JP2001086373A - Image pickup unit, method for controlling image pickup unit and computer-readable storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To limit a still image to limited data quantity with flexible correspondence and to prevent unnecessary data from being included at a time, when the still picture is photographed. SOLUTION: To an image picked up by a multiple pixel CCD 1, a frame generated by a display information generation circuit 13 and the number of pixel information corresponding to the frame are added and displayed on a monitor 12. An image surrounded by the frame shows a viewing angle when a still picture is recorded, and the frame can be operated by an operation key 7. A 1st sampling circuit 9 samples only image data segmented by the frame. Then, the sampled image data is subjected to JPEG compression by a compression circuit 10 and recorded on a memory card 11.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an imaging device such as a digital video camera or a digital camera, a method of controlling the imaging device, and a computer-readable storage medium.
In particular, it is suitable for use in a device capable of capturing a still image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, digital video cameras have been provided with a function of taking a still image as well as a moving image by utilizing the high image quality, and a system has been proposed which can be incorporated into a personal computer. Products that can record still images on memory cards are also popular. In addition, in digital cameras, CCDs having a pixel number of 2 million pixels or more are already mounted, and fierce competition for high definition is being conducted.

[0003] Under such circumstances, achieving a high definition while maintaining compatibility with a still image photographing function of a digital video camera while maintaining compatibility with a moving image photographing function is a big challenge, and has become an important theme. It is expected that products that achieve this will be developed soon.

[0004] If a high definition still image can be shot by a digital video camera, it is not necessary to go out with both the digital camera and the digital video camera, and it can be said that the merits of the user as a product having both uses are great. Further, in the future digital cameras on disk media, both moving images and still images will be freely recordable on the same medium without limitation on the number of pixels.

[0005] On the other hand, high-definition image information requires an increased amount of data and requires a recording capacity of a recording medium. Particularly, a semiconductor memory as a medium for a still image is still more expensive than a tape even though the market price is reduced. Therefore, if a device for saving memory consumption can be devised in order to record a large number of high-definition still images, the merit thereof will be great.

[0006]

As described above, a technique for holding a high-definition still image captured by a multi-pixel CCD to a limited amount of data and holding it on a recording medium such as a memory card is effective. But for this, while high definition,
It is important to have a means for converting the data to the minimum required amount. Conventionally, data compression techniques such as JPEG have been used for such purposes. However, increasing the degree of compression may lead to image quality degradation, and even if a high-definition image is taken, image quality may deteriorate. is there.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has been developed for use in photographing high-quality digital still images, such as those for Internet homepages and prints.
Focusing on the fact that it is often used as an image with various aspect ratios and various numbers of pixels depending on the purpose of use, at the time of shooting a still image, flexibly adapts the still image to a limited data amount It is an object of the present invention to prevent unnecessary data from being included.

[0008]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, an image pickup apparatus according to the present invention will be described. First, an image pickup means, a memory means for holding image data picked up by the image pickup means, and An image pickup apparatus comprising: a still image recording unit that records still image data obtained from image data held by a memory unit; and a monitor unit, wherein an image cut out as a still image from the images displayed on the monitor unit is provided. It is characterized in that it includes a frame for determining a corner, information generating means for generating information defined by the frame and displaying the information on the monitor, and operating means for operating the frame.

Second, the information defined by the frame is characterized in that it is the number of pixels corresponding to the frame. Third, the information defined by the frame frame is characterized in that it is the recording data amount of a still image cut out by the frame frame.

Fourth, the operating means is characterized in that it is means for changing the vertical and horizontal sizes of the frame.

Fifthly, an image pickup means, a memory means for holding image data picked up by the image pickup means, a still picture recording means for recording still image data obtained from the image data held by the memory means, An image pickup apparatus comprising: a monitor unit; an information generating unit configured to generate a frame for determining an angle of view to be cut out as a still image from images displayed on the monitor unit, and to display the frame on the monitor unit; The present invention is characterized in that control means for automatically controlling the frame frame according to the recording data amount of a still image cut out by the frame is provided.

Sixth, the still image recording means is characterized in that the still image data cut out by the frame is compressed and recorded.

Seventh, a moving image recording means for thinning out the image data held in the memory means and recording moving image data having substantially the same angle of view as the image displayed on the monitor means is provided. Has features.

According to the present invention as described above, by operating the frame frame with reference to the information defined by the frame frame, when photographing a still image, the still image is obtained with a necessary and sufficient and appropriate aspect ratio and the number of pixels. Data can be recorded. Therefore, for example, an image having a small number of pixels in a vertically long aspect or an image having a large number of pixels in a horizontally long aspect can be flexibly dealt with for each still image, and the required data amount can be limited.

Further, if the amount of recorded data of the still image cut out by the frame is fed back and the above-mentioned frame is automatically controlled, it is possible to take a picture in which the amount of data is automatically controlled at the time of shooting. This allows
It is also possible to set an amount of data in advance, set an aspect ratio with a priority on the data amount, and capture a number of pixels with a priority on the data amount.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the digital video camera of the present embodiment. Reference numeral 1 denotes an image pickup unit which has a larger number of pixels than can be recorded in a moving image recording VTR unit and employs a multi-pixel CCD which enables high-definition photographing; 2 denotes a camera signal processing circuit; An image memory for holding the image data of the entire area, a second sampling circuit for converting the image data of the image memory 3 into predetermined image data to be recorded and reproduced by a DVTR,
Reference numeral 5 denotes a DVTR processing circuit, and reference numeral 6 denotes a magnetic tape for recording moving image data subjected to DVTR processing.

Reference numeral 7 denotes an operation key for setting a frame of a still image at the time of shooting, 8 denotes a controller of the entire system,
Reference numeral 9 denotes a first sampling circuit for cutting out image data of an arbitrary area from the image data in the image memory 3;
A compression circuit 11 for PEG compression is a memory card for recording JPEG-compressed still image data.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a monitor, and 13 denotes an information generating circuit which generates information such as a frame frame for indicating the angle of view at the time of shooting a still image and the number of pixels corresponding to the frame frame, and displays the information on the monitor 12. is there.

First, the photographing operation of the digital video camera according to the present embodiment as viewed from the user side will be described. On the monitor 12, an image of the entire area imaged by the imaging unit 1 is displayed as it is. When shooting a moving image, the user presses a trigger key for shooting a moving image (not shown) while viewing the monitor 12. As a result, the image data captured by the imaging unit 1 is transmitted to the second sampling circuit 4 and the DVT.
The image of the entire area processed by the R processing circuit 5 and projected on the monitor 12 is evenly thinned out at substantially the same angle of view and recorded on the magnetic tape 6 as moving image data having a predetermined number of pixels and a predetermined aspect ratio. Is done.

When photographing a still image, the user
While looking at the monitor 12, the details will be described later.
The composition is determined by adjusting the frame F displayed in 2 and a photo key for photographing a still image (not shown) is pressed. As a result, the image data in the frame frame F among the moving images displayed on the monitor 12 is processed by the first sampling circuit 9 and the compression circuit 10 and becomes a still image when the photo key is pressed by the memory card. 11 is recorded.

As described above, the user can operate the trigger key and the photo key arbitrarily while watching the monitor 12 to record a moving image having a predetermined angle of view and predetermined data on the magnetic tape 6 or to record the moving image having the predetermined frame angle. The still image with an arbitrary angle of view and an arbitrary aspect ratio selected by adjusting is recorded on the memory card 11.

The operation of the digital video camera according to the present embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. here,
The operation mainly during still image shooting (camera shooting mode) will be described. Imaging unit 1 composed of high-definition (multi-pixel) CCD
The image signal photoelectrically converted at (1200 × 1600 pixels) is guided to the camera signal processing circuit 2. Then, after performing necessary camera signal processing, the video signal is output as a video signal of 30 frames per second, and the entire image data is temporarily stored in the image memory 3.

In this state, all the image data held in the image memory 3 is sampled by the second sampling circuit 4 in order to obtain image information of the resolution level of the NTSC signal, and is subjected to uniform thinning processing in the vertical and horizontal directions. As a result, the apparent angle of view is the same, but is converted to that of 480 × 720 pixels. If the user operates a trigger key for capturing a moving image, the DVTR processing unit 5 performs the DVT processing.
The moving image data subjected to the R processing is recorded on the magnetic tape 6.

The image data that has been thinned out uniformly in the vertical and horizontal directions by the second sampling circuit 4 is output to the monitor 12 and displayed on the monitor 12. At this time, a frame F generated by the display information generating circuit 13 and information on the number of pixels corresponding to the frame F are displayed together with the image on the monitor 12, as shown in FIG. An image surrounded by a frame frame F indicates the angle of view at the time of recording a still image. The frame frame F can be operated by the operation keys 7.

The first sampling circuit 9 samples only the image data cut out by the frame F from all the image data in the image memory 3. Then, the image data is JPEG-compressed by the compression circuit 10. At this time, data amount information after compression from the compression circuit 10, that is, information on the amount of data recorded on the memory card 11 is fed back to the controller 8, and this data amount information is displayed on the monitor 12 via the information generation circuit 13. You may make it. The composition is determined by the user, and the frame F
Is selected and if there is a photo key operation for photographing a still image, the image data is recorded on the memory card 11.

FIG. 2 shows a system according to the present embodiment.
2 shows an example of a display on a monitor 12 and each image recorded as a moving image and a still image by an operation of a user. FIG.
As shown in (a), 201 is an LCD panel which is a monitor screen of the monitor 12, 202 is a rotary dial for setting the number of data in the vertical direction of the frame F, and 203 is the same as the number of data in the horizontal direction of the frame F. It is a rotary dial to be set.

F is a frame generated by the information generating circuit 13 and displayed on the monitor 12. Here, the pixels in the horizontal direction are smaller than those in the vertical direction (1200 pixels vertically, 5 pixels horizontally).
33 frame). The vertical and horizontal sizes of the frame F can be arbitrarily adjusted by the rotary dials 203 and 204. For example, the dotted line F
The frame frame indicated by 1 is an example when the number of pixels in the vertical and horizontal directions is equal, and the frame frame indicated by a dotted line F2 is an example when the pixels in the vertical direction are smaller than those in the horizontal direction.
Note that these dotted lines F1 and F2 are drawn for explanation, and only one frame F is actually displayed on the monitor 12. If the used frame frame F information is backed up, the commonly used frame frame F can be easily shared.

D is pixel number information corresponding to the frame F displayed on the monitor 12. Although not shown in FIG. 2, as described above, the recording data amount information may be displayed instead of the pixel number information or together with the pixel number information.

FIG. 2B shows an example of a moving image recorded on the magnetic tape 6, which has the same apparent field angle but a predetermined image data size (480 pixels vertically and 72 pixels horizontally).
(0 pixels). FIG. 2C shows an example of a still image recorded on the memory card 11, and the frame F (1200 pixels vertically and 533 pixels horizontally) is displayed.
Pixel).

In the first embodiment described above, the size of the frame F in the vertical and horizontal directions is merely arbitrarily selected by the user, but the controller 8 may have an automatic control function. That is, after the image data cut out by the frame F is JPEG-compressed by the compression circuit 10, the data amount information, that is, the memory card 11
Is fed back to the controller 8 with information on the amount of data to be recorded. Then, the controller 8 operates the frame F by automatic control based on the data amount information.

For example, if the user specifies a recording data amount in advance, the recording data amount is set to match the recording data amount.
It is possible to operate the size of the frame F at a predetermined aspect ratio by automatic control. If the user specifies the number of pixels only in the vertical or horizontal direction in advance, the other number of pixels can be selected by automatic control. By feeding back the recording data amount and automatically operating the frame F as described above, unnecessary data can be prevented from being included by finer control.

(Other Embodiments) In order to operate various devices to realize the functions of the above-described embodiments, the functions of the above-described embodiments are provided to an apparatus connected to the various devices or a computer in a system. A program code of software for realizing is provided, and a computer (CPU or MP) of the system or apparatus is supplied.
The invention implemented by operating the various devices according to the program stored in U) is also included in the scope of the present invention.

Further, in this case, the program code of the software implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the program code itself and means for supplying the program code to the computer,
For example, a recording medium storing such a program code constitutes the present invention. As a recording medium for storing such a program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM,
A magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the supplied program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) or other operating system running on the computer. Needless to say, even when the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized in cooperation with application software and the like, such program codes are included in the embodiments of the present invention.

Further, after the supplied program code is stored in a memory provided in a function expansion board of a computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion board or the function expansion unit is specified based on the instruction of the program code. It is needless to say that the present invention also includes a case where the CPU or the like provided in the first embodiment performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention, when photographing a still image, the angle of view and aspect ratio, which are in advance for the purpose and composition of the photographed image, can be obtained by a simple operation of the frame. Since it is possible to set and record an image having an appropriate data amount, unnecessary data is not recorded, and the effect of reducing the amount of recorded data is obtained. In addition, since an image having a data amount suitable for the purpose of the captured image can be directly captured, labor for subsequent processing and processing is not required.

If the image data in the frame is compressed periodically, estimated as a recording data amount, and displayed in real time, it is possible to take a picture in consideration of the data amount. Also, if the estimated recording data amount is fed back and automatic control is performed, finer data reduction is possible.

Further, the image pickup apparatus of the present invention can simultaneously shoot a vertically long still image and a horizontally long moving image.
Generally, the camera is not used vertically for moving image shooting, but in the case of a still image, a vertically long composition is also assumed. In such a case, according to the present invention, it is possible to photograph them simultaneously.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a digital video camera according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a display on a monitor 12 and images recorded as moving images and still images by a user operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 imaging unit employing multi-pixel CCD 2 camera signal processing circuit 3 image memory 4 second sampling circuit 5 DVTR processing circuit 6 magnetic tape 7 operation key 8 controller 9 first sampling circuit 10 compression circuit 11 memory card 12 monitor 13 Information generating circuit 201 LCD panel 202 Rotating dial for setting the number of data in the vertical direction of frame frame F 203 Rotating dial for setting the number of data in the horizontal direction of frame frame F F Frame frame D Pixel number information

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. An image capturing means, a memory means for storing image data captured by the image capturing means, a still image recording means for recording still image data obtained from the image data stored by the memory means, and a monitor means An image pickup apparatus comprising: a frame for determining an angle of view to be cut out as a still image out of an image displayed on the monitor, and information determined by the frame; and information to be displayed on the monitor. An imaging apparatus comprising: a generation unit; and an operation unit capable of operating the frame. 2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information defined by the frame frame is the number of pixels corresponding to the frame frame. 3. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information defined by the frame frame is a recording data amount of a still image cut out by the frame frame. 4. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit changes a vertical and horizontal size of the frame. 5. An image capturing means, a memory means for storing image data captured by the image capturing means, a still image recording means for recording still image data obtained from the image data stored in the memory means, and a monitor means An information generating means for generating a frame for determining an angle of view to be cut out as a still image from the images displayed on the monitor, and displaying the information on the monitor; An image pickup apparatus comprising: a control unit for automatically controlling the frame according to the recording data amount of a still image to be cut out. 6. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said still image recording means compresses and records still image data cut out by a frame. 7. A moving picture recording means for thinning out image data held in said memory means and recording moving picture data having substantially the same angle of view as an image displayed on said monitor means. The imaging device according to claim 1. 8. An image capturing means, a memory means for storing image data captured by the image capturing means, a still image recording means for recording still image data obtained from the image data stored in the memory means, and a monitor means A method of controlling an imaging device for controlling an imaging device, comprising: generating a frame frame for determining an angle of view to be cut out as a still image from images displayed on the monitor means, and generating information defined by the frame frame. And a procedure for displaying on the monitor means, and a procedure for operating the frame. 9. An image capturing means, a memory means for storing image data captured by the image capturing means, a still image recording means for recording still image data obtained from the image data stored in the memory means, and a monitor means A method of controlling an imaging device for controlling an imaging device, comprising: generating a frame that determines an angle of view to be cut out as a still image from images displayed on the monitor, and displaying the frame on the monitor. And a step of automatically controlling the frame in accordance with the recording data amount of the still image cut out by the frame. 10. Image capturing means, memory means for storing image data captured by the image capturing means, still image recording means for recording still image data obtained from the image data stored in the memory means, and monitor means A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for controlling an imaging device comprising: a frame frame for determining an angle of view to be cut out as a still image among images displayed on the monitor means; A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing a procedure for generating predetermined information and displaying the same on a monitor, and a procedure for operating the frame. 11. Image capturing means, memory means for storing image data captured by the image capturing means, still image recording means for recording still image data obtained from the image data stored in the memory means, and monitor means And a computer-readable storage medium storing a program for controlling an imaging apparatus having a frame frame that determines an angle of view to be cut out as a still image among images displayed on the monitor unit. A computer readable program storing a program for executing a procedure for displaying on the monitor means and a procedure for automatically controlling the frame frame according to a recording data amount of a still image cut out by the frame frame. Storage media.