JP3515424B2 - Digital camera - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital camera which records an image photographed by an image pickup device as digital data on a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image picked up by an image pickup device such as a CCD (solid-state image pickup device) is used as digital data.
2. Description of the Related Art There is known a digital camera capable of switching setting between a recording mode for recording on a recording medium such as a C card or a built-in memory and a reproduction mode for reproducing an image recorded on the recording medium. In this type of digital camera, when the user sets the camera to the recording mode and presses the shutter button, the captured data of the image captured by the CCD is converted into digital data, and then JPEG (J
Oint Photographic CodingExperts Group) compression processing is performed, and the compressed image data obtained by this is recorded in an IC card as an image file.

After that, when the user sets the camera to the reproduction mode and then performs a predetermined operation to reproduce a desired image among a plurality of images recorded in the IC card,
The image selected by the user is reproduced from the IC card and displayed on the LCD (liquid crystal display). Also, LC
When the user performs a predetermined operation to delete the image while the image is displayed on D, the image file of the image displayed on the LCD is deleted from the IC card.

By the way, the amount of information in one image file is increasing due to the increase in the number of pixels of CCD in recent years. Therefore, the number of images that can be recorded in an IC card is only several tens, and more images can be recorded. In order to record, the IC card must be replaced. Therefore, when the recording capacity of the IC card becomes full, image recording is performed while erasing unnecessary images from the plurality of images recorded in the IC card.

Specifically, when the recording capacity of the IC card becomes full during shooting, the camera is switched from the recording mode to the reproduction mode, and then a plurality of images recorded on the IC card are displayed on the LCD. The unnecessary images having the information amount equal to or more than the information amount of the image to be recorded are sequentially displayed, an operation for erasing the image is performed, and then the camera is switched from the reproduction mode to the recording mode. This makes it possible to record a new image. In this way, image recording is performed while updating the image recorded in the IC card with the newly photographed image.

[0006]

However, in the conventional digital camera, in order to proceed with image recording without replacing the IC card, the camera is once switched to the reproduction mode to perform the image erasing operation, and then the image is erased. There has been a problem that this series of operations is extremely complicated because it is necessary to return the camera to the recording mode again. Also, I
Before the recording capacity of the C card is full, the recording capacity can be secured after that by advancing the image recording while updating the image recorded on the IC card. In this case as well, There is a problem that the operation becomes complicated. An object of the present invention is to provide a digital camera capable of updating an image recorded in a recording medium such as an IC card with a newly photographed image by a simple operation.

[0007]

A digital camera according to the present invention includes an image pickup device, an image display device for displaying an image picked up by the image pickup device, and a signal processing circuit for recording the image picked up by the image pickup device in a recording medium. And an imaging device
Amount of information when recording the image taken by the
Can be switched and set. Then , the signal processing circuit recognizes the set amount of information.
And the information recorded on the recording medium according to the user operation.
More than the set amount of information from multiple images
Search means for searching an image having the amount of information, the search
Select one image from the images searched by means
Processing for displaying a selection screen for displaying on an image display device
1 depending on the means and the image selection operation on the selection screen.
An image specifying unit that specifies an image of a plurality of images and a front image of a plurality of images recorded on a recording medium according to an image recording operation.
The updating unit updates the image specified by the specifying unit to the image captured by the imaging device.

In the digital camera according to the present invention,
Is the image recorded by the imaging device in advance on the recording medium.
The amount of information for recording is set. The amount of information is
Determined by shadow resolution and image compression rate. The user
For example, the image recorded on the recording medium is a new captured image.
Perform the specified operation to set the image update mode for updating
The image recorded on the recording medium.
The amount of information exceeds the amount set at that time.
The process of searching for the image
An image is displayed on the selection screen to select one image from the inside
Displayed on the device.

After that, the user refers to the selection screen
From the multiple images displayed on the selection screen.
When you select an image, the selected image is identified
Image recording operation
Of the plurality of images recorded on the recording medium,
The specified image is a new image taken by the imaging device.
Updated to the statue. For example, delete unnecessary images from the recording medium.
After being erased, a new image is recorded in the erase area. Some
Or a new image is overwritten in the recording area of the unnecessary image.
It

In this way, the user can perform image selection operations and images.
The image recorded on the recording medium can be recorded only by performing the recording operation.
The image can be updated to a new captured image, and the mode can be switched.
The existing data that had to be edited and erased.
The update operation is simpler than that of a digital camera. Obey
, The recording capacity of the recording medium becomes full during shooting.
Or even before the recording capacity of the recording medium is full.
If you want to secure the recording capacity later, use a simple operation.
Therefore, while updating the image recorded on the recording medium,
Image recording can proceed. You can also select unnecessary images.
The selection screen displayed on the image display device when
Of the images recorded in, the information set in the camera
Select only images that have more information than information
Because it is, information by the user in selecting the unnecessary images
It is not necessary to judge the quantity.

Specifically, the display processing means displays an image taken by the image pickup device on the image display device, and at the same time, displays one of the retrieved plurality of images.
Display means for displaying an image on an image display device, and user operation
Image display targeting the plurality of search images according to
Image switching means for switching the search image displayed on the device
The updating means updates the search image displayed on the image display device to the captured image when the image recording operation is performed.

In a digital camera having the specific structure
The image taken by the imaging device is a moving image.
And at the same time displayed on the image display device in real time,
One of the multiple images retrieved as described above
It is displayed on the image display device, and the user can switch the image.
Each time, an image is displayed for the multiple search images.
The search image displayed on the device is switched. Above digital
When trying to update the image on the digital camera,
The image is updated by repeating the image switching operation.
A target unnecessary image is displayed on the image display device. This
The video displayed on the image display device by the user
When you perform an image recording operation with reference to, the image is recorded on the recording medium.
The image displayed on the image display device
Existing image becomes a new image taken by the imaging device.
Will be updated.

According to the digital camera having the specific configuration,
Then, the search images will be displayed one by one on the image display device.
You can easily determine whether each search image is unnecessary.
You can Further, since the image recording operation is performed in a state where the unnecessary image is displayed on the image display device, the image recording operation can be performed after surely recognizing the image that will be lost by the update, and the necessary image is displayed. There is no risk of accidentally updating.

Further, specifically, the signal processing circuit causes the image pickup device to additionally record an image photographed by the image pickup device in a free area of the recording medium and an image recorded on the recording medium by the image pickup device. It is possible to set the switching between the image update mode for updating to the recorded image, the remaining capacity detecting means for detecting the remaining capacity of the recording medium, and the recognition result and the remaining capacity of the information amount recognizing means according to the user operation. Based on the detection result of the capacity detecting means, a judging means for judging whether or not the recording capacity of the set information amount or more remains in the recording medium, and the recording capacity of the set information amount or more.
If it is determined that the signal processing circuit remains, the signal processing circuit is set to the normal shooting mode, while it is determined that the signal processing circuit does not remain.
And a mode setting control unit that allows setting of the image update mode of the signal processing circuit, and an update mode setting unit that sets the signal processing circuit to the image update mode in response to a user operation . .

In the digital camera having the specific configuration, when the recording mode is set according to the user's operation or when the image is written on the recording medium according to the image recording operation of the user. , It is determined whether or not the recording capacity which is equal to or larger than the information amount set in the camera remains in the recording medium. When it is determined that the recording medium has more recording capacity than the amount of information set in the camera,
The normal shooting mode will be set. When the user performs a photographing operation in the normal photographing mode, a new image photographed by the image pickup device is additionally recorded in an empty area of the recording medium.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the recording capacity equal to or larger than the information amount set in the camera does not remain in the recording medium, the signal processing circuit is set to the state where the image update mode can be set. When the user performs an image update mode setting operation in this state, the image update mode is set. When the user performs an image recording operation in the image update mode, an unnecessary image selected by the user among a plurality of images recorded on the recording medium is updated to a new image captured by the image capturing apparatus. Will be done.

[0017]

According to the digital camera of the present invention,
The image recorded on the recording medium can be updated to a newly photographed image by a simple operation.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. The digital camera of this embodiment has a recording mode in which an image captured by a CCD can be recorded in an IC card and a reproduction mode in which an image recorded in the IC card can be reproduced and displayed on an LCD. It is possible to switch between and.
Further, in the recording mode, the normal photographing mode in which the photographed image at the time of pressing the shutter button is additionally recorded in the empty area of the IC card, and the unnecessary image selected from a plurality of images recorded in the IC card are unnecessary. It is possible to switch between an image update mode in which an image is updated to a captured image when the shutter button is pressed.

As shown in FIG. 1, the digital camera of this embodiment comprises a CCD (1) and an LCD (4).
An image processing circuit (2) for performing digital conversion processing, image compression processing and image expansion processing as described later is connected to (1), while an image synthesis processing and an analog conversion processing are performed for the LCD (4). An image composition circuit (3) is connected. The circuits (2) and (3) are connected to the control circuit (5). The control circuit (5) includes an IC card (6) and RA
M (7) is connected and input device (8) is connected
The input device (8) has a shutter button and a camera.
Mode setting key to operate when setting to the image update mode
-, And image switching that should be operated when selecting unnecessary images
E key (both not shown).

When the user performs a predetermined operation to set the camera in the recording mode, the camera is set in the recording mode, and the image pickup data of the image photographed by the CCD (1) becomes
It is supplied to the image processing circuit (2) and converted into digital data, and the digital data is once written in the RAM (7). Then, the digital data written in the RAM (7) is read by the control circuit (5) and supplied to the image synthesizing circuit (3), and converted into an analog image signal by the image synthesizing circuit (3). After that, it is output to the LCD (4). As a result, the image (moving image) captured by the CCD (1) is displayed in real time over the entire image display area of the LCD (4) as shown in FIG.

In the digital camera of this embodiment, the image taken by the CCD (1) is used as the IC card (6).
It is possible to switch and set the amount of information to be recorded on, and when the user performs the recording mode setting operation as described above, the control circuit (5) recognizes the set amount of information. Then, the control circuit (5) judges whether or not the recording capacity more than the recognized information amount remains in the IC card (6),
If it is determined that the camera remains, the camera is set to the normal shooting mode. When the user presses the shutter button of the input device (8) while the camera is set to the normal shooting mode, the control circuit (5) causes the RAM (7) to operate.
The digital data for one frame is read out and the read digital data is supplied to the image processing circuit (2). The digital data supplied to the image processing circuit (2) is JPE
The compressed image data compressed by the G method is written in the empty area of the IC card (6) as an image file. In this way, the newly photographed image is additionally recorded on the IC card (6).

On the other hand, when the control circuit (5) determines that the IC card (6) does not have a recording capacity larger than the set information amount, the image update mode can be set. When the user presses the mode setting key of the input device (8) to set the camera in the image update mode, the control circuit (5) outputs the information amount more than the set information amount from the IC card (6). The compressed image data of the stored image is searched and read, and the read compressed image data is processed by the image processing circuit.
Supply to (2). The compressed image data supplied to the image processing circuit (2) is subjected to decompression processing, and the original image data obtained by this is supplied to the image synthesis circuit (3).

The image synthesizing circuit (3), together with the original image data, is photographed by the CCD (1) as described above and stored in the RAM.
The digital data read from (7) is supplied, and the image synthesizing circuit (3) converts the digital data into an analog image signal and the original image data into an analog image signal. Are synthesized, and the synthesized image signal obtained thereby is supplied to the LCD (4). As a result,
An image (moving image) taken by the CCD (1) is displayed in real time over the entire image display area of the LCD (4) as shown in FIG. 6, and among the images recorded in the IC card (6). The child screen (40) of one image (still image) having the information amount equal to or larger than the set information amount is displayed in a superimposed manner on the moving image. In this way, the IC card
The selection screen for selecting an unnecessary image to be updated from the multiple images recorded in (6) is LC
Displayed on D (4).

After that, when the user presses the image switching key of the input device (8), the control circuit (5) causes the IC card (6).
To retrieve and read compressed image data of an image having an information amount equal to or more than the set information amount and different from the image of the current small screen (40), and read the read compressed image data from the image processing circuit (2). Supply to. The compressed image data supplied to the image processing circuit (2) is subjected to decompression processing, and the original image data obtained by this is supplied to the image synthesis circuit (3).

The original image data supplied to the image synthesizing circuit (3) is converted into an analog image signal in the same manner as described above, and then obtained by applying an analog conversion process to the digital data supplied from the RAM (7). The combined image signal obtained by the combination is supplied to the LCD (4). As a result, the sub-screen (40) having the information amount equal to or greater than the set information amount and before the image switching key is pressed
The sub-screen of an image different from the above image will be displayed superimposed on the image (moving image) taken by the CCD (1). In this way, each time the user presses the image switching key of the input device (8), the amount of information that is greater than or equal to the set amount of information in the plurality of images recorded in the IC card (6) The sub-screen will be switched only for the image having the.

After that, when the user depresses the shutter button of the input device (8) while the child screen (40) of the unnecessary image to be updated is displayed on the LCD (4), the control circuit (5 ) Indicates that the compressed image data of the image on the sub-screen (40) is the IC
After erasing from the card (6), one frame of digital data is read from the RAM (7) and the read digital data is supplied to the image processing circuit (2). Image processing circuit (2)
The digital data supplied to is compressed by the JPEG method, and the compressed image data obtained thereby is written in the erasing area of the IC card (6). In this way, the unnecessary image selected from the plurality of images recorded on the IC card (6) is updated to the newly photographed image.

If the user sets the camera in the reproduction mode and then performs a predetermined operation to reproduce a desired image among a plurality of images recorded in the IC card (6),
The control circuit (5) reads the compressed image data of the image from the IC card (6) and supplies the read compressed image data to the image processing circuit (2). The compressed image data supplied to the image processing circuit (2) is subjected to decompression processing, and the original image data obtained thereby is supplied to the image synthesizing circuit (3) and converted into an analog image signal. , Is output to the LCD (4). As a result, the image (still image) selected by the user is displayed in the entire image display area of the LCD (4).

2 to 4 show a control circuit (5) of this embodiment.
Represents an image recording procedure by. When the camera is set to the recording mode, first in step S1 of FIG. 2, the operation of reading digital data from the RAM (7) of FIG. 1 is started, and then in step S2, the digital data read from the RAM (7) is read. Is started to the image synthesizing circuit (3). As a result, the image taken by CCD (1)
The (moving image) is displayed in the entire image display area of the LCD (4) as shown in FIG. Next, in step S3, after recognizing the currently set information amount, in step S4, it is determined whether or not a recording capacity equal to or larger than the information amount recognized in step S3 remains in the IC card (6). ,Jesus
If it is determined to be (Yes), the normal shooting mode is set.

When the normal photographing mode is set, it is judged in step S11 of FIG. 3 whether or not the shutter button is pressed. If the judgment is No, the same judgment is made in step S11. repeat. After that, the user
When the shutter button is pressed with reference to the moving image displayed on the CD (4), it is determined as YES in step S11, the process proceeds to step S12, and after reading the digital data from the RAM (7) shown in FIG. In step S13, the digital data read in step S12 is supplied to the image processing circuit (2). Then, in step S14, the compressed image data obtained from the image processing circuit (2) is I
After writing to the C card (6), the process returns to step S4 in FIG. As a result, the newly captured image is the IC card
It will be additionally recorded in (6).

On the other hand, when the IC card (6) does not have a recording capacity equal to or more than the information amount currently set in the camera, it is determined as NO in step S4 and step S4 is performed.
The process proceeds to step 5 and it is determined whether the mode setting key has been pressed. Here, when the user presses the mode setting key to set the camera to the image update mode, the determination is YES and the image update mode is set, while when the determination is NO, the procedure ends.

When the image update mode is set, in step S21 of FIG. 4, the compressed image data of one image having an information amount equal to or larger than the information amount recognized in step S3 of FIG. 2 is transferred to the IC card (6). Read from, and in step S22,
The compressed image data read in step S21 is supplied to the image processing circuit (2) shown in FIG. Then step S2
In 3, the original image data obtained from the image processing circuit (2) is output to the image synthesizing circuit (3). As a result, IC card
Of the plurality of images recorded in (6), a sub-screen of one image having an information amount equal to or greater than the currently set information amount
(40) will be displayed on the LCD (4) by being superimposed on the moving image taken by the CCD (1) as shown in FIG.

Next, in step S24 shown in FIG. 4, it is determined whether or not either the image switching key or the shutter button has been pressed. If NO, the same determination is repeated in step S24. If the user presses either the image switching key or the shutter button, the determination in step S24 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S25. The key pressed by the user is either the image switching key or the shutter button. Determine whether.

When the user presses the image switching key, the process returns to step S21, the compressed image data of the next image having the information amount equal to or larger than the currently set information amount is read from the IC card (6), and the step is performed. S22 and step S
At 23, output processing of the image is performed.
In this way, each time the user presses the image switching key, among the plurality of images recorded on the IC card (6), a plurality of images having an information amount equal to or greater than the currently set information amount are displayed. Child screens will be sequentially displayed on the LCD (4).

On the other hand, while the child screen (40) of the unnecessary image to be updated is displayed on the LCD (4), the user refers to the moving image displayed on the LCD (4) to release the shutter. When the button is pressed, the process proceeds to step S26 and L
The compressed image data of the image of the child screen (40) of the CD (4) is deleted from the IC card (6). Next, in step S27, R
After reading the digital data from the AM (7), in step S28, the digital data read in step S27 is supplied to the image processing circuit (2).

Subsequently, in step S29, the image processing circuit
After writing the compressed image data obtained from (2) to the IC card (6), the process returns to step S4 in FIG. As a result, I
Of the plurality of images recorded on the C card (6), an unnecessary image having an information amount equal to or larger than the currently set information amount is updated to a newly captured image.

In the digital camera of this embodiment, when the recording capacity of the IC card (6) becomes full during shooting,
As described above, the camera is set to the image update mode, an unnecessary image to be updated is displayed on the LCD (4) out of a plurality of images recorded on the IC card (6), and the shutter button is pressed. Just by doing, you can update the unwanted image to the newly taken image, so you can switch modes
Image recording can be performed by a simple operation as compared with a conventional digital camera that also needs to perform an operation and an image erasing operation .

In the image update mode, when selecting an unnecessary image to be updated, the amount of information set at that time among the plurality of images recorded in the IC card (6) Since the child screen (40) of each image is displayed on the LCD (4) only for the images having the above information amount, it is not necessary for the user to judge the information amount. In addition, when selecting unnecessary images to be updated, IC card (6)
By referring to the child screen (40) of each image retrieved from the plurality of images recorded in, it is possible to easily determine whether or not each image is unnecessary. Furthermore, the image that will be lost due to the update is displayed on the child screen (40)
The image recording operation can be performed after surely recognizing by.

In the above embodiment, the IC card (6) has a recording capacity larger than the information amount set in the camera.
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the image update mode can be set at any time regardless of the remaining capacity of the IC card (6). It is also possible to adopt a configuration that can be set. Further, in the above embodiment, when the shutter button is pressed while the sub screen (40) is displayed on the LCD (4), the image is updated.
It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which a confirmation key to be operated when confirming the selection of an unnecessary image is provided and the image update operation is performed when the shutter button is pressed after the confirmation key is pressed. According to this configuration, the necessary image is not lost by updating by accidentally pressing the shutter button.

Further, in the image update mode, after the unnecessary image is erased from the IC card (6), the image taken at the time of pressing the shutter button is recorded in the IC card (6). Instead of (6), a rewritable recording medium can be adopted, whereby the image erasing operation can be omitted. Furthermore,
Not only still images recorded in the IC card (6) but also moving images can be updated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a digital camera of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure for switching a normal shooting mode / image update mode in a recording mode.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an image recording procedure in a normal shooting mode.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an image recording procedure in an image update mode.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an image displayed on an LCD in a recording mode.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a selection screen displayed on the LCD in the image update mode.

[Explanation of symbols]

(1) CCD (2) Image processing circuit (3) Image synthesis circuit (4) LCD (5) Control circuit (6) IC card (7) RAM (8) Input device

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. An imaging device and a picture taken by the imaging device
Taken with an image display device that displays an image and an imaging device
A signal processing circuit for recording the recorded image on a recording medium,
When recording the image taken by the imaging device on the recording medium
It is possible to switch and set the information amount ofDigital camera
In, the signal processing circuit,Information amount recognition means for recognizing the set amount of information, Multiple sheets recorded on the recording medium according to user operation
From the image of, the amount of information more than the set amount of information
A search means for searching the images that the user has, One image from the images retrieved by the retrieval means
Display a selection screen for selecting an image on the image display device
Display processing means, One image in response to the image selection operation on the selection screen
Image specifying means for specifying Depending on the image recording operation,Multiple recorded on the recording medium
The image identified by the identifying means among the images
ToUpdating means for updating the image taken by the imaging device
A digital camera characterized by having and. 2. The updating means updates the specified image.
The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein after the image is erased from the recording medium , the image captured by the imaging device is recorded in the erased area . 3. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the updating unit overwrites an image captured by an imaging device on a recording area of the identified image. 4. The display processing means comprises: The image taken by the imaging device is displayed on the image display device.
At the same time as displayingOf the retrieved images
Display means for displaying one image on the image display device; According to the user operation, target the search images
Switch the search image to be displayed on the image display device.
Exchange means And The updating means is an image recording operation.
The image displayed on the image display device at the time the
Update search image to captured imageWhat is claimed in claim 1 to claim 3
SomewhereThe listed digital camera. 5. The signal processing circuit updates the image recorded by the image pickup device with the normal image pickup mode in which an image taken by the image pickup device is additionally recorded in an empty area of the recording medium. It is possible to switch between the image update mode and the remaining capacity detection means for detecting the remaining capacity of the recording medium, and the recognition result of the information amount recognition means and the detection of the remaining capacity detection means in response to a user operation. Based on the result, a judgment means for judging whether or not the recording capacity of the set information amount or more remains in the recording medium, and that the recording capacity of the set information amount or more remains.
When the determination is made, the signal processing circuit is set to the normal photographing mode, while when it is determined that the signal processing circuit does not remain, the mode setting control means for permitting the setting of the image update mode of the signal processing circuit, and the user operation. depending on the claim that comprises an update mode setting means for setting the signal processing circuit in the image update mode
The digital camera according to any one of claims 1 to 4 .