JP2005275978A - Photographing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photographing apparatus in which an image file resulting from photographing can be easily managed. <P>SOLUTION: An image file resulting from photographing is recorded on a recording medium after imparting thereto a file name wherein the date and time of photographing of image data and a file number imparted in the order of photographing are combined. Thus, only by watching the file name, contents of the file can be predicted, so that the image file can be easily managed. Furthermore, since the file name is imparted according to fixed rules, image files can be aligned according to the fixed rules, so that retrieval or management is facilitated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a photographing apparatus, and relates to a photographing apparatus that automatically generates a file name of an image file obtained by photographing.

  In general, image data captured by a digital camera is recorded on a recording medium as an image file according to a prescribed image file format (for example, Exif). At this time, a file name is given to the image file. The file name is a combination of a character string (ABCD) having a specified number of characters such as “ABCD0001” and a file number (0001) having a specified number of digits. Is granted.

  However, if an image file is recorded using such a file name, the contents of the image file recorded there cannot be predicted just by looking at the file name, which makes management difficult. There was a drawback.

  Therefore, in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-34169), it is proposed that a sound at the time of image shooting is used as a file name of an image file in a digital camera that records sound in a storage means by linking sound with an image. Yes.

In Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-182957), the shooting date and time of the first image file stored in the folder are stored in the folder name of the folder storing the image file. It has been proposed that the folder name is combined with the shooting date and time of the image file.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-34169 JP 2002-182957 A

  However, as in Patent Document 1, when an image file is recorded on a recording medium with sound as a file name, the regularity of each recorded image file is lost, and therefore, there is a disadvantage in that it is disadvantageous at the time of continuous reproduction or search. is there.

  In the case of Patent Document 2, it is possible to know the shooting period of the image file stored from the folder name. However, by looking at the file name of the image file stored in the folder, it is possible to determine what the image is. There is a fault that cannot be grasped.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a photographing apparatus that can easily manage image files obtained by photographing.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, in a photographing apparatus for recording image data obtained by photographing on a recording medium as an image file of a predetermined format, measurement for measuring the photographing date of the image data And a file name setting unit that assigns a continuous file number of a predetermined number of digits in the shooting order, and sets a character string that combines the file numbers measured by the measurement unit as a file name of the image file And a photographing apparatus characterized by comprising:

  According to the present invention, an image file obtained by shooting is given a file name that is a combination of the shooting date of image data and a file number assigned in the shooting order. For example, “20040401_0001” for the first image taken on January 1, 2004, “2004040110_0005” for the fifth image taken on January 10, 2004, etc. The file name is given in the format of “shooting date + file number”. As a result, the contents of the file can be predicted just by touching the file name, and image file management becomes easy. Further, since the file names are given with a certain rule, the image files can be arranged with a certain rule, and search and management become easy.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a shooting genre setting means for setting a shooting genre, and image data shot under a shooting genre set by the shooting genre setting means in order to achieve the object. The photographing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising photographing genre recording means for recording information on the photographing genre set in the header of the image file.

  According to the present invention, when shooting is performed with a shooting genre set, information on the set shooting genre is recorded in the header portion of the image file. By reading the information of the shooting genre recorded in the header portion, the shooting genre can be known, and management becomes easier.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 3 is a display means for displaying an image, and a display processing means for reproducing and displaying the image file recorded on the recording medium on the display means, 3. The photographing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a display processing unit that causes the display unit to display a photographing genre recorded in a header portion of an image file together with an image.

  According to the present invention, when an image file is reproduced, information on the shooting genre recorded in the header portion of the image file is displayed on the display unit together with the image. This makes it possible to grasp the shooting genre at a glance.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the object, an instruction means for instructing a file name change, and a file name of an image file according to an instruction from the instruction means The image capturing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a file name changing unit that changes the image to a shooting genre recorded in a header portion of the image file.

  According to the present invention, when the change of the file name is instructed by the instruction means, the shooting date and time part constituting the file name of the image file is changed to the shooting genre. As a result, the file name can be changed according to the user's preference, and image file management becomes easier.

  The image capturing apparatus according to the present invention facilitates management of image files obtained by image capturing.

  The best mode for carrying out the photographing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  1 and 2 are a front perspective view and a rear perspective view, respectively, showing an embodiment of a digital camera 10 to which the present invention is applied.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a lens 14, a strobe 16, a finder window 18, a self-timer lamp 20, and the like are provided on the front of the camera body 12. A USB terminal 22 and a power terminal 24 are provided on the right side of the camera body 12, and a release button 26 and a power button 28 are provided on the upper surface.

  On the other hand, on the back of the camera body 12, as shown in FIG. 2, a monitor 30, a viewfinder eyepiece 32, a strobe button 34, a macro button 36, a zoom lever 38, a display button 40, a menu / OK button 42, and a BACK button. 44, a cross button 46, a mode switch 48, and the like are provided.

  A battery / media cover is provided on the bottom surface of the camera body (not shown) so as to be freely opened and closed. When the battery / media cover is opened, a battery chamber for loading the battery and a media slot for mounting a memory card as a recording medium are provided.

  The release button 26 is composed of a two-stroke switch that is half-pressed and fully pressed. When the release button 26 is half-pressed, the AE / AF is activated and the camera is photographed when the release button 26 is fully pressed. .

  The monitor 30 includes a liquid crystal display capable of color display, and is used as a display screen for recorded images and a display screen for a user interface. Further, it is also used as an electronic viewfinder for checking the angle of view at the time of shooting. The display button 40 functions as a button for instructing switching of contents displayed on the monitor 30.

  The strobe button 34 functions as a button for instructing switching of the strobe mode. Each time the strobe button 34 is pressed, the strobe mode being shot is changed to “auto flash” → “red-eye reduction strobe” → “forced flash strobe” → “Slow Sync” → “Flash Off” can be switched.

  The macro button 36 functions as a button for instructing switching of the macro function ON / OFF. Each time the macro button 36 is pressed, the macro function being photographed is switched ON / OFF.

  The zoom lever 38 functions as a button for instructing zoom (tele / wide) of a captured image at the time of shooting, and functions as a button for instructing zoom (enlargement / reduction) of a display image at the time of reproduction. The zoom lever 38 is provided so as to be swingable in the vertical direction. When the zoom lever 38 is operated upward, the zoom is operated to the tele side, and when operated downward, the zoom is operated to the wide side. .

  The menu / OK button 42 functions as a button (menu button) for instructing a transition from the normal screen to the menu screen in each mode, and also functions as a button (OK button) for instructing confirmation and execution of the selection contents. The button 44 functions as a button for instructing to cancel the input operation.

  The cross button 46 functions as a button for inputting instructions in four directions, up, down, left, and right, and is used for selecting a desired item on a menu screen or the like.

  The mode switch 48 functions as a switch for setting the camera mode, and the mode of the camera is set to “shooting mode” or “reproduction mode” by sliding the mode switch 48.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the digital camera 10 shown in FIGS.

  The overall operation of the digital camera 10 is centrally controlled by a central processing unit (CPU) 100. The CPU 100 includes an operation unit 112 (release button 26, power button 28, strobe button 34, macro button 36, zoom lever 38, display button 40, menu / OK button 42, BACK button 44, cross button 46, mode switch 48, etc.) Each block is controlled according to a predetermined program based on the input information from.

  The ROM 104 connected to the CPU 100 via the bus 102 stores programs executed by the CPU 100 and various data necessary for control, and the EEPROM 106 stores various setting information related to the operation of the digital camera 10. Has been. The memory (SDRAM) 108 is used as a calculation work area for the CPU 100 and is used as a temporary storage area for image data and the VRAM 110 is used as a temporary storage area dedicated to image data.

  When the camera mode is set to “shooting mode” with the mode switch 48 and the camera is turned on with the power button 28, the shooting control program stored in the ROM 104 is loaded, and the digital camera 10 can shoot.

  The subject light that has passed through the lens 14 forms an image on the light receiving surface of the image sensor 124 via the aperture / shutter unit 118. The image sensor 124 is a CCD, and a large number of photodiodes are two-dimensionally arranged on the light receiving surface thereof. The subject light imaged on the light receiving surface of the CCD 124 is converted into signal charges of an amount corresponding to the amount of incident light by each photodiode. The signal charge accumulated in each photodiode of the CCD 124 is sequentially read out as a voltage signal (image signal) corresponding to the signal charge based on the drive pulse applied from the timing generator (TG) 126.

  The CCD 124 has an electronic shutter function for controlling the charge accumulation time (shutter speed) of each photodiode, and the CPU 100 controls the charge accumulation time of the CCD 124 via the timing generator 126.

  The image signal output from the CCD 124 is applied to an analog signal processing circuit (CDS / AMP) 128. The analog signal processing circuit 128 samples and holds the R, G, B signals for each pixel read from the CCD 124 (correlated double sampling processing), and then amplifies the signals to a predetermined signal level. Output to.

  The A / D converter 130 converts the analog image signal output from the analog signal processing circuit 128 into a digital signal. The A / D converted digital image signal is temporarily stored in the memory 108 via the image input controller 132.

  The image signal processing circuit 134 performs predetermined signal processing such as offset processing, gain control processing including white balance correction and sensitivity correction, and gamma correction processing on the image signal stored in the memory 108 in accordance with a command from the CPU 100. , Converted into a luminance signal (Y signal) and a color difference signal (Cr, Cb signal).

  When an image captured by the CCD 124 is displayed on the monitor 30, the image data (luminance / color difference signal) processed by the image signal processing circuit 134 is stored in the VRAM 110. The image data stored in the VRAM 110 is added to the video encoder 136 via the character MIX circuit 152. The video encoder 136 converts the input image data into a display video signal and outputs the video signal to the monitor 30. As a result, the image captured by the CCD 124 is displayed on the monitor 30.

  The CCD 124 periodically captures an image signal, periodically rewrites the image data in the VRAM 110 with the image data generated from the image signal, and continuously outputs the image data to the monitor 30 via the video encoder 136. The captured image is displayed on the monitor 30 in real time. The photographer checks the angle of view and the focus by looking at the real-time image (through image) displayed on the monitor 30.

  Note that the character MIX circuit 152 synthesizes data such as characters, symbols, and graphics added from the ROM 104 and image data added from the VRAM 110 in accordance with a command from the CPU 100 and outputs the synthesized data to the video encoder 136. As a result, information such as characters, symbols, and figures is superimposed on the image and displayed on the monitor 30.

  When the release button 26 is pressed halfway with the camera mode set to the shooting mode, an S1 ON signal is input from the operation unit 112 to the CPU 100. The CPU 100 starts AE / AF processing in response to this S1 ON signal.

  First, an image signal captured from the CCD 124 via the image input controller 132 is input to the AE / AWB detection circuit 138 and the AF detection circuit 140.

  The AE / AWB detection circuit 138 includes a circuit that divides one screen into a plurality of areas (for example, 16 × 16) and accumulates R, G, and B signals for each divided area, and provides the accumulated value to the CPU 100. . The CPU 100 detects the brightness of the subject (subject brightness) based on the integrated value obtained from the AE / AWB detection circuit 138, and calculates an exposure value (shooting EV value) suitable for shooting. Then, the aperture value and the shutter speed are determined from the obtained photographing EV value and a predetermined program diagram, and the electronic shutter and the aperture drive unit 142 of the CCD 124 are controlled according to this to obtain an appropriate exposure amount.

  The AE / AWB detection circuit 138 calculates an average integrated value for each color of the R, G, and B signals for each divided area during automatic white balance adjustment, and provides the calculation result to the CPU 100. The CPU 100 obtains the ratio of R / G and B / G for each divided area from the obtained integrated value of R, integrated value of B, and integrated value of G, and obtains the calculated values of R / G and B / G. The light source type is determined based on the distribution in the color space of R / G and B / G. Then, according to the white balance adjustment value suitable for the discriminated light source type, for example, the value of each ratio is approximately 1 (that is, the RGB integration ratio is R: G: B≈1: 1: 1 on one screen). As described above, the gain value (white balance correction value) for the R, G, and B signals of the white balance adjustment circuit is controlled to correct the signal of each color channel.

  The AF detection circuit 140 includes a high frequency component extraction circuit and an integration circuit, and samples G component data from the input image signal to extract a high frequency component in a predetermined focus area. Then, the absolute value is taken, and a value (evaluation value) obtained by integrating the absolute value data in the set area is notified to the CPU 100. The CPU 100 calculates an evaluation value at a plurality of AF detection points while controlling the lens driving unit 144 to move the focus lens, and determines a lens position where the evaluation value is a maximum as a focus position. Then, the lens driving unit 144 is controlled so that the focus lens moves to the obtained in-focus position.

  As described above, when the release button 26 is half-pressed, the CPU 100 executes AE / AF processing. Thereafter, when the release button 26 is fully pressed, an S2 on signal is input to the CPU 100, and the CPU 100 executes photographing and recording processing in response to the S2 on signal.

  First, the aperture drive unit 142 and the electronic shutter of the CCD 124 are controlled so that the aperture value and shutter speed calculated during AE processing are obtained, and an image for one frame is captured. The captured image signal for one frame is taken from the CCD 124 into the memory 108 via the analog signal processing circuit 128, the A / D converter 130, and the image input controller 132. The image signal taken into the memory 108 is subjected to predetermined signal processing by the image signal processing circuit 134, converted into a luminance / color difference signal, and then stored in the memory 108.

  Thereafter, the image data (luminance / color difference signal) is added to the compression / decompression processing circuit 146 in accordance with a command from the CPU 100, compressed in accordance with a predetermined compression format, and stored in the memory 108 again. Here, it is assumed that the image data is compressed according to the JPEG format.

  The CPU 100 records the compressed image data stored in the memory 108 as an image file according to a predetermined image file format on the memory card 150 via the media controller 148. Here, it is assumed that the image file is recorded on the memory card 150 as an Exif format.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the Exif format image file can record the attached information in the tag format in the header portion of the image file. As shown in FIG. 5, the attached information tag includes information about the version, information about the characteristics of the image data, information about the structure, user information, related file information, information about the date and time, information about the shooting conditions, and information about the pointer to the IFD. Shooting data relating to a captured image such as is recorded in a tag format.

  Here, a manufacturer note, which is a tag related to user information, allows a manufacturer to enter individual information, and a user comment allows a user to write a keyword or comment. Has been.

  In the digital camera 10 according to the present embodiment, shooting genre information is written in the user comment area. The shooting genre is set by the user according to the shooting purpose before shooting. This shooting genre is set using the monitor 30 as follows.

  When the menu / OK button 42 is pressed while the camera mode is set to the shooting mode, a shooting menu screen is displayed on the monitor 30 as shown in FIG. The user selects the “shooting genre setting” item from the shooting menu items displayed on the menu screen. Selection is performed by moving the cursor with the cross button 46, and the selected item is determined by pressing the menu / OK button 42.

  When the “shooting genre setting” item is selected from the shooting menu items, selectable shooting genres are displayed in a list on the monitor 30 as shown in FIG. The user selects a shooting genre corresponding to the shooting purpose from the shooting genres displayed in the list. The selection is performed by moving the cursor with the cross button 46 as described above, and the selected item is determined by pressing the menu / OK button 42. FIG. 6B shows a state where “travel” is selected as the shooting genre. Here, eight genres of “person”, “landscape”, “night view”, “travel”, “family”, “friend”, “pet”, “other” are prepared as shooting genres. It is not limited to this.

  When a shooting genre is selected and the menu / OK button 42 is pressed, the setting of the shooting genre is completed, and information on the set shooting genre is stored in the EEPROM 106. Thereafter, the display on the monitor 30 returns to the state before the setting, and when the through image is displayed, as shown in FIG. 6C, information on the shooting genre set together with the through image is displayed. FIG. 6C shows a state when “travel” is selected as the shooting genre.

  When shooting is performed with the shooting genre set as described above, information on the set shooting genre is written in the user comment area. When shooting without setting, nothing is written in the user comment area.

  Information on the date and time of generation of the original image data, that is, information on the shooting date and time is written in the information tag related to the date and time. The CPU 100 acquires information on the date and time at the time of shooting from the timer 154 that measures the current date and time, and writes it in the area for the date and time of generating the original image.

  As shown in a separate table in FIG. 5, tags relating to shooting conditions include exposure time and F number at the time of shooting, exposure program, spectral sensitivity, ISO speed rate, photoelectric conversion function, shutter speed, aperture value, brightness value, exposure correction value. , Lens minimum F value, subject distance, metering method, light source, flash, lens focal length, flash intensity, spatial frequency response, focal plane width resolution, focal plane height resolution, focal plane resolution unit, subject position, An exposure index, a sensor method, a file source, a scene type, a CFA pattern, and the like can be recorded, and the CPU 100 collects information regarding these shooting conditions and writes them in each corresponding area.

  In this way, the captured image data is compressed and converted into an Eixf format image file with the attached information and recorded on the memory card 150. At this time, the image file is recorded on the memory card 150 with a file name according to a predetermined rule. That is, the image file is given a file name that is a combination of the “shooting date” of the stored image data and the four-digit “file number” given as a serial number in the order of shooting. Specifically, a file name composed of a character string obtained by combining “shooting date” and “file number” with “_” is given.

  For example, if the stored date of the image data is January 1, 2004, and the image data is the first image data, 2004 is the date of image acquisition. A file name of a character string “20040401 — 0001” obtained by combining a character string “20040401” representing January 1 and a character string “0001” representing a file number with “_” is given.

  Similarly, if the stored image data has the shooting date of December 25, 2004 and is the 100th imaged image data, the image file has the shooting date 2004. A file name of a character string “20041225 — 0100” obtained by combining a character string “20041225” representing December 25 and a character string “0100” representing a file number with “_” is given.

  The CPU 100 counts the file number, and records the information of the last counted file number in the EEPROM 106. At the time of generating the file name, the file number obtained by adding 1 to the final file number stored in the EEPROM 106 is used as the file number of the captured image data, and based on this file number and the shooting date / time information obtained from the timer 154 To generate a file name.

  Note that the file number recorded in the EEPROM 106 is cleared in response to an instruction from the user, and returns to the file number “0000”.

  As described above, in the digital camera 10 according to the present embodiment, the image file acquired by shooting is given as the “shooting date” of the image data stored in the image file and the serial number in the shooting order. A file name consisting of a character string combined with a four-digit “file number” is given and recorded in the memory card 150.

  The image file recorded on the memory card 150 can be reproduced and displayed on the monitor 30 by setting the camera mode to “reproduction mode”.

  The transition to the playback mode is performed by sliding the mode switch 48 from the “shooting position” to the “playback position”. As a result, the reproduction control program stored in the ROM 104 is loaded, and the image file stored in the memory card 150 is reproduced and displayed on the monitor 30. When the playback mode is set, the image file recorded last on the memory card 150 is played back and displayed on the monitor 30 first.

  In the image file reproduction processing, first, image data of an image file to be reproduced is read from the memory card 150 and added to the compression / decompression processing circuit 146. The compression / decompression processing circuit 146 decompresses the input compressed image data and converts it into uncompressed image data (luminance / color difference signal). The decompressed image data is added to the character MIX circuit 152 via the VRAM 110, where it is combined with predetermined character information and then output to the monitor 30 via the video encoder 136. As a result, the image file recorded on the memory card 150 is reproduced and displayed on the monitor 30 as shown in FIG.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 7, information on the file name of the image being reproduced is displayed on the monitor 30 so as to be superimposed on the reproduced image. If the image file includes shooting genre information, shooting genre information is displayed. The CPU 100 reads out this information from the image file, acquires the corresponding character information from the ROM 104, adds it to the character MIX circuit 152, and synthesizes it into a reproduced image.

  The frame advance of the image is performed by the cross button 46. When the right key of the cross button 46 is pressed, the image is forward frame forward, and when the left key is pressed, the image is reverse frame forward. That is, when the right key of the cross button 46 is pressed, the operation signal is output to the CPU 100, and the CPU 100 reads out the image data of the next file number of the image being reproduced from the memory card 150 and causes the monitor 30 to reproduce and display it. . Similarly, when the left key of the cross button 46 is pressed, the operation signal is output to the CPU 100, and the CPU 100 reads out the image data of the file number before the image being reproduced from the memory card 150 and reproduces and displays it on the monitor 30. .

  In this way, forward and backward frame advancement of the image is performed by operating the right key and the left key of the cross button 46, and the image recorded on the memory card 150 can be reproduced.

  Note that when forward frame advance is performed when the image being reproduced is the image of the last file number, the image of the first file number is reproduced and displayed on the monitor 30. Further, when reverse frame advance is performed when the image being reproduced is the image of the first file number, the image of the final file number is reproduced and displayed on the monitor 30.

  As described above, according to the digital camera 10 of the present embodiment, a file name that combines “shooting date” and “file number” is assigned to an image file obtained by shooting. Therefore, the contents of the image recorded in the file can be predicted from the file name, and image management and retrieval are facilitated.

  In addition, even when the images are imported to a personal computer or the like, the image files can be arranged in the order of the shooting dates, so that the target file can be easily searched.

  Further, according to the digital camera 10 of the present embodiment, by setting the shooting genre and shooting, information on the set shooting genre can be included in the image file. This shooting genre information can be used for searching, for example. By performing a search by reading this shooting genre information, a target image file can be searched efficiently.

  Moreover, since the information on the shooting genre included in the image file is displayed together with the reproduced image at the time of image reproduction, the shooting genre of the image being reproduced can be recognized at a glance.

  In the digital camera 10 of the present embodiment, the shooting genre is set in advance for shooting, but the shooting genre may be set immediately after image shooting, or the shooting genre during image playback. May be set.

  In addition to selecting from shooting genres prepared in advance, the user may be able to input and set the shooting genre such as the name of the place and the subject name (so-called custom setting).

  In the digital camera 10 of the present embodiment, the file number is four digits, but the number of digits of the file number is not limited to this.

  Furthermore, the shooting date notation method is not limited to that in the above embodiment. For example, only the last two digits of the year are used, and January 1, 2004 is written as “040101”. Alternatively, using the year, January 1, 2004 (January 1, 2004) may be written as “H160101”.

  If a shooting genre is set, a character string combining a shooting genre and a file number may be used as the file name of the image file. For example, if the shooting genre of the shot image data is set to “travel” and the image data is the 100th shot, the image file includes a character string “travel” representing the shooting genre, A file name of a character string “travel_0100” obtained by combining a character string “0100” representing a file number with “_” is given.

  Further, a file name composed of a combination of the shooting date and a file number may be rewritten to a file name composed of a combination of a shooting genre and a file number.

  The procedure for rewriting the file name will be described below. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the file name change process.

  The file name rewriting process is performed in the reproduction mode. First, as shown in FIG. 9A, an image to be rewritten is displayed on the monitor 30 (step S10). At this time, on the monitor 30, the file name is displayed in the upper right corner of the screen, and the shooting genre is displayed in the lower right corner.

  Next, when the lower button of the cross button 46 is pressed while the image to be rewritten is displayed on the monitor 30, the camera mode shifts to the file name rewriting mode. The CPU 100 determines whether or not the down button has been pressed (step S11). If the CPU 100 determines that the button has been pressed, the CPU 100 shifts the camera mode from the playback mode to the file name rewriting mode. Then, as shown in FIG. 9B, the shooting genre displayed on the monitor 30 is blinked (step S12). Here, the display of “travel” flashes on the assumption that “travel” is set as the shooting genre.

  When the lower button of the cross button 46 is pressed while the shooting genre is blinking, the file name rewriting process is executed. The CPU 100 determines whether or not the down button has been pressed (step S13). If it is determined that the button has been pressed, the CPU 100 executes a file name rewriting process (step S14). That is, the file name composed of the combination of the photographing date and the file number is rewritten to the file name composed of the combination of the photographing genre and the file number. In the example shown in FIG. 9B, since the original file name is “20040401 — 0001” and the shooting genre is “travel”, the file name is “travel_0001”.

  When the file name rewriting process is performed, as shown in FIG. 9C, the changed file name is displayed on the monitor 30, and the shooting date is displayed at the place where the shooting genre is displayed. Is displayed. In the example shown in FIG. 9C, “Travel_0001”, which is the file name after the change, is displayed in the upper right corner of the screen, and “2004/01/01”, which is the shooting date, is displayed in the lower right corner of the screen. .

  As described above, when the file name is rewritten, the lower button of the cross button 46 is pressed twice while the image to be rewritten is displayed on the monitor 30. Thereby, the file name is rewritten. Then, by rewriting the file name consisting of the combination of the shooting genre and the file number in this way, it becomes possible to predict the contents of the image recorded in the file from the file name, and image management and retrieval are facilitated. .

  In the above example, the case where the file name consisting of the combination of the shooting date and the file number is rewritten to the file name consisting of the combination of the shooting genre and the file number has been explained. When the same operation is further performed on the image file rewritten with the file name, the file name may be rewritten with a combination of the shooting date and the file number.

  In the above example, the instruction to rewrite the file name is issued by pressing the lower button of the cross button 46 twice while the image to be rewritten is displayed on the monitor 30. A rewriting instruction may be issued. For example, when the release button 26 is pressed twice, a file name rewrite instruction may be issued, or a rewrite instruction dedicated button may be provided, and when the button is pressed, a file name rewrite instruction may be issued. Good. In addition, a file name rewrite instruction item may be created in the item of the reproduction menu, and the file name rewrite instruction may be issued by selecting the item.

  The file name to be rewritten is not limited to a file name that is a combination of a shooting genre and a file number, but a file name that is a combination of a shooting genre, a shooting date and a file number, or a shooting date and a shooting genre. And a file name consisting of a combination of the file number and the file number. For example, an image file whose file name is “20040401 — 0001” and whose shooting genre is “travel” may be rewritten to a file name “Travel — 20040401 — 0001” or a file name “20040401 — Travel — 0001”.

  If the file name to be rewritten already exists, it is preferable to display a message or the like on the monitor 30 and issue a warning. In this case, the file name cannot be rewritten or, as in the above example, the file name (travel_20040401_0001) consisting of a combination of the shooting genre, shooting date, and file number, or “travel 01_0001” Thus, it is preferable to rewrite the file name to be a combination of the shooting genre, two-digit serial number, and file number.

  In the present embodiment, Exif is used as the recording format of the image file, but the recording format of the image file is not limited to this.

  In this embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a digital camera has been described as an example. However, the application of the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is also applied to a mobile phone or a PDA having a photographing function. The same can be applied. Further, the present invention can be similarly applied not only to cameras that record still images but also to cameras that record moving images.

Front perspective view of digital camera Rear perspective view of digital camera Block diagram showing the internal circuit configuration of the digital camera The figure which shows the structure of the image file of Exif format The figure which shows the list of the attached information written in the image file of Exif format The figure which shows the example of a display of the monitor at the time of the setting process of imaging | photography genre The figure which shows the example of a display of the monitor at the time of image reproduction Flow chart showing the procedure for file name rewrite processing The figure which shows the example of the display of the monitor at the time of the rewriting processing of the file name

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Digital camera, 12 ... Camera body, 14 ... Lens, 26 ... Release button, 28 ... Power button, 30 ... Monitor, 34 ... Strobe button, 36 ... Macro button, 38 ... Zoom lever, 40 ... Display button, 42 ... Menu / OK button, 44 ... BACK button, 46 ... cross button, 48 ... mode switch, 100 ... central processing unit (CPU), 102 ... bus, 104 ... ROM, 106 ... EEPROM, 108 ... memory (SDRAM), 110 ... VRAM, 112, operation unit, 118, aperture / shutter unit, 124, image sensor (CCD), 126, timing generator (TG), 128, analog signal processing circuit, 130, A / D converter, 132, image input controller 134: Image signal processing circuit, 136: Video encoder, 13 ... AE / AWB detection circuit, 140 ... AF detecting circuit, 142 ... diaphragm driver, 144 ... lens driving section, 146 ... decompression processing circuit, 148 ... media controller, 150 ... memory card, 152 ... character MIX circuit

Claims (4)

In a photographing apparatus that records image data obtained by photographing on a recording medium as an image file of a predetermined format,
A measuring means for measuring the shooting date of the image data;
A file name setting unit that assigns a continuous file number of a predetermined number of digits in the shooting order, and sets a character string that combines the file numbers on the shooting date measured by the measuring unit as a file name of the image file;
An imaging apparatus comprising: Shooting genre setting means for setting the shooting genre;
Shooting genre recording means for recording information on shooting genre set for image data shot under the shooting genre set by the shooting genre setting means in the header portion of the image file;
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: Display means for displaying an image;
Display processing means for reproducing and displaying the image file recorded on the recording medium on the display means, and displaying the photographing genre recorded in the header portion of the image file together with the image on the display means;
The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: An instruction means for instructing to change the file name;
A file name changing unit that changes the file name of the image file to the shooting genre recorded in the header part of the image file in accordance with an instruction from the instruction unit;
The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

Images