JP2002204422A - Image recorder, image recording method and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image recorder that can simply replace a synthesis image with another and warrant that an advertisement image is used for synthesis when the synthesis image is used for the advertisement image. SOLUTION: A memory card 2 is loaded to a connector 11 of an electronic camera 1, and the memory card 2 is provided with a synthesis image storage section to which a plurality of synthesis image data 7 are written in advance and with an image storage section 10 to which image data are written. In the case of synthesizing synthesis image data 7 with photographed image data, a synthesis image selection section 6 selects one of the synthesis image data 7, an image synthesis section 8 synthesizes the selected image data with the photographed image data and an image write section 9 writes the synthesized image data to the image storage section 10 of the memory card 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus, an image recording method, and a recording medium capable of recording image data on a replaceable recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, when an image photographed by a digital camera or the like is combined with another image, the image photographed by the digital camera is combined with a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC).
), And a process of synthesizing the image of the digital camera and another image is performed on the PC.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 10-271427 proposes an electronic camera that can combine a photographed image with another image without using a PC. In the electronic camera, a composition image is registered in advance in the camera itself, and the composition image and the captured image can be composed. The image input by the user is configured to be registered as an image for synthesis.

[0004]

However, in the electronic camera disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-271427, it is impossible to change a pre-registered image for synthesis into an arbitrary image without replacing the apparatus body.

[0005] Here, for example, when an advertisement image (such as a logo of a company or a group) is stored in the camera body in advance as a compositing image, and the advertisement fee is collected from a company or a group as an advertiser, this method is used. In order to exchange the advertisement image, it is necessary to exchange the device body. That is, advertisement images cannot be exchanged in effect. Further, in order to collect the advertisement fee, it is necessary to assure the advertiser that the advertisement image is actually used for the composition.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an image recording apparatus capable of easily replacing an image for composition and, when the image for composition is used as an advertisement image, ensuring that the advertisement image is used for composition. An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus, an image recording method, and a recording medium.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
A mounting means for interchangeably mounting a recording medium having a composition image recording area and an image recording area in which the composition image is recorded in advance as read-only, an image input means for inputting an image, and the image input means. Image synthesizing means for synthesizing the input image and the synthesizing image recorded in the synthesizing image recording area of the recording medium, and recording the image synthesized by the image synthesizing means in the image recording area of the recording medium Recording means for performing the operation.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image recording apparatus according to the first aspect, a plurality of compositing images are recorded in a compositing image recording area of the recording medium.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image recording apparatus according to the second aspect, one synthesizing image is selected from a plurality of synthesizing images recorded in the synthesizing image recording area of the recording medium. It is characterized by comprising a selecting means to perform the selection.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image recording apparatus according to the third aspect, the selecting means selects one combining image from the plurality of combining images in the order. I do.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image recording apparatus of the third aspect, the selecting means randomly selects one of the plurality of images for synthesis from the plurality of images for synthesis. .

The invention according to claim 6 is the first or second invention.
The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a determination unit configured to determine whether or not there is a composition image in the composition image recording area of the recording medium, wherein the recording unit has no composition image in the composition image recording area of the recording medium. In some cases, the input image is recorded in an image recording area of the recording medium.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image recording apparatus according to the first aspect, the image for synthesis on the recording medium is an advertisement image.

An eighth aspect of the present invention is an image recording method using an image recording apparatus capable of recording image data on an exchangeable recording medium, wherein the image for composition is read-only as the recording medium. A step of mounting a recording medium having a recorded image recording area for recording and an image recording area on the recording apparatus, a step of inputting an image, and a recording image recording area of the input image and the recording medium for recording. And a step of recording the combined image in an image recording area of the recording medium.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the image recording method according to the eighth aspect, a plurality of compositing images are recorded in the compositing image recording area of the recording medium.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the image recording method according to the ninth aspect, one synthesizing image is selected from a plurality of synthesizing images recorded in the synthesizing image recording area of the recording medium. Characterized by a step of performing

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the image recording method according to the tenth aspect, one image for combination is selected from the plurality of images for combination in accordance with the order.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the image recording method of the tenth aspect, one combining image is randomly selected from the plurality of combining images.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image recording method according to the eighth or ninth aspect, wherein the step of determining whether or not there is a composing image in the compositing image recording area of the recording medium; Recording the input image in an image recording area of the recording medium when there is no image for synthesis in the image recording area.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image recording method according to the eighth aspect, the image for composition on the recording medium is:
It is an advertisement image.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium detachable from the image recording apparatus, comprising a compositing image recording area in which a compositing image is recorded in advance as read-only, and an image recording area. It is characterized by.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the recording medium according to the fifteenth aspect, a plurality of compositing images are recorded in a compositing image recording area of the recording medium.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, in the recording medium according to the fifteenth aspect, the combining image is an advertisement image.

[0024]

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

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image recording apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, an electronic camera will be described as an example of an image recording apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic camera 1 includes a lens 3, a CCD 4 for converting an optical image formed via the lens 3 into an electric signal, and an electric signal output from the CCD 4 as a digital signal. An image processing unit 5 that performs conversion and performs a predetermined process, and outputs a processed digital signal as image data, and a connector 11 configured so that the memory card 2 can be attached and detached.

The memory card 2 is provided with a compositing image storage section in which a plurality of compositing image data 7 are written in advance, and an image storage section 10 in which image data is written. A plurality of image data for combination 7 in the memory card 2
Is image data used for synthesis with the photographed image data, and when synthesizing with the photographed image data,
Desired image data 7 for synthesis is selected from the image data 7 for synthesis by the image selection unit 6 for synthesis.

The combining image data 7 selected by the combining image selecting section 6 is input to the image combining section 8 together with the image data to be combined therewith (the image data from the image processing section 5). The image combining unit 8 performs a process of combining the image data 7 selected by the combining image selecting unit 6 and the image data from the image processing unit 5. As a result, the combined image data is sent to the image writing unit 9, and the image writing unit 9 stores the combined image in the image storage unit 1 of the memory card 2.
Write to 0. When image synthesis is not performed, the image data from the image processing unit 5 is independently input to the image synthesis unit 8, and the image synthesis unit 8 performs processing on the image data from the image processing unit 5. To the image writing unit 9. Thus, the image data from the image processing unit 5 is written to the image storage unit 10 of the memory card 2 without being combined with the image data for combination.

Next, the data storage structure in the memory card 2 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a data storage structure in the memory card 2 of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the memory card 2 is divided into a read-only area 31 and a readable / writable area 32, and each area 31, 32 is mapped to a continuous address space. In the read-only area 31, the number of images for synthesis is stored in an area 33 of a first 4-byte portion,
In the next 4-byte area 34, the readable / writable area 32
(The number of bytes from the beginning of the memory card) is stored. Each composition image 7 in this area 31
Is a 4-byte portion 35 storing the number of bytes of image data.
And the image data body 36, and each part 35, 36
Is the number of the stored images for synthesis (4 byte portion 3
3) Yes. The remaining area in the read-only area 31 is not used as the padding area 37.

In the first 4-byte portion 38 in the readable / writable area 32, an image number to be selected and synthesized (0 base)
Is stored in the next 4-byte portion 39, where the synthesized image is stored (the number of bytes from the head of the memory card). Similarly, the synthesized image is composed of a byte portion 40 storing the number of bytes of the image data and an image data body 41, and is stored in the read / write area 32 by the recorded number. In this example, the area 10 in which the synthesized image is stored is the 4-byte portions 39, 40, and 41, respectively.

When a new memory card is used or when the memory card is cleared, the number of the image to be selected in the area 38 is 0, and the storage position of the synthesized image in the area 39 is the read / write area start position (area 34). Is initialized by adding 8 to the value of.

Next, the photographing operation of the electronic camera 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a photographing operation in the electronic camera of FIG.

When the user presses the shutter of the electronic camera 1, as shown in FIG. 3, first, in step S21, the image processing unit 5 captures an electric signal from the CCD 4, converts the electric signal into a digital signal, and converts the electric signal into a digital signal. After performing processing (such as white balance), the image data is developed as bitmap data in a frame memory (not shown) of the image synthesizing unit 8. Subsequently, the process proceeds to step S22, in which a selection process for selecting a desired one from the plurality of synthesis images 7 of the memory card 2 by the synthesis image selection unit 6 is executed. For details of this synthesis image selection process,
It will be described later.

Next, the process proceeds to step S23, in which it is determined whether or not there is an image 7 for synthesis selected in step S22. If there is an image for synthesis selected, the process proceeds to step S24. In step S24, the image synthesizing unit 8 executes a process of synthesizing the selected synthesizing image 7 with the input image on the frame memory. The details of this synthesis processing will be described later. Then, the process proceeds to step S25, where the image data on the frame memory of the image synthesizing unit 8, that is, the synthesized image is written to the memory card 2. Then, the present process ends.

On the other hand, when there is no composite image 7 selected in step S23, the process skips step S24 and proceeds to step S25, where the image data on the frame memory of the image compositing unit 8, ie, the input image data is deleted. Write to memory card 2. Then, the present process ends.

Next, the process of selecting a composition image in step S22 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the process of selecting a composition image in step S22 of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the synthesis image selection process in step S22, first in step S401, the number n of synthesis images in the area 33 in the memory card 2 is set to n.
Is determined to be 0 or not. Here, the number of images for synthesis n
Is 0, the process proceeds to step S43, where it is determined that there is no image to be combined, and the present process ends. On the other hand, when the number n of images for combination is not 0, the process proceeds to step S402.

In step S402, the selected composite image number m in the area 38 in the memory card 2 is incremented by one, and in the following step S403, it is determined whether the selected composite image number m is equal to or larger than the composite image number n. Is determined.
If the selected image number for combination m is equal to or greater than the number n of images for combination, the process proceeds to step S404, the image number m for combination is set to 0, and the process proceeds to step S405. In contrast,
If the selected image number for combination m is not equal to or greater than the number n of images for combination, the process skips step S404 and proceeds to step S405.

In step S405, the start position (the number of bytes from the head of the memory card) b of the selected image is set to 8 (the position of the image for synthesis 0), and in the next step S406, the variable i is set to 0. Then, the process proceeds to step S407, and the value of 4 bytes from the b-th byte of the memory card 2 is substituted for size.

Next, the process proceeds to step S408, where 4 is added to the start position b of the selected image, and the subsequent step S409 is performed.
It is determined whether or not the variable i is smaller than the selected composite image number m. If the variable i is equal to or larger than the selected image number m, the process proceeds to step S412, where the selected image number m is stored in the area 38, and the start position of the selected image (the number of bytes from the head of the memory card) b Si from the byte
The ze byte is set as the selected synthesis image, and the process ends.

If it is determined in step S409 that the variable i is smaller than the selected image number m for synthesis, the flow advances to step S410 to store size bytes at the start position (the number of bytes from the head of the memory card) b of the selected image. In step S411, the variable i is incremented by one, and the process returns to step S407.

As described above, in steps S402 to S404, by increasing the number of the image to be selected by one, a plurality of images for synthesis are sequentially selected.

Next, the image synthesizing process in step S24 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the image synthesis processing in step S24 of FIG.

In the image synthesizing process in step S24, as shown in FIG. 5, the input image 51 developed in the frame memory of the image synthesizing section 8 and the selected synthesizing image 52 are synthesized. Here, the width of the input image 51 is W, the width of the image for synthesis is w, the predetermined horizontal margin width is dx,
Assuming that the vertical margin width is dy, the combined image 53 is generated such that the X coordinate of the relative position of the combining image 52 in the input image 51 is Wwdx and the Y coordinate is dy.

Next, the process of writing image data to the memory card 2 in step S25 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the process of writing image data to the memory card 2 in step S25 of FIG.

In the writing process in step S25, as shown in FIG. 6, first, in step S61,
It is determined whether the following equation (1) is satisfied.

A + 4 + image size size> capacity of memory card 2 (1) where a is the value of the combined image storage position in area 39 of memory card 2 and image size size is written to memory card 2 The image size. The capacity of the memory card 2 is the free capacity of the readable / writable area 32.

If the above equation (1) does not hold, it is determined that the area where the image data expanded in the frame of the image synthesizing section 8 is to be written does not remain in the memory card 2 and the process ends with an error. On the other hand, when the above equation (1) holds,
Proceeding to step S62, size is written to the value a byte of the storage position of the combined image in the area 39, and the subsequent step S63
Then, 4 is added to the value a of the combined image storage position in the area 39.

Then, the process proceeds to a step S64, wherein the region 39
The image data is written from the a-th byte of the value of the combined image storage position, and in the following step S65, the value a of the combined image storage position in the area 39 is increased by the size, and the process ends.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the memory card 2 having the combined image recording area in which the combined image 7 is recorded as read-only and the combined image recording area in advance.
Are exchangeably connected via the connector 11 and the input image is synthesized with the synthesizing image 7 of the memory card 2. Therefore, by exchanging the memory card 2, the synthesizing image can be easily exchanged. When the image for composition is an advertisement image, it can be guaranteed that the advertisement image is used for composition.

The memory card 2 stores a plurality of compositing images, and one compositing image can be sequentially selected from the plurality of compositing images.

Further, when the memory card 2 in which the number of images for synthesis in the area 33 is 0, that is, the memory card 2 in which no images for synthesis are stored, the captured image can be recorded on the memory card 2 alone. it can.

In the present embodiment, the above-described step S
In step S404 from step 402, a plurality of images to be combined are sequentially selected by incrementing the number of the image to be selected by one, but instead of this,
By generating a random number between 0 and the number of images for synthesis −1, it is also possible to configure so that the images for synthesis are determined at random.

Further, the image for combination stored in the memory card 2 is used as an advertisement image, and the maker of the memory card 2 collects an advertisement fee from an advertiser of the advertisement image, thereby providing the memory card 2 to the user at low cost. It becomes possible to do. In this case, the price of one or more images having a number of images to be synthesized can be lower than that of the image having zero. Further, the price of the memory card 2 is further reduced by collecting a higher advertisement fee by increasing the number of images for combination, increasing the size of the advertisement image, or increasing the density of the advertisement image. Can be.

[0056]

As described above, according to the image recording apparatus of the present invention, the recording medium having the image recording area and the image recording area for synthesis in which the image for synthesis is recorded in advance as read-only can be exchanged. Mounting means to be mounted on, image input means for inputting an image, image synthesizing means for synthesizing the image input by the image input means and the synthesizing image recorded in the synthesizing image recording area of the recording medium, Recording means for recording the image synthesized by the image synthesizing means in the image recording area of the recording medium, so that the image for synthesizing can be easily replaced. It can be guaranteed that the image will be used for compositing.

According to the image recording method of the present invention, the step of mounting, as a recording medium, a recording medium having a compositing image recording area in which a compositing image is recorded in advance as read-only and an image recording area in a recording apparatus. Inputting the image, synthesizing the input image with the synthesizing image recorded in the synthesizing image recording area of the recording medium, and recording the synthesized image in the image recording area of the recording medium Since the image for compositing can be easily replaced, when the image for compositing is used as an advertisement image, it can be guaranteed that the advertisement image is used for compositing.

According to the recording medium of the present invention, since the composition image has the composition image recording area in which the composition image is recorded in advance as read-only, and the image recording area, the recording apparatus
You can easily replace images for compositing,
When the image for composition is an advertisement image, it can be guaranteed that the advertisement image is used for composition.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a data storage structure in a memory card 2 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a shooting operation in the electronic camera of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a process of selecting a composition image in step S22 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an image combining process in step S24 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a process of writing image data to a memory card 2 in step S25 of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 electronic camera 2 memory card 5 image processing unit 6 image selection unit for synthesis 7 image for synthesis 8 image synthesis unit 9 image writing unit 11 connector

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 5/91 N

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. A mounting means for interchangeably mounting a recording medium having a composition image recording area and an image recording area in which a composition image is recorded as read-only in advance, an image input means for inputting an image, An image synthesizing unit that synthesizes the image input by the image input unit and the synthesizing image recorded in the synthesizing image recording area of the recording medium; and an image synthesized by the image synthesizing unit. An image recording apparatus, comprising: recording means for recording in an image recording area. 2. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of compositing images are recorded in the compositing image recording area of the recording medium. 3. The image according to claim 2, further comprising a selection unit that selects one image for synthesis from a plurality of images for synthesis recorded in the image recording area for synthesis on the recording medium. Recording device. 4. The image recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said selecting means selects one image for synthesis from the plurality of images for synthesis in accordance with the order. 5. The image recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said selecting means randomly selects one of the plurality of images for synthesis from the plurality of images for synthesis. 6. A recording device according to claim 1, further comprising a determination unit configured to determine whether or not there is a composition image in the composition image recording area of the recording medium. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input image is recorded in an image recording area of the recording medium. 7. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the composition image on the recording medium is an advertisement image. 8. An image recording method using an image recording apparatus capable of recording image data on an exchangeable recording medium, comprising:
Loading the recording device with a recording medium having a compositing image recording area and an image recording area in which a compositing image is pre-recorded as read-only as the recording medium, inputting an image, and Combining the combined image and the combining image recorded in the combining image recording area of the recording medium, and recording the combined image in the image recording area of the recording medium. Characteristic image recording method. 9. The image recording method according to claim 8, wherein a plurality of compositing images are recorded in the compositing image recording area of the recording medium. 10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of selecting one image for synthesis from a plurality of images for synthesis recorded in the image recording area for synthesis on the recording medium.
The image recording method described in the above. 11. The image recording method according to claim 10, wherein one synthesis image is selected from the plurality of synthesis images in accordance with the order. 12. The image recording method according to claim 10, wherein one of the plurality of images for synthesis is randomly selected. 13. A step of determining the presence or absence of a composition image in the composition image recording area of the recording medium, and
10. The method according to claim 8, further comprising: recording the input image in an image recording area of the recording medium. 14. The image recording method according to claim 8, wherein the composition image on the recording medium is an advertisement image. 15. A recording medium detachable from an image recording apparatus, comprising: an image recording area in which an image for composition is recorded as read-only in advance; and an image recording area. . 16. The recording medium according to claim 15, wherein a plurality of compositing images are recorded in the compositing image recording area of the recording medium. 17. The recording medium according to claim 15, wherein the composition image is an advertisement image.