JP2001257926A - Electronic camera and recording medium therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display one image (representative image) in one photographing unit even in the case of previously and consecutively photographed image and to easily know the position of a normally consecutively photographed or previously consecutively photographed image inside the consecutive photographing unit of that image when displaying that image. SOLUTION: Automatic photographing is started by the first release of a release button 501 and the plural frames of compressed images are recorded in a memory 200. By second release, a reference image corresponding thereto, plural pre-frames fetched before and plural post-frames photographed after the reference image are stored on a memory card 400. In this case, a header generated by a header generating part 306 is applied to each of images and following read and designation are facilitated. Besides, even in the case of display, an attribute recognized from header information is displayed together with the image to facilitate identification.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic camera capable of compensating for a shift in photographing timing and covering photographing errors, and a recording medium for the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An electronic camera using a semiconductor imaging device such as a charge coupled device (CCD) is widely used.

In this type of electronic camera, the capacity of a buffer memory is increased, a continuous shot image is temporarily recorded in the buffer memory, and the speed of an image pickup processor is increased. An electronic camera that can perform the function is provided.

However, even if the continuous shooting speed is increased and the number of continuously shootable images is increased, an intended image cannot be obtained if the photographer's shooting timing is not in time. Further, even when it is considered that the shooting timing is correct, a so-called release time lag, for example, C
Due to a delay in the timing of CD exposure, the photographing start time may be shifted behind the photographer's intended timing.

[0005]

Under such circumstances, the applicant of the present application has taken the precedent photographing in which the image capture is started and recorded before the second release in order to reliably obtain the image desired by the photographer in the continuous photographing. Think of technology.

[0006] However, when a large number of continuously shot images are displayed one by one, similar images are repeatedly displayed. As a result, it is possible to determine what kind of images are included in the recording medium. This is inconvenient when the user wants to roughly understand or want to perform a high-speed image search.

On the other hand, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-128166 discloses an electronic image filing apparatus for classifying a plurality of images by events and displaying each representative image in a multi-screen when a large number of images are to be handled.

However, in image recording with an electronic camera, it is only important to confirm each photographing unit. If images spanning a plurality of photographing units are simply grouped in event units such as athletic meet or excursion, continuous photographing is performed. It is not possible to make only similar images compact.

[0009] In addition, the work of compiling images in this way is as follows.
If it is not automatically executed at the time of shooting, it is extremely inconvenient in practical use. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of grouping photographing units, it is necessary to select the most appropriate image as a representative.

[0010] However, especially in the preceding continuous shooting, it is difficult to select which image as a representative since the image capturing has started before the second release intended by the photographer. Further, even when all the results of the preceding continuous shooting are sequentially displayed, it is difficult to clarify the relationship with the actual shooting timing because the captured image includes an image captured before the second release. is there. That is, it is difficult to make correspondence between the photographing result and the initial photographing intention.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and a first object of the present invention is to display one image in one photographing unit when the photographed image is included in the preceding continuous photographing. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic camera which records a photographing result and makes it easy to select an image suitable for a photographing intention in the preceding continuous photographing as a representative image.

A second object of the present invention is to provide an electronic camera capable of easily knowing a position of an image in a continuous shooting unit when displaying a photographing result by normal continuous shooting or preceding continuous shooting. It is in.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a recording medium capable of storing image data having a data structure capable of realizing the first and second objects.

[0014]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, a photographing preparation operation is started by a predetermined operation, and at least a photographed image corresponding to a photographing instruction after the photographing preparation operation is started. In an electronic camera using a semiconductor imaging device in which is recorded, an image holding unit capable of holding a plurality of images taken by the semiconductor imaging device, and after the completion of the shooting preparation operation and before the shooting instruction A photographing control unit for starting image capturing and retaining the captured image in the image retaining unit, and retaining the captured image corresponding to the photographing instruction in the image retaining unit before the reference image when the captured image is used as a reference image The obtained image and the reference image are associated as an image based on a series of shootings, and the reference image and another image other than the reference image associated with the reference image. Characterized by comprising a recording control means for distinguishably recorded.

By the above means, exposure and image capturing under the same conditions as in the main photographing can be executed before the second release, and the images can be pooled in the image holding unit. Then, by recording an image before that on the basis of the second release, a desired image can be surely acquired even if the shutter timing is delayed (this is referred to as preceding photographing). In the present invention, an image recording method and an image display method are particularly devised when performing continuous shooting in the preceding photographing. That is,
The reference image corresponding to the second release is set as the representative image,
In normal image reading, only this representative image is read and displayed. This eliminates the complexity of displaying a large number of continuously shot images. Further, the present invention is characterized in that an image is recorded so that the read-out display becomes possible.

Further, although the present invention has various features, the royal vertices will be clarified in embodiments described later.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an electronic camera according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, a light beam from a subject enters a CCD 12 through a lens system 11,
Electric charges are accumulated in each element of the CCD 12.

The CCD 12 is connected to an imaging process unit 13. The imaging process unit 13 controls the CCD 1
2 is converted into a signal as an image. Here, the data read timing from the CCD 12 is generated by the timing generator 15. It is also possible to change the number of read pixels by controlling the read timing. Reference numeral 16 denotes an automatic iris (AE) and automatic focus (AF) unit (hereinafter, referred to as an AEAF unit) for controlling the lens system, and receives a control signal from a system controller 300 described later.

The output from the imaging process unit 13 is as follows:
The digital signal is converted into a digital signal by an analog-to-digital (A / D) converter 14,
01, the data is stored in a work area 201 of a memory 200 composed of a DRAM (a random write / read memory that requires a memory holding operation).

The photographing processor 100 has an interface 10 with the A / D converter 14 on the data bus 101.
2. The image processing unit 103, the compression / decompression unit 104, the recording / reproducing interface 105, and the display control unit 106 are connected, and a control unit 107 for controlling the photographing process and the recording / reproducing process is provided. Data bus 1
01 is the memory 200 and the system controller 300
Is also connected via an interface (not shown).

The image stored in the work area 201 of the memory 200 is subjected to picture creation by the image processing unit 103, and is further subjected to compression processing (for example, J
(Compression processing by the PEG method) and stored in the captured image holding area 202 in the memory. This holding area 202
Is for temporarily storing an image after compression, and is configured to be able to record n images. This recordable number is
It depends on the image quality determined by the number of pixels and the compression ratio. In this area, the latest image is sequentially overwritten on the oldest image.

The image recorded in the photographed image holding area 202 is directly stored in the memory card 400 using a flash memory via the recording / reproducing interface 105. As the memory card 400, another recording medium such as a magneto-optical disk or a magnetic disk may be used.

The image recorded on the memory card 400 is
According to the operation of the operation key 502, the data can be read out from the memory card 400 via the recording / playback interface 105 and displayed. At this time, the read image is temporarily stored in the work area 201 of the memory 200, then expanded by the compression / expansion unit 104, and further by the display control unit 106, the display liquid crystal panel (TFT panel) 60 on the rear of the camera.
After being supplied to 0, it is displayed and output.

The image processing unit 103 performs color matrix processing, white balance processing, color processing, gamma correction, sharpness adjustment, and the like.

The compression / decompression unit 104 executes a compression process at a compression rate corresponding to the designated image quality. The image quality is determined by the number of pixels of the read image determined by the timing generator 15 and the compression ratio by the compression / expansion unit 104.

The control unit 107 includes a timing generator 15,
Imaging process unit 13, A / D converter 14, image processing unit 1
03, the memory 200, the compression / decompression unit 104, and the like are controlled to manage the entire photographing process.

The memory 200, the compression / decompression unit 104,
By controlling the recording / reproduction interface 105, the display control unit 106, and the like, the image recording and reproduction processing is managed.
Further, not only normal single shooting and continuous shooting, but also preceding mode shooting (preceding continuous shooting) is realized.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an example of a photographing operation.
FIG. 7A shows the time of preceding continuous shooting, and FIG. 7B shows the time of normal continuous shooting.

In the preceding continuous shooting of the camera of the present invention, when the focusing by the first (1st) release is completed, the image recording to the memory 200 is started regardless of the presence or absence of the second (2nd) release, and the image processing and This is a mode in which images for which image compression has been completed are sequentially held in the shot image holding area 201 (shooting preparation operation before starting shooting). If n captured images can be stored in the captured image storage area 202, the first, second,. . , And the n-th sheet is sequentially held, and when the n-th sheet is reached, the first sheet is returned (overwritten on the first sheet), and the image holding is continued.

When a second release (photographing instruction) is made in such a state, an image corresponding to the second release is set as a reference image, and a set number of pre-frames (recording starting from the reference image is performed. The number of frames to determine the previous image is used as the recording start image and the memory card 4
Image recording to 00 is started. Therefore, the recording start image is an image photographed a number of pre-frames earlier than the time of the second release. The maximum number of continuous shots is n, and the recording start image is x in the captured image holding area 202.
If it is the first image, the images from the x-th image to the (x−1) -th image are stored in the memory card 400 when the maximum continuous shooting is performed.

In FIG. 2, the photographed image holding area 202
5 shows a case where five images can be secured. In this example, if there is a second release, a reference image (a captured image corresponding to the timing of the second release) (+ -0)
3 shows an example in which one preceding image is set to be recorded on the memory card 400.

(A1) of FIG. 2A shows that when there is a first release, there is an automatic focus control period,
Exposure and data reading are repeated. Also, (a2) of FIG.
5 shows the timing of writing an image to the memory. As can be seen from this timing chart, three images were taken prior to the second release, and the fourth, fifth, first (second), and second images were taken after the second release was performed. (Second) images are sequentially captured. In this example, one image preceding the reference image (+ -0) is stored in the memory card 40.
0, so that the image actually recorded on the memory card 400 is (a) in FIG.
As shown in 3), the preceding third image (−1), the reference image (fourth image (+ −0)), and the fifth image (+
1) The first image (second time),...
One image will be recorded. That is, the maximum number of continuous shots n = 5 and the number of pre-frames = 1, and at this time, the recording start image is -1 frame. The reference image is ± 0 frames,
After that, it becomes +1, +2 frames.

In the normal continuous shooting or single shooting shown in FIG. 2B, image recording is not started even if focusing is performed after the first release, and image recording is started only after the second release. ing. (B1) of FIG.
This shows a situation where exposure of D and reading of data are repeated. Also, (b2) of FIG.
The timing of writing the image to 0 is shown. FIG.
(B3) of (B) shows the recording timing to the memory card 400.

The control unit 107 in the photographing processor 100 of FIG. 1 includes a preceding photographing control unit 111, a preceding recording control unit 112, and a reading control unit 114.

Upon receiving the setting command for the continuous continuous shooting, the continuous shooting speed, and the number of pre-frames from the system controller 300, the preceding shooting control unit 111 sets the shooting mode to the preceding shooting and responds to the release operation and the in-focus state. It is responsible for a series of photographing controls until the photographed image is temporarily stored in the photographed image holding area 202. More specifically, when receiving the exposure end signal and the in-focus signal after the first release from the system controller 300, the control unit outputs a control signal to the timing generator 15 so as to start image capture under the same shooting conditions as the main shooting. Yes (preceding shooting start). Further, the preceding photographing control unit 11 controls the image processing unit 103 and the compression / expansion unit 104 to store the photographed image in the photographed image holding area 202 of the memory 200.

Regarding the exposure end signal received by the control unit 107 from the system controller 300, in the case of the type in which the exposure is locked in the spot metering mode, the exposure is ended before the first release (the exposure end signal is received). Already). In the case of the type in which the automatic exposure (AE) is performed in response to the first release, the system controller 3 is activated after the first release is performed.
An exposure end signal is received from 00.

The preceding photographing control unit 111 terminates the image holding operation when the second release ends or when the image storage in the photographed image holding area 202 reaches the limit. The maximum number of images that can be stored in the captured image holding area 202 is a reference image (one image) corresponding to the start of the second release, the number of preceding captured images determined by the set number of pre-frames, and the possibility of continuous shooting after the reference image is captured. It is determined by the number of sheets.

When the preceding recording control unit 112 receives a command for setting the preceding continuous shooting from the system controller 300, the preceding recording control unit 112 sets the shooting mode to the preceding shooting similarly to the preceding shooting control unit 111. Then, it takes charge of control for recording the image temporarily stored in the captured image holding area 202 by the continuous shooting in the memory card 400. Specifically, when the recording start image is determined by the second release at the time of the preceding continuous shooting, the information held in the start image is received from the preceding shooting control unit 111. Then, the memory 200 and the recording / reproducing interface 105 are controlled to sequentially record the images from the recording start image as a start until the preceding continuous shooting ends on the memory card 400.

The control unit 107 controls normal continuous shooting and single shooting other than the preceding continuous shooting. In the case of normal continuous shooting, the first image in the continuous shooting is used as a representative image in the memory card 4.
Record at 00.

When a general image reading request is made, the reading control unit 114 reads only the representative image from the memory card 400 and displays the representative image on the display liquid crystal panel 600. That is, when a read request is not made in relation to a representative image, only a single shot image or a representative image is sequentially read.

On the other hand, when there is a request for reading a continuous shot image (normal continuous shooting, preceding continuous shooting) corresponding to the displayed representative image, the corresponding continuous shooting image is retrieved from the memory card 400 and read. Display processing is performed (this will be further described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 8).

The system controller 300 controls each part (AE / AF mechanism, photographing processor, etc.) in the camera. Various operation buttons (release button 50)
1, various operation inputs from the operation keys 502, the confirmation button 503, etc.), and causes the respective units to execute control according to the inputs. Further, various information such as a shooting mode and conditions, the number of remaining shootable images, and the like are displayed on a control panel (not shown).

Further, the system controller 300
An AE / AF control unit 301, a preceding shooting notification unit 302,
And a frame allocation calculation unit 303.

AE / AF connected to data bus 101
The processing unit 130 monitors the state of the fetched signal to generate iris control information and focus control information.
The data is taken into the E / AF control unit 301. The AE / AF control unit 301 performs aperture control for exposure and focus lens control for focusing based on the control information, and also notifies the end of exposure and the end of focusing by a preceding shooting notification unit 302.
Notify.

The preceding shooting notifying section 302 sets the preceding shooting mode (continuous shooting speed and pre-frame) according to the operation of the operation key 502 and the enter button 503 for designating the items displayed on the menu screen of the display liquid crystal panel 600. Including numbers)
Accept. In this case, the number of pre-frames is calculated by the frame allocation calculating unit 303 depending on the setting type (described later). Further, the continuous shooting speed calculation unit 304 is caused to calculate the continuous shooting speed. Further, the control unit 107 of the photographing processor 100 is notified of the setting command for the preceding photographing mode, the continuous shooting speed, and the number of pre-frames. When the image quality is changed, the frame allocation calculation unit 303 recalculates the number of pre-frames based on the maximum number of continuous shots corresponding to the image quality, and notifies the control unit 107 of the new number of pre-frames.

When a photographing condition such as a shutter speed is changed, a new continuous photographing speed corresponding to the photographing condition is calculated by the continuous photographing speed calculating section 304 and is notified to the control section 107.

The pre-shooting notification unit 302 sends a first release, a second release, an exposure end, and an in-focus end signal to the control unit 107 in order to set the timing of the precedent continuous shooting.
Notify. The frame allocation calculation unit 303 calculates the number of pre-frames at the request of the preceding shooting notification unit 302.

The continuous shooting speed calculation unit 304 calculates a continuous shooting speed that can be actually realized based on the input continuous shooting speed setting and shooting conditions such as the shutter speed.

The operation keys 502 are used to perform various kinds of operation inputs, and are configured such that, for example, cross-shaped input keys can be used to move the cursor left, right, up, and down. In various operations, a function is selected by a cursor from an item on a menu screen displayed on the image display liquid crystal panel 600 by an operation key 502, and the function is selected and confirmed by an enter button 503. The photographing is executed by pressing the release button.

The system controller 300 includes a header generation unit 306 and an image reading processing unit 307. The header generation unit 306 is a memory card 4
A header is added to the image recorded at 00 (creation of a header and an attribute corresponds to the description of FIGS. 4, 6, and 10). The image reading processing unit 307 is a part that serves as an interface between the operation unit of the electronic camera and image reading processing inside the camera. When a selection of a thumbnail image or the like is performed in response to the operation of the operation key 502,
Reading support for displaying the next image of the image is performed (these supporting processes correspond to the description of FIGS. 7 and 9 described later).

[Explanation of the setting of the preceding shooting mode] The setting types of the preceding shooting mode include, for example, three types of pre-frame settings. The pre-frame setting includes designation of the number of pre-frames, designation of time (pre-time), and designation of a ratio.

In the case of this apparatus, all the settings for the photographing processor 100 are made by the number of pre-frames. Therefore,
In the case of time designation or ratio designation, the designated amount is converted into the number of pre-frames in the frame allocation calculation unit 304.

The previous time (pre-time) designation is a designation of how many seconds before the second release are to be allocated as pre-frames (frames taken before the reference image). The above-mentioned ratio designation is a designation of how many times the pre- and post-frames allocate the memory capacity in the captured image holding area 202. Furthermore, when the image quality is changed, the change in the number of pre-frames differs for each type.

In the electronic camera of the present invention, when in the state of "preceding photographing", a display indicating that the preceding photographing operation is being performed is displayed on the finder.

[Explanation of Photographing Operation] FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the operation of the electronic camera of the present invention at the time of photographing.
When the first release is performed, it is determined whether the exposure and focusing have been completed (steps B1, B2, B
3), precedent continuous shooting is started, and an image (pre-frame) before the reference image is captured and recorded in the memory 200 (set continuous shooting speed) (steps B4 and B5). At this time, that is, when in the state of "preceding photographing", a display indicating that the preceding photographing operation is being performed is obtained on the finder.

When the second release is performed, the reference image is determined, the image of the set number of pre-frames is left, and the image of the reference image and the subsequent images are captured and recorded in the memory 200 (the set serial number). Shooting speed) (steps B6 and B7).

Next, it is determined whether or not the captured image holding area 202 has been filled with images after the recording start image (step B8). If not, it is determined whether or not the release button has been released (step B9). When the release button is released or when the captured image holding area 202 is full, each header of a series of preceding chained images is generated and attached to each image (step B10). Then, the image of the preceding continuous shooting is recorded on the memory card 400 (step B11).

Then, it is determined whether or not recording on the memory card 400 has been completed. The recording on the memory card 400 is completed and ends (steps B12 and B1).
3).

Next, an example of a recording format for recording an image on the memory card 400 in the electronic camera of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 4 shows an example of an image recording format.

That is, FIG. 4A shows the format in a general expression. Image body (for one compressed image)
A thumbnail part 412 and a header part 413 are added to 411. An identification number 421 indicating image information (including one frame), an image type 422, a sequence identification number 423, a serial number 424,
Information such as the number of shots 425 and other information (for example, shooting date and time) 426 is included.

FIG. 4B shows an example of the content of the image information when normal shooting (single shooting) is performed. “# 1” is described as the identification number. As the image type,
“S” meaning normal shooting (single shooting) is described.
In this case, since it is a single shot, a sequence identification number, a serial number, the number of shots, and the like are not given. A blank or a specific symbol FFFFFFFF is described.

Next, FIG. 4C shows an example of image information in the case where the preceding continuous shooting is performed. “# 3” is described as the identification number. As the image type, “TC” meaning preceding continuous shooting (photographing) is described. In this case, the sequence identification number is “TC1”. This is the “TC1” during the preceding continuous shooting performed multiple times.
Means th. In the case of preceding sequential shooting in other cases, "TC2" or "TC3" or "TC
4 "... Are described. Further, in this case, "-2" is described as the serial number. This means that the image is two frames ahead of the reference image “0”. Next, “8” is described as the number of shots, which means that as the number of images continuously shot in connection with this image, there are eight images including the pre-frame, the reference image, and the post-frame. Means to do.

Next, FIG. 4D shows an example of image information in the case where the preceding continuous shooting is performed. “# 9” is described as the identification number. As the image type, “C” meaning normal continuous shooting (photographing) is described. In this case, “C1” is shown as the sequence identification number.
This means that it is the “C1” -th among the multiple continuous shootings. For normal continuous shooting in other cases,
"C2", "C3", "C4", etc. are described. Further, in this case, “0” is described as the serial number. This means that the reference image is “0”. Next, “8” is described as the number of shots, which means that as the number of images continuously shot in connection with this image, there are eight images including the pre-frame, the reference image, and the post-frame. Means to do.

FIG. 5 shows an operation for reproducing and displaying a desired image from the images recorded on the memory card in the format described above.

For image reproduction, the contents of the memory card 400 are read, the read image data is expanded by the compression / decompression unit 104 of the photographing processor 100, and the display control unit 106
Is displayed on the display liquid crystal panel 600 via the. Image reproduction is started by operating the operation key 502, and it is possible to select whether or not to perform index display (steps D1, D2, D3). When an index display is selected, an index display range (display start position) is selected. This selection can be made, for example, by displaying a bar indicating the data recording status of the storage area of the memory card 400 on the menu screen, and designating the selected section of the bar with the cursor.

Since a plurality of images which are symmetrical in the index display are determined by this selection, the header information of each image is read (steps D4 and D5). By reading the header information, it is possible to determine whether or not there is an image that has been successively shot (step D6). If an image taken in advance is included, only the thumbnail of the representative image is displayed. In the case where the image is a precedingly shot image but does not include the representative image, only the thumbnail of the image closest to the representative image is displayed. Then, thumbnails of other images are displayed normally (step D7).

If there is no preceding consecutively shot image in step D6, the thumbnail of each image is displayed.

On the other hand, if index display is not selected in step D3, the mode is for selecting a reproduced image (step D9). Therefore, the header information of the image to be reproduced is read (step D1).
0), it is determined whether or not the read information is an image that has been successively shot (step D11). If the images match in the preceding continuous shooting, it is determined whether this image is a representative image (step D12). If it is not a representative image, a representative image processed by preceding continuous shooting at the same time as the image is searched. That is, the header information of each image in the memory card 400 is read, and a representative image is searched (step D13). Then, when the representative image is found, the reproduction process of this image is executed (step D14).

FIG. 6 schematically shows the state of each image information stored in the memory card 400. The image information of identification numbers # 1, # 2, # 7, and # 8 indicates that they are single shot images, respectively, and identification numbers # 3, # 4, and #
The image information of # 5 and # 6 is an image that has been successively shot in advance, and indicates that it is a continuously shot image captured in a series of sequences. Among them, the image information with the identification number # 4 indicates that it is a representative image so that it can be understood from the content of the header portion.

FIG. 7 shows an example in which an index display is performed on the display liquid crystal panel 600 in the electronic camera of the present invention. That is, steps D4 to D in FIG.
7 shows a state in which the routine of FIG. In FIG. 7, images 901, 902, 903, 905, 907
Is a single shot image. The image 904 is a normal continuous shooting. An image 906 is a representative image of an image that has been taken in advance.

The reason for such recognition is as follows. As described with reference to FIG. 4, the image type information is included in the header so that the single shooting and the preceding continuous shooting normal continuous shooting can be identified, and the image type information is displayed so as to be superimposed on the image. It is. In the case of the image 904, “C” is displayed at the upper right, and 0/8 is displayed below it. this is,
This means that the image 904 is a representative image of eight normally shot images. In the case of the image 906, “TC” is displayed at the upper right, and 0/8 is displayed below it. This means that the image 906 is a representative image of the eight consecutively shot images.

FIG. 8 shows an electronic camera according to the present invention.
8 is a flowchart showing an operation in a case where a transition is made from the display state as shown in FIG. 7 to the next various display states, particularly for continuous shot images.

At step F2, display liquid crystal panel 600
It is determined whether or not the reproduced image is displayed on the screen, and if it is displayed, it is determined whether or not the representative image is selected and the confirm button is pressed (step F3). When the representative image is selected and determined, it is determined whether or not the index is being displayed (for example, a state as shown in FIG. 7) (step F4). If the index display is being performed, an instruction input is made as to whether or not to perform an index slide show (step F5). The slide show is a continuous reproduction display in which images are automatically switched and displayed for a predetermined time. When the index slide show is selected, a series of images having the same sequence number are slid and displayed in the representative image position in ascending order of the serial number (continuous display) without expanding the index screen. After the end, the display returns to the representative image display. For example, assuming that eight images are continuously shot, the index images of the eight images are displayed while being switched one after another at the position where the representative image was displayed, and finally the representative image is displayed.

In step F5, when a selection not to perform an index slide show is made, thumbnails of a series of images having the same sequence number are index-displayed in the order of the image having the smallest serial number. For example, 8
Assuming that images are continuously shot, index images of eight images are displayed side by side.

In step F4, it is assumed that the index display is not being performed and, for example, one representative image is displayed. Then, the process shifts to step F8 to input a slide show selection instruction. When the slide show is selected, the slide display (continuous display) is performed on the series of images having the same sequence number in the order of the image having the smallest serial number (step F10). That is, images continuously shot by one shooting are displayed one after another. If the slide show is not selected, a series of images having the same sequence number are displayed while being switched in ascending order of the serial number each time the operation key is operated (step F9).

When the enter button is pressed, the development of the preceding continuous shot image is completed. Also, even if the confirm button is not pressed, the process ends when a certain period of time elapses (steps F11, F12,
F13).

Note that various display modes are possible by using the header information, and the display mode is not limited to the above-described operation.

FIG. 9 shows an example in which the representative image 906 is selected from the display state as shown in FIG.
3 shows an example of image display when the processing routines of 3, F4, F5, and F7 operate. That is, a thumbnail of the pre-frame 3, the reference image (representative image), and the post-frame 4 are displayed around the representative image 906.

In the present invention, the mode of holding image data in the memory card 400 is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various embodiments are possible. In the example of FIG. 6, a plurality of images obtained in the same sequence (one continuous shooting) have the same sequence number and have a serial number, but each image is arranged adjacent to the same layer. Recorded. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the image information may be arranged in a plurality of layers.

In FIG. 10A, images # 1, # 2, # 3, # 4, # 5, ## 6, #
7,... Are sequentially recorded. Here image # 3 and image #
6 is a representative image related to the sequence number TC1 and the sequence number TC2, respectively.

Then, the representative image # of the sequence number TC1
The other images (images obtained by continuous shooting) except for the image # 3 are stored in the lower hierarchy of the image # 3 as the holder TC1. Other images (images obtained by continuous shooting) except for the representative image # 6 of the sequence number TC2 are stored as a holder TC2 in a lower hierarchy of the image # 6.

FIG. 10B schematically shows the inside of the holder TC1, and its data structure is extracted and shown on the right side. In this folder, information on other images except the representative image # 3 of the sequence number TC1 is stored.

When the image data is stored in the above-described form, an application for executing the processing procedure as shown in FIG. 5, for example, can be simplified. That is, when index display is performed in step D3, step D6 for determining whether or not a preceding continuous shot image is included may be omitted, and all thumbnails may be displayed. If it is necessary to display the images of the preceding continuous shooting, the application may be shifted to the application for executing the processing procedure shown in FIG. 8 and the folder may be accessed by relying on the sequence number.

In the embodiment, the number of pixels of an image is determined by the CCD reading timing based on the timing generator 15, but the invention is not limited to this case. For example, all pixels are read out from the CCD, and an averaging is performed on the all-pixels read data by the image processing unit later, so that the number of pixels is adjusted so that the number of pixels corresponds to the designated image quality (SQ, HQ, SHQ, etc.) Number conversion may be performed.

The features of the embodiment of the present invention will be summarized and described below.

According to the present invention, basically, it is possible to obtain a photographed image which compensates for a release time lag, that is, a response delay of a photographer or a delay of a circuit function. In addition, image quality is controlled in continuous shooting (important scenes have high image quality,
In other cases, when the image quality is low, the photographing period can be lengthened as a whole. This is because a low-quality image reduces the occupation capacity.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

In the above embodiment, the first release has been described as being realized by the user performing an operation of pressing the release button, but the present invention is not limited to this.

That is, the operation as the first or second release is an operation performed by the photographer conscious of the photographing execution for a specific subject, but at least the operation for photographing preparation is not limited to such a case. For example, a case where a finger sensor is provided in the vicinity of the release operation unit, and the photographing preparation operation is started by detection of the finger sensor regardless of the photographer's intention to photograph. Further, for example, the above-described shooting preparation operation may be performed when the power of the camera is turned on. The shooting preparation operation includes a focusing operation and an exposure operation.

In the above description, the user directly holds the electronic camera to perform the operation. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
In some cases, remote shooting is performed remotely. Also in such a case, the “preceding photographing operation” according to the present invention can be performed.

For example, when taking a picture of an SL or a train, there is a case where the composition is first taken and the camera is fixed on a tripod as it is. In this case, the preceding continuous shooting may be performed at an appropriate timing when the SL approaches, but the photographer can also perform remote control shooting at a position distant from the camera. Remote control shooting is effective when the waiting time is long and it is dangerous to get too close to the track. "Preceding continuous shooting" is convenient for such shooting because it can cope with a slight shift in release timing.

When photographing wild birds and animals, an electronic camera may be installed and the user may operate the remote controller from a remote place.

Furthermore, in the embodiment, the preceding photographing mode is described for continuous photographing, but this preceding photographing is not limited to continuous photographing. For example, it can be applied to blanket photography. Furthermore, in the display mode, processing was performed such that only the first representative image was read from the memory card.
The reading to AM) may be performed for all images, and only the representative image may be displayed at the stage of display on the display liquid crystal panel. In such a case, it takes time to read data from the memory card to the memory (DRAM) for the first time, but the development from the representative image to each continuously shot image can be performed in a short time.

In the above description, the erasing process has not been described. However, the erasing process may be performed on an unneeded image of a continuous shot image. When the erasing process is performed, there are a method of erasing one entire image information and a method of erasing an apparent mark by securing an entry area for an erasing mark in a header. When the erasure mark is written in the header as an attribute, a return process can be performed later.

The characteristic configuration of the present invention is as follows.

That is, in an electronic camera using a semiconductor image pickup device, a photographing preparation operation is started by a predetermined operation and a photographed image is recorded at least in response to a photographing instruction after the start of the photographing preparation operation. An image holding unit capable of holding a plurality of images picked up by an image pickup device; and starting image capture after completion of the shooting preparation operation and before the shooting instruction, and causing the image holding unit to hold the captured image. When a photographed image corresponding to the photographing instruction is set as a reference image, the photographing control unit associates the image held in the image holding unit before the reference image and the reference image as an image based on a series of photographing. Recording control means for identifiably recording the reference image and another image other than the reference image associated with the reference image. And wherein the door.

As a result, the exposure and image capturing under the same conditions as in the main photographing can be executed before the second release, and the images can be pooled in the image holding unit. Then, by recording an image before that based on the second release, a desired image can be reliably acquired even if the shutter timing is delayed (this is referred to as preceding photographing).

The present invention particularly devises an image display method in the case where continuous shooting is performed in the preceding shooting. That is, the reference image corresponding to the second release is set as a representative image, and only the representative image is read out and displayed in normal image reading. This eliminates the complexity of displaying a large number of continuously shot images. Further, the present invention is characterized in that an image is recorded so that the read-out display becomes possible.

According to the present invention, the photographing control section executes continuous photographing based on the photographing instruction, and the recording control means controls the continuous photographing image after the reference image held in the image holding section to the series of images. The image is associated with the reference image as an image based on the photographing, and recorded so as to be identifiable from the reference image.

As a result, the consecutively shot images are recorded after being associated with each other, which facilitates subsequent handling.

In the present invention, the recording control means includes, in the recording information of each image in the series of photographing, association information indicating a photographing unit and information on whether or not the image is a reference image. I do. That is, by adding header information necessary for realizing the above functions, further handling can be facilitated.

The present invention is characterized in that display processing means for displaying only the reference image when an image based on the series of photographing is selected for display is provided. As a result, the recorded image can be read out and only the representative image can be displayed, and it is easy to grasp the captured image held in the memory card as a whole. At the level of the embodiment, the invention is realized by reading only the representative image from the recording medium. However, since the main purpose can be achieved if only the representative image is displayed, it is described as “display processing means”. ing.

In the present invention, the display processing means includes:
When a command to designate a reference image and display the associated image is received, all of the images based on the series of photographing can be displayed. As a result, the continuous image can be displayed by developing the representative image, and can be used for searching for an image at the optimal timing.

In the present invention, the display processing means includes:
An image based on the series of photographing is displayed in a slide show. Still further, in this invention, the display processing means sequentially displays images based on the series of photographing in response to a display request for a next image or a previous image.

According to the present invention, the display processing means includes:
An image based on the series of photographing is displayed using an index screen. Further, according to the present invention, the display processing means displays an image based on the series of shootings by performing a slide show on one image display portion of the index screen. Thereby, various display modes can be obtained.

Further, according to the present invention, an electronic photographing device using a semiconductor image pickup device in which a photographing preparation operation is started by a predetermined operation and a photographed image is recorded at least in response to a continuous shooting instruction after the photographing preparation operation is started. In the camera,
An image holding unit capable of holding a plurality of images picked up by the semiconductor image sensor, starting image capture after completion of the shooting preparation operation and before the continuous shooting instruction, and capturing the image into the image holding unit; And a photographing control means for holding the photographed image corresponding to the continuous shooting instruction as a reference image, together with the image held in the image holding unit before the reference image and the image after the reference image, Recording control means for recording on the recording medium as a series of continuously shot images, and when the series of continuously shot images is selected for display, information indicating the number of continuous shots and information indicating the number of the image from the reference image. Display processing means for displaying the image together with the image.

Thus, in the case of precedent continuous shooting, if the reference image is ± 0, continuous images exist before and after (−, +). Can be seen at a glance.

Further, according to the present invention, the recording control means may include, in the recording information of each image in the series of continuously shot images, information indicating that the image is a continuously shot image, information on the number of continuous shots, Is included. Thereby, various kinds of reference information for handling the continuously shot images are prepared, various methods of use can be adopted, and the usability is convenient.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the photographing control means controls to overwrite the oldest photographed image with the latest photographed image when there is no free space for holding the photographed image in the image holding section. And This makes it possible to easily cope with a variation in the time from the start of the preceding continuous shooting to the presence of the second release.

Further, according to the present invention, image capture and temporary holding thereof are started after the start of the shooting preparation operation based on a predetermined operation and before the continuous shooting instruction, and the captured image corresponding to the continuous shooting instruction is started. Is used as a reference image, an electronic camera that records an image temporarily held before the reference image and an image after the reference image as a series of continuously shot images is included in each image information of the series of continuously shot images. Is a data structure, information indicating whether or not continuous shooting, and a header including at least information indicating the number of pages before the reference image or the number of pages after the reference image A computer-readable recording medium that records data having a structure and an image data structure obtained by compressing a captured image.

[0113]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When an image captured by the preceding continuous shooting is included, a shooting result is recorded so as to display one image in one shooting unit, and an image suitable for a shooting intention in the preceding continuous shooting is easily selected as a representative image.

Further, according to the present invention, when displaying the photographing result of the normal continuous shooting or the preceding continuous shooting, the position of the image in the continuous shooting unit can be easily known.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an overall block of an electronic camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a timing chart shown to explain the basics of a continuous shooting operation and a normal single shooting operation of the electronic camera of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation example when photographing is performed using the electronic camera of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a format of image information recorded on a memory card in the electronic camera of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation procedure when performing image reproduction and display in the electronic camera of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a recording form of image information of a memory card in the electronic camera of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of a reproduced image in the electronic camera of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram further showing an operation procedure when performing image reproduction and display in the electronic camera of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of a reproduced image in the electronic camera of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a recording form of image information of a memory card in the electronic camera of the present invention.

[Description of Signs] 11 ... Lens system, 12 ... CCD, 13 ... Imaging process unit, 14 ... A / D converter, 15 ... Timing generator, 1
Reference numeral 6: automatic iris automatic focus unit, 100: photographing processor, 101: data bus, 102: interface, 103: image processing unit, 104: compression / decompression unit, 1
05: Recording / playback interface, 106: Display control unit, 107: Control unit, 111: Preceding photographing control unit, 112
... preceding recording control unit, 114 ... readout control unit, 200 ... memory, 201 ... working area, 202 ... photographed image holding area,
Reference numeral 300: system controller, 301: AE / AF control unit, 302: preceding shooting notification unit, 303: frame allocation calculation unit, 306: header generation unit, 307: image read processing unit, 400: memory card, 501: release button,
502: operation keys, 503: confirmation button, 600: liquid crystal panel for display.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) // H04N 101: 00 H04N 101: 00 F term (Reference) 2H054 AA01 5B047 AA07 AB04 BB04 CA23 EA01 EA07 5C022 AA13 AB68 AC01 AC32 AC69 5C052 GA02 GA03 GB01 GE04 GE06 GE08 5C054 AA01 CA04 CC03 CH02 EA01 EA05 EA07 FA00 FE02 GB02

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. An electronic camera using a semiconductor image pickup device, wherein a shooting preparation operation is started by a predetermined operation, and a shot image is recorded at least in response to a shooting instruction after the start of the shooting preparation operation. An image holding unit capable of holding a plurality of images picked up by an image sensor, starting image capture after the completion of the shooting preparation operation and before the shooting instruction, and causing the image holding unit to hold the captured image A photographing control unit, when a photographed image corresponding to the photographing instruction is used as a reference image, associates the image held in the image holding unit before the reference image and the reference image as an image based on a series of photographing. Recording control means for identifiably recording the reference image and another image other than the reference image associated with the reference image. Electronic camera featuring. 2. The photographing control unit executes continuous photographing based on the photographing instruction, and the recording control unit performs a series of photographing on a continuously photographed image after a reference image held in the image holding unit. 2. The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the electronic camera is associated with the reference image as an image based on the reference image and recorded so as to be identifiable from the reference image. 3. The recording control unit according to claim 2, wherein the recording information of each image in the series of photographing includes association information indicating a photographing unit and information on whether or not the image is the reference image. Item 3. The electronic camera according to item 1 or 2. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display processing unit configured to display only the reference image when an image based on the series of photographing is selected. An electronic camera according to claim 1. 5. When the display processing means receives a command to designate a reference image and display an image associated with the reference image, all the images based on the series of photographing can be displayed. The electronic camera according to claim 4, wherein 6. The electronic camera according to claim 5, wherein said display processing means displays an image based on said series of photographing in a slide show. 7. The electronic camera according to claim 5, wherein the display processing unit sequentially displays images based on the series of photographing in response to a display request for a next image or a previous image. 8. The electronic camera according to claim 5, wherein said display processing means displays an image based on said series of photographing using an index screen. 9. The electronic camera according to claim 5, wherein the display processing means displays an image based on the series of shootings by performing a slide show on one image display portion of the index screen. 10. An electronic camera using a semiconductor imaging device in which a shooting preparation operation is started by a predetermined operation and a shot image is recorded at least in response to a continuous shooting instruction after the start of the shooting preparation operation, An image holding unit capable of holding a plurality of images picked up by the semiconductor image sensor, starting image capture after the completion of the shooting preparation operation and before the continuous shooting instruction, and loading the captured image into the image holding unit; A photographing control unit to be held, and when a photographed image corresponding to the continuous shooting instruction is used as a reference image, the image held in the image holding unit before the reference image is displayed together with images after the reference image. Recording control means for recording on a recording medium as a continuous shot image, and when the series of continuous shot images is selected for display, the number of images from the continuous shot number information and the reference image Electronic camera characterized by comprising a display processing means for displaying information indicating together with the image. 11. The recording control unit may further include, in the recording information of each image in the series of continuously shot images, information indicating that the images are continuous shot images, information on the number of continuous shots, and the number of the image from the reference image. The electronic camera according to claim 10, further comprising information indicating: 12. The photographing control means controls to overwrite a newest photographed image with an oldest photographed image when there is no free space for storing photographed images in the image holding unit. An electronic camera according to any one of items 1 to 11. 13. An image capture and temporary holding operation are started after a shooting preparation operation based on a predetermined operation and before a continuous shooting instruction, and a captured image corresponding to the continuous shooting instruction is set as a reference image. When the electronic camera that records the image temporarily held before the reference image and the image after the reference image as a series of continuous shot images, the data included in each image information of the series of continuous shot images A header structure including at least information indicating whether or not continuous shooting is performed, and the number of the image before the reference image, or information indicating the number of the image after the reference image, A computer-readable recording medium for recording data having an image data structure obtained by compressing a captured image.