JP2005065266A - Image generating apparatus, image output apparatus, image processing system, recording medium, and image quality determination method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image generating apparatus, an image output apparatus, an image processing system, a recording medium, and an image quality determination method, which determines whether a prescribed process should be conducted with respect to the image quality of image data and select the image data allowed to conduct the prescribed process. <P>SOLUTION: The image is printed by a printer by transmitting the image data from a digital still camera to the printer. When the digital still camera conducts the transmission operation, an image analysis is performed prior to the transmission (S110). The image is determined to be suitable for being printed or not on the basis of the result of the image analysis, and the determination result is displayed on a screen of the digital still camera (S120, S130). A user confirms the determination result, decides whether it should be printed or not, operates an operation portion, and gives an indication to the digital still camera. When the printing is indicated, the printing is executed by transmitting the image data to the printer. When the printing is not indicated (stop of printing), the image data are not transmitted to the printer (S140, S150). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention provides, for example, an image generation apparatus, an image output apparatus, an image processing system, and an image generation apparatus having a function of determining whether image data captured and generated by a digital still camera has an image quality suitable for predetermined processing. The present invention relates to a recording medium and an image quality determination method.

  Image data generated by the image generation device is output from the image output device in response to a user's request. For example, CRTs, LCDs, printers, projectors, and television receivers are known as image output devices. For example, digital still cameras (DSC) and digital video cameras (DVC) are known as image generation devices. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

Images can be directly output from a digital still camera to an image output device such as a printer or a television screen. In addition, when image data is transmitted from a digital still camera to an image output device, the image is generally displayed on a liquid crystal display provided in the digital still camera, and the user confirms the image.
JP 2000-209467 A

  However, with a small liquid crystal monitor attached to a digital still camera, it is difficult for a user to determine whether a captured image has an image quality suitable for printing. This is because, when the monitor is small, a fine image or a coarse image looks the same to the human eye. In addition, in order to determine whether the image quality is good or bad, there are many cases where an image that is not originally intended to be printed must be actually output. Therefore, there is a problem that paper is consumed unnecessarily. There is also a problem that it takes a considerable amount of time for printing to check the quality of the image.

  An object of the present invention is to determine whether the image quality of image data can be subjected to predetermined processing, and to select an image data that can be subjected to predetermined processing, an image generation device, an image output device, an image processing system, and a recording To provide a medium and an image quality determination method.

  The present invention relates to an image generation apparatus having an image generation means for generating image data, an image analysis means for analyzing the image data, and a determination means for determining the quality of the image data based on the analysis result by the image analysis means. And notification means for notifying the quality of the image quality determined by the determination means. Note that the “quality of image quality” here is not limited to two stages, good and bad, but includes notifying the degree of goodness or badness of the image quality at three or more levels. The same applies to the following inventions.

  According to this, the image data is analyzed by the image analysis means, the quality of the image data is determined based on the analysis result, and the user is notified of the determined quality of the image quality. Therefore, it is possible to select image data that can be subjected to predetermined processing and perform the predetermined processing.

The image generation apparatus further includes selection means for allowing a user to select whether or not to perform predetermined processing on the image data after notification by the notification means.
According to this, the user can select whether the predetermined processing can be performed on the image data after the notification by the notification unit. Therefore, it is possible to select image data that can be subjected to predetermined processing and perform the predetermined processing.

  In the image generation apparatus, the determination unit determines whether or not the image data has an image quality suitable for output based on the analysis result by the image analysis unit, and the image quality suitable for output by the determination unit. Transmission means for transmitting the image data determined to be transmitted from the transmission unit to the image output apparatus.

  According to this, the image data is analyzed by the image analysis means, and based on the analysis result, it is determined whether or not the image data has an image quality suitable for output, and the image data determined to have an image quality suitable for output. Is transmitted from the transmission unit to the image output apparatus. Therefore, only an image having an image quality suitable for output can be output to the image output apparatus.

  In the image generation device, the selection unit for allowing the user to select whether or not the image data notified of the suitability is transmitted to the image output device, and the image data selected by the selection unit are transmitted to the image output device. And transmission means.

  According to this, the image data selected to be output by the selection means is transmitted from the transmission unit to the image output device. Therefore, since the user can decide whether or not to output after confirming the determination result, it is possible to output an image of an image quality suitable for output to the image output apparatus, and to output it in consideration of the user's determination. The image to be selected can be selected.

The image generation apparatus further includes a storage unit that stores in the storage unit the image data determined to have good image quality by the determination unit.
According to this, the image data is analyzed by the image analysis means, the quality of the image data is determined based on the analysis result, and the image data determined to have good image quality is stored in the storage unit. Therefore, it is possible to output only an image with good image quality to the image output apparatus.

  The image generation apparatus includes a selection unit that allows a user to select whether or not to store the image data notified of the quality of the image in the storage unit, and the storage unit stores the image data selected by the selection unit. Store in the storage unit in the storage unit.

  According to this, the image data selected to be stored by the selection unit is stored in the storage unit. Therefore, after the user confirms the determination result, the user can decide whether or not to store the image, so that an image with good image quality can be stored in the memory and an image to be stored in consideration of the user's determination. You can choose.

In the image generation apparatus, the image analysis unit performs image analysis when receiving an instruction to transmit the image data stored in the storage unit to the image output apparatus.
According to this, the image analysis means performs image analysis when receiving an instruction to transmit the image data stored in the storage unit to the image output apparatus.

  In the image generation apparatus described above, the image analysis unit analyzes the image data to be displayed on the screen when receiving an instruction to display the image data stored in the storage unit on the screen.

According to this, the image analysis means analyzes the image data to be displayed on the screen when receiving an instruction to display the image data stored in the storage unit on the screen.
In the image generation apparatus, the quality of the image data determined by the determination unit is whether or not the image data has an image quality suitable for output, and the image data stored in the storage unit is output as an image. When an instruction to transmit to the apparatus is received, image analysis by the image analysis unit is performed, and based on the analysis result by the image analysis unit, it is determined whether or not the image data has an image quality suitable for output. Transmitting means for transmitting the image data determined by the determination means and determined to have an image quality suitable for output to an image output device, and notification means for notifying a user of the determination result determined by the determination means. Prepared.

  According to this, the determination means determines whether or not the image data has an image quality suitable for output. The transmission unit transmits the image data determined to have an image quality suitable for output by the determination unit to the image output apparatus. Further, the notifying means notifies the user of the determination result determined by the determining means.

The image generation apparatus further includes display means for displaying the determination result on a screen.
According to this, the determination result is notified to the user by being displayed on the screen of the display means.

In the image generating apparatus, the notification unit displays a plurality of images and the determination result in association with the plurality of images on the screen.
According to this, the determination result is notified to the user by being displayed in association with a plurality of images displayed on the screen of the display means. Therefore, it is possible to compare the image with the determination result, and it is easy to appropriately determine the image data of the image suitable for output or storage.

The image generating apparatus according to the present invention further includes a correcting unit that corrects the image data determined by the determining unit to have poor image quality.
According to this, the image data determined by the correction unit to have poor image quality is corrected so that the image quality is good. Therefore, the acquired image data is not wasted.

In the image generation apparatus of the present invention, the output of the image data is printing of the image data.
According to this, it is determined by the determination means whether the image data suitable for printing is suitable for printing.

The recording medium of the present invention stores a computer-readable program for causing a computer to execute the image output apparatus.
According to this, it is possible to determine whether or not the image quality of the image data can be subjected to a predetermined process, and to select image data that can be subjected to the predetermined process.

  The present invention provides an image generation device that generates image data, an image generation unit that generates image data, an image analysis unit that analyzes the image data, and an image quality of the image data based on an analysis result by the image analysis unit. A determination unit that determines whether the image quality is good and a notification unit that notifies the quality of the image quality determined by the determination unit.

  According to this, when the image analysis unit analyzes the image data generated by the image generation unit, the determination unit determines the quality of the image data based on the analysis result. The notifying unit notifies the quality of the image quality determined by the determining unit.

The present invention provides an image output device that outputs image data, an image analysis unit that analyzes the image data, a determination unit that determines quality of the image data based on an analysis result by the image analysis unit, A notification unit for notifying the quality of the image quality determined by the determination unit and an output unit for outputting the image data are provided.

  According to this, the image data is analyzed by the image analysis unit, and the determination unit determines the quality of the image data based on the analysis result. The notification unit notifies the quality of the image quality determined by the determination unit, and the output unit outputs image data.

  The present invention relates to an image processing system, an image generation device, an image output device, an image generation unit that generates image data, a transmission unit that transmits the image to the image output device, and an image that analyzes the image data. An analysis unit, a determination unit that determines quality of the image data based on an analysis result by the image analysis unit, a transmission unit that transmits a determination result by the determination unit to the image generation device, and the determination unit A communication unit for notifying the quality of the determined image quality and an output unit for outputting the image data are provided.

  According to this, based on the analysis result obtained by analyzing the image data by the image analysis unit, the determination unit determines the quality of the image data. Then, the determination result by the determination unit is transmitted to the image generation device by the transmission unit. In addition, the communication unit notifies the quality of the image quality determined by the determination unit. Further, the image data is output from the output unit.

  The image quality determination method of the present invention is an image quality determination method for determining the image quality of image data, an image analysis step for analyzing image data that has received a print instruction, and an image quality of the image data based on an analysis result of the image analysis step. A determination step for determining whether the image is good and an output step for outputting only the image data determined to be good by the determination step.

  According to this, the image data for which the print instruction is accepted in the image solution step is analyzed, and in the determination step, the quality of the image data is determined based on the analysis result. Only the image data determined to be good in the output step is output. Accordingly, among the image data for which the print instruction has been accepted, image data determined to have good image quality is output.

The image quality determination method further includes a display step for displaying a confirmation as to whether or not to print the image data determined to be negative in the determination step.
According to this, in the display step, a display for confirming whether or not to print the image data determined to be unacceptable in the determination step is performed. Accordingly, unnecessary images are not printed by viewing the display.

  The image quality determination method further includes a correction step for correcting the image quality of the image data determined to be negative by the determination step, and an output step for outputting the image data corrected by the correction step.

  According to this, in the correction step, the image quality of the image data determined to be unacceptable by the determination step is corrected. Accordingly, it is possible to correct the image data determined to have poor image quality to the image data determined to have good image quality, and therefore it is possible to suppress waste of the image data.

  In the image quality determination method, a correction step for correcting the image quality of the image data determined to be negative by the determination step, a correction image analysis step for analyzing the image data corrected in the correction step, and the correction image analysis An image quality determination step for determining whether the image quality of the corrected image data is good or not based on the analysis result of the step, and an output step for outputting the image data determined to be good by the image quality determination step.

According to this, in the corrected image analysis step, the image data whose image quality is corrected by the correction step is analyzed. Then, in the image quality determination step, the quality of the image quality of the corrected image data is determined based on the analysis result in the correction image analysis step. In the output step, the image data determined to be good by the image quality determination step is output. Therefore, even image data determined to have poor image quality is output as image data that is determined to have good image quality by correction, and image data is not wasted.

The image quality determination method further includes an associating step of associating the determination result in the determination step with the image data.
The image quality determination method of the present invention is an image quality determination method for determining the image quality of image data, an analysis step for analyzing image quality information relating to the quality of image data of the image data received by a print instruction, and the analysis step A determination output step for determining whether to output the image data based on the analyzed image quality information.

  According to this, the image quality information relating to the quality of the image data is analyzed in the analysis step. In the determination output step, it is determined whether or not the image data is to be output based on the image quality information analyzed in the analysis step. Therefore, for example, it is possible to output only image data having image quality information with good image quality.

  The image quality determination method of the present invention is an image quality determination method for determining the image quality of image data. The image quality information determination step of determining whether or not the image data for which a print instruction has been received has image quality information relating to the quality of the image data. An image analysis step for analyzing the image data when the image data is determined not to have image quality information by the image quality information determination step, and based on an analysis result of the image analysis step, A determination step for determining whether the image quality is good or not and an output step for outputting only the image data determined to be good by the determination step are provided.

  According to this, in the image quality information determination step, it is determined whether the image data for which the print instruction has been received has image quality information regarding the quality of the image data. Then, the image data that does not have the image quality information regarding the quality of the image data is analyzed in the image analysis step, and the quality of the image data is determined in the determination step. In the output step, the image data determined to be good even if the image data does not have the image quality information regarding the quality of the image data is output. Therefore, even image data that does not have image quality information related to image quality can be output if the image quality is good.

In the image quality determination method, the output is printing.
According to this, even image data that does not have image quality information regarding the quality of image quality can be printed if the image quality is good.

In the image quality determination method, the output is storage in a storage unit.
According to this, even image data that does not have image quality information relating to image quality can be stored in the storage unit if the image quality is good.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the image processing system. The digital still camera 1 as the image generating device shown on the left side in FIG. 2 is the display device 90 as the image output device shown on the upper right side in FIG. 2 or the image shown on the lower right side in FIG. It is connected to a printer 201 as an output device by, for example, a cable conforming to IEEE1394. Although not shown, the printer 201 includes a receiving unit (for example, an IEEE 1394 interface) corresponding to a connection form with the digital still camera 1. The digital still camera 1 has an image analysis function, a determination function, a notification function, and a selection function, and transmits image data that the user needs to output such as image display or printing to the display device 90 or the printer 201. . The display device 90 includes a wireless communication port capable of receiving data, an image input terminal, or the like, such as a liquid crystal display device or a television.

3 shows the digital still camera 1, FIG. 3 (a) is a front view, FIG. 3 (b) is a rear view, and FIG. 3 (c) is a side view.
As shown in the figure, a cylindrical body 3 having a focus lens 3a for capturing an image of a subject is provided at the front center of the main body 2 of the digital still camera 1. When the power is not turned on, the cylinder 3 is accommodated inside the main body 2 and protected by a lens cover (not shown). When the power is turned on, the lens cover is automatically opened, and the cylindrical body 3 having the focus lens 3a protrudes from the inside of the main body 2. A finder 4 is provided on the upper right side of the main body 2. A shutter button 5 is provided on the upper left side of the front of the main body 2. An automatic focusing sensor 6 is provided on the upper left side of the main body 2.

  A function selection switch 7 is provided on the upper right side of the back surface of the main body 2. The function selection switch 7 can select an auto mode, a manual mode, a continuous shooting mode, and other various function modes. A display screen 12 is provided on the rear left side of the main body 2. The display screen 12 displays captured images and various setting menu screens. In the imaging mode, the subject being imaged can be displayed on the display screen 12 via the focus lens 3a. Therefore, the trouble of looking into the finder 4 and imaging the subject is reduced. A power button 8, a selection / determination button 9, a return button 10, and a direction button 11 are provided on the rear right side of the main body 2. The selection / decision button 9 performs menu selection such as image selection, image display selection, and print mode selection, menu determination, and image determination in the menu.

  The return button 10 cancels the selection of the menu or image selected by the selection / determination button 9 and returns to the previous state. The direction button 11 is used when selecting an image from the image selection screen displayed on the display screen 12 or when selecting various setting menus. First, by pressing the selection / determination button 9, image data or various setting menus are displayed on the display screen 12. Next, by operating the direction button 11, for example, the selected image or setting mode is colored, and when the desired image data or setting mode is selected, the selection / determination button 9 is pressed. . By this operation, desired image data or setting mode is selected and displayed on the display screen 12.

  On one side of the main body 2, a memory slot 13, an audio output terminal (A / V output terminal) 14, a PC / printer connection terminal (digital terminal) 15, and a power plug terminal (DCIN terminal) 16 are provided. It has been. In this embodiment, the ink jet printer 201 and the digital still camera 1 are communicably connected by an IEEE1394 compatible communication cable.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the digital still camera 1.
The digital still camera 1 includes a control circuit 20, a CPU 21, a ROM 22, a RAM 23, an operation unit 24, a flash 25, an image processing circuit 26, an external interface 27 as a reception unit, a liquid crystal display 28, an optical circuit 29, an image An acquisition circuit 30 and a memory card 31 as a memory are provided.

The operation unit 24 is various buttons 5 and 7 to 11 (see FIG. 3B) provided on the back surface of the main body 2 of the digital still camera 1, and when this is operated, the operation is converted into an electrical signal. The electric signal is output to the control circuit 20. The control circuit 20 comprehensively controls the flash 25, the image processing circuit 26, the external interface 27, the liquid crystal display 28, the optical circuit 29, and the image acquisition circuit 30 of the digital still camera 1. The ROM 22 provided in the control circuit 20 stores programs and various data. The RAM 23 temporarily stores image data, image acquisition / generation history data, and the like.

  In addition to controlling the ROM 22 and RAM 23, the CPU 21 controls the entire digital still camera 1 circuit. The flash 25 is a spare light source, and a mode such as forced light emission, automatic light emission in cooperation with the optical circuit 29, or light emission inhibition can be selected by operating the operation unit 24. The image processing circuit 26 performs digital image processing of the image data in the digital still camera 1 and converts it into a predetermined image file format. The external interface 27 connects the digital still camera 1 and an image output device such as the printer 50 and manages communication therebetween. The external interface 27 is compliant with, for example, IEEE 1394, and performs communication via a communication cable compatible with IEEE 1394. In the present embodiment, the PC / printer connection terminal 15 and the external interface 27 constitute a transmission unit for transmitting image data to the image output apparatus.

  A liquid crystal display (LCD) 28 displays image data in the digital still camera 1 or an image determination result described later together with an image. In the image display, the image data temporarily stored in the RAM 23 in the control circuit 20 or the image based on the image data stored in the memory card 31 is single (hereinafter referred to as single) or plural (hereinafter referred to as multi). Is displayed. The optical circuit 29 controls the focus lens 3a (cylinder 3), the automatic focusing sensor 6, and the like. The image acquisition circuit 30 controls the optical circuit 29 and acquires a captured image as data. The memory card 31 stores the acquired image data file (image file).

  FIG. 5 shows the data structure of the image file. The image file 60 includes image generation history information 61 and image data 62. The image generation history information 61 includes information related to image acquisition conditions when image data is generated by the digital still camera 1, that is, at the time of imaging. The image generation history information 61 includes an aperture value, exposure time, shutter speed, lens focal length, flash, subject area, exposure adjustment mode, shooting mode, gamma value, and the like. The image data 62 further includes thumbnail image data 63 and main image data 64. A thumbnail image is an image data file obtained by thinning out pixel data and the like from the main image, and has an advantage that the display speed is faster than the main image although the image resolution is low. Thumbnail images can quickly display a plurality of images on one display screen 12 because of their advantages. Therefore, the thumbnail image data 63 is used for multi-image display in which a plurality of images are displayed on one screen. Further, in the case of single image display where one image is desired to be displayed on the display screen, the main image data 64 is used so that the selected image is displayed at a high resolution.

  In the present embodiment, when an image selected by the operation of the operation unit 24 by the user is displayed on the display screen 12, an image analysis technique is used to determine whether the image data to be displayed has an image quality suitable for printing. Judgment. In the image analysis process, it is analyzed whether the image is out of focus, single color, or camera shake. A determination result for determining whether the image quality is suitable for printing is added from the result of the image analysis, and the image is displayed on the display screen 12. In this way, by displaying the determination result together with the image on the display screen 12, the determination result is notified to the user.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing processing contents for analyzing and determining whether or not an image selected in “single image display” has an image quality suitable for printing, and FIG. 6 is selected in “multi-image display”. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content which analyzes and determines whether it is an image suitable for printing about each of several images. Program data for image analysis determination processing shown in these flowcharts is stored in the ROM 22. In addition, the ROM 22 stores “
Screen template data for displaying determination results in association with images during "single image display" and "multi-image display", character information prepared for incorporation as display of determination results in this screen template, for example, "bokeh" Text data such as “single color”, “hand shake”, “OK”, and “NG” is stored.

  When an image is displayed on the display screen 12, the following operation is performed. First, the image selection mode is set by the function selection switch 7 of the digital still camera 1. Next, when the power button 8 is pressed, an image is displayed on the liquid crystal display 28. At this time, in the default setting, the most recently captured image is displayed as a single image. Next, when the captured image is to be confirmed as a multi-image, the selection / determination button 9 is pressed. Then, an image display switching mode is displayed on the liquid crystal display 28. The direction button 11 selects whether the image is single or multi, and the selection / determination button 9 determines it. When the image display is in the single mode, pressing the direction button 11 switches the displayed images one by one.

  On the other hand, when the image display is in the multi-mode, the direction button 11 selects the image displayed in the liquid crystal display 28, and the direction can be advanced from the displayed first image or the last image. When the direction button 11 is operated, the next multi-image is displayed.

  When image data is transmitted from the digital still camera 1 to the printer 201 to print an image, it is performed as follows. If the image analysis mode is set, whether or not the image quality is suitable for printing by performing image analysis processing on the selected image data prior to transmission of the selected image data when a transmission operation is performed. Can be determined. In order to set the image analysis mode, first, when the selection / determination button 9 is pressed, various commands are displayed on the liquid crystal display 28. Next, the image analysis command is selected by the direction button 11 and the selection / determination button 9 is pressed. In the case of single image display, when an image to be printed is displayed, the selection / determination button 9 is pressed to execute printing. In the case of multi-image display, the direction button 11 is used to select an image to be printed, and the selection / determination button 9 is pressed. In this way, image transmission and printing operations are performed. In the present embodiment, the selection / determination button 9 operated when transmitting image data is a transmission operation unit.

  The operation selection flow in the digital still camera 1 will be described. First, image data is read from the memory card 31 and temporarily stored in the RAM 23 in the control circuit 20. Next, the image data is transmitted from the RAM 23 to the liquid crystal display 28 and an image is displayed. Along with the display of the image, the CPU 21 reads and executes an application program recorded in advance in the ROM 22 in the control circuit 20, thereby causing the display screen 12 to display a command for selecting whether or not to perform the image analysis processing. The operation unit 24 waits for an operation signal to be operated. When the operation signal is input, it is determined whether or not to perform image analysis according to the type of the signal. If the operation signal is a signal for setting the image analysis mode, the image analysis mode is set. The CPU 21 in the control circuit 20 executes these series of flows.

  When the selection / determination button 9 for instructing transmission of image data is operated by the user and the operation signal is input in a state where the image analysis mode is set in this way, the CPU 21 performs the image analysis determination processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. Run the program. Hereinafter, processing performed by the CPU 21 executing the program will be described with reference to FIG.

First, in S110, image analysis is executed. That is, the image data of the image displayed on the display screen 12 is fetched for single image display, while the main image data 64 of the selected image is read from the memory card 31 for multi-image display. Image analysis processing is performed on the acquired image data to analyze the degree of image quality. In this image analysis process, the analysis contents are such that image quality such as defocusing, single color, camera shake, and the like can be determined. Details of the image analysis method will be described later.

  In S120, it is determined whether the image quality is not suitable for printing. Specifically, it is determined whether the image is out of focus, single color or camera shake. If it is out of focus, single color or camera shake, the process proceeds to S130. Otherwise, the process proceeds to S150.

Details of the determination processing method in S120 will be described later.
In S130, the determination result in S120 is displayed. The CPU 21 temporarily stores the determination result data in the RAM 23, reads the template stored in the ROM 22, and displays the image and the determination result text data (for example, “NG”) in a corresponding positional relationship using the template. Assign as follows. Then, the CPU 21 displays the image and the determination result on the display screen 12 of the liquid crystal display 28 in a layout allocated to the corresponding positional relationship based on the display data in which the image and the determination result text are allocated on the template.

  As shown in FIG. 7 (a), for example, if the image is out of focus, single color or camera shake, the image G is displayed on the display screen 12 with an image quality that is not suitable for printing below. For example, a determination result text TX indicating “NG” is displayed. Of course, the determination display may be replaced with “NG”, and determination contents such as “bokeh”, “single color”, or “hand shake” determined from image analysis may be displayed as character information. On the screen that displays the determination result, text that prompts the user to instruct whether or not to further print by a button operation is displayed.

For example, “Do you want to print?” Is displayed. The user presses the selection / decision button 9 when printing is performed, and presses the return button 10 when printing is not performed.
In S140, it is determined whether or not to execute printing. That is, if the selection / decision button 9 is pressed, the process proceeds to S150. On the other hand, if the return button 10 is pressed, the process of this flowchart ends.

  In S150, printing is executed. That is, the selected image data is transmitted to the printer 201. As a result, when the printer 201 receives the image data, the printer 201 performs a predetermined process on the image data to convert the image data into print data. The printer 201 receives the image data from the digital still camera 1 by driving and controlling the printing mechanism based on the print data. An image based on the processed image data is printed on paper.

  In addition, the digital still camera 1 has an image quality suitable for printing when a plurality of images are displayed on the display screen 12 or when the plurality of images displayed on the display screen 12 are displayed in a multi-image display state. It also has a function to determine whether or not. One method is to operate the operation unit 24 to set an image analysis mode in advance, and operate the operation unit 24 in the state of the image analysis mode to display a plurality of images in a multi-display manner. In another method, the operation unit 24 is operated to display a plurality of images in a multi-display manner. At the same time, since a selection screen asking whether or not to perform image analysis is displayed, the selection / determination button 9 is operated to select execution of image analysis. At the time of multi-image display, thumbnail image data of each image is read from the memory card 31 and displayed in multi-display on the display screen 12 of the liquid crystal display 28. In the former method, when an instruction for multi-image display is accepted, and in the latter method, when an instruction to execute image analysis is accepted, the CPU 21 is shown in the flowchart of FIG. The image analysis determination processing program is executed.

In S210, image analysis is executed. Since it is a multi-image display, the main image data 64 of the selected image is read from the memory card 31, and image analysis processing is performed on the acquired image data to analyze the degree of image quality. In this image analysis process, the analysis content is such that image quality such as defocusing, single color, and camera shake can be determined, and details of the image analysis method will be described later.

  In S220, it is determined whether the image quality is not suitable for printing. Specifically, it is determined whether the image is out of focus, single color, or camera shake. If it is out of focus, single color or camera shake, the process proceeds to S230. Otherwise, the process proceeds to S240.

  In S230, determination information is added. Here, the CPU 21 temporarily stores the determination information indicating that the image quality is not suitable for printing in the RAM 23 as in the process of S130 in FIG. The series of flow up to this point is almost the same as the processing of S110 to S130 in the flowchart of FIG.

In S240, it is determined whether there is an image to be analyzed next. If there is image data to be analyzed, the process proceeds to S250, and if there is no image data to be analyzed, the process proceeds to S260.
In S250, the next image data is read. After the next image data is read out, the process returns to S0 and proceeds to the image analysis process for the next image. Thus, the processes of S210 to S240 are repeated until the image analysis of all the plurality of image data is completed. If it is determined in S240 that there is no image to be analyzed next, the process proceeds to S260.

  In S260, a plurality of images are multi-displayed with determination information. Here, a plurality of image data (thumbnail image data) is read from the memory card 31 and a determination result (determination information data) is read from the RAM 23. Further, a template is read from the ROM 22, and an image and text data (for example, “NG”) of determination information are assigned to be displayed in a corresponding positional relationship using the template. Then, the CPU 21 displays the plurality of images and the determination results on the display screen 12 of the liquid crystal display 28 in a layout in which the images and the determination results are assigned to the corresponding positional relationships based on the display data in which the images and the determination result text are allocated on the template. Display.

  As shown in FIG. 7B, for example, a plurality of images are displayed in multiple on the display screen 12, and for example, the image is out of focus, and an image corresponding to a single color or camera shake is not suitable for printing below the image. For example, a text TX of a determination result “NG” indicating the image quality is displayed. Of course, the determination display may be replaced with “NG”, and determination contents such as “bokeh”, “single color”, or “hand shake” determined from image analysis may be displayed as character information. In this way, the process of this flowchart is complete | finished. With reference to the determination result of the multi-displayed image, the user can determine whether to print the image. Note that even when a transmission operation is performed to cause the printer 201 to print a plurality of images, processing similar to this flowchart is performed prior to the transmission, and when it is determined that image data having an image quality unsuitable for printing is included, The user is warned by displaying the determination information on the display screen 12 as to whether the user can print.

  The digital still camera 1 of the present embodiment performs image analysis on a plurality of image data to be printed when instructing the printer 201 to perform index printing, and associates the determination result with the image. It has a function to print.

When index transmission is designated and a transmission operation is performed, the processing of the flowchart shown in FIG. 6 is executed, and the determination information data is transmitted to the printer 201 together with the image data. At this time, the layout information is also transmitted together. As shown in FIG. 8A, the printer 201 assigns a plurality of images G to the index print layout and prints on the paper P. For example, a text TX of determination information “NG” is printed on the lower side so as to be associated with the image G. Of course, the determination display may be replaced with “NG”, and determination contents such as “bokeh”, “single color” or “hand shake” determined from image analysis may be displayed as character information.

  Although the result of image analysis can be confirmed on the display screen 12 of the liquid crystal display 28 of the digital still camera 1, all the images are temporarily index-printed to check whether there is an image that is not suitable for printing, and which image is printed. If you want to check if it is not suitable, print it out once. When it is desired to check a considerable number of images with the digital still camera 1, the liquid crystal display 28 must be used for a long time, and the battery of the digital still camera 1 is consumed considerably. In such a case, the image can be confirmed and the battery can be saved by printing it out once.

  Further, only the image determination result can be presented as shown in FIG. By switching the mode, as shown in the figure, only the bibliographic information K and the determination result text TX are output on the paper P. The information of the header of the image file 60 is read to create bibliographic information K, determination information is added thereto, and these data are transmitted to the printer 201 together with the layout information in the form of a list. Compared with the index printing of FIG. 8A, the printing process is simplified, and this function is used when it is desired to quickly know the result. Among the bibliographic information, there is a photo number PN, so an image that is not suitable for printing can be immediately known from the photo number.

  Next, image analysis processing will be described. This image analysis processing corresponds to the processing of S110 and S120 in the flowchart of FIG. 1 and the processing of S210 and S220 in the flowchart of FIG. 6, and is executed by the CPU 21. Image analysis processing includes an image analysis method based on sharpness characteristics, an image analysis method based on brightness characteristics, and an image analysis method based on camera shake characteristics. Hereinafter, these image analysis methods will be described in order.

An image analysis method based on sharpness characteristics will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the output target determination process. An image 101 shown in FIG. 9A is an image in which a person is shown in the center and a tree is shown in the background. In the image 102 shown in FIG. 9B, the subject is the same as in FIG. 9A, but the contour of the subject is unclear. Such image data with an unclear outline is highly likely to be generated when the image data is out of focus or when camera shake occurs. In the image determination processing of the present embodiment, the CPU 21 selects a sharp image with a clear contour of the subject such as the image 101 as an output range, and outputs an unsharp image with an unclear contour of the subject such as the image 102. Exclude from the target. In order to execute such a determination, the CPU 21 analyzes the image data, determines a value indicating a characteristic relating to the sharpness of the image as an image quality parameter value using an edge amount (described later), and based on the characteristic value. Make a decision.

  As the characteristic value relating to the sharpness of the image, an average value of edge amounts at each pixel position in the image can be used. The edge amount is a parameter indicating the magnitude of change in luminance value at the pixel position. As the edge amount at a certain pixel position, the difference in luminance value of each pixel in the vicinity of the pixel position can be used.

As such a difference calculation method, various calculation methods can be used. For example, a Prewitt operator can be used.
As shown in FIG. 10, a plurality of pixels are arranged along the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction orthogonal thereto, and P (i, j) is the i-th along the X-axis and the Y-axis along the Y-axis. It is assumed that the luminance value of the jth pixel is represented along the line. In this case, the arithmetic expression of the edge amount E (i, j) at the pixel position (i, j) by the Prewitt operator is expressed by the following arithmetic expression.

Δfx = {P (i + i, j + 1) −P (i−1, j + 1)}
+ {P (i + i, j) -P (i-1, j)}
+ {P (i + i, j-1) -P (i-1, j-1)}
Δfy = {P (ii, j−1) −P (i−1, j + 1)}
+ {P (i, j-1) -P (i, j + 1)}
+ {P (i + i, j-1) -P (i + 1, j + 1)}
E (i, j) = √ (Δfx ² + Δfy ² )
When the image data is expressed in a color space that does not include the luminance value as a parameter, for example, when it is expressed using the RGB color space, for example, a color space that includes the luminance value as a parameter, such as an HSL color space or By converting to the YCbCr color space or the like, the luminance value at each pixel position can be acquired.

  FIG. 9C shows the output target determination process of this embodiment. In this embodiment, it is determined whether or not the average edge amount Eave obtained using the above arithmetic expression is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value (S1010). Image data whose average edge amount Eave is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value is selected as an output target (S1020). Image data whose average edge amount Eave is less than the threshold value is excluded from the output target (S1030). In a sharp image with a clear outline, pixels with a large edge amount tend to increase. On the other hand, in an image with an unclear outline, there is a tendency that pixels with a small edge amount increase. That is, in a sharp image, the average edge amount Eave tends to be large, and in an unclear image, the average edge amount Eave tends to be small. Therefore, by selecting an image whose average edge amount Eave is equal to or greater than the threshold value as an output target, an unclear image can be excluded from the output target. As such a predetermined threshold value, a value determined based on the sensitivity evaluation of the output result of the image can be used. For example, “20” may be set as the predetermined threshold when the range of luminance values is “0 to 255”. In this embodiment, the image generation history information 61 is not used, and the image quality parameter value (average edge amount in this example) is determined by analyzing only the image data 64.

  FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the distribution of weights W used for calculating the average edge amount. FIG. 11B is an explanatory diagram showing the distribution of the weight W on the line BB in the image IMG of FIG. 11A (the weight distribution in the X direction), and FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the weight distribution (weight distribution of a Y direction) on the straight line CC in the image IMG of 11 (a). In this example, as shown in FIG. 11, a weighted average value of edge amounts is calculated using a distribution of weights W such that the weight closer to the center of the image IMG becomes larger, and this weighted average value is used. The output target determination process is executed.

  FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram illustrating another output target determination process. Two images, an image 103 shown in FIG. 12A and an image 104 shown in FIG. 12B, are images of a person, with a person in the center and a tree in the background. Moreover, the cross mark in the image means the center of these images. In the image 104, the outline of the person in the center is unclear, and the background tree is sharp. Image data such as the image 104 is generated, for example, when the image data is generated and the focus is not on a person but on the background.

Below each of the image 103 and the image 104, the distribution of the weight W in the X direction shown in FIG. The Y direction distribution is not shown.
The weighted average edge amount obtained using such a weight W is large when the subject located at the center of the image is sharp like the image 103, and is located at the center of the image like the image 104. It becomes smaller in an image in which the contour of the subject is unclear.

FIG. 12C shows an output target determination process in this example. In this example, it is determined whether or not the weighted average edge amount EWave is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value (S1110). Image data having a weighted average edge amount EWave equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold is selected as an output target (S1120). Image data whose weighted average edge amount EWave is less than the threshold value is excluded from output targets (S1130). When generating image data, a desired subject is often placed at the center of the image. Therefore, in this example, image data in which a subject close to the center of the image is sharply captured, for example, image data in which the desired subject is in focus is selected as an output target, and image data in which the subject near the center of the image is blurred For example, out-of-focus image data can be excluded from the output target.

  As described above, a method of calculating the edge amount by giving the weight distribution to the center of the subject instead of distributing the weight distribution to the center of the entire image is also conceivable. For example, when the subject in the image 103 or the image 104 is set to a person, a region having a weight distribution around the person is determined and the weight distribution is provided at the center in the region.

  Furthermore, a method of performing image selection determination by comparing the average edge amount calculated by the weight distribution of the subject center with the average edge amount of the entire image is also conceivable. In other words, an image is selected by comparing the average edge amount of the entire image with the average edge amount of the subject center using the average edge amount of the entire image as a threshold value.

  FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an output target determination process based on the brightness characteristic of an image. The three images 105 to 107 shown in FIGS. 13A to 13C are images of a person. These three images have different brightness. An image 105 shows an image with high brightness. An image 106 indicates an image with appropriate brightness, and an image 107 indicates an image with low brightness. In the image 105 with high brightness, the luminance value of each pixel tends to be high, so that the average luminance value becomes large. In the image 107 whose brightness is low, the average luminance value in each pixel tends to be low, so the average luminance value becomes small. When generating the image data, the exposure is adjusted so that the amount of light received by the image generating apparatus is an appropriate amount. When the exposure deviates from the appropriate value, for example, when the exposure is larger than the appropriate value, the amount of light received by the image generating device is larger than the appropriate amount, and bright image data such as the image 105 is generated. On the other hand, when the exposure is smaller than the appropriate value, the amount of light received by the image generating device is less than the appropriate amount, and dark image data such as the image 107 is generated.

  FIG. 13D shows the output target determination process of this example. In this example, the average luminance value Bave is used as a characteristic value related to the brightness of the image. It is determined whether or not the average luminance value Bave is within a predetermined appropriate range (in this example, not less than the lower limit value Bth1 and less than the upper limit value Bth2) (S1210). Image data whose average luminance value Bave is in an appropriate range is selected as an output target (S1220). Image data whose average luminance value Bave is outside the appropriate range is excluded from the output target (S1230). By doing so, image data that is too bright or image data that is too dark, for example, image data for which exposure is not properly set at the time of image generation can be excluded from the output target. As such an appropriate range, a range determined based on the sensitivity evaluation of the image output result can be used. For example, when the range that the luminance value can take is “0 to 255”, “50 or more and less than 200” may be set as the predetermined appropriate range. In this example, the image generation history information is not used, and the image quality parameter value (the average luminance value in this example) is determined by analyzing only the image data.

  As the average luminance value, a weighted average luminance value that is calculated using a weight distribution with a large weight of a region that is desired to be more appropriate brightness is used, as in the calculation of the weighted average edge amount in each of the above-described embodiments. You can also. By doing so, it is also possible to execute a determination that places more importance on the brightness of a desired area. It should be noted that the image quality parameter value (the average luminance value in this example) is determined by analyzing both the subject position information included in the image generation history information.

The following may be considered as a method for selecting and determining an image using the luminance value as a parameter.
A pixel having a maximum or minimum luminance value is called a clipping pixel. In an image with high brightness, the luminance value of each pixel is high, so that the proportion of pixels whose luminance value is the maximum value in the range that the luminance value can take tends to increase. On the other hand, in an image with low brightness, the luminance value of each pixel is small, so that the proportion of pixels whose luminance value is the minimum value in the possible range tends to increase. That is, when the exposure at the time of image data generation is larger than the appropriate value, it is easy to generate image data with many clipping pixels having the maximum luminance value, and when the exposure is small, there are many clipping pixels having the minimum luminance value. Image data is easily generated.

  Assuming that the ratio of the number of clipping pixels to the total number of pixels is a characteristic value related to brightness, image data with a clipping pixel ratio equal to or less than a predetermined threshold is selected as an output target, and those that are not are excluded. By doing so, image data that is too bright or image data that is too dark can be excluded from the output range.

  As the threshold value, a value determined based on the sensitivity evaluation of the image output result can be used. For example, 10% of the total number of pixels may be determined as the threshold value. It should be noted that the ratio of the clipping pixel having the maximum luminance value and the ratio of the clipping pixel having the minimum luminance value may be evaluated separately, and for determining the size of each ratio. The threshold values may be different from each other. In this way, it is possible to execute the output target determination process in consideration of the difference between the influence of the pixel having the maximum luminance value on the image quality and the influence of the pixel having the minimum luminance value on the image quality. Further, instead of the ratio of clipping pixels, the number of clipping pixels may be used as the characteristic value relating to the brightness of the image. By doing so, it is possible to perform an output target determination process that does not depend on the size of the image.

  FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram for explaining image analysis based on camera shake characteristics. The two images 108 and 109 shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B are images of a person. The difference between these two images is that the time during which the image generation apparatus receives light during image generation is relatively short, and the time during which image 109 receives light is relatively long. In the image 108, the person is sharply shown, while in the image 109, the person is shown indefinitely. If the orientation of the image generation device changes while the image generation device is receiving light, the position of the subject in the image will change, resulting in an unclear image. Such an unclear image is more likely to occur as the image generation apparatus receives light for a longer time. Therefore, the longer the light is received, the easier it is to generate an unclear image due to camera shake such as the image 109.

FIG. 14C shows the output determination process of this example. In this example, the time Et when the image generating apparatus receives light is used as a characteristic value related to camera shake. The time Eth received light can be obtained by using the exposure information included in the image generation history information 40 or the information parameter value of the shutter speed. It is determined whether or not the time Eth received light is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value (S1310). Image data whose time Eth received light is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value is selected as an output target (S1320). Image data whose time Eth received light is larger than a predetermined threshold value is excluded from the output target (S1330). The longer the time Eth received light, the easier it is to generate an unclear image due to camera shake. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an unclear image from being output due to a camera shake by removing image data whose light Eth is greater than a predetermined threshold from the output target. As such a predetermined threshold value, a value determined based on the sensitivity evaluation of the output result of the image can be used. For example, 1/15 seconds may be set as the predetermined threshold value. In this embodiment, image data is not used, and only the image generation history information is analyzed to analyze the image quality parameter value (
In this example, the time when light is received is determined.

  Printing an image from the digital still camera 1 configured as described above is performed as follows. First, the user operates the function selection switch 7 of the digital still camera 1 to set the image analysis mode. Next, the power button 8 is pressed. When the power is turned on, the most recently captured image is displayed on the display screen 12 of the liquid crystal display 28. Next, when the direction button 11 is operated, the image on the display screen 12 is switched in accordance with the operation of the direction button 11. While confirming the image, the image to be printed is displayed. When the image to be printed is displayed, the selection / determination button 9 is pressed. Then, image analysis and image determination are performed. The liquid crystal display 28 displays an image and an image determination result, for example, as shown in FIG. Viewing the result, the user determines whether to execute printing. When displaying an image on the display device 90, the transmission operation itself is the same. In this case, image analysis and image determination are performed prior to transmission, and a determination is made that there is an image that is not suitable for output (display). In some cases, the user is warned (confirmed) by displaying the determination information together with the image on the display screen 12. In this case, it takes time to transmit a large amount of image data to the display device 90, but it is not necessary to transmit useless image data that does not need to be displayed. Only the image can be displayed on the display device 90.

  When analyzing a plurality of images simultaneously, the mode is switched to a mode in which images are displayed in multiple on the liquid crystal display 28. Next, when the selection / decision button 9 is pressed, all images displayed on the liquid crystal display 28 are analyzed. When the image analysis and the image determination are completed, the determination results of the images are shown together with the images as shown in FIG. The user can select an image to be printed based on the result.

Hereinafter, effects of the first embodiment will be described.
(1) Even a small monitor (liquid crystal display 28) provided in the digital still camera 1 is provided with an image analysis function and a determination function, and whether or not the user performs output such as printing by displaying the determination result. Judgment can be made more accurately.

  (2) Since the user can select whether or not to print the determined image, only the desired image can be printed. Therefore, by eliminating unnecessary printing, paper consumption can be suppressed and the time required for printing can be reduced.

  (3) Since each image is analyzed and determined at the time of multi-image display or multi-image printing (for example, index printing) and the determination result is added and displayed, by analyzing and determining a plurality of image data continuously, Image determination can be performed in a short time. In addition, since the determination result is displayed in association with the plurality of images displayed on the display screen 12, the determination result confirmation operation and image selection can be performed in a short time.

  (4) Since the determination result is printed in association with the printed images when printing a plurality of images, it is not necessary to check the determination result on the display screen 12 over time, and the battery of the digital still camera 1 Power consumption can be saved.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The configuration in the second embodiment is the same as that in the first embodiment. In this embodiment, when the shutter button 5 is pressed, image analysis is performed on the captured image data to notify the user of the determination result of the image quality so that it can be determined whether to save the captured image data. .

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the image determination notification process of this example.
First, in S310, when a pressing signal indicating that the shutter button 5 of the digital still camera 1 is pressed is input, an image is captured.

In S320, the captured image is displayed on the liquid crystal display 28.
In S330, it is determined whether the image analysis mode is set. That is, when performing image analysis, since the user has previously operated the operation unit 24 to select the image analysis mode, it is determined whether or not the image analysis mode is set. If it is the image analysis mode, the process proceeds to S340, and if it is another mode, the process proceeds to S380.

In S340, image analysis is performed on the image data obtained by imaging. The image analysis method is the same as that described in the first embodiment.
In S350, it is determined whether the image quality is not suitable for printing. That is, it is determined whether the analyzed image is a defocused image, a single color image, or a hand shake image. If it is out of focus, single color or camera shake, the process proceeds to S360; otherwise, the process proceeds to S370.

  In S360, the determination result obtained by determining the image quality based on the image analysis result is displayed on the display screen 12 of the liquid crystal display 28. In S370, it is determined whether to save the image data based on the result of the image determination in S360. That is, the user operates the operation unit 24 to instruct whether or not to save the image data, and thus the determination is made according to the instruction. If the image data is to be stored, the process proceeds to S380, and if not, the process proceeds to S390.

In S380, the captured image data is stored in the memory card 31, and the processing of this flowchart ends.
In S390, the image data temporarily stored in the RAM 23 is erased, and the processing of this flowchart ends.

The digital still camera 1 configured as described above is used as follows.
First, the power button 8 is pressed. Next, the camera function selection switch 7 is operated to set the photographing / image analysis mode. Next, a screen for selecting whether or not to perform image analysis is displayed on the liquid crystal display 28. The direction button 11 and the selection / decision button 9 are operated to select “Yes”. Thus, the image analysis mode is set. Next, the user presses the shutter button 5 and images a desired subject. The captured image is displayed on the liquid crystal display 28. Image analysis starts almost simultaneously with this, and when the analysis / determination is completed, an image and a determination result are displayed as shown in FIG. The user determines whether or not to execute printing based on the determination result.

Hereinafter, effects of the second embodiment will be described.
(5) By immediately analyzing and displaying the captured image, the user can immediately determine whether the image is normal or abnormal. Also, by providing this function, if an image is abnormal, it can be re-captured immediately, so that imaging failures can be reduced. Further, for example, since it is possible to determine an image quality that cannot be determined only by viewing the image on the display screen 12, it can also be used for imaging when the user wants to always leave a normal image. In addition, since only images that can be normally captured can be stored in the memory card 31, the capacity of the memory card 31 can be saved.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the third embodiment, an ink jet printer 201 is used in addition to the digital still camera 1 used in the first embodiment and the second embodiment. Therefore, first, the configuration of the printer 201 will be described.

  FIG. 19 is a perspective view of an ink jet printer 201 used in this embodiment. In FIG. 19, a printer 201 is an ink jet printer, and an automatic paper feeder 203 is provided on the back side of the main body 202, and the automatic paper feeder 203 includes a sheet feeder 204 and a roll paper support unit 205. ing. A sheet of paper (not shown) is set on the sheet feeder 204 and fed into the main body 202. Further, the roll paper P 1 is set on the roll paper support unit 205 and fed into the main body 202. A cover 206 is provided in the center of the main body 202, and a printing mechanism is provided in the cover 206. A sheet P (cut sheet paper or roll paper) as a printing medium printed by the operation of the printing mechanism is provided. The paper is discharged from the front lower discharge port 207. An operation panel 208 is provided on the upper right side of the main body 202. The operation panel 208 includes an operation unit 209 and a display screen 210. A display device 211 is provided on the upper right side of the main body 202. A slot 212 is provided at the lower right side of the front surface of the main body 202. By inserting the memory card 31 into the slot 212, an image based on the image data read from the memory card 31 can be printed. . For example, a memory card 31 storing image data taken by the digital still camera 1 is inserted into the slot 212 and an image is printed.

FIG. 20 shows a block diagram of the electrical configuration of the printer 201.
The printer 201 includes a CPU 231, and a ROM 233, a RAM 234, a flash memory (EEPROM) 235, and an ASIC 236 connected to the CPU 231 via the bus 232. The ROM 233 stores a control program executed by the CPU 231, menu display data for displaying a menu screen on the display screen 210, and the like. Here, the control program includes programs for image analysis processing and determination processing shown in FIGS. The printer 201 also has a function of printing a determination result at a position corresponding to an image at the time of index printing. Even if there is no function for creating data for printing the determination result on the digital still camera 1 side, FIG. ) And (b) can be printed. The image template and text data (“OK”, “NG”, etc.) for the determination result are stored in the flash memory 235.

  The RAM 234 stores various data generated in the printing process in which the image data read from the memory card 31 is converted into print data. Further, the RAM 234 temporarily stores image data read from the memory card 31.

  The CPU 231 is connected to a user interface (UI) board 237 that controls the operation panel 208, and executes display control of the display screen 210 via the UI board 237 by executing a control program in the ROM 233. Further, the CPU 231 performs various processes (printing condition setting) based on operation signals input from various operation switches, that is, the power switch SW1, the print start switch SW2, the stop switch SW3, the upper switch SW4, the lower switch SW5, the return switch SW6, the decision switch SW7, and the like. Processing, printing processing, etc.). For example, by operating the various operation switches SW4 to SW7 on the menu screen of the display screen 210 to select and confirm the menu item and its lower items, various printing conditions such as the layout and the number of prints are set. For example, a plurality of preset print images can be previewed in order on the screen 211a of the display device 211. When the print start switch SW2 is pressed after confirming the print image on the preview screen, the set print image is displayed. A printing process based on the condition information is executed.

The ASIC 236 executes print control based on a control signal from the CPU 231 and print data, and includes an image processing unit 238 and a print control unit 239 in this example.
The image processing unit 238 executes a conversion process from RGB data to CMYK data on the image data read from the memory card 31 when the image data of the memory card 31 is printed.

  On the other hand, the print control unit 239 performs carriage control and head control (ink ejection control) based on print data received from the host computer (PC) by the printer 201 or print data converted from image data by the image processing unit 238. Execute. The print control unit 239 is a processing circuit that drives and controls a mechanical mechanism (printing mechanism) in the ink jet printer, and includes a recording head (for example, a piezoelectric head) 241, a carriage motor 242, and a paper feed motor 243 that constitute the mechanical mechanism. And electrically connected to a roll paper drive motor 244 and the like.

  The printer 201 includes a monitor control unit 240 that controls display of the display device 211. The monitor control unit 240 is connected to the bus 232 on the input side and to the display device 211 on the output side. A reading device 246 is connected to the bus 232 via an interface (I / F) 245.

FIG. 16 shows a flowchart on the digital still camera 1 side in the present embodiment.
First, in S410, the image data in the memory card 31 of the digital still camera 1 is read out and temporarily stored in the RAM 23. The data is transmitted to the printer 201 via the external interface 27.

  In step S420, it is determined whether image data analyzed and determined by the printer 201 has been received. If it has been received, the process proceeds to S430, and if not, the process of this flowchart ends.

In S430, the image determination result is displayed on the liquid crystal display 28.
In S440, based on the result of the image determination display in S430, it is determined whether or not to print the image. If printing is to be executed, the process proceeds to S450; otherwise, the process proceeds to S460.

In step S450, the image data determined to be printed is transmitted to the printer 201.
In S460, data that is not printed is deleted.
FIG. 17 shows a flowchart on the printer 201 side in this embodiment.

  In S510, it is determined whether image data has been received from the digital still camera 1. If image data has been received, the process proceeds to S520, and if not, the process of this flowchart ends.

In S520, it is determined whether or not to analyze the received image. If analysis is to be performed, the process proceeds to S530; otherwise, the process proceeds to S590.
In S530, the image data is analyzed. The image analysis method is the same as in the first embodiment.

In S540, it is determined whether the image is out of focus or single color. If there is a problem with the image quality such as out of focus or single color, the process proceeds to S550, and if not, the process proceeds to S560.
In step S550, the image determination information is stored in the printer memory.

  In S560, it is determined whether there is an image to be analyzed in addition to the analyzed image. If there is an image to be analyzed, the process returns to S530; otherwise, the process proceeds to S570. In S570, the data processed up to the image determination is transmitted to the digital still camera 1.

In step S580, it is determined whether image data is transmitted from the digital still camera 1 together with a print execution command. If a print execution command has been received, the process proceeds to S590; otherwise, the process of this flowchart ends.

In S590, the image data is printed and the processing of this flowchart is terminated.
FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram of an image processing system according to the third embodiment.
In the third embodiment, the digital still camera 1 is provided with an image data storage function, an image display function, and an image selection function. On the other hand, the printer 201 is provided with an image analysis function, an image determination function, and a print execution function.

A specific example will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.
When image data is transmitted from the digital still camera 1 to the printer 201, the printer 201 receives the image data. Next, the image data is analyzed and determined, and the determination information data is transmitted to the digital still camera 1. The digital still camera 1 receives information from the printer 201. The determination result on the printer 201 side is displayed on the liquid crystal display 28 of the digital still camera 1 together with the determination result. By confirming the determination result, an image is selected and a print execution command is transmitted from the digital still camera 1 to the printer 201. The printer 201 receives the print execution command and prints out according to the received information.

As described above, the functions of image analysis, image selection, image determination, and image output can be shared between the digital still camera 1 side and the printer 201 side.
The image processing system configured as described above is used as follows.

  The function selection switch 7 of the digital still camera 1 is set to the image confirmation mode, and the power button 8 is pressed. Next, the selection / determination button 9 is pressed to select and determine image transmission. Then, the image data is transmitted to the printer 201 side. The transmitted image data is automatically analyzed and determined on the printer side. When all transmitted images are determined, determination information is added to the image data and transmitted to the digital still camera 1 side. When the determination data is received, an image is displayed on the liquid crystal display together with the determination result. Based on the result, the user selects an image to be printed and transmits the data to the printer as a print execution command. The printer 201 receives the command and executes printing. Thus, a desired image can be printed.

Hereinafter, effects of the third embodiment will be described.
(6) Even if the digital still camera 1 does not have image analysis and image determination functions, the printer 201 has the functions, performs image processing on the printer side, and notifies the determination result to the digital still camera 1 side. Thus, the user can determine and select an image on the digital still camera 1 side.
(7) Even when the image processing means is distributed between the digital still camera 1 and the printer 201, a series of image processing can be performed without consolidating them into one device by connecting the two devices so that they can communicate with each other. be able to. Therefore, for example, the cost of the digital still camera 1 or the printer 201 can be reduced compared to a configuration in which multiple functions are integrated in one device.

The embodiment is not limited to the above, and can be modified as follows.
(Modification 1) In each of the above embodiments, the determination result obtained by determining the image quality based on the image analysis result is notified to the user. However, the CPU 21 selects only image data with good image quality based on the determination result without notifying the user. Then, it is possible to employ an automatic sorting function that transmits the image to the image output apparatus or stores it in the memory card 31. In this case, no notification means is required.

(Modification 2) Image analysis is performed to determine whether or not predetermined processing may be performed on the image data. In this case, the predetermined processing refers to the image data being transmitted to the printer 201 or the display device 9.
The present invention is not limited to the transmission process for transmitting to the image output device such as 0 and the storage process for storing the image data in the memory card 31. For example, image data with good image quality may be selected based on the determination result, and a predetermined process (image processing) may be performed on the selected image data. In this case, it is not necessary to wastefully process image data that does not need to be processed. In addition, the predetermined process may be any process as long as it is necessary to select image data with good image quality.

  (Modification 3) As a modification of the first and second embodiments, the following may be possible. Examples of image analysis methods performed by the digital still camera 1 include (1) image output determination based on sharpness characteristics, (2) image output determination based on brightness characteristics, and (3) image output determination based on camera shake characteristics. Among these, for example, (1) image analysis based on sharpness characteristics can be performed by the digital still camera 1, and (2) image characteristics analysis based on brightness characteristics and (3) camera shake characteristics can be performed by the printer 201. It is. Conversely, (2) image analysis based on brightness characteristics and (3) camera shake characteristics can be performed by the digital still camera 1, and (1) image analysis based on sharpness characteristics can be performed on the printer 201 side. According to this configuration, it is possible to reduce the load on the CPU of the digital still camera 1 or the printer 201 due to image analysis. As a result, the image analysis processing speed increases, and it is possible to quickly notify the image determination result to the user. Become.

  (Modification 4) The following modifications may be made in image determination, image display, and image output in each embodiment. After performing image determination, in each embodiment, determination display for determining whether the analyzed image is a normal image or an abnormal image is performed. At this time, in the determination display, it is possible to display only a normal image without displaying an abnormal image. In this case, since only a normal image is automatically selected, it is possible to immediately execute printing without performing the determination display. According to this configuration, only normal image data is automatically selected, and printing can be executed to quickly output an image desired by the user.

  (Modification 5) As a modification of the third embodiment, the following configuration may be employed. First, on the digital still camera 1 side, an image analysis mode is selected and image data is analyzed. The analyzed image is further subjected to image determination, and image determination information is added to the data. When image analysis and image determination are completed, the determination information data is transmitted to the printer 201. When the determination information data is received on the printer side, the determination information is displayed on the display screen 210 on the printer 201 side. Viewing the display screen, the user selects an image to be printed and executes printing. At this time, the unselected image is deleted.

  (Modification 6) In each of the embodiments described above, the image acquisition unit is an image capturing unit. However, the image acquisition unit includes acquisition of capturing image data from an input port. In other words, the image data read from the input port can be stored in a temporary memory, and the image data read out from the memory as needed can be applied to an image generation apparatus that performs image analysis / determination / notification at the time of transmission operation.

(Modification 7) In each of the embodiments described above, the determination result is notified to the user by a screen display. However, the digital still camera 1 may be equipped with a sound generation device to be notified by sound.
(Modification 8) In the first embodiment, when it is determined in S120 of FIG. 1 and S220 of FIG. 6 that the image data is not suitable for printing, the image data is converted into a known correction method (for example, level). Correction, tone curve, hue, saturation, etc.). For example, if the image data is determined to be unsuitable for printing, the image data may be printed after being automatically corrected, or the image data determined to be unsuitable for printing may be corrected. You may ask the user whether or not.

Here, an example of image quality correction processing of image data will be described with reference to FIG.
First, in S610, the image selected by the user through the operation of the operation unit 24 is displayed on the display screen 12 (either multi-image display or single image display may be used). In S620, selection of image data by the user is accepted. In step S630, image analysis is performed to determine whether the selected image data is suitable for printing or image quality (image analysis step). That is, the image quality information regarding the quality of image quality is created. In this image analysis processing, the analysis contents (image quality information) that can determine the image quality such as defocus, single color, and camera shake are included. In S640, it is determined whether there is image data having an image quality unsuitable for printing (determination step). If there is image data with low image quality due to out-of-focus, single color or camera shake, the process proceeds to S650, and if not, the process proceeds to S670.

  In S670, the image data is printed (output step). On the other hand, in S650, the user is inquired whether to print after correcting the image quality of the image data selected by the user (correction step) (display step). If the user selects printing after correcting the image quality of the image data, the process proceeds to S670; otherwise, the process proceeds to S680.

  In step S680, only image data with image quality suitable for printing is printed. That is, in S680, the image data after the correction is subjected to image analysis again whether it is suitable for printing or image quality (corrected image analysis step), and determined to be suitable (good) (image quality determination step). Only the image data is printed (output step), and the image data determined to be inappropriate (no) is not printed.

  Therefore, in this case, even image data whose image quality is not suitable for printing can be printed by performing correction processing. In addition, the corrected image data is subjected to image analysis again to determine whether or not it is suitable for printing so that only image data suitable for printing can be printed. It will not be wasted.

  Further, image data that has been subjected to image analysis and determination in advance may be associated by adding the determination result to the image data as image quality information (association step) to determine the image quality information ( Image quality information determination step). If the image quality information is suitable for printing, printing is performed as it is (determination output step). On the other hand, if the image quality information is not suitable for printing, the user is inquired whether to print after correcting the image quality of the image data selected by the user (correction step) as in S650. (Display step).

Although the case where image data is printed has been described, the captured image data may be applied to the case where the image data is stored in, for example, the memory card 31 or other memory.
The technical idea grasped from the respective embodiments and modifications will be described below.

(1) The present invention is characterized in that a control unit is provided for performing predetermined processing on image data selected as being allowed to perform predetermined processing by the selection means.
(2) In Claim 1, the predetermined processing is processing stored in a memory.

(3) In Claim 1, the predetermined process is a process of transmitting to the image output apparatus.
(4) In any one of the fourth, fifth, seventh, and eighth aspects, the image data that has not been selected for storage by the selection means is erased.

(5) In the image generating apparatus according to any one of claims 1, 4, and 5, the image generating means is an image capturing means.
(6) In the image generation apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, the image acquisition unit is an image capturing unit.

(7) In the image generating apparatus according to claim 3, the notification unit includes a display unit that displays the determination result on a screen.
(8) In the image generation device according to the technical idea (7), the notification unit displays a plurality of images on the screen of the display unit and displays the determination result in association with the image. And

  (9) In any one of claims 1 to 9, the image analysis unit analyzes at least one of a defocused image, a camera shake image, and a single color image as an image analysis for the image data.

  (10) The image processing system according to claim 15, wherein a plurality of pieces of image data are analyzed and determined, and the determination result is transmitted from the transmission unit specifying a list display to the image output device. The printing unit prints the determination result in a list display.

(11) In the image generation device according to claim 16, the control unit transmits the determination result from the transmission unit in a list display.
(12) In the image output apparatus according to claim 18, the printing unit prints the determination result in a list display.

6 is a flowchart of image processing according to the first embodiment. 1 is a schematic diagram of an image processing system. A digital still camera is shown, (a) is a front view, (b) is a rear view, and (c) is a side view. FIG. 2 is an electrical configuration block diagram of a digital still camera. The data structure figure of image data. The flowchart of the image analysis determination process in the case of multi-image display. (A) and (b) are display screen diagrams of a digital still camera showing an example of image determination display. (A) and (b) are display screen diagrams of a digital still camera showing a result of outputting image determination information. (A)-(c) is explanatory drawing explaining the image-analysis method based on a sharpness characteristic. Explanatory drawing of the calculation method of edge amount. (A)-(c) is explanatory drawing explaining weight distribution to edge amount. (A)-(c) is explanatory drawing explaining an output object determination process. (A)-(d) is explanatory drawing explaining the image-analysis method based on the brightness characteristic of an image. (A)-(c) is explanatory drawing explaining the image-analysis method based on the hand-shake characteristic of an image. The flowchart of the image processing in 2nd Embodiment. 9 is a flowchart showing image processing on the digital still camera side in the third embodiment. 6 is a flowchart showing image analysis determination processing on the printer side. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an image processing system. FIG. FIG. 2 is an electrical configuration block diagram of a printer. 6 is a flowchart for explaining image data correction processing.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Digital still camera as an image generation apparatus, 2 ... Main body, 5 ... Shutter button as an imaging operation part, 7 ... Function selection switch which comprises an operation part, 8 ... Power button, 9 ... Selection means, Transmission operation part, and Selection / decision button constituting the operation unit, 10 ... return button, 11 ... direction button constituting the operation unit, 12 ... display screen as a screen, 15 ... PC / printer connection terminal constituting the transmission unit, 20 ... control Control circuit constituting part, 21... Image generation means, image analysis means, determination means, storage means, correction means, CPU that constitutes image analysis section, determination section, notification section, 22... ROM, 23. Operation unit constituting selection means, 26... Image generation means, image processing circuit constituting image generation section, 27... Reception section, transmission section, external interface constituting transmission means, 28. Liquid crystal display as a stage, 29... Image generation means, optical circuit constituting image imaging means, 30... Image generation means, image acquisition circuit constituting image imaging means, 31... Storage unit, memory card as memory medium, 61 ... Image generation history information, 62 ... Image data, 63 ... Thumbnail image data, 64 ... Main image data, 90 ... Display device as image output device, 201 ... Printer as image output device, P ... Paper, 209 ... Operation unit 210 ... display screen, 211a ... screen, 212 ... slot, 246 ... reading device, 231 ... control unit, image analysis unit, determination unit, image analysis unit, determination unit, CPU constituting the notification unit, 233 ... ROM, 234 ... RAM, 235... Flash memory, 236... ASIC constituting the output unit and control unit, 238... Image processing unit, 239. 240 ... monitor control unit, 241 ... recording head constituting printing means, 242 ... carriage motor constituting printing means, 243 ... paper feed motor constituting printing means, 244 ... roll paper drive motor constituting printing means, G ... Image, IMG ... Image, TX ... Text of determination result.

Claims (26)

In an image generation apparatus having an image generation means for generating image data,
Image analysis means for analyzing image data;
A determination unit that determines whether the image data is good based on an analysis result by the image analysis unit;
An image generation apparatus comprising: notification means for notifying the quality of the image quality determined by the determination means. The image generation apparatus according to claim 1,
The image generation apparatus further comprises a selection unit that allows a user to select whether or not to perform predetermined processing on the image data after the notification by the notification unit. The image generation apparatus according to claim 1,
And determining means for determining whether or not the image data has an image quality suitable for output based on an analysis result by the image analyzing means;
An image generation apparatus comprising: a transmission unit configured to transmit image data determined to have an image quality suitable for output by the determination unit to an image output device. The image generation apparatus according to claim 1,
Furthermore, a selection unit that allows the user to select whether or not to transmit the image data notified of suitability to the image output device;
An image generation apparatus comprising: a transmission unit configured to transmit the image data selected by the selection unit to the image output device. The image generation apparatus according to claim 1,
The image generation apparatus further comprises a storage unit that stores in the storage unit the image data determined to have good image quality by the determination unit. The image generation apparatus according to claim 1,
Selection means for allowing the user to select whether or not to store the image data informing the quality of the image quality in the storage unit;
The storage means stores the image data selected by the selection means in the storage section in the storage section. The image generation apparatus according to claim 1,
An image generation apparatus characterized in that the image analysis means performs image analysis when receiving an instruction to transmit image data stored in a storage unit to an image output apparatus. The image generation apparatus according to claim 1,
The image generation device, wherein the image analysis unit analyzes the image data to be displayed on the screen when receiving an instruction to display the image data stored in the storage unit on the screen. The image generation apparatus according to claim 1,
The quality of the image data determined by the determination means is whether or not the image data has an image quality suitable for output, and an instruction to transmit the image data stored in the storage unit to the image output apparatus is given. When received, image analysis by the image analysis means is performed,
Based on the analysis result by the image analysis unit, the determination unit determines whether the image data has an image quality suitable for output,
Transmitting means for transmitting image data determined by the determination means to an image quality suitable for output to an image output device;
Notification means for notifying the user of the determination result determined by the determination means;
An image generation apparatus comprising: The image generation apparatus according to claim 1,
The image generation apparatus further comprises display means for displaying the determination result on a screen. The image generation apparatus according to claim 1,
The notification means displays a plurality of images and the determination result in association with the plurality of images on a screen. The image generation apparatus according to claim 1,
An image generating apparatus comprising correction means for correcting image data determined by the determination means to have poor image quality. The image generation apparatus according to claim 2 or 6,
The image generation apparatus, wherein the output of the image data is printing of the image data. A recording medium storing a computer-readable program for causing a computer to execute the image output apparatus according to claim 1. In an image generation device that generates image data,
An image generation unit for generating image data;
An image analysis unit for analyzing the image data;
A determination unit that determines the quality of the image data based on the analysis result by the image analysis unit;
An image generation apparatus comprising: a notification unit that notifies the quality of the image quality determined by the determination unit. In an image output device that outputs image data,
An image analysis unit for analyzing the image data;
A determination unit that determines the quality of the image data based on the analysis result by the image analysis unit;
A notification unit for notifying the quality of the image quality determined by the determination unit;
An image output apparatus comprising: an output unit that outputs the image data. In an image processing system,
An image generating device;
An image output device;
An image generation unit for generating image data;
A transmission unit for transmitting the image to the image output device;
An image analysis unit for analyzing the image data;
A determination unit that determines the quality of the image data based on the analysis result by the image analysis unit;
A transmission unit that transmits a determination result by the determination unit to the image generation device;
A notification unit for notifying the quality of the image quality determined by the determination unit;
An image processing system comprising: an output unit that outputs the image data. In the image quality determination method for determining the image quality of image data,
An image analysis step for analyzing the image data for which the print instruction has been received;
Based on the analysis result of the image analysis step, a determination step of determining quality of the image data,
An image quality determination method comprising: an output step of outputting only the image data determined to be good by the determination step. The image quality determination method according to claim 18,
The image quality determination method further comprises a display step for displaying a confirmation as to whether or not to print the image data determined not to be printed in the determination step. The image generation apparatus according to claim 18, wherein
Further, a correction step for correcting the image quality of the image data determined to be negative by the determination step;
An image quality determination method comprising: an output step of outputting the image data corrected by the correction step. The image quality determination method according to claim 18,
Further, a correction step for correcting the image quality of the image data determined to be negative by the determination step;
A corrected image analysis step of analyzing the image data corrected in the correction step;
An image quality determination step for determining quality of the corrected image data based on the analysis result of the corrected image analysis step;
An image quality determination method comprising: an output step of outputting image data determined to be good by the image quality determination step. The image quality determination method according to claim 18,
The image quality determination method further comprises an associating step for associating the determination result in the determination step with the image data. In the image quality determination method for determining the image quality of image data,
An analysis step of analyzing image quality information relating to quality of the image data of the image data received by the print instruction;
An image quality determination method comprising: a determination output step for determining whether to output the image data based on the image quality information analyzed in the analysis step. In the image quality determination method for determining the image quality of image data,
An image quality information determination step for determining whether the image data for which the print instruction has been received has image quality information regarding the quality of the image data;
An image analysis step of analyzing the image data when it is determined by the image quality information determination step that the image data does not have image quality information;
Based on the analysis result of the image analysis step, a determination step of determining quality of the image data,
An image quality determination method comprising: an output step of outputting only the image data determined to be good by the determination step. 25. The image quality determination method according to claim 18, wherein the output is printing. 25. The image quality determination method according to claim 18, wherein the output is stored in a storage unit.

Images