JP2006340063A - Image recording/reproducing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system for taking an optimal multiplex exposure photograph even if it does not specify the number of exposure beforehand when taking the multiplex exposure photograph with a digital camera. <P>SOLUTION: For taking a multiplex exposure photograph, the digital camera performs the synthetic operation of photographic images by the number of photographed images. Consequently, the multiplex exposure photography serves easily also for a photographer who knows little about exposure setting, and the multiplex exposure photography can be performed without setting the number of the exposure beforehand. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording / reproducing apparatus such as a digital camera or a camera-integrated DVD recorder (DVD video camera) capable of recording moving images and / or still images on a recording medium.

  Conventionally, in a digital camera that can control exposure to the CCD with a shutter curtain in synchronization with the release operation, in the multiple exposure shooting mode, the readout operation from the CCD is stopped, and the exposure to the CCD is performed by the number of times of multiple exposure. This is done by reading from the CCD when the exposure shooting mode is completed.

As for the shooting operation, as in the case of multiple exposure shooting with a film camera, the photographer considers the number of multiple exposures and adjusts the exposure amount for each exposure so that the CCD performs an exposure operation. For digital cameras, etc. where multiple exposure shooting is performed for exposure or the number of exposures can be specified in advance, the camera calculates the amount of exposure for each number of times of multiple exposure, and the amount of exposure to the CCD during each exposure is calculated. Multiple exposure photography was performed by adjusting.
JP 2000-56358 A

  However, in the above-described conventional example, since the CCD is not read out during the multiple exposure shooting, the shooting operation cannot be performed while the subject image is monitored by the image display means such as the LCD panel.

  Also, in the operation, the photographer must consider the exposure amount according to the number of exposures, and for the photographer who is not familiar with the exposure setting at the time of shooting, the optimum exposure amount for multiple exposure cannot be calculated. There were many cases that failed.

  Even when the number of exposures is determined in advance and the camera calculates the amount of exposure, the number of exposures must be determined. If multiple exposure shooting is not performed with the set number of exposures, exposure will be insufficient and shooting will fail. There was a case.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention has a multiple exposure shooting mode as a shooting mode at the time of shooting, and is obtained from an imaging unit and a photometric unit that convert a subject into captured image data by a release operation. Exposure means for calculating and / or selecting the photographic exposure based on the photometric value, exposure correction means for allowing the photographer to perform exposure correction, image composition means for combining the image data and the composite image data, and image data such as luminance / color difference Image calculation processing means for performing the above calculation processing, image display means for displaying image data on an LCD panel, etc., and image recording means for recording the image data on a recording medium. The image calculation processing is AWB / γ correction. This can be done before and after image correction, etc., and in multiple-exposure shooting mode, the photometric value obtained from the photometric means can be used to obtain an appropriate exposure for the subject. The number of exposures by the release operation is counted, the image data is subjected to image calculation processing using the first coefficient calculated by the exposure number count, and the second coefficient calculated by the exposure number count is used. Multiple exposure photography is possible by performing image calculation processing of the composite image data and performing image synthesis of the captured image data on the composite image data.

  In addition, image data shot by multiple exposure shooting can be confirmed by image display means such as an LCD panel, and the recorded image can be selected between compression and non-compression, and a composite image can be previewed at the time of shooting. It is possible to provide an image reproducing device characterized by the above.

  According to the recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention, at the time of multiple exposure shooting, a shooting operation can be performed while monitoring a subject image, and the digital camera performs a composite calculation of the shot image according to the number of shot images even in the operation method. This makes it possible for a photographer who has little knowledge of exposure settings to easily perform multiple exposure shooting, and allows multiple exposure shooting without setting the number of exposures in advance.

  Also, by previewing the photographing result, it is possible to perform multiple exposure while confirming the photographed image.

Example 1
FIG. 1 is a drawing of an image recording / reproducing apparatus that best represents the features of the present invention. In FIG. 1, M1 is a recordable / reproducible DVD disk, M2 is a removable memory card, and C1 is an image pickup for converting a subject into a video signal. B6 is a system control unit that controls each unit, B1 is a captured image processing circuit that processes video signals and controls the captured image memory (B5), and B2 is processed in the captured image processing circuit and is captured image memory (B5). The image composition processing circuit for controlling the image data stored in the memory and the image composition memory and performing the multiple composition of the photographed image, B3 is a video signal processing circuit, B4 is a recording / reproduction image such as JPEG / MPEG image processing. B7 is a disk control circuit, B8 is a memory card control circuit, and V1 is a display of a captured image and a table of a reproduced image. The liquid crystal panel to be shown and the switches necessary for the present invention are as follows.

SW1 is a release switch capable of detecting half-press / full-press SW2 is a multiple exposure mode switch SW3 is an image preview switch Each operation switch (playback operation / function selection switch, etc.) for controlling the operation of the recording / playback apparatus in FIG. Description is omitted.

  In the present embodiment, as a sequence at the time of recording a still image according to FIG. 1, an image picked up by a camera unit is formed on a CCD as an image pickup device from a lens system and is read out in a predetermined manner by an image pickup processing circuit. It is read from the CCD according to timing. The read CCD data is converted into an electrical image signal, and information necessary for shooting such as AF evaluation values and exposure data is transmitted to the system controller. The system controller uses the information acquired from the imaging processing circuit to perform AF focusing operation and AE. / AWB and other controls are performed.

  The operation stored in the image memory as image data can be performed before and after image correction processing such as AWB / γ correction.

  Captured image data that has undergone predetermined image processing in the imaging processing circuit is input to the recording / playback image processing circuit, and the JPEG compression / MPEG compression / non-compression processing specified in the recording mode is performed on the image data. After that, it is recorded on a memory card or a disc, converted into a video signal by a video signal processing circuit, and outputted to an LCD panel or a video signal output terminal.

  In the multiple exposure shooting mode according to the present invention, the shooting operation is performed with an appropriate exposure in the photometric result of the subject.

  The image data stored in the image-captured image memory and the image data stored in the image composition memory are subjected to a composition ratio calculation by an image composition processing circuit and subjected to addition processing.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the first coefficient in the photographed image data is calculated by 1 / N of the number of times of photographing (N), and the second coefficient in the image composition data is (N−1) of the number of times of photographing (N). ) / N and then image synthesis.

  Appropriate exposure data is obtained by adding the image data and the composite image data by coefficient calculation based on the number of times of photographing (N).

  The photographed image data can be CCD-RAW data or image data after JPEG compression.

  In the image composition processing, the image data before the image correction processing such as AWB / γ correction or the image data after the image correction processing such as AWB / γ correction is performed. Processing is possible.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the microcomputer of the system control unit for controlling the image recording / reproducing apparatus embodying the present invention. The multiple exposure photographing sequence in the image recording / reproducing apparatus of FIG.
[S01]
When the multiple exposure shooting mode is set, the recording count is initialized to 0 and used in the subsequent multiple exposure processing.
[S02]
The release is checked, and when the release is half-pressed, the focusing operation / exposure value for the subject in the shooting is determined.
[S03]
The subject image formed on the CCD is converted into an electrical image signal, and is stored in the captured image memory as image data that has been subjected to a predetermined imaging process in the imaging processing circuit.
[S04]
Counts up the number of recording times and is used in coefficient calculation in multiple exposure processing.
[S05]
If the number of times of recording is 1, since this is the first shooting, the image data stored in the captured image memory is transferred to the image composition memory as it is and branches to [S07] and [S10].
[S06]
Using the recording count, the composition ratio is calculated as the second coefficient, and the image data stored in the image composition memory is calculated from the calculated result.
[S08]
Using the recording count, the composition ratio is calculated as the first coefficient, and the image data stored in the captured image memory is calculated from the calculated result.
[S09]
[S06] In [S07], the image data subjected to the calculation process is synthesized, and the result is stored in the synthesis processing memory.
[S10]
Check the end of multiple exposure shooting mode.
[S11]
If the multiple exposure shooting is instructed to end, the image data of the composite image memory is recorded on the recording medium, and the multiple exposure shooting is ended.

(Example 2)
Since the configuration example in the present embodiment is the same as that in the first embodiment, the description is omitted here.

  In the present embodiment, as a sequence at the time of recording a still image according to FIG. 1, an image picked up by a camera unit is formed on a CCD as an image pickup device from a lens system and is read out in a predetermined manner by an image pickup processing circuit. It is read from the CCD according to timing. The read CCD data is converted into an electrical image signal, and information necessary for shooting such as AF evaluation values and exposure data is transmitted to the system controller. The system controller uses the information acquired from the imaging processing circuit to perform AF focusing operation and AE. / AWB and other controls are performed.

  The operation stored in the image memory as image data can be performed before and after image correction processing such as AWB / γ correction.

  Captured image data that has undergone predetermined image processing in the imaging processing circuit is input to the recording / playback image processing circuit, and the JPEG compression / MPEG compression / non-compression processing specified in the recording mode is performed on the image data. After that, it is recorded on a memory card or a disc, converted into a video signal by a video signal processing circuit, and outputted to an LCD panel or a video signal output terminal.

  In the multiple-exposure shooting mode of the present invention, the image data stored in the captured image memory and the image data stored in the image combining memory are subjected to an addition process by calculating a combining ratio by an image combining processing circuit. Is done.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the first coefficient in the photographed image data is calculated by 1 / N of the number of times of photographing (N), and the second coefficient in the image composition data is (N−1) of the number of times of photographing (N). ) / N and then image synthesis.

  Appropriate exposure data is obtained by adding the image data and the composite image data by coefficient calculation based on the number of times of photographing (N).

  The captured image data and the image data that has undergone image composition processing are combined with a PinP image of the captured image / multi-exposure image in the video frame memory in the display format shown in FIG. Is done.

  In the image composition processing, the image data before the image correction processing such as AWB / γ correction or the image data after the image correction processing such as AWB / γ correction is performed. Processing is possible.

  The photographed image data and the synthesized image are synthesized in the video frame memory in the display format shown in FIG. 5 by the previous video signal processing circuit, and are displayed on the LCD panel.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the microcomputer of the system control unit for controlling the image recording / reproducing apparatus embodying the present invention. The multiple exposure photographing sequence in the multiple exposure image preview in the image recording / reproducing apparatus of FIG. explain.
[S01]
When the multiple exposure shooting mode is set, the recording count is initialized to 0 and used in the subsequent multiple exposure processing.
[S02]
The release is checked, and when the release is half-pressed, the focusing operation / exposure value for the subject in the shooting is determined.
[S03]
The subject image formed on the CCD is converted into an electrical image signal, and is stored in the captured image memory as image data that has been subjected to a predetermined imaging process in the imaging processing circuit.
[S04]
Counts up the number of recording times and is used in coefficient calculation in multiple exposure processing.
[S05]
If the number of times of recording is 1, since this is the first shooting, the image data stored in the captured image memory is transferred to the image composition memory as it is and branches to [S07] and [S10].
[S06]
Using the recording count, the composition ratio is calculated as the second coefficient, and the image data stored in the image composition memory is calculated from the calculated result.
[S08]
Using the recording count, the composition ratio is calculated as the first coefficient, and the image data stored in the captured image memory is calculated from the calculated result.
[S09]
[S06] In [S07], the image data subjected to the calculation process is synthesized, and the result is stored in the synthesis processing memory.
[S10]
When the image preview is designated by the image preview switch, the photographing result of the multiple exposure photographing is previewed on the LCD panel.
[S09]
By switching the display of the preview type shown in FIG. 5 each time the image preview switch is pressed, PinP or a shot image / multi-exposure shot image can be previewed.
[S12]
Check the end of multiple exposure shooting mode.
[S13]
If the multiple exposure shooting is instructed to end, the image data of the composite image memory is recorded on the recording medium, and the multiple exposure shooting is ended.

1 is a block diagram of an image recording / reproducing apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention. Image synthesizing method according to the number of times of photographing showing an embodiment of the present invention Flowchart of microcomputer showing Embodiment 1 of the present invention Microcomputer flowchart showing embodiment 2 of the present invention. LCD panel display example showing Embodiment 2 of the present invention

Explanation of symbols

C1 lens B1 captured image processing circuit B2 image composition processing circuit B3 video signal processing circuit B4 recording / playback data processing circuit B5 image memory B6 system control unit B7 disk control circuit B8 memory card controller B9 video signal frame memory V1 liquid crystal panel V2 video signal output Terminal M1 DVD disc M2 Memory card SW1 Release switch that can detect half-press / full-press SW2 Multiple exposure mode switch SW3 Image preview switch

Claims (11)

An imaging means for converting a captured image formed by the lens into image data by a release operation and storing the image data in an image memory, a photometric means for measuring the brightness of a subject, and a calculation of captured image data such as luminance / color difference of the image data Image processing means for performing processing, image display means for displaying image data, and image recording means for recording the captured image data on a recording medium,
In an image recording / reproducing apparatus having a multiple exposure shooting mode as a shooting mode in the image pickup means, in the multiple exposure shooting mode, the number of exposures by the release operation is counted, and a coefficient calculated by the exposure number count is used. An image recording / reproducing apparatus that performs arithmetic processing of the image data. An image pickup means for converting a picked-up image formed by a lens into image data by a release operation and storing the image data in an image memory, a photometry means for measuring the brightness of a subject, and image data for combining image data and composite image data Compositing means, image data and image calculation processing means for calculating image data such as brightness / color difference of the combined image data, image display means for displaying image data, and recording medium for storing the image data / composite image data Image recording means for recording to
In an image recording / reproducing apparatus having a multiple exposure shooting mode as a shooting mode in the image pickup means, in the multiple exposure shooting mode, the number of exposures by the release operation is counted, and the first number calculated by the number of exposure times is calculated. Image calculation processing of the image data is performed using a coefficient, and image calculation processing of the composite image data is performed using a second coefficient calculated by counting the number of exposures, and the captured image data is combined with the composite image data. An image recording / reproducing apparatus characterized by the above.   3. The exposure apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an exposure unit that calculates and / or selects a photographic exposure based on a photometric value obtained from the photometric unit. In the multiple exposure shooting mode, the exposure unit calculates and ( Or) an image recording / reproducing apparatus which is photographed at a selected appropriate exposure.   3. The image recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a photographer can perform exposure correction at an appropriate exposure calculated and / or selected by the exposure means.   3. The image recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data combined in the multiple exposure shooting mode is recorded on a recording medium at the end of the multiple exposure shooting mode.   3. The image recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data can be recorded on a recording medium by compression and non-compression.   3. The image recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the composite image data is compressed and non-compressed data.   3. The image data calculation / combination process according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the calculation / combination processing of the image data can be performed before and after image correction such as AWB / γ correction. An image recording / reproducing apparatus.   3. The image formed by the lens according to claim 1, wherein the image formed by the lens is read out at a predetermined timing by a CCD and can be monitored by an image display means, and is stored in an image memory as still image data by a release operation. An image recording / reproducing apparatus.   3. An image recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image synthesized image can be previewed by an image display means.   3. The preview according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the preview by the image display means has a plurality of preview modes such as a composite image preview and a PinP display of a captured image and a composite image, and the plurality of preview modes can be selected. A featured image recording / reproducing apparatus.

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