JP2003134457A - Electronic camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic camera which obtains gradation characteristics and color reproducibility of an image of an image output device and output characteristics of other images and performs image processing corresponding to the output characteristics of the image. SOLUTION: The electronic camera is equipped with a recording medium interface 179 which reads image output characteristics on the image output device side out of a recording medium 177, an image pickup means 150 which picks up and obtains a subject image, an image processing means 167 which generates an image with new characteristics by performing image processing based upon the image output characteristics for the obtained image, and a recording medium interface 179 which records the generated image on the recording medium 177.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic camera,
In particular, the present invention relates to an electronic camera that performs image processing on an image captured by an image capturing unit based on image output characteristics on the image output device side.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image pickup device capable of easily adjusting a gradation characteristic of the image pickup device without requiring a special measuring device or expensive expense is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-298097. There is. In the image pickup device, a test image displayed on a display device is picked up, and an input / output characteristic variable signal processing circuit is input so that an electric signal of the picked-up image becomes a supposed predetermined signal. It controls the characteristics.

Further, a video camera capable of recording with an image quality according to an output application by changing the γ characteristic of a video signal processing unit is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-112836. The video camera has a plurality of γ correction characteristics, and one of the γ correction characteristics is selected when an image is captured.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-127415 discloses the following electronic camera.

First, the image to be printed and the profile for correcting the deviation in the color appearance of the image are read from the memory card, and the data relating to the visual environment output from the photometric element and the colorimetric element are referred to. A correction process is applied to the read image.

Then, the obtained image data is displayed on the LCD. Next, the CPU reads out from the memory card a profile for correcting the deviation of the color appearance of the image due to the printing characteristics and recording characteristics of the printer, and according to this profile, corrects the captured image read out from the memory card again. Apply processing.

Subsequently, the CPU of the electronic camera reads out the information regarding the photographed image at the time when this image is photographed from the memory card, performs the correction processing corresponding to the read information, and then obtains the obtained image data in the printer. By outputting to the other side, it is possible to prevent the color appearance of the image from being different for each display device.

[0008]

Generally, printers and display devices have different gradation characteristic colors and color reproduction characteristics depending on their models. Similarly, cameras have different gradation characteristics and color reproduction characteristics depending on the model, but they do not reflect the characteristics of each print or the characteristics of the display device of the image. In reality, the displayed final image is not proper.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and obtains electronic gradation characteristics and color reproducibility and other image output characteristics in an image output device such as a printer or a display device to obtain an electronic image. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic camera in which image processing is performed in advance on the camera side according to the output characteristics of the image.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, an image output characteristic of an image output device such as a printer for printing the image or a display device for displaying the image, with respect to the image captured by the image capturing device. An electronic camera for carrying out image processing based on a reading means for reading out the image output characteristic on the image output device side from a recording medium, or a receiving means for receiving the image output characteristic on the image output device side from another communication device. Means, an image pickup means for picking up a subject image to obtain an image, an image processing means for performing image processing on the obtained image based on image output characteristics to generate an image having new characteristics, It is characterized by comprising a writing means for recording the generated image on a recording medium or a transmitting means for transmitting the generated image to another communication device.

According to the present invention, the reading means for reading the image output characteristic on the image output device side from the recording medium, or the receiving means for receiving the image output characteristic on the image output device side from another communication device, and the subject image. An image capturing unit that captures an image to obtain an image, an image processing unit that performs image processing on the obtained image based on image output characteristics to generate an image having new characteristics, and a recording medium that records the generated image. Since it has a writing means for recording the image on the screen, or a transmitting means for transmitting the generated image to another communication device, it is possible to output the gradation characteristics and color reproducibility of the image in an image output device such as a printer or a display device. It is possible to acquire the characteristics and perform in advance the image processing according to the output characteristics of the image on the electronic camera side.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of an electronic camera according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an image pickup output system using an electronic camera according to the present invention.

The image pickup output system shown in FIG. 1 includes an electronic camera 10 for picking up an image of a subject, a recording medium 177 which can be inserted into and removed from the electronic camera 10, and a recording medium 1.
A display device 50 such as a display for displaying an image recorded in 77, and a printer 70 capable of printing the image recorded in the recording medium 177 on the paper 72 are provided.

Further, the image output system includes a display device 5
0, a printer 70, or a personal computer 80 having a transmission / reception unit capable of transmitting / receiving information to / from another communication device such as a server via a communication unit such as the Internet. A recording medium 177 can be attached to the personal computer 80.

An image captured by the electronic camera 10 can be recorded on the recording medium 177.
The recording medium 177 is removably attached to a display device 50 such as a display for displaying an image or a printer 70 (one form of an image output device) for printing an image. In the image output device such as the printer 70, the recording medium 17
It is possible to read out the image recorded in No. 7.

The recording medium 177 can record image output characteristics for setting image processing contents in the image output device such as the printer 70 and the display.

The image output device such as the printer 70 is
It is possible to receive an image and an image output characteristic for setting processing contents of the image from a communication device including a transmission / reception unit such as the electronic camera 10 or the personal computer 80 via a wired or wireless communication unit. Has become.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a signal processing system of the electronic camera according to the present invention.

As shown in the figure, the optical section of the electronic camera 10 includes an image pickup lens 102 for forming a subject image on the light receiving surface of the image pickup means 150, and an amount of light of the subject image formed on the light receiving surface. A diaphragm 133 for adjustment and an optical filter 132 such as an Ir filter or an optical low pass filter (OLPF) for attenuating infrared rays of a subject image formed on the light receiving surface are provided.

A driver is connected to the image pickup lens 102 and the diaphragm 133, and it is possible to control the focus, zoom, and diaphragm based on an instruction from the information processing means.

In the image processing section of the electronic camera 10, an image pickup means 150 for forming an image of a subject on a light receiving surface, photoelectrically converting it, and outputting it as an image signal, and correlated double sampling processing for the image signal, A CDS circuit 153 that performs analog signal processing such as gain adjustment, color separation, and the like, and an analog gain that performs processing for amplifying an analog image signal based on an instruction from an information processing unit and also performs image conversion processing such as white balance. An amplifier 152 and an A / D converter 154 that converts an analog image signal into digital image data are provided.

When the image pickup means 150 is an image pickup means such as a CCD, the driver connected to the image pickup means 150 outputs a vertical synchronizing signal and a horizontal synchronizing signal to the image pickup means 150.

Further, the electronic camera 10 has a transmitting / receiving means 157 (transmitting means, receiving means) for transmitting / receiving information such as image data to / from other communication equipment by wired or wireless communication means.
Is provided.

Further, the electronic camera 10 has an image pickup means 15
An image processing unit 167 is provided for performing various image processes on the image acquired at 0. For example, the image processing unit 167 can change the gamma characteristic, and a gain adjusting unit that can independently adjust the white balance and the like of the gains of the gradations of R, G, and B colors. Gamma adjustment section, a synchronization processing section that converts dot-sequential R, G, and B signals read from a memory recording an image into a simultaneous method, and noise reduction that reduces noise included in the image signal A processing unit, a sharpness processing unit that performs processing for emphasizing the contour of an image, and a hue / saturation correction that adjusts a rotation angle between saturation and hue by mutually adjusting gains of R, G, and B colors. And a compression processing unit that performs compression processing on an image by a method typified by JPEG or the like.

It should be noted that the image processing means 167 uses MT for converting the relationship between the spatial frequency and the contrast of the obtained image.
An F conversion unit (Modulation Transfer Function) may be provided.

The electronic camera 10 is also provided with display means 168 for displaying various characters, message data and the like together with images.

Further, the electronic camera 10 has an input means 174 composed of a power switch, a release button, a communication button, a transmission button, a function switch, a cross button, a confirmation switch, a mode changeover switch and the like, and a recording medium 177 is attached and detached. A recording medium interface 179 (reading unit, writing unit) that is mounted so as to be able to record and read information such as image data is provided.

The recording medium 177 is a semiconductor such as a memory card, a CD-ROM, a floppy (registered trademark).
It is a removable recording medium typified by a magnetic recording type typified by a disc and an MO, an optical recording type, and the like.

The electronic camera 10 includes the electronic camera 1
0, the sampling timing control of the image data, the process of reading the image output characteristic for setting the processing contents of the image recorded in the recording medium 177, the image acquired by the image pickup unit 150 and the recording medium 177. An instruction to associate the read image output characteristic with the image output characteristic and output the image to the recording medium, or to associate the image acquired by the imaging unit 150 with the image output characteristic read from the recording medium 177 and output the image to another communication device through communication. An information processing unit 180 (including a function of a file name generation unit and a directory name generation unit) is provided for performing various controls such as a process of outputting the information to the transmission / reception unit 157.

In addition, the electronic camera 10 has a nonvolatile memory 182 in which information can be rewritten and information such as the stored various constants for adjustment can be continuously stored even after the power is turned off, and the electronic camera 10 ROM 18 that stores the operating program, constants, display information, etc.
3 and a RAM 184 which is a high-speed readable / writable storage unit serving as a work area during program execution.

The information processing means 180 of the electronic camera 10 and the peripheral circuits are connected by a bus 199 so that information can be transmitted at high speed to each other.

The recording medium interface 179
The image output characteristics on the image output device side such as the printer or the display device can be read from the recording medium 177. Further, the transmitting / receiving unit 157 can receive the image output characteristics on the printer 70 or the display device 50 or other image output device side from the server, the printer 70, the display device 50, or another communication device.

The image processing means 167 is the image pickup means 1.
It is possible to perform image processing on the image acquired by 50 based on the image output characteristics of the image output device to generate an image having new characteristics.

Further, the recording medium interface 179 is
It is possible to record the image newly generated by the image processing means 167 on the recording medium. The transmitting / receiving means 1
57 is capable of transmitting the image newly generated by the image processing means 167 to the printer 70 or another communication device such as the display device 50.

The above-mentioned image output characteristics are image gradation characteristics, image pixel number, image sharpness information, image hue information, image saturation information, image white balance information, color reproduction characteristic information, At least one of the MTF conversion information of the image or the noise reduction amount information of the image is included.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a signal processing system of a printer which is one form of the image output device.

As shown in the figure, the printer 70 is provided with a transmitting / receiving means 765 for receiving information such as image data from other communication equipment by wired or wireless communication means.

Further, the printer 70 has a transmitting / receiving means 76.
For the image received via the printer 5 or the like, the printer 70
An image processing unit 767 is provided for performing image processing based on the image output characteristics of. This image processing means 767
Includes a decompression processing unit for decompressing a compressed image by a method typified by JPEG and the like, and rotation of saturation and hue by mutually adjusting gains of R, G, and B colors. Hue / saturation correction unit to adjust the angle, R, G, B
A gradation / brightness correction unit capable of independently adjusting the white balance gain and the like of the gradation of each color, and a noise reduction processing unit that reduces noise included in the image signal,
A sharpness processing unit that performs processing for enhancing the contour of the image is provided.

It should be noted that the image processing means 767 converts MT obtained by converting the relationship between the spatial frequency and the contrast of the obtained image.
An F conversion unit may be provided.

Further, the printer 70 is provided with a display means 768 for displaying an image and various characters to notify the user.

In the printer 70, an input means 774 including a power switch, a print execution button, an online button, an offline button, a function switch, a cross button, a decision switch, a mode changeover switch, and the like, and a recording medium 777 are attached and detached. A recording medium interface 779, which is mounted so as to be capable of recording and reading image data, image output characteristics and other information, is provided.

The recording medium 777 is used for the electronic camera 10.
Similar to the recording medium 177 mounted on the recording medium 177, it is a removable recording medium represented by a semiconductor such as a memory card, a magnetic recording type represented by MO or the like, an optical recording type or the like.

The printer 70 controls the printer 70 as a whole and controls the reading of image data.
An information processing unit 780 is provided for performing various kinds of control such as processing for reading out image output characteristics, communication control, and display control.

Further, the printer 70 has a non-volatile memory in which information can be rewritten and information such as various stored constants for adjustment can be continuously stored even after power-off, and an operation program of the printer 70. A memory 781 is provided which is composed of a ROM in which each constant, information regarding display, and the like are stored, and a RAM, which is a high-speed readable / writable storage unit serving as a work area during program execution.

Further, the printer 70 has an information processing means 7
A print engine 789 that prints an image on the sheet 72 based on an instruction from 80 is provided. The information processing means 780 of the printer 70 and each circuit around it are connected by a bus 799, and information can be transmitted to each other at high speed.

FIG. 4 shows gradation image output characteristics in the printer (which may be a display device or other image output device).

The gradation input / output characteristics of a printer 70 are
In the case of having the characteristic of "P" as shown in FIG.
The image after printing is reproduced with a low gain in a portion having a low gradation with respect to the input image data. Therefore, there is a problem that an image different from the color desired by the user is output. In addition, image output characteristics are generally different depending on the type of printer.

FIG. 5 shows gradation image output characteristics in the electronic camera 10.

The printer 70 is the device to which the image is output.
If so, the electronic camera 10 performs image processing of gradation characteristics based on the characteristics of “P ⁻¹ ”. The "P ^-1 "
The characteristic of is a characteristic of the inverse conversion in which the image output characteristic “P” of the target printer 70 is a line target with respect to the straight line y = x.

Therefore, as described above, the electronic camera 1
At 0, image processing of the characteristics opposite to the image output characteristics on the printer 70 (image output apparatus) side is performed to generate an image having new characteristics, and the image is printed by the printer 70 (image output apparatus). By printing, it becomes possible to reproduce the gradation characteristic when the image is picked up and to output an image having a preferable gradation characteristic.

The image output characteristic required when performing image processing on the electronic camera 10 side is the characteristic of "P ^-1 " shown in FIG. Therefore, in advance, the recording medium 17
7 Record the characteristics of the "P ^-1", the recording medium interface 179 reads out the image output characteristic of the "P ^-1", "P ^-1" on the image pickup means 150 has obtained
The image processing may be performed.

Further, the characteristic of "P" is recorded in the recording medium 177 in advance, and the recording medium interface 179 reads the image output characteristic of the "P" to calculate the characteristic of "P ^-1 ", and the image pickup means. The image processing of “P ⁻¹ ” may be performed on the image acquired by 150.

It should be noted that instead of reading out the image output characteristic on the image output device side from the recording medium 177 and using it,
The display device 50 and the printer 7 are transmitted via the transmission / reception means 157.
0, the personal computer 80 or other communication device may be used for reception.

Further, the newly generated image may be output to the display device 50, the printer 70, the personal computer 80 or other communication equipment via the transmission / reception means 157, instead of being recorded in the recording medium 177. The output image may be output in the form of an image file.

FIG. 6 shows an image output characteristic of color reproducibility in the printer 70.

In the figure, the input phase (hue) of each color of Y (yellow), R (red), M (magenta), B (blue), C (blue-green), G (green) and the printer 70 are shown. 2 shows the input / output characteristics of the hues of the respective colors Y1, R1, M1, B1, C1, and G1 after being printed in FIG.

When the input / output characteristics of the color reproducibility of a certain printer 70 have the characteristics shown in the figure, the image after printing is an image having a hue different from that of the actually captured image data. There was a problem that was output. Further, generally, the image output characteristics of color reproducibility differ depending on the type of printer and the type of paper.

FIG. 7 shows characteristics of image processing carried out by the electronic camera 10 according to the present invention.

The printer 70 is the device to which the image is output.
, The phases of the images obtained by the electronic camera 10 are Y → Y2, R → R2, M → M2, B → B.
2. The process of converting into C → C2 and G → G2 is performed. In addition,
The image conversion process is an inverse conversion process such that Y1 and Y2 exist at positions that are point-symmetrical with respect to Y.

Therefore, as described above, the electronic camera 1
At 0, image processing of the characteristics opposite to the image output characteristics on the printer 70 (image output apparatus) side is performed to generate an image having new characteristics, and the image is printed by the printer 70 (image output apparatus). By printing, it is possible to faithfully reproduce the saturation at the time of capturing an image, or to set a desired saturation.

Further, instead of independently performing the inverse conversion processing for each color as in the above embodiment, the conversion angle of each color is specified and the image conversion processing is executed to generate a new image. You may

FIG. 8 shows an image output characteristic by the contour correction in the printer 70.

In the electronic camera 10 as well, it is assumed that the captured image is subjected to the contour enhancement processing based on the MTF characteristic as shown in the figure, and the image file is created and recorded in the recording medium 177. To do.

Then, in the printer 70, the image recorded on the recording medium 177 is read out, the contour enhancement processing based on the MTF characteristic having the peak at "f1" as shown in FIG. Then, an image with excessive edge enhancement around “f1” results in a tight and unnatural image.

In general, the image output characteristics of contour correction differ depending on the type of printer and the type of paper.

FIG. 9 shows characteristics of image processing for contour correction carried out by the electronic camera 10 according to the present invention.

The printer 70 is the device to which the image is output.
If it is, the image obtained by the electronic camera 10 is subjected to the image processing of flat contour correction having no peak at “f1” shown in FIG. 9, and the image processing is performed. The image is recorded on the recording medium 177.

On the other hand, when the printer 70 has the image output characteristics as shown in FIG.
Then, image processing as shown in FIG. 8 is performed, and the image is recorded on the recording medium 177.

As described above, the electronic camera 10 performs the image processing based on the image output characteristics on the image output device side such as the printer.
By carrying out by the side, the final image printed out (or the image displayed on the display device 50) can be made proper.

FIG. 10 shows a memory map of the recording medium in which the information on the image output characteristic is recorded.

On the recording medium 177, as shown in FIG.
A “recording medium management area” that manages various files and information recorded on the recording medium 177 and an “image output characteristic area” that is the processing content of an image in the image output apparatus are provided.

In the "image output characteristic area", the type "F" of the printer 70 or the display device 50 and other image output devices is displayed.
"F printer 300" is described. The image output characteristics of the "FF printer 300" include "sharpness information" of the image, "hue information" of the image, "saturation information" of the image, "main gradation information" of the image, and "main gradation information" of the image. "Highlight gradation information", "noise reduction amount information" of an image, "MTF" and other information relating to the contour correction of the image are recorded.

Various image files such as the image file 1, the image file 2, ... And other information can be recorded in the "image recording area".

The image pickup processing of the electronic camera 10 will be described below.

The recording medium interface 179 of the electronic camera 10 performs a process of reading out the image output characteristic recorded on the recording medium 177 on the image output device side. Then, the information is recorded in the recording means such as the RAM 184. Further, this image output characteristic is transmitted via the transmission / reception means 157.
It may be received from the display device 50, the printer 70, the Pacoson 80, and other communication devices.

The image to be picked up is formed on the light receiving surface of the image pickup means 150 by the image pickup lens 102, and the formed subject image is photoelectrically converted and output to the CDS circuit 153. CDS
The circuit 153 performs image processing such as correlated double sampling, amplification and noise reduction processing on this image signal, and outputs it to the A / D converter 154 for conversion into digital data.

The image data converted into the digital data is processed by the image processing means 16 according to a command from the information processing means 180.
7, the white balance and gamma correction of the image,
After being subjected to image processing such as gradation characteristic conversion processing, YC conversion, zoom processing, pixel number conversion processing, color reproduction characteristic conversion processing, and image MTF conversion processing, they are temporarily stored in the RAM 184. The information processing unit 180 performs a process of sequentially outputting the image data stored in the RAM 184 to the display unit 168, and the display data such as an image is displayed on the display unit 168.

When the user presses the release button for inputting an image pickup instruction provided in the input means 174, the information processing means 180 enters a mode for picking up an image of a subject. Then, the information processing means 180 records the image data converted into digital data by the A / D converter 154 in the RAM 184.

When recording the acquired image on the recording medium 177, first, the image output characteristic recorded in the RAM 184 is read out and transferred to the image processing means 167. Next, the images stored in the RAM 184 are sequentially read out and transferred to the image processing means 167 to perform image processing based on the image output characteristics to generate a new image.

The image processing includes image white balance, gamma correction, synchronization, noise reduction processing, sharpness processing, hue / saturation correction processing, YC conversion, zoom processing, pixel number conversion processing, and gradation characteristic conversion processing. , Image processing such as various image processing such as compression processing, color reproduction characteristic conversion processing, and MTF conversion processing of images. The new image thus generated is sequentially recorded on the recording medium 177 in association with the information on the image output characteristic as needed.

When the generated new image is output to another communication device, it is output to the transmission / reception means 157 in association with the information of the image output characteristic as necessary, so that the other devices such as the printer 70. Output to communication equipment.

In the above description, the electronic camera having the image pickup means is used to perform the image processing based on the image output characteristics on the image output device side. However, the present invention is not limited to this. However, the object of the present invention can be achieved even with an image processing apparatus that acquires an image from an external device via a communication unit or the like and performs image processing and image recording.

FIG. 11 shows a file structure of an image generated by the electronic camera 10.

As shown in the figure, the image file 12 contains
A portion in which the auxiliary information 13 of the image is described, a portion in which the main image 14 having the number of pixels of 1280 × 960 of the image is described, and a reduced image 15 (of the main image 14 used for the index display, etc. Thumbnail image) part is provided.

In the portion where the attached information 13 is described,
The shooting information 20 at the time of capturing or generating the original image may be attached. In the example shown in FIG. 11, the photographing date information 21 indicating the date and time when the main image 14 is captured, and the electronic camera 1 at the time of capturing the image.
The image capturing mode information 22 indicating that the image is an image captured by setting the image capturing mode (quality) of 0 to the “NOMAL” mode, and the title information 23 to which the title of the main image 14 designated by the user is attached. Various information is attached.

In addition, in the portion in which the attached information 13 is described, white balance information 24 in which a mode for adjusting the white balance set in the electronic camera 10 at the time of image capturing is described, and in the electronic camera 10 at the time of image capturing are set. The focus information 25 in which information about the focus mode such as “AUTO” or “MANUAL” that has been displayed is described;
Shooting position information 26 that describes the position at which the subject image was captured by the electronic camera 10, and strobe information 2 that describes the fill light emission mode that was set when the electronic camera 10 captured the image.
7 and 7 are attached.

Further, an image output characteristic 30 for performing image processing based on the image image output characteristic on the image output device side is attached to the portion where the attached information 13 is described. The image output characteristics 30 includes the image sharpness information 31, the image hue information 32, and the image saturation information 3.
3, image main gradation information 34, image highlight gradation information 35, image noise reduction amount information 36, characteristic content identification display 37, image MTF conversion information 38, and image output for identifying an image output device Information such as the device type information 39 is attached in association with the main image 14.

By attaching the image output device type information 39 to the image file, it is possible to easily know the image output device which is supposed to output the recorded image. Furthermore, by attaching the image output characteristic itself referred to on the electronic camera 10 side as attached information as described above, the characteristic of another image output device is attached even if there is no image output device referred to. It is possible to bring the characteristics of the final image closer to the target characteristics by tuning the image output characteristics.

In addition to the above various information, the number of pixels of the image, the white balance information of the image, the AE information of the image,
The image gradation characteristic conversion processing, color reproduction characteristic information, the number of printed images, and other information may be attached to the image output characteristic 30.

The image file 12 may be recorded in the recording medium 177, or the image file 12 may be output to another communication device such as the printer 70 via the transmitting / receiving means 157. Good.

The identification display 37 may be, for example, "real", "bell beer", "landscape", "portrait",
"Night view", "Underwater", "Ski", "Text", etc.
Describe the optimal classification of image processing according to the type of image to be captured.

For example, when the identification display 37 is "real", it means that the image output characteristic for the purpose of faithfully reproducing the color at the time of actual image capturing is printed or displayed. , Set the sharpness to weak,
It is shown that the main gradation is set to soft and the subject is reproduced smoothly, and the highlight gradation of the bright part is set to hard.

The print processing in the printer 70 will be described below.

When the image to be printed is recorded in the recording medium 777, the information processing means 780 causes the file name of the image file recorded in the recording medium 777 via the recording medium interface 779 and the image file to be recorded in the image file. A process of reading the recorded thumbnail image is performed. Then, the display means 768 performs a process of displaying a list of the read image file names and thumbnail images.

The user browses the image displayed on the display means 768 and inputs the information for selecting the image to be printed through the input means 774.

The information processing means 780, which has obtained the selection information via the input means 774, reads the selected main image and the image output characteristics attached to the image file and records it in the memory 781. To do.

Then, the information processing means 780 reads out the image output characteristics recorded in the memory 781 and outputs the image output characteristics to the image processing means 767 to perform processing for setting the processing contents of the image. When the setting of the image processing based on the image output characteristic is completed, the information processing unit 780 then reads the main image recorded in the memory 781 and outputs it to the image processing unit 767, and based on the predetermined image output characteristic. Instruct image processing.

The decompression processing section of the image processing means 767 carries out decompression processing on the acquired compressed image by a method typified by JPEG or the like. Next, the hue / saturation correction unit adjusts the rotation angle between saturation and hue, and then
The brightness correction section independently adjusts the white balance and the like of the gains of the gradations of the R, G, and B colors.

Next, the noise reduction processing section performs processing for reducing noise contained in the image signal, and the sharpness processing section performs processing for emphasizing the contour of the image.

When the image processing means 767 completes the image processing based on the acquired image output characteristics, the information processing means 780 causes the information processing means 780 to generate the image newly generated by the image processing means 767 as to the number of prints or the type or size of the printing paper. It is output to the print engine 789 together with the print information regarding the size.

The print engine 789, which has acquired the information such as the image, prints based on the information acquired from the information processing means 780. Then, the image designated by the user is printed and output on the sheet 72.

Further, the image output characteristics of the image processing executed by the printer 70 and the identification information regarding the contents of the image output characteristics may be printed on the back surface of the paper 72 on which the image is printed.

When the image processing means 767 displays the newly generated image on a display, a projector or the like, the information processing means 780 outputs the newly generated image to the display means 768. The display unit such as a display or a projector may be a display unit provided outside the printer 70.

In the above embodiment, the recording medium 1
Although the image output characteristic for setting the image processing content is recorded in 77, the present invention is not limited to this, and the recording medium 177 may include “FF”.
Only the image output device type information 39 such as “printer 300” is recorded, and the image sharpness information and other image output characteristics are recorded in the recording means of the electronic camera 10 or the image output device in the form of a table in the form of the image output device type information 39. It is possible to achieve the object of the present invention even by recording in association with.

The final target image output from the printer 70 may be freely changeable by the user.

In that case, a plurality of image output devices are assumed for one input image, and the image processing means 167 creates images corresponding to the respective image output devices. For example, electronic camera 10
The menu screen shown in FIG. 12 below is displayed on the display means 168 of FIG.

FIG. 12 shows the display means 168 of the electronic camera 10.
Shows the menu screen displayed in.

As shown in the figure, the display means 167 of the electronic camera 10 displays a list of image output devices and a check box as to whether or not image processing corresponding to the image output device is to be carried out. In the example shown in the figure, as the types of images to be created, a plurality of printers, a plurality of external monitors (display devices), and other image output devices are listed as candidates.

The image processing means 167 of the electronic camera 10 generates an output image only for the type of image search output device set by the user.

As shown in the figure, the user may be allowed to set the first candidate. For example, in that case, the RA of the CCD after the first candidate image is A / D converted.
The analog characteristics may be changed by the analog gain amplifier 152 or the like based on the W data to perform image conversion, and other items may be corrected by the digital unit (image processing unit 167 or the like).

FIG. 13 shows a flowchart of image processing in the electronic camera according to the present invention.

As shown in the figure, the user sets the electronic camera 1
"Imaging" by pressing the mode changeover switch
If the mode is set to, the process executed by the information processing unit 180 of the electronic camera 10 branches to S100 “start” and proceeds to the next S102 “read image output characteristics of image output device”.

In S102, the information processing unit 180 performs a process of reading the image output characteristics (gradation, color, contour correction, etc.) on the image output device side. At this time, the information processing means 18
0 may read the image output characteristic from the recording medium 177 via the recording medium interface 179, may be read from the personal computer 80 via the transmitting / receiving means 157, or may be read by the printer 70 via the transmitting / receiving means 157.
It may be read from a communication device such as a machine, or may be read from another communication device such as a server via a communication network such as the Internet.

The personal computer 80 reads the image output characteristic from the recording medium (memory card) in S104 "PC loaded" and outputs the information of the image output characteristic to the electronic camera 10 through the communication means. You may.

As for the image output characteristic, the image output apparatus may record the final target image quality characteristic (image output characteristic or the like) in the memory card in S106 "write to memory card". Further, when the recording medium is initialized (formatted) by the image output device, the image output characteristics may be recorded together. Further, instead of recording the final target image quality characteristic in the memory card by the image output device, it may be directly transmitted to the personal computer 80 through the communication means.

In S108 "camera loaded", the read (or acquired) image output characteristics are stored in the memory (RAM1).
84, etc.) (S110) and S112.
Proceed to "Calculate input / output characteristics of electronic camera from image output device information and final target image quality characteristics".

In S112, the information processing means 180, based on the read (or acquired) image output characteristics (final target image quality characteristics), the input / output characteristics (inverse function etc.) of the image processing executed by the image processing means 167. ) Is calculated.

In the next step S114 "Is the image output device the first candidate?", The information processing unit 180 determines whether the image output device corresponding to the image processing to be executed is the first candidate image output device. Is going. If it is the first candidate, the process branches to S116 “division of roles of analog and digital and calculation of analog characteristic and digital characteristic”, and
If it is not the first candidate, the process proceeds to S118 “calculate the amount when digitally correcting the input characteristic”.

In S116, the information processing means 180 calculates the analog characteristic and the digital characteristic concerning the image processing,
The calculated analog characteristic is output to the D / A converter, and the calculated digital characteristic is output to the image processing unit 167.

In S120 “D / A”, the D / A converter converts the analog characteristics into analog data and outputs the converted analog data to the analog gain amplifier 152.

The S122 "analog signal processing section" prepares for the conversion processing of the image signal based on the analog characteristics input by the analog gain amplifier 152.

In S126 "Digital signal processing section", the image processing means 167 prepares for image processing based on the digital characteristics input from the information processing means 180.

On the other hand, in S118, the information processing means 180
Performs processing such as calculating an inverse function of the image output characteristic on the image output device side, and outputs the correction value to the image processing means 167.

In S128 "digital signal processing section", the image processing means 167 prepares for image processing based on the digital characteristics input from the information processing means 180.

At S130 "completion of signal processing correction", when all the preparations for the above image processing are completed and the user presses the release button provided in the electronic camera 10 to instruct imaging of the subject, the electronic camera Information processing means 1 of 10
The process carried out by 80 proceeds to the next “S132” “photograph”.

At S132, the image pickup of the subject image is finished,
When the image processing based on the characteristic information on the image output device side is completed by the analog gain amplifier 152 and the image processing unit 167, the process performed by the information processing unit 180 is S13.
4 Go to “Record”.

In step S134, the information processing means 180 determines that the RAM
Read the image output characteristics recorded in 184 etc.,
A process of generating the image file shown in FIG. 11 and recording the image file on the recording medium 177 together with the image subjected to the image conversion is performed.

The information processing means 180 at S134
The image file may be output to another communication device such as a printer via the transmitting / receiving unit 157.

When the recording of the image file or the output processing of the image file is completed, the processing proceeds to S135 “END” and the imaging processing is terminated.

The file name of the image file 12 shown in FIG. 11 includes the image output device type information 39 (information for identifying the image output device having the image output characteristics used in the image processing). Information processing means 18
0 may be generated and added to the image file.

The information processing means 180 attaches the image output device identification information 39 for identifying the image output device having the image output characteristic used for the image processing as the directory name of the directory for storing the image file 12, and The image file 12 may be stored in the directory.

[0133]

As described above, according to the electronic camera of the present invention, the reading means for reading out the image output characteristic on the image output device side from the recording medium, or the image output characteristic on the image output device side can be changed. Receiving means for receiving from the communication device, image pickup means for picking up a subject image to obtain an image, and image processing based on the image output characteristic for the obtained image to generate an image having a new characteristic. Since the image processing means and the writing means for recording the generated image on the recording medium, or the transmitting means for transmitting the generated image to another communication device are provided, the floor of the image in the image output device such as a printer or a display device. It is possible to obtain the tonality characteristic, the color reproducibility, and other image output characteristics, and perform image processing in advance on the electronic camera side according to the image output characteristics.

Further, by knowing the characteristics of the image output device by the image input device such as an electronic camera, it is possible to make a clean image (without making various changes later) while making the most of the image material (image data). It is possible to build it.

Further, it is possible to generate optimum image data for each input image (captured image) assuming a plurality of image output devices (not recorded in advance in a memory card). Become.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an imaging output system using an electronic camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a signal processing system of the electronic camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a signal processing system of a printer which is one form of an image output device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing gradation image output characteristics in a printer, a display device, and other image output devices.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing gradation image output characteristics implemented by an electronic camera.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing image output characteristics of color reproducibility in a printer.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing characteristics of image processing performed by an electronic camera.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an image output characteristic by contour correction in a printer.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing characteristics of image processing of contour correction performed by an electronic camera.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a memory map of a recording medium in which information on image output characteristics is recorded.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a file structure of an image generated by an electronic camera.

FIG. 12 is a menu screen displayed on the display means of the electronic camera.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of image processing in the electronic camera.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Electronic camera, 12 ... Image file, 13 ... Attached information, 14 ... Main image, 15 ... Reduced image, 20 ... Shooting information,
21 ... Shooting date information, 22 ... Shooting mode information, 23 ...
Title information, 24 ... White balance information, 25 ... Focus information, 26 ... Shooting position information, 27 ... Strobe information, 30 ... Image output characteristics, 31 ... Sharpness information, 3
2 ... Hue information, 33 ... Saturation information, 34 ... Main gradation information, 3
5 ... Highlight gradation information, 36 ... Noise reduction amount information, 3
7 ... Identification display, 38 ... MTF conversion information, 39 ... Image output device type information, 50 ... Display device, 70 ... Printer, 72
... paper, 102 ... imaging lens, 132 ... optical filter,
133 ... Aperture, 150 ... Image pickup means, 152 ... Analog gain amplifier, 153 ... CDS circuit, 154 ... A / D converter, 157 ... Transmitting / receiving means, 167 ... Image processing means, 16
8 ... Display means, 174 ... Input means, 177 ... Recording medium,
179 ... Recording medium interface, 180 ... Information processing means, 182 ... Non-volatile memory, 183 ... ROM, 18
4 ... RAM, 199 ... Bus, 765 ... Transmitting / receiving means, 76
7 ... Image processing means, 768 ... Display means, 774 ... Input means, 777 ... Recording medium, 779 ... Recording medium interface, 780 ... Information processing means, 781 ... Memory, 789
... print engine, 799 ... bus,

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F-term (reference) 5B057 BA11 CA01 CA08 CA12 CA16                       CB01 CB08 CB12 CB16 CE02                       CE03 CE11                 5C022 AA13 AC13 AC31 AC55 AC69                       AC74                 5C053 FA08 FA23 FA27 GA11 LA01                 5C055 AA04 AA05 BA06 GA00 GA01                       HA36 HA37

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An electronic camera for performing image processing on an image picked up by an image pickup means based on an image output characteristic on an image output device side such as a printer for printing the image or a display device for displaying the image. A reading means for reading out the image output characteristic on the image output device side from the recording medium, or a receiving means for receiving the image output characteristic on the image output device side from another communication device, and an image of a subject to obtain an image. Image capturing means, image processing means for performing image processing on the acquired image based on the image output characteristic to generate an image having a new characteristic, and writing for recording the generated image on a recording medium. means,
Alternatively, an electronic camera comprising: a transmitting unit that transmits the generated image to another communication device. 2. The image output characteristic is a gradation characteristic of an image,
At least one of the number of image pixels, image sharpness information, image hue information, image saturation information, image white balance information, color reproduction characteristic information, image MTF conversion information, and image noise reduction amount information The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the electronic camera includes one. 3. The image to be recorded or the image to be transmitted is in the form of an image file, and an image output device having an image output characteristic used for image processing is identified as a file name of the image file. 3. The electronic camera according to claim 1, further comprising a file name generation unit to which output device identification information is attached. 4. The image to be recorded or the image to be transmitted is in the form of an image file, and an image output device having an image output characteristic used for image processing is used as a directory name of a directory for storing the image file. 3. The electronic camera according to claim 1, further comprising a directory name generation unit for identifying and identifying image output device identification information.