JP2007043226A - Image processing apparatus and image processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To sustain appreciative performance resulting from effect processing. <P>SOLUTION: An image processing method includes: a step S308 of discriminating prescribed information associated with image data; and steps S309, S310 of applying the effect processing to the image data switched depending on a result of the discrimination. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method capable of switching and executing effect processing to be performed on image data to be displayed.

  Conventionally, image processing apparatuses such as electronic cameras for recording and reproducing still images and moving images using a memory card having a solid-state memory element as a recording medium are already on the market, and electronic cameras equipped with an electronic viewfinder such as a color liquid crystal panel are also sold. Has been.

  According to these electronic cameras, it is possible to continuously display images before photographing and to determine the composition by the user of the electronic camera, or to reproduce and display the photographed images for confirmation. Furthermore, some playback displays have a function of automatically playing back images for browsing purposes. In addition, there is a model that applies an effect at the time of image switching during automatic reproduction. The effect is to accentuate monotonous automatic playback and enhance appreciation. Note that Patent Document 1 discloses a playback device that performs an effect process on an image and plays it back.

JP 2004-228731 A

  However, if the same effect was constantly performed, it could still be monotonous. For example, while the effects used for the slide show enhance the appreciation, there is a risk that if the same effect is repeated, it may feel monotonous or tired.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to maintain appreciation by effect processing.

An image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a determination unit that determines predetermined information about image data, an effect processing unit that switches and executes an effect process for the image data according to a determination result by the determination unit, and the effect And display control means for displaying the image data subjected to the effect processing by the processing means on the display means.
The image processing method of the present invention is an image processing method by an image processing apparatus for processing image data to be displayed on a display means, and includes a determination step for determining predetermined information relating to image data, and a determination result by the determination step And an effect processing step for switching and executing the effect processing on the image data, and a display control step for displaying the image data subjected to the effect processing by the effect processing step on a display means. And
A program according to the present invention causes a computer to execute the image processing method.
The computer-readable recording medium of the present invention is characterized in that the program is recorded.

  According to the present invention, since the effect processing to be performed on the image data is switched according to the predetermined information related to the image data, it is possible to maintain appreciation by the effect processing.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments to which the invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an electronic camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes an image processing apparatus. Reference numeral 10 denotes a photographing lens, 12 denotes a shutter having a diaphragm function, 14 denotes an image sensor that converts an optical image into an electrical signal, and 16 denotes an A / D converter that converts an analog signal output from the image sensor 14 into a digital signal.

  A timing generation circuit 18 supplies a clock signal and a control signal to the image sensor 14, the A / D converter 16, and the D / A converter 26, and is controlled by the memory control circuit 22 and the system control circuit 50.

  An image processing circuit 20 performs predetermined pixel interpolation processing and color conversion processing on the data from the A / D converter 16 or the data from the memory control circuit 22.

  Further, the image processing circuit 20 performs predetermined calculation processing using the captured image data, and the system control circuit 50 controls the exposure control means 40 and the distance measurement control means 42 based on the obtained calculation result. TTL (through-the-lens) AF (autofocus) processing, AE (automatic exposure) processing, and EF (flash pre-emission) processing are performed.

  Further, the image processing circuit 20 performs predetermined arithmetic processing using captured image data, and also performs TTL AWB (auto white balance) processing based on the obtained arithmetic result.

  A memory control circuit 22 controls the A / D converter 16, the timing generation circuit 18, the image processing circuit 20, the image display memory 24, the D / A converter 26, the memory 30, and the compression / decompression circuit 32.

  The data of the A / D converter 16 is written into the image display memory 24 or the memory 30 via the image processing circuit 20 and the memory control circuit 22 or the data of the A / D converter 16 is directly passed through the memory control circuit 22. It is.

  Reference numeral 24 denotes an image display memory, 26 denotes a D / A converter, 28 denotes an image display unit including a TFT LCD, and the image data for display written in the image display memory 24 passes through the D / A converter 26. Displayed by the image display unit 28.

  If the image data captured using the image display unit 28 is sequentially displayed, the electronic viewfinder function can be realized.

  The image display unit 28 can arbitrarily turn on / off the display according to an instruction from the system control circuit 50. When the display is turned off, the power consumption of the image processing apparatus 100 can be greatly reduced. I can do it.

  Reference numeral 30 denotes a memory for storing captured still images and moving images, and has a sufficient storage capacity to store a predetermined number of still images and a predetermined time of moving images. Thereby, even in the case of continuous shooting or panoramic shooting in which a plurality of still images are continuously shot, it is possible to write a large amount of images to the memory 30 at high speed.

  The memory 30 can also be used as a work area for the system control circuit 50. Reference numeral 32 denotes a compression / decompression circuit that compresses and decompresses image data by adaptive discrete cosine transform (ADCT) or the like, reads an image stored in the memory 30, performs compression processing or decompression processing, and stores the processed data in the memory 30. Write to.

  Reference numeral 40 denotes an exposure control means for controlling the shutter 12 having an aperture function, and has a flash light control function in cooperation with the flash 48.

  Reference numeral 42 denotes a distance measuring control means for controlling the focusing of the photographing lens 10, reference numeral 44 denotes a zoom control means for controlling zooming of the photographing lens 10, and reference numeral 46 denotes a barrier control means for controlling the operation of the protection means 102 as a barrier.

  A flash 48 has an AF auxiliary light projecting function and a flash light control function. The exposure control means 40 and the distance measurement control means 42 are controlled using the TTL method. Based on the calculation result obtained by calculating the captured image data by the image processing circuit 20, the system control circuit 50 performs the exposure control means 40 and the distance measurement. Control is performed on the control means 42.

  Reference numeral 50 denotes a system control circuit that controls the entire image processing apparatus 100, and reference numeral 52 denotes a memory that stores constants, variables, programs, and the like for operation of the system control circuit 50.

  Reference numeral 54 denotes a display unit such as a liquid crystal display device or a speaker that displays an operation state or a message using characters, images, sounds, or the like in accordance with execution of a program in the system control circuit 50. One or a plurality of places are provided near the portion where they are easily visible, and are configured by a combination of, for example, an LCD, an LED, a sound generation element, and the like.

  The display unit 54 has a part of its function installed in the optical viewfinder 104. Among the display contents of the display unit 54, what is displayed on the LCD or the like includes single shot / continuous shooting display, self-timer display, compression rate display, recording pixel number display, recording number display, remaining image number display, shutter Speed display, Aperture value display, Exposure compensation display, Flash display, Red-eye reduction display, Macro shooting display, Buzzer setting display, Clock battery level display, Battery level display, Error display, Multi-digit number information display and recording There are a display state of the media 200 and 210, a communication I / F operation display, a date / time display, and the like.

  Among the display contents of the display unit 54, what is displayed in the optical viewfinder 104 includes in-focus display, camera shake warning display, flash charge display, shutter speed display, aperture value display, exposure correction display, and the like.

  Reference numeral 56 denotes an electrically erasable / recordable nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM. Reference numerals 60, 62, 64, 66, 68 and 70 are operation means for inputting various operation instructions of the system control circuit 50, and may be a single unit such as a switch, a dial, a touch panel, pointing by eye-gaze detection, a voice recognition device, or the like. Consists of multiple combinations.

  Here, a specific description of these operating means will be given. Reference numeral 60 denotes a mode dial switch, which can switch and set various function modes such as power-off, automatic shooting mode, shooting mode, panoramic shooting mode, playback mode, multi-screen playback / erase mode, and PC connection mode.

  Reference numeral 62 denotes a shutter switch SW1, which is turned ON during operation of a shutter button (not shown), and performs AF (auto focus) processing, AE (automatic exposure) processing, AWB (auto white balance) processing, EF (flash pre-flash) processing, and the like. Instruct to start operation.

  Reference numeral 64 denotes a shutter switch SW2, which is turned on when the operation of a shutter button (not shown) is completed, and an exposure process for writing image data to the memory 30 via the A / D converter 16 and the memory control circuit 22 from the signal read from the image sensor 12. Development processing using operations in the image processing circuit 20 and the memory control circuit 22, recording processing for reading image data from the memory 30, compression in the compression / decompression circuit 32, and writing the image data to the recording medium 200 or 210. Instructs the start of a series of processing operations.

  Reference numeral 66 denotes an image display ON / OFF switch that can set ON / OFF of the image display unit 28. With this function, when photographing using the optical viewfinder 104, it is possible to save power by cutting off the current supply to the image display unit including a TFT LCD or the like.

  Reference numeral 68 denotes a quick review ON / OFF switch, which sets a quick review function for automatically reproducing image data taken immediately after photographing. In the present embodiment, in particular, a function for setting a quick review function when the image display unit 28 is turned off is provided.

  Reference numeral 70 denotes an operation unit composed of various buttons, a touch panel, etc., a menu button, a set button, a macro button, a multi-screen playback page break button, a flash setting button, a single shooting / continuous shooting / self-timer switching button, menu movement + (plus) Button, menu shift- (minus) button, playback image shift + (plus) button, playback image- (minus) button, shooting image quality selection button, exposure correction button, date / time setting button, and the like.

  Reference numeral 80 denotes a power supply control means, which includes a battery detection circuit, a DC-DC converter, a switch circuit for switching a block to be energized, etc., and detects the presence / absence of a battery, the type of battery, the remaining battery level, and the detection result In addition, the DC-DC converter is controlled based on an instruction from the system control circuit 50, and a necessary voltage is supplied to each unit including the recording medium for a necessary period.

  82 is a connector, 84 is a connector, and 86 is a primary battery such as an alkaline battery or a lithium battery, a secondary battery such as a NiCd battery, NiMH battery or Li battery, an AC adapter, or the like.

  90 and 94 are interfaces with a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk, 92 and 96 are connectors for connecting to a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk, and 98 is a recording medium 200 or 210 attached to the connector 92 or 96. Recording medium attachment / detachment detecting means for detecting whether or not the recording medium is present.

  In the present embodiment, it is assumed that there are two interfaces and connectors for attaching the recording medium. Of course, the interface and the connector for attaching the recording medium may have a single or a plurality of systems, any number of systems. Moreover, it is good also as a structure provided with combining the interface and connector of a different standard.

  The interface and the connector may be configured using a PCMCIA card, a CF (Compact Flash (registered trademark)) card, or the like based on a standard.

  In addition, when the interfaces 90 and 94 and the connectors 92 and 96 are configured using a PCMCIA card, a CF (Compact Flash (registered trademark)) card, or the like, a LAN card, a modem card, a USB card, IEEE1394. Image data and management information attached to image data are transferred to and from peripheral devices such as other computers and printers by connecting various communication cards such as cards, P1284 cards, SCSI cards, and PHS communication cards. I can meet each other.

  Reference numeral 102 denotes protection means that is a barrier that prevents the imaging unit from being soiled or damaged by covering the imaging unit including the lens 10 of the image processing apparatus 100.

  Reference numeral 104 denotes an optical viewfinder, which can take an image using only the optical viewfinder without using the electronic viewfinder function of the image display unit 28. In the optical viewfinder 104, some functions of the display unit 54, for example, a focus display, a camera shake warning display, a flash charge display, a shutter speed display, an aperture value display, an exposure correction display, and the like are installed.

  A communication unit 110 has various communication functions such as RS232C, USB, IEEE1394, P1284, SCSI, modem, LAN, and wireless communication.

  Reference numeral 112 denotes a connector for connecting the image processing apparatus 100 to another device by the communication unit 110 or an antenna in the case of wireless communication.

  Reference numeral 200 denotes a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk. The recording medium 200 includes a recording unit 202 composed of a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, or the like, an interface 204 with the image processing apparatus 100, and a connector 206 for connecting to the image processing apparatus 100.

  Reference numeral 210 denotes a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk. The recording medium 210 includes a recording unit 212 composed of a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, and the like, an interface 214 with the image processing apparatus 100, and a connector 216 that connects to the image processing apparatus 100.

  The image processing apparatus 100 further includes a vertical position detection sensor (not shown). This vertical position detection sensor can detect the attitude of the image processing apparatus 100, specifically, whether it is a vertical position or a horizontal position. As this vertical position detection sensor, a known tilt sensor that detects tilt in four directions can be used. Information about the posture (vertical position / horizontal position) detected by the vertical position detection sensor (hereinafter referred to as rotation information) is stored together with the captured image at the time of shooting.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an operation member of the electronic camera according to the present embodiment. A power button 201 is used to start and end the electronic camera. A menu button 202 is used to enter a menu for changing shooting conditions, setting a date, protecting or deleting an image. Also used to end various setting modes. A decision button 203 is used to decide a selection item. A display button 204 switches display / non-display of shooting information regarding an image or display / non-display of the electronic viewfinder. The left button 205 is used for moving the selection item to the left or for image forwarding. The right button 206 is used for moving the selection item to the right or for image forwarding. In the present embodiment, the right button 206 and the left button 205 are used as image feed buttons. The up button 207 is used to move the selection item up. The down button 208 is used to move the selection item downward. The shutter button 209 is a button used when shooting in the shooting mode. The zoom button 210 is a button for driving the zoom lens, and can change the angle of view of the object to be photographed by swinging left and right. A mode switch 211 switches between a recording mode and a playback mode. The liquid crystal screen 212 is used when shooting while confirming image data. The liquid crystal screen 212 is also used for confirming captured image data.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the electronic camera according to the embodiment of the present invention. By starting the slide show, the first image data is read (step S301). For the first image data, shooting date / time information is displayed before the effect is started (step S302). After the shooting date / time information is displayed, the information is stored (step S306), and the shooting date / time information disappears after a certain period of time (step S307).

  Next, the rotation information of the image data is analyzed (step S308). If the rotation information is vertical, the effect processing for the vertical position image is executed (step S309). If the rotation information is horizontal, the effect for the horizontal position image is executed. Processing is executed (step S310). When the effect process is executed, a timer is started (step S311), and it is checked whether the timer has elapsed for N seconds after the image data is displayed (step S312) (step S313). N may be set arbitrarily or may be a fixed value. If N seconds have not elapsed, the image display state is restored. If N seconds have elapsed, the timer is cleared (step S314), and it is checked whether it is the last image data of the slide show (step S315). In the case of the last image data, the slide show is ended. If it is not the last image data, the next image data is read (step S303). Subsequently, it is checked whether the shooting date / time information of the image data read this time has changed from the shooting date / time information of the previously read image data (step S304). If the shooting date / time information has changed, the shooting date / time is displayed (step S305). ).

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the slide show effect of the present embodiment. The shooting date / time information is displayed (401), and the effect processing according to the rotation information of the image is started. When the rotation information is horizontal, for example, as shown in 402, the minimum scale cross-shaped image data visible range is arranged at a position slightly shifted from the center of the screen. When the rotation information is vertical, as shown in 404, for example. The smallest scale cross-shaped image data visible range is arranged at the center of the screen. Subsequently, the image data visible range is gradually increased, and when the maximum scale is reached, the image data visible range is gradually reduced. When the image data visible range becomes the minimum scale again and the effect processing for the image data is finished (403, 405), the next image data is read, and the shooting date / time information of the previous image data is different from the next image data Displays a screen showing the shooting date of the next image data (401). Further, when the shooting date / time is displayed on the screen, it is also possible to read background image data corresponding to the shooting date / time information and display the background image data together with the shooting date / time information. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example in which shooting date / time information and background image data are displayed on the screen. FIG. 5A illustrates a case where background image data that makes the image of winter corresponding to the shooting date / time information displayed together with the shooting date / time information of “2004.12.25”. FIG. 5B illustrates a case in which background image data for displaying the summer corresponding to the shooting date / time information is displayed together with the shooting date / time information of “2004.8.15”.

  If the date and time information of the next image data and the previous image data are the same and the rotation information is different, the effect processing for the vertical position image is started (404) after the effect processing for the horizontal position image is completed (403). After the effect processing for the vertical position image is completed (405), the effect processing for the horizontal position image is started (402).

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the effect processing is changed according to the rotation information (attribute information) included in the image, the appreciation is maintained and the attribute of the image is intuitively understood. It becomes possible to do. In addition, according to the present embodiment, since the background image to be displayed is switched according to the shooting date / time information (attribute information) indicating the generation time of the image, it is possible to intuitively grasp the shooting date / time of the image from the background image. Is also possible.

  In the present embodiment, the shooting information of the image data to be analyzed is only the shooting date / time information and the rotation information. However, other shooting information may be analyzed and connected to another effect. Although the shooting date / time information is displayed after the image data is read, it may be displayed before the execution of the effect process, after the execution of the effect process, or during the execution of the effect process. The date and time information disappears after a certain period of time after displaying the shooting date and time information. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it may be displayed during execution of the effect process and deleted when the effect process ends. . In addition, although the timer is started after the effect processing is executed, the timer may be started before the image data is read, or the timer may be started after the image data is read.

  The recording media 200 and 210 are not only PCMCIA cards, compact flash (registered trademark) memory cards, hard disks, but also micro DAT, magneto-optical disks, optical disks such as CD-R and CD-WR, DVDs, and the like. Of course, there is no problem even if it is composed of a changeable optical disk or the like.

  Of course, there is no problem even if the recording media 200 and 210 are composite media in which a memory card and a hard disk are integrated. Further, there is no problem even if a part of the composite medium is detachable.

  In the description of the embodiments, the recording media 200 and 210 are described as being separated from the image processing apparatus 100 and arbitrarily connectable. However, any or all of the recording media are connected to the image processing apparatus 100. Of course, there is no problem even if it remains fixed.

  Further, the recording medium 200 or 210 may be connected to the image processing apparatus 100 in any number of single or plural. In the above description, the recording media 200 and 210 are mounted on the image processing apparatus 100. However, the recording medium may have any combination of a single or a plurality of recording media.

  Another object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus stores the storage medium. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the program code itself and the storage medium storing the program code constitute the present invention.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (basic system or operating system) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. Needless to say, a case where the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included.

  Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function is determined based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the CPU or the like provided in the expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the electronic camera which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the operation member of the electronic camera which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the electronic camera which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the transition of a display screen. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen containing imaging | photography date information and a background image.

Explanation of symbols

201 Power button 202 Menu button 203 Enter button 204 Display button 205 Left button 206 Right button 207 Up button 208 Down button 210 Zoom button 211 Mode switch 212 LCD screen

Claims (10)

Determining means for determining predetermined information relating to image data;
Effect processing means for switching and executing effect processing on the image data in accordance with a determination result by the determination means;
An image processing apparatus comprising: display control means for displaying the image data subjected to the effect processing by the effect processing means on a display means.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined information related to the image data is attribute information of the image data.   The attribute information of the image data includes rotation information of the image data, the determination unit determines rotation information of the image data, and the effect processing unit applies to the image data according to the rotation information. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the effect processing is switched and executed.   4. The effect processing unit according to claim 1, wherein the effect processing unit switches and executes effect processing for gradually changing a visible range of the image data in accordance with a determination result by the determination unit. The image processing apparatus described.   5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the display control unit further displays on the display unit image data corresponding to a determination result by the determination unit. 6.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the display control unit displays image data corresponding to the determination result on the display unit together with the determination result by the determination unit.   The attribute information of the image data includes information indicating the generation time of the image data, and the display control unit further displays image data corresponding to the information indicating the generation time of the image data on the display unit. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the image processing apparatus is configured to perform the processing. An image processing method by an image processing apparatus for processing image data to be displayed on a display means,
A determination step of determining predetermined information relating to image data;
An effect processing step of switching and executing effect processing on the image data according to the determination result of the determination step;
A display control step of displaying on the display means the image data subjected to the effect processing in the effect processing step.   A program for causing a computer to execute the image processing method according to claim 8.   A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to claim 9 is recorded.

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