JP2003234937A - Electronic camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic camera, capable of imaging simultaneously moving images and high-definition still images without being concerned about a good opportunity for taking a photograph chances. <P>SOLUTION: While a release switch is turned on and off, or while an internal memory becomes full, the still images are stored in the memory be imaging the still images continuously (Steps 100-108). After selecting desired still images stored in the memory and storing the still images in a memory card (Steps 110-112), the moving images are created based on the image data imaged continuously stored in the memory and the moving images are stored card (Steps 114-118). <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 camera, and more particularly to an electronic camera capable of shooting still images and moving images.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a large number of electronic cameras have been distributed as an image pickup apparatus having a CCD image pickup element or the like which can easily take an image. At the time of shooting, the electronic camera reads charges (photoelectric conversion) corresponding to the amount of light for each pixel with a CCD image sensor or the like, converts the charges into image data, and then records the shot image as image data on a magnetic recording medium or the like. There is.

In the process from shooting to recording, the main processing for each shooting frame is digital conversion of a shot image, image creation for displaying the shot image, and recording processing for recording the shot image. It is being appreciated.

Further, in this type of electronic camera, a moving image can be photographed by using a CCD image pickup device or the like.

Furthermore, when photographing a subject having a lot of movement, in addition to the desire to photograph the subject as a moving image and to photograph a series of movements, a demand to photograph a definite moment as a high-definition still image. May occur at the same time. Therefore, in order to meet the demand for capturing a decisive moment when capturing a moving image in this manner, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
The technique described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 000-324433 has been proposed.

In the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-324433, in a camera capable of shooting still images and moving images, the release switch is operated during recording of moving images so that the image at that moment can be captured separately from the moving images. Is recorded as. This makes it possible to obtain a still image at a decisive moment during movie shooting.

[0007]

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
In the electronic camera described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 000-324433,
One frame of a moving image shot is recorded as a still image. Generally, in a moving image, the image quality is low due to the requirements of the recording medium and the processing speed, and the image cut out from it is a high-definition image. There is a problem that is not.

Further, it is considered that the image is captured as a high-definition still image at the moment when the release switch is operated during recording of a moving image. However, when the subject is moving at high speed,
There is a problem that it is difficult to capture the photo opportunity.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and provides an electronic camera capable of simultaneously shooting a moving image and a high-definition still image without worrying about a photo opportunity. The purpose is to do.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention as set forth in claim 1 is an image pickup means for picking up an image of a subject to obtain image data representing the subject, and a continuous image pickup of the subject by the image pickup means. Based on the plurality of image data, an instruction means for instructing, and a control means for continuously capturing an image of a subject by the image capturing means to obtain a plurality of image data when the continuous image capturing is instructed by the instruction means. , And a generation unit that generates a moving image.

According to the first aspect of the invention, the image pickup means obtains image data representing the subject by picking up an image of the subject. For example, it is possible to obtain image data representing a subject by photoelectric conversion by forming an image of the subject on an area CCD sensor or the like.

Further, the instructing means instructs the continuous imaging of the subject by the image sensor. Then, when the instruction means instructs the continuous image pickup, the control means controls the image pickup means to continuously image the subject to acquire a plurality of image data.

Then, the generating means generates a moving image on the basis of the plurality of image data obtained by continuous image pickup. For example, it is possible to generate a moving image with a small amount of data by performing a process of reducing the resolution of image data of a plurality of still images.

That is, since a moving image is generated from a plurality of still images, a still image and a moving image can be obtained at the same time. Then, by simultaneously obtaining a still image and a moving image in this way, a high-definition still image can be taken without worrying about the shutter timing.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the storage means for storing the image data obtained by the image pickup means, and the image data obtained by the continuous image pickup, Selection means for selecting image data to be stored in the storage means.

The image data obtained by continuous imaging requires a large amount of image data in order to generate a moving image. Therefore, the capacity of the storage means is pressed. Therefore, according to the invention of claim 2, claim 1
In the invention described in (1), the storage device further includes a storage unit that stores the image data, and a selection unit that selects the image data stored in the storage unit. Of these, it is possible to select the image data to be stored in the storage means, and it is possible to select and store the necessary image data.
It is possible to prevent the capacity of the storage means from being pressed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the invention, the generating means is configured to generate a moving image by the generating means after the selecting means selects the image data to be stored in the storage means. Is further provided with a moving image generation control means for controlling.

According to the invention of claim 3, claim 2
In the invention described in (1) above, a moving image generation control unit that controls the generation unit to generate the moving image after the selection of the image data to be stored in the storage unit by the selection unit Since the moving image is generated after the data is stored, the necessary still image resolution remains high-definition even if the process of reducing the resolution of the plurality of image data acquired by the continuous image capturing at the time of generating the moving image is performed. Can be stored in.

The invention described in any one of claims 1 to 3 may be the following inventions.

At least a switching means for switching between a plurality of shooting modes of a still image shooting mode for shooting a still image, a moving image shooting mode for shooting a moving image, and a simultaneous shooting mode for simultaneously shooting a still image and a moving image is provided, and The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the moving image is generated by the generating unit when the switching by the switching unit is a simultaneous shooting mode.

Since a large amount of image data is acquired in simultaneous shooting of still images and moving pictures at the same time, a switching means is further provided in this way, and when the switching by the switching means is the simultaneous shooting mode, the generating means is generated. By performing the moving image generation by, the storage unit can be used efficiently.

[0022]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 (A) and 1 (B), the main body 12 of the digital camera 10 is substantially box-shaped, and a protrusion (grip portion) for facilitating the grip of the main body 12 is provided on the left side when viewed from the front. )
Is formed. A lens barrel 15 to which a lens 14 is attached is provided in the center of the front side of the main body 12, and above the lens 14 of the main body 12, a strobe 18 for emitting auxiliary light when photographing in low illuminance, Optical finder 1 for the user to visually confirm the shooting range, etc.
6 is attached.

A strobe light receiving window 38 for guiding the strobe light to a strobe light receiving sensor for detecting the light amount of the strobe light reflected by the subject and returning when the strobe is emitted is built in at a position near the strobe 18, and a built-in strobe light receiving window 38. An AE light receiving window 40 for guiding light to the AE sensor is provided.

On the upper surface of the main body 12, a power switch 20 is provided on the right side when viewed from the front, and a release switch 22 is provided on the left side (a position corresponding to the grip portion).
On the right side when viewed from the front of the memory card (not shown)
There is provided a slot 24 into which the card can be loaded.

On the right side surface of the digital camera 10,
A USB (Universal) for sending image data stored in a built-in memory built in the digital camera 10 or a memory card loaded in the slot 24 to the outside.
Serial Bus) A USB terminal 42 to which a cable is connected, and a mobile phone terminal used when connecting to a mobile phone when transmitting image data stored in a built-in memory or a memory card to the outside using the mobile phone. 44 are provided.

Below the mobile phone terminal 44, an AC adapter for connecting the AC power source to the power source is connected.
A C adapter connection port 28 is provided, and is configured to be able to supply AC power to the digital camera 10.

As shown in FIG. 1B, the main body 12
A color display 26 made of a transmissive liquid crystal (may be a semi-transmissive liquid crystal) is provided on the back surface of the display, and the display 26 is provided with a backlight including a fluorescent tube, an LED, or the like. . The display 26 also has the function of the optical finder 16.

On the rear surface of the main body 12, on the right side, a selection (SELECT) switch 34 and a menu (MEN).
U) switch 30, execution / screen switching (EX / VIEW
CHG) switch 32 and cancel (CANCE)
L) A switch 36 is provided. The selection switch 34 is a switch for selecting a mode such as a menu screen displayed by pressing the menu switch 30, and its execution is performed by the execution / screen changeover switch 32. The cancel switch 36 is a switch for canceling various modes.

Further, on the back surface of the main body 12, there is provided a shooting mode switching switch 82 for switching the shooting mode. By operating the shooting mode switching switch 82, a still image shooting mode for shooting a still image, It is designed to switch between a moving picture shooting mode for shooting a moving picture and a simultaneous shooting mode for simultaneously shooting a still image and a moving picture.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the electric system of the digital camera 10. The lens 14 is specifically a zoom lens (focal length variable lens), and the zoom mechanism is driven by a drive circuit 46. Further, an auto focus (AF) mechanism 47 is also provided, and the AF mechanism 47 is similarly driven by the drive circuit 46. Instead of the zoom lens, a variable focal length lens including only the AF mechanism 47 may be used.

An image pickup device 50 composed of an area CCD sensor or the like is arranged at a position corresponding to the focal position of the lens 14 inside the main body 12, and the light reflected by the subject and incident on the lens 14 is An image is formed on the light receiving surface of the image sensor 50. The image pickup device 50 outputs, as an image signal, an analog signal indicating the amount of light received by each of a large number of photoelectric conversion cells arranged in a matrix on the light receiving surface. The image sensor 50 is driven at a timing synchronized with the timing signal generated by the timing signal generator connected to the drive circuit 46, and outputs an image signal. In addition,
The image pickup device 50 corresponds to the image pickup means of the present invention.

A diaphragm 48 is arranged between the lens 14 and the image pickup device 50. The diaphragm may be a single diaphragm that can be continuously changed, or a plurality of diaphragms having different diaphragm amounts may be switched.

A strobe control circuit 54 for controlling the light emission of the strobe 18 is also connected to the timing signal generator 52, and when the strobe 18 is detected to have a low illuminance or the user instructs the strobe 18 to emit light. In this case, the light emission is controlled at the timing synchronized with the timing signal generated by the timing signal generator 52.

A sampling unit 56, an A / D converter 58, a signal processing unit 60, a memory 62, and a compression / expansion unit 64 are sequentially connected to the signal output terminal of the image pickup device 50,
System bus 6 connected to system bus 68
The system control unit 70 connected to the control unit 8 controls the entire system. The system control unit 70
Corresponds to the control means of the present invention.

The sampling unit 56 samples the image signal output from the image pickup device 50 at a timing synchronized with the timing signal generated by the timing signal generation unit 52, amplifies the signal, and outputs the amplified signal to the A / D converter 58. . The sampling unit 56 is a CDS (not shown).
(Correlated Double Sampling: hereinafter referred to as CDS) section. C
The DS unit uses, for example, a CCD type image pickup device, and basically holds various voltage generated by the device by a clamp circuit that clamps the noise by a timing signal from a timing signal generation unit and an analog voltage signal by the timing signal. It has a sample hold circuit. The CDS section removes noise components and sends the image signal as an analog output signal to the A / D converter 58. Sampling unit 56
The image signal output from is converted into digital image data by the A / D converter 58 and input to the signal processing unit 60. The signal processing unit 60 performs various processes such as color correction, γ correction, and Y / C conversion on the input image data. The image data output from the signal processing unit 60 is RA
It is temporarily stored in the memory 62 composed of M and the like. Then, after being compressed by the compression / expansion unit 64, the internal memory 84
Alternatively, it is stored in a memory card 80 loaded in the slot 24. The built-in memory 84 or the slot 24 corresponds to the storage means of the present invention.

Further, the display 26 is also connected to the system bus 68, and an image based on the image data obtained by photographing can be displayed.

Further, the system bus 68 has the above-mentioned U.
The SB terminal 42, the mobile phone terminal 44, and various operation switches including the release switch 22 and the shooting mode switching switch 82 (menu switch 30, execution / screen switching switch 32, selection switch 34, cancel switch 36).
Etc.) 74 is connected to an input / output interface (I /
F) 76 is connected, and control is performed according to the operation of various operation switches 74. The various operation switches 74 correspond to the instruction means and the selection means of the present invention.

That is, when the release switch 22 is operated or the like to store the image data in the built-in memory 84 or the memory card loaded in the slot 24, the system control unit 70 is temporarily stored in the memory 62. The read image data is transferred to the compression / expansion unit 64. As a result, the image data is compressed by the compression / expansion unit 64 and then stored in the built-in memory 84 or the memory card 80. Note that the image data may be stored in the built-in memory 84 or the memory card 80 without being compressed depending on the shooting mode.

When reproduction (display) of the image represented by the image data stored in the memory card 80 loaded in the built-in memory 84 or the slot 24 is instructed, it is loaded in the built-in memory 84 or the slot 24. The image data is read from the memory card 80, the read image data is expanded (decompressed) by the compression / expansion unit 64, and then temporarily stored in the memory 62. Then, the image data temporarily stored in the memory 62 is used to display (reproduce) the image on the display 26.

By the way, the digital camera 10 of the present embodiment is capable of performing not only still image shooting and moving image shooting but also simultaneous shooting by simultaneously shooting still image shooting and moving image shooting. A simultaneous shooting processing unit 86 that performs the simultaneous shooting processing is connected. The simultaneous photographing processing unit 86 corresponds to the generation means and the moving image generation control means of the present invention.

The simultaneous photographing processing section 86 carries out a simultaneous photographing process, which will be described later, for simultaneously photographing a still image and a moving image. In the simultaneous shooting process, the release switch 22 is operated to save the image data in the built-in memory 84 in a state where the simultaneous shooting process is switched by the shooting mode switching switch 82. At this time, while the release switch 22 is being pressed, as long as the built-in memory 84 has a capacity, a plurality of continuous still images are stored in the built-in memory 84. Then, after the shooting is completed, an image desired by the photographer is selected by a photographer's instruction (for example, operation of various operation switches 74), only image data corresponding to the selected image is stored in the memory card 80, and the images are continuously stored. When the captured still image is recorded as a moving image, the image data of the moving image having a small data amount is generated by performing a process of reducing the resolution from the image data of the plurality of still images, and the memory card 80
It is designed to be memorized in.

Next, as the operation of the digital camera 10 configured as described above, the simultaneous photographing processing performed by the simultaneous photographing processing unit 86 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The simultaneous shooting process is started by switching the shooting mode switch 82 to the simultaneous shooting mode.

In step 100, the release switch 2
2 is operated, that is, it is determined whether or not the release switch 22 is turned on, and the process stands by until the determination is affirmative. If the determination in step 100 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 102, and the image is exposed on the image sensor 50. That is, an image signal representing a captured image is output by the image sensor 50, and the image signal obtained by the image sensor 50 is sampled in synchronization with the timing signal generated by the timing signal generator 52 by the sampling unit 56. At the same time, the image signal from which the noise component is removed is output. Then, it is converted into digital image data by the A / D converter 58, various processes such as color correction, γ correction, and Y / C conversion are performed by the signal processing unit, and temporarily stored in the memory 62. It should be noted that the exposure of the image pickup device 50 may be started by an electronic shutter that is performed electrically, or may be performed by providing a mechanical shutter between the lens and the image pickup device 50 and releasing the shutter.

At step 104, the image data is recorded in the built-in memory 84. That is, the image data temporarily stored in the memory 62 is read out and transferred to the compression / expansion unit 64, whereby the image data is compressed by the compression / expansion unit 64 and then stored in the internal memory 84. .

In step 106, it is determined whether or not the capacity of the built-in memory 84 is full (FULL). If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 108, and if the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 110.

In step 108, the release switch 2
It is determined whether 2 has been operated. That is, it is determined whether or not the release switch 22 is turned off. If the determination is negative, the process returns to step 102, the above-described processing is repeated, and if the determination in step 108 is affirmative, the step is performed. Move to 110.

At step 110, a still image recorded image is selected. The still image recording image is selected by the photographer operating the selection switch 34, the execution / screen changeover switch 32, or the like. When the selection is made, the process proceeds to step 112.

In step 112, the image data of the still image selected in step 110 is recorded in the memory card 80.

Further, in step 114, it is determined whether or not to convert the moving image. The determination is made by determining whether or not the photographer has instructed to perform moving image conversion by operating the menu switch 30, the selection switch 34, the execution / screen changeover switch 32, the cancel switch 36, or the like.

If the determination at step 114 is negative, the simultaneous photographing process is ended, and if the determination at step 114 is affirmative, the routine proceeds to step 116 and the continuous still recording recorded in the built-in memory 84. The image is converted to a movie. That is, processing such as reducing the resolution is performed from the image data of a plurality of still images to generate moving image data having a small data amount, and the process proceeds to step 118.

In step 118, the image data of the generated moving image is recorded in the built-in memory 84, and a series of simultaneous photographing processing is completed.

As described above, in the simultaneous photographing process, a moving image is generated based on a plurality of image data obtained by continuously photographing still images, so that a still image at a desired timing can be obtained and the moving image can be photographed. Can also be done at the same time. Therefore, without worrying about the photo opportunity
You can shoot video and high-definition still images at the same time.

Furthermore, since the required still images are selected from the continuously shot still images and stored in the memory card 80,
It is possible to prevent the storage capacity of the memory card 80 from being overwhelmed by unnecessary high-definition still image data. Since a moving image is generated after selecting a required still image, even if a process of reducing the resolution of a plurality of image data acquired by continuous imaging at the time of generating a moving image is performed, The resolution can be stored in the memory card 80 as high definition.

In the above embodiment, a plurality of image data obtained by continuous shooting are stored in the built-in memory 84, and the selected image data among the image data obtained by continuous shooting is stored in the memory card 80. Video stored in the memory and generated from multiple image data
4 is stored in the memory 4, but a plurality of image data obtained by continuous shooting is temporarily stored in the memory 62.
Of the image data obtained by continuous shooting, desired image data is selected, the selected image data is stored in the built-in memory 84, and further, while temporarily stored in the memory 62, a moving image is created from the plurality of image data. It may be generated and stored in the built-in memory 84.

Further, in the above embodiment, the memory 62
And the built-in memory 884 have been described as another storage device,
The same storage device may be used.

[0057]

As described above, according to the present invention, a continuous still image is shot, a desired still image is stored in the storage means, and then a moving image is generated from a plurality of continuously shot still images. There is an effect that it is possible to shoot a moving image and a high-definition still image at the same time without worrying about a photo opportunity.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electric system of the digital camera according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of simultaneous shooting processing.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 digital camera 22 Release switch 50 image sensor 62 memory 70 System control unit 74 Various operation switches 74 80 memory card 84 built-in memory 86 Simultaneous shooting processor

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) // H04N 101: 00 H04N 5/91 J

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image pickup means for picking up an image of a subject to obtain image data representing the subject, an instruction means for instructing continuous image pickup of the subject by the image pickup means, and when the continuous image pickup is instructed by the instruction means. An electronic camera comprising: a control unit that continuously captures a subject by the image capturing unit to obtain a plurality of image data; and a generating unit that generates a moving image based on the plurality of image data. 2. A storage unit for storing image data acquired by the image capturing unit, and a selecting unit for selecting image data to be stored in the storage unit out of the image data acquired by the continuous image capturing. The electronic camera according to claim 1, further comprising: 3. A moving image generation control means for controlling the generating means so as to generate a moving image by the generating means after the selecting means selects the image data to be stored in the storage means. Item 2. The electronic camera according to Item 2.