Image pickup apparatus that is capable of bounce emission photographing, control method therefor, and storage medium storing control program therefor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10027867-B2
Application number	US-201615141005-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 28, 2016
Priority date	May 1, 2015
Publication date	Jul 17, 2018
Grant date	Jul 17, 2018

Abstract

An image pickup apparatus capable of focusing correctly and of setting a bounce angle accurately. A lighting device that changes an irradiation angle is attached to an apparatus body. A first control unit drives the lighting device to perform pre-emission when the irradiation angle is controlled for bounce emission photographing where an object is photographed while being illuminated by a reflected light emitted from the lighting device and reflected by reflection material. A first distance measuring unit measures a first distance to the object and a second distance to the reflection material using the pre-emission. A second control unit sets up the irradiation angle based on the first and second distances and controls the lighting device to the set irradiation angle. A second distance measuring unit measures a third distance to the object during focus control. A prohibition unit prohibits the pre-emission when the second distance measuring unit measures the third distance.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. image pickup apparatus comprising:
a lighting device that is capable of changing an irradiation angle of an illumination light;
an apparatus body that is equipped with said lighting device and outputs an image corresponding to an optical image formed through an image pickup optical system; and
at least one processor, the at least one processor functioning, according to a program stored in a memory, as:
a first control unit configured to drive said lighting device to perform pre-emission when the irradiation angle is controlled for bounce emission photographing where an object is photographed while being illuminated by a reflected light that emitted from said lighting device and is reflected by reflection material;

a first distance measuring unit configured to measure a first distance between the image pickup apparatus and the object and a second distance between the reflection material and the image pickup apparatus using the pre-emission of said lighting device;
a second control unit configured to set up the irradiation angle based on the first distance and the second distance and to drivingly control said lighting device to the set irradiation angle;
a second distance measuring unit configured to measure a third distance between the image pickup apparatus and the object during focus control for focusing on the object; and
a prohibition unit configured to prohibit the pre-emission by said first control unit when said second distance measuring unit measures the third distance.

2. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1 , herein said apparatus body, which is equipped with said second distance measuring unit, is communicable with said lighting device, which is equipped with said first control unit, first distance measuring unit, and second control unit.

3. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said apparatus body, which is equipped with said prohibition unit, is communicable with said lighting device.

4. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said apparatus body is communicable with said lighting device, which is equipped with said prohibition unit.

5. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising
an AF auxiliary light emission unit configured to emit AF auxiliary light, and
a third control unit configured to drivingly control said AF auxiliary light emission unit to emit the AF auxiliary light during the focus control,
wherein said prohibition unit prohibits the pre-emission by said first control unit when said third control unit outputs an AF auxiliary light emission instruction for driving said AF auxiliary light emission unit.

6. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein said prohibition unit prohibits the pre-emission by said first control unit until predetermined time passes after said third control unit outputs the AF auxiliary light emission instruction for driving said AF auxiliary light emission unit.

7. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an AF auxiliary light emission unit configured to emit AF auxiliary light, and
a third control unit configured to drivingly control said AF auxiliary light emission unit to emit the AF auxiliary light during the focus control,
wherein said prohibition unit prohibits the pre-emission by said first control unit until predetermined time passes after said third control unit outputs the AF auxiliary light emission instruction for driving said AF auxiliary light emission unit.

8. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a notification unit configured to detect an operation of said second distance measuring unit and to notify said lighting device,
wherein said apparatus body, which is equipped with said second distance measuring unit and notification unit, is communicable with said lighting device, which is equipped with said first control unit, first distance measuring unit, second control unit, and prohibition unit.

9. A control method for an image pickup apparatus equipped with a lighting device that is capable of changing an irradiation angle of illumination light, and an apparatus body that is equipped with the lighting device and outputs an image corresponding to an optical image formed through an image pickup optical system, the control method comprising:
a first control step of driving the lighting device to perform pre-emission when the irradiation angle is controlled for bounce emission photographing where an object is photographed while being illuminated by a reflected light that is emitted from the lighting device and is reflected by reflection material;
a first distance measuring step of measuring a first distance between the image pickup apparatus and the object and a second distance between the reflection material and the image pickup apparatus using the pre-emission of the lighting device;
a second control step of setting up the irradiation angle based on the first distance and the second distance and to drivingly control the lighting device to the set irradiation angle;
a second distance measuring step of measuring a third distance between the image pickup apparatus and the object during focus control for focusing on the object; and

a prohibition step of prohibiting the pre-emission in said first control step when the third distance is measured in said second distance measuring step.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a control program causing a computer to execute a control method for an image composition apparatus equipped with a lighting device that is capable of changing an irradiation angle of illumination light, and apparatus body that is equipped with the lighting device and outputs an image corresponding to an optical image formed through an image pickup optical system, the control method comprising:
a first control step of driving the lighting device to perform pre-emission when the irradiation angle is controlled for bounce emission photographing where an object is photographed while being illuminated by a reflected light that is emitted from the lighting device and is reflected by reflection material;
a first distance measuring step of measuring a first distance between the image pickup apparatus and the object and a second distance between the reflection material and the image pickup apparatus using the pre-emission of the lighting device;
a second control step of setting up the irradiation angle based on the first distance and the second distance and to drivingly control the lighting device to the set irradiation angle;
a second distance measuring step of measuring a third distance between the image pickup apparatus and the object during focus control for focusing on the object; and
a prohibition step of prohibiting the pre-emission in said first control step when the third distance is measured in said second distance measuring step.

Assignees

• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Aikawa Fumihiko

Classifications

• H04N23/00

  Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof · CPC title

• H04N23/663

  for controlling interchangeable camera parts based on electronic image sensor signals · CPC title

• H04N23/66

  Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices · CPC title

• H04N23/671

  in combination with active ranging signals, e.g. using light or sound signals emitted toward objects · CPC title

• H04N23/667

  Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes · CPC title