JP2001309217A - Camera system, image reproduction system and laboratory system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera system which can obtain a location information equivalent to the location accuracy by DGPS without making a camera attached with a GPS receiver large in size. SOLUTION: This camera system is provided with the camera 5 which is attached with the GPS receiver 6 and can record the location information on taking photographs by the GPS receiver 6, and has correction devices (8, 9) transmittable with the camera 5 which receives the error correction information of the location measurement by DGPS method utilizing the base station 2 and records and stores the received correction information and time information. The correction equipment (8, 9) reads out the location information and time information from the camera 5, calculates the location error correction on the correction information corresponding to the time information, and transmits back the location information to the camera 5 after correction.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a GPS (G
The present invention relates to a camera system capable of recording positioning information by a global positioning system, an image reproducing apparatus for reproducing an image recorded by the camera system, and a lab system for developing and printing a film photographed by the camera system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A camera having an information recording function of photographing information of a camera and photographing environment information (type of a light source, etc.) is known. As a function for expanding these functions, position information at the time of photographing is acquired and recorded. There has been proposed a camera having a function to perform the function. As such a camera, GPS information from a plurality of artificial satellites is received by a GPS receiver, and the current value (latitude, longitude, altitude, time, and time) of the receiver is obtained from time data of a received signal and orbit data of a satellite used for positioning. And the like, which has a function of calculating information on a recording medium along with shooting information.

[0003] Further, some of these cameras convert the obtained positioning information into a plurality of pre-recorded place name information and record it. However, the positioning information obtained by the GPS includes the influence of the ionosphere and troposphere (atmosphere) through which the radio waves pass when transmitting the radio waves from the satellite to the receiver, the influence of the satellite clock, the error of the satellite orbit, the noise of the receiver , Errors due to multipath, and errors due to SA (Selective Availability).

[0004] Here, the SA is set to deliberately degrade the positioning accuracy of the GPS. Since the GPS satellite and its system have been completed mainly for military use in the United States, the SA In use, it refers to superimposing the above-mentioned error. Due to these various errors, the positioning accuracy by GPS is usually about 100m radius in 2DRMS (Sigma).
A circle having a radius of about 300 m and a circle having a radius of about 300 m have a probability of 99.99%.

In order to improve the positioning error as described above, DG
A correction method using PS (Differential GPS) has been proposed and is currently used as a general correction method. When this DGPS measures the same satellite at two different points, the error is considered to exist at the two points as well, and one of the two points is determined from the GPS information from each satellite at a reference station that can measure the exact position in advance. Detect error information from the obtained position information and the position of the base station, and transmit it as a correction value to the user at the position of the GPS receiver of the user, which is the other point,
The user corrects the received GPS signal based on the value.

The communication means of the correction information is mainly a navigation system of a ship, an aircraft, a car, a portable GP, or the like.
For S receiver applications, marine medium-wave beacons,
The use of Inmarsat and FM multiplex broadcasting is evaluated or operated. The positional accuracy of these DGPSs is about 10 m or less compared to an error of about 100 m in radius without DGPS, and is more than 10 times improved.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION However, the conventional
Regarding the position information of the image captured by the camera with the GPS receiver, sufficient accuracy could not be obtained with the position information using only GPS radio waves.

Further, in order to perform correction by DGPS, which is a general correction method of GPS, means for obtaining correction information, such as an FM receiver and an FM antenna, are required. Since it is difficult to reduce the weight, a correction function cannot be provided.

In order to obtain such correction information, a dedicated receiving and demodulating means is required separately from a GPS receiver such as an FM radio wave. Incorporation into a portable device such as a camera requires reduction in size and power consumption. There is a problem.

[0010] It is useful to add a GPS positioning function to a photographing device such as a camera as information on a photographed image together with information on photographing conditions such as an aperture and a shutter speed. 100m
Due to the degree of error, it is not practically effective in some applications.

On the other hand, a method for correcting the error has already been put to practical use, but there is a problem in terms of size and power consumption when it is built in a portable device.

An object of the present invention is to provide a camera system capable of easily obtaining positioning error correction information without using a position correcting means in a camera body and enabling the added value of the positioning information to be effectively used. An image reproducing system and a lab system are provided.

[0013]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a camera provided with a GPS receiver, capable of recording position information at the time of photographing by the GPS receiver, and a positioning error by a DGPS method using a base station. A correction device that receives the correction information, and that communicates with the camera that records and stores the received correction information and time information, the correction device reads the position information and the time information from the camera, And performing a position error correction calculation using the correction information corresponding to the position information and returning the corrected position information to the camera.

A second aspect of the present invention is the camera system according to the first aspect, wherein the correction device receives information from the base station in a wireless manner.

A third aspect of the present invention is the camera system according to the first aspect, wherein the correction device receives information from the base station in a wired manner.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is the camera system according to any one of the above aspects, wherein the correction device communicates with the camera in a wired manner.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image reproducing apparatus capable of reading positional information by GPS together with photographed image information recorded on a recording medium and reproducing the photographed image information, and positioning by a DGPS method using a base station. Receiving the error correction information,
A correction device communicable with the image reproducing device that records and stores the received correction information and time information, wherein the correction device reads the image information and the position information from the image reproduction device, and reads the position information. And performing a position error correction calculation based on the correction information read from the time information corresponding to the time information, and returning the corrected position information to the image reproducing apparatus.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus having a printing function of a photographed image recorded on a recording medium, reading position information by GPS, and printing the position information or printing using the position information, and a base station. Receiving a positioning error correction information by the DGPS system using a correction device capable of communicating with the printing device that records and stores the received correction information and time information, wherein the correction device is the position from the film. A place name conversion unit that reads information and time information, performs a position error correction calculation using correction information corresponding to the time information, and uses the corrected position information for printing, or converts the corrected position information to an optimal place name. The laboratory system is characterized in that the data is converted and used for printing.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, satellite orbit information, time information, and the like are output from a GPS satellite 1. G
The radio wave output from the PS satellite 1 is received by a GPS receiver 6 attached to the camera 5. Reference numeral 2 denotes a base station for outputting GPS correction information, which outputs GPS error correction information. The FM receiver 8 receives the correction information from the base station 2,
It is sent to the correction information database device 9. The correction information database device 9 has a function of recording and storing the input correction information and a function of searching based on time information.

Next, FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the present embodiment. The GPS receiver 6 is a receiver that receives a radio wave from the GPS satellite 1. In the camera 5, a strobe circuit 502 is a circuit that performs strobe light emission, light emission control, and charging for strobe light emission. The photometric circuit 503 is a circuit for measuring the brightness of the subject for determining the exposure of the camera. The distance measuring circuit 504 is a circuit for detecting the focus of the subject, and the feeding circuit 505 is a circuit for winding and rewinding the film. Lens shutter drive circuit 5
Reference numeral 06 denotes a shutter drive circuit for driving a lens for focus adjustment and controlling exposure. The power supply circuit 509 is the camera 5
This is a circuit for controlling the output of the power supplied to the circuit and the power supplied to the GPS receiver 6.

The camera control circuit 501 controls the photographing operation of the camera, the operation of the GPS receiver 6, and position information for recording various information in the magnetic recording unit 508 of the film.
It has a function of encoding shooting information and the like, and controlling and recording the magnetic recording / reproducing circuit 507.

The operation of each block shown in FIG. 2 will be described below.

When the main switch for turning on the power of the GPS-equipped camera is turned on, the power is supplied to the GPS receiver 6 of the camera 5 and the reception of the GPS radio wave from the GPS satellite 1 is executed. The radio wave received by the GPS receiver 6 is demodulated by a demodulation circuit in the GPS receiver 6, and the demodulated signal is decoded to obtain position information, specifically, the latitude, longitude, altitude, and time of the shooting position. calculate.

When a release switch (SW), which is a switch for starting photographing of the camera 5, is turned on,
A photographing operation is performed, and an image is recorded on the film.

After the photographing, the film is fed to the next frame, and at the same time the position information from the GPS receiver 6 and the photographing information such as the aperture, shutter speed, and use of the strobe are recorded on the film on the magnetic recording of the film. The information is recorded in the section 508 by the magnetic recording / reproducing circuit 507.

As described above, the GPS information recorded together with the image has an error of about 100 m due to a satellite clock error, radio wave delay due to the ionosphere and tropospheric conditions, and SA superimposed on the satellite radio wave itself. ing.

To improve this error, a base station 2 is provided. The base station 2 includes a GPS receiver 201 that receives a radio wave from the GPS satellite 1, and the received radio wave is converted into position information by a positioning processor 202, and is converted from the converted position information and the known position information of the base station 2. Correction information is calculated by a correction value generator, and the positioning processor 202
Output a correction value.

The data formatter 20 transmits the time information corresponding to the output correction information as FM radio waves.
4, the data output format is adjusted, and the modulation / transmitter 205
Sent to

The signal is FM-modulated by the modulation / transmitter 205,
Transmitted by the transmitting antenna 3. The correction information transmitted from the base station 2 is stored in F
M receiving device 8, and the FM receiving device 8
01, and is further demodulated by the demodulation / decoding circuit 802. After being decoded, it is sent to the correction information database 9 via the output interface 803.

The correction information database 9 samples the input correction information by the correction information / time information recording control circuit 902 at intervals of 20 seconds, and records and stores the correction information database together with the time information in the recording unit.

Here, the correction information is stored every 20 seconds. However, as shown in FIG. 7, since the DGPS correction is originally for the correction at the current time, the position information is received. It is assumed that the error at the time point has the same error in the base station 2.

That is, since the error is caused by the clock error of the satellite, the ionosphere, radio wave delay in the troposphere, SA, multipath, etc., the base station 2 is only used for the error at the time of receiving the GPS radio wave. The correction used does not hold, and no processing other than the correction processing at the current time is performed.

However, as shown in FIG. 7, the time difference between the correction information acquisition time at the base station 2 and the position information acquisition time at the camera 5 is within 20 seconds, and the distance between the base station 2 and the photographing time position If the difference between the two is approximately one hundred and several hundred km, the added error will be within about 2m to 3m, and DGPS
It is considered that the error is about 10 m when the above is performed, and is much more practical than the case without DGPS.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment according to the present invention will be described.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, information from the GPS satellite 1 is transmitted by radio waves. Radio waves are received by a GPS receiver 6 attached to the camera 5 and recorded on a recording medium such as a film together with an image to be captured. On the other hand, the correction information generated by the base station 2 is used as a correction information database as a database device 1.
Store to 0.

After photographing, the camera 5 is connected to the external device 12 at a location where the external device 12 from which the correction information can be taken out is installed.
1 and read out the information recorded together with the photographed image, take out the corresponding correction information, correct the recorded position information, and record it again on a recording medium such as a film.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram thereof. GPS
The camera with receiver 5 has a function of acquiring position information of a reception position by radio waves from the GPS satellite 1 and recording the position information together with the photographed information in the magnetic recording unit 508 on the film together with the photographed image. It is also possible to connect to the position correction information data device 9 in the embodiment.

On the other hand, the position information error due to GPS
A base station 2 having known position information and a GPS receiver 201 is provided in order to be implemented by the correction means based on the PS method.

The base station 2 transmits radio waves from GPS satellites to the GPS
The signal is received by the receiver 201 and the GPS position information of the base station 2 is obtained. At this time, since the exact position of the base station 201 is known, the difference from the position information obtained from the GPS is G
The correction amount can be determined because it is considered to be an error of the PS radio wave. In order to obtain this correction amount, position information is obtained from a radio wave received by the positioning data processing device 206 inside the base station 2 and a correction value is generated. After the obtained correction value is converted into a predetermined format, the interface circuit 20
7 to the correction information storage computer 208.

The data input to the correction value storage computer 208 is stored in the database device 10 as a correction information database. The correction amount needs a correction amount corresponding to the acquisition time of the position information recorded on the film of the camera 5 in order to correct the GPS position information as described in the first embodiment, From FIG. 7, even if the time for determining the correction amount and the time for acquiring the GPS position information are different, it is sufficient if the time does not cause any practical problem. Therefore, if the correction amount is recorded and stored in the correction information storage computer 208 at intervals of, for example, 20 seconds, the error becomes about 3 m, and the correction can be performed at a level that does not cause a practical problem.

When actual position correction is performed, a user-side computer such as a personal computer is used as the external device 12 owned by the user, and communication with the base station 2 having the correction information database and communication with the camera 5 are performed. The position information and the time information of the image photographed by the device capable of communication are read, and correction information corresponding to the time information is retrieved and acquired from the database to perform the correction. That is, the user-side computer, which is the external device 12, can communicate via the interface 512 of the camera 5 and the interface circuit 1203 of the user-side computer, and selects a frame (frame) for correcting the position information of the user-side computer 12. And outputs the position information and time information of the frame (frame) corresponding to the camera 5.

Next, the camera 5 reads information of the corresponding photographic frame from the recording area in accordance with the input request signal,
Output to the user side computer 12. The user computer 12 records and stores the read frame number, position information, and time information. After reading and recording of position information and time information corresponding to selection of a frame to be corrected, the user side computer 12 is connected to the correction information storage computer 208 in the base station 2. The connection method at this time uses communication means such as a public line.

The user-side computer 12 sends the recorded time information of the photographed frames to the correction information storage computer 208 in the order of the previously selected frame number, and takes out the correction data of the time closest to that time. The external device 12 corrects the position information of the corresponding frame based on the sent correction information, and records the corrected position information again together with the frame number and the time information. The above operation is performed for all the selected frame numbers.

When all the processes are completed, the user side computer 12 resumes communication with the camera 5, transmits the corrected position information to the camera 5, and the camera 5 stores the corrected information in the magnetic recording section of the corresponding frame. It overwrites the position information recording portion 208.

(Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment according to the present invention will be described.

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of the present embodiment.

In this embodiment, an image reading device 13 having a function of reading an image from a film as a recording medium which has been photographed and developed in advance, and a position correction information data device 9
The developed film has a magnetic recording unit, and when photographed, GPS positional information corresponding to the image is recorded together with time information at the time of photographing. ing.

The image reading device 13 includes a magnetically recordable developed film 1304 and a sub-scanning motor 13 for scanning the film for feeding and low-resolution image reading.
05 and a sub-scanning motor circuit 1316 for driving a motor,
A magnetic head 1303 and a magnetic information recording / reproducing circuit 1317 for recording / reproducing on / from a magnetic recording section of the film 1304;
A light source 1 for irradiating light from the opposite side of the film 1304 to read an image from the film and obtaining transmitted light
301 and a light source lighting circuit 1302 are provided.

An optical system 1306 for forming an image of the transmitted light on the sensor, a line sensor 1307 for converting the image into an electronic image, a main scanning motor 1308 for driving the line sensor 1307 at the time of reading a high-resolution image, and a motor drive. A main scanning motor circuit 1315 for performing the operation is provided.

Further, an AGC circuit 130 for automatically adjusting the signal level of the image signal from the line sensor 1307
9. A / D converter 131 for converting to digital signal
0, a signal processing unit 1 for performing shading correction of image signals, gamma conversion, white balance, negative / positive inversion, etc.
311, a line buffer 1312 for adjusting output timing for outputting the processed signal to the external device 12
, An input / output interface 1313, and a system control circuit 1314 for controlling the entire system.

The film 1304 is used for the image reading device 13
, The film 1304 is once wound up by the sub-scanning motor 1305 once and the light source 1301
, And the transmitted light of the film 1304 forms an image on the line sensor 1307. Line sensor 13
In 07, coarse reading is performed by pixel thinning, and a low-resolution image is output.

The output image signal is input to the position correction information data device 9, where it is temporarily recorded and displayed.
Is displayed as a thumbnail. On the other hand, the magnetic information on the film is also read out by the magnetic head 1303 at the same time when all the frames are wound up, the signal is amplified by the magnetic information recording / reproducing circuit 1317, and is input to the system control circuit 1314.

The input signal is transmitted to the system control circuit 131.
4 and temporarily stored as data in a storage unit in the system control circuit and output to the position correction information data device 9. In this position correction information data device 9, an image signal is also recorded at the same time.

Thereafter, when execution of position information correction is selected in the position correction information data device 9, the position correction information data device 9 searches for a frame in which the position information is recorded, and gives the user a frame number and position information. , The shooting time, and the previously acquired low-resolution image on the display device 18.

The user determines from the displayed contents whether or not to actually perform the correction, and selects to perform the correction. When the user selects the correction, the position correction information data device 9 uses the time information of the selected frame to read the corresponding information from the correction information database. The correction information to be corrected is retrieved, the position information is corrected from the correction information, and stored in the temporary storage unit in the position correction information data device 9.

When the above operation is repeated and the correction of the position information is completed, the corrected position information is output to the image reading device 13 and recorded on the corresponding frame on the film 1304.

(Fourth Embodiment) Next, a fourth embodiment according to the present invention will be described.

The present embodiment relates to a printing system using magnetic information of a film in a digital printing system, and FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of the printing system.

As shown in FIG. 6, according to the present embodiment, a film developing device 14 for developing a film, image information and magnetic information of the developed film are read, data processing is performed, and output data optimal for printing is obtained. It is composed of a data processing device 15 for image information and magnetic information to be converted, an output device 16 for actually performing print output, and a correction information database device 17 for correcting position information for performing printing using position information. You.

The photographed film is stored in the film developing device 1
After development, fixing and drying, the digital image data of the film image is converted by the image reading unit 1501 of the image / magnetic information data processing device 15. At the same time, the magnetic information reading unit 1502 reads the magnetic information recorded on the film.

The read image information and magnetic information are input to an image processing unit 1503 and a control unit 1504, respectively. In the image processing unit 1503, an optimal image is obtained from the magnetic information input to the control unit 1504. In addition, processing is performed so as to obtain an optimal image from the luminance data and color data of the image.

More specifically, data obtained by reading out corrections such as color correction, lightness correction and contour emphasis correction based on the type of light source at the time of photographing, the use of a strobe, the characteristics of the film, distance information of the subject, etc. And the image data is processed by adjusting the correction amount.

Further, the control unit 1504 controls the image processing unit 150
3 outputs information that is not directly related to the image, such as the date and title, and the image processing unit 1503 prints character data such as date and title data as necessary, and combines various patterns with the photograph at the same time as printing. A unit is provided for outputting image data to the output unit 1506 after performing image processing for printing.

Further, the image processing unit 1503 uses the photographing position information to print the position information or to combine and print a plurality of photographs together with a photographing location mark and a map of an area related to the photograph on a map. When more accurate position information is required, for example, in the case of shooting in an urban area, the accuracy of the shooting position information may be an error before GPS correction (radius of about 100 m).
Is not sufficient, and if an attempt is made to use an image of a land, a building, or the like as image data by associating it with position information, the error will not be valid information.

In the above case, in order to correct the position information, the position information and time information read by the magnetic information reading unit 1502 are transferred from the control unit 1504 to the position correction information database attached to the data processing device 15. The correction information is sent to the apparatus 17 and is searched by the correction information search unit 1705 from the correction information database 1703 based on the time information to obtain the closest correction information. A correction operation is performed by the position correction operation unit 1706 from the obtained correction information and position information.

As one of the calculation results, the place name information conversion means 1707 for converting the positioning information into the place name information reads the place name information corresponding to the corrected position information from the place name information database 1704.

At this time, the place name selected by the place name information conversion means 1707 is automatically selected as the closest place name when the difference between the known position information and the corrected position information is within a predetermined range. , The control unit 150 via the interface circuit 1701 together with the corrected position information.
Returned to 4. On the other hand, if it is out of the range, the position information corrected as having no corresponding place name is sent to the control unit 1504.

Next, the control unit 1504 sends the correction information database device 1 to the image processing unit 1503 as described above.
7, the image processing unit 1503 is controlled so as to conform to the information of the map database and the required specifications for printing, and at the same time, the corrected position information is also sent to the magnetic information rewriting unit 1505 to rewrite the film position information. It is.

The output unit 1506 outputs the data after the above image processing, layout information at the time of printing, shooting date information, corrected position information, place name information, and the like.
Output to The printing device 16 is connected to the output unit 150.
6. Printing is performed according to the data from No. 6.

[0072]

According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain position information equivalent to the position accuracy by DGPS without increasing the size of the camera.

In particular, since the correction device can be connected to the network via a network, there is no need to prepare a large-capacity storage medium in an external device on the user side, and position information equivalent to the position accuracy by DGPS can be obtained. it can.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, it is possible to correct the position information even on a film on which magnetic information has been recorded.

According to the invention of claim 6, when a film on which positional information is recorded is printed, a more detailed combination of map information and an image can be printed, and more accurate place name information can be printed. Can be printed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the system of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing accuracy deterioration data due to the distance between a GPS mobile receiver and a base station and the time difference between correction information and measurement position information.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... GPS satellite 2 ... Base station 3 ... Transmission antenna 4 ... Reception antenna 5 ... Camera 6 ... GPS receiver 7 ... Camera operation part 8 ... FM receiver 9 ... Correction information data device 10 ... Computer for correction information storage 11 ... Network 12 User computer 13 Image reading device 14 Film developing device 15 Data processing device 16 Printing device 17 Correction information database device 18 Display device

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 5/91 J F term (Reference) 5C022 AA13 AB12 AB15 AB17 5C052 AA12 DD08 FA02 FA03 FB01 FB05 FC06 FE02 5C053 FA04 FA07 JA16 KA02 KA25 LA03 5J062 AA01 AA13 BB05 CC07 DD14 EE04 FF01 FF02

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A camera provided with a GPS receiver and capable of recording position information at the time of photographing by the GPS receiver, and receiving positioning error correction information by a DGPS method using a base station, and receiving the received correction information. And a correction device that can communicate with the camera that records and stores time information, the correction device reads the position information and the time information from the camera, and calculates a position error correction using the correction information corresponding to the time information. And returning the corrected position information to the camera. 2. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein the correction device receives information from the base station in a wireless manner. 3. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein the correction device receives the information from the base station in a wired manner. 4. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein the correction device communicates with the camera in a wired manner. 5. An image reproducing apparatus that reads positional information by GPS together with photographed image information recorded on a recording medium and reproduces the photographed image information, and a DG using a base station.
A positioning device that receives positioning error correction information by the PS method, has a correction device that can communicate with the image reproduction device that records and stores the received correction information and time information, and the correction device is configured to output the image from the image reproduction device. Read information and said location information,
An image reproduction system, comprising: performing a position error correction calculation using correction information read from time information corresponding to the position information, and returning the corrected position information to the image reproduction device. 6. A printing apparatus having a printing function of a photographed image recorded on a recording medium, reading position information by GPS, and printing the position information or printing using the position information, and a DGPS using a base station. A positioning device that receives the positioning error correction information according to the method, and has a correction device that can communicate with the printing device that records and stores the received correction information and time information, wherein the correction device is configured to obtain the position information and the time information from the film. Is read, and a position error correction operation is performed using correction information corresponding to the time information, and the corrected position information is used for printing, or is converted by a place name conversion unit that converts the corrected position information into an optimum place name. A lab system that is used for printing.