JP2002055651A - Image display device and image display method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image display device and method, which are capable of making a user easily appreciate digital images, without reducing image sizes as in the conventional albums made of paper by utilizing electrical vapor sheets (electronic paper). SOLUTION: This display device has an image data acquiring section which acquires image data, an image display section which is formed by bundling and integrating plural sheets of the approximately sheet-like image display media for displaying the images by using the acquired image data, an image display form setting means which sets the image display form, when displaying the images on the image display surfaces of the image display media and an image display regulating section which regulates the displayed images in accordance with the set image display form.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image display device having an image display unit in which a plurality of substantially sheet-shaped image display media are bundled into one, and an image display method using the image display device. The present invention relates to an image display device and an image display method in which an electric paper sheet (electronic paper) is applied to an image display medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Today, with the spread of personal computers, digital still cameras, digital video cameras, and the like, it has become possible to easily reproduce a large number of captured images on an image display device via a personal computer. For example, it is possible to run the software of the electronic album on a personal computer, capture an image captured by a digital camera, display the captured image on an image display device, and view the image. Also, moving pictures taken by a digital video camera can be played back and enjoyed using the dedicated software. Further, a dedicated image display device for displaying and viewing a digital image captured by a digital camera or the like is also commercially available.
For example, there is a digital photo frame manufactured by Sony Corporation. It is said that by using this dedicated device, the photographed image can be viewed like turning a conventional paper album.

However, when the software of the electronic album is run on a personal computer, the size of the displayed image depends on the size of the image display device used in the computer, and the number of images to be displayed simultaneously is limited. Even if a large number of images are displayed, the image size must be reduced, and it is difficult to view the images in detail. In addition, the operation of the computer when displaying images is complicated. Even with a dedicated image display device for displaying and appreciating digital images, there is a limit to the number of images that can be displayed simultaneously when the user wants to view images at a certain size or more. The waiting time for switching is longer, and the viewer is displeased and cannot enjoy it easily without waiting like a conventional paper album.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-31697 discloses a technique in which an electric paper sheet is applied to an electronic display. On the other hand, articles relating to electric paper sheets (electronic paper) are described in ASCII, February 2000, pages 220 to 225 and March, pages 242 to 24.
It is published on page 7. According to the above-mentioned publications and the above-mentioned articles, an electric field is applied from the outside of the plastic sheet to the myriad of tiny spheres, each of which is painted in half and black and white, and is freely floating in the oil liquid between the two plastic sheets. This allows the sphere to rotate and lock, with the rotation of the sphere turning the black and white surface to the front of the plastic sheet, allowing black and white designs and characters to emerge, applying this principle to color images. It is stated that it can be done. An electric field is applied from both sides to a sheet on which two-dimensionally laid transparent microcapsules having a diameter of about 1/10 mm, in which a number of white spheres are suspended in a blue liquid, are applied. By moving the capsule in one direction, the white sphere changes the color of the sheet of the microcapsule part moved in one direction from blue to white. It is described that a color image can be reproduced based on this principle.

[0005] In such an electronic paper, an image displayed once by applying an electric field is maintained without being erased until the next electric field is applied, so that power consumption is reduced as compared with a conventional liquid crystal display. It has the advantage and the advantage that it does not have a viewing angle dependency in which the density of an image changes drastically depending on the viewing direction like a liquid crystal display, but there is a problem that it has not been put to practical use yet. A film liquid crystal using a ferroelectric liquid crystal has also been developed as an electronic paper, but has a problem that it has not been put to practical use yet.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention has been made in order to solve the problem of displaying a plurality of digital images and enjoying the images happily. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image display device and an image display method that allow the user to enjoy digital images easily, easily, and without reducing the image size, as in a conventional paper album, by utilizing (i). Aim.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image data obtaining section for obtaining image data, and an image display using the image data obtained by the image data obtaining section. An image display unit in which a plurality of substantially sheet-shaped image display media are bundled and integrated, and an image display mode for displaying an image on the image display surfaces of the plurality of image display media of the image display unit are set. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image display device comprising: an image display mode setting unit; and an image display adjustment unit that adjusts a display image according to the image display mode set by the image display mode setting unit.

[0008] The image display mode setting means may designate an image display surface for displaying an image of one of the plurality of image display media, the designated image display surface. Image display position, display image size, display image placement direction, display image inversion processing, display image outline frame shape, template image display specification, or template image display It is preferable that the image display mode is set by performing at least one of the designation of the synthesis process with the image and the designation of the input of the write comment. Further, the image display mode setting means has a transmission type input element provided on the image display surface of the image display medium, and the image display mode is set using the transmission type input element. preferable. Further, the image display adjustment unit may adjust the arrangement of a plurality of images on a plurality of image display media according to page classification information assigned to the plurality of image display media.

Preferably, the image display device further includes a data communication unit for communicating the image data with an external device or a communication network. The image display adjustment unit may display a display image according to an installation environment. The output may be adjusted. The image display device may further include a memory configured to store the image data or audio data associated with the image display surface, and an image input unit configured to input the audio data associated with the image data or the image display surface. Alternatively, when the memory has the image data or the audio data attached to the image display surface, the memory preferably includes audio output means for reproducing and outputting the audio data. The image display device preferably further includes a lens sheet provided on the image display surface of the image display medium, and the lens sheet is preferably a lenticular sheet or a compound eye lens sheet.

[0010] Further, the present invention provides a method of setting an image display mode which indicates a display mode of an image on the image display medium by bundling and integrating a plurality of substantially sheet-shaped image display media for displaying an image using image data. An image display method is provided.

Here, the image display mode includes a designation of an image display surface for displaying an image of one of the plurality of image display media, and a display in the designated image display surface. Specifying the image display position, specifying the size of the display image, specifying the layout direction of the display image, specifying the inversion process of the display image, specifying the shape of the outer frame of the display image, specifying the display of the template image, or combining the template image It is preferable to set by performing at least one of designation and input of a write comment. Alternatively, the image display mode may be set by arranging a plurality of images on the plurality of image display media according to page classification information assigned to the plurality of image display media. .

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An image display device according to the present invention will be described in detail below based on preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an electronic album 10 which is an embodiment of the image display device of the present invention.

An electronic album 10 shown in FIG. 1 obtains digital image data (hereinafter simply referred to as image data) and displays a digital image on an electronic paper P which is a substantially sheet-shaped image display medium. An image display unit 12 in which a plurality of substantially sheet-shaped electronic papers P capable of freely writing and erasing digital images are integrated on a display device, and an image for displaying digital images on the image display unit 12 An image data supply unit 14 for supplying data and an input touch pen 16 for setting a display mode of a display image displayed on the electronic paper P are configured.

The image display section 12 has a substantially sheet-like electronic paper.
This is an image display portion for binding and binding a plurality of sheets of binding paper P with binding metal fittings 22a and 22b extending from the spine cover 24 like a paper album, and displaying an image on the electronic paper P. The image data supply unit 14 and each electronic paper P are electrically connected by wiring extending from above. As described above, the electronic paper P includes an electric paper sheet disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-316973 and an ASCII paper, February 2000, pages 220 to 225.
An electronic paper described on page 242 and pages 242 to 247 of March, and a substantially sheet-like film liquid crystal using a ferroelectric liquid crystal. This is a reflection type image display medium that can be viewed. Of course, it may be a transmission type image display medium such as a TFT type liquid crystal display, in which light emitted from a light source is transmitted through a color filter to view an image. Such electronic paper
Although only one side of the paper is used as a display medium, both sides can be used as a display medium by using the electronic paper in a folded state. Further, in the present invention, an electronic paper having both sides functioning as a display medium may be used.

Here, on the surface of the display medium of the electronic paper P, a transparent pressure-sensitive sheet provided with two-dimensionally arranged transparent pressure-sensitive elements is attached so as to cover the entire surface of the electronic paper P. By pressing the desired position using the input touch pen 16, a signal indicating the pressing position is sent to the image display adjusting unit 34 of the connected data supply unit 14, and the pressing is performed as described later. It is configured such that a desired instruction or designation can be performed according to the position.

The image data supply unit 14 is a digital image supply source detachable from the spine unit 24,
2 is a section for supplying image data for displaying an image to each electronic paper P. As shown in FIG. 2, the image data supply unit 14 is an APS film (Advanced Photo System) in which an image is photographed using a normal camera and subjected to development processing.
, A recording medium read / write unit 28 that reads image data from a recording medium such as a PC card or a flash memory card, and temporarily records and holds image data and information accompanying the image data. In addition, a memory / information search unit 30 for searching for editing data relating to a past image display mode recorded based on this information, and image data read by the scanner unit 26 such as brightness correction and chromaticity correction. In addition to the correction processing, an image processing unit 32 that performs an automatic top-and-bottom recognition process for automatically detecting the vertical direction of shooting by extracting a shooting subject, and converts the processed image data into an image according to a set image display mode. An image display adjustment unit 34 for adjusting display, a communication connection unit 35 for communication connection with another electronic album or a computer, the scanner unit 26, the recording medium Reading and writing unit 28, and a memory information retrieval unit 30, the image processing unit 32, not shown to control and manage the operation of the image display adjustment unit 34 and a communication connector 35 control unit. Further, the memory / information search unit 30, the image processing unit 32, the image display adjustment unit 34, and the communication connection unit 35 are configured by circuits provided on the board.

The input touch pen 16 is a pointing device for setting a display mode of a display image displayed on the electronic paper P, and is two-dimensionally provided on a surface of a display medium of the electronic paper P. Together with the transparent pressure-sensitive sheet provided with the transparent pressure-sensitive element, the image display mode setting means in the present invention is formed. By pressing the desired position of the electronic paper P using the input touch pen 16, a signal indicating the pressed position is sent to the image display adjustment unit 34 of the connected data supply unit 14, and a desired instruction or It is configured to be able to specify. In the present invention, an input method for performing a desired designation using the pressure-type input touch pen 16 and the transparent pressure-sensitive element is used. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an electric or optical pointing device is used. An input method may be used.

As shown in FIG. 3, the scanner unit 26 includes a cartridge loading unit 3 provided in the image data supply unit 14.
The film F of the cartridge C loaded in the cartridge 6 is sent out by rotating the spool rotation shaft 26b, and is conveyed toward the film storage part 26d by the guide roller pair 26a and the film feed roller pair 26c connected to the film feed motor. In the road, a reflector 26e, a diffusion plate 26f,
And a light source 26g provided with a light source 26g. The image reading unit 26i reads the transmitted light obtained by projecting the projection light toward the film F conveyed by the image reading unit 26i. Is equivalent to The scanner unit 26 also includes an amplifier (not shown) for amplifying and A / D converting the obtained read data, an A / D converter, and a data processing unit that performs predetermined processing on the read data to generate image data. Then, the amplifier, A /
Obtaining image data through a D converter and a data processing unit,
The obtained image data is sent to the memory / information search unit 30.

Further, the scanner unit 26 relates to the cartridge number and the photographing information recorded on the transparent magnetic recording layer provided corresponding to the photographing frame of the film F, and whether or not the image display form described later has been adjusted. The magnetic head 26j and the magnetic recording / reproducing unit 2
Get through 6k. The scanner unit 26 stores the information such as the read cartridge number into the memory / information search unit 3.
Send to 0.

The recording medium read / write unit 28 reads image data and editing data relating to an image display mode of an image to be described later from a card type recording medium K such as a PC card or a flash memory card. It corresponds to an image data acquisition unit in the present invention that can also write image data and edit data, and includes a card slot 38 above the image data supply unit 14 as shown in FIG.
The card-type recording medium K can be inserted. The recording medium read / write unit 28 sends image data obtained by reading to the memory / information search unit 30. Although the recording medium read / write unit 28 of the present embodiment reads a card-type recording medium K such as a PC card or a flash memory card, the present invention is not limited to the card-type recording medium.
Any known media such as a stick-shaped IC recording media such as an IC recording media “Memory Stick” manufactured by Co., Ltd. may be used.

The memory / information retrieval unit 30 includes a frame memory for recording and holding image data of a plurality of images obtained by reading the film F and a plurality of image data sent from the recording medium read / write unit 28, and a scanner unit. A memory for recording and holding film / image information and editing data sent from the recording medium reading / writing unit 26 and existing editing data set in the past for each cartridge number or file name.

The memory / information search unit 30 is a scanner unit 2
6. The film / image information sent from 6 is recorded and held, and when the information for adjusting the image display form is obtained in the film / image information, the information is recorded and held in the memory by referring to the cartridge number. The editing data relating to the past image display mode managed and stored by the cartridge number set is found. If no edit data is detected, preset default edit data is read. When the editing data is detected, the image data stored in the memory is sent to the image processing unit 32, and the editing data and the film / image information are sent to the image display adjusting unit 34. The image data sent to the image processing unit 32 is subjected to image processing and is finally sent to the image display adjustment unit 34. If no edit data is detected, the image data is sent to the image processing unit 32 and the default edit data and film / image information are sent to the image display adjustment unit 34. Image processing unit 3
The image data sent to 2 is subjected to image processing, and is finally sent to the image display adjustment unit 34. Note that even when the edit data is detected from the memory, default edit data may be sent to the image display adjustment unit 34 in order to edit and adjust the image display form in accordance with the designation by the input touch pen 16. .

The memory / information search unit 30 records and holds the file name and the edit data relating to the image display format sent from the recording medium read / write unit 28, and obtains the edit data relating to the image display format. In this case, the editing data is sent to the image display adjustment unit 34 together with the image data. Further, the editing data relating to the past image display mode managed and stored under the file name may be detected with reference to the file name, and may be sent to the image display adjusting unit 34. If the edit data cannot be obtained, the default edit data is read out and sent to the image display adjustment unit 34. Note that, even when the edit data is obtained, default edit data may be sent to the image display adjustment unit 34 in order to edit and adjust the image display form in accordance with an instruction from the input touch pen 16.

The image processing unit 32 performs image processing on the image data obtained by the scanner unit 26. The image processing unit 32 performs known processing as image processing, and uses, for example, an LUT (look-up table). Gray balance adjustment, gradation correction, density (brightness) adjustment, shooting light source type correction by matrix (MTX), image saturation adjustment (color adjustment), electronic scaling, grain suppression processing, sharpness enhancement processing, dodging Processing (compression / expansion of the density dynamic range) is performed as necessary, and further, a main subject extraction process for extracting a main subject photographed from image data, for example, a person, and a result of the main subject extraction are used. The top and bottom automatic recognition processing of the captured image and the like are performed as needed.

The image display adjusting section 34 is a section for adjusting the image display based on the edit data or the default edit data relating to the image display form sent from the memory / information search section 30. Default edit data is stored in memory
When sent from the information search unit 30, as shown in FIG.
Electronic Paix right page of spread pages - Pa P ₂ to a plurality of images are images displayed in a state of being orderly lengthwise and crosswise at a predetermined size. The image that is specified by specifying the position of the display image using the input touch pen 16, the electron pair of the left page - image is enlarged and displayed at a predetermined position on the path P _1. Electronic Bae - enlarge to path P _1, the image data of the designated display image, once transferred from the image display adjustment unit 34 to the image processing unit 32, where image data in which a predetermined electronic magnification processing is performed Is returned to the image display adjustment unit 34 and further sent to the image display unit 12.
In this embodiment, the enlarged display of the image is enlarged and displayed within one page, but may be enlarged and displayed over a plurality of pages.

Here, the default edit data is edit data in which the values of respective items shown in Table 1 described later are set in advance. For example, the "display position" is the electronic paper P shown in FIG. The coordinates of a predetermined position such as ₃ are as follows: “frame shape” is “rectangular frame”; “enlargement / reduction ratio” is “100%”; “rotation” is “0 °”; “N” is set in advance for “special display”.

The image display adjustment unit 34 can edit and adjust the image display mode based on the default editing data displayed in this manner by using the input touch pen 16. When editing and adjusting the image display mode, the user enters an edit mode by designating a predetermined position with the input touch pen 16. 5 shows an electron pair indicating the frame display frame to display the image data in a predetermined position in a fixed frame page (eg contents page displaying thumbnail images) - and path P _3, the electron pair - the path P ₄ pages There appears, electronic Bae - the path P _4, an example of the edited image display mode is shown.

[0028] of the frame display page e-Bae - The path P _3, image G1~G9 is displayed, e-Bae - to the path P _4, the image G
Images G1 ', G2', G3 ', G4', G5 'corresponding to 1, G2, G3, G4, G5, G6, G7 and G9.
An image display mode in which G6 ′, G7 ′, and G9 ′ are arranged at desired positions is displayed. Such an image display form, electronic Bae - with specified using an input pen 16 a desired image to be displayed on the path P _3, select "Copy" from a not shown processing tasks specified item, the input touch pen 16 electronic Bae used - by specifying a desired position of the path P _4, it may be arranged a desired image on a desired position. By using the input touch pen 16 to designate an image arranged at a desired position by such an operation and selecting "enlarge / reduce" from a processing operation designation item (not shown), the image can be enlarged like the image G1 '. it can. In such enlargement / reduction processing, the image data of the designated display image is temporarily transferred from the image display adjustment unit 34 to the image processing unit 32, and is subjected to a predetermined electronic scaling process. To the image display unit 12. In addition, an image arranged at a desired position is designated using the input touch pen 16, “outer frame shape” is selected from the processing operation designation items, and a specific shape, for example, “triangle shape” is selected from the sub-items. , A hexagonal shape, or a circular shape can be designated. In FIG. 5, the images G7 ′ and G9 ′ designate “circular”.

By using the input touch pen 16 to designate a desired process from among the process operation designation items, an image arranged at a desired position can be moved to a desired angle, for example, 90 degrees.
Can be rotated to the right or left by 180 degrees or 180 degrees ("rotation"). In FIG. 5, the image G4 is arranged at a desired position and rotated 90 degrees clockwise to obtain an image G4 ′.
Is positioned at a desired position and rotated 90 degrees to the left
5 'has been obtained. Further, a left-right reversal process for reversing the left-right direction can be performed (“reversal”).

Further, such rotation of the image can be manually set by the input touch pen 16, and the main subject to be photographed is extracted in advance by the image processing unit 32 using a known main subject extraction technique, and the vertical direction of the image is specified. On the other hand, the posture of the electronic album, for example, the vertical direction is specified by using a known posture detection technique using a posture detection sensor provided on the electronic album 10, and the display image is adjusted according to the specified posture of the electronic album 10. May be automatically set in the vertical direction. In addition, the extraction of the main shooting subject and the identification of the vertical direction of the image are performed as described below.
Personal computer 5 connected to electronic album 10
0, and in this case, the top and bottom directions of the specified image are sent to the electronic album 10.

Further, "write" is selected from the input touch pen 16 and the processing operation designation item, and a write comment L such as the character "2000 New Year" can be designated and filled in using the input touch pen 16. . Editing of such an image is not limited to the above-described processing, and any method may be used as long as it uses known processing that can be realized by retouching software for computer image processing. For example, a pre-registered template image, for example, as a background of the image, a pre-registered decoration or pattern may be displayed together with the image, or the decoration or pattern may be combined with a display image and displayed. Further, the registered template images may be appropriately exchanged and updated.

The image display form obtained in this way is
Like a conventional paper album, it can be set on each page of a plurality of electronic papers P as if an image print were to be arranged. At the same time, edit data as shown in Table 1 below is automatically compiled and created.

[0033]

[Table 1]

Here, the "processing number" is the identification number of the processing to be adjusted by the image display adjusting unit 34, and "image data"
Is the image data to be adjusted, "display page" is the page number of the electronic paper P of the image display unit 12, and "display position" is the display image of the display image from a predetermined reference position on each page. The center coordinates, “frame shape” indicates the outline frame shape of the display image, “enlargement / reduction ratio” indicates the enlargement / reduction ratio of the image, and “rotation” indicates the rotation angle of the image (in the present embodiment, left rotation is defined as normal rotation). ,
“Reverse” indicates the presence or absence of image reversal processing (“Y” or “N”), and “Special processing” indicates special processing instructions such as “movement processing” or “stereoscopic mode display” of an image, which will be described later. Show.

Further, the following image area 5 is used.
Information regarding the write comment according to the display mode 2 is automatically added and created as edit data.

[Table 2] Here, the “processing number” refers to an image display adjustment unit 3 described later.
4, the "display page" is the page number of the electronic paper P of the image display unit 12, and the "display position" is the write comment of the write comment from a predetermined reference position on each page. The center coordinates (which may be the writing start position) are shown.

In the editing mode, once the editing mode is created, it is recorded and held in the memory / information search unit 30 or recorded on the card type recording medium K, so that the film cartridge C or the card type recording medium K Is loaded or inserted into a predetermined position of the image data supply unit 14,
Editing data is obtained, and by using this editing data,
The image display form determined by the edit data can be automatically reproduced.

Further, when the image data has been read by the scanner unit 26, the image display adjustment unit 34 transfers the created edit data to the memory / information search unit 30. In the memory / information search unit 30, the edited data is
This is for recording and holding in the memory together with the cartridge number obtained when the scanner unit 26 reads an image.
Further, the image display adjustment unit 34 sends the information on which the edited data has been created to the magnetic recording / reproducing unit 26k of the scanner unit 26. This is for recording information indicating that the image display mode has been adjusted on the transparent magnetic recording layer of the film F. When the image data is read from the card type recording medium K, the editing data is sent to the recording medium reading / writing section 28 so that the recording medium reading / writing section 28 writes the image data on the card type recording medium K.

The image display adjustment unit 34 can further perform special processing such as temporal movement display of an image and display of a stereoscopic mode, in addition to editing and adjustment of the display image. For example, as described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 10-261071, when a page displaying an image on which temporal movement display is performed is opened, the image moves for a predetermined time. This is a moving image-like playback display that moves over. This movement display uses the input touch pen 16 to designate a desired image, designates “movement display” in the processing operation designation item,
By specifying the movement start position in the page at the time of departure of the image, the arrival position at the end, and the passing position during image movement, and further inputting the display time at each position, the editing data of the "move display" process Is created.

In the stereoscopic mode display, a pair of right-eye and left-eye images taken as a stereoscopic photograph is displayed as shown in FIG.
Is a display that is placed to the left and right to the sheet of the page across the electronic paper P _6. This display is performed by using the input touch pen 16.
Specify "stereoscopic display" in the image processing work specification item,
By specifying an image for stereoscopic display, an image for stereoscopic display, and a page for stereoscopic display, data relating to stereoscopic display is created in the edit data. Further, the entire surface black on both sides of a page of the electronic paper P ₆ in FIG. 6, which separates the line of sight of the right and left eyes or to display white, and may be configured to specify by using the input pen 16. Stereoscopic viewing can be facilitated by displaying black or white.

Incidentally, in order to make the stereoscopic mode display more appropriate and sophisticated, a conventionally known stereographic technique may be applied in the present invention. That is, a page in which a special lens sheet is pasted on the image display surface of the electronic paper of the electronic album may be prepared. For example, FIG.
As shown in (a) and (b), the electron pair in the electronic album 10 - as the special lens sheet on the image display surface of the path P _i, respectively, a lenticular lens (semicylindrical lens) sheet 40a and the compound lens sheet 40b The pasted page may be prepared. Incidentally, the special lens sheet, electron pair of the electronic album 10 - not limited those pasted on the image display surface of the path P _i, electron pair in alignment - one arranged on the image display surface of the path P _i it may be an electron pair by other means - it may be one that is fixed to the image display surface of the path P _i, electron pair - the image display surface of the path P _i, detachable There may be.

When displaying an image on this page, image processing for displaying a stereoscopic image is executed according to the type of the special lens sheet such as the lenticular lens sheet 40a or the compound eye lens sheet 40b to be pasted. For example, as shown in FIG. 7A, the lenticular lens sheet 4
In the case of 0a, the right-eye image and the left-eye image photographed at different angles are decomposed into a plurality of linear image elements according to the size and pitch of the lenticular lens, and recombined so as to be alternately arranged. Image processing is performed so as to be displayed as a single image, and the image is displayed on the image display surface. By observing the image composed of the linear image elements displayed in this way through the lenticular lens sheet 40, a stereoscopic image can be seen.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to such a binocular stereoscopic image, but a multi-view stereoscopic image with an increased number of photographing viewpoints is also possible. For example, as shown in FIG. 7B, in the case of using the compound eye lens sheet 40b or the like, a large number of images taken at different angles according to the size and pitch of the compound eye lens sheet 40b are combined with the compound eye lens sheet 40b. Image processing for decomposing and recombining the images so that the images can be stereoscopically viewed, and displaying the images on the image display surface. When the same image is displayed on a normal image display surface on which the special lens sheet is not attached or attached, display control for a normal screen is performed. That is, in the case of a normal image display, for example, when there is no lenticular lens sheet 40, image processing is performed from the right-eye image and the left-eye image so as to be an image from the central viewpoint, and as one image The display may be good, either the right-eye image or the left-eye image may be displayed, or an image separately taken from the central viewpoint may be displayed.

In the present invention, the electronic album 10
When displaying a stereoscopic image on a page of path P _i, not limited to displaying an image that is re-synthesized by the image processing, for example, of one electron pair - - Electronic Bae on the image display surface of the path P _i Lenticular lens sheet 40a to be attached
A pair of right-eye and left-eye linear images (in the case of a lenticular lens sheet) taken as a three-dimensional photograph through a special lens sheet identical to a special lens sheet such as a lens and a multi-lens sheet 40b, or a minute image with a slightly different angle ( (In the case of a compound eye lens sheet). Also in this case, the observer can view the displayed image as a stereoscopic image by observing the image through a special lens sheet. Incidentally, the one electron pair - image display path P _i, each lens of the special lens sheet or the like attached lenticular lens sheet 40a and the compound lens sheet 40b (size, pitch and the like included) exactly Align the position.

Examples of the special lens sheet used in the present invention include a lenticular lens sheet 40a and a compound-eye lens sheet 40b. As the lenticular lens, in addition to a lenticular lens having a three-dimensional or semi-cylindrical shape, a one-way lens A refractive index distribution type flat lens whose refractive index only changes may be used, or a compound eye lens such as a dragonfly eye for reproducing a stereoscopic image of an IP (integral photography) method. In addition to a compound eye lens in which many small lenses are gathered, a gradient index optical fiber or the like may be used. As described above, the stereoscopic image display using the special lens sheet is performed by using an image having depth information or a computer graphic (CG).
Suitable for displaying images.

The recording information of the transparent magnetic recording layer, which is read simultaneously when the film F is read by the scanner section 26, includes information of stereoscopic photography, and this information is identified by the image display adjustment section 34. In such a case, the “stereoscopic display” may be automatically set for a pair of image data corresponding thereto. In this case, "display page"
Is input by the input touch pen 16.

Further, a micro-photographing camera, for example, a CCD image pickup device is arranged in the electronic album 10, a person who uses the electronic album 10 is photographed from the photographing camera, a known main subject is extracted, and the electronic album 10 is used. It may have a function of identifying the viewing direction of the person by confirming the position of the person. For example, in the case where two people look at each other from the opposite side across the electronic album, or when they look at the same side, in FIG. 8A, the image is displayed on both pages of the double-sided spread page from the same direction. An image display mode in which the same image is displayed in the same direction in accordance with the viewers M ₁ and M ₂ may be used, or two persons located in opposite directions as shown in FIG. When M ₃ and M ₄ ) are viewed, the image display mode may be such that the same image is rotated by 180 degrees so that the vertical direction of the captured image is the same when viewed from each person. The edit data in such an image display form is handled as “multiple image display” in the special display. The input touch pen 16 is used to specify an image for performing such “multiple image display” and to specify a next page. Done.

Further, in the present invention, as a special display, as shown in FIG. 9A, one image can be displayed for two pages of two facing pages, for example, N pages and N + 1 pages. Further, one image may be displayed over two or more double-page spreads. At this time, as shown in FIG. 9A, it is preferable to display an image also at the binding margin at the boundary of the two-page spread and to display one image continuously. An image may not be displayed in the substitute portion, and a blank portion may be generated.

In the present invention, the image display unit 12
Is, as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of substantially sheet-shaped electronic papers.
It is not limited to one of the paws P bound on the spine 24 side,
As shown in FIG. 9B, both ends of a plurality of substantially sheet-shaped electronic papers P are connected to each other, that is, one end of the electronic paper P is connected to the other end of the next electronic paper P one after another. The image display unit 12 of the electronic album 10 for a plurality of pages may be configured to be continuous, folded in a bellows (accordion) shape, and bound on one side. Note that the binding side may be any of the folded sides. Moreover,
By making the binding portion detachable, a single horizontally long image such as a panoramic image can be displayed as necessary. In particular, in the case of displaying one horizontally long image that cannot be displayed with two facing pages shown in FIG. 9A, this method can display a continuous image even with three or more pages. It is preferred.

Further, an image classification display can be performed as a special display. The image classification display is an image display mode in which page classification information is assigned to a display page in advance and images are displayed according to the page classification information. For example, a photographing scene such as a person, a flower, an excursion, and an athletic meet, which is read by the magnetic head 26j of the scanner unit 26, sent to the image display adjusting unit 34, and identified and recorded on the transparent magnetic recording layer of the film F when photographing The image information having the image classification information that matches the page classification information is displayed on the page assigned to the page classification information by using the imaging information classified by the image classification date and the like as the image classification information. As specific examples of the page classification information and the image classification information, pages a _{1 to} a ₂ are classified by scene such as “person”, pages a _{3 to} a ₄ are “flower”, and pages b _{1 to} b ₂ are “excursion”. in b ₃ ~b ₄ pages occasions another classification and such as "athletic meeting", c ₁ to c ₂ pages "Hanako", and a person-specific classification such as "Taro" is c ₃ to c ₄ pages. When the photographed image does not have the image classification information, the page classification information can be set as the image classification information of the image by performing “copy” processing on the page having the page classification information assigned in advance. . Also, when an image is copied (copied) from another page classification information by the “copy” process, the image classification information of this image is automatically rewritten by the page classification information assigned to the page of the copy destination (copy destination) and automatically copied. Will be updated.

The image display mode of the above-described image classification display is treated as “classification display” in the special processing of the edited data. The input touch pen 16 is used to specify the range of the image to be classified and displayed, Edit data is created by designating “category display” in the designated items, and by designating “page classification information” and “display page”. If the image does not fit on the pre-assigned page,
The image display mode may be an image display mode in which the image display is sequentially updated at predetermined time intervals. Also, automatically assigning pages are updated to automatically expand the number of pages, and page classification information that does not fit in a preset page. The display page assigned to the page classification information appearing thereafter may be updated. For such an image display mode, it is preferable to designate either “time update display” or “page designation update display” when “classification display” is designated in advance.

The edit data of the special display described above is formed as a part of the edit data created by the designation of the normal processing such as "copy" or "enlargement". , Memory / information search unit 3
0, or recorded on the card type recording medium K, the editing data of the special display can be obtained by simply loading or inserting the film cartridge C or the card type recording medium K into a predetermined position from the next time, Using this edit data, the image display form of the special display determined by the edit data can be automatically reproduced. When the images are overlapped by editing and adjusting the arrangement of the images, the images in the processing order may be set to be displayed on the upper surface of the image display, or may be set to be displayed on the lower surface. May be set to be combined. The image adjustment unit 34 is configured as described above.

The communication connection section 35 constitutes a data communication means enabling communication connection with another electronic album, a computer, a communication network or the like, and includes a known communication board, for example, a SCSI board, an infrared communication board, an Ethernet ( (Registered trademark) board or modem. For example, as shown in FIG. 10A, the electronic album 10 is communicably connected to another electronic album 10 ′ via a communication cable or a radio such as an infrared ray, and between the electronic album 10 and the electronic album 10 ′. You can edit images. For example, the display image of the electronic album 10 can be pasted at a desired position on a desired page by designating the copy destination as the electronic album 10 ′ by “copy” processing. In this case, the input touch pen 16 can be used to specify not only the image unit but also the page unit and the range.
At that time, the image data of the transferred image may be recorded on a card type recording medium K ′ inserted in the electronic album 10 ′.

As shown in FIG. 10B, the communication connection unit 35 is communicably connected to the personal computer 50 via a communication cable or wireless communication such as infrared rays, and transmits image data and edit data to the personal computer 50. Or receive image data and edited data from the personal computer 50. For example, after the image data is previously processed in the personal computer 50 by executing software having functions equivalent to or higher than the processing of the image adjustment unit 34 to perform high-accuracy image processing, and after editing the image display form, In addition, image data and edit data can be transmitted to the electronic album 10, and an image can be displayed on the electronic album 10 in a desired image display mode. in this case,
The image data and the edited data may be recorded and held in the personal computer 50 and managed. Of course, by connecting the electronic album 10 'to the personal computer 50, image data and editing data can be transferred from the electronic album 10 to the electronic album 10' via the personal computer 50. In this case, the editing data for the electronic album 10 'is transferred.

The image data supply unit 14 is provided with a voice input means, for example, a microphone, capable of inputting voice data accompanying the image data or the image display form of each page of the electronic paper P. And an audio data conversion board for creating audio data, an audio output means, for example, a conversion board for converting audio data into an audio signal, and a speaker. If audio data accompanies each page displayed according to image data or image display mode, a page accompanying the audio data or
When a page on which an image accompanying the audio data is displayed is turned, the audio data is reproduced and audio is output after a predetermined set time (audio output start time). Whether the page is turned is determined by a page angle detection sensor including a photoelectric sensor and the like provided in the image data supply unit 14. Such a voice input unit and a voice output unit may be built in the image display unit 12. For these audio outputs, “audio output” and “audio output start time” may be written in the edit data by the input touch pen 16 described above. In addition, “audio output” may be set in advance so that audio is automatically output in addition to the setting using the input touch pen 16 when image data or audio data accompanying the image is present. Good.

The image data supply unit 14 is provided with the above-described micro-photographing camera. The photographing image is used to determine the installation environment, for example, lightness information such as bright and dark, and illumination light characteristic information such as strong reddish or strong green. May be provided, and the display output of the display image may be adjusted according to the determination result determined by the installation environment determining unit. For example, if the viewing place when viewing the electronic album 10 is dark, the brightness and contrast of the image are increased, and if the illumination light is tinted, the tint of the image is canceled so as to negate the tint. Adjust to Such image adjustment is performed in the image processing unit 32 of the image data supply unit 14 by, for example, gray balance adjustment using a LUT (look-up table), gradation correction, density (brightness) adjustment, and matrix (MTX). It is adjusted by the correction of the light source type of the photographing and the saturation adjustment (color adjustment) of the image. The electronic album 10 is configured as described above.

Next, the image display method of the present invention will be described based on the above-described electronic album 10.

First, the film cartridge C is loaded into the cartridge loading section 36, and scanning is performed by the scanner section 26. In the scanning, the film F of the cartridge C loaded in the cartridge loading unit 36 is moved to the spool rotating shaft 26b.
Is rotated and fed, and a pair of guide rollers 26a and a pair of film feed rollers 26c connected to a film feed motor are provided.
Then, the image reading unit 26i obtains read data of the transmitted light obtained by projecting the projection light toward the film F conveyed from the light source unit 26h in the conveyance path conveyed toward the film storage unit 26d. The read data is converted into image data via an amplifier, an A / D converter, and a data processing unit (not shown), and sent to the memory / information search unit 30.

At this time, the film / image information, such as the cartridge number, the photographing information, and the information on whether or not the image display mode has been adjusted, recorded on the transparent magnetic recording layer of the film F by the magnetic head 26j is read and obtained. The received information is sent to the memory / information search unit 30. The image data sent to the memory / information search unit 30 and the film / image information read by the magnetic head 26j are stored in the memory
The information that is recorded and held in the information search unit 30 and that is read from the information read by the magnetic head 26j is searched for information on whether or not the image display mode has been adjusted, and it is determined that the image display mode has been adjusted. If so, the edit data is searched in the memory of the memory / information search unit 30 stored and managed by the cartridge number with reference to the cartridge number, and the edit data is detected and called.
If no edit data is detected, or if it is determined that the image display mode has not been adjusted in the past, the default edit data is called. The detected edit data or default edit data is sent to the image adjustment unit 34 together with the film / image information.

On the other hand, the image data is sent to the image processing section 32, where the above-described various image processing is performed, and the processed image data is sent to the image display adjusting section 34. The image display adjusting unit 34 edits the image data according to the sent editing data or default editing data, and displays an image display form based on the editing data on each page of the plurality of electronic papers P of the image display unit 12. An image is displayed. State where a plurality of images on path P ₂ is arranged neatly vertically and horizontally at a predetermined size - image display mode is an image displayed by default edit data, as shown in FIG. 4, the electron pair of the right page of spread pages Image is displayed, and the image specified by specifying the position in the display image using the input touch pen 16 is
Of the left page e-Bae - it is displayed on the path P _1.

[0060] Editing image display mode based on such default edit data, if you want to adjust, to specify the edit mode by the input pen 16, the electron pair, such as shown in FIG. 5 - thumbnail images displayed on the path P ₃ While using the input touch pen 16 to specify, the input touch pen 1
By selecting “copy” from a processing operation designation item (not shown) using 6 and designating a desired position of the electronic paper P ₄ , an image can be arranged. In addition to normal processing such as “enlargement / reduction”, “outer frame shape”, “writing”, “rotation” and “reversal” as processing work items by the input touch pen 16, an image moves like a moving image as special processing. "Move display", "stereoscopic display", "multiple image display", "classified display", etc., in which the arrangement direction is changed according to the viewer of the same image, can be designated. In addition, the memory / information search unit 3
When the edit data is detected by referring to the cartridge number from the memory of 0, the detected edit data is used,
The image display mode displayed in the past is reproduced as it is.

When the edited data is adjusted and edited, the edited data is sent to the memory / information search unit 30, and the edited data is recorded and held in the memory based on the cartridge number. The image data and the edited data read by the scanner unit 26 and displayed on the electronic album 10 are sent to the recording medium read / write unit 28, and the inserted card type recording medium K
May be recorded and saved as new image data and edited data.

On the other hand, when the image data and the edit data accompanying the image data are read from the card type recording medium K by using the recording medium read / write unit 28, the image data and the edit data are stored in the memory / information search unit 30. Sent to When the edit data accompanying the image data is not read, only the image data is sent to the memory / information search unit 30. In the memory / information search unit 30, when there is no edit data attached to the image data, the default edit data is called, and the default edit data is sent to the image display adjustment unit 34 together with the image data. If there is edit data attached to the image data, the edit data and the image data are sent to the image display adjustment unit 34 together with the edit data.

The image display adjustment unit 34 performs the same processing as when the image data is read from the scanner unit 26, and the image display unit 12 displays an image in an image display form based on the edit data or the default edit data. Display is performed. In the present embodiment, the image display mode of the electronic album 10 is edited and adjusted.
As shown in (a), the electronic album 10 is connected to another electronic album 10 ′, and receives editing data or image data as necessary from this electronic album 10 ′.
An image display mode may be set, and FIG.
As shown in (b), the electronic album 10 is stored in the computer 50.
And connected to the computer 50, the editing data relating to the image display mode set in the computer 50, or the editing data relating to the image display mode recorded and stored in the computer 50 is received from the computer 50 together with the image data as necessary, An image may be displayed on the image display unit 12 using the edited data obtained by reception.

As described above, the image processing apparatus and the image processing method of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to various embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and does not depart from the gist of the present invention. Of course, various improvements and changes may be made.

[0065]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the above-described various electric paper sheets (electronic paper sheets) can be used.
By using (p), a plurality of image display media are bundled and provided as an integrated image display unit, and images are displayed according to a preset image display mode. In addition, the displayed image can be easily viewed without reducing the image size. Further, since the image display mode can be edited according to the user's preference, an electronic album rich in entertainment can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing an electronic album which is an embodiment of an image display device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of the electronic album shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram illustrating a configuration of an embodiment of a scanner unit illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of an image display mode of the electronic album shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the image display mode of the electronic album shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining another embodiment of the image display mode of the electronic album shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are schematic perspective views of another embodiment of the electronic album shown in FIG. 1, respectively.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are explanatory diagrams illustrating another embodiment of the image display mode of the electronic album shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9A is an explanatory diagram illustrating another embodiment of the image display mode of the electronic album illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4B is an explanatory diagram illustrating another example of the configuration of the electronic album illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are explanatory diagrams illustrating communication forms of the electronic album shown in FIG. 1, respectively.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 10 'electronic album 12 image display unit 14 image data supply unit 16 input touch pen 22a, 22b binding hardware 24 spine 26 scanner unit 28 recording medium read / write unit 30 memory / information search unit 32 image processing unit 34 image display adjustment Unit 35 Communication connection unit 36 Cartridge loading unit 38 Card slot 40a Lenticular lens sheet 40b Compound eye lens sheet 50 Personal computer P Electronic paper

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G09G 3/36 G09G 3/36 F-term (Reference) 5B069 BA05 HA13 JA06 JA08 5C006 BB11 EC08 5C080 AA09 BB05 DD01 EE29 JJ01 JJ02 JJ06 5C094 AA01 AA14 DA01 DA05 DA06 DA08 DA20 HA08 5G435 AA01 BB12 EE10 EE31 EE49 LL03

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. An image data acquisition unit for acquiring image data, and a plurality of substantially sheet-shaped image display media for displaying images using the image data obtained by the image data acquisition unit are bundled and integrated. An image display unit, an image display mode setting unit that sets an image display mode when displaying images on the image display surfaces of a plurality of image display media of the image display unit, and an image display mode setting unit that sets the image display mode. And an image display adjusting unit for adjusting a display image according to the image display mode. 2. An image display mode setting means for designating an image display surface for displaying an image of one of the plurality of image display media, the image display surface within the designated image display surface Specifying the image display position, specifying the size of the display image, specifying the layout direction of the display image, specifying the inversion processing of the display image, specifying the shape of the outer frame of the display image, specifying the display of the template image, or displaying the template image 2. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the image display mode is set by performing at least one of a designation of a combining process with the input and a designation of input of a write comment. 3. The image display mode setting means has a transmission type input element provided on the image display surface of the image display medium, and sets the image display mode using the transmission type input element. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the image display device performs the operation. 4. The image display adjustment unit according to claim 1, wherein the image display adjustment unit arranges and adjusts a plurality of images on the plurality of image display media according to page classification information assigned to the plurality of image display media. An image display device according to any one of the above. 5. The image display device according to claim 1, further comprising a data communication unit that communicates the image data with an external device or a communication network. . 6. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the image display adjustment unit adjusts a display output of a display image according to an installation environment. 7. The image display device according to claim 1, further comprising: a memory for storing said image data or audio data associated with said image display surface; and said image data or said image. Image input means for inputting the audio data associated with a display surface, or audio output means for reproducing and outputting audio data when the memory has the image data or the audio data associated with the image display surface. An image display device characterized by the above-mentioned. 8. The image display device according to claim 1, further comprising a lens sheet provided on said image display surface of said image display medium. 9. The image display device according to claim 8, wherein said lens sheet is a lenticular sheet or a compound eye lens sheet. 10. A method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of substantially sheet-shaped image display media for displaying an image using image data are bundled and integrated, and an image display mode indicating a display mode of an image on the image display medium is set. Image display method. 11. The image display mode according to claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of image display media is designated as an image display surface for displaying an image, and the image in the designated image display surface is designated. Specifying the display position, specifying the size of the display image, specifying the layout direction of the display image, specifying the inversion process of the display image, specifying the shape of the outer frame of the display image, specifying the display of the template image, or specifying the synthesis process of the template image ,
The image display method according to claim 10, wherein the image display method is set by performing at least one of input of a write comment and a write comment. 12. The image display mode is set by arranging a plurality of images on a plurality of image display media according to page classification information assigned to the plurality of image display media. Or the image display method according to 11.