JP2001326841A - Image pickup device and method for preventing unauthorized use - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for preventing unauthorized use by which a user can be authenticated with a simple means and an image pickup device can be prevented from illegally being used by other parties than a regular user. SOLUTION: A digital still camera registers in advance a palm-print of a legitimate user, and when the camera is locked at application of power (affirmative in step 130), picking up of a palm-print of a user is requested (132) and comparing the picked-up palm-print with the registered palm-print to discriminate whether or not the current user is a legitimate user (140-144). When the authentication of the user is finished, the lock of an ejected memory card is released (148) to shift an instruction from the user to an acceptable state (a state executing the processing in response to an instruction from the user: after 150).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus and a method for preventing unauthorized use thereof, and more particularly to an image pickup apparatus such as a digital still camera or a digital video camera provided with an image pickup means for picking up an optical image and converting it into image information. The present invention relates to an image capturing apparatus and a method for preventing unauthorized use of the image capturing apparatus for preventing the image capturing apparatus from being used illegally by a user different from an authorized user.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a digital still camera, which has been rapidly spreading, has an image pickup device such as a CCD, takes an optical image by the image pickup device, and converts an analog image signal obtained by the photographing into digital image data. After converting the image data into a smart media or the like, the image data is stored in an information storage medium (memory card) such as a smart media. It is also possible to obtain a print or simply record the image represented by the image data on paper or the like using a printer possessed by the user.

[0003]

The general-purpose digital still cameras are becoming smaller and lighter year by year.
While portability has been improved, there is an increasing possibility that a user may lose the digital still camera, for example, in a train or on the road. in this case,
A digital still camera is found by a malicious person,
For example, there is a possibility that a digital still camera is used illegally, for example, image data already stored in a camera body or a memory card is read out and abused.

In order to prevent unauthorized use of a digital still camera as described above, it is necessary to authenticate whether or not the user is a legitimate user. A password is registered in the camera body in advance. For example, when the power of the digital still camera is turned on or when the digital still camera is instructed to perform some processing (for example, photographing), the password is given to the user. If the input password does not match the password registered in advance, the use of the digital still camera may be locked.

[0005] However, if the user is authenticated by having the user input a password, it is necessary for an authorized user to frequently input a password to the digital still camera, and operability is poor. The problem of badness arises. Also, with the miniaturization of the digital still camera described above, the number of switches and operation buttons that can be provided on the camera body is limited, so it is complicated to operate the switches and operation buttons to input a password and the like. Operation is required, and a great burden is imposed on an authorized user.

[0006] Recently, portable information terminals having an image pickup section are also on the market, and it is considered that an image pickup section is provided in a mobile phone. Even in the case of adopting a configuration in which a user inputs a password or the like as described above to authenticate a user in an image capturing apparatus such as a digital video camera, a great burden is imposed on an authorized user. .

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above facts, and is an image capable of authenticating a user by simple means and preventing unauthorized use by anyone other than an authorized user. It is an object to obtain an imaging device and a method for preventing unauthorized use of an imaging device.

[0008]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image capturing apparatus for capturing an optical image and converting the optical image into image information, and an image obtained by the image capturing. First storage means for storing information; second storage means for storing identification information for identifying a legitimate user obtained by imaging the legitimate user as a subject; Lock means for locking at least one of use and access to image information stored in the first storage means, and identification information of the current user acquired by performing imaging with the current user as a subject. Determining means for comparing the identification information stored in the second storage means to determine whether or not the current user is an authorized user; and determining that the current user is an authorized user by the determination means. Is determined to be It is configured to include a release means for releasing the lock, the by the lock means when.

According to the first aspect of the invention, there is provided an image pickup means for picking up an optical image and converting it into image information, and the image information obtained by the image pickup is stored in the first storage means. The lock unit locks at least one of the use of the image capturing apparatus according to the present invention and the access to the image information stored in the first storage unit.

The use of the image pickup device can be locked by, for example, prohibiting the storage of image information obtained by image pickup, as described in claim 5. Further, the locking of the access to the image information can be realized by, for example, locking the reading of the image information from the first storage means as described in claim 6. Also, the first storage means,
When the information storage medium is configured to be detachable from the main body of the image capturing apparatus, locking access to the image information is performed, for example, as described in claim 7. It can also be realized by locking the detachment of the information storage medium from the server.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, identification information for identifying a legitimate user obtained by imaging the legitimate user as a subject is stored in the second storage means, The determining means compares the identification information of the current user obtained by performing imaging with the current user as a subject with the identification information stored in the second storage means, and determines whether the current user is It is determined whether or not the user is a legitimate user, and the release unit releases the lock by the lock unit when the current user is determined to be a legitimate user.

Thus, when a legitimate user uses the image pickup apparatus according to the present invention, if the user himself / herself is imaged as a subject, the identification information obtained by the image pickup is stored in the second storage means. By being compared with the stored identification information, it is determined that the current user is a legitimate user, and the lock by the lock means is released, so that the image capturing apparatus can be used or the first storage can be performed. It is possible to access the image information stored in the means. On the other hand, even if another person other than a regular user takes an image of himself as a subject,
Since it is determined that the current user is not a legitimate user, the lock by the locking means is not released, preventing the image capturing apparatus according to the present invention from being used by anyone other than the legitimate user. be able to.

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is determined whether or not the current user is a legitimate user based on the identification information obtained by capturing the current user as a subject. Since (user authentication) is performed, it is not necessary to frequently input a password or the like when an authorized user uses the image capturing apparatus. Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to authenticate the user by simple means and to prevent unauthorized use by anyone other than the authorized user.

The identification information according to the present invention is preferably information unique to each user and capable of easily identifying the user. For example, as described in claim 2, the identification information of the user's body Image information of a specific portion or information representing characteristics of a specific portion extracted from the image information can be applied. Further, as the specific part of the body, for example, any one of a part where a face, a fingerprint is present, and a part where a palm print is present can be used.
Faces, fingerprints and palm prints are unique to each individual,
By using any of the above as a specific part of the body, it is possible to accurately determine whether the current user is a legitimate user.

When a part where a fingerprint is present or a part where a palm print is present is used as a specific part of the body, information representing the characteristics of the specific part includes a connection relation of each line segment constituting the fingerprint or the palm print. It is preferable to use the information to represent. In imaging a specific part of the user's own body,
It is conceivable that the distance from the subject and the imaging direction in each imaging vary. On the other hand, since the connection relation of each line constituting the fingerprint or the palm print appears on the image represented by the image information obtained by the imaging even if the imaging direction is slightly varied, By using the information representing the connection relationship as the information to represent, it is possible to accurately determine whether or not the current user is a legitimate user regardless of the distance to the subject and the slight variation in the imaging direction at the time of imaging. be able to.

Further, storing the identification information of the legitimate user in the second storage means means that the legitimate user is imaged by the legitimate user as a subject. And the identification information registration means for storing the identification information obtained by taking the image of the authorized user as a subject in the second storage means is provided.

As described above, when the identification information registration means stores the identification information in the second storage means,
It is necessary that a regular user be imaged as a subject without fail. This is because the storage of the identification information in the second storage unit by the identification information registration unit is performed only when, for example, purchasing an image pickup device. What should be done is. Further, when it is necessary to update the identification information stored in the second storage means or to add the identification information to the second storage means when there are a plurality of authorized users, the current When the determination unit determines that the user is a legitimate user, the identification information may be updated or added by the identification information registration unit.

When the image capturing apparatus according to the present invention is used in a situation where there is no possibility of unauthorized use by anyone other than the authorized user, the image capturing apparatus is used for user authentication. The user may find it cumbersome to image the user as a subject. In consideration of such a case, as described in claim 8, a selection means for selecting whether to perform locking by the locking means is further provided, and the locking means performs locking through the selection means. It is preferable to lock when is selected.

Accordingly, when the user selects not to perform locking by the locking means through the selection means, it is not necessary to take an image of the user himself for subject authentication for the user. In addition, the operability in a situation where the information is not illegally used by anyone other than the authorized user can be improved.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for preventing unauthorized use of an image pickup apparatus, wherein an image pickup means for picking up an optical image and converting the image into image information, and a first storage for storing image information obtained by image pickup. Means for identifying a legitimate user obtained by imaging a legitimate user as a subject in the second storage means of the image pickup apparatus having the means and the second storage means. Is stored, and at least one of the use of the image capturing device and the access to the image information stored in the first storage unit is locked, and the current user himself / herself is taken as a subject to obtain an image. The identification information of the current user is compared with the identification information stored in the second storage means to determine whether or not the current user is an authorized user. If the lock is determined to be Since releasing the can prevent billing in the same manner as the invention of claim 1, wherein, to authenticate the user by simple means, be illegally used by others except the user's normal.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a digital still camera 10 to which an unauthorized use prevention method according to the present invention is applied. Note that the digital still camera 10 corresponds to the image pickup device according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the main body 12 of the digital still camera 10 is substantially box-shaped, and has a projection (gripping portion) formed on the left side when viewed from the front to facilitate the gripping of the main body 12. It has been. As shown in FIG. 1A, a lens 14 is attached to the center of the front side of the main body 12,
Above the lens 14 of the main body 12, an optical finder 16 for a user to visually confirm a photographing range and the like, and a strobe 18 for emitting auxiliary light when photographing at low illuminance and the like are mounted.

On the right side of the main body 12 when viewed from the front, a memory card 60 (see FIG. 3A) as a card-shaped information storage medium for storing image data is loaded. An opening (slot) 24 is formed.
The loading of the memory card 60 into the slot 24 is performed such that the tip of the memory card 60 is inserted into the slot 24 with a predetermined side of the memory card 60 as the insertion side, and the entire memory card 60 is accommodated inside the main body 12. , Memory card 6
This is achieved by pressing the front end of the “0” toward the slot 24 side. The memory card 60 in the loaded state
Is ejected from the slot 24 by pressing an eject button (not shown) and activating an eject mechanism (not shown) provided inside the main body 12.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the memory card 6
No. 0 has notches 62 formed on two sides (on both sides) opposite each other with one side being the leading side when the slot 24 is loaded. The notch 62 has a substantially orthogonal surface 62A which is located at the head side in the loading direction of the slot 24 and is substantially perpendicular to the side of the memory card 60, and an inclined surface 62B which is inclined with respect to the side surface. It has a triangular shape. FIG.
As shown in (B), the lock member 64 is provided inside the slot 24 at a position corresponding to the notch 62 of the memory card 60 with the memory card 60 loaded in the slot 24.
Is provided. The lock member 64 has a tip portion facing the notch 62 and has a shape cut obliquely in accordance with the shape of the notch 62, and the projecting position indicated by a broken line in FIG. It is possible to move between positions.

The lock member 64 is urged by an urging means (not shown) to move to the projecting position. Accordingly, when the memory card 60 is loaded into the slot 24, the inclined portion at the tip of the lock member 64 comes into contact with the corner on the tip side of the memory card 60 along the loading direction and is pressed. Numeral 64 is moved to the retracted position against the urging force of the urging means. When the memory card 60 is in the loaded state, the lock member 64 enters the notch 62 by the urging force of the urging means, so that the memory card 6
Ejection of 0 is blocked.

The lock member 64 is connected to a moving means such as a solenoid through a link or the like (both are not shown). When the moving member is instructed to move the lock member 64, the moving member moves the lock member 64 to the retracted position against the urging force of the urging means. Thus, the memory card 60 can be ejected. The lock member 64, the urging means, the link, and the solenoid constitute an eject lock mechanism 66 (see FIG. 2). This eject lock mechanism 66 corresponds to the lock means according to the present invention (specifically, the lock means according to claim 7).

On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
A color display 26 (which may be a monochrome display) composed of a reflective display device or a transmissive display device (for example, an LCD) is attached to the lower side of the rear surface of the display device. , An execution / screen changeover switch 30 and an operation switch 32 are attached.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the electric system of the digital still camera 10. Specifically, the lens 14 is a zoom lens (variable focal length lens) having an autofocus (AF) mechanism, and the AF mechanism and the zoom mechanism of the lens 14 are driven by a drive circuit 36. Note that a fixed focal length lens having only an AF mechanism may be used as the lens 14 instead of the zoom lens.

At a position corresponding to the focal position of the lens 14 inside the main body 12, an image pickup device 38 composed of an area CCD sensor or the like is arranged. An image is formed on the light receiving surface of the device 38. The imaging device 38 is driven at a timing synchronized with a timing signal generated by a timing generation circuit (not shown) incorporated in the driving circuit 36, and outputs an image signal (a large number of pixels arranged in a matrix on a light receiving surface). Signal indicating the amount of light received in each of the photoelectric conversion cells)
Is output.

A shutter / aperture 40 is arranged between the lens 14 and the imaging device 38. The shutter and the aperture are driven by a drive circuit 36. The shutter is for preventing the occurrence of smear due to light entering the light receiving surface of the imaging device 38 when an image signal is output from the imaging device 38.
8 may be omitted depending on the configuration of FIG. The aperture may be configured by a single aperture capable of continuously changing the aperture amount, or may be configured to switch a plurality of apertures having different aperture amounts. The strobe 18 is also connected to the drive circuit 36. The strobe 18 is emitted by the drive circuit 36 when it is detected that the illuminance is low or when the user gives an instruction to emit light.

An analog signal processing unit 42, an A / D converter 44, a digital signal processing unit 46, and a memory 48 are sequentially connected to a signal output terminal of the imaging device 38. The analog signal processing unit 42 amplifies the image signal output from the imaging device 38 and performs correction such as white balance on the amplified image signal. The image signal output from the analog signal processing unit 42 is converted into digital image data by the A / D converter 44 and input to the digital signal processing unit 46. In the digital signal processing unit 46,
Color correction / γ correction / Y / C for input image data
Performs various processes such as conversion. The image data output from the digital signal processing unit 46 is temporarily stored in a memory 48 such as a RAM.

The image data stored in the memory 48 corresponds to the image information according to the present invention.
The imaging device 38, the analog signal processing unit 42, the A / D converter 44, and the digital signal processing unit 46 correspond to an imaging unit according to the present invention.

The driving circuit 36, the analog signal processing unit 42,
A / D converter 44, digital signal processing unit 46, memory 4
8 and a compression / decompression unit 50 (described later) are connected to a bus 52. The bus 52 includes a CPU 54 and a non-volatile memory (eg, an EEPROM or a RAM connected to a backup power supply) 58 whose storage contents can be rewritten. Connected, power switch 20, menu switch 28,
Switches such as an execution / screen changeover switch 30 and an operation switch 32 (denoted as “operation switches” in FIG. 2), a shutter switch 56 that is turned on / off by operating a shutter button 22, and an eject lock mechanism 66 described above. Are connected to each other. Although illustration is omitted,
The CPU 54 is configured to include peripheral circuits such as a ROM, a RAM, and an input / output port. Also, the nonvolatile memory 58
Corresponds to the second storage unit according to the present invention.

The display 26 and the compression / expansion unit 50 are connected to the memory 48, respectively. When displaying an image on the display 26, the CPU 54
Is transferred to the display 26. Thus, an image represented by the image data temporarily stored in the memory 48 is displayed on the display 26. Further, when an instruction to store the image data in the memory card 60 inserted in the slot 24 is given by operating the shutter button 22 and turning on the shutter switch 56, the CPU 54 is temporarily stored in the memory 48. The image data is read and transferred to the compression / decompression unit 50. Thus, the image data is stored in the memory card 60 after being compressed by the compression / expansion unit 50. It should be noted that the image data may be stored in the memory card 60 without being compressed depending on the shooting mode or the like. Thus, the memory 48 and the memory card 60 correspond to the first storage unit according to the present invention.

When the reproduction (display) of the image represented by the image data stored in the memory card 60 loaded in the slot 24 is instructed, the image data is read from the memory card 60 and read. When the compressed image data is stored in a compressed form, the compressed image data is expanded (decompressed) by the compression / decompression unit 50 and then stored in the memory 48.
Is temporarily stored. Then, the image is displayed (reproduced) on the display 26 using the image data temporarily stored in the memory 48.

Next, as an operation of the present embodiment, a palm print registration process executed by the CPU 54 will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG. The identification information registering means according to claim 4, wherein the palm print registration processing is for registering a characteristic amount of a palm print of the authorized user as identification information for identifying an authorized user of the digital still camera 10. It corresponds to.

It should be noted that the palm print registration process must be executed in a state where an authorized user is using the digital still camera 10, so that, for example, the digital still camera 10 can be used when the digital still camera 10 is purchased or immediately after the purchase. The user instructs execution of the palm print registration process so that the palm print of the purchased user is registered as the palm print (identification information) of the legitimate user, and once the palm print is registered, the palm print is registered. It is desirable that the registration process can be executed only in a state where the user has been authenticated by the palm print (confirmation that the current user is an authorized user).

When execution of the palm print registration process is instructed while the power of the digital still camera 10 is turned on, first, in step 100, the digital still camera 10 captures an image of the user's own palm print in a regular user. Is displayed on the display 26, and requests the authorized user to image the palm print. In the next step 102, the range in which the palm print is recognized out of the imaging range of the imaging device 38 is displayed on the display 26.

As an example, FIG. 6B shows an example in which the recognition range is displayed by displaying a frame 70 representing the outer edge of the recognition range. It is needless to say that the shape of the outer edge of the recognition range is not limited to the shape shown in FIG. Instead of displaying the frame, the recognition range may be displayed by another method such as displaying the outside of the recognition range in monochrome. In the next step 104, it is determined whether or not the shutter switch 56 has been turned on, and the process waits until the determination is affirmed.

When a message requesting the capture of the palm print is displayed on the display 26, the authorized user opens his / her hand and places the palm on the digital still camera 10 as shown in FIG. Face up. Next, the image and the recognition range displayed on the display 26 are referred to, and the palm print of the own palm is distributed over substantially the entire recognition range (for example, the state shown in FIG. 6B). The distance between the still camera 10 and the palm is adjusted. Then, when the adjustment is completed, the shutter button 22 is pressed. As a result, the shutter switch 56 is turned on, and
When the determination in step 4 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 106 to perform the image photographing process.

That is, first, the image data stored in the memory 48 is captured by the image capturing device 38, and the exposure is automatically determined based on the image data.
E processing is performed, and based on the result of the AE processing, the driving circuit 36
And controls the operation timing of the electronic shutter mechanism of the imaging device 38 and drives the aperture. Subsequently, an AF process for searching for a focus position (a lens position in a focus state) is performed, and the AF of the lens 14 is set to a focus state (a focus state) based on the lens position at the focus position detected by the AF process. The stepping motor of the mechanism is driven, and a subject (optical image: in this case, an optical image including the subject corresponding to the palm of a regular user) is imaged by the imaging device 38 in the focused state. Image data obtained by imaging is stored in the memory 48.

In the next step 108, the image data (for example, FIG.
Based on the image data representing an image as shown in a rectangular frame in (B), the characteristic amount of the palmprint of a legitimate user captured (identification information according to the present invention, in particular, claims) 2) (corresponding to “information representing characteristics of a specific part of a user's body extracted from image information”). As the feature amount of the palm print, for example, an approximation result of each line segment forming the palm print can be used.

That is, for example, data of a region for recognizing a palm print is extracted from image data stored in the memory 48, and each pixel corresponding to a line segment constituting the palm print is classified as a black pixel. The binarization is performed by setting the binarization threshold value in such a manner as described above, and then, from the pixels classified as black pixels by the binarization, a black pixel corresponding to a line segment constituting a palm print is extracted and extracted. Thinning is performed to make each line segment represented by a black pixel have a width corresponding to one pixel. Then, by applying a polygonal line approximation, a polynomial approximation, a spline function approximation, or the like to each line segment after the thinning, each line segment constituting the palm print is approximated by a piecewise curve. This makes it possible to approximate the line segments that make up the palm print.

Instead of using the approximation result of each line segment, the connection relation of each line segment may be used. The connection relation of each line segment is, for example, after performing labeling (assignment of identification information) for identifying each line segment to each line segment after thinning, each line segment is tracked in order, and other line segments are connected. It can be obtained by collecting and storing information such as the number of connection points connected, the number of other line segments connected to each connection point, and identification information. The connection relation of each line segment is particularly effective as a feature amount of a fingerprint composed of many line segments and each line segment is connected in a complicated manner.

Before calculating the characteristic amount of the palm print, in order to obtain the characteristic amount of the palm print of the regular user with higher accuracy,
Processing such as camera shake correction may be performed to eliminate the influence of camera shake during shooting.

In the next step 110, step 108
Is stored (registered) in the non-volatile memory 58 as the palm print of the authorized user. In step 112, for the authorized user,
The display 26 displays a message inquiring whether to lock the use of the digital still camera 10 by the palm print.
And the authorized user who referred to the message, for example, can execute the execution / screen changeover switch 30 and the operation switch 32.
Based on the result of selecting whether or not to lock by operating, it is determined whether or not to perform the lock using the palm print of the use of the digital still camera 10. Step 1
If the determination at step 12 is negative, the palm print registration process ends without performing any processing, but if the determination at step 112 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 114.

Information (lock / unlock information) indicating whether the current state of the digital still camera 10 is locked or unlocked (unlocked) by the palm print in the nonvolatile memory. Is provided (an initial value of the lock / unlock information stored in the area is a value indicating that the current state of the digital still camera 10 is an unlocked state), and At 114, the lock / unlock information stored in the non-volatile memory 58 is rewritten to a value indicating that the current state of the digital still camera 10 is locked by the palm print, and the palm print registration is performed. The process ends.

As described above, the execution / screen changeover switch 30 and the operation switch 32 correspond to the selecting means described in claim 8, and steps 112 and 114 correspond to claim 8.
Corresponds to the locking means.

Next, after the above-described palm print registration processing is completed, when the power of the digital still camera 10 is turned on, C
The processing routinely executed by the PU 54 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In step 130, the nonvolatile memory 58
By referring to the lock / unlock information stored in the digital still camera 10, the current state of the digital still camera 10
It is determined whether or not the use is locked by the palm print. If the use is not locked, the determination in step 130 is denied, and the process proceeds to step 150. In this case, the digital still camera 10 can be used without going through a user authentication process described later.

Therefore, for example, in a situation where unauthorized use is not performed by anyone other than the authorized user (for example, a situation where the device is used only at home), the digital still image is registered in the palm print registration process described above. If the user selects not to lock the use of the camera 10 or unlocks the use of the digital still camera 10 as described later, it is necessary to capture the palm print every time the digital still camera 10 is turned on. Since it disappears, operability can be improved.

On the other hand, when the use of the digital still camera 10 is locked by the palm print, the determination in step 130 is affirmed, and step 132 is executed.
Then, the user authentication process for authenticating the current user is performed in step 132 and subsequent steps. That is, in step 132, a message is displayed on the display 26 requesting the current user to image his / her palm print with the digital still camera 10, and requests the current user to image the palm print. In step 134, similarly to step 102 in the flowchart of FIG. 4 described above,
The range in which the palm print is recognized out of the imaging range of the imaging device 38 is displayed on the display 26. Next Step 1
At 36, it is determined whether or not the shutter switch 56 has been turned on, and the process waits until the determination is affirmed.

As a result, the current user opens his / her hand to face the digital still camera 10 similarly to the operation in the palm print registration process, and changes the image and the recognition range displayed on the display 26. While referencing, the distance between the digital still camera 10 and the palm is adjusted so that the palm print of the own palm is distributed over substantially the entire recognition range, and the shutter button 22 is pressed after the adjustment is completed. As a result, the determination in step 136 is affirmed, and step 138 is performed.
Then, the same image photographing process as in step 106 of the flowchart of FIG. 4 is performed. The image data obtained by the image photographing process is not stored (saved) in the memory card 60.

In step 140, based on the image data stored in the memory 48 by the image photographing process in step 138, the characteristic amount of the palmprint of the current user who is imaged is
The calculation is performed in the same manner as in step 108 of the flowchart of FIG. In step 142, the calculation result of the characteristic amount of the palm print in step 140 is stored in the nonvolatile memory 58.
Then, in the next step 144, it is determined whether or not the palm print of the current user is the same as the palm print of the registered regular user. Steps 142 and 144 correspond to the determining means according to the present invention.

The comparison and determination of whether or not the current user's palm print is the same as the regular user's palm print can be made, for example, by using the approximation result of each line constituting the palm print as the characteristic amount of the palm print. , The memory 48 is used as a bitmap memory,
Based on the characteristic amount of the palm print of the current user, a line drawing representing the palm print of the current user is drawn on the memory 48, and based on the registered characteristic amount of the palm print of the authorized user, the authorized user is printed. Is also drawn on the memory 48.
Then, while enlarging, reducing, rotating, or distorting one of the pair of line drawings drawn on the memory 48 within an error range of a photographing distance and a photographing direction that can be considered in the image of the palm print, it matches or matches the other line drawing. It can be performed by repeatedly determining whether or not they substantially match.

When the connection relation of each line constituting the palm print is used as the characteristic amount of the palm print, it is determined whether the palm print of the current user is the same as the palm print of the regular user. Can be performed by, for example, using a well-known graph matching algorithm and comparing and judging how much the connection relations of the lines constituting the palm print are similar. The connection relation of each line constituting the palm print appears on the image even if the shooting distance and the shooting direction at the time of palm print shooting are slightly varied, so that the connection relationship is affected by a slight variation in the shooting distance and the shooting direction at the time of palm print shooting. Without this, it is possible to accurately compare and determine whether the palm print of the current user is the same as the palm print of the regular user.

If it is determined that the current user's palm print is not the same as the registered normal user's palm print, the determination in step 144 is denied, and the image data obtained by the current imaging is stored in the memory. After erasing from above, the process returns to step 132, and the processes in and after step 132 are repeated. As a result, the palmprint of the current user is not the same as the palmprint of the regular user due to a special reason such as extreme camera shake when capturing the palmprint even though the current user is a regular user. If it is determined that
By repeating the subsequent processing, the palm prints are determined to be the same.

On the other hand, if the current user is not a legitimate user, the determination in step 144 is affirmative even if the palm print is repeatedly imaged by, for example, changing imaging conditions (the current user). Is not determined to be the same as the palm print of the legitimate user).
144 is repeated. Therefore, during this time, use of the digital still camera 10 (for example, capturing an arbitrary subject by the imaging device 38 and storing the image data in the memory card 60, or using the already captured image (stored in the memory 48 or the memory card 60). Display on the display 26) is locked, and the access to the image data stored in the memory 48 or the memory card 60 is also locked.

As described above, when the use of the digital still camera 10 is locked by the palm print, the user authentication process is immediately performed, and the palm print of the current user is replaced with the palm print of the regular user. Until it is determined that they are the same, only steps 132 to 144 are repeated, so that anyone other than the authorized user is prevented from using the digital still camera 10 or accessing the image data. be able to. At this time, since the lock on the ejection of the memory card 60 by the eject lock mechanism 66 is not released, the ejection of the memory card 60 from the digital still camera 10 can also be prevented, and the memory loaded in the digital still camera 10 can be prevented. It is possible to prevent the card 60 from being taken out and the image data stored in the memory card 60 from being read and misused.

As described above, the repetition of the user authentication process when the determination in step 144 is denied corresponds to the locking means according to the present invention together with the eject lock mechanism 66. The method according to claim 5, wherein the user authentication process is repeated when the determination is denied.
The eject lock mechanism 66 corresponds to the locking means according to the seventh aspect.

If the current user is a legitimate user, the determination in step 144 is affirmative, and step 144
Then, a buzzer sounds or a message is displayed on the display 26 to notify that the user authentication has been completed. And in step 148,
By moving the lock member 64 of the eject lock mechanism 66 to the retracted position by the moving means, after the ejection lock of the memory card 60 is released, the step 1 is performed.
Move to 50. Thus, the memory card 60 can be ejected.

As described below, step 150
Thereafter, since the processing is performed in accordance with the user's instruction, the lock on the use of the digital still camera 10 and the access to the image data stored in the memory 48 or the memory card 60 are substantially released. Therefore, executing the processing of step 148 and shifting to step 150 when the determination of step 144 is affirmed correspond to the canceling means of the present invention.

In step 150, it is determined whether or not the user has instructed to execute any processing such as imaging of a subject or displaying an image. If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 152, where it is determined whether the power of the digital still camera 10 has been turned off. If this determination is also negative, the process returns to step 150, and steps 150 and 1
Repeat 52.

When the user instructs execution of some processing, the determination in step 150 is affirmed, and step 154 is performed.
Then, it is determined whether the process instructed to be executed by the user is a process of locking the use of the digital still camera 10 by a palm print or a process of unlocking the use of the digital still camera 10 by a palm print. If the process instructed to be executed by the user operating the execution / screen changeover switch 30 and the operation switch 32 is a normal process such as capturing an image of a subject or displaying an image, the determination in step 154 is negative. Then, the process proceeds to step 156 to perform a process according to the instruction from the user, and then returns to step 150.

On the other hand, when the execution of the process of locking the use of the digital still camera 10 by the palm print or the process of unlocking the use of the digital still camera 10 by the palm print is instructed, the determination in step 154 is affirmed. Then, the process proceeds to step 158 to determine whether or not the authentication of the current user has been completed. If the digital still camera 10 is locked in use by the palm print when the power is turned on, the user authentication has been completed by the above-described user authentication process (steps 132 to 144). The determination at 158 is affirmed, and the routine goes to step 164.

If the use of the digital still camera 10 is not locked when the power is turned on, the user authentication process has not been executed.
The determination in step 8 is denied, and the process proceeds to step 160, where user authentication processing (processing similar to steps 132 to 144 described above) is performed. In the next step 162, it is determined whether or not the current user has been authenticated as an authorized user by the user authentication process in step 160. If the determination is negative, the process returns to step 150 without performing any processing.

If the determination at step 162 is affirmative, the routine proceeds to step 164, at which the lock / unlock information stored in the non-volatile memory 58 is rewritten according to the instruction from the user. Return to Thereby, it is possible to prevent the lock / unlock information from being rewritten by another person other than the authorized user. In the processing of steps 154 and 164, the processing of rewriting the lock / unlock information so that the use of the digital still camera 10 is locked according to the instruction from the user is described in claim 8. Corresponds to locking means. When the power of the digital still camera 10 is turned off, the determination in step 152 is affirmed, and the process ends.

In the above, the palm print is described as an example of the "specific part of the user's body" according to claim 2, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a face, fingerprint, or the like may be applied. It is possible.

Further, in the above description, as the identification information according to the present invention, information representing the characteristic of the palm print of the user corresponding to “information representing the characteristic of a specific part of the user's body” according to claim 2 is described. Was used, but is not limited to this.
The image data itself of the specific part of the user may be used. When performing user authentication processing by comparing image data as identification information, the image data obtained by imaging the user as a subject is used when imaging for registering the identification information of a legitimate user. The image data may be corrected so that the image data is equivalent to an image captured with the same positional relationship between the user and the digital still camera 10.

In the above description, an example in which the user authentication process is repeated until the current user is determined to be an authorized user has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. If it is determined that the current user is not an authorized user even after performing the predetermined times, the digital still camera 10
For example, a process such as turning off the power of the device may be performed.

Further, in the above, the digital still camera 10 has been described as an example of the image pickup apparatus according to the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to any device having a function of converting to.

[0072]

As described above, according to the first and ninth aspects of the present invention, the identification information of the current user obtained by performing imaging with the current user as a subject is used.
By comparing with the identification information for identifying the authorized user obtained by imaging the authorized user as a subject, it is determined whether the current user is the authorized user, and the current user is When it is determined that the user is a legitimate user, the user unlocks the use of the image capturing device and the access to the image information, so that the user can be authenticated by simple means and illegally given to anyone other than the legitimate user. It has an excellent effect that it can be prevented from being used.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, as the identification information,
Since any one of the information of the user's face, the part where the fingerprint is present, and the part where the palm print is present is used, in addition to the above-mentioned effects, it is accurately determined whether or not the current user is an authorized user. Has the effect of being able to

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a selecting means for selecting whether or not to perform locking is provided, and locking is performed when locking is selected. In addition to the above effects, there is an effect that operability in a situation where unauthorized use is not performed by anyone other than the authorized user can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 illustrates a digital still camera according to an embodiment.
(A) is a perspective view seen from the front side, (B) is a perspective view seen from the back side.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electric system of the digital still camera shown in FIG.

3A is a perspective view showing a memory card and a slot for loading the memory card, and FIG. 3B is a plan view showing a lock member for locking an ejected memory card in a loaded state. .

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the contents of a palm print registration process.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the contents of a main routine of a process executed by the digital still camera.

6A is a perspective view illustrating imaging of a palm print, and FIG. 6B is an image diagram illustrating an example of an image obtained by imaging the palm print.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Digital Still Camera 38 Imaging Device 48 Memory 54 CPU 58 Non-Volatile Memory 60 Memory Card 66 Eject Lock Mechanism

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) // H04N 101: 00 H04N 5/91 LF term (Reference) 2H054 AA01 5C022 AA13 AC03 AC12 AC18 AC32 AC42 AC77 5C052 AA17 AB04 CC11 DD02 DD04 EE02 EE03 EE08 GA02 GA06 GA07 GB01 GC05 GE08 5C053 FA08 FA27 GA11 GB21 HA33 JA21 KA04 KA24 KA25 LA01

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An image pickup means for picking up an optical image and converting it into image information, a first storage means for storing image information obtained by image pickup, and an image obtained by imaging a regular user as a subject. Second storage means for storing identification information for identifying the authorized user, and lock means for locking at least one of use of the image pickup device and access to the image information stored in the first storage means. And comparing the identification information of the current user acquired by performing imaging with the current user himself as the subject with the identification information stored in the second storage means, and determining whether the current user is authorized. Determining means for determining whether or not the user is a user; and releasing means for releasing the lock by the locking means when the determining means determines that the current user is an authorized user. apparatus. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identification information is image information of a specific part of a user's body or information representing characteristics of the specific part extracted from the image information. Image capturing device. 3. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the specific part of the body is one of a part where a face, a fingerprint is present, and a part where a palm print is present. 4. A request for a legitimate user to take an image of the user as a subject, and identification information obtained by taking a picture of the legitimate user as a subject is stored in the second storage. 2. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an identification information registering means stored in said means. 5. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lock unit locks use of the image pickup apparatus by prohibiting storage of image information obtained by image pickup. 6. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lock unit locks access to the image information by locking reading of the image information from the first storage unit. 7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first storage unit includes an information storage medium detachably attached to the main body of the image pickup apparatus, and the lock unit stores the information from the main body of the image pickup apparatus. 2. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein access to the image information is locked by locking a detachment of a storage medium. 8. The image processing apparatus further includes a selection unit for selecting whether or not to perform locking by the locking unit, wherein the locking unit is configured to release the lock when locking is selected via the selection unit. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein
The image pickup apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims. 9. An image pickup apparatus comprising: an image pickup unit for picking up an optical image and converting it into image information; a first storage unit for storing image information obtained by the image pickup; and a second storage unit. In the second storage means, identification information for identifying a legitimate user obtained by imaging a legitimate user as a subject is stored, and the use of the image pickup device and the first At least one of the access to the image information stored in the storage means is locked, and the identification information of the current user obtained by performing imaging with the current user as a subject is stored in the second storage means. Comparing with the identification information that has been performed, to determine whether the current user is a legitimate user, and to release the lock when it is determined that the current user is a legitimate user How to prevent unauthorized use.