JP2003216263A - Electronic image pickup device, program and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To propose an electronic image pickup device which prohibits a person other than a registered one from using and limits its use function against the person and whose function and operation can be fast and reliably carried out. <P>SOLUTION: A characteristic registering means 12 for associating characteristic information of a user with an operation function of this electronic image pickup device to register one or more in a characteristic storing means 14, a characteristic detecting means 10 for detecting the characteristic information of the user, a start button 2 including the characteristic detecting means 10, a characteristic collating means 11 for collating the characteristic information of the user detected by the characteristic detecting means 10 with the characteristic information registered in the characteristic storing means 14 when the user touches the start button, and a controlling means 13 for performing control in accordance with the operation function associated with the characteristic information that coincides with each other by the characteristic collating means 11 are provided. Since the user can be reliably recognized even when the electronic image pickup device such as a camera and a video camera is held in a manner beyond assumption, the person other than the registered one is prohibited from using the electronic image pickup device and its use function is limited against the person. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic image pickup device, a program, and a recording medium, and more specifically, makes the operation of an electronic image pickup device such as a camera or a video camera light and reliable to identify a user and identify the user. Technology for preventing malfunctions and thefts caused by operations by users other than.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a camera or a video camera is designed so that a switch, a lever or the like is arranged around a shutter button or a start / stop button to operate them.

In order to prevent a user other than the owner from operating the camera or the video camera or stealing it, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-295458, “Electronic photographing device having digital watermark function and use” In the case of "electronic imaging device with person registration function", a fingerprint authentication sensor is installed on the camera etc. to identify the user who is operating, and if the user is not the original owner, prohibit the operation and make an error. Acts or deters theft.

[0004]

However, if the switches, levers, and the like are made to correspond to various operations one by one, the cost of the apparatus becomes high and the apparatus becomes complicated, and the apparatus becomes complicated. If so, there is also a problem that it is likely to cause a malfunction or a failure.

Further, when fingerprints are used as in the device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-295458, when gloves are used in a cold area or the like, the operation of removing the gloves one by one occurs, which makes the operation difficult. is there. Also, since a fingerprint authentication sensor is attached separately from the shutter button or the start / stop button, if the camera is held unexpectedly, the sensor cannot be touched and the authentication cannot be performed.

Furthermore, in recent years, there has been a demand for recording additional information in real time at the time of photographing, but such a demand cannot be realistically satisfied because the conventional technique cannot instantaneously input.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and it is an electronic device capable of prohibiting the use of a person other than a registered person, limiting the used function, and performing the function and the operation at high speed and reliably. An object of the present invention is to propose an imaging device, a program for executing the function of the electronic imaging device, and a computer-readable recording medium recording the program.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the electronic image pickup device according to claim 1 of the present invention is an electronic image pickup device for recording electronic image information. Feature registration means for registering one or more in the feature storage means in association with the operation function of the device, feature detection means for detecting feature information of the user, start button incorporating the feature detection means, and A feature matching unit that matches the feature information of the user detected by the feature detecting unit with the feature information registered in the feature storing unit when the start button is touched, and the feature matched by the feature matching unit. And a control unit that controls the electronic image pickup apparatus according to the operation function associated with the information. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the electronic image pickup apparatus according to the first aspect, the feature detecting means detects by a mechanical or electromagnetic interaction. Also,
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the electronic image pickup apparatus according to the first aspect, the feature detecting means recognizes a fingerprint of a user. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic image pickup apparatus according to the first, second or third aspect, the characteristic information of the user detected by the characteristic detecting means is registered in the characteristic storing means in advance. Is characterized in that an operation function corresponding to this characteristic information is set.
Further, claim 5 of the present invention is defined by claim 1, 2, 3 or 4
In the electronic image pickup device described in the item (1), the operation function registered in the feature storage means is operation stop (lock) and operation restart (unlock) of the electronic image pickup device. According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic image pickup apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the operation function registered in the feature storage means is a function limitation (secure) of this electronic image pickup apparatus. It is characterized by the restriction release (unsecure). A program according to claim 7 of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to execute as the electronic imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 6. The recording medium according to claim 8 of the present invention is the recording medium according to claim 7.
It is a computer-readable recording medium in which the program described in [1] is recorded.

With the above-mentioned structure, the user can be surely recognized even when the electronic image pickup device such as a camera or a video camera is held unexpectedly. It is possible to prohibit the use and limit the functions used by others. Furthermore, by assigning different functions to a plurality of fingers, the functions of the electronic image pickup device and operations such as recording additional information can be performed at high speed and reliably. In addition, the device can be lightened even with gloves on.
It can be operated without malfunction.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of an electronic image pickup device of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, the electronic imaging device is described as a digital camera,
The same is applicable to a digital video camera.

FIG. 1 shows an electronic image pickup apparatus (digital camera).
FIG. The electronic image pickup apparatus 1 includes a start button (shutter button, start button) 2 having a built-in sensor,
A power switch 3, a mode selection switch 4, a liquid crystal display unit 5, a cross switch 6, and an optical finder 7 are arranged.

The start button 2 is arranged on the right side of the upper surface of the electronic image pickup apparatus 1 and is a switch for starting photographing in the recording mode (when the power switch is set to the "recording" side).
Further, on the upper surface of the start button 2, a sensor for detecting the characteristics of the finger of the user who presses the start button is built in. When the finger is placed on the start button 2 or the start button 2 is pressed with the finger, the sensor recognizes the fingerprint of the finger and detects the characteristic information of the user. Further, a device having a mechanical or electromagnetic action is attached to a finger or a glove, and the feature information of the user is detected by the action. In this case, the fingerprint can be used to identify the user very accurately, and even when the device for recognizing the characteristic information is worn on a finger or glove, the electronic imaging is performed lightly and without malfunction. The device can be operated.

The power switch 3 is arranged on the upper surface of the digital camera and has three positions of "playback, power off, and recording". When the power is off, the main power source of the electronic image pickup apparatus 1 is cut off, and recording and playback are performed. In position,
The main power source of the electronic image pickup device is turned on, and the captured images are reproduced and the images are recorded.

The menu switch 4 is arranged on the back surface of the electronic image pickup apparatus 1 and on the right side of the liquid crystal display section 5, and changes the mode for setting the function of the digital camera and transmitting / receiving data to / from a personal computer or the like. To do. The selection of the processing in each mode is performed by the cross switch 6 while displaying on the liquid crystal display unit 5.

The liquid crystal display unit 5 displays the control state of the camera and information such as images at the time of setting and photographing. The cross switch 6 is arranged on the back surface of the electronic image pickup apparatus 1 and on the upper right of the liquid crystal display unit 5 so that it can be operated with a thumb, and is used for selecting an item displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 5. Alternatively, the liquid crystal display unit 5 may be a touch panel, and selection may be made from the touch panel. In particular, it is effective for inputting a person's name. The optical finder 7 is arranged on the back surface of the electronic image pickup device and above the liquid crystal display unit 5 to check the composition at the time of shooting without using the liquid crystal display unit 5.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional arrangement of the embodiment of the electronic image pickup apparatus of the present invention. In FIG. 2, the electronic image pickup apparatus 1 shown in FIG.
Feature matching means 11, feature registration means 12, control means 13,
At least a feature storage unit 14 and a function execution unit 15 are provided. The characteristic detecting means 10 is detected when a finger of a user or a finger of a glove placed on a sensor arranged on the upper surface of the start button 2 is contacted and reads characteristic information. Here, the sensor is, for example, one of the following or a combination thereof. (A) Shape and Pressure Sensor for Detecting Physical Shape (Mechanical Reading) A physical device, for example, in the form of a tablet, mounted on a finger or a glove. In this case, the feature information is statistically processed image data of the shape. (B) Receiving / transmitting antenna device (electromagnetic reading) For example, a film-shaped antenna device mounted on a finger or gloves. As the feature information in this case, the shape feature and frequency of the electromagnetic wave are used. (C) Fingerprint reading sensor As the characteristic information in this case, the characteristic amount of the image pattern of the fingerprint is used.

The characteristic registration means 12 inputs the characteristic information for identifying the manager and the user and the operation or the additional information associated with the characteristic information of the manager and the user, and registers it in the characteristic storage means 14. . This administrator can be more than one person, adding, changing,
It is possible to delete, and it is possible to perform operations relating to the user, setting additional information, and use all the functions of the electronic image pickup apparatus 1. There may be a plurality of users, who can perform operations related to themselves and set additional information, and can use the functions of the electronic imaging device 1 within the range determined by the administrator. In this way, a person other than the administrator and the user who are registered in the electronic image pickup apparatus 1 is called a guest, and the use is permitted only within the range given by the administrator.

The person who operates the electronic image pickup apparatus 1 for the first time is treated as an administrator, and at least the administrator name and characteristic information are input and registered in the characteristic storage means 14. For example, when the initial power is turned on by moving the power switch 3 from the “off” position to the “record” or “playback” side after the battery is loaded, the “administrator's name is entered on the liquid crystal display unit 5”. Please enter the administrator's name by selecting the characters, symbols, etc. displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 5. Then, the liquid crystal display 5 displays "Please put your finger on the start button to register the fingerprint to register the administrator.", And put the fingerprint on the start button 2. As a result, the administrator's name and the fingerprint information are associated with each other and recorded in the feature storage means 14, and the liquid crystal display section 5 displays "The administrator has been registered."
Complete the initial registration.

After the initial registration, the initially registered manager sets other managers and users. This setting includes
There are additions, changes and deletions. In this case, the administrator selects “setting” with the menu switch 4 and selects a setting function displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 5, for example, “add administrator”, and starts the fingerprint of the administrator to be added with the start button 2 Then, the administrator name is entered and registered in the feature storage means 14. In the case of the user, register in the same way.

Further, the operation and additional information of the electronic image pickup apparatus 1 and the characteristic information read by any one of the above sensors can be associated with each other and registered in the characteristic storage means 14 for each manager and user. .

There are the following two modes in handling the electronic image pickup apparatus 1. (1) Lock Mode This lock mode allows only the administrator and the user to use the electronic image pickup device. In this mode, the guest cannot use the electronic image pickup device. The administrator selects “setting” with the menu switch 4, selects a setting function displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 5, for example, “lock mode”, and touches a device or a finger for inputting characteristic information attached to the finger. By putting it on the start button 2, the characteristic information and the lock mode are made to correspond to each other and registered in the characteristic storage means 14 so that they can be used by all managers and users. Also, at the time of shooting or reproduction, the administrator sets or releases the lock mode by inputting the characteristic information registered here. This setting and cancellation is a toggle switch.

(2) Secure Mode When the menu is set in this secure mode, the user can use the functions within the range set by the administrator. In the case of a guest, if the lock mode is not set, the function within the range set by the administrator can be used. Especially, in this secure mode, it is necessary to identify the person who is operating, for example, a function such as a shooting record that records the shot video and the photographer in association with each other is not available to the guest. Absent.

To set the function to be restricted in the secure mode, the administrator selects "setting" with the menu switch 4,
Of the setting functions displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 5, for example, "secure mode" is selected and the use restrictions are set,
For example, by temporarily setting the image quality, the sensitivity of the film, and the like, and finally placing a device for inputting the characteristic information attached to the finger or the finger on the start button 2,
The restriction function and the secure mode are associated with each other and registered in the feature storage means 14 so that they can be used by all managers and users. Further, at the time of shooting or reproducing, the administrator sets or cancels the secure mode by inputting the characteristic information registered here. This setting and cancellation is a toggle switch.

When the administrator of the electronic image pickup apparatus sets the lock mode or the secure mode in this way, the operation of the apparatus is restricted to prevent unauthorized use by unregistered persons and to change settings and special functions. be able to.

Also, the administrator or the user can register the operation and additional information of the electronic image pickup device in the feature storage means 14 in association with the feature information. At the time of setting, the administrator or the user selects "setting" with the menu switch 4 and selects a setting function displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 5, for example, "operation information setting", and adds the date to the captured image. , Flash photography, exposure / brightness / focus on the captured image, film sensitivity, etc. are set temporarily, and the device for inputting the characteristic information attached to the finger or the finger is placed on the start button 2 to The feature information and the operation function are associated with each other and registered in the feature storage means 14. The setting of this operation function may be registered separately for a plurality of characteristic information.
Further, at the time of shooting or reproduction, by inputting the feature information registered here, the operation function corresponding to the input is set and executed.

Further, the administrator or the user can register the additional information in association with the characteristic information. For this additional information, the administrator or the user selects “setting” with the menu switch 4 and selects the setting function displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 5, for example, “setting of additional information”, and displays the category, person name, etc. By placing a device for inputting and finally inputting the characteristic information attached to the finger or the finger on the start button 2,
Feature storage means 1 by associating the feature information with the additional information.
Register to 4. The setting of the additional information may be registered separately for a plurality of characteristic information. Further, at the time of shooting or reproducing, by inputting the characteristic information registered here, additional information corresponding to the characteristic information is added to the captured image or video.

This additional information is used, for example, to photograph a video image during a meeting with a video camera and add a speaker name to the video image to instruct who is speaking. For this purpose, a name and characteristic information are registered in association with each attendee of the conference, the characteristic information corresponding to the speaker is input during shooting, and the speaker name is added to the video. If the speaker name is added to the video in this way, it will be useful information when the video is analyzed later.

When it is desired to classify images taken by a camera into genres, the genre name of the image and the feature information are registered in association with each other, and when the shutter is pressed, the feature information corresponding to the genre for the image is input. . For example, set the genre to take a commemorative photo for the characteristic information of the index finger and a landscape photo for the characteristic information of the middle finger, and press the shutter with each finger to shoot the genre. Since the name is added, it becomes easy to create an album or the like.

The characteristic storage means 14 holds the following information for each of a plurality of managers and a plurality of users. Among them, a plurality of sets of four pieces of feature information can be set for one administrator or user. Further, the information on the lock mode and the secure mode can be set by one administrator and used by all the administrators.

Name / Administrator or user distinction. For one feature information, the following four-piece feature information, one or more operation or additional information related to this feature information, this feature information. Flag that indicates whether to set the secure mode by inputting, and flag that indicates whether to set the lock mode by inputting this feature information

The characteristic matching means 11 matches the characteristic information detected by the characteristic detecting means 10, for example, (a) physical shape, (b) electromagnetic wave frequency, and (c) fingerprint with the characteristic information stored in the characteristic storing means 14. Collate what you do. If there is a match as a result of collation, the index corresponding to the operation corresponding to the feature information or the feature storage means 14 in which the additional information exists is output. On the other hand, if there is no match, the guest is output.

The control means 13 controls execution of the setting function of the electronic image pickup apparatus 1 and the photographing / reproducing function of the camera. For example, when the user's finger touches or presses the sensor of the start button 2, the feature detection means 10 is activated, the result is compared by the feature comparison means 11, and the function execution means 15 is referred to by referring to the comparison result. To start. Such an operation is repeated until the power switch 3 is turned off.

The function executing means 15 is called from the control means 13 and executes a camera function such as photographing and reproducing within a set range.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the electronic image pickup apparatus. After the battery is loaded, the administrator of the electronic image pickup apparatus starts the initial power source by moving the power switch 3 from the “off” position to the “record” or “playback” side (step S1). The feature information of is registered in the feature storage means 14 (step S2). The registration of the manager's characteristic information is performed as follows.

[Enter the administrator's name.] Is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 5, and the characters and symbols displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 5 are selected to input the administrator's name. Then, the liquid crystal display 5 displays "Please put your finger on the start button to register the fingerprint to register the administrator.", And put the fingerprint on the start button 2. As a result, the administrator name and the fingerprint information are associated with each other and recorded in the feature storage means 14, and the liquid crystal display section 5 displays "The administrator has been registered." And the initial registration is completed. The above processing is the initial operation after the purchase of the electronic image pickup device, and thereafter, the electronic image pickup device can add, change, and delete the administrator and the setting, change, and delete of the user only by the registered administrator. Becomes The user or guest can use the electronic imaging device within the designated range.

Next, it is checked whether the menu switch 4 has been pressed (step S3), and if it has been pressed, a setting process (described later) is performed (step S4), and the process proceeds to step S8. Although the menu switch 4 is not pressed, it is checked whether or not the finger touches the sensor of the start button 2 (step S
5) If there is no contact, go to step S7. On the other hand, when it is in contact, the characteristic information (for example, physical shape, electromagnetic wave, fingerprint) read by the sensor is the characteristic storage means 1.
4 is checked to see if it matches the feature information stored therein, and if there is a match, the index to the feature storage means 14 in which the operation or additional information corresponding to that feature information exists is output, while the match is found. If there is not, the guest is output (step S6).

With reference to the result of analysis in step 6 (operation of the feature storage means 14 and additional information indicated by the index), either the "record" or the "reproduce" electronic image pickup device selected by the power switch 3 is selected. The function of is executed (described later) (step S7). The process is repeated from step S3 until the power is turned off (step S8).

The setting process started in step S4 of FIG. 3 will be described below. FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the setting process. When the menu switch 4 is pressed, the liquid crystal display 5 displays "Please confirm the user, so put the registered finger fingerprint on the start button." And display the fingerprint of the finger touched by the user. It is read and collated with the characteristic storage means 14 to determine whether it is an administrator, a user or a guest (step S10).

When the read characteristic information belongs to the manager, the liquid crystal display section 5 displays options of "user setting", "operation setting", and "mode setting", and the cross switch 6 is used to set each setting. Can be selected (step S1
1, S12).

If "user setting" is selected in step S12, the administrator is added, changed, or deleted, or the user is registered, changed, or deleted (steps S13, S1).
4) and returns to step S12 to select the next setting item. Therefore, the cross switch 6 selects either "add, change, delete administrator" or "register, change, delete user" displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 5. For example,
When "Add administrator" is selected, "Please enter the administrator name" is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 5, and the characters and symbols displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 5 are selected to select the administrator name. Enter. Then, the liquid crystal display 5 displays "Please put your finger on the start button to register the fingerprint to register the administrator.", And put the fingerprint on the start button 2. As a result, the administrator name and the fingerprint information are associated with each other and recorded in the feature storage means 14, and the liquid crystal display section 5 displays "The administrator has been registered.", And the additional registration is completed. When "Delete administrator" is selected, the administrator name to be deleted is selected from the list of administrator names displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 5 with the cross switch 6, and the registered information about the administrator is stored in the feature memory. Delete from the means 14. Further, the user's setting can be similarly processed. For example, if "register user" is selected, then the name of the person who will newly become the user is input, and the characteristic information (fingerprint) input by touching the sensor of the start button 2 with the finger of that person is input. It is stored in the characteristic storage means 14 as a user.

Alternatively, when "operation setting" is selected in step S12, setting information and additional information necessary for operating the electronic image pickup device are stored in the characteristic storage means 14 in association with the characteristic information (step S15, S16), and returns to step S12 to select the next setting item. For example, when “operation information setting” displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 5 is selected, the date is added to the captured image, whether or not flash photography is possible, exposure / brightness / focus on the captured image, film sensitivity, etc. are temporarily set, Finally, by placing a device for inputting the characteristic information attached to the finger or the finger on the start button 2, the characteristic information and the provisionally set function are associated with each other as the information regarding the administrator, and the characteristic storage means is stored. 14
Register to.

When "Set additional information" displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 5 is selected, the category or person's name is input, and finally the device or finger for inputting the characteristic information attached to the finger is started. By putting the button on the button 2, the characteristic information and the additional information are associated with each other and registered in the characteristic storage means 14 as the information about the administrator.

When "mode setting" is selected in step S12, either the "lock mode" or the "secure mode" displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 5 is further selected by the cross switch 6, and the electronic image pickup device is selected. Set the permission range for. Further, the characteristic information of the finger when using the mode is acquired, and the mode and the characteristic information are associated and stored in the characteristic storage means 14 (step S17,
S18), step S1 for selecting the next setting item
Return to 2.

For example, when the "lock mode" displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 5 is selected, a device for inputting characteristic information attached to a finger or a finger is placed on the start button 2 to lock the characteristic information and the lock. The feature storage means 1 is made to correspond to the modes so that it can be used by all administrators.
Register to 4.

Further, by selecting the "secure mode" displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 5 and selecting one of the setting functions to be restricted in use,
For example, by temporarily setting the image quality, the sensitivity of the film, and the like, and finally placing a device for inputting the characteristic information attached to the finger or the finger on the start button 2,
The restriction function and the secure mode are associated with each other and registered in the feature storage means 14 so that they can be used by all administrators.

Further, when the setting item is not selected in step S12, the setting process is ended.

If the characteristic information read in step S10 is the user, the setting information and additional information necessary for operating the electronic image pickup apparatus are set in the same manner as the operation setting process by the administrator (step S16). Is stored in the characteristic storage means 14 in association with the characteristic information (step S21), and the setting process is ended.

When the characteristic information read in step S10 is a guest not registered in the characteristic storage means 14, it is judged whether or not the lock mode is currently set by the administrator (step S30), and the lock mode is set. If so, the setting process ends. On the other hand, when the lock mode is not set, when the secure mode is not set by the administrator, all the functions of the electronic imaging device can be directly set, but when the secure mode is set by the administrator, the lock mode is set. The function of the electronic imaging device within the range is set directly (step S31), and the setting process is ended. For example, the liquid crystal display unit 5
The various settings displayed on the screen, date, exposure time, aperture, brightness, film sensitivity, image quality, flash availability, etc. are set as default values.

The setting relating to the reproduction processing can be set in the same manner as the setting processing described above.

The execution process of the camera function activated in step S7 of FIG. 3 will be described below. FIG. 5 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the camera function execution process. It is judged whether the characteristic information read by the sensor of the start button 2 is stored in the characteristic storage means 14 (step S41), and if registered, the mode corresponding to the characteristic information or the operation or addition of the electronic image pickup apparatus is added. Information is set (step S42). For example, when the administrator inputs the characteristic information for setting the lock mode, the lock mode is set so that the guest cannot use the electronic imaging device. If the lock mode has already been set, the lock mode is released. Alternatively, when the administrator inputs the characteristic information for setting the secure mode, the operation function associated with the characteristic information is set in the electronic imaging device, and the secure mode to be used within the limit is set for the user. . If the secure mode has already been set, the secure mode is released. Or
When the administrator or the user inputs the characteristic information for setting the operation or the additional information of the electronic image pickup apparatus, the operation or the additional information of the electronic image pickup apparatus associated with the characteristic information is set. As described above, the administrator or the user can quickly perform the operation registered in advance by touching the start button 2 with the characteristic such as mechanical, electromagnetic or fingerprint assigned to a specific finger.

On the other hand, if the read characteristic information does not match the one registered in the characteristic storage means 14 in step S41, it is determined whether the lock mode is set,
When the administrator sets the lock mode, the electronic image pickup apparatus is in the locked state, and the electronic image pickup apparatus does not operate until the lock mode is released (step S4).
3).

Next, when the start button 2 is continuously pressed after the contact with the finger (step S44), it is determined whether the secure mode is set by the administrator (step S45). If secure mode is set,
The electronic image pickup apparatus enters the function restricted state, and the camera function is executed within the set range until the administrator releases the secure mode (step S46). On the other hand, if the secure mode is not set in step S45,
The normal camera function is executed (step S4).
7). In this case, the electronic image pickup device can use all the camera functions regardless of the administrator, the user, and the guest, but the guest can perform the function only by specifying the photographer, for example, the recorded record and the captured image. A photographer's record or the like that records the person and the person in correspondence cannot be used because the name of the photographer is not registered.

Further, a recording medium in which a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is recorded is attached to the computer, and the CPU (Cent
ralProcessing Unit) and MPU (Microprocessing Uni)
It goes without saying that the object of the present invention can also be achieved by t) reading and executing the program code stored in the recording medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the recording medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the program code and the recording medium storing the code constitute the present invention.

As a recording medium for supplying the program code, a semiconductor medium (eg, ROM, non-volatile memory card, etc.), an optical medium (eg, DVD, MO, etc.)
MD, CD-R, etc.) or a magnetic medium (for example, a magnetic disk, a magnetic tape, a flexible disk, etc.).

When the above-mentioned program code is stored in a storage device such as a magnetic disk of a server computer and is downloaded from a computer of a user who is connected via a network, or is distributed from the server computer in a form such as distribution. The storage device of this server computer is also included in the recording medium of the present invention.

[0056]

As described above, according to the present invention, even if an electronic image pickup device such as a camera or a video camera is held unexpectedly, the user can be surely recognized, so that the user can be registered. It is possible to prohibit the use and limit the functions to be used by anyone other than the user. Furthermore, by assigning different functions to a plurality of fingers, the functions of the electronic image pickup device and operations such as recording additional information can be performed at high speed and reliably. In addition, the device can be lightened even with gloves on.
It can be operated without malfunction.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of an electronic image pickup apparatus (digital camera) according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the electronic image pickup apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the electronic image pickup apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of setting processing of the electronic image pickup apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of a camera function execution process of the electronic image pickup apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electronic imaging device (digital camera), 2 ... Start button, 3 ... Power switch, 4 ... Menu switch, 5 ... Liquid crystal display part, 6 ... Cross switch, 7 ... Optical viewfinder, 1
0 ... feature detection means, 11 ... feature matching means, 12 ... feature registration means, 13 ... control means, 14 ... feature storage means, 15 ...
Function execution means.

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An electronic image pickup apparatus for recording electronic image information, and a feature registration section for registering one or more feature information of a user and an operation function of the electronic image pickup apparatus in a feature storage section in association with each other, and a user. Characteristic detecting means for detecting the characteristic information of the user, a start button incorporating the characteristic detecting means, characteristic information of the user detected by the characteristic detecting means when the user touches the starting button, and the characteristic memory. And a control unit for controlling the electronic image pickup apparatus according to the operation function associated with the feature information matched by the feature matching unit. A characteristic electronic imaging device. 2. The electronic image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the feature detecting means detects the characteristic by mechanical or electromagnetic interaction. 3. The electronic image pickup device according to claim 1, wherein the feature detecting means recognizes a fingerprint of a user. 4. The electronic image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, when the characteristic information of the user detected by the characteristic detecting means is registered in advance in the characteristic storing means. An electronic image pickup device characterized by setting an operation function corresponding to information. 5. The electronic image pickup device according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the operation functions registered in the characteristic storage means are operation stop (lock) and operation restart (unlock) of the electronic image pickup device. ) Is an electronic image pickup device. 6. The electronic image pickup device according to claim 1, wherein an operation function registered in the feature storage means is a function limitation (secure) of the electronic image pickup device.
And an electronic image pickup device that is released from restriction (unsecure). 7. A program for causing a computer to execute as the electronic image pickup apparatus according to claim 1. 8. A computer-readable recording medium in which the program according to claim 7 is recorded.