JP3748513B2 - Image recording apparatus, navigation system apparatus, and mobile phone - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to an image recording device, a navigation system device, and a mobile phone.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, instead of a conventional silver salt film camera, an optical image signal from a subject is converted into an electric image signal by an image sensor, and the electric image signal is recorded on a recording medium such as a magnetic disk corresponding to a conventional film. A still video camera having a configuration has been put into practical use, and an electric image signal recorded on a recording medium is reproduced on a monitor for viewing or a hard copy is made with a printer (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-183582). Etc.).
[0003]
Also, it is considered that a plurality of image signals photographed by the above still video camera are recorded on a large-capacity recording medium to form a so-called electronic album.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, when creating an electronic album as described above, it is desirable to classify and organize a plurality of recorded images with regularity. Currently, the shooting date and time are automatically recorded together with the image signal. In general, image information is arranged in order of shooting date and time based on the shooting date and time information. In addition, the information on the shooting date and time may be used as search information when searching for a desired image from an electronic album.
[0005]
Here, in order to organize and search the captured images, it is more convenient if there is information on the shooting position (shooting location) in addition to the date and time information. For example, characters can be obtained by operating key buttons provided on the camera. In order to simplify the character input operation, it is necessary to provide many key buttons. There is a problem that if the camera becomes large and the number of key buttons is reduced, it takes time to input characters.
[0006]
On the other hand, in recent years, navigation system devices for automobiles that receive radio waves from satellites and perform position measurement, or frequently communicate with a radio base station and be associated with the nearest radio base station to approximately specify the position. Possible wireless mobile phones have been developed. Therefore, it is conceivable to use the position information specified by these devices as the above-described shooting position information. However, conventionally, information is transmitted between a navigation system or a mobile phone and a still video camera. Therefore, the photographer had to obtain the position information from the navigation system or the cellular phone and then input it by operating the key buttons of the camera. Therefore, in the end, like the above-described example, the input operation is very complicated and troublesome, or the camera becomes large.
[0007]
The present invention has been made paying attention to the above points, and the navigation system device or mobile phone and the image recording device can be configured integrally or can be connected, and the functions of the navigation system and mobile phone can be achieved. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image recording apparatus that can be used, and to provide a navigation system apparatus or a mobile phone that can provide the image recording apparatus with its function.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The object is achieved by an image recording apparatus according to claim 1. That is, the image recording apparatus according to claim 1 is a photographing unit that generates image data based on a light image from a subject, and an image recording apparatus configured to record the image data on a recording medium. The image data is transmitted from the image recording apparatus to the navigation system apparatus by providing means for taking an interface between the navigation system apparatus and the image recording apparatus. And From the navigation system device of Location information Receive Do To be able to do that It is characterized by that.
[0009]
The above object is achieved by an image recording apparatus according to claim 2. In other words, the image recording apparatus according to a second aspect includes a connection unit that detachably connects the navigation system apparatus and the image recording apparatus.
[0010]
The above object is achieved by an image recording apparatus according to claim 3. That is, the image recording apparatus according to claim 3 is provided with means for capturing information from the navigation system apparatus and recording the information together with the image data on the recording medium.
[0016]
Moreover, the said subject is achieved by the navigation system apparatus of Claim 4. That is, the navigation system apparatus according to claim 4 is a navigation system apparatus capable of measuring a position based on radio waves from a satellite, and an image recording apparatus provided with an imaging unit for generating image data based on an optical image from a subject, and By providing means for interfacing with the navigation system device, Position information obtained by position measurement of the navigation system device The image recording apparatus What Send And The image recording apparatus Image data from The Receiving Believe To be able to do that It is characterized by that.
[0018]
[Action]
According to the image recording apparatus of the first aspect, since the interface with the navigation system apparatus mounted on the automobile is provided and the functions of the navigation system can be used, the information from the navigation system is used. It is also possible to display captured images with a navigation system.
[0019]
According to the image recording apparatus of the second aspect, since the image recording apparatus can be detachably connected to the navigation system apparatus, the image recording apparatus is detached from the navigation system apparatus at the time of shooting, and in other cases, the navigation system apparatus is used to obtain information. It becomes possible.
[0020]
According to the image recording apparatus of the third aspect, since information can be taken from the navigation system apparatus and recorded together with the image data on a recording medium, it is possible to easily shoot without requiring an operation burden such as character selection by the photographer. It is possible to record the position, and it is possible to avoid the occurrence of an input error.
[0026]
Claim 4 According to the described navigation system apparatus, it has an interface with an image recording apparatus having a photographing function, provides navigation system information to the image recording apparatus, and displays an image captured by the image recording apparatus. Will also be possible.
[0028]
【Example】
Examples of the present invention will be described below.
[0029]
FIG. 3 shows a basic configuration of an embodiment of an image recording apparatus according to the present invention. An optical image is converted into an electric image signal (still image signal) by a photoelectric conversion element, and the electric image signal is converted into a magnetic disk or the like. It is a still video camera configured to record on the recording medium.
[0030]
Here, the optical image is formed on the CCD 2 which is a photoelectric conversion element by the photographing lens 1, and the CCD 2 converts the imaged optical image of the subject into an electric signal and outputs it. The electric image signal from the CCD 2 is input to the signal processing circuit 3, subjected to signal processing such as color separation and gamma correction, and sent to the recording circuit 4 as a standard video signal form.
[0031]
In the recording circuit 4, the electric image signal output from the signal processing circuit 3 is recorded on a recording medium 5 configured to be detachable from the camera body, and a code signal indicating a shooting position corresponding to each image signal. At the same time, and also has a function as a position information recording means. The code signal is generated by a code signal generation unit 7 as a code signal generation unit based on information on a photographing position input from an external position information generation source (not shown) by a position information input unit 6 as a position information input unit. A code signal corresponding to a photographed image is generated.
[0032]
As the recording medium 5, a magnetic disk (video floppy), a magnetic tape, a semiconductor memory card, or the like is used.
[0033]
Next, a more specific embodiment of the position information input unit 6 and code signal generation unit 7 shown in FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIG.
[0034]
The configuration shown in FIG. 4 is a positioning device 10 (generally a Global Positioning System) that measures the current position by determining the relative distance to the satellite by measuring the arrival time of radio waves from an artificial satellite (external position information generation source). (Which is called (GPS) and used in military and vehicle navigation systems, etc.) is integrated with a still video camera, and the shooting position is determined based on the current position measured by the positioning device 10. Knowing this, this is encoded and recorded on the recording medium 5.
[0035]
The principle of the positioning device 10 will be briefly described with reference to FIG. 5 using an example in which three satellites are used. First, when the distance A from one satellite A is known, the current position is somewhere on the surface of the sphere centered on the satellite and having a radius A from the satellite. Further, when the distance B from another satellite B is known, the current position is somewhere on the circumference where two spheres overlap. Then, depending on the distance C from the third satellite C, one of the two intersections of the sphere and the circumference becomes the current position. Here, the satellite is orbiting about 20,000 km from the surface of the earth, and the attitude is always controlled so that the antenna is always directed toward the earth, and one of the two intersections is from the satellite. Since the radio wave cannot be received, the current position can be measured as one of the two intersections.
[0036]
The distance from the satellite can be calculated from the time until the signal reaches the receiver from the radio wave transmission timing from the satellite and the propagation speed of the electromagnetic wave.
[0037]
In FIG. 4, the portion surrounded by the alternate long and short dash line shows the configuration of the positioning device 10 using the above-described satellite. Here, the radio wave from the satellite captured by the antenna 11 as the position information input means is sent to the navigation message (satellite clock correction information, orbit information, ionospheric correction coefficient, etc.) via the high-frequency unit 12 and the signal processing unit 13. And information such as pseudo distance are input to the microcomputer unit 14. The microcomputer unit 14 sets a unique code for each satellite set to receive information from the satellite and outputs the code to the signal processing unit 13, while the input navigation message and pseudo distance Based on the attached high-precision clock 15, the distance from each satellite is obtained from the arrival time of the radio wave, and the current position (latitude, longitude, altitude) is calculated.
[0038]
The code signal indicating the latitude, longitude, and altitude information of the current position calculated by the microcomputer section 14 as the code signal generating means is sent to the recording circuit 4 of the camera section. Information is recorded on the recording medium 5 as a predetermined code signal. That is, imaging position information is input as a radio wave from a satellite that is an external location information generation source, and information (latitude, longitude, altitude) indicating the imaging position calculated based on the input radio wave is input according to a predetermined code. The image is automatically recorded on the recording medium 5 together with the image. When the code signal indicating the shooting position is reproduced, it is possible to determine at which position (location) the image was shot. .
[0039]
By the way, when a magnetic disk (video floppy) is used as the recording medium 5, generally an identification signal (ID signal) can be recorded separately from the image signal, and the user area in the recording area can be recorded. Normally records up to 54 bits. Therefore, if the user area is the recording area for the shooting position information (latitude, longitude, altitude), the latitude and longitude information is in seconds and the altitude information is in meters without changing the recording format. It is possible to record from 0 to 10000m.
[0040]
On the other hand, when a semiconductor memory card is used as the recording medium 5, since both the image signal and other data are recorded digitally, it is only necessary to secure an area for recording position information. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the image recording format for the memory card is set to handle image and audio information as one bucket, and the bucket header records the encoding method, recording mode, and the like. When it is divided into an area (16 bytes), a date area (6 bytes) for recording the shooting date and time, and a title area (106 bytes) that can be used arbitrarily by the user, a part of the title area is displayed with shooting position information. If used as an area to be recorded, the latitude, longitude, and altitude information measured by the positioning device 10 using a satellite can be encoded and recorded as in the case of the magnetic disk described above.
[0041]
As described above, if the code signal corresponding to the latitude, longitude, altitude information of the shooting position measured by the positioning device 10 using the satellite is automatically recorded on the recording medium together with the image signal, The photographer is not bothered by the input operation, and there is no input mistake or forgetting to record the shooting position, so that the shooting position information can be recorded reliably. This information on the shooting position can be used effectively in search and the like.
[0042]
Here, an embodiment of an image reproducing apparatus suitable for reproducing an image photographed and recorded by a still video camera configured to record photographing position information together with an image signal as described above will be described below.
[0043]
FIG. 7 shows a basic configuration of the image reproducing apparatus, and an image reproducing circuit 21 that reproduces and outputs an image signal from the set recording medium 5, and a code signal that indicates information on a photographing position from the recording medium 5. The position code signal reproduction circuit 22 as reproduction means for reproducing the image and information related to the photographing position are retrieved from the database 23 as position information storage means based on the code signal reproduced by the position code signal reproduction circuit 22. And a photographing position information output circuit 24 as position information output means for outputting the information. Note that a still video camera with a recording / reproducing function in which the image reproducing device and the image recording device (still video camera) are integrally provided may be used.
[0044]
FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of a reproducing apparatus more specifically showing the basic configuration shown in FIG. FIG. 8 shows an example in which a semiconductor memory card is used as the recording medium 5. Data is read out from the memory card 5 in units of images by a memory controller 31 as reproducing means. Data to be distributed.
[0045]
The image data is compressed and recorded in the semiconductor memory. The image digital signal processor (DSP) 32 restores the reproduced compressed image signal and temporarily stores it in the buffer memory 33. Here, reproduction format processing such as creating a list screen by combining a plurality of images may be performed.
[0046]
The image data stored in the buffer memory 33 is encoded into an NTSC composite signal by the encoder 34, then D / A converted by the D / A converter 35, and output and displayed on a display device 36 such as a CRT. .
[0047]
The image data recorded in the buffer memory 33 may be D / A converted by the D / A converter 35 and then encoded by the encoder 34.
[0048]
On the other hand, data other than the image data distributed by the memory controller 31 is read into the CPU 37. In the CPU 37, when the shooting date / time is recorded as data other than the image data, a number corresponding to the shooting date / time data is generated by the character generator 38 and written in the buffer memory 33, and the image and the shooting date / time ( And the date are displayed on the display device 36.
[0049]
Further, when the shooting position information is encoded and recorded as data other than the image data, and the shooting position is measured as latitude, longitude, and altitude using the positioning device 10 using the satellite as described above. If the recorded latitude, longitude, and altitude information is displayed as it is, it is difficult to effectively use the information. That is, it is convenient for general photographers to have specific information such as place names rather than information such as latitude and longitude, and even if latitude and longitude information is provided, the latitude, It is complicated because it is necessary to check the position corresponding to the longitude each time.
[0050]
Therefore, in the image reproducing apparatus in the present embodiment, data specifically indicating the location of the shooting position such as a place name, facility name, river / mountain name, etc. corresponding to the point is associated with the latitude and longitude input information. A database 39 serving as a stored location information storage means is provided in advance, and the CPU 37 serving as a location information output means retrieves data of a corresponding place name from the database 39 based on the reproduced latitude and longitude location information. . Then, a character corresponding to the searched place name data is generated by the character generator 38 and written in the buffer memory 33, and the image and the shooting place name are combined and displayed on the display device 36. A CD-ROM (compact disk read only memory) or the like is used as a storage medium for constructing the database 39.
[0051]
Here, the location name data corresponding to the latitude and longitude stored in the database 39 is not stored with only one piece of information such as an address, but a plurality of related location name data are output. It is preferable that the user can arbitrarily select from a plurality of place names output based on the search result from the database 39.
[0052]
A rule example of the database 39 will be described below.
[0053]
First, the town name and address of the point indicated by the latitude and longitude are stored, while the famous facility name and river / mountain name are associated with an appropriate area. For example, a facility name such as “Kabukiza” is limited to a relatively small area, but a mountain / river name such as “Mt. Fuji” is associated with a relatively wide range. Further, when the shooting position is on a lake or the sea, the name of the nearest land is associated with the name of the lake or the sea.
[0054]
When the database 39 is set according to the rules as described above, for example, shooting is performed on the shore of Lake Yamanaka using the still video camera of the above embodiment, and the latitude and longitude of the shore of Lake Yamanaka are automatically recorded on the recording medium 5. In this case, if you play back with the above image playback device, all the corresponding place name data such as “Oshinomura XX address in Yamanashi Prefecture” “Lake Yamanaka” “Mt. And displayed overlaid on the image.
[0055]
Here, it is configured so that any one of the plurality of displayed place name data can be selected. For example, if Mt. Fuji is photographed from the shore of Lake Yamanaka, the user selects “Mt. Fuji” from the data of the plurality of place names. It is preferable that the display other than the selected one can be deleted. Then, the finally selected place name is recorded instead of (or together with) the shooting position information of latitude and longitude recorded in the recording medium 5, or the shooting date and time and the selected place are recorded on the image. Makes it possible to make a hard copy of the screen with the synthesized name.
[0056]
Therefore, a still video camera (image recording device) that can automatically record the latitude and longitude of the above-described shooting position, and the corresponding shooting location name from the latitude and longitude of the shooting position recorded together with the image signal as described above. By using a system consisting of an image playback device that can output images, it is possible to reliably obtain information on the shooting location after shooting, and to easily construct an image group for at least a limited area. Can be segmented for each shooting location. Furthermore, in a camera in which the shooting date and time is automatically recorded, image sorting operations such as arranging images shot at the same shooting location in chronological order by combining the date and time data and the shooting position data are also possible. You can do it.
[0057]
In particular, if the configuration includes a database that can search a plurality of place names predicted to be related from latitude and longitude information, and can select any one of the searched place names, the latitude and longitude It is easy to convert numerical data such as this into place name data that suits the photographer's preference. Here, in the setting of the database 39, for a specific shooting position, if it is possible to register a location name that can be used only by the individual photographer, for example, the town name of the grandmother's house By registering the place name “Oma Achan's house” for the street address, you can easily make the personal place name “Oba Achan's house” correspond to the shot image. .
[0058]
Furthermore, if the map is stored in the database 39, it is possible to automatically call and display a map around the shooting location of the reproduced image, and it becomes easy to know the geographical situation around the shooting location, For example, if a typical landscape of a tourist spot is photographed and a map of the tourist spot is stored in the database 39, a target tourist spot can be selected from the landscape (image), and a map or a tourist associated therewith can be selected. You can also use it by automatically reading out information from the database and providing it.
[0059]
By the way, in an image recording device such as a still video camera, the shooting date and time is recorded at the same time as shooting. For example, if you travel abroad while setting Japan time, the time and date of the camera will be recorded. It becomes necessary to perform an operation to change the setting to local time each time. However, in the still video camera capable of automatically obtaining the shooting position information as described above, it is possible to automatically correct the time / date settings based on the shooting position information (latitude, longitude). It is.
[0060]
That is, storage data in which a date change line and a time change line are set in advance corresponding to latitude and longitude (or only longitude) is set in advance, for example, with a camera in which time and date are set in Japan, Hawaii As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 9, the measured latitude and longitude are read (S1), and it is detected that the camera has crossed the date change line (S2), and the date setting is automatically set to one day. While the correction is made to return (S3), every time the time change line is crossed (S4), the time is automatically corrected in increments of one hour in the plus or minus direction (S5).
[0061]
If the date and time are corrected using only longitude information, an error of 1 to 2 hours may occur. However, in general, it is not necessary to record a detailed time. Since the above error is not a problem, it is preferable that the date and time are corrected using only the longitude as a parameter to save the capacity of correction data.
[0062]
The above-described recording date and time recording function and automatic correction function are shown in the block diagram of FIG. 3. The recording medium 5 records the image signal in correspondence with the image signal, and receives the code signal indicating the latitude and longitude from the code signal generator 7 and automatically corrects the timepiece 8 by the automatic correction circuit 9 as the date correction means. It becomes. Here, the automatic correction circuit 9 includes a memory for storing date and time change data using at least longitude as a parameter.
[0063]
In the still video camera of the above-described embodiment, a positioning device that uses radio waves from a satellite as an information source for position measurement in order to know the shooting position is integrated, but this is not related to direct shooting. The positioning device increases the size of the camera and increases the power consumption. Therefore, in an automobile equipped with a navigation system using the positioning device, positioning information in the navigation system is provided to the camera side by connecting a camera to the navigation system in a detachable manner via a cable. It is good to configure so that
[0064]
That is, in the navigation system, the configuration of the positioning device 10 shown in FIG. 4 is provided in exactly the same manner, and the latitude, longitude, and altitude information detected based on the radio wave from the satellite is used as shown in FIG. 45, which is sent to the control unit 41, and a map corresponding to the latitude and longitude information is read from the CD-ROM 42 and displayed on the CRT display device 43 installed in the console portion of the passenger compartment. If the interface with the unit 41 can be taken, the latitude and longitude information can be sent to the camera side as shooting position information from the navigation system 45 (control unit 41). Therefore, in the case of the above embodiment, the external position information generation source corresponds to the navigation system 45 provided in the vehicle.
[0065]
As a usage form of such a system, a still video camera is connected to the in-vehicle navigation system 45 with a cable while moving in a vehicle equipped with the navigation system 45, and new position information is always taken into the camera side. To. And when you arrive at the shooting location, disconnect the connection between the camera and the navigation system 45, take the camera outside the vehicle and take a picture, but at least information about where the vehicle was stopped is captured by the camera. As long as the image is not taken while moving far away, sufficiently accurate shooting position information can be recorded together with the shot image.
[0066]
In addition, if the camera and the positioning device can be separated as described above, the camera can be reduced in size, and if the vehicle is equipped with a positioning device, it can be extremely downsized as if it is mounted integrally with the camera. Therefore, it is possible to use a highly accurate one and to secure the degree of freedom of installation of an antenna or the like.
[0067]
Further, when the navigation system 45 and the camera are connected and moved, if the battery of the camera is charged from the power source side of the vehicle, the navigation system and the camera are connected with a cable only to read the position information. Is not connected to the camera, but the position information is read as it is being charged, and there is no sense of being forced to read the shooting position information. Thus, it is possible to read the shooting position information.
[0068]
Further, since the navigation system 45 is provided with the display device 43 for displaying a map as described above, in the case of a still video camera having a playback function, as shown in FIG. It is also possible to send the processed image signal to the control unit 41 of the navigation system 45 so that the image recorded and reproduced is displayed on the display device 43 on which the normal map is displayed.
[0069]
By the way, in the above-described embodiment, a positioning device using a satellite as an information source is used as a configuration for an image recording device such as a still video camera to obtain shooting position information. An embodiment in which the identification number of the wireless base station of the communication partner is taken in as the shooting position information will be described below.
[0070]
A wireless mobile phone makes a call by communicating with the nearest wireless base station, and a mobile phone frequently communicates with the nearest wireless base station and sends its identification signal to the wireless base station. A plurality of radio base stations and individual mobile phones are associated with each other and are registered in the upper station (see FIG. 11). Accordingly, when a call is made to the other party's mobile phone, the nearest radio base station is searched based on the identification signal of the other party's mobile phone, and the searched radio base station is connected to the line, The station calls the other party's mobile phone to make a communication call. A mobile phone always receives radio waves from a radio base station, but does not perform call communication unless called by its own identification number.
[0071]
As described above, since the mobile phone is always associated with the nearest radio base station, the current location of the mobile phone can be substantially specified by the position of the radio base station to which the communication partner is fixed. That is, when a certain mobile phone communicates with a radio base station installed at point A as the nearest base station, the mobile phone is located within the base station area at point A among a plurality of installed radio base stations. It can be determined that is located.
[0072]
Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 12, a still video camera is configured integrally with the mobile phone 51 as described above, or the mobile phone 51 and the still video camera are detachably connected with a cord. Thus, the identification number of the wireless base station with which the mobile phone 51 communicates is input to the camera as information on the shooting position.
[0073]
A digital cellular phone 51 shown in FIG. 12 includes a voice codec unit 52 that performs high-efficiency encoding / decoding of digitized voice, and a frame processing unit 53 that assembles / disassembles voice data, control data, and the like into time-division multiplexed frames. , A digital modulation / demodulation unit 54, and a radio frequency (RF) unit 55 composed of a linear power amplifier, but the control unit 53a constituting the frame processing unit 53 identifies the nearest radio base station. The signal can be output to the camera.
[0074]
The camera that has received the identification signal of the radio base station encodes and stores the identification signal as shooting position data as it is, or converts the identification signal into an information code such as a place name corresponding to the identification signal and outputs the image signal. At the same time, it is recorded on the recording medium 5.
[0075]
Here, if the area in charge of each radio base station is large, the data of the shooting position becomes rough, but if the area in charge is narrow, the position information is necessary and sufficient for the shooting position classification of the image. be able to.
[0076]
When the radio base station identification signal is recorded together with the image signal, the image reproducing apparatus side associates the data of the shooting location name related to the identification signal (related to the location where the radio base station corresponding to the identification signal is installed). In this case, the search parameter of the geographical information in the above embodiment in which the place name, facility name, etc. are searched from the latitude and longitude information is determined from the latitude and longitude. The radio base station identification signal is changed.
[0077]
In addition, only the functional part for recognizing the nearest wireless base station in the portable wireless device is installed in the still video camera, and the parts (microphone, speaker, audio codec part, etc.) necessary for the actual call are omitted. However, as compared with the case where the mobile phone and the still video camera are integrated, the camera may be reduced in size and power consumption.
[0078]
In addition, as a positioning device using the above satellites and a mobile phone, as an input of shooting position information instead of recognizing the nearest radio base station, a bar code printed in advance on a map or a guidebook is read to display the shooting position information. A configuration may be adopted in which it is input as coat data (code signal).
[0079]
For example, a map as shown in FIG. 13 is prepared. The map in FIG. 13 is divided into a plurality of vertical and horizontal areas by alphabets A to E and numerical values 1 to 6, and a barcode is printed for each grid position. For example, when Nagano city corresponds to the shooting position, 3-B is the corresponding area on the map of FIG. 13, and the bar code of the grid position corresponding to “3” and the grid position corresponding to “B” The barcode is read by a barcode reader 61 connected to the still video camera 70 via a cable as shown in FIG. Therefore, in this case, the external location information generation source is a printed matter such as a map book or a guide book on which a barcode is printed, and the barcode reader 61 corresponds to the location information input means.
[0080]
The bar code does not simply indicate “3” and “B”, but is added with information such as “name of map book” and “page”. It is possible to determine which area of the page. Therefore, on the camera side, the barcode data (code signal) is recorded as it is together with the image signal, and on the image reproducing apparatus side, which area of which map book and which area is determined from the read barcode data. The place name or facility name corresponding to the area is output as the shooting place data. That is, information such as a place name or a facility name is stored in advance on the playback device side in association with a combination of barcode data, and a barcode signal (code signal) indicating information on a shooting position reproduced from the recording medium 5 is stored. Based on this, the specific information of the photographing position is read out from the stored contents and output.
[0081]
Therefore, when shooting at a tourist spot, if the bar code on the page where the shooting location of the guidebook in that area is explained is read, the barcode data is recorded along with the image as shooting position information, and is stored in the image playback device. When set and reproduced, the bar code data is reproduced together with the image, and information such as tourist attractions in accordance with the contents described in the guide book can be output.
[0082]
For this reason, compared with the case where the photographer operates a plurality of key buttons to input the photographing position, the operation for storing the photographing position is simplified and it is possible to avoid the occurrence of an input mistake. In addition, on the reproducing apparatus side, not only the stored photographing position information but also various accompanying information can be output.
[0083]
As shown in FIG. 14, the barcode reader may be configured to connect a dedicated barcode reader 61 to the still video camera 70 with a cable, but the hardware configuration built in the camera is used as the barcode reader. It can also be made.
[0084]
As shown in FIG. 15, for example, in a still video camera 70 having an active autofocus function configured by including a light emitting element 62 and a light receiving element 63, the light emitting element 62 is forcibly continuously emitted to generate a map book. It is possible to irradiate a bar code printed on the above and receive the reflected light by the light receiving element 63 so as to read the bar code.
[0085]
Further, in a still video camera configured to digitally process a signal photographed by the CCD 2, a barcode is photographed with a photographing lens as a macro, and the barcode is decoded by analyzing the photographed contents by software. It is also possible to record the barcode on the recording medium 5 as information on the shooting position.
[0086]
In the case where the barcode is read by using the active autofocus function or the digital photographing function, the active autofocus function portion comprising the light emitting element 62 and the light receiving element 63, or the photographing lens, CCD, digital signal processing circuit. The imaging function part consisting of also serves as position information input means.
[0087]
In the above embodiment, the barcode is printed on the map book or the guide book. For example, if a barcode corresponding to a tourist attraction sign is attached in advance, the barcode is displayed. You may make it read, and it does not limit the setting place of a barcode.
[0088]
Furthermore, when a vehicle navigation system is used as an external location information generation source, the navigation system is not limited to a device using a satellite, but uses a ground facility such as a sign post, or a direction or distance measurement. A system that relatively detects the current position based on the above may be used.
[0089]
Further, when a ground facility such as the above sign post is installed, the still video camera can be configured to directly exchange information with the sign post.
[0090]
In this embodiment, a still video camera is taken as an example of the image recording apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a moving picture may be recorded like a VTR integrated video camera.
[0091]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the image recording apparatus of the first aspect, the interface with the navigation system apparatus mounted on the automobile is provided, and the functions of the navigation system can be used. It is also possible to use information from the system and display captured images on the navigation system.
[0092]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the image recording apparatus can be detachably connected to the navigation system apparatus, the image recording apparatus is detached from the navigation system apparatus at the time of shooting, and in other cases, the information is stored in the navigation system apparatus. It becomes possible to get.
[0093]
According to the image recording apparatus of the third aspect, since information can be taken from the navigation system apparatus and recorded together with the image data on a recording medium, it is simple and easy without requiring an operation burden such as character selection by the photographer. It is possible to record the shooting position and avoid the occurrence of input errors.
[0099]
And claims 4 According to the described navigation system apparatus, it has an interface with an image recording apparatus having a photographing function, provides navigation system information to the image recording apparatus, and displays an image captured by the image recording apparatus. Will also be possible.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of an image recording apparatus.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of an image reproduction device.
FIG. 3 is a circuit block diagram showing a basic configuration of an embodiment of an image recording apparatus.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image recording apparatus provided with a positioning device using a satellite.
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the positioning principle of a positioning device using a satellite.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a storage area in a semiconductor memory card.
FIG. 7 is a circuit block diagram showing a basic configuration of an embodiment of an image reproduction apparatus.
FIG. 8 is a circuit block diagram showing an embodiment of an image reproducing device using a semiconductor memory card.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing correction of date and time settings based on shooting position information.
FIG. 10 is a circuit block diagram showing an embodiment in which imaging position information is provided from a navigation system.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a network configuration of a mobile phone.
FIG. 12 is a circuit block diagram showing an example of receiving photographing position information from a mobile phone.
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a map on which a barcode for reading photographing position information is printed.
FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a combination example of a still video camera and a barcode reader.
FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing an embodiment in which the active autofocus function is applied to a barcode reader.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Photo lens
2 CCD (photoelectric conversion element)
3 Signal processing circuit
4 Recording circuit
5 recording media
6 Location information input section
7 Code signal generator
8 Clock
9 Automatic correction circuit
10 Positioning device
22 Position code signal regeneration circuit
23 Database
24 Shooting position information output circuit
45 Navigation system
51 Mobile phone
61 Bar code reader
62 Light emitting device
63 Photo detector

Claims (4)

In a photographing means for generating image data based on a light image from a subject, and an image recording apparatus configured to record the image data on a recording medium,
By providing means for taking an interface between the navigation system device using the positioning device and the image recording device,
Transmitting the image data from the image recording device to the navigation system device ;
An image recording apparatus, wherein position information from the navigation system apparatus can be received . The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a connection unit that detachably connects the navigation system apparatus and the image recording apparatus. 3. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for receiving position information from the navigation system apparatus and recording the position information together with the image data on the recording medium. In a navigation system device capable of position measurement based on radio waves from a satellite,
By providing a means for taking an interface between the image recording apparatus having a photographing means for generating image data based on a light image from a subject and the navigation system apparatus,
And transmitting the location information obtained by the position measurement of the navigation system device to the image recording device,
Navigation system apparatus characterized by that receive the image data from the image recording apparatus, and to obtain performed.

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