JPH10186502A - Still camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a photographic image and image data surely correspondent to each other at the time of writing the image data in a memory after the object image to be photographed is picked up with an image sensor to obtain electrical image data. SOLUTION: A film-intrinsic ID code recorded on a photographic film 8a is read by a magnetic head 35 and preserved in a RAM 29. When a photograph is taken under the control of a photographic camera controller 20, the image sensor 39 is driven under the control of a digital camera controller 22 to pick up the image of the same image. When the obtained image data is written in a built-in memory 48, the ID code from the RAM 29 and a photographic frame number at this time are read and written in the built-in memory 48 together with the image data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable still camera and, more particularly, to a peripheral device represented by a personal computer (personal computer) while using a photographic film for recording high-quality photographic images. In particular, the present invention relates to a still camera capable of easily using a photographic image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Digital still cameras have been commercialized in various forms with the increase in capacity and compactness of IC memories. In digital still cameras, for example, CCD
A still image is captured by a solid-state image sensor such as an image sensor, and the obtained image signal is written to a memory after digital conversion. The image data written in the memory in this manner can be subjected to various post-processing operations immediately. For example, the image data can be transferred to a peripheral device such as a personal computer to perform image processing, or a hard copy can be created by a video printer.

On the other hand, as a camera for capturing a still image, a photographic camera using a so-called silver halide photographic film has been widely used. A photographic camera fixes an image photochemically on a photographic film having high resolution. The resolution of a photographic film is superior to the resolution of CCDs and other image sensors even at the time of high density and high integration, and it is also advantageous in terms of density gradation and dynamic range. There is an advantage that a clear still image can be recorded without increasing the cost.

[0004]

In order to obtain a high-quality image comparable to a photographic image with a digital still camera, high-density and high-integration of an image sensor is indispensable.
A large-capacity memory (at least 1 MB per frame is required to store a huge amount of image data obtained from
(40 MB for 0 frames) is indispensable, and the increase in size and cost of the camera is inevitable. In order to save the memory capacity, image data is compressed and recorded. However, basic image data once lost due to data compression cannot be restored. Therefore, even if an attempt is made to reproduce a high-quality image by adding more advanced image processing, there is a problem that it is difficult to obtain a high-quality image because only processed image data remains.

On the other hand, a photographic camera can obtain a high-quality still image at low cost, but lacks immediacy because film development is indispensable. In addition, since direct image processing cannot be applied to the photographic image fixed on the photographic film, when performing image processing, the optical photographic image must be temporarily captured by an electronic viewer or scanner. You have to convert it to data.

[0006] In a widespread type photo film, about 12 to 40 frames of photographic images are recorded in one of them, and all the photographic images are read with a scanner or the like in high definition and used for image files. In order to develop such a storage medium, for example, a hard disk or an optical disk, an enormous storage capacity is required for such a storage medium, and a storage medium that is pre-installed in a popular personal computer or the like cannot be used at all.
In addition, even if a desired photographic image is searched from the photographic film before reading the high-definition image data, it is necessary to convert all the photographic images into image data and then confirm it. Therefore, a simple and quick response could not be taken. In addition, 4-8
In the electronic camera described in Japanese Patent No. 993, it has been proposed that shooting information other than image data, such as shooting date and time, shooting location, and the like be written on a recording medium together with image data.
No consideration has been given to storing image data in association with a photographic image or a photographic film.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and aims to combine the immediacy of post-processing, which is a feature of a digital still camera, with the clear image recording function, which is a feature of a photographic camera. To provide a still camera that is advantageous for constructing a system that can easily handle high-quality images even with peripheral devices such as personal computers that do not have a large-capacity storage medium for image files. is there.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, a still camera according to the present invention has both functions of a photographic camera and a digital still camera, and performs photographing with an image sensor simultaneously with photographing. A digitalized image pickup signal is stored in a memory as image data. In particular, a fine photographic image recorded on a photographic film is easily and accurately correlated with image data stored in a memory. It is characterized by being able to do.

For this reason, the still camera of the present invention is configured to use a photographic film to which an individual ID code is assigned, and converts an image signal obtained from an image sensor into image data in synchronization with photographing. After doing
When writing the image data into the memory, the ID code of the photo film and the identification code indicating the photographing frame number are also written into the memory.
As a result, when the image data is read from the memory, it is possible to immediately identify which frame of the photographic film corresponds to the photographic image captured by the image data. In addition, it is also possible to record information other than the identification code in the memory,
In a still camera incorporating a magnetic recording device for recording data on a magnetic recording layer on a photographic film, it is also useful to store part of data to be magnetically recorded in a memory.

In a preferred embodiment, the still camera according to the present invention includes an advanced photo system (Advanced Ph.
As is known from oto System), it is used under a system in which developed photographic film is stored in a return cartridge in roll form and returned to customers. The image data is stored in memory as a random file that can be accessed and read at random by specifying an address.On the other hand, a high-resolution photographic image is stored on a photographic film as a sequential file. By recording the identification code corresponding to the address information of the photographic image for each
Post-searching and image processing operations can be performed accurately and conveniently.

[0011]

1 and 2 show the appearance of a front side and a back side of a still camera 1 using the present invention. A photographing lens 3 having a zoom function is incorporated in the front of the camera body 2, and a finder objective window 4, a strobe light emission window 5, and a photometry window 6 are provided. Viewfinder objective window 4
Projection / light reception units are incorporated on both sides of the camera to measure the subject distance so that the photographing lens 3 can be automatically focused.

A shutter button 7 is provided on the upper surface of the body on the grip side, and the luminance of the subject is measured through the photometry window 6 by half-pressing the shutter button 7. Focusing of the photographing lens 3 is performed according to the measured distance data. A zoom operation lever is provided on the back surface of the grip section, and by operating the zoom lever, zooming of the finder optical system incorporated in the back of the finder objective window 4 is performed together with zooming of the photographing lens 3.

An opening / closing lid 9 for loading and unloading the film cartridge 8 is provided on the bottom surface of the body. The film cartridge 8 is an IX-240 type film cartridge used in the above-mentioned advanced photo system, and the photographic film 8a is entirely wrapped in the cartridge when not in use or taken out of the camera. The film doorway is covered with a light-shielding lid, and when loaded into the camera, the camera-side mechanism opens the light-shielding lid. After opening the light blocking cover inside the camera body, the photographic film 8a can be sent out of the cartridge 8b by rotating the spool of the cartridge 8b.

A label is attached to the film cartridge 8, and a bar code 10a and a numeric string 10b are printed on the label. These represent an ID code unique to the film cartridge 8, respectively.
0a is used for machine reading of the ID code, and the numeric string 10b is used for visual reading. A bar code and a numeral string representing the same ID code are also recorded as latent images on the photographic film 8a stored therein, and these are revealed by the film development.

At the developing station, the photographic film 8a is taken out of the film cartridge 8 that has been photographed and collected and subjected to film development processing and print processing. Then, the developed photographic film 8a is stored again in the same cartridge 8b. Return to customer. Therefore, the ID code of the photo film 8a and the ID code of the cartridge 8b are kept consistent even after the development processing.

A liquid crystal display monitor 12 is mounted on the rear side of the camera body 2. A finder image is displayed on the liquid crystal display monitor 12. For this reason, an area type image sensor using a CCD or the like is incorporated in an image forming surface of a finder optical system provided in the back of the finder objective window 4, and this image sensor performs imaging for displaying a finder image.

The liquid crystal display monitor 12 has a folded position shown in FIG. 1 and a standing position shown in FIG.
(A position that has been moved forward by about 1 degree) under a suitable friction. Therefore, the liquid crystal display monitor 12 can be set and used at a position easy to observe according to the shooting posture. The liquid crystal display monitor 12
Has a built-in color liquid crystal display panel and a fluorescent lamp for providing illumination light from the back thereof, and consumes a large amount of power when used. Therefore, the power switch 13 for the liquid crystal display monitor is reliably turned off in the folded position. It is. A key input unit 14 is provided on the back of the camera body 2 and appears so as to be operated by raising the liquid crystal display monitor 12.

As shown in FIG. 1, a connector 15 is incorporated on one side of the camera body 2 and can be used as an image data input / output terminal by opening the cover as shown. By using the connector 15, the still camera can be electrically connected to other peripheral devices, and image data and the like can be exchanged between the two. Also, the door 1 on the back side of the grip part
By opening 6, a power supply battery can be replaced and a memory card (external memory) can be attached and detached.

FIG. 3 shows an outline of an electric configuration of the still camera. The operation of the still camera is controlled by a photographic camera controller 20 and a digital camera controller 22. The controllers 20 and 22 are composed of a CPU which is a main component of the microcomputer, and the controller 20 for the photographic camera is a program RO.
In accordance with the sequence program written in M23, a series of operations necessary for photographing is controlled. The digital camera controller 22 exchanges control signals and data with the photographic camera controller 20, and also controls the operation when the image sensor captures a subject image in accordance with a sequence program in the program ROM 23.

The photographic camera controller 20 includes an exposure control circuit 24, a lens moving mechanism 25, and a film feeding mechanism 2.
6. Control the operation of the magnetic recording / reproducing circuit 27. For controlling these operations, signals obtained from a photoelectric perforation sensor (hereinafter, referred to as a PF sensor) 30 and an external sensor input unit 31 are referred to, and signals from an operation input unit 32 such as a shutter button 7 and a key input unit 14 are referred to. Is referred to.

The exposure control circuit 24 includes an external sensor input unit 31
The opening and closing of the program shutter 34 is controlled based on the photometric data from. The photometric data has a value corresponding to the subject luminance measured through the photometric window 6. The lens moving mechanism 25 performs zooming of the photographing lens 3 based on a zoom operation signal from the operation input unit 32, and focuses the photographing lens 3 based on distance measurement data from the external sensor input unit 31. The distance measurement data has a value corresponding to the object distance measured by the projection / reception units provided on both sides of the finder objective window 4. Note that zooming is performed not only on the photographing lens 3 but also on the finder optical system 36 provided behind the finder objective window 4.

The film feeding mechanism 26 feeds one frame of the photographic film 8a every time the photographing is completed. IX-24
Since the photographic film 8a used in the 0-type film cartridge has two perforations per frame, the PF sensor 30 detects the passage of this perforation by detecting the passage of the perforations. be able to. By counting the detection signals obtained for each frame feed, the number of frames to be shot can be determined. The number of photographed frames is sequentially updated in the RAM 29, and is used as information for a frame number counter, and is used as frame number information when writing image data described later.

A transparent magnetic recording layer is applied to the entire back surface of the photographic film 8a. Then, the magnetic recording / reproducing circuit 27 supplies a recording signal to the magnetic head 35 during one-frame feeding after the photographing is completed, whereby the magnetic head 35 writes data outside the photographing screen of the photographing frame. I do. The data written by the magnetic head 35 includes exposure data such as the shutter opening / closing time and whether or not flash photography is performed, and photography date and time data. These data are written after being converted into binary signals for magnetic recording by contrast with the data ROM 36.

The magnetic head 35 is also used for reproduction, and the read binary signal is decoded by the photographic camera controller 20 in comparison with the data ROM 36. At the beginning of the photo film 8a, an ID code attached to the film cartridge 8 is magnetically recorded in advance. After the film cartridge 8 is loaded into the camera, the ID code is read when the film is automatically fed to set the first frame on the exposure aperture, and written into the RAM 29. Note that a photoelectric barcode reader may be provided in the loading chamber of the film cartridge 8 to read the ID code from the barcode 10a.

An area type image sensor 39 is provided on the image forming surface of the finder optical system 38. Since the finder optical system 36 has a short focal length and the image sensor 39 has a resolution of about 200,000 to 400,000 pixels, the finder optical system 38 does not need to be focused. Also, it is possible to capture a subject image that is almost satisfactory within the depth of focus. The driving of the image sensor 39 is performed by the sensor driver 40 under the control of the digital camera controller 22.

Under the control of the digital camera controller 22, the charge accumulation time of the image sensor 39 is feedback-controlled via an image signal processing circuit 41, an A / D converter 42, and an image data processing circuit 44, which will be described later. It is automatically adjusted in accordance with this, but photometric data from the external sensor input unit 31 can be used for this control.

An imaging signal from the image sensor 39 is input to an imaging signal processing circuit 41. Imaging signal processing circuit 41
Performs an R, G, B color separation after amplifying an image pickup signal to an appropriate level by an automatic gain controller or the like.
The image signal for each color is digitally converted by the A / D converter 42 and then input to the image data processing circuit 44. The image data processing circuit adjusts white balance,
Image data for one screen is created by performing signal processing such as matrix operation. By sending the image data for one screen to the LCD driver 45 one after another, the finder image is displayed on the liquid crystal display monitor 12 as a moving image.

The buffer memory 46 has a shutter button 7
The image data at the time when the photograph was taken by the operation described above is stored for one screen. The image data thus stored is processed by the image data processing circuit 44 for I / O control I / O.
The data is written in a built-in memory 48 or a removable memory card 49 built in the camera in advance via an / O port 47. When writing the image data, the ID code and frame number of the film cartridge 8 are read from the RAM 29 by the photo camera controller 20. These pieces of information are transmitted to the image data processing circuit 44 via the digital camera controller 22.
Built-in memory 48 as an identification code together with image data,
The data is written to the memory card 49.

As described above, under the control of the digital camera controller 22, the image data processing circuit 44 not only functions as a means for converting an image signal into image data, but also writes image data into the buffer memory 46, It also functions as data recording means for writing the identification code into the built-in memory 48 or the memory card 49. The memory capacity of the built-in memory 48 and the memory card 49 is such that the image data obtained from the image sensor 39 of 380,000 pixels is subjected to JPEG compression of standard image quality, and the maximum number of frames of 40 frames that can be photographed on the photo film 8a. 2 MB to 4 MB is sufficient.

The font ROM 50 stores font data for displaying characters and marks on the liquid crystal display monitor 12. Then, for example, the liquid crystal display monitor 1
In order to display the number of frames taken on the photo film 8a in the photo film controller 2, the photo camera controller 20
The frame number is read from 9 and transmitted to the digital camera controller 22. Digital camera controller 2
Reference numeral 2 denotes a font ROM 50, which captures font data for displaying a frame number.
Enter 4 The image data processing circuit 44 supplies the input font data to the LCD driver 45 together with the image data. Thereby, the frame number is displayed on the liquid crystal display monitor 12 together with the finder image.

Similarly, various kinds of information can be displayed on the liquid crystal display monitor 1.
2 can be displayed. In a camera using an IX-240 type film cartridge, the standard size of a photographic print is a high definition size (89 mm × 158 m).
m), but other panorama sizes (89
mm x 254mm) or C size (89mm x 12mm)
7 mm) print service is also available. The print size is determined by the user, but when the key input unit 14 specifies the print size at the time of photographing, the font data for masking corresponding to the specified size is read out and displayed on the liquid crystal display monitor 12. By doing so, the range to be printed can be confirmed in advance on the finder screen.

The operations of the photographic camera controller 20 and the digital camera controller 22 are controlled by the operation of the key input unit 14 or the key input operation from a personal computer connected via the connector 15 irrespective of the photographing. can do. Therefore, image data can be transferred bidirectionally between the built-in memory 48 and the memory card 49, and the film can be fed to an appropriate frame position only when the developed photographic film 8a is loaded. It is also possible to read information recorded on the magnetic recording layer at an arbitrary frame position.

The operation of the still camera will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The cover 9 is opened to load the film cartridge 8 into the cartridge chamber in the camera body 2. Thereafter, when the cover 9 is locked in the closed position, the light blocking cover opening / closing mechanism incorporated in the camera operates to open the light blocking cover closing the film entrance of the cartridge 8b. Continue film feed mechanism 2
6 operates to drive the spool of the cartridge 8b in the film sending direction, and sends out the photographic film 8a from the cartridge 8b.

When the PF sensor 30 detects that the perforation of the first frame has moved to a predetermined position, the operation of the film feeding mechanism 26 is stopped and the first frame is stopped.
The frame is set in the exposure aperture. During the initial feeding period of the film, the magnetic head 35 moves the photographic film 8.
Information is read from the magnetic recording layer a. The read information includes an ID code commonly assigned to the photo film 8a and the cartridge 8b, the type of the photo film 8a, and the number of shots.

The information read from the magnetic recording / reproducing circuit 27 is decoded by the photo camera controller 20.
The data is written to the RAM 29. Information on the type of the photo film 8a and the number of shots can be used for controlling the exposure of the photo camera and setting the upper limit of the number of shots counter. The ID code is used when recording image data in a memory as described later.

When the liquid crystal display monitor 12 is erected and the power switch 13 is turned on, the sensor driver 40 operates according to a command from the digital camera controller 22 to start capturing a subject image. Image sensor 39
Is input to an image data processing circuit 44 via an imaging signal processing circuit 41 and an A / D converter 42 to generate image data. This image data is supplied to the liquid crystal display monitor 12 via the LCD driver 45, and the liquid crystal display monitor 12 displays the subject image. Under the control of the digital camera controller 22, the imaging and display of the subject image are performed sequentially, so that the user can perform framing while observing the display image on the liquid crystal display monitor 12.

When the shutter button 7 is operated for photographing, the photographing lens 3 is focused by pressing the shutter button halfway, and the distance measurement data at that time is input to the exposure control circuit 24. When the shutter button 7 is fully depressed, the exposure control circuit 24 opens and closes the program shutter 34 to take a picture. The full-press signal of the shutter button 7 is also input from the photographic camera controller 20 to the digital camera controller 22, and in response thereto, image data for one screen taken at that time is transferred to the buffer memory 46. .

After the operation of the program shutter 34 is completed, the photo camera controller 20 operates the film feeding mechanism 26 to perform a film one frame feeding process. During this one-frame feed of the film, the magnetic head 35 is driven by the magnetic recording / reproducing circuit 27, and data is recorded outside the photographing screen at the photographing frame position. The information recorded here includes frame number data in addition to data on exposure, shooting date and time data, print size designation data, and the like. In addition,
The frame number data corresponds to the frame number count data that is updated on the RAM 29 for each photographing. Further, by adding a character data input function to the key input unit 14, it is also possible to magnetically record a message or the like desired by the user corresponding to the photographed frame.

When the data recording on the magnetic recording layer is completed by the magnetic recording / reproducing device 27 and the feeding of one frame of the film is completed, the digital camera controller 22 inputs an image data recording command to the image data processing circuit 44. I do. As a result, the image data for one screen stored in the buffer memory 46 is transferred to the built-in memory 48 via the I / O port 47 and written there.

In recording the image data, the photographic camera controller 20 is connected to the digital camera controller 2.
ID written in RAM 29 in response to request from 2
The code and the frame number data are read out and transferred to the digital camera controller 22. The combination of the ID code and the frame number is used as an identification code for one screen of image data, and is stored in the internal memory 4 together with the image data.
8 is written.

FIG. 5 shows a memory map of the internal memory 48. In the area from the address “A000”, header information of the internal memory 48, that is, an identification code,
The additional information, the start address of the writing area of the image data, data indicating the memory capacity of each area, and the like are written. Then, the identification code determined by the photographing of the first frame is written in the identification code area starting with the start address “B000”, and the image data of the first frame is written in the first image data area starting with the start address “D000”. Written.

The built-in memory 48 is further provided with an additional information area starting with the head address "C000", in which the magnetic head 35 is mounted with the photographic film 8a.
The same data as the data recorded in the magnetic recording layer is written. The number of bits of data to be written in each of the identification code area and the additional information area is determined to be a fixed number of bits per frame, and the memory capacity is determined so that 50 frames of data can be written. Similarly, the memory capacity of the image data area is constant for each screen.

By repeating the above photographing and image data writing processing, the photographic film 8a becomes 1
The frame is digested frame by frame, and the identification code, additional information, and image data are sequentially written into the built-in memory 48.
Then, the photographing is performed at the last frame position of the photo film 8a, and when the image data is written into the built-in memory 48 together with the identification code and the additional information, the processing for one photo film is completed.

The photographic camera controller 20 gives a film rewind command to the film feeding mechanism 26, whereby the exposed photographic film 8a is rewound to the cartridge 8b. When the rewinding is completed, the cartridge 8b
The film entrance is closed by a light-shielding lid, and the opening / closing lid 9 is opened so that the film cartridge 8 can be taken out. The film cartridge 8 is subjected to development processing, and the built-in memory 48 stores image data of the same number of frames as the number of frames photographed on the photographic film 8a.

FIG. 6 shows an image processing system in which the still camera 1 is combined with a film scanner 52 and a personal computer 53. The still camera 1 is connected to the personal computer 53 via the connector 15, and the magnetic disk 54 storing the system program is loaded and started up.
Can be operated in the regeneration mode.

Thus, the image data written in the built-in memory 48 of the still camera 1 can be downloaded to the built-in memory of the personal computer 53. At this time, the identification code and the additional information are read together with the image data of each frame. Since the image data stored in the built-in memory 48 is coarse, even image data for 40 frames can be sufficiently stored. When the memory capacity of the personal computer 53 is insufficient, the memory card 49 may be loaded into the still camera 1 for photographing, and the memory card 49 may be loaded into the personal computer 53 for use.

When downloading image data from the built-in memory 48 to the personal computer, the still camera 1 is operated in the reproduction mode by, for example, a mode setting operation from the key input unit 14, and the image data written in the built-in memory 48 is used to monitor the liquid crystal display. 12 can display an image. Therefore, while confirming the displayed image, only the necessary image data can be captured and stored in the hard disk prepared as a storage medium for the image file in the personal computer.

After the image data is taken into the personal computer 53, an image can be displayed on the monitor screen 55 of the personal computer 53. At this time, the identification code and the frame number are also displayed on the displayed image. Further, since the data capacity of the image data in the built-in memory 48 is small,
The image data for a plurality of photo films can be stored simply by using the hard disk built in the personal computer 53. Therefore, the hard disk of the personal computer 53 can be used as a random file storing index images for a plurality of photo films.

Even if the film cartridge 8 is not at hand for the development processing or the like, the index image can be confirmed by appropriately accessing the hard disk. In addition, when observing an index image, it is not only possible to easily identify which frame of the film cartridge to which the ID code is attached, but also to identify the frame.
By displaying the additional information together with the index image, it is possible to check the exposure data at the time of photographing and the photographing date and time data. Of course, an external memory such as a magnetic sheet or a memory card, which is detachable from the personal computer 53, can be used for storing such an index image.

By the way, since the index image is low in image quality, even if appropriate image processing is added to these image data, very effective processing cannot be expected. Therefore, when high-quality image data is required, a film cartridge 8x containing a developed photographic film 8a is used. That is, the film scanner 52 is connected to the personal computer 53, and the film cartridge 8x is used as an image data file in which a fine image is recorded.

The film scanner 52 is a still camera 1
Has a cartridge loading chamber similar to that described above, and while automatically feeding the developed photographic film 8a from the loaded film cartridge 8x, a recorded photographic image is read by a line-type image sensor and It has a function of converting the image data into an image data and outputting the image data. The image sensor built into the film scanner is a still camera 1
The resolving power is much higher than that of the image sensor 39 incorporated in the camera (15 pixels in terms of the number of pixels per screen).
The image data obtained therefrom is much larger than the image data written in the built-in memory 48 or the memory card 49 of the still camera 1.

For this reason, when all the photographic images of all frames recorded on the photographic film 8a are converted into image data and are to be written into the memory of the personal computer 53, the personal computer 53 uses the photographic image as a storage medium for image files. Not only a huge storage capacity is required for a hard disk or optical disk used, but also a great deal of processing time is required just to capture image data. Therefore, it is effective to use the film cartridge 8x itself storing the developed photographic film 8a as a sequential file in which a high-definition image is recorded as in the illustrated system.

The following procedure is performed when high quality image data is taken in from the film cartridge 8x. The user observes the index image on the personal computer 53 using the image data downloaded from the built-in memory 48 of the still camera 1 in advance. The hard disk, which is a storage medium for image files of the personal computer 53, stores index image data for one or a plurality of photo films.
The images can be reproduced on the monitor screen of the personal computer 53 frame by frame or in units of one photo film.

Since the ID code and frame number of the film cartridge 8x and the additional information are also written on the hard disk of the personal computer 53 together with the image data for index image reproduction, if any of these is known in advance. Uses this as search information
3, a desired index image can be selected from the keyboard and displayed on the monitor screen 55. The index image search program is written in the magnetic disk 54.

The user observes the index image on the monitor screen 55 and refers to the identification code displayed together with the index image. With this identification code, it is possible to confirm the ID code and frame number of the film cartridge 8x in which the photographic image corresponding to the index image is recorded. Therefore, the film scanner 52
8x film cartridge with its ID code
Is loaded, and a frame number is input from the keyboard of the personal computer 53.

The film scanner 52 includes the cartridge 8
The ID code is read from the x barcode 10a, or from the magnetic recording data of the developed photographic film 8a or the barcode by the side print which has been revealed, and it is confirmed that the ID code matches the specified ID code.
After confirming the coincidence, the photographic film is fed according to the designated frame number, and the photographic image of the designated frame number is read by the image sensor to read high-definition image data.

The high-definition image data thus captured is input to the personal computer 53 and developed on the hard disk of the personal computer 53. Therefore, various image processing can be performed based on the high-definition image data read from the hard disk. Of course, by connecting a video printer, a hard copy can be obtained using the image data.

As described above, if only one or several frames of photographic images requiring post-processing can be easily loaded into the hard disk of the personal computer 53, the size of the hard disk can be reduced. It is possible to sufficiently cope with a popular personal computer. Further, the data amount of the processed data when the image processing is performed is much smaller than that of the image data itself. Therefore, instead of storing the image data for one screen after the image processing itself on the hard disk, it is preferable to store the processed data itself. When the image after the image processing is required, the corresponding film cartridge 8x is loaded into the film scanner 52 to capture the high-definition image data, and then the processed data stored on the hard disk of the personal computer 53 is read. May be read to perform image processing.

According to such an image processing system, the film cartridge 8x containing the developed photographic film can be easily used by the personal computer 53 as a sequential file storing the high-definition image data itself. Thus, even if the storage capacity of a hard disk or an optical disk used as a storage medium for an image file on the personal computer 53 is small, it can sufficiently cope with it. Further, even in the configuration of the still camera 1, in order to reliably associate low-quality image data for index image reproduction with a photographic image photographed on a photographic film, an identification code is assigned to the image data for each frame. Can be assigned and written, so that the still camera 1 does not need to incorporate a large-capacity memory, which is advantageous in reducing the size and cost.

The present invention can also be implemented in a form in which a film scanner is built in the still camera 1. For this purpose, a line-type image sensor is provided in the photographic film feed path of the still camera 1, and when the still camera 1 is loaded with the film cartridge 8x containing the developed photographic film, the still camera 1 is connected to the scanner. You only have to operate in mode. In this case, the still camera 1 is connected to the personal computer 53 via the connector 15, the low-quality image data written in the built-in memory 48 is first transmitted to the personal computer 53, and then the still camera 1 is connected to the film scanner 52. It will be used in the same way as.

As a further development, a method is also effective in which a memory is built in the film cartridge 8 and the image data and the identification code written in the built-in memory 48 are written in this memory. In the case of this embodiment, a film cartridge 8x containing a developed photographic film
Is a memory that stores low-quality image data for index image reproduction and a memory that holds high-quality image information captured on a photographic film. Therefore, the correspondence between the index image and the high-quality photographic image is complete, and the operability when performing post-processing can be made very simple.

Although the above embodiment is directed to an IX-240 type film cartridge, the present invention is not limited to this film cartridge, but a unique ID code is attached to the film cartridge.
Further, any film cartridge having a function of storing a developed photographic film in a roll form can be applied in exactly the same manner. Further, when the developed photo film is provided with a visible ID code and frame number, or when these data are written for each photographed frame by magnetic recording, the developed photo film is not necessarily rolled. It does not have to be stored in

[0063]

As described above, the still camera of the present invention has both functions of a photographic camera and a digital still camera.
When recording the image data in the memory, the ID code and the photo code individually assigned to the photo film are used to ensure that the correspondence between the photographic image taken on the photo film and the image data written in the memory is maintained. Since the identification code indicating the frame number of the image is written, the memory and the photographic film can be used as two types of image recording files. The image data to be written to the memory is of low quality, which reduces the load on the memory and is used for the playback of index images.The photographic image on the photo film is used as a master when capturing high-quality image data with a film scanner. It can be used as an image at any time, and it is not necessary to prepare a large-capacity storage medium for image files in a peripheral device such as a personal computer when performing post-processing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front external view of a still camera using the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear side external view of the still camera shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing an electrical configuration of a still camera using the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a photographing process.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram of a memory map showing a use form of a built-in memory.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an image processing system including the still camera.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Still camera 2 Camera body 8 Film cartridge 8a Photo film 12 Liquid crystal display monitor 20 Photo camera controller 22 Digital camera controller 39 Image sensor 48 Built-in memory 49 Memory card 52 Film scanner 53 Personal computer

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H04N 5/781

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A still camera using a photo film to which an individual ID code is attached and used, wherein an image sensor for picking up a subject image picked up on the photo film and an image signal from the image sensor are provided. A liquid crystal display monitor for displaying a finder image, and image data obtained by digitally converting the image pickup signal in synchronization with a photographing operation are written in a memory, and the frame number of the photographic image corresponding to the image data and the ID code are displayed. A still camera comprising: a data recording unit that writes an identification code into the memory. 2. A still camera with a built-in magnetic recording device to which an individual ID code is assigned, a photographic film having a magnetic recording layer is loaded, and data is recorded on the magnetic recording layer for each photographed frame position. An image sensor that captures a subject image captured on a photographic film, a liquid crystal display monitor that displays a finder image based on an imaging signal from the image sensor, and a digital conversion of the imaging signal in synchronization with a photographic operation. Data to be written into the memory, a frame number of a photographic image corresponding to the image data and an identification code representing the ID code, and data for writing at least a part of data recorded by the magnetic recording device to the memory. A still camera comprising a recording unit.