JP2000175071A - Image pickup system, image pickup device and image pickup adaptor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To execute desired image processing or data processing without using a processing software program by transmitting image information processed by an electronic image pickup means that applies photoelectric conversion to an object image and outputs the result as the image information to an external device and receiving the image information subject to processing from the external device. SOLUTION: In the case that an image processing adaptor 30 conducts image processing and an electronic camera 10 conducts data processing, a selector switch 21 connects switches 17, 18 to the position of a communication circuit 11 and switches 19, 20 to the position of a data processing circuit 16. Thus, image information that is A/D-converted by an A/D converter circuit 14 is fed to a communication circuit 31 of the image processing adaptor 30 via the communication circuit 11 and an image processing circuit 32 applies prescribed processing to the image information. The processed image information is fed to the communication circuit 11 of the electronic camera 10 via the communication circuit 31 and the data processing circuit 16 applies prescribed data processing to the image information. A memory card stores the image information that is data-processed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an imaging system, an imaging device, and an imaging adapter.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an electronic photographing apparatus such as an electronic camera,
Image processing functions such as gamma correction, electronic zoom, and color correction are required. However, it is difficult to incorporate all of these functions in the camera due to space and cost constraints, so that only the functions that are deemed necessary are included in the camera.

[0003] Conventionally, for those which cannot be processed by the functions built into the camera, image information stored in the camera has been transferred to a personal computer and processed using image processing software installed on the personal computer.

[0004] In addition, data processing (processing for converting a file format or a compression method) after image processing is performed by a personal computer, as in the case of image processing, for processing that cannot be performed by a function built into the camera. Had to do.

[0005]

As described above, conventionally,
If the camera's built-in functions could not process it, it had to be processed on a personal computer. Therefore, there is a problem that desired image processing and data processing cannot be performed without a personal computer. In addition, since it is processed on a computer after shooting with a camera,
There is also a problem that the original mobility of the camera is impaired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an imaging system, an imaging apparatus, and an imaging adapter capable of performing desired image processing and data processing without using processing software such as a personal computer. It is intended to provide.

[0007]

An image pickup apparatus according to the present invention communicates information between electronic image pickup means for photoelectrically converting a subject image and outputting it as image information, and an external device connected to the outside. Communication means for transmitting image information obtained by the electronic imaging means to an external device and receiving image information processed by the external device.

[0008] It is preferable that the image pickup apparatus further includes image display means for displaying image information processed by an external device.

[0009] It is preferable that the image pickup apparatus further comprises a recording means for recording image information processed by an external device on a recording medium.

In the image pickup apparatus, an internal image processing means provided inside the apparatus, and a selection means for selecting which of the internal image processing means and the external image processing means provided in an external device performs image processing, It is preferable to further include

An imaging adapter according to the present invention communicates information between an image processing means for performing image processing of image information and an externally connected device. And a communication unit that outputs the image information processed by the image processing unit to the imaging apparatus.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that an imaging system is configured by using the imaging device and the imaging adapter.

According to the above inventions, various image processing can be performed by using the image processing function of the imaging adapter by connecting the imaging adapter to the imaging device.

An image pickup apparatus according to the present invention comprises: an electronic image pickup means for photoelectrically converting a subject image and outputting it as image information; an image processing means for performing image processing on image information obtained by the electronic image pickup means; Communication means for communicating information with a connected external device, transmitting image information obtained by the image processing means to the external device, and receiving image information subjected to data processing by the external device And characterized in that:

[0015] It is preferable that the image pickup apparatus further comprises a recording means for recording image information processed by an external device on a recording medium.

In the image pickup apparatus, an internal data processing means provided inside the apparatus, and a selection means for selecting which of the internal data processing means and the external data processing means provided in an external device performs data processing. It is preferable to further include

An imaging adapter according to the present invention communicates information between a data processing means for performing data processing of image-processed image information and an externally connected device. Communication means for outputting the image information thus processed to the data processing means, and transmitting the image information processed by the data processing means to the imaging device.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that an imaging system is configured by using the imaging device and the imaging adapter.

According to each of the above-mentioned inventions, by connecting the imaging adapter to the imaging device, it becomes possible to perform various data processing using the data processing function of the imaging adapter.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In this embodiment, the communication method is IEEE
Standard 1394 (IEEE standard1394, IEEE = T
he Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineer
s, Inc.). First, this IEEE standard 1394
(Hereinafter referred to as IEEE 1394) will be briefly described.

In IEEE 1394, isochronous transfer and asynchronous transmission are performed.
s) Transfer is possible. In the isochronous transfer, data is transmitted from the transmitting device to the receiving device unilaterally. In the asynchronous transfer, when the receiving device receives the transmission data, the receiving device sends back the reception data.

In the isochronous transfer, a cycle is transmitted from one of a plurality of nodes connected by a bus.
Data called start packet data is generated in principle in an isochronous cycle (period 125 μs). Then, at each isochronous cycle, data is transmitted from a certain node (this node is a cycle master) to another node. In this isochronous transfer, data transmission can always be performed within an isochronous cycle.

FIG. 4 shows a state in which a plurality of devices A to F are connected using a bus. Each device can have one or more ports (in the example shown, each device has three ports), and by connecting the ports of each device, a maximum of 63 devices can be connected. Can be connected. In IEEE1394, devices can be connected as long as the number of daisy-chain connections does not exceed 16. There is no loop connection.

In IEEE 1394, as described above, isochronous transfer and asynchronous transfer are possible, and data transfer is performed in packet units in any transfer.

FIG. 5 shows the format of a cycle start packet. The cycle start packet data indicates the start of an isochronous cycle period (in principle, 125 μs), and is transmitted from the cycle master by asynchronous transfer.

This cycle start packet includes:
ID of transmission destination (unique to the device), transaction label, retry code, t code indicating asynchronous transfer data or isochronous transfer data, priority indicating priority of transmission data, transmission source ID, read / write address The offset, data length, extended transaction code, cycle time data, and data CRC (Cyclic Redundansy Check) are included.

FIG. 6 shows an asynchronous data packet format. This is different from the cycle start packet format in that the transmission data is included in the packet instead of the data indicating the cycle start delay time.

FIG. 7 shows an isochronous packet format. This format includes
Data length indicating data length, channel number given to command or image data, t code, Sy indicating synchronization bit, header CRC which is error detection code of data from data length to synchronization bit Sy, data, image Data CRC which is a data error detection code is included.

In IEEE 1394, a parent-child relationship between devices connected by a bus is determined as follows.

When the power of each device is turned on, a certain device inquires of another device about the parent-child relationship.
The device inquiring about the parent-child relationship becomes a child, and the device receiving the inquiry about the parent-child relationship becomes a parent.

When the parent-child relationship is determined for all the devices, the whole has a tree structure as shown in FIG. In the example shown in the figure, the device B is the parent (root). The devices A and C are children of the device B, the devices D and F are children of the device A (grandchild when viewed from the device B), and the device E is a child of the device C (grandchild when viewed from the device B).

In IEEE 1394, a channel number is assigned to each device in order to receive isochronous transfer data, and an ID is assigned to each device in order to receive asynchronous transfer data. In the example shown in FIG. 8, the channel number A and IDa
And channel number B and IDb in device C, and channel number C in device C.
, IDc, device D, channel numbers D, IDd, device E, channel numbers E, IDe, and device F, channel numbers F, IDf.

FIG. 9 shows a time chart of the isochronous transfer. The control of the isochronous transfer is performed by a device called a cycle master. The root becomes the cycle master.

The cycle period is started by outputting a cycle start packet from the cycle master (root). This cycle start packet is given to all devices (children and grandchildren) connected to the root.

After the transmission of the cycle start packet, the transfer of the isochronous data is started. When a first period (short gap period) Sg elapses after the transmission of the cycle start packet, arbitration (obtaining bus use permission) is performed between all devices that want to perform isochronous transfer. . The device that has received the signal permitting use of the bus can transmit data.

When the isochronous transfer in the isochronous period is completed, the second period (long gap 1)
At the point when g) has elapsed, the right to use the bus for asynchronous transfer is secured. Asynchronous transfer data is transmitted in packet units from the device that has acquired the right to use the bus. In the asynchronous transfer, acknowledgment data ACK indicating the reception is output from the device that has received the asynchronous transfer to the device that has transmitted the asynchronous transfer data.

The above is the outline of IEEE1394.

Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes an electronic camera;
The image processing adapter 30 or the data processing adapter 40 can be connected. That is, the electronic camera 1
The communication circuit 11 has a built-in communication circuit 11 and can communicate image information and the like with a communication circuit 31 built in the image processing adapter 30 or a communication circuit 41 built in the data processing adapter 40. ing. The above-described IEEE 1394 is used as a communication method, and the electronic camera 10
Is the root. As described above, since the general-purpose IEEE 1394 is used for communication between the camera and the adapter, it is not necessary to newly provide a dedicated connector for the camera.

The basic image pickup operation of the electronic camera 10 is the same as that of a normal electronic camera. A / D conversion is performed by the D conversion circuit 14.

Electronic camera 10 and image processing adapter 30
Includes an image processing circuit 15 and an image processing circuit 32, respectively.
Is built in, and image processing described later is performed by one of the image processing circuits. The electronic camera 10 and the data processing adapter 40 each include a data processing circuit 16 and a data processing circuit 42, and one of the data processing circuits performs data processing as described below.

Switching between the image processing circuit 15 and the image processing circuit 32 is performed by switches 17 and 18, and switching between the data processing circuit 16 and the data processing circuit 42 is performed by switches 19 and 20. These switching operations are performed by the selection switch 21 via the system controller 22.

The image information subjected to the image processing and the data processing is sent to the card insertion unit 25 by the memory writing circuit 23.
The image information recorded on the recording medium is read out by a memory reading circuit 24.

The electronic camera 10 is provided with a display unit (LCD 27) whose display is controlled by the display circuit 26. The image processing circuit 15 in the electronic camera 10 or the image processing circuit 32 in the image processing adapter 30 is provided. Can be displayed.

Here, image processing and data processing will be described. Basically, the image processing adapter 30 supports image processing different from the image processing supported by the electronic camera 10, and the data processing adapter 40 uses data different from the data processing supported by the electronic camera 10. Supports processing.

The image processing includes a process of adjusting a gamma curve for each of RGB, a process of converting into a monotone (monochrome, sepia), a digital zoom process, a process of enhancing or blurring contrast, and the like.

Data processing includes processing relating to a file format and a compression method. In particular,
JPEG supported on camera side, TIF on adapter side
It is possible to perform processing for converting to F, bitmap, and PICT, or to allow the adapter to freely select the JPEG compression ratio. When a new file format is proposed or upgraded,
By providing corresponding adapters, a new format can be used without replacing the camera.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

When both the image processing and the data processing are performed by the electronic camera 10, the image processing circuit 1 built in the electronic camera 10 is operated by the selection switch 21.
5 and the data processing circuit 16 are selected. That is, the switches 17 and 18 are connected to the image processing circuit 15 side, and the switches 19 and 20 are connected to the data processing circuit 16 side. As a result, the image information AD-converted by the AD conversion circuit 14 is subjected to predetermined processing by the image processing circuit 15 and the data processing circuit 16, and the processed image information is sent to the card insertion unit 25 via the memory writing circuit 23. It is recorded on the held memory card.

Image processing is performed by the image processing adapter 30,
When data processing is performed by the electronic camera 10, the switches 17 and 18 are set to the communication circuit 1
1 and the switches 19 and 20 are connected to the data processing circuit 16 side. Thereby, A / D conversion circuit 14
The D-converted image information is sent to the communication circuit 31 of the image processing adapter 30 via the communication circuit 11, and is subjected to predetermined processing by the image processing circuit 32. The image information subjected to the image processing is sent to the communication circuit 11 of the electronic camera 10 via the communication circuit 31 and is subjected to predetermined data processing by the data processing circuit 16. The processed image information is
The data is recorded on the memory card held in the card insertion unit 25 via the memory writing circuit 23.

When image processing is performed by the electronic camera 10 and data processing is performed by the data processing adapter 40, the switches 17 and 18 are connected to the image processing circuit 15 by the selection switch 21, and the switches 19 and 20 communicate. Connect to the circuit 11 side. Thereby, A / D conversion circuit 14
The D-converted image information is subjected to predetermined image processing by the image processing circuit 15, sent to the communication circuit 41 of the data processing adapter 40 via the communication circuit 11, and subjected to predetermined data processing by the data processing circuit 42. Is applied. The image information subjected to the data processing is transmitted to the electronic camera 1 via the communication circuit 41.
0 is sent to the communication circuit 11, and is recorded on the memory card held in the card insertion unit 25 via the memory writing circuit 23.

When both the image processing and the data processing are performed on the adapter side, the switches 17, 18, 19 and 20 are switched by the selection switch 21 to the communication circuit 11.
To the side. Thereby, the image information subjected to the AD conversion by the AD conversion circuit 14 is sent to the image processing circuit 32 via the communication circuits 11 and 31, where predetermined image processing is performed. It is sent to the data processing circuit 42 via The image information subjected to the predetermined data processing in the data processing circuit 42 is sent to the memory writing circuit 23 via the communication circuits 41 and 11, and
Is recorded on the memory card held in the.

In the present embodiment, the image processing adapter 30 and the data processing adapter 40 are separately provided. However, the image processing circuit 32 and the data processing circuit 42 are incorporated in one adapter so that at least one of them can be selected. It may be.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

This embodiment is an example of a case where an electronic camera or the like is used without being moved, such as in studio photography. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the personal computer 67 is connected to the IEEE 13
The electronic camera 60, the printer 61, and the CDROM 62 are connected via the branch 63, and the image processing adapter 64 is connected via the branch 66.
And a data processing adapter 65.

The operation of the system shown in FIG. 2 will be briefly described with reference to FIG.

When a reset operation is performed, ID numbers are assigned sequentially from the end. Cycle master (in this case P
C) sends cycle start data every 125 μs to notify all devices of the cycle start. After detecting the cycle start, the electronic camera 60 sends out a predetermined amount of data. This data includes the ID number of the transmission source, and the data transmitted from the electronic camera 60 is transmitted to all devices.

The image processing adapter 64 or the data processing adapter 65 monitors all data, and has its own ID.
Receive data addressed to the number. The received data is transmitted to the electronic camera 60 after predetermined processing is performed in the adapter.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.
Various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0061]

According to the present invention, by connecting an image pickup adapter to an image pickup apparatus, various image processing and data processing can be performed using the image processing function or data processing function of the image pickup adapter. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a state in which devices are connected by IEEE1394.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a cycle start packet format.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an asynchronous data packet format.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an isochronous packet format.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a tree structure when devices are connected according to IEEE1394.

FIG. 9 is a timing chart showing isochronous transfer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 60 ... Electronic camera 11, 31, 41 ... Communication circuit 12 ... Lens 13 ... CCD 14 ... AD conversion circuit 15, 32, 64 ... Image processing circuit 16, 42, 65 ... Data processing circuit 17, 18, 19, 20 ... switch 21 ... selection switch 22 ... syscon 23 ... memory writing circuit 24 ... memory reading circuit 25 ... card insertion part 26 ... display circuit 27 ... LCD 30 ... image processing adapter 40 ... data processing adapter 61 ... printer 62 ... CDROM 63, 66 … Branch 67… PC

Claims (11)

[Claims] An imaging system comprising an imaging device and an imaging adapter that can communicate with each other, wherein the imaging device photoelectrically converts a subject image and outputs the image as image information; To communicate information with a device connected to, transmitting image information obtained by the electronic imaging means to an imaging adapter,
A first communication unit for receiving image information subjected to image processing by the imaging adapter, wherein the imaging adapter performs image processing on the image information, and transmits information between an externally connected device. A second communication unit for performing communication, outputting image information received from the imaging device to the image processing unit, and transmitting the image information processed by the image processing unit to the imaging device. An imaging system characterized in that: 2. An electronic imaging device for photoelectrically converting a subject image and outputting the image information as image information, and communicating information with an external device connected to the outside. Communication means for transmitting the obtained image information to an external device and receiving the image information processed by the external device. 3. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising image display means for displaying image information processed by an external device. 4. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a recording unit that records image information processed by an external device on a recording medium. 5. An image processing apparatus further comprising: an internal image processing means provided inside the apparatus; and a selection means for selecting which of the internal image processing means and the external image processing means provided in an external device performs image processing. The imaging device according to claim 2, wherein: 6. An image processing means for performing image processing of image information, and for communicating information between an externally connected device, wherein image information received from an imaging device is transmitted to said image processing means. A communication unit for outputting the image information processed by the image processing unit and transmitting the image information to the imaging device. 7. An imaging system comprising an imaging device and an imaging adapter capable of communicating with each other, wherein the imaging device photoelectrically converts a subject image and outputs the image as image information; An image processing unit that performs image processing on image information obtained by an electronic imaging unit, and communicates information between an externally connected device, wherein the image information obtained by the image processing unit is A first communication unit for transmitting to the imaging adapter and receiving the image information processed by the imaging adapter; the imaging adapter comprising: a data processing unit for performing data processing on the image processed image information; For communicating information with a selected device, outputting image information received from an imaging device to the data processing means, and performing data processing by the data processing means. Imaging system characterized in that it comprises a second communication means for transmitting the image information to the imaging apparatus. 8. An electronic image pickup means for photoelectrically converting a subject image and outputting the image information as image information; an image processing means for image processing image information obtained by the electronic image pickup means; and an external device connected to the outside. And communication means for transmitting image information obtained by the image processing means to an external device and receiving image information processed by the external device. Characteristic imaging device. 9. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a recording unit for recording image information processed by an external device on a recording medium. 10. An internal data processing means provided inside the apparatus, and a selection means for selecting which of the internal data processing means and the external data processing means provided in an external device performs data processing. 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein
An imaging device according to claim 1. 11. An image processing apparatus for communicating information between a data processing means for performing data processing of image-processed image information and an externally connected device, wherein the image information received from an imaging device is transmitted to the data processing device. A communication unit that outputs the image information processed by the data processing unit to the imaging device and outputs the image information to the imaging device.