JPH11313279A - Digital camera and its system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To correct an image in the digital camera by using a personal computer and to revise an image correction value through image analysis through the operation only at the digital camera side. SOLUTION: In the case that operation data and a correction object image are sent from the digital camera to a personal computer (S2), since the image by the personal computer is corrected with contents based on the received operation data (S4, S11, S12), only through the operation by the digital camera side, the image correction by the personal computer is controlled. Furthermore, since the image after correction is sent from the personal computer to the digital camera (S13), the correction method is decided while confirming the image after the correction is confirmed by the digital camera side.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital camera and a system therefor, and more particularly, to a digital camera which captures a still subject image by photoelectric conversion, subjects the image signal to predetermined image processing, and records the image signal on a recording medium. The present invention relates to a camera and its system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a digital camera and its system, image data taken by the digital camera is usually taken into a personal computer by image taking software (driver software) for the digital camera. Processing, printing, and recording of images are performed using (host software). Similarly, when changing the black level correction, the WB correction, the γ correction value, and the like of the image recorded by the digital camera, the host software is used on the personal computer after the image is taken into the personal computer from the digital camera. These corrections can also be performed by image processing. There is also known a method in which a black level correction value, a WB correction level conversion table, and a γ correction table set in a digital camera are updated by using specific host software on a personal computer. Further, a digital camera alone that corrects photographing data is also known.

[0003]

However, according to the above-described conventional digital camera and its system, in order to correct an image photographed by the digital camera,
The image to be corrected must be imported to a personal computer and corrected by operating the host software on the personal computer side, so that the operation for correcting the image is complicated. In addition, there is a problem that it takes a long processing time to perform high-accuracy image correction of photographing data using a digital camera alone.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to correct an image in a digital camera using a personal computer and to change an image correction value by image analysis. It is an object of the present invention to provide a digital camera that can be operated only by an operation and a system thereof.

[0005]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital camera which is connectable to a personal computer and capable of transmitting and receiving various data to and from the personal computer. Operation data recording means for recording operation data of an operation member of a digital camera as operation data, operation data transmission means for transmitting operation data recorded in the operation data recording means to a personal computer, and an image memory of the digital camera Image transmitting means for transmitting the image recorded in the personal computer to the personal computer, and receiving, from the personal computer, an image corrected based on the data transmitted from the operation data transmitting means and the image transmitting means on the personal computer side, and receiving the image from the personal computer. Image receiving means for recording in

In the above configuration, the operation data recorded in the operation data recording means is transmitted from the digital camera to the personal computer by the operation data transmitting means, and the image transmitted from the digital camera is transmitted to the personal computer. Since the correction is performed based on the operation data transmitted from the digital camera, the image can be corrected in the personal computer only by the operation from the digital camera. Also,
The corrected image can be received from the personal computer by the image receiving means and recorded in the image memory.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital camera system comprising a personal computer and a digital camera connectable to the personal computer, the digital camera system being configured to transmit and receive various data between the personal computer and the digital camera. On the camera side, operation data recording means for recording as an operation data that the operation member of the digital camera is operated, operation data transmission means for transmitting the operation data recorded in the operation data recording means to the personal computer, Image transmission means for transmitting an image recorded in the image memory of the camera to the personal computer; and operation data reception means for receiving operation data transmitted from the operation data transmission means on the digital camera side on the personal computer side. When,
Image receiving means for receiving an image transmitted from the image transmitting means on the digital camera side, image correcting means for correcting the image received by the image receiving means according to the operation data received by the operation data receiving means, and image correction Image transmission means for transmitting the image corrected by the means to the digital camera, and the digital camera further receives the image transmitted from the image transmission means of the personal computer and records the image in the image memory An image receiving means is provided.

[0008] In the above configuration, the correction of the image transmitted from the digital camera on the personal computer side is performed based on the operation data transmitted from the digital camera side. The image can be corrected above. Further, since the corrected image is received from the personal computer and recorded in the image memory, the correction method can be determined by operating the operation member while checking the state of the corrected image on the digital camera side.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital camera system comprising a personal computer and a digital camera connectable to the personal computer, the digital camera system being configured to be capable of transmitting and receiving various data between the personal computer and the digital camera. On the camera side, operation data recording means for recording operation data of the operation member of the digital camera as operation data, operation data transmission means for transmitting the operation data recorded by the operation data recording means to the personal computer, Image transmission means for transmitting an image recorded in the image memory of the digital camera to the personal computer; and operation data for receiving operation data transmitted from the operation data transmission means of the digital camera on the personal computer. Receiving means and digital Image receiving means for receiving an image transmitted from the image transmitting means on the camera side, image analyzing means for analyzing the image received by the image receiving means according to the operation data received by the operation data receiving means, and image analyzing means Correction value data transmitting means for transmitting the correction value data of the image calculated by the digital camera to the digital camera. The digital camera further receives the correction value transmitted from the correction value data transmitting means of the personal computer. A correction value data receiving unit and a correction value data recording unit for recording the correction value data received by the correction value data receiving unit are provided.

In the above configuration, the calculation of the correction value by image analysis on the personal computer side is performed based on the operation data transmitted from the digital camera side. Can be analyzed to calculate an image correction value. Further, since the image correction value calculated on the personal computer side is recorded in the digital camera, the processing of changing the image correction value can be burdened on the personal computer, and highly accurate image correction can be performed at high speed. become.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A digital camera and a system according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a front view of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a rear view of the same, FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the same, FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a digital camera system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an operation storage format in the nonvolatile memory. The digital camera 1 includes a box-shaped camera body 2 and a rectangular parallelepiped imaging unit 3. The imaging section 3 is detachably mounted on the right side of the camera body 2 when viewed from the front, and is rotatably mounted on a plane parallel to the right side. The imaging unit 3 includes a photographing lens including a macro zoom and a CCD (Charge Coupled Device).
e) and the like, which has an image pickup device including a photoelectric conversion element, converts an optical image of a subject into an image composed of charge signals photoelectrically converted by each pixel of the CCD, and captures the image.

On the other hand, the camera body 2 is provided with an LCD (Liquid
It has a display unit 10 composed of a crystal display, a mounting unit 17 for a memory card 8, and a connection terminal 13 to which a personal computer is externally connected, and mainly performs predetermined signal processing on an image signal captured by the imaging unit 3. Later, LCD
Processing such as display on the display unit 10, recording on the memory card 8, and transfer to a personal computer is performed. A macro zoom lens is provided inside the image pickup section 3, and an image pickup circuit including a CCD color area sensor 303 is provided at an appropriate position behind the macro zoom lens. Further, a dimming circuit 30 including a dimming sensor 305 that receives reflected light of the flash light from the subject at an appropriate position in the imaging unit 3.
4 are provided.

As shown in FIG. 1, on the front surface of the camera body 2, a grip portion 4 is provided at an appropriate position at the left end, and a built-in flash 5 is provided at an appropriate upper portion at the right end as viewed from the front. On the upper surface of the camera body 2, switches 6 and 7 for frame advance when reproducing a recorded image are provided substantially at the center. The switch 6 is a switch (hereinafter referred to as an UP switch) for advancing the recorded image in a direction in which the frame number increases (the direction of the photographing order), and the switch 7 is a direction in which the frame number of the recorded image decreases. (Hereinafter referred to as DOWN switch)
It is. On the left side of the DOWN switch 7 when viewed from the rear side, an erase switch D for erasing an image recorded on the memory card 8 is provided, and a shutter button 9 is provided on the upper right of the UP switch 6. When the shutter button 9 is pressed, the frame number of the recorded image being reproduced is stored in a nonvolatile memory in the overall control unit 211.
An operation storage format as shown in FIG. 5 is prepared in the nonvolatile memory, and the image frame number to be stored here is stored in the area m3.

As shown in FIG. 2, an LCD display section 10 for displaying a captured image on a monitor (corresponding to a view finder) and displaying and reproducing a recorded image is provided on the back of the camera body 2. . A compression rate setting slide switch 12 for switching and setting a compression rate K of image data recorded on the memory card 8 is provided around the LCD display section 10, and a personal computer is externally connected.
A B connection terminal 13 and a power switch PS are provided. Further, function keys F1, F2, F3, and F4 for executing the set specific functions are provided above the LCD display unit 10. When each function key is pressed, the key number (F1 to F4) is stored in a non-volatile memory (not shown) in the overall control unit 211. The function key number saved here is area m1
Alternatively, it is stored in m2 (FIG. 5).

The digital camera 1 has an "automatic flash mode" in which the built-in flash 5 is automatically fired according to the brightness of the subject as a mode relating to flash emission, and a "forced flash" in which the built-in flash 5 is forcibly fired regardless of the brightness of the subject. There are provided a "flash mode" and a "flash inhibition mode" for inhibiting the flash of the built-in flash 5. Each time the flash mode setting switch 11 is pressed, each of the "automatic flash mode", "forced flash mode" and "flash disabled mode" is set. Switches cyclically, and one of the modes is selected and set. Also, the digital camera 1
With respect to image compression and storage, two types of compression ratios K of 1/8 and 1/20 can be selectively set. For example, when the compression ratio setting switch 12 is slid to the right, the compression ratio K = 1
/ 8 is set, and when it is slid to the left, the compression ratio K = 1 /
20 is set. In the present embodiment, two types of compression ratios K can be selectively set. However, three or more types of compression ratios K may be selectively set.

Further, a photographing / playback mode setting switch 14 for switching between a "photographing mode" and a "playback mode" is provided at the upper right end of the rear surface of the camera body 2.
The photographing mode is a mode in which a photograph is taken, and the playback mode is a mode in which a photographed image recorded on the memory card 8 is displayed on the LCD.
This is a mode for reproducing and displaying on the display unit 10. The photographing / playback mode setting switch 14 is composed of a two-contact slide switch. For example, sliding to the right sets the playback mode, and sliding to the left sets the shooting mode. Further, a host correction / normal correction mode setting switch 15 for switching and setting between “host correction mode” and “normal correction mode” is provided at the upper center of the rear surface of the camera body 2. The host correction mode is A / D
In this mode, the pixel signal output from the converter 205 is stored in the image memory 209 without being corrected by the black level correction circuit 206, the WB circuit 207, and the γ correction circuit 208. The normal correction mode is A / D The pixel signal output from the converter 205 is converted into a black level correction circuit 206 and a W signal.
In this mode, the image data is corrected by the B circuit 207 and the γ correction circuit 208 and stored in the image memory 209.

The host correction / normal correction mode setting switch 15 also comprises a two-contact slide switch. For example, sliding to the right sets the normal correction mode, and sliding to the left sets the host correction mode. . The flash mode setting switch 11, the switches 6, 7, D and the shutter button 9 are constituted by push switches. A battery loading chamber 18 and a card loading chamber 17 for the memory card 8 are provided on the bottom surface of the camera body 2, and the loading ports of the loading chambers 16 and 17 are closed by a clamshell type lid 19. Has become. The digital camera 1 according to the present embodiment uses a power supply battery formed by connecting four AA batteries in series as a drive source. .

The CCD 303 is a macro zoom lens 30
The light image of the object formed by the step 1 is represented by R (red), G
(Green) and B (blue) color component image signals (signals composed of a signal sequence of pixel signals received by each pixel) are photoelectrically converted and output. The timing generator 314 includes the CCD 30
3 to generate various timing pulses for controlling the driving of the third driving circuit. In the exposure control in the image pickup unit 3, the exposure amount of the CCD 303,
That is, the charge accumulation time of the CCD 303 corresponding to the shutter speed is adjusted. If you cannot set an appropriate shutter speed when the subject brightness is low,
By adjusting the level of the image signal output from the CCD 303, improper exposure due to insufficient exposure is corrected. That is, when the luminance is low, the exposure control is performed by combining the shutter speed and the gain adjustment. The level adjustment of the image signal is performed in the gain adjustment of the AGC circuit in the signal processing circuit 313.

The timing generator 314 generates a drive control signal for the CCD 303 based on a reference clock transmitted from the timing control circuit 202. The timing generator 314 generates clock signals such as integration start / end (exposure start / end) timing signals and readout control signals (horizontal synchronization signal, vertical synchronization signal, transfer signal, etc.) of the light receiving signal of each pixel, and the like. CCD3
03 is output. The signal processing circuit 313 includes a CCD 303
And performs predetermined analog signal processing on the image signal (analog signal) output from. Signal processing circuit 313
Has a CDS (correlated double sampling) circuit and an AGC (auto gain control) circuit, reduces the noise of the image signal by the CDS circuit, and adjusts the level of the image signal by adjusting the gain of the AGC circuit. Do.

The dimming circuit 304 controls the light emission amount of the built-in flash 5 in flash photography to a predetermined light emission amount set by the overall control unit 211. In flash photography, the reflected light of flash light from the subject is received by the light control sensor 305 at the same time as the start of exposure, and when the amount of received light reaches a predetermined light emission amount, the light control circuit 3
An emission stop signal is output from 04 to the flash control circuit 214 via the overall control unit 211. The flash control circuit 214 forcibly stops the light emission of the built-in flash 5 in response to the light emission stop signal, whereby the light emission amount of the built-in flash 5 is controlled to a predetermined light emission amount.

The A / D converter 205 in the camera body 2 converts each pixel signal of the image signal into a 10-bit digital signal. The A / D converter 205 is
A / D input from an A / D clock generation circuit (not shown)
Each pixel signal (analog signal) is converted into a 10-bit digital signal based on a conversion clock. In the camera body 2, a timing control circuit 202 for generating a reference clock, a timing generator 314, and a clock for the A / D converter 205 is provided. The timing control circuit 202 is controlled by the overall control unit 211.

The black level correction circuit 206 corrects the black level of the A / D converted pixel signal (hereinafter referred to as pixel data) to a reference black level. The black level correction circuit 206 performs correction using the black level correction value input from the overall control unit 211. The black level correction value is stored in a non-volatile memory (not shown) in the overall control unit 211 and can be rewritten.

The WB circuit 207 performs level conversion of the pixel data of each of the R, G, and B color components so that the white balance is also adjusted after the γ correction. W
The B circuit 207 converts the level of the pixel data of each of the R, G, and B color components using the level conversion table input from the overall control unit 211. The conversion coefficient (gradient of the characteristic) of each color component in the level conversion table is determined by the overall control unit 211.
Is set for each captured image. The level conversion table is stored in a non-volatile memory (not shown) in the overall control unit 211 and can be rewritten.

The gamma correction circuit 208 corrects gamma characteristics of pixel data. The γ correction circuit 208 has six types of γ correction tables having different γ characteristics, and performs γ correction of pixel data using a predetermined γ correction table according to a shooting scene and shooting conditions. The gamma correction table is stored in the overall control unit 211.
It is stored in a non-volatile memory (not shown) inside and can be rewritten.

The image memory 209 is a memory for storing pixel data output from the gamma correction circuit 208. The image memory 209 has a storage capacity for one frame. That is, in the image memory 209, the CCD 303
In the case of having pixels in rows and m columns, it has a storage capacity for pixel data of n × m pixels, and each pixel data is stored in a corresponding pixel position. VRAM 210 is
A buffer memory for image data to be reproduced and displayed on the LCD display unit 10. The VRAM 210 has a storage capacity for image data corresponding to the number of pixels of the LCD display unit 10.

In a photographing standby state, each pixel data of an image picked up by the image pickup unit 3 every 1/30 (second) is A
After undergoing predetermined signal processing by the / D converters 205 to γ correction circuit 208, the signals are stored in the image memory 209, transferred to the VRAM 210 via the overall control unit 211, and displayed on the LCD display unit 10. . Thus, the photographer can visually recognize the subject image from the image displayed on the LCD display unit 10. In the playback mode, after the image read from the memory card 8 is subjected to predetermined signal processing by the overall control unit 211, the VRAM 210
And reproduced and displayed on the LCD display unit 10.

The card I / F 212 is an interface for writing image data to the memory card 8 and reading image data. Also, communication I / F2
An interface 13 conforms to the USB standard for externally connecting the personal computer 1000 so that communication is possible. The flash control circuit 214 is a circuit that controls light emission of the built-in flash 5. The flash control circuit 214 controls the presence / absence of light emission of the built-in flash 5, the amount of light emission, the light emission timing, and the like based on the control signal of the overall control unit 211. Is controlled. The RTC 219 is a clock circuit for managing the shooting date and time, and is driven by another power source (not shown). The operation unit (operation member) 250 includes the above-described UP switch 7 and DOWN switch.
It comprises a switch 6, a shutter button 9, a flash mode setting switch 11, a compression ratio setting switch 12, a shooting / playback mode setting switch 14, a host correction / normal correction mode setting switch 15, and function keys F1 to F4.

The overall control section 211 is composed of a microcomputer, and controls the driving of each member in the image pickup section 3 and the camera main body section 2 to totally control the photographing operation of the digital camera 1. The overall control unit 211 operates the operation unit 25 when correcting an image in the digital camera system.
0 is recorded in a nonvolatile memory as operation data, and an image to be corrected is transmitted / received to / from a personal computer together with the operation data. It functions as an operation data transmission unit, an image transmission unit, and an image reception unit. The overall control unit 211 receives correction value data transmitted from a personal computer and records the correction value data in the image memory 209, and functions as a correction value data receiving unit and a correction value data recording unit. .

When the photographing is instructed by the shutter button 9 when the photographing mode is set, the overall control unit 211 operates the thumbnail image of the image taken into the image memory 209 after the photographing is instructed and the compression ratio setting switch 12. Generates a compressed image compressed by the JPEG method at the set compression rate K, and generates tag information (frame number, exposure value, shutter speed, compression rate K, shooting date, flash on / off data at shooting) for the shot image. , Scene information, information such as image determination results, etc. are stored in the memory card 8. Images recorded by the digital camera 1 can store 40 images at a compression ratio of 1/20. Is the tag part, high-resolution image data (640 x 480 pixels) compressed in JPEG format, and image data for thumbnail display
(80 × 60 pixels). Each frame can be handled as, for example, an EXIF format image file.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a digital camera system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The digital camera system 100 includes a personal computer 1000 and the above-described digital camera 1 connectable to the personal computer 1000, and is configured to be able to transmit and receive various data between the personal computer 1000 and the digital camera 1. The personal computer 1000 has a keyboard Ke.
y, the mouse M, and the printer Pri are connected by a USB cable. Note that the keyboard key is U
Also serves as a hub for the SB interface. Further, the personal computer 1000 has a hard disk drive HDD built therein. Further, driver software and host software for the digital camera 1 are installed in the personal computer 1000 in advance.

This driver software controls communication between the digital camera 1 and the personal computer 1000 and functions as operation data receiving means, image receiving means, image transmitting means, and correction value data transmitting means. . The driver software stores commands (operation data) and images received from the digital camera 1 in a hard disk drive HDD in the personal computer 1000.
Can be saved. Also, the driver software can start the host software and notify the host software of the command and the location of the image stored in the hard disk HDD. The host software performs image correction or image analysis on an image received from the digital camera 1, and functions as an image correction unit and an image analysis unit described in claims. The host software determines an image correction method or an image analysis method according to a command received from the digital camera 1.

Digital camera system 1 having the above configuration
At 00, when the digital camera 1 is connected to the USB port of the keyboard when the personal computer 1000 is activated, the digital camera icon cI appears on the screen 1001 of the personal computer 1000 as shown in FIG. The screen 1001 includes an icon Icon of data and an application, an icon Folder of a folder, an icon cC indicating the personal computer 1000 itself, and an open window 10.
03 is displayed. In order to represent a state where the digital camera 1 and the personal computer 1000 are connected,
On the screen 1001, a cable Cable is displayed between the icon cC and the icon cI of the digital camera 1. When the connection between the digital camera 1 and the personal computer 1000 is released, the display of the icon cI and the cable Cable on the screen 1001 disappear.

Next, the operation of the digital camera 1 when correcting the image in the digital camera 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a screen transition diagram of the display unit 10 of the digital camera 1 at the time of image correction, and FIGS.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing each screen displayed on the display unit 10 at the time of image correction. Digital camera 1 to personal computer 1
000, the mode setting switch 14
By operating, the playback mode and the shooting mode can be switched. In the playback mode, a shot image is displayed on the screen (D1), and in the shooting mode, a live view image is displayed on the screen (D2). When the screen is at D1 or D2, in any case, when the digital camera 1 is connected to the personal computer 1000, the driver software installed in the personal computer 1000 in advance detects the connection of the digital camera 1. Then, the screen of the digital camera 1 transitions to D10 (FIG. 9). When the digital camera 1 is detached from the personal computer 1000, the screen D1 before the transition to D10 is displayed.
Or return to D2.

As shown in FIG. 9, a list of four functions is displayed on the screen D10, and one of these functions can be selected by operating the operation unit 250 of the digital camera 1. Here, each function can be selected by pressing function keys F1 to F4. Here, when any of the function keys is pressed, the corresponding function is selected, and the pressed key numbers (F1 to F4) are stored in the area m1 (FIG. 5) in the nonvolatile memory in the overall control unit 211. Then, as shown in FIG. 10, the screen transits to an image selection screen (D1).
1). In screen D11, switch 6 and switch 7
Can be used to change the image to be displayed. By pressing the shutter button 9, an image to be corrected can be selected from images recorded in the image memory. At this time, the frame number of the selected image is stored in the area m3 (FIG. 5) in the nonvolatile memory in the overall control unit 211. Thereby, the selection of the image is completed, and the screen transits to the selected image display screen shown in FIG. 11 (D12).

On the screen D12, a function list display D10
Different screens are displayed depending on the function selected in. The function key number stored in the area m1 in the nonvolatile memory in the overall control unit 211 is read,
Different screens are displayed according to the function key numbers. That is, when the key number selected in D10 is F1 (image correction), a screen as shown in FIG. 11 is displayed. Similarly, the screens of FIG. 12 are displayed for F2 (color tone correction), FIG. 13 for F3 (correction value adjustment), and FIG. 14 for F4 (basic image correction).

When the screen shown in FIG. 11 is displayed, the function name "image correction" selected in D10 is displayed at the right end of the screen, and four items for determining the contents of the image correction are displayed. Is done. Each item can be selected by the operation unit 250 of the digital camera. Here, each item can be selected by operating a function key. Press any function key to select the item and press the key number
(F1 to F4) are stored in the area m2 in the nonvolatile memory in the overall control unit 211. The same applies to the case of the color tone correction and the correction value adjustment shown in FIGS. In the case of the basic image adjustment shown in FIG. 14, the items to be selected are not displayed because the black level correction, the WB correction, and the γ correction are automatically performed. Therefore, nothing is recorded in the area m2 of the nonvolatile memory in the overall control unit 211.

When the function key is pressed and an item is selected while the screen is at D12 shown in FIGS. 11, 12, and 13, the digital camera 1 sends a command to the personal computer 1000 in the overall control unit 211 as a command. The function key numbers stored in the areas m1 and m2 of the non-volatile memory are transmitted, and an image corresponding to the frame number stored in the area m3 is transmitted together therewith. At this time, the screen does not change. If the screen D12 is the basic image correction shown in FIG. 14, the digital camera 1 displays the screen D12 shown in FIG. 14 and immediately transmits the command and the image to the personal computer 1000 without waiting for the pressing of the function key. I do.

Upon receiving the command and the image, the personal computer 1000 performs a process of correcting the image according to the command. This processing will be described later. When the image correction processing is completed in the personal computer 1000, the personal computer 1000 sets the command transmitted from the digital camera 1 to “image correction”,
In the case of “color tone correction” and “basic image correction”, the command and the corrected image are transmitted to the digital camera 1. The command transmitted from the digital camera 1 is “correction value correction”.
In the case of (1), the image is analyzed, and the command and the correction value data are transmitted to the digital camera 1.

When the digital camera 1 receives the command and the corrected image transmitted from the personal computer 1000, the digital camera 1 displays the received corrected image on a screen D12.
Is overwritten and displayed on the image display unit 10. In this state,
By pressing the function key, image correction, color tone correction or image basic correction can be further performed. When the shutter button 9 is pressed in this state, the image correction, the color tone correction or the basic image correction is completed, and the screen transits to a function list screen (D10) (FIG. 9). When the digital camera 1 receives a command and a correction value from the personal computer 1000, the digital camera 1 uses the received correction value as a black level correction value, a level conversion table, and a γ correction stored in a nonvolatile memory in the overall control unit 211. Overwrite the value. When the overwriting is completed, the screen transits to a function list screen (D10) (FIG. 9).

The processing on the personal computer 1000 side at the time of the image correction will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing at the time of image correction in the personal computer 1000. The driver software of the personal computer 1000 always monitors whether or not the digital camera 1 is connected and whether or not a command / image is transmitted from the digital camera 1 (S0, S1). The digital camera 1 is connected to the personal computer 1000 (YE in S0).
S), when a command and an image are transmitted from the digital camera 1 (YES in S1), the driver software receives the command and the image (S2) and saves the command and the image in the hard disk drive HDD in the personal computer 1000. Next, the driver software starts the host software (S
3) Notify the host software of the command and the location of the image stored in the hard disk drive HDD. As described above, this command is combination data of function key numbers stored in the areas m1 and m2 of the nonvolatile memory in the overall control unit 211, and the image is stored in the area m3 of the nonvolatile memory. This is an image corresponding to the stored frame number.

Next, the host software reads the combination data of the function keys, which are commands, and analyzes the contents of the commands (S4). Figure 1 shows the contents of the command.
6. In the combination (x, y) of the function key numbers, x is an area m in the nonvolatile memory in the overall control unit 211 of the digital camera.
1, and y is the value stored in the area m2.

In S4, first, the host software checks the value of x of the command (x, y) to find out the functions required for processing. In the subsequent processing, when the value of y is an arbitrary value *,
In the case of (F1, *), image correction is performed in S11 to S13. Similarly, when (F2, *), S21 to S23
, The correction value adjustment is performed in S31 to S33 when (F3, *), and the basic image correction is performed in S42 to S43 when (F4, *).

When the command is image correction in S4 (when x is F1), the host software checks the value of y of the command in S11 to know the details of the processing. For example, if y is F1, the processing content automatically corrects the brightness using the image correction function. At this time, the host software reads the received image from the digital camera 1 stored in the hard disk drive HDD, automatically corrects the brightness of the image with the image correction function, and stores the corrected image in the hard disk drive HDD. The received image is overwritten (S12). Then, the host software notifies the driver software that the processing has been completed. When the driver software knows that the processing has been completed from the host software, it transmits the command stored in the hard disk drive HDD and the corrected image to the digital camera 1 in S13 (S13). In step S4, image correction is performed in the same procedure as when y is F1 for y when F is F2, for contrast, when F3 is exposure, and when F4 is brightness, contrast, and exposure. Do.

When the command is color tone correction in S4 (when x is F2), the host software executes S2
In step 1, the value of the command y is checked to know the details of the processing.
For example, if y is F1, the processing content adds red by the color tone correction function. At this time, the host software reads the image received from the digital camera stored in the hard disk drive HDD, adds red to the image by the color tone correction function, and applies the corrected image to the received image of the hard disk drive HDD. Is overwritten (S22). Then, the host software notifies the driver software that the processing has been completed. When the driver software knows that the processing has been completed from the host software, the hard disk drive HD is sent to the digital camera 1 in S23.
The command stored in D and the color-corrected image are transmitted (S23). Green when y is F2 in S4,
In the case of F3, color tone correction is performed for blue in the same procedure as when y is F1.

When the command is a correction value adjustment in S4 (when x is F3), the host software
At step 31, the value of the command y is checked to know the details of the processing. If y is F1, the processing is to analyze the image and calculate the optimal black level correction value. At this time, the host software reads the image received from the digital camera stored in the hard disk drive HDD, calculates an optimal black level correction value from the image at the time of image capturing, and applies the calculation result to the received image on the HDD. Overwrite (S32).
Note that the image at this time is required to be a special image for calculating a correction value, and in that case, a correct black level correction value can be calculated. Then, the host software notifies the driver software that the processing has been completed. When the driver software knows that the processing has been completed from the host software, the driver software transmits the command and the correction value stored in the hard disk drive HDD to the digital camera 1 in S33. In S4, when y is F2, a correction value is calculated in the same procedure as when the y value is F1, and for the γ correction value for the WB circuit when F is F3.

When the command is the basic image correction in S4 (when x is F4), the host software
In S42, the received image from the digital camera 1 stored in the hard disk drive HDD is read,
The image is subjected to black level correction, WB correction, and γ correction, and the corrected image is stored in a hard disk drive HDD.
Overwrite the received image. Then, the host software notifies the driver software that the processing has been completed. When the driver software knows that the processing has been completed from the host software, the driver software transmits the command stored in the hard disk drive HDD and the corrected image to the digital camera 1 in S43.

The driver software is S13, S23, S3
3. When the transmission of the command and the image or the calculated value is completed in S43, the host software is terminated (S5). Then, monitoring of the connection of the digital camera 1 and transmission of commands and images from the digital camera 1 are started again (S0, S0).
1). Here, when a command and an image are transmitted again from the digital camera 1, the procedure from S1 to S5 is repeated. When the connection with the digital camera 1 is completed, the display of the icon cI of the digital camera 1 and the cable Cable displayed on the screen 1001 of the personal computer 1000 shown in FIG. 7 disappear.

As described above, according to the digital camera 1 or the digital camera system 100 of the present embodiment, image correction such as image correction and color tone correction can be performed only by operating the operation unit 250 of the digital camera 1. The operation at the time of image correction is simple. Further, since the correction method can be determined by the operation unit 250 while monitoring the correction status on the display unit 10 of the digital camera 1, the usability is improved. Further, since the black level correction, the WB correction, and the γ correction are placed on the personal computer 1000, the digital camera 1 can perform correction with higher accuracy than the case of performing these numerical corrections.

[0049]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when correcting an image photographed by a digital camera, the digital camera is connected to a personal computer and operated from the digital camera side. Can perform image correction using a personal computer, and operations for performing image correction can be simplified.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the digital camera is connected to a personal computer in order to correct an image taken by the digital camera, the image on the personal computer can be obtained only by an operation from the digital camera. The correction can be performed, and there is no need to perform the correction by operating the application software of the personal computer, so that the operation for performing the image correction is simplified. In addition, since the correction method can be determined by operating the operation member while checking the corrected image on the digital camera side, the operability in determining the correction method is improved, and the usability is improved.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when a digital camera and a personal computer are connected to correct an image, the image correction in the personal computer can be performed only by an operation from the digital camera. Since it is not necessary to operate a personal computer, the operation for performing image correction is simplified.
Further, by causing the personal computer to perform the black level correction, the WB correction, and the γ correction only by operating the operation member of the digital camera, it is possible to perform a high-precision load-related process at a high speed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the digital camera.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the digital camera.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a digital camera system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an operation storage format in a nonvolatile memory block.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the digital camera system.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a screen of a personal computer at the time of image correction.

FIG. 8 is a screen transition diagram of the display unit of the digital camera during image correction.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a function list screen of a display unit of the digital camera.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an image selection screen of a display unit of the digital camera.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an “image correction” screen on the display unit of the digital camera.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a “color tone correction” screen on the display unit of the digital camera.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a “correction value adjustment” screen on the display unit of the digital camera.

FIG. 14: “Basic image correction” on the display unit of the digital camera
It is a figure showing a screen.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a process at the time of image correction in the personal computer.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing combinations of function keys which are commands and processing contents of the host corresponding to the combinations.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Digital Camera 100 Digital Camera System 1000 Personal Computer 209 Image Memory 211 Overall Control Unit (Operation Data Recording Unit, Operation Data Transmission Unit, Image Transmission Unit, Image Receiving Unit, Correction Value Data Receiving Unit, Correction Value Data Recording Unit) 250 Operation unit (operation member)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A digital camera connectable to a personal computer and capable of transmitting and receiving various data to and from the personal computer, wherein operation data recording for recording operation of an operation member of the digital camera as operation data. Means for transmitting operation data recorded in the operation data recording means to a personal computer; image transmitting means for transmitting an image recorded in an image memory of a digital camera to a personal computer; And an image receiving means for receiving an image corrected based on the data transmitted from the operation data transmitting means and the image transmitting means from a personal computer and recording the corrected image in an image memory. 2. A digital camera system comprising a personal computer and a digital camera connectable to the personal computer and configured to transmit and receive various data between the personal computer and the digital camera. Operation data recording means for recording operation of the member as operation data, operation data transmission means for transmitting operation data recorded in the operation data recording means to a personal computer, and image data recorded in an image memory of a digital camera. Image transmitting means for transmitting an image to a personal computer; image receiving means for receiving an image transmitted from the image transmitting means on the personal computer and recording the received image in an image memory; Operation data Operation data reception means for receiving operation data transmitted from the communication means, image reception means for receiving an image transmitted from the image transmission means on the digital camera side, and operation data reception by the operation data reception means. A digital camera comprising: an image correction unit configured to correct an image received by the image reception unit; and an image transmission unit configured to transmit the image corrected by the image correction unit to a digital camera. system. 3. A digital camera system comprising a personal computer and a digital camera connectable to the personal computer, and capable of transmitting and receiving various data between the personal computer and the digital camera. Operation data recording means for recording that the operation member has been operated as operation data; operation data transmission means for transmitting the operation data recorded by the operation data recording means to the personal computer; and an image memory of the digital camera. Image transmission means for transmitting the recorded image to the personal computer side, correction value data reception means for receiving the correction value transmitted from the correction value data transmission means of the personal computer, and the correction value data reception means Write the correction value data Correction data recording means for recording, operation data receiving means for receiving operation data transmitted from operation data transmission means on the digital camera side, image transmission means on the digital camera side, An image receiving unit that receives an image transmitted from the image processing unit; an image analyzing unit that analyzes an image received by the image receiving unit in accordance with the operation data received by the operation data receiving unit; And a correction value data transmitting means for transmitting the correction value data of the image to the digital camera.