JP2005303807A - Photography-taking apparatus and method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To photograph a plurality of time series images as intended by a user without any mistakes. <P>SOLUTION: There are provided: a photography system including a lens optical system 12 and a CCD 13; a memory card 28 for recording an image photographed by the photography system; a key input section 29 for setting the amount of change in an image continuously photographed timewise by the photography system; and a control section 22 that compares the images continuously photographed timewise by the photography system, calculates the amount of change, and controls recording to the memory card 28 of the image photographed by the photography system according to the comparison result between the calculated amount of change and the set one. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a photographing apparatus, a photographing method, and a program suitable for a digital still camera having an interval photographing function.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, it has been considered that a digital still camera has an interval shooting function for automatically and continuously performing shooting at a set time interval by setting an interval time in advance. (For example, Patent Document 1)
In this interval shooting function, the camera is fixed on a tripod, etc., and the user arbitrarily sets an interval time of several [seconds] to about 1 hour, so that the flower that becomes the subject blooms and the insect emerges, It is possible to automatically photograph the trajectory of stars.
JP 2002-369070 A

  As described above, the interval time is arbitrarily set by the user in advance assuming the degree of temporal change of the subject, and the actual subject does not necessarily indicate the temporal change as set.

  For this reason, for example, as a result of trying to photograph the state of flowering, it is possible that a large number of only the images of the buds are photographed and the state during the flowering is not photographed at all.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to shoot a plurality of temporally continuous images represented by the interval shooting function without failure according to the user's intention. It is an object of the present invention to provide a photographing apparatus, a photographing method, and a program that can be used.

  The invention described in claim 1 is a photographing means, a recording means for recording an image photographed by the photographing means, and a change amount setting means for setting a variation amount of an image photographed continuously in time by the photographing means. The change amount calculation means for comparing the images continuously taken in time by the shooting means and calculating the change amount thereof, and the change amount obtained by the change amount calculation means and the change amount setting means are set. And a recording control means for controlling the recording of the image photographed by the photographing means on the recording means based on the comparison result with the change amount.

  The invention described in claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention described in claim 1, further comprising time interval setting means for setting a minimum time interval in which the image capturing means captures images continuously in time. .

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a time interval setting means for setting a time interval for taking images continuously in time, a photographing means for photographing images according to the time interval set by the time interval setting means, A recording unit that records an image captured by the imaging unit, a temporally continuous image recorded in the recording unit, a change amount calculating unit that calculates the amount of change, and a free space of the recording unit are calculated. When the remaining amount detecting means detects that the recording means has reached a predetermined free capacity, the change amount calculating means detects the largest amount of change from the series of images recorded on the recording means. A deletion control means for selecting and deleting a small number is provided.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, the image forming apparatus further includes an end setting unit configured to set an end of time-continuous image capturing by the image capturing unit.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to claim 4, wherein the end setting means sets a total shooting time from when the shooting means starts shooting to when it ends.

  The invention described in claim 6 is the invention described in claim 4, characterized in that the end setting means sets the total number of captured images from the start of the photographing to the end of photographing.

  The invention according to claim 7 is a photographing method in a photographing apparatus for photographing and recording an image, and a change amount setting step for setting a change amount of an image photographed continuously in time, and a time continuous The change amount calculation step for comparing the images to be photographed and calculating the change amount, and the comparison result between the change amount obtained in the change amount calculation step and the change amount set in the change amount setting step. And a recording control step for controlling recording of the image.

  The invention according to claim 8 is a photographing method in a photographing apparatus for photographing an image and recording it on a medium, a time interval setting step for setting a time interval for photographing images continuously in time, and this time A change amount calculation step of comparing temporally continuous images shot at a time interval set in the interval setting step and recorded on the medium, and calculating a change amount thereof, and a remaining amount of calculation of the free space of the medium. When the amount detection step and the remaining amount detection step detect that the medium has a predetermined free space, the change amount calculation step selects the image with the smallest amount of change from the series of images recorded on the medium. And a deletion control step for deleting.

  The invention according to claim 9 is a program executed by a computer incorporated in a photographing apparatus for photographing an image and recording it on a medium, and a change amount setting for setting a change amount of an image photographed continuously in time A change amount calculation step for comparing a step with an image photographed continuously in time, and calculating a change amount thereof, a change amount obtained in the change amount calculation step, and a change amount set in the change amount setting step And a recording control step for controlling recording of an image photographed based on the comparison result with the computer.

  A tenth aspect of the present invention is a program executed by a computer incorporated in a photographing apparatus for photographing an image and recording it on a medium, and sets a time interval for setting a time interval for photographing images continuously in time. A change amount calculating step for comparing the time-continuous images captured at the time interval set in the time interval setting step and recorded on the medium, and calculating a change amount thereof; The remaining amount detecting step for calculating the capacity, and when the remaining amount detecting step detects that the medium has reached a predetermined free space, the change amount is the largest in the series of images recorded on the medium in the change amount calculating step. It is characterized by having a computer execute a deletion control step that selects and deletes one with a small amount.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, by setting the degree of change of the subject instead of the time, a plurality of continuous images are taken at intervals according to the degree, so that the user's intention is met. It becomes possible to shoot without failure.

  According to the invention described in claim 2, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1, the minimum time interval at which images are taken continuously in time is set in advance. It is possible to prevent the power source from being wasted and to efficiently use a power source whose capacity is limited.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, after performing photographing with the interval photographing function for photographing a plurality of continuous images at predetermined time intervals, the degree of change is adjusted in accordance with the free space of the medium on which the images are recorded. Since the small image is automatically deleted, the change of the subject can be recorded by making effective use of the capacity of the medium.

  According to the fourth aspect of the invention, in addition to the effect of the third aspect of the invention, the photographing can be terminated by the user's arbitrary setting. It can be avoided.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the fourth aspect of the present invention, the photographing can be finished according to the set time, the apparatus can be recovered, and the photographing result can be confirmed.

  According to the invention described in claim 6, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 4, the interval shooting is executed in consideration of the remaining capacity of the medium for recording the image, the minimum number of required images, and the like. be able to.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, by setting the degree of change of the subject rather than the time, a plurality of continuous images are taken at intervals according to the degree, so that it is in accordance with the user's intention. It becomes possible to shoot without failure.

  According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, after performing photographing with the interval photographing function for photographing a plurality of continuous images at predetermined time intervals, the degree of change is adjusted in accordance with the free space of the medium on which the images are recorded. Since the small image is automatically deleted, the change of the subject can be recorded by making effective use of the capacity of the medium.

  According to the ninth aspect of the invention, by setting the degree of change of the subject instead of the time, a plurality of continuous images are taken at intervals according to the degree, so that it is in accordance with the user's intention. It becomes possible to shoot without failure.

  According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, after performing photographing with the interval photographing function for photographing a plurality of continuous images at predetermined time intervals, the degree of change is adjusted in accordance with the free space of the medium on which the images are recorded. Since the small image is automatically deleted, the change of the subject can be recorded by making effective use of the capacity of the medium.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment when the present invention is applied to a digital camera having a change amount detection photographing function will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows the electronic circuit configuration. In the drawing, in the photographing mode which is the basic mode, the focusing position and the aperture position are moved by driving the motor (M) 11 and arranged behind the photographing optical axis of the lens optical system 12 constituting the photographing lens. A CCD 13, which is an image pickup device, is scanned and driven by a timing generator (TG) 14 and a vertical driver 15, and outputs a photoelectric conversion output corresponding to a light image formed at fixed intervals for one screen.

  The photoelectric conversion output is appropriately gain-adjusted for each primary color component of RGB in the state of an analog value signal, sampled and held by a sample hold circuit (S / H) 16, and digital data by an A / D converter 17. The color process circuit 18 performs color process processing including pixel interpolation processing and gamma correction processing in the color process circuit 18 to generate a digital luminance signal Y and color difference signals Cb, Cr, and a DMA (Direct Memory Access) controller 19. Is output.

  The DMA controller 19 once uses the luminance signal Y and the color difference signals Cb and Cr output from the color process circuit 18 by using the composite synchronization signal, the memory write enable signal, and the clock signal from the color process circuit 18 once. And the DMA transfer to the DRAM 21 used as a buffer memory through the DRAM interface (I / F) 20.

  The control unit 22 is composed of a CPU, a ROM that fixedly stores an operation program executed by the CPU including a process at the time of a change detection function that will be described later, a RAM that is used as a work memory, and the like. Controls the entire digital camera.

  Thus, after the DMA transfer of the luminance and color difference signals to the DRAM 21 is completed, the control unit 22 reads the luminance and color difference signals from the DRAM 21 via the DRAM interface 20 and writes them into the VRAM 24 via the VRAM controller 23.

  The digital video encoder 25 periodically reads the luminance and color difference signals from the VRAM 24 via the VRAM controller 23, generates a video signal based on these data, and outputs the video signal to the display unit 26.

  The display unit 26 is provided on the back side of the digital camera, and functions as a monitor display unit (electronic finder) in the shooting mode. By performing display based on the video signal from the digital video encoder 25, the VRAM at that time is displayed. An image based on the image information captured from the controller 23 is displayed in real time.

  In this way, when the shutter key is operated at a timing at which still image shooting is desired in a so-called through-image display state in which the current image is displayed on the display unit 26 in real time as a monitor image, a trigger signal is generated. .

  In response to this trigger signal, the controller 22 immediately stops the path from the CCD 13 to the DRAM 21 immediately after the completion of the DMA transfer of the luminance and color difference signals for one screen captured from the CCD 13 to the DRAM 21 at that time, Transition to record save state.

  In this record storage state, the control unit 22 outputs the luminance and color difference signals for one frame written in the DRAM 21 through the DRAM interface 20 for each of Y, Cb, and Cr components of 8 pixels × 8 pixels. And is written in a JPEG (Joint Photographic Coding Experts Group) circuit 27. The JPEG circuit 27 uses an ADCT (Adaptive Discrete Cosine Transform), an entropy coding system. Data compression is performed by processing such as conversion.

  The obtained code data is read out from the JPEG circuit 27 as a data file of one image, and written in a memory card 28 enclosing a flash memory that is detachably mounted as a recording medium of the digital camera.

  Then, along with the compression processing of the luminance and color difference signals for one frame and the completion of writing of all the compressed data to the memory card 28, the control unit 22 activates the path from the CCD 13 to the DRAM 21 again.

  In addition, a key input unit 29, an audio processing unit 30, and a strobe driving unit 31 are connected to the control unit 22.

  The key input unit 29 includes a power key, a shutter key, a mode switch, a menu key, a cross key, a set key, and the like, and signals accompanying these key operations are sent directly to the control unit 22.

  The sound processing unit 30 includes a sound source circuit such as a PCM sound source, and digitizes the sound signal input from the microphone unit (MIC) 32 at the time of recording the sound, and a predetermined data file format such as MP3 (MPEG-1 audio layer 3). ) Data compression is performed in accordance with the standard to create an audio data file and send it to the memory card 28. On the other hand, at the time of reproducing the audio, the audio data file sent from the memory card 28 is uncompressed and converted into an analog signal. The speaker unit (SP) 33 provided on the side is driven to emit loud sounds.

  The strobe driving unit 31 charges a strobe large-capacity capacitor (not shown) at the time of still image shooting, and then flash-drives the strobe light emitting unit 34 based on the control from the control unit 22.

  However, when shooting a moving image instead of a still image, the recording of the still image data file in which the above-described still image data is compressed by the JPEG circuit 27 to the memory card 28 is timed while the shutter key is being operated. When a predetermined time limit, for example, 30 seconds elapses, the series of still image data files are collectively processed into a motion JPEG data file (AVI file). ).

  In the playback mode, which is the basic mode, the control unit 22 selectively reads out the image data recorded on the memory card 28 and is compressed by a procedure that is completely opposite to the procedure in which data is compressed by the JPEG circuit 27 in the shooting mode. The decompressed image data is decompressed, and the decompressed image data is held in the DRAM 21 via the DRAM interface 20, and then the content held in the DRAM 21 is stored in the VRAM 24 via the VRAM controller 23. Data is read to generate a video signal, which is reproduced and output by the display unit 26.

  If the selected image data is not a still image but a moving image, playback of the individual still image data constituting the selected moving image file is executed continuously in time, and playback of all the still image data is finished. At that time, the image is reproduced and displayed using only the still image data located at the head until the next reproduction instruction is given.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described.
The processing shown below is basically executed based on an operation program fixed and stored in advance by the control unit 22. Here, the amount of change is determined by operating the menu key, cross key and set key of the key input unit 29 in advance. Assume that the shooting function is set.

  In addition, the DRAM 21 serving as the buffer memory always stores image data obtained by photographing with the CCD 13 in order to display a through image, and image data to be compared for detecting a change amount described later. And a comparison area for holding

  FIG. 2 shows the contents of processing in the change amount detection photographing function. Initially, when the user arbitrarily inputs the number of shots and the numerical value [%] of the amount of change, this is accepted (step A01).

  Here, the amount of change is compared to the image recorded immediately before that and recorded on the memory card 28 with the image to be newly recorded on a pixel-by-pixel basis. For example, when shooting a subject such as a flowering state or an insect emergence state, the user arbitrarily sets the subject according to the degree of change of the subject.

  When the setting of the number of shots and the amount of change is completed, next, it is determined whether or not the shutter key of the key input unit 29 has been operated, thereby waiting for an instruction to start shooting (see FIG. Step A02).

  Here, the user operates the shutter key after fixing the camera on a tripod or the like and determining the composition for the subject. When the camera determines the operation of the shutter key in step A02 above, the first one is selected. The photographing process is executed so as to photograph the image to become (step A03).

  Uncompressed image data obtained by shooting (hereinafter referred to as “RAW data”) is held in the current area of the DRAM 21 and then read out to the JPEG circuit 27 for data compression based on the JPEG standard. After being received, it is recorded on the memory card 28, while being moved from the current area in the DRAM 21 to the comparison area and overwritten.

  Thereafter, the image data from the CCD 13 is successively taken in, for example, at a frame rate of 15 [frames / second] and held in the current area of the DRAM 21 and held in the comparison area of the DRAM 21 immediately before the memory card. The RAW data of the image recorded in 28 is compared with the pixel unit, and the amount of change is calculated (step A04).

  Next, after confirming that the second shutter key operation has not been performed (step A05), it is determined whether or not the amount of change calculated in step A04 is greater than or equal to a set value (step A06). By repeatedly executing the process, it waits for these states.

  Here, the presence / absence of the second operation of the shutter key in step A05 is for determining this when the user operates to forcibly end the series of change amount detection photographing. When the operation is performed, the processing of FIG. 2 is immediately terminated, and a series of still image data files recorded on the memory card 28 at that time are collectively set as a motion JPEG data file (AVI file). .

  However, if it is determined that a change amount equal to or greater than the change amount set in step A06 has been detected, a shooting process is executed to newly take a picture at that time (step A07).

  RAW data obtained by shooting is held in the above-described current area of the DRAM 21, read out by the JPEG circuit 27, subjected to data compression based on the JPEG standard, and additionally recorded on the memory card 28, while the DRAM 21 It is moved from the current area to the comparison area and overwritten.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the number of image data recorded in the memory card 28 has reached the number of shots set in step A01 (step A08). If the number of shots has not been set, the processing from step A04 is performed again. Return to and prepare for the next shooting.

  By repeatedly executing the processes in steps A04 to A08 in this manner, the operation of capturing and recording the image on the memory card 28 every time an image exceeding the set change amount is obtained is repeated for the set number of images.

  Then, when the number of image data recorded on the memory card 28 reaches the set number of shots, this is determined in step A08, the processing of FIG. 2 is terminated, and the image data recorded on the memory card 28 is recorded at that time. A series of still image data files are collectively set as a motion JPEG data file (AVI file).

  In this way, by setting the degree of change of the subject instead of time as the amount of change, a plurality of continuous images are photographed at intervals according to the degree of change, and thus fail according to the user's intention. It is possible to take images that are continuous in time without any problems.

  In the above-described embodiment, a new image having a change amount equal to or larger than the set value compared to the image recorded on the memory card 28, which is the medium before, is captured and recorded on the memory card 28. Although it is assumed that the operation immediately prepares for the next shooting, depending on the subject, it is possible that there will not be such a drastic change, so there is a minimum of time between the shooting of the image and the preparation for the next shooting. The time interval may be set together. The set time interval may be used to temporarily stop the operation of the photographing system circuit including at least the CCD 13 in the camera, and the power supply may be stopped.

  In this way, by stopping the operation of some of the circuits for a set time each time one image is taken, it is possible to prevent the battery that is the power source of the camera from being consumed unnecessarily, and the capacity is limited. Can be used more efficiently.

(Second Embodiment)
A second embodiment when the present invention is applied to a digital camera having an interval photographing function will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  However, the electronic circuit configuration is basically the same as that shown in FIG. 1, and the same reference numerals are used for the same parts, and illustration and description thereof are omitted.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described.
The processing shown below is basically executed based on an operation program fixedly stored in advance by the control unit 22, and here, the interval shooting is performed by operating the menu key, the cross key and the set key of the key input unit 29 in advance. Assume that the function is set.

  In addition, the DRAM 21 serving as the buffer memory is used as a comparison target for a current area that always holds image data obtained by photographing with the CCD 13 in order to display a through image, and for new photographing processing and deletion processing described later. And a comparison area for holding image data to be stored.

  In addition, the memory card 28, which is a recording medium for image data, stores the "file name" and "shooting time" of each image data file obtained by a series of recorded interval shootings and the image file recorded immediately before that. It is assumed that the compared “change amount (%)” is recorded as a management table.

  FIG. 3 shows the processing contents during the interval shooting function. Initially, when the user arbitrarily inputs the interval time and the total shooting time, this is accepted (step B01). The interval time is set in units of [seconds] and [minutes], and a case where, for example, 10 [minutes] is selected will be described below.

  When the setting of the interval time and the total shooting time is completed, next, it is determined whether or not the shutter key of the key input unit 29 has been operated, thereby waiting for an instruction to start shooting (step B02). .

  Here, the user operates the shutter key after fixing the camera on a tripod or the like and determining the composition of the subject. When the camera side determines the operation of the shutter key in step B02, the first one The photographing process is executed to photograph the image to be (step B03).

  Uncompressed image data obtained by shooting (hereinafter referred to as “RAW data”) is held in the current area of the DRAM 21 and then read out to the JPEG circuit 27 for data compression based on the JPEG standard. After being received, it is recorded on the memory card 28, while being moved from the current area in the DRAM 21 to the comparison area and overwritten, and at the same time, each data relating to the recorded image data is updated and recorded in the management table in the memory card 28. .

  FIG. 6A illustrates the contents of the management table in a state where the first piece of image data is recorded on the memory card 28. Only the JPEG data file having the file name “Cimg0001.jpg” is stored in the memory. It is recorded on the card 28.

  Here, the “change amount” is blank because it is the first piece of image data and there is no image data to be compared.

  Then, after confirming that the second shutter key operation has not been performed (step B04), it is determined whether or not the set interval time has elapsed since the previous shooting was performed (step B05). By repeatedly executing the process, it waits for these states.

  Here, the presence / absence of the second operation of the shutter key in step B04 is for determining when the user operates to forcibly end a series of interval shooting, and the shutter key is operated. 3 is immediately terminated, a series of still image data files recorded on the memory card 28 at that time are collectively set as motion JPEG data files (AVI files).

  However, if it is determined that the interval time set in step B05 is reached, then the remaining capacity of the memory card 28 is checked to determine whether there is a capacity sufficient to record new image data (step B06). .

Here, if it is determined that there is sufficient free space, then a photographing process is executed to photograph a new image when the set interval time has elapsed (step B08).
FIG. 4 is a subroutine showing the detailed processing contents of this new shooting process. A new shooting is executed, the obtained RAW data is held in the current area of the DRAM 21, read out to the JPEG circuit 27, and based on the JPEG standard. After the data compression, the data is additionally recorded on the memory card 28 (step C01).

  Next, the immediately preceding image data (JPEG data) already recorded in the memory card 28 is read out, decompressed by the JPEG circuit 27 and converted into RAW data, and held in the comparison area of the DRAM 21 (step C02).

  Then, the RAW data obtained by the current photographing held in the current area of the DRAM 21 and the RAW data obtained by the immediately preceding photographing held in the comparison area are compared on a pixel basis, and the amount of change is obtained and the numerical value is stored in the memory. The management table of the card 28 is updated and recorded as corresponding to the image data obtained by the current photographing (step C03).

  FIG. 6B illustrates the contents of the management table in a state where the second image data is shot by the above-described new shooting process and recorded in the memory card 28, and is newly called “Cimg0002.jpg”. This indicates that the JPEG data file with the file name is additionally recorded in the memory card 28 and the amount of change from the JPEG data file with the file name “Cimg0001.jpg” recorded immediately before is “1 (%)”. .

  When the new shooting process of FIG. 4 is completed in this manner, the process returns to the main routine of FIG. 3, and subsequently it is determined whether or not the total shooting time preset in this new shooting process has passed (step B09). If it is determined that it is not, the process returns to step B04.

  By repeatedly executing the processes of steps B04 to B06 and B08 in this way, the image data is sequentially recorded on the memory card 28 according to the set interval time, and the contents of the management table in the memory card 28 are also updated and recorded. .

  6C to 6E show a part of the state in which the management table is updated and recorded in the process in which a total of nine pieces of image data are sequentially recorded on the memory card 28 every 10 minutes of the interval time. This is just an example.

  In this way, it is determined in step B05 that nine image data continuous in time are recorded in the memory card 28 and the next interval time is reached, and in the subsequent step B06, the memory card 28 has insufficient free space. If it is determined that there is not enough capacity to record the 10th image data on the memory card 28 as it is, it has been recorded on the memory card 28 before proceeding to the new shooting process of step B08. A deletion process is executed to delete image data with a small amount of change and those with an extremely large amount of change (step B07).

  It should be noted that deleting objects with small changes is not suitable for the purpose of shooting changes, and deleting objects with extremely large changes is due to some abnormal shooting such as when the lens is obscured. This is because a condition may be considered, which is also different from the original target image.

  FIG. 5 is a subroutine showing the detailed processing contents of this deletion processing. At first, a data file with the smallest change amount is searched from the management table (step D01).

  In the management table of FIG. 6E, the image data with the smallest change amount is “Cimg0002.jpg” and “Cimg0009.jpg”, and the change amounts thereof are both “1 (%)”. However, when there are a plurality of pieces of image data having the smallest change amount as described above, “Cimg0002.jpg” is selected if the shooting time of the older one is preferentially selected.

When the image data having the smallest change amount is searched in this way, the image data is then deleted (erased) from the memory card 28, and the corresponding contents from the management table are also deleted (step D02).
FIG. 7A illustrates the contents of the management table in which the data of the file name “Cimg0002.jpg” has been deleted in this way.

  After executing the deletion, the image data (JPEG data) of “Cimg0001.jpg” immediately before the deleted image data already recorded in the memory card 28 is read out and decompressed by the JPEG circuit 27 to obtain RAW data. Later, it is held in the comparison area of the DRAM 21 (step D03).

  Next, the image data (JPEG data) of “Cimg0003.jpg” immediately after the deleted image data already recorded in the memory card 28 is read out, and this is also decompressed by the JPEG circuit 27 into RAW data, and then the current of the DRAM 21 is read. The area is held (step D04).

  Then, the RAW data immediately after the deletion held in the current area of the DRAM 21 and the RAW data immediately before the deletion held in the comparison area are compared in units of pixels, the amount of change is obtained, and the numerical value is stored in the management table of the memory card 28. Are updated and recorded as corresponding to the image data immediately after the deletion (step D05).

  Although FIG. 5 shows an example in which the amount of change is small, when deleting a file having an extremely large amount of change, a file having an extremely large amount of change is extracted in step D01. A file having a change amount exceeding a predetermined fixed amount is selected (if any) instead of the relative comparison of the amounts. Therefore, a file to be deleted is not necessarily extracted.

  FIG. 7B exemplifies the contents of the management table updated and recorded in this way. From the state in which the image data having the minimum change amount shown in FIG. 7A is deleted, immediately before the deleted image data. By calculating a new amount of change between the one immediately after and the one immediately after it, and updating and recording it, the same amount of change can be retrieved even when the same deletion process is performed next time. is there.

  When the deletion process of FIG. 5 is completed in this way, the process returns to the main routine of FIG. 3, and then the process proceeds to step B08 to record new image data on the memory card 28 having sufficient free space, and the new image capturing process is performed. Execute.

  FIG. 7C shows that the tenth image data is recorded in the memory card 28 by the new photographing process, and the contents of the management table are updated and recorded. The file name “Cimg0010.jpg” is shown in FIG. It can be seen that additional data is recorded.

  Thereafter, it is determined in step B09 that the total shooting time has not yet elapsed, and the process returns to step B04. After the interval time has elapsed and this is determined in step B05, the memory is again stored in step B06. If it is determined that the free space of the card 28 is insufficient, there is not enough capacity to record the 11th image data in the memory card 28 as it is, so before proceeding to the new shooting process in step B08. In step B07, the same deletion process as described above is executed.

  In the deletion process of FIG. 5, the data file with the smallest amount of change is searched from the management table in step D01.

  In the management table of FIG. 7C, the image data with the smallest change amount is “Cimg0009.jpg” and “Cimg0010.jpg”, and the change amounts thereof are both “1 (%)”. Therefore, “Cimg0009.jpg” is selected as the one having the same shooting time as that described above to be selected with priority.

When the image data having the smallest change amount is retrieved, the image data is then deleted (erased) from the memory card 28, and the corresponding contents from the management table are also deleted (step D02).
FIG. 8A illustrates the contents of the management table in which the data of the file name “Cimg0009.jpg” is deleted.

  After executing the deletion, the image data (JPEG data) of “Cimg0008.jpg” immediately before the deleted image data already recorded in the memory card 28 is read out and decompressed by the JPEG circuit 27 to obtain RAW data. Later, it is held in the comparison area of the DRAM 21 (step D03).

  Next, the image data (JPEG data) of “Cimg0010.jpg” immediately after the deleted image data already recorded in the memory card 28 is read out, and this is also decompressed by the JPEG circuit 27 to become RAW data. The area is held (step D04).

  Then, the RAW data immediately after the deletion held in the current area of the DRAM 21 and the RAW data immediately before the deletion held in the comparison area are compared in units of pixels, the amount of change is obtained, and the numerical value is stored in the management table of the memory card 28. Are updated and recorded as corresponding to the image data immediately after the deletion (step D05).

  FIG. 8B illustrates the contents of the management table updated and recorded in this manner. The image data having the minimum change amount shown in FIG. 8A is deleted and immediately before the deleted image data. By calculating a new amount of change between the one immediately after and the one immediately after it, and updating and recording it, the same amount of change can be retrieved even when the same deletion process is performed next time. is there.

  When the deletion process of FIG. 5 is completed in this way, the process returns to the main routine of FIG. 3, and then the process proceeds to step B08 to record new image data on the memory card 28 having sufficient free space, and the new image capturing process is performed. Execute.

  FIG. 8C shows that the eleventh image data is recorded in the memory card 28 by the new photographing process, and the contents of the management table are updated and recorded. The file name “Cimg0011.jpg” is shown in FIG. It can be seen that additional data is recorded.

  As described above, the image data is again deleted from the memory card 28, new photographing and recording are performed, and at the same time, the management table is updated and recorded.

  As described above, the recorded image data having the smallest change amount from the immediately preceding image data, and if there are a plurality of the image data, the older one of the shooting times is searched and deleted from the memory card 28. Then, a series of operations of performing new shooting are repeated.

  When it is determined that the total shooting time set initially in step B09 has elapsed, the processing in FIG. 3 is terminated, and a series of still image data files recorded on the memory card 28 at that time are collectively displayed. Then re-set as a motion JPEG data file (AVI file).

  As described above, after performing shooting with the interval shooting function for shooting a plurality of continuous images at intervals of an interval time set arbitrarily by the user, it is matched with the free space of the memory card 28 that is a medium for recording images. Since the image with the smallest degree of change is automatically deleted, the capacity of the memory card 28 is fully utilized effectively to reliably record the subject change until the set total shooting time is reached. Can do.

  In addition, the shooting is terminated according to the user's arbitrary settings, and the factor is the total shooting time, so the shooting is continued until the set time is full, and the device is recovered when the set time is reached. To check the shooting results.

(Another operation example of the second embodiment)
In the second embodiment, the processing content in the case where the factor for ending the interval shooting is set as the total shooting time has been described. However, the factor for ending the interval shooting is not limited to this. It is also possible to set the number of shots.

  The processing content of the interval shooting function in such a case will be described as another example of the operation of the present embodiment.

  The processing shown below is basically executed based on an operation program fixedly stored in advance by the control unit 22, and here, the interval shooting is performed by operating the menu key, the cross key and the set key of the key input unit 29 in advance. Assume that the function is set.

  In addition, the DRAM 21 serving as the buffer memory is used as a comparison target for a current area that always holds image data obtained by photographing with the CCD 13 in order to display a through image, and for new photographing processing and deletion processing described later. And a comparison area for holding image data to be stored.

  In addition, the memory card 28, which is a recording medium for image data, stores the "file name" and "shooting time" of each image data file obtained by a series of recorded interval shootings and the image file recorded immediately before that. It is assumed that the compared “change amount (%)” is recorded as a management table.

  FIG. 9 shows the processing contents during the interval shooting function. Initially, when the user arbitrarily inputs the interval time and the total number of shots, this is accepted (step E01). The interval time is set in units of [seconds] and [minutes].

  When the setting of the interval time and the total number of shots has been completed, it is determined whether or not the shutter key of the key input unit 29 has been operated next, thereby waiting for an instruction to start shooting (step E02).

  Here, the user operates the shutter key after fixing the camera on a tripod or the like and determining the composition for the subject. When the operation of the shutter key is determined in step E02 on the camera side, the first one is first selected. The photographing process is executed to photograph the image to become (step E03).

  Uncompressed image data obtained by shooting (hereinafter referred to as “RAW data”) is held in the current area of the DRAM 21 and then read out to the JPEG circuit 27 for data compression based on the JPEG standard. After being received, it is recorded on the memory card 28, while being moved from the current area in the DRAM 21 to the comparison area and overwritten, and at the same time, each data relating to the recorded image data is updated and recorded in the management table in the memory card 28. .

  Thereafter, after confirming that the second shutter key operation has not been performed (step E04), it is determined whether or not the set interval time has elapsed since the previous shooting was performed (step E05). By repeatedly executing the process, it waits for these states.

  Here, the presence / absence of the second operation of the shutter key in step E04 is for determining when the user operates to forcibly end a series of interval shooting, and the shutter key is operated. 9 immediately ends, the series of still image data files recorded on the memory card 28 at that time are collectively set as motion JPEG data files (AVI files).

  However, if it is determined that the interval time set in step E05 is reached, then the remaining capacity of the memory card 28 is checked to determine whether there is a capacity sufficient to record new image data (step E06). .

Here, when it is determined that there is sufficient free space, a shooting process is executed to capture a new image after the set interval time has elapsed (step E08).
Since the detailed processing contents of this new photographing processing are as described with reference to FIG. 4, the description thereof is omitted here.
When the new shooting process of FIG. 4 is completed, the process returns to the main routine of FIG. 9, and then it is determined whether or not the total number of shots set in advance in this new shooting process has been reached (step E09). If it judges, it will return to the process from said step E04 again.

  By repeatedly executing the processes of steps E04 to B06 and B08 in this way, the image data is sequentially recorded on the memory card 28 according to the set interval time, and the contents of the management table in the memory card 28 are also updated and recorded. .

  In step E05, it is determined in step E05 that image data continuous in time is sequentially recorded on the memory card 28 and the next interval time is reached, and if it is determined in step E06 that the free space of the memory card 28 is insufficient, Then, even if the next image data is shot, there is not enough capacity to be recorded on the memory card 28. Therefore, before proceeding to the new shooting process of step E08, the amount of change from the image data recorded on the memory card 28 so far A deletion process is executed to delete those having a small amount and those having an extremely large amount of change (step E07).

Since the detailed processing content of this deletion processing is as described with reference to FIG. 5, the description thereof is omitted here.
When the deletion process of FIG. 5 is completed, the process returns to the main routine of FIG. 9, and then the process proceeds to step E08 to record new image data on the memory card 28 having sufficient free space, and the new shooting process is executed. To do.

  Thereafter, in step E09, it is determined that the total number of shots has not yet been reached, and the process returns to step E04. After the interval time has elapsed, this is determined in step E05, and then in step E06, the memory card is again returned. If it is determined that the free space of 28 is insufficient, there is not enough capacity to record the next image data in the memory card 28 as it is, so that the process proceeds to step E07 before proceeding to the new shooting process of step E08. Then, the same deletion process as described above is executed.

  5 is terminated and the process returns to the main routine of FIG. 9, and then the process proceeds to step E08 to record new image data on the memory card 28 having sufficient free space, and the new image capturing process is executed. To do.

  As described above, the image data is again deleted from the memory card 28, new photographing and recording are performed, and at the same time, the management table is updated and recorded.

  As described above, the recorded image data having the smallest change amount from the immediately preceding image data, and if there are a plurality of the image data, the older one of the shooting times is searched and deleted from the memory card 28. Then, a series of operations of performing new shooting are repeated.

  When it is determined that the total number of shots set at the beginning in step E09 is reached, the processing of FIG. 9 is terminated, and a series of still image data files recorded on the memory card 28 at that time are collectively displayed. Then re-set as a motion JPEG data file (AVI file).

  As described above, the shooting is terminated when the total number of shots set arbitrarily by the user is reached, so that the remaining capacity of the memory card 28 for recording images, the minimum number of required images, and the like are taken into consideration. In addition, interval shooting can be executed.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, the present invention is applied to a digital camera. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a video movie camera or a personal camera function is provided. It can be easily applied to a computer or an electronic pet robot equipped with a camera as a visual sensor.

  In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

  Further, the above embodiments include inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriately combining a plurality of disclosed constituent elements. For example, even if some constituent elements are deleted from all the constituent elements shown in the embodiment, at least one of the problems described in the column of the problem to be solved by the invention can be solved, and described in the column of the effect of the invention. In a case where at least one of the obtained effects can be obtained, a configuration in which this configuration requirement is deleted can be extracted as an invention.

1 is a block diagram showing a functional circuit configuration of a digital camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The flowchart which shows the processing content of the variation detection imaging | photography concerning the embodiment. The flowchart which shows the content of the main process of the interval imaging | photography concerning the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the contents of a subroutine of a new photographing process in FIG. 3 according to the embodiment. The flowchart which shows the content of the subroutine of the deletion process of FIG. 3 which concerns on the embodiment. The figure which illustrates the change of the management table recorded with image data on the memory card based on the embodiment. The figure which illustrates the change of the management table recorded with image data on the memory card based on the embodiment. The figure which illustrates the change of the management table recorded with image data on the memory card based on the embodiment. The flowchart which shows the content of the main process used as the other operation example of the interval imaging | photography based on the embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Motor (M), 12 ... Lens optical system, 13 ... CCD, 14 ... Timing generator (TG), 15 ... Vertical driver, 16 ... Sample hold circuit (S / H), 17 ... A / D converter, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 18 ... Color process circuit, 19 ... DMA controller, 20 ... DRAM interface (I / F), 21 ... DRAM, 22 ... Control part, 23 ... VRAM controller, 24 ... VRAM, 25 ... Digital video encoder, 26 ... Display part, 27 ... JPEG circuit, 28 ... memory card, 29 ... key input unit, 30 ... audio processing unit, 31 ... strobe drive unit, 32 ... microphone unit (MIC), 33 ... speaker unit (SP), 34 ... strobe light emitting unit.

Claims (10)

Photographing means;
Recording means for recording an image photographed by the photographing means;
A change amount setting means for setting a change amount of an image photographed continuously in time by the photographing means;
A change amount calculating means for comparing images photographed continuously in time by the photographing means and calculating a change amount thereof;
A recording control means for controlling recording of the image photographed by the photographing means on the recording means based on a comparison result between the variation obtained by the variation calculating means and the variation set by the variation setting means; An imaging device characterized by that.   2. The photographing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising time interval setting means for setting a minimum time interval for photographing said images continuously in time. Time interval setting means for setting a time interval for capturing images continuously in time;
Photographing means for photographing images according to the time interval set by the time interval setting means;
Recording means for recording an image photographed by the photographing means;
A change amount calculating means for comparing temporally continuous images recorded in the recording means and calculating the change amount;
A remaining amount detecting means for calculating a free capacity of the recording means;
When the remaining amount detecting means detects that the recording means has reached a predetermined free space, the change amount calculating means selects the image with the smallest amount of change from the series of images recorded on the recording means and deletes it. And a deletion control means.   4. The photographing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising an end setting means for setting an end of photographing of temporally continuous images by the photographing means.   5. The photographing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the end setting means sets a total photographing time from when the photographing means starts photographing to when it finishes.   5. The photographing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the end setting means sets the total number of photographed images from when the photographing means starts photographing to when it finishes. A shooting method with a shooting device for shooting and recording images,
A change amount setting step for setting a change amount of an image taken continuously in time;
A change amount calculating step for comparing images taken continuously in time and calculating a change amount thereof,
An imaging method comprising: a recording control step for controlling recording of an image captured based on a comparison result between the variation obtained in the variation calculation step and the variation set in the variation setting step. A shooting method with a shooting device that takes an image and records it on a medium,
A time interval setting step for setting a time interval for capturing images continuously in time;
A change amount calculation step of comparing the temporally continuous images that are taken at the time interval set in this time interval setting step and recorded on the medium, and calculating the change amount;
A remaining amount detecting step for calculating the free space of the medium;
When it is detected in the remaining amount detection step that the medium has reached a predetermined free space, the change amount calculation step selects the image with the smallest change amount from the series of images recorded on the medium and deletes it for deletion And a control process. A program executed by a computer incorporated in a photographing apparatus that captures an image and records it on a medium,
A change amount setting step for setting a change amount of an image taken continuously in time;
A change amount calculating step for comparing images taken continuously in time and calculating a change amount thereof,
A program for causing a computer to execute a recording control step for controlling recording of a photographed image based on a comparison result between a change amount obtained in the change amount calculation step and a change amount set in the change amount setting step. . A program executed by a computer incorporated in a photographing apparatus that captures an image and records it on a medium,
A time interval setting step for setting a time interval for capturing images continuously in time,
A change amount calculating step for comparing images that are taken in time intervals set in the time interval setting step and recorded on the medium, and that calculate a change amount;
A remaining amount detecting step for calculating the free space of the medium;
When it is detected in the remaining amount detection step that the medium has a predetermined free space, the change amount calculating step selects the image with the smallest amount of change from the series of images recorded on the medium and deletes it. A program for causing a computer to execute a control step.

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