JP2004312508A - Digital camera and its image processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital camera with high operability for enabling even a user who has little knowledge about a digital camera and is unfamiliar with operations to appropriately set a setting item and to take a photograph fitting his/her preference. <P>SOLUTION: This digital camera 1 has a liquid crystal monitor 2 for outputting a questionnaire to the user, an inputting means 14 such as a cursor key 3 for inputting responses of the user to the questionnaire to the user outputted onto the liquid crystal monitor 2, a CPU 13 for system control and a memory 19 for system control for converting the responses from the user inputted by the inputting means 14 to generate a setting condition, an image pickup element 9 for picking up an image of an object to generate image data on the basis of the setting condition generated by the CPU 13 for system control and the memory 19 for system control, and an image processing circuit 11 and a CPU 12 for image processing, etc. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a digital camera and an image processing method that allow a user to freely set setting conditions.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, users' requests for images of digital cameras have been diversified. For example, there are various demands such as creating an image to be displayed on a standby screen of a mobile phone, taking an image in which the skin of a person is clearly captured, and taking a sport scene full of a sense of reality.
[0003]
In response to such demands, digital cameras have been developed that have high performance and high functionality and allow the user to freely set many setting conditions (such as shooting conditions). As a result, the user can obtain an image that suits his / her taste.
[0004]
However, digital cameras with advanced functions are very attractive because users who are skilled in operation can obtain images as desired, but for users who are unfamiliar with operation, operation is complicated. As a result, a situation has emerged in which simple shooting itself cannot be performed, rather than an image that matches the taste.
[0005]
Accordingly, a technology has been developed that makes it easy to operate many setting conditions of a digital camera. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a digital camera having a menu function and having a hierarchical menu display. According to this configuration, the user can reliably perform the desired setting by repeating the simple operation of moving and selecting the cursor along the setting items displayed on the monitor screen.
[0006]
There is also known a digital camera that allows a user to freely select a setting screen that displays all setting items and a setting screen in which the number of setting items is reduced (known as a simple mode or the like). According to this configuration, a user unfamiliar with the operation can operate the digital camera by selecting a setting screen in which the number of setting items is reduced, thereby setting the digital camera to only necessary items. Easier to do.
[0007]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-11-261852
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the digital camera described in Patent Document 1, when a user makes various settings for photographing, the technical meaning of setting items (for example, white balance, photometric method, etc.) of the digital camera in advance is used. It is necessary to know. However, these setting items are common sense knowledge for users who are familiar with digital cameras and have high operation ability, but are very difficult terms for users who have little knowledge of digital cameras and are unfamiliar with operation. . On the other hand, in order to capture a favorite image, it is necessary to accurately grasp the technical meaning of these setting items and appropriately set each item. Under such circumstances, the digital camera described in Patent Literature 1 has a problem that operability is poor for a user who is unfamiliar with the operation.
[0009]
Also, even if the digital camera has a function to select multiple setting screens with different setting items, the simple mode setting screen simply displays a small number of setting items, so the user still displays the setting screen. It is necessary to grasp the technical meaning of each set item.
[0010]
In addition, despite the versatility of the user's operability, a conventional digital camera capable of selecting a setting screen in which setting items are narrowed down has a small number of selectable setting screens (for example, two modes of a normal mode and a simple mode) Screen selection, etc.), it is not possible to present a setting screen according to the user's operation ability. The reason that the number of setting screens of the conventional digital camera is small is that if the number of setting screens that can be selected is increased, it becomes possible to cope with various operation capabilities of the user, while the user can select which setting screen. This is because the user gets lost and the operability deteriorates.
[0011]
The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and enables a user who has little knowledge of digital cameras and is unfamiliar with the operation to appropriately set the setting items and take an image according to his / her taste. It is an object to provide a digital camera and an imaging method with good operability.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a digital camera according to a first aspect of the present invention provides an output unit that outputs a plurality of questions (questionnaire) to a user, and a use unit that responds to the user's question output to the output unit. Input means for inputting a plurality of responses from the user, conversion means for converting a plurality of responses from the user input by the input means to generate one setting condition, and setting conditions generated by the converting means. Imaging means for imaging the subject based on the information and generating image data.
[0013]
With this configuration, even a user who has little knowledge of the digital camera and is unfamiliar with the operation can appropriately set the setting items and can take an image that suits his or her preference.
[0014]
The digital camera according to the second aspect of the present invention includes an output unit that outputs a plurality of questions to the user, and a plurality of responses from the user corresponding to the plurality of questions to the user output to the output unit. Input means, a clock means for measuring a date or time, and information consisting of a plurality of responses from the user input by the input means and the date or time measured by the clock means, and The image processing apparatus includes a conversion unit that generates a setting condition, and an imaging unit that captures an image of a subject and generates image data based on the setting condition generated by the conversion unit. With this configuration, the user can reflect the date and time information on the setting conditions of the digital camera without inputting the date or time.
[0015]
Further, the digital camera according to the third aspect of the present invention includes an output unit that outputs a plurality of questions to the user, and a plurality of questions from the user corresponding to the plurality of questions to the user output to the output unit. An input unit for inputting a response, a receiving unit for receiving external information from the outside, and converting information comprising a plurality of responses from the user input by the input unit and the external information received by the receiving unit to convert Conversion means for generating the setting conditions, and imaging means for imaging the subject and generating image data based on the setting conditions generated by the conversion means. With this configuration, information necessary for setting the setting conditions of the digital camera can be obtained from the outside, so that the user does not need to input such information by the input means, and therefore, a digital camera with good operability can be obtained. Obtainable.
[0016]
A digital camera according to a fourth aspect is the digital camera according to the third aspect, wherein the external information received by the receiving means is information relating to weather.
[0017]
The digital camera according to a fifth aspect of the present invention provides an output unit that outputs a plurality of questions to the user, and a plurality of responses from the user respectively corresponding to the plurality of questions to the user output to the output unit. And input means for inputting the setting information, and converting means for converting a plurality of responses from the user input by the input means to generate a condition setting image for setting a setting condition. And displaying the condition setting image generated in the step (c). With this configuration, a condition setting screen corresponding to the user's operation ability is displayed, and the user can easily change the setting conditions of the digital camera.
[0018]
A digital camera according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the digital camera according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the plurality of responses from the user include personal information of the user. .
[0019]
A digital camera according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is the digital camera according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the plurality of responses from the user include personal information indicating the operation capability of the user. It is characterized by. With this configuration, it is possible to set the digital camera in accordance with the operation ability of the user.
[0020]
Further, a digital camera according to an eighth aspect is the digital camera according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, further comprising a storage unit, wherein the setting condition generated by the conversion unit is associated with a predetermined name. In the storage means. With this configuration, the user can immediately set the setting conditions that suit his / her taste, so that a user-friendly digital camera can be obtained.
[0021]
A digital camera according to a ninth aspect includes an output unit that outputs a question about the type of the user, an input unit that inputs a response from the user to the question output by the output unit as the type of the user, The image processing apparatus includes a conversion unit that generates a setting condition according to the type of the user input by the unit, and an imaging unit that captures an image of a subject and generates image data based on the setting condition generated by the conversion unit. According to this configuration, since there are few items to which the user responds, usability is improved for the user. Further, even if the number of types of users increases, the user only has to select the type of user to be output to the output means, so that the use does not become complicated.
[0022]
The image processing method according to the tenth aspect of the present invention includes a first step of outputting a question to the user and a second step of inputting a response from the user to the question to the user output in the first step. Step 2, a third step of converting a response from the user input in the second step to generate a setting condition, and capturing an object based on the setting condition generated in the third step. And generating a fourth image data.
[0023]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0024]
(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a rear view of the digital camera according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a liquid crystal monitor 2 displays an image captured or reproduced by the digital camera 1, and is a display unit including a liquid crystal panel or the like. The cursor keys 3 are operating means for moving a cursor displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 2. By pressing the R, L, U, and D portions of the cursor keys 3, the cursors are moved right, left, and left, respectively. You can move up and down. By pressing the determination button 4, the setting conditions can be determined. The power switch 5 is a switch for turning on or off the power of the digital camera 1. In FIG. 1, the power switch 5 is turned on when switched to the arrow A side, and turned off when switched to the arrow B side. The shutter button 6 is a button for starting imaging of the digital camera 1, and when pressed, starts imaging. The menu button 7 is a button for displaying a setting condition screen on the liquid crystal monitor 2. The finder 8 displays an image captured by the digital camera 1.
[0025]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the digital camera according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The imaging element 9 is for imaging a subject and generating image data as an electrical signal, and is configured by a CCD or the like. The image data generated by the image sensor 9 is an analog signal, which is converted into a digital signal by the A / D conversion circuit 10 and then input to the image processing circuit 11. The image processing circuit 11 is a circuit that acquires image data from the image sensor 9 and the system bus 16 and performs image processing such as enlargement / reduction or compression / expansion on the acquired image data. As the compression / decompression processing, for example, JPEG conversion or the like is performed. The image processing CPU 12 controls the image processing circuit 11 based on a control signal from the system control CPU 13 and image data from the system bus 16, and performs file processing of the image data. In charge of The system control CPU receives control signals from the input unit 14 and the clock unit 15 and controls the entire digital camera. The input means 14 includes a cursor key 3, an enter button 4, a power switch 5, a menu button 7, and the like. The user operates the input means 14 to make necessary settings for the digital camera 1. Can be. The clock unit 15 is a unit that measures the current date and time. The system control CPU 13 can recognize the current season, whether the current day is night or day, and the like, based on the output from the clock unit 15. The system control memory 19 is a memory that stores data output from the system control CPU 13 and outputs the stored data to the system control CPU 13. The system control memory 19 is a DRAM, an SRAM, a flash memory, or the like. Such a non-volatile memory is preferable. The image memory 17 is a memory for storing image data from the image processing circuit 11 or the memory card 18. The memory card 18 is a memory such as a flash memory that can be attached to and detached from the digital camera 1, and exchanges image data with the image processing circuit 11, the image processing CPU 12, or the image memory 17 via the system bus 16.
[0026]
The system control memory 19 stores in advance a question-response correspondence table shown in FIG. 3 and a set value correspondence table shown in FIG. The question-response correspondence table shown in FIG. 3 is a table in which a question item for a user, a response predicted value obtained by predicting a response from the user, and a setting condition number are associated with each other. 4 is a table in which each setting item of the digital camera 1, each setting value, and a setting condition number are associated with each other.
[0027]
The liquid crystal monitor 2 is an example of the output unit of the present invention, and the configuration including the system control CPU 13 and the system control memory 19 is an example of the conversion unit of the present invention, and the image sensor 9 and the A / D conversion circuit 10 The configuration including the image processing circuit 11, the image processing CPU 12, and the image memory 17 is an example of the imaging unit of the present invention.
[0028]
The operation of setting the imaging conditions and the like using the digital camera 1 configured as described above will be described below with reference to FIGS.
[0029]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation from turning on the power of the digital camera 1 to starting photographing. 5, first, the user switches the power switch 5 to the arrow A side in FIG. 1 to turn on the power (step S1). Then, a screen shown in FIG. 6A is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 2 (step S2). At this time, if the user selects "No", the setting conditions already stored in the system control memory 19 are read out to the system control CPU 13, and the system control CPU 13 reads the set conditions for image processing. The setting conditions of the digital camera 1 are set by controlling the image processing circuit 11 based on the setting conditions transmitted to the CPU 12 and received by the image processing CPU 12 (step S9). On the other hand, when the user selects “Yes” in step S2, the process proceeds to step S3. The selection operation by the user is performed by operating the cursor key 3 and then pressing the enter button 4.
[0030]
In step S3, the screen shown in FIG. 6B is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 2. At this time, if the user selects "Yes", input to the questionnaire can be started, and a questionnaire screen such as those shown in FIGS. 6C to 6E is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 2 (step S4). The user can respond to these questionnaires by operating the cursor keys 3 and the enter button 4. Next, the image shown in FIG. 6F is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 2, and when the user presses the determination button 7, the user input to the questionnaire is completed.
[0031]
Next, the system control CPU 13 compares the input user response with the question-response correspondence table shown in FIG. 3 and searches for a setting condition number that matches the user response (step S5). For example, when the user's response is “male, 19 years old, color preference: normal, for mobile phone display, indoor, rain” and the clock means indicates “August 15 at 14:30” Is to search the question answer correspondence table for the setting number 20.
[0032]
Next, the system control CPU 13 reads the set value correspondence table from the system control memory 19, and acquires the set values from the set condition numbers (step S6). For example, in the case of the setting condition number 20, the type of the setting screen: semi-pro, exposure correction: +2.0, white balance: +0, ISO sensitivity: ISO100, number of recording pixels: 640 × 480, compression ratio: standard, camera shake correction: The set value is determined as if it were small.
[0033]
Here, the correspondence (combination) between the question-response correspondence table and the setting value correspondence table is set such that the setting value is determined by a combination of a plurality of responses of the user. For example, "male, 19 years old" indicates that he is a young male. Generally, a young male is familiar with machine operations, so "semi-pro" is set as a setting condition. Therefore, a plurality of responses from the user are converted into one set condition.
[0034]
If the user responds “No” in step S3, the liquid crystal monitor 2 displays a full setting screen shown in FIG. 8A. All the setting conditions of the digital camera 1 can be set by operating the cursor key 3, the determination button 4, and the like.
[0035]
Next, the system control CPU 13 transmits the determined set values to the image processing CPU 12, and the image processing CPU 12 sets the image processing circuit 11 based on the set values (step S8). .
[0036]
When the setting of the setting conditions is completed, the photographing can be started, and when the user presses the shutter button 6, the imaging device 9 captures an image of the subject to generate image data, and generates the A / D image data. The image data is converted into a digital signal by the conversion circuit 10, and a predetermined change is made to the image data by the image processing circuit 11 (step S10). The processing in the image sensor 9 and the image processing circuit 11 at this time is performed according to the setting conditions set by the image processing CPU 12.
[0037]
Next, an operation when the user changes the setting condition after the imaging is completed will be described with reference to FIG. 7 which is a flowchart at that time.
[0038]
When the imaging is completed (Step S11), the user can display and view the captured image on the liquid crystal monitor 2. At this time, the user may want to change the brightness, the color tone, the size, and the like of the image while looking at the quality of the captured image. In such a case, the user can change the setting conditions by pressing the menu button 7 (step S12).
[0039]
When the user presses the menu button 7, the system control CPU 13 receives it and determines the type of the setting screen at the setting condition number at that time from the setting value correspondence table (FIG. 4) stored in the system control memory 19. Search for. For example, if the setting condition number obtained by the user's response is 20, the type of the setting screen is “semi-pro”, and the setting screen shown in FIG. Therefore, the digital camera 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention automatically selects and displays the condition setting screen in response to the user's response to the questionnaire. This is very convenient because a setting screen according to is displayed. For example, in the case of the user having the setting condition number 33, the setting screen for the senior is displayed as shown in FIG. 8C, the number of setting items is small, and the meaning of the setting items is clearly described.
[0040]
Next, the user can input setting conditions by operating the input means 14 such as the cursor key 3 on the displayed setting screen (step S14). With the above operation, the user can set the setting conditions (step S15), and can start shooting again (step S16).
[0041]
As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the digital camera 1 responds to the liquid crystal monitor 2 that outputs a plurality of questionnaires to the user and the questionnaire to the user that is output to the liquid crystal monitor 2. Input means 14 such as a cursor key 3 for inputting a plurality of responses from the user who performs the operation, and a system control CPU 13 for converting the plurality of responses from the user input by the input means 14 to generate one set condition. And an image sensor 9 that images a subject and generates image data based on the setting conditions generated by the system control CPU 13 and the system control memory 19, an image processing circuit 11, and an image processing circuit 11. Since the user has the CPU 12 and the like, even a user who has little knowledge of the digital camera and is unfamiliar with the operation can appropriately set the setting items and can set his / her own preference. Suits image to be able to take.
[0042]
According to the first embodiment of the present invention, the digital camera 1 includes the clock means 15 for measuring the date or time in addition to the above-described configuration, and the system control CPU 13 and the system control memory 19 Since information consisting of a plurality of responses from the user input at 14 and the date or time measured by the clock means 15 is converted to generate one set condition, the user does not need to input the date or time. The date and time information can be reflected in the setting conditions of the digital camera 1.
[0043]
Further, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the system control CPU 13 and the system control memory 19 convert a plurality of responses from the user input by the input unit 14 and set the setting conditions. Is generated, and the liquid crystal monitor 2 displays the generated condition setting image. Therefore, a condition setting screen according to the user's operation ability is displayed, and the user can easily set the setting conditions of the digital camera 1. Can be changed.
[0044]
(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a digital camera according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. 9, the digital camera 21 according to the second embodiment of the present invention differs from the digital camera 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention in having a receiving unit 20. The other configuration is the same as the configuration of the digital camera 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention shown in FIG. 2, and thus the same reference numerals are given and the description will be omitted.
[0045]
The receiving means 20 is a means for receiving information from the outside such as the Internet, and the connection with the outside may be wired or wireless.
[0046]
FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration when the digital camera 21 is connected to the Internet 30 via the receiving unit 20. The digital camera 21 is connected to the Internet 30. The WEB server 31 is also connected to the Internet 30, and the weather forecast 32 is constantly uploaded to the WEB server 31. The user of the digital camera 21 can obtain information about the weather forecast via the Internet 30 by accessing the WEB server 31.
[0047]
Next, the operation of the digital camera 21 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described using FIG. FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the digital camera 21 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
[0048]
When the power is turned on (step S1), a message is displayed to select whether to set the setting conditions and whether to set in the questionnaire mode (steps S2 and S3). The person inputs a response to the questionnaire (step S4). At this time, a question about the weather is not displayed, and in the next step S21, information about the weather forecast is obtained from the WEB server 31 via the Internet 30 and the receiving means 20, and the system control CPU 13 receives the information and receives the information. The information on the weather forecast is stored in the memory 19. And the process after step S5 uses the information regarding the weather forecast acquired from the WEB server. In other respects, the operation is the same as that of the digital camera 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[0049]
As described above, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, digital camera 21 includes receiving means 20 for receiving external information from outside in addition to the configuration of digital camera 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The system control CPU 13 and the system control memory 19 convert information consisting of a plurality of responses from the user input by the input means 14 and external information received by the receiving means 20 to set one set condition. Since it is possible to generate the information necessary for setting the setting conditions of the digital camera 21 from the outside of the WEB server 31 or the like, the user does not need to input the information by the input unit 14. A digital camera 21 with good operability can be obtained.
[0050]
(Embodiment 3)
The digital camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention searches for a setting condition every time the power is turned on. On the other hand, the digital camera according to the third embodiment of the present invention is different in that the searched setting conditions are stored once, and the stored setting conditions are read out and set when used. Further, a set of a plurality of setting conditions can be stored by giving a predetermined name to the setting condition once searched. Thereby, even when a plurality of users share one digital camera according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention, the setting conditions can be customized for each user, so that the usability of the user is improved.
[0051]
Hereinafter, a digital camera according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital camera according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. The configuration of the digital camera according to the third embodiment of the present invention is different from the configuration of the digital camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention only in the control of the system control CPU 33. The other configuration is the same as the configuration of the digital camera according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and the description is omitted.
[0052]
Hereinafter, the operation of the digital camera according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 13 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the digital camera according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing a display screen on the liquid crystal monitor 2.
[0053]
First, the user switches the power switch 5 in FIG. 1 to the arrow A side to turn on the power of the digital camera (S1). Then, the user can display the user selection screen shown in FIG. 14A by operating the menu button 7 or the like (S31). In this example, a set of setting conditions for four people, “father”, “mother”, “Taro”, and “Jiro” has already been stored.
[0054]
In this screen (the display screen shown in FIG. 14A), if the user selects the "new user registration" field (S32), a question to the user is started, and the user responds to this question. (S4). Here, the selection of the "new user registration" field and the response to the question by the user are realized by the user operating the input means 14 such as the cursor key 3 and the enter button 4 in FIG. Further, a question to the user is made on a display screen such as those shown in FIGS.
[0055]
When the response from the requester is received, the system control CPU 33 searches for the setting condition number with reference to the question response correspondence table (the table shown in FIG. 3) stored in the system control memory 19 in advance (S5). . Next, the system control CPU 33 searches for each setting condition with reference to the setting value correspondence table (the table shown in FIG. 4) stored in the system control memory 19 in advance (S6). When the search for the setting condition is completed, the system control CPU 33 displays the display screen shown in FIG. 14D on the liquid crystal monitor 2 and associates the input user name with the setting condition number searched in step S5. To be stored in the system control memory 19. (S33).
[0056]
When the above operation is completed, the user selection screen is displayed again on the liquid crystal monitor 2 (S31). As a result, in this example, the user registration for "Saburo" is completed (FIG. 14E).
[0057]
If the user performs the above operation for “new user registration” when purchasing the digital camera according to the third embodiment of the present invention, the user can customize the user only by selecting the user name in subsequent use. Shooting can be performed under the set conditions.
[0058]
On the other hand, in step S32, when the user does not select the “new user registration” field and selects any of the registered user names (for example, when “dad” is selected in FIG. 14A) (S7) The system control CPU 33 reads the setting condition number corresponding to the user name (the setting condition number associated with “dad” in this example) stored in the system control memory 19, and further reads the setting condition number. The setting condition corresponding to the setting condition number is read from the setting value correspondence table (FIG. 4) and transmitted to the image processing CPU 12, and the setting of the setting condition is completed (S8). Then, shooting can be started according to the set conditions (S10).
[0059]
As described above, the digital camera according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention includes the system control memory 19, and indicates the setting conditions generated by the system control CPU 33 and the system control memory 19 to the user. Since the system is configured to be stored in the system control memory 19 in association with the name, the user can immediately set a setting condition suitable for his / her taste, so that a user-friendly digital camera can be obtained. Further, since the setting condition is configured to be stored for each of the plurality of users, the usability of the user is improved even when the plurality of users share one digital camera according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. For example, even when one family owns one digital camera according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention, the setting conditions of the digital camera can be customized according to each person.
[0060]
In the first to third embodiments of the present invention, a question (questionnaire) to the user is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 2. However, the questionnaire is not displayed as a video but is transmitted to the user by voice. Is also good.
[0061]
Further, in the first to third embodiments of the present invention, the response to the questionnaire is input by using the cursor key 3, the determination button 4, or the like, but may be input by voice.
[0062]
In the first to third embodiments of the present invention, the liquid crystal monitor 2 is shown as a means for displaying a questionnaire or the like. However, a display means such as an organic EL display device may be used.
[0063]
In the first to third embodiments of the present invention, the system control CPU 13 refers to the question-response correspondence table (FIG. 3) and the set value correspondence table (FIG. 4) stored in the system control memory 19. Although the response from the user is changed to the setting condition of the digital camera, the response from the user may be changed to the setting condition of the digital camera by using a function set in advance without using a table. . In short, it is only necessary that the setting conditions of the digital camera can be generated based on the response from the user.
[0064]
In the first to third embodiments of the present invention, a plurality of items such as the age of the user are prepared as the questionnaire items. However, as shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, a plurality of types of the user are prepared. Alternatively, the questionnaire may be completed by selecting one of them. For each setting condition, a typical value is stored according to the type of each user. For example, in the case of "dad", since children are often photographed, setting conditions are set in advance so that people can photograph clearly. Further, in the “OL type”, since the OL often travels, setting conditions suitable for shooting a landscape are stored. According to such a configuration, the digital camera 1 inputs the liquid crystal monitor 2 that outputs a question about the type of the user and the response from the user to the question output on the liquid crystal monitor 2 as the type of the user. Input means 14 such as the cursor key 3, a system control CPU 13 and a system control memory 19 for generating setting conditions in accordance with the type of user input by the input means 14, and a setting generated by the conversion means Since there are an image sensor 9, an image processing circuit 11, an image processing CPU 12, and the like that image a subject and generate image data based on conditions, there are few items to which the user responds, so that the user is easy to use. . Further, even if the number of types of users increases, the user only has to select the type displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 2, so that the use does not become complicated. In the first to third embodiments of the present invention, objective items such as gender and age are given as questions (questionnaire) to the user. However, question items that can grasp the user's preference may be used. For example, "Do you often shoot landscapes?", "Do you like flashy colors?", "Do you like calm pictures?" Thereby, it is possible to set the setting conditions according to the user's preference.
[0065]
Further, in the first to third embodiments of the present invention, exposure correction, white balance, and the like are set as setting conditions, but a focal length and an image size may be set.
[0066]
Further, in the second embodiment of the present invention, the information on the weather forecast is obtained from the WEB server 31. However, the present invention is not limited to the weather forecast, but may obtain information on latitude and longitude, times of sunrise and sunset, and the like. You may do it.
[0067]
【The invention's effect】
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY As described above, the present invention provides a digital camera with good operability in which even a user who has little knowledge of a digital camera and is unfamiliar with the operation can appropriately set the setting items and take an image according to his / her taste. An excellent effect that an imaging method can be obtained is obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a rear view of a digital camera according to Embodiments 1 to 3 of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a digital camera according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a question-response correspondence table of the digital camera according to the first to third embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a setting value correspondence table of the digital camera according to the first to third embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the digital camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a questionnaire screen displayed on a liquid crystal monitor of the digital camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the digital camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a setting screen displayed on a liquid crystal monitor of the digital camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a digital camera according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration when a digital camera according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention is connected to the Internet.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the digital camera according to the second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a digital camera according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the digital camera according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing a setting screen displayed on a liquid crystal monitor of a digital camera according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.
FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing a setting screen displayed on a liquid crystal monitor of the digital camera according to the first to third embodiments of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1,21 Digital camera
2 LCD monitor
3 Cursor keys
4 Enter button
5 Power switch
6 Shutter button
7 Menu button
8 Finder
9 Image sensor
10 A / D conversion circuit
11 Image processing circuit
12 CPU for image processing
13,33 System control CPU
14 Input means
15 Clock means
16 System bus
17 Image memory
18 Memory card
19 System control memory
20 receiving means

Claims (10)

Output means for outputting a plurality of questions to the user,
Input means for inputting a plurality of responses from the user respectively corresponding to the question output to the output means,
Converting means for converting a plurality of responses from the user input by the input means to generate one set condition;
A digital camera comprising: an imaging unit configured to image a subject and generate image data based on the setting condition generated by the conversion unit. Output means for outputting a plurality of questions to the user,
Input means for inputting a plurality of responses from the user respectively corresponding to the question to the user output to the output means,
Clock means for measuring date or time;
Conversion means for converting information consisting of a plurality of responses from the user input by the input means and the date or time measured by the clock means to generate one set condition;
A digital camera comprising: an imaging unit configured to image a subject and generate image data based on the setting condition generated by the conversion unit. Output means for outputting a plurality of questions to the user,
Input means for inputting a plurality of responses from the user respectively corresponding to the question to the user output to the output means,
Receiving means for receiving external information from outside;
A conversion unit configured to convert a plurality of responses from the user input by the input unit and external information received by the reception unit to generate one setting condition;
A digital camera comprising: an imaging unit configured to image a subject and generate image data based on the setting condition generated by the conversion unit. 4. The digital camera according to claim 3, wherein the external information received by the receiving unit is information relating to weather. Output means for outputting a plurality of questions to the user,
Input means for inputting a plurality of responses from the user respectively corresponding to the question to the user output to the output means,
A conversion unit that converts a plurality of responses from the user input by the input unit and generates a condition setting image for setting a setting condition,
A digital camera, wherein the output unit displays the condition setting image generated by the conversion unit. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the response from the user includes personal information of the user. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the response from the user includes personal information indicating a user's operation ability. With storage means,
8. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the setting condition generated by the conversion unit is stored in the storage unit in association with a predetermined name. Output means for outputting a question about the type of user;
Input means for inputting a response from the user to the question output by the output means as a user type,
Conversion means for generating setting conditions according to the type of user input by the input means,
A digital camera comprising: an imaging unit configured to image a subject and generate image data based on the setting condition generated by the conversion unit. A first step of outputting a plurality of questions to the user;
A second step of inputting a plurality of responses from the user respectively corresponding to the question to the user output in the first step;
A third step of converting a plurality of responses from the user input in the second step to generate one setting condition;
A fourth step of imaging a subject and generating image data based on the setting conditions generated in the third step.

Images