JP2006108915A - Apparatus and method for image photographing - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve optimum photographing by referring to past photography conditions. <P>SOLUTION: An image photographing apparatus, or the like is provided. The image photographing apparatus comprises a photographing means; a means for displaying an image photographed by the photographing means; a means for storing the photographed image and photography conditions; a means for narrowing the stored image, based on current date information and the evaluation information of the stored image; a means for detecting an image having high similarity from a finder image in the photographing means and the output image of the narrowing means; a means for creating a plurality of photography conditions, based on the photography conditions accompanied with the detected image; and a means for photographing continuously under the plurality of photography conditions. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image photographing apparatus and an image photographing method for photographing a digital image such as a digital camera and having a database of past photographed images and photographing conditions.

  In a product photographing apparatus such as Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-041174, a means for storing photographed image data and a prepared value that can be adjusted by a control device as photographing conditions and a means for displaying a list of stored photographed image data and selection are selected. When the next product is photographed, a photographed image similar to that product is searched for and selected from the list display, and is attached to the image. The prepared value was set for the shooting box and the digital camera.

  Alternatively, in an imaging apparatus such as JP-A-10-178484, a means for recording a photographed image and photographing conditions, a means for creating a symbol from the recorded photographed image and photographing conditions, and a list of the created symbols are displayed. When the display means and the displayed symbol are selected, the photographing condition attached to the selected symbol is set.

  Alternatively, in the shooting condition data distribution device + digital camera disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-333498 or the like, a finder image and data of a favorite photographer name are transmitted as search conditions from the digital camera, and the shooting condition data distribution device uses the shooting conditions based on the conditions. It was configured to search in the database and send the shooting conditions to the digital camera side.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-041174 JP-A-10-178484 JP 2003-333498 A

  In the conventional product photographing apparatus such as Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-041174, the illumination in the product photographing box, the angle of the product, etc. are stored and set as photographing condition setting values as photographing conditions, so that the same photographing environment is created. However, even in normal outdoor shooting and product shooting in the studio, etc., it is often the case that the same conditions such as lighting brightness and color can not be configured at different places. In this case, this product photographing device is meaningless.

  When shooting under different conditions such as brightness and background color, even if the digital camera shooting conditions are set in the above configuration, the brightness is different, so that the shooting result intended by the photographer cannot be obtained. Further, when there are a large number of captured images, it is difficult to select a desired captured image from a list of captured images.

  Or, in the photographing apparatus such as Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-178484, when the number of symbols is small, it is easy for the user to understand, but when the number is large, it is intuitively which symbol is associated with which photographing condition. Obviously, it was inconvenient and the selection operation was complicated.

  Alternatively, the photographing condition data distribution device and digital camera disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-333498 search for a photographed sample image using a finder image and a photographer name as a retrieval condition.

  In this system example, when there is no similar image as an image, the shooting condition is not set as a matter of course. Even if an attempt is made to use an example of a certain photographer's flower, it is expected that a similar image search will be used to photograph the same type of flower.

  However, if the flower to be photographed is a different type of flower and the color is different, or if the background color is different, and if the image is sent as a search condition, the photographed sample data of that flower will be a similar image It cannot be searched.

  In the above configuration, only the shooting data associated with the sample image is downloaded. Therefore, if the brightness of the sample image and the shooting conditions are the same, the same result is expected. If the sample image is cloudy and the sky is clear, the optimal shutter speed will be different if the aperture is constant, resulting in a different photo from the sample.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to realize optimal shooting with reference to past shooting conditions.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and includes a photographing means, a display means for images taken by the photographing means, a photographed image and photographing condition storage means, current date and time information, and evaluation information of accumulated images. A narrowing means for narrowing the stored image based on the image, a means for detecting an image having a high similarity from the finder image in the photographing means and the output image of the narrowing means, and a plurality of photographing conditions based on the photographing conditions associated with the detected image. An image photographing apparatus and the like characterized by providing means for creating the photographing conditions and means for continuously shooting under the plurality of photographing conditions are provided.

According to the present invention, by providing a means for narrowing the stored image based on the current date and time information and the evaluation information of the stored image, an image close to the current shooting scene can be narrowed down from the past stored shot images at the time of image shooting. Can be realized. When the image is narrowed down to one image by the above means, that image is used as it is, but when the result of the narrowing down is a plurality of images, it is passed to the next means.
By providing means for detecting an image having a high degree of similarity from the finder image in the photographing means and the output image of the above-mentioned narrowing-down means, a digital camera that can extract the same target photographing scene image at a higher speed than the conventional example can be provided.
Also, by providing means for creating a plurality of shooting conditions based on the shooting conditions associated with the detected image, if the detected image is a past failure example, a plurality of new shootings based on the shooting conditions. By automatically creating conditions, automatically setting the shooting conditions and taking continuous shots, the best shooting results can be easily obtained.
Further, in addition to the above means, user-specified label information is added as information for narrowing down the image capturing apparatus, and a means for presetting a label corresponding to shooting at the time of shooting is provided, so that the same shooting scene image can be more easily and quickly. Can be provided.
Further, by providing a processing means for obtaining the best photographing condition from the photographing conditions of a plurality of photographed images, a digital camera capable of obtaining the best photographing result can be provided.
By configuring in this way, it is possible to easily obtain the best shot for the user even in a portable device such as a digital camera based on the past photographing result.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 shows an actual usage pattern of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 denotes a portable information device having a camera unit, a liquid crystal display unit, a CPU, ROM, RAM, HD, a slot into which a recording medium is inserted, an interface such as a USB for connecting to other information devices, and other communication functions. And a wireless communication unit communicating with the camera. An image captured by the camera unit is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit, and the image is evaluated and added and recorded on an HD (hard disk). The past shooting data recorded on the HD is used by the processing of the present invention, so that the best shooting condition setting for the next shooting can be set easily. The ROM stores information processing procedures for portable information devices including the present invention. The RAM stores the primary recording of the captured image data, the current shooting condition value, and the like. In the case of this embodiment, the configuration is a display unit + storage unit + camera unit + communication unit, but a configuration with two devices of display operation unit + storage unit + communication unit and camera unit + communication unit is also conceivable. With the configuration separated into the two, it is possible to shoot with the camera unit installed in a more free position. A configuration using N cameras can also be realized. In this case, the display operation unit and the camera unit are connected by wireless communication.

  Reference numeral 2 denotes a general liquid crystal display unit, which displays and confirms a finder image of a captured image or an image captured in the past on the liquid crystal display unit.

  Reference numeral 3 denotes a general digital camera unit, which includes an image sensor such as a lens and a CCD. The captured image data is stored in a RAM connected to the CPU, which is controlled by the CPU in one portable information device. The image stored in the RAM is then finally recorded on the HD. The processing of this patent is realized using the captured images accumulated in such a manner.

  Reference numeral 4 denotes an antenna for wireless communication, which sends an image captured by one portable device to another device, or sends an operation instruction to be performed by one portable device to the camera 5 having another wireless communication unit. The image data sent from is received.

  Reference numeral 5 denotes a general digital camera having a wireless communication unit, in which image data is transferred and a camera shooting control instruction is performed through the wireless communication unit in the same manner as a USB I / F in a normal digital camera.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the portable information device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
A general liquid crystal display unit 2-1 includes a liquid crystal display element, a liquid crystal control circuit, and a display memory, and is connected to 6 CPUs via 11 system buses. In response to an instruction from the CPU 6, captured image data and viewfinder image data are displayed on the screen.
2-2 is a small hard disk used in a general portable device, and is connected to 6 CPUs via 11 system buses. Captured images and the like are stored as files in the hard disk.
2-3 is configured with a USB controller chip or the like that is a general USB I / F, and is connected to and controlled by the CPU 6 through the system bus 11.
2-4 is a real-time clock IC that is a general real-time clock IC, and is configured such that a lithium battery is de-backuped, date and time information is set, and the time is ticked even when the power of the portable device is turned off. Yes.

  A general digital camera unit 3 includes a lens, an image pickup device such as a CCD, and a CCD control circuit. The control circuit of the CCD is connected to 6 CPUs via 11 system buses. The CCD is controlled by the CPU 6 and the photographed image is stored in the RAM 7.

  Reference numeral 6 denotes a general CPU, which is connected to a RAM 7, a ROM 8, a liquid crystal display unit 2-1, etc. via a system bus 11, and is processed by a program stored in the ROM 8. Perform the action.

  Reference numeral 7 denotes a general RAM, which is used as a work area for storing image data and for taking a photographed image processing program.

  Reference numeral 8 denotes a general ROM, which stores a captured image processing procedure of the present invention, an application processing procedure on another portable terminal, and the like. In addition, a CCD control program, a liquid crystal display control program, and other processing procedures are also stored.

  Reference numeral 9 denotes an interface unit of a compact flash (registered trademark) card generally used in a digital camera or the like, which can read and write data of an inserted compact flash card and store image data and the like.

  Reference numeral 10 denotes a general wireless communication card, which has a built-in wireless LAN controller and antenna. By passing a prescribed command to the controller in the communication card, it is possible to connect to the wireless local area network and execute transmission / reception of digital images and transmission / reception of control commands. The transmission / reception protocol itself is the same as the conventional method.

  A general system bus 11 exchanges data between the CPU 2-6 and the ROM / RAM or other devices.

FIG. 3 is a processing block diagram of the embodiment of the present invention.
3-1 is a stored image narrowing-down means, and a process for preliminarily narrowing past photographed images stored in the image storage unit 3-2 with date / time information sent from the real-time clock IC 2-4 in FIG. It is a means to perform. The narrowed-down photographed image file information is sent to the similar image search means 3-3. If there is only one image file narrowed down by the narrowing means, the image file information is sent to the photographing condition setting unit 3-4 as it is.

  Reference numeral 3-2 denotes an image storage unit in which images and the like taken in the past are stored as files in 2-2HD in FIG.

  Reference numeral 3-3 denotes a similar image search unit that measures the similarity between a plurality of photographed images narrowed down by the stored image narrowing unit 3-1 and a viewfinder image fetched from the photographing unit 3-5. The highest photographed image information is sent to the photographing condition setting unit 3-4.

  Reference numeral 3-4 denotes a shooting condition setting unit that creates shooting conditions from the information of the received shot image and sends the shooting conditions to the shooting unit 3-5. If the photographed image sent is a failed photograph, a plurality of photographing conditions are created based on the photographed information. If the photographed image is a successful photograph, the designated information is selected from the photographed information.

  Reference numeral 3-5 denotes an image photographing unit, which includes a digital camera unit 4 in FIG. 2 and a photographing process procedure of a normal digital camera. Photographing is performed by a processing procedure performed by a normal digital camera, data of photographed image + photographing information is created, and the photographed data is sent to the photographing pixel actual size detecting unit 3-1.

Details of the processing means will be described in detail with reference to flowcharts and the like.
FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of the stored captured image data. The captured image file itself conforms to a general format such as JPEG. The photographed image data is composed of photographing condition information, evaluation classification information after photographing, and photographed image data. Shooting image information 1 of shooting condition information records shooting date and time information. Based on the time of this information, the shooting is performed in the morning, daytime, evening, and midnight, or the season is determined based on the date.

  The photographed image information 2 is photographing region information, and the name of the photographing region is input. For example, Japan is recorded. The information recording process itself can be set on the setting screen or the like, and can be realized by changing the setting when the shooting region is changed.

  The photographic image information 3 is photographic classification label information in which label information set by the user for classifying the photographic image is recorded. For example, flowers, scenery, travel, sports day, etc. General label names are registered in advance, and other user-specific items can be created by the user. The recording process of the label information can be set at the time of shooting result confirmation on the image display unit 2-1 after shooting, or an object to be shot before shooting can be set to use this label. is there. If not set, other labels are assigned.

  The photographed image information 4 is a value of the image evaluation degree, and the user confirms and evaluates the appearance of the photographed image after photographing and records the evaluation value. For example, 0 is assigned when no evaluation is made or neither is good nor bad, and the highest is 10 and the lowest is −10.

  The photographed image information 5 is information of shutter speed and is recorded as 1/100 second, for example.

  The photographed image information 6 is aperture information and is recorded as, for example, F2.8.

  The photographed image information 7 is aperture correction information, and records, for example, +0.3, -0.5, or no correction. In the information 5, 6, and 7, * is entered after the recording value of the setting value used for the next photographing. In the example of FIG. 4, F2.8 *. Therefore, when this shooting information is selected, this diaphragm F2.8 is set as a shooting condition.

  The captured image information 8 is ISO sensitivity information and is recorded as ISO 100, for example.

  The captured image data is a general image file format such as JPEG.

5 and 6 are examples of operation screens.
FIG. 5 is an example of an operation screen for viewing a list of photographed images, and shows a state in which an image is selected by a cursor key. FIG. 6 is a screen in which the evaluation value of the selected image is set.

  5-1, 5-2, 5-3, and 5-4 are cursor keys, and the cursor moves up, down, left, and right by pressing each cursor key. Reference numeral 5-5 denotes an enter key. For example, an image to be selected is selected by a cursor key, and when the image is decided, the enter key is pressed to enter a setting mode for the image. Reference numeral 5-6 denotes a menu key. When this key is pressed, a menu such as a setting menu or this image evaluation mode is displayed. Reference numeral 5-7 denotes a cancel key. When this key is pressed, the setting mode or the like is canceled if it is the setting mode or the like.

  Reference numeral 6-1 denotes a photographed image evaluation value setting window for determining and inputting an evaluation value by moving the evaluation bar 6-2 with a cursor key.

7, 8 and 9 are flowcharts.
Processing will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 7, 8, and 9.
The flowchart of FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a process when the past shooting condition use mode is selected after the power is turned on.
The flowchart of FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a process at the time of shooting in which the shutter is fully pressed from the half-pressed state.
The flowchart of FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a plurality of shooting condition creation processes.

  In step S7-1, an initialization process from power-on is started. Conventional initialization processing such as initialization of the CPU and the like and startup of the OS is performed.

  Next, in step S7-2, a check is made as to which shooting mode is the current shooting mode. Although this photographing mode is not shown in the drawing in this embodiment, it may be mounted with a mode dial as in a conventional general digital camera.

  If the mode dial is currently in the past shooting condition use mode, the process proceeds to step S7-4. If the mode dial is in another mode, such as a conventional manual mode, AV mode, or TV mode, the process proceeds to the conventional process in step S7-3. Needless to say, this mode discrimination itself may be implemented by a method other than the mode dial.

  In step S7-4, it is checked whether or not the shutter is half-pressed. This is a check to see if the user is currently shooting. If the shutter is half pressed, the process proceeds to step S7-6. If it is not half pressed, the process proceeds to step S7-5.

  In step S7-5, it is checked whether there is another key input. If there is another key input, the key input process is performed, but this is the same as the process in the conventional digital camera, and thus detailed description is omitted. If no other key is input, the process waits for input and proceeds to step S7-4.

  In step S7-6, the current date / time information is read. The current date / time information is read from the real-time clock IC 2-4 in FIG. 2 and stored in the work area.

  In step S7-8, a process of searching for an accumulated image based on the read date / time information is performed.

  As for image data taken in the past, the image file in the format described in FIG. 4 is stored in 2-2HD in FIG. 2 as a file with a directory structure of the same date unit. The file format in the HD may be a conventional format such as FAT. First, the season of spring, summer, autumn and winter is specified by date information, and files in the HD are searched within that range. For example, if the current date is April 1, it is spring, so the image data taken in the spring range (April to June) is searched. Next, it is determined whether the morning, evening, or the like based on the time information. If the current time is 10:30, the photographed image data in the range from 9 am to 4 pm from April to June is retrieved as daytime, and stored in the primary storage buffer as a retrieval result.

  The time information of the past photographed image can be known from the photographing date and time of the photographed image information 1 in the image file.

  If the user has accumulated only a small number of best shots taken in the past as photographed image data, the above search method can achieve the object without any problem.

  When the user designates to store all the images taken in the past, the image evaluation degree value of the photographed image information of the image stored in the primary storage buffer is searched and the image evaluation value is 0 or more. An image with a value is detected, and an object with the highest image evaluation value is stored as a search result. In addition, when there are an object with the same evaluation value and a new photographing date and time, the latest object is preferentially stored as a search result.

  In step S7-9, the search result is checked. If the captured image cannot be detected as a result of the search in step S7-8, the process proceeds to step S7-10. If the corresponding captured image can be detected, the process proceeds to step S7-11.

  In step S7-10, processing for expanding the search range is performed. For example, if the search range in step S7-8 is April to June, the search range is expanded from March to July, and the process proceeds to step S7-8 to search for stored images. If it still cannot be searched and if it comes to step SS7-10, the search range is expanded from February to August. If the search is still impossible, the past shooting condition use mode is terminated without a corresponding image, and the normal shooting mode is entered.

  In step S7-11, it is checked whether there are a plurality of corresponding captured images. If there are more than one, the process proceeds to step S7-12. If the corresponding photographed image is single, the process proceeds to step S7-14. When there are a plurality of corresponding images, for example, a case where the best shot of a flower photograph and the best shot of a landscape photograph at the same time are stored is stored.

  In step S7-12, a process of measuring the similarity between the current finder image and the searched photographed image is performed. A general method may be used as a method for measuring the similarity of images. For example, an RGB histogram is measured, both images are compared, and the difference is recorded.

  In step S7-13, a process for detecting the most similar search image is performed. An image having a minimum difference in image similarity detected in the step is detected.

  In step S7-14, the image evaluation degree of the captured image information 4 of the detected image file is checked. If it is a negative value, the process proceeds to step S7-16, and if it is a positive value, the process proceeds to step S7-15. If the image evaluation degree is a positive value, the image is the best shot for the user, and if the image evaluation is negative, the image is a failed photo.

In step S7-15, processing for setting the shooting conditions of the searched shot image is performed.
The information of 5, 6, 7, and 8 of the photographed image information in the search image file is checked, and the photographing conditions designated to be set therein are set. For example, when the aperture value is stored as the shooting condition set by F2.8 as in the image file shown in FIG. 4, the value is set. If the shutter speed or the like is not a setting to be set, the current shutter speed in accordance with the set F2.8 is set by the same processing as the conventional aperture priority mode without setting.

  In step S7-16, a plurality of shooting condition creation processes are performed. In this process, since the original photographed image is a failed image, setting the photographing condition of the image as it is results in the same result. Therefore, a plurality of photographing conditions are created using the photographing condition. Detailed processing will be described later with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S7-17, the processing in the past shooting condition use mode is terminated. Next, when the shutter is fully pressed, shooting is performed with the shooting conditions set, and the process proceeds to step S8-1.

  In step S8-1, shooting processing is performed when the shutter is fully pressed.

  In step S8-2, it is checked whether or not the shutter has been fully pressed. If the shutter is fully pressed, the process advances to step S8-5. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S8-3.

  In step S8-3, it is checked whether the shutter is half-pressed. If it is half-pressed, it is still in the shooting preparation stage, so the process proceeds to step S8-2 and waits for full-press input. If the shutter half-press is released and not pressed, the shooting preparation state is released, and the process proceeds to step S8-4.

  In step S8-4, a release process from the shooting preparation state is performed. The set values such as the set photographing conditions described in FIG. 7 are discarded, the work area and the buffer area are discarded, and the normal input waiting mode is restored.

  In step S8-5, it is checked whether or not the continuous shooting mode is set. If a plurality of shooting conditions are set in step S7-16, the continuous shooting mode is set and continuous shooting is performed under the plurality of shooting conditions. If it is the continuous shooting mode, the process proceeds to step S8-6, and if it is not the continuous shooting mode, the process proceeds to step S8-7.

  In step S8-6, continuous shooting is performed under a plurality of set shooting conditions. In step S7-16, since a plurality of shooting conditions are set in the setting buffer, shooting is sequentially performed with the settings. The photographing process itself is a conventional process, and image data taken from the CCD is finally stored as an image file.

  In step S8-7, normal single shooting is performed under the set shooting conditions.

  In step S8-8, the photographing process in the past photographing condition use mode is terminated, the work area buffer area and the like are released, and the process returns to normal key input waiting.

A plurality of shooting condition creation processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
In step S9-1, a plurality of shooting condition creation processes are started.

  In step S9-2, the designated photographing condition of the photographed image is read out. The designated photographing condition (the photographing condition designated to be set by the user) of the image file searched in the step of FIG. 7 is read and stored.

In step S9-3, a process for reading the imaging condition table from the designated imaging conditions is performed.
If a user's failure example is statistically processed, and a certain shooting condition fails, a table is created indicating that the next shooting condition is valid.
For example, if the shutter speed fails at 1/100 seconds, and it is appropriate to shoot at 1/50 seconds, 1/60 seconds 1/80 seconds, 1/125 seconds, 1/150 seconds, 1 In the / 100 second condition table, 1/50 second, 1/60 second 1/80 second, 1/125 second, and 1/150 second are recorded.
The record is read and stored.

In step S9-4, N shooting conditions are created with the read values and stored in the shooting condition buffer.
For example, if the read value is 1/50 sec, 1/60 sec 1/80 sec, 1/125 sec, 1/150 sec, the aperture value that matches the current environment is 1/50 sec. Derived and set by the same process as the normal shutter speed priority mode. The shutter speed up to 1/150 second and the aperture corresponding to it are derived and stored in the photographing condition buffer.

  In step S9-5, the plurality of shooting condition creation processes are terminated.

  In this way, by configuring the processing, it is possible to provide a digital camera that can easily take a best shot for the user by simply taking an image using past shooting conditions suitable for the current season time. In addition, when the best shot has not existed in the past, even if it was conventional to manually change the shooting conditions one by one, the shooting conditions were automatically changed using the past failure examples. Since continuous shooting is performed, a digital camera that can easily obtain the best shot can be provided.

(Second embodiment)
In the first embodiment, an example in which the first captured image is selected based only on the time information has been described, but a configuration in which other conditions are set and a past captured image is selected based on the condition and time information is also conceivable. This makes it possible to easily detect past photographed images for the current photographing conditions, so that the processing for detecting viewfinder images and similar images can be omitted.

  FIG. 10 is a processing block diagram of the second embodiment. Parts having the same part numbers as those in the process configuration diagram of FIG. 3 of the first embodiment are the same and will not be described.

  Reference numeral 10-1 in FIG. 10 denotes a stored image narrowing-down means according to the second embodiment, which is a means for detecting a photographed image to be photographed from a past photographed image based on current time information and label information.

FIG. 11 is a search range table that represents the relationship between the current month information and the search range of a captured image to be searched.
In January and December, there are shootings for events only for that month, such as Christmas illuminations, so only that month was taken as the search range. A configuration is also conceivable in which this search table is changed by user designation. In that case, a user interface for setting the table file may be added.

  FIG. 12 is an example of an operation image showing a place where a label for an image to be taken is determined. The photographed image label menu set to the photographed image is represented by 12-1 in FIG. Use the cursor keys 5-1 and 5-3 to confirm selection and selection using the 5-5 decision key. The configuration is such that the photographed image label setting mode is started and set before photographing is started.

  As shown in the figure, the label is a flower, an overseas landscape, a motor sport, a person, and when taking a picture corresponding to this label, the label is set. Otherwise, choose No setting. In this example, labels are explained with flowers, overseas landscapes, motor sports, and people, but the first label has about 10 types that are used by general users. The configuration can be changed and deleted.

In addition, changing the label in the captured image display mode after shooting can be easily realized by adding a label setting change process.
Further, a dial or the like dedicated to the label key may be provided in the portable information device so that the setting can be made by rotating the dial.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing processing when the past shooting condition use mode has been selected since power-on in the second embodiment.

The processing will be described along this flowchart.
In step S13-1, initialization processing from power-on is started. Conventional initialization processing such as initialization of the CPU and the like and startup of the OS is performed. If a label dial, shooting mode dial, or the like is provided, the current position of the dial is read and stored in the work area or the like.

  In step S13-2, a check is made as to which shooting mode is the current shooting mode. Although this photographing mode is not shown in the drawing in this embodiment, it may be mounted with a mode dial as in a conventional general digital camera. If the mode dial is currently in the shooting condition use mode, the process proceeds to step S13-4, and if it is any other mode, the process proceeds to step S13-3.

  In step S13-3, since the mode is other than that, the process proceeds to a conventional process.

  In step S13-4, the current date / time information is read. Since this process itself has the same contents as the process of step S7-6, its description is omitted. In the second embodiment, as can be seen from the configuration of this flowchart, the past shooting condition files are narrowed down to some extent when the power is turned on. The above configuration is practical because it can speed up the processing after half-pressing the shutter.

  In step S13-5, it is checked whether an imaging label is designated. If a shooting label is selected in the shooting image label setting mode shown in FIG. 12 such as flower, overseas scenery, etc., if the shooting label is specified and no setting is selected, it is specified. It is not in a state. If it is designated, the process proceeds to step S13-6, and if not designated, the process proceeds to step S13-7.

  In step S13-6, a photographed image is searched based on date information and date information together with label information and stored in a buffer. For example, if the current shooting label is a flower and the current date and time information is 10th of August, a photographed image of a flower photographed in the past summer is searched, and the photographed image with the highest evaluation value is searched. It is a reason to remember.

  In step S13-7, a process for searching for stored images based on the date / time information is performed. For example, if the current photographing label is not set, the photographed image is searched using only the current date information. For example, if the current date and time is 20:00 on December 24, an image of Christmas illumination taken in the past December night may be detected.

  The processing of steps S13-4 to S13-7 may be performed once when the power is turned on or when the photographing label is changed. In other cases, it is only necessary to use the photographed image that is retrieved and stored as it is. Absent.

  In step S13-8, it is checked whether the shutter is half-pressed. This is a check to see if the user is currently shooting. If the shutter is half-pressed, the process proceeds to step S13-11. If not half-pressed, the process proceeds to step S13-9.

  In step S13-9, it is checked whether there is any other input. If there is any other input, the process proceeds to step S13-10, and if there is no input, the process waits for input and proceeds to step S13-8.

  In step S13-10, since an input other than the shutter has been made, the mode is shifted to a mode other than shooting, so that the storage and discard processing of the searched and stored search image and the like is terminated, and the mode is shifted to another mode. Process.

  Since the processing of steps S13-11 to S13-13 is equivalent to the processing of steps S7-11 to S7-13, description thereof will be omitted. If the user's usage and the method of specifying the shooting label are appropriate, the shot image can be narrowed by itself, so there may be no problem even if the similar image half-separation process is omitted.

  In step S13-14, it is checked whether the image evaluation degree is negative. If negative, the process proceeds to step S13-15, and if not, the process proceeds to step S13-19.

  In step S13-15, a plurality of shooting condition creation processes are performed. The process itself is the same as the process described with reference to FIG.

  In step S13-16, a plurality of shooting condition setting processes are performed.

  In step S13-17, continuous shooting is performed under a plurality of shooting conditions. The process itself is equivalent to the process described in step S8-6.

  In step S13-18, an evaluation process for the image photographed in the above step is performed. 5 and 6 are displayed as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, and the process of selecting the best image and setting the evaluation value is performed. In this way, if the next shooting is performed under the same conditions and the same subject, the processing can be performed so that the shooting conditions of the image that has been evaluated and stored can be used immediately.

  In step S13-19, a process for setting the shooting condition of the searched shot image is performed. This process is the same as step S7-15.

  In step S13-20, a photographing process is performed. Since this process is equivalent to step S8-7, a description thereof will be omitted.

  As described above, the shooting label conditions and shooting label setting processing are added, and past shot images for the current shooting conditions are searched based on the label information and time information at the same time as the power is turned on. Even if this patent is applied to a digital camera, it can be used practically.

(Third embodiment)
In the second embodiment, when there are a plurality of search result images in steps S13-12 and S13-13, one image is obtained using the similarity between the current finder image and the search result image. I was focusing on. Depending on the user's usage, even if the images are similar in image characteristics, there are cases where the shooting intention is different and the shooting is performed under different shooting conditions. Therefore, considering such a case, if such an image is searched, the similarity is the same, but if the specified shooting conditions are significantly different, a warning sound is emitted and an overlay is displayed on the viewfinder image. The search image may be displayed.

FIG. 14 is an overlay search image selection display on the finder image.
14-1 and 14-2 in FIG. 14 are overlay displays of the search result images. When such a display appears on the viewfinder screen, the user selects a desired image with a cursor key, dial, or the like and performs shooting.

  There is another example even when a plurality of search result images are detected. For example, there are two types of flower photographs taken at apertures F1.2 and F2.8, and the user is not satisfied with the shooting result, and the shooting result when the evaluation value is set to 8 is searched. May be.

  In that case, when processing is performed with the configuration up to the second embodiment, the photographing result of some of the flowers is selected, and the apertures F1.2 and F2.8 are selected and set. Then, the user may not be completely satisfied with the shooting result. In that case, F1.8 between F1.2 and F2.8 may be an ideal aperture value. This can be realized by adding a new process between step S13-11 and step S13-12. The process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S15-1, detailed processing is started when there are a plurality of search results.

  In step S15-2, it is checked whether the evaluation value of the photographed image as a search result is 8 or less and 2 or more. If the above condition is not met, the conventional process may be performed, and the process proceeds to step S13-12. If the condition is met, the process proceeds to step S15-3.

  In step S15-3, it is checked whether the shooting condition items of the search result shot image are the same. If one is an aperture setting and the other is a shutter speed setting, the two images are intended to be taken differently, so normal processing is performed.

  If they are the same item, the process proceeds to step S15-4, and if they are not the same item, the process proceeds to step S13-12.

  In step S15-4, it is checked whether the difference in the photographing condition setting values of the retrieval result photographed image is small. If the difference is large, for example, if one of the captured images has an aperture of F2.8 and the other is F10, the intentions of the two are different, so the past captured images are displayed in the viewfinder or the like as shown in FIG. It is better to let the user confirm and select it.

  If the difference is small, the process proceeds to step S15-5, and if the difference is large, the process proceeds to step S13-12.

  In step S15-5, an average value is obtained and a setting value close to the average value is set. For example, if the set values of the two search images are F1.2 and F2.8, (1.2 + 2.8) /2=2.0, and the set value close to 2.0 is 1.8. 1.8 is set, and if 2.0 is appropriate as the set value, 2.0 is set.

  If it is set as described above, the shooting is performed in step S13-19.

  As described above, by configuring, it is possible to provide a digital camera that is easier to use and can make use of various shooting results.

It is a figure showing the actual usage pattern of this invention. It is a block diagram of the portable information device of the present invention. It is a process block diagram of an Example of this invention. It is a block diagram of picked-up image data. It is a figure which shows the example of an evaluation value entry operation screen of a picked-up image. Similarly, it is a figure which shows the evaluation value input operation screen example of a picked-up image. It is a flowchart of 1st Example. Similarly, it is a flowchart of the first embodiment. Similarly, it is a flowchart of the first embodiment. It is a processing block diagram of 2nd Example. It is a conceptual diagram showing a table of the current date and search range. It is a figure which shows an example of a photography label setting screen. It is a flowchart of 2nd Example. It is a figure which shows the example of a display selection screen when multiple images of the search result of 3rd Example are detected. It is a flowchart of 3rd Example.

Explanation of symbols

1: Mobile information terminal 2: Image display unit 2-1: Image display unit 2-2: HD
2-3: USB interface 2-4: Real-time clock IC
3: Camera unit 4: Wireless antenna 5: Digital camera 6: CPU
7: RAM
8: ROM
9: Image media interface 10: Communication card 11: System bus

Claims (7)

Photographing means;
Display means for images taken by the photographing means;
Means for storing captured images and shooting conditions;
Narrowing means for narrowing the stored image based on the current date and time information and the evaluation information of the stored image,
Means for detecting an image with high similarity from the finder image in the photographing means and the output image of the narrowing means;
Means for creating a plurality of shooting conditions based on the shooting conditions associated with the detected image;
Means for continuous shooting under the plurality of shooting conditions;
An image photographing device characterized by comprising: Photographing means;
Display means for images taken by the photographing means;
Means for storing captured images and shooting conditions;
Means for adding evaluation classification information of the captured image;
Narrowing means for narrowing down the stored image based on the current date and time information and the evaluation information and classification information of the stored image when starting the image capturing device,
Means for detecting an image with high similarity from the finder image in the photographing means and the output image of the narrowing means;
Means for setting the specified shooting condition if specified from among the shooting conditions associated with the detected image;
The shooting conditions other than those set are means for setting the set conditions and values automatically derived from the current environment,
An image photographing device characterized by comprising:   The image photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation value of the photographed image to be searched is a negative value, and a past failed photographing example is used.   2. The image photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the date and time information is information such as season, daytime, and night / morning obtained from a date and time and a set area designation.   The image photographing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising processing means for adding label information specified by a user as the narrowing information and presetting a label corresponding to photographing at the time of photographing.   6. The image photographing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein in addition to the processing means, a processing means for obtaining a best photographing condition from photographing conditions of a plurality of photographed images is provided. The process of narrowing the stored image based on the current date and time information and the evaluation information of the stored image,
Detecting a high similarity image from the viewfinder image in the photographing means and the output image of the aperture means;
Creating a plurality of shooting conditions based on the shooting conditions associated with the detected image;
A step of continuously shooting under the plurality of shooting conditions;
An image photographing method characterized by comprising:

Images