JP2008205722A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital camera capable of retrieving a desired image from an extremely large amount of recorded images, using a simple operation. <P>SOLUTION: A photographing mode in photographing is selected with a mode dial (10). Whether it is a photographic mode or a reproduction mode is selected by a system mode selecting switch (12). In photographic mode, a photographing parameter setting device (28) sets a photographic parameters in a camera part (16) and an image processor (18), which corresponds to the photographing mode to be selected with the mode dial (10). In the reproduction mode, an image recognizing device (32) recognizes the image to be recorded in an HDD (20), through the use of an image recognition algorithm corresponding to the photographic mode to be selected with the mode dial (10). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus having a plurality of shooting modes.

  As a recording medium, a digital video camera that uses a randomly accessible recording medium such as a recordable optical disk, a hard disk drive (HDD), or a semiconductor memory instead of a conventional tape medium has been commercialized.

  Randomly accessible media can easily increase the recording time depending on the compression rate of the recording data. Therefore, it is expected that it will become increasingly difficult for the user to search for a desired image from among a large number of recorded images.

Patent Document 1 describes a method for easily classifying images by a simple operation.
JP 2004-120225 A

  The technique described in Patent Document 1 classifies captured images according to the recording mode at the time of recording, and the user needs to store the recording mode at the time of recording.

  Furthermore, since images change from moment to moment in a moving image, it is necessary to perform a troublesome and time-consuming operation in order to cue a scene to be viewed from a moving image recorded for a long time. For moving images, techniques such as insertion of index information and chapter division exist, but all require prior preparation at the time of shooting.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus capable of searching for a desired scene with a simple operation without having to memorize a shooting mode at the time of shooting and without having to prepare in advance.

  An imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes a mode selection unit that selects any one of a plurality of shooting modes, a system mode selection unit that selects a shooting mode or a playback mode, an imaging unit, and the imaging unit. A recording / reproducing apparatus for recording / reproducing a photographed image on a recording medium, and a photographing mode selected by the mode selecting means for the imaging means and the recording / reproducing apparatus when the photographing mode is selected by the system mode selecting means When the reproduction mode is selected by the system parameter selection unit, the image recognition algorithm corresponding to the imaging mode selected by the mode selection unit is used, And an image recognition device for recognizing an image recorded on the recording / reproducing device.

  Preferably, the image recognition algorithm is an algorithm that extracts a feature from image data and searches for an image that matches a previously registered pattern.

  Preferably, the mode selection means is a rotary switch.

  Preferably, the mode selection means is means for selecting one shooting mode from a menu to which an icon indicating the shooting mode is added.

  Preferably, after the image search is completed, the searched image is reproduced.

  Preferably, the imaging apparatus further includes a search unit for searching for an image in which recording date information added at the time of shooting is switched when the auto shooting mode is selected by the mode selection unit.

  Preferably, the image pickup apparatus further includes a search unit for searching for an image in which recording cut information added at the time of shooting is switched when the auto shooting mode is selected by the mode selection unit.

  According to the present invention, since the means for selecting the shooting mode at the time of shooting is diverted to the selection of the search algorithm at the time of playback, it is possible to provide operability that is intuitively understandable for the user. Thereby, a desired image can be searched quickly. Since it is possible to search for a desired image without using additional information at the time of recording, it is possible to reduce the trouble at the time of shooting.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention applied to a digital video camera.

  As a user operation interface, a mode dial 10, a system mode selection switch 12 for switching between a photographing mode and a reproduction mode, and an operation key 14 at the time of reproduction are provided.

  The mode dial 10 is composed of a rotary switch, on which a plurality of icons that make it easy to imagine the shooting mode are printed. By rotating the icon printed on the mode dial 10 to a selected position, a shooting mode corresponding to the shooting scene can be selected from a plurality of shooting modes. Shooting parameters that enable appropriate shooting of the target subject in each shooting mode are automatically set corresponding to each shooting mode. Specifically, shooting parameters such as a shutter speed, an aperture, a flash emission amount, a white balance, and a zoom speed are set in the camera unit 16 and the image processing device 18 corresponding to each shooting mode. The mode dial 10 corresponds to the mode selection means in the claims.

  The system mode selection switch 12 is a switch for switching between the photographing mode and the reproduction mode, but may also be used as a main power on / off switch. Further, a two-position switch for switching between the photographing mode and the reproduction mode, a three-position switch including turning off the main power supply, a slide switch whose mode changes depending on the number of slides, and the like can be considered. The system mode selection switch 12 corresponds to the system mode selection means in the claims.

  The operation key 14 can be operated to play, stop, record, forward and return. A display device may be provided and buttons may be arranged on a touch panel.

  The present embodiment includes a camera unit 16, an image processing device 18, and a hard disk (HDD) 20 as a photographing / recording system. The camera unit 16 corresponds to the imaging unit in the claims. The image processing device 18 can compress and encode the captured image captured by the camera unit 16, record it in the HDD 20, and decompress the compressed image data recorded in the HDD 20. That is, the image processing device 18 functions as a recording / reproducing device using the HDD 20 as a recording medium. In addition to the HDD 20, the recording medium may be a memory card, an optical disk such as a DVD, or a built-in memory.

  The system control device 22 reads the operation of the mode dial 10, the system mode selection switch 12, and the operation key 14, and controls each part. The system control device 22 includes a selector 24, a parameter selection device 26, a shooting parameter setting device 28, an algorithm selection device 30, and an image recognition device 32.

  When the shooting mode is selected by the system mode selection switch 12, the selector 24 notifies the parameter selection device 26 of the shooting mode selected by the mode dial 10. The parameter selection device 26 selects a shooting parameter corresponding to the shooting mode selected by the mode dial 10. The shooting parameter setting device 28 sets the shooting parameter selected by the parameter selection device 26 in the camera unit 16 and the image processing device 18.

  When the playback mode is selected by the system mode selection switch 12, the selector 24 notifies the algorithm selection device 30 of the shooting mode selected by the mode dial 10. The algorithm selection device 30 selects an image recognition algorithm corresponding to the mode selected by the mode dial 10. The image recognition device 32 applies the image recognition algorithm selected by the algorithm selection device 30 to the image output from the image processing device 18 and executes image recognition processing.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the designation of the photographing mode with the mode dial 10 is used for the designation of the image recognition algorithm for determining the cue position at the time of reproduction. In other words, in the playback mode, the user can specify the image recognition mode with the mode dial 10.

  The user can search for a desired image using the operation keys 14 during image reproduction. By pressing the feed key of the operation key 14 during reproduction, an image in the reproduction forward direction can be searched. By pressing the return key of the operation key 14 during reproduction, an image in the reverse direction of reproduction can be searched. The search key can be increased or decreased according to the number of times the key is pressed. The number of searches is processed as a search counter in the system controller 22.

  FIG. 2 shows a process flowchart of the search counter of the system controller 22. The operation key 14 is checked during moving image reproduction (S1, S2). When the feed key is pressed (S3), the search counter is incremented by 1 (S4). When the return key is pressed (S5), the search counter is decreased by 1 (S6).

  FIG. 3 shows a process flowchart of the system controller 22 during image reproduction. When the playback mode is selected by the system mode selection switch 12 (S11), the mode set by the mode dial 10 is read (S13), and the image recognition algorithm to be applied is selected (S14). If the playback mode is not set (S11), the shooting mode is set (S12).

  In general, image recognition is a type of pattern recognition in which features are extracted from an image, the extracted features are weighted, and a pattern registered in advance is checked. There have been many studies on image recognition, and methods using artificial neural networks and hidden Markov models have been devised. Since the present embodiment is not limited to a specific image recognition algorithm, detailed description of image recognition is omitted.

  In this embodiment, an image recognition algorithm that is intuitively recognized by an icon image printed on the mode dial 10 is applied. As an example of a combination with an icon, when the portrait shooting icon 10b is selected, in image recognition, a hit is when a person recognizes an image shot in the center of the frame for a certain period of time. When the close-up icon 10c is selected, in image recognition, a hit is obtained when an image with a wide zoom position and a shallow depth of field is recognized. When the night scene shooting icon 10d is selected, the image recognition is a hit when an image with low luminance at the top of the image is recognized. When the shooting icon 10e for a child or a pet is selected, a hit is recognized when an image with a lot of movement in the shooting target or landscape is recognized.

  Further, when the auto shooting icon 10a is selected, an image whose recording date information is switched or an image whose shooting cut is switched is searched from information added at the time of shooting. It is preferable that the user can select from the menu whether to search for a change of date or to search for a shooting cut.

  If a moving image is being played back (S15), the search counter is checked (S16). If the movie is not being played back, the thumbnail of the recorded image is displayed.

  When the search counter is 0 (S17), normal playback is performed (S25), and the process returns to S11. When the search counter is positive (S18), high-speed feed reproduction is executed in the positive direction (S19), and an image recognition algorithm selected earlier is applied to search for an image. If any image is hit (S20), the search count is decreased by 1 (S21), and the process returns to step S11.

  If the search counter is negative (S18), fast reverse playback is executed (S22), and an image recognition algorithm selected earlier is applied to search for an image. If any image is hit (S23), the search count is increased by 1 (S24), and the process returns to step S11.

  When the search count reaches 0, normal playback is resumed (S11), and playback is continued.

  By such an operation, it is possible to search for the number of images corresponding to the number of times the feed key or the return key is pressed and to cue.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining the cueing operation of the present embodiment. The horizontal axis represents the passage of time. The mode dial 10 selects the portrait mode, and searches for a person in the image search during reproduction. Assume that position 40 is currently being played. When the feed key is pressed once, the reproduction is resumed from the first reproduction position 42 that hits the person's image recognition. When the feed key is pressed twice, the reproduction is resumed from the second reproduction position 44 that hits the person image recognition.

  In this embodiment, the search condition can be changed intuitively and immediately even during playback.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a schematic configuration of a second embodiment of the present invention applied to a digital video camera. The same components as those in the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  In this embodiment, instead of the mode dial 10, a menu is displayed on the screen of the display device so that the user can select one of the shooting modes. For this purpose, a mode setting memory 52 for storing settings in each shooting mode is further added to the system control device 50 in each element of the system control device 22. Further, a display device 54 for displaying a mode setting menu is added. As an input device for menu operation, a touch panel or a dedicated input key may be prepared, or the operation key 14 for reproduction operation may be a multi-function key, and the menu key may be operated with the operation key 14 during menu display. Also good. In the menu, by adopting a design that is common or similar to the icon used in each shooting mode and the icon used in the playback mode, the image recognition algorithm at the time of retrieval becomes intuitive and easy to understand.

  FIG. 6 is a display example of the mode selection screen according to the second embodiment. A shooting mode to be selected is selected with the operation key 14 from the icon group 60. The currently selected shooting mode is displayed at the upper left as indicated by reference numeral 62.

  FIG. 7 is a mode display example of the present embodiment. Icon 64 indicates the currently selected mode.

  Since the operation after setting the shooting mode on the menu is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  In the second embodiment, the cost can be reduced by omitting the mode dial.

  As described above, in the above embodiment, the mode dial for specifying the shooting mode at the time of shooting is diverted to the selection of the image recognition algorithm at the time of playback, so that the user can easily understand intuitively using the same user interface. Operability can be provided. Further, since it is possible to search for an image without using additional information at the time of recording, it is possible to simplify the trouble and operation at the time of shooting.

It is a schematic block diagram of Example 1 of the present invention. It is a process flowchart of the search counter of a present Example. It is a process flowchart of the system control apparatus 22 during the image reproduction of a present Example. 6 is a schematic diagram of an operation example of Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a schematic block diagram of Example 2 of this invention. It is an example of mode selection of Example 2. It is an example of a mode display of Example 2.

Explanation of symbols

10 Mode Dial 12 System Mode Selection Switch 14 Operation Key 16 Camera Unit 18 Image Processing Device 20 HDD
22 System Control Device 24 Selector 26 Parameter Selection Device Algorithm Selection Unit 28 Imaging Parameter Setting Device 30 Image Recognition Algorithm Selection Device 32 Image Recognition Device 50 System Control Device 52 Mode Setting Memory 54 Display Device

Claims (7)

Mode selection means (10) for selecting any one of a plurality of shooting modes;
System mode selection means (12) for selecting a shooting mode or a playback mode;
Imaging means (16);
A recording / reproducing apparatus (18) for recording / reproducing an image photographed by the imaging means (16) on a recording medium (20)
When the shooting mode is selected by the system mode selection means, shooting parameters for setting shooting parameters corresponding to the shooting mode selected by the mode selection means in the imaging means (16) and the recording / reproducing apparatus (18). A setting device (28);
Image recognition for recognizing an image recorded on the recording / reproducing apparatus using an image recognition algorithm corresponding to a photographing mode selected by the mode selection unit when the reproduction mode is selected by the system mode selection unit Device (32)
An imaging apparatus comprising:   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image recognition algorithm is an algorithm that extracts a feature from image data and searches for an image that matches a previously registered pattern.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mode selection unit is a rotary switch.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mode selection unit is a unit that selects one shooting mode from a menu to which an icon indicating the shooting mode is added.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein after the image search is completed, the searched image is reproduced.   The image pickup apparatus further comprises a search unit for searching for an image in which recording date information added at the time of shooting is switched when the auto shooting mode is selected by the mode selection unit. The image pickup apparatus further comprises a search unit for searching for an image in which the recording cut information added at the time of shooting is switched when the mode selection unit selects the auto shooting mode.

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