JP2001061089A - Camera system and camera with printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera system by which a user can easily obtain position information of a photographed place and print out information of the photographed place together with image and date information and to provide a camera with printer. SOLUTION: The digital camera system is configured by integrally mounting a GPS device 42 and a printer (consisting of sections 44, 46, 48, 50) onto a digital camera main body. A ROM 30 stores conversion data to convert position information obtained by the GPS device 42 into address data. The GPS device 42 automatically acquires the position information of a photographed place and converts the position information into address data. The address information is composited with a photographed picture and the address of the photographed place and the picture are printed out together. Furthermore, a user can optionally select a display position, a font size and a color of the address information or the like on a recording sheet.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera system and a camera with a printer, and more particularly to a GPS (Global Pos.
The present invention relates to a camera system that obtains information on the position of a shooting point using a itioning system, and a camera with a printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art GPS is a positioning system capable of measuring the three-dimensional position (latitude, longitude, altitude) of a receiving point at an arbitrary position on the ground by receiving radio waves from a large number of mobile satellites. Conventionally, a digital camera system using GPS has been proposed (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 10-233).
985, JP-A-10-210337, JP-A-10-271375, etc.). JP-A-9-1632
No. 03 discloses a system that uses a GPS in an electronic camera system having an image transmission function to grasp a current position and select a nearest communication access point.

In recent years, a digital camera (a camera with a printer) in which a printer is mounted on a camera body has also been proposed (JP-A-10-257427).

[0004]

However, in a conventional camera with a printer, a photographed image can be printed with a date added thereto, but the position information of a photographing point cannot be printed. For this reason, even if the user views the printed image (printed material), the photographing location of the image is not known, and it may be difficult to arrange the printed material. Especially in the case of a camera with a printer that directly prints out the captured image, the printed matter is all,
It was difficult to specify where the image was taken later.

On the other hand, when a photographed image is recorded on a recording medium such as a memory card, information on a photographing place can be inputted by key operation and recorded together with image data. There is a problem that the number of operation keys is small due to the restrictions of the above, and it takes time to input information.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and has a camera system and a printer capable of easily obtaining positional information and printing information of a photographing place together with information such as images and dates. The purpose is to provide a camera.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a camera system according to the present invention captures a subject,
Photographing means for acquiring image information indicating a subject; a GPS device for receiving position information by receiving radio waves from GPS satellites;
Address data converting means for converting the position information obtained by the GPS device into address data; and output means for outputting information of the image obtained by the photographing means and the address obtained by the address data converting means. It is characterized by having.

According to the present invention, it is possible to automatically acquire the location information of a shooting place using GPS, and furthermore,
The location information is converted into address data that is easy for everyone to understand. Then, the photographed image to which the address information of the photographing place is added is output from the output unit. Thus, the photographing place can be easily known without the trouble of inputting the position information. Examples of the mode of the output unit include a data transmission unit by wireless or wired communication, an image display device, and a printing device (printer).

The camera system of the present invention has a photographing function, G
The PS function and the output function may be realized by being integrated into the camera body, or each function may be unitized and detachably connected. Further, a camera as a photographing device and a printing device having both address data conversion means and output means are separately provided, and the system of the present invention can be configured as a whole.

When the photographing means is constituted by an electronic image pickup device such as a digital camera having an image pickup device and signal processing means for processing a signal obtained through the image pickup device and converting the signal into image data. The present invention is not limited to this, and includes a device that optically records a subject image using a photographic film, such as a silver halide photographic camera.

A camera system according to another aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above configuration, further comprises a synthesizing unit for synthesizing an image obtained by using the photographing unit and address information obtained by the address data converting unit. And outputting an image obtained by synthesizing the photographed image and a character string indicating an address based on the synthesizing process of the synthesizing means by the output means. According to this aspect, it is possible to obtain an image to which address information indicating the shooting location is added, which is convenient for organizing the images.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, the position information indicating the shooting location can be displayed not only with the address but also with the latitude, longitude, and altitude. A process for converting the position information into latitude and longitude data; and a selection device for selecting whether to print the position information as longitude and latitude information or address information. It is characterized by.

In the camera system of the present invention, a means for selecting whether or not to print the information on the position may be provided, and the display position on the recording sheet when printing the information on the position, the size of the character, In addition, it is also possible to provide a mode in which setting means for setting at least one of the character color and the character color to a desired state is provided.

In order to achieve the above object, a camera with a printer according to the present invention captures a subject and obtains image data indicating the subject, and receives radio waves from GPS satellites to obtain position information. A GPS device and the GPS
Address data conversion means for converting the position information obtained by the device into address data, and printing means for printing the image obtained by the imaging means and the address information on a recording sheet, are integrally provided in the camera body. It is characterized by having.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a camera with a printer in which printing means for printing an image picked up via an image sensor on a recording sheet is provided integrally with the camera body. A GPS means for receiving a radio wave from a GPS satellite to obtain position information;
Address data converting means for converting the position information obtained by the means into address data; and synthesizing means for synthesizing the image data obtained by using the image sensor with the address data obtained by the address data converting means. An image obtained by synthesizing the captured image and a character string indicating an address is printed by the printing unit based on the synthesizing process of the synthesizing unit.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a camera system and a camera with a printer according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital camera system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the digital camera system 10 includes a lens 12,
CCD 14, A / D converter 16, luminance / color difference signal processing circuit (YC signal processing circuit) 18, compression / expansion circuit 20, data input unit 22 corresponding to operation unit, system controller 24, memory control circuit 26, memory 28, RO
M30, video playback circuit 32, liquid crystal display (LC
D) 34, a card interface 36, a card connector 38, a memory card 40, a GPS device 42, a printer interface 44, a printer control circuit 46, a printer driving unit 48, a printer detection unit 50, and the like. The system 10 is realized as a camera with a printer in which a photographing function, a GPS function, and a print function are integrally provided in a camera body.

The lens 12 may be a zoom lens or a single focus lens. The lens 12 is driven by a lens driving device having a motor (not shown) (zoom motor or focus motor). The CCD 14 has a so-called electronic shutter function of controlling the charge accumulation time (shutter speed) of each light receiving sensor according to the timing of a shutter gate pulse.

The subject light incident on the light receiving surface of the CCD 14 through the lens 12 and the aperture device (not shown) is
Are converted into signal charges of an amount corresponding to the amount of incident light. This signal charge is sequentially transferred based on the transfer pulse, and is read out as a voltage signal (image signal). The image signal output from the CCD 14 is separated into R, G, and B color signals, the gain is adjusted, and the A / D converter 16 converts the image signal into a digital signal. The digitized image signal is temporarily stored in the memory 28 via the memory control circuit 26.

The YC signal processing circuit 18 converts an image signal in the memory 28 into a luminance signal (Y signal) and a chrominance signal (C signal) in accordance with a command signal from the system controller 24.
And the luminance and color difference signals (YC signals) are stored in the memory 28 again. Then, the system controller 2
4 sends a command to the compression / expansion circuit 20, which causes the compression / expansion circuit 20 to convert the YC signal on the memory 28 into a JPEG signal.
Compress according to another predetermined format. The compressed image data is sent to the card interface 36, the card connector 3
8 is recorded on the memory card 40. The memory card 40 includes, for example, an SSFDC (Solid-State Floppy) which is a card-type IC memory called smart media.
Disk Card) is used. Note that the recording medium is not limited to the memory card 40, and various forms such as a PC card, a magnetic disk, a magneto-optical disk, and a memory stick are possible.

The YC signal stored in the memory 28 is provided to a video reproduction circuit 32 via a memory control circuit 26, where it is converted into a video signal. When this video signal is supplied to the liquid crystal display 34,
In the photographing mode, the image captured by the CCD 14 is displayed as a moving image in real time or as an almost continuous image (intermittent image) although not in real time.
Will be displayed. The photographer can determine the composition of the subject while viewing the display screen of the liquid crystal display 34. Note that, instead of the liquid crystal display 34, a plasma display or another display device can be used.

In the reproduction mode, the memory card 40
After the image data recorded on the liquid crystal display 3 is read out and decompressed by the compression / decompression circuit 20,
4 and the reproduced image is displayed on the liquid crystal display 34. In addition, the liquid crystal display 34 has menus and selection items necessary for camera mode setting and other various setting / selection operations, a display of the remaining storage capacity of the memory card 40, the number of shootable images, a frame number of a playback image, a battery Information related to the camera function such as the remaining amount is also displayed.

The data input unit 22 includes a release button for giving an instruction to start image recording, a date setting, various settings of the camera, a selection means for selecting whether or not to print the location information of the photographing location, and an address for the location information. A selection means to select whether to print or to print at latitude, longitude and altitude,
This block includes various setting input means such as a means for designating the display position of the position information on the recording sheet, a means for designating the size of the character of the position information, and a means for designating the color of the character of the position information.

The GPS device 42 includes an antenna 42A for receiving a radio wave from a GPS satellite, and a processing unit for processing the received signal to obtain position information. The GPS device 42 starts positioning in accordance with a command signal from the system controller 24, and sends the obtained position information and time information to the system controller 24.

The ROM 30 is composed of, for example, an EEPROM. The ROM 30 stores history information conversion data for converting into latitude, longitude, and altitude information based on the position information obtained from the GPS device 42, and the position information obtained from the GPS device 42 or the latitude, longitude, and altitude information. And address information conversion data for converting the information into address information based on the address information.

The data storage means (storage means) for storing the history information conversion data and the address information conversion data is RO
Not limited to M30. For example, these data may be stored in another memory card that is attached to and detached from the card connector 38. The history information conversion data may be built in the GPS device 42. In this case, the ROM 30 stores conversion data for converting latitude, longitude, and altitude information into address information.

The system controller 24 is a block including a microcomputer, and is a processing section that controls each circuit of the system 10. The system controller 24 controls a corresponding operation according to an input signal from the data input unit 22, and controls a zooming operation and an automatic focus adjustment (AF) operation of the lens 12, an automatic exposure adjustment (AE) control, and the like. . Also, the system controller 2
4 is based on the position information received from the GPS device 42,
Using the data in the OM 30, the data is converted into address data, and also functions as a processing unit that generates print data. That is, the system controller 24
Is a CCD1 according to an input signal from the data input unit 22.
In step 4, the image data captured and the address information are combined.

The combined data is sent to the printer control circuit 46 via the printer interface 44 as print data (print data).
By supplying the synthesized data to the liquid crystal display 34 via the video reproduction circuit 32, it is possible to confirm the video in which the photographed image is synthesized with the character string of the address on the liquid crystal display 34.

The printing means of the system 10 includes:
Various types of printing apparatuses (printers) such as a thermoautochrome (TA) type printer, an ink jet type printer, and a sublimation type printer can be used. The specific configuration of the printer driving unit 48 and the detecting unit 50 differs depending on the type of printer used. In the case of a TA printer, the printer driving unit 48 includes a thermal head and a fixing lamp, and the detecting unit 50 includes a paper detecting unit and a temperature detecting unit. In the case of an ink jet printer, the printer driving section 48 includes an ink ejecting section, and the detecting section 50 includes an ink remaining amount detecting unit, a paper presence detecting unit, and the like. The recording sheet may be continuous paper (roll paper) or cut paper. Further, a medium other than paper, such as a resin sheet, may be used.

In accordance with a command signal from the system controller 24, the printer control circuit 46 supplies print data to the printer drive unit 48 and controls the printer drive unit 48 to execute printing.

The print data in which the image and the address data are combined may be deleted from the memory 28 after the printing is completed, or the combined data may be stored in the memory card 40. As a method for saving an image, a mode in which only printing is performed at the time of photographing and image data is not saved in the memory card 40, a mode in which image data and location information are saved in the memory card 40, and positioning data of the GPS device 42 as location information A mode in which any one of the longitude / latitude / altitude data, the address data, or a combination thereof is stored in the memory card 40, a mode in which the image data is stored in the memory card 40 as data obtained by combining position information with the image data, and only the image data is stored. There can be various modes, such as a mode for saving in the memory card 40. It is preferable that the image storage method is configured so that the user can select it from the data input unit 22.

FIG. 2 shows an example of an image printed by the digital camera system 10 described with reference to FIG. As shown in the figure, by using the digital camera system 10 of the present example, position information is automatically acquired from the GPS device 42, and a partial area of the print 60 (for example, the lower right or upper left of the screen, etc.) is obtained. The address display 62, the longitude / latitude display 64, the altitude display 66, and the shooting date and time 68 indicating the shooting location are printed together with the shot image at the four corners of the screen so as not to disturb the image display as much as possible.

In FIG. 2, an address display 62, a longitude / latitude display 64, and an altitude display 66 are printed at the lower right of the print screen, and a display of the shooting date and time 68 is printed at the lower left of the screen. Not limited to The user is able to select from the data input unit 22 whether or not to display each of the address display, the longitude and latitude display, the altitude display, and the shooting date and time display. Therefore, only the information selected by the user to be displayed is printed on the recording sheet together with the image. There is also a mode in which a photographed image is printed on the front side of a recording sheet, and information such as an address is printed on the back side of the recording sheet.

The display position such as the address display and the character size on the recording sheet can be changed by a user operation, and the user can specify the desired display position and the character size from the data input unit 22. It has become. The display position may be specified by the user selecting an arbitrary position from the printing area of the recording sheet, or a plurality of predetermined points (for example, upper right, lower right, upper left, lower left, etc. of the screen). ) May be selected. As for the character size and character form (font), any one of a plurality of types of character sizes and fonts prepared in advance is selected.

In displaying characters such as addresses, characters may be displayed in a frame formed by forming a white frame in the image, or only characters may be displayed in the image without providing a frame. . Further, the color of the character may be changed according to the color of the background of the portion where the character is synthesized. In this case, the configuration may be such that the user can specify a desired color, or the configuration may be such that the color of the background is automatically determined and a color that is easy to see when superimposed and displayed is automatically selected. Note that data necessary for displaying an address, such as character data and color data, is stored in the ROM 30 or a memory card.

In the case of a camera having a print function as in this example, a mode in which the image is directly printed out at the same time as the photographing (simultaneous print mode) is possible.
The simultaneous print mode is particularly useful because a printed matter to which address information is added can be easily obtained. Further, even in a mode in which photographed image data is only printed out without being recorded on a recording medium such as the memory card 40, it is very useful in that a printed matter to which information of a photographing place is added can be obtained. high.

Next, a modification of the embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 shows a system in which a GPS device and a printing device are integrated into a camera body.
The S device, the printing device, and the digital camera may be configured separately. For example, a GPS device and a digital camera are linked by wired or wireless communication means, and image data and position information obtained by the GPS device are recorded on a recording medium such as a memory card. On the other hand, the printing apparatus is provided with address data conversion means, and when a recording medium is mounted on the printing apparatus, image data and position information are read from the recording medium, and the position information is converted into address data. The character indicating the address may be configured to be printed together with the image.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention, G
Since the position information of the shooting location is automatically acquired by the PS device, the position information is converted into address data, and the address information is added to the image and output, so that the position information can be easily input, When checking the image later, it is easy to know where the image was taken. Also, when handing out the printed matter to a third party, the address information of the shooting location is added to the printed matter itself,
This is convenient in that it is not necessary to give an explanation about the shooting location.

According to the present invention, since accurate data of a photographing position and date and time are printed together with images from GPS data, many images are photographed outdoors such as bird watching and plant observation, and these images are arranged in an album. It can be used for various cases and research purposes.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital camera system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view showing an example of a printed matter obtained by the digital camera system of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

10: Digital camera system (camera with printer), 14: CCD (imaging device, imaging means, electronic imaging device), 18: YC signal processing circuit (signal processing means), 22
... Data input unit (selection means, setting means), 24 ... System controller (signal processing means, address data conversion means,
Synthesis means, history data conversion means), 30 ROM (address data conversion means, history data conversion means), 42 GPS
Apparatus, 46: Printer control circuit (printing means), 48
... Printer driver (printing means)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C032 HB15 HB22 HC01 HC27 HC28 5C022 AA13 AB02 AB22 AB66 AC03 AC32 AC42 AC54 AC69 AC74 5C052 AA12 EE08 FA02 FA03 FB01 FB06 FC06 FE01 FE08 5J062 AA03 CC07 DD21 001 JJ02H04 JJ78 KK42

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A photographing means for photographing a subject to obtain image information indicating the subject, and a GPS for receiving a radio wave from a GPS satellite to obtain position information.
Device, address data conversion means for converting the position information obtained by the GPS device to address data, output means for outputting information of the image obtained by the imaging means and the address obtained by the address data conversion means, A camera system comprising: 2. An electronic image pickup apparatus comprising: an image pickup device; and an electronic image pickup device having a signal processing unit for processing a signal obtained through the image pickup device and converting the signal into image data. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein 3. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein said output means comprises a print means for printing an image obtained by photographing and said address information on a recording sheet. system. 4. The camera system according to claim 2, further comprising a synthesizing unit for synthesizing the image acquired by the photographing unit and the address information, based on a synthesizing process of the synthesizing unit. A camera system, wherein an image formed by combining a captured image and a character string indicating an address is output by the output unit. 5. The camera system according to claim 3, wherein: history data conversion means for converting the position information obtained by the GPS device into latitude and longitude data; and printing information on the position as longitude and latitude information; Selecting means for selecting whether to print as address information, and a camera system comprising: 6. The camera system according to claim 3, further comprising means for selecting whether or not to print information on a position. 7. The camera system according to claim 3, wherein the system sets at least one of a position on a recording sheet, a character size, and a character color when printing the position information. A camera system comprising setting means for setting a desired state. 8. An image pickup means for picking up an image of a subject and obtaining image data indicating the subject, and a GPS for receiving radio waves from GPS satellites and obtaining position information.
An apparatus, address data conversion means for converting position information obtained by the GPS device into address data, and printing means for printing the image obtained by the imaging means and the address information on a recording sheet. A camera with a printer, which is provided integrally. 9. A camera with a printer, in which printing means for printing an image picked up via an image sensor on a recording sheet is provided integrally with the camera body, wherein the camera receives radio waves from GPS satellites. GPS to get location information
Means, address data conversion means for converting the position information obtained by the GPS means into address data, and synthesis for synthesizing the image data obtained by using the image sensor and the address data obtained by the address data conversion means. A camera with a printer, comprising: means for combining a photographed image and a character string indicating an address based on the combining processing of the combining means.