JP2007221594A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus having a function of correcting a red eye in a photographed image to a normal image through electronic processing, capable of correctly detecting the red eye, and precisely correcting the red eye to the normal image without requiring a complicated program for detecting the position of the red eye. <P>SOLUTION: A photographed image is displayed on a liquid crystal panel 5 provided on the rear face of an imaging unit 1. A user inputs position information of the above image in the periphery of an eye E by touching the liquid crystal panel 5 with a finger F of the self-user. Based on the input position information of the periphery of the eye E, a control unit constituted of a microprocessor incorporated in the imaging unit 1 sets a particular area Z, so that a red eye correction function is executed as limited to the above particular area Z. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus, and more particularly to an imaging apparatus in which a red-eye portion in a captured image is corrected to a normal image by electronic processing.

  When a camera equipped with a strobe is used to image a person by flashing the strobe in a dark place, a so-called red-eye phenomenon may occur in which the eyes of the person in the captured image are reproduced in red. In order to eliminate this red-eye phenomenon, recent digital cameras are equipped with a function (hereinafter referred to as a red-eye correction function) that electronically processes the red-eye portion to correct it into a normal image.

  The red-eye correction function mainly includes a position detection function that detects the position of the red-eye part in the captured image, and color correction that corrects the image by replacing the detected red-eye part image data with dark color data such as black. Composed by function. However, since the position detection function is configured to detect the red-eye part mainly based on the color distribution and the boundary shape in the image, there is a problem that it is difficult to always detect the red-eye part correctly. .

  Specifically, the position detection function has a function of recognizing a color arrangement pattern in an image.For example, a skin color region having a relatively large area exists in the image, and a white area having a small area is included therein. When there are circular black areas and red areas arranged concentrically, the red area is recognized as a red-eye part. If there is a part with the arrangement of, the part is mistakenly recognized as a red-eye part.

  In addition, for example, an image in which a person who is not a dark color such as blue or green is picked up, or a subject (person) is illuminated in a color that is significantly different from natural light such as blue or red. Since the above color arrangement pattern is not applied to the image, it is difficult to detect the red-eye portion with the above position detection function.

  From the above circumstances, in order to allow the user himself / herself to confirm the correctness of the red-eye portion detected by the position detection function, the digital image is superimposed on an image displayed on a display device such as a liquid crystal panel. There has been known an imaging apparatus configured to display the number of red-eye portions detected by the camera itself and a mark indicating the position thereof (for example, see Patent Document 1).

In addition, a touch panel is attached to a display device such as a liquid crystal panel on which the captured image is displayed so that the user can perform various image processing on the captured image at the imaging site. There has been known an imaging apparatus configured such that an image displayed on a display device can be arbitrarily deformed by touching the touch panel with a finger or a touch pen (for example, see Patent Document 2).
JP 2004-208279 A JP 2002-262169 A

  As described above, in the conventional imaging device, the iris color of the person is not dark, or the person is illuminated with a colored light different from natural light. There is a problem that detection is not accurate, and an image portion that is not a human eye may be changed from red to black, or the human red eye may remain uncorrected.

  Even if there is no problem in the imaging conditions as described above, for example, the face recognition may be difficult depending on the orientation of the person's face. In such a case, the red-eye correction function itself does not operate. There was a problem. Furthermore, in order to be able to accurately detect the red-eye portion even in the various cases as described above, a complicated program that can recognize and discriminate many patterns must be installed in the imaging apparatus, which increases the cost. There was a problem such as a problem and a slow processing speed.

  Therefore, the present invention does not require a complicated program for detecting the position of the red-eye part in the imaging device having a function of correcting the red-eye part in the captured image to a normal image by electronic processing. An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus in which a red-eye portion is accurately detected and the red-eye portion is accurately corrected to a normal image.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is directed to a storage means for temporarily storing image data of a captured subject and a display such as a liquid crystal panel for displaying the image data stored in the main storage stage as an image. Means for detecting a red-eye part in an image represented by the image data stored in the main storage stage, and correcting the image data for the red-eye part detected by the red-eye detection means In an imaging device including a red-eye correction unit that corrects an image of a straight eye, an image that is displayed on the display unit based on a position on the display unit that includes a touch panel and a user contacts with the user's own finger or touch pen A correction area setting means for setting a specific area around the middle eye, and a detection range limited to the specific area set by the correction area setting means The red-eye detection operation is performed by the red-eye detection unit, and the detected red-eye image data is corrected by the red-eye correction unit, and the image data corrected by the red-eye detection correction unit is displayed on the display. A corrected image display means to be displayed as an image on the means, and when the user approves the corrected image displayed on the display means by the corrected image display means, based on the approval input by the user, the image before correction An image replacement unit that replaces the data with corrected image data and stores the corrected image data in the storage unit; and if the user does not approve the corrected image displayed on the display unit by the corrected image display unit, An image switching unit that replaces an image displayed on the display unit with an image before correction based on an approval input and displays the image. The red-eye detection means may be detected in a short time and accurate red-eye portions in comparison with the case where the detection operation by the entire area of the image represented by the image data on the subject.

  The invention of claim 2 is a storage means for temporarily storing image data of a captured subject, a display means such as a liquid crystal panel for displaying the image data stored in the storage main stage as an image, and the storage main stage. A red-eye detecting means for detecting a red-eye portion in the image represented by the image data stored in the image data, and a red-eye portion detected by the red-eye detecting means is corrected to a normal eye image by correcting the image data. In an imaging apparatus including a red-eye correction unit, a specific region around an eye in an image displayed on the display unit is set based on a position on the display unit that is designated by the user with the user's own finger or a pointing device. A correction area setting means, and a red eye by the red eye detection means by limiting a detection range within a specific area set by the correction area setting means. A red-eye detection and correction unit that executes the output operation and corrects the detected red-eye image data by the red-eye correction unit, and the red-eye detection unit detects the entire area of the image represented by the image data. It is characterized in that the red-eye part can be detected in a shorter time and more accurately than in the case where the operation is performed.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the invention, the correction area setting unit includes a touch panel attached to the display unit.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the imaging apparatus having a function of correcting the red-eye portion in the captured image to a normal image by electronic processing, the image is input by the user before the red-eye correction function is executed. A specific area around the eyes is set based on the position information, and the red-eye detection operation is executed limited to the set specific area, so that a complicated program for detecting the position of the red-eye part is not required. The red-eye portion is accurately detected, and the red-eye portion is accurately corrected to a normal image. In addition, the user can check the corrected image with the display means, and if the corrected image cannot be approved, the user can input a non-approval to replace the corrected image with the corrected image. Since it is displayed on the display means, the position information around the eyes can be easily input again.

  According to the invention of claim 2, in an imaging apparatus having a function of correcting a red-eye portion in a captured image to a normal image by electronic processing, the image is input by a user before the red-eye correction function is executed. A specific area around the eyes is set based on the position information, and the red-eye detection operation is executed limited to the set specific area, so that a complicated program for detecting the position of the red-eye part is not required. The red-eye portion is accurately detected, and the red-eye portion is accurately corrected to a normal image.

  According to the invention of claim 3, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 2, the user can more easily input positional information around the eyes.

  Hereinafter, an imaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The imaging device 1 of the present embodiment is a digital camera, and includes a liquid crystal panel (display means) 5 for displaying an image captured on the back surface, as shown in FIG. And a switch group 14 including a push button switch 14b such as a cross switch 14a and a power switch 12. A shutter button 13 is provided on the upper surface of the housing 1a.

  Further, a touch panel 6 (see FIG. 1) for detecting a position on the liquid crystal panel 5 when the user contacts with the user's own finger F or a touch pen (pointing device) is attached to the surface of the liquid crystal panel 5.

  Next, the electronic circuit housed in the housing 1a will be described with reference to FIG. In the housing 1a, there is provided a control unit 4 composed of a microprocessor which operates by being supplied with a voltage from the power supply unit 11 by turning on the power switch 12. The control unit 4 (red-eye detection means, red-eye correction means, red-eye detection correction means, image replacement means, image switching means) is connected to the shutter button 13, various switch groups 14, the liquid crystal panel 5, and the touch panel. The control unit 4 and the liquid crystal panel 5 correspond to the corrected image display means in the claims.

  The control unit 4 is connected to the imaging unit 2 via the signal processing unit 3. The image picked up by the image pickup unit 2 is once taken into the control unit 4 as image data, and the image data subjected to pixel thinning processing by the control unit 4 is output to the liquid crystal panel 5 and displayed as an image. The Then, in accordance with an imaging instruction input by pressing the shutter button 13 by the user, the image data 8 taken into the control unit 4 at that timing is stored in the memory 7 (storage means). The memory 7 also stores data 9 such as dates corresponding to the images.

  When a strobe use mode to be described later is selected, the strobe 15 connected to the control unit 4 is lighted simultaneously with the imaging timing by a light emission instruction from the control unit 4 when the user presses the shutter button 13.

  The memory 7 stores the data of the menu screen displayed on the liquid crystal panel 5. When the user presses the push button switch 14b, the menu screen is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 5, and the menu screen is displayed. From the displayed menu, the user can select various operations such as the strobe use mode and the red-eye correction function on by operating the cross switch 14a or the like. Note that switching between the reproduction mode and the imaging mode is performed by a change-over switch (not shown) provided on the side surface of the housing 1a.

  Next, the imaging procedure executed by the control unit 4 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The control unit 4 first determines whether or not it is an imaging mode (S1), and if it is an imaging mode (YES in S1), it determines whether or not it is a strobe use mode (S2). If it is not the strobe use mode (NO in S2), an imaging operation that does not require red-eye correction processing is executed (S4).

  If it is the strobe use mode (YES in S2), the control unit 4 determines whether or not the red-eye correction function is on (S3), and if the red-eye correction function is not on (NO in S3). Then, an imaging operation that does not require red-eye correction processing is executed (S4).

  If the red-eye correction function is on (YES in S3), the control unit 4 determines whether or not imaging has been executed by pressing the shutter button 13 by the user (S5). When the imaging is executed (YES in S5), the control unit 4 determines whether or not the strobe 15 emits light (S6). When the strobe 15 does not emit light (NO in S6), The imaging process ends.

  When the strobe 15 emits light (YES in S6), the control unit 4 enlarges and displays the vicinity of the focus point of the captured image on the liquid crystal panel 5 (S7), and prompts the user to specify the red-eye correction region. Is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 5 (S8). The message that prompts the user to specify the red-eye correction region may be displayed as characters, or may be displayed as a symbol or a pictograph.

  Next, the control unit 4 determines whether an instruction to enlarge or reduce the image displayed on the liquid crystal panel 5 is input by the user, and whether an instruction to adjust the position of the displayed image is input by the user. (S9), and if it is input (YES in S9), the image displayed on the liquid crystal panel 5 is enlarged or reduced and the position is adjusted according to the content of the input instruction (S10). ). The adjustment of the position of the image is performed based on the operation of the cross switch 14a or the like by the user when the image of the person who is the subject is displayed vertically and horizontally biased with respect to the screen of the liquid crystal panel 5. As a result, the image of the person is moved to the center of the liquid crystal panel 5.

  Next, the control unit 4 determines whether or not the user has input a red-eye correction region to the touch panel 6 (S11). If there is no input (NO in S11), the user instructs the end of red-eye correction. (S12), and if there is an instruction to end red-eye correction (YES in S12), the imaging process ends. If there is no instruction to end red-eye correction (NO in S12), the process returns to step S9 again.

  If it is determined in S11 that the user has input a red-eye correction region to the touch panel 6 (YES in S11), a red-eye correction process is executed (S13).

  Here, the input of the red-eye correction part to the touch panel 6 by the user will be described with reference to FIG. The user is prompted by the message displayed on the liquid crystal panel 5 in S8, touches the surface of the liquid crystal panel 5 using the user's own finger F or touch pen, and the eyes of the person in the image displayed with the finger F or touch pen are displayed. It is moved in a substantially elliptical shape so as to surround E. Information input to the touch panel 6 by this operation is input to the control unit 4 and recognized as a specific area in the image. The touch panel 6 and the control unit 4 mainly correspond to correction area setting means in the claims. An example of the substantially elliptical specific region Z recognized by the control unit 4 is shown in FIG.

  In addition, about the input of the red-eye correction | amendment site | part to the touch panel 6 by a user, it is not restricted to said method, A various deformation | transformation is possible. For example, the user uses the user's own finger F or touch pen to touch the center of the person's eye E, and the position information input to the touch panel 6 by this contact operation is input to the control unit 4. In this case, a circular area having a predetermined radius centered on the position may be set as the correction area.

  Next, returning to the flowchart of FIG. 3, the red-eye correction process in S13 will be described. Based on the specific area Z recognized by the control unit 4 as described above, the control unit 4 applies a color arrangement pattern stored in advance in the control unit 4 to the image to detect red-eye detection. The function is executed only in the specific area Z, and red-eye correction is performed on the detected red-eye portion to change the image data of the red-eye portion to a dark color such as black.

  At this time, since the red-eye detection function is executed only in the specific area Z, the red-eye portion is detected in a shorter time than when executed for the entire area of the image, and the user can Since the search is performed in the region that is input as an existing portion, the red-eye portion is accurately detected without using a complicated detection program.

  Next, the control unit 4 displays an image subjected to red-eye correction (hereinafter referred to as a red-eye corrected image) on the liquid crystal panel 5 (S14), and determines whether or not the red-eye corrected image is approved by the user (S14). S15). Note that the red-eye corrected image may be an image in which the correction target is clearly indicated by color coding, a mark, or the like. Specifically, whether or not the red-eye correction image is approved by the user is determined by whether or not the determination switch or the like in the switch group 14 is pressed by the user within a predetermined time.

  If the red-eye correction image is not approved by the user (NO in S15), the control unit 4 replaces the image before correction with the image after correction and displays it on the liquid crystal panel 5 (S16), and returns to S9 again. Then, the user waits for input of a correction part by touching the touch panel 6.

  If the red-eye correction image is approved by the user (YES in S15), the user determines whether or not to continue red-eye correction (S17), and the user selects to execute red-eye correction (S17). In S17, YES), the process returns to Step S9 again and waits for the input of the correction site by the user touching the touch panel 6. If the user does not select to execute red-eye correction subsequently (NO in S17), the image data of the corrected image is recorded in the memory 7 (S18).

  Specifically, whether or not the user subsequently executes red-eye correction is determined based on whether or not any switch of the cross switch 14a is operated by the user, for example.

  As described above, in the digital camera according to the present embodiment, the user touches the touch panel 6 with the user's own finger F or the like on the image that is captured and displayed on the liquid crystal panel 5. The position information is input, and the control unit 4 sets the specific area Z based on the input position information and executes the red-eye correction function only in the specific area Z. Is detected, and red-eye correction is accurately performed. In addition, since the program installed in the control unit 4 for detecting the red-eye part does not need to be complicated and large-scale, the digital camera can be manufactured at a low cost.

1 is a block configuration diagram of an electronic circuit of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows the external appearance of the back side of the digital camera. 6 is a flowchart showing an imaging procedure of the digital camera.

Explanation of symbols

1 Digital camera (imaging device)
4 Control unit (red-eye detection means, red-eye correction means, correction area setting means, red-eye detection correction means, corrected image display means, image replacement means, image switching means)
5 Liquid crystal panel (display means, corrected image display means)
6 Touch panel (correction area setting means)
7 Memory (memory means)
8 Image data E Eye F Finger Z Specific area

Claims (3)

Storage means for temporarily storing image data of the captured subject;
Display means such as a liquid crystal panel for displaying the image data stored in the storage main stage as an image;
Red-eye detecting means for detecting a red-eye portion in an image represented by image data stored in the storage main stage;
In an imaging apparatus comprising a red-eye correction unit that corrects a normal-eye image by correcting the image data for the red-eye portion detected by the red-eye detection unit,
A correction area setting means for setting a specific area around the eyes in the image displayed on the display means, based on the position on the display means that the user touches with the user's own finger or touch pen;
Limiting the detection range within a specific area set by the correction area setting means, causing the red-eye detection operation by the red-eye detection means, and correcting the detected red-eye image data by the red-eye correction means Correction means;
Corrected image display means for displaying the image data corrected by the red-eye detection correction means on the display means as an image;
When the user approves the corrected image displayed on the display unit by the corrected image display unit, the image data before correction is replaced with the corrected image data based on the approval input by the user, and the storage is performed. Image replacement means stored in the means;
When the user does not approve the corrected image displayed on the display unit by the corrected image display unit, the image displayed on the display unit is replaced with the image before correction based on the non-approval input by the user. Image switching means to be displayed,
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the red-eye detecting unit can detect the red-eye part in a shorter time and more accurately than when the detection operation is performed on the entire region of the image represented by the image data. Storage means for temporarily storing image data of the captured subject;
Display means such as a liquid crystal panel for displaying the image data stored in the storage main stage as an image;
Red-eye detecting means for detecting a red-eye portion in an image represented by image data stored in the storage main stage;
In an imaging apparatus comprising a red-eye correction unit that corrects a normal-eye image by correcting the image data for the red-eye portion detected by the red-eye detection unit,
Correction area setting means for setting a specific area around the eye in the image displayed on the display means based on the position on the display means indicated by the user's own finger or pointing device;
Limiting the detection range within a specific area set by the correction area setting means, causing the red-eye detection operation by the red-eye detection means, and correcting the detected red-eye image data by the red-eye correction means Correction means,
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the red-eye detecting unit can detect the red-eye part in a shorter time and more accurately than when the detection operation is performed on the entire region of the image represented by the image data.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the correction area setting unit includes a touch panel attached to the display unit.

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