JP2004112132A - Method and apparatus for imaging - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable photographing contents to be surely designated to a photographer by a person for designating photographing. <P>SOLUTION: A thumbnail display which collects images of a photographing designating file on one screen of a display unit (step S11). The photographer understands a type, an angle, background, etc., of a subject to be photographed by reference to the displayed image, and photographed by a camera 1 (step S12). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an imaging method and an imaging device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, when image data is compressed and decompressed, the image data is divided into color components such as RGB, YCbCr or YMCK, and a compression encoding operation is performed for each color component, and this is stored as one code file. Means have been taken to do so.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the magazine editing industry, construction industry, etc., a photographer can shoot various objects, such as small articles published in magazines and buildings under construction, at the destination according to the instruction of the instructor such as the supervisor, etc. Is taken by the user. In such a case, the instructor needs to give a detailed instruction to the photographer as to what kind of subject is to be photographed at what angle and background. In such a case, instruction information or the like which is a hint at the time of inputting an image is added as text or code data like a comment on the code file.
[0004]
However, when the instructor directly inputs an image, it is possible for the person in charge to directly check the image input state. In this case, since the instructor and the photographer who actually performs the image input are different, It is very difficult to specify the input, and even if you specify the position, color tone, density, resolution, etc. of the image, it becomes an abstract expression. There was a problem that it was not possible to determine whether or not the image was displayed.
[0005]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to enable a person who instructs photographing to accurately instruct photographers on the contents of photographing.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, one or a plurality of images of image data prepared in advance in a storage device prepared in an imaging device that captures an image with an imaging device are stored in a display device prepared in the imaging device. An imaging method comprising: a display step of displaying; and an imaging step of performing imaging with the imaging device with reference to the displayed image.
[0007]
Therefore, it is possible to give detailed instructions such as what kind of subject is to be photographed at what angle and background in the image, and it is easy to intuitively understand such instruction contents.
[0008]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the imaging method according to the first aspect, in the display step, a plurality of pieces of image data stored in the storage device are aggregated and displayed on the display device on one screen. .
[0009]
Therefore, it is possible to easily grasp the entire image to be photographed, determine the situation of the photographing site, and perform efficient photographing.
[0010]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an imaging device for capturing an image, a storage device for storing image data of one or a plurality of images, a display device for displaying an image, and an image stored in the storage device. First display means for displaying an image of data on the display device.
[0011]
Therefore, it is possible to give detailed instructions such as what kind of subject is to be photographed at what angle and background in the image, and it is easy to intuitively understand such instruction contents.
[0012]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the imaging device according to the third aspect, a receiving unit that receives a specification of any one of the image data stored in the storage device from a user, and the imaging device captures an image. Capturing means for capturing an image, dividing the captured image into a plurality of components of basic components of the image, and compressing and encoding the specified image data into code data compression-coded for each of the plurality of divided components. Code generating means for combining the converted code data as a component different from the plurality of components to obtain single code data.
[0013]
Therefore, the code data after the combination can display the captured image alone or the image obtained by superimposing the image specified by the user by the reception unit on the captured image, so that it is easy to determine whether the image as instructed has been captured. Can be confirmed.
[0014]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the imaging apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the code creating means performs the compression encoding by a JPEG2000 algorithm, and divides the captured image into a plurality of JPEG2000 components. The code data obtained by compression-coding the specified image data is combined with the code data obtained by compression-coding for each of the plurality of divided components as a separate component from the plurality of components to form single code data. .
[0015]
Therefore, the component of the image specified by the user by the receiving unit can be easily combined with the component of the captured image by the JPEG2000 algorithm.
[0016]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the imaging apparatus according to the fourth or fifth aspect, the storage device compresses the stored image data by a JEPG2000 algorithm that is the same as the image compression algorithm of the code generation unit. Stored in a compressed state, and the code generation means combines the code data stored in the compressed and coded state with a plurality of components of the read image as a separate component from the plurality of components. Into a single code data.
[0017]
Therefore, code recompression can be performed by the JEPG2000 algorithm.
[0018]
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the imaging device according to any one of the third to sixth aspects, the image captured by the imaging element and the specified image are superimposed on the display device. There is provided second display means for displaying on one screen.
[0019]
Therefore, by displaying the superimposed image, it is possible to easily match the image to be shot with the designated image.
[0020]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described.
[0021]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital still camera 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, this digital still camera 1 (hereinafter simply referred to as “camera 1”) implements an imaging device of the present invention, and includes a lens 2, an aperture 3, and a CCD image sensor as an imaging device. 4, a double correlation sampling circuit (CDS circuit) 5 for reducing the noise of the charge accumulated in the CCD image sensor 4, an AGC circuit 6 for automatically adjusting the gain of the imaging signal by the CCD image sensor 4, and the CCD image sensor 4. An A / D conversion circuit 7 for performing A / D conversion of the captured analog image data; an image signal processing circuit 8 for performing predetermined signal processing on the digital image data after A / D conversion by the A / D conversion circuit 7; 3, an exposure control circuit 9 for controlling the shutter speed and the AGC circuit 6, and a focus drive circuit 10 for driving the lens 2.
[0022]
Also, a CPU 11 for centrally controlling each unit of the camera 1, a ROM 13 storing various control programs used by the CPU 11, a RAM 12 serving as a work area of the CPU 11, and a predetermined interface for communicating with an external personal computer or the like. 19, a non-volatile memory 14 which is a storage device for storing data received from the personal computer or the like, a recording medium 15 for storing image data processed by the image signal processing circuit 8, and a storage medium for the recording medium 15. A compression / decompression circuit 16 serving as a compression means for converting the code data stored in the recording medium 15 into code data for decompression, and an LCD for displaying various messages. Accepts the configured display device 17 and various operations And an operation panel 18. Specifically, the recording medium 15 may be a semiconductor memory, or various removable media capable of magnetically or optically rewritably recording image data.
[0023]
The non-volatile memory 14 stores a shooting instruction file 21. In the shooting instruction file 21, image data of a plurality of images is compressed by, for example, the JPEG2000 algorithm, or is registered without being compressed. FIG. 2 shows a conceptual image thereof. In this example, nine images 21a to 21i, which are composed of various illustrations and pictures, are registered. This image is prepared by an instructor who instructs the photographer who intends to photograph with the camera 1 to execute photographing, and a title that briefly represents the image, for example, “tree”, “car”, etc. The image data is recorded in the photographing instruction file 21 configured in a predetermined file format by dedicated software operating on a personal computer or the like in association with data for identifying each of the images 21a to 21i, such as character data and numbers. You. The shooting instruction file 21 created in this manner is transmitted from a personal computer or the like via the interface 19 and registered in the nonvolatile memory 14.
[0024]
Each image 21a to 21i of the photographing instruction file 21 is decompressed by the compression / decompression circuit 16 when compressed, and as shown in FIG. Each image can be aggregated with a number or the like and displayed as a thumbnail.
[0025]
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an outline of a photographing operation performed by a photographer using the camera 1 having such a function.
[0026]
First, in order to realize the display process, the thumbnails in which the images 21a to 21i of the shooting instruction file 21 are aggregated on one screen of the display device 17 are displayed (step S11).
[0027]
Then, in order to realize the imaging process, the photographer understands the type, angle, background, and the like of the subject to be photographed with reference to the displayed image, and performs imaging with the camera 1 (step S12).
[0028]
When an instructor instructs a photographer on what kind of image is to be photographed, it is often difficult to express it with characters, and in many cases, it is easy to understand by expressing the photographer with an illustration or picture. Therefore, by displaying the image provided by the instructor on the display device 17, it is easy for the photographer to intuitively understand what kind of image (subject type and angle) should be photographed.
[0029]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process performed by the camera 1. First, in order to implement the receiving means, when the user operates the operation panel 18 and selects a desired one from the images 21a to 21i displayed in thumbnails (Y in step S1), the CPU 11 Then, information for specifying the image is recorded in the RAM 12, and the image is specified (step S2). For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the image 21a is an illustration of a schematic image of a "tree", and the number 1 is specified. Then, when the user operates the operation panel 18 and selects “superimposed display of images” (Y in step S3), the image specified in step S2 and the current CCD 4 are captured to implement the second display means. The displayed image is superimposed and displayed on the display device 17 (step S4). When the "image overlap display" is not selected (N in step S3), only the image currently captured by the CCD 4 is displayed on the display device 17 (step S5).
[0030]
By displaying the image provided by the instructor on the display device 17 in this manner, the photographer can easily understand what kind of image (the type of the subject and the angle) to be photographed.
[0031]
In this case, if desired by the user, the image specified in step S2 and the image currently captured by the CCD 4 can be superimposed and displayed on the display device 17 (step S4). By superimposing and displaying the image to be photographed, the two can be compared on the screen, so that the photographer can more easily understand what kind of image to photograph. In the example of FIG. 6, the illustration of the “tree” in the image 21a and the actual tree image 22 currently captured by the CCD 4 are displayed in a superimposed manner.
[0032]
Further, as described above, the images 21a to 21i included in the shooting instruction file 21 are displayed as thumbnails as shown in FIG. 3, and an image to be shot can be selected from the display. For convenience, even when the shooting scene corresponding to the designated illustration or the like does not always exist in the order of the list, it is possible to determine the situation of the shooting site and shoot efficiently.
[0033]
Then, when the user presses a shooting button (not shown) in the state of step S4 or S5 (Y in step S6), image data is taken in from the CCD 4 in order to implement the acquisition means (step S7), and the code creation means is implemented. For this purpose, the image data is compressed by the JPEG2000 algorithm in the compression / decompression circuit 16 (step S8) and stored in the recording medium 15 (step S10). At this time, the photographed image is divided into components of the basic components of the image, that is, ordinary component components, and stored as code data. However, in order to realize a code generation unit, the captured image is specified in step S2. The image data of the image is also combined with the code stream encoded in step S8 to generate one code stream as another component of the code data of the captured image (step S9), and then stored (step S10). ).
[0034]
Step S9 and the like will be described in detail. FIG. 7 shows a file format of JPEG2000. The JPEG2000 file format is stored in the progressive order. Here, in the case where different information is stored for each component, a description will be given using CPRL (Component-position-resolution levels-layer progression) as an example of a progressive order whose explanation is simple.
[0035]
FIG. 7 shows a file format of the CPRL. It represents a codestream, with the main header first, followed by the tile header. Then, components 0, 1, and 2 are arranged. In the case of normal image data, an RGB image is divided into three components of YC, b, and Cr, and is encoded for each component to form a single code stream.
[0036]
However, JPEG2000 is not limited in the number of components, and is characterized in that one component (monochrome mode) or two components (two-color mode) can be supported by the same file format. Further, in JPEG2000, the number of components can be four or more. In this case, what is generally assumed in JPEG2000 is an application in which, for example, subtitle data on a movie screen is stored in the fourth and subsequent components.
[0037]
Assuming that the images 21a to 21i of the photographing instruction file 21 have been encoded in advance by the JPEG2000 algorithm and stored in the nonvolatile memory 14 in the same manner as in the processing in step S8, the data configuration is as shown in FIG. That is, a single code stream includes only a single component (0) obtained by encoding an illustration or the like in monochrome. Then, the image captured in step S7 is subjected to JPEG2000 compression encoding for each of the three component components of R, G, B, YC, b, and Cr to create three-component encoded data as shown in FIG. (Step S8).
[0038]
Next, before performing the final code formation, the JPEG2000 code data (FIG. 8) of the image specified in step S2 of the shooting instruction file 21 is added to the fourth position after the code data (FIG. 7) of the shot image. And stored in the recording medium 15 as one code file (step S9) (see FIG. 9).
[0039]
In this way, by storing the photographed image and the image such as the illustration used for the photographing in one file and in a format based on the JPEG2000 standard, a general-purpose JPEG2000 decoder can store the first three images. Since only the component part is decoded, the image captured by the camera 1 can be restored by a general-purpose JPEG2000 decoder. In addition, if a dedicated decoder that can decode the fourth component is used, the illustration data used for shooting can be displayed superimposed on the image shot with the digital camera, so that shooting can be performed as instructed by the instructor. It is possible to easily confirm whether or not it is.
[0040]
In FIG. 9, image data such as an illustration is stored in the component 3. The data of the component 3 is obtained by image-compressing an illustration or the like as a monochrome image. Therefore, since image data such as illustrations is also compressed using the same file format and compression method as the captured image data, re-compression on codes, which is a feature of JPEG2000, is possible.
[0041]
JPEG2000 has a feature that, when restoring code data, a plurality of images can be displayed on one screen by reducing the resolution and displaying the image data at 1/4 or 1/16 image size. Therefore, as described above, when the illustration or outline information of the image data stored in the first three components is encoded and stored in the fourth and subsequent components in the code data, this is used when displaying. By performing the thumbnail display of the fourth component, the characteristics of the image of the stored image data can be easily known, and the amount of data used for displaying the image can be greatly reduced. This is because the captured image data itself has a large amount of information, so even if it is code-compressed, the data amount will increase accordingly.However, by using data such as an illustration of the image outline prepared first, the characteristics of the image will be This is because it is possible to greatly reduce the data amount while retaining the data. This is very effective when the amount of data to be transferred is to be reduced as much as possible, such as when an image captured by the camera 1 is displayed at a remote location via a network.
[0042]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first and third aspects of the present invention, it is possible to give detailed instructions such as what kind of subject is to be photographed at what angle and background in an image, so that the contents of such instructions can be intuitively understood. It's easy to do.
[0043]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily grasp the entire image to be photographed, determine the situation of the photographing site, and perform efficient photographing.
[0044]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in accordance with the third aspect of the present invention, the image data obtained by combining the image data specified by the user with the accepting means on the captured image only by the combined code data can be used. Since it can be displayed, it can be easily confirmed whether or not the image as instructed has been taken.
[0045]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily combine the component of the captured image with the component of the image specified by the user by the receiving unit by using the JPEG2000 algorithm.
[0046]
According to the invention described in claim 6, in the invention described in claim 4 or 5, the code can be recompressed by the JEPG2000 algorithm.
[0047]
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the third to sixth aspects, by displaying the superimposed image, the image to be shot can be easily adjusted to the designated image.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical connection of a digital still camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a conceptual image of a shooting instruction file.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an image in which each image of a shooting instruction file is displayed as a thumbnail.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process performed by the digital still camera.
FIG. 5 is an example of one image registered in a shooting instruction file.
FIG. 6 is an example in which an image registered in a shooting instruction file and an image captured by a CCD are superimposed and displayed.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration of code data when a captured image is compressed by JPEG2000.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration of code data of an image compressed by JPEG2000 registered in a shooting instruction file.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration of code data obtained by combining a captured image with an image registered in a capturing instruction file.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an operation performed by a photographer using an imaging device.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 imaging device 14 storage device 17 image display device

Claims (7)

A display step of displaying an image of one or more image data prepared in advance in a storage device prepared in an imaging device that captures an image with an imaging device on a display device prepared in the imaging device;
An imaging step of performing imaging with the imaging device with reference to the displayed image;
An imaging method comprising: 2. The imaging method according to claim 1, wherein in the display step, a plurality of pieces of image data stored in the storage device are aggregated and displayed on the display device on one screen. 3. An image sensor for capturing an image,
A storage device for storing image data of one or more images,
A display device for displaying an image,
First display means for displaying an image of the image data stored in the storage device on the display device;
An imaging device comprising: Accepting means for accepting any one of the image data stored in the storage device from a user;
Capturing means for capturing an image captured by the image sensor,
The captured image is divided into a plurality of components of basic components of the image, and code data obtained by compression-coding the specified image data is converted into code data obtained by compression-coding each of the divided components. Code creating means for combining as a separate component from the component into a single code data,
The imaging device according to claim 3, further comprising: The code creating means performs the compression encoding by a JPEG2000 algorithm, divides the captured image into a plurality of JPEG2000 components, and compresses and encodes the encoded data into a plurality of divided JPEG2000 components. The imaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein code data obtained by compressing and encoding the image data is combined as a component different from the plurality of components to form single code data. The storage device stores the stored image data in a state where the image data is compression-encoded by the same JPEGG2000 algorithm as the image compression algorithm of the code generation unit,
The code creating means, to a plurality of components of the read image, the code data stored in a state of the compression-encoded as a separate component from the plurality of components into a single code data,
The imaging device according to claim 4. 7. The display device according to claim 3, further comprising: a second display unit configured to superimpose an image captured by the imaging element and the specified image on a single screen on the display device. The imaging device according to any one of the preceding claims.

Images