JP2001061125A - Image pickup unit and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To record an object image, even when the remaining capacity of a memory card is small. SOLUTION: When the idle capacity of a memory card is so small that the memory card cannot record image data representing an image by one frame ('NO≈ in step 62), a warning is issued (step 63). When a digital still camera receives a transmission command from a user ('YES' in step 64), desired image data among image data recorded in the memory card are transmitted to portable phone. The portable phone transmits the image data to a server. Even if the idle capacity of the memory card mounted on the digital still camera becomes small, photographing of an object can be continued without having to replace the memory card.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus and method for capturing an image of a subject, obtaining image data representing the subject image, and recording the obtained image data on a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a digital camera represented by a digital still camera, image data representing a subject image obtained by imaging is recorded in a built-in memory or a memory card.

[0003] There are limitations on the capacity of both recording media such as a built-in memory and a memory card. For this reason, in a digital camera that records image data in the internal memory, it is necessary to delete some of the image data if the image data is recorded so that the capacity of the internal memory is exceeded when a new image is taken There is. In a digital camera that records image data on a memory card,
A new memory card must be inserted into the digital camera.

[0004]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to be able to continue imaging a subject even when image data having a capacity close to the limit is recorded on a recording medium.

According to the present invention, in an imaging apparatus for imaging a subject, obtaining image data representing the subject image, and recording the obtained image data on a recording medium, the image data representing one frame of image is recorded on the recording medium. The determining means for determining whether the image data can be transmitted, the transmitting means for transmitting the image data to the image receiving apparatus via the network, and the determining means determine that image data representing one frame of image cannot be recorded on the recording medium. And transmitting control means for controlling the transmitting means so as to transmit the image data obtained by the imaging to the image receiving apparatus.

[0006] The present invention also provides a method suitable for the above apparatus. That is, in this method, an image pickup apparatus that captures an image of a subject, obtains image data representing the subject image, and records the obtained image data on a recording medium, records image data representing an image of one frame on the recording medium. It is determined whether the image data can be recorded, and if it is determined that the image data representing one frame of image cannot be recorded on the recording medium, the image data obtained by the imaging is transmitted to the image receiving device via the network. Things.

According to the present invention, it is determined whether or not one frame of image data can be recorded on the recording medium. If it is determined that one frame of image data cannot be recorded, the image data obtained by imaging is transmitted to the image receiving device via a network. The image data is stored in the image receiving device.

[0008] Even if there is not enough free space to record one frame of image data in the recording medium of the above-mentioned imaging apparatus,
Recording of the subject can be continued.

The image processing apparatus further includes a warning means for giving a warning when the determination means determines that image data representing one frame of image cannot be recorded on the recording medium, and a transmission command means for giving a transmission command. Is preferred.

In this case, the transmission control means controls the transmission means so as to transmit the image data obtained by the imaging to the image receiving device when the transmission instruction is given by the transmission instruction means. Become.

The warning from the warning means indicates that the user cannot record the image data on the recording medium even if the image is taken. If necessary, the free space of the recording medium can be increased by erasing the image data recorded on the recording medium. By increasing the free space, image data obtained by new imaging can be recorded on a recording medium.

If the image data recorded on the recording medium is not to be erased, the transmission command is given from the transmission command means. When the transmission command is given from the transmission command, the image data obtained by the imaging is transmitted to the image receiving device via the network.

Setting means for setting the priority of the image represented by the image data recorded on the recording medium, and judging that the image data representing one frame of image cannot be recorded on the recording medium by the judging means And determining the image data to be transmitted to the image receiving apparatus from the image data recorded on the recording medium based on the priority set by the setting means in response to the determination. You may.

In this case, the transmission control means will perform control to transmit the image data determined by the determination means to the image receiving device.

By setting the priority by the user, the user can specify image data to be transmitted to the image receiving device. The image data transmitted to the image receiving device may be high-priority image data or low-priority image data.

If it is desired to keep the high-priority image data on the recording medium, the low-priority image data will be transmitted to the image receiving apparatus, and the low-priority image data will remain on the recording medium. If it is desired, image data with high priority will be transmitted to the image receiving device. In any case, image data desired by the user can be transmitted to the image receiving device.

[0017] The above-mentioned imaging device is capable of data communication with each other, and can be constituted by a digital camera and a portable communication device which image a subject and record image data representing the subject image on a recording medium.

In this case, the digital camera includes:
The apparatus includes the determination unit and the transmission control unit. Also,
The portable communication device includes the transmission unit. Then, the image data is transmitted from the digital camera to the image receiving device via the portable communication terminal device.

As described above, image data can be transmitted to the image receiving device by using the portable communication device (such as a portable telephone or a portable communication terminal).

[0020]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention and shows an outline of an image communication system.

The image communication system includes a transmission / reception system 40 and a server 50 capable of performing data communication with each other via a network.
It is composed of

In this embodiment, the transmission / reception system 40
Can transmit and receive image data, but may be dedicated to transmitting image data.

The transmission / reception system 40 includes the digital still camera 1 and the mobile phone 20 which can perform data communication with each other. In this embodiment, the digital
Although the still camera 1 and the mobile phone 20 are wireless communication,
Wire communication may be used. Using the identification code, the digital still camera 1 and the mobile phone 20 can perform data communication between a specific digital still camera 1 and the mobile phone 20.

The server 50 includes a controller such as a CPU, a memory for temporarily storing data, a modem for connecting to a network, a monitor display device, and the like.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the digital still camera 1.

A display screen 4 for displaying a subject image is formed in almost the entire area on the back of the digital still camera 1.

At the top of the display screen 4, a transmission button 15, an execution button 13, and up, down, left and right buttons 14 which are pressed by a user when transmitting image data to the mobile phone 20 are provided. The up, down, left, and right buttons 14 are formed with an up arrow, a down arrow, a right arrow, and a left arrow, which can be pressed on these arrows. When the arrow is pressed,
The signal indicating that each arrow is pressed is a digital signal.
Provided to the still camera 1.

On the right side of the upper surface of the digital still camera 1, a mode setting dial 12 for setting a mode such as an imaging mode and a reproduction mode is provided.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the digital still camera 1 and the mobile phone 20.

The overall configuration of the digital still camera 1 is controlled by a controller 10.

A key input unit 19 including a power switch, a mode setting dial, up / down / left / right buttons, a shutter release button, and the like is provided. The signal from the key input unit 19 is input to the controller 18.

The image pickup circuit 2 includes an image pickup device for picking up an image of a subject, a signal processing circuit for gamma correction and white balance adjustment of a video signal output from the image pickup device, and a signal processing circuit for converting the video signal into digital image data. And an analog / digital conversion circuit.

In the imaging mode, image data output from the imaging circuit 2 passes through the image memory 3 and is provided to the display device 4. The subject image is displayed on the display screen of the display device 4.

When the shutter release button is pressed, the image data output from the image pickup circuit 2 and representing the subject image is temporarily stored in the image memory 3. The image data is read from the image memory 3 and provided to the compression / expansion circuit 7, where the data is compressed. The image data subjected to the data compression is provided to the memory card 8 and recorded.

In the reproduction mode, the memory card 8
Is read out and supplied to the compression / expansion circuit 7. The compressed image data is subjected to data expansion in a compression / expansion circuit 7. The decompressed image data is provided to the display device 4 (using the same reference numerals as the display screen) via the image memory 3, so that the image represented by the compressed image data is displayed on the display device 4.

The digital still camera 1 according to this embodiment can perform data communication with the mobile phone 20.

When transmitting image data to the mobile phone 20, the image data to be transmitted is read from the memory card 8. The read image data is temporarily stored in the image memory 3. The image data is compressed in the compression / expansion circuit 5 and input to the transmission / reception circuit 6. The compressed image data is transmitted from the transmission / reception circuit 6 to the mobile phone 20.

When receiving image data transmitted from the mobile phone 20, the digital still camera 1 is set to a standby mode by a mode setting dial. The compressed image data transmitted from the mobile phone 20 is received by the transmission / reception circuit 6. The received compressed image data is
The data is expanded in the compression / expansion circuit 5. The expanded image data is input to the image memory 3 and is temporarily stored. Image data is read from the image memory 3 and compressed in the compression / expansion circuit 7. The compressed image data is provided to the memory card 8 and recorded.

The mobile phone 20 is capable of transmitting and receiving image data in addition to transmitting and receiving voice.

The entire operation of the mobile phone 20 is controlled by a controller
Overseen by 26.

The mobile phone 20 is provided with a key input unit 27 including various buttons such as a call button, a disconnect button, and a ten key. An output signal from the key input unit 27 is input to the controller 26.

The voice input to the microphone 30 is output as a voice signal and supplied to the modulation circuit 29. The audio signal is modulated in a modulation circuit 29 and converted into digital audio data in an analog / digital conversion circuit 28. Digital audio data is transmitted to a network via an antenna 25 via a transmission circuit 24. Voice data is transmitted to another communication device, for example, a mobile phone via the network.

The voice data transmitted via the network is received by the antenna 25 and input to the transmission circuit 24. The audio data is input to the digital / analog conversion circuit 33 via the controller 26 and is converted into an analog audio signal. The analog audio signal is provided to the demodulation circuit 32 and demodulated. The demodulated audio signal is provided to the speaker 31, and the speaker 31 outputs a sound.

The image data transmitted from the digital still camera 1 is received by the transmission / reception circuit 21 of the mobile phone 20. The image data is provided to the memory 22, and is output from the memory 22 while repeating storage and reading.
Output data from the memory 22 is provided to the antenna 25 via the transmission circuit 24. The image data is transmitted from the antenna 25.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the digital still camera 1.

The free space of the memory card 8 mounted on the digital still camera 1 is detected (step 61). Based on the detected free space, it is determined whether image data representing one frame of image can be recorded on the memory card 8 mounted on the digital still camera 1 (step 62). ).

If there is not enough free space in the memory card 8 to record image data representing one frame of image (NO in step 62), a warning is displayed on the display screen of the display device 4 (step 63). ). The user knows that there is no free space in the memory card 8 by looking at the warning display.

When the transmission button 15 is pressed by the user (YES in step 64), the oldest image data recorded on the memory card 8 is transmitted from the digital still camera 1 to the mobile phone 20 (step 65). . The transmitted image data is deleted from the memory card 8.
The user may be allowed to select a desired image without transmitting the oldest image data recorded on the memory card 8. Image data representing the selected image is transmitted to server 50.

As the image data is deleted from the memory card 8, the free space of the memory card 8 increases. If there is free space in the memory card 1 for storing image data representing one frame of image (step 62)
YES), the subject is photographed (step 67).
The image data obtained by the photographing is recorded on the memory card 8 as described above (step 68). If there is the next shooting, the processing from step 61 is repeated again (YES in step 69).

If there is no free space for image data representing one frame of image in the memory card 8 and the user does not press the send button 15 for a certain period of time when a warning is issued (YES in step 64), Image data cannot be recorded on the memory card 8 any longer. Therefore, "media is full" is displayed on the display device 4 (step 6).
6). If the user wants to continue shooting the subject,
New Memory Card for Digital Still Camera 1
It will be attached to.

If the memory card 8 mounted on the digital still camera 1 has enough free space for recording image data representing one frame of image (step 61), the subject is photographed without warning (step 67). ), And recording is performed (step 68).

FIGS. 5 to 8 show another embodiment.

In this embodiment, the image data is prioritized, and when it becomes impossible to store one frame of image data in the memory card, the image data having the higher priority is transmitted to the server 50. .

FIG. 5 and FIG.
FIG. 2 is a rear view of the camera 1.

The reproduction mode is set by the mode setting dial 12, and the image data recorded on the memory card 8 is read. As described above, the image data is provided to the display device 4. Then, an image represented by the read image data is displayed on the display screen 4.

When the execution button 13 is pressed by the user, the icons I1 and I2 appear on the display screen 4. A frame 16 is displayed so as to surround the icon I1 or I2.

The icon I1 is selected by the user when erasing an image. By selecting the icon I1, the image displayed on the display screen 4 can be deleted.

The icon I2 is selected by the user when setting the priority.

When the left arrow of the up / down / left / right button 14 is pressed, the frame 16 moves so as to surround the left icon I1. By pressing the right arrow of the up / down / left / right button 14,
The frame 16 moves so as to surround the right icon I2.

When the user presses the execution button 13 while the frame 16 surrounds the icon I2 on the right side, a priority setting icon 17 appears on the display screen 4 as shown in FIG.

The priority setting icon 17 includes characters of “high”, “normal” and “low”. One of the characters is blinking (in FIG. 6, the blinking state is indicated by hatching). When the up arrow of the up / down / left / right button 14 is pressed, the blinking of the character moves upward. When the down arrow of the up / down / left / right button 14 is pressed, the blinking of the character moves downward.

When it is desired to set the priority of the image displayed on the display screen 4 to be high, the up / down / left / right buttons 14 are pressed so that "high" blinks. When it is desired to set the priority of the image displayed on the display screen 4 to normal, the up / down / left / right button 14 is pressed so that “normal” blinks. When it is desired to lower the priority of the image displayed on the display screen 4, the up / down / left / right button 14 is pressed so that "low" blinks.

When the execution button 13 is pressed, the priority order represented by the blinking characters is set for the image displayed on the display screen 4.

FIG. 7 shows the file structure of an image file.

An image file of one frame is composed of a tag recording area and an image data recording area.

In the tag recording area, tags indicating the priorities set as described above are recorded. When "high" is set as the priority, "2" is recorded as the priority tag. When "normal" is set as the priority, "1" is recorded as the priority tag. When “low” is set as the priority veterinarian, “0” is recorded as the priority order tag.

Such a priority tag is a DCF (Desi
gn rule for Camera File system) can be recorded as Maker Note tag.

Image data representing an image is recorded in the image data recording area.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the digital still camera. This process is based on the premise that the free space of the memory card 8 mounted on the digital still camera 1 is such that image data representing one frame of image cannot be recorded (NO in step 62 in FIG. 4). Processing).

When the free space of the memory card 8 is such that image data representing one frame of image cannot be recorded, image data having a higher priority is transmitted to the server, and the transmitted image data is deleted from the memory card. I do. This is a process in which image data can be recorded because the free space of the memory card 8 increases.

The file number n is reset to 1 (step 71). The priority of the image data to be transmitted is set to the maximum priority (here, “high”) (step 72). The priority tag with the file number n is searched (step 73).

It is determined whether or not the priority tag has the set priority (step 74). If the file has no priority (NO in step 74), the file number n is incremented (step 75). If no image file having the set priority is found, steps 73 to 75 are repeated until the file number n becomes the maximum file number recorded on the memory card 8 (step 76).

If all the image files recorded on the memory card 8 have been searched and there is no image file having the set priority tag (NO in step 76),
The file number is reset to 1 again (step 77). The priority is lowered by one step (step 78).
The image file having the priority tag is searched again with the lowered priority (steps 73 to 76).

When the file number n of the image file having the set priority is found (YE in step 74)
S), the image file of the image file number n is transferred from the digital still camera 1 to the mobile phone 20.
(Step 81). Mobile phone 20 to server 50
Sent to. Subsequently, the transmitted image file is deleted from the memory card 8 (step 82). Erasure of the image data increases the free space, and new image data can be recorded on the memory card 8.

In the process shown in FIG. 8, among the set priorities, the image file which is searched first and transmitted first from the smallest file number n is transmitted. May be found, and an image file to be transmitted by the user may be selected from the image files.

In the process shown in FIG. 8, the image file with the higher priority is transmitted to the server 50, but the image file with the lower priority or the image file with the normal priority is transmitted. May be transmitted to the server 50.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows the relationship between a transmission / reception system and a server.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the digital still camera.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a digital still camera and a mobile phone.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the digital still camera.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the digital still camera.

FIG. 6 is a rear view of the digital still camera.

FIG. 7 shows a file configuration of an image file.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the digital still camera.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Digital still camera 2 Image sensor 6,21 Transmission / reception circuit 8 Memory card 10, 26 Controller 20 Cellular phone 24 Transmission circuit 25 Antenna 50 Server

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5C052 AA17 AB03 AB04 CC11 EE02 EE03 EE08 GA02 GA03 GA07 GA08 GA09 GB06 GC00 GC05 GE04 GE08 5C053 FA08 FA27 GB36 KA03 KA04 KA24 LA01 LA14 LA20

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image pickup apparatus which images a subject, obtains image data representing a subject image, and records the obtained image data on a recording medium, wherein image data representing one frame of image can be recorded on the recording medium. Determining means for determining whether or not image data representing an image of one frame cannot be recorded on the recording medium by the determining means for determining whether or not the image data is transmitted to the image receiving apparatus via the network; An imaging apparatus comprising: a transmission control unit that controls the transmission unit so as to transmit image data obtained by imaging to the image reception device. 2. A warning means for issuing a warning when the determination means determines that image data representing one frame of image cannot be recorded on the recording medium, and a transmission command means for giving a transmission command. Wherein the transmission control means controls the transmission means so as to transmit image data obtained by imaging to the image receiving device when a transmission command is given by the transmission command means. 2. The imaging device according to 1. 3. A setting means for setting a priority of an image represented by image data recorded on the recording medium,
When the determination means determines that image data representing one frame of image cannot be recorded on the recording medium, the image data is recorded on the recording medium based on the priority set by the setting means. Determining means for determining image data to be transmitted to the image receiving apparatus from the image data, wherein the transmission control means controls the image data determined by the determining means to be transmitted to the image receiving apparatus; The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the image is captured. 4. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said imaging device is capable of data communication with each other, and comprises a digital camera and a portable communication device for imaging a subject and recording image data representing the subject image on a recording medium. Has the determining means and the transmission control means, the portable communication device has the transmission means, and the image data is
2. The image data transmitted from the digital camera to the image receiving device via the portable communication device.
An imaging device according to claim 1. 5. An image pickup apparatus which images a subject, obtains image data representing a subject image, and records the obtained image data on a recording medium, wherein image data representing one frame of image can be recorded on the recording medium. Determining whether the image data representing one frame of image cannot be recorded on the recording medium, and transmitting the image data obtained by the imaging to the image receiving apparatus via the network. Imaging method.