JP2002101330A - Digital image pickup device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital image pickup device that can easily set photographing conditions and image processing conditions the same as those for an image precedingly photographed. SOLUTION: Whether or not a condition selection mode where the same photographing conditions and image processing conditions as those of the image precedingly photographed are set is discriminated (step 102), and when the selection of the condition selection mode is discriminated, a display device displays the image precedingly photographed (step 104), photographing condition data and image processing condition information included in image data of a picture selected among displayed thumbnail pictures are read and various components of the digital camera are set on the basis of the photographing condition data and image processing condition information that are read (step 108).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital photographing apparatus and, more particularly, to various photographing conditions such as zoom position, sensitivity, and strobe issuing information, and various images such as compression ratio, gradation, sharpness, and number of pixels. The present invention relates to a digital photographing apparatus such as an electronic still camera that performs photographing by electrically controlling processing conditions.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, it is common to provide a digital photographing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as an electronic still camera) with a monitor screen composed of an LCD or the like. This monitor screen displays a playback image based on the image data stored in the memory by shooting to check the image shot by the photographer, displays various information such as the camera shooting mode, and sets the camera settings. Is configured to be easily performed.

[0003]

For example, when photographing a train or a locomotive, it is expected that a plurality of similar photographing opportunities exist. With a digital camera, the photographer can check the image displayed on the monitor screen to determine whether or not the image was captured successfully.Therefore, the shooting conditions (e.g., shutter speed, aperture value, white Other combinations under the same conditions as combinations of balance, focal length (focus), strobe presence, and zoom position) and image processing conditions (eg, compression ratio, gradation, sharpness enhancement, number of pixels, etc.) There is a demand that they want to take a photo opportunity.

Conventionally, techniques for storing photographing conditions are disclosed in JP-A-6-30312 and JP-A-6-308.
394, JP-A-7-2822159, JP-A-9-233420, and the like.

[0005] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 6-30312 discloses a technique in which the previous photographing conditions are temporarily stored so that simple confirmation can be performed. This is a technique for confirming immediately after shooting, for example, when the owner of the digital camera requests shooting by another person or when shooting with a self-timer. In this technique, since only the previous shooting conditions are stored, the required memory capacity is minimized, and the configuration is simplified and the cost reduction effect is obtained.

[0006] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-308394 discloses that
In a film recording type microphotographing system, a technique for recording photographing conditions at the time of photographing on an information recording medium different from a film for recording an image is disclosed.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2159 discloses information on imaging conditions when a specific imaging target whose temporal change is seen, such as when medical imaging is performed using an X-ray CT scanner, is taken in a medical image diagnostic apparatus. This is a technique in which the image is recorded on a recording medium, and then the object to be imaged can be imaged under the same imaging conditions.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-233420 discloses a technique for storing photographing conditions together with image data of an image photographed by a photographing device such as a digital camera and communicating with other photographing devices by wire or wirelessly. ing. This is a technique in which the photographing conditions of an image photographed by a photographing device can be copied to another photographing device without using an information processing device such as a computer.

However, in these techniques,
For example, shooting conditions such as shutter speed, aperture value, white balance, focal length (focus), presence / absence of flash, and zoom position) and image processing conditions such as compression ratio, gradation, sharpness enhancement, and number of pixels Cannot be set to the same as the previous shooting or the same as the previous shooting.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-184154 discloses a method of selecting photographing information by referring to photographing information obtained at the time of photographing previously and image information recorded on a recording medium for recording the image information. There has been proposed an information handling apparatus including a photographing condition setting unit for setting information in an image recording / reproducing apparatus.

However, since this information handling apparatus is also configured to set the image recording / reproducing apparatus with reference to only the photographing conditions, the combination conditions of the photographing conditions and the image processing conditions are the same as those of the previous photographing or the previous photographing. It cannot be set the same as the previous shooting.

Therefore, in order to set the combined condition of the photographing condition and the image processing condition to be the same as that of the previous photographing or the same as the previous photographing, the photographer needs various photographing conditions and image processing conditions. Must be stored, and the digital camera must be manually set so that the various shooting conditions and image processing conditions stored at the time of the next shooting are obtained. In particular, the focal length
It is difficult to manually set the (focus), zoom position, and the like to exactly the same settings as the previous time.

In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a digital photographing apparatus which can easily set the same photographing conditions and image processing conditions as those previously photographed.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object,
2. A digital photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the condition information storage means stores photographing condition information and image processing condition information at the time of photographing the image in association with image data of the photographed image, and image data of the photographed image. Display means for displaying a reproduced image based on, a selecting means for selecting a reproduced image displayed on the display means, the photographing condition information stored in association with image data of the reproduced image selected by the selecting means, and A condition setting unit that reads out image processing condition information and sets photographing conditions and image processing of the digital photographing apparatus based on the photographing condition information and the image processing condition information.

According to the present invention, the condition information storage means stores the photographing condition information and the image processing condition information of the image in association with the image data of the photographed image, and the reproduced image displayed on the display means is selected by the selecting means. Is selected, the condition setting means reads out the shooting condition information and the image processing condition information stored corresponding to the image data of the selected reproduced image, and stores the read shooting condition information and image processing condition information in the read-out shooting condition information and image processing condition information. The photographing conditions of the digital photographing device are set based on the setting.

As described above, the digital photographing apparatus of the present invention can set the photographing condition and the image processing condition information of the next photographing so that the same photographing condition and image processing condition information as the selected image are obtained. Therefore, it is easy to set shooting conditions and image processing condition information for the next shooting with the same shooting conditions and image processing condition information as those of the images that were determined to have been successfully shot by the photographer from the previously shot images. Can be.

The photographing condition information of the present invention includes, for example, a shutter speed, an aperture value (aperture opening amount), a white balance, whether or not a strobe is used, and a focal length.
Various conditions such as (focus position), sensitivity, and zoom position (angle of view) may be used as long as they are set in the digital photographing apparatus at the time of shooting, but preferably, the presence or absence of a strobe, sensitivity, and zoom position (angle of view) ) May be included. Further, as the image processing condition information of the present invention,
Preferably, at least one of the compression ratio, the gradation, the sharpness, and the number of pixels is included.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1A, a digital camera 10 to which the present invention is applied has a main body 11 having a substantially box shape, and a lens unit 14, a photographing range, and the like are visually checked on the front side of the main body 11. Finder 1 for
5. A strobe 16 for emitting auxiliary light for photographing at low illuminance or the like is attached.

A slot 23 in which a memory card 18 as an information storage medium such as a smart media can be inserted is provided on the right side of the main body 11 when viewed from the front. The mode dial 47 and the power switch 21 are provided on the left side when viewed from above, and the central part of the mode dial 47 is the shutter button 12.

The mode dial 47 is a dial for selecting an operation mode of the digital camera. Examples of the mode dial 47 include an auto shooting mode, a manual shooting mode, a self-timer shooting mode, a playback mode, a PC mode for connecting a personal computer to output an image, and Select one of the setup item setting modes for setting the initial conditions of various functions.

Further, as shown in FIG.
A reflective LCD or a transmissive front LCD
A color display 46 composed of a monochrome liquid crystal display panel 13, a strobe button 17, a cross button 19,
And various selection buttons such as a menu execution button 25 are provided.

The display 46 is composed of a liquid crystal display panel having a screen size of, for example, about 640.times.480 pixels. When an image display instruction is given, the display 46 includes image data stored in a memory 42 described later and a memory card 1
Based on the image data read from the display unit 8, the image is displayed on the entire screen, a plurality of reduced images are displayed side by side (hereinafter, referred to as thumbnail display), and various function selection screens are displayed. The liquid crystal display panel 13 displays current settings of the digital camera, such as an operation mode, image quality, battery amount, strobe light emission / non-emission, and the number of shootable images. Note that the display 46 corresponds to a display unit of the present invention.

The cross button 19 is a button for selecting a button displayed on the display 46 or moving a cursor when the display 46 is a various item selection screen. The flash button 17 is a button for issuing a compulsory flashing instruction when forcibly firing the strobe or issuing a flashing prohibition instruction when prohibiting the flashing. The menu execution button 25 is displayed on the display 46 with a cross button. This is a button for issuing an instruction to execute the item selected in step 19. Note that the cross button 19 corresponds to the selection unit of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a configuration of an electric system of the digital camera 10. Specifically, the lens unit 14 is a zoom lens mechanism (focal length variable lens) having a mechanism (autofocus (AF) mechanism) capable of changing a focal position by a driving force of a driving source such as a stepping motor. AF mechanism and zoom mechanism are the driving circuit 2
4 driven. Instead of the zoom lens mechanism, a fixed focal length lens having only an AF mechanism may be used.

An image pickup device 30 composed of an area CCD and provided with an electronic shutter mechanism is disposed at a position corresponding to the focal position of the lens unit 14 inside the main body 11, and is reflected from a subject and enters the lens unit 14. The formed light is imaged on the light receiving surface of the imaging device 30.

The imaging device 30 accumulates charges corresponding to the amount of incident light in accordance with the exposure control value, and outputs the accumulated charges, that is, image signals, to the analog signal processing section 36 via an amplifier (not shown). I do.

The analog signal processing section 36 performs predetermined analog signal processing (for example, noise reduction processing) on the input image signal, and outputs the image signal to the A / D conversion section 38. The A / D converter 38 converts the input analog signal into a digital signal and outputs the digital signal to the digital signal processor 40.

The digital signal processing unit 40 performs predetermined digital signal processing such as gradation processing, sharpness enhancement processing, pixel number adjustment processing, and shading correction processing on the input digital signal, and performs image data processing. Is output to the memory 42 via the bus 70. At this time,
For example, the gradation, the degree of sharpness enhancement, and the number of pixels are temporarily stored in the memory 42 as image processing condition information.

The digital signal processing section 40 outputs a video signal when an external device is connected to a video output terminal (not shown). The digital signal processing unit 40
When a thumbnail display instruction is issued from the control unit 22,
A plurality of thumbnail images stored in association with each of the plurality of image data stored in the memory are displayed on the display.

The memory 42 has a digital signal processor 40
The image data and various shooting conditions output from are temporarily stored (details will be described later). The memory 42 is a floppy (registered trademark) disk (FD), PC card, MO, H
If a write instruction is given to a memory card 18 such as iFD (trade name; manufactured by Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.), a magneto-optical disk, or a smart media, the stored image data and various shooting conditions are output. The image data output from the memory 42 is compressed by the compression / expansion unit 44 and then externally interfaced by the memory card drive 20.
(Hereinafter referred to as an external I / F) 43. The compression ratio at this time is temporarily stored in the memory 42 as image processing condition information.

The image data output from the memory 42 can be set so as to be written without being compressed by the compression / expansion unit 44. The external I / F 43 is provided with a digital IO port 31 so that image data can be output to other devices connected to the digital IO port 31.

When an instruction to reproduce (display) an image based on the image data stored in the memory card 18 is given, the image data is read out from the memory card 18 and stored in the memory 42, and then the image data is read out. The signal processing unit 40 transfers the data to a liquid crystal drive circuit (not shown) to display (reproduce) an image on the display 46. If the read image data is compressed and stored, the compressed image data is expanded (decompressed) by the compression / decompression unit 44.
After that, it is stored in the memory 42.

The memory 42 stores the image data output from the digital signal processor 40 via the data bus. At this time, if a write instruction is given to the memory card 18, the stored image data is compressed by the compression / decompression unit 44 and written via the external interface (external I / F) 43. Note that it is also possible to set so that the data is written without compression by the compression / expansion unit 44. The external I / F 43 has a digital I / F.
An O port 31 is provided so that image data can be output to another device connected to the digital IO port 31.

When an instruction to reproduce (display) an image based on the image data stored in the memory card 18 loaded in the slot 23 is issued, the image data is read from the memory card 18. At this time, if there is an instruction to read out the photographing conditions, the photographing condition data (photographing condition information) stored in association with the image data, for example, the image data is J
In the case of a file in the PEG format, the photographing conditions written in the tag are read out together with the image data and temporarily stored in the memory 42 or the RAM 22c of the control unit described later. The details will be described later.

If the image data read from the memory card 18 has been compressed and stored, the compressed image data is expanded (decompressed) by the compression / expansion unit 44 and then stored in the memory 42. . Then, the digital signal processing unit 40 transfers the image data stored in the memory 42 to a liquid crystal drive circuit (not shown) and causes the display 46 to display (reproduce) the image.

The control unit 22 includes a CPU 22a, a ROM 22
b, a RAM 22c, and a shutter button 12, a memory card drive 2 via a bus 70.
0, drive circuit 24, menu execution button 25, distance measuring unit 3
2. Photometry unit 34, memory 42, compression / expansion unit 44, display 46, mode dial 47, and external I / F 43
And other various components of the digital camera 10. The control unit 22 corresponds to a condition information storage unit and a condition setting unit of the present invention.

The ROM 22b has a control program for controlling the above-mentioned various components connected to the control section 22, and a condition setting program for reading out the photographing conditions stored together with the image data and setting them as the photographing conditions for the next photographing. It is remembered. The condition setting program will be described later. The RAM 22c stores various data necessary for the programs input via the bus 70.

The drive circuit 24 connected to the control unit 22 via the bus 70 includes the lens unit 14, the strobe 16, the shutter 26, the aperture 28, and the image pickup device 3
0 is connected. The imaging device 30 is, for example, C
It is configured to include an image sensor such as a CD.

When the power switch 21 is turned on and the power is turned on from off, the CPU 22a
The control program is read from 2b, and initialization processing of various components is performed.

Further, the CPU 22a controls an exposure control value, for example, a sensitivity, an aperture value (aperture opening amount), a shutter speed, a strobe 1 based on a photometric value measured by the photometric unit 34.
6 to determine whether or not to emit light, and output to the drive circuit 24. Then, when the shutter button 12 is pressed,
The drive circuit 24 drives the shutter 26, the aperture 28, the strobe 16, and the imaging device 30 based on the exposure control value, and captures a subject image transmitted through the lens unit 14.

Here, the condition setting processing based on the condition setting program by the CPU 22a will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Here, the image data is a JPEG format file, and the shooting conditions are JPEG format.
It is stored in the tag part of the format file.

First, in step 100, it is determined whether the mode is the photographing mode. If it is determined in step 100 that the current mode is the shooting mode, the process proceeds to step 102 to determine whether the mode is the condition selection mode. In the present embodiment, the condition selection mode includes, for example, a digital camera such as a shutter speed, an aperture value (aperture opening amount), a white balance, presence or absence of a strobe, a focal length (focus position), and a zoom position (field angle). 10 shooting conditions and, for example, compression ratio, gradation,
Image processing condition information such as sharpness enhancement and the number of pixels should be set so that they match the conditions of other previously captured images.
This mode is set by the PU 22a.

If it is determined in step 102 that the mode is the condition selection mode, the process proceeds to step 104, and if it is determined that the mode is not the condition selection mode, the process proceeds to step 118.

In step 104, the image data stored in the memory card 18 is read out to the display 46, and the thumbnail image is displayed on the display 46 based on the thumbnail image display data included in the image data. At this time, a plurality of thumbnail images may be displayed on the display 46, or one thumbnail image may be displayed. Preferably, a display switching unit for switching between a mode for displaying one thumbnail image and a mode for displaying a plurality of thumbnail images may be provided.

The thumbnail image displayed on the display 46 is configured to be selectable by the cross button 19, and in the next step 106, it is determined whether or not a specific thumbnail image is selected by the cross button 19, and if it is selected, Go to step 108, read the shooting conditions and image processing conditions stored together with the thumbnail images, and read the shooting conditions and image processing conditions so that the shooting conditions and image processing conditions of the digital camera 10 are read. Various components are controlled based on the processing conditions, and the process proceeds to step 110.

In the present embodiment, the shooting conditions stored together with the thumbnail images include, for example, shutter speed, aperture value (aperture opening amount), white balance, presence / absence of strobe, focal length (focus position), sensitivity. And all of the zoom position (angle of view) and the like are included. of course,
Of these, the condition may include at least one of the sensitivity, the zoom position (angle of view), and the presence or absence of a strobe.
The image processing condition is a condition including all of the compression ratio, gradation, sharpness enhancement, and the number of pixels. Of course, the condition may include at least one of these conditions. In the case of a digital camera that does not have a zoom mechanism, it may be configured so that even if information on the zoom position is described in the image data, it is not read.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 102 that the mode is not the condition selection mode, the process proceeds to step 116.
In step 118, after the CPU 22 a adjusts the above-described shooting conditions to the desired settings of the photographer based on the measurement results of the built-in measuring system such as the distance measuring unit and the photometric unit, or manually adjusts them, the process proceeds to step 110. Move to

In step 110, the shutter button 12
It is determined whether or not has been pressed. If it is determined that the button has been pressed, the process proceeds to step 112 to perform a shooting process. In addition,
Since the photographing process is well known, a detailed description is omitted here.

In the next step 114, the JPEG image data generated by the photographing process is temporarily stored in the memory 42. At this time, the CPU 22a stores the shooting condition and the image processing condition at the time of the shooting process in the tag of the generated JPEG format image data. Here, the shooting conditions and the image processing conditions at the time of the shooting process are stored in the tag of the image data. However, the tag may be stored in an area different from the image data in association with the image data. . Further, since the data of the photographing conditions is extremely small compared to the image data, the number of images that can be stored does not decrease.

In the next step 116, it is determined whether or not the photographing has been completed. In this determination, it is determined that the shooting is completed when the mode is switched from the shooting mode to the image playback mode or when the power is turned off. If it is determined that the shooting has not been completed, the process returns to step 102, and the above-described processing is repeated. If it is determined that the photographing has been completed, the present routine ends.

In this embodiment, the image data is J
Although the case of the PEG format file has been described, the present invention is not limited to the JPEG format file, but may be a TIFF format file, a BMP format file, a TGA format file, a GIF format file, a PICT format file, a Pixar format file. The present invention can be applied to various image files such as files and EPSF format files.

Further, since the photographing condition and the image processing condition of the camera can be set to be exactly the same as the condition of photographing once, the change of the light state of the same photographing object such as morning sun, daytime, sunset, etc. It is also possible to detect.

[0052]

As described above, according to the present invention, the digital photographing apparatus can be easily set to the same photographing conditions and image processing conditions as those previously photographed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing an appearance of a front side of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a back side of the digital camera shown in FIG. 1A. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance.

FIG. 2 is an electric block diagram of the digital camera according to the embodiment.

3 is a control routine of a condition setting process based on a condition setting program by a CPU 22a of a control unit in FIG. 2;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Digital camera 11 Main body 12 Shutter button 13 Liquid crystal display panel 14 Lens unit 15 Viewfinder 16 Strobe 17 Strobe button 18 Memory card 19 Cross button (selection means) 20 Memory card drive 21 Power switch 22 Control unit (condition information storage means; condition setting) Means) 22a CPU 22b ROM 22c RAM 23 Slot 24 Drive circuit 25 Menu execution button 26 Shutter 30 Imaging device 31 Port 32 Distance measurement unit 34 Photometry unit 36 Analog signal processing unit 38 A / D conversion unit 40 Digital signal processing unit 42 Memory 43 External interface 44 Compression / expansion unit 46 Display (display means) 47 Mode dial 70 Bus

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. Condition information storage means for storing photographing condition information and image processing condition information at the time of photographing an image in association with image data of the photographed image, and displaying a reproduced image based on the image data of the photographed image Display means for selecting, a selection means for selecting a reproduced image displayed on the display means, and reading out the photographing condition information and the image processing condition information stored in association with the image data of the reproduced image selected by the selection means. And a condition setting means for setting photographing conditions of the digital photographing device and setting of image processing based on the photographing condition information and the image processing condition information. 2. The photographing condition information includes at least one of zoom position, sensitivity, and strobe issuing information, and the image processing condition information includes at least one of a compression ratio, a gradation, a sharpness, and a number of pixels. The digital photographing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: