Digital camera

Abstract

A digital camera is provided with a special successive shooting mode wherein an imaging device makes a series of successive shots upon each shutter release operation, including at least a non-flash shot and at least a flash shot. When a shutter button is pressed halfway in the successive shooting mode, an exposure condition deciding device decides an exposure condition common to the non-flash and flash shots, or individual exposure conditions for the non-flash shot and the flash shot. When the shutter button is fully pressed, the imaging device starts the successive shots of one series. Images captured by the non-flash shot and the flash shot are displayed on an LCD panel. Before the imaging device starts the successive shots, necessary warning marks are displayed together with the exposure conditions decided by the exposure condition deciding device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments when read in connection with the accompanied drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a digital camera embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the digital camera;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic structure of the digital camera;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a program for automatic exposure control, according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a main sequence for operating the digital camera in a successive shooting mode, according to the first embodiment;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are explanatory diagrams illustrating an embodiment of a display screen for checking images captured in the successive shooting mode;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating another embodiment of a display screen for checking images captured in the successive shooting mode;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating still another embodiment of a display screen for checking images captured in the successive shooting mode;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are diagrams illustrating programs for automatic exposure control for a non-flash shot and a flash shot, according to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a flow chart illustrating a main sequence for operating the digital camera in the successive shooting mode, according to the second embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating programs for automatic exposure control for a non-flash shot and a flash shot, according to a third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 12 is a flow chart illustrating a main sequence for operating the digital camera in the successive shooting mode, according to the third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a program for automatic exposure control, according to a fourth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 14 is a flow chart illustrating a main sequence for operating the digital camera, according to the fourth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 15 is a flow chart illustrating a sub-sequence for judging whether to lower sensitivity or not, according to the fourth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 16 is a flow chart illustrating a sequence of a warning-display process, according to a fifth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a warning display screen according to the fifth embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 18A and 18B are explanatory diagrams illustrating an example of a file structure on storing image data in a memory card;

FIGS. 19A and 19B are explanatory diagrams illustrating another example of a file structure on storing image data in a memory card;

FIG. 20 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic structure of a digital camera according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a flow chart illustrating a main sequence for operating a digital camera, according to a seventh embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a display screen for displaying exposure condition data and warning data about both of first and second shots;

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram illustrating another example of a display screen for displaying exposure condition data and warning data about both of first and second shots;

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a display screen where exposure condition data and warning data are displayed about only one of successive shots;

FIGS. 25A and 25B are explanatory diagrams illustrating an example of display screen which displays exposure condition data and warning data about one shot, and thereafter those on the next shot in the successive shooting mode.

Claims

1. A digital camera provided with a special successive shooting mode wherein an imaging device makes a series of successive shots upon each shutter release operation, including at least a non-flash shot and at least a flash shot that is made synchronously with a flash light from a flash device, said digital camera comprising: an exposure condition deciding device for deciding exposure condition of said imaging device through photometry and calculation, wherein said exposure condition deciding device decides a common exposure condition to the non-flash shot and the flash shot in said successive shooting mode.

2. A digital camera as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a light control device for controlling volume of the flash light from said flash device, said light control device being successively driven upon a predetermined operation or at predetermined timing while said imaging device is being driven successively in said successive shooting mode.

3. A digital camera as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a device for changing imaging sensitivity of said imaging device, wherein the imaging sensitivity is changed when under-exposure will occur under the exposure condition decided based on the present sensitivity in said successive shooting mode.

4. A digital camera as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a judging device for judging whether to lower photometric sensitivity and imaging sensitivity when a measured subject brightness value is above a predetermined value, wherein when said judging device judges to lower the photometric sensitivity and imaging sensitivity, said exposure condition deciding device carries out the photometry and calculation at the lowered photometric and imaging sensitivities to decide the exposure conditions, and said imaging device makes the successive shots at the lowered imaging sensitivity.

5. A digital camera as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a display device for displaying images based on image data obtained through said imaging device, wherein said display device displays images as captured by the successive shots of one series in said successive shooting mode.

6. A digital camera as claimed in claim 5, wherein said display device displays the images as captured by the successive shots of one series, simultaneously on a screen.

7. A digital camera as claimed in claim 5, wherein said display device displays the images as captured by the successive shots of one series, one by one on a screen.

8. A digital camera as claimed in claim 7, wherein said display device displays the images as captured by the successive shots of one series, sequentially while switching over the screen at predetermined time intervals.

9. A digital camera as claimed in claim 7, wherein said display device switches over its screen in response to an operation on an operating device, to display the captured images one by one.

10. A digital camera as claimed in claim 5, wherein said display device displays at least one of the captured images immediately after the successive shots of one series are made.

11. A digital camera as claimed in claim 5, wherein said display device displays at least one of the captured images, after image data obtained by the successive shots of one series are written in a storage medium.

12. A digital camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein said digital camera is provided with a slow synchronized flash function, whereby a flash shot is made at a slower shutter speed than usual in a standard shooting mode, and wherein said slow synchronized flash function is deactivated in said successive shooting mode.

13. A digital camera as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a warning device for giving warning when it is judged to be necessary to warn about one or both of the non-flash shot and the flash shot in said successive shooting mode.

14. A digital camera as claimed in claim 13, wherein said warning device totally displays data indicating the content of warnings about any of the successive shots of one series.

15. A digital camera as claimed in claim 13, wherein said warning device individually displays data indicating the content of warnings about each of the successive shots of one series.

16. A digital camera as claimed in claim 13, wherein at least one of the warning data and the exposure condition is displayed immediately after the first shot, after every shot or after the last shot of the successive shots of one series in said successive shooting mode.

17. A digital camera as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a display device that display data on exposure conditions of the respective successive shots of one series immediately after said exposure condition deciding device decides the exposure conditions in said successive shooting mode.

18. A digital camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein additional data discriminating between the non-flash shot and the flash shot are attached to the image data obtained by the respective shots in said successive shooting mode.

19. A digital camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein common additional data is attached to the image data obtained by the same series of the successive shots.

20. A digital camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein said imaging device first makes tentative non-flash and flash shots at a low resolution, and thereafter makes the successive shots of one series at a higher resolution in said successive shooting mode.

21. A digital camera as claimed in claim 20, further comprising a display device for displaying preview images based on image data obtained by the tentative shots, and a warning device that judges on necessity of warning about the successive shots, and makes said display device to display necessary warnings together with the corresponding preview images.

22. A digital camera as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a light control device for controlling volume of the flash light from said flash device, wherein said flash device makes a pre-emission with a first light volume, and said light control device calculates a second light volume during the pre-emission, so said flash device emits the flash light with the second light volume at the flash shot of the successive shots in said successive shooting mode.

23. A digital camera as claimed in claim 22, wherein said pre-emission doubles as a light emission for red-eye reduction.

24. A digital camera provided with a special successive shooting mode wherein an imaging device makes a series of successive shots upon each shutter release operation, including at least a non-flash shot and at least a flash shot that is made synchronously with a flash light from a flash device, said digital camera comprising: an exposure condition deciding device for deciding exposure condition of said imaging device through photometry and calculation, wherein said exposure condition deciding device decides individual exposure conditions for the non-flash shot and the flash shot upon a shutter button being pressed halfway in said successive shooting mode, and said imaging device starts the successive shots of one series when said shutter button is fully pressed.

25. A digital camera as claimed in claim 24, further comprising a light control device for controlling volume of the flash light from said flash device, said light control device being successively driven upon a predetermined operation or at predetermined timing while said imaging device is being driven successively in said successive shooting mode.

26. A digital camera as claimed in claim 25, further comprising a device for changing imaging sensitivity of said imaging device, wherein when a plural number of flash shots are successively made upon one shutter release operation in said successive shooting mode, the imaging sensitivity is raised and said light control device is activated for these flash shots.

27. A digital camera as claimed in claim 24, further comprising a device for changing imaging sensitivity of said imaging device, wherein the imaging sensitivity when under-exposure will occur under the exposure condition decided based on the present sensitivity in said successive shooting mode.

28. A digital camera as claimed in claim 24, further comprising a judging device for judging whether to lower photometric sensitivity and imaging sensitivity when a measured subject brightness value is above a predetermined value, wherein when said judging device judges to lower the photometric sensitivity and imaging sensitivity, said exposure condition deciding device carries out the photometry and calculation at the lowered photometric and imaging sensitivities to decide the exposure conditions, and said imaging device makes the successive shots at the lowered imaging sensitivity.

29. A digital camera as claimed in claim 28, wherein when said judging device judges not to lower the photometric sensitivity and imaging sensitivity, said exposure condition deciding device decides a common exposure condition to the non-flash and flash shots at a standard photometric and imaging sensitivities in said successive shooting mode.

30. A digital camera as claimed in claim 24, wherein the non-flash shot is made before the flash shot among of the successive shots of one series.

31. A digital camera as claimed in claim 24, wherein the flash shot is made before the non-flash shot among of the successive shots of one series.

32. A digital camera as claimed in claim 24, wherein a shot to be made at a higher shutter speed is made before a shot to be made at a lower shutter speed among of the successive shots of one series.

33. A digital camera as claimed in claim 24, further comprising a device for changing imaging sensitivity of said imaging device, wherein said exposure condition deciding device decides to use a higher imaging sensitivity for a preceding one of the successive shots of one series, and a lower imaging sensitivity for a succeeding one of the successive shots of one series.

34. A digital camera as claimed in claim 24, further comprising a warning device for giving warning when it is judged to be necessary to warn about one or both of the non-flash shot and the flash shot in said successive shooting mode.

35. A digital camera as claimed in claim 34, wherein said warning device totally displays data indicating the content of warnings about any of the successive shots of one series.

36. A digital camera as claimed in claim 34, wherein said warning device individually displays data indicating the content of warnings about each of the successive shots of one series.

37. A digital camera as claimed in claim 36, wherein the warning data is displayed together with data of the exposure condition for each shot.

38. A digital camera as claimed in claim 34, wherein at least one of the warning data and the exposure condition is displayed immediately after the first shot, after every shot or after the last shot of the successive shots of one series in said successive shooting mode.

39. A digital camera as claimed in claim 34, wherein at least one of the warning data and the exposure condition is displayed with respect to a preceding one of the successive shots of one series before said imaging device starts these successive shots.

40. A digital camera as claimed in claim 34, wherein at least one of the warning data and the exposure condition is displayed before said imaging device starts the successive shots of one series, with respect to one be made at the slowest shutter speed of the successive shots.

41. A digital camera as claimed in claim 24, wherein said imaging device first makes tentative non-flash and flash shots at a low resolution, and thereafter makes the successive shots at a higher resolution in said successive shooting mode.

42. A digital camera as claimed in claim 41, further comprising a display device for displaying preview images based on image data obtained by the tentative shots, and a warning device that judges on necessity of warning about the successive shots, and makes said display device to display necessary warnings simultaneously with said preview images.

43. A digital camera as claimed in claim 24, further comprising a light control device for controlling volume of the flash light from said flash device, wherein said flash device emits a first light with a first volume at said tentative flash shot in said successive shooting mode, and said light control device calculates a second light volume based on a photometric value obtained through said tentative flash shot, so said flash device emits the flash light with the second light volume at the flash shot of the successive shots.

44. A digital camera as claimed in claim 41, wherein said exposure condition deciding device decides the exposure conditions for the non-flash shot and the flash shot of the successive shots of one series, based on data obtained through said tentative non-flash and flash shots.

45. A digital camera as claimed in claim 24, further comprising a display device for displaying images based on image data obtained through said imaging device, wherein said display device displays images as captured by the successive shots of one series in said successive shooting mode.

46. A digital camera as claimed in claim 45, wherein said display device displays the images as captured by the successive shots of one series, simultaneously on a screen.

47. A digital camera as claimed in claim 45, wherein said display device displays the images as captured by the successive shots of one series, one by one on a screen.

48. A digital camera as claimed in claim 45, wherein said display device displays at least one of the captured images immediately after the successive shots of one series are made.

49. A digital camera as claimed in claim 45, wherein said display device displays at least one of the captured images, after image data obtained by the successive shots of one series are written in a storage medium.

50. A digital camera as claimed in claim 24, wherein said digital camera is provided with a slow synchronized flash function, whereby a flash shot is made at a slower shutter speed than usual in a standard shooting mode, and wherein said slow synchronized flash function is deactivated in said successive shooting mode.

51. A digital camera as claimed in claim 24, further comprising a display device that display data on exposure conditions of the respective successive shots of one series immediately after said exposure condition deciding device decides the exposure conditions.

52. A digital camera as claimed in claim 24, wherein additional data discriminating between the non-flash shot and the flash shot are attached to the respective image data obtained by the successive shots of one series.

53. A digital camera as claimed in claim 24, wherein common additional data is attached to the image data obtained by the same series of the successive shots.