JP2000134519A - Recording medium and electronic camera and method for processing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording medium and an electronic camera for changing the characteristics of images to be photographed by changing a recording medium to be mounted on an electronic camera such as a photographic film, and a method for processing this electronic camera. SOLUTION: Film characteristics information for setting the processing contents of an electronic camera is preliminarily recorded in a digital film (recording medium) 50 to be mounted on an electronic camera. When the digital film is mounted, a CPU 30 of the electronic camera reads the film characteristic information, and executes the control of each circuit (control circuit 32, digital signal processing circuit 46, and compressing and extending circuit 48 or the like). Thus, the processing of the electronic camera is operated based on the film characteristic information, and the characteristics of images to be recorded can be changed by using digital films whose film characteristic information is different.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording medium, an electronic camera, and a processing method thereof, and more particularly, records information for setting processing contents of the electronic camera on the recording medium, and processes the electronic camera based on the information. And an electronic camera and a processing method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 9-43667 describes a camera system in which a camera can be operated in accordance with an operation program by inserting the memory card in which the operation program of the camera is registered into the camera. .

[0003]

However, the camera described in the above document is applied to a photographic camera using a photographic film, but does not describe application to an electronic camera. An electronic camera is usually equipped with a memory card. However, it is common to record a photographed image on this memory card, and information is obtained from this memory card and based on this information. Controlling the operation of a camera has not been proposed so far.

In a photographic camera, the characteristics of an image to be recorded can be changed by changing the type of photographic film, such as changing the brightness sensitivity, making the image black and white, changing the resolution, and the like. There is nothing to change the characteristics of the image to be recorded in this way depending on the type of the memory card. Further, since the same change can be made by the setting of the electronic camera, it is not necessary to provide a type such as a photographic film on the memory card. Therefore, when it is desired to change the characteristics of the image to be recorded, it is necessary to change the setting of the processing content of the electronic camera each time, and this operation is troublesome. There is also a problem that it is difficult for a user who has not used the electronic camera much to make settings to obtain a desired effect.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and has been made in such a manner that the characteristics of an image to be photographed can be changed by changing a recording medium mounted on an electronic camera such as a photographic film. It is an object to provide a medium, an electronic camera, and a processing method thereof.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium which is removably mounted on an electronic camera and records an image taken by the electronic camera. Characteristic information for setting processing contents of the electronic camera is recorded.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic camera in which a detachable recording medium is mounted and an image taken by an image pickup means is recorded on the recording medium. Reading the characteristic information from the recording medium and executing a process of the electronic camera based on the characteristic information. According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of processing an electronic camera in which a detachable recording medium is mounted and an image captured by an imaging unit is recorded on the recording medium. Characteristic information for setting contents is recorded, the characteristic information is read from a recording medium mounted on the electronic camera, and processing of the electronic camera is executed based on the characteristic information.

According to the present invention, the processing of the electronic camera is executed based on the characteristic information for setting the processing contents of the electronic camera recorded on the recording medium. The trouble of setting is reduced. In addition, by preparing a recording medium on which the characteristic information having various different contents is recorded, it becomes possible to change the characteristic of an image to be photographed by selecting the type of the recording medium, such as a photographic film. It is possible to easily capture an image for an effect.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a recording medium, an electronic camera and a processing method thereof according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 and 2 are perspective views of the electronic camera according to the present invention as viewed from the front side and the back side, respectively. As shown in FIG. 1, a photographing lens 12 and an optical finder 1
4. Members such as the auxiliary light emitting section 16, the shutter button 18, the power switch 20, and the like are provided. In addition, electronic camera 1
The digital film insertion part 22 is provided on the side of the zero. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, members such as a liquid crystal monitor 24, an eyepiece unit 15 of the optical viewfinder 14, a film type confirmation window 26, and the like are provided on the back surface of the electronic camera 10.
The electronic camera 10 is provided with various operation switches (not shown) in addition to these members.

[0010] A card type recording medium is mounted on the digital film insertion section 22, and an image photographed by the electronic camera 10 is recorded on the recording medium. Although details will be described later, the present electronic camera 10 can use a recording medium in which information for automatically setting processing contents and the like of the electronic camera 10, which is referred to as film characteristic information, is recorded in advance on a recording medium. The electronic camera 10 reads out the film characteristic information from the recording medium and executes photographing with the processing content specified by the film characteristic information.
Therefore, by preparing a plurality of types of recording media on which film characteristic information having different contents are recorded, it is possible to set the characteristics of an image to be recorded on the recording medium according to the type of the recording medium, for example, photographic films having different sensitivities. Is available.

The recording medium used in the electronic camera 10 records a photographed image, and the characteristics of the recorded image can be changed according to the type of the recording medium, that is, the contents of the full-im characteristic information. Since it has the same properties as a film, it is called a digital film in correspondence with a photographic film. Next, the electronic camera 10
A description will be given of a digital film that can be used in. Although any recording medium may be used as the digital film, two different types of recording media are shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B as examples. The recording medium shown in FIG. 3A is called a flash memory card, and the recording medium has a connector 60 provided at the end. On the other hand, the recording medium shown in FIG. 3B is called smart media (SSFDC), and the recording medium has a connector 62 provided on a part of one surface. When such a removable card-type recording medium is used as a digital film, a film type display portion 64, 66 is secured at a predetermined position on the surface, and the film type display portion 64, 66 is provided with a digital type. Display for determining the content of the film characteristic information recorded on the film is performed. As a result, the type of the digital film can be determined from the outside, and the digital film can be stored in the electronic camera 1.
Even when the electronic camera 10 is mounted on the film insertion part 22, the film type display portions 64 and 66 can be viewed from the film type confirmation window 26 (see FIG. 2) provided on the back surface of the electronic camera 10.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing a circuit configuration of a recording medium used as a digital film.
The configuration shown in FIG. 4A is, for example, employed in a flash memory card,
0, a memory controller 72 and a memory 74. On the other hand, the configuration shown in FIG. 4B is employed in, for example, smart media, and does not include a memory controller as in FIG. ing. The recording medium used as the digital film may have any configuration, and may or may not have a built-in memory controller. Further, another configuration may be used.

Now, the following film characteristic information is recorded on the digital film as described above. (1) Number of pixels of captured images (2) Number of captured images (3) Quality of captured images (compression status, compression lossless or lossy, compression ratio, compression method, raw data of imaging device) (4) Color information such as whether the image to be shot is full color, black and white, or 256 or sepia, for example. (5) Gradation information of the image to be shot ( (6) White balance information (automatic, tungsten, daylight, etc.) of the captured image (7) Focus information of the captured image (fixed to infinity, 3m)
(8) AE information (center-weighted, average, portrait (portrait mode), portrait shooting, shutter speed priority, or sports mode) of the captured image (9) Photographed (10) Information indicating the presence or absence of various corrections (eg, whether black correction, presence / absence of defective pixel correction, presence / absence of lens aberration correction, etc.) (11) SN information (The SN of the obtained image can be specified.) (12) Information on various special effects (foggy, multi-split, circle, mask, tilt, etc.) (13) Information on whether an image has already been read (14) An image Information on whether or not the film has already been printed Digital film contains the above film characteristics information (1) ~
(14) It is possible to record all or only a part of them, and it is also possible to create a digital film for special use by combining these. For example, a digital film that records raw data of an imaging device of the electronic camera 10 and reads out the data later to execute processing such as performing image processing with another high-performance processing device or a personal computer is produced. It can be a film.

Such film characteristic information (1) to (14)
Can be set by the user and recorded on a digital film, but some of this information can also be recorded when the digital film is sold as a special-purpose digital film. , Film characteristics information
(Excluding (13) and (14)). FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a memory configuration of a digital film in which predetermined film characteristic information is recorded in advance for a specific use. As shown in the figure, the memory of the digital film is divided into a non-rewritable film characteristic storage area M1 and a rewritable data (image) recording area M2. The film characteristic information described above is recorded in the film characteristic storage area M1, and the image data processed by the electronic camera and the like are recorded in the data (image) recording area M2.

In such a digital film dedicated to a specific use, a part of the rewritable memory area may be used as an area for recording the film characteristic information in order to allow the rewriting of the film characteristic information. In addition, a rewritable film characteristic storage area is required to record the film characteristic information (13) and (14). FIG. 6 shows a part of the rewritable memory area as an area for recording the film characteristic information. Similarly to FIG. 5, a non-rewritable film characteristic storage area M in which the film characteristic information is recorded in advance.
1 is allocated on the memory, and a film characteristic storage area (option area) M3 for recording film characteristic information set by a user or the like is allocated to a rewritable area on the memory. The rest of the rewritable area is
Data (image) in which image data and the like are recorded as in FIG.
Assigned as a recording area M2.

It is also possible for the user to set all the film characteristic information and to record this film characteristic information on a digital film. In this case, as shown in FIG. 7, a non-rewritable memory area is not provided, and all the areas are rewritable. In this area, a film characteristic storage area M for recording film characteristic information set by the user.
3 and data (image) recording area M for recording image data and the like
Assign 2.

If another type of digital film remains when the memory capacity of the digital film is exhausted at the time of shooting, the film characteristic information is fixed and another digital film is temporarily transferred to the electronic camera 10. It is convenient if it can be used as a digital film of the same type as the original digital film.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, a film characteristic storage area (for recording area 2) for recording new film characteristic information is allocated to a rewritable memory area, and a previous data (image) recording area (recording area) is recorded. In the area 1), an image using the film characteristic information recorded in the non-rewritable film characteristic storage area (for the recording area 1) is recorded, and in the subsequent data (image) recording area (recording area 2). Records an image using new film characteristic information recorded in the film characteristic storage area (for recording area 2).

Incidentally, the film characteristic information may be written in a binary format or a text format. When written in a text format, the user can relatively easily confirm the film characteristic information later using a personal computer or the like. Next, FIG. 9 shows a circuit configuration of the electronic camera 10 which can use the digital film as described above. First, the basic operation of the electronic camera 10 will be described. When the shutter button 18 (see FIG. 1) is pressed, the CPU 30 shown in the figure detects this and sends a shutter release command to the control circuit 32. Thus, the control circuit 32 drives the shutter 34. When the shutter 34 is driven, a subject image is formed on a light receiving surface of the imaging device 40 via an optical system such as a lens 36 and an aperture 38. The imaging device 40 converts the image light focused on the light receiving surface into signal charges of an amount corresponding to the light amount. Then, after converting the signal charge into a voltage signal (image signal), the signal charge is sequentially transferred to the analog signal processing circuit 42.

The image signal transferred to the analog signal processing circuit 42 is subjected to necessary analog signal processing such as white balance adjustment in the analog signal processing circuit 42,
The data is converted into digital signal image data by the A / D converter 44 and transferred to the digital signal processing circuit 46. The digital signal processing circuit 46 performs necessary digital signal processing such as gamma correction and electronic zoom on the transferred image data as described above, and then converts the image data into a YC signal (luminance signal Y and chroma signal C). Convert. Compression / expansion circuit 48
Compresses the YC signal generated by the digital signal processing circuit 46 in a predetermined format, and records the compressed data in a predetermined memory area of the digital film 50. Thus, the image captured by the imaging device 40 is recorded on the digital film 50.

The compression / expansion circuit 48 outputs the YC signal generated by the digital signal processing circuit 46 as it is to the liquid crystal monitor 24 (see FIG. 2) via the D / A converter 52 in addition to the above-described processing. . As a result, the captured image is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 24. When the image recorded on the digital film 50 is reproduced on the liquid crystal monitor 24, the compression / expansion circuit 48 expands the compressed data read from the digital film 50, and then performs the expansion processing on the liquid crystal monitor 24 via the D / A converter 52. Output to

The control circuit 3 shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 2 denotes a circuit that controls the operation of the optical system (shutter 34, lens 36, aperture 38, and the like) of the electronic camera 10 according to a command applied from the CPU 30, and also controls the processing content of the analog signal processing circuit 42. For example, a predetermined lens of a lens 36 composed of a plurality of lenses is driven to perform operations such as focusing and optical zoom, and the aperture 38 is controlled to control the brightness of an image. Further, it controls processing contents such as white balance adjustment performed by the analog signal processing circuit 42.

The CPU 30 controls the control circuit 3
2. Send commands to the digital signal processing circuit 46 and the compression / decompression circuit 48 to cause these circuits to execute required processing. At this time, the CPU 30 sets the processing contents to be executed by these circuits as follows, and sends a command to each circuit. First, when the digital film 50 is inserted into the film insertion section 22, the CPU 30 sets the digital film 5 in position.
0 is detected as to whether or not the above-mentioned film characteristic information is recorded. When the film characteristic information is recorded, the film characteristic information is read from the digital film 50, and based on the read film characteristic information, the control circuit 3 is read.
2. The processing contents to be executed by the digital signal processing circuit 46 and the compression / expansion circuit 48 are set. For example, electronic camera 1
0 optical system (shutter 34, lens 36, aperture 38
Etc.) related to the control of the film characteristics information (focus information of the film characteristics information (7), AE information of the film characteristics information (8), zoom information of the film characteristics information (9), etc.) or analog The film characteristic information related to the processing contents of the signal processing circuit 42 (the film characteristic information described above)
(6) White balance information and the above film characteristic information (1
0) information indicating the presence or absence of various corrections, the above-described film characteristic information
When the SN information (11) is recorded on the digital film 50, the control circuit 32 for controlling the optical system or the analog signal processing circuit 42 based on the information.
Is set, and a command is output to the control circuit 32 based on this. Further, the film characteristic information related to the digital signal processing circuit 46 (the number of pixels of the film characteristic information (1), the color information of the film characteristic information (4), the gradation information of the film characteristic information (5), The zoom information of the film characteristic information (9) and the film characteristic information (1)
0) information indicating the presence or absence of various corrections, the above-described film characteristic information
(12) Information on various special effects) or film characteristic information related to the compression / expansion circuit 48 (the quality of the film characteristic information (3)) is recorded on the digital film 50 if it is recorded. The execution content of the digital signal processing circuit 46 or the compression / expansion circuit 48 is set based on the information, and a command is output to the digital signal processing circuit 46 or the compression / expansion circuit 48 based on this. Therefore, the control circuit 32, the digital signal processing circuit 46, and the compression / expansion circuit 48 execute processing corresponding to the contents of the film characteristic information.

Thus, the processing content of the electronic camera 10 is automatically set based on the film characteristic information recorded on the digital film, and the user has to operate the operation switch of the electronic camera to set the processing content of the electronic camera. Is reduced. On the other hand, if the required film characteristic information is not recorded on the digital film, or if the user sets the processing content of the electronic camera by changing the film characteristic information recorded on the digital film according to the user's specification, As in the case of the conventional electronic camera, the user operates the operation switch provided on the electronic camera 10 to set the processing content. The CPU 30 sets the processing contents of the control circuit 32, the digital signal processing circuit 46, and the compression / expansion circuit 48 in the same manner as described above based on the setting contents, and sends a command to each circuit based on this. Also,
In this way, the processing contents set by the user can be recorded on the digital film 50 as the film characteristic information, and when the user performs such designation,
The film characteristic information is recorded in a film characteristic storage area of the digital film. Thus, when the digital film is used next time, the film characteristic information is recorded on the digital film, so that the user does not have to make the same setting again.

When film characteristic information is recorded on a digital film, if the film characteristic information does not match the processing content currently set in the electronic camera, sound or light (lamp, LED, EL, etc.) ) May be issued. After the warning, automatically or after the user confirms, only the matching content may be set as the processing content of the electronic camera.

In the above embodiment, the recording medium used as a digital film has been described as recording image data and film characteristic information. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It is also possible to control the electronic camera and perform signal processing by circuits mounted on these recording media.

In the above embodiment, the electronic camera and the recording medium for taking a still image have been described.
The present invention can be applied not only to still images but also to electronic cameras and recording media for capturing moving images.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention, the processing of the electronic camera is executed based on the characteristic information for setting the processing contents of the electronic camera recorded on the recording medium. The trouble of setting various processing contents of the electronic camera is reduced. Also, by preparing a recording medium on which the characteristic information having various different contents is recorded,
The characteristics of an image to be photographed can be changed by selecting the type of recording medium such as a photographic film, so that an image with a special effect can be easily photographed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electronic camera according to the present invention as viewed from the front side.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the electronic camera according to the present invention as viewed from the rear side.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams each showing an appearance of a recording medium.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams each showing a circuit configuration of a recording medium.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a memory configuration of a digital film;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a memory configuration of a digital film;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a memory configuration of a digital film;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a memory configuration of a digital film;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of an electronic camera according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Electronic camera 30 ... CPU 32 ... Control circuit 40 ... Imaging device 42 ... Analog processing circuit 44 ... A / D converter 46 ... Digital signal processing circuit 48 ... Compression / expansion circuit 50 ... Digital film

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Izumi Miyake 3--11-46 Izumi, Asaka-shi, Saitama Fuji Photo inside Shin Film Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Toshimi Maruyama 3--11-46 Izumi, Asaka-shi, Saitama Fuji-sha Shin-Film Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 5C022 AA13 AB00 AB12 AB22 AB66 AC03 AC42 AC52 AC69

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A recording medium which is detachably mounted on an electronic camera and records an image photographed by the electronic camera, wherein characteristic information for setting processing contents of the electronic camera is recorded. recoding media. 2. The recording medium according to claim 1, wherein an identification display for identifying the content of the characteristic information is provided at a predetermined position on a case surface of the recording medium. 3. The recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the characteristic information is recorded on the recording medium in a text format or a text compression format. 4. The characteristic information includes the number of pixels of an image to be photographed, the number of images to be photographed, the quality of the image to be photographed, the color information of the image to be photographed, the gradation information of the image to be photographed, and the photographing. White balance information of a captured image, focus information of a captured image, AE information of a captured image,
Zoom information of the captured image, information on various corrections,
2. The recording medium according to claim 1, comprising at least one of SN information and information on various special effects. 5. An electronic camera in which a detachable recording medium is mounted and an image taken by an image pickup means is recorded on the recording medium, wherein the recording medium according to claim 1 is mounted and the characteristic information is read from the recording medium. An electronic camera which reads out and executes processing of the electronic camera based on the characteristic information. 6. A window is provided so that when a recording medium according to claim 2 is mounted, an identification mark attached to a case surface of the recording medium can be visually recognized from outside the electronic camera. The electronic camera according to claim 5. 7. A processing method for an electronic camera in which a detachable recording medium is mounted and an image captured by an imaging unit is recorded on the recording medium, wherein a processing content of the electronic camera is set in the recording medium. A method for processing an electronic camera, comprising: recording characteristic information; reading the characteristic information from a recording medium mounted on the electronic camera; and performing processing of the electronic camera based on the characteristic information.