JP2007221696A - Electronic still camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic still camera which can speedily store a photographing position while pairing it with a photographed image after being powered on. <P>SOLUTION: The electronic still camera which stores a photographing position while pairing it with a photographed image, and the electronic still camera is equipped with: a positioning unit 16 which calculates a present location using positioning data from a GPS satellite; and a carrying-camera detector 21 for detecting whether an electronic still camera body is carried by a user, so that while the carrying-camera detector 21 detects that the electronic still camera is carried by the user, the calculation by the positioning unit 16 is permitted. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic still camera, and more particularly to an electronic still camera having a function of storing a shooting position based on information from a GPS satellite.

In GPS (Global Positioning System), the position is calculated from navigation data (orbit data) from at least three GPS satellites orbiting the sky, and the reception position is obtained from this intersection. In this case, the error between the atomic clock mounted on the GPS satellite and the clock between the GPS receiver on the ground and the unknown is used as an unknown to solve the quaternary simultaneous quadratic equation (Equation 1) below, Is calculated.
{(X ₁ −X ₀ ) ² + (Y ₁ −Y ₀ ) ² + (Z ₁ −Z ₀ ) ² } ^1/2 = (C × r ′ ₁ ) ²
{(X ₂ −X ₀ ) ² + (Y ₂ −Y ₀ ) ² + (Z ₂ −Z ₀ ) ² } ^1/2 = (C × r ′ ₂ ) ² (Formula 1)
{(X ₃ −X ₀ ) ² + (Y ₃ −Y ₀ ) ² + (Z ₃ −Z ₀ ) ² } ^1/2 = (C × r ′ ₃ ) ²
{(X ₄ −X ₀ ) ² + (Y ₄ −Y ₀ ) ² + (Z ₄ −Z ₀ ) ² } ^1/2 = (C × r ′ ₄ ) ²
Here, (X _i , Y _i , Z _i ) is the position of the GPS satellite, r ′ _i is the propagation time defined by r _i + dt, r _i is the true propagation time, and dt is the time It is a deviation (error), (X ₀ , Y ₀ , Z ₀ ) is a reception position, and C is the speed of light.

Since (Equation 1) is not linear, it cannot be easily solved. Therefore, the unknown is expressed as the sum of the assumed position (approximate value) of the reception position and the correction amount, and the formula is developed for the correction amount. Further, assuming that the correction amount is very small, the correction amount after the second order is omitted and linearization is performed as shown in the following (Equation 2).

Here, α _i , β _i , and γ _i indicate the coordinate components of the direction cosine of the line of sight to the GPS satellite viewed from the assumed position, and (Xe, Ye, Ze) indicate the difference between the received position and the assumed position. , Δ r _i is defined by r _i −r _i ′, where r _i indicates the distance between the assumed position and the GPS satellite, and r _i ′ is the distance between the reception position and the GPS satellite determined from the propagation time.

  This (Expression 2) is solved for (Xe, Ye, Ze, Te), and the reception position is obtained by correcting the assumed position from the obtained value. Such positioning calculation is performed at regular intervals, and the reception position obtained in the previous positioning calculation is normally used as a temporary reception position for the next iterative calculation.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a conventional electronic still camera equipped with the GPS function as described above.

  In FIG. 4, the control unit 11 is a control unit that controls the sequence of the electronic still camera. The control unit 11 detects that the power switch of the switch (SW) unit 122 of the operation unit 12 is turned on, and turns on the power to start the operation. The operation unit 12 includes a display unit 121 made up of a display device such as an LCD and an SW unit 122 made up of various switches such as a power switch.

  The imaging unit 13 images input light from a subject with an imaging element such as a CCD, and stores image data obtained thereby in the storage unit 14 via the control unit 11. In the storage unit 14, image data and position information where the image data is captured are stored in association with each other. The storage unit 14 is configured by a nonvolatile memory such as a Flash ROM.

  The positioning unit 16 includes a GPS receiver 161, an antenna 162, and a positioning calculator 163. The GPS receiver 161 receives positioning radio waves from GPS satellites via the antenna 162 and outputs positioning data. The positioning calculation unit 163 performs positioning calculation based on the positioning data from the GPS receiving unit 161 and the temporary reception position data in the storage unit 14, stores the calculated positioning data in the storage unit 14, and stores the temporary reception position data. Update.

  The control unit 11, the operation unit 12, the imaging unit 13, the storage unit 14, and the positioning unit 16 are supplied with power from a power supply unit (not shown).

In such a conventional electronic still camera, when the power switch is turned off, the power supply to the positioning unit 16 including the GPS receiver 161 and the positioning calculator 163 is turned off to reduce power consumption. ing. Then, after the power switch is turned on, power is supplied to the GPS receiving unit 161 and the positioning calculation unit 163 to start the operation, and the positioning calculation is executed.
JP-A-8-36043

  By the way, when using the electronic still camera, the user carries the electronic still camera to a desired shooting point with the power of the electronic still camera turned off. When the camera arrives at the shooting point, the power is turned on to perform shooting, and after the shooting is finished, the camera is carried off with the power turned off again. Assuming such use, it is possible to improve the operability of the electronic still camera and not miss a photo opportunity because the rise time of the electronic still camera when the power is turned on can be shortened and shooting can be completed in a short time. It becomes an important functional factor.

  Here, in the case of an electronic still camera as described above, the current position of the electronic still camera and the temporary reception position calculated when the power was turned on the last time are greatly separated due to the movement of the electronic still camera when the power of the electronic still camera is turned off. In such a case, it may take time to converge the calculation in repeated positioning calculations, and the operability at power-on may be impaired.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic still camera capable of quickly storing a shooting position as a pair with a shot image after the electronic still camera is turned on. To do.

  In order to achieve the above object, an electronic still camera according to a first aspect of the present invention is an electronic still camera that stores a shooting position in a pair with a shot image, and the current position is determined by positioning data from a GPS satellite. A positioning unit that calculates, a portable detection unit that detects whether or not the electronic still camera body is carried by a user, and when the portable detection unit detects that the electronic still camera is carried by the user, And an operation control unit that permits calculation by the positioning unit.

  According to the first aspect, while the portable state of the electronic still camera is detected by the portable detection unit, the positioning calculation is performed by the positioning unit, and the current position is updated to the latest positioning data. Positioning data can be determined within the rise time of, and the shooting position can be quickly stored as a pair with the shot image.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an electronic still camera capable of quickly storing a shooting position as a pair with a shot image after the electronic still camera is turned on.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an electronic still camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. The electronic still camera shown in FIG. 1 includes a control unit 11, an operation unit 12, an imaging unit 13, a storage unit 14, a power supply unit 15, a positioning unit 16, a power supply unit 17, and a portable detection unit 21. It is configured.

  The control unit 11 is a control unit that performs sequence control of the electronic still camera shown in FIG. Here, the control unit 11 is configured to start upon receiving a power-on operation of the electronic still camera by the user and to start various sequence controls.

  The operation unit 12 includes a display unit 121 and a switch (SW) unit 122. The display unit 121 includes a display device such as an LCD, for example, and displays various images such as an image (captured image) captured by the user. The SW unit 122 includes a plurality of switches such as a power switch for turning on the power of the electronic still camera and a release switch for executing a photographing operation by the electronic still camera. The control unit 11 receives the operation of the SW unit 122 by the user and executes sequence control according to the operation.

  The imaging unit 13 captures input light from a subject (not shown) with an imaging element such as a CCD and acquires image data. The image data acquired by the imaging unit 13 is stored in the storage unit 14 via the control unit 11. The storage unit 14 stores the image data input from the imaging unit 13 and a position (photographing position) at which the image data was photographed as a pair. The storage unit 14 is configured by a non-volatile memory such as a Flash ROM.

  The positioning unit 16 includes a GPS receiving unit 161, an antenna 162, and a positioning calculation unit 163. The GPS receiving unit 161 receives and processes positioning radio waves from a GPS satellite (not shown) via the antenna 162, and outputs positioning data obtained thereby to the positioning calculation unit 163. The positioning calculation unit 163 includes a storage unit 163a that stores temporary reception position data (positioning data at the time of previous positioning calculation execution), and the positioning data output from the GPS reception unit 161 and the temporary data in the storage unit 163a. The positioning calculation is executed with the received position data, the calculated positioning data is stored in the storage unit 163a, and the temporary received position data is updated.

  The mobile detection unit 21 as a mobile detection unit and an operation permission unit is configured by an acceleration sensor or a vibration sensor, and detects whether the electronic still camera is being carried by a user based on the vibration state of the electronic still camera. . Here, when the carrying of the electronic still camera is detected, the fact is notified to the positioning calculation unit 16.

  In response to the operation of the power supply SW of the operation unit 12, the power supply unit 15 supplies power to the control unit 11, the operation unit 12, the imaging unit 13, and the storage unit 14 illustrated in FIG. The power supply unit 17 always supplies power to the portable detection unit 21 regardless of the operation state of the power supply SW of the operation unit 12.

Next, the operation of the electronic still camera according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a positioning calculation sequence by the electronic still camera according to the present embodiment. When a battery is attached to the electronic still camera, power is supplied from the power supply unit 17 to the portable detection unit 21. Accordingly, the mobile detection unit 21 starts counting the stop detection timer 211 and determines whether or not the mobile state of the electronic still camera is detected (step S31).

  If it is determined in step S31 that the carrying state of the electronic still camera is detected, the process branches to step S32, and the operation of the positioning unit 16 is permitted after the count value of the stop detection timer 211 is cleared. (Step S32). Thereafter, power is supplied to the positioning unit 16 (step S33). When the power is supplied, the GPS receiving unit 161 starts receiving positioning radio waves for positioning calculation from the GPS satellite, and the positioning data is output to the positioning calculating unit 163. The positioning calculation unit 163 performs positioning calculation based on the positioning data output from the GPS receiving unit 161 and the provisional reception position data stored in the storage unit 163a (step S34). After the positioning calculation is performed, the obtained positioning data is stored in the storage unit 163a (step S35). Thereafter, the process returns to step S31.

  On the other hand, if the carrying state of the electronic still camera is not detected in the determination in step S31, the process branches to step S36 to determine whether or not the stop detection timer 211 has counted up a predetermined time and timed up. (Step S36). If it is determined in step S36 that the stop detection timer 211 has not expired, the process returns to step S31. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S36 that the stop detection timer 211 has expired, it is determined that the electronic still camera is currently in a storage state. In this case, after the count value of the stop detection timer 211 is cleared, the operation of the positioning unit 16 is stopped (step S37). Thereafter, the power of the positioning unit 16 is turned off (step S38). Thereafter, the process returns to step S31.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a sequence of photographing operations of the electronic still camera according to the present embodiment. When the battery is attached to the electronic still camera, the operation unit 12 operates to determine whether or not the power SW of the SW unit 122 is turned on (step S41). If it is determined in step S41 that the power SW is on, power is supplied to each functional block such as the control unit 11, the operation unit 12, the imaging unit 13, and the storage unit 14 (step S42).

  Next, it is determined whether or not the release SW of the SW unit 122 is turned on (step S43). If it is determined in step S43 that the release SW is not turned on, the process branches from step S43 to step S47. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S43 that the release SW is turned on, the process branches from step S43 to step S44 to execute a shooting process (step S44), and the image data obtained by this shooting process is stored in the storage unit. 14 (step S45).

  Next, the positioning data stored in the storage unit 163a of the positioning calculation unit 163 is read out, and the read out positioning data is associated with the image data obtained in the imaging process in step S44. Is stored in the storage unit 14 (step S46). Here, the positioning calculation may be executed again before storing the shooting position data.

  If it is determined in step S43 that the release SW is not turned on, or after step S46, it is determined whether or not the power SW of the SW unit 122 is turned off (step S47). If it is determined in step S47 that the power SW is not turned off, the process returns to step S43. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S47 that the power SW is turned off, the process branches from step S47 to step S48, and the power to the control unit 11, the operation unit 12, the imaging unit 13, and the storage unit 14 is turned off ( Step S48) and return to Step S41.

  As described above, in this embodiment, even if the power of the electronic still camera is not turned on, the power of the portable detection unit 21 is turned on. While the mobile phone is detected, the power of the positioning unit 16 is turned on, and positioning calculation is performed. As a result, the temporary reception position and the actual reception position are not greatly separated when the power of the electronic still camera is turned on, and the positioning calculation processing time can be shortened. Therefore, it is possible to quickly store image data paired with the shooting position after the electronic still camera is powered on.

  Further, when the electronic still camera is not carried for a predetermined time, the power of the positioning unit 16 is turned off, so that power saving can be achieved.

  Although the present invention has been described based on the above embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and applications are naturally possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

  Further, the above-described embodiments include various stages of the invention, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriately combining a plurality of disclosed constituent elements. For example, even if some configuration requirements are deleted from all the configuration requirements shown in the embodiment, the above-described problem can be solved, and this configuration requirement is deleted when the above-described effects can be obtained. The configuration can also be extracted as an invention.

It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the electronic still camera which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart shown about the sequence of the positioning calculation by the electronic still camera which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the sequence of imaging | photography operation | movement of the electronic still camera which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the electronic still camera of a prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Control part, 12 ... Operation part, 13 ... Imaging part, 14 ... Memory | storage part, 15, 17 ... Power supply, 16 ... Positioning unit, 21 ... Portable detection part, 121 ... Display part, 122 ... Switch part (SW part) , 161 ... GPS receiver, 162 ... antenna, 163 ... positioning calculator, 163a ... storage, 211 ... stop detection timer

Claims (2)

An electronic still camera that stores a shooting position as a pair with a shot image,
A positioning unit that calculates the current position from positioning data from GPS satellites;
A portable detection unit for detecting whether or not the main body of the electronic still camera is carried by a user;
An operation control unit that permits calculation by the positioning unit when carrying by the user of the electronic still camera is detected by the portable detection unit;
An electronic still camera comprising:   2. The electronic still camera according to claim 1, wherein when the mobile detection unit does not detect a mobile phone by a user for a predetermined time, the operation control unit stops the supply of power to the positioning unit.

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