JP2008245073A - Photographing device, photography control method, photography control program, and photography controller - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photography device etc., with high handleability such that when a recording medium is full, unnecessary files can smoothly be deleted. <P>SOLUTION: A photography control program which saves in the recording medium image data of an object obtained by photographing the object in a photographic mode wherein an image of the object is newly photographed, includes a step S2 of deciding whether the free capacity of the recording medium is large enough to save the image data generated by the photography in the photographic mode, a step S4 of indicating that the free capacity is deficient to the outside in such a case before the photography, a step S6 of automatically entering a deletion mode when the free capacity is deficient (step 3) and expecting operation input for deletion of unnecessary files in the recording medium, and a step S11 of automatically entering the photographic mode on condition that the operation input is performed (step S8) and the deficiency in free capacity for recording files is removed (step S10). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a photographing apparatus, a photographing control method, a photographing control program, and a photographing control apparatus that store captured image data in a recording medium such as a digital camera.

  Some photographing apparatuses that store captured image data in a recording medium prompt the user to delete unnecessary data in the recording medium when the recording medium has insufficient free space during photographing.

  For example, in the prior art described in Patent Document 1, when the photographer presses the shutter button, when the recording medium is full and the captured image data cannot be stored, the music file in the recording medium is played and the deletion confirmation is performed. I have.

JP 2002-162997 A

  When the recording medium is full and shooting is not possible, there is a problem that if the audio file is played back every time shooting is performed and confirmation work is required, shooting cannot be performed smoothly as in the prior art described above. In addition, when shooting is performed many times with the recording medium full, the audio file is deleted and shot alternately, and there is a high possibility of missing a photo opportunity.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an easy-to-use photographing apparatus, photographing control method, photographing control program, and photographing control apparatus that can smoothly delete unnecessary files when a recording medium is full.

  The shooting control method and apparatus and the control program according to the present invention can perform shooting in the shooting mode in shooting control in which image data of the subject obtained by shooting in a shooting mode for newly shooting a subject image is stored in a recording medium. It is determined whether or not the free space of the recording medium for storing the generated image data is insufficient, and if it is insufficient, the fact is notified to the outside before the photographing and the mode is automatically shifted to the deletion mode. It waits for an operation input for deleting an unnecessary file in the recording medium, and automatically shifts to the shooting mode when the operation input is performed and the lack of free space in the recording file is resolved.

  The shooting control method, apparatus, and control program of the present invention automatically enters the shooting mode when the operation input is performed, there is an operation input of an instruction to end the deletion mode, and the lack of free space in the recording file is resolved. It is characterized by shifting to.

  The shooting control method, apparatus, and control program of the present invention set in advance a specific type of data file to be preferentially deleted, and when shifting to the delete mode, the specific type of data file is stored in the recording medium. When the data file exists in the recording medium, the mode shifts to the specific type data file preferential deletion mode, and when the data file of the specific type does not exist in the recording medium, the deletion mode sets all types of data files in the recording medium as deletion targets. It is characterized by shifting to.

In the photographing control method and apparatus and the control program of the present invention, the specific type of data file includes:
(A) Data file of JPEG image data when RAW data + JPEG image data is simultaneously recorded on a recording medium (b) Data file of RAW data when RAW data + JPEG image data is simultaneously recorded on a recording medium (c) Data file of JPEG image data not recorded (d) Data file of RAW data not recorded simultaneously (e) Data file of audio file (f) Data file of moving image file (g) Any data file other than image data It is characterized by being.

  The imaging control method and apparatus and the control program according to the present invention are characterized in that the notification is made to the outside by displaying an error on a display panel provided in the imaging apparatus.

  The shooting control method, apparatus, and control program according to the present invention are characterized in that a plurality of unnecessary files are designated in the deletion mode, and then the plurality of unnecessary files are collectively deleted.

  An imaging apparatus of the present invention includes a solid-state imaging device that captures image data of a subject, a media control unit to which a storage medium that records image data is connected, a display panel, key input means for operation input, It is characterized by comprising a memory storing any one of the photographing control programs and a control means for executing the photographing control program.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an easy-to-use photographing apparatus that can smoothly delete unnecessary files when a recording medium is full.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a photographing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The imaging apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a solid-state imaging device 11 such as a CCD that converts an optical image from a subject into an electrical signal, and a CDSAMP that performs correlated double sampling processing, gain control processing, and the like on an output signal of the solid-state imaging device 11. Unit 12, an A / D conversion unit 13 that converts an analog captured image signal output from the CDSAMP unit 12 into a digital signal, a timing generator 14 that generates a drive timing signal for the solid-state imaging device 11, and the imaging apparatus 1 And an arithmetic processing unit (CPU) 15 for overall control.

  The CPU 15 includes a key input unit (including a release button, a power on / off button, an OK / cross button, a mode switch button, a delete instruction button, a cancel button, and the like) 17 that receives an instruction input from the user, and a front surface of the solid-state image sensor 11. Are connected to a motor driver 18 of various motors for performing zoom position control, focus position control, and aperture position control of an imaging lens (not shown) disposed in the camera, and the CPU 15 detects the zoom position, focus position, Captures the aperture position and performs various controls. The CPU 15 also controls the CDSAMP unit 12.

  The photographing apparatus 1 further includes an image input controller 21 that captures a digital image signal output from the A / D converter 13, an AF (automatic focus) detection circuit 22, an image signal processing circuit 23, and an AE (automatic exposure). ) And AWB (auto white balance) detection unit 24, a compression processing circuit 25 for compressing image data into JPEG image data, an SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory) 26 used as a main memory, and a display panel such as a liquid crystal display 29, a video encoder 27 that performs display control, a video random access memory (VRAM) 28, a media controller 30 that performs read / write control of a recording medium 35 that is detachably mounted, and an SRAM (Static Random) that stores date data and the like. Access Memory) 31, a bus 33 interconnecting these and CPU 15, and SRA And a backup power supply 34 such as a capacitor (capacitor) to hold the 31 contents stored. Further, a power supply unit (not shown) is provided, and power is supplied from the power supply unit to each of the above constituent circuits.

  In such a photographing apparatus 1, when the power switch is turned on and in the recording mode (photographing mode), the captured image data is always transmitted from the solid-state image sensor 11 (10 frames or 20 frames per second). The image data is output. This through image data flows from the CDSAMP unit 12 to the A / D conversion circuit 13 to the image input controller 21 to the bus 33. With this through image data, the AF detection circuit 22 measures the focal length to the subject, and AE / AWB The detection circuit 24 performs subject photometry and auto white balance amount measurement.

  When the shutter release button is pressed, a still image of the subject is captured, and still image data composed of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) pixel signals is output from the solid-state imaging device 11. . This still image data flows in the order of the CDSAMP section 12 → A / D conversion circuit 13 → image input controller 21 → bus 33, and is temporarily stored in the SDRAM 26.

  The image signal processing circuit 23 performs image processing such as RGB / YC conversion processing and gamma correction processing on uncompressed image data (RAW data) temporarily stored in the SDRAM 26, and the compression processing circuit 25 performs this processing. Is further converted into JPEG image data. Also, the JPEG image data is thinned out to the number of pixels of the display panel 29 and transferred to the VRAM 28, and the video encoder 27 displays the image data on the VRAM 28 on the display panel 29. Also, thumbnail image data is generated from the JPEG image data, and this is stored in the IFF data exif information.

  If the user selects “RAW data” as the type of image data to be stored in the recording medium 35, the image data of the RAW data is recorded in the recording medium 35, and if “JPEG image data” is selected, the JPEG image Data is recorded. If “RAW data + JPEG image data” is selected, both RAW data and JPEG image data obtained by photographing the same scene are simultaneously recorded on the recording medium 35.

  When such processing is repeated every time the subject is imaged and image data is accumulated in the recording medium 35, the free capacity of the recording medium 35 decreases. In this case, the user operates the photographing apparatus 1 to delete unnecessary image data. However, since it is troublesome to check the remaining amount of the recording medium 35 for each shooting, the shooting apparatus according to the present embodiment has a shooting control program as described below.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the photographing control program according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The photographing control program is stored in a rewritable ROM or the like in the CPU 15 and is read and executed when the photographing apparatus 1 is turned on. Alternatively, it is read and executed when the mode selection switch is in the photographing mode.

  First, it waits to enter a photographing mode (step S1). If the shooting mode is entered, it is next determined whether or not the recording medium is full (step S2). If it is set to save as RAW data, it is determined whether or not there is a free capacity for saving one piece of RAW data. If it is set to save in “RAW + JPEG”, it is determined whether or not there is a free capacity for saving both RAW data and JPEG image data.

  If it is set to save as JPEG image data, it is determined whether or not there is a free capacity for saving one piece of JPEG image data. Since the capacity of the image data to be stored differs depending on the size of the image (for example, 640 × 480 pixels, 1280 × 960 pixels, etc.), it is determined in consideration of this.

  If the recording medium is not full, the processing in FIG. 2 is terminated or the process returns to step S1. If the recording medium is full, the process proceeds to step S3 to automatically shift to the delete mode, and the error display shown in FIG. 3A is displayed on the display panel 29 in step S4. Instead of the error display, notification may be given by voice, or both may be used together.

  When the user views the error display and operates the ring-shaped cross button 45 provided around the OK button 44, the image data stored in the recording medium 35 is displayed on the display panel 29 as shown in FIG. ) Is displayed (step S5).

  In the next step S6, it is determined whether or not the user presses the delete button 42, that is, whether or not a delete instruction is input. If no delete instruction is input, the process returns to step S4, and in the next step S5, The next image data is displayed on the display panel 29.

  If the delete button 42 is pressed as a result of the determination in step S6, the delete confirmation screen shown in FIG. 3C is displayed in the next step S7. In the next step S8, it is determined whether or not an image deletion instruction is input, that is, whether or not the OK button 44 is pressed. If the OK button 44 is not pressed, the process returns to step S4. If the OK button 44 is pressed, the designated image data is deleted from the recording medium 35 (step S9). During this deletion, the screen shown in FIG. 3D is displayed on the display panel 29.

  In the next step S10, the required capacity of one piece of image data under the currently set shooting conditions is compared with the free capacity of the recording medium 35 from which the image data has been deleted in step S9, and recording is impossible. If not, the process returns to step S4 to further prompt the user to delete the image data. If the image can be recorded, the process proceeds to the next step S11, and the image is automatically captured without the user operating the mode switching button 41. The mode is changed to end the process (or return to step S1).

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the photographing control program according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the image data to be displayed is displayed on the display panel 29 one by one and the user selects the image data to be deleted. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. A plurality of image data, four images in the illustrated example, are displayed on one screen, and the user operates the cross button 45 to move the display cursor (indicated by a thick frame) to select the image data to be deleted. It is like.

  First, in step S21, it waits to enter the shooting mode, and in the next step S22, it is determined whether or not the recording medium is full. If there is a free space for at least one piece of image data on the recording medium, this process ends or the process returns to step S21.

  As a result of the determination in step S22, if it is determined that there is not enough free space on the recording medium, an error display shown in FIG. 5A is displayed in the next step S23, and the process automatically shifts to the deletion mode in step S24. .

  In step S25, it is determined whether or not the OK / cross buttons 44 and 45 are operated. If there is an input from the cross button 45 as a result of the determination in step S25, one of the four image data shown in FIGS. 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E, and 5F is displayed in the next step S26. The display cursor (thick frame display) indicating one is moved, and the process returns to step S25.

  If the result of determination in step S25 is that there is no input of the OK / cross buttons 44 and 45, the process proceeds to step S27, where it is determined whether or not there has been a deletion instruction, that is, whether or not the deletion button 42 has been pressed. In this case, the process returns to step S25. When the delete button is pressed, in the next step S28, a check mark is entered in the check box of the image data as shown in FIGS. 5C and 5F, and the process returns to step S25.

  If the result of determination in step S25 is that the OK button 44 has been pressed, processing proceeds to step S29. In this step S29, it is determined whether or not there are one or more check marks. If there is a check mark, it means that there is image data to be deleted, so the process proceeds to step S30, and a deletion confirmation screen is displayed as shown in FIG.

  Then, in the next step S31, it is determined whether or not the deletion of the image is OK based on whether or not the OK button 44 is pressed. If the OK button 44 is not pressed, the process returns to step S25 to proceed to selection of deletion of the next four image data. If the OK button 44 is pressed, the check image is deleted from the recording medium in step S32. To do. During this deletion, the screen of FIG. 5 (h) is displayed.

  After deleting the check image, the process proceeds to step S33, and it is determined whether or not an instruction to end the deletion mode is input from the user. If no instruction to end the deletion mode is input, the process returns to step S25, and the process returns to selection to delete the next four pieces of image data.

  As a result of the determination in step 33, if an instruction to end the deletion mode is input, the process proceeds to step S34, and whether or not the recording medium is full, that is, whether or not there is a free capacity as in step S22. If it is determined that the free space is insufficient, an error display is performed in step S35, and then this process is terminated. Alternatively, the process returns to step S21. If the recording medium is not full and the shortage of free space has been resolved, the process proceeds to step S36, where it automatically shifts to the shooting mode, and this process ends.

  As described above, when the recording medium is full in the shooting mode, the deletion mode is automatically entered, the deletion of unnecessary files is waited by the user, and the shooting mode is automatically switched when the user instructs to end the deletion mode. Therefore, the usability of the photographing apparatus is improved.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the photographing control program according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a screen example of the display panel corresponding to FIG. 5 in this embodiment. The difference between the present embodiment and the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is that steps S41, 42, and 43 are performed instead of step S24 in the embodiment of FIG. 4, and the other configurations are the same.

  In the present embodiment, after the error display in step S23, it is determined in step S41 whether or not the specific file is stored on the recording medium. If the specific file is not stored, the process proceeds to step S42 to automatically shift to the normal deletion mode, and then proceeds to step S25. When the process proceeds from step S42 to step S25, the process is exactly the same as the embodiment of FIG.

  As a result of the determination in step S41, if the specific file is stored in the recording medium, the process proceeds to step S43, automatically shifts to the specific file priority deletion mode, and proceeds to step S25.

  This embodiment is different from the embodiment of FIG. 4 in that when a specific file is stored on a recording medium, the specific file is preferentially deleted from the recording medium. That is, every time the cross button 44 is operated, four pieces of file data are displayed on the display panel 29. However, the specific file is preferentially displayed, that is, the specific file is displayed at the top and the user selects it, and the display of the specific file is finished. Display normal files later. Alternatively, only a specific file may be displayed on the display panel as a deletion target.

The specific file is a file set in advance by the user in the photographing apparatus. For example,
(1) JPEG image data when RAW data + JPEG image data is simultaneously recorded on a recording medium is set as a specific file. Since the RAW data remains, even if the JPEG image data is deleted, the same JPEG image data can be reproduced by developing the RAW data.

(2) The RAW data when the RAW data + JPEG image data is simultaneously recorded on the recording medium is set as the specific file. Since the data capacity of the RAW data is large, a large free space can be secured if it is deleted, and there is little trouble because the same image remains as JPEG image data.

(3) Even if simultaneous recording is not performed, JPEG image data is set as a specific file.
(4) Even if simultaneous recording is not performed, RAW data is set as a specific file.
(5) The audio file is a specific file.
(6) The moving image file is a specific file.
(7) Files other than images are specified files.

  It is preferable that the user sets what kind of file should be preferentially deleted as a specific file because it depends on the usage and style of the user's photographing apparatus.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed during processing of the shooting control program according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The processing procedure of this embodiment may be the same as that of the embodiment of FIG. The image data includes only RAW data, only JPEG image data, and RAW data + JPEG image data of the same scene. In the screen example shown in FIG. 8, when image data is displayed on the screen, the type is displayed as “R” “J”, and in the case of “RAW data + JPEG image data”, “R” “J”. Are superimposed on the image. A check box is prepared on the right side of “R” and “J”, and a check mark is entered in the image data to be deleted.

  In this way, the user can give a detailed deletion instruction.

  According to the embodiment described above, when the user captures a subject image with the photographing apparatus, when the recording medium is full and photographing becomes impossible, the user automatically shifts to the file deletion mode and the user can delete unnecessary files. Since the screen shifts to a screen on which a deletion instruction can be input, an unnecessary file can be quickly deleted and a shooting operation can be quickly started.

  Further, since the end of the deletion mode is entrusted to the user instruction, the operation can be performed mainly by the user and the usability is improved.

  In the above-described embodiment, a check mark is attached to any of the four image data displayed in one screen, and after the image data with the check mark is deleted, the next four image data are displayed. When the display data is displayed on the recording medium, the image data can be scrolled or the screen can be switched. Alternatively, all the image data in the recording medium can be browsed first, and all the image data to be deleted can be checked first, and finally the check images can be deleted collectively.

  Since the photographing apparatus according to the present invention automatically enters the unnecessary file deletion mode when attempting to shoot with the recording medium full, unnecessary files can be quickly deleted, and the usability of the photographing apparatus such as a digital camera is improved. To do.

It is a functional block diagram of the imaging device concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the imaging | photography control program which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen displayed on a display panel at the time of the process sequence execution concerning 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the imaging | photography control program which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen displayed on a display panel at the time of execution of the process procedure which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the imaging | photography control program which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen displayed on a display panel at the time of execution of the process procedure which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen displayed on a display panel at the time of execution of the process procedure which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Imaging Device 11 Solid-State Image Sensor 15 CPU
17 Key input section 25 Compression processing circuit 29 Display panel 35 Recording medium

Claims (19)

  In a shooting control method for storing image data of a subject obtained by shooting in a shooting mode for newly shooting a subject image in a recording medium, the recording medium for storing image data generated by shooting in the shooting mode is recorded. It is determined whether or not the free space is insufficient, and if it is insufficient, the fact is notified to the outside before the shooting and the operation is automatically shifted to the deletion mode to input an operation for deleting unnecessary files in the recording medium. A shooting control method of waiting, and automatically shifting to the shooting mode when the operation input is performed and the lack of free space in the recording file is resolved.   2. The mode is automatically shifted to the shooting mode when the operation input is performed, the operation input of an instruction to end the deletion mode is present, and the lack of free space in the recording file is resolved. Shooting control method.   When a specific type of data file to be preferentially deleted is set in advance and the mode is shifted to the deletion mode, the specific type of data file is preferentially deleted when the specific type of data file exists in the recording medium. The mode is shifted to a deletion mode in which all types of data files in the recording medium are deleted when the specific type of data file does not exist in the recording medium. Item 3. The shooting control method according to Item 2. The specific type of data file is
(A) Data file of JPEG image data when RAW data + JPEG image data is simultaneously recorded on a recording medium (b) Data file of RAW data when RAW data + JPEG image data is simultaneously recorded on a recording medium (c) Data file of JPEG image data not recorded (d) Data file of RAW data not recorded simultaneously (e) Data file of audio file (f) Data file of moving image file (g) Any data file other than image data The imaging control method according to claim 3, wherein:   The imaging control method according to claim 1, wherein notification to the outside is performed by displaying an error on a display panel provided in the imaging apparatus.   6. The photographing control method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of unnecessary files are designated in the deletion mode, and then the plurality of unnecessary files are collectively deleted.   In a shooting control program for storing image data of a subject obtained by shooting in a shooting mode for newly shooting a subject image on a recording medium, the recording medium for storing image data generated by shooting in the shooting mode is stored. A step of determining whether or not the free space is insufficient, a step of notifying the outside before the shooting when the free space is insufficient, and a deletion automatically when the free space is insufficient Shifting to the mode and waiting for an operation input for deleting unnecessary files in the recording medium; and automatically shifting to the shooting mode when the operation input is performed and the lack of free space in the recording file is resolved; An imaging control program comprising:   8. The mode is automatically shifted to the shooting mode when the operation input is performed, the operation input for instructing the end of the deletion mode is present, and the lack of free space in the recording file is resolved. Shooting control program.   A step of presetting a specific type of data file to be preferentially deleted; and, when the mode is shifted to the deletion mode, the specific type of data file when the specific type of data file exists in the recording medium. Transition to a priority deletion mode, and transition to a deletion mode in which all types of data files in the recording medium are to be deleted when the specific type of data file does not exist in the recording medium. The shooting control program according to claim 7 or 8, wherein The specific type of data file is
(A) Data file of JPEG image data when RAW data + JPEG image data is simultaneously recorded on a recording medium (b) Data file of RAW data when RAW data + JPEG image data is simultaneously recorded on a recording medium (c) Data file of JPEG image data not recorded (d) Data file of RAW data not recorded simultaneously (e) Data file of audio file (f) Data file of moving image file (g) Any data file other than image data The shooting control program according to claim 9, wherein:   The imaging control program according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein notification to the outside is performed by displaying an error on a display panel provided in the imaging apparatus.   The shooting control program according to any one of claims 7 to 11, wherein a plurality of unnecessary files are designated in the deletion mode, and then the plurality of unnecessary files are collectively deleted.   13. A solid-state imaging device that captures image data of a subject, a media control unit to which a storage medium that records image data is connected, a display panel, key input means for operation input, and any one of claims 7 to 12 An imaging apparatus comprising: a memory storing the imaging control program according to claim 1; and a control unit that executes the imaging control program.   In a shooting control apparatus for storing image data of a subject obtained by shooting in a shooting mode for newly shooting a subject image in a recording medium, the recording medium for storing image data generated by shooting in the shooting mode is recorded. A means for determining whether or not the free space is insufficient; a means for notifying the outside before the shooting if the free space is insufficient; and a deletion automatically when the free space is insufficient Means for shifting to a mode and waiting for an operation input for deleting an unnecessary file in the recording medium; and means for automatically shifting to the shooting mode when the operation input is performed and the lack of free space in the recording file is resolved An imaging control apparatus comprising:   15. The mode is automatically shifted to the shooting mode when the operation input is performed, the operation input of the instruction to end the deletion mode is present, and the lack of free space in the recording file is resolved. Shooting control device.   Means for preliminarily setting a specific type of data file to be deleted; and, when the deletion mode is entered, the specific type of data file when the specific type of data file exists in the recording medium. Means for shifting to a priority deletion mode, and means for shifting to a deletion mode for deleting all types of data files in the recording medium when the specific type of data file does not exist in the recording medium. 16. The photographing control apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the photographing control apparatus is characterized. The specific type of data file is
(A) Data file of JPEG image data when RAW data + JPEG image data is simultaneously recorded on a recording medium (b) Data file of RAW data when RAW data + JPEG image data is simultaneously recorded on a recording medium (c) Data file of JPEG image data not recorded (d) Data file of RAW data not recorded simultaneously (e) Data file of audio file (f) Data file of moving image file (g) Any data file other than image data The imaging control apparatus according to claim 16, wherein   18. The imaging control apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the outside is notified by displaying an error on a display panel provided in the imaging apparatus.   19. The photographing control apparatus according to claim 14, wherein a plurality of unnecessary files are designated in the deletion mode, and then the plurality of unnecessary files are collectively deleted.

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