in a light emitting possible
condition, or an external strobe is mounted, the light emission
of the strobe is prohibited.
In step S32, in the microscope mode, it is determined that there
is no lens to be stop-controlled and focus-driven, and controlling
of the stop driver 7 and driving of the AF motor 43 are prohibited.
In step S33, when it is mounted onto a microscope, the possibility
of looking into the finder is low, so display within the finder
is prohibited. Furthermore, in step S34, the possibility of the
internal monitor 63 being seen is also low, so the display of the
internal monitor 63 is prohibited. Here, it can be considered that
the microscope is operated by looking at the external monitor 56,
so the output to the monitor 56 is not prohibited.
Next, in step S35, white balance detection by the external white
balance device 61 is prohibited. An object that is imaged by the
CCD 9 during microscope shooting cannot be measured by the external
white balance device 61, so it is not allowed to function.
In step S36, it is determined whether the release button 34 is
half-pressed. In step S36, when it is determined that the release
button 34 is half-pressed, the program proceeds to step S37, and
when it is determined that it is not half-pressed, the program proceeds
to step S48.
In step S37, the quick return mirror 3 is moved up, and in step
S38, the shutter 5 is opened. By so doing, it is possible to avoid
blurring which occurs due to the vibration by the shutter opening
and the mirror up during shooting.
In step S39, white balance is detected based upon the output from
the CCD 9, and photometry is performed based upon the output from
the photometry amp 6. Next, in step S40, the exposure control value,
by setting the electronic shutter speed of the CCD 9 and the gain
adjustment of the output from the CCD 9, is calculated based upon
the photometry data obtained in step S39. Because the stop in the
normal lens cannot be used, exposure control unique to the microscope
is performed by shutter speed only, or by the gain adjustment of
the CCD output and the shutter speed.
In step S41, based upon the output of the CCD 9, it is detected
whether it is focused. By displaying the detection result on the
external monitor 56, a focus aid function that helps focus is realized.
In step S42, it is determined whether the release button 34 is
full-pressed. In step S42, when it is determined that the release
button 34 is full-pressed, the program proceeds to step S43, and
when it is determined that it is not full-pressed, the program proceeds
to step S47.
In step S47, it is determined whether the release button 34 is
half-pressed. In step S47, when it is determined that the release
button 34 is half-pressed, the program proceeds to step S39, and
when it is determined that it is not half-pressed, the program proceeds
to step S44.
In step S43, shooting processing is performed, based upon the gain
adjustment value and the shutter speed calculated in step S40.
In step S44, the shutter 5 is closed, and in step S45, the quick
return mirror 3 is moved down.
In step S48, it is detected whether the microscope shooting mode
is changed over to another shooting mode. When it is not changed
over to another mode, the program returns to step S36. When it is
changed over to another mode, this flow is completed.
When the digital camera is set at the microscope shooting mode,
the optimum microscope shooting can be performed by performing the
control described above.
Furthermore, in the above embodiment, by setting at the microscope
shooting mode, the display of the internal monitor 63 is immediately
prohibited. The internal monitor 63 is needed for various settings.
Thus, even if it is set at the microscope shooting mode, it is possible
to detect a specified time elapse by a timer after the microscope
shooting mode is set, and the display can be prohibited, without
immediately prohibiting the display. Additionally, even if it is
in a condition where the display of the internal monitor 63 is prohibited,
it is possible to make the structure such that, when the operation
to perform various settings is performed, the LCD can be turned
on to enable setting. At that time, only the function used in the
microscope such as an interval timer can be set. The setting of
the strobe light emitting mode, AF mode, or the like is prohibited.
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