JP2005094298A - Digital camera and image data recording method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital camera rapidly performing image confirmation by photographed RAW image data. <P>SOLUTION: The digital camera has first-third recording modes. The first recording mode is that for recording only the RAW image data. The second recording mode is that for compressing and recording only image data for reproduction. The third recording mode is that for basically recording both the RAW image data and the image data for reproduction. In this mode, a part of the recording of image data for reproduction is omitted at the time of a consecutive shot mode and a snap-shot mode. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a digital camera that records image data corresponding to a photographed image photographed by a photographing means on a recording medium, and in particular, image data as it is an output signal of the imaging means (hereinafter referred to as “RAW image data”). And a digital camera image data recording method.

  A digital camera outputs digital image data based on an image pickup signal from an image pickup unit including a CCD image pickup device or the like, and has been remarkably popular in recent years. One feature of a digital camera is that images of the subject are continuously displayed before shooting (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “through image display”), and images are taken after confirming the shot images. In other words, the completed image can be reproduced and displayed for confirmation. Also, digital image data can be easily taken out and displayed on an external display device or used for printing. Therefore, image data in a form suitable for image reproduction on a display device or printing device (hereinafter referred to as “image data for reproduction”) is often adopted as the output digital image data. As the reproduction image data, for example, a combination of a luminance Y signal, a color difference RY signal, a color difference BY signal, or a combination of RGB signals is used. Further, the reproduction image data is generally output as compressed data such as JPEG data.

  Another feature is that since it is digital data, a wide range of image processing is possible after shooting. That is, correction processing such as offset correction, gain correction (white balance correction), gradation correction (gamma correction), contour correction, hue correction, and the like can be performed to easily obtain an image that suits the user's preference. When image processing is performed after shooting, using RAW image data, which is digital image data as it is as an output signal of the imaging unit, can obtain an image that takes advantage of the pixel configuration, characteristics, and the like of the imaging element. In addition, RAW image data generally has a large number of output bits per pixel and is not compressed data, so processing without image degradation is possible.

  For this reason, a digital camera having a function for outputting RAW image data and capable of selecting whether to output image data for reproduction or RAW image data has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2).

JP 11-261933 A Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-223979

  However, since the RAW image data is dot sequential data in a format depending on the type of the image sensor, in order to display an image based on the RAW image data, image processing is performed based on predetermined reproduction parameters, and RGB data or It is necessary to generate image data for reproduction such as Y-CrCb data. Therefore, there is a problem that it takes time to reproduce and display a photographed image after photographing (photographing review).

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a digital camera and an image data recording method for the digital camera capable of quickly confirming an image using captured RAW image data. . It is another object of the present invention to provide a digital camera capable of quickly confirming an image using RAW image data taken without increasing the shooting interval.

  The digital camera of the present invention records image data corresponding to a photographed image photographed by the photographing means on a recording medium, and only the RAW image data that is the image data as the output signal of the imaging means is photographed. A first recording mode for recording as image data corresponding to a photographed image, and a second recording mode for recording only reproduction image data generated based on the RAW image data as image data corresponding to the photographed photographed image And a third recording mode in which both the RAW image data and the reproduction image data are recorded as image data corresponding to the captured image.

  According to this digital camera, in the first recording mode and the third recording mode, it is possible to quickly confirm the recorded image after shooting and recording. In the second recording mode and the third recording mode, image processing utilizing the pixel configuration, characteristics, etc. of the image sensor can be performed based on the RAW image data after recording. In addition, RAW image data generally has a large number of output bits per pixel and is not compressed data, so processing without image degradation is possible. When a storage device of a personal computer connected to the digital camera is used as the recording medium, and reproduction image data is generated and recorded by the personal computer, the burden on the digital camera can be reduced.

  The reproduction image data in the digital camera of the present invention may include data subjected to compression processing.

  The digital camera of the present invention includes a digital camera having a photographing interval shortening mode in which recording of the reproduction image data can be omitted for at least a part of the photographed images in the third recording mode.

  If a mode for performing such processing is provided, it is possible to meet the user's request for RAW image data but a desire to shorten the shooting interval. That is, even if this mode is set, it is assumed that at least the last captured image is generated and recorded for reproduction image data, and in many cases, it is assumed that it is used for capturing almost the same subject. There is no significant effect on quick confirmation of captured images.

  The digital camera according to the present invention includes a digital camera that is in the shooting interval shortening mode in the continuous shooting mode in which shooting is continuously performed when the release switch is continuously on. In such a case, the generation of the reproduction image data is omitted except for the final image among the images photographed continuously.

  The digital camera of the present invention includes a camera that is in the shooting interval shortening mode in the rapid shooting mode in which the release switch ON operation possible interval is controlled to be the shortest. In this case, the generation of the reproduction image data is omitted depending on the ON operation interval of the release switch.

  According to the image data recording method of the present invention, both RAW image data, which is image data as it is as an output signal of the imaging means, and image data for reproduction generated based on the RAW image data are image data corresponding to the captured image. A method for recording image data in a digital camera having a mode for recording as follows, the step of acquiring and holding one or more RAW image data according to the operation state of a release switch, and a set shooting According to the mode and the operation state of the release switch, a step of generating image data for reproduction based on all or a part of the held RAW image data, and for each held RAW image data, only RAW image data is included. Generates an image file or an image file containing RAW image data and playback image data It is intended to include the step of recording.

  As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a digital camera capable of quickly confirming an image using photographed RAW image data. In addition, it is possible to provide a digital camera that can quickly check an image using RAW image data that has been taken without increasing the shooting interval.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a digital camera of the present invention. The digital camera in FIG. 1 includes an imaging unit including a lens unit 1, an imaging device 2, and a driving unit 3, an analog signal processing unit 4, an A / D conversion unit 5, a digital signal processing unit 6, an output memory 7, and a compression unit. A signal processing unit including an expansion processing unit 8, an output unit including a media interface 10 and an image monitor 11, an operation unit 12 including a mode switch, a release button, and the like, and a system control unit 9 for controlling the entire digital camera Is done.

  Since the configuration of the imaging unit is the same as that of a conventional digital camera, it will be briefly described. The light passing through the lens unit 1 is focused on the imaging device 2 such as a CCD, and a captured image signal is acquired. When acquiring the captured image signal, the lens unit 1 and a diaphragm (not shown) are controlled via the drive unit 3. The imaging device 2 is driven by a drive unit 3 including a timing generator (not shown) at a predetermined timing when a release switch (not shown) is turned on by operating a release button (not shown), and a captured image is taken. Output a signal.

  The captured image signal is subjected to analog signal processing by the analog signal processing unit 4, converted to a digital signal by the A / D conversion unit 5, and sent to the digital signal processing unit 6 as RAW image data. The digital signal processing unit 6 performs digital signal processing according to the operation mode set by the operation unit 12, and the obtained image data is temporarily stored in the output memory 7.

  The processing performed by the digital signal processing unit 6 includes white balance adjustment, Y / C processing, gamma correction processing, and the like. When an image based on image data that has undergone digital image processing is displayed on the image monitor 11 (through image display), the contents of the output memory 7 are read and sent to the image monitor 11. The image data in the output memory 7 is recorded in a recording medium such as a memory card (not shown) after being compressed by the compression / decompression processing unit 8 or directly via the media interface 10. The image monitor 11 can also display an image based on the image data of the recording medium.

  The system control unit 9 controls the entire digital camera including shooting operations. Specifically, the system control unit 9 is configured mainly by a processor that operates according to a predetermined program, and includes a program, a memory that stores various data necessary for the operation, and a work memory.

  The operation unit 12 performs various operations when using the digital camera, and performs a shooting method at the time of shooting, shooting conditions, on / off of a shooting review function, setting of a recording mode for media, and the like. The operation unit 12 may be provided with an operation member corresponding to each function, but may be shared with the display of the image monitor 11.

  The shooting methods that can be set include a continuous shooting mode and a rapid shooting mode. The continuous shooting mode is a mode in which continuous shooting is performed with the release switch turned on, and image data for a predetermined number of image data is recorded. The image data to be recorded may be a predetermined number of image data taken after the release is turned on, or may be a predetermined number of image data up to the image data at the time when the release is turned on.

  The rapid shooting mode is a mode in which the time from when a shooting operation is started when the release switch is turned on to when the shooting operation is started when the next release switch is turned on is minimized. In this mode, display of the captured image immediately after shooting is omitted regardless of the setting of the shooting review function.

  The shooting review function is a function for automatically displaying an image based on image data shot immediately after shooting. Displaying images by the shooting review function requires playback image data. Therefore, if playback image data is not recorded, an image based on the shot image data is not displayed even if the function is set to ON.

  The shooting conditions to be set include shutter speed, aperture value, white balance setting, and the like.

  The recording mode includes a first recording mode for recording only RAW image data, a second recording mode for compressing and recording only reproduction image data, and both RAW image data and compressed reproduction image data. A third recording mode for recording is included.

  Next, the operation of the digital camera shown in FIG. 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic operation flow of the entire digital camera. When the power is turned on, initialization processing is performed by the system control unit 9 (step 201). The initialization processing includes initialization of the work internal memory, attachment / detachment of the recording memory for image data such as a recording medium, confirmation of the remaining capacity, initialization of various flags and control variables, and the like.

  Next, the set operation mode is confirmed, and if it is determined that the shooting mode is set (step 202), shooting processing is performed (step 203). If the playback mode is determined (step 204), playback processing based on the image data recorded on the recording medium is performed (step 205). When a power-off operation is detected from the operation unit 12 (step 206), an end process (step 207) is performed to turn off the power. Since the reproduction process (step 205) in the reproduction mode is the same as the conventional one, the description is omitted.

  In step 203, the photographing process is performed in different procedures depending on the photographing method set by the operation unit 12, photographing conditions, on / off of the photographing review function, the recording mode for the medium, and the like. FIG. 3 shows an outline of processing contents according to the set recording mode and photographing method. FIG. 3 shows the image data to be recorded and the confirmation display processing of the photographed image immediately after photographing when the photographing review function is on.

  The digital camera in FIG. 1 has first to third recording modes. The first recording mode is a mode in which only RAW image data (which is simply described as “RAW” in FIG. 1) is recorded as image data corresponding to a captured image. In this mode, the recorded data is not changed regardless of whether the shooting method is the continuous shooting mode or the rapid shooting mode. Also, the confirmation display (shooting review) of the shot image immediately after shooting is not performed. FIG. 4 shows an example of the data format of the image file in the first recording mode. The image processing parameters in FIG. 4 are data such as white balance and sharpness according to shooting conditions used for generating reproduction image data using RAW image data.

  The second recording mode is a mode in which only the reproduction image data generated based on the RAW image data is recorded as image data corresponding to the captured image. As the reproduction image data, JPEG data (which is simply described as “JPEG” in FIG. 1), which is compressed image data, is used. JPEG data is an example, and uncompressed image data for reproduction may be used. A confirmation display of the photographed image immediately after photographing is performed, but in the continuous shooting mode, only the last recorded image is displayed. Even in this mode, the recorded data is not changed even when the continuous shooting mode or the rapid shooting mode is set. FIG. 5 shows an example of the data format of the image file in the second recording mode.

  The third recording mode is a mode in which both RAW image data and reproduction image data are basically recorded as image data corresponding to a captured image. In this mode, recording of playback image data is partially omitted in the continuous shooting mode and the rapid shooting mode. Omitted conditions and omitted data will be described later. The confirmation display of the photographed image immediately after photographing is performed in the normal mode and the continuous shooting mode. In the continuous shooting mode, only the last recorded image is displayed. FIG. 6 shows an example of the data format of the image file in the third recording mode. The thumbnail data in FIG. 6 may be omitted.

  Subsequently, the operation of the photographing process (step 203 in FIG. 2) will be described. Since the operations in the first recording mode and the second recording mode are the same as those in the conventional recording mode, the description thereof is omitted. In the case of the third recording mode and the normal mode, RAW image data based on the captured image signal from the imaging unit is acquired, and an image file having a format as shown in FIG. 4 is created and recorded on the recording medium. .

  FIG. 7 shows a schematic flow of the shooting process (shooting process A) in the third recording mode when the continuous shooting mode and the playback review function are set to ON. The photographing process basically displays a through image (step 701) and waits for the release switch to be turned on (step 702). In the meantime, various settings at the time of shooting by operation of various operation units, AE, AF processing (specifically, detection is performed by detecting the half-press of the release button) and the like are performed.

  When the release switch is turned on, RAW image data based on the captured image signal from the imaging unit is acquired (step 703) and temporarily stored in the memory 7 (step 705). In step 705, it is determined whether or not the release switch is on. If it is on, the processing in steps 703 and 704 is repeated. When the number of continuous shots is exceeded, acquisition of new RAW image data is restricted (when recording a predetermined number of images taken after release on), or the old one of the held images is rewritten (release). When recording a predetermined number of image data up to the image data at the time of changing to OFF), the number of images to be held is limited.

  If it is determined in step 705 that the release switch is off, reproduction image data is generated based on the last acquired RAW image data (step 706). Then, an image file for each temporarily stored RAW image data is generated and recorded on a recording medium (step 707). Here, the format of the image data to be recorded is the format shown in FIG. 6 for the last obtained RAW image data, and the format shown in FIG. 4 for the other image data.

  As described above, when the release switch is continuously turned on in the continuous shooting mode, RAW image data of continuously shot images is recorded, and only the image data acquired last is an image file to which JPEG data is added. To be recorded. Even in this mode, if the switch is turned off immediately after the release switch is turned on, RAW image data for one sheet is acquired, so that an image file similar to that in the normal mode is generated and recorded.

  FIG. 8 shows a schematic flow of the shooting process (shooting process B) in the third recording mode when the rapid shooting mode and the playback review function are set to ON. Step 801, step 802, and step 803 are the same as step 701, step 702, and step 703 in FIG.

  In step 804, an image file based on the acquired RAW image data is generated and recorded on a recording medium. The file format at this time is as shown in FIG. In step 805, the state of the release switch is determined. If the release switch is on, the processes in steps 803 and 804 are repeated. Therefore, the image data is recorded at the shortest interval according to the user's operation.

  If it is not determined in step 805 that the release switch is on, reproduction image data generation processing based on the recorded RAW image data is performed (step 806). During this time, the state of the release switch is constantly monitored, and if it is determined that the release switch is on (step 807), the process returns to step 803 (in FIG. 8, step 807 is described after step 806 for convenience).

  If the release switch remains off until the generation of reproduction data in step 806 is completed (determined in step 808), the generated reproduction image data is added to the recorded image file (step 809). In this case, the recorded image file has a format shown in FIG. The image data for reproduction may be recorded so as to be added to the already recorded image file. Alternatively, an image file having the format shown in FIG. 6 may be created and recorded on the recording medium.

  When the above processing is performed, if the user turns on the Leeds switch a plurality of times, if the time interval is short, only the RAW image data is recorded, and if it exceeds a certain time interval, the reproduction image data is additionally recorded. Is done.

  As is apparent from the description of FIGS. 7 and 8, even in the mode in which both the RAW image data and the reproduction image data are recorded, the reproduction image data depends on the setting of the photographing method and the operation mode of the user's release switch. Will be omitted.

  In the above description, the captured image data has been described as being recorded on a recording medium such as a memory card. However, a recording process is performed by a personal computer by connecting a digital camera and a personal computer (not shown) at the time of shooting. It can also be done. In this case, the recording destination may be a built-in memory of a personal computer or a connected external memory. In this case, the processing load of the digital camera can be greatly reduced by always outputting only RAW image data from the digital camera and generating and recording image data for reproduction according to the recording mode.

The figure which shows schematic structure of the digital camera of embodiment of this invention The figure which shows the general | schematic operation | movement flow of the whole digital camera of embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the outline of the processing contents according to the set recording mode and shooting method The figure which shows an example of the data format at the time of 1st recording mode The figure which shows an example of the data format at the time of 2nd recording mode The figure which shows an example of the data format at the time of a 3rd recording mode The figure which shows the general | schematic flowchart of an imaging | photography process at the time of a 3rd recording mode, when continuous shooting mode and the reproduction | regeneration review function are set to ON The figure which shows the general | schematic flowchart of an imaging | photography process at the time of 3rd recording mode and being set to quick-shooting mode.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Lens part 2 ... Imaging device 3 ... Drive part 4 ... Analog signal processing part 5 ... A / D conversion part 6 ... Digital signal processing part 7 ... Memory for output 8 ... Compression / decompression processing unit 9 ... System control unit 10 ... Media interface 11 ... Image monitor 12 ... Operation unit

Claims (8)

A digital camera that records image data corresponding to a photographed image photographed by a photographing means on a recording medium,
A first recording mode for recording only RAW image data, which is image data as it is as an output signal of the imaging means, as image data corresponding to a captured image;
A second recording mode for recording only reproduction image data generated based on the RAW image data as image data corresponding to the captured image;
A digital camera having a third recording mode for recording both the RAW image data and the reproduction image data as image data corresponding to a captured image. The digital camera according to claim 1,
The reproduction image data is a digital camera that is compression-processed data. The digital camera according to claim 1 or 2,
A digital camera having an imaging interval shortening mode in which recording of the reproduction image data can be omitted for at least a part of the captured images in the third recording mode. The digital camera according to claim 3,
A digital camera that is in the shooting interval shortening mode in a continuous shooting mode in which continuous shooting is performed when the release switch is on continuously. The digital camera according to claim 4,
A digital camera that omits generation of the reproduction-use image data except for a final image of continuously shot images in the shooting interval reduction mode. The digital camera according to claim 3,
The digital camera that is in the shooting interval shortening mode in the rapid shooting mode in which the release switch ON operation interval is controlled to be the shortest. The digital camera according to claim 6,
A digital camera that omits generation of the reproduction image data in accordance with an ON operation interval of a release switch in the shooting interval reduction mode. In a digital camera having a mode in which both RAW image data which is image data as an output signal of the image pickup means and playback image data generated based on the RAW image data are recorded as image data corresponding to the photographed photographed image. An image data recording method in the mode,
Acquiring and holding one or a plurality of the RAW image data according to an operation state of a release switch;
Generating reproduction image data based on all or a part of the held RAW image data according to a set shooting mode and an operation state of the release switch;
An image data recording method including a step of generating and recording an image file including only RAW image data or an image file including RAW image data and reproduction image data for each held RAW image data.

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