JP2002152662A - Electronic camera device and picture processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic camera device provided with a function which can efficiently confirm processing and a prescribed picture operating on a picture with respect to multiple pictures recorded on a recording medium in plural related picture units. SOLUTION: In a main control part 3, a plurality of the pictures collected on an index picture in a date unit are displayed by an index display processing part 34 and a picture operation part 36. When an operation input part 6 designates a deletion mode, a deletion control part 35 collectively deletes a plurality of the pictures collected in the date unit displayed on the index picture from the recording medium 9.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic camera device having an improved function of erasing an image recorded on a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, electronic cameras (also referred to as digital cameras), which convert a subject into image data by an electronic imaging function and record the image data on a recording medium, have become widespread. The electronic camera is configured to use a detachable recording medium to record photographed image data on the recording medium.

As a recording medium, for example, a memory card composed of a flash memory, a very small hard disk drive, a magneto-optical (MO) disk, and the like are frequently used. In recent years, the capacity of recording media has been increased, and the capacity of memory cards having relatively small capacities has been increased. For this reason, it is possible to record a large number of images (although it increases or decreases according to the number of pixels) on one recording medium.

[0004]

In recent years, electronic cameras have
Since a large number of images can be recorded on a recording medium, a large amount of images can be taken at one time.
On the other hand, however, a problem of handling a large number of recorded images (image handling processing) occurs. Conventionally, there is an index display function as a technique for efficiently checking a large number of images on a screen. The index display function is to display a recording screen on a liquid crystal panel (LCD panel) provided in the camera body into index screens (2 × 2, 3 × 3, 4 × 4, etc.) divided into a plurality of divided display areas. Is a display technique for displaying thumbnail images of a plurality of images recorded at a time.

However, the index display function is
Only a large number of images recorded on the recording medium are displayed in order on the index screen, and there is no particular relationship between the displayed images. Therefore, when performing many image handling processes using the index display function,
There is a practical problem in processing simply for a plurality of images displayed on the index screen.

More specifically, in the image handling process, an erasing process for erasing an image from a recording medium, a tentative erasing process for executing erasing according to the free space of the recording medium at the time of photographing, and an image for print reservation are designated. There is a print reservation process and the like. In any of these processes, there is a demand for confirmation on a screen in a short time in units of a plurality of images and realization of efficiency by batch processing.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to efficiently and quickly confirm a large number of images recorded on a recording medium on a screen in units of a plurality of related images and a predetermined image handling process. Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic camera device having a function that can be executed in the electronic camera device.

[0008]

According to the present invention, a large number of images recorded on a recording medium can be handled in a plurality of related image units, and each image is indexed using an index display function. The present invention relates to an electronic camera device that can be displayed on a screen and can be checked.

Specifically, the electronic camera device of the present invention
A display device for displaying images recorded on a recording medium, an image handling means for handling only images belonging to the same affiliation according to affiliation information of each image from a group of images recorded on the recording medium, and a display on the display device The screen is divided into a plurality of divided display areas, and a divided display screen in which each of a plurality of images belonging to the same affiliation is associated with each divided display area according to an instruction from the image handling means is generated, and the divided display screen is displayed on the display device. And a divided display processing means for displaying the data.

[0010] The affiliation information specifically means information indicating a date (year, month, day, etc.) at which the image was recorded, or information capable of identifying an event (eg, athletic meet, travel, etc.) at the time of recording the image. . The image handling unit can display, on the index screen, a plurality of images recorded on the same date, for example, with images belonging to the same affiliation, based on the affiliation information of each image.

With such a configuration, a plurality of related images are displayed on the index screen at once from the group of images recorded on the recording medium by using the index display function (divided display processing means). be able to. Therefore, for example, each image shot on the same date, or each image corresponding to a commemorative photograph on a trip, for example, can be easily confirmed on the index screen. Further, by executing an erasing process as an image handling process in units of the index screen using the index display function, a plurality of related images can be collectively erased from the recording medium. In this case, since the related images to be erased can be checked at once on the index screen, the efficiency of the erasing process can be improved, and a situation in which a necessary image is accidentally erased can be prevented.

Also, using the index display function,
By executing the temporary erasure process as the image handling process for each index screen, it is possible to collectively specify the temporary erasure for a plurality of related images from the recording medium. The temporary erasing function is a so-called restricted erasing function, in which an image to be deleted with a limitation (an image having a relatively low importance) can be set from images recorded on a recording medium. The image for which the temporary erasure setting has been made is erased in order to secure a free space for recording a newly shot image when the free space of the recording medium during the shooting operation is insufficient. Therefore, even in a situation where the free space of the recording medium is insufficient, a space for a new captured image can be secured, so that a photo opportunity is not missed.
A desired image can be recorded on a recording medium. On the other hand, when a photo opportunity does not occur, it is possible to temporarily save the image with the temporary erasure setting on a recording medium. In short, it is possible to manage the erasure of the image on the recording medium according to the shooting operation and the state of the free space of the recording medium, and obtain a useful effect such that only a relatively valuable image can be stored.

[0013]

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

(Configuration of Electronic Camera) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part of an electronic camera according to the embodiment. The electronic camera is assumed to be an electronic still camera (digital camera), but can be applied to a digital video camera having a still image photographing function. As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic camera roughly includes a photographing system 1 and a control / operation system.

The photographing system 1 includes an optical lens unit (including a zoom lens, a diaphragm, an autofocus lens, and the like).
10, an imaging element 11, an imaging circuit 12, and an A / D converter 13. The imaging element 11 usually has a CCD (charge coupled device) of several million pixels, and photoelectrically converts a subject image incident through the optical lens unit 10. The imaging circuit 12 has an imaging process unit, and controls the exposure, the element shutter, the gain adjustment (ISO setting), the power supply, and the like to the imaging device 11 by the imaging process unit. Further, the imaging element 11 outputs an image signal according to a timing signal from the timing generation circuit 15.

The image pickup circuit 12 receives an image pickup signal from the image pickup device 11 and performs AGC (automatic gain adjustment) processing and C
Various signal processing such as DS (correlated double sampling) processing is performed. The A / D converter 13 converts an imaging signal (an analog signal corresponding to the number of pixels) obtained from the imaging circuit 12 into a digital signal (image data) and outputs the digital signal to the data bus 2.

The control / operation system includes a main control unit 3, an operation control unit 4, a memory 5, and an operation input unit 6. The main control unit 3 and the operation control unit 4 each have a first microprocessor (CPU) and a second CPU as main components. The main control unit 3 is an element that controls the entire camera, and includes an image processing unit 30, a compression / decompression processing unit 31, a display control unit 32, an AE / AF processing unit 33, an index display processing unit 34, an erasure control unit 35, It has functional elements such as an image handling unit 36 (actually realized by a CPU and a program).

The image processing section 30 has a white balance (W
B) Various image processing such as processing, color processing, gamma correction processing, and sharpness adjustment processing are performed. Compression / decompression processing unit 3
1 executes, for example, JPEG image compression and image decompression processes on image data obtained by a shooting operation.

The display control unit 32 includes an LCD (liquid cryst).
al display) The LCD driver of the panel 7 is controlled to execute processing for displaying various menu screens, reproduced images, index screens, and the like on the panel 7. Note that, in addition to the LCD panel 7, an external output terminal for outputting a display image to an external monitor (an external device such as a television device) is provided in the camera body as a display / output system. The AE / AF processing unit 33 controls the lens driver 14 and the timing generation circuit 15 to execute AE (automatic exposure) processing and AF (automatic focus adjustment) processing.

The index display processing section 34 realizes an index display function for generating an index screen for displaying a plurality of images (recorded images) on the same display screen at one time. In the embodiment, the index display processing unit 34
In response to an instruction from the image handling unit 36, a process of displaying a plurality of images collectively processed by the image handling unit 36 on the index screen is executed. The erasure control unit 35
A plurality of images processed collectively by the image handling unit 36 are subjected to an erasing process for each index screen. Further, the erasure control unit 35 performs a temporary erasure process (details will be described later).
Also includes the function of controlling

The image handling unit 36 acquires the file name of the image (corresponding to the shooting or recording date) from the recording medium 9 as affiliation information, and collectively processes a plurality of images belonging to the same affiliation (ie, the same date). Generate file information to perform The image handling unit 36 instructs the index display processing unit 34 to generate a date-based index screen for displaying a plurality of images according to the file information. Further, the image handling unit 36 provides the file information to the erasure control unit 35, and causes the erasure control unit 35 to execute the erasing process or the temporary erasing process for each index screen.

The main controller 3 controls the operation of storing an image in the memory 5 and reading the image from the memory 5 via the memory controller 50, in addition to the above functions. The memory 5 temporarily stores the image data obtained by the A / D converter 13 after being compressed by the compression / expansion processing unit 31 or uses a work area used for various control processes of the main control unit 3. 51A. Further, the memory 5 has an image area 51B for temporarily storing a reproduced image (an image after decompression processing) read from the recording medium 9.
Having.

Further, the main controller 3 records, reproduces (reads), and deletes an image on a recording medium (here, a memory card) 9 mounted in the memory slot 90 via a recording / reproducing interface 91. Is controlled. The recording medium 9 may be an ultra-small hard disk drive, a magneto-optical disk (MO), or the like, other than a memory card formed of a flash memory.

The operation control section 4 receives various operation inputs from the operation input section 6, notifies the main control section 3 of the operation inputs, and various kinds of information (for example, photographing operation) related to the photographing operation and the reproducing operation. It has a function of displaying on the control panel (comprising an LCD panel) 8 the mode, photographing conditions, remaining photographable number, emergency photographable number (reserve number) and the like. The operation input unit 6 includes a group of operation buttons required for various operation inputs, such as a release button 60, a mode setting dial 61, a decision button 62, and right and left and up and down cross buttons 63.

(Image Handling Operation by Date) FIG. 1
2 and FIG. 3 and FIGS. 4 and 5
, An image handling operation in a date unit of the embodiment will be described.

First, each image recorded on the recording medium 9 is managed by a folder / file structure as shown in FIG. That is, each image has a folder name 20
And the file name 21 makes it possible to search from the recording medium 9. The file name 21 includes code information indicating the date (month / day) of recording (shooting). For example, “P126” means the date of January 26. The file name 21 includes a serial number (four-digit number) indicating the recording order of each image. The date information is also recorded in the header information of each image file (see FIG. 11).

The image handling unit 36 reads the file name 21 from the recording medium 9 and uses date information as belonging information.
File information for grouping so that a plurality of images belonging to the same affiliation (that is, the same date) can be collectively processed is generated. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2B, file information 22 to 24 indicating images collectively for each date of recording (photographing) is generated. That is, the file information 22 is 1
7 images (0001 to 0007) taken on March 26. Similarly, the file information 23 indicates five images (0008 to 0012) taken on January 31. In addition, the file information 24 includes 11 images (0
013-0023).

The flowchart of FIG. 3 and FIGS.
The display operation of the index screen by date by the image handling unit 36 and the index display processing unit 34 will be described with reference to FIG.

When the index screen display mode by date is selected by operating the mode setting dial 61 of the operation input unit 6, the image handling unit 36 searches the recording medium 9 for a file name as described above, and All the file names with the oldest date are extracted (steps S1 and S2). The image handling unit 36 generates the file information 22 including the extracted file name, and instructs the index display processing unit 34 to generate an index screen in date units. In response to this, the index display processing unit 34 generates an index screen in which seven images taken on January 26, which is the oldest date, are arranged in order of file number. As a result, the display control unit 32 displays an index screen including seven images (actually, thumbnail images) taken on January 26 as shown in FIG. Step S3).

When an index screen feed is instructed by operating the cross button 63 of the operation input unit 6, the index display processing unit 34 determines whether an image for the same date of January 26 remains. Generates an index screen in which the images are arranged and sends it to the display control unit 32 (YES in steps S4 and S5).

Here, since the image taken on January 26, which is the same date, is displayed on a single screen, the image handling unit 36 extracts all the file names with the next oldest date, and The image file 23 for the 31st day is generated (NO in step S5, S6). The index display processing unit 34 generates an index screen in which five images taken on January 31 are arranged in file number order. As a result, the display control unit 32 displays on the LCD panel 7 FIG.
An index screen including five images taken on January 31 as shown in (B) is displayed (step S7).

Further, when the index screen transfer is instructed, the image handling unit 36 extracts all the file names with the next oldest dates and generates the image file 24 for the February 8 shooting (step S8). -NO in S10). The index display processing unit 34 generates an index screen in which nine images in order of file number are arranged from the eleven images taken on February 8, which is the same date, and the display control unit 32
Send to As a result, the display control unit 32 displays, on the LCD panel 7, nine pictures taken on February 8 as shown in FIG.
The index screen including the images is displayed (step S7).

Here, when the index screen feed is instructed, the index display processing section 34 arranges the remaining two images from the eleven images taken on February 8 which are the same date. Is generated (step S
8, YES in S9). Thereby, the display control unit 32
On the LCD panel 7, as shown in FIG.
An index screen including the remaining two images is displayed from the 11 images captured per day (step S7).

As described above, according to this embodiment, an index screen can be displayed on a date basis. Therefore, images recorded (photographed) on the same date can be simultaneously checked on the same screen. Here, when there are many images with the same date, a plurality of index screens are generated. Therefore, the index screen is sequentially updated by the index screen advance (page turning operation), and all the images on the same date can be confirmed. Further, even if a blank space appears on the index screen, images with different dates are not displayed on the same index screen, so that confusion with images with different dates does not occur. In short, all the images recorded on the recording medium 9 can be easily confirmed on the index screen while being distinguished for each related image having the same date (image belonging to the same affiliation). Therefore, after capturing a large number of images, it becomes possible to search in units of relevant images and to improve the efficiency of various image handling processes.

(Erase Operation and Temporary Erase Operation) Next, with reference to FIGS. 6 to 10, the case of the erase process and the temporary erase process as the image handling process will be specifically described.

In this embodiment, when the index screen display mode and the erasing mode in units of date are selected by operating the operation input unit 6, the erasing control unit 35 executes the erasing operation in units of the index screen (step). S20 ~
(YES in S22). In the case of the date-based index screen display mode, the processing shown in FIG. 3 is executed (NO in step S21). Here, in the erasing mode, three erasing operations are prepared: one frame (one sheet) unit erasing, one index screen unit erasing, and all erasing. The entire erasing operation is an operation of erasing all images recorded on the recording medium 9.

As described above, after the date-based index screen is displayed, the erasing control unit 35 collectively erases the image in units of the index screen in response to, for example, operation of the release button 60 (step S23). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4A, on the LCD panel 7, the 7 minutes of the January 26 image displayed on the index screen is displayed.
Images are erased from the recording medium 9 at once. The erasure control unit 35 also collectively erases the image on the index screen changed by the index screen advance operation in response to the operation of the release button 60. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, 11 images taken on February 8 consisting of two screens can be continuously deleted.

Here, the images on the index screen of the same date may include an image that the user does not want to delete. In such a case, by setting protection (deletion prohibition) for each image on the index screen, the erasure control unit 35 can delete the images of the same date in index screen units except for the protected images. Execute batch erase. When the protection setting is performed, protection setting information is added to the image specified in the recording medium 9, and a protection mark (P) 121 is displayed on the screen, for example, as shown in FIG. You.

As described above, if the erasing operation is a combination of the index screen display mode and the erasing mode for each date, a plurality of images recorded (photographed) on the same date can be simultaneously checked on the index screen. It can be erased at once by one operation. Therefore, since a batch erasing function can be realized for the same date and for each screen, the recording medium 9
And related unnecessary images can be efficiently deleted in a short time. In this case, by the above-described protection setting process, only the images that are not desired to be deleted from the group of related images can be stored in the recording medium 9.

(Temporary Erase Mode) On the other hand, when the index screen display mode and the temporary erase mode in units of date are selected by the operation of the operation control unit 4, the erase control unit 35 activates the temporary erase function and the index screen unit. Is executed (NO in step S22, S26). Temporary erasure operation refers to the temporary erasure of an image
The temporary erasure information (temporary erasure flag) is recorded on the recording medium 9, and the image is erased according to the state of the photographing operation. However, the actual erase operation is executed by the main erase function of the erase control unit 36.

Hereinafter, the temporary erase operation will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 7 and FIGS. 8 to 10.

When the temporary delete mode is selected by operating the cross button 63 from the menu screen displayed on the LCD panel 7, the index display processing unit 34 causes the LCD panel 7 to respond to the instruction from the temporary delete control unit 36A. An index screen 120 composed of images of the same date as shown in FIG. 9A is displayed on the screen 7 (YE in step S30).
S). On the index screen 120, execution of the temporary deletion operation by operating the confirm button 62, the cross button 6
It is possible to set page turning (page turning) by operation 3 and protect (erase prohibition) per frame by operating release button 60.

In the protect setting processing, as in the case of the above-described first embodiment, an image that is not to be erased (an image whose erasure is prohibited) is specified, and the protect setting information is added in the recording medium 9. It is. For an image for which protection has been designated, a protection mark (P) 121 is displayed on the screen.

When the confirm button 62 is operated, the temporary erasure control unit 36A collectively temporarily erases all images on the screen except for the protected image (the image to which the mark P is added). (Temporary deletion setting) is executed (step S31). Here, even if designation of temporary erasure is executed, each image is not immediately erased from the recording medium 9 but only temporary erasure information is recorded. On the index screen,
As shown in FIG. 9A, a temporary erasure mark (character “temporary”) 122 is displayed on each of the images except for the image designated for protection.

Here, as a method of managing the temporary erasure,
For example, as shown in FIG. 8A, a method of registering a temporary deletion flag, which is temporary deletion information, in the OS management area 101 in the storage area 100 in the recording medium 9 may be used. in this case,
The user area storing the image file including the image body remains in use. As another method, as shown in FIG. 3B, a method of providing a temporary deletion management file in the user area 102 and managing the setting of temporary deletion for each image may be used. As still another method, a method of recording a temporary erasure flag 131A in the header information area 131 of the image file 130 of the nuclear image as shown in FIG. In any of the methods, the setting of the temporary deletion is released by a predetermined operation (clearing the temporary deletion flag).
Is possible.

In the temporary erasing operation, the page can be turned by operating the cross button 63. That is, the pages are sequentially turned from the first page (index screen) and the page turning can be executed to the last page. LCD panel 7 according to page turning
The upper index screen is changed and displayed. Here, the image for which temporary erasure is specified is not unnecessary at this time, but the free space of the recording medium 9 is insufficient, and the image taken at the photo opportunity is prioritized. In a situation where recording is to be performed, an image to be deleted is assumed. Here, as described above, even if temporary erasure is designated once, if the image is again considered to be an image to be stored, the temporary erasure can be canceled (steps S32 and S33).

Based on the above, it is assumed that a photographing mode is set and a photographing operation is performed (steps S34 and S35). Here, the main control unit 3 detects the free space of the recording medium 9 and displays it on the control panel 8. As shown in FIG. 10A, the main control unit 3 displays the free space that can be actually recorded on the recording medium 9 by the remaining number (here, five) on the control panel 8. Further, the number of images corresponding to the temporarily erased images designated by the temporary erase control unit 36A is displayed as a reserve. The main control unit 3 records the photographed image on the recording medium 9 as long as the free space is secured (Y in step S36).
ES, S37).

Here, assuming that temporary erasure is specified for ten images, the main control unit 3 displays the remaining number of images (the number of images remaining) on the control panel 8 as shown in FIG. 5) and reserve (10) are displayed. When two photographing operations are performed, as shown in FIG.
The main controller 3 displays the remaining number (3) and the reserve (10) on the control panel 8. Here, for example, when the temporary deletion is canceled (that is, the image is returned to the normal image) for four images, as shown in FIG.
The main controller 3 displays the remaining number (3) and the reserve (6) on the control panel 8.

When the three photographing operations are performed,
As shown in FIG. 3E, the main control unit 3 displays the remaining number (0) and the reserve (6) on the control panel 8.
Is displayed. In other words, there is no free space in the recording medium 9, and it is in a state where an image by a new photographing cannot be recorded. In a situation where such a shooting mode is continued and the free space of the recording medium 9 is not ensured, the erasing control unit 35 executes a main erasing operation in a predetermined procedure from the six temporarily erased images, and performs recording. The specified two images are deleted from the medium 9 (NO in step S36, S38). The predetermined procedure means the minimum number of images (two in this case) required for recording a new photographed image in the order of oldest recording date and time among images for which temporary erasure is specified.

When the two photographing operations are performed, the main control unit 3 displays the remaining number (0) and the reserve (4) on the control panel 8 as shown in FIG. . In this state, on the index screen 120 shown in FIG. 9A, two images for which temporary erasure has been designated are permanently deleted, and as shown in FIG. The minute image 123 has been changed. And
When the photographing operation for four more images is executed, the main control unit 3 controls the control panel 8 as shown in FIG.
The remaining number (0) and the reserve (0) are displayed above.
That is, the main erasure of all the images for which the provisional erasure is designated is executed, and six newly captured images are recorded on the recording medium 9 instead of the respective images. In this state, the photographing operation becomes impossible, and the main control unit 3 displays the fact on the control panel 8. Here, when the temporary erasure setting process is performed again or a new recording medium is replaced, the photographing operation can be continued (NO in step S39).

As described above, in the case of the temporary erasing operation in which the index screen display mode in the unit of date and the temporary erasing mode are combined, a plurality of images recorded (photographed) on the same date can be simultaneously confirmed on the index screen. With one
The temporary erasure setting can be performed at once by performing the above operations. Therefore, since the simultaneous temporary erasure function can be realized in the same date unit and in the screen unit, the temporary erasure setting can be efficiently executed in a short time for the related and relatively low-importance image from the recording medium 9. it can. In this case, by the above-described protection setting process, an image that is not desired to be deleted from a group of related images can be stored in the recording medium 9.

In this embodiment, the case where the temporary erasure information is recorded on the recording medium 9 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the RAM or flash EE of the camera body is used.
The temporary erasure information may be stored in a PROM or the like.

(Modification) As a modification of the embodiment,
As an image handling mode other than the erasing operation and the temporary erasing operation, for example, a print reservation designation mode using an index screen display by date can be applied (see step S27 in FIG. 6). In print reservation, it is often desired to print all images on the same date. Therefore, if batch processing is performed on all images on the same date in index screen units, print reservation designation can be performed quickly and efficiently. .

Further, as a modification of the embodiment, for example, the present invention can be applied to a medium-to-medium copy using an index screen display in a date unit or an external communication mode. In such copying or communication, it is often desired to copy or communicate all the images on the same date. Therefore, if batch processing is performed on all the images on the same date in index screen units, the necessary images can be specified quickly and efficiently. It becomes possible.

Further, in the present embodiment, the batch handling of images in units of dates using date information (obtained from file names) as affiliation information has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The used images may be handled collectively. Specifically, instead of date information of month and day,
Using information such as time, week, year and the like, images may be handled collectively in these units.

Further, the images may be handled collectively by event (for example, athletic meet, travel, etc.) at the time of photographing. In this case, as shown in FIG. 11, this can be realized by recording predetermined information 132 for identifying the event as the header information 131 of the image file 130. That is, the image handling unit 36 extracts the predetermined information 132 (encoded for each event) of each image file from the recording medium 9 and obtains file information for batching a plurality of images in the same event (for example, travel). Generate As a result, for example, an index screen including only images taken during a certain trip can be generated and displayed as the index screen. Note that, in general, even in the case of an event of the same type (for example, travel), the recording medium is often exchanged when the schedule is different. However, even when the same recording medium is used, it is possible to distinguish events of different schedules by including not only an event code but also a date code in the predetermined information 132.

Further, although the embodiment and the modified examples of the present invention are assumed to be an electronic camera, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to an image management apparatus or an image processing apparatus for managing or processing digital images. Specifically, the device is, for example, an electronic album device for managing images captured by an electronic camera.

[0058]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to handle a large number of images recorded on a recording medium in units of a plurality of related images, and to use the index display function. An electronic camera device capable of displaying each image on an index screen and confirming the image can be provided. Therefore, it is possible to collectively execute a confirmation process on a screen and a predetermined image handling process in a unit of a plurality of images related to a large number of images recorded on the recording medium. Specifically, for example, each image taken on the same date, or each image corresponding to a commemorative photo on a trip, for example, can be easily checked on the index screen, and can be processed in a short time and efficiently.
A large number of images can be handled efficiently.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part of an electronic camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary view for explaining file management by an image handling function according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary flowchart for explaining a process of displaying an index screen in date units according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary view showing an example of a date-based index screen according to the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is an exemplary view showing an example of a date-based index screen according to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an erase operation and a temporary erase operation according to the embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the temporary erase operation.

FIG. 8 is a view for explaining a temporary erase management method in the temporary erase operation.

FIG. 9 is a view showing an example of an index screen for explaining the temporary erasing operation.

FIG. 10 is a view showing an example of a display screen of a control panel for explaining a situation in a shooting operation related to the temporary erasing operation.

FIG. 11 is a diagram related to a modified example of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Photographing system 2 ... Data bus 3 ... Main control part 4 ... Operation control part 5 ... Memory 6 ... Operation input part 7 ... LCD panel 8 ... Control panel 9 ... Recording medium 10 ... Optical lens unit 11 ... Image sensor (CCD) DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Imaging circuit 13 ... A / D converter 14 ... Lens driver 15 ... Timing generation circuit 32 ... Display control part 34 ... Index display processing part 35 ... Erasure control part 36 ... Image handling part

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. An electronic camera device provided with an electronic imaging device, wherein: a recording device for recording an image obtained by the electronic imaging device on a recording medium; and an image recorded on the recording medium. A display device for performing, from a group of images recorded on the recording medium, an image handling unit that handles only images belonging to the same affiliation according to affiliation information of each image, and a display screen of the display device in a plurality of divided display areas. Split display processing means for generating a split display screen in which each of a plurality of images belonging to the same affiliation is associated with each split display area in accordance with an instruction from the image handling means, and displaying the split display screen on the display device An electronic camera device comprising: 2. The divided display processing means according to an input of a page feed instruction, cancels a divided display screen displayed on the display device, reads a plurality of new images from the recording medium, and reads each of the plurality of images. The electronic camera device according to claim 1, wherein a new divided display screen corresponding to an image is displayed on the display device. 3. The electronic camera device according to claim 1, wherein the affiliation information is information indicating a date recorded on a recording medium. 4. The electronic camera device according to claim 1, wherein the affiliation information is information for identifying an event when the event is recorded on a recording medium. 5. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an erasing control unit for simultaneously erasing each image displayed on said divided display screen from said recording medium in response to an erasing instruction for each screen. 5. The electronic camera device according to any one of 4. 6. The electronic camera device according to claim 5, wherein the erasure control means controls to erase an image other than the image to which the erasure prohibition information is added from a recording medium. 7. In response to an instruction of a temporary deletion setting for each screen,
A temporary erasure control unit for executing a temporary erasure setting for each image displayed on the divided display screen; and a recording medium for recording the photographed image when the photographing operation is performed by the electronic imaging unit. 7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an image erasure control unit for erasing, from the recording medium, an image that has been provisionally erased by the temporary erasure control unit when the free space is insufficient. The electronic camera device according to any one of the above. 8. The electronic camera device according to claim 7, wherein said temporary erasure control means controls to temporarily erase the image other than the image to which the erasure prohibition information is added. 9. A display device for displaying an image recorded on a recording medium, and an image handling means for handling only images belonging to the same affiliation from a group of images recorded on the recording medium according to affiliation information of each image. And, dividing the display screen of the display device into a plurality of divided display areas, and generating a divided display screen in which each of the plurality of images belonging to the same affiliation is associated with each divided display area according to an instruction from the image handling means, An image processing apparatus comprising: a divided display processing unit configured to display the divided display screen on the display device. 10. The divided display processing means cancels a divided display screen displayed on the display device in response to an input of a page feed instruction, reads a plurality of new images from the recording medium, and reads each of the plurality of images. The image processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a new divided display screen corresponding to an image is displayed on the display device. 11. The image processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the affiliation information is information indicating a date of recording on a recording medium. 12. The image processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the affiliation information is information for identifying an event when the event is recorded on a recording medium.