JP2006217526A - Image pickup device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus which can easily transmit an image. <P>SOLUTION: First, when an image that is not transmitted to a home server 14 (non-transmitted image) exists in a recording media 52 (step S20), next, a step progresses to a transmission process of the non-transmitted image (step S22). In a step S22, the non-transmitted image is transmitted to the home server 14, etc. at an idle time when a CPU 30 has no workload in each operation mode, or at the time of power source off, etc. Next, information indicating completion of a transmission is written in a tag of an image whose transmission is completed (step S24). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus, and more particularly to an imaging apparatus capable of transmitting an image to an external device.

Conventionally, a system for transferring a digital image using a communication function of a mobile phone or the like has been proposed. For example, in Patent Document 1, a recording medium that can be attached to and detached from a digital camera and records a captured image is mounted on a mobile phone, and digital image information to be stored is transmitted to an image storage server via a base station and a network. An image storage service system for storing digital image information is disclosed.
JP 2002-157574 A

  However, in the image storage service system disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above, when transferring a digital image to the image storage server, the recording medium is removed from the digital camera and attached to the mobile phone, so that it takes time to transfer the image. There was a problem that it took.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an imaging apparatus capable of easily transmitting an image.

  In order to achieve the above object, an imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes an imaging unit that captures an image, an image recording unit that records the image, and an image transmission unit that transmits the image to an external device during idle time of operation. It is characterized by providing.

  According to the imaging apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to transmit an image to an external device (for example, a home server or a personal computer) without user input.

  The image pickup apparatus according to the present invention further includes image display means for reproducing and displaying the image, and the idle time includes an operation of taking an image by the image pickup means and switching an image display by the image display means. It can be time not done.

  In this example, the idle time in the above-described imaging apparatus is limited to a time during which an operation that places a load on the imaging apparatus, such as imaging and capturing of the main image and switching of the display during image reproduction, is not performed.

  The imaging apparatus according to the present invention may further include transmitted information recording means for recording transmitted information indicating that the image transmission means has already been transmitted to an external device.

  In this case, it can be confirmed whether the image recorded in the imaging apparatus has been transmitted, and it is possible to prevent the image from being transmitted twice.

  In the imaging apparatus according to the present invention, the image transmission unit may transmit the images in the order of the frame numbers of the images, and the transmitted information may be frame numbers of the images.

  In this example, the transmitted information in the above example is limited. In this example, when the file name of the image includes a frame number assigned in the shooting order, the transmitted information may be the file name.

  In the imaging apparatus according to the present invention, the image recording unit is a recording medium that is detachable from the imaging apparatus, and the transmitted information recording unit writes a recording medium identifier unique to the recording medium, The recording medium identifier and the transmitted information may be recorded in association with each other.

  In this case, even when the recording medium is replaced and shooting is performed, it is possible to manage which image has been transmitted by attaching the recording medium again.

  In the imaging apparatus according to the present invention, the transmitted information recording unit may write transmitted information indicating that the image has been transmitted to the transmitted image.

  In this case, for example, since the transmitted information is written in the tag of the image, whether the image has been transmitted can be identified by referring to the tag of the image.

  In the imaging apparatus according to the present invention, the transmitted information may include information indicating an external device to which the image is transmitted.

  In this case, the transmission destination to which the image is transmitted can be recognized by referring to the transmitted information. Accordingly, when a plurality of image transmission destinations can be designated, it is possible to recognize where the image has been transmitted, and thus it is possible to prevent the image from being transmitted to the same transmission destination.

  The imaging apparatus according to the present invention may further include image specifying means for specifying an image to be transmitted to the external device. In this case, it is possible to select whether to transmit an image.

  The imaging apparatus according to the present invention may further include a transmission destination designating unit that designates an external device that transmits the image. In this case, an image transmission destination can be designated.

  The imaging apparatus according to the present invention further includes power supply means for supplying power to each part of the imaging apparatus, and a power switch for controlling supply of the power, and the power supply means is configured so that the power switch is OFF. When there is an untransmitted image, power is supplied to the image transmission means, and the image transmission means transmits the untransmitted image when the power switch is OFF. Good.

  In this case, time-consuming image transmission can be performed when the power is turned off without using the imaging device.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to transmit an image to a home server or the like without an operation input by a user during idle time when the operation of the imaging apparatus is not performing a heavy operation or when the power is turned off.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of an imaging device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an image transmission system according to an embodiment of the present invention. An image transmission system 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes an imaging device 12 and a home server 14. The imaging device 12 and the home server 14 are communicably connected via the network 16, and the imaging device 12 transmits the captured image to the home server 14.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the home server 14 includes a communication interface (communication I / F) 18 for communicating with the imaging device 12 via the network 16, an image storage unit 20, and electronic album creation software 22. A display device 24 is connected. The home server 14 stores the image transmitted from the imaging device 12 in the image storage unit 20. Then, the home server 14 creates an electronic album that can be displayed on the display device 24 by the electronic album creation software 22. The display device 24 is, for example, a monitor such as a personal computer or a television.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the imaging device 12. The imaging device 12 illustrated in FIG. 2 is a digital camera having a communication function, a camera-equipped mobile phone, or a personal digital assistant (PDA).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the CPU 30 is connected to each part in the imaging device 12 via a bus 32, and is an overall control unit that controls the operation of the imaging device 12 based on an operation input from the operation switch 34 or the like. is there. The operation switch 34 includes a power switch, a release switch 34A, a cross key, and the like, and receives an operation input from the user. The release switch 34A is configured in a two-stage manner, and the automatic focus (AF) and automatic exposure control (AE) are activated in the state of “half-press (S1 = ON)” in which the release switch 34A is lightly pressed to stop, and AF and AE Is locked, and shooting is executed in the state of “full press (S2 = ON)”, which is further pressed from “half press”.

  The memory 36 includes a ROM that stores programs to be processed by the CPU 30 and various data necessary for control, a working area in which the CPU 30 performs various arithmetic processes, and an SDRAM that serves as an image processing area. The power supply unit 38 supplies power to each unit in the imaging device 12.

  The external communication interface (external communication I / F) 40 is a device for connecting to the network 16, the home server 14, and the like, and transmits and receives various data according to a predetermined protocol. Note that the imaging device 12 may be connected to the network 16 via the Internet connection, or may be connected to the home server 14 via a wireless LAN, a wired LAN, IrDA, Bluetooth, or the like.

  The imaging element 44 is an element that receives light that has entered through the optical system (lens) 42 and converts it into an electrical signal, and is, for example, a CCD. This electrical signal is amplified by a preamplifier (not shown), converted into a digital signal by an A / D converter 46, and input to the image processing unit 48.

  The imaging apparatus 12 of the present embodiment has two operation modes, a shooting mode for shooting an image and a playback mode for displaying and playing back an image. The user operates by an operation input from the operation switch 34. Set the mode.

  In the shooting mode, the electric signal output from the image sensor 44 is processed by the image processing unit 48 to generate image data for checking the angle of view (through image), which is displayed on the image display unit (monitor) 50. When the release switch 34A (operation switch 34) is operated to capture an image, the electrical signal output from the image sensor 44 is processed to create image data for storage. The image data for storage is stored in the recording medium 52 in a predetermined file format. On the other hand, in the playback mode, the image data stored in the recording medium 52 is read out by the image processing unit 48 to create image data for display and displayed on the monitor 50. As described above, the monitor 50 is used as an electronic viewfinder for checking the angle of view at the time of shooting, and also used to display the shot image data.

  Next, a procedure for taking an image will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing when an image is captured by the imaging device 12. First, when an image is captured (step S10), a selection screen for selecting whether to transmit the captured image is displayed (step S12). When it is selected not to transmit an image in step S12, the image is saved and the process ends (step S16). On the other hand, if transmission of an image is selected in step S12, then a screen for accepting input of image transmission destination information is displayed (step S14). Here, the transmission destination information of the image is, for example, a mail address, an IP address, or a server name assigned to the home server 14 or personal computer of the transmission destination, and the image is an e-mail, FTP based on this transmission destination information. Etc., and transmitted to the transmission destination. Then, the image is stored together with the transmission destination information, and the process ends (step S16).

  Next, a procedure for transmitting an image by the imaging device 12 will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing when an image is transmitted. First, if there is an image (untransmitted image) that has not been transmitted to the home server 14 in the recording medium 52 (step S20), then the process proceeds to an untransmitted image transmission step (step S22).

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a transmission process of an untransmitted image. First, the operation mode of the imaging device 12 is detected (step S220). If the operation mode is the shooting mode in step S220, it is then detected whether release switch 34A is half-pressed (S1 = ON) (step S222). If the release switch 34A is not half-pressed in step S222 (that is, if AF and AE are not locked), an untransmitted image is transmitted according to a predetermined protocol (step S224). On the other hand, if the release switch 34A is pressed halfway in step S222, the untransmitted image is terminated without being transmitted.

  On the other hand, if the operation mode is the playback mode in step S220, it is next determined whether or not it is a free time (step S226). Here, the idle time is the time during which no work is applied to the CPU 30 such as image frame advance, auto play, and multi-screen in the playback mode. If it is free time in step S226, an untransmitted image is transmitted (step S224). On the other hand, if it is not a free time in step S226, the untransmitted image is terminated without being transmitted.

  Returning to the description of the flowchart of FIG. 4, information (transmitted information) indicating that transmission has been completed is then written to the tag of the image for which transmission has been completed (step S24). FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating the data structure of an image. As shown in FIG. 6, the image 60 includes a start code (start code) 62, a tag 64, a thumbnail image 66, a main image 68, and the like. In step S24, for example, transmission destination information such as a mail address, an IP address, and a server name assigned to the home server 14 or the personal computer is written in the tag 64 of the image 60 as the transmitted information 70. By referring to the transmitted information 70, it is possible to identify to which transmission destination the image 60 has been transmitted.

  Note that in this embodiment, even if the power switch of the imaging device 12 is OFF, if there is an untransmitted image in step S20, the blocks (CPU 30, memory 36, external) required for image transmission are present. Power is supplied from the power supply unit 38 to the communication I / F 40 and the recording medium 52), and an untransmitted image is transmitted (step S22). When the transmission of the untransmitted image is completed, the transmitted information is written in the image tag in step S24 (step S24), the supply of power from the power supply unit 38 to each block is stopped, and the power is turned on. It is completely turned off.

  According to the present embodiment, the image is automatically sent to the home server during idle time when no work is applied to the CPU 30 in the shooting mode or the playback mode, or when the power is turned off when the imaging device 12 is not used. 14 etc. Note that the image pickup apparatus 12 of the present embodiment has two operation modes, a shooting mode and a reproduction mode. However, even when other operation modes are provided, an image may be transmitted at a time when the load is low in each operation mode. .

  In addition, the imaging device 12 according to the present embodiment may transmit an image compressed at a predetermined compression rate based on the transmission destination information, for example, based on the resolution of the display device 24 on the home server 14 side. Good. Thereby, the time required for image transmission can be minimized.

  In the present embodiment, the transmission destination information is written in the tag information of the image, but a flag indicating that the transmission has been completed may be added to the image instead of the transmission destination information. Further, information on whether or not the image has been transmitted may be recorded in the memory 36 of the imaging device 12 instead of being directly written in the image. When recording the transmitted image information in the memory 36, for example, a unique identification code is written in the recording medium 52, and the file name or frame number of the transmitted image and the transmission destination information are written. The recorded table is recorded in the memory 36 in association with the identification code of the recording medium 52. Alternatively, the file name or frame number of the transmitted image and a table of transmission destination information are recorded on the recording medium 52. When a part of the image is deleted from the recording medium 52, the transmission destination information table is updated. Thereby, even if the recording medium 52 is replaced, the image pickup apparatus 12 can hold information on the transmitted image.

  In this embodiment, whether to transmit an image after shooting, or transmission destination information is set when transmitting an image. For example, one transmission destination is set and set in advance. Images taken at the transmission destination may be sequentially transmitted. When there is one transmission destination, the transmitted information may not include the transmission destination information, and may be a flag, for example.

The figure which shows typically the image transmission system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. 1 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The flowchart which shows the flow of a process at the time of imaging an image with the imaging device 12. A flowchart showing the flow of processing when transmitting an image Flow chart showing untransmitted image transmission process Diagram showing data structure of image

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Image transmission system, 12 ... Imaging device, 14 ... Home server, 16 ... Network, 18 ... Communication interface (communication I / F), 20 ... Image storage part, 22 ... Electronic album creation software, 24 ... Display apparatus, 30 ... CPU, 32 ... bus, 34 ... operation switch, 34A ... release switch, 36 ... memory, 38 ... power supply unit, 40 ... external communication interface (external communication I / F), 42 ... optical system (lens), 44 ... Image sensor 46 ... A / D converter 48 ... Image processing unit 50 ... Image display unit (monitor) 52 ... Recording medium 60 ... Image 62 ... Start code 64 ... Tag 66 ... Thumbnail image 68 ... main image, 70 ... transmitted information

Claims (10)

Imaging means for taking an image;
Image recording means for recording the image;
Image transmission means for transmitting the image to an external device during idle time of operation;
An imaging apparatus comprising: It further comprises image display means for reproducing and displaying the image,
2. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the idle time is a time during which an image capturing operation by the image capturing unit and an image display switching operation by the image display unit are not performed.   3. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising transmitted information recording means for recording transmitted information indicating that the image transmission means has been transmitted to an external device. The image transmission means transmits the images in the order of the frame numbers of the images,
The imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the transmitted information is a frame number of the image. The image recording means is a recording medium detachable from the imaging device,
5. The imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the transmitted information recording unit writes a recording medium identifier unique to the recording medium, and records the recording medium identifier and the transmitted information in association with each other. .   The imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the transmitted information recording unit writes transmitted information indicating that the image has been transmitted to the transmitted image.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the transmitted information includes information indicating an external device to which the image is transmitted.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an image designating unit that designates an image to be transmitted to the external device.   9. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising transmission destination designation means for designating a transmission destination external device that transmits the image. Power supply means for supplying power to each part of the imaging device;
A power switch for controlling the supply of the power;
The power supply means supplies power to the image transmission means when there is an untransmitted image when the power switch is OFF,
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image transmission unit transmits the untransmitted image when the power switch is OFF.

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