JP2010016671A - Camera, and information processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera that facilitates deciding a focusing state of an image. <P>SOLUTION: An image processing circuit 104 generates main image data on the basis of digital image data, and generates image data after processing obtained by performing at least either of contour enhancing processing stronger than processing performed to the main image data, or contrast enhancing processing stronger than processing performed to the main image data, with respect to the digital image data, and making image size smaller than that of the main image data as image data for confirmation for confirming the focusing state of the main image data. A CPU 111 generates an image file including the main image data and the image data for confirmation, and records the generated image file in a memory card 113a. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a camera and an information processing apparatus.

  The following electronic cameras are known. The electronic camera compresses and records a clipped image corresponding to a focus area in the image, and the user determines the focus detection state of the image by viewing the clipped image (for example, Patent Document 1). ).

JP 2002-152582 A

  However, in the conventional electronic camera, there is a possibility that the user cannot determine the focus detection state of the image only by looking at the cut-out image corresponding to the focus area. In this case, the user needs to perform image processing that makes it easy to determine the focus detection state on the cut-out image.

The camera according to the present invention includes an imaging unit that captures a subject image to acquire image data, a main image data generation unit that generates main image data based on the original image data acquired by the imaging unit, and original image data. Is subjected to at least one of contour enhancement processing stronger than the processing applied to the main image data and contrast enhancement processing stronger than the processing applied to the main image data, so that the image size is larger than the main image data. Image data generated by the main image data generation means, confirmation image data generated by the main image data generation means, and confirmation image And a recording control unit that records the confirmation image data generated by the data generation unit on a storage medium.
According to the present invention, the confirmation image data generation unit extracts an area including an area set as a focus detection area at the time of imaging from the original image data as an extraction area, and confirms an image based on the image data in the extraction area. Data may be generated.
The camera further includes an enlargement ratio setting means for setting an enlargement ratio for the image data within the extraction range based on an instruction from the user, and the confirmation image data generating means is based on the enlargement ratio set by the enlargement ratio setting means. Confirmation image data may be generated.
The confirmation image data generation means performs image processing on the original image data so that the brightness of the image represented by the confirmation image data is brighter than the brightness of the image represented by the main image data, and the confirmation image data Data may be generated.
The confirmation image data generation means may use the image data obtained by extracting only the luminance component from the processed image data as confirmation image data.
The camera may further include display control means for displaying an image represented by the confirmation image data on the display device.
An information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a reading unit that reads an image file storing information about a focus detection area from a storage medium, an information acquisition unit that acquires information about a focus detection area from the image file read by the reading unit, A region extraction unit that extracts, as an extraction region, a region including a region set as a focus detection area at the time of imaging from the main image data in the image file based on information about the focus detection area acquired by the information acquisition unit; At least one of contour enhancement processing stronger than the processing applied to the main image data and contrast enhancement processing stronger than the processing applied to the main image data to the image data in the extraction region extracted by the extraction means After processing, the image size is smaller than the main image data A confirmation image data generating means for generating data as confirmation image data for confirming the focus adjustment state of the main image data, and a recording control means for recording the main image data and the confirmation image data on a storage medium. It is characterized by.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to generate and record a confirmation image in which the focus detection state of an image can be easily determined.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a camera 100 in the present embodiment. The camera 100 includes a lens 101, an image sensor 102, an AFE (Analog Front End) circuit 103, an image processing circuit 104, a finder display device 105, a monitor 106, and an AF (Auto Focus / Auto Focus Adjustment) sensor. 107, an AF control CPU 108, an SDRAM 109, a flash memory 110, a CPU 111, an operating member 112, and a memory card I / F 113.

  The CPU 111 controls the entire camera 100 by reading the control program recorded in the flash memory 110 into the SDRAM 109 and executing it. The SDRAM 109 is a volatile memory, and is used as a work memory for the CPU 111 to develop a program when the program is executed or as a buffer memory for temporarily recording data. The flash memory 110 is a non-volatile memory in which data of a program executed by the CPU 111, various parameters read during program execution, and the like are recorded.

  The CPU 111 accepts the operation of various buttons included in the operation member 112 by the user, and executes processing according to the operation content. The operation member 112 includes various buttons and switches operated by the user, such as a power button, a release button, a zoom button, a cross button, and a determination button. When the operation member 112 is operated by the user and the mode of the camera 100 is set to the shooting mode, the CPU 111 controls each unit and starts a shooting process described below.

  The lens 101 includes a plurality of optical lenses, and forms an object image on the image sensor 102 via these lenses. The image sensor 102 is, for example, an image sensor such as a CCD or a CMOS. The image sensor 102 photoelectrically converts a subject image to generate an analog image signal, and outputs the generated analog image signal to the AFE circuit 103.

  In the camera 100 of the present embodiment, the lens 101 includes an AF AF lens, and the driving of the AF lens is controlled by the AF control CPU 108. The AF control CPU 108 determines the lens position of the AF lens at the time of shooting based on the output from the AF sensor 107. For example, the AF control CPU 108 sets a plurality of focus detection areas (AF areas) on the photographing surface, and focuses on a subject in one of the AF areas based on the output from the AF sensor 107. Adjust the focus. Then, the AF control CPU 108 determines the lens position of the AF lens when the subject in any AF area is focused as the lens position of the AF lens at the time of shooting.

  In the present embodiment, the AF control CPU 108 outputs to the SDRAM 109 and records information regarding which AF area the focus adjustment has been performed, that is, AF information. When the CPU 111 performs shooting based on a shooting instruction from the user and generates an image file, the CPU 111 reads AF information from the SDRAM 109 and records it in the header portion of the image file. The structure of the image file generated by the camera 100 in the present embodiment and the contents of data stored in the image file will be described later.

  The AFE circuit 103 performs gain adjustment on the analog image signal, for example, signal amplification according to the set ISO sensitivity. The AFE circuit 103 further converts an analog image signal into digital image data by a built-in A / D conversion circuit, and outputs the digital image data to the image processing circuit 104.

  The image processing circuit 104 performs various types of image processing on the digital image data, for example, color interpolation processing, gradation conversion processing, contour enhancement processing, white balance adjustment processing, etc. , Referred to as “main image data”) is output to the SDRAM 109 as a buffer memory. The image processing circuit 104 generates display image data based on the main image data obtained by performing image processing, and outputs the display image data to the SDRAM 109. For example, the image processing circuit 104 reduces the image data, generates thumbnail image data as display image data, and outputs the thumbnail image data to the SDRAM 109.

  The finder display device 105 is a display device for displaying information in a finder mounted on the camera 100. The above-described AF control CPU 108 displays a frame indicating a plurality of AF areas set on the photographing surface on the finder display device 105. Thus, the user can take a picture while checking the AF area in the finder. In addition, the CPU 111 displays various information such as information on the currently set shooting conditions on the finder display device 105.

  The monitor 106 is a liquid crystal monitor (rear monitor) mounted on the back surface of the camera 100. The CPU 111 displays the through image on the monitor 106 by continuously outputting the display image data generated in time series by the image processing circuit 104 and recorded in the SDRAM 109 to the monitor 106. Further, when the user switches the mode of the camera 100 to the playback mode, the CPU 111 reads display image data from an image file obtained by past shooting and recorded in a memory card 113a described later. By outputting to the monitor 106, the image is reproduced. In addition, the CPU 111 outputs various information such as a menu screen and a confirmation message to the monitor 106 for display.

  The memory card I / F 113 includes, for example, a slot for inserting a memory card 113a as an external memory, and writes an image file to the memory card 113a based on an instruction from the CPU 111, or The image file is read from 113a.

  As described above, when the camera 100 is set to the photographing mode, the CPU 111 instructs the image processing circuit 104 to perform photographing by operating the release button included in the operation member 112. An image file storing the main image data generated and recorded in the SDRAM 109 is generated. Then, the CPU 111 records the generated image file on the flash memory 110 as a built-in memory or the memory card 113a introduced in the memory card I / F 113.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image file generated by the CPU 111 in the present embodiment includes a header portion 2a and a data portion 2b. The data portion 2b includes a plurality of individual images, that is, header information and image. Data sets can be recorded. The header section 2a stores various information such as the image shooting date and time, the above-described AF information, and display image data generated by the image processing circuit 104 and recorded in the SDRAM 109. Further, in the present embodiment, the data portion 2b includes the individual image 2e that includes the header information 2c and the main image data 2d relating to the main image data as a set, and the user confirms the in-focus state of the main image data. For this purpose, an individual image 2h including a set of header information 2f regarding the confirmation image and confirmation image data 2g is recorded.

  Here, details of the confirmation image will be described. In the present embodiment, the image processing circuit 104 generates confirmation image data based on the digital image data input from the AFE circuit 103 when photographing processing is performed. Since this confirmation image data is used by the user for confirming the in-focus state of the main image data, the image processing circuit 104 makes it easy for the user to confirm the in-focus state of the main image data. An image needs to be generated. For this reason, the image processing circuit 104 performs the following processing to generate confirmation image data.

  First, the image processing circuit 104 reads out AF information recorded by the AF control CPU 108 from the SDRAM 109, and specifies an AF area that is an object of AF processing at the time of shooting. Then, the image processing circuit 104 extracts image data in a predetermined range including the specified AF area from the digital image data input from the AFE circuit 103. In the present embodiment, the image data extracted here is referred to as extracted image data. In addition, image data within a range corresponding to the extraction range of the extracted image data in the main image data is referred to as extraction-compatible image data.

  The image processing circuit 104 determines the size of the range to be extracted as the extracted image data from the digital image data based on an instruction from the user. In the present embodiment, the user calls a setting screen for setting the “magnification and output size of the extracted image” on the menu by operating the operation member 112, for example. When the CPU 111 accepts the above operation by the user, the CPU 111 displays a setting screen for “extracted image magnification and output size” shown in FIG.

  On the setting screen shown in FIG. 3, the user selects the combination of the magnification and output size of the extracted image as “same size / VGA”, “same size / QVGA”, “2 times, VGA” and “2 times”.・ Select from “QVGA”. The image processing circuit 104 determines the size of the extraction range of the extracted image data including the AF area from the digital image data based on the selection result by the user on the setting screen.

  For example, when “same size / VGA” is selected by the user on the setting screen, the image processing circuit 104 extracts VGA size image data including the AF area from the digital image data, and extracts this. Let it be extracted image data. Further, when “same size / QVGA” is selected by the user on the setting screen, the image processing circuit 104 extracts QVGA size image data including the AF area from the digital image data, and extracts this. Let it be extracted image data.

  Further, when “2 × VGA” is selected by the user on the setting screen, the image processing circuit 104 is an image having a quarter of the VGA size including the AF area from the digital image data. Extract data. Then, the image processing circuit 104 performs interpolation processing for doubling the extracted image data in the vertical and horizontal directions to generate VGA size image data, which is used as the extracted image data.

  Further, when “2 × QVGA” is selected by the user on the setting screen, the image processing circuit 104 is an image having a quarter of the QVGA size including the AF area from the digital image data. Extract data. Then, the image processing circuit 104 performs interpolation processing for doubling the extracted image data vertically and horizontally to generate QVGA size image data, which is used as extracted image data.

  The image processing circuit 104 generates image data for confirmation by performing image processing on the extracted image data to make it easy to confirm the focused state of the image when the user views the image. To do. That is, the image processing circuit 104 generates confirmation image data by performing image processing different from the image processing performed when generating the main image data on the extracted image data. For example, the following (A) is an effective image process in which image processing different from the main image data is performed in order to make it easy to confirm the focused state of the image when the user views the image. Or the process of (B) is mentioned.

  Note that the image processing circuit 104 may generate the confirmation image data by performing both of the processes (A) and (B) described below, and any one of the processes (A) and (B). Only one of them may be performed to generate the confirmation image data. Whether to perform both the processing (A) and (B), only the processing (A), or only the processing (B) to generate the confirmation image data is set in advance. It may be configured so that the user can arbitrarily set it. In the present embodiment, an example will be described in which confirmation image data is generated by performing both processes (A) and (B).

(A) Contrast Enhancement Processing The image processing circuit 104 performs confirmation processing on the digital image data, which is stronger than the contrast enhancement processing performed on the main image data, to generate confirmation image data. Confirmation image data for easily confirming the in-focus state of the main image data is generated. First, the reason why it is possible to generate confirmation image data that allows the user to easily confirm the in-focus state by performing a contrast enhancement process stronger than the contrast enhancement process performed on the main image data with reference to FIG. To do.

  FIG. 4A is a diagram schematically showing the contrast change state when the focus is in the AF area in the main image data generated by performing the contrast enhancement processing with a certain strength. . On the other hand, FIG. 4B is a diagram schematically illustrating a contrast change state when the AF area is not in focus. Comparing FIG. 4 (a) and FIG. 4 (b), the change state of the contrast at the contrast change point 4a is different. The in-focus state of the image can be determined.

  In the present embodiment, the confirmation image data is generated by performing a contrast enhancement process stronger than the main image data, so that the contrast change state when the focus shown in FIG. It can be emphasized as shown in FIG. 4C, and the contrast change state when the focus is not shown in FIG. 4B can be emphasized as shown in FIG. As a result, the change in contrast at the contrast change point 4a can be increased, so that the user can determine the in-focus state more easily by looking at the confirmation image than when viewing the main image. Will be able to.

  Specifically, the CPU 111 determines the strength of contrast enhancement processing to be performed on digital image data in order to generate confirmation image data as follows. Then, the image processing circuit 104 performs contrast enhancement processing on the digital image data with the intensity determined by the CPU 111 to generate confirmation image data.

  First, the CPU 111 creates a histogram as shown in FIG. 5A for the extraction corresponding image data in the main image data. In this histogram, the horizontal axis represents the luminance value (0 to 255), and the vertical axis represents the number of appearances. The width of the histogram, that is, the width of the appearance range of the luminance value represents the height of the contrast of the extraction corresponding image data. Specifically, the narrower the width of the histogram, the lower the contrast of the extraction-compatible image data, and the wider the width of the histogram, the higher the contrast of the extraction-compatible image data.

  Therefore, the image processing circuit 104 generates the confirmation image data subjected to the contrast enhancement processing stronger than the main image data by performing the contrast enhancement processing so as to widen the width of the histogram shown in FIG. be able to. For example, since the luminance distribution is in the range of 20 to 120 in the histogram shown in FIG. 5A, the CPU 111 sets a conversion characteristic that widens this from 0 to 255. Then, the image processing circuit 104 further performs contrast enhancement processing on the extracted image data using this conversion characteristic, thereby generating confirmation image data subjected to contrast enhancement processing stronger than the main image data.

  For this purpose, the CPU 111 first expands the histogram shown in FIG. 5A in the left direction, and converts the histogram to a range of luminance distribution 0 to 120 as shown in FIG. 5B. Then, as shown in FIG. 5C, the CPU 111 sets conversion characteristics for expanding the range of the luminance value from 20 to 120 to the range of 20 to 255. Then, the image processing circuit 104 performs contrast enhancement processing on the extracted image data using the conversion characteristics shown in FIG. 5C, so that the confirmation image represented by the histogram shown in FIG. Data can be generated.

(B) Contour Enhancement Processing The image processing circuit 104 performs confirmation on the digital image data by performing contour enhancement processing stronger than the contour enhancement processing performed on the main image data. Confirmation image data for easily confirming the in-focus state of the main image data is generated.

  Specifically, comparing the case where the focus is not within the AF area of the main image data and the case where the focus is within the AF area of the main image data, the contour component is extracted from the above-described extraction-corresponding image data. When extracted, a larger contour component can be extracted when the AF area is in focus. In this embodiment, the digital image data is subjected to a contour enhancement process stronger than the contour enhancement process performed on the main image data, thereby extracting the case where the focus is achieved and the case where the focus is not achieved. Confirmation image data in which the difference between the contour components is further enlarged is generated.

  As a result, in the confirmation image data, the contour is emphasized more than in the main image data. Therefore, the user browses the image of the confirmation image data rather than viewing the image of the main image data. However, it is easy to check whether or not the AF area is in focus.

  Specifically, the CPU 111 determines the strength of the contour enhancement processing to be performed on the digital image data in order to generate the confirmation image data as follows. Then, the image processing circuit 104 performs contour enhancement processing on the digital image data with the intensity determined by the CPU 111 to generate confirmation image data.

  First, the CPU 111 extracts a contour component from extracted image data extracted from digital image data. Then, the CPU 111 calculates a contour component by multiplying the extracted contour component by a coefficient larger than the coefficient used when generating the main image data, for example, a coefficient twice as large. The image processing circuit 104 adds the contour component calculated by the CPU 111 to each pixel value of the extracted image data.

For example, when the contour component extracted from the extracted image data is α, when generating the main image data, the image processing circuit 104 calculates a value obtained by multiplying the contour component α by a coefficient a as shown in the following equation (1). It adds to the pixel value of each pixel of digital image data. On the other hand, when generating the confirmation image data, the image processing circuit 104 calculates the pixel value of each pixel of the extracted image data by multiplying the contour component α by the coefficient 2 · a as shown in the following equation (2). Add to.
Outline enhancement processing of main image data = pixel value of each pixel of digital image data + a × α (1)
Outline enhancement processing of confirmation image data = pixel value of each pixel of extracted image data + 2 · a × α (2)

Note that, in the edge enhancement processing when generating the main image data, the coefficient a may be set to a different value depending on the luminance value of each pixel of the main image data. For example, the coefficients a ₀ to a ₂₅₅ corresponding to the luminance values from ₀ to ₂₅₅ are set in advance, and the image processing circuit 104 applies the coefficient a to the coefficient a when performing the edge enhancement process using the equation (1). one of coefficients of a ₂₅₅ from a ₀ corresponding to the luminance value of each pixel of the digital image data may be subjected to the contour component α instead. In this case, in the equation (2), extracts an image from a ₀ corresponding to the luminance value of each pixel data by 2-fold one of the coefficients of a ₂₅₅ may be subjected to contour component alpha, or from a ₀ The maximum value of a ₂₅₅ may be applied to the uniform contour component α.

  The image processing circuit 104 records the confirmation image data generated by executing at least one of the processes described in (A) and (B) in the SDRAM 109. Then, the CPU 111 generates an image file having the structure shown in FIG. 2 in which the main image data, display image data, and confirmation image data recorded in the SDRAM 109 are stored. Then, the CPU 111 records the generated image file on the memory card 113a via the memory card I / F 113.

  The CPU 111 reads the AF information recorded in the SDRAM 109 as described above and records it in the header part 2a. In addition to the AF information, the CPU 111 records information indicating the degree of image processing performed on the confirmation image data in the header portion 2a. For example, when the image processing circuit 104 performs contrast enhancement processing with stronger intensity than the main image data on the digital image data to generate confirmation image data, information indicating the strength of the contrast enhancement processing at that time For example, information indicating the conversion characteristics shown in FIG. 5C is recorded in the header portion 2a. Further, when the image processing circuit 104 performs contour enhancement processing with higher strength than the main image data on the digital image data to generate confirmation image data, information indicating the strength of the contour enhancement processing at that time For example, the value of the coefficient 2 · a used in the equation (2) is recorded in the header portion 2a.

  When the operation member 112 is operated by the user and the mode of the camera 100 is switched to the playback mode, the CPU 111 reads the display image data from the image file and outputs it to the monitor 106 as described above. The display image is displayed on the monitor 106 and the image is reproduced. For example, the CPU 111 displays the display image output to the monitor 106 at the end of the previous reproduction mode on the monitor 106. The user can instruct the display of the confirmation image corresponding to the display image by operating the operation member 112 while the display image is displayed on the monitor 106.

  When there is an instruction to display the confirmation image from the user, the CPU 111 reads the confirmation image data from the image file corresponding to the display image being displayed on the monitor 106 and outputs the confirmation image data to the monitor 106. A confirmation image is displayed on the monitor 106. Then, the user can check whether or not the AF area of the corresponding main image data is in focus by viewing the confirmation image displayed on the monitor 106.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing image acquisition processing of the camera 100 according to the present embodiment. The process shown in FIG. 6 is executed as a program that is activated when the release button included in the operation member 112 is half-pressed in a state where the mode of the camera 100 is set to the shooting mode by the user.

  In step S10, the AF control CPU 108 recognizes the AF area where the subject exists from the plurality of AF areas set on the imaging surface based on the output from the AF sensor 107, and proceeds to step S20. In step S20, the AF control CPU 108 executes an AF (Auto Focus / automatic focus adjustment) process, and determines an AF lens position so as to focus on a subject existing in the AF area recognized in step S10. Further, the CPU 111 performs exposure adjustment by executing AE (Automatic Exposure / automatic exposure adjustment) processing. At this time, the AF control CPU 108 records the AF information in the SDRAM 109 as described above. Then, it progresses to step S30.

  In step S30, the CPU 111 determines whether or not the release button included in the operation member 112 has been fully pressed by the user. If a negative determination is made in step S30, the process proceeds to step S40, and the CPU 111 determines whether or not the half-press of the release button by the user is released. If an affirmative determination is made in step S40, the process ends. On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S40, the process returns to step S30. On the other hand, if a positive determination is made in step S30, the process proceeds to step S50.

  In step S50, the CPU 111 executes the photographing process as described above. As a result, the analog image signal obtained by the image sensor 102 is converted into a digital image signal by the AFE circuit 103 and output to the image processing circuit 104. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S60, and the image processing circuit 104 generates the above-described main image data by performing various image processing such as contrast enhancement processing and contour enhancement processing on the input digital image data. Recorded in the SDRAM 109. At this time, the image processing circuit 104 also generates the above-described display image data based on the generated main image data and records it in the SDRAM 109. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S70.

  In step S70, the image processing circuit 104 performs digital image data based on the AF information recorded in the SDRAM 109 and the selection of the magnification and output size of the extracted image by the user on the setting screen shown in FIG. The range for extracting the extracted image data from the inside is determined. Then, the image data in the determined range is extracted. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S80, and the image processing circuit 104 determines whether it is necessary to enlarge the image data in order to generate the extracted image data, for example, whether the magnification of the extracted image is set to 2 times. .

  If a negative determination is made in step S80, the image processing circuit 104 proceeds to step S100 using the image data extracted from the digital image data in step S70 as extracted image data as it is. On the other hand, if a positive determination is made in step S80, the process proceeds to step S90. The image processing circuit 104 interpolates the image data extracted from the digital image data in step S70 to generate image data having a size set as the output size, and proceeds to step S100 using this as extracted image data.

  In step S100, as described above, the image processing circuit 104 subjects the extracted image data to a contrast enhancement process stronger than the contrast enhancement process performed to generate the main image data, and proceeds to step S110. In step S110, as described above, the image processing circuit 104 subjects the extracted image data to a contour enhancement process stronger than the contour enhancement process performed to generate the main image data, and proceeds to step S120.

  In step S120, the CPU 111 generates an image file having the structure shown in FIG. Specifically, the CPU 111 adds AF information, information indicating the strength of the contrast enhancement process when generating the confirmation image data, and the strength of the edge enhancement process when generating the confirmation image data to the header portion 2a of the image file. Record the information shown. Further, the CPU 111 records the main image data generated by the image processing circuit 104 and recorded in the SDRAM 109 as the main image data 2d. Further, the CPU 111 records the confirmation image data generated by the image processing circuit 104 and recorded in the SDRAM 109 as the confirmation image data 2g.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S130, where the CPU 111 records the image file generated in step S120 on the memory card 113a via the memory card I / F 113, and ends the process.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing image reproduction processing of the camera 100 in the present embodiment. The process shown in FIG. 7 is executed as a program that is activated when the user sets the mode of the camera 100 to the playback mode.

  In step S <b> 210, the CPU 111 selects an image reproduced last during the previous image reproduction as an image to be reproduced. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S220, and the CPU 111 reads out the image file of the image selected in step S210 from the memory card 113a to the SDRAM 109, reads out the display image data from the image file, and outputs the display image data to the monitor 106. Start playback.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S230, and the CPU 111 determines whether or not the end of the reproduction mode is instructed by operating the operation member 112 by the user. If an affirmative determination is made in step S230, the process ends. On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S230, the process proceeds to step S240.

  In step S240, the CPU 111 determines whether or not the user has instructed to change the reproduction image by operating the operation member 112. For example, the user can instruct to switch to the next image by pressing the right button of the cross button included in the operation member 112, and can return to the previous image by pressing the left button of the cross button. Switching can be instructed. If a negative determination is made in step S240, the process proceeds to step S260 described later. On the other hand, if a positive determination is made in step S240, the process proceeds to step S250.

  In step S250, the CPU 111 identifies the image file of the changed image based on the operation of the cross button by the user. Then, the CPU 111 reads the specified image file from the memory card 113 a to the SDRAM 109, reads display image data from the image file, and outputs it to the monitor 106. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S260.

  In step S <b> 260, the CPU 111 determines whether or not an instruction to display the confirmation image data corresponding to the currently displayed display image data is given by the operation of the operation member 112 by the user. For example, when the display image data is displayed on the monitor 106, the user presses a determination button included in the operation member 112 to check the confirmation image data corresponding to the display image data being reproduced. Display can be instructed.

  If a negative determination is made in step S260, the process returns to step S230 and is repeated. On the other hand, if a positive determination is made in step S260, the process proceeds to step S270. In step S <b> 270, the CPU 111 displays the confirmation image by reading the confirmation image data from the image file corresponding to the currently reproduced display image data read to the SDRAM 109 and outputting it to the monitor 106. The user can check whether or not the AF area of the main image data is in focus by viewing the confirmation image displayed on the monitor 106.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S280, and the CPU 111 determines whether or not the end of the reproduction mode is instructed by the operation of the operation member 112 by the user. If an affirmative decision is made in step S280, the process ends. On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S280, the process proceeds to step S290.

  In step S290, it is determined whether or not the user has operated the operation member 112 to instruct the monitor 106 to change the confirmation image being displayed. For example, the user can instruct switching to the confirmation image of the next image by pressing the right button of the cross button included in the operation member 112, and the previous button can be pressed by pressing the left button of the cross button. Can be instructed to switch to the confirmation image. If a negative determination is made in step S290, the process proceeds to step S310 described later. On the other hand, if a positive determination is made in step S290, the process proceeds to step S300.

  In step S300, the CPU 111 specifies the image file of the confirmation image after the change based on the operation of the cross button by the user. Then, the CPU 111 reads from the memory card 113 a to the SDRAM 109, reads the confirmation image data from the image file, and outputs it to the monitor 106. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S310.

  In step S <b> 310, the CPU 111 determines whether or not an instruction to end the display of the confirmation image has been given by operating the operation member 112 by the user. If an affirmative determination is made in step S310, the process returns to step S210 and is repeated. On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S310, the process returns to step S280 and is repeated.

According to the present embodiment described above, the following operational effects can be obtained.
(1) The image processing circuit 104 generates main image data based on the digital image data, and performs an edge enhancement process stronger than the processing applied to the main image data on the digital image data, and the main image data. A confirmation image for confirming the focus adjustment state of the main image data is processed image data that has been subjected to at least one of contrast enhancement processing stronger than the current processing to make the image size smaller than the main image data. Generate as data. The CPU 111 generates an image file including the main image data and the confirmation image data, and records the generated image file on the memory card 113a. Thus, an image that makes it easy for the user to confirm the in-focus state of the main image data can be generated as the confirmation image data, and the confirmation image data and the main image data can be associated and recorded in the memory card 113a. .

(2) The image processing circuit 104 extracts a predetermined range including the AF area from the digital image data as extracted image data, and generates confirmation image data based on the extracted image data. Thus, the user can determine whether or not the AF area is in focus by browsing the confirmation image data generated based on the image within the range including the AF area.

(3) The image processing circuit 104 sets an enlargement ratio for the extracted image data based on an instruction from the user on the setting screen shown in FIG. 3, and an image in a range including an AF area extracted from the digital image data Is enlarged at a set enlargement ratio to generate image data for confirmation. As a result, the user can instruct to generate the confirmation image data at a desired enlargement ratio.

-Modification-
The camera according to the above-described embodiment can be modified as follows.
(1) In the above-described embodiment, the image file has the structure shown in FIG. 2, so that the image data 2d and the confirmation image data 2g are stored in one image file. I made it. However, the main image data and the confirmation image data may be recorded on the memory card 113a as separate files. In this case, an image file of main image data (main image file) created from the same digital image data and an image file of confirmation image data (confirmation image file), that is, a main image file generated by one shooting The confirmation image file may be associated using a database or the like.

(2) In the above-described embodiment, the camera 100 includes the AF sensor 107, and the AF control CPU 108 executes the AF process based on the output from the AF sensor 107. However, the camera 100 is not necessarily equipped with the AF sensor 107, and the AF control CPU 108 may perform AF control by a known contrast method or the like based on the image signal input from the image sensor 102.

(3) In the above-described embodiment, the image processing circuit 104 extracts, from the digital image data, image data including an AF area and having a size corresponding to the setting content on the setting screen shown in FIG. The example extracted as above was described. However, the image processing circuit 104 extracts image data having a size corresponding to the setting content on the setting screen shown in FIG. 3 from the center of the digital image data, and uses this as extracted image data. Also good.

(4) The image acquisition process shown in FIG. 6 and the image reproduction process shown in FIG. 7 in the above-described embodiment can be executed by an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer. In general, since a personal computer does not have a shooting function and performs processing by taking in an image file shot by a digital camera, the image acquisition process shown in FIG. 6 is changed as follows. For example, when the image file captured from the digital camera is a RAW image file including RAW data, which is image source data before application of image processing necessary for generating image data, in FIG. The process may be started from step S60. That is, in step S60, the image processing circuit 104 may generate the main image data based on the RAW image data, and then execute the processes in and after step S70. On the other hand, an image file captured from a digital camera is an image file including image data after image processing necessary for generating image data is applied, for example, a JPEG file including JPEG data. In this case, since the JPEG data as the main image data has already been created, the image processing circuit 104 may start the process from step S70 in FIG.

(5) In the above-described embodiment, the image processing circuit 104 performs stronger contrast enhancement processing (A) and contour enhancement processing (B) than digital image data for generating the main image data. The example in which at least one of them is executed to generate the confirmation image data has been described. However, the image processing circuit 104 replaces at least one of the above (A) and (B) or, in addition to at least one of (A) and (B), the following (C) or (D The confirmation image data may be generated by executing one or both of the processes.

(C) Brightness Processing The image processing circuit 104 may perform brightness processing on the digital image data so that the confirmation image data is a brighter image than the main image data. Accordingly, the confirmation image can be a bright image, and the user can easily confirm whether or not the AF area is in focus.

(D) Luminance Component Extraction Processing The image processing circuit 104 extracts only the luminance component from the digital image data or the main image data to generate image data, and sets the image data of only this luminance component as confirmation image data. Also good. In this way, by removing the color difference component from the image data and using only the luminance component, the user can easily confirm whether or not the AF area is in focus.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the configurations in the above-described embodiments as long as the characteristic functions of the present invention are not impaired. Moreover, it is good also as a structure which combined the above-mentioned embodiment and a some modification.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an embodiment of a camera 100. FIG. It is the figure which showed the data structure of the image file typically. It is a figure which shows an example of the setting screen of "the magnification and output size of an extraction image". It is a figure for demonstrating that determination of an in-focus state becomes easy by contrast emphasis processing. It is the figure which showed typically the method for determining the strength of the contrast emphasis process performed in order to produce | generate the image data for confirmation. 4 is a flowchart showing image acquisition processing of the camera 100. 3 is a flowchart showing image reproduction processing of the camera 100.

Explanation of symbols

100 camera, 101 lens, 102 image sensor, 103 AFE circuit, 104 image processing circuit, 105 finder display device, 106 monitor, 107 AF sensor, 108 AF control CPU, 109 SDRAM, 110 flash memory, 111 CPU, 112 operation Member, 113 Memory card I / F, 113a Memory card

Claims (7)

Imaging means for capturing a subject image and acquiring image data;
Main image data generating means for generating main image data based on the original image data acquired by the imaging means;
Applying at least one of a contour enhancement process stronger than the process applied to the original image data or a contrast enhancement process stronger than the process applied to the main image data to the original image data, Confirmation image data generating means for generating processed image data having a smaller image size than the main image data as confirmation image data for confirming the focus adjustment state of the main image data;
A camera comprising: a recording control unit that records the main image data generated by the main image data generation unit and the confirmation image data generated by the confirmation image data generation unit on a storage medium. The camera of claim 1,
The confirmation image data generation unit extracts an area including an area set as a focus detection area at the time of imaging from the original image data as an extraction area, and the confirmation image data is obtained based on the image data in the extraction area. A camera characterized by generating. The camera of claim 1,
Further comprising an enlargement ratio setting means for setting an enlargement ratio for the image data within the extraction range based on an instruction by a user;
The confirmation image data generation means generates the confirmation image data based on the enlargement ratio set by the enlargement ratio setting means. The camera of claim 1,
The confirmation image data generation means performs image processing on the original image data so that the brightness of the image represented by the confirmation image data is brighter than the brightness of the image represented by the main image data. The confirmation image data is generated. The camera of claim 1,
The camera according to claim 1, wherein the confirmation image data generation means uses the image data obtained by extracting only a luminance component from the processed image data as the confirmation image data. The camera of claim 1,
A camera, further comprising display control means for displaying an image represented by the confirmation image data on a display device. Reading means for reading an image file storing information on the focus detection area from the storage medium;
Information acquisition means for acquiring information on the focus detection area from the image file read by the reading means;
A region extraction unit that extracts a region including a region set as a focus detection area at the time of imaging from the main image data in the image file as an extraction region based on information on the focus detection area acquired by the information acquisition unit. When,
Contrast enhancement processing stronger than the processing applied to the main image data or processing applied to the main image data for the image data in the extraction region extracted by the region extraction means Confirmation image data generation that generates post-processing image data that has been subjected to at least one of enhancement processing and has a smaller image size than the main image data as confirmation image data for confirming the focus adjustment state of the main image data Means,
An information processing apparatus comprising: a recording control unit that records the main image data and the confirmation image data on a storage medium.

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