KR100702954B1 - Method for marking emphasis portion to image in digital image processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of operating a digital camera, and more particularly, to a method of displaying an emphasis portion on an image in a digital camera displaying and highlighting an emphasis symbol on an image selected on the digital camera. The method for displaying an emphasis portion on an image in a digital camera is an operation method of a digital camera that captures and stores an image, comprising: (a) selecting an image and displaying a predetermined symbol on an area to be emphasized; b) storing the image in which the highlighted symbol is displayed. According to the present invention, by highlighting and storing a highlighted symbol on an image selected on a digital camera, it may be inconvenient to call up and edit the image on a computer, and may be used in an environment in which the computer is not available or the use of an image editing tool. Even unfamiliar people can easily edit images using the simple menu provided by the camera.

Description

Method for marking emphasis portion to image in digital image processing device}

1 is a diagram illustrating a trimming technique in a conventional digital image processing apparatus.

2 is a perspective view illustrating a front appearance of a digital camera in the digital image processing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a rear view illustrating a rear appearance of the digital camera of FIG. 2.

4 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the digital camera shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a method of displaying an emphasis portion on an image in the digital image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a rear view illustrating a rear surface of the camera for explaining FIG. 5.

The present invention relates to a method of operating a digital image processing apparatus, and more particularly, to a method for displaying an emphasis portion on an image in a digital image processing apparatus displaying and storing an emphasis symbol on an image selected on the digital image processing apparatus. .

A new type of digital image processing device that uses digital signals according to the development of digital technology, and stores the image of the camera, that is, the subject, as a digital signal represented by 0 and 1, and stores it in memory and connects it to a computer without developing, printing, or scanning. Digital cameras that can transfer images directly to a computer have been developed and are rapidly spreading.

Such a digital image processing apparatus converts an electric image signal of a subject into a digital signal by using an imaging device such as a CCD and stores or outputs the digital signal of the photographed subject in a memory by a compression / restore operation of the digital signal. Output the data through the device.

Accordingly, the digital image processing apparatus that performs the photographing operation of the subject according to the above principle stores the image data of the photographed subject in a memory card or the like which stores data without using a separate film as in the conventional general image processing apparatus.

Therefore, instead of purchasing a film and performing a shooting operation for a predetermined number of shots, and storing the film in a film lab and finding a photograph taken a few hours later, the image signal recorded on the memory card mounted by the operation of the digital image processing apparatus is used. Are stored sequentially so that the user can connect the captured image data to a computer.

Such a digital image processing apparatus has a function of selecting and trimming a desired portion of an image by using a direction key and a zoom key while the image is displayed on a display panel, and storing the image separately from the original.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining such a trimming technique. Trimming is performed using a rectangular frame or an invisible frame using a direction key and a zoom key. This is cumbersome to compare with the original image because it is processed and stored separately from the original image. In addition, it is inconvenient because it is impossible to use a camera to emphasize a particular part of an image and post processing using another image tool on a computer.

The technical problem to be achieved by the present invention is to display the highlight symbol on the image selected on the digital image processing apparatus and to store the same, thereby highlighting the highlight portion in the image in the digital image processing apparatus that can solve the inconvenience of image processing using a computer. To provide a way to display.

In the digital image processing apparatus for solving the above technical problem to be solved by the present invention, a method of displaying an emphasis portion on an image is an operation method of a digital image processing apparatus that captures and stores an image, and (a) selects an arbitrary image. Displaying a predetermined symbol in an arbitrary area to be emphasized, and (b) storing the image in which the highlighted symbol is displayed.

In the present invention, the highlighted symbol can be displayed in duplicate.

In the present invention, step (a) may comprise: (a-1) selecting a highlight symbol display menu together with the image selection; (a-2) displaying highlight symbols displayable with the selected image; (a-3) setting the size and display position of the arbitrary emphasis symbol; And (a-4) displaying the set emphasis symbol on an arbitrary area of the image.

In the present invention, the size of the selected highlighted symbol is changed using an optical zoom key or a telephoto zoom key.

In the present invention, it is characterized by using the direction keys to move the highlighted symbol whose size is changed to an arbitrary area of the image.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail the present invention.

2 is a perspective view illustrating a front appearance of a digital camera as an embodiment of a digital image processing apparatus.

Referring to FIG. 2, in front of a general digital camera, a microphone (MIC), a self-timer lamp 11, a flash 12, a shutter 13, a mode dial 14, a function-selection key 15, There is a shooting-information display section 16, a viewfinder 17a, a function-block key 18, a flash-light amount sensor 19, a lens section 20, and an external interface section 21.

In the self-timer mode, the self-timer lamp 11 operates for a set time from the time when the shutter 13 is pressed to the time when the shutter 13 operates.

The mode dial 14 is used to select and set various modes, for example, a still image shooting mode, a night view shooting mode, a moving picture shooting mode, a playback mode, a computer connection mode, and a system setting mode.

The function-selection key 15 is used for the user to select any one of operation modes of the digital camera, for example, a still image shooting mode, a night view shooting mode, a moving picture shooting mode, and a playback mode.

The shooting-information display section 16 displays information of each function related to shooting. The function-block key 18 is used for the user to select each function displayed on the shooting-information display unit 16.

FIG. 3 is a rear view illustrating a rear appearance of the digital camera illustrated in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 3, behind the conventional digital camera, a speaker SP, a power key 31, a monitor key 32, an auto-focus lamp 33, a viewfinder 17b, and a flash standby lamp 34 ), Display panel (LCD) 35, exposure compensation / deletion key 36, enter / playback key 37, menu / OK key 38, wide angle-zoom key 39w , Telephoto-zoom key 39t, up-move key 40up, right-move key 40ri, down-move key 40lo, and left-move key 40le, Playback key 42 have.

The monitor key 32 is used by the user to control the operation of the display panel (LCD) 35. For example, when the user presses the monitor key 32 first, an image of the subject and photographing information thereof are displayed on the display panel 35, and when the user presses a second time, only the image of the subject is displayed on the display panel 35. When pressed for the third time, power applied to the display panel 35 is cut off.

The auto-focus lamp 33 operates when the auto focusing operation is completed.

The flash standby lamp 34 operates when the flash 12 (in FIG. 2) is in an operation standby state.

The exposure compensation / deletion key 36 is used as a deletion key in the process of adjusting the amount of light or manually setting each mode when the digital camera is manually operated.

The enter / playback key 37 is used for inputting data from the user or for a function such as stopping or playing in the playback mode.

The menu / OK key 38 is used to display and select the menu of the mode selected in the mode dial 14.

The up-movement key 40up, the right-movement key 40ri, the down-movement key 40lo, and the left-movement key 40le are used in the process of setting each mode by the user, and are displayed in the image displayed on the display panel 35. It is used to change location in.

The playback mode key 42 is used to check and manipulate the last photographed image, video or audio information.

4 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the digital camera shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The optical system OPS including the lens unit 20 optically processes light from a subject. The lens unit 20 of the optical system OPS includes a zoom lens ZL, a focus lens FL, and a compensation lens CL.

When the user presses the wide angle-zoom key (39w in FIG. 3) or telephoto-zoom key (39t in FIG. 3) included in the user input unit INP, a corresponding signal is transmitted to the microcontroller 512. Is entered. Accordingly, as the microcontroller 512 controls the lens driver 510, the zoom motor MZ is driven to move the zoom lens ZL. That is, when the wide angle-zoom key (39w in FIG. 3) is pressed, the focal length of the zoom lens ZL is shortened to widen the angle of view, and when the telephoto-zoom key 39t is pressed. The focal length of the zoom lens ZL becomes long and the angle of view becomes narrow.

Reference numeral MA denotes a motor for driving an aperture (not shown). Here, the rotation angle of the aperture drive motor MA is changed depending on the case of the designated exposure mode and the case of not. The designated exposure mode refers to a mode for setting the exposure amount of the digital camera to the average brightness of the designated detection area when the desired area of the target area matches the designated detection area displayed on the display panel 35 of the digital camera. Say.

A photoelectric converter (OEC) 500 of a charge coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) converts light from an optical system (OPS) into an electrical analog signal. In the present invention, the CCD is described as an example of the photoelectric converter 500. The digital signal processor 507 controls the timing circuit 502 to control the operation of the photoelectric converter (OEC) 500 and the analog-to-digital converter 501. The timing circuit 502 is controlled by the microcontroller 512. The analog-to-digital converter 501 converts an analog signal from the photoelectric converter (OEC) 500 into a digital signal.

The digital signal processor 507 processes the digital signal from the analog-digital converter 501 to generate a digital image signal classified into luminance and chroma signals.

The light emitting portion LAMP driven by the microcontroller 512 includes a self-timer lamp 11, an auto-focus lamp (33 in FIG. 3) and a flash standby lamp (34 in FIG. 3).

The user input unit INP includes a shutter (13 in Fig. 2), a mode dial (14 in Fig. 2), a function-selection key (15 in Fig. 2), a function-block key (18 in Fig. 2), a monitor key (Fig. 3 of 32), OK / Delete key (36 of FIG. 3), Enter / Playback key (37 of FIG. 3), Menu / OK key (38 of FIG. 3), Wide-Zoom key (39w of FIG. 3), Tele- 3 includes a zoom key (39t in FIG. 3), an up-shift key (40up in FIG. 3), a right-shift key (40ri in FIG. 3), a down-shift key (40lo in FIG. 3), and a left-shift key (40le in FIG. 3). .

The digital video signal from the digital signal processor 507 is temporarily stored in the DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) 504. In the present invention, the DRAM 504 stores image frames photographed according to the number of divided photographing operations.

The EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) 505 stores algorithms and setting data necessary for the operation of the digital signal processor 507. In the present invention, the EEPROM 505 stores an emphasis symbol that can be displayed to highlight a selected image, which is stored as a bmp file, or stored in a program as an API (Application Programming Interface) format that can display an emphasis symbol. It is.

The memory card of the user is attached to or detached from the memory card interface 506.

The digital image signal from the digital signal processor 507 is input to the LCD driver 514, whereby the image is displayed on the color LCD panel 35, that is, the display unit.

On the other hand, the digital video signal from the digital signal processor 507 can be transmitted by serial communication via a universal serial bus (USB) connection 21a or an RS232C interface 508 and its connection 21b, and a video filter ( 509 and the video output unit 21c can be transmitted as a video signal.

The audio processor 513 outputs the audio signal from the microphone MIC to the digital signal processor 507 or the speaker SP, and outputs the audio signal from the digital signal processor 507 to the speaker SP.

On the other hand, the flash 12 is driven through the microcontroller 512 and the flash controller 511 according to the signal from the flash-light amount sensor 19.

The microcontroller 512 provides a menu for displaying and storing a highlighted symbol on a specific image, which can be selected through the user input unit INP.

When a menu for displaying and storing a highlight symbol on a specific image is selected, the digital signal processor 507 provides display highlightable symbols and processes to display and store the selected highlight symbol in the selected image. Detailed operations of the digital signal processor 507 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a method of displaying a highlighted portion on an image in the digital image processing apparatus according to the present invention, in which a user reproduces a specific image stored in a DRAM 507 or a memory card (step 500). The user presses the monitor key 32 to turn on / off the display panel 35 to turn on the display panel 35, search for a thumbnail image, and select a specific image as desired.

In order to display a highlight symbol on a specific image, the user selects a highlight symbol display menu provided by the microcontroller 512 (step 502).

When the highlight symbol display menu is selected, the digital signal processor 507 displays the highlight symbol that can be displayed together with the specific image on the display panel 35 (step 504). 6A shows a particular image and highlight symbol displayed on the display panel 35 after the highlight symbol display menu is selected. This highlighted symbol is stored in the EEPROM 505 as a bmp file or stored as a program, which is processed by the digital signal processor 507 and displayed in the image.

After searching the displayed highlighted symbols, the user selects the highlighted symbols to be displayed (step 506). In an embodiment, it is assumed that a circle (○) is selected from the highlighted symbols of FIG. 6A.

When the highlight symbol selection is completed, the digital signal processor 507 displays the highlight symbol on the display panel on which the image is displayed (step 508).

Then, the user checks the highlight portion in the displayed image and changes the size of the highlight symbol selected by the optical-zoom key 39w and the telephoto-zoom key 39t in accordance with the size of the highlighted portion (step 510). When the optical-zoom key 39w is input, the digital signal processor 507 enlarges the size of the selected highlighted symbol. When the tele-zoom key 39t is input, the digital signal processor 507 reduces the size of the selected highlighted symbol.

After setting the size of the selected highlight symbol, the size is set using the arrow keys (up-move key 40up, right-move key 40ri, down-move key 40lo, and left-move key 40le). After moving to the highlighted part of the image, enter the menu / OK key 38 (step 512). 7B shows an example in which an emphasis symbol (○) is displayed on a portion (person) to be emphasized in the image.

Thereafter, if there are more portions to be emphasized in the same image, the process returns to step 502 and selects another highlight symbol to be displayed on the image (step 514).

However, if the part to be emphasized in the same image no longer exists, the highlighted image is stored in the memory card through the DRAM 507 (step 516). The image with the highlighted symbol is stored separately from the previously stored image (the image without the highlighted symbol).

So far I looked at the center of the preferred embodiment for the present invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be implemented in a modified form without departing from the essential features of the present invention. Therefore, the disclosed embodiments should be considered in descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. The scope of the present invention is shown in the claims rather than the foregoing description, and all differences within the scope will be construed as being included in the present invention.

As described above, according to the present invention, by displaying a highlight symbol on an image selected by the digital image processing apparatus and storing the same, it may be inconvenient to bring up and edit the image on the computer, or may not use the computer. Even people unfamiliar with the use of image editing tools can easily edit images using simple menus provided by digital image processing devices.

Claims (5)

As an operation method of a digital image processing apparatus for photographing and storing an image, (a) selecting a highlight symbol display menu with any image selection; (b) displaying highlight symbols displayable with the selected image; (c) setting a size and a display position of the arbitrary emphasis symbol; (d) displaying the set emphasis symbol in any area of the image; And (e) storing the highlighted portion in the image comprising storing the image with the highlighted symbol. The method of claim 1, And displaying the highlighted portion on the image, wherein the highlighted symbol can be displayed in duplicate. delete 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the size of the selected highlighted symbol is changed using an optical zoom or telephoto zoom key. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the emphasis symbol of the changed size is moved to an area of the image by using a direction key.

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