JP2008311708A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus capable of easily searching an image picked up at the present position from among images picked up in the past and stored, and displaying the searched image. <P>SOLUTION: The imaging apparatus having an imaging element 61 for imaging light of a subject through a photographing lens 4 has: a position detecting section 67 for detecting the present position of the imaging apparatus; a search instructing section 60 for instructing searching of the image data having position information substantially matching the present position detected by the position detecting section 67 from a storage section 66 storing the image data based on an imaging signal to be outputted from the imaging element together with the position information where the imaging is executed; and a display section 63 for displaying a searched image based on the image data searched from the storage section on the basis of the instruction from the search instructing section. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus capable of displaying images taken in the past.

  Conventionally, in a digital camera, an image captured in the past can be stored, and the stored image can be read and displayed on a display unit. Therefore, it is possible to display an image taken in the past on the display unit and newly take a picture with reference to the composition of the displayed image.

Conventionally, there is an imaging device that displays an image of a subject captured by a camera and a reference image superimposed on a display device outside the camera (see Patent Document 1). In this imaging apparatus, the cameraman moves the position of the subject while viewing the display, and adjusts the composition of the subject to the reference image.
JP-A-6-113202

  By the way, in a conventional digital camera, when searching for an image shot at a place where shooting is currently being performed from among previously shot and stored images, the stored image is displayed on the display unit. Therefore, it is necessary to search for a desired image while checking what kind of image is one by one, and it is not easy to find a desired image.

  The subject of this invention is providing the imaging device which can search easily and display the image image | photographed in the present imaging position from the image image | photographed and memorize | stored in the past.

  In order to facilitate understanding, the configuration of the present invention will be described with reference to the embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to the configuration of this embodiment.

  The image pickup apparatus (2) of the present invention is an image pickup apparatus having an image pickup element (61) for picking up subject light via the photographing lens (4), and a position detection unit (67) for detecting the current position of the image pickup apparatus. And the current position detected by the position detection unit out of a storage unit (66) storing image data based on the image pickup signal output from the image pickup element together with the position information at which the image pickup was performed. A search instruction unit (60) for instructing a search for image data having substantially matching position information, and a display unit for displaying a search image based on the image data searched from the storage unit by the instruction from the search instruction unit ( 63).

  According to the imaging apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to easily search and display an image taken at the current shooting position from among images shot and stored in the past.

  A digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the digital camera 2 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the digital camera (imaging device) 2 includes a photographing lens 4 and a camera body 6. Here, the photographing lens 4 may be fixed to the camera body 6 or may be an interchangeable photographing lens.

  The photographing lens 4 is a photographing lens having a tilt function, and is provided with a movable portion 4c for moving the front portion 4a of the lens with respect to the rear portion 4b. The front part 4a of the lens is movable with respect to the rear part 4b (the optical axis of the imaging lens 4 is tilted (tilt, swing) with respect to the imaging surface of the imaging element 61, or the optical axis of the imaging lens 4 is imaged by the imaging element 61. By shifting (shift, rise, fall) from the center of the surface, the positional relationship between the center of the image sensor 61 and the optical axis of the photographic lens 4 is changed. The photographing lens 4 is provided with a CPU 40, and the CPU 40 has a movement of the front part 4 a of the lens with respect to the rear part 4 b, that is, a positional relationship between the center of the imaging element 61 and the optical axis of the photographing lens 4. Is detected from the initial position (the optical axis of the photographic lens 4 is perpendicular to the center of the image sensor 61), and the front part 4a of the photographic lens 4 is in relation to the rear part 4b. A change amount detection unit 42 that detects the amount of movement is connected. In addition, a photographing lens side communication unit 43 that performs communication with the camera body 6 is connected to the CPU 40.

  The camera body 6 is provided with a CPU 60. The CPU 60 captures the subject light through the photographing lens 4 and generates an image signal (analog signal as accumulated charge). The output image signal is A / D converted by an A / D conversion unit (not shown) to generate image data, and the image data storage unit 62 for temporarily storing the image data is disposed on the back of the camera body 6. An LCD display unit 63 that displays image data, a search image based on image data stored in a memory card 66 described later, and a through image based on an imaging signal output from the image sensor 61 are displayed on the LCD display unit 63. Image processing is performed so that the search image data read from the display control unit 64 and the memory card 66 to be controlled can be distinguished from the through image, An image processing unit 65 that performs image processing such as white balance adjustment, contour compensation, and gamma correction on through image data based on the imaging signal output from the image element 61, a memory card 66 that stores the captured image data, and imaging A shooting position detection unit 67 having a GPS for detecting the position at which the image is taken, that is, the position of the camera at the time of shooting, and a shooting direction detection unit 68 having an azimuth magnet for detecting the direction in which the image is taken, ie, the direction of the camera at the time of shooting. And the camera body side communication part 69 which performs communication between the photographic lenses 4 is connected.

  Next, referring to FIG. 2, image data storage processing when tilt shooting (shooting with the positional relationship between the optical axis of the shooting lens 4 and the center of the image sensor 61 changed from the initial position) is performed. explain. When the photographer selects the tilt shooting mode by operating a shooting operation mode button (not shown), the detection results in the operation detection unit 41 and the change amount detection unit 42 are always the shooting lens side communication unit 43 and the camera body side. The CPU 60 on the camera body side performs the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2 based on the detection results transmitted to the CPU 60 via the communication unit 69.

  When a release button (not shown) provided on the camera body 6 is fully pressed, the imaging device 61 performs imaging of subject light via the imaging lens 4 (step S10), and the imaging signal output from the imaging device 61. Is stored in the image data storage unit 62 (step S11).

  The CPU 60 detects the amount of tilt detected by the change amount detection unit 42 via the communication unit 69 (the amount by which the front part 4a of the photographing lens 4 is tilted (tilted) with respect to the rear part 4b). (Step S12), the position where the shooting position detection unit 67 is shooting, that is, the position of the camera at the time of shooting (step S13), and the direction where the shooting direction detection unit 68 is shooting, That is, the direction of the camera at the time of shooting is detected (step S14). Then, the image data temporarily stored in the image data storage unit 62 is added with the optical axis change information received in step S12, the shooting position information detected in step S13, and the shooting direction information detected in step S14. It memorize | stores in the card | curd 66 (step S15). Accordingly, in the image data stored in the memory card 66, optical axis change information (information indicating that the image is shot with a tilt), shooting position information, and shooting direction information are stored for each image data.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 3, the display processing of the search image when performing tilt shooting will be described. When the photographer operates a shooting operation mode button (not shown) to select the tilt shooting mode and further designates display of a search image, display of a through image is started on the LCD display unit 63. That is, a through image based on an imaging signal that is captured and output at a predetermined sampling interval in the imaging element 61 is displayed on the display unit 63 under the control of the display control unit 64. In addition, detection results in the operation detection unit 41 and the change amount detection unit 42 are always transmitted to the CPU 60 via the photographing lens side communication unit 43 and the camera body side communication unit 69, and based on these detection results, The CPU 60 performs the process shown in the flowchart of FIG.

  The CPU 60 receives operation information as a detection result by the operation detection unit 41 (step S20), and based on this operation information, the positional relationship between the center of the image sensor 61 and the optical axis of the photographing lens 4 is the initial position (photographing lens). 4 is in a state where the optical axis 4 intersects the center of the image sensor 61 perpendicularly (step S21). If it is the initial position, the operation information is received again. If it is determined in step S21 that the positional relationship between the center of the image sensor 61 and the optical axis of the photographic lens 4 has been changed from the initial position, the photographic position detection unit 67 detects the current photographic position, that is, The position of the camera at the time of shooting is detected (step S22), and the direction in which the camera is currently shooting, that is, the direction of the camera at the time of shooting is detected by the shooting direction detection unit 68 (step S23). Next, information on a change amount of the optical axis (amount of tilting (tilting) the front part 4a of the photographing lens 4 with respect to the rear part 4b), which is a detection result in the change amount detection part 42, via the communication part 69. Receive (step S24).

  Next, from the image data stored in the memory card 66, information on the photographing position detected in step S22 and the photographing position and photographing direction substantially coincident with the photographing direction detected in step S23 is added. The search is instructed to search for image data (step S25). In this search, in addition to the above information, only the image data to which the optical axis change information described above is added may be extracted.

  If there is no image data to which the information on the shooting position and the shooting direction, which is substantially the same as the current shooting position and shooting direction, has been added by the search performed in step S25 (step S26), the LCD display unit In 63, a warning display that there is no image data is displayed (step S27). In steps S26 and S27, when there is no image to which the above-described optical axis change information is added, a warning to that effect may be displayed. On the other hand, if there is image data, the contour extraction process is performed on the image retrieved by the image processing unit 65 and the image process such as the color change is performed (step S28). And superimposed on the through image displayed on the LCD display unit 63 (step S29). If there is a plurality of pieces of image data to which information on the shooting position and the shooting direction that substantially matches the current shooting position and shooting direction is found by the search performed in step S25, the shooting date and time is the newest. The image data is subjected to image processing and displayed as a search image.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which a search image (shown by a broken line) 102 subjected to image processing is superimposed on a through image (shown by a solid line) 101 displayed on the LCD display unit 63. In the area on the right side of the LCD display section 63, a mark A1 indicating the amount of deviation between the current shooting position (the center of the two-dimensional axis in FIG. 4) and the shooting position stored in the search image data, the current A mark B1 indicating the amount of deviation between the photographing direction and the photographing direction stored in the search image data, and a mark C1 indicating the amount of deviation between the current amount of tilt and the amount of tilt stored in the search image data are displayed. Yes.

  Accordingly, the photographer corrects the position of the camera and the photographing direction with reference to this display, and changes the tilt amount of the photographing lens 4. The camera position, shooting direction, and tilt amount of the shooting lens 4 are changed by the photographer, and the shift amount of the camera position, shooting direction, and tilt amount of the shooting lens 4 is eliminated, and the shooting position, shooting direction, and shooting of the search image data are eliminated. When the information matches the tilt amount information of the lens 4, as shown in FIG. 5, a through image (shown by a solid line) 101 and a search image (shown by a broken line) 102 overlap each other on the LCD display 63 at substantially the same position. It is displayed in the state. Further, in the area on the right side of the LCD display unit 63, a match mark A2 indicating that the current shooting position matches the shooting position stored in the search image data, the current shooting direction, and the search image data are stored. A match mark B2 indicating that the current shooting direction matches, and a match mark C2 indicating that the current tilt amount matches the tilt amount stored in the search image data are displayed.

  Next, a digital camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the description of the second embodiment, the same reference numerals as those used in the description of the first embodiment are used for the same configuration as that of the digital camera according to the first embodiment, and the first A different part from embodiment is demonstrated in detail.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a digital camera according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, the digital camera 20 according to the second embodiment can communicate with a personal computer (PC) 80 via a communication unit 69. Here, image data is stored in a storage unit (not shown) of the PC 80, and optical axis change information, shooting position information, and shooting direction information are stored for each image data. Note that the image data stored in the storage unit of the PC 80 is captured by the digital camera 20, and the image data stored in the memory card together with the optical axis change information, the shooting position information, and the shooting direction information is transmitted via the communication unit 69. Or stored in the storage unit of the PC 80 or captured by another digital camera.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 7, the display processing of the search image when performing tilt shooting will be described. When the photographer selects a shooting mode and designates display of a reference image, display of a through image is started on the LCD display unit 63. Operation information that is a detection result by the operation detection unit 41 is received (step S40), and when it is determined that the positional relationship between the center of the image sensor 61 and the optical axis of the photographing lens 4 has been changed from the initial position (step S40). In step S41, the position of the camera currently photographing is detected (step S42), the direction of the camera at the time of photographing is detected (step S43), and the optical axis change amount is received (step S44).

  Next, the image data to which the information on the shooting position and the shooting direction substantially matching the shooting position detected in step S42 and the shooting direction detected in step S43 is added to the PC 80 via the communication unit 69. Search instruction information for instructing search is transmitted (step S45).

  In the PC 80, when the search instruction information is received, the image data having the shooting position and the shooting direction that substantially match the shooting position and the shooting direction included in the search instruction information and searching for the image data including the optical axis change information is searched. Image data to which the shooting position, shooting direction, and optical axis change information (tilting amount information) are added is transmitted to the digital camera 20.

  In the digital camera 20, when the search result is received (step S46), the warning display (step S48) or the display of the search image is displayed in the same manner as in the first embodiment depending on the presence or absence of the search image data. Performed (steps S49 and S50).

  In the present embodiment, information on the shooting position and shooting direction is added to and stored in an image shot in the past, so an image shot at the same shooting position and shooting direction as the current shooting position and shooting direction can be easily obtained. Can be searched and displayed. In addition, since the optical axis change information is added to and stored in the image captured in the past, the amount of change in the positional relationship between the optical axis of the photographing lens 4 and the center of the image sensor 61 when the image was captured in the past is referred to. Thus, an appropriate change amount can be selected for shooting.

  In addition, since the searched image is displayed superimposed on the through image, it is possible to easily select an optimal amount of change in the positional relationship between the optical axis of the photographing lens 4 and the center of the image sensor 61 with reference to the searched image. it can.

  In the above-described embodiment, the search image and the through image are displayed so as to overlap each other. However, as shown in FIG. 8, the search image and the through image may be displayed side by side.

  In the above-described embodiment, the search image is subjected to contour extraction and color change processing for identifying and displaying the through image, but only the color change processing is performed without performing the contour extraction processing. You can do it. In addition, in order to make the through image and the search image display distinguishable, a process of changing at least one of the saturation, hue, and brightness of the search image may be performed.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the optical axis of the photographing lens 4 is tilted (tilted) with respect to the center of the image sensor 61 has been described as an example of tilt photographing. Can be swung with respect to the imaging surface of the imaging device 61, or the optical axis of the photographing lens 4 can be shifted (shifted, rise, fall) from the center of the imaging surface of the imaging device 61. it can.

  In the above-described embodiment, the photographer manually operates the front part 4a of the photographing lens 4 with respect to the rear part 4b. However, a photographing lens driving device is provided and the front part 4a of the photographing lens 4 is automatically moved. You may make it operate | move with respect to the rear part 4b.

  In the above-described embodiment, when there are a plurality of pieces of image data having information on the shooting position and the shooting direction that substantially coincide with the current shooting position and shooting direction at the time of shooting, the image with the latest shooting date and time is displayed. Although the data is displayed as a search image, first, a plurality of searched image data may be displayed, and image data selected by the photographer may be displayed as search image data.

  In the above-described embodiment, the optical axis change information, the shooting position information, and the shooting direction information are added to and stored in the image data shot by tilt shooting, but normal shooting (the optical axis of the shooting lens 4) is stored. Is stored in the image data captured in a state where the image sensor 61 is perpendicular to the center of the image sensor 61, and is substantially coincident with the current shooting position and shooting direction at the time of shooting. Image data having information on the shooting position and shooting direction may be searched and displayed as a search image. Further, shooting position information is added to and stored in image data shot by normal shooting, and image data having shooting position information substantially matching the current shooting position is searched and displayed as a search image at the time of shooting. Anyway.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, at the time of shooting, image data shot at a shooting position and a shooting direction that substantially match the current shooting position and shooting direction are searched and displayed as a search image. Among the image data stored, image data having information on the shooting position and the shooting direction that substantially matches the current shooting position and shooting direction may be retrieved and displayed.

1 is a block configuration diagram of a digital camera according to a first embodiment. 5 is a flowchart for explaining an image storage process according to the first embodiment. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a search image display process according to the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the state which overlapped and displayed the through image and search image which concern on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the state which overlapped and displayed the through image and search image which concern on 1st Embodiment. It is a block block diagram of the digital camera which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the search image display process which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the state which displayed the through image and search image which concern on embodiment side by side.

Explanation of symbols

2 ... digital camera, 4 ... photographic lens, 4C ... movable part, 6 ... camera body, 40 ... CPU, 41 ... operation detection part, 42 ... change amount detection part 43 ... Communication unit, 60 ... CPU, 61 ... Image sensor, 62 ... Image data storage unit, 63 ... LCD display unit, 64 ... Display control unit, 65 ... Image processing unit, 66 ... Memory card, 67 ... Shooting position detection unit, 68 ... Shooting direction detection unit, 69 ... Communication unit, 20 ... Digital camera, 80 ... PC

Claims (11)

An imaging apparatus having an imaging element that images subject light through a photographing lens,
A position detector for detecting the current position of the imaging device;
Position information that substantially matches the current position detected by the position detection unit out of a storage unit that stores image data based on the image pickup signal output from the image pickup element together with the position information at which the image was taken. A search instruction unit for instructing search of image data having
A display unit for displaying a search image based on the image data searched from the storage unit by the instruction from the search instruction unit;
An imaging device comprising: A photographing direction detection unit for detecting a photographing direction which is a direction of the photographing lens;
The storage unit stores information on the shooting direction for each of the image data,
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the search instruction unit instructs to search for image data having shooting direction information that substantially matches the shooting direction detected by the shooting direction detection unit. The storage unit stores, for each image data, optical axis change information indicating that when the optical axis of the photographic lens is changed and is taken.
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the search instruction unit instructs to search for image data having the optical axis change information. The storage unit;
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a search unit that performs the search on the storage unit based on an instruction from the search instruction unit.   The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the display unit displays a through image based on the imaging signal output from the imaging element together with the search image.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the display unit superimposes and displays the search image and a through image based on the imaging signal output from the imaging element.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the display unit displays the search image and a through image based on the imaging signal output from the imaging element side by side. In the photographing lens, a change detection unit that detects that the positional relationship between the center of the imaging element and the optical axis of the photographing lens is changed;
When the change detection unit detects that the positional relationship between the center of the image sensor and the optical axis of the photographic lens is changed, the search instruction unit instructs the search. The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an image processing unit that performs image processing on the search image so that the search image can be identified from the through image.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the image processing unit performs a process of changing at least one of saturation, hue, and brightness of the search image.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the image processing unit performs contour extraction processing of the search image.

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