JP2009022032A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a transfer status to be understood at a glance on a screen if a function for transferring an image is achieved between different image storages. <P>SOLUTION: In the imaging apparatus 20, an option card 22 such as a communication card, a memory card and the like is inserted in a card slot 62, so that a card detection portion 56 detects whether or not the card is inserted, or what type of the option card 22 is selected. An image storage selecting portion 54 determines a storage of images based on the result detected. A transfer processing portion 52 transfers the images to the storage determined. An icon for indicating a storage, an icon for showing a communicating status, an imaging status or text to the effect is stored in an indication item memory 48. When the icon or the text is transferred to a buffer memory 46 for screen display according to the foregoing status, they are displayed on LCD 44, being overlapped with the images. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus. In particular, the present invention relates to a technique for displaying information related to an image storage destination when an image is captured or reproduced.

In recent years, a digital camera that can directly transfer a captured image to a server via a wireless network has been realized, and development is ongoing for commercialization. Prior to the advent of this type of digital camera, a method of connecting a mobile phone via a dedicated adapter to communicate with a digital camera was used to transmit captured images via wireless communication (for example, (See Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-276391 JP-A-11-284884

  In the case of the conventional method described above, the telephone number is sent from the digital camera to the dedicated adapter or mobile phone, but all communication settings are left to the dedicated adapter or mobile phone. Therefore, the digital camera does not manage communication, and there is almost no communication information that the photographer can grasp through the digital camera.

  However, if the digital camera body is equipped with a wireless LAN communication module and functions necessary for the communication as in the current system, it will be necessary to manage communication information on the camera side. The actual situation is that there is no specific management method or information presentation function yet.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to improve the convenience of a digital camera. Another object is to make it easier to visually grasp the use status or device status of a digital camera to which a communication card such as a wireless LAN card can be attached.

  The imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes an imaging unit that captures an image of a subject, a storage destination selection unit that selectively sets a storage destination of the captured image from a plurality of storage areas, and the storage area between the plurality of storage areas. And a display unit for visually expressing the state on the screen when the photographed image is transferred.

  In an imaging device that can use multiple types of option cards, if the function to transfer images between different storage destinations is realized, transfer contents such as transfer source and transfer destination can have multiple patterns. It is convenient to be able to grasp at a glance. Therefore, in the present invention, when an image taken between a plurality of storage areas is transferred, the state is visually represented on the screen.

  The plurality of storage areas may be at least one of a storage area via a network, a memory card, and a built-in memory. The display unit displays on the screen at least one of information indicating the transfer source, information indicating the transfer destination, information indicating that transfer is being performed, and information indicating the number of images to be transferred as the transfer status. May be.

  The display unit may selectively display on the screen either the remaining number that can be stored or the number that has been stored, depending on the storage destination.

  Conventionally, the remaining number of images that can be stored or the number of images that have been stored is usually determined based on designation by the operator of the imaging apparatus. However, in recent years, communication cards and large-capacity memory cards have become available for use in image pickup apparatuses, and can be stored in units of hundreds. In that case, the remaining number of images that can be stored is rarely close to zero, so it is more practical for the photographer to display the number of images stored at that time. In this aspect, the remaining number of sheets that can be stored or the number of stored sheets to be displayed is automatically determined according to the type and state of the storage destination. Thereby, information suitable for the situation is displayed on the screen, which is highly convenient for the operator of the imaging apparatus.

  In addition, the display unit may display the number of stored images on the screen when the storage destination selecting unit sets the storage destination in a storage area via the network. In particular, since the storage area on the server often has a large capacity, it is more practical to display the stored number.

  The plurality of storage areas may be at least one of a storage area via a network, a memory card, and a built-in memory. The display unit displays on the screen at least one of information indicating the transfer source, information indicating the transfer destination, information indicating that transfer is being performed, and information indicating the number of images to be transferred as the transfer status. May be.

  It should be noted that any combination of the above-described components, and the components and expressions of the present invention are mutually replaced between a method, apparatus, system, computer program, recording medium storing the program, data structure, etc. This is effective as an embodiment of the present invention.

  According to the present invention, when an image taken between a plurality of storage areas is transferred, the state is visually expressed on the screen, so that convenience can be improved.

  The imaging device in the present embodiment is a digital still camera that can use a communication card and a memory card as an option card.

  FIG. 1 shows a basic network configuration of the photographing system 10. An option card 22 can be attached to the imaging device 20, and when the communication card is attached as the option card 22, the imaging device 20 can be connected to the network 16. The option card 22 as a communication card may be a wireless LAN card such as IEEE802.11a / b / g or a network card used in a wired manner such as 10/100 / 1000BASE-T. Particularly in the case of a wireless LAN card, the imaging device 20 can be connected to the network 16 via the access point 12 as shown in the figure, and the captured image can be stored in the storage area of the image server 14.

  Each configuration of the imaging system 10 including the imaging device 20 and the image server 14 can be realized by a CCD, a CPU, a memory, a communication module, and other LSIs in terms of hardware, and loaded into a memory in terms of software. This is realized by a program having an image processing function and a data transmission / reception function. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the functional blocks illustrated in FIG. 2 can be realized in various forms in cooperation with hardware only, software only, or a combination thereof.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating the configuration of the imaging device 20. The imaging device 20 includes an imaging unit 30, a display unit 38, a built-in memory 50, a transfer processing unit 52, a storage destination selection unit 54, a card detection unit 56, a card slot 62, and a control unit 64. The imaging unit 30 includes a lens 32 that captures light from a subject and forms an image, a CCD 34 that converts the formed image into an electrical signal, and an image processing unit 36 that performs A / D conversion on the electrical signal and compresses the electrical signal. And including.

  The display unit 38 includes a captured image buffer memory 40 that temporarily stores a captured image output from the image processing unit 36, and an on-screen buffer memory that stores an icon or text image to be displayed superimposed on the captured image. 46, the display processing unit 42 that superimposes the plane of the captured image, the plane of the icon and the text, and outputs them to the LCD 44, the LCD 44 that displays the output of the display processing unit 42 on the liquid crystal screen, and the on-screen buffer memory 46. A display item storage unit 48 for storing icons and text candidates to be stored. The display unit 38 can visually display each information such as a storage location of a captured image and a communication state on the LCD 44.

  The captured image buffer memory 40 is a RAM that temporarily stores still image or moving image data compressed in JPEG format, MPEG format, or the like. In addition to the captured image output by the image processing unit 36, the transfer processing unit 52. Is also stored.

  The card slot 62 is a unit for mounting the option card 22 and incorporating the function of the option card 22 into the imaging apparatus 20. The card detection unit 56 includes a mounting detection unit 58 that detects whether or not the option card 22 is mounted in the card slot 62, and a type detection unit 60 that detects the type of the option card 22 mounted in the card slot 62.

  The built-in memory 50 temporarily stores captured images when the option card 22 is not installed or when a communication card is installed as the option card 22 but communication connection is not established.

  The storage destination selection unit 54 sets the storage destination of the captured image based on the detection results of the attachment detection unit 58 and the type detection unit 60. For example, when the attachment detection unit 58 detects the attachment of the option card 22 and the option card 22 is a communication card such as a wireless LAN card, the storage destination selection unit 54 sets the storage destination in the storage area on the image server 14. Set to. When the option card 22 is a memory card, the storage destination selection unit 54 sets the storage destination in the storage area in the option card 22. When the attachment detection unit 58 detects that the option card 22 is not attached, the storage destination selection unit 54 sets the storage destination in the built-in memory 50. Even when it is detected that the communication card is installed as the option card 22, if it is detected that the network connection with the image server 14 is not established through the transfer processing unit 52, the storage destination selection unit 54 stores the storage destination. Is set in the internal memory 50.

  The storage destination selection unit 54 determines which of the remaining number of sheets that can be stored or the number of stored images to be displayed on the display unit 38 according to the storage destination. For example, when the storage destination is set in the storage area on the image server 14, it is determined to display the number of stored images. For example, when the storage destination is set to the storage area in the option card 22 which is a memory card or the built-in memory 50, it is determined to display the remaining number of images that can be stored. The storage destination selection unit 54 selects an icon and text necessary for displaying the remaining number of images that can be stored or the number of images that have been stored from the display item storage unit 48 and stores them in the on-screen buffer memory 46.

  The transfer processing unit 52 transfers the captured image stored in the captured image buffer memory 40 to the storage destination set by the storage destination selection unit 54. For example, when a captured image is stored in the captured image buffer memory 40, the image is transferred to any of the image server 14, the option card 22 that is a memory card, and the built-in memory 50. When the option card 22 is a communication card, the transfer processing unit 52 monitors the communication state. The transfer processing unit 52 selects an icon or text indicating a storage destination or a communication state from the display item storage unit 48 and stores it in the on-screen buffer memory 46.

  The transfer processing unit 52 selects, from the display item storage unit 48, an icon or text indicating a warning that prompts the elimination of the shortage in the internal memory 50 when an area where the captured image can be stored is insufficient, and the on-screen buffer memory 46. To store. The warning includes any one of a warning prompting the installation of the option card 22, a warning prompting establishment of a network connection with the image server 14, and a warning prompting replacement of the memory card as the option card 22.

  The transfer processing unit 52 transfers a captured image between a plurality of storage areas. For example, a captured image stored in the built-in memory 50 when the option card 22 is not attached is transferred to the storage area when the memory card is attached as the option card 22. Similarly, the captured image stored in the built-in memory 50 when the option card 22 is not attached is transferred to the storage area on the image server 14 when the communication card is attached as the option card 22. The transfer processing unit 52 displays icons and text as information indicating the transfer source, information indicating the transfer destination, information indicating that transfer is being performed, and information indicating the number of images to be transferred as the transfer status. The item is selected from the item storage unit 48 and stored in the on-screen buffer memory 46.

  The control unit 64 controls the operation of each unit such as the imaging unit 30 and the display unit 38. The operation unit 66 receives an operation from the operator, and the control unit 64 operates each unit in accordance with the operation.

  FIG. 3 is a state transition diagram showing switching of each operation in the imaging apparatus 20. When the power supply of the imaging device 20 is turned on, the first state 70 is entered, and the presence / absence and type of the option card 22 is detected to set the storage destination. After the detection is completed and the state transitions to the second state 72, shooting or playback is executed, and shooting or playback is repeated each time the shutter button or the playback image select button is pressed. Here, when the option card 22 is not installed, when it is installed, or when the installed option card 22 is taken out, the state transitions to the first state 70 again, and the presence and type of the option card 22 are present. Is detected and the save destination is set again.

  When the operator of the imaging device 20 instructs display of detailed information in the second state 72, the state transitions to the third state 74, and detailed information regarding the shooting conditions and the reproduced image is displayed on the LCD 44. When detailed information covers a plurality of pages, redrawing of the screen is repeated each time a button for moving to the next or previous page is pressed. When an instruction to cancel the display of detailed information is given in the third state 74, the state transitions again to the second state 72, and shooting or reproduction is possible. When the option card 22 is inserted or removed in the third state 74, the process proceeds to the first state 70, where the presence / absence and type of the option card 22 is detected and the storage destination is set again.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation process in the first state 70 of FIG. First, information remaining as the setting of the type (hereinafter referred to as “CT”) of the option card 22 mounted immediately before is referred to, and when the CT indicates a communication card (S10Y), once with the image server 14 Monitoring of network connection is stopped (S12). When CT indicates other than the communication card (S10N), S12 is skipped.

  The card detection unit 56 detects the presence / absence and type of the option card 22 and sets the result to CT (S14). When the value indicating that the option card 22 is not installed is set in CT (S16Y), the subsequent S18, S20, and S22 are skipped. Conversely, if a value indicating that the option card 22 is not attached is set in CT (S16N), the option card 22 is initialized (S18), and if CT indicates a communication card (S20A), the image Monitoring of network connection with the server 14 is started (S22), and when CT indicates a memory card (S20B), S22 is skipped.

  When there is a change in the CT value according to the detection result of the option card 22 (S24Y), the storage destination selection unit 54 changes the storage destination of the captured image (S26). When there is no change in the CT value (S24N), S26 is skipped.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a detailed operation process for monitoring the network connection in S22 of FIG. When CT indicates a wireless LAN card (S30Y), the radio wave state is acquired (S32), and it is detected whether the radio wave state is good (S34). When CT indicates other than the wireless LAN card in S30 (S30N), S32 and S34 are skipped.

  If the state of the radio wave is good in S34 (S34Y), an attempt is made to check the network connection with the image server 14 by, for example, sending a ping (S36), and if there is a response from the image server 14 (S38Y), the communication connection A value of “OK” is set in the state (hereinafter referred to as “CS”) (S40). If the radio wave condition is not good in S34 (S34N), or if the response from the image server 14 is not received in S38 (S38N), the value of “NG” is set in CS (S42).

  When there is a change in the value of CS in S40 or S42 (S44Y), the storage destination selection unit 54 changes the storage destination of the captured image (S46). When there is no change in the value of CS (S44N), S46 is skipped. The above steps from S30 to S46 are repeated in the background with a period of several seconds.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a detailed operation in which the storage destination selection unit 54 changes the storage destination of the captured image in S26 of FIG. 4 and S46 of FIG. When CT indicates that the option card 22 is not installed (S50A), the storage destination (hereinafter referred to as “SP” as appropriate) is set in the internal memory 50 (S54), and the screen is redrawn (S64).

  When CT indicates a communication card (S50B), when CS indicates “OK” (S52Y), SP is set in the image server 14 (S56), and when CS indicates “NG” (S52N) ), SP is set in the built-in memory 50 (S54). When CT indicates a memory card (S50C), SP is set as a storage area in the memory card (S58). Here, when SP before S56 and S58 is set in the built-in memory 50 (S60Y), the task of transferring the captured image data stored in the built-in memory 50 to the image server 14 or the memory card according to the SP. It starts (S62) and redraws the screen (S64).

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the process of the photographing operation in the second state 72 of FIG. The imaging unit 30 captures an image of the subject (S70), compresses the captured image (S72), stores the captured image in the storage destination set in SP (S74), and redraws the screen (S76).

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a detailed operation process of transferring the captured image stored in the internal memory 50 in S62 of FIG. A transfer flag (hereinafter referred to as “FF”) indicating whether or not to transfer the captured image stored in the built-in memory 50 to the image server 14 or the memory card is turned on (S80). When the untransferred captured image remains in the built-in memory 50 (S82Y) and the SP is set in the image server 14 or the memory card (S84Y), the screen is redrawn (S86), The captured image is read from the memory 50 (S88), stored in the SP (S90), and the process returns to S82.

  In S82, when an untransferred captured image does not remain in the built-in memory 50 (S82N), or when an untransferred captured image remains in the built-in memory 50, the SP is neither the image server 14 nor a memory card ( S84N), S86 to S90 are skipped, FF is turned off (S92), and the screen is redrawn (S94).

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing detailed operations of screen redrawing in S64 of FIG. 6, S76 of FIG. 7, S86 and S94 of FIG. Icons indicating the storage destination status and network connection status are selected from the display item storage unit 48 (S100), and text indicating the status is selected from the display item storage unit 48 (S102). The selected icon or text is stored in the on-screen buffer memory 46 and displayed on the LCD 44 (S104). If the SP is the built-in memory 50 and the remaining storable number is zero (S106Y), a warning to that effect is displayed on the LCD 44 (S108). If the SP is not the built-in memory 50 or if the remaining number of storable sheets is not zero (S106N), S108 is skipped.

  FIG. 10 is a table showing the correspondence between icons and text stored in the display item storage unit 48. In the display content table 80, the card type column 82 includes three types of items as an option card not mounted, a memory card, and a communication card as CT. The connection status column 84 stores OK, NG, or NULL as a CS value indicating the communication connection status. The transfer flag column 86 stores ON, OFF, or NULL as the FF value indicating the transfer flag. The icon column 88 stores the correspondence between the CS value, the FF value, or an icon indicating the transfer status. The text format column 90 stores the format of the text to be displayed. Note that NULL indicates that the item can have any value.

  The items of the first mounting state 92 include “no card mounted” in the card type column 82, “NULL” in the connection state column 84 and transfer flag column 86, icons in the internal memory 50 in the icon column 88, and a text format column 90. Each stores a format for displaying the “remaining number of built-in memories”. As items of the second mounting state 94, “memory card” is stored in the card type column 82, “NULL” is stored in the connection state column 84, and “ON” or “OFF” is stored in the transfer flag column 86. When the transfer flag column 86 is “ON”, an icon for transferring from the built-in memory 50 to the memory card is displayed in the icon column 88, and “the remaining number of memory cards” and “the remaining number of built-in memories” are displayed in the text format column 90 The format for each is stored.

  As items of the third mounting state 96, “communication card” is stored in the card type column 82, and “OK” or “NG” is stored in the connection state column 84. When the connection status column 84 is “OK”, “ON” or “OFF” is stored in the transfer flag column 86. When the transfer flag field 86 is “ON”, the icon field 88 is an icon for transferring from the built-in memory 50 to the image server 14, and the text format field 90 is “the number of images stored in the server” and “the remaining number of the built-in memory”. The format for displaying "" is stored. When the transfer flag column 86 is “OFF”, the icon column 88 stores an icon for the image server 14, and the text format column 90 stores a format for displaying “the number of sheets stored in the server”. When the connection status field 84 is “NG”, the transfer flag field 86 is “NULL”, the icon field 88 is an icon that cannot be stored in the image server 14 and is stored in the internal memory 50 as an alternative, a text format field 90 stores a format for displaying “remaining number of built-in memory 50”.

  FIG. 11 shows an example of a screen when icons and text are displayed on the LCD 44. When the wireless LAN card communication is not established, the first screen 102 is displayed, and an icon indicating that the image server 14 cannot be stored and an icon indicating that the built-in memory 50 is set as SP are displayed. Below that, a number “8” is displayed as the remaining storable number. In the lower center of the screen, the text “Shoot data is saved in internal memory” is displayed. When the wireless LAN card communication is established, the screen is switched to the second screen 104, and an icon indicating that the captured image is transferred from the built-in memory 50 to the image server 14 is displayed. Below that, a number “238” is displayed as the number of images stored in the image server 14 and a number “3” is displayed as the number of untransferred images. As shown in the numerical display 106, these numbers increase the stored number to “238, 239, 240” while decreasing the untransferred number to “3, 2, 1”. Repeat redrawing. When the image transfer is completed, the screen is switched to the third screen 100. On the third screen 100, an icon indicating that the SP is set in the image server 14 and a number “240” as the currently stored number are displayed below the icon, and the text “Shooted” is displayed at the lower center of the screen. "Send data to server" is displayed. When the wireless LAN card enters the outside of the communication area and communication is interrupted again, the screen is switched to the first screen 102.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a process of displaying detailed information related to shooting conditions or a reproduced image. First, detailed information is generated (S110), an MP indicating the total number of pages of detailed information is set, and a CP indicating the current page is set to 1 (S112). Detailed information on the CP page is displayed (S114), and if the key pressed by the operator is the cancel key (S116A), the mode shifts to the shooting or reproduction mode (S122). If the pressed key is a key that instructs to move to the next page (S116B), CP is incremented. However, when CP has reached MP or more, 1 is set in CP (S118), and the process returns to S114. If the pressed key is a key for instructing the transition to the previous page (S116C), CP is decremented. However, when CP has reached 1 or less, the value of MP is set in CP (S120), and the process returns to S114.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a detailed process of generating detailed information in S110 of FIG. When the current mode is the shooting mode (S130A), a page indicating shooting conditions is added (S132), and when the current mode is the playback mode (S130N), a page indicating detailed information of the image being played back is added. (S134).

  When CT is a value indicating a communication card (S136Y), a detailed information page indicating a network state is added (S138), and when CT is a value indicating a wireless LAN card (S140Y), wireless communication related A page of detailed information indicating the state is added (S142). If CT indicates a value other than the wireless LAN card in S140 (S140N), S142 is skipped. If CT indicates a value other than the communication card (S136N), S138 to S142 are skipped.

  FIG. 14 shows an example of a screen when displaying detailed information. In the first detailed display 110, information such as resolution and ISO sensitivity is displayed as detailed information on the shooting conditions. In the second detailed display 112, information such as an IP address and a subnet mask is displayed as detailed information indicating the state of the network. In the third detailed display 114, information such as a communication mode and an ESS-ID is displayed as detailed information related to the wireless LAN.

  The present invention has been described based on the embodiments. This embodiment is an exemplification, and it is understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to the combination of each component and each processing process, and such modifications are also within the scope of the present invention. .

It is a figure which shows the basic network structure of an imaging | photography system. It is a functional block diagram which shows the structure of an imaging device. It is a state transition diagram showing switching of each operation in an imaging device. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the operation | movement in the 1st state of FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a detailed operation process of monitoring network connection in S22 of FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed operation in which a storage destination selection unit changes a storage destination of a captured image in S26 of FIG. 4 and S46 of FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a process of a photographing operation in the second state of FIG. 3. 7 is a flowchart showing a detailed operation process of transferring a captured image stored in a built-in memory in S62 of FIG. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing detailed operations of screen redrawing in S64 of FIG. 6, S76 of FIG. 7, S86 and S94 of FIG. It is a figure of the table which shows a response | compatibility with the icon and text stored in the display item memory | storage part. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen when displaying an icon and a text on LCD. It is a flowchart which shows the process of displaying the detailed information regarding imaging | photography conditions or a reproduction | regeneration image. 13 is a flowchart showing a detailed process of generating detailed information in S110 of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen when displaying detailed information.

Explanation of symbols

10 shooting system, 14 image server, 16 network, 20
Imaging device, 22 option card, 30 imaging unit, 38 display unit, 5
0 built-in memory, 54 save destination selection unit, 56 card detection unit, 62 card slot.

Claims (5)

An imaging unit for capturing an image of a subject;
A storage destination selection unit for selectively setting a storage destination of the captured image from a plurality of storage areas;
When the captured image is transferred between the plurality of storage areas, the display unit visually represents the state on the screen;
An imaging apparatus comprising:   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of storage areas are at least one of a storage area via a network, a memory card, and a built-in memory.   The display unit displays on the screen at least one of information indicating a transfer source, information indicating a transfer destination, information indicating that transfer is being performed, and information indicating the number of images to be transferred as the transfer status. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image pickup apparatus displays the image.   4. The display unit according to claim 1, wherein the display unit further selectively displays on the screen either the remaining number that can be stored or the number that has been stored, according to the storage destination. The imaging device described in 1. 5. The display unit according to claim 1, wherein when the storage destination selection unit sets a storage destination in a storage area via a network, the display unit displays the number of stored pages on a screen. Imaging device.

Images