JP4633643B2 - camera - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a camera, and more particularly to a camera equipped with a position information detection function.

  When you recall a memory of a photo, you can recall the time and place of the memory, so that you can easily recreate the memory and enjoy a deeper appreciation of the photo.

  Conventionally, there are cameras that record image data acquired by photographing and date / time information in association with each other. Furthermore, in recent years, with the spread of GPS (Global Positioning System) devices, cameras equipped with GPS devices have also been proposed (see Patent Document 1).

  There has also been proposed a camera that records place name information indicating place names corresponding to GPS information, which is position information acquired by a GPS device, and image data (see Patent Document 2).

According to the camera as described above, when recollecting a memory by looking at the image data acquired by photographing, it is possible to acquire image data that can easily recall the date and place of the memory.
Japanese Patent No. 3081711 JP-A-8-313988

  In order to associate the image data with the place name information, a huge database is required. In view of this, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2 employs a configuration in which place name information is recorded on an external recording medium. However, in order to cope with the language of each country, further enlargement of the database is inevitable.

  By the way, in order to realize appreciation so that memories can be easily reproduced, there is no need to be concerned with place name information at all. For example, a means of using GPS information acquired by a GPS device more effectively can be considered.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a camera that acquires appreciable image data that can easily reproduce memories without requiring a large-capacity database and memory. To do.

In order to achieve the above object, a camera according to a first aspect of the present invention includes an imaging unit that captures an image of a subject and acquires image data, a position detection unit that detects position information of the current location of the camera, and the image data capturing means has acquired, a correlating means for associating the reduced image data obtained from the image data and the position information at the time of imaging the position detecting means at the time of acquisition of the image data is detected, the is incorporated in the camera body, a first memory is a nonvolatile memory for recording the location information at the time of the reduced image data and the imaging is detachable from the main body of the camera, the corresponding and position information at the time of the image data and the image pickup which is compatible with the device with a second memory for recording, every time the image data is acquired, the recording of the said second memory The positional information at the time of imaging related to all the image data is compared with the positional information at the time of imaging detected by the position detecting means at the time of acquisition of the image data, and the positional information at the time of imaging is not the same If not, the reduced image data obtained from the acquired image data and the position information at the time of imaging detected by the position detection means at the time of acquisition of the image data are stored in the first memory. And a control means for controlling to record .

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a camera that acquires image data that can be viewed and can be easily reproduced without requiring a large-capacity database and memory.

  A camera according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the concept of the system configuration of the camera according to this embodiment.

  First, reference numeral 2 denotes an MPU (Micro Processing Unit) which is a control means including a microcontroller. The MPU 2 is provided with an operation member 2a. Then, the MPU 2 detects the state of the operation member 2a, and based on the result of the detection, each MPU 2 according to an operation control program (stored in a first memory (for example, flash memory) 4) shown in a flowchart to be described later. Control the components.

  The operation member 2a is an operation member used for, for example, an operation for starting a release operation of the camera, a shooting mode, a reproduction mode, mode switching such as a navigation mode to be described later, and other various operations.

  By the way, at the time of photographing, an image of the subject 8 that has entered the camera via the photographing lens 6 is converted into an electric signal by an image pickup device 10a made of, for example, a CCD or a CMOS sensor. Then, this electrical signal is read out by an AFE (Analoge Front End) circuit 10, subjected to A / D conversion and the like to become a digital image signal (hereinafter referred to as “image data”), and is input to the signal processing circuit 12. The Thereafter, the image data is subjected to predetermined processing such as color correction and signal compression processing in the signal processing circuit 12 and then recorded in a second memory (a removable memory, for example, a memory card) 14. . The signal processing circuit 12 is provided with a processing auxiliary block 12a for changing a correction method during image processing, adding a specific signal, or the like.

  Note that the image data obtained by photographing as described above can be transmitted to the outside of the camera by the print signal output means 15a or the wireless communication means 15b. The wireless communication unit 15b is a member that enables wireless communication with a camera or the like having a system configuration similar to or similar to the camera according to the present embodiment (system configuration including the wireless communication unit 15b). Therefore, for example, image data and the like can be transmitted and received by the wireless communication unit 15b.

  In the camera according to the present embodiment, a microphone 10b is further provided, and audio data that is an audio signal acquired by the microphone 10b is also subjected to signal compression processing by the signal processing circuit 12 in the same manner as the image data. Are recorded in the second memory 14 or the like, for example.

  Note that data is appropriately stored in a RAM (Random Access Memory) 16 in order to perform various calculations during processing or recording of the image data and the audio data.

  As a means for displaying image data or the like, there is provided display means 18 composed of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like. That is, the image data acquired by the image sensor 10a as described above can be sequentially reproduced and displayed on the display means 18. That is, the user can take a picture while checking the state of change of the subject 8 with reference to the display means 18. In addition, a speaker 18a for performing voice reproduction of the voice data is also provided. Furthermore, when the audio data is reproduced, the audio data recorded in the second memory 14 is read out by the signal processing circuit 12 and then output from the speaker 18a to be reproduced. .

  That is, when the image data is reproduced and displayed, the image data compressed and recorded in the second memory 14 is read by the signal processing circuit 12 and further subjected to expansion processing or the like. Thereafter, it is reproduced and displayed on the display means 18.

  In addition, the camera according to the present embodiment is provided with a clock unit 20 having a function of acquiring date / time information indicating a shooting date / time and a timer function of time measurement. The date and time information acquired by the clock means 20 is recorded in the second memory 14 in association with image data acquired by photographing, for example. Further, according to the timer function, for example, the exposure time, the moving image shooting time, and the predetermined timing interval in the shooting operation can be measured.

  Further, in order to detect GPS information which is position information of the camera, a position detecting means 22 made of, for example, a GPS device is provided. This position detection means 22 can acquire GPS information indicating a shooting position such as image data. The image data and the GPS information can be associated with each other and recorded in the second memory 14.

  The date information and the GPS information are also recorded in the first memory 4.

  Hereinafter, an example of operation control by the MPU 2 in the digital camera according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 2A to 2D. This flowchart is a main flowchart of the camera according to the present embodiment, and is a flowchart of operation control that is automatically activated when a power switch (not shown) is turned on by a user.

  First, based on the operation of the operation member 2a by the user, the camera is set to one of a shooting mode, a reproduction mode, and a navigation mode.

  Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the set mode is a shooting mode (step S1). If it is determined in step S1 that the set mode is the shooting mode, the process branches to YES, and it is determined whether or not a release operation is performed by the operation of the operation member 2a by the user (step S2).

  If it is determined in step S2 that the release operation has not been performed, the process branches to NO and returns to step S1. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2 that the release operation has been performed by the user, the process branches to YES and the photographing process is started. That is, focusing (step S3) and exposure control (step S4) are performed. In this manner, the electric signal acquired by the image sensor 10a is read out by the AFE circuit 10 and subjected to A / D conversion or the like. The image processing unit 12 performs color correction and signal compression processing on the image data obtained by the signal processing circuit 12. Predetermined image processing is performed (step S5). After the series of digital image processing in step S5, the obtained image data is compressed by the signal processing circuit 12 (step S6).

  The date and time information is obtained by referring to the clock means 20, the GPS information is obtained by the position detecting means 22 (step S7), the date and time information and the GPS information, and the image after the series of digital image processing in step S5. The data is associated and recorded in the second memory 14 that can be attached to and detached from the camera (step S8).

  Thereafter, the second memory 14 is searched to determine whether there is image data (similar image data) having GPS information and date / time information similar to the image data (step S9). When step S9 is branched to NO, only the date information and GPS information acquired in step S7 are recorded in the first memory 4 (step S10A). The reason why the image data is not recorded here is that if the image data is recorded in the first memory 4 which is composed of a nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory and the memory capacity is not so large, the capacity of the first memory is compressed. is there. The recording of the date and time information and the GPS information in the first memory 4 is a process for recording a place where the camera has been photographed, and an operation performed using the recording result. The control will be described later.

  On the other hand, when step S9 is branched to YES, step S10A is omitted, and the number of shots taken at a similar place is recorded in step S10B. In this way, step S10A is omitted when continuous shooting is performed with the same camera composition, and it is considered that the date information and GPS information do not change. The eyes record date and time information and GPS information, but for the second and subsequent shots, step S9 is branched to YES, so the date and time information and GPS information are not recorded in the first memory 4, The number of similar images is recorded in the second memory 14. Note that the recording of the number of similar image data in step S10B can be one clue in the search of image data described later.

  After step S10A or step S10B, it is determined whether the power switch (not shown) is turned off by the user (step S20). If it is determined in step S20 that a power switch (not shown) has been turned off, the camera is shut down. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S20 that the power switch (not shown) is not turned off, the process returns to step S1.

  By the way, if it is determined in step S1 that the camera is not set to the shooting mode, it is determined whether or not the camera is set to the reproduction mode (step S11). If it is determined in step S11 that the playback mode is set, the process branches to YES, and it is determined whether the search mode is selected (step S12). Here, the search mode is a mode in which image data is read from the second memory 14 and reproduced and displayed on the display means 18 so that the user can search for desired image data.

  If it is determined in step S12 that the search mode is selected, the process branches to YES, and the image data is displayed on the display unit 18 (step S13A). At this time, for example, a plurality of thumbnail images may be displayed in order of shooting date and time as in a calendar. The user selects desired image data from this display. In step S13A, it is of course possible to adopt a display format based on the orientation described later. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S12 that the search mode is not selected, the process branches to NO, and the previously captured (recent) image data is selected (step S13B).

  After the step S13A or the step S13B, the image data selected by the user or the previously taken (recent) image data is displayed on the display means 18 (step S14). After that, based on the operation of the operation member 2a by the user, it is selected whether or not to output the image data displayed on the display means 18 in step S14 to the outside such as the print signal output means 15a and the wireless communication means 15b. When outputting, the output destination is also designated (step S15). If an operation for transmitting the image data displayed on the display unit 18 by the user to the print signal output unit 15a or the wireless communication unit 15b is performed in step S15, the process branches to YES. Based on the operation performed, the image data is output to a user's desired device (step S16).

  When the step S15 is branched to NO and after the step S16, an operation for displaying the distance and azimuth from the current location to the point where the image data was taken on the display means 18 is performed by the user using the operation member 2a. It is determined whether it has been performed (step S17).

  If step S17 is branched to YES, based on the GPS information corresponding to the image data and the GPS information indicating the current location of the camera, the distance and direction from the current location to the point where the image data was captured are calculated. The calculation result is displayed on the display means 18 (step S18).

  When step S17 is branched to NO or after the processing in step S18 is completed, it is determined whether or not a power switch (not shown) is turned off by the user (step S19). If it is determined in step S19 that the power switch (not shown) has been turned off, the process branches to YES and the camera is shut down. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S19 that the power switch (not shown) is not turned off, the process branches to NO and returns to step S11.

  If it is determined in step S11 that the playback mode is not set, the process branches to NO, and it is determined whether or not the “navigation mode” is set (step S21). Here, the “navigation mode” is one of the features of the present embodiment. Based on the GPS information and direction information or shooting point information described later, for example, a photograph was taken in the past with the camera. In this mode, the display unit 18 displays image data that can reflect on the place, or displays navigation information that guides the user of the camera to a place where the camera has taken a picture in the past. That is. The details of this navigation mode will be described later.

  If it is determined in step S21 that the navigation mode is set, the process branches to YES, and the following navigation mode processing steps in steps S22 to S38 are executed.

First, in step S21, it is determined to have been set in the navigation mode, and branches to step S21 to YES, the GPS information of the current position of the camera, acquired by the position detection unit 22, the GPS information _{P 0} the GPS information (Step S22).

Subsequently, GPS information having a value similar to the value of the GPS information P ₀ acquired in step S22 is searched from the first memory 4 (step S23), and similar to the GPS information P ₀ . It is determined whether GPS information has been found (step S24). If GPS information similar to the GPS information P ₀ is found in the search in step S24, the process branches to YES, and a message as shown in FIG. 3A (stored in the first memory 4 in advance). ) Is displayed on the display means 18 (step S25). As shown in FIG. 3A, this message is a message indicating that the user has come close to a place where the user has taken a picture using the camera in the past.

  Further, in step S25, by using the sound generation warning by the speaker 18a together, even when the user has not seen the display means 18 of the camera, the user has stopped at a place where the camera has been taken in the past. I can confirm that.

  Here, the display means 18 shown in FIG. 3 (a) displays the image data acquired by the past shooting in addition to the message indicating that the camera has used the camera in the past. May be. The processing for performing this display corresponds to the processing in steps S26 to S28 described later.

However, after passing through the step S25, the GPS information similar to the GPS information _{P 0} obtained in the step S22, it retrieves from among the second memory 14 (step S26), to the GPS information _{P 0} similar It is determined whether or not GPS information to be found has been found (step S27).

If GPS information similar to the GPS information P ₀ is found in the search in step S 26, the process branches to YES, and image data corresponding to the GPS information P ₀ is displayed as shown in FIG. 18 (step S28). That is, at this time, as shown in FIG. 3 (a), the display means 18 is obtained by a message indicating that it has come close to a place where the camera has been used in the past and shooting at that time. Image data is displayed.

After the image display, it is determined whether or not a selection operation indicating that a more detailed display is desired is performed by the operation of the operation member 2a by the user (step S29). If it is determined in step S29 that the user has selected that more detailed display is desired, the process branches to YES and corresponds to the image data (image data displayed on the display unit 18 in step S28). Based on the GPS information and the current location GPS information P ₀ , the distance and azimuth from the current location to the shooting location of the image data are calculated (step S 31), and the display means 18 displays as shown in FIG. It is displayed (step S32).

Here, the distance and direction from the current location to the shooting location of the image data may be calculated by, for example, the following equation. Note that the latitude and longitude information is obtained as two-dimensional coordinates from the GPS information, for example, the current location (x ₀ , y ₀ ) and the shooting location (x ₁ , y ₁ ) of the image data. Therefore, regarding distance,

It is calculated by the following formula.

And for the direction,

It is calculated by the following formula. By calculating with this formula, it is possible to calculate how many directions are clockwise from the direction of π / 2 (ie, north).

  When step S29 is branched to NO and after the processing in step S32 is completed, it is determined whether or not a power switch (not shown) is turned off by the user (step S33). If it is determined in step S33 that a power switch (not shown) is turned off, the camera is shut down. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S33 that the power switch (not shown) is not turned off, the process returns to step S21.

Here, when step S24 is branched to NO and when step S27 is branched to NO, GPS information up to the current location (for example, P ₀₁ , P ₀₂ , P ₀₃ , as shown in FIG. 4). By referring to P ₀₄ , a future moving direction is estimated (for example, a curve passing through these P ₀₁ , P ₀₂ , P ₀₃ , P ₀₄ is calculated, and a point on the curve is determined as a future moving point. (Step S35), and the GPS recorded in the first memory 4 indicates whether or not there is a point in the moving direction that has been shot using the camera in the past. Information is searched and determined (step S36). In the case where the step S36 is branched to YES, the “point where the image was taken using the camera in the past among the points in the moving direction” is set as the GPS information P ₀ ′ (step S37), and the step S25 is performed. The GPS information P ₀ ′ is handled as the GPS information P ₀ in the subsequent steps. When the GPS information P ₀ ′ is handled as the GPS information P ₀ in this way, the message display in step S25 is as shown in FIG. 5 up to a point where shooting has been performed using the camera in the past as shown in FIG. Displays the distance and so on.

  When step S36 is branched to NO, a warning is displayed indicating that there is no spot that has been shot using the camera in the past in the moving direction (step S38). Then, it is determined whether or not a power switch (not shown) is turned off by the user (step S39). If it is determined in step S39 that a power switch (not shown) is turned off, the camera is shut down. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S39 that the power switch (not shown) is not turned off, the process returns to step S21.

  By the way, the case where step S21 is branched to NO is a case where none of the photographing mode, the reproduction mode, and the navigation mode is set. In this case, the GPS information is acquired by the position detection means 22 (step S41), and the GPS information is recorded in the first memory 4 (step S42).

  Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the second memory 14 is newly inserted into the camera (step S43). If step S43 is branched to YES, it is next determined whether or not there is map data (data indicating map information) in the second memory 14 (step S44). When step S44 is branched to YES, the map data is input to the first memory 4 (step S45). Thereafter, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed (step S46). If it is determined in step S46 that the predetermined time has elapsed, the process returns to step S1. When it is determined that the predetermined time has not yet elapsed, the process waits until the predetermined time has elapsed.

  In addition, when the said step S43 and said step S44 are branched to NO, it progresses to said step S46 and determines progress of predetermined time.

  In the step of displaying the azimuth and distance in step S18, for example, based on the map data stored in the second memory 14 delivered from another person by the processing of step S41 to step S46, map data Can be displayed at the same time. That is, the user can know which direction and how far the shooting location of the displayed image data is, with reference to the map data.

  Further, the processing in step S41 and step S42 is a step necessary for enabling the processing in step S35 when the navigation mode is set.

  Hereinafter, an actual commercial use scene in the camera according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, as shown in scene A, for example, at a travel agency, the user 100 stores a second memory 14 (information such as itinerary information and GPS information of a destination) related to tourism such as a tour that the user 100 is scheduled to participate in ( Here, for example, a card-type medium is assumed) from the travel agency person 110 at the same time as the itinerary 105 printed on paper or the like. Thereafter, as shown in the scene B, the user inserts the second memory 14 into the slot of the second memory 14 of the camera 115 according to the present embodiment.

  Then, when participating in the tour or the like with the camera 115, for example, in the sightseeing bus 120, when the user 100 performs a predetermined operation as described above as shown in the scene C, as shown in the scene D, as shown in FIG. On the display means 18 of the camera 115, it is possible to display “arriving at the next destination location in another 0 km”, “what location is the destination”, or the like. Thereby, the user can know the information and the current location of the inn planned to stay. Note that operation control in the camera for such display can be easily inferred from the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 2A to 2D, and is omitted here.

  In addition, after taking a picture using the camera, the travel agency ties up with a print company, a bookbinding company, etc., so that it is stored in the second memory 14 as shown in the scene E. A beautifully bound album can be created by combining information, etc., with image data acquired by the user through photography. The travel agency can perform the bookbinding process on behalf of the user to sell the album to the user. Furthermore, the travel agency can use the album as an advertising medium by writing the company name in the corner of the album.

  Hereinafter, an example of the album creation process will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B. Although FIG. 6 is described assuming one camera 115, here, for convenience of description, a plurality of users (users 100A and 100B) are assumed, and the cameras 115A used by the users 100A and 100B are used as cameras. And 115B will be described.

  First, the users 100A and 100B transfer image data from the cameras 115A and 115B according to the present embodiment used as described above to the personal computers 130A and 130B, respectively, using the wireless communication unit 15b, for example.

  Subsequently, the users 100A and 100B upload their acquired image data onto a homepage established by the provider 140 via the Internet 135 using the personal computers 130A and 130B, respectively.

  In addition, since a plurality of users upload image data on the homepage established by the provider 140 as described above, image data posted on the homepage by another user may be permitted by the person who has taken the image data. If so, it may be possible to use image data of another person (for example, a person who participated in the same tour or the like). As a result, for example, when image data that shows the person's appearance accidentally on another person's camera is found on the homepage, the image data can be used.

  In addition, the provider 140 receives a travel menu 145 from the travel agency 145, a restaurant menu 150 used during the trip, a concert program 155 planned as an optional tour at the destination, and the concert venue. The music data 160 that has been sold is supplied as content. Information regarding the tours is provided from the travel agency 145 to the provider 140.

  In the system configuration as described above, the users 100A and 100B operate the personal computers 130A and 130B, respectively, to create albums having a desired layout as shown in FIG. 7B, for example. Since the image data acquired by the cameras 115A and 115B is associated with date information and GPS information, it is possible to easily devise contrivances regarding image layout such as collecting image data for each predetermined region. Can do.

  The data edited in this way is transferred to the print company 165, printed at the print company 165, and the album 125 is created. The album 125 is mailed to the users 100A and 100B. Is done. When there is music data such as the music data 160, the music data is stored in a medium 125a such as a CD, and a pocket for storing the medium 125a is provided in the album 125, and the medium 125a is placed in the pocket. Of course, it may be an album configured to be stored.

  If a large amount of image data is collected on the provider's server, there may be a problem such as difficulty in maintenance. For example, after the tour, the image is only displayed on the server for a predetermined period (for example, one month). Such problems can be alleviated by saving data.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide a camera that can acquire appreciable image data that can easily reproduce memories without requiring a large-capacity database and memory.

  That is, by using GPS information and azimuth information, it is possible to display image data acquired by shooting performed in the past with the camera, and by using GPS information and shooting point information, It is possible to display the distance to the shooting point performed by the camera.

  In addition, it becomes easy to recall a place where a photo was taken in the past or to take a picture again at that place. And since it is the structure which does not require a big database in order to show the above effects, it can be said that it can be easily adapted to the language of each country.

  Furthermore, if the camera according to the present embodiment is set to the “navigation mode”, the user knows that if the user has taken a place where the camera has been photographed in the past without performing a special operation. In addition, the image data at that time can be confirmed.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated based on one Embodiment, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above, Of course, a various deformation | transformation and application are possible within the range of the summary of this invention. is there. For example, the following modifications can be considered.

[First Modification]
In the present first modification, an azimuth sensor 24 for detecting an azimuth using geomagnetism is further provided as shown in FIG. 8 in addition to the configuration of the camera according to the embodiment. Note that the block diagram showing the configuration of the camera shown in FIG. 8 is drawn with the exception of portions specific to the camera according to the present modification, in order to focus the explanation. As shown in the figure, the structural feature point of the camera according to this modification is that the orientation sensor 24 is provided. By using this orientation sensor 24, the camera (more specifically, the taking lens) 6 and the image sensor 10a) can be known.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 9, for example, when the user 100 holds the camera according to this modification in a normal way when viewing the display unit 18 and faces north, Image data 18e photographed at a point existing in the north direction is displayed on the display means 18. Further, for example, when the display means 18 is held in a normal way when viewed and faces northeast, image data 18f and 18g photographed at a point that is approximately in the northeast direction as viewed from the current position of the user is displayed. It is displayed on the means 18.

  Here, in the example shown in FIG. 9, the image data 18e, the image data 18f, and the image data 18g are displayed so as to be shifted from the center of the display screen in the display means 18. This is because the direction (north or northeast) in which the camera is directed is different from each point where the image data 18e, the image data 18f, and the image data 18g are taken.

  The display sizes of the image data 18e, the image data 18f, and the image data 18g are different from each other because the image data is set in ascending order of the shooting date and time. Of course, the size of the distance between the photographed point and the current location may be adopted as an element for determining the size of the image data displayed on the display means 18.

  Hereinafter, the display control calculation process by the MPU 2A for selecting the image data to be displayed as described above will be described with reference to FIG.

In the calculation process, first, GPS information of the current location is set to X ₀ , Y ₀ . Then, if the angle formed between the direction in which the camera according to this modification held as described above is directed and true north is θ ′ (detected by the azimuth sensor 24), the camera is directed. The GPS information (x, y) of the point existing on the extension line of the direction is on a straight line represented by the following expression.

  Therefore, the image data having GPS information (x, y) on the straight line is displayed at the center of the display screen in the display means 18. For example, when θ in the equation is changed to θ + Δθ or θ−Δθ, image data captured at a point slightly off the extension line in the direction in which the camera is directed is displayed on the center of the display screen in the display unit 18. The image is displayed at a site that is deviated by a distance corresponding to Δθ in the right direction or the left direction from the portion.

  Here, as the Δθ is set to a smaller value, the resolution of the position change of the image data can be improved.

  As described above, according to the present modification, a camera having the following effects can be provided in addition to the effects exhibited by the camera according to the embodiment. That is, according to the camera according to the present modification, since a photograph taken in an area located in the direction in which the camera is directed is automatically displayed, a camera that can confirm past memories can be provided.

  By the way, the user of the camera does not always carry the second memory 14 in which image data acquired by photographing in the past is recorded. In view of this, the following modifications can be considered.

[Second Modification]
In the above embodiment, the recording of the image data is performed in the second memory 14 which is a detachable memory. However, in this modification, a thumbnail image is generated by performing a thinning process on the image data, and the thumbnail image is recorded together with the GPS information in the first memory 4 which is a built-in memory.

  That is, the thumbnail image data is recorded in step S10B, the processing in steps S26 and S27 is omitted, and instead the thumbnail image can be read from the first memory 4 and always displayed on the display means 18. Like that. Hereinafter, the camera according to this modification will be described.

  In the second modification, even when the user of the camera does not have the second memory 14 in which image data acquired by capturing in the past is recorded, the camera according to the above-described embodiment. It aims at providing the camera which can acquire the effect similar to the effect in.

  The differences between the second modification and the above-described embodiment are as follows. That is, in the second modification, step S10A and step S10B in the flowchart shown in FIG. 2A in the above-described embodiment are replaced with step S10A ′ and step S10B ′ described later (see FIG. 11A), respectively, and shown in FIG. 2C. Step S28A, which will be described later, is provided between step S25 and step S26 in the flowchart, and a step S28A that will be described later is provided as a step when the step S26A is branched to NO (see FIG. 11B). And also when the said step S27 branches to NO, it transfers to this step S28A. This will be specifically described below. In addition, about the step which performs the process similar to the process in the flowchart shown to FIG. 2A or FIG. 2C, the same step number is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  First, in the flowchart shown in FIG. 11A, when step S9 is branched to NO, the date / time information and GPS information acquired in step S7 correspond to the thumbnail image data obtained by reducing the image data. In addition, it is recorded in the first memory 4 (step S10A ').

  If it is determined in step S9 that there is image data (similar image data) having GPS information and date / time information similar to the image data, step S9 is branched to YES, and then the similar image data Are recorded in the first memory 4 and the second memory 14 (step S10B ′). Note that the recording of the number of similar image data in step S10B ′ can be used as one clue in the search of image data described later.

On the other hand, in the flowchart shown in FIG. 11B, it is determined whether or not the second memory, which is a memory detachable from the camera, is inserted in the camera (step S26A). When step S26A is branched to NO (when the second memory is not inserted in the camera), the thumbnail image data is displayed on the display means 18 (step S28A), and the process proceeds to step S29. On the other hand, in the case of branching the step S26A to YES (the case where the second memory is inserted in the camera), the process proceeds to step S26, similar to the GPS information _{P 0} obtained in step S22 GPS information, retrieves from among the second memory 14 (step S26), GPS information similar to the GPS information _{P 0,} it is determined whether the found (step S27).

If GPS information similar to the GPS information P ₀ is found in the search in step S 26, the process branches to YES, and image data corresponding to the GPS information P ₀ is displayed as shown in FIG. 18 (step S28). That is, at this time, as shown in FIG. 3 (a), the display means 18 is obtained by a message indicating that it has come close to a place where the camera has been used in the past and shooting at that time. Image data is displayed. If no GPS information similar to the GPS information P ₀ is found in step S27, the process branches to NO, and the thumbnail image data is displayed on the display means 18 (step S28A).

  Further, the above-described embodiments include inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriately combining a plurality of disclosed constituent elements. For example, even if some constituent requirements are deleted from all the constituent requirements shown in the embodiment, the problem described in the column of the problem to be solved by the invention can be solved, and the effect described in the column of the effect of the invention Can be extracted as an invention.

1 is a block diagram showing a concept of a system configuration of a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. The 1st part of the main flowchart of the camera which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The 2nd part of the main flowchart of the camera which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The 3rd part of the main flowchart of the camera which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The 4th part of the main flowchart of the camera which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. (A) is a figure which shows the display means on which the message which shows having come to the vicinity of the place image | photographed using the said camera in the past is displayed. (B) is a figure which shows the display means by which the distance and direction from the present location to the imaging | photography place of the said image data are displayed. The conceptual diagram of the method of estimating the future moving direction with reference to GPS information ( _P01 , _P02 , _P03 , _P04 ) until it reaches the present location. The figure which shows the display means on which the distance etc. to the point which image | photographed using the said camera in the past are displayed. The figure which shows the actual commercial use scene in the camera which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows an example of the process of album creation concretely. The figure which shows an example of the album produced by the process of FIG. 7A. The block diagram which shows the structure of the camera of the 1st modification of the camera which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the actual usage example of the camera of the 1st modification of the camera which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The conceptual diagram of the arithmetic processing in the display control which MPU2A of the camera of the 1st modification of the camera which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention performs. The 1st characteristic part in the main flowchart of the camera of the 2nd modification of the camera which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The 2nd characteristic part in the main flowchart of the camera of the 2nd modification of the camera which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  2 ... MPU, 4 ... first memory, 6 ... photographic lens, 8 ... subject, 10a ... imaging device, 10 ... AFE circuit, 10b ... microphone, 12 ... signal processing circuit, 12a ... processing auxiliary block 14 ... second memory, 15a ... print signal output means, 15b ... wireless communication means, 16 ... RAM, 18 ... display means, 20 ... clock means, 22 ... position detection means, 24 ... direction sensor, 105 ... schedule 120 ... tour bus, 125 ... album, 125a ... media, 130A, 130B ... personal computer, 135 ... internet, 140 ... provider, 145 ... travel agency, 150 ... menu, 155 ... program, 160 ... music data, 165 ... print Company.

Claims (3)

Imaging means for capturing an image of a subject and acquiring image data;
Position detecting means for detecting position information of the current location of the camera;
And the image data which the imaging unit has acquired, a correlating means for associating the reduced image data obtained from the image data and the position information at the time of imaging the position detecting means at the time of acquisition of the image data is detected,
A first memory that is built into the camera body and is a non-volatile memory for recording the reduced image data and the position information at the time of imaging ;
A second memory that is detachable from the camera body and records the image data associated with the association means and the position information at the time of imaging;
Every time the image data is acquired, the position information at the time of imaging related to all the image data recorded in the second memory, and the time of imaging detected by the position detection means at the time of acquisition of the image data If the position information at the time of imaging is determined to be the same, the reduced image data obtained from the acquired image data and the position detection at the time of acquisition of the image data are compared. Control means for controlling the position information at the time of imaging detected by the means to be recorded in the first memory;
A camera comprising: Display means for displaying the image data;
When the camera is set to the navigation mode, the position information at the time of imaging recorded in the first memory is compared with the position information of the current location of the camera detected by the position detection unit, When position information that matches or is similar to the position information of the current location is detected in the position information at the time of shooting recorded in the first memory, the current location of the camera is displayed on the display means, Control means for causing the display means to display a message indicating that the place has been photographed in the past using the camera or a place in the vicinity thereof;
The camera according to claim 1, further comprising: The control means includes, in the position information at the time of shooting recorded in the first memory, position information at the time of shooting that matches or is similar to the position information of the current location of the camera detected by the position detection means. If it is detected, it is further determined whether or not image data associated with the matching or similar position information at the time of shooting exists in the second memory, and when it is determined that the image data exists. When it is determined that the image data recorded in the second memory does not exist, the reduced image data associated with the coincident or similar photographing position information is displayed on the display unit together with the message. Display
The camera according to claim 2.

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