JP2010004281A - Electronic imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic imaging apparatus which increases the number of frames in continuous photographing by reducing picked-up data amounts inputted to and outputted from a storage part by compression and expansion to reduce a required band of a memory bus and can display a photographic recording condition under which reduction in cost and power consumption are achieved. <P>SOLUTION: A compression and recording part 16 compresses picked-up data which are generated in an imaging device 11 by photographing in a continuous photographing mode set by a continuous photographing mode setting part 19 and compressed in a picked-up image compression condition set by a picked-up image compression setting part 24 and then subjected to expansion and image processing, and records the picked-up data into an image recording part 17 in a recording and compression condition according to an image quality mode set by an image quality mode setting part 21. In the electronic imaging apparatus, a photographic recording condition (an image quality mode and a continuous photographing speed) is calculated on the basis of an picked-up image compression rate in each continuous photographing mode in the continuous photographing mode setting part 19, which is changed by the picked-up image compression setting part 24, and displayed in photographic recording condition display part 23. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic imaging apparatus such as a digital still camera (hereinafter also referred to as a digital camera).

In recent digital cameras, the number of pixels and the continuous shooting speed are remarkably improved, and the amount of image data processed per unit time is increasing year by year.
In general, in a signal processing circuit of a digital camera, image data from an image sensor is temporarily stored in a storage unit such as a built-in memory or a cache, and the image data is read and processed, and then recorded in a recording unit such as a flash memory. The final captured image is acquired by repeating this process for each predetermined functional unit. For this reason, for example, in order to process a large amount of image data generated by continuous shooting, the signal processing circuit can increase the signal bandwidth (memory bus bandwidth) that can be handled by the storage unit as well as the speed of the signal processing circuit. It is often a law condition for signal processing performance of a signal processing circuit.
In order to cope with such a situation, it is conceivable to increase the storage capacity of the storage unit or increase the processing frequency (processing speed) of the signal processing circuit. The increase will be significant and will not be established as a product.

Examples of conventional techniques related to measures for processing a large amount of image data generated in a digital camera include the following.
(1) In conjunction with the number of frames for continuous shooting set by the user, the recording compression rate of the imaged data (for example, “SD (Standard Image Quality)”, “HQ (Medium Image Quality: High Quality)”, “SHQ ( Digital camera capable of setting “High Quality (Super High Quality)”) (see Patent Document 1; hereinafter referred to as Prior Art 1). This prior art 1 can effectively utilize the bandwidth of the memory bus by compressing the image data from the image sensor at the time of recording and reducing the data amount.
(2) Using the “crop shooting function” that is a general function provided in a digital camera, as shown in FIG. 8, from the entire imaging area A of the imaging data generated by the imaging device, the crop imaging area in the center portion A method of reducing the amount of data by compressing image data from the image sensor at the time of imaging by reading out only the image data in B and recording it in a storage unit (hereinafter referred to as Prior Art 2). This prior art 2 does not reduce the data amount itself of the imaging data generated by the imaging device, but reads as much as possible the imaging data in the crop shooting area of the imaging data generated by the imaging device as much as possible. This is a method of increasing the number of frames for continuous shooting by reducing the amount of data so that there is no influence, and has the advantage that the deterioration of resolution does not become remarkable. In addition, since the number of continuously shot frames and the image quality can be controlled according to the user's preference, there is also an advantage that imaging data that does not feel uncomfortable for the user can be obtained.
(3) An image processing apparatus to which a compression / decompression unit (data compression / decompression unit) is added in order to secure the bandwidth of the memory bus (see Patent Document 2; hereinafter referred to as Conventional Technology 3). In this prior art 3, the user can set a path for compressing / decompressing data to / from the memory bus in the item “continuous shooting mode”, the number of continuous shooting frames that can be realized in the setting, and deterioration in image quality due to the compression / decompression. Since the degree can be confirmed, there is an advantage that the use application of the digital video camera equipped with this image processing apparatus is widened.

Japanese Patent No. 2775542 JP 2006-352630 A

Since the prior art 1 does not reduce the amount of image data from the image sensor, the amount of image data generated by the image sensor becomes so large that the memory bus cannot be pressed to increase the number of continuous shot frames. In the case of continuous shooting, since the effect of improving the bandwidth of the memory bus is reduced, it is not possible to expect a significant increase in the number of continuous shooting frames.
Prior Art 2 reduces the number of pixels of image data by thinning out pixels, adding pixels, or the like when increasing the number of continuous shot frames by reducing the amount of image data itself from the image sensor. Since there is only a method, the visual resolution is significantly degraded.
Prior art 3 does not link the compression / decompression unit and the setting for increasing the number of continuous shot frames, so even if the memory bus bandwidth can be afforded, it can be further linked according to the user's intention. The user cannot confirm deterioration in image quality due to compression of the compression / decompression unit when the number of shot frames is increased and when the number of continuously shot frames is further increased.
Once the imaging data from the imaging device is stored in the storage unit, the imaging data is read out by devising the processing sequence and processing unit, thereby controlling the bandwidth of the memory bus of the finite storage unit at a later stage. Although it is possible to process the image data read from the image sensor, it is necessary to store the image data directly in the storage unit according to the shooting conditions (number of pixels, frame rate, etc.). However, the bandwidth of the memory bus of the finite storage unit cannot be controlled according to the user's desire.

  The present invention reduces the amount of image data to be input / output to / from the storage unit by compressing / decompressing and reducing the necessary bandwidth of the memory bus, thereby improving the number of continuous shots and reducing cost and power consumption. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic imaging apparatus capable of displaying shooting and recording conditions.

  In order to achieve the above object, an electronic imaging apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention includes an imaging element that generates imaging data, a continuous shooting mode setting unit that can set at least two types of continuous shooting modes, and at least two. An image quality mode setting unit capable of setting various image quality modes, an imaging compression setting unit for setting an imaging compression condition when the imaging data is compressed and stored in the storage unit, and a continuous mode set by the continuous shooting mode setting unit A shooting / recording condition calculation unit for calculating shooting / recording conditions based on the shooting mode and the image quality mode set by the image quality mode setting unit, a shooting / recording condition display unit for displaying the shooting / recording conditions, and a setting for the continuous shooting mode setting unit The image data generated by the imaging device by shooting in the continuous shooting mode and compressed under the imaging compression condition, and then decompressed and image processed are input to the image quality mode setting unit. An electronic imaging apparatus comprising: a compression recording unit that compresses and records in an image recording unit under a recording compression condition according to a set image quality mode, wherein the imaging compression setting unit is controlled by the continuous shooting mode setting unit. The imaging compression condition in each continuous shooting mode of at least two types of continuous shooting modes that can be set can be set and changed, and the imaging recording condition calculation unit is based on the imaging compression condition set and changed by the imaging compression setting unit The shooting and recording conditions are calculated.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic imaging device comprising: a continuous shooting speed ratio for changing a continuous shooting speed in each continuous shooting mode of at least two types of continuous shooting modes settable by the continuous shooting mode setting unit. A continuous shooting speed ratio setting unit to be set is provided, and the setting of the imaging compression condition is changed by the continuous shooting speed ratio setting unit.

  According to the electronic imaging device of the present invention, the imaging compression setting unit changes the setting of the imaging compression condition in each continuous shooting mode of at least two types of continuous shooting modes that can be set by the continuous shooting mode setting unit. The imaging / recording condition calculating unit calculates the imaging / recording condition based on the imaging / compression condition changed by the imaging / compression setting unit, and the imaging / recording condition display unit displays the calculated imaging / recording condition. At this time, the image data from the image sensor is reduced in the amount of data through compression / expansion when input / output to / from the storage unit, the required bandwidth of the memory bus is reduced, and the number of continuous shots is improved. Since the shooting and recording conditions when the cost and power consumption are reduced can be displayed on the shooting and recording condition display unit, the convenience for the user is improved.

  According to the electronic imaging device of the present invention, the continuous shooting speed for changing the continuous shooting speed in each continuous shooting mode of at least two types of continuous shooting modes that can be set by the continuous shooting mode setting unit. Since a continuous shooting speed ratio setting unit for setting the ratio is provided, and the setting of the imaging compression condition is changed by the continuous shooting speed ratio setting unit, for example, a normal “high”, “medium”, “low” When the continuous shooting mode can be set, each of the continuous shooting modes of “high”, “medium”, and “low” changed from the normal continuous shooting mode to the direction of increasing the number of continuous shooting frames, for example, according to user settings. In this case, the final shooting / recording conditions that can be imaged and recorded can be displayed on the shooting / recording condition display unit, which improves the convenience for the user.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration in an embodiment of an electronic imaging apparatus of the present invention. The electronic imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment is configured as a digital camera, and includes an imaging element 11, a storage unit 12, an imaging compression unit 13, an imaging expansion unit 14, an image processing unit 15, and a compression recording unit 16. An image recording unit 17, a memory bus 18, a continuous shooting mode setting unit 19, a continuous shooting speed ratio setting unit 20, an image quality mode setting unit 21, a shooting recording condition calculation unit 22, and a shooting recording condition display unit. 23 and an imaging compression setting unit 24.

The imaging device 11 generates imaging data by photoelectrically converting a subject image collected through a lens (not shown). As the image sensor 11, a CCD, a CMOS sensor, or the like is used.
The storage unit 12 is a storage medium (for example, a buffer memory configured by a RAM) that temporarily stores imaging data.
The imaging compression unit 13 compresses imaging data based on the imaging compression condition (for example, imaging compression rate) set by the imaging compression setting unit 24 and stores it in the storage unit 12.
The imaging expansion unit 14 reads out and expands the imaging data compressed by the imaging compression unit 13 and stored in the storage unit 12, and inputs it to the image processing unit 15.
The image processing unit 15 performs predetermined image processing (for example, image processing such as image quality correction processing, color interpolation processing, luminance / chroma signal generation) on the imaging data expanded by the imaging expansion unit 14.
The compression recording unit 16 is generated by the imaging device 11 by shooting in the continuous shooting mode set by the continuous shooting mode setting unit 19 and is based on the imaging compression condition (for example, imaging compression rate) set by the imaging compression setting unit 24. The imaging data compressed by the imaging compression unit 13, decompressed by the imaging decompression unit 14, and subjected to image processing by the image processing unit 15 is recorded into a recording compression condition (for example, a recording compression rate) according to the image quality mode set by the image quality mode setting unit 21. ) And recorded in the image recording unit 17.
The image recording unit 17 is generated by the imaging device 11 by shooting in the continuous shooting mode set by the continuous shooting mode setting unit 19, and is compressed by the imaging compression unit 13 based on the imaging compression condition set by the imaging compression setting unit 24. A recording medium that records image data that has been decompressed by the image capturing / decompressing unit 14, image-processed by the image processing unit 15, and compressed by the compression / recording unit 16 under a recording / compression condition according to the image quality mode set by the image quality mode setting unit 21 (For example, a recording medium composed of a flash memory).
The memory bus 18 captures images by interconnecting the imaging device 11, the storage unit 12, the imaging compression unit 13, the imaging expansion unit 14, the image processing unit 15, the compression recording unit 16, and the image recording unit 17. This is a bus for exchanging data (video signals).

The continuous shooting mode setting unit 19 allows the user to set at least two types of continuous shooting modes. In this embodiment, “high”, “medium”, and “low” shown in FIG. In addition to the continuous shooting mode of “”, the continuous shooting speed ratio setting unit 20 changes the setting for each of the continuous shooting modes of “high”, “medium”, and “low” in the normal mode. The user can set a desired continuous shooting mode among the “high”, “medium” and “low” continuous shooting modes shown in FIG. The imaging compression rate is automatically adjusted according to each of the “medium” and “low” continuous shooting modes.
The continuous shooting speed ratio setting unit 20 sets the continuous shooting speed in response to a user request for the continuous shooting speeds of the “high”, “medium”, and “low” continuous shooting modes in the normal continuous shooting mode. A figure showing a continuous shooting mode by user setting by setting a continuous shooting speed ratio (in the case of FIG. 3, “high” = 3, “medium” = 2, “low” = 1 in the case of FIG. 3). In the “high”, “middle”, and “low” continuous shooting modes shown in FIG.
The image quality mode setting unit 21 can set at least two types of image quality modes. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, for example, “SD (standard image quality; Standard Definition)”, “HQ ( “Image quality: High Quality” and “SHQ (Super High Quality)” can be set. Each image quality mode has a one-to-one correspondence with the recording compression rate, and is associated with each continuous shooting mode, which is a normal continuous shooting mode or a continuous shooting mode set by a user. Note that “SD (Standard Image Quality) **” and “HQ (Medium Image Quality: High Quality) *” shown in FIG. 3 correspond to the image quality modes (SD, HQ) set by the user. The image quality mode displayed on the imaging / recording condition display unit 23 is shown, so that the user can grasp the actual image quality.
The shooting / recording condition calculation unit 22 calculates shooting / recording conditions based on the continuous shooting mode set by the continuous shooting mode setting unit 19 and the image quality mode set by the image quality mode setting unit 21.
The shooting / recording condition display unit 23 displays the shooting / recording condition calculated by the shooting / recording condition calculation unit 22.
The imaging compression setting unit 24 sets an imaging compression condition (for example, an imaging compression rate) when the imaging data generated by the imaging element 11 is compressed and stored in the storage unit 12.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an example of a mode table including a normal continuous shooting mode in the electronic imaging apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 3 includes a continuous shooting mode by a user setting in the electronic imaging apparatus of the present invention. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of a mode table. It is assumed that the mode table of FIG.

  In the normal continuous shooting mode shown in FIG. 2, three continuous shooting modes of “high”, “medium”, and “low” are set, and the recording compression rate and the continuous shooting speed are set for each continuous shooting mode. Is set. In the mode table of FIG. 2, the recording compression ratio 1/16 and the continuous shooting speed 1/10 (sec) are set for the “high” continuous shooting mode in the normal continuous shooting mode. The recording compression ratio 1/8 and the continuous shooting speed 1/5 (sec) are set for the “medium” continuous shooting mode in, and the recording is performed for the “low” continuous shooting mode in the normal continuous shooting mode. A compression ratio of 1/4 and a continuous shooting speed of 1 / 2.5 (sec) are set. The recording compression rate is fixedly set according to the image quality mode set by the user. Note that the number of continuous shot frames (per second) is the reciprocal of the continuous shooting speed, so there are 10 frames in the “high” continuous shooting mode in the normal continuous shooting mode, and “medium” continuous shooting in the normal continuous shooting mode. The number is 5 in the mode, and 2.5 in the “low” continuous shooting mode in the normal continuous shooting mode.

  On the other hand, the continuous shooting mode by the user setting of the present invention shown in FIG. 3 can set three continuous shooting modes of “high”, “medium”, and “low” according to the user setting. In addition, a continuous shooting speed ratio, imaging compression ratio, and recording compression ratio are set, and shooting and recording conditions including the image quality mode indicating the final recording image quality and the continuous shooting speed are displayed. However, the item of the continuous shooting speed ratio may be omitted, and the imaging compression ratio may be set directly according to the user setting. In the mode table of FIG. 3, a continuous shooting speed ratio 3, an imaging compression ratio 1/3, and a recording compression ratio 1/16 are set for the “high” continuous shooting mode in the continuous shooting mode set by the user. The shooting and recording conditions including the mode SD ** and the continuous shooting speed 1/30 are set to be displayed, and the continuous shooting speed ratio is 2 for the “medium” continuous shooting mode in the continuous shooting mode set by the user. An imaging compression ratio 1/2 and a recording compression ratio 1/8 are set, and shooting and recording conditions including an image quality mode HQ * and a continuous shooting speed 1/10 are set to be displayed. For the “low” continuous shooting mode in the shooting mode, the continuous shooting speed ratio 1, the imaging compression ratio 1 and the recording compression ratio 1/4 are set, and the image quality mode SHQ and the continuous shooting speed 1 / 2.5 are included. Shooting recording conditions are It is set as shown. In the above, the continuous shooting speed ratio is fixedly set for each continuous shooting mode, and the recording compression rate is set according to the image quality mode set by the user and the continuous shooting mode set by the user. The imaging compression rate, the image quality mode, and the continuous shooting speed are roughly fixed and thus include some fluctuations. In principle, the imaging compression ratio should not be increased so that the image quality falls within the range that can be defined in the image quality mode. In the example shown in FIG. The product with the compression ratio is set to be 1.

As the image quality mode in the mode table of FIG. 3, for example, in addition to SD, HQ, and SHQ, which are image quality modes that have been conventionally used for image size at the time of recording imaging data, etc., the user can easily recognize intuitively. SD **, HQ *, etc. with “*” added. Here, “SD **” means “image quality mode deteriorated to some extent than SD”, and “HQ *” is “image quality mode slightly deteriorated than HQ but better than SD”. Means. Such image quality modes such as SD, HQ, SHQ, SD **, and HQ * are displayed on the shooting / recording condition display unit 23 as shooting / recording conditions together with the continuous shooting speed. At this time, for example, in the continuous shooting speed ratio 3 set for the “high” continuous shooting mode in the continuous shooting mode by the user setting, the image quality mode cannot be expressed because the image quality mode by the user setting has deviated from the specified range. In this case, “Over” or the like is displayed instead of SD **.
As described above, in the electronic imaging apparatus of the present invention, in addition to the three types of image quality modes (SD, HQ, SHQ) that are normal image quality modes that can be set by the user, the image quality mode set by the user and the user set Since there is an image quality mode (SD **, HQ * in the example shown) corresponding to the recording compression rate set according to the continuous shooting mode, a plurality of image quality modes (SD, HQ, SHQ, SD *) are present. The shooting / recording condition including any one of (*, HQ *) and the continuous shooting speed is displayed on the shooting / recording condition display unit 23.
It should be noted that the imaging data (images) in each image quality mode may be displayed in parallel on the imaging / recording condition display unit 23 so that the user can confirm the image quality difference in each image quality mode. In such a case, the user can confirm the degree of image quality deterioration due to the compression of the image data by viewing the image.

  FIG. 4 is a view for explaining another example of the mode table including the continuous shooting mode by the user setting in the electronic imaging apparatus of the present invention. In the mode table of FIG. 4, the continuous shooting speed ratio, which can be omitted in the mode table of FIG. 3, is an essential item, and “high” in the continuous shooting mode set by the user is different from the mode table of FIG. "The setting of the continuous shooting mode is changed. That is, in the mode table of FIG. 4, the continuous shooting speed ratio 2.5, the imaging compression ratio 1 / 2.5, and the recording compression ratio 1/16 are set for the “high” continuous shooting mode in the continuous shooting mode set by the user. In addition to being set, shooting and recording conditions including image quality mode SD * and continuous shooting speed 1/20 are set to be displayed.

  Next, a flow of processing of imaging data at the time of continuous shooting in the electronic imaging device of the present invention will be described based on FIG. In FIG. 5, dotted arrows indicate the flow of imaging data, and solid arrows indicate the flow of control signals.

  In FIG. 5, as indicated by an arrow a, in order for the user to set a desired shooting and recording condition, for example, a continuous shooting speed ratio 3 corresponding to “high” of the continuous shooting mode by the user setting in FIG. It is set by the shooting speed ratio setting unit 20 and input to the continuous shooting mode setting unit 19, and the image quality mode SD is set by the image quality mode setting unit 20, and continuous shooting is performed under the shooting and recording conditions to pick up images from the image sensor 11. When the imaging data is input to the compression unit 13, the shooting / recording condition setting unit 22 calculates the shooting / recording condition (in this case, the image quality mode SD and the continuous shooting speed 1/30) as shown by an arrow b, and FIG. The control signal of “high” in the continuous shooting mode set by the user is input to the imaging compression setting unit 24 and the control signal of the recording compression condition (in this case, the recording compression ratio 1/16) corresponding to the image quality mode SD is compressed. Recording unit 1 Input to. When the “high” control signal is input, the imaging compression setting unit 24 captures the imaging compression condition (in this case, the imaging compression) corresponding to “high” of the continuous shooting mode by the user setting shown in FIG. A control signal with a rate of 1/3) is input to the imaging compression unit 13. The imaging compression unit 13 to which the control signal is input compresses the imaging data from the imaging element 11 to the imaging compression unit 13 at an imaging compression ratio of 1/3 and stores (stores) it in the storage unit 12 as indicated by an arrow b. To do.

  Next, the imaging compression setting unit 24, to which the “high” control signal is input, inputs an expansion rate control signal corresponding to the imaging compression rate to the imaging expansion unit 14, as indicated by an arrow c. The imaging expansion unit 14 to which the control signal is input reads the compressed imaging data from the storage unit 12 as illustrated by an arrow c, expands it at the expansion rate, and inputs it to the image processing unit 15. The image processing unit 15 to which the expanded imaging data is input stores (stores) the imaging data subjected to predetermined image processing in the storage unit 12 as indicated by an arrow d. By repeating the above processing, each of the continuous shooting speed imaging data generated by the continuous shooting is stored (stored) in the storage unit 12 through compression / decompression / image processing.

  After that, the compression recording unit 16 to which the control signal of the recording compression rate 1/16 is input reads out the captured image data that has undergone compression / expansion / image processing from the storage unit 12 as indicated by an arrow e, and the recording compression rate After compression at 1/16, the data is stored (stored) in the storage unit 12. At this time, as indicated by an arrow e, the shooting / recording condition display unit 23 displays the shooting / recording condition (in this case, the image quality mode SD ** and the continuous shooting speed 1/30) calculated by the shooting / recording condition calculation unit 22. Therefore, the user can confirm the actual image quality under the shooting and recording conditions. Thereafter, the imaging data compressed at a recording compression ratio of 1/16 and stored (stored) in the storage unit 12 is read out as indicated by an arrow f after the user confirms the shooting recording condition, and the image recording unit 17 is recorded.

  Next, in the electronic imaging apparatus of the present invention, the relationship between the imaging data from shooting to recording and the bandwidth of the memory bus will be described in comparison with the electronic imaging apparatus of Prior Art 1.

Since the electronic imaging device of the prior art 1 does not compress imaging data and handles a large amount of data per second, as shown in FIG. 7, the input bandwidth of the imaging data F1 is close to the bandwidth upper limit M of the memory bus. And there is no room in the memory bus bandwidth. After the input band of the imaging data F1, a processing band C1 necessary for image processing firmware processing, which must precede the image processing hardware processing, is arranged, and after the processing band C1, image processing hardware is processed. A processing band P1 necessary for wear processing is arranged. An input band of the next imaging data F2 starting from the time Tf1 is arranged in the middle part (second half part) of the processing band P1, and after the input band of the imaging data F2, processing necessary for image processing firmware processing is performed. Band C2 is arranged. After the processing band C2, a processing band P2 necessary for image processing hardware processing is arranged.
In the above, the period from the beginning of the input band of the imaging data F1 to the end of the processing band C2 is the “time T1 required from shooting to recording of the imaging data F1”, and from the beginning (the left end in the figure) of the input band of the imaging data F2. The time until the end of the processing band C2 (the right end in the figure) is the “time T2 required from photographing to recording of the imaging data F2”.

On the other hand, the electronic imaging device of the present invention compresses imaging data to reduce the amount of data handled every second. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, the input band of imaging data F1n has an imaging compression rate of (1 / x ), F1 * (1 / x), and there is a large margin for the upper limit M of the memory bus bandwidth. After the input band of the imaging data F1n, a processing band C1 necessary for image processing firmware processing, which must precede the image processing hardware processing, is arranged, and after the processing band C1, image processing hardware is processed. A processing band P1n (same as the processing band P1 in FIG. 7) necessary for the wear processing is arranged. An input band of the next imaging data F2n starting from the time Tf1n is arranged in an intermediate part (second half part) of the processing band P1n. After the input band of the imaging data F2n, processing necessary for firmware processing of image processing is performed. Band C2 is arranged. After the processing band C2, a processing band P2n necessary for image processing hardware processing is arranged.
In the above, the period from the beginning of the input band of the imaging data F1n to the end of the processing band C2 is the “time T1n required to capture and record the imaging data F1n”, and from the beginning (the left end in the figure) of the input band of the imaging data F2n. The time from the end of the processing band C2 (the right end in the figure) to “the time T2n required for photographing to recording of the imaging data F2n” is.

  As apparent from the comparison between FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, “time Tm required to capture and record imaging data Fm when continuous shooting of m frames” and “imaging data Fmn when continuous shooting of m frames are performed”. The relationship between Tm> Tmn and “time Tmn required from shooting to recording” is “Tm> Tmn”, and “recording start time Tfm of imaging data Fm when performing continuous shooting of m frames” and “when performing continuous shooting of m frames” The relationship with the “recording start time Tfmn of the imaging data Fmn” is Tfm> Tfmn. Therefore, the electronic image pickup apparatus of the present invention is improved in the number of continuous shots per second (frame / sec) as compared with the electronic image pickup apparatus of Prior Art 1.

Next, the operation of the electronic imaging apparatus of the present invention will be described.
As shown in FIG. 5, since the imaging data travels through the memory bus 18 many times during the period from imaging to recording, when the imaging data is not compressed, the memory bus 18 requires a wide band.
Therefore, in the electronic imaging device of the present invention, the necessary bandwidth of the memory bus 18 by the imaging data is reduced by providing the imaging compression unit 13 and the imaging expansion unit 14 and adding a path for compression / decompression of the imaging data. Subsequent processing (image processing or the like) can be effectively used for the remaining bandwidth of the memory bus 18. For this reason, in a situation where the bandwidth of the memory bus 18 becomes a bottleneck of processing speed, it is possible to link the electronic imaging apparatus by compressing / decompressing imaging data without increasing the processing speed of subsequent processing. It is possible to improve the number of shot frames.
That is, in the electronic imaging apparatus of the present invention, imaging compression and recording compression are performed separately, and the imaging compression rate is automatically set (set) according to the continuous shooting mode (continuous shooting speed ratio) set by the user. The number of continuous shot frames can be set according to the user's intention, and the image data can be set according to the user's setting. Since the effective bandwidth of the memory bus 18 changes during compression, it is possible to improve the number of continuous shot frames of the electronic imaging device. At that time, a conventional image quality mode (for example, SD, HQ, SHQ, etc.) is controlled by the shooting / recording condition calculation unit 22 so that the user can confirm in advance the image quality that may be deteriorated due to compression / decompression of the imaging data. In addition, the image quality mode (for example, HQ *, SHQ **) different from the conventional image quality mode is displayed (redisplayed) on the photographing / recording condition display unit 23 together with the continuous shooting speed.

  According to the electronic imaging device of the present invention, the setting of the imaging compression rate is changed according to one of the continuous shooting modes of “high”, “medium”, and “low” set by the user. Since the shooting / recording condition calculated by the shooting / recording condition calculation unit 22 based on the changed imaging compression rate is displayed on the shooting / recording condition display unit 23, the user can confirm the change in image quality by the display while the user can confirm the change in image quality. By reducing the amount of data through compression / decompression when inputting / outputting imaging data to / from the storage unit 12, the necessary bandwidth of the memory bus 18 is reduced, and thereby the number of continuous shot frames of the electronic imaging device ( (Sequential shooting speed) can be improved and cost and power consumption can be reduced. Therefore, for example, the balance between the number of continuous shots and the image quality can be automatically adjusted to meet the user's desire to “increase the number of continuous shots even if the image quality slightly decreases”. improves.

  Further, according to the electronic imaging apparatus of the present invention, the continuous shooting speed ratio for changing the continuous shooting speed in each of the continuous shooting modes of “high”, “medium”, and “low” can be set according to a user request. By setting (setting change) by the speed ratio setting unit 20, the imaging compression rate in the imaging compression setting unit 24 can be set (setting change), and thus, for example, “high”, “medium”, and “low” are usually used. When the continuous shooting mode can be set, the setting is changed from the normal continuous shooting mode to the direction of increasing the number of continuous shots, for example, according to the user setting. The final shooting / recording conditions (image quality mode and continuous shooting speed) that can be imaged and recorded can be displayed (redisplayed) on the shooting / recording condition display unit 23, thereby improving user convenience.

  In the above, each of the three continuous shooting modes (“high” continuous shooting mode, “medium” continuous shooting mode, and “low” continuous shooting mode) that can be set by the continuous shooting mode setting unit 19 is set. Although the setting of the imaging compression condition (imaging compression rate) is changed, in addition to that, the setting of the imaging compression condition (imaging compression rate) may be changed for each imaging data.

It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions in embodiment of the electronic imaging device of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the mode table containing the normal continuous shooting mode in the electronic imaging device of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the mode table containing the continuous shooting mode by a user setting in the electronic imaging device of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the other example of the mode table containing the continuous shooting mode by the user setting in the electronic imaging device of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the flow of a process of the imaging data at the time of the continuous shooting in the electronic imaging device of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the relationship between the imaging data from imaging | photography to recording and the zone | band of a memory bus in the electronic imaging device of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the relationship between the imaging data from imaging | photography to recording in the electronic imaging device of the prior art 1, and the zone | band of a memory bus. It is a figure for demonstrating the crop photography function in a prior art.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Image sensor 12 Memory | storage part 13 Imaging compression part 14 Imaging expansion part 15 Image processing part 16 Compression recording part 17 Image recording part 18 Memory bus 19 Continuous shooting mode setting part 20 Continuous shooting speed ratio setting part 21 Image quality mode setting part 22 Shooting | recording recording Condition calculation unit 23 Imaging recording condition display unit 24 Imaging compression setting unit

Claims (2)

An image sensor for generating imaging data, a continuous shooting mode setting unit capable of setting at least two types of continuous shooting modes, an image quality mode setting unit capable of setting at least two types of image quality modes, and compressing the imaging data An imaging compression setting unit for setting an imaging compression condition for storing in the storage unit, a continuous shooting mode set by the continuous shooting mode setting unit, and a shooting recording condition based on the image quality mode set by the image quality mode setting unit are calculated. A shooting / recording condition calculation unit, a shooting / recording condition display unit for displaying the shooting / recording condition, and a shooting in a continuous shooting mode set by the continuous shooting mode setting unit. After that, the decompressed and image-processed image data is compressed under the recording compression condition corresponding to the image quality mode set by the image quality mode setting unit and is stored in the image recording unit. A compression recording unit for recording, an electronic imaging apparatus including a
The imaging compression setting unit can change the setting of the imaging compression condition in each continuous shooting mode of at least two types of continuous shooting modes that can be set by the continuous shooting mode setting unit;
The electronic imaging apparatus, wherein the imaging / recording condition calculation unit calculates the imaging / recording condition based on an imaging compression condition set and changed by the imaging compression setting unit.   A continuous shooting speed ratio setting unit for setting a continuous shooting speed ratio for changing a continuous shooting speed in each continuous shooting mode of the at least two types of continuous shooting modes settable by the continuous shooting mode setting unit; 2. The electronic imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging compression condition setting is changed by a shooting speed ratio setting unit.

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