JP4529561B2 - Imaging apparatus, image composition method, and image composition program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus that synthesizes and records a subject image, an image composition method, and an image composition program .

  As a technique for combining and displaying a plurality of images, the monitor screen of the camera is divided into a plurality of images, and images of the persons A, B,. There is a technique for obtaining an image in which... Are arranged (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In Patent Document 1, an electronic camera including an imaging unit that images a subject and a display unit that displays an image captured by the imaging unit in a shooting standby state as a through image is captured by a plurality of imaging operations. A new image having the same size as the image captured in the normal shooting mode from each of the plurality of partial images corresponding to different imaging areas divided and set to the same number as the number of shooting operations. A technique for synthesizing images and recording the synthesized image is disclosed.

In addition, there is a technique in which a plurality of images are taken for one subject, and the best image is selected and stored (for example, see Patent Document 2).
JP 2003-274263 A Japanese Patent No. 2753514

  Often there are multiple people who want to take a picture but cannot physically line up at the same time. According to the technique described in Patent Document 1, each person can be photographed in a plurality of times and combined as a single photograph.

  However, when shooting fails, such as when a person closes their eyes at the time of shuttering, the first person can retake the picture, but if the second person or later fails, the first person must take the picture again. There was a problem. In addition, since the captured image is not always appropriate, there is a problem in that an appropriate image may not be obtained when one image obtained by one shooting is combined for each subject. It was.

SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an imaging apparatus, an image composition method, and an image composition program that can synthesize and record an optimum subject image .

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 divides an imaging means, a display means, and a screen displayed by the display means into a plurality of areas, and the imaging is performed in one of the plurality of areas. First display control means for controlling the subject images sequentially picked up by the means to be displayed through; and first detection means for detecting an instruction for capture when the first display control means is in a through display state; When the capture instruction is detected by the first detection unit, an imaging control unit that controls the imaging unit to capture a plurality of subject images corresponding to the region in the through display state, and a plurality of capture units captured by the imaging control unit First storage means for storing the subject image, and when a plurality of subject images are stored in the first storage means, the first display is performed for other areas in the plurality of areas. Corresponding to the first storage means, the control means for controlling to repeat the display by the control means, the detection by the first detection means, the imaging control by the imaging control means, and the storage by the first storage means A second display that controls to display one of the plurality of subject images stored corresponding to the region as a temporarily selected image in the region. After the storage of the plurality of subject images in the control means and the first storage means is completed by the user for each of the plurality of areas in which the temporarily selected image is displayed by the second display control means by detecting a predetermined operation, a second detection for detecting the selection of the specific subject image from the plurality of object images in correspondence with each of the plurality of regions stored in said first storage means And a second storage means for storing an image synthesized by the image synthesizing means, and an image synthesizing means for synthesizing the images selected and detected by the second detecting means. It is characterized by that.

The invention of claim 2 is the invention according to the first aspect, wherein the second display control means controls to display the specific object image selected detected by said second detecting means It is characterized by that.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the second display control means slides a plurality of subject images stored in the first storage means one by one. In addition to controlling the display, the second detection means selects a predetermined operation by detecting a predetermined operation by the user at the timing when the specific subject image is displayed among the plurality of subject images displayed on the slide. It is characterized by detecting.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided the first aspect of the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, further comprising first setting means for setting the number of times of control by the control means .

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention , in the invention of the fourth aspect, the number of times set by the first setting means is larger than the number of areas divided by the first display control means. The first display control means controls the scroll display of the area according to the number of times set by the setting means, and controls the subject images sequentially captured in this area to be displayed in a through manner .

In order to solve the above problem, the invention according to claim 6 divides the screen of the display unit into a plurality of regions, and through-displays the subject image sequentially captured by the imaging unit in one of the plurality of regions. A first display control step for controlling the first display step, a first detection step for detecting a capture instruction in the through display state by the first display control step, and a capture instruction in the first detection step. Is detected, an imaging control step for controlling the imaging unit to capture a plurality of subject images corresponding to the region in the through display state, and a plurality of subject images captured in the imaging control step are stored in the first memory. A first storage step, and when a plurality of subject images are stored in the first storage step, the first table A control step for controlling to repeat the display by the control step, the detection by the detection step, the imaging control by the imaging control step, and the storage by the first storage step, and a plurality of subjects corresponding to the first memory A second display control step for controlling to display one of a plurality of subject images stored corresponding to the region as a temporarily selected image in the region for the region in which the image is stored; After the storage of the plurality of subject images in the first storage step is completed, a predetermined operation by the user is detected for each of the plurality of areas in which the temporarily selected image is displayed in the second display control step. doing, specific subject image from the plurality of object images stored in said first memory in correspondence with each of the plurality of regions A second detection step for detecting the selection, an image synthesis step for generating a synthesized image obtained by synthesizing the images selected and detected by the second detection step, and an image synthesized in the image synthesis step. And a second storage step for storing in the memory.

In order to solve the above-described problem, an invention described in claim 7 is directed to a computer provided in an imaging apparatus having a display unit and an imaging unit, wherein a screen of the display unit is divided into a plurality of regions, A first display control unit that controls to display a subject image sequentially captured by the imaging unit in one of the areas, and detects a capture instruction in a through display state by the first display control unit A detection unit that detects a capture instruction by the detection unit; an imaging control unit that controls the imaging unit to capture a plurality of subject images corresponding to the through display state region; and a plurality of subject images captured by the imaging control unit When a plurality of subject images are stored in the first storage unit, and the first storage unit stores another image in the plurality of regions. Control means for controlling to repeat display by the first display control means, detection by the detection means, imaging control by the imaging control means, and storage by the first storage means for the area, the first storage For the area where the plurality of corresponding subject images are stored in the means, one of the plurality of subject images stored corresponding to the area is controlled to be displayed in the area as a temporarily selected image. After the storage of the plurality of subject images in the second display control means and the first storage means is completed, each of the plurality of areas in which the temporarily selected image is displayed by the second display control means. , by detecting a predetermined operation by a user, detects the selection of the specific subject image from the plurality of object images in correspondence with each of the plurality of regions stored in said first memory Second detecting means for generating, an image synthesizing means for generating a synthesized image obtained by synthesizing the images selected and detected by the second detecting means, and a second memory for storing the image synthesized by the image synthesizing means in the second memory. It is characterized by functioning as storage means.

  Since you can shoot multiple images for each subject and select and combine the optimal images on the screen for each subject, you want to shoot photos with multiple people lined up, but you cannot physically line up at the same time But you can get a group photo. Also, even if shooting fails, such as when a person closes his eyes at the time of shuttering, the same subject is shot multiple times, so there is no need to reshoot.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of a slot photo shooting method according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 1A shows an example of a through screen (shooting standby screen) displayed in the slot photo shooting mode. 1 (b), 1 (c), 1 (d), 1 (e), 1 (f), and 1 (g), the same subjects A, B, and C are taken continuously (or by multiple shutter operations). A display example in the case of shooting multiple times) is shown. FIG. 1 (h) shows an example in which images A1, B1, and C1 are displayed as still images among the slot photographs (images) taken in FIGS. 1 (b) to 1 (g). FIG. 1 (i) shows a photographer's cursor among A1 to An, B1 to Bn, and C1 to Cn among n slot photographs (images) taken in FIGS. 1 (b) to 1 (g). It is an example of a display of the slot photograph each selected as an optimal image by operation. In the following description, the number of times of photographing the same subject is n, but it is sufficient that n> 2 (n is a natural number). In the following description, the number of subjects k is set to 3, but may be 4 or more. The outline of the slot photography method will be described below with reference to FIG.

  When the number of subjects is k = 3 and the slot photo shooting mode is selected at the time of shooting, the dividing line 411 is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor screen 41 of the digital camera 100 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) as shown in FIG. 412 is displayed, the screen is divided into 3 (= k), and a through image is displayed on the first divided screen 41-1.

  Next, the subject A is continuously photographed (hereinafter referred to as continuous shooting) at predetermined time intervals, and n consecutive images A1 to An are photographed and stored in a memory as shown in FIGS. Next, the subject B is continuously shot, and continuous images B1 to Bn are taken and stored in the memory as shown in FIGS. 1 (d) and 1 (e). Similarly, the subject C is continuously shot and n consecutive images C1 to Cn are photographed and stored in the memory as shown in FIGS. 1 (f) and 1 (g). Note that the number of continuous shots may be different for each subject. Further, the present invention is not limited to continuous shooting, and each subject may be photographed by a shutter operation a plurality of times.

When the DISP key 38 (FIG. 2) is pressed after the photographing of the subjects A, B, and C is completed, the slot still images A1, B1, and C1 are displayed on the liquid crystal monitor screen 41 divided into three as shown in FIG. Since each is displayed, the photographer can display the slot photos (images) displayed on each divided screen by a cursor operation as a slide show (display method for displaying the images by flipping the images) and select the optimal photos (images). One can be selected.
For example, when the slot A image of the subject A is displayed as a slide show by operating the cursor key 35 (FIG. 2) on the first divided screen 41-1, and the image A2 is selected as an optimal photograph, the image A2 is stored as the optimal image of the subject A. Is remembered. Next, when the cursor is moved to the second divided screen 41-2 and the slot image B1 is selected as the optimum photograph of the subject B, the image B1 is stored in the memory as the optimum image of the subject B. Further, when the cursor is moved to the third divided screen 41-3, the image of the subject C is displayed as a slide show, and the slot image C3 is selected as the optimum photo, the image C3 is stored in the memory as the optimum image of the subject C.

After selecting the optimum photographs A2, B1, C3 of the subjects A, B, C as shown in FIG. 1 (i) by the above selection operation, the photographer confirms them and performs a confirmation operation (in the embodiment, the cursor key 35). When the confirmation operation is performed, the selected images A2, B1, and C3 are combined and stored in the storage memory.
In the above description, the memory for storing images may be a storage memory such as the flash memory 50 (FIG. 3). However, in the following description, a temporary storage memory such as the DRAM 14 is used as the memory and the flash memory 50 is used as the storage memory. Yes.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the appearance of an embodiment of a digital camera having a slot photography function. The digital camera 100 has an imaging lens 111, an optical viewfinder 112, and a photometric sensor 113 on the front side (FIG. 1A). have. Also, on the back of the digital camera 100 (FIG. 2B), there are a liquid crystal monitor screen 41, an optical viewfinder 112, a mode change switch 31 for switching modes, a liquid crystal monitor switch 32, a zoom key 33, a menu key 34, and a cursor key 35. A switch and a key such as a DISP key 38 are provided. Further, as shown in FIG. 2A, a shutter key 36, a strobe setting key 37, and a power button 91 are provided on the top surface, and an external device such as a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a personal computer) or a modem and a USB are provided on the side portion. A USB terminal connection unit 95 used when connecting a cable is provided. Furthermore, an optical transmission / reception port for near field communication such as infrared communication and Bluetooth, a radio communication antenna, and a GPS reception antenna may be provided on the front surface. In FIG. 2, the mode switch 31 is a slide switch, but it may be a rotary switch. Alternatively, the mode changeover switch 31 may not be provided, and a menu may be displayed and a mode may be designated by a menu key.

The cursor 35 is selected operation button 35- 0, the vertical movement instruction portion 35-1,35-3, and has a horizontal movement instruction portion 35-2,35-4, the vertical movement instruction portion 35-1,35-3 By pushing, the cursor displayed on the screen can be moved upward or downward. Further, the cursor can be moved to the right or left by pressing the left / right movement instruction portions 35-2 and 35-4. Further, by pressing the center selection operation button 35-0, a selection signal is sent to the CPU together with the cursor position information (X, Y).

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the digital camera of FIG. In FIG. 3, the digital camera 100 includes an optical system 11, a signal conversion unit 12, a signal processing unit 13, a DRAM 14, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) 15, a strobe light emitting unit 17, a control unit 20, an operation unit 30, a display unit 40, and a flash. A memory 50 and a power supply 90 are included. The optical system 11, the signal conversion unit 12, and the signal processing unit 13 correspond to a photographing unit that captures a subject image and generates image data in the present invention. The digital camera 100 is assumed to have a continuous shooting function in the following description, but the slot photo shooting method of the present invention can also be applied to a camera that does not have a continuous shooting function. Further, the automatic focusing mechanism 114 is not essential.

  The optical system 11 includes an imaging lens 111, a photometric sensor 113, an automatic focusing mechanism 114, an automatic aperture mechanism (not shown), and the like, and captures the luminous flux of the subject image collected through the imaging lens 111 in the subsequent stage. An image is formed on an element (CCD).

  The signal conversion unit 12 includes a signal conversion circuit such as an A / D converter (not shown), converts an image formed through the preceding optical system 11 into an electrical signal by an imaging element such as a CCD, The electrical signal is converted into digital data and output at a constant cycle.

The signal processing unit 13 receives the digital data from the signal conversion unit 12 and temporarily stores it in a Bayer-based form corresponding to the pixels of the image sensor, stores the data, and creates RGB data. A signal component such as a flex signal (Y, Cb, Cr data) is obtained. The Y, Cb, Cr data (hereinafter referred to as image data) is transferred to the DRAM 14 and temporarily stored. In addition, the captured image data is thinned out and sent to the display unit 40 in order to display a through image (photographing standby image). When the shutter operation is performed, the image data at that time is sent to the display unit 40 to display a still image.
In the slot photography mode, when the designated number of subjects is k, the signal processing unit 13 adjusts the angle of view of the captured subject image to the angle of view corresponding to the size of the divided screen obtained by dividing the screen by k. It is generated and transferred to the DRAM 14 and temporarily stored in the slot image storage area secured in the DRAM 14. The image size of the through image has the same angle of view and is displayed on one of the divided screens obtained by dividing the screen into k. In addition, the signal processing unit 13 combines the image data (slot image data) of the slot photograph selected as one optimum image for each subject temporarily stored in the DRAM 14 into image data for one frame, and flashes it. Transfer to the memory 50.

  The signal processing unit 13 reads the image data written in the DRAM 14 when recording and saving, performs JPEG compression processing, saves and records it in the flash memory (storing memory) 50, and stores it in the flash memory 50 when playing back. A compression / decompression unit that performs decompression processing on the stored compressed image data and reproduces the image data, and a thumbnail image generation unit that generates a thumbnail image (reduced image) are provided.

  The compression / decompression unit supports a plurality of compression ratios, and the mode corresponding to the compression ratio is a mode corresponding to a high resolution (generally called high precision, fine, normal, etc.) with a low compression ratio. And a low-resolution (commonly called economy) mode with a high compression ratio. It also supports high to low pixel counts. For example, there are image sizes called SXGA, XGA, SVGA, VGA and the like.

  The DRAM 14 is used as a work memory, and an image buffer area for temporarily storing photographed image data, a work area for JPEG compression / expansion, and an image composition are secured.

  The control unit 20 has a microprocessor configuration including a timekeeping mechanism such as a CPU, a RAM, a program storage ROM, and a timer. The CPU is connected to the above-described circuits and a power supply switch (not shown) via a bus line. The entire digital camera 100 is controlled by a control program stored in the program storage ROM, and each mode stored in the program storage ROM corresponds to the status signal from the operation unit 30. An operation program to be extracted is taken out, and execution control of each function of the digital camera 100, for example, control of slot photo shooting operations (sequential shooting, slot photo selection, slot image composition, recording, etc.) in the slot photo shooting mode is performed.

The operation unit 30 includes buttons and switches such as a mode switch 31, a liquid crystal monitor switch 32, a zoom key 33, a menu key 34, a cursor key 35, a shutter key 36, a strobe setting key 37, and a DISP key 38. When a key, button or switch is operated, a status signal and a set value are sent to the control unit 20.
The shutter key 36 has a two-stage pressing structure. When a half shutter (half-pressing operation of the shutter key 36) is performed in the shooting mode, automatic focusing starts, and shooting is performed by pressing the shutter key 36 fully. In addition, continuous shooting is performed at predetermined time intervals while the shutter key 36 is fully pressed, and shooting is terminated when the shutter key 36 is released. In the embodiment, the shutter key 36 is configured so that if the finger is pressed fully while the shutter key 36 is pressed, continuous shooting is performed, and when the finger is released, the shutter key 36 is released and the original position is restored. However, continuous shooting is performed even if the finger is released after the shutter key 36 is fully pressed, and when the shutter key 36 is pressed again, the shutter key 36 is released and the shutter key 36 is released to end the continuous shooting. It may be configured.

  The display unit 40 includes a video encoder (not required in the case of a digital input / output display unit), a VRAM (not shown), a liquid crystal monitor screen (LCD) 41, and the like. A through image, a translucent image, a reproduction image at the time of reproduction, a selection menu (or icon) at the time of processing selection, and the like are displayed.

  The flash memory 50 stores image data (compressed image data) and shooting conditions associated with the image data (for example, shooting date and time, position (latitude / longitude) of the digital camera 100, angle of view (azimuth), aperture, shutter speed, ISO. In addition to the sensitivity setting value, zoom magnification, strobe light emission, peripheral light amount, the number of pixels, compression rate, recording mode, etc.) are recorded in association with the image data to be stored and recorded. Also, an image information list (not shown) for registering image shooting modes and the like can be recorded. A removable storage medium such as a memory card may be used instead of the flash memory.

  The photometric sensor 113 measures the amount of light around the digital camera 100 and sends the measured value to the control unit 20. The automatic focusing mechanism 114 includes a focus lens moving motor, a motor control unit, etc., and moves the focus lens of the optical system 11 under the control of the control unit 20 with a camera having an automatic focusing (autofocus (AF)) function. Focus.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a slot image data storage area secured on the DRAM 14 in the slot photo shooting mode. When the slot photo shooting mode is selected, the DRAM 14 temporarily stores slot image data in the slot image storage area 14-1, and selected image information storage for storing identification information (image number or storage address) of the selected slot image. Area 14-2 and work area 14-3 are secured (FIG. 4A). In the slot image storage area 14-1, a slot image data storage area for the designated number of subjects k × continuous number of shots n is secured. The slot image has a size obtained by dividing the size of one screen by n in the vertical direction. In FIG. 4B, slot image data a1,..., Obtained by setting the number of subjects k = 3 in the slot image storage area 14-1 and photographing the three persons A, B, and C n times each. an, b1,..., bn, c1,.

  For example, when images A2, B1, and C3 are selected from the slot images as shown in FIG. 1 (i), the slot image storage area is stored in the selected image information storage area 14-2 as shown in FIG. 4 (c). The addresses of the slot image data images a2, b1, and c3 stored in 14-1 are stored.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the digital camera 100 in the slot photography mode. Steps S3 to S22 below are CPU control operations performed in accordance with the slot photography operation program stored in the program storage ROM. It corresponds to.

  In FIG. 5, after the digital camera 100 is activated, when the photographer selects the slot photography mode (step S1), the CPU activates the slot photography operation program and displays the number of subjects (in the embodiment, in the embodiment). A message prompting input of the number of persons) (for example, “Please select the number of people to shoot in the slot”) and a subject number selection column (not shown) are displayed (step S2).

  When the photographer selects / inputs the number k of subjects to be photographed in the slot photo, it is held (temporarily stored) in a predetermined area of the work area 14-3 of the DRAM 14 (step S3), and the liquid crystal monitor screen 41 is set to the vertical direction k. At the same time, k selection image address storage areas are secured in the selection image information storage area 14-2 of the DRAM 14, and these areas are cleared. Further, 1 is set to the subject counter i. In the following steps, the number of subjects is described as k = 3, but the number of subjects is not limited to k = 3 (step S4).

  The CPU captures the subject image via the optical system 11 and the signal conversion unit 12, and controls the signal processing unit 13 to generate image data whose angle of view is 1 / k (in this example, 1/3) in the vertical direction. Then, the captured image data is thinned out and sent to the display unit 40, and is passed through the i-th divided screen 41-i among the screens that are vertically divided into k (three in this example) on the liquid crystal monitor screen 41. It is displayed (step S5).

  The CPU checks the signal from the operation unit 30 and determines whether or not the shutter key 36 is half-pressed (step S6). If the shutter key 36 is half-pressed, it sends a control signal to the automatic focusing mechanism 114 to automatically focus ( AF) operation is performed, and the process proceeds to step S8 (step S7).

  Further, the CPU checks the signal from the operation unit 30 and determines whether or not the shutter key 36 has been fully pressed (step S8). To generate image data having an angle of view of 1/3 in the vertical direction, and sequentially store it in the slot image storage area 14-1 of the DRAM 14 as shown in the example of FIG. 4B (step S9). ), The image data is sent to the display unit 40 and displayed on the i-th divided screen 41-i (step S10).

  Next, the CPU adds 1 to the subject counter i, and returns to step S5 when the value of the subject counter i after addition is k (k = 3 in this example) or less, and when the value of the subject counter i is larger than k. In other words, when shooting of each subject is completed, the process proceeds to step S12 (step S11).

  The CPU checks the signal from the operation unit 30 and proceeds to step S13 if the DISP key 38 is pressed, otherwise waits until the DISP key 38 is pressed (step S12).

  The CPU stores the first image data a1 in the continuous shot image of the subject photographed first among the slot image data stored in the slot image storage area 14-1 of the DRAM 14, and the second photographed subject. The first image data b1 in the continuous shot image and the first image data c1 of the third photographed subject are taken out and sent to the display unit 40, and divided as shown in FIG. 6 (a). Still images are displayed as slot photos A1, B1, and C1 on the screens 41-1, 41-2, and 41-3 to prompt the photographer to select them (step S13).

The photographer can select a desired slot photo by performing a confirmation operation after operating the cursor key 35 up and down or left and right. For example, when the cursor key 35 is operated left and right in FIG. 6 to position the cursor on the image A1 and then operated downward, the second image A2, the third image A3,. , The nth image An, and the first image A1 can be displayed in the order of slide show (FIGS. 6B to 6D). Further, when the cursor key 35 is operated upward, the third image An,..., The third image A3, the second image A2, and the first image A1 are reversed in order. A slide show can be displayed. Similarly, if the cursor key 35 is operated left and right to position the cursor on the image B1 and then operated downward, a slide show is displayed in the order of images B2, B3,..., Bn, B1, and the cursor key 35 is operated left and right to display the image. When a downward operation is performed after positioning the cursor on C1, a slide show is displayed in the order of images C2, C3, Cn,..., C1. Similarly, when the cursor key 35 is operated upward, they are displayed in the reverse order. Therefore, the photographer can select the image at the cursor position as the most appropriate image by performing the selection operation for the image at the desired cursor position after performing the left / right operation or the up / down operation with the cursor key 35. Thereby, the most appropriate image can be selected for each subject.
In order to enable this image selection, the CPU checks the signal from the operation unit 30, and proceeds to step S15 when the cursor key 35 is operated left and right, and proceeds to step S16 when the cursor key 35 is operated up and down, and the selection operation is performed. If so, the process proceeds to step S17 (step S14).
When the cursor key 35 is operated left and right, the CPU moves the cursor to the left or right of the divided screen at the current position of the cursor, and returns to step S14 (step S15).
When the cursor key 35 is operated up and down, the CPU starts from the image at the current position of the cursor as a starting point, and the object of the subject including the image in the slot image data stored in the slot image storage area 14-1 of the DRAM 14 is included. Image data of n slot images continuously shot in the normal order (downward operation) or reverse order (upward operation) is read from the image data group and sent to the display unit 40 k (k = 3 in this example). ) The still image is displayed on the divided screen at the cursor position among the divided screens, and the process returns to step S14 (step S16).

  When the selection operation is performed, the divided screen number j at the cursor position is acquired, and the storage address on the DRAM 14 of the slot image displayed on the divided screen is held, that is, the selected image information storage area in step S4. Among the i selected image address storage areas reserved in 14-2 (i = 3 in this example), the data is stored in the jth selected image address storage area (1 ≦ j ≦ 3 in this example) (step S17). ).

  The CPU checks whether or not an optimum slot image has been selected for each subject, and if one is selected, the process proceeds to step S19. If not, the process returns to step S14. Note that whether or not the optimum slot image is selected for each subject is determined by, for example, the storage address of the selected slot image in all the selected image address storage areas secured in the selected image information storage area 14-2. Can be determined by checking whether or not is stored (step S18).

  The CPU displays a message for confirming whether or not the combination of slot photographs displayed on each divided screen of the display unit 40 is acceptable, a confirmation column, and a reselection column (step S19), and a signal from the operation unit 30 is displayed. If there is a confirmation operation (point in the confirmation column), the process proceeds to step S22, and if there is a reselection operation (point in the reconfirmation column), the process returns to step S14 (step S20).

  When there is a confirmation operation, the CPU controls the signal processing unit 13 to select the image selected based on the address of the selected slot image stored in the selected image address storage area of the selected image information storage area 14-2. The image data are combined and combined as a single image in the work area 14-3 (step S21), subjected to compression processing, transferred to the flash memory 50 and recorded, and the slot photography mode ends (step S22). ).

  In the flowchart of FIG. 5, an example is shown in which the slot image is continuously shot for each subject when the shutter key 36 is fully pressed. However, the same subject may be shot a plurality of times by performing the shutter operation multiple times instead of continuous shooting. Good. Further, a means for selecting whether continuous shooting or shooting by shutter operation may be provided when the slot shooting mode is selected in step S1 (for example, menu display is performed and menu selection is performed by the menu key 34).

  With the operation shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 above, it is possible to shoot a plurality of images for each subject and select and combine optimal images on the screen for each subject. A group photo can be obtained even in the case where they cannot be physically arranged at the same time. For example, even if you want to take a picture with three parents but no one asks you to take a picture, first the husband and the wife take a picture several times, then the husband takes the picture several times and the best picture (3 people) can be selected and combined to obtain a photo with 3 parents and children. Also, even if shooting fails, such as when a person closes his eyes at the time of shuttering, the same subject is shot multiple times, and an optimum image is selected, so there is no need to reshoot.

  In the flowchart of FIG. 5, the photographer inputs the number of subjects (step S3), and the screen is divided by the number of subjects (step S4). The number of screen divisions is determined in advance at the time of design (for example, In the slot photography mode, the through display screen may be divided into three parts). In this case, when the number of subjects is larger than the number of divided screens, the screen can be scrolled to the right, for example, and a new image can be displayed on the rightmost divided screen.

In the flowchart of FIG. 5 described above, the screen is divided into n in the vertical direction in step S4. However, the present invention is not limited to this. If the number of divisions is large, the screen may be divided in a two-dimensional array (for example, in the case of four divisions, a 2 × 2 multi-screen display may be used).

  In the flowchart of FIG. 5 described above, an example is shown in which automatic focusing is performed by half-pressing the shutter key 36 (see steps S6 and S7). However, focusing may be performed manually.

  In the flowchart of FIG. 5, an example is shown in which n slot images are continuously shot for each subject when the shutter key 36 is fully pressed (see Steps S8 and S9), but the number of continuous shots differs for each subject. Also good. For example, when the shutter key 36 is fully pressed, continuous shooting is performed at predetermined time intervals, and when the full-pressed state is released, the continuous shooting is terminated.

  In addition, in step S3 in the flowchart of FIG. 5, the continuous shooting speed, that is, the continuous shooting interval can be selected. For example, when “slow shooting” is selected, the continuous shooting interval is set longer and “fast shooting” is set. If selected, the continuous shooting interval may be set short. In this way, if “slow shooting” is selected, the shooting is performed at intervals when continuous shooting is performed in step S9, so that a change in facial expression can be shot when the subject is a person. Also, if “shoot early” is selected, it is possible to cope with closing eyes or moving while waiting for shooting, which is convenient when shooting a child.

Further, in step S9 of the flowchart of FIG. 5 described above, the captured subject image is processed by the signal processing unit 13 and adjusted to the angle of view of the size of the divided screen to generate the slot image. However, the present invention is not limited to this. .
For example, the captured subject image is processed by the signal processing unit 13 to generate normal screen size data, and the generated image data is shaped into image data having an angle of view of the size of the divided screen and stored in the DRAM 14. At the same time, it may be sent to the display unit 40 as still image data, or may be thinned out and sent to the display unit 40 as through image display data.

  Further, when the image data recorded in the flash memory 50 is reproduced, the image data is shaped into image data having the angle of view of the size of the divided screen, sent to the display unit 40, and reproduced and displayed on the divided screen. It may be. In this way, it is possible to generate a slot image from an image recorded in the flash memory 50 (or memory card) and obtain a combined image combined with other slot images.

  Further, in the flowchart of FIG. 5, when dividing an image by the number of subjects, a dividing line is displayed on the screen (see step S4). However, a frame frame for a slot photograph is displayed, and a slot frame is displayed therein. An image may be displayed.

  Further, in the flowchart of FIG. 5, the shot slot image data is stored in the DRAM 14 (temporary storage memory) (see step S9), but continuous shooting of one subject (or multiple shootings by shutter operation). After completing the above, each slot image is recorded for each subject in the flash memory 50 (storage memory), and when the mode is switched to the reproduction mode in step S12, the slot image data recorded for each subject is extracted from the flash memory 50 in step S13. You may comprise so that it may reproduce | regenerate and display. In this case, the subject can be photographed at different timings in terms of location and time, and an optimal image can be selected and combined to obtain a group photo. For example, children can be taken continuously on weekdays, and husbands and wives can take turns and photograph several times on holidays, so that an optimal image can be selected and combined, so that a picture of three parents and children can be obtained.

  In the flowchart of FIG. 5, when the DISP key 38 is pressed in step S12, the first captured slot image of each subject is displayed on the divided screen in step S13. However, steps S12 and S13 are essential. is not. When these steps are omitted, the last image taken for each subject is the first image to be viewed when selecting an image. That is, in the example of FIG. 1, FIG. 1 (g) is the first image seen when selecting an image.

  Further, in step S16 of the flowchart of FIG. 5, as shown in the example of FIG. 6, a slot image of the same subject is displayed as a slide show by the up / down operation of the cursor key 35 for each divided screen where the cursor is positioned in step S15 when an image is selected. However, the image selection method on the screen is not limited to this. For example, as shown in the following modified example (FIG. 7), step S16 is configured to scroll the entire screen (the entire screen, not each divided screen) by the up / down operation of the cursor key 35, and the cursor key 35 in step S15. The slot image in which the cursor is positioned by the left and right operations can be selected as the optimum image.

  In this case, step S16 of the flowchart of FIG. 5 is described as follows: “When the cursor key 35 is operated up and down, the CPU stores the image at the current position of the cursor in the slot image storage area 14-1 of the DRAM 14 as a starting point. Image data having the same shooting order of the slot images of each subject in the image data group is read out and sent to the display unit 40 to display still images on k (in this example, k = 3) divided screens. "Back". Further, in order to confirm the selected slot image, step S19 is executed, “the slot image selected from the slot image storage area 14-1 based on the storage address of the selected image stored in the selected image information storage area 14-2. Are read out and displayed together with a message for prompting confirmation, etc. ”.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of slot image selection in the slot photography mode, and shows an example in which the number of subjects is 3 in step S3 of FIG. FIG. 6A is an example of the slot images A1, B1, and C1 (see FIG. 1H) displayed in step S13 of FIG. 5, and the cursor 41-0 is displayed on the first divided screen 41-1. Is displayed.

  FIG. 6B shows one of the slot images A2 selected as the optimum image of the subject A by the selection operation in steps S14 to S16 in FIG. 5 and one of the unselected slot images of the subjects B and C (image B1, C1) is a diagram (see FIG. 1 (i)), and the cursor key 35 is operated to the right to move the cursor to the divided screen 41-2 (that is, an example where the subject B is positioned in the slot image B1). It is. FIG. 6C shows the slot image B1 selected as the optimum image of the subject B by the selection operation in steps S14 to S16 of FIG. 5, the selected slot image A2 of the subject A, and the unselected slot image C1 of the subject C. This is an example in which the cursor key 35 is operated to the right to move the cursor to the divided screen 41-3 (that is, an example in which the cursor is positioned on the slot image C1 of the subject C). FIG. 6D shows the slot image C3 selected as the optimum image of the subject C by the selection operation in steps S14 to S16 in FIG. 5 and the selected slot images A2 and B1 of the subjects A and B. .

  FIG. 6E shows the result of combining the slot images A2, B1, and C3 as one image in step S21 after confirmation of the selected image in step S20 in FIG.

<Modification>
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another embodiment of slot image selection in the slot photo shooting mode, and shows an example in which the number of subjects is 3 in step S3 of FIG. FIG. 7A is an example of the slot images A1, B1, and C1 (see FIG. 1H) displayed in step S13 of FIG. 5, and the cursor 41-0 is displayed on the first divided screen 41-1. Is displayed. In FIG. 7B, the cursor key 35 is operated to the right in step S14 in FIG. 5 to select the image B1 as the optimum image among the slot images displayed in FIG. 7A, and the cursor 14-0 is moved. In this example, the screen is moved to the right split screen 41-2 and a confirmation operation is performed. Thereby, the image B2 is selected as the optimum slot image of the subject B.

  FIG. 7C shows an example in which the entire screen 41 is scrolled to display the slot images A2, B2, and C2, and the cursor 14-0 remains on the second divided screen 41-2. In FIG. 7D, in order to select the image A2 as the optimum image among the slot images displayed in FIG. 7C, the cursor key 35 is operated leftward in step S14 of FIG. In this example, the screen is moved to the left split screen 41-1 and a confirmation operation is performed. Thereby, the image A2 is selected as the optimum slot image.

  FIG. 7E shows an example in which the entire screen 41 is scrolled to display the slot images A3, B3, and C3, and the cursor 14-0 remains on the first divided screen 41-1. In FIG. 7 (f), the cursor key 35 is operated to the right in step S14 of FIG. 5 to select the image C3 as the optimum image among the slot images displayed in FIG. 7 (e), and the cursor 14-0 is moved. In this example, the screen is moved to the left divided screen 41-3 and a confirmation operation is performed. Thereby, the image C3 is selected as the optimum slot image.

  FIG. 7G shows an example in which the slot images A2, B1, and C3 selected in step S19 in FIG. 5 are displayed. FIG. 7H shows one slot image A2, B1, and C3 in step S21. It is a figure which shows the result synthesize | combined as this image.

  As mentioned above, although several Example of this invention was described, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not limited to said each Example, A various deformation | transformation implementation is possible. For example, the term imaging device can be applied to an electronic still camera, a mobile phone with a camera, an information device having an imaging unit, and the like in addition to a digital camera.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline | summary of the slot photography method. It is a figure which shows the external appearance of one Example of the digital camera provided with the slot photography function. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structural example of a digital camera. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the slot image data storage area ensured on DRAM at the time of slot photography mode. It is a flowchart which shows the operation example of the digital camera in slot photography mode. It is a figure which shows one Example of the slot image selection in slot photography mode. It is a figure which shows another Example of the slot image selection in slot photography mode.

Explanation of symbols

11 Optical system (photographing means)
12 Signal converter (photographing means)
13 Signal processor (photographing means, image composition means)
14 DRAM (first memory)
14-1 Slot image storage area 14-2 Selected image information storage area 20 Control unit (display control means)
35 Cursor keys (display image change instruction means, image selection means)
35-0 Selection operation button (image selection means)
35-1, 35-3 Up / down movement instruction part (display image change instruction means)
35-2, 35-4 Left / right movement instruction portion (display image change instruction means)
38 DISP key 36 Shutter key (shooting instruction means)
40 display unit (photographing standby image display means, image display means)
41 LCD monitor screen (screen)
41-0 Cursors 41-1, 41-2, 41-3 Split screen 50 Flash memory (second memory)
100 Digital camera (imaging device)
A1-An, B1-Bn, C1-Cn Slot photo (slot image)
a1-an, b1-bn, c1-cn slot image data

Claims (7)

Imaging means;
Display means;
A first display control unit configured to divide a screen displayed by the display unit into a plurality of regions, and to perform a through display of a subject image sequentially captured by the imaging unit in one of the plurality of regions;
First detection means for detecting a capture instruction when in the through display state by the first display control means;
An imaging control unit that controls the imaging unit to capture a plurality of subject images corresponding to the through display state area when the first detection unit detects a capture instruction;
First storage means for storing a plurality of subject images captured by the imaging control means;
When a plurality of subject images are stored in the first storage means, the display by the first display control means, the detection by the first detection means, and the imaging control means for other areas in the plurality of areas Control means for controlling to repeat the imaging control by and the storage by the first storage means;
For an area where a plurality of corresponding subject images are stored in the first storage unit, one of the plurality of subject images stored corresponding to the area is displayed as a temporary selection image in the area. Second display control means for controlling so as to
After the storage of the plurality of subject images in the first storage unit is completed, a predetermined operation by the user is performed on each of the plurality of regions where the temporarily selected image is displayed by the second display control unit. by detecting, second detecting means for detecting the selection of the specific subject image from the plurality of object images in correspondence with each of the plurality of regions stored in said first storage means,
Image combining means for generating a combined image by combining the images selected and detected by the second detecting means;
Second storage means for storing the image synthesized by the image synthesis means;
An imaging apparatus comprising:   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second display control unit controls to display a specific subject image selected and detected by the second detection unit. The second display control means controls to display a plurality of subject images stored by the first storage means while sliding one by one,
The second detection means detects a selection by detecting a predetermined operation by a user at a timing at which the specific subject image is displayed among the plurality of subject images displayed on the slide. The imaging device according to claim 2.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising first setting means for setting the number of times of control by the control means.   When the number of times set by the first setting means is larger than the number of areas divided by the first display control means, the first display control means responds to the number of times set by the setting means. 5. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the image is controlled to be displayed in a scrolled manner so that a subject image sequentially picked up in the region is displayed as a through display. A first display control step for dividing the screen of the display unit into a plurality of areas and controlling the subject images sequentially captured by the imaging unit in one of the plurality of areas to be displayed through;
A first detection step of detecting a capture instruction in the through display state in the first display control step;
An imaging control step for controlling the imaging unit to capture a plurality of subject images corresponding to the through display state area when detecting a capture instruction in the first detection step;
A first storage step of storing a plurality of subject images captured in the imaging control step in a first memory;
When a plurality of subject images are stored in the first storage step, the display by the first display control step, the detection by the detection step, and the imaging by the imaging control step are performed for other regions in the plurality of regions. A control step for controlling to repeat the control and the storage by the first storage step;
For an area where a plurality of corresponding subject images are stored in the first memory, one of the plurality of subject images stored corresponding to the area is displayed as a temporary selection image in the area. A second display control step for controlling
After the storage of the plurality of subject images in the first storage step is completed, a predetermined operation by the user is detected for each of the plurality of areas in which the temporarily selected image is displayed in the second display control step. A second detection step of detecting selection of a specific subject image from a plurality of subject images stored in the first memory corresponding to each of the plurality of regions;
An image combining step for generating a combined image obtained by combining the images selected and detected in the second detection step;
A second storage step for storing the image synthesized in the image synthesis step in a second memory;
An image composition method comprising: A computer provided in an imaging apparatus having a display unit and an imaging unit,
A first display control unit configured to divide a screen included in the display unit into a plurality of regions and to perform through-display of a subject image sequentially captured by the imaging unit in one of the plurality of regions;
Detecting means for detecting an instruction for taking-in in a through display state by the first display control means;
An imaging control unit that controls the imaging unit to capture a plurality of subject images corresponding to the region in the through display state when the capturing instruction is detected by the detecting unit,
First storage means for storing a plurality of subject images captured by the imaging control means in a first memory;
When a plurality of subject images are stored by the first storage unit, the display by the first display control unit, the detection by the detection unit, and the imaging control by the imaging control unit are performed for other regions in the plurality of regions. And control means for controlling to repeat the storage by the first storage means,
For an area where a plurality of corresponding subject images are stored in the first storage unit, one of the plurality of subject images stored corresponding to the area is displayed as a temporary selection image in the area. Second display control means for controlling so as to
After the storage of the plurality of subject images in the first storage unit is completed, a predetermined operation by the user is performed on each of the plurality of regions where the temporarily selected image is displayed by the second display control unit. by detecting, second detecting means for detecting the selection of the specific subject image from the plurality of object images in correspondence with each of the plurality of regions stored in said first memory,
Image combining means for generating a combined image by combining the images selected and detected by the second detecting means;
Second storage means for storing the image synthesized by the image synthesis means in a second memory;
An image compositing program characterized in that it functions as a computer program.

Images