JP2007281874A - Digital camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technology for providing a file name to an image file without duplication. <P>SOLUTION: An image file generating section 104c generates an image file on the basis of image data acquired by an image acquisition section 104a and subjected to image processing by an image processing section 104b. A file name attaching section 104d acquires photographing date time information with a time resolution higher than a shortest image data acquisition interval in the case of consecutive shots from a wave clock 105 and attaches a file name including the acquired photographing date time information to the image file. An image file recording section 104e records the image file with the file name attached thereto on a memory card inserted to a memory card slot 106. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a digital camera that captures a subject image to acquire an image.

  A date management apparatus as described below is known from Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-260260. In this date management apparatus, the creation date and time of the image data included in the file information of the image file is acquired, and the acquired creation date and time is used as the file name of the image file.

JP 2000-322300 A

  However, when a date is used for a file name as in a conventional date management device, generally, the time acquired as date information is up to seconds, and multiple image data at the same date such as when continuous shooting is performed. When the file was created, there was a possibility of duplicate file names.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital camera that captures a subject image and acquires image data, and measures time with a time resolution higher than the shortest image data acquisition interval during continuous shooting by the image acquisition unit. Time measuring means, image file generating means for generating an image file based on the image data acquired by the image acquiring means, image file recording means for recording the image file generated by the image file generating means, and acquiring the image data Time acquisition means for acquiring a time with high time resolution from the time measuring means at a predetermined timing from when the image file is recorded, and the time acquired by the time acquisition means in the image file generated by the image file generation means File name adding means for adding a file name including information.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the digital camera according to the first aspect, the time measuring unit acquires the time with a time resolution of less than 1 second.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the digital camera according to the first or second aspect, the time measuring means periodically obtains information related to an accurate time and performs time adjustment.
The digital camera according to claim 4 is the digital camera according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the time acquisition means acquires the time from the time measuring means at the acquisition timing of the image data by the image acquisition means. It is characterized by.
The digital camera according to claim 5 is the digital camera according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the time acquisition means acquires the time from the time measuring means at the timing of image file recording by the image file recording means. It is characterized by that.
The digital camera according to claim 6 further comprises image processing means for executing image processing on the image data acquired by the image acquisition means in the digital camera according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The time acquisition means acquires the time from the time measuring means at the timing of execution of the image processing by the image processing means.

  According to the present invention, a file name including information indicating different times can be added to all images.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a digital camera according to the present embodiment. The digital camera 100 includes a release button 101, a lens 102, an image sensor 103, a control device 104, a radio clock 105, a memory card slot 106, and a monitor 107.

  The release button 101 is operated by the user and outputs an operation signal to the control device 104. The lens 102 is composed of a plurality of optical lens groups, but is represented by a single lens in FIG. The image sensor 103 is, for example, a CCD, images a subject image input through the lens 102, and outputs image data obtained by the imaging to the control device 104.

  The radio clock 105 includes an antenna for receiving a standard radio wave including time information of Japan standard time. Then, the standard radio wave is received periodically (for example, once a day) via the antenna, and the time is corrected based on information (time information) regarding the accurate time included in the received standard radio wave. This makes it possible to always maintain an accurate time with almost no error from Japan Standard Time.

  This radio timepiece 105 also has a calendar function, acquires the current date and time according to an instruction from the control device 104, and outputs date / time information including the date and time to the control device 105. In the present embodiment, the radio timepiece 105 can acquire the time with higher time resolution than the shortest image acquisition interval during continuous shooting in the continuous shooting function of the digital camera 100. For example, if the shortest image acquisition interval during continuous shooting is 1/10 seconds, the time is acquired with a time resolution of 1/100 seconds. In this case, the radio timepiece 105 can output date and time information such as, for example, January 2, 2006, 3: 04: 5.06 to the control device 104.

  The radio timepiece 105 automatically receives a standard radio wave when the user turns on the power for the first time after purchasing the digital camera 100 to adjust the time. If the correct time cannot be maintained due to battery exhaustion or the like, the standard time signal is forcibly received at the next power-on and the time is adjusted. As a result, when the user uses the digital camera 100 to take a picture, the radio clock 105 is in a state in which it can always output an accurate time after time adjustment.

  A memory card as a storage medium is inserted in the memory card slot 106, and an image file output from the control device 104 is recorded in the memory card. The monitor 107 is a liquid crystal monitor, for example, and displays image data output from the control device 104.

  When recording an image file on a memory card, it is necessary to add a uniquely identifiable file name to each image file. For example, as a known method, there are a method of adding a serial number to a file name and a method of including time information with a time resolution of up to seconds in a file name.

  However, with a digital camera that adds a sequential number to the file name, the user cannot grasp the photographing time interval of each image even if the photographing order can be grasped from the file name, which is inconvenient for image management. It is. In addition, when serial numbers are added to file names, the number of serial numbers increases as the number of shots increases. Therefore, if there is a limit on the number of characters that can be handled as a file name on the OS side in a personal computer that handles images, it is necessary to reset the serial number before the limit is reached. In this case, duplication of file names occurs. It will be.

  In addition, in a digital camera that includes time information with a time resolution of up to seconds in a file name, when a plurality of images are captured within one second, a serial number is generally added to the end of the time information. Although the duplication of file names is avoided, in this case as well, the user cannot grasp the shooting time interval of each image simply by looking at the file name, which is inconvenient for image management.

  In the digital camera 100 according to the present embodiment, the control device 104 performs the following processing in order to solve such a conventional problem.

  The control device 104 includes a CPU, a memory, and other peripheral circuits, and includes an image acquisition unit 104a, an image processing unit 104b, an image file generation unit 104c, a file name addition unit 104d, and an image file recording unit 104e. Is functionally equipped.

  When the image acquisition unit 104a detects that the user has pressed the release button 101, the image acquisition unit 104a controls the image sensor 103 to acquire image data obtained by capturing the subject image. The acquired image data is temporarily stored in a memory included in the control device 104.

  The image processing unit 104b reads the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit 104a from the memory, performs known image processing such as interpolation processing, color conversion processing, and edge enhancement processing, and then performs compression processing to perform image data processing. Are compressed into a predetermined image format, for example, the Jpeg format.

  The image file generation unit 104c adds additional information such as information related to image capturing conditions, information related to image creation date / time, and information related to image update date / time to the image data that has been subjected to image processing by the image processing unit 104b. Generate an image file. For example, an image file in Exif format in which image data in Jpeg format is stored in the image data portion and additional information is stored in the additional information portion is generated.

  Here, as information relating to image capturing conditions, for example, information relating to shutter speed, ISO sensitivity, aperture value, and the like are stored. Further, as information related to the image creation date and time, information related to the image photographing date and time acquired from the radio clock 105 is stored as described later, and as information related to the image update date and time, information related to the update date and time when the image file is updated is stored. Stored.

  Thereby, for example, an image file having a data structure as shown in FIG. 2 is generated. That is, an image file composed of the image data part 2a and the additional information part 2b is generated, and in the additional information part 2b, a shutter speed, an ISO sensitivity, and an area for storing information on the above-described shooting conditions are stored. Each area of aperture value is included. In addition, the date and time of creation and the date and time of creation (subsecond) are included as areas for storing information on the date and time of image creation, and the date and time of update and the date and time of update (subsecond) are included as areas for storing information about the date and time of image update. Yes. The date / time up to the year / month / day / hour / minute / second is recorded in each of the creation date / time and the update date / time, and the creation date / time (sub-second) and the update date / time (sub-second) are less than 1 second. The time (subsecond) is recorded.

  The file name adding unit 104d adds a uniquely identifiable file name to the image file generated by the image file generating unit 104c, and when a plurality of image files are generated, the file name is set between the image files. Avoid duplication. For this purpose, the file name adding unit 104d acquires date / time information (shooting date / time information) indicating the shooting date / time of the image from the radio clock 105, and adds a file name including the shooting date / time information to each image file. To do. As described above, the radio timepiece 105 can acquire the time with higher time resolution than the shortest image acquisition interval at the time of continuous shooting. Therefore, the shooting time interval of a plurality of images can be acquired by the digital camera 100. Even when the time interval is, a different date and time can be acquired as the shooting date and time of each image.

  That is, when three images are taken when the shortest image acquisition interval at the time of continuous shooting is 1/10 seconds, January 2, 2006, 3: 4: 5.06 seconds, January 2, 2006 Different shooting dates and times such as 3: 4: 5.16 seconds and January 2, 2006, 3: 4: 5.26 seconds can be acquired. On the other hand, when the time resolution that can be acquired by the built-in clock is 1 second as in the case of a conventional digital camera, the shooting date and time of the three images are all January 2, 2006 at 3:04. The shooting date and time will be duplicated for 5 seconds.

  In the present embodiment, the date and time when the image data was acquired by the image acquisition unit 104a is taken as the shooting date and time of the image, and the date and time information acquired from the radio clock 105 at the timing when the release button 101 is pressed by the user. Information. That is, the file name adding unit 104d acquires the shooting date / time information from the radio clock 105 at the timing when the release button 101 is pressed by the user, and stores it in the memory provided in the control device 105. Then, when the image file recording unit 104e records the image file generated by the image file generation unit 104c on the memory card, the file name including the shooting date / time information stored in the memory is added to the image file.

  For example, the file name adding unit 104d may, for example, “20060102030506506.jpg” for an image file in JPEG format in which the shooting date / time information acquired from the radio clock 105 is 3: 02: 05: 06 January 2, 2006. ”Is added. Alternatively, a predetermined character string may be added to the beginning or end of the file name, and a file name partially including shooting date / time information such as “ABC20060102030506506.jpg” may be added.

  As described above, the file name adding unit 104d acquires the shooting date / time information of the image from the radio timepiece 105 and adds it as a file name, so that the time resolution higher than the shortest image acquisition interval at the time of continuous shooting is added to the file name. Time information can be included, and duplication of file names can be avoided.

  In addition, the file name adding unit 104d adds a file name including shooting date / time information to the image file, and at the same time adds information related to the image creation date / time (creation date / time and creation date / time (subsecond)) included in the additional information portion of the image file. The shooting date / time information stored in the memory is recorded. This makes it possible to manage images using highly accurate image creation dates and times on an application that can perform image management using information stored in the file name or the additional information section.

  The image file recording unit 104e records the image file with the file name added by the file name adding unit 104d in the memory card inserted into the memory card slot 106. As a result, image files to which different file names are all added are recorded in the memory card. Furthermore, since each image file includes shooting date and time information, the user can determine the shooting time interval of each image by simply looking at the file name. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, it is possible to grasp the shooting order and the shooting time interval of each image simply by sorting a plurality of image files by file names.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing of the digital camera 100 in the present embodiment. The processing shown in FIG. 4 is executed by the control device 104 as a program that is activated when the release button 101 is pressed by the user.

  In step S10, the image acquisition unit 104a controls the image sensor 103 to acquire image data obtained by capturing a subject image. The acquired image data is temporarily stored in a memory included in the control device 104. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S20, and the file name adding unit 104d acquires the current date and time information from the radio clock 105 and stores it in the memory included in the control device 105 as shooting date and time information. Then, it progresses to step S30.

  In step S30, the image processing unit 104b reads the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit 104a from the memory, performs known image processing such as interpolation processing, color conversion processing, edge enhancement processing, and compression processing, and performs predetermined processing. Obtain image data in an image format, for example, Jpeg format, and proceed to step S40.

  In step S40, as described above, the image file generation unit 104c stores the image data that has been subjected to the image processing by the image processing unit 104b in the image data unit, and relates to the image capturing conditions and the image creation date and time. An image file storing information and information related to the image update date and time in the additional information section, for example, an Exif format image file is generated. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S50.

  In step S50, the file name adding unit 104d adds a file name including the shooting date / time information stored in the memory in step S20 to the image file generated by the image file generating unit 104c. At the same time, the file name adding unit 104d records the shooting date / time information stored in the memory in the information about the image creation date / time (creation date / time and creation date / time (subsecond)) included in the additional information portion of the image file. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S60.

  In step S60, the image file recording unit 104e records the image file with the file name added by the file name adding unit 104d in the memory card inserted into the memory card slot 106. Thereafter, the process ends.

According to the present embodiment described above, the following operational effects can be obtained.
(1) The radio clock 105 acquires the time with a time resolution higher than the shortest image acquisition interval at the time of continuous shooting of the digital camera 100, and the file name includes date and time information acquired from the radio clock 105 in the image file. Was added. Thereby, even when a plurality of image files are generated in succession, duplication of file names can be avoided. Furthermore, the user can determine the shooting time interval of each image simply by looking at the file name, which improves convenience in managing images.

(2) The radio timepiece 105 can output date information with a time resolution of less than 1 second. Thereby, even if the continuous shooting interval of the digital camera 100 is less than 1 second, the shooting date and time information of each image does not overlap.

(3) The radio clock 105 automatically receives the standard radio wave and adjusts the time when the user first turns on the power after purchasing the digital camera 100. In addition, when the correct time cannot be maintained due to battery exhaustion, etc., the standard time signal is forcibly received when the power is turned on next time to adjust the time. As a result, when the user uses the digital camera 100 to take a picture, the radio clock 105 can always output an accurate time after the time adjustment.

(4) The file name adding unit 104d adds a file name including shooting date / time information to the image file, and at the same time, information related to the image creation date / time included in the additional information portion of the image file (creation date / time and creation date / time (subsecond)). In addition, the shooting date / time information stored in the memory is recorded. Accordingly, it is possible to manage an image using a highly accurate image creation date and time even in an application that can perform image management using information stored in the additional information section.

-Modification-
The digital camera according to the above-described embodiment can be modified as follows.
(1) In the embodiment described above, the radio clock 105 automatically adjusts the time when the user turns on the power for the first time after purchasing the digital camera 100, and the file name adding unit 104d is always accurate. Added file names to include correct time information to avoid duplication of file names. However, after the digital camera 100 is turned on for the first time, a serial number is added to the file name to avoid duplication of the file name until the first time when the preset timepiece 105 performs time adjustment. You may do it.

(2) In the above-described embodiment, the date and time when the image data is acquired by the image acquisition unit 104a is set as the image shooting date and time, and the date and time information acquired from the radio clock 105 when the release button 101 is pressed by the user. An example of shooting date / time information has been described. However, the date / time information acquired from the radio clock 105 at other timings, that is, from when the image data is acquired by the image acquisition unit 104a to when the image recording unit 104d records the image file, is used as shooting date / time information. Also good.

  For example, the date and time when the image processing is performed on the image data by the image processing unit 104b is the shooting date and time of the image, and the date and time information acquired from the radio clock 105 at the timing when the image processing on the image data is completed by the image processing unit 104b. The shooting date / time information may be used. Alternatively, the date and time when the image file was recorded by the image file recording unit 104e is taken as the image capturing date and time, and the date and time information acquired from the radio clock 105 is captured when the image file recording unit 104e outputs the image file to the memory card slot 106. It may be date and time information.

(3) In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the file name adding unit 104d acquires the shooting date / time information from the radio clock 105 when the release button 101 is pressed by the user has been described. However, if there is a time lag between the time when the file name adding unit 104d detects the pressing of the release button 101 and the acquisition of shooting date / time information from the radio clock 105, the file name adding unit 104d acquires the radio wave clock 105. The photographed date / time information may be corrected in consideration of the time lag.

(4) The radio clock 105 has been described with reference to the example in which the standard radio wave is periodically received and the time is adjusted based on the time information included in the received standard radio wave. However, when the standard radio wave reception timing overlaps with the image capturing timing, the standard radio wave reception may not be performed. In this case, the reception may be passed once and the standard radio wave may be received at the next reception timing, or the standard radio wave may be received again after a predetermined time has elapsed.

(5) In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the radio timepiece 105 is mounted on the digital camera 100 in order to obtain an accurate time has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and communication means for communicating with the time server may be provided so that accurate time can be acquired from the time server.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the configurations in the above-described embodiments as long as the characteristic functions of the present invention are not impaired.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of one Embodiment of a digital camera. It is the figure which showed the data structure of the image file typically. It is a figure which shows the specific example at the time of sorting an image file by file name. 2 is a flowchart showing processing of the digital camera 100. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

100 digital camera, 101 release button, 102 lens, 103 image sensor, 104 control device, 104a image acquisition unit, 104b image processing unit, 104c image file generation unit, 104d file name addition unit, 105 radio wave clock, 106 memory card slot, 107 monitor

Claims (6)

Image acquisition means for capturing a subject image and acquiring image data;
Clocking means for clocking time with a time resolution higher than the shortest image data acquisition interval during continuous shooting by the image acquisition means;
Image file generation means for generating an image file based on the image data acquired by the image acquisition means;
Image file recording means for recording the image file generated by the image file generating means;
Time acquisition means for acquiring the time with the high time resolution from the time measuring means at a predetermined timing from when the image data is acquired until the image file is recorded;
A digital camera comprising: a file name adding unit that adds a file name including information representing the time acquired by the time acquiring unit to the image file generated by the image file generating unit. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein
The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the time measuring means measures time with a time resolution of less than 1 second. The digital camera according to claim 1 or 2,
A digital camera characterized in that the time measuring means periodically acquires information on accurate time and performs time adjustment. The digital camera according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the time acquisition unit acquires the time from the time measuring unit at the acquisition timing of the image data by the image acquisition unit. The digital camera according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the time acquisition unit acquires the time from the timing unit at the recording timing of the image file by the image file recording unit. The digital camera according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
Image processing means for executing image processing on the image data acquired by the image acquisition means;
The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the time acquisition unit acquires the time from the time measuring unit at an execution timing of the image processing by the image processing unit.

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