JP2003244509A - Electronic imaging camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic imaging camera easy to use image reproducing functions. <P>SOLUTION: The electronic imaging camera has a memory control part, including a first read method for reading image data stored into a memory unit in the order of photographing sequence or in a sequence reverse to this, and a second read method for sequentially reading pieces of image data respectively added with different dates. <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 camera, and more particularly to an electronic image pickup camera which can be easily read when displaying on a liquid crystal monitor or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Currently, commercially available electronic image pickup cameras (digital cameras) reproduce the stored image on an LCD monitor according to the setting of the reproduction mode (the last image is the last image). It is common to display the captured image). Then, in order to display images taken in the past in this state, operate the image selection buttons by the number of images taken,
It is designed to be selected one by one. However, when the number of captured images is large, it is very troublesome for the photographer because, for example, 20 operations have to be performed in order to display the image 20 images before. Therefore, there is a device in which a skip selection button is provided so that a predetermined number (for example, 5) of skips can be selected. As a result, it is possible to display the image of the 20th previous image by four operations.

[0003]

According to the conventional method,
If you remember the image number you want to display, or if you remember how many previous images you want to display, you can easily select the desired image using a combination of the skip button and the sequential selection button. However, normally, the operator rarely remembers the desired image number. Therefore, the operator may be further confused by returning the image too much.

The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and an object thereof is to provide an electronic image pickup camera having an image reproducing function which is easy to use.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a first invention is an electronic image pickup camera, which comprises an image pickup section for picking up a subject image and a date information output section for outputting date information. A signal processing unit that processes the output of the imaging unit to output image data, a memory unit that can store a plurality of image data, a display unit that can display the image data, and the date information that stores the image data. In the electronic image pickup camera, the memory control unit stores: a storage operation for storing the image data in the memory unit in association with the memory unit; and a memory control unit for controlling a read operation for reading the image data from the memory unit and displaying the image data on the display unit. Section reads the image data stored in the memory section in the order in which the images were taken or in the reverse order, and the image data given different dates in order. And a second read method.

A second aspect of the present invention is an electronic image pickup camera, wherein an image pickup section for picking up a subject image, a date information output section for outputting date information, and an output of the image pickup section are processed to obtain image data. An electronic imaging camera comprising: a signal processing unit for outputting; a memory unit capable of storing a plurality of image data in association with the date information; and a display unit for reading and displaying the image data stored in the memory unit. When a specific manual operation member is operated while the image data is displayed on the display unit, the image data having different date information from the image data currently displayed is selected,
It is displayed on the display section.

A third aspect of the present invention is an electronic image pickup camera, which includes an image pickup section for picking up a subject image, a signal processing section for processing the output of the image pickup section to output image data, and the image data A memory unit capable of storing a plurality of pieces, a date information output unit for outputting date information, a function of storing the image data in the memory unit in association with the date information, and a function of storing the image information in the memory unit as a search key A memory control unit having a function of reading image data, and a display unit for displaying the image data read by the memory control unit are provided.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is an electronic image pickup camera, wherein an image pickup element for picking up a subject image, a memory element for storing image data acquired by the image pickup by the image pickup element, and the image data described above. A memory controller that stores the date information in association with the date information when storing the memory element;
A retrieval unit that retrieves according to the date information when the image data is read from the memory device.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is an electronic image pickup camera, wherein an image pickup device for converting a subject image into an electric signal through an image pickup optical system, and an output of the image pickup device are processed to generate image data. A signal processing unit for storing a plurality of image data, a date information output unit for outputting date information, a storage operation for storing the image data in the memory unit in association with the date information, A memory control unit for controlling a read operation for reading the image data stored in the memory unit, the memory control unit reading the image data from the memory unit in the order in which the image data was captured. And a second read operation for skipping and reading the image data for each date can be executed.

A sixth aspect of the invention relates to the electronic image pickup camera according to the fifth aspect of the invention, wherein a signal for instructing the first read operation or the second read operation in response to a manual operation is sent to the memory. The control unit further includes an input unit that supplies the control unit.

A seventh aspect of the invention relates to the electronic image pickup camera according to the sixth aspect of the invention, wherein the input section is the first or second aspect.
Is output, and the memory control unit can output the first signal.
The first read operation is executed in response to the signal, and the second read operation is executed in response to the second signal.

An eighth aspect of the invention relates to the electronic image pickup camera according to the fifth aspect of the invention, wherein the second reading operation is image data associated with date information different from the last read image data. Is the next read target.

A ninth aspect of the invention relates to the electronic image pickup camera according to the fifth aspect of the invention, wherein the memory control section sets the image data in the image pickup order or the reverse order based on the last read image data. It is possible to execute the first read operation for reading the image data and the second read operation for reading the image data having a date earlier than or the date later than the image data read last.

A tenth aspect of the present invention is an electronic image pickup camera, comprising an image pickup section for picking up a subject image, a date information output section for outputting date information, and date information output from the date information output section. A storage unit that stores image data captured by the image capturing unit in association with each other, and a display unit that selectively reads and displays the image data by using the date information as the search key.

The eleventh aspect of the invention relates to the electronic image pickup camera according to the tenth aspect of the invention, further comprising an input section for instructing to switch the image data displayed on the display section, and the display section inputs the input. In response to the instruction signal from the department,
Image data to which a date different from the currently displayed image data is added is read out and displayed.

A twelfth aspect of the present invention is an electronic image pickup camera, which controls the overall operation of the electronic image pickup camera, and includes a system controller including a date information output circuit for outputting date information. An image pickup device for converting a subject image into an electric signal through an image pickup optical system, an image pickup processing circuit for processing an output of the image pickup device to generate image data, a memory card capable of storing a plurality of image data, Image processing for controlling a storage operation for associating the image data with the date information in the memory unit and a reading operation for reading out the image data stored in the memory unit according to an instruction signal from the system controller. A controller, a display control unit that converts the read image data into display data, and a display unit that displays the display data. The image processing controller includes a first read operation of reading the image data from the memory unit in the order in which the image data is stored or vice versa, and a first read operation in which the image data is skipped and read for each date of storage. The two read operations can be executed.

Further, a thirteenth invention relates to an electronic image pickup camera according to the twelfth invention, wherein a plurality of switches are connected to the control circuit, and the control circuit responds to a signal from the switch. A read control signal is output to the image processing controller.

A fourteenth aspect of the invention is related to the thirteenth aspect of the invention, wherein the control circuit causes the image processing controller to perform the first control in response to first and second switch signals of the plurality of switches. Control signal is supplied so as to execute the read operation of, and the control signal is supplied so as to execute the second read operation in response to the third and fourth switch signals of the plurality of switches. .

[0019]

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

First, the outline of the present invention will be described.

As a general usage pattern of a camera, it is rare that all the shooting is completed in one day, and the shooting is often performed for a long period of time. Therefore, in order to find out where the desired image is, it is easy to find it if it can be determined whether or not the image was taken on the same day as the currently displayed image. Based on such an idea, the electronic imaging camera of the present invention stores a captured subject image in association with date data when storing it in a non-volatile storage element such as a flash memory. In the image reproduction mode, the skip button is used. Depending on the operation of, the image of a date different from the date of the image currently displayed is searched and displayed. Then, if the desired images were taken on the same day, they may be sequentially displayed one by one with the selection buttons.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an external rear view of the electronic image pickup camera of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a camera body (including an image sensor and a memory element inside), and 2 is a release button (instructing an image pickup operation of a subject image by the image sensor). Reference numeral 3 denotes a taking lens barrel (leads an object image to an image sensor), and 4 denotes a finder eyepiece (eyepiece of an optical finder for observing the object image). Further, 5 is a liquid crystal monitor screen (displays a photographed image), and 6 is an image display button (button for instructing the liquid crystal monitor to display the latest image). Reference numeral 7 denotes an upper button (a button operated to search for and display an image captured on a date earlier than the currently displayed image). Further, 8 is a lower button (a button operated to search for and display an image taken on a date later than the image currently displayed), and 9 is a right button (currently displayed). This button is operated to display the image immediately before the existing image). Further, reference numeral 10 is a left button (a button operated to display an image immediately after the currently displayed image).

Next, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a circuit block of the electronic image pickup camera according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, reference numeral 21 denotes an image pickup unit, which includes an image pickup element and an image pickup optical system that guides a subject image to the image pickup element. Then, the signal from the imaging unit 21 is sent to the signal processing unit 22. The signal processing unit 22 converts the analog image signal captured by the image capturing unit 21 into digital image data,
Processing such as image quality adjustment and compression is performed. The obtained image data is sent to the memory control unit 23. This memory control unit 23
Causes the memory unit 24 to store the image data in association with the date information output from the date information output unit 27. The memory unit 24 can store a plurality of captured image data. In addition, the control unit 25 controls the entire sequence,
Also, the operation of each unit is controlled. Then, the input unit 26
Switches connected to the release button 2, the image display button 6, the upper button 7, the lower button 8, the right button 9, and the left button 10, respectively, and informs the control unit 25 that the buttons have been operated. Further, the date information output unit 27 outputs date information. The display unit 28 is a liquid crystal display monitor for displaying the selected image. Further, the display control unit 29 controls the display unit 28.

Next, FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the data recording area of the memory 24. As shown in FIG.
The data recording area 4 includes a file management area and an image storage area. Imaged image data is stored in the image storage area in the order of sectors 1, 2 ,. Further, file information corresponding to each sector is stored in the file management area. For example, in sector 1,
File information 1 is stored correspondingly. Then, in this file information, as shown in FIG. 3A, a file name and date information are managed in addition to the sector information. In this case, the sector is managed as 001, the date is August 27, 2001, and the file name is 01082701.

FIG. 4 is a detailed circuit block diagram showing a system configuration example of the electronic image pickup camera according to the embodiment of the present invention.

In the electronic image pickup camera of this embodiment, a light beam from a subject enters through a photographing optical system (not shown).
And the like, and an image pickup processing circuit 31 for reading out an image signal acquired by the image pickup element 30 and performing A / D conversion,
An image processing controller 32 that performs image processing of A / D-converted digital image data, a memory card 34 that stores the image data, a reproduction liquid crystal panel 36 for displaying the image data, and a reproduction liquid crystal panel 36. An LCD driver 35 for controlling a display operation is provided.

Here, a part of the image pickup device 30, the image pickup processing circuit 31, and the image processing controller 32 corresponds to the image pickup unit 21 of FIG. 2, and another portion of the image processing controller 32 is the memory control of FIG. Corresponds to section 23, memory card 3
4 corresponds to the memory section 24 of FIG.
2 corresponds to the display control unit 29 of FIG.
6 corresponds to the display unit 28 in FIG.

Further, the electronic image pickup camera of this embodiment has the above-described image pickup device 30, image pickup processing circuit 31, and image processing controller 3 in order to realize an operation according to the operation of the photographer.
2, a system controller 33 such as a CPU for controlling the memory card 34 and the LCD driver 35 is provided, which corresponds to the control unit 25 in FIG.

The system controller 33 is shown in FIG.
Release SW37 interlocking with the release button 2 of FIG. 1, and upper SW47 interlocking with the upper button 7 / lower button 8 / right button 9 / left button 10 of FIG.
/ Lower SW48 / right SW49 / left SW50, the image display SW39 interlocking with the image display button 6 of FIG. 1 is connected,
The system controller 33 controls a photographing operation, a reproduction display operation, etc. according to those switch inputs. These SWs correspond to the input unit 26 of FIG. It also has a clock function for outputting date information, which corresponds to the date information output unit 27 in FIG.

Further, the system controller 33
When recording the captured image data in the memory card 34, the information for image file management as shown in FIG. 3 is set, and it is recorded in a predetermined area of the memory card 34 in association with the image, and date information is recorded. It has a function of searching for an image file to be displayed on the reproducing liquid crystal panel 36 using as a search key.

The image processing controller 32 is an R (not shown).
It has an image buffer such as AM, and uses the image buffer to perform image processing such as white balance processing, color processing, gamma correction, and sharpness adjustment, and JPEG compression / decompression processing on image data. It is a circuit for. It also has a function of reading image data from the memory card 34 in accordance with a control signal from the system controller 33 and displaying the image data on the reproduction liquid crystal panel 36 via the LCD driver 35.

The reproduction liquid crystal panel 36 displays a menu screen in addition to the reproduced image, so that processing input, time setting, etc. relating to a captured image such as image reproduction, image processing, and deletion can be performed. Although various settings can be made from the menu, detailed description will be omitted.

Further, instead of the memory card 34, a magnetic disk such as a hard disk or Floppy (registered trademark) disk or a magneto-optical disk such as MO may be used.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the control operation of the electronic image pickup camera according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, in step S1, it is determined whether or not the release button 2 has been pressed based on the state of the release SW 37. If the release button 2 is pressed, step S2
Proceed to, and perform imaging. Next, signal processing of the imaged data is performed in step S3, and file information as shown in FIG. 3A is set in the imaged data in step S4. Then, in step S5, a storage sector for writing the imaged data in the memory is set. Succeedingly, in a step S6, the imaged data is recorded in the above-mentioned storage sector, and the above-mentioned file management information is recorded in the file management area, and then the process returns to the step S1.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S1 that the release button 2 is not pressed, the process proceeds to step S7, and it is determined whether the image display button 6 is pressed or not.
It judges based on the state of 9. If the image display button 6 is not pressed, the process returns to step S1. If the image display button 6 is pressed, the process proceeds to step S8 to read the latest image file information. Next, in step S9, the latest image file is read based on the latest image file information. Then, in step S10, the latest image is displayed.

Next, it is determined whether or not the right button 9 is pressed while the latest imaged image is displayed, based on the state of the right SW 49 (step S11). If the right button 9 is pressed, the process proceeds to step S15, the previous image file information is read, and the process proceeds to step S19. In step S19, the image file selected based on the image file information read in step S15 is read and the image is displayed (step S20). Succeedingly, in a step S21, it is determined whether or not the image display button 6 is pressed. If the image display button 6 is pressed, the process proceeds to a step S22 to turn off the display and return to the step S1.

On the other hand, if the right button 9 is not pressed in step S11, the process proceeds to step S12, and it is determined whether or not the left button 10 is pressed based on the state of the left SW 50. If the left button 10 has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S16, the image file information after one is read, and step S16 is performed.
Proceed to 19. In step S19, the image file selected based on the image file information read in step S16 is read and the image is displayed (step S2
0). Succeedingly, in a step S21, it is determined whether or not the image display button 6 is pressed.
Return to.

When the left button 10 is not pressed in step S12, the process proceeds to step S13, and it is determined whether or not the down button 8 is pressed based on the state of the down SW 48. If the down button 8 is pressed, the process proceeds to step S17,
Read the image file information of the next date, and step S1
Proceed to 9. In step S19, the image file selected based on the image file information read in step S17 is read and the image is displayed (step S20).
Succeedingly, in a step S21, it is determined whether or not the image display button 6 is pressed. If the image display button 6 is pressed, the process proceeds to a step S22 to turn off the display and return to the step S1.

If the lower button 8 is not pressed in step S13, the process proceeds to step S14, and it is determined whether or not the upper button 7 is pressed based on the state of the upper SW 47.
If the upper button 7 is pressed, the process proceeds to step S18, the image file information of the previous date is read, and the process proceeds to step S19. In step S19, the image file selected based on the image file information read in step S18 is read and the image is displayed (step S20). Succeedingly, in a step S21, it is determined whether or not the image display button 6 is pressed, and if it is pressed, a step S2 is performed.
2, the display is turned off, and the process returns to step S1.

If the right button 9 is pressed while the oldest image is being displayed and the right button 9 is pressed,
Since the previous image does not exist, the latest image is displayed in a loop. Further, when the left button 10 is pressed while the latest image is displayed, there is no next image when the left button 10 is pressed, and the process returns to the oldest image by looping. Further, when the image of the latest date is displayed, the process proceeds to step S13, and when the down button 8 is pressed, the image of the next day does not exist. Is displayed. Further, while the image of the oldest day is displayed, the process proceeds to step S14,
When the upper button 7 is pressed, since the image of the previous day does not exist, the first image of the latest day is displayed.

As described above, by using the embodiment of the present invention, the image data recorded in the memory can be easily found and displayed.

[0042]

According to the present invention, the image data recorded in the memory can be efficiently searched for and displayed by using the date data, whereby the electronic image pickup camera having the image reproducing function which is easy to use. Will be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an external rear view of an electronic image pickup camera of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a circuit block of the electronic image pickup camera according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a data recording area of the memory according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a detailed circuit block diagram showing a system configuration example of the electronic imaging camera according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control operation of the electronic image pickup camera according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 camera body 2 Release button 3 Photography lens barrel 4 Finder eyepiece 5 LCD monitor screen 6 screen display button 7 Up button 8 down button 9 right button 10 left button 21 Imaging unit 22 Signal processing unit 23 Memory controller 24 memory 25 Control unit 26 Input section 27 Date information output section 28 Display 29 Display control unit

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. An image pickup section for picking up a subject image, a date information output section for outputting date information, a signal processing section for processing the output of the image pickup section and outputting image data, and storing a plurality of image data. Possible memory section, a display section capable of displaying the image data, a storage operation for storing the image data in the memory section in association with the date information, and the display section for reading the image data from the memory section. And a memory control unit for controlling a read operation to be displayed on the memory unit, wherein the memory control unit reads the image data stored in the memory unit in a shooting order or a reverse order. An electronic image pickup camera comprising: a first reading method; and a second reading method for sequentially reading image data to which different dates are added. 2. An image pickup section for picking up a subject image, a date information output section for outputting date information, a signal processing section for processing the output of the image pickup section and outputting image data, and a plurality of image data sets. In an electronic image pickup camera including a memory unit capable of storing in association with date information and a display unit for reading and displaying the image data stored in the memory unit, a state in which the image data is displayed on the display unit. When a specific manual operation member is operated by, image data having date information different from the currently displayed image data is selected and displayed on the display unit. camera. 3. An electronic image pickup camera, an image pickup section for picking up a subject image, a signal processing section for processing output of the image pickup section to output image data, and a memory capable of storing a plurality of the image data. Section, a date information output section for outputting date information, a function of storing the image data in the memory section in association with the date information, and a function of reading image data from the memory section using the date information as a search key. An electronic image pickup camera, comprising: a memory control unit having: and a display unit for displaying image data read by the memory control unit. 4. An electronic image pickup camera, comprising: an image pickup device for picking up a subject image; a memory device for storing image data acquired by the image pickup by the image pickup device; and a step of storing the image data in the memory device. An electronic imaging camera, comprising: a memory control unit that stores the image data in association with the date information; and a search unit that searches the image data according to the date information when the image data is read from the memory device. 5. An electronic image pickup camera, comprising: an image pickup element for converting a subject image into an electric signal via an image pickup optical system; and a signal processing section for processing an output of the image pickup element to generate image data. A memory unit capable of storing a plurality of image data; a date information output unit for outputting date information; a storage operation for storing the image data in the memory unit in association with the date information; And a memory control unit for controlling a read operation for reading the image data, the memory control unit reading the image data from the memory unit in the order in which the image data is captured, and the memory control unit for reading the image data. An electronic image pickup camera capable of executing a second read operation for skipping and reading for each date. 6. An input unit for supplying a signal for instructing the first read operation or the second read operation to the memory control unit according to a manual operation. 5. The electronic image pickup camera described in 5. 7. The input section is capable of outputting first and second signals, and the memory control section executes the first read operation in response to the first signal, and the second control section executes the first read operation. 7. The electronic image pickup camera according to claim 6, wherein the second read operation is executed according to a signal. 8. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein in the second read operation, image data associated with date information different from the last read image data is set as a next read target. Imaging camera. 9. The memory control unit reads the image data read last, based on the image data read last, in order of image pickup or vice versa. The electronic image pickup camera according to claim 5, wherein a second read operation for reading image data having a previous date or a later date can be executed. 10. An electronic image pickup camera, an image pickup section for picking up a subject image, a date information output section for outputting date information, and the image pickup section in association with the date information output from the date information output section. An electronic image pickup camera, comprising: a storage unit that stores image data captured by the above item; and a display unit that selectively reads and displays the image data using the date information as a search key. 11. The display unit further comprises an input unit for instructing to switch the image data to be displayed on the display unit, and the display unit displays the image data currently displayed in response to an instruction signal from the input unit. 11. The electronic image pickup camera according to claim 10, wherein the image data to which different dates are added is read out and displayed. 12. An electronic image pickup camera for controlling the overall operation of the electronic image pickup camera, comprising a system controller including a date information output circuit for outputting date information, and an image pickup optical system. An image sensor for converting a subject image into an electric signal, an image processing circuit for processing the output of the image sensor to generate image data, a memory card capable of storing a plurality of image data, and an instruction from the system controller. An image processing controller that controls a storage operation of causing the memory unit to associate the image data with the date information in accordance with a signal, and a read operation of reading the image data stored in the memory unit; A display control unit for converting the displayed image data into display data; and a display unit for displaying the display data. The processing controller performs a first read operation of reading from the memory unit in the order in which the image data is stored or vice versa, and a second read operation in which the image data is skipped and read for each stored date. An electronic imaging camera characterized by being capable of executing. 13. The control circuit is connected to a plurality of switches, and the control circuit outputs a read control signal to the image processing controller in response to a signal from the switch. 12. The electronic image pickup camera according to item 12. 14. The control circuit supplies the control signal to the image processing controller so as to execute the first read operation in response to first and second switch signals of the plurality of switches. 14. The electronic image pickup camera according to claim 13, wherein the control signal is supplied so as to execute the second read operation in response to third and fourth switch signals of the plurality of switches. .