JP2004104463A - Imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display an auxiliary line for photographing only in a necessary place at necessary time so as to make a device easy to use. <P>SOLUTION: The device is provided with a CCD 14 photographing an object and outputting image data, display LCD 17 displaying image data outputted from the CCD 14, an outline detection means extracting an outline of the object from image data and detecting a linear part of the outline and an auxiliary line generating means outputting the auxiliary line near a display position of a display means, which corresponds to the linear part of the outline detected by the outline detection means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus that displays image data captured by an imaging unit on a display unit and also displays an auxiliary line.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an auxiliary shooting line is displayed in a viewfinder field of a camera. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a technique for automatically displaying an auxiliary line in a finder based on lens information.
[0003]
Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for displaying an auxiliary frame together with a subject image on a liquid crystal display screen on the back of a camera. Also, a technique for moving an auxiliary line in response to a movement command input has been disclosed.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-5-216109 [Patent Document 2]
JP 2000-270242 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since the selected auxiliary line is always displayed while it is selected, there is a problem that it is troublesome for the photographer and a problem that the composition is limited by adjusting the composition to the auxiliary line. In addition, moving the auxiliary line by the operation member also complicates the operation and causes a problem that it is difficult to use.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention has been made to solve such a problem. That is, the present invention provides imaging means for capturing an image of a subject and outputting image data, display means for displaying image data output from the imaging means, extracting a contour of the subject from the image data, and forming a straight line portion of the contour. The image processing apparatus includes a contour detecting means for detecting, and an auxiliary line generating means for outputting an auxiliary line near a display position of the display means corresponding to a straight line portion of the contour detected by the contour detecting means.
[0007]
According to the present invention, when displaying the image data of the subject output from the imaging unit on the display unit, the outline detection unit detects a straight line portion in the outline of the image data, and the auxiliary line generation unit detects the straight line portion. An auxiliary line is output near the corresponding display position. Therefore, since the auxiliary line is automatically displayed only in the vicinity of the straight line portion where the angle of the composition is easily adjusted in the contour of the subject, the composition is limited by the auxiliary line or the photographer needs to move the auxiliary line. Disappears.
[0008]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the imaging device according to the embodiment, FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the imaging device according to the embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the imaging device according to the embodiment.
[0009]
That is, the imaging apparatus 1 is a digital still camera including a lens 40, operation members (24 to 28), a microphone 12, a speaker 19, a display LCD 17, a strobe unit 21, and the like.
[0010]
The operation members (24 to 28) include a rotation operation unit 24 provided around the lens 40, a mode switching unit 25 provided on the housing of the lens 40 and configured by a slide switch for switching a photographing mode, a fixed exposure and a white balance. An adjustment button 26 for performing adjustment, a shooting button group 27 including a shutter button and an exposure adjustment dial, and the like, and a display switching button 28 for switching display contents of the display LCD 17 are provided.
[0011]
As shown in FIG. 3, the block configuration of the imaging apparatus 1 includes a microphone 12, a VIDEO amplifier 13, a CCD (solid-state imaging device) 14, a signal processing circuit 15, an RGB driver 16, with an MPU (central processing unit) 11 as a center. , Display LCD 17, VIDEO amplifier 18, speaker 19, controller 20, strobe unit 24, storage medium 22, external terminal 23, rotation operation unit 24, operation members (26 to 28), lens 40, potentiometer 57 Has become.
[0012]
In addition, an aperture control motor 41, a zoom motor 42, a focus motor 43, a shutter 44, and a driver 45 for operating these are provided inside the lens 40.
[0013]
Signals from the microphone 12 and the CCD (solid-state imaging device) 14 are processed by the VIDEO amplifier 13 and the signal processing circuit 15, respectively, and sent to the MPU 11. The aperture control motor 41, the zoom motor 42, the focus motor 43, and the shutter 44 are controlled by the MPU 11 via the driver 45.
[0014]
The image captured by the CCD 14 is displayed on the display LCD 17 by the RGB driver 16 from the MPU 11. The speaker 19 generates sound via the VIDEO amplifier 18.
[0015]
Further, the MPU 11 controls the flash unit 21 via the controller 20 to control the flash emission. The MPU 11 performs writing / reading to / from a storage medium 22 such as a memory stick (Sony trademark), and communication and output through an external terminal 23.
[0016]
The setting of the photographing conditions is performed by the operation members (26 to 28). These units are driven by a power supply system (not shown).
[0017]
In the present embodiment, in addition to the above configuration, a contour detecting unit that extracts a contour of a subject from image data captured by the CCD 14 and detects a straight line portion of the contour, and corresponds to a straight line portion of the contour detected by the contour detecting unit. An auxiliary line generating means for outputting an auxiliary line near the display position of the display LCD 17 is provided.
[0018]
Note that, among these, the contour detecting means may be constituted by the signal processing circuit 15 or may be realized by program processing executed by the MPU 11. Further, the auxiliary line generation unit is realized by a program process executed by the MPU 11.
[0019]
4 to 10 are views showing screen display and internal processing of the embodiment. FIG. 4 shows an image captured by the CCD 14 and processed by the signal processing circuit 15. The subject is the sea and a cliff protruding from the sea, and the horizontal line is tilted with respect to the image frame because the imaging device 1 has been tilted.
[0020]
Next, the signal processing circuit 15 performs contour extraction from the captured image. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the result of contour extraction performed by the signal processing circuit 15. Next, the signal processing circuit 15 detects a line segment having a certain length L or more from the extracted contour component. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a line segment having a predetermined length L or more is detected from the contour component, and FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a state in which only the detected line segment is extracted. Here, two line segments A and B are detected.
[0021]
Here, there is a case where the imaging device 1 is provided with a posture detecting means for detecting a posture of the main body casing (inclination toward the subject), and the posture detecting means detects a horizontal position (normal photographing). Is detected, processing is performed on the horizontal line. On the other hand, when the vertical position photographing is detected by the posture detecting means, processing is performed on a vertical line (actually, a horizontal line).
[0022]
In this case, since the horizontal position photographing (normal position photographing) is detected, the angle with respect to the horizontal line in the extracted line segments is measured by the program processing of the MPU 11, and the one with a certain angle or less is selected. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the angle of the detected line segment with respect to the horizontal line is measured. FIG. 9 is a state in which only a line segment B equal to or smaller than a certain angle (first angle θ1) is selected from the measured angles. FIG.
[0023]
In this example, the angle α of the line segment A with respect to the horizontal line and the angle β of the line segment B with respect to the horizontal line are measured, and the angle α> the first angle θ1, and the angle β ≦ the first angle θ1. , Only the line segment B having the angle β is selected.
[0024]
Note that the first angle θ1 is set as an initial value such that the imaging device 1 is tilted during normal shooting, and is, for example, about 3 degrees.
[0025]
When there are a plurality of line segments having an angle equal to or smaller than the first angle θ1, the one having the smallest angle (closer to the first angle θ1) is selected. May be selected with the longer line segment. Further, two or more line segments may be selected as necessary.
[0026]
Then, after the line segment is selected, the original image and a horizontal line (auxiliary line) are superimposed and displayed near the previously selected line segment by the auxiliary line generating means realized by the program processing of the MPU 11. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a horizontal line (auxiliary line H) is superimposed and displayed on an original image.
[0027]
By correcting the inclination of the imaging apparatus 1 with respect to the superimposed horizontal line (auxiliary line H), the photographer can easily photograph the sea horizontal line horizontally with respect to the image frame.
[0028]
Further, when it is detected that the angle of the selected line segment B with respect to the horizontal line (auxiliary line H) becomes equal to or smaller than a predetermined angle (second angle θ2), the superimposed horizontal line (auxiliary line H) is displayed. ), Changing the display color, or indicating by sound makes it easier for the photographer to understand that the image frame is horizontal.
[0029]
When the horizontal line (auxiliary line H) and the line segment are displayed in a superimposed manner, the angle difference (angle β in this example) between these lines is displayed on a part of the display LCD 17 as a numerical value, a graphic, or the like. You may. This makes it possible to easily set a composition tilted by an arbitrary angle. Further, the first angle θ1, the second angle θ2, and the length L of the line segment to be detected may be configured so that the photographer can arbitrarily change the values.
[0030]
Here, the outline extraction, straight line detection, and auxiliary line display output from the image data described above may be repeatedly calculated each time the image data is sent to the MPU 11 so as to be continuously displayed. As a result, not only still image shooting but also moving image shooting can be performed with auxiliary lines displayed at necessary positions.
[0031]
In addition to such continuous display of auxiliary lines, image data may be automatically stored and photographed when the angle difference between the auxiliary line and the detected straight line falls within a certain range. This makes it possible to capture an image accurately and easily at the stage when the composition angle is matched.
[0032]
In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which a horizontal line is used as an auxiliary line. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the same applies to a vertical line or a line having an arbitrarily set angle.
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the present invention has the following effects. That is, the photographer can easily correct the inclination of the main body housing with respect to the auxiliary line superimposed on the captured image and adjust the composition angle with respect to the subject accurately and quickly. When the auxiliary line is horizontally aligned, the horizontal portion of the subject is aligned with the image frame with reference to the auxiliary line, so that shooting can be performed without tilt. In addition, since the auxiliary lines are automatically displayed only in necessary portions, the composition is not limited by the auxiliary lines, and the user does not have to move the auxiliary lines, thereby improving the usability. It becomes possible.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an imaging device according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the imaging apparatus according to the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the imaging apparatus according to the embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an image captured by a CCD.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a result of performing contour extraction.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state in which a line segment having a certain length or more is detected from a contour component.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a state where only detected line segments are extracted.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a state where an angle of a detected line segment with respect to a horizontal line is measured.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a state where only line segments having a certain angle or less are extracted.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a horizontal line (auxiliary line) is superimposed and displayed on an original image.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Imaging device, 11 ... MPU, 12 ... Microphone, 13 ... VIDEO amplifier, 14 ... CCD, 15 ... Signal processing circuit, 16 ... RGB driver, 17 ... Display LCD, 19 ... Speaker, 20 ... Controller, 21 ... Strobe unit Reference numeral 22, a storage medium, 23, an external terminal, 24, a rotation operation unit, 26 to 28, an operation member, 40, a lens, 45, a driver, 57, a potentiometer

Claims (8)

Imaging means for imaging a subject and outputting image data;
Display means for displaying image data output from the imaging means;
Contour detection means for extracting a contour of the subject from the image data and detecting a straight line portion of the contour,
An imaging apparatus, comprising: an auxiliary line generation unit that outputs an auxiliary line near a display position of the display unit corresponding to a straight line portion of the outline detected by the outline detection unit. It is provided with a slope determining means for determining the slope of the straight line portion detected by the contour detecting means with respect to a reference line,
2. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary line generating unit outputs the auxiliary line corresponding to the straight line portion when the inclination of the straight line portion determined by the inclination determining unit is equal to or smaller than a predetermined angle. It has a line segment length determining means for determining whether the straight line portion detected by the contour detecting means has a certain length,
2. The auxiliary line generating unit according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary line generating unit outputs the auxiliary line corresponding to the linear portion when the line segment length determining unit determines a straight line portion having a certain length. Imaging device. Control means is provided for performing control so that the detection of the straight line portion by the contour detection means and the output of the auxiliary line by the auxiliary line generation means are repeated while the imaging means is imaging the subject. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein: 5. The imaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein when the difference between the inclination of the straight line portion and the auxiliary line falls within a certain range, the control unit performs control to display the fact on the display unit. 6. . The imaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control unit performs control to change a display of the auxiliary line when a difference between the inclination of the straight line portion and the inclination of the auxiliary line falls within a predetermined range. When the difference in inclination between the straight line portion and the auxiliary line falls within a certain range, the control unit performs control to store image data output by the imaging unit at that time. 5. The imaging device according to 4. A posture detecting means for detecting a posture of the main body housing is provided,
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary line generation unit generates the auxiliary line at an angle corresponding to a posture of the main body housing detected by the posture detection unit.

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