JP5158237B2 - Electronic camera - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to electronic cameras.

  An electronic camera records image data obtained by photoelectrically converting a subject image formed by a photographing optical system using an imaging element such as a CCD. The image data is temporarily stored in the buffer memory, subjected to various processes by the image processing circuit, and further recorded through a JPEG compression or the like in a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory loaded in the electronic camera.

  In recent years, the number of pixels of the image sensor has exceeded several million, and when continuous shooting is performed, it takes a long time to complete the recording after the image data in the buffer memory is compressed and transferred to the flash memory. During this time, the photographer could not perform file processing (for example, deletion) on the photographed image, and often felt confused.

The present invention aims to provide an electronic camera capable of also file processing a before recording on the recording medium.

Electronic camera according to claim 1, a temporary storage means for temporarily storing the image pickup means for generating a first image data by imaging an object, the first image data generated by the imaging means, the Image processing means for performing image processing on the first image data stored in the temporary storage means to generate second image data, recording means for recording the second image data on a recording medium, and imaging means When the generated first image data is stored in the temporary storage unit, a file name given a different name for each image data generated by the imaging unit and corresponding to the first image data In a state where the file name assigning means for assigning a file name to the first image data and the second image data are not recorded on the recording medium by the recording means, The first image data stored in the temporary storage unit is specified by using the first file name assigned to the first image data by the file name assigning unit, and stored in the temporary storage unit File processing means for performing file processing for deletion on the first image data; and the second image data recorded on the recording medium by the recording means and stored in the temporary storage means Management information giving means for giving, as management information, status indicating that the second image data is not recorded on the recording medium by the recording means to the first image data .

According to the present invention, even before that records the record medium becomes possible file processing.

The figure explaining the structure of embodiment of the electronic camera by this invention The figure explaining the data structure in a picked-up image buffer memory The figure explaining the data structure in CF card Flowchart explaining photographing process of electronic camera Flowchart explaining compression recording processing of electronic camera Flowchart explaining playback processing of electronic camera

  An internal configuration of an electronic camera according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The subject image formed by the photographing lens is photoelectrically converted by the image pickup device 1 such as a CCD. The image signal output from the CCD 1 is output to the image processing circuit 2. The image processing circuit 2 performs A / D conversion on the input image signal, performs processing such as white balance and gradation correction on the digital signal, and temporarily stores it in the captured image buffer memory 3. The image processing circuit 2 compresses the image data using the image data in the photographed image buffer memory 3 and records the compressed image data in a compact flash (registered trademark) memory (hereinafter referred to as a CF card) 4.

  The CPU 5 comprehensively controls the operation sequence of the electronic camera. That is, various programs, which will be described later, stored in the ROM 6 are executed to perform shooting processing, compression recording processing, reproduction processing, and the like. The display monitor 8 displays a reproduced image under the control of the video controller 7. The work memory 9 captures various data when executing various calculations of the CPU 5.

  Connected to the CPU 5 are a power switch 11, a release switch 12, a monitor switch 13, a delete switch 14, a thumbnail switch 15, a cross key switch 16, and a command dial 17. When the power switch 11 is turned on, the electronic camera is turned on. When the power switch 11 is turned on in this state, the power is turned off. The release switch 12 commands a shooting start command. The monitor switch 13 turns the display monitor 8 on and off. The delete switch 14 deletes an image file captured by the electronic camera or an image file recorded on the CF card 4. When the thumbnail switch 15 is turned on, a thumbnail image is displayed on the display monitor 8. The command dial 17 switches various shooting conditions by operating simultaneously with various switches (not shown). In addition, the cross key switch 16 performs frame advance / return of the thumbnail image displayed on the display monitor 8.

  The storage area in the photographed image buffer memory 3 includes a work area used when performing the above-described white balance, gradation correction, or image data compression or expansion, and an image recording area for temporarily recording image data. And a management information recording area in which management information of image data is recorded. The image recording area has a capacity enough to record a plurality of pieces of image data captured by the image sensor 2.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an image recording area and a management information recording area in the captured image buffer memory 3. Uncompressed image data is recorded in the image recording area. The management information recording area is provided with a file name and status recording area. Specific file names such as DSCN0001, DSCN0002, DSCN0003,... Are assigned to one frame of image data. The status is an index indicating the state of the image file, and there are three types: photographed, recorded, and invalid.

  FIG. 3 shows a data structure in the CF card 4. A file name area and an image recording area are set. A compressed main image and a thumbnail image created by thinning out the main image are recorded in the image recording area, and file names for these images are recorded in the file name area.

  At the timing when the power switch 11 is turned on or off, all the statuses as management information are rewritten to invalid statuses. That is, the maximum free space is secured in the captured image buffer memory 3. The invalid status of the image data captured by the release command and temporarily stored in the captured image buffer memory 3 is rewritten to the captured status. Thereafter, when the image data with the captured status is transferred to the CF card 4 and recorded, the captured status is rewritten to the recorded status. When deletion is instructed to the image data in the photographed image buffer memory 3 as described later, the photographed status or the recorded status is rewritten to an invalid status. As described above, the capacity of the image area of the image data to which the invalid status is assigned is recognized as a free capacity.

  A photographing process, a compression process, and a reproduction process in such an electronic camera will be described. Each of these processes is executed in parallel under the control of the CPU 5 by a program stored in advance in the ROM 6. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a photographing process executed when the power switch 11 is turned on.

  If it is determined in step S1 that the release switch 12 has been recognized and a release request has been made, the process proceeds to step S2. If it is determined in step S2 that the CF card 4 has free space, the process proceeds to step S3. In step S <b> 3, image data to which an invalid status is assigned to the status recording area of the photographed image buffer memory 3 is searched. If there is image data with an invalid status, the process proceeds to step S8 to start photographing. If there is no image data with an invalid status, the process proceeds to step S5. When there is no invalid status, all of the storage areas allocated to the captured image buffer memory 3 are used by the image file with the captured status and the image data with the recorded status. Means that

  In step S5, the image data provided with the recorded status in the photographed image buffer memory 3 is searched in the oldest order, and the process proceeds to step S6. For example, the smaller the number at the end of the file name, the older the image data. When shooting date / time is recorded, the date / time may be changed from oldest to newest. If it is determined in step S6 that there is image data with a recorded status, the process proceeds to step S7. In step S7, the recorded status of the searched image data is rewritten to an invalid status, and the shooting process is executed in step S8.

Conventionally, when captured image data is temporarily stored in a captured image buffer memory, a status with an image is given to the image data, and when it is transferred to a CF card and recorded, it is rewritten with a status without an image. However, in the present embodiment , since a recorded status is assigned to the image file transferred and recorded on the CF card 4, the usable storage capacity does not increase even if the image file is recorded on the CF card 4. That is, when shooting proceeds after the power switch 11 is turned on, the free space in the shot image buffer memory 3 becomes zero. Therefore, after the free space of the photographed image buffer memory 3 becomes zero, that is, after all the invalid statuses have been photographed or rewritten to the recorded status, photographing cannot be performed. Therefore, the image file recorded on the CF card 4 is overwritten in order from the oldest image file, and shooting is performed.

  The photographing process includes the following process. The exposure value is set, the quick return mirror is moved up, the shutter curtain is moved, the subject image is captured by the image sensor 1, the image signal is read from the image sensor 1, A / D conversion, white balance, and γ correction. In step S9, the corrected image signal is stored in the buffer memory. In step S10, a file name is given to the image data stored in the captured image buffer memory 3, and the invalid status is rewritten to the captured status.

  If it is determined in step S2 that the CF card 4 has no free space, or if it is determined in step S6 that there is no recorded status, the photographer is notified in step S11 that shooting is not possible.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the compression recording process following the photographing process of the electronic camera. The compression recording processing program is a program that is executed when the captured status is written in step S10 of the imaging processing program.

If it is determined in step S21 that image data to which a captured status is assigned is stored in the captured image buffer memory 3, the image processing circuit 2 is instructed to start image processing in step S22. Proceed to step S23. In step S23, it is determined whether or not the image data being processed has been deleted as described later, that is, whether or not the captured status has been rewritten to an invalid status. If it is determined that the status has been rewritten to the invalid status, the image processing circuit 2 is instructed to stop the image processing in step S27. If it is determined that the status has not been changed to the invalid status, it is determined in step S24 whether or not compression has been completed. If it is determined in step S24 that the compression has been completed, the process proceeds to step S25, where the compressed image data is recorded on the CF card 4. In step S26, the captured image buffer is stored for the image file recorded on the CF card 4. The captured status in the memory 3 is rewritten to the recorded status.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the playback process of the electronic camera. For example, the reproduction processing program is executed when the monitor switch 13 is turned on. In step S31, the file name of the reproduced image is acquired. For example, the image file with the captured status and the image data with the recorded status in the captured image buffer memory 3 and the file name of the image data recorded on the CF card 4 are acquired. . These are all file names that can be deleted and protected. In step S32, it is determined whether there is a file name that matches the acquired file name in the captured image buffer memory 3. If there is matching image data, the image data of the file name is converted into display image data and displayed on the display monitor 8 by the video controller 7 in step S36.

  If it is determined in step S33 that there is no file name that matches the acquired file name in the captured image buffer memory 3, a file that matches the acquired file name is stored in the CF card 4 in step S34. Determine if name exists. If it is determined that there is an image file with a matching file name, the image data of the image file is converted into display image data and displayed on the display monitor 8 by the video controller 7 in step S35.

  At the time of reproduction, the image data in the shooting buffer memory 3 is searched in preference to the image data of the CF card 4, so that when the image data with the same file name is also recorded on the CF card 4, Since priority reading is performed from the memory 3, high-speed display is possible.

  When a reproduced image is displayed on the display monitor 8, if it is determined in step S37 that there is a signal input from various key switches, processing corresponding to the operation input is performed in the processing after step S38. If it is determined in step S38 that the deletion switch 14 has been turned on, the process proceeds to step S39. In step S39, it is searched whether there is image data having the file name of the image being reproduced in the captured image buffer memory 3. If it is determined in step S40 that image data with a matching file name exists, the management information of the image data is rewritten to an invalid status in step S41.

  Of the image data in the photographed image buffer memory 3, the image data to which the photographed status is assigned is data that is not recorded on the CF card 4, and therefore steps S42 to S44 after executing step S41 are skipped. Also good.

  If it is determined in step S40 that there is no image file with a matching file name, it is searched in step S42 whether image data having the file name of the image being reproduced exists in the CF card 4. If it is determined in step S43 that an image file with a matching file name exists, the image file is deleted from the CF card 4 in step S44. If it is determined in step S43 that there is no image data with a matching file name, the process returns to step S31.

  If it is determined in step S38 that the delete switch 14 is not operated, the process proceeds to step S45. If it is determined in step S45 that the input is to change the display image, the process proceeds to step S31, and the playback image is forwarded or moved back to change the image on the display monitor 8. If it is determined in step S45 that the input is not a display image change input, this process ends and the reproduction monitor 8 is turned off. For example, when the monitor switch 13 is turned on while the display monitor 8 is lit.

When the thumbnail reproduction image display is instructed, the thumbnail image is displayed on the display monitor 8 according to the following conditions.
(1) When a thumbnail image is not stored in the work memory 9, the thumbnail image is read from the CF card 4 and displayed. As shown in FIG. 3, the CF card 4 also records a thumbnail image obtained by thinning out the main image in advance. On the other hand, only the main image is stored in the captured image buffer memory 3, and no thumbnail image is stored. Therefore, a process for thinning out the main image and creating a thumbnail image in the work memory 9 is required. Therefore, the display speed is improved by reading the thumbnail image of the CF card 4 into the work memory 9 and displaying it.

(2) When thumbnail images are stored in both the work memory 9 and the CF card 4, the thumbnail images are read from the work memory 9 and reproduced and displayed. The display speed using the thumbnail image of the work memory 9 which is a semiconductor memory is faster than the display speed using the thumbnail image of the CF card 4.

(3) When the main image is stored in the photographed image buffer memory 3 and the main image is not recorded on the CF card 4, a thumbnail image is created in the work memory 9 using the main image in the image buffer memory 3, A thumbnail image is displayed on the display monitor 8 by the thumbnail image. This is the case when the thumbnail switch 13 is turned on and a playback instruction is given before transferring a plurality of continuous shot image data to the CF card 4.

  Although the file processing has been described by deleting the file, the file processing is not limited to the embodiment, such as protecting the file or performing a non-display process. Further, the configuration of the electronic camera is not limited to the embodiment. That is, the present invention is not for image data recorded on a recording medium such as a CF card, but for an image stored in a temporary storage means used in image processing before being transferred and recorded on the recording medium. Any configuration or method may be used as long as it enables file processing such as deletion and protection of data. Therefore, the present invention can also be applied to information devices such as PDAs, mobile phones, and personal computers equipped with image sensors. Although the CF card loaded in the camera is taken as an example of the nonvolatile recording medium, other recording media may be used, and the captured image file may be recorded on a storage recording medium built in the camera.

In the electronic camera according to the present invention, a file name is sufficient as an identifier for reading an image. However, in addition to the captured and recorded status, the following captured data may be stored.
(1) Shooting conditions including, for example, shutter speed, aperture value, and flash output
(2) Shooting date Thus, for example, when an image cannot be recorded on a CF card, even if the image is transferred to another image recording device through a wireless facility or a connected cable and recorded and stored, The image stored in the buffer can be transmitted as it is.

1: Image sensor 2: Image processing circuit 3: Captured image buffer memory 4: CF card 5: CPU 8: Display monitor 9: Work memory 11: Power switch 12: Release switch 13: Thumbnail switch 14: Delete switch

Claims (4)

Imaging means for imaging a subject and generating first image data;
Temporary storage means for temporarily storing the first image data generated by the imaging means;
Image processing means for performing image processing on the first image data stored in the temporary storage means to generate second image data;
Recording means for recording the second image data on a recording medium;
When the first image data generated by the imaging unit is stored in the temporary storage unit, the file name is assigned a different name for each image data generated by the imaging unit, and is added to the first image data. File name assigning means for assigning a corresponding first file name to the first image data;
In a state where the second image data is not recorded on the recording medium by the recording means, the temporary storage means uses the first file name assigned to the first image data by the file name assigning means. File processing means for identifying the stored first image data and performing file deletion processing on the first image data stored in the temporary storage means;
In a state where the second image data is not recorded on the recording medium by the recording means, the second image data is added to the first image data stored in the temporary storage means by the recording means. An electronic camera comprising: management information providing means for providing, as management information, a status indicating that the information is not recorded on the electronic camera. The electronic camera according to claim 1,
When the second image data is recorded on the recording medium by the recording means, the management information giving means adds the second image data to the first image data stored in the temporary storage means by the recording means. A second status indicating that image data is recorded on the recording medium is assigned as management information instead of the first status.
An electronic camera characterized by The electronic camera according to claim 1 or 2,
When the file processing unit deletes the first image data stored in the temporary storage unit, the management information adding unit stores the first image data stored in the temporary storage unit. A third status is added to the image data as management information in place of the first status or the second status for recognizing the area in which the first image data is stored in the storage area of the temporary storage means as an empty area. To do
An electronic camera characterized by The electronic camera according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The image processing includes compression processing
An electronic camera characterized by