JP2000175085A - Photographing device and storing medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photographing device where mistake of confusing a setting state can surely be prevented in the case that the photographing is executed by using a mirror while a setting state of inverting a photographed image or a conventional setting is alternately selected. SOLUTION: In a photographing system 1 provided with an angle sensor 403b detecting an angle of a digital camera 20 and with an angle sensor 407b detecting an angle of a hood 402, in the case that each section of a photographing device 40 is moved, an angle detected by the angle sensor 403b and the angle detected by the angle sensor 407b are referred to so as to discriminate whether or not an image of an upper side of an object reflected in a mirror 409 by the digital camera 20, and when it is discriminated that the image of the upper face of the object is photographed, an inverted image inverting top and down of a monitor image, a 'mirror surface inversion' display box (105i) are displayed on a monitor screen (105a) of a display device 12.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photographing apparatus for photographing an upper surface of a subject placed in a case using a mirror placed above the subject, and a storage medium storing a control program therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to photograph a plurality of subjects with the conditions at the time of photographing being as uniform as possible, it is convenient to continuously photograph using the same background. In particular, when a large number of relatively small subjects are photographed, efficient photographing can be achieved by using a case for accommodating the subject and setting the subjects in the case and sequentially photographing.

Further, if a mirror is set above a subject and an image reflected by the mirror is photographed by a camera, the front and the top of the subject can be moved without moving the subject and without moving the camera largely. Efficiency is high because shooting is possible.

[0004]

However, when an image of the upper surface of a subject reflected in a mirror is photographed, the photographed image is a mirror image of the subject. It is necessary to perform image processing for inversion. This process is mainly performed by the user switching the setting state when executing an application program for performing image processing.

However, after photographing the upper surface of a subject in a setting in which the photographed image is reversed, when photographing the front of the next subject, there is a mistake in photographing with the photographed image set to be reversed. There is a problem that is easy to occur. In other words, the user who is shooting is confused as to whether or not the captured image is set to be inverted, so that an image in front of the subject which is not a mirror image is stored in an inverted state, or the image to be inverted is to be inverted. Was stored without being inverted. Depending on the design of the subject, it may be difficult to determine that the right and left sides have been incorrectly reversed at first glance, and after a series of shootings has been completed,
Performing image processing and photographing takes a lot of time and troubles the work.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a photographing apparatus capable of reliably preventing a mistake in confusing a setting state when performing photographing while alternately switching between a setting state of inverting a photographed image and a normal setting state.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, an object to be photographed is photographed by a camera capable of moving and rotating in a predetermined direction, and a photographed image is displayed by a display means. An imaging device, comprising: a mirror that projects the image of the imaging target onto an imaging surface of the camera; and determining whether the mirror is included in an imaging range of the camera based on an angle of the imaging surface of the camera. When the determination unit determines that the imaging range of the camera includes the mirror, the display unit displays an inverted image obtained by inverting the image captured by the camera up and down or left and right. And display control means.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in a photographing apparatus for photographing an object to be photographed by a camera which is movable and rotatable in a predetermined direction and displaying the photographed image by a display means, an image of the object to be photographed by a mirror is provided. Is projected onto the imaging surface of the camera, and whether or not the mirror is included in the imaging range of the camera is determined by the determination unit based on the angle of the imaging surface of the camera, and the imaging range of the camera includes the mirror. Is determined, the display control means causes the display means to display an inverted image obtained by inverting the image taken by the camera upside down or left and right.

Therefore, when the image of the object to be photographed reflected by the mirror is photographed by the camera, it is detected that the image reflected by the mirror is photographed according to the angle of the imaging surface of the camera, and the photographed image is inverted and displayed. When the camera is moved and rotated, the mirrored image is displayed without performing the setting for reversing the captured image. With this, when taking a picture using a mirror, the taken image is inverted and the image at the correct position is displayed, and when the image of the subject is taken without using the mirror, the taken image is displayed as it is, The displayed image is always the image at the correct position. Therefore, there is no mistake such as inverting a photographed image that does not need to be inverted by mistake, and it is possible to prevent a situation such as an increase in work time and an increase in burden on an operator due to a work error, thereby improving work efficiency. Can be improved.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to FIGS.

First, the configuration will be described. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an overall configuration of a photographing system 1 according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, the photographing system 1 includes an image processing device 10 and a photographing device 40.

In FIG. 1, an image processing apparatus 10 includes a main body 11 having functions of a control system relating to image processing described later.
And CR that displays various screens related to the image processing contents
A display 12 constituted by a T (Cathode Ray Tube) or the like, a keyboard 13 for inputting various commands and instruction contents, and a mouse 14 for instructing various instructions on various screens displayed on the display 12 are provided. .

A photographing device 40 is provided with a case 401 for storing various functions for setting a photographing environment by setting a subject, and a camera tilt table which is rotatably mounted on an opening of the case 401 on the near side in the drawing. A hood 402 for setting the photographing direction of the digital camera 20 set in 403 and blocking external light, and a digital camera 20 set rotatably mounted in the opening of the hood 402 on the near side in the drawing. And a camera tilt base 403 for setting a tilt angle.

Further, an emergency stop button 404 for emergency stop attached to a hood drive unit 407 described later and a subject pedestal 405 stored in the case 401 are provided on the side surface on the near side of the case 401 of the photographing device 40 in the figure. A side door 406 that opens and closes when a subject (commodity) is set in the camera, and a hood drive unit 407 that rotationally drives the hood 402 are provided.

On the front side of the case 401 of the photographing device 40 in the figure, each driving unit of the photographing device 40 is driven in accordance with a control signal for controlling each driving unit input from the image processing device 10. A photographing control device 30 having a built-in photographing control system for outputting a control signal is attached.

A cable C for transmitting and receiving various control signals and various detection signals related to photographing is connected between the image processing apparatus 10, the digital camera 20, and the photographing control apparatus 30.

Next, the control system 1 inside the image processing apparatus 10
00 will be described with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG. 2, the control system 10 of the image processing apparatus 10
0 indicates a CPU 101, an input device 102, a RAM 103,
It comprises an I / F 104, a display device 105, a storage device 106, and a storage medium 107, and the storage medium 107
Are connected to the bus 108.

CPU (Central Processing Unit) 10
1 develops a system program stored in the storage device 106 and an image processing program corresponding to the system in a program storage area (not shown) in the RAM 103 and stores various instructions or data input from the input device 102 in the RAM 103. And temporarily executes various types of image processing on the image data stored in the storage device 106 in accordance with the input instruction and the input data, and stores the processing results in the RAM 103 and the display device 1.
Displayed at 05. Then, the processing result stored in the RAM 103 is stored in a storage destination in the storage device 106 in accordance with an input instruction from the input device 102.

The CPU 101 executes a photographing process (see FIG. 8), which will be described later, when photographing a subject (commodity) in the photographing device 40. When automatic photographing is designated by an instruction from the input device 102, the photographing conditions are changed. A display screen 105 for specifying a shooting condition to be specified is displayed on the display device 105, and the “photographing condition name” is specified, and the shooting surface (front surface, top surface, overhead view) of the subject (product) is specified, and the shooting of the specified subject is performed. In order to photograph the surface, the photographing conditions (zoom, focus, aperture) of the digital camera 20 in the photographing device 40, the hood, and the like are set based on parameters of various photographing conditions set in a photographing condition table stored in the storage device 106 in advance. Rotational position of 402, camera tilt base 403
Angle of the subject, the height of the subject pedestal 405, and the lighting device 4
Various instruction signals are transferred via the I / F 104 to the photographing control device 30 so as to move and adjust each photographing condition at the illuminance of 08.
When it is confirmed that the respective photographing conditions have been adjusted according to the response from the photographing control device 30, the photographing surface of the designated subject is automatically photographed, and the automatically photographed image data is obtained from the photographing control device 30. Then, it is stored together with the file name and the photographing condition value in the photographed image file in the storage device 106 (FIG. 4).

Further, when manual photographing is instructed by an instruction from the input device 102 in the above-described photographing processing, the CPU 101 executes a top surface discriminating processing (FIG. 9) described later. In the upper surface determination process, when a target position to move each unit of the photographing device 40 is specified by the input device 102, the CPU 101 sets the photographing device 40 to the target position.
Are moved, and the angles of the hood 402 and the camera tilt base 403 are detected to determine whether or not the upper surface of the subject can be photographed. If it is determined that the angle is at a position where the upper surface of the subject should be photographed, a process of inverting the image displayed on the monitor screen is performed, and photographing is performed, and an instruction from the input device 102 is issued. Are stored in the storage device 106 in accordance with the following.

The input device 102 includes the keyboard 13 and the mouse 14 shown in FIG.
Output to U101.

RAM (Random Access Memory) 103
Forms a program storage area for expanding various programs when the CPU 101 executes the various application programs, and a memory area for expanding data, image data, and the like processed when the CPU 101 executes the various processing. Form.

The I / F 104 is connected to the photographing control device 30 via the cable C, transmits various instruction signals input from the CPU 101 to the photographing control device 30,
Various detection signals and image signals transmitted from the imaging control device 30 are received and output to the CPU 101.

The display device 105 is the display 12 shown in FIG. 1, and displays various display data (monitor screen, image data, etc.) input from the CPU 101.

The storage device 106 has a storage medium 107 in which programs, data and the like are stored in advance, and this storage medium 107 is constituted by a magnetic or optical recording medium or a semiconductor memory. The storage medium 107 is fixedly provided in the storage device 106 or is detachably mounted. The storage medium 107 includes the system program, an image processing program corresponding to the system, an image processing program, The control processing program, data processed by each processing program, and the like are stored.

The program, data, and the like stored in the storage medium 107 may be configured to be received and stored from another device connected via a communication line or the like.
Another device connected via a communication line or the like may be provided with a storage device provided with the above-mentioned storage medium, and the program and data stored in the storage medium 107 may be used via the communication line. .

The storage device 106 is provided with the CPU 10
1 stores a photographing condition table and a photographed image file used for the photographing process in FIG. 1, and their configurations are shown in FIG.

FIG. 4A shows the configuration of a photographing condition table. The digital camera 2 is provided for each of "front, top, and bird's-eye views" indicating the photographing direction of a subject corresponding to "photographing condition name".
“Camera control value (zoom, focus, aperture)” at 0, “camera pedestal angle” at camera tilt base 403, “subject pedestal height” at subject pedestal 405, “hood angle” at hood 402, The illumination device 408 is configured to store “illuminance”.

FIG. 4B shows the structure of a photographed image file, and “image data” corresponds to “file name”.
And "Shooting condition values (shooting direction, zoom, focus, aperture, camera pedestal angle, subject pedestal height, hood angle)"
And "subject data (product name etc.)" and "flag".

Next, the configuration of each of the control systems 200 and 300 in the digital camera 20 and the photographing control device 30 will be described with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, a control system 200 of the digital camera 20 includes an I / F 20
1, camera control unit 202, image memory 203, motor 2
04 to 206, a zoom 207, a focus 208, an aperture 209, and potentiometers 210 to 212.

The I / F 201 is an I / F 201 in the photographing control device 30.
/ F301, receives various photographing control signals, and outputs the signals to the camera control unit 202.
Each of the detection signals input from 10 to 212 is output to the camera control unit 202, and the I / O
The data is transmitted to the image processing apparatus 10 via F301.

The camera controller 202 controls the motors 204 to 2 according to various photographing control signals input from the I / F 201.
06, a drive control signal is output and drive control is performed, the zoom 207, the focus 208, and the aperture 209 are moved to predetermined positions so as to correspond to predetermined shooting conditions, and zoom positions fed back from the potentiometers 210 to 212; After confirming that the zoom 207, the focus 208, and the aperture 209 have been adjusted to predetermined positions based on the detection signals of the focus position and the aperture position,
A photographing operation in an image pickup unit (not shown) is controlled, and the photographed image data is stored in the image memory 203.

The image memory 203 is composed of a magnetic or optical recording medium or a semiconductor memory, and stores image data input from the camera control unit 202.

The motors 204 to 206 respectively drive the zoom 207, the focus 208, and the aperture 209 to move to predetermined positions according to drive control signals input from the camera control unit 202.

Each of the potentiometers 210 to 212 is constituted by a variable resistor or the like.
6, a zoom 207, a focus 208,
And each drive position in the diaphragm 209 is detected, and each detection signal is output to the I / F 201.

In FIG. 3, a control system 300 of the photographing control device 30 includes an I / F 301, a stop switch 302, a camera direction detection switch 303, a tilt base drive control unit 304,
Subject pedestal drive control unit 305, hood drive control unit 30
6 and an illumination control unit 307.

The I / F 301 receives various instruction signals transmitted from the image processing apparatus 10 via the cable C, and
The detection signals input from the PU 311 and the I / F 201 in the digital camera 20 are output from the angle sensors 403b and 407b, the potentiometer 405b, and the potentiometer 23b to the CPU 311 and transmitted to the image processing apparatus 10 via the cable C. And I / F2
The respective detection signals of the potentiometers 210 to 212 input from 01 are transmitted to the image processing apparatus 10 via the cable C.

The stop switch 302 is connected to the emergency stop button 404 shown in FIG. 1. When the emergency stop button 404 is operated, a stop signal for stopping the operation of each drive unit is transmitted to the tilt base drive control unit. 304, the pedestal drive control unit 305, the hood drive control unit 306, and the illumination control unit 307 are simultaneously output to immediately stop the operation of each drive unit and output the stop signal to the I / F.
A reset signal is output to the CPU 101 in the image processing apparatus 10 via 301 to cause the CPU 101 to perform a reset process.

The camera orientation detection switch 303 is a switch for detecting whether or not the digital camera 20 set on the camera tilt base 403 is correctly set at a predetermined fixed position.
When it is detected that it is not set to 03 correctly, the detection signal is output to the I / F 301.

The tilt table drive control unit 304 includes an I / F 30
1 outputs a tilt base drive control signal to the motor 403a in accordance with the tilt base drive instruction signal input from
3a to drive and control the tilt angle of the camera tilt base 403, and the angle sensor 403b via the I / F 301.
The tilt angle is adjusted to a desired value based on the tilt angle detection signal fed back from.

The subject pedestal drive control unit 305 includes an I / F 3
In response to a subject pedestal drive instruction signal input from the control unit 01, a subject pedestal drive control signal is output to the motor 405a to drive and control the motor 405a to control the height of the subject pedestal 405 to drive up and down, and the potentiometer 405b via the I / F 301. The elevating position is adjusted to a desired position based on the elevating position detection signal fed back from. Further, the subject drive control unit 305 determines that the I
When a stop signal is input via the / F301, the motor 4
05a is stopped to stop the movement of the subject pedestal 405.

The hood drive control unit 306 includes an I / F 301
A hood drive control signal is output to the motor 407a in accordance with the hood drive instruction signal input from the CPU, and the drive of the motor 407a is controlled to drive and control the rotational position of the hood 402.
The rotation position is adjusted to a desired position based on the rotation angle detection signal fed back from the angle sensor 407b via / F301.

The illumination control unit 307 outputs an illumination drive control signal to the illumination device 408 according to the illumination instruction signal input from the I / F 301 to control the illuminance of the illumination device 408.

The potentiometer 405b is connected to the motor 40
5a detects the elevation position of the subject pedestal 405 that is driven and controlled, and outputs the elevation position detection signal (voltage signal) to the I / F.
Output to 301.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the relationship between the tilt of the camera tilt base 403 and the hood 402 and the detection operation of the angle sensors 403b and 407b. FIG. 5A shows the tilt of the camera tilt base 403 and the angle sensor 403b. (B) shows the relationship between the hood 402 and the detection operation of the angle sensor 407b.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the angle sensor 40
Reference numeral 3b is attached to the rotation axis of the camera tilt base 403 or its vicinity. Then, the angle sensor 403b
Detects the tilt of the camera tilt base 403 based on a predetermined angle when the camera tilt base 403 rotates about the rotation axis, and detects a tilt angle detection signal (voltage signal ) Is output to the I / F 301 as needed. For example, in the state shown in FIG.
The angle sensor 403b sets “± 0 °” when the camera tilt base 403 is horizontal and “+ P °” when the camera tilt base 403 is inclined by P degrees in the direction in which the imaging surface of the digital camera 20 faces upward. Is output, and if the camera tilt base 403 is tilted by Q degrees in the direction in which the imaging surface of the digital camera 20 faces downward, “−Q °” is output.
Is output.

As shown in FIG. 5B, the angle sensor 407b is mounted near the rotation axis of the hood 402. The angle sensor 407b detects the rotational position of the hood 402 that is driven and controlled by the motor 407a with reference to a predetermined angle, and outputs a rotation angle detection signal (voltage signal) to the I / F 301 as needed. For example, in the state shown in FIG. 5B, the angle sensor 407b
The state where the hood 402 is horizontal is referred to as “± 0 °”, and the hood 40 is set in a direction in which the imaging surface of the digital camera 20 faces downward.
If the hood 402 is tilted S degrees in the direction in which the imaging surface of the digital camera 20 faces upward, a rotation angle detection signal indicating “−R °” is output when 2 is tilted by R degrees.
°).

Therefore, as shown in FIG.
By calculating the sum of the angle detected by the angle sensor 03b and the angle detected by the angle sensor 407b, the inclination of the imaging surface of the digital camera 20 with respect to the horizontal plane can be calculated.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. First, the operation of each unit in the imaging device 40 will be described with reference to the cross-sectional views of the imaging device 40 shown in FIGS.

In the photographing apparatus 40 shown in FIG. 6, an illuminating device 408 is attached to the upper left portion of the inside of the case 401 in the figure, and irradiates the subject placed on the subject pedestal 405 at the lower right portion with light. The illuminance of the illumination device 408 is controlled by an illumination control unit 307 in the photographing control device 300. A mirror 409 is attached to an openable door 410 at the upper right portion in the drawing inside the case 401, and the subject pedestal 405 is
The upper surface of the subject (product) placed on the digital camera 20
Is projected on the image pickup surface of. The door 410 to which the mirror 409 is attached can be used for maintenance of the mirror 409 in an open state.

On the other hand, a background plate 411 is provided on the right side of the subject pedestal 405 in the figure, and a background sheet 413 is locked at the upper end of the background plate 411 by a clip 412. By covering the front surface of the background plate 411 and the pedestal portion of the subject pedestal 405, the background color and the like of the subject (product) placed on the subject pedestal 405 are unified to form a favorable photographing environment. Further, a back door 401a that can be opened and closed is provided on the right side of the background plate 411 in the figure, and the background plate 411 and the background sheet 413 can be exchanged.

As shown in FIG. 7A, when photographing the front of a short object (commodity), the hood 40 is required.
Reference numeral 2 denotes a “hood DOWN” state in which the opening facing the inside of the case 401 is turned around the rotation axis so that the imaging range for a short object is widened upward in the drawing. Further, the tilt angle of the camera tilt base 403 is adjusted to “camera DOWN” so that the imaging surface of the digital camera 20 faces downward, and the elevation position of the subject pedestal 405 is adjusted to be higher. The 20 imaging planes are adjusted so that the front of a short object can be easily photographed.

As shown in FIG. 7B, when photographing the upper surface of a subject (product), the rotation angle of the hood 402 and the height of the subject pedestal 405 are not moved, and the tilt of the camera tilt base 403 is tilted. Only the angle is adjusted to the “camera UP” state, and the imaging surface of the digital camera 20 is moved to the mirror 40.
9 is adjusted so as to capture the upper surface of the subject projected on the image 9. Note that the hood 40 depends on the size of the subject 60.
2 may be turned in the direction in which the imaging surface of the digital camera 20 faces upward to enter a “hood DOWN” state. Further, since the photographed image taken here is a mirror image reflected on the mirror 409, the front and back of the upper surface of the subject are inverted. Can be obtained.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7C, when photographing the front of a tall subject (commodity), the hood 40 is required.
2 is rotated about the rotation axis, and the opening facing the case 401 is adjusted to the “hood UP” state so as to secure an imaging range for a tall subject facing downward in the figure. Further, the tilt angle of the camera tilt base 403 is adjusted so that the imaging surface of the digital camera 20 faces downward, and is adjusted to the “camera UP” state.
The raising / lowering position of 05 is adjusted to be lower, and the imaging surface of the digital camera 20 is adjusted so that the front of a tall subject can be easily photographed.

As described above, in the photographing device 40, the hood 4 can be adjusted according to the photographing conditions such as the height of the subject and the photographing surface.
02 rotation angle, camera tilt table 403 tilt angle,
In addition, the vertical position of the object pedestal 405 is appropriately moved and adjusted, so that an optimal photographing environment can be easily set.

Next, a description will be given of a photographing process executed by the CPU 101 in the image processing apparatus 10 in order to set the respective photographing conditions as described above with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.

In FIG. 8, first, the CPU 101 determines whether or not “image editing” processing has been instructed by an instruction operation on the input device 102 (step S101).
If the "image editing" process is instructed, step S1
Then, the process proceeds to the “image editing” process of 02, and if the “image editing” process is not instructed, it is determined whether the “automatic photographing” process is instructed (step S103).

If "manual photographing" processing is instructed in step S103, the process proceeds to step S109, and if "automatic photographing" processing is instructed, a photographing condition designation screen for designating the photographing conditions. As the storage device 1
A screen for designating the “photographing condition name” and the “photographing surface” stored in the photographing condition table (FIG. 4A) stored in “06” is displayed. (Front, top, bird's-eye view) "(steps S104 and S105), and prompts the user to set a subject (product) on the subject pedestal 405.

Then, when the user sets the subject on the subject base 405 and specifies the “photographing condition name” and the photographing surface of the subject, the CPU 101 performs photographing in accordance with the respective photographing conditions corresponding to the designated photographing surface. Each part of the device 40 is adjusted so as to conform to the shooting conditions (step S106).

Thereafter, the CPU 101 proceeds to step S10
A process of photographing the photographing surface of the subject specified in step 6 is executed (step S107), and it is determined whether or not photographing completion has been instructed by an instruction operation on the input device 102 (step S108). If photographing completion is instructed, the process is terminated as it is, and if photographing completion is not instructed, the process returns to step S105 to execute another photographing.

If "manual operation" is instructed in step S103, the CPU 101 proceeds to step S109.
Then, a top surface determination process described later is executed, a process of manually moving / adjusting each device in the imaging device 40 is executed, and each of the imaging device 40 Move the drive. And C
The PU 101 determines whether or not the upper surface of the subject can be photographed based on the position where each part of the photographing device 40 has moved,
If it is determined that the upper surface can be photographed, a setting for inverting the image photographed by the digital camera 20 is performed.

Then, the photographing is executed in response to the instruction operation of the input device 102 (step S110), it is determined whether or not all the photographing is completed (step S111), and the instruction to continue the photographing is input by the input device 102. If so, the process returns to step S109, and if the completion of all shooting has been instructed, the process proceeds to step S112.

In step S112, step S109
Hood 4 set in the process of step S111
It is determined whether or not learning is performed by storing data relating to the position of each part including the angle of the camera tilt table 02 and the camera tilt table 403. If learning is performed here, data relating to the position of each unit is stored in the storage device 106, and step S
The photographing conditions set in step 109 can be easily reproduced.

Here, an instruction to perform learning is input to the input device 1.
If the input is made by the user at step S02, various data indicating the position of each part of the photographing device 40, the setting state of the monitor screen displayed on the display 12, and the like, which are temporarily stored in the RAM 103 in the top surface photographing process of step S109. Is stored in the photographing condition table (FIG. 4A) stored in the storage device 106 (step S113), and the process ends. If there is an input indicating that learning is not to be performed in step S112, the process ends.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the upper surface determination processing shown in step S109 in FIG. 8 in more detail. In the upper surface determination process, first, the CPU 101 checks whether or not an instruction to manually move each unit of the photographing device 40 has been input by the input device 102 (step S12).
1). Then, when manual movement is instructed,
The designated device is moved to the designated position in accordance with the instruction input by the input device 102 (step S122). If an instruction to manually move each unit of the photographing device 40 is not input, the process proceeds to step S131 described below without executing the subsequent processes.

Subsequently, the CPU 101 causes the angle sensor 403b to detect the angle of the camera tilt table 403 after the movement, and reads the angle of the camera tilt table 403 based on the tilt angle detection signal output from the angle sensor 403b (FIG. 2). Step S123). Similarly, the CPU 101 reads the angle of the hood 402 based on the rotation angle detection signal output from the angle sensor 407b (step S12).
4).

Then, the CPU 101 proceeds to step S12.
3 and the sum of the angles of the camera tilt table 403 and the hood 402 read in step S124 is calculated, and it is determined whether or not the sum is greater than a predetermined “set upward angle” (step S125). Here, the “set upward angle” is the minimum angle at which the imaging surface of the digital camera 20 should face upward when shooting the upper surface of the subject, and is set in advance and stored in the storage device 106. I have. In this step S125, the camera tilt table 403
If the sum of the angle of the hood 402 and the angle of the hood 402 is smaller than the “set upward angle”, the upward movement of the imaging surface of the digital camera 20 is insufficient to capture the upper surface of the subject, and the process proceeds to step S126. Then, the user is requested to input whether or not to photograph the upper surface of the subject. Then, step S1
In step 26, when an instruction to designate the photographing of the upper surface of the subject is input by the input device 102, the user is informed that the photographing of the upper surface is impossible by displaying the display device 105 or the like, and the process proceeds to step S121. Return. If there is no input for designating photographing of the upper surface of the subject in step S126, the process proceeds to step S131 described later.

On the other hand, if the sum of the angle of the camera tilt base 403 and the angle of the hood 402 is larger than the “set upward angle” (step S125; Yes), the CPU 10
1 is the angle of the camera tilt table 403 and the hood 402
It is determined whether or not the sum of the angles is smaller than the "upper limit angle" (step S128).

Here, the “upper limit angle” is the upper limit angle at which the image pickup surface of the digital camera 20 can capture an image reflected on the mirror 409, and is set in advance and stored in the storage device 106. If the sum of the angle of the tilt table 403 and the angle of the hood 402 is larger than the “upper limit angle”, the digital camera 20 is too upward, so that photographing becomes impossible. Therefore, when the sum of the angle of the camera tilt table 403 and the angle of the hood 402 exceeds the “upper limit angle”, the CPU 101 determines that the upper limit has been exceeded by displaying on the display device 105 or the like. Guide (step S129), step S121
Return to

The angle of the camera tilt table 403 and the hood 40
If the sum of the two angles is smaller than the “upper limit angle” (step S128; Yes), the CPU 101 captures the image by the digital camera 20 and displays it on the display 12 by the display device 105 before the photographing is executed. A “mirror screen” for converting a subject image on the screen 105a (FIG. 11) into an image at a normal position by inverting an image reflected on a mirror.
(Step S130).

Then, the CPU 101 requests an input as to whether or not the photographing conditions can be determined in the current state (step S131). Data indicating the position of each part of the device 40, data indicating whether the shooting surface of the subject is the front surface or the top surface,
Various data such as data indicating whether or not the screen has been switched to the "mirror screen" is temporarily stored in a memory area in the RAM 103 (step S132), and the process is terminated. Also, in step S131, when an instruction not to fix the condition is input, the process returns to step S121.

FIG. 10 shows the RAM 103 in a state where the photographing conditions are temporarily stored in the top photographing process shown in FIG.
It is a figure which shows the structure of FIG. As shown in FIG. 10, the RAM 103 includes a “hood angle” indicated by a rotation angle detection signal output from the angle sensor 407b and a “camera” indicated by a tilt angle detection signal output from the angle sensor 403b. Angle ”is stored. The “set upward angle” and the “upper limit angle” read from the storage device 106 are stored in the RAM 103.
Is stored in the RAM 103, and step S1 is stored in the RAM 103.
A storage area for temporarily storing a photographed image file of the image photographed in FIG. 10 (FIG. 8), a work area, and the like are provided.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a monitor screen 105 a displayed on the display 12 by the display device 105. The monitor screen 105a shown in FIG. 11 is a screen on which an image temporarily captured by the digital camera 20 is displayed before shooting is performed after the shooting conditions are specified in the upper surface determination processing shown in FIG.

The monitor screen 105a shown in FIG. 11 includes a zoom setting frame 105b for setting the zoom of the digital camera 20, a focus setting frame 105c for setting the focus, and an aperture setting frame 105 for setting the aperture.
d, a pedestal position setting frame 105e for setting the elevation position of the subject pedestal 405, a hood position setting frame 105f for setting the rotation position of the hood 402, and a camera holder position setting frame 105g for setting the tilt angle of the camera tilt base 403.
A monitor frame 105h for monitoring a captured image of a subject set on the subject pedestal 405;
"CAL1" button 1 to operate when performing calibration of 05b
05j is displayed.

In each of the setting frames 105b to 105e, a slide button for adjusting each drive unit to a desired position, a “current position” for numerically displaying the current position and the target position of each drive unit,
A “target position” display frame, a “status” display frame for displaying the drive state of each drive unit, and “move”, “stop” buttons and the like for designating the drive state of each drive unit are displayed. Further, a “current angle” and a “target angle” display indicating the current rotation angle of the hood 402 and the target angle are displayed in the setting frame 105f, and similarly in the setting frame 105g,
“Current angle” and “Target angle” are displayed.

When various photographing conditions on the monitor screen 105a are designated in step S121 of the upper surface discriminating process shown in FIG. 9, the CPU 101 moves and adjusts each drive unit of the photographing device 40 to the designated photographing conditions. In this manner, various instruction signals are output to the imaging control device 30 via the cable C, and the respective driving units of the imaging device 40 are moved and adjusted so as to correspond to the imaging conditions.

On the right side of the monitor screen 105a, a monitor image temporarily captured by the digital camera 20 and a "mirror screen" for inverting the upper limit of the image captured by the digital camera 20 are set. "Mirror image inversion" display box 105i is displayed, and a "mirror release" button 105k for forcibly switching the setting of the "mirror screen" to the normal state is displayed below the monitor image.
Is displayed.

That is, in step S130 (FIG. 9),
When it is determined that the photographing condition is a condition for photographing the upper surface of the subject and switching to the “mirror screen” is performed, the “mirror image inversion” display box 105i is displayed on the monitor screen 105a.
Is displayed, and the monitor image is displayed inverted. As a result, the user can be clearly notified whether the currently displayed image is an inverted image and can confirm the image. Therefore, the inverted display is confused with the normal display by mistake. There is no end. Also, even if the user does not issue an instruction to photograph the upper surface of the subject or specify reverse display, etc.
Since it is automatically detected that the photographing condition for photographing the upper surface of the subject is specified and the “mirror image inversion” display box 105i is displayed on the monitor screen, it is possible to more reliably prevent the user from making a mistake. .

As described above, according to the photographing system 1 of the first embodiment to which the present invention is applied, the input device 1
When moving each part of the photographing device 40 to the position designated by 02 and photographing a subject (product), the input device 1
02, the angle of the hood 402 and the angle of the camera tilt table 403 are detected by the angle sensor 403b and the angle sensor 407b, and the sum of these angles is an angle at which the upper surface of the subject (product) should be photographed. When the front and the top of the subject (product) can be photographed, the presence or absence of the instruction input to photograph the front is detected, and when it is determined that the top of the subject (product) is photographed. Displays the monitor image of the subject (product) displayed on the monitor screen 105a on the display device 105 in a “mirror screen” state in which the upper limit is inverted.
"Mirror image inversion" display box 105i near the monitor image
Is displayed.

Therefore, regardless of whether or not the user intentionally instructs the photographing of the upper surface, when photographing the upper surface image of the subject (product) using the mirror 409, the image of the subject (product) is Since the image at the correct position is displayed upside down, the image at the correct position is always displayed if the photographing is performed by the digital camera 20 while specifying the photographing conditions. For this reason,
The user does not confuse the “mirror screen” state in which the image is reversely displayed by mistake with the normal display state, and it is possible to reliably prevent a mistake during shooting. As a result, it is possible to prevent a mistake that causes re-taking, and thus it is possible to avoid an increase in work time and an increase in work load. In particular, when mistakes are likely to occur, such as when a large number of subjects are continuously photographed, a remarkable preventive effect can be obtained.
In addition, a “mirror image inversion” display box 105i is displayed on the monitor screen 105a to clearly notify that the inverted image is being displayed, so that an image in which the image reflected on the mirror is inverted is displayed. Can be clearly identified,
The occurrence of a mistake can be prevented more reliably.

Further, according to the photographing system 1 in the above embodiment, the RAM is used in the top photographing process (FIG. 9).
Data indicating the position of each part of the imaging device 40, data indicating whether the imaging surface of the subject is a front surface or an upper surface, stored in 103;
Since various data such as data indicating whether or not the screen has been switched to the “mirror screen” are stored in the photographing condition table (FIG. 4A) stored in the storage device 106, the data on which the upper surface photographing process has been performed is read. However, the photographing conditions indicated by the data can be easily reproduced. This makes it possible to shoot subjects (products) with similar sizes and shapes.
It is not always necessary to execute the upper surface photographing process every time, and the work efficiency can be further improved and the work time can be shortened.

In the above embodiment, the case where the monitor image is displayed in reverse is particularly described. However, it is of course possible to reverse only the photographed image. Also,
The image processing device 10 may be provided with a sound output device having a speaker or the like, and may be configured to notify the “mirror screen” state by sound. Alternatively, the digital camera 20 is configured to be rotatable in the horizontal direction, and the mirror 409 is installed on the side surface of the subject, and the digital camera 20 captures an image of the side surface or the back surface of the subject reflected on the mirror 409, and The inverted image obtained by inverting the left and right
May be displayed, and other details may be changed as appropriate.

Further, in the above embodiment, the "mirror image inversion" display box 105i is displayed on the monitor screen 105a to notify that the "mirror image" state is displayed in an inverted manner. The invention is not limited to this, and the display color of the peripheral edge of the monitor screen 105a may be switched only during the “mirror screen” state.
The display color of the edge of the monitor screen 105a may be switched at the same time as displaying i.

[0084]

According to the photographing apparatus of the first aspect and the storage medium of the fifth aspect, when an image of an object to be imaged reflected on a mirror is taken by the camera, the angle depends on the angle of the imaging surface of the camera. Since it is detected that the image reflected on the mirror is captured and the captured image is inverted and displayed, when the camera is moved and rotated, the mirror image is inverted without performing settings such as inverting the captured image. Image is displayed. With this, when taking a picture using a mirror, the taken image is inverted and the image at the correct position is displayed, and when the image of the subject is taken without using the mirror, the taken image is displayed as it is, The displayed image is always the image at the correct position. Therefore, mistakes such as accidentally inverting a photographed image that does not need to be inverted do not occur, thereby preventing a situation such as an increase in work time and an increase in a burden on an operator due to a work error, and an increase in work efficiency. Improvement can be achieved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when an inverted image obtained by inverting the photographed image is displayed on the display means,
Since the image is displayed in a display state different from the normal state, it is clearly notified that the inverted image is being displayed. As a result, it is possible to more reliably prevent a mistake in confusing the state in which the captured image is displayed as it is and the state in which the inverted image is displayed, and improve operability.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when an inverted image obtained by inverting a photographed image is displayed on the display means, a guide display indicating that the image is an inverted image is displayed. It is clearly notified that it is being displayed. Therefore, it is possible to more reliably prevent a mistake in confusing whether the image being displayed is a captured image itself or an inverted image, and it is possible to improve operability.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when an upper surface of a subject is photographed by using a mirror placed above the subject housed in the case, an inverted image obtained by inverting the photographed image is obtained. Since the image is displayed, the image at the correct position is always displayed on the display means. This makes it possible to set or check whether or not the image is a reversed image, especially when photographing a subject where it is difficult to distinguish at first glance whether or not the image is a reversed image, such as when photographing a subject with a very small bottom area. Therefore, it is possible to always obtain an image at the correct position, to greatly improve work efficiency by improving operability, and to prevent mistakes.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an overall configuration of a photographing system 1 according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system 100 of the image processing apparatus 10 shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a control system 200 of the digital camera 20 shown in FIG.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control system 300 of the imaging control device 30.

4A and 4B are diagrams schematically illustrating a configuration of a main part in a storage device of FIG. 2; FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a shooting condition table; FIG. FIG.

FIG. 5 shows the camera tilt base 403 and the hood 40 of FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a relationship between the inclination of No. 2 and detection operations of the angle sensor 403b and the angle sensor 407b of FIG.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a camera tilt table 403 and a detection operation of an angle sensor 403b, and FIG. 9B is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a hood 402 and a detection operation of an angle sensor 407b.

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view showing a main part of the photographing device 40 shown in FIG.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are cross-sectional views of main parts showing an operation of the photographing device 40 shown in FIG. 1, wherein FIG. 7A is a diagram showing a state in which the front of a short object is photographed, and FIG. FIG. 7C is a diagram illustrating a state in which a photograph of the front of a tall subject is photographed.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a photographing process executed by a CPU 101 in the image processing apparatus 10 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the top surface determination processing shown in step S109 of FIG. 8 in more detail.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a RAM 10 in the upper surface determination process illustrated in FIG. 9;
FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of No. 3;

11 shows a display 1 by the display device 105 of FIG.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a monitor screen 105a displayed on the monitor screen 2;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Imaging system 10 Image processing device 11 Main body 12 Display 13 Keyboard 14 Mouse 100 Control system 101 CPU 102 Input device 103 RAM 104 I / F 105 Display device 106 Storage device 107 Storage medium 20 Digital camera 200 Control system 201 I / F 202 Camera Control unit 203 Image memory 204, 205, 206 Motor 207 Zoom 208 Focus 209 Aperture 210, 211, 212 Potentiometer 30 Imaging control device 300 Control system 301 I / F 302 Stop switch 303 Camera direction detection switch 304 Tilt base drive control unit 305 Subject Pedestal drive control unit 306 Hood drive control unit 307 Lighting control unit 40 Imaging device 401 Case 401a Rear door 402 Hood 403 Camera tilt table 403a , 405a, 407a Motor 403b Angle sensor 404 Emergency stop button 405 Subject pedestal 405b Potentiometer 406 Side door 407 Hood drive 407b Angle sensor 409 Mirror 410 Door 411 Background plate 412 Clip 413 Background sheet

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G03B 19/02 G03B 19/02 H04N 5/262 H04N 5/262

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image capturing apparatus for capturing an image of an object to be photographed by a camera capable of moving and rotating in a predetermined direction, and displaying the photographed image by a display means, wherein the image of the object to be photographed is taken with respect to an image plane of the camera Mirror for determining whether the mirror is included in the imaging range of the camera based on the angle of the imaging surface of the camera; and determining the imaging range of the camera by the determination means. And a display control unit for displaying, on the display unit, an inverted image obtained by inverting the image captured by the camera upside down or left and right when it is determined that the captured image is included. 2. The display control device according to claim 1, wherein the display control means switches the display state of the display means to a display state different from a normal display state when displaying the inverted image obtained by inverting the photographed image on the display means. The photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The display control means displays an inverted image obtained by inverting the photographed image on the display means,
The photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a guidance display indicating that the image being displayed is an inverted image is displayed on the display unit. 4. The mirror, which is installed above the object to be photographed housed in a case and projects an image of the upper surface of the object to be photographed onto an image pickup surface of the camera, wherein the display control means is And displaying an inverted image obtained by inverting a photographed image of the camera up and down on the display when the image pickup range of the camera includes the mirror by the discriminating means. 4. The imaging device according to any one of items 1 to 3. 5. A storage medium storing a computer-executable program for controlling a photographing apparatus for photographing an object to be photographed by a camera capable of moving and rotating in a predetermined direction and displaying a photographed image by a display means. A computer for determining whether or not a mirror that projects the image of the imaging target onto the imaging surface of the camera is included in the imaging range of the camera based on the angle of the imaging surface of the camera. An executable program code, and a computer for displaying, on the display unit, an inverted image obtained by inverting the captured image of the camera up and down or left and right when it is determined that the imaging range of the camera includes the mirror. A storage medium characterized by storing a program code executable by: and a program including: