JP2000196942A - Image picking-up method and electronic image pickup device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image picking-up method by which an appropriate picked-up image can be obtained when the picture of a photographer himself is photographed by using an electronic flash and the reproduced picture of the picked-up image can be displayed in a proper direction and an electronic image pickup device which is constituted by connecting an image pickup section and a main body to each other in a state where the section and main body can be rotated against each other. SOLUTION: When the main body of this electronic image pickup device is turned by a half way (S4) at the time of picking up an image with an electronic image pickup device constituted by connecting an image pickup section and a main body section in a state where the section and main body can be rotated against each other by using an electronic flash (S3), the picked-up image (moving image) is displayed through after the picture is inverted upside down (S5 and S6). When the electronic flash is used, in addition, the picked-up image (the image picked up when a shutter is operated) is stored and recorded in a memory for recording after the image is again inverted to its proper. direction.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photographing technique for an electronic image pickup apparatus such as a digital camera, and more particularly, to a photographing technique for an electronic image pickup apparatus having a strobe device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, an electronic camera device (100 ') such as a digital camera is
1 including LCD 1 and liquid crystal screen (liquid crystal finder) 4
0 ′, the imaging unit 110 and the main body 1
20 are rotatably connected (connected) to each other. FIG. 7 shows an example (conventional example) of a rotary digital camera in which the imaging unit 110 and the main body 120 are configured to be capable of rotating each other. FIG. 7A is a front view of the digital camera 1.
An imaging lens 111 and a flash unit 15 are provided in front of the imaging unit 110 of 00 ′. (B) is a rear view, and the liquid crystal finder 4 is provided on the back of the main body 120.
0 'is provided, and a shutter button 37 is provided at the top.

[0003] Such a rotary digital camera 10
At 0 ', the imaging unit 110 is normally turned to the subject side as shown in (a), and the photographer looks at a through image (moving image) of the subject displayed on the liquid crystal finder 40' at the back shown in (b). Then, the user presses the shutter button 37 at a desired timing to perform imaging. Therefore, in the case of flash photography as well, after the flash photography mode is set, the imaging device 110 is turned to the subject side and the shutter button 37 is pressed as shown in (b), the flash device 15 emits light, and flash photography is performed. Also, the photographer himself (or the one on the photographer's side)
In the case where is photographed as a subject, the image can be taken by rotating the imaging unit 110 to the rear side as shown in FIG. In this case, the through image and the captured image are inverted upside down.

[0004]

However, in a case where the photographer himself (or a photographer's side) is used as a subject for flash photography, the flash device 15 is rotated by rotating the imaging unit 110 to the rear side. It is below the lens 111. In this case, when flash photography is performed, light is irradiated from below, and there is a problem that a shadow is formed on the subject and an inappropriate imaging result (image) is obtained.

[0005] In order to perform appropriate flash photography using the rotating digital camera 100 'with the photographer himself (or the photographer's side) as a subject, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7B, the main body 120 is turned to the front side so that the strobe device 15 does not face down, and then the digital camera 100 'is turned to the photographer side (that is, FIG. 7C). 8 (c), a captured image 1 ′ free of shadow can be obtained as shown in FIG. 8C.
When the reproduction is performed while returning the normal state (ie, the state in which the shutter button 37 or the like is set to the upper side), an image 1 ″ whose top, bottom, left, and right are reversed as shown in FIG. 8D is displayed. there were.

[0006] This is because, when the image pickup unit 110 is picked up half an angle (180 °) to the rear side to pick up an image, the captured image is turned upside down and turned to the correct orientation (a position related to the subject and a mirror image). When displaying and storing the captured image in the storage memory, the captured image is turned upside down.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and is an electronic imaging apparatus in which an imaging unit and a main body are rotatably connected (coupled) to each other. An image pickup method and an electronic image pickup apparatus capable of obtaining an appropriate captured image in the case of performing flash photography using a subject (on the side of the photographer) as a subject and displaying a reproduced image of the image obtained by flash photography in a correct direction. For the purpose of providing.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image pickup method comprising: an image pickup section including an image pickup lens and a strobe device; and a display section for displaying a subject image taken from the image pickup section. In the electronic imaging device in which the main body unit and the main body unit are rotatably connected to each other, when the imaging unit or the main body unit is rotated half a turn in the flash photography mode, at least the subject image taken from the imaging unit is vertically inverted and a through image is formed. Is displayed on the display unit, and when an imaging operation is performed,
An image obtained by inverting the subject image displayed on the display unit as a through image in the up-down and left-right directions is stored and recorded as a captured image.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the imaging method according to the first aspect, the captured image is stored and recorded after the image is turned upside down during storage and recording.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the imaging method according to the first aspect, the captured image is stored and recorded in association with information indicating top and bottom and / or left and right of the image at the time of storage and recording. I do.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, an image pickup section including an image pickup lens and a strobe device that emits light in response to a photographing instruction, and a main body section including a display section for displaying a subject image taken from the image pickup section are rotatable with respect to each other. In the electronic imaging device connected to the camera, the rotation state detecting means for detecting the rotation state between the imaging unit and the main body unit, the imaging instruction means, and in the flash photography mode, the imaging unit and the main body unit by the rotation state detection means. When it is detected that the subject images are at half rotation positions with respect to each other, a through image display control unit that at least vertically inverts a subject image captured from the imaging unit and displays the image as a through image on the display unit; An image in a state where the subject image displayed on the display unit as a through image by the through image display control means based on the instruction is inverted vertically and horizontally is taken as a captured image. And image recording control means for storing recorded, characterized by comprising a.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic image pickup apparatus of the fourth aspect, the image recording control means performs recording control only in a flash photography mode.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic imaging apparatus of the fourth aspect, the imaging instruction means is provided on an upper surface and a lower surface of the main body.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the electronic imaging apparatus according to the fourth aspect, in the flash photography mode, the rotation state detecting means detects that the imaging section and the main body are at a half-rotation position with respect to each other. Image inverting means for inverting and storing the image captured when the image is captured, and the image recording control means up-and-down moving the stored image captured when the imaging instruction is issued by the imaging instructing means and stored by the image inverting means. Inverted and recorded and stored as a captured image

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [Circuit Configuration Example] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration example of a digital camera as one embodiment of an imaging apparatus to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. System 11, signal conversion unit 12, signal processing unit 13, DRAM 14, strobe device 15, control unit 20,
An operation unit 30, a display unit 40, a flash memory 50, and a power supply 90 are provided.

As shown in FIG. 2, the optical system 11 and the signal conversion unit 12 are housed in the imaging unit 110, and are configured to be rotatable with respect to the main unit 120 including the signal processing unit 13 and the power supply 90. In addition, a positional relationship detection circuit (for example, a microswitch) that detects a change in the positional relationship between the imaging unit 110 and the main body 120 and sends a detection signal to the control unit 20 is provided on the main body 120 side (or the imaging unit 110 side). Have been.

The optical system 11 includes an imaging lens 111, an aperture mechanism, a shutter mechanism, and the like (not shown). The optical system 11 transfers the light flux of the subject image condensed through the imaging lens 111 onto a subsequent imaging device (CCD). Make an image.

The signal conversion unit 12 includes a CCD, a CCD driving circuit, a signal conversion circuit, and the like. The signal conversion unit 12 converts an image formed on the CCD via the optical system 11 at the preceding stage into an electric signal, and converts the image into digital data. Output at regular intervals.

The signal processing unit 13 performs color processing on the output from the signal conversion unit 12 in the imaging mode, and outputs a digital luminance signal and a color difference multiplex signal (Y, C).
b, Cr data) and Y, Cb, Cr
Data (hereinafter, image data) is stored in the DRAM
(Direct memory access) Transfer and expand. Further, in order to display a through image (moving image), the captured image data is thinned out and sent to the display unit 40.
Numeral 3 reads out image data written in the DRAM 14 and performs JPEG compression processing when recording and saving. Further, in the reproduction mode, the compressed image data stored and recorded in the flash memory 50 is expanded and written into the DRAM 14.

The DRAM 14 is used as a working memory, and has an image buffer area and a J buffer for temporarily storing a picked-up image.
A work area for PEG compression / expansion and an area for storing set values and the like are secured.

The strobe device 15 has a light emitting section and a charging section (not shown), and is provided in front of the camera (usually near the imaging lens 111 (FIGS. 2 and 3)). Strobe light emission is performed based on the strobe light emission control signal.

The control unit 20 has a microprocessor configuration having a CPU, a RAM, a ROM for storing programs, a timer, and the like. The CPU is connected to the above-described circuits and a power switch (not shown) via a bus line. In addition, control of the entire digital camera 100 is performed by a control program stored in the program storage ROM, and processing corresponding to each mode stored in the program storage ROM in response to a state signal from the operation unit 30. The program is taken out to perform execution control of each function of the digital camera 100, for example, execution of an imaging function and a playback function of a recorded image, and in a flash photography mode, the main body 120 of the digital camera 100 is rotated 180 ° with the imaging unit 110. When there is the positional relationship described above, execution control and the like such as upside down processing of the image are performed.

The operation unit 30 includes a processing mode switch,
Switches and buttons (keys) such as a function selection button, a main switch, a strobe shooting mode selection button 36 and a shutter button 37 are constituent parts, and when these switches or buttons are operated, a status signal is sent to the control unit 2.
Sent to 0.

The display unit 40 is a video encoder, a VRAM
And a liquid crystal screen (hereinafter referred to as a liquid crystal finder 40 ′) and the like. Under the display control of the control unit 20, a through image at the time of imaging and a reproduced image at the time of reproduction, a selection menu and guide (or icon) at the time of processing selection ) Is displayed.

The flash memory 50 stores and records JPEG-compressed image data. In addition to the area for recording image data, the flash memory 50 can record an image information registration list for registering image information such as an imaging mode, an imaging condition, and an imaging time interval of the image when the image data is recorded. . Further, each program may be recorded in place of the program ROM. Note that a removable IC card may be used instead of the flash memory.

[Example of Camera Operation and the Like] FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of the operation of the digital camera and the result of the flash photography at the time of flash photography by the imaging method of the present invention. In FIG.
FIG. 1A is a front view of a digital camera 100. The digital camera 100 is a rotating digital camera in which an imaging unit 110 and a main body 120 are configured to be rotatable with respect to each other. Lens 111
And a strobe device 15. Also,
(B) is a view in which the main body 120 is turned by 180 ° and then turned in the direction of the photographer. The liquid crystal finder 40 ′, the flash mode selection button 36 and the shutter button 37 are shown.
(Note that the hatched portion of the strobe shooting mode selection button 36 in (b) means that the strobe shooting mode is selected (the same applies hereinafter)).

(C) shows the through image 1 in which the angle of view is adjusted to the object (flower in this example) after the photographing lens 111 and the liquid crystal finder 40 'are turned toward the photographer as shown in (b). Is displayed in the correct orientation (meaning that it is in a mirror image position with the subject) by upside down processing. (D) shows a result obtained by performing a vertical and horizontal reversal process on a captured image (or a recorded image) that has been subjected to a vertical reversal process so that a reproduced image is displayed in a correct orientation by the imaging method of the present invention. In this example, the lens unit 110 and the main body 120 are placed at the normal position (that is, the photographing lens 111 of the imaging unit 110).
FIG. 9B is a rear view in which the side is the front and the liquid crystal finder 40 ′ side of the main body 120 is the back). Unlike the case of FIG. 8D, the reproduced image 1 ″ is displayed in the correct orientation.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the digital camera, in which a shutter button is also provided at the lower part of the main body 120. FIG. With this configuration, when the main body 120 is turned, the shutter button 37 is set to the lower side in the examples of FIGS. 2B and 2C, so that it is difficult to perform the shutter operation according to the present embodiment (FIG. 3). According to this, since the shutter button 37 'is on the upper side, it is possible to perform imaging without any doubt in the shutter operation. [Normal Display Processing of Strobe Image] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of a normal display process of a strobe picked-up image according to the present invention. This is an example in which storage recording is performed after inverting.

Step S1: (Capture of image) In the imaging mode, the imaging lens 11 of the digital camera 100
A subject image in one field of view is captured and stored in the DRAM 14.

Step S2: (Through image display) The fetched subject image is thinned out and displayed on the liquid crystal finder 40 'of the display unit 40 as a through image (moving image).

Step S3: (Determining Whether or Not Flash Photography) The control unit 20 checks the status signal from the operation unit 30, determines whether or not the flash photography mode selection button 36 has been pressed, and If 36 has been pressed, the flow shifts to S4; otherwise, the flow shifts to another imaging mode process.

Step S4: (Determination of Positional Relationship of Main Unit) The control unit 20 controls the main unit 120 (or the imaging unit 110).
Side), a signal from a rotation state detection circuit (for example, a micro switch) is checked, and when the main body 120 is turned upside down (that is, the state in which the imaging lens 111 and the liquid crystal finder face in the same direction). (In the case of FIG. 2B), the process proceeds to S5. Otherwise, normal flash photography (the image capturing unit 110 and the main body 120 are in the normal position (FIG. 2B)).
The process proceeds to S9 as (flash photography at (a))).

Step S5: (Capture of Image) When the user captures the subject at a desired angle, the subject image at that angle of view is captured and stored in the DRAM 14. In this case, since the captured subject image is upside down on the main body 120, if the through image is displayed as it is, the subject and the through image do not coincide with each other. Therefore, the control unit 20 inverts (transforms the position of) the captured image and stores it in order to make the through image displayed on the liquid crystal finder 40 ′ a mirror image of the subject. For example, when the center axis of the image in the Y-axis (sub-scanning direction) is (x, 0), the conversion formula (x,
y) = G (x, -y) by converting the pixels in the image with the function G (not limited to this conversion method).

Step S6: (Through image display) Next, the controller 20 thins out the stored image inverted upside down in step S5, sends it to the display 40, and displays it on the liquid crystal finder 40 '(FIG. 2). (C)). Step S7: (Strobe imaging) The control unit 20 checks the status signal from the operation unit 30, and sends a strobe light emission control signal to the strobe device 15 when the user presses the shutter button 37. Then, the flash device 15 emits light to perform flash imaging, and the captured image is stored in the DRAM 14.

Step S8: (vertical inversion of the captured image) When the captured image stored in the DRAM 14 is stored and stored in the flash memory 50 as it is, the reproduced image (the main body 120 is in a normal position) is displayed as an image which is inverted vertically and horizontally. Therefore, the control unit 20 inverts the top, bottom, left, and right of the captured image stored in the DRAM 14 (that is,
゜), the position of the image is converted, and the process proceeds to S10. Image position conversion can be performed in the same manner as in step S5.

Step S9: (Normal Strobe Imaging) When the user presses the shutter button 37 when the imaging unit 110 and the main body 120 are in the normal positional relationship in step S4, the control unit 20 sends a strobe light emission control signal to the strobe light. Send it to the device 15. Then, the flash device 15 emits light to perform flash imaging, and the captured image is stored in the DRAM 14.

Step S10: (Storing and Recording Process of Captured Image) The control unit 20 performs a JPEG compression process on the captured image stored in the DRAM 14 and stores and records it in the flash memory 50.

With the above configuration, even when the main body 120 is rotated by half a turn and the flash photography is performed, the captured image is stored and recorded after the correct orientation, so that during reproduction (the main body 120 is at a normal position). The image is displayed as an image in the correct direction, similarly to an image obtained by normal strobe imaging. Note that, in the case where the flash shooting mode is not set in the above-described step S3 and the photographer himself is photographed, the subject image including the photographer is displayed by rotating the image pickup unit 110 half a turn as shown in FIG. 7C. Since the main body 120 remains at a normal position (not half-turned), the through image is also displayed at the correct position. Also, since the captured image after the shutter operation is also a correct image that has not been rotated by half, even when the captured image is stored, it is saved (after JPEG compression) without performing up / down / left / right inversion processing as in the case of stroboscopic imaging Is done.

2. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of a normal display process of a flash-captured image according to the present invention. When the main body 120 is rotated half a turn, the upper and lower portions of the captured image are displayed. This is an example in which a through image is displayed after being inverted, and a captured image is stored and recorded.

Step T1: (Capture of Image) In the imaging mode, the imaging lens 11 of the digital camera 100
A subject image in one field of view is captured and stored in the DRAM 14.

Step T2: (Through image display) The captured subject image (stored image) is thinned out and displayed on the liquid crystal finder 40 'of the display unit 40 as a moving image.

Step T3: (Determining Whether or Not to Use Flash Photography) The control unit 20 checks the status signal from the operation unit 30, determines whether or not the flash photography mode selection button 36 has been pressed, and If the button 36 is pressed, the process transits to T4; otherwise, the process transits to another imaging mode process. Step T4: (Determination of the positional relationship of the main body) Part 110
The signal from the rotation state detection circuit provided on the (side) is checked, and when the main body 120 has rotated half a turn, the state transits to T5,
If not, transition to T8 is made for normal flash photography.

Step T5: (Capture of Image) When the user captures the subject at a desired angle, the subject image at the angle of view is captured and stored in the DRAM 14.

Step T6: (Upside-down display of the through image) The subject image captured in step T5 is
Since the top and bottom of 0 are reversed, if the through image is displayed as it is, the top and bottom of the subject and the through image will not match. Therefore, in order to make the through image displayed on the liquid crystal finder 40 'a mirror image of the subject, the control unit 20 performs image position conversion so that the taken-in image is thinned (or may be before thinning) and the image is inverted upside down. The transmitted image is sent to the display unit 40, and a through image is displayed on the liquid crystal finder 40 '.
Transition to T7. Further, the image position conversion can be performed in the same manner as in step S6 of FIG.

Step T7: (Strobe imaging at half rotation of main body) The control unit 20 checks the status signal from the operation unit 30, and if the user presses down the shutter button 37, the control unit 20 transits to T10. Returning to T5, the image is captured.

Step T8: (Normal strobe imaging) The control unit 20 checks the status signal from the operation unit 30, and if the user presses down the shutter button 37, the control unit 20 makes a transition to T9, otherwise returns to T1. To capture images.

Step T9: (flash emission) When the user presses the shutter button 37 in step T8, the control unit 20 sends a flash emission control signal to the flash unit 15. Then, the flash device 15 emits light to perform flash imaging, and the captured image is stored in the DRAM 14. Then, the flow shifts to T12 for storage and recording of the captured image.

Step T10: (Flash Light Emission) When the user presses the shutter button 37 in step T7, the control unit 20 sends a flash light emission control signal to the flash device 15. Then, the flash device 15 emits light to perform flash imaging, and the captured image is stored in the DRAM 14.

Step T11: (Right and Left Reversal of Captured Image) The controller 20 reverses the captured image stored in the DRAM 14 to the left and right (that is, flips 180 °) to obtain an image in the correct direction.

Step T12: (Storing and Recording Process of Captured Image) The control section 20 performs JPEG compression on the captured image and stores and records it in the flash memory 50. Since the captured image to be stored and stored is stored and stored in a correct direction (that is, a mirror image relationship with the subject), the captured image is displayed in a correct direction during reproduction.

With the above configuration, the DRAM 14 remains in the correct orientation even when the flash is shot by rotating the main body 120 by half.
The captured image is also stored and recorded in the correct orientation. Therefore, at the time of reproduction, the reproduced image is displayed in the correct direction. Note that, in the case where the flash photography mode is not set in step T3 and the photographer himself is photographed,
As shown in (c), when the imaging unit 110 is rotated half a turn, the subject image including the photographer is displayed, but the through image is also displayed at the correct position because the main body 120 remains at a normal position (not half rotated). . Further, after the shutter operation, the captured image is inverted and vertically (left and right) (after JPEG compression) and stored and recorded.

3. Example of Adding Upside-Down Inversion Information FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of a normal display process of a flash-captured image according to the present invention. This is an example in which upside down and / or left and right inversion information is added to a captured image (or image information registration list) for storage and recording, and display is performed based on the inversion information during reproduction.

FIG. 6A is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of image pickup, and FIG. 6B is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of reproduction.

(Operation at the time of image pickup (FIG. 6A)) Step U1: (Capture of image) In the image pickup mode, the image pickup lens 11 of the digital camera 100
A subject image in one field of view is captured and stored in the DRAM 14.

Step U2: (Through image display) The captured subject image (stored image) is thinned out and displayed on the liquid crystal finder 40 'of the display unit 40 as a moving image.

Step U3: (Determination of Positional Relationship of Main Unit) The control unit 20 controls the main unit 120 (or the imaging unit 110).
A signal from the rotation state detection circuit provided on the (side) side is checked, and if the main body 120 is turned up and down halfway, the state transits to U4, and if not, the state transits to the imaging mode at the normal position.

Step U 4: (Capture of Image) When the user captures the subject at a desired angle, the subject image at that angle of view is captured and stored in the DRAM 14.

Step U5: (vertically inverted display of the through image) The subject image captured in step U4 is
Since the top and bottom of 0 are reversed, if the through image is displayed as it is, the top and bottom of the subject and the through image will not match. Therefore, in order to make the through image displayed on the liquid crystal finder 40 'a mirror image of the subject, the control unit 20 performs image position conversion so that the taken-in image is thinned (or may be before thinning) and the image is inverted upside down. The transmitted image is sent to the display unit 40, and a through image is displayed on the liquid crystal finder 40 '.
Transition to U6. Further, the image position conversion can be performed in the same manner as in step S6 in FIG.

Step U6: (Judgment of Presence or Absence of Shutter Operation) The control unit 20 checks the status signal from the operation unit 30, and if the user presses down the shutter button 37 and the shutter button 37 is pressed down, the control transits to U7. If not, the flow returns to U4 to capture the image.

Step U7: (Determining Whether or Not to Use Flash Photography) The control unit 20 checks the status signal from the operation unit 30, determines whether or not the flash photography mode selection button 36 has been pressed, When the button 36 is pressed, the process transits to U8, otherwise, the process transits to U10. Step U8: (flash emission and imaging processing) When the user presses the shutter button 37 in step T7, the control unit 20 sets the flash. An emission control signal is sent to the flash device 15. Then, the flash device 15 emits light to perform flash imaging, and the captured image is stored in the DRAM 14.

Step U9: (Addition of left / right inversion information) The control unit 20 adds left / right inversion information to the captured image (for example, a predetermined bit (or byte) of an information code provided in the image is set to 2). ), And the process transits to U12. Note that, instead of writing the left / right inversion information in the information code of the image, the left / right inversion information of the image may be written in an image information registration list for registering the image information.

Step U10: (Imaging process) The control unit 20 controls the DRAM at the time when the shutter 37 is depressed.
The image captured in 14 is taken as a captured image.

Step U11: (Addition of upside down information) The control unit 20 adds upside down information to the captured image (for example, sets a predetermined bit (or byte) of the information code provided in the image to 1). ), And the process transits to U12. Instead of writing the upside down information in the information code of the image, the upside down information of the image may be written in an image information registration list for registering the image information. Step U12: (Recording and Saving Process of Captured Image) The control unit 20 performs JPEG compression on the captured image stored in the DRAM 14, and then stores and records it in the flash memory 50 together with the information code of the image. Note that, when writing upside down information of the image in the image information registration list for registering the image information, the captured image is stored in the DRA.
The captured image stored in M14 is subjected to JPEG compression and then stored and recorded in the flash memory 50, and the image information list is updated.

(Operation at Reproduction (FIG. 6B)) Step V1: (Image Reproduction Process) When the user selects a desired recorded image, the control unit 20 stores the recorded image (compressed image data) in the flash memory 50.
And decompresses it and stores it in the DRAM 14.

Step V2: (Determination of whether or not the image is upside down recorded image) The control unit 20 checks the information code of the recorded image, determines whether or not upside down information is included. Transition to V3; otherwise, transition to V4.
When the upside-down information is registered in the information registration list, the control unit 20 checks the information registration list, determines whether or not the upside-down information is included. Transition to V3; otherwise, transition to V4.

Step V3: (Vertical Inversion of Reproduced Image) The control unit 20 changes the image position so that the reproduced image reproduced in step V1 is inverted upside down, and then transitions to V6. Image position conversion can be performed in the same manner as in step S6 in FIG.

Step V4: (Determining whether or not the image is a left-right inverted recording image) The control unit 20 checks the information code of the recorded image, determines whether or not the left-right inverted information is included. Transition to V5; otherwise, transition to V6.
When the upside-down information is registered in the information registration list, the control unit 20 checks the information registration list, determines whether or not the upside-down information is included. Transition to V5; otherwise, transition to V6.

Step V5: (Right and Left Reversal of Reproduced Image) The control unit 20 changes the position of the image so as to reverse the left and right of the reproduced image reproduced in step V1, and then transitions to V6.

Step V6: (Display of Reproduced Image) The control unit 20 sends the reproduced image to the display unit 40 and displays it on the liquid crystal finder 40 '.

With the above configuration, when normal photographing is performed with the main body 120 rotated half a turn, reversal information is added and stored and recorded. When flash photography is performed with the main body 120 rotated half a turn, the reverse information is stored. The image is stored and recorded without being added (or with non-inverted information added), and at the time of reproduction, the image to which the inverted information is added is displayed upside down, so that the image in the correct orientation is displayed at the time of reproduction.

When the main body 120 is rotated half a turn,
In the present embodiment, the through image and the captured image are mirror images, but need not be mirror images. In other words, when the image is not a mirror image, step S5 is set to “vertical inversion processing of the captured image” in the flowchart of FIG. 4, step T5 is set to “vertical display of the through image” in the flowchart of FIG. 5, and step T11 is unnecessary. Become. In the flowchart of FIG. 6, step U5 is set to "vertical display of the through image", step U9 becomes unnecessary, and step U11 is set to "vertical left / right inverted information addition".

Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made.

[0073]

As described above, according to the image pickup method and the electronic image pickup apparatus of the present invention, the electronic image pickup apparatus in which the image pickup section and the main body are rotatably connected, and the strobe provided above the image pickup section. Even if you strobe the camera by turning the main body halfway while keeping the position of the imaging unit as it is,
Since the captured image is stored and recorded so that it can be displayed as a mirror image relationship with the subject at the time of reproduction, an appropriate captured image can be obtained, and at the same time, the reproduced image is not inverted upside down as in the past, but correctly (ie, the subject and the mirror image Position).

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration example of a digital camera as one embodiment of an imaging apparatus to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of operation of a digital camera at the time of flash photography and a result of flash photography according to the imaging method of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a digital camera.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of a normal display process of a strobe-captured image according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of a normal display process of a strobe-captured image according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of a normal display process of a strobe-captured image according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of conventional flash photography in a lens-part-rotation type digital camera.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view of conventional flash photography in a digital camera with a rotating lens unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 15 Strobe device (strobe light emitting unit) 1 'Through image (subject image) 1 "Captured image 15 Strobe device 20 Control unit (-image recording control unit, image inverting unit) 37 Shutter button (imaging instruction unit) 40 Display unit 100 Digital Camera (imaging device) 110 Imaging unit 111 Imaging lens 120 Main unit (main unit)

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An electronic imaging apparatus in which an imaging unit including an imaging lens and a strobe device and a main unit including a display unit for displaying a subject image captured from the imaging unit are rotatably connected to each other. When the imaging unit or the main body is rotated half a turn in the shooting mode, the subject image captured from the imaging unit is turned upside down at least upside down and displayed on the display unit as a through image. An image capturing method comprising: storing an image obtained by inverting a subject image displayed on a display unit in a vertical and horizontal direction as a captured image. 2. The imaging method according to claim 1, wherein the captured image is stored and recorded after the image is inverted during storage and recording. 3. The imaging method according to claim 1, wherein the captured image is stored and recorded in association with information indicating upper and lower and / or left and right of the image at the time of storage and recording. 4. An electronic imaging system in which an imaging unit including an imaging lens and a strobe device that emits light in response to a shooting instruction and a main unit including a display unit that displays a subject image captured from the imaging unit are rotatably connected to each other. In the apparatus, a rotation state detection unit that detects a rotation state between the imaging unit and the main body unit, an imaging instruction unit, and in a flash photography mode, the imaging unit and the main body unit are connected by the rotation state detection unit. When it is detected that the subject images are at half rotation positions from each other, a through image display control unit that at least vertically inverts a subject image captured from the imaging unit and displays the image as a through image on the display unit; The subject image displayed on the display unit as a through image by the through image display control means is imaged in a state where the subject image is inverted up, down, left, and right based on an instruction. Electronic imaging apparatus comprising: the image recording control means for storing recorded as an image, a. 5. An electronic imaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said image recording control means performs recording control only in a flash photography mode. 6. The electronic imaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the imaging instruction means is provided on an upper surface and a lower surface of the main body. 7. An image to be stored by reversing the image captured when the rotation state detecting means detects that the imaging section and the main body are at a half-rotation position with each other in a flash photography mode. Inverting means is provided, wherein the image recording control means is fetched when an imaging instruction is issued by the imaging instruction means, and inverts the stored image stored by the image inverting means upside down and records and stores the captured image. The electronic imaging device according to claim 4, wherein