JP2003069872A - Imaging device, image output device, image processing system, image output method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging device capable of correcting an image by using a photographing condition at photographing associated with image data and stored. SOLUTION: This imaging device 10 for imaging an object is provided with a distance information acquiring part 220 for acquiring information about a distance to the object, an imaging part 230 for setting a focal distance in accordance with the information about the distance to the object acquired by the part 220 and imaging an image of the object, an image data storing part 250 for associating the information about the distance to the object when the object is imaged with the image data of the object and storing the information associated with the image data, and a correction data outputting part 260 for outputting the information about the distance to the object as a correction parameter that instructs an external device to perform correction about sharpness of corresponding image data.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image pickup device, an image output device, an image processing system, an image output method, and a program. In particular, the present invention uses an image pickup device, an image output device, and
The present invention relates to an image processing system, an image output method, and a program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A camera may be preset with a plurality of photographing modes such as a macro photographing mode, a portrait photographing mode, and a landscape photographing mode. The user can obtain a shooting effect suitable for the user's drawing intention by selecting a desired shooting mode at the time of shooting. Also,
The photographed image can be converted into a desired image by correcting the image after photographing with a printer or the like. In particular, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 6-253147 discloses an apparatus for correcting image quality by processing image data from a film by using data such as an exposure level, an imaging magnification, a light source, and focusing accuracy.

[0003]

However, even when the user selects a predetermined shooting mode and shoots a subject, a sufficient shooting effect can be obtained depending on the shooting environment such as the distance to the subject and the amount of surrounding light. You may not get it. Furthermore, even if an image can be captured as intended by the user, an image output device such as a monitor or a printer may automatically add and output a correction not intended by the user.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image pickup device, an image output device, an image processing system, an image output method, and a program that can solve the above problems. This object is achieved by a combination of features described in independent claims of the invention. The dependent claims define further advantageous specific examples of the present invention.

[0005]

That is, according to an aspect of the present invention, an image pickup apparatus for picking up an image of a subject stores information relating to the distance to the subject at the time of picking up the image of the subject in association with image data of the subject. An image data storage unit is provided.

[0006] A distance information acquisition unit for acquiring information on the distance to the subject, and an imaging unit for setting a focal length according to the information on the distance to the subject acquired by the distance information acquisition unit and capturing an image of the subject are further provided. The image data storage unit may store the distance to the subject used when the imaging unit images the subject as information on the distance to the subject. A correction data output unit that outputs information regarding the distance to the subject as a correction parameter for instructing an external device to perform correction regarding the sharpness of the corresponding image data may be further provided.

The image data storage section may further store information for specifying an image pickup mode for picking up an image of a subject in association with image data of the subject. When shooting a subject with the shooting mode set to portrait shooting, the defocus section that blurs the image of the subject and the shooting mode are settings for portrait shooting. The image data storage unit further corresponds to the image data of the subject with information indicating that the defocus canceling unit prohibits blurring, when the defocusing unit satisfies the condition. It may be attached and stored.

The image data storage section may further store information relating to the image pickup magnification at the time of picking up a subject in association with the image data.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an image output apparatus for outputting an image of a subject is provided with an image data receiving section for receiving image data of the subject and information about a distance to the subject when the image data is picked up. A correction data receiving unit that receives the correction data, a correction unit that corrects the sharpness of the image data according to information about the distance to the subject, and an output unit that outputs the image data corrected by the correction unit.

When the distance to the subject is judged to exceed the predetermined set value by using the information on the distance to the subject, the correction amount of the sharpness is larger than that when it is judged that the distance to the subject does not exceed the set value. Further, the correction unit may further include a correction amount setting unit that sets, and the correction unit may emphasize the sharpness of the image data according to the correction amount set by the correction amount setting unit.

The correction data receiving unit further receives information for specifying the image pickup mode when the image of the subject is taken, and the correction unit receives the information regarding the distance to the subject and the information for specifying the image pickup mode. You may correct the sharpness of image data. The correction unit may perform the sharpness correction according to the distance to the subject when it is determined that the imaging mode is the setting for photographing a person.

When the distance to the subject is determined to exceed the predetermined set value by using the information on the distance to the subject, the correction amount of the sharpness is larger than that when it is determined that the distance to the subject does not exceed the set value. Further, the correction unit may further include a correction amount setting unit that sets, and the correction unit may emphasize the sharpness of the image data according to the correction amount set by the correction amount setting unit.

The correction data receiving unit further receives information about the characteristics of the optical system of the image pickup device when the image data is picked up, and the correction unit receives the information about the distance to the subject and the information about the characteristics of the optical system. Then, the sharpness of the image data may be corrected.

The correction data receiving unit further receives information regarding the amplification amount of the imaged image data, and the correction unit corrects the sharpness of the image data according to the information regarding the distance to the subject and the information regarding the amplification amount. You may.
The output unit may print and output the image data corrected by the correction unit.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an image processing system for outputting an image of an object includes an image pickup section for picking up an image of the object and information about a distance to the object when the image pickup section picks up the object. An image data storage unit that stores the image data of the subject in association with the image data, a correction unit that corrects the sharpness of the image data according to information about the distance to the subject that is stored in the image data storage unit, and an image that the correction unit corrects. And an output unit that outputs data.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an image output method in which an image output device outputs an image of an object includes a step of receiving image data of the object by the image output device and a step of capturing the image data. The image output device receives information about the distance of the image, the image output device corrects the sharpness of the image data according to the information about the distance to the subject, and the step of outputting the image data corrected by the image output device. With.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a program of an apparatus for outputting an image of a subject includes an image data receiving module for receiving image data of the subject and information about a distance to the subject when the image data is captured. A correction data receiving module for receiving, a correction module for correcting the sharpness of the image data according to the information on the distance to the subject, and an output module for outputting the image data corrected by the correction module are provided.

The above summary of the invention does not enumerate all the necessary features of the present invention, and sub-combinations of these feature groups can also be the invention.

[0019]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, the present invention will be described through embodiments of the invention, but the following embodiments do not limit the claimed invention, and the features described in the embodiments Not all combinations are essential to the solution of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows an outline of the entire image processing system. The image processing system includes a digital camera 10, a printer 300, and a personal computer 500. The digital camera 10, printer 300, and personal computer 500 send and receive data to and from each other via a data transmission path. The data transmission path is, for example,
These include wired cables such as USB and wireless channels such as Bluetooth. The data transmission path may be a network network (for example, the Internet network) using a plurality of wired cables or wireless channels. Although FIG. 1 illustrates a mode in which data is exchanged using the above-described data transmission path, the digital camera 10, the printer 300,
Data may be exchanged between the personal computer 500 and the personal computer 500 by using a recording medium such as a removable medium.

The digital camera 10 picks up an image of a subject and sends the picked-up image data to the printer 300 or the personal computer 500. The printer 300 or the personal computer 500 performs a predetermined process on the received image data and outputs it. That is, the printer 300 prints and outputs the image data, and the personal computer 500 outputs the image data to the monitor.
Also, the personal computer 500 transmits the setting information to the digital camera 10 or the printer 300, and changes the setting information of the digital camera 10 or the printer 300. The printer 300 may receive the image data subjected to the image processing from the personal computer 500, and print the image data according to the instruction of the personal computer 500. The digital camera 10 is an example of the image pickup device according to the present invention, and the printer 300 and the personal computer 500 are examples of the image output device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows the hardware configuration of the digital camera 10. The digital camera 10 mainly includes an image pickup unit 20, an image pickup control unit 40, a processing unit 60, a display unit 100, and an operation unit 110.

The image pickup unit 20 includes a mechanical member and an electric member for photographing and imaging. Imaging unit 20
First, it has an optical system 21, a CCD 30, and an imaging signal processing section 32. The optical system 21 includes a taking lens 22, a diaphragm 24, a shutter 26, and an optical LPF (low pass filter).
Including 28. The CCD 30 and the imaging signal processing unit 32 are
Image data is captured via the optical system 21. The taking lens 22 includes a focus lens, a zoom lens, and the like.
With this configuration, the subject image is formed on the light receiving surface of the CCD 30. Electric charges are accumulated in each sensor element (not shown) of the CCD 30 according to the amount of light of the formed subject image (hereinafter, the electric charges are referred to as “accumulated charges”). The accumulated charge is
It is read to a shift register (not shown) by a read gate pulse, and sequentially read as a voltage signal by a register transfer pulse.

Since the digital camera 10 generally has an electronic shutter function, a mechanical shutter such as the shutter 26 is not essential. In order to realize the electronic shutter function, the CCD 30 is provided with a shutter drain via a shutter gate. When the shutter gate is driven, the accumulated charge is swept out to the shutter drain. By controlling the shutter gate, the time for accumulating charges in each sensor element, that is, the shutter speed can be controlled.

The voltage signal output from the CCD 30, that is, the analog signal, is color-separated into R, G, and B components in the image pickup signal processing unit 32, and the white balance is adjusted first.
Subsequently, the image pickup signal processing unit 32 performs gamma correction, sequentially A / D-converts the R, G, and B signals at a necessary timing, and obtains the resulting digital image data (hereinafter simply referred to as “digital image data”). ) Is output to the processing unit 60.

The image pickup unit 20 further includes a finder 3
4 and strobe 36. An LCD (not shown) may be incorporated in the finder 34, in which case various information from the main CPU 62, which will be described later, can be displayed in the finder 34. The strobe 36 functions by emitting light when the energy stored in the capacitor (not shown) is supplied to the discharge tube 36a.

The image pickup control unit 40 includes a zoom drive unit 4
2, a focus drive unit 44, an aperture drive unit 46, a shutter drive unit 48, an image pickup system CPU 50 for controlling them, a distance measuring sensor 52, and a photometric sensor 54. The drive unit such as the zoom drive unit 42 has a drive unit such as a stepping motor. When the release switch 114, which will be described later, is pressed, the distance measuring sensor 52 measures the distance to the subject and the photometric sensor 54 measures the subject brightness. The main CPU 62 may measure the distance to the subject and the subject brightness by using the image data acquired by the CCD 30 or a part of the data before the image capturing. In this case, the distance measuring sensor 52 and the photometric sensor 54 are not essential. Measured distance data (hereinafter simply referred to as "distance measuring data") and subject brightness data (hereinafter simply referred to as "photometric data")
Is sent to the imaging system CPU 50. The imaging system CPU 50 is
Imaging mode and zoom magnification (imaging magnification) entered by the user
The zoom driving unit 42 and the focus driving unit 44 are controlled on the basis of the shooting information such as the above to adjust the zoom magnification and focus of the shooting lens 22. Here, the image pickup mode is a plurality of photographing conditions (combination of zoom magnification, shutter speed, aperture value, presence / absence of stroboscopic light emission, etc.) preset in the digital camera 10, and for example, portrait mode, landscape photographing mode. , A macro photography mode, and the like. When the user selects a predetermined imaging mode, the digital camera 1
0 sets the zoom magnification, the shutter speed, the aperture value, the presence / absence of stroboscopic light emission, etc. corresponding to the imaging mode.
That is, when the user selects the portrait mode, the digital camera 10 sets shooting conditions (for example, full aperture, soft focus) suitable for portrait shooting.

The image pickup system CPU 50 uses the R of one image frame.
The aperture value and the shutter speed are determined based on the integrated digital signal value of GB, that is, the AE information. According to the determined value, the diaphragm drive unit 46 and the shutter drive unit 48 respectively adjust the diaphragm amount and open / close the shutter 26.

The image pickup system CPU 50 also controls the light emission of the strobe 36 based on the photometric data and at the same time adjusts the aperture amount of the aperture 24. When the user gives an instruction to capture an image, the CCD 30 starts charge accumulation, and after the shutter time calculated from the photometric data has elapsed, the accumulated charge is output to the image pickup signal processing unit 32.

The processing unit 60 includes the digital camera 10
Main C that controls the whole, especially the processing unit 60 itself
PU 62 and memory control unit 6 controlled by the PU 62
4, a YC processing unit 70, an optional device control unit 74, a compression / expansion processing unit 78, and a communication I / F unit 80. Main C
The PU 62 uses an image pickup system CPU 5 through serial communication or the like.
Exchange necessary information with 0. Main CPU6
The two operation clocks are provided from the clock generator 88. The clock generator 88 supplies clocks of different frequencies to the image pickup system CPU 50 and the display unit 100.

The main CPU 62 is provided with a character generator 84 and a timer 86. The timer 86 is backed up by a battery and always counts the date and time.
Based on this count value, information relating to the shooting date and other time information is given to the main CPU 62. The character generation unit 84 generates character information such as a shooting date and time and a title, and this character information is appropriately combined with the captured image.

The memory control unit 64 includes a nonvolatile memory 66.
And the main memory 68. Non-volatile memory 66
Is composed of an EEPROM (electrically erasable and programmable ROM), a FLASH memory, etc., and stores data such as user setting information and adjustment values at the time of shipment, which should be held even when the power of the digital camera 10 is off. ing. In the non-volatile memory 66, the main CP may be stored in some cases.
A U62 boot program, a system program, or the like may be stored. On the other hand, the main memory 68 is generally D
It is composed of a relatively inexpensive memory having a large capacity such as a RAM. The main memory 68 has a function as a frame memory for storing the data output from the imaging unit 20, a function as a system memory for loading various programs, and a function as a work area. The non-volatile memory 66 and the main memory 68 are the processing unit 6
Data is exchanged with each unit inside and outside 0 through the main bus 82. The YC processing unit 70 adds Y to the digital image data.
C conversion is performed, and the luminance signal Y and the color difference (chroma) signal B-
Y, RY are generated. The luminance signal and the color difference signal are temporarily stored in the main memory 68 by the memory control unit 64.
The compression / expansion processing unit 78 sequentially reads the luminance signal and the color difference signal from the main memory 68 and compresses them. The data thus compressed (hereinafter simply referred to as “compressed data”) is written to a memory card, which is a type of optional device 76, via the optional device control unit 74.

The processing unit 60 further includes an encoder 72.
With. The encoder 72 inputs the luminance signal and the color difference signal, converts them into a video signal (NTSC or PAL signal), and outputs the video signal from the video output terminal 90. When a video signal is generated from the data recorded in the option device 76, the data is first given to the compression / expansion processor 78 via the option device controller 74. Subsequently, the data subjected to the necessary expansion processing by the compression / expansion processing unit 78 is converted into a video signal by the encoder 72.

The optional device control section 74 follows the signal specifications recognized by the optional device 76 and the bus specifications of the main bus 82 to generate a necessary signal between the main bus 82 and the optional device 76, perform logical conversion, or voltage conversion. And so on. The digital camera 10 includes, for example, a PCM as an optional device 76 in addition to the above memory card.
It may support standard CIA compliant standard I / O cards. In that case, the option device controller 74 is
It may be configured by an IA bus control LSI or the like.

The communication I / F unit 80 is used for the digital camera 10.
Supported communication specifications, such as USB, RS-23
Controls such as protocol conversion according to specifications such as 2C and Ethernet (registered trademark). The communication I / F unit 80 includes a driver IC as necessary, and communicates with an external device including a network via the connector 92. In addition to such standard specifications, data may be exchanged with an external device such as a printer, a karaoke machine, a game machine, or the like by its own I / F.

The display unit 100 includes the LCD monitor 10
2 and LCD panel 104. These are a monitor driver 106 and a panel driver 10 which are LCD drivers.
8 respectively. LCD monitor 102
Is provided on the back of the camera, for example, with a size of about 2 inches, and displays the current shooting or playback mode, zoom magnification for shooting or playback, battery level, date and time, screen for mode setting, subject image, etc. . The LCD panel 104 is, for example, a small black-and-white LCD provided on the upper surface of the camera and has an image quality (FINE).
/ NORMAL / BASIC etc.), strobe light emission / emission prohibition, standard number of recordable pictures, number of pixels, battery capacity, etc. are simply displayed.

The operation unit 110 includes a mechanism and electric members necessary for the user to set or instruct the operation of the digital camera 10 and the image pickup mode. The power switch 112 determines whether to turn on / off the power of the digital camera 10. The release switch 114 has a two-step pushing structure of half-pressing and full-pressing. As an example, half-pressing locks AF and AE, full-pressing captures the captured image, and after necessary signal processing, data compression, etc., it is recorded in the main memory 68, optional device 76, and the like. In addition to these switches, the operation unit 110 may accept settings using a rotary mode dial, a cross key, or the like, which are collectively referred to as a function setting unit 116 in FIG. Examples of operations or functions that can be specified by the operation unit 110 include "file format", "special effect", "print", "determine / save", and "display switching". The zoom switch 118 determines the zoom magnification.

The main operation of the above configuration is as follows. First, the power switch 11 of the digital camera 10
2 is turned on, and power is supplied to each part of the camera. The main CPU 62 determines whether the digital camera 10 is in the shooting mode or the reproduction mode by reading the state of the function setting unit 116.

When the camera is in the shooting mode, the main C
The PU 62 monitors the half-pressed state of the release switch 114. When the half-pressed state is detected, the main CPU 62
The photometric sensor 54 and the distance measuring sensor 52 obtain photometric data and distance measuring data, respectively. The imaging control unit 40 operates based on the obtained data, and the focus, the diaphragm, and the like of the taking lens 22 are adjusted. When the adjustment is completed,
Characters such as "standby" are displayed on the LCD monitor 102 to inform the user of that fact, and then the fully pressed state of the release switch 114 is monitored. Release switch 11
When 4 is fully pressed, the shutter 26 is closed after a predetermined shutter time, and the charge accumulated in the CCD 30 is swept out to the imaging signal processing unit 32. The digital image data generated as a result of the processing by the imaging signal processing unit 32 is output to the main bus 82. The digital image data is temporarily stored in the main memory 68, then processed by the YC processing unit 70 and the compression / expansion processing unit 78, and recorded in the option device 76 via the option device control unit 74. The recorded image is frozen for a while on the LCD monitor 1
02, the user can know the captured image. This completes a series of shooting operations.

On the other hand, when the digital camera 10 is in the reproduction mode, the main CPU 62 reads out the last photographed image from the main memory 68 via the memory control unit 64,
This is displayed on the LCD monitor 102 of the display unit 100. In this state, when the user instructs “forward feed” and “reverse feed” on the function setting unit 116, the images taken before and after the currently displayed image are read out, and the LCD monitor 1
02 is displayed. The user may correct the image while checking the LCD monitor 102.

FIG. 3 shows functional blocks of the digital camera 10. When the image of the subject is captured as described with reference to FIG. 2, the digital camera 10 stores the information regarding the image capture in association with the image data, and further corrects the information regarding the image capture regarding the sharpness of the corresponding image data. It is output as a correction parameter instructing an external device. In this figure, the functional blocks of the digital camera 10 that outputs the correction parameters are mainly described. Note that the correction relating to sharpness is, for example, correction that emphasizes or blurs the outline of an image.

The digital camera 10 has a user setting section 21.
0, a distance information acquisition unit 220, an imaging unit 230, a defocus unit 240, an image data storage unit 250, and a data output unit 260. The user setting unit 210 includes the processing unit 60 and the operation unit 110 in FIG.
The distance information acquisition unit 220 is realized by the distance measuring sensor 52 (or the CCD 30 and the main CPU 62). The imaging unit 230 is realized by the imaging unit 20 and the imaging control unit 40 in FIG. 2, and the defocus unit 240, the image data storage unit 250, and the data output unit 260 are realized by the processing unit 60.

The user setting section 210 determines the photographing condition based on the information input by the user and outputs it to the image pickup section 230. For example, the user setting unit 210 outputs the imaging magnification according to the angle of view set by the user to the imaging unit 230. Further, the user setting unit 210 has an imaging mode setting unit 212. The imaging mode setting unit 212 determines the imaging conditions according to the imaging mode selected by the user, and the imaging unit 230
Output to. That is, the image capturing mode setting unit 212 sets the image capturing condition for portrait image capturing when the portrait mode is selected, and when the landscape image capturing mode is selected,
When the shooting conditions for landscape shooting are set and the macro shooting mode is selected, the shooting conditions for macro shooting are set.

The distance information acquisition unit 220 acquires information on the distance to the subject and outputs it to the image pickup unit 230. The information about the distance to the subject is information that changes according to the distance to the subject. For example, the distance to the subject, the evaluation value that changes according to the distance to the subject and the characteristics of the optical system, and the predetermined value It is the amount of reflected light that has emitted light and is reflected by the subject, the time until a predetermined signal (light, sound, etc.) is reflected by the subject and returns to the digital camera 10. The evaluation value that changes according to the distance to the subject and the characteristics of the optical system is, for example, the sharpness (high frequency component) of the image obtained by the CCD 30. Distance information acquisition unit 2
The 20 may acquire the information regarding the distance to the subject by the input of the user.

The image pickup section 230 picks up an image of the subject based on the photographing condition received from the user setting section 210 and the information on the distance to the subject received from the distance information acquisition section 220. The image capturing unit 230 outputs the captured image as image data to the defocus unit 240.
In this example, a mode in which the image capturing unit 230 acquires image data of a subject will be described, but the image data may be acquired via a recording medium or a data transmission path. That is, the personal computer 500 is also an example of the image pickup apparatus according to the present invention. In this case, the personal computer 500 may acquire the image data by downloading the image data on the Internet, for example. At that time, the personal computer 500 acquires the photographing condition corresponding to the image data by the user's input or the download from the homepage.

The image pickup section 230 includes a focal length setting section 232.
Aperture setting unit 234 and shutter speed setting unit 2
36 and an imaging magnification setting unit 238. The focal length setting unit 232 uses the information on the distance to the subject received from the distance information acquisition unit 220, and uses the imaging lens 22.
Set the focal length of. The aperture setting unit 234 sets the aperture value at the time of imaging using the AE information or the aperture value received from the user setting unit 210. The shutter speed setting unit 236 uses the AE information or the user setting unit 21.
Using the shutter speed received from 0, the shutter speed at the time of image capturing is set. Imaging magnification setting unit 23
8 sets the imaging magnification at the time of imaging using the imaging magnification received from the user setting unit 210. The imaging unit 230
The focal length setting unit 232, the aperture setting unit 234, the shutter speed setting unit 236, and the imaging magnification setting unit 238 image the subject under the imaging conditions set, and together with the captured image data, the focal length setting unit 232 and the aperture setting unit 234. ,
The shooting conditions set by the shutter speed setting unit 236 and the imaging magnification setting unit 238 are output to the defocus unit 240. The imaging unit 230 further includes a focal length setting unit 23.
2, aperture setting unit 234, shutter speed setting unit 23
6 and whether or not the respective shooting conditions set by the shooting magnification setting unit 238 are set by the user, may be output to the defocus unit 240 as information regarding the shooting conditions.

The defocusing unit 240 performs a blurring process on the received image data according to the information on the shooting conditions received from the image pickup unit 230, and the image data storage unit 2
Output to 50. The defocusing unit 240 further outputs whether or not the blurring process has been performed to the image data storage unit 250 as information regarding the shooting condition. Defocusing unit 24
0 has a defocus canceling unit 242. The defocus canceling unit 242 determines whether or not the defocusing unit 240 performs the blurring process in accordance with the information regarding the shooting conditions. For example, the defocus canceling unit 242 determines to perform the blurring process on the image when the imaging mode is set to portrait photography and the subject is imaged, and instructs the defocusing unit 240 to perform the blurring process. . on the other hand,
The defocus cancellation unit 242 performs the blurring process performed by the defocus unit 240 when the imaging mode is the portrait mode (that is, the setting for photographing a person) and the information regarding the distance to the subject satisfies a predetermined condition. Ban. For example, the defocus canceling unit 242 prohibits the blurring process when the imaging mode is the portrait mode and the distance to the subject is equal to or greater than a predetermined set value. In this example,
Described below is a mode in which the defocusing unit 240 performs blurring processing on image data after image capturing.
Blurring of an image may be realized in cooperation with the optical system 21 at the time of image capturing.

The image data storage unit 250 receives the information about the imaging conditions, that is, the information about the distance to the subject, the imaging mode, the blurring process, and the like from the defocus unit 240, and the distance to the subject.
Information regarding the imaging mode, blurring processing, etc. is stored in association with the image data. The image data storage unit 250 outputs the data to be stored to the data output unit 260 as needed. That is, the image data storage unit 250 outputs information about the distance to the subject corresponding to the image data, the imaging mode, the blurring process, and the like as tag information to the data output unit 260 together with the image data.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a table stored in the image data storage section 250. In this example, the image data storage unit 250 stores the tag information and the image data in association with each other. The image data storage unit 250 stores, as tag information, information regarding the distance to the subject, the imaging mode, and the defocus. The image data storage unit 250 stores an index (in this example, “far”, “near”, etc.) according to the distance to the subject as the information on the distance to the subject, and specifies the imaging mode as information on the imaging mode. Information (in this example, "portrait") is stored, and information indicating whether or not defocus is prohibited (in this example, "prohibition") is stored as information regarding defocus.

Returning to FIG. Upon receiving the image data and the tag information from the image data storage unit 250, the data output unit 260 transmits the image data and the tag information to an external device. That is, the data output unit 260 outputs the image data and the tag information to the printer 300.
Alternatively, it is transmitted to the personal computer 500. The data output unit 260 has a correction data output unit 262. The correction data output unit 262 outputs the tag information as a correction parameter for instructing an external device to correct the sharpness of the corresponding image data. That is, the correction data output unit 262 uses the information regarding the distance to the subject, the information that identifies the imaging mode, and the information that the defocus canceling unit 242 has prohibited the blurring as the correction parameters. Send to.

FIG. 5 shows a flow of processing in which the digital camera 10 captures an image and transmits it to an external device. Before image capturing, the user selects an image capturing mode corresponding to a desired image capturing effect and inputs it to the user setting unit 210 of the digital camera 10 (step S100). User setting unit 210
Sets imaging conditions according to the imaging mode input by the user and outputs the imaging conditions to the imaging unit 230 (step S110).
The image capturing unit 230 captures an image of the subject according to the image capturing condition set by the user setting unit 210, the information related to the distance to the subject acquired by the distance information acquiring unit 220, and the image capturing condition adjusted using the AE information and the like. And outputs it to the defocusing unit 240 together with the imaging condition (step S11).
5). The defocus canceling unit 242 determines whether or not to perform the blurring process, using the information about the shooting mode and the distance to the subject included in the shooting conditions. The defocus canceling unit 242 uses the portrait mode as the imaging mode,
If it is determined that the distance to the subject is less than or equal to the set value,
The defocus unit 240 is instructed to perform the blurring process (step S120). When the defocusing unit 240 receives an instruction from the defocusing canceling unit 242 to perform the blurring process, the defocusing unit 240 performs the blurring process on the image data and adds the fact that the blurring process is permitted to the image capturing condition together with the image data. Output to 250 (step S12)
5). On the other hand, if the defocus canceling unit 242 determines that the image capturing mode is the portrait mode and the distance to the subject is equal to or less than the set value, or if the image capturing mode is not the portrait, the defocusing unit 240 determines whether the image capturing mode is the portrait mode. It is instructed not to perform the blurring process (step S12).
0). The defocus unit 240 is the defocus release unit 2
When receiving an instruction not to perform the blurring process from 42, the fact that the blurring process is prohibited is output to the image data storage unit 250 together with the image data in addition to the shooting condition (step S125). The image data storage unit 250 stores the image data and the shooting conditions received from the defocus unit 240 in association with each other (step S130). When the image data storage unit 250 is instructed to output the data to be stored,
The imaging condition is output as tag information of the image data to the data output unit 260 together with the image data (step S13).
5). On the other hand, if the data output is not instructed, the image capturing process ends (step S135). Data output unit 26
When the image data 0 and the tag information are received from the image data storage unit 250, the image data 0 is transmitted to the external printer 300. At that time, the correction data output unit outputs the tag information to the printer 300 as a sharpness correction parameter (step S140).

FIG. 6 shows functional blocks of the printer 300. The printer 300 includes an input unit 310, a tag analysis unit 320, an operation unit 330, a conversion unit 340, and a printing unit 3.
60 and. The input unit 310 receives image data and tag information from an external device. That is, the input unit 3
10 includes an image data receiving unit 312 and a correction data receiving unit 314. The image data receiving unit 312 receives the image data, and the correction data receiving unit 314 receives the tag information. Upon receiving the image data, the image data receiving unit 312 outputs the image data to the conversion unit 340. Correction data receiving unit 3
Upon receiving the tag information, that is, the information regarding the distance to the subject, the information that specifies the imaging mode, and the information that indicates whether or not the blurring process is prohibited, the 14 outputs to the tag analysis unit 320.

When the tag analysis unit 320 receives the tag information from the input unit 310, the tag analysis unit 320 analyzes the tag information and instructs the conversion unit 340 to make a correction according to the tag information. Tag analysis unit 320
Has a correction amount setting unit 322. Correction amount setting unit 322
Sets a correction amount according to the tag information and outputs it to the conversion unit 340. That is, the correction amount setting unit 322 sets the correction amount of the sharpness according to the information about the distance to the subject, the information specifying the imaging mode, and the information indicating whether the blurring process is prohibited, and the conversion unit 340. Output to. For example, when the correction amount setting unit 322 uses the information about the distance to the subject and determines that the distance to the subject exceeds a predetermined set value, it determines that the distance to the subject does not exceed the set value. Set a sharpness correction amount larger than the case. Here, the sharpness correction amount indicates the amount by which the sharpness of the image is emphasized. That is, as the sharpness correction amount is larger, the sharpness of the image is emphasized. When the same photographing lens is used, when the distance to the subject is large, the distance to the subject is large and the subject image in the entire image is likely to be small. Therefore, by emphasizing the sharpness of the image, it is possible to make a small subject image more visible.

The correction amount setting section 322 determines, according to the information about the distance to the subject and the information for specifying the image pickup mode.
A sharpness correction amount may be set. That is, the correction amount setting unit 322 sets the sharpness correction amount according to the distance to the subject when it is determined that the imaging mode is the portrait mode. For example, the correction amount setting unit 3
Reference numeral 22 denotes a sharpness correction which is larger when the shooting mode is the portrait mode and when it is determined that the distance to the subject exceeds the predetermined set amount than when it is determined that the distance to the subject does not exceed the predetermined set amount. Set the amount.
Further, when the shooting mode is the portrait mode and the correction amount setting unit 322 determines that the distance to the subject exceeds the predetermined setting amount, the correction amount setting unit 322 has a larger sharpness than when the shooting mode is not the portrait mode. The correction amount may be set.

The correction amount setting unit 322 sets the correction amount of sharpness according to the distance to the subject and the characteristics of the optical system of the image pickup apparatus (image pickup magnification, aperture value, shutter speed, type of image pickup lens, etc.). You may. Further, the correction amount setting unit 322 may set the correction amount of the sharpness according to the distance to the subject and the information regarding the amplification amount of the image data. Information about the amplification amount of image data
It is information on the amount of amplification of the image signal acquired by the image pickup apparatus at the time of image pickup, and is, for example, the exposure light amount, ISO sensitivity, density correction amount, or the like. When the image pickup apparatus largely amplifies the image signal to form image data, it is highly likely that the image data contains noise data. Therefore, by reducing the sharpness correction amount, the noise data is made inconspicuous on the image. be able to.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a setting table stored in the correction amount setting section 322. In this example, the correction amount setting unit 32
2 stores the sharpness correction amount in association with the distance to the subject and the imaging mode. In particular, this figure shows that the distance to the subject is long in the order of "extremely close", "near", "medium", "far", and "extremely far". Further, “portrait”, “landscape”, and “macro” indicate portrait mode, landscape shooting mode, and macro shooting mode, respectively. The correction amount setting unit 322 sets a correction value that emphasizes the sharpness most when the distance to the subject is long in the portrait mode, and does not emphasize the sharpness most when the distance to the subject is short in the portrait mode. Set the value. Further, the correction amount setting unit 322 may instruct the conversion unit 340 to perform blur correction when the distance to the subject is short in the portrait mode.

Returning to FIG. The conversion unit 340 includes the input unit 31.
When the image data is received from 0, correction (color correction, gradation correction, sharpness correction, etc.) preset in the printer 300 is performed, converted into image data suitable for printing, and output to the printing unit 360. Further, when the conversion unit 340 receives the correction instruction from the tag analysis unit 320, the conversion unit 340 gives priority to the correction instruction from the tag analysis unit 320 over the correction set in advance in the printer 300, and the conversion unit 340 receives the correction instruction from the tag analysis unit 320. The image data is corrected according to the correction instruction. That is, when the tag analysis unit 320 sets the sharpness correction amount, the conversion unit 340 emphasizes the sharpness of the image data received from the input unit 310 according to the set correction amount. In addition, when the tag analysis unit 320 sets the blurring amount, the conversion unit 340 performs the blurring process on the image data received from the input unit 310 according to the set blurring amount. The conversion unit 340 multiplies the image data by a matrix that emphasizes sharpness, and emphasizes sharpness. Similarly, the conversion unit 340 may multiply the image data by a predetermined matrix to perform color tone correction, gradation correction, blurring correction, and the like. Finally, the conversion unit 340 may perform sharpness correction according to the size of the image to be output.

The printing section 360 prints the image data received from the conversion section 340. That is, the printing unit 360
Is converted from R, G, and B image data to C,
The image data converted into M, Y, and K is printed on a paper medium or the like and output. The printing unit 360 is an example of an output unit of the image output device according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows a flow in which the printer 300 outputs image data. Upon receiving the image data and the tag information from the digital camera 10 or the personal computer 500, the input unit 310 converts the image data into the conversion unit 34.
0, and the tag information is output to the tag analysis section 320 (step S200). The tag analysis unit 320 analyzes the received tag information and extracts information that specifies the imaging mode and information about the distance to the subject (step S).
210). When the tag analysis unit 320 determines that the imaging mode is the portrait mode, the correction amount setting unit 32
2 is instructed to set the correction amount according to the subject distance (step S220). The correction amount setting unit 322 compares the information about the distance to the subject with the setting table, determines the sharpness correction amount according to the distance to the subject, and outputs it to the conversion unit 340 (step S23).
0). On the other hand, when the tag analysis unit 320 determines that the imaging mode is not the portrait mode, the correction amount setting unit 32
2 is instructed to set the correction amount according to the imaging mode (step S220). In this case, the correction amount setting unit 32
2 compares the information specifying the imaging mode with the setting table to determine the sharpness correction amount according to the imaging mode, and outputs it to the conversion unit 340 (step S24).
0). Upon receiving the image data from the input unit 310, the conversion unit 340 adds color correction, gradation correction, density correction, contrast correction, sharpness correction, etc. to the image data,
Convert to image data suitable for printing (step S25)
0). Furthermore, if the conversion unit 340 receives an instruction regarding correction from the tag analysis unit 320, the conversion unit 340 will perform the tag analysis unit 320.
Prioritize correction instructions from. That is, the conversion unit 340
Corrects the sharpness of the image data according to the sharpness correction amount received from the tag analysis unit 320 and outputs it to the printing unit 360 (step S260). Printing unit 360
Prints the image data received from the conversion unit 340 on a paper medium and outputs it (step S280).

FIG. 9 shows the hardware configuration of the personal computer 500. Personal computer 50
0 indicates a CPU 501, a ROM 502, and a RAM 504.
A communication interface 506 and an input device 508.
A hard disk drive 510, a flexible disk drive 512, and a CD-ROM drive 516
And a monitor drive 520 and a monitor 522. The CPU 501 operates based on the programs stored in the ROM 502 and the RAM 504, and controls each unit. The communication interface 506 is the digital camera 1.
0 and the printer 300. Input device 508
Accepts input from the user. Monitor drive 5
20 displays the image data on the monitor 522. The monitor 522 is also an example of the output unit of the image output apparatus according to the present invention. The user may perform image processing using the input device 508 while displaying the image data on the monitor 522. When the image processing is performed, the personal computer 500 stores the information regarding the performed image processing as tag information in association with the image data. Further, when the user instructs the monitor 522 or the printer 300 to output the image data, the personal computer 500
Like the digital camera 10, the tag information is added to the image data and transmitted. In this case, the monitor 522 or the printer 300 outputs the image data based on the tag information.

The flexible disk drive 512 is
The data or program is read from the flexible disk 514 and provided to the communication interface 506. CD
-ROM drive 516 reads data or programs from CD-ROM 518 and communication interface 50
6 to provide. The communication interface 506 transmits the data or program provided from the flexible disk drive 512 or the CD-ROM drive 516 to the digital camera 10 or the printer 300.

The program provided to the printer 300 is the flexible disk 514 or the CD-ROM 51.
It is stored in a recording medium such as 8 and provided by the user. The program stored in the recording medium may be compressed or uncompressed. The program is read from the recording medium, installed in the digital camera 10 or the printer 300 via the communication interface 506, and executed in the digital camera 10 or the printer 300, for example.

The program stored in the recording medium and provided and installed in the digital camera 10 has, as functional configurations, a user setting module, a distance information acquisition module, an image pickup module, a defocus module, and an image data storage module. And a data output module. Further, the user setting module has an imaging mode setting module as a sub module, and the imaging module has a focal length setting module, an aperture setting module, a shutter speed setting module, and an imaging magnification setting module as sub modules. Further, the defocus module has a defocus cancellation module as a sub module, and the data output module has a correction data output module as a sub module. Each module is a digital camera 10
The operation to be performed by the above is the same as the operation of the corresponding member in the digital camera 10 described in FIGS.

The program stored in the recording medium and provided and installed in the printer 300 has an input module, a tag analysis module, a conversion module, and a printing module as functional configurations. The input module has an image data receiving module and a correction data receiving module as submodules, and the tag analysis module has a correction amount setting module as a submodule. The operation that each module causes the printer 300 to perform is the same as the operation of the corresponding member in the printer 300 described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

A flexible disk 514 or a CD-ROM 518 as an example of a recording medium shown in FIG. 9 stores a part or all of the functions of the operation of the digital camera 10 or the printer 300 in the embodiment described in the present application. can do.

Even if these programs are read from the recording medium directly by the digital camera 10 or printer 300 and executed, the digital camera 10 or printer 3
It may be executed in the digital camera 10 or the printer 300 after being installed in the digital camera 10. Furthermore, the program may be stored in a single recording medium or a plurality of recording media. It may also be stored in encoded form.

As recording media, in addition to flexible disks and CD-ROMs, optical recording media such as DVD and PD, magneto-optical recording media such as MD, tape media, magnetic recording media, IC cards and miniature cards, etc. A semiconductor memory or the like can be used. Further, a storage device such as a hard disk or a RAM provided in a server system connected to a dedicated communication network or the Internet may be used as a recording medium, and the program may be provided to the digital camera 10 or the printer 300 via the communication network. Such a recording medium is a digital camera 10 or a printer 300.
It is obvious that the manufacture and sale of such recording medium as a business constitutes an infringement of the patent right based on the present application.

As described above, by using the digital camera 10 and the printer 300 of this embodiment, a person at a long distance is photographed in portrait mode, and the person image becomes smaller than the whole image. Even if there is, it is possible to make it easier to see the person in the image by printing by emphasizing the sharpness of the subject. In particular,
When the digital camera 10 is preset to automatically perform the blurring process in the portrait mode, the blurring process is prohibited according to the distance to the subject, and the printer 300 emphasizes the sharpness. be able to. Further, the printer 300 may have a correction value set in advance so as to automatically correct the sharpness. Even in such a case, by attaching the shooting condition to the image data as tag information and analyzing the tag information by the printer 300, the printer 300 can perform the correction according to the shooting condition.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. Various changes or improvements can be added to the above-described embodiment. It is apparent from the scope of the claims that the embodiments added with such changes or improvements can be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

For example, the tag information can be changed as follows. That is, the digital camera 10 has information regarding the distance to the subject, information that specifies the image capturing mode, and information that indicates whether or not blurring processing has been performed, as well as information that indicates the image capturing magnification at the time of image capturing, and a shutter at the time of image capturing. Information that indicates speed, information that identifies the aperture when shooting,
Information for identifying the image pickup lens used at the time of image pickup and information regarding the image pickup sensitivity may be stored as tag information in association with the image data.

FIG. 10 shows a modification of the table stored in the image data storage unit 250. In this example, the image data storage unit 250 stores the distance to the subject, the imaging mode, information indicating whether or not the blurring process has been performed, the imaging magnification during imaging, the shutter speed during imaging, the aperture value during imaging, and the imaging time. The type of imaging lens used and the imaging sensitivity are stored as tag information in association with image data. That is, the digital camera 10 sends the tag information to the printer 300.
Alternatively, it is transmitted to the personal computer 500. The printer 300 or the personal computer 500 performs correction according to the tag information and outputs it.

For example, the printer 300 may correct the sharpness by setting a sharpness correction amount according to the distance to the subject and the image pickup magnification. The size of the image of the subject in all the images changes according to the imaging magnification and the distance to the subject. For example, the tag analysis unit 320 of the printer 300 instructs the correction amount setting unit 322 to set the sharpness correction amount according to the distance to the subject when it determines that the imaging magnification is equal to or less than the set value. Further, the tag analysis unit 320 may set the sharpness correction amount according to the characteristics of the optical system 21 of the digital camera 10.
For example, the shutter speed and the aperture value may be combined to analyze the brightness at the time of image capturing, and the sharpness correction amount according to the brightness may be set. When the tag analysis unit 320 determines that the type of lens is a soft focus lens, the tag analysis unit 320 may perform the same process as when it is determined that the imaging mode described above is the portrait mode. In this way, by analyzing a plurality of shooting conditions, the printer 3
00 can print an image that reflects the user's shooting intention.

[0073]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, it is possible to correct an image by using the shooting condition at the time of shooting which is stored in association with the image data.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of an entire image processing system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of a digital camera 10.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing functional blocks of the digital camera 10.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a table stored in an image data storage unit 250.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a process in which the digital camera 10 captures an image and transmits the image to an external device.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing functional blocks of a printer 300.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a setting table stored in a correction amount setting unit 322.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart in which the printer 300 outputs image data.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of a personal computer 500.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a modification of the table stored in the image data storage unit 250.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 digital camera 30 CCD 52 Distance sensor 62 Main CPU 68 Main memory 210 User Setting Section 212 Imaging mode setting section 220 Distance information acquisition unit 230 Imager 232 Focal length setting section 234 Aperture setting section 236 Shutter speed setting section 238 Imaging magnification setting unit 240 Defocus section 242 Defocus release section 250 image data storage 260 data output section 262 Correction data output unit 300 printer 310 Input section 312 Image data receiving unit 314 Correction data receiving unit 320 Tag analysis unit 322 Correction amount setting section 340 Converter 360 printing department 500 personal computer 501 CPU 522 monitor

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H04N 5/91 H04N 1/40 101D // H04N 101: 00 5/91 J (72) Inventor Manabu Hyodo Saitama 3-11-46, Izumi, Asaka-shi, Japan F-Terms in Fuji Shashin Film Co., Ltd. (reference) FA27 GA11 GB21 JA16 JA21 KA03 KA24 LA01 LA03 LA14 5C077 LL01 LL19 PP03 PP43 SS01 TT09

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. An image pickup apparatus for picking up an image of a subject, comprising: an image data storage unit for storing information relating to a distance to the subject at the time of picking up the subject in association with image data of the subject. Image pickup device. 2. A distance information acquisition unit that acquires information about the distance to the subject, and a focal length is set according to the information about the distance to the subject acquired by the distance information acquisition unit, and an image of the subject is displayed. An image capturing unit for capturing an image is further provided, and the image data storage unit stores a distance to the subject used when the image capturing unit captures the subject as information regarding a distance to the subject. Item 1. The image pickup device according to item 1. 3. Information relating to the distance to the subject,
The correction data output unit for outputting the correction relating to the sharpness of the corresponding image data as a correction parameter for instructing an external device.
The imaging device according to. 4. The image pickup according to claim 1, wherein the image data storage section further stores information for specifying an image pickup mode for picking up an image of the subject in association with image data of the subject. apparatus. 5. A defocus unit that blurs an image of the subject when the subject is imaged by setting the image capturing mode for portrait photography, and the image capturing mode is set for portrait photography, and the subject is further captured. A defocus canceling unit that prohibits the blurring performed by the defocusing unit when the information about the distance to the distance satisfies a predetermined condition, the image data storage unit further includes the defocusing canceling unit The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein information indicating prohibition is stored in association with image data of the subject. 6. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data storage section further stores information regarding an image pickup magnification at the time of picking up the subject in association with the image data. 7. An image output device for outputting an image of a subject, comprising: an image data receiving section for receiving image data of the subject; and a correction for receiving information regarding a distance to the subject when the image data is captured. A data reception unit, a correction unit that corrects the sharpness of the image data according to information about the distance to the subject, and an output unit that outputs the image data corrected by the correction unit. Image output device. 8. When the distance to the subject is determined to exceed a predetermined set value by using the information on the distance to the subject, it is determined that the distance to the subject does not exceed the set value. And a correction amount setting unit for setting a correction amount of the sharpness, which is greater than the above, wherein the correction unit emphasizes the sharpness of the image data according to the correction amount set by the correction amount setting unit. The image output device according to claim 7. 9. The correction data receiving unit further receives information specifying an image capturing mode when an image of the subject is captured, and the correcting unit specifies information regarding a distance to the subject and the image capturing mode. 8. The sharpness of the image data is corrected according to the information to be stored.
The image output device described in 1. 10. The correction unit according to claim 9, wherein the correction unit performs a sharpness correction according to a distance to the subject when it is determined that the imaging mode is a setting for photographing a person. Image output device. 11. When it is determined that the distance to the subject exceeds a predetermined set value by using the information on the distance to the subject, it is determined that the distance to the subject does not exceed the set value. And a correction amount setting unit for setting a correction amount of the sharpness, which is large, and the correction unit emphasizes the sharpness of the image data according to the correction amount set by the correction amount setting unit. The image output device according to claim 10. 12. The correction data receiving unit further receives information about characteristics of an optical system of an image pickup apparatus when the image data is picked up, and the correction unit receives information about a distance to the subject and the optical system. 8. The sharpness of the image data is corrected according to the information about the characteristic of the image data.
The image output device described in 1. 13. The correction data receiving unit further receives information about an amplification amount of the captured image data, and the correction unit receives, in accordance with information about a distance to the subject and information about the amplification amount, The image output device according to claim 7, wherein sharpness of the image data is corrected. 14. The image output device according to claim 7, wherein the output unit prints and outputs the image data corrected by the correction unit. 15. An image processing system for outputting an image of a subject, comprising: an image capturing unit that captures the image of the subject; and information about a distance to the subject when the image capturing unit captures the subject. An image data storage unit that stores the image data in association with the image data; a correction unit that corrects the sharpness of the image data according to information about the distance to the subject stored in the image data storage unit; An image processing system, comprising: an output unit that outputs the corrected image data. 16. An image output method in which an image output device outputs an image of a subject, the step of receiving image data of the subject by the image output device, and a distance to the subject when the image data is imaged. The image output device receives information about the image data, the image output device corrects the sharpness of the image data according to the information about the distance to the subject, and the image data corrected by the image output device. And a step of outputting the image output method. 17. A program for an apparatus for outputting an image of a subject, the image data receiving module receiving image data of the subject, and a correction for receiving information about a distance to the subject when the image data is captured. A data receiving module, a correction module for correcting the sharpness of the image data according to the information on the distance to the subject, and an output module for outputting the image data corrected by the correction module. program.