JPH10243329A - Digital still camera, image transfer method and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To select the arbitrary number of arbitrary images and to transfer them to external equipment. SOLUTION: When a transfer registration is commanded, the image stored in a flash memory is read out and displayed on a liquid crystal display(LCD). At such a time, the characters for transfer and non-transfer are displayed being superimposed and any one of them is selected by a cursor. Then, this selection is stored in the flash memory. When the transfer of image stored in the flash memory is commanded later, only the image selecting transfer is transferred to the external equipment and the image selecting non-transfer is not transferred.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital still camera, an image transfer method, and a recording medium, and more particularly, to a method for easily transferring an arbitrary one of captured images to an external device. , A digital still camera, an image transfer method, and a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, digital still cameras have become widespread. In this digital still camera, an image of a subject is digitally stored in a storage medium such as a flash memory. Therefore, the image stored in the flash memory is read out, and the LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) is read out.
Not only can it be displayed and enjoyed in y) and the like, but also it can be imported and edited and processed by a personal computer or the like, for example.

[0003]

By the way, a conventional digital still camera transfers an image stored in a flash memory to a personal computer, for example, when 50 images are stored in the flash memory.
All the 50 images are transferred at once, and there is a problem that it is not possible to transfer only an arbitrary number of images. As a result, for example, in a case where 50 images have been captured and have already been transferred to the personal computer, and further 40 images have been captured, only the newly captured 40 images are transferred to the personal computer. In the end, a total of 90 images were transferred collectively to the personal computer again, and the personal computer side already processed 5 images.
There was a problem that 40 sheets except for 0 sheets had to be selected.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and it is an object of the present invention to select a plurality of arbitrary images and transfer them to an external device.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital still camera, comprising: an image pickup means for picking up an image of a subject; an image storage means for storing an image picked up by the image pickup means; Adding means for adding transfer information relating to transfer, transfer information storage means for storing transfer information, and external equipment for storing images stored in the image storage means corresponding to the transfer information stored in the transfer information storage means Control means for controlling the transfer to the server.

The digital still camera further includes transfer information reading means for reading transfer information corresponding to the image to be read stored in the transfer information storage means when reading an image stored in the image storage means. Can be. Further, a history storage unit for storing a history of transfer of the image stored in the image storage unit to the external device may be further provided. Still further, when reading an image stored in the image storage means, a history reading means for reading a history corresponding to the image to be read stored in the history storage means can be provided.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image transfer method comprising: picking up an image of a subject; storing the picked-up image; adding transfer information relating to transfer of the stored image; storing the added transfer information; The transfer of the stored image to the external device is controlled in accordance with the transfer information.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a recording medium captures a subject, stores a captured image, adds transfer information relating to transfer of the stored image, and stores the added transfer information. Steps to
A step of controlling transfer of the stored image to an external device in accordance with the stored transfer information.

A digital still camera according to claim 1,
In the image transfer method according to the fifth aspect and the recording medium according to the sixth aspect, transfer information relating to transfer of the stored image is added, and transfer of the image to an external device is performed in accordance with the transfer information. Controlled. Therefore, it is possible to transfer only an arbitrary number of arbitrary images to the external device.

[0010]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a digital still camera according to the present invention. This digital still camera basically includes a lens block 41 and a camera body 42 connected to the lens block 41 via a connection section 43. In the lens block 41, light captured by the photographing lens 1 from a subject (not shown) is imaged on a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) 2. CCD2 (imaging means)
The light incident from the photographing lens 1 (imaging means) is photoelectrically converted and output to the A / D conversion circuit 4 via the amplifier 3, and the A / D
After the D-conversion, the signal is output from the terminal 31 of the connection section 43 to the camera body 42. The drive circuit 5 drives the CCD 2 when a control signal is input from the camera body 42 via the terminal 32 of the connection section 43.

On the camera body 42 side, a connecting portion 43 is provided.
The image signal from the A / D conversion circuit 4 is supplied to the timing generator 12 via the terminal 31 of the. The timing generator 12 controls the drive circuit 5 via a terminal 32 to drive the CCD 2. The timing generator 12 also
The image data supplied from the A / D conversion circuit 4 is converted to a DRA
An M (Dynamic Random Access Memory) 13 is written. In this manner, the image data from the CCD 2 written to the DRAM 13 is yellow (Ye),
It has cyan (Cy) and green (Gr) color components.

The image data written in the DRAM 13 is compressed by a compression / expansion circuit 15 and written in a flash memory 14 (image storage means). Further, the image data stored in the DRAM 13 is read therefrom and supplied to the signal generator 16, where white balance adjustment is performed, color processing is performed, and the luminance signal Y, the color difference signals RY, BY is generated, and a VRAM (Video Random Access Memory) 17 is generated.
It is made to be memorized. The signal generator 16 also reads out the image data stored in the VRAM 17, outputs the image data to the D / A conversion circuit 18, performs D / A conversion, and then outputs the data to the LCD 20 via the amplifier 19 for display. ing. The analog video signal output from the amplifier 19 is also output to an external device (not shown).

CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21
Executes various processes according to a program stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 22. RAM (Random Access Memory) 23 is a CPU
21 appropriately stores data and the like necessary for executing various processes. The key input unit 24 includes various keys and buttons, and is operated when various commands are input to the CPU 21. The I / O port 25 is connected to the CPU 2
An interface process for input / output of serial data between the device 1 and a personal computer 31 as an external device is executed.

FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of the key input section 24. The playback button 61 is operated when setting the playback mode, and the recording button 62 is operated when setting the recording mode. The up / down key 63 is, for example,
The operation is performed when an image displayed in the reproduction mode is changed to another image. The display button 64
The operation is performed to display predetermined characters on the LCD 20 or to delete characters that are already displayed.
The mode button 65 is operated when displaying a predetermined menu on the LCD 20 or when deleting the displayed menu. The release button 66 is operated when recording an image.

Next, the operation will be described. When the recording button 62 is operated and the recording mode is set, the CPU 21 controls the timing generator 12 to capture an image of a subject. Timing generator 12
Drives the driving circuit 5 via the terminal 32 when the CPU 21 instructs the imaging, and causes the CCD 2 to capture image data. An image captured by the user toward the subject is formed on the CCD 2 via the photographing lens 1. Therefore, when the CCD 2 is driven by the drive circuit 5, the image signal photoelectrically converted by the CCD 2 is input to the A / D conversion circuit 4 via the amplifier 3. The A / D conversion circuit 4 performs A / D conversion on the input image signal and supplies the image signal to the timing generator 12 via the terminal 31.

The timing generator 12 temporarily stores the input image data (Ye, Cy, Gr) in the DRAM 13. The CPU 21 reads out the image data once stored in the DRAM 13 and
6 The signal generator 16 adjusts the white balance of the image data, performs encoding processing, generates video data (Y, RY, BY), and temporarily stores the video data in the VRAM 17. The signal generator 16 reads out the video data drawn in the VRAM 17 and supplies it to the D / A conversion circuit 18. D / A
The conversion circuit 18 performs D / A conversion on the video data, outputs the video data to the LCD 20 via the amplifier 19, and causes the LCD 20 to display the data.
In this manner, the image monitored by the user via the taking lens 1 is displayed on the LCD 20. The user can check the subject by looking at the image on the LCD 20.

As described above, the generation of the video data to be displayed on the LCD 20 is easily performed.
That is, for example, luminance data and chrominance data are generated using, for example, only the Ye component of the image data stored in the DRAM 13. As a result, it is possible to promptly update and display an image that changes every moment (image to be monitored) captured by the imaging lens 1 on the LCD 20.

On the other hand, the release button 6 of the key input section 24
6, the recording is commanded, the CPU 21 makes the DRA
The image data stored in the M13 is supplied to the signal generator 16, and the video data (Y, R-R-) is more accurately used by using all of the Ye component, the Cy component, and the Gr component.
Y, BY) are generated (encoded). Further, C
The PU 21 supplies the video data to the compression / expansion circuit 15 and, for example, JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts)
Group) method to execute compression processing. The compressed video data is written to the flash memory 14.

When the reproduction is commanded by operating the reproduction button 61 of the key input unit 24, the CPU 21 reads out one of the video data written in the flash memory 14 and supplies it to the compression / decompression circuit 15. The compression / decompression circuit 15 decompresses this video data and supplies it to the signal generator 16. The signal generator 16 adds a synchronization signal or the like to the input video data,
Draw on M17. Then, the video data is read and output to the D / A conversion circuit 18. D / A conversion circuit 1
Reference numeral 8 denotes D / A conversion of the input video data, which is output to the LCD 20 via the amplifier 19 for display. Thus, the image recorded in the flash memory 14 can be displayed on the LCD 20. As described above, this display image is an image captured by performing more accurate processing, unlike the case where an image that changes every moment is monitored via the photographing lens 1, so that the subject can be monitored. This makes it possible to see a clearer image than the image when the image is displayed.

Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
Processing for registering transfer information (information for specifying whether to transfer an image to an external device) for each image will be described. First, in step S1, the user presses the play button 6
Turn 1 on. At this time, the CPU 21 determines in step S2
, The latest image stored in the flash memory 14 is read and displayed on the LCD 20. Next, in step S3, the user turns on the mode button 65. At this time, in step S4, the CPU 21 causes the LCD 20 to display a menu as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, in this menu, characters of "TRANSMISSION", "9" and "4" are displayed. The menu also has a cursor. When performing the process of adding the transfer information to each image, the user operates the up / down key 63 in step S5 to move the cursor over the transfer (TRANSMISSION). In this embodiment, when the up key (+ sign key) of the up / down keys 63 is operated, the cursor moves upward, and when the down key (-mark key) is operated, the cursor moves. Move down.

When 9-image display or 4-image display is selected, the LCD 20 displays 9 images in the playback mode.
One image or four images are simultaneously divided and displayed on a small screen.

In step S5, the transfer (TRANSMISSIO
After moving the cursor to the position of (N), when the user operates the release button 66, the selection is confirmed and the CPU
In step S6, the LCD 21 displays a transfer registration screen as shown in FIG. That is, in the transfer registration screen, the latest captured image among the captured images stored in the flash memory 14 is reduced in the center of the screen and displayed together with its number (3 in this case). In addition, the character “Transfer” is displayed on the lower left, and the character “Non-transfer” is displayed on the right.

Next, the process proceeds to step S7 (adding means).
The user performs a process of selecting whether or not to transfer the currently displayed image to the personal computer 31 and registering the image. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, on the transfer registration screen, the cursor is displayed on the character of “transfer” or “non-transfer”, and the user moves this cursor to “transfer”.
Or select whether to transfer the currently displayed image by moving it to any position of "non-transfer",
register. Note that this cursor is used for the release button 66
Each time is operated, it is moved to a position opposite to the position displayed at that time. For example, if the release button 66 is operated in a state where the cursor is positioned on the character “transfer”, the cursor moves on the character “non-transfer”. Conversely, when the release button 66 is operated in a state where the cursor is positioned on the character “non-transfer”, the cursor moves on the character “transfer”.

When the process of selecting and registering the transfer information for the currently displayed image is completed, the process proceeds to step S8.
Then, the user determines whether or not the currently displayed image is the last image. If not the last image,
Proceeding to step S9, a process for changing the image is performed. That is, the up / down key 63 is operated to change the reproduced captured image displayed on the transfer registration screen to the next reproduced captured image. For example, the currently displayed image is the latest image, and the number of the image is 3. Therefore, when the "-" key of the up / down key 63 is operated, the image of the number 2 is displayed. . Therefore, the user moves the cursor again in step S7 to add transfer or non-transfer transfer information.

As described above, when transfer or non-transfer has been selected and registered for all the images already registered in the flash memory 14, the process proceeds to step S10, and the user presses the mode button. Operate 65. Then, the process proceeds to step S11, where the CPU 21 releases the transfer registration mode and shifts to the reproduction mode state. Therefore,
The latest captured image is read from the flash memory 14 and returns to the state displayed on the LCD 20.

As described above, when the transfer information of the transfer or non-transfer is selected and registered for each captured image, the transfer table as shown in FIG. A flag indicating non-transfer is registered. In the display example of FIG. 6, a transfer (logic 1) flag is registered in the captured image of number 1, a non-transfer (number 0) flag is registered in the captured image of number 2,
A transfer flag is registered in the captured image of No. 3.

When the above-described transfer registration processing is not performed, transfer information of transfer is added as a default to all captured images.

After performing the transfer registration process as described above, the user can confirm the transfer information registration status of each image by performing the process shown in the flowchart of FIG.

That is, first, in step S31 (transfer information reading means), the user sets the playback button 61
Operate. At this time, in step S32 (transfer information reading means), the CPU 21 reads the latest captured image recorded in the flash memory 14 as shown in FIG.
Display as shown in As shown in FIG. 8, the number of the captured image is displayed at the upper right of the screen (3 in the case of the display example of FIG. 8).
Is displayed, and a character indicating whether or not the captured image is registered as a transfer is displayed at the lower left. In the case of the display example of FIG. 8, the captured image of No. 3 is registered as an image to be transferred, and therefore, the character “Transfer” is displayed.
If it is registered as non-transferred, the characters "non-transferred" are displayed (or nothing may be displayed).

The user can enter characters indicating this registration status (FIG. 8).
In this case, the user operates the display button 64 to delete the number 3 and the character for transfer. When the display button 64 is operated, the CPU 21 deletes the number 3 and the character of transfer (or non-transfer). Conversely, the user operates the display button 64 when the user wants to display these numbers and the characters of transfer or non-transfer when they are not displayed. At this time, the CPU 21
Displays a number and characters of transfer or non-transfer superimposed on the captured image.

Therefore, in step S33, the CPU
21 determines whether or not the display button 64 has been operated, and if it has been operated, the process proceeds to step S34,
The transfer or non-transfer characters and numbers are displayed if they are not already displayed, and are deleted if they are already displayed. If it is determined in step S33 that the display button 64 has not been operated, the process of step S34 is skipped.

Next, proceeding to step S35, the user
It is determined whether to change the currently displayed image.
To change the image, the up / down key 63 is operated. When the up / down key 63 is operated, the CP
U21 proceeds to step S37, and performs a process of changing the display image. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, when the “−” button of the up-down key 63 is operated while the captured image of No. 3 is displayed, the captured image of No. 2 is displayed. At this time, as shown in FIG. 6, the captured image of No. 2 is registered as non-transferred,
Non-transferred characters are displayed at the lower left of the screen, and number 2 is displayed at the upper right of the screen.

If it is determined in step S35 that there is no need to change the image, the process ends.

A process of transferring a captured image to the personal computer 31 after the transfer information is registered for each captured image as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, in step S51, the user operates the personal computer 31 to instruct the transfer of the captured image. This command is input to the CPU 21 via the I / O port 25. When this command is input, the CPU 21 refers to the management table (FIG. 6) stored in the flash memory 14 and selects the first one (for example, number 1) of the captured image. Then, the process proceeds to step S53 (control means), and it is determined whether or not the transfer flag of the captured image of that number is turned on (whether or not it is logic 1). As shown in FIG. 6, for example, the transfer flag of number 1 is set to logic 1. Therefore, in this case, the process proceeds to step S54 (control means) and the CPU 21
Reads the image data of No. 1 from the flash memory 14 and causes the personal computer 31 to transfer the image data P1 via the I / O port 25.

Next, proceeding to step S55 (history storage means), the CPU 21 sets a transfer completed flag for the captured image of No. 1. That is, as shown in FIG.
On the management table of the flash memory 14 (history storage means), logic 1 is written as the transfer flag of number 1. Then, the process further proceeds to step S56, where the transfer flag is turned off. That is, a process of rewriting the transfer flag of number 1 to logic 0 is performed.

Next, the process proceeds to step S57, in which it is determined whether or not the processing of all the captured images stored in the flash memory 14 has been completed. Returning to step S52, the next captured image, for example, the captured image of No. 2 is selected. Then, the process proceeds to step S53, and it is determined whether the transfer flag of the captured image of No. 2 is on. As shown in FIG. 6, since the transfer flag of the captured image of No. 2 is set to logical 0, the processing of steps S54 to S56 is skipped. That is, the captured image of No. 2 is not transferred.

As described above, when it is determined in step S57 that the transfer processing for all the captured images registered in the management table has been completed, the processing is completed.

When the transfer is performed as described above, the history is registered in the management table. For example, the transfer (TRANSMISSION) is selected in step S5 (history reading means) in FIG. When the transfer registration screen is displayed in step S6, as shown in FIG. 5, the characters "transferred" are displayed on the upper right of the screen. Thus, the user can recognize whether or not the captured image has already been transferred to the personal computer.

As described above, once an image has been transferred to the personal computer 31, the transfer flag is turned off in step S56 of FIG. 9, so that the captured image once transferred to the personal computer 31 is duplicated again. Transfer is prevented. However, if it is necessary to transfer the captured image again, the cursor may be moved in the “transfer” direction again in the selection process shown in step S7 of FIG.

In the above embodiment, the cursor is indicated by a dotted line. However, the cursor may be indicated by a solid line or a predetermined area may be displayed in a different color or brightness from other areas. Of course. Also, characters such as transfer and non-transfer can be other characters or symbols.

Further, in the above embodiment, the captured image data is transferred in response to a command from the personal computer 31, but the digital still camera side performs a predetermined operation to allow the personal computer 31 to perform the predetermined operation. It is also possible to transfer the captured image to the 31 side.

As a recording medium for providing a user with a computer program for performing the above-described processing,
In addition to recording media such as magnetic disks, CD-ROMs, and solid-state memories, communication media such as networks and satellites can be used.

FIG. 10 shows a state in which a computer program for performing such processing is recorded on a floppy disk 101 attached to the digital still camera 100 and is provided to a user. 2 shows a state in which the digital still camera 100 is mounted on the digital still camera 200 and installed to control the digital still camera 100.

[0046]

As described above, according to the digital still camera of the first aspect, the image transfer method of the fifth aspect, and the recording medium of the sixth aspect, transfer information is added and the transfer information is added. Since the transfer of images to external devices is controlled according to the information, any number of arbitrary images can be
Transfer to an external device can be performed simply and reliably.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a digital still camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a key input unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a transfer registration process of the digital still camera in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a menu display example in step S4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display example of a transfer registration screen in step S6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a management table.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating registration confirmation processing in the digital still camera in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a display example in step S32 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a transfer process of the digital still camera in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of controlling a digital still camera.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 shooting lens 2 CCD 12 timing generator 14 flash memory 15 compression / expansion circuit 16 signal generator 17 VRAM 20 LCD 21 CPU 22 ROM 23 RAM 24 key input unit 31 personal computer 41 lens block 42 camera body 61 playback button 62 record button 63 up Down key 64 Display button 65 Mode button 66 Release button

Claims (6)

[Claims] An imaging unit configured to capture an image of a subject; an image storage unit configured to store an image captured by the imaging unit; an addition unit configured to add transfer information regarding transfer of the image stored in the image storage unit; Transfer information storage means for storing information; and control means for controlling transfer of the image stored in the image storage means to an external device in accordance with the transfer information stored in the transfer information storage means. A digital still camera, comprising: 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: transfer information reading means for reading out the transfer information corresponding to the image to be read stored in the transfer information storage means when reading the image stored in the image storage means. The digital still camera according to claim 1. 3. The digital still camera according to claim 1, further comprising a history storage unit that stores a history of transfer of the image stored in the image storage unit to the external device. 4. When reading an image stored in said image storage means, said image stored in said history storage means is read.
4. The digital still camera according to claim 3, further comprising history reading means for reading the history corresponding to the image to be read. 5. A digital still camera image transfer method for storing a captured image in a storage medium, comprising: capturing an image of a subject; storing the captured image; and adding transfer information relating to transfer of the stored image; Storing the transferred information, and controlling the transfer of the stored image to an external device in accordance with the stored transferred information. 6. A computer program for use in a digital still camera that stores a captured image in a storage medium, comprising: capturing an image of a subject; storing the captured image; and transferring the stored image. Adding information, storing the added transfer information, and controlling transfer of the stored image to an external device in accordance with the stored transfer information. A recording medium on which a computer program provided is recorded.