JP2010050599A - Electronic camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic camera allowing a composition and an angle of view to be easily compared with those of a picked-up image. <P>SOLUTION: This electronic camera 1 includes: a display means 17 to display a reproduced image by image data; an imaging element 12 imaging an object image to output image data; a data reading means 18 to read image data included in a directed image file out of image files stored in a storage medium 51; an image generation means 13 to generate frame images by superposing the image data read by the data reading means 18 and image data repeatedly imaged and sequentially output by the imaging element 12 on each other in nearly the whole region of a screen; and a display control means 15 to sequentially display the frame images generated by the image generation means 13 on the display means 17. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic camera.

  2. Description of the Related Art A camera having an assist function for requesting another person to take a picture with a composition intended by him / her is known (see Patent Document 1). The camera extracts a contour line from a pre-image acquired in advance, and superimposes the contour line and the monitor image (through image) before photographing on the monitor so that the requestee holds the same composition as the pre-image. Assist that.

JP 2006-222690 A

  In the prior art, contour information must be extracted from the pre-image, and there is a problem that the processing load is large.

(1) An electronic camera according to the present invention includes a display unit that displays a reproduced image based on image data, an image sensor that captures a subject image and outputs the image data, and an instruction among image files stored in a storage medium. A frame image is formed by superimposing data reading means for reading image data included in the image file, image data read by the data reading means, and image data repeatedly picked up by the image pickup device and sequentially output over almost the entire area of the screen. The image generating means for generating the image and the display control means for sequentially displaying the frame images generated by the image generating means on the display means.
(2) In the electronic camera according to claim 1, the superimposition processing by the image generation unit includes addition processing between image data corresponding to display pixels of the display unit, and image data before or after the addition processing. And a multiplication process for applying a gain of less than 1.
(3) In the electronic camera according to the first aspect, the image data may have color information, and the image generation unit converts the color image data read by the data reading unit into monochrome image data and performs an overlay process. It can also be done.
(4) In the electronic camera according to claim 1, the image generation unit finishes the superimposition process in response to a predetermined operation signal generated by the operation member, and only the image data that the image sensor repeatedly captures and sequentially outputs. A frame image can also be generated based on this.
(5) In the electronic camera according to the fourth aspect, the operation signal may be a signal issued as an instruction to start the focus adjustment process.
(6) In the electronic camera according to the fourth aspect, the operation signal may be a signal issued prior to an instruction to start photographing processing.
(7) In the electronic camera according to (1), the image pickup by the image pickup device, the image generation by the image generation means, and the display control by the display control means are each performed before the start of the recording process for recording is instructed. Also good.
(8) In the electronic camera according to claim 1, the display control unit causes the display unit to display information indicating a list of image files stored in the storage medium in response to the list display instruction, and the data reading unit includes: It is also possible to read out the image data included in the designated image file from the list display displayed on the display means.
(9) The electronic camera according to claim 1 may further include position information acquisition means for acquiring position information. In this case, the display control means is an image file stored in the storage medium in response to the list display instruction, and is an image file photographed within a predetermined distance from the position indicated by the information acquired by the position information acquisition means The information indicating the list is displayed on the display means, and the data reading means can read the image data included in the designated image file from the list display displayed on the display means.

  In the electronic camera according to the present invention, the composition and the angle of view can be easily compared with the captured image.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an electronic camera 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, an electronic camera 1 includes a photographing optical system 11, an image sensor 12, an image processing circuit 13, a GPS unit 14, a CPU 15, a buffer memory 16, a display device 17, a memory card interface (I / F) 18 and an operation member 19 are provided.

  The CPU 15, the buffer memory 16, the display device 17, the memory card interface 18, the image processing circuit 13, and the GPS unit 14 are connected via a bus 20.

  The photographing optical system 11 includes a plurality of lens groups including a zoom lens and a focusing lens, and forms a subject image on the light receiving surface of the image sensor 12. In order to simplify FIG. 1, the photographing optical system 11 is shown as a single lens.

  The image sensor 12 is configured by a CCD image sensor, a CMOS image sensor, or the like in which photodiodes are two-dimensionally arranged on the light receiving surface. On the light receiving surface, R (red), G (green) and B (blue) color filters (not shown) are provided corresponding to the positions of the photodiodes. Since the image sensor 12 captures a subject image through the color filter, the analog image signal output from the image sensor 12 has RGB color system color information. The analog image signal is converted into a digital signal by an A / D conversion circuit (not shown) and then input to the image processing circuit 13. The image processing circuit 13 performs various types of image processing (color interpolation processing, gradation conversion processing, white balance adjustment processing, image compression processing, image expansion processing, etc.) on the digital image signal.

  The GPS unit 14 receives radio waves from the GPS satellites 30A and 30B according to instructions from the CPU 15, and calculates positioning information (latitude, longitude, altitude) of the electronic camera 1 using information carried on the received signals. To do. Specifically, the GPS unit CPU 141 controls the receiving circuit 142. The receiving circuit 142 receives satellite radio waves via the antenna 143 and sends a demodulated signal to the GPS unit CPU 141. The GPS unit CPU 141 obtains positioning information by performing a predetermined calculation based on the demodulated signal. In FIG. 1, only two GPS satellites are shown.

  The CPU 15 controls an operation performed by the electronic camera 1 by executing a program stored in a built-in nonvolatile memory. The CPU 15 also performs AF (autofocus) operation control and automatic exposure (AE) calculation. The AF operation uses, for example, a contrast detection method for obtaining a focus position of a focusing lens (not shown) based on contrast information of a through image. The through image is a monitor image that is repeatedly acquired by the image sensor 12 at a predetermined frame rate (for example, 30 frames / second) before a shooting instruction, and is also called a live view image.

  The display device 17 is composed of a liquid crystal panel, and displays an image, an operation menu screen, and the like according to an instruction from the CPU 15. The buffer memory 16 is used as a work memory for the CPU 15. The buffer memory 16 temporarily stores digital image data in the pre-process and post-process of image processing by the image processing circuit 13.

  The memory card interface 18 has a connector (not shown), and a storage medium 51 such as a memory card is connected to the connector. The memory card interface 18 writes data to the connected storage medium 51 and reads data from the storage medium 51. The storage medium 51 is configured by a memory card incorporating a semiconductor memory, a hard disk drive, or the like.

  The operation member 19 includes a release button (not shown), a zoom switch, a cross switch, a menu switch, and the like. The operation member 19 sends an operation signal corresponding to each operation such as a mode switching operation and a menu selection operation to the CPU 15.

  Since the present embodiment is characterized in the operation when performing live view display, the following description will be made with reference to the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 2 focusing on the processing executed by the CPU 15 during live view display. For example, when the electronic camera 1 is switched to the shooting mode, the CPU 15 repeatedly performs a program for performing the processing illustrated in FIG.

  In step S11 of FIG. 2, the CPU 15 causes the image sensor 12 to start imaging for live view, causes the display device 17 to display a live view image based on the acquired image data, and proceeds to step S12. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a display screen of the display device 17 that displays a live view image.

  In step S12, the CPU 15 determines whether an image selection operation has been performed. When an operation signal is input from a thumbnail display switch (not shown) constituting the operation member 19, the CPU 15 makes a positive determination in step S12 and proceeds to step S13. When an operation signal is input from a thumbnail display switch (not shown) constituting the operation member 19, the CPU 15 makes a negative determination in step S12 and proceeds to step S16. When a negative determination is made in step S12, composite display described later is not performed.

  In step S13, the CPU 15 causes the display device 17 to display an image selection screen illustrated in FIG. 4 instead of the live view image. The image selection screen is a list of thumbnail images reproduced based on image data recorded in all image files stored in a predetermined folder of the storage medium 51.

  The CPU 15 further displays a cursor 42 surrounding one of the thumbnail images. When a cross switch (not shown) constituting the operation member 19 is pressed in the vertical direction, the CPU 15 moves the display position of the cursor 42 up and down. When a cross switch (not shown) is pressed in the left-right direction, the CPU 15 moves the display position of the cursor 42 to the left and right.

  In step S14, the CPU 15 determines whether or not a selection end operation has been performed. For example, when an OK switch (not shown) constituting the operation member 19 is pressed down, the CPU 15 determines that the thumbnail image surrounded by the cursor 42 at that time is “selected image”, and makes a positive determination in step S14. Proceed to step S15. If the OK switch (not shown) is not depressed, the CPU 15 makes a negative determination in step S14 and returns to step S13. When returning to step S13, the above processing is repeated.

  In step S <b> 15, the CPU 15 synthesizes a playback image based on the live view image and the image data of the “selected image” instead of the image selection screen and displays the synthesized image on the display device 17. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a display screen of the display device 17 in this case. The CPU 15 synthesizes a reproduction image based on the image data of the “selected image” as a monochrome image, in color, similar to the case of FIG.

  The composition processing is performed by the image processing circuit 13. The image processing circuit 13 displays the live view image data in the buffer memory 16 and the monochrome image data in the buffer memory 16 over the entire display screen (images) for each pixel position (display pixel position of the display device 17). Range), and the gain for the added image data is halved to generate composite display data. Note that the live view image data in the buffer memory 16 and the monochrome image data in the buffer memory 16 are multiplied by a gain of 1/2, respectively, and the two image data are added to obtain the composite display data. It may be generated.

  A user holding the electronic camera 1 in a state where the composite image illustrated in FIG. 5 is displayed on the display device 17, stands so that the same composition and angle of view as when the “selected image” is captured can be obtained. The position, the direction of the electronic camera 1, and the zoom position (magnification) of the photographing optical system 11 are changed. The standing position of the subject person may be moved. When the composition and angle of view of the live view image coincide with those when the “selected image” is captured, the brightness of the composite image is increased and displayed brightly.

  In step S16, the CPU 15 determines whether or not the release half-press operation has been performed. If the release button (not shown) constituting the operation member 19 is half-pressed, the CPU 15 makes a positive determination in step S16 and proceeds to step S17. If the release button is not pressed halfway, the CPU 15 makes a negative determination in step S16 and returns to step S12. When returning to step S12, the above process is repeated.

  In step S17, the CPU 15 ends the “selected image” display and proceeds to step S18. As a result, the image processing circuit 13 ends the synthesis process and the gain adjustment to be halved, and generates display data for displaying only the live view image on the display device 17 (FIG. 6).

  In step S18, the CPU 15 determines whether or not the release full-press operation has been performed. If the release button (not shown) constituting the operation member 19 is fully pressed, the CPU 15 makes a positive determination in step S18 and proceeds to step S19. If the release button is not fully pressed, the CPU 15 makes a negative determination in step S18 and proceeds to step S22.

  In step S22, the CPU 15 determines whether or not the half-press operation has been released. When the half-press operation of a release button (not shown) constituting the operation member 19 is released, the CPU 15 makes a positive determination in step S22 and returns to step S12. If the release button is continuously pressed halfway, the CPU 15 makes a negative determination in step S22 and returns to step S18.

  In step S19, the CPU 15 starts shooting processing. Specifically, after the image sensor 12 is initialized (charge discharge etc.), the image sensor 12 is caused to store charge for photographing and sweep out the stored charge, and the process proceeds to step S20.

  In step S20, the CPU 15 sends an instruction to the image processing circuit 13, performs predetermined image processing on the captured image, and proceeds to step S21. In step S21, the CPU 15 sends an instruction to the memory card interface 18, records the image file storing the image data in the storage medium 51, and ends the process shown in FIG.

  The process described above is also terminated when a state in which no operation signal is input from the operation member 19 of the electronic camera 1 continues for a predetermined time or longer.

According to the embodiment described above, the following operational effects can be obtained.
(1) Since a “selected image” that is an image captured in the past and a live view image that is currently captured are combined and displayed on the display device 17, a print of an image captured in the past is displayed on the display device 17. Compared to the case of comparing with a live view image, it becomes easier to compare the composition and angle of view between both images. In addition, since an extraction process such as a contour line is not necessary, the processing load for the composite display is light.

(2) Since one image (live view image in this example) is displayed in color and the other image (“selected image” in this example) is displayed in monochrome on the display device 17, both images are displayed together. Both images can be easily identified as compared to color display or monochrome display.

(3) Since the live view image data and the image data of the “selected image” are added and the gain for the added image data is increased by a factor of 2, the combined display data is generated. The brightness of each image is reduced. When the composition and the angle of view match between both images, the data value after the addition becomes large. Therefore, the synthesized image displayed on the display device 17 becomes bright and conspicuous, and the composition and the angle of view match. It is possible to inform the state in an easy-to-understand manner. Further, by setting the gain for both images to ½ times, it is possible to prevent the so-called whiteout from occurring because the display of the bright area of the combined image is too bright.

(4) When the release button is pressed halfway down, the composite display is ended and the display is switched to the single display of the live view image. Therefore, the focus adjustment state in the live view image is compared to the case of the composite display. It becomes easy to confirm.

(Modification 1)
In the above-described example, the live view image is displayed in color and the “selected image” is displayed in monochrome on the display device 17 during the composite display (step S15). Instead, the “selected image” may be displayed as a sepia tone (monotone with brownish brown) image. Further, not only black but also a monotone image based on other colors may be displayed.

(Modification 2)
The live view image data and the image data of the “selected image” are added at a ratio of 1: 1, and the gain for the added image data is halved to generate composite display data. The ratio between the data and the image data of the “selected image” may be different. For example, the live view image data and the image data of the “selected image” are added at a ratio of 3: 7, and the gain for the added image data is increased by a factor of 2 to generate composite display data. By emphasizing the image data of the “selected image” as compared with the live view image, the composition and angle of view targets can be easily understood. Note that the value of the gain is not limited to ½ times as long as saturation (out-of-white) of a bright area of the combined image can be suppressed, and may be less than 1.

(Modification 3)
The timing at which the release button is pressed halfway has been described as an example of the timing at which the composite display is ended and the live view image is switched to the single display. Instead, it may be configured to be performed at the timing when the operation member for starting the AF operation is operated, or when the dedicated composite display end switch is operated.

(Modification 4)
In the above embodiment, as the display of the image selection screen (step S13), an example in which thumbnail images based on all the image files stored in the predetermined folder of the storage medium 51 are displayed as a list of “selected image” candidates. explained. Instead, for example, referring to information indicating the shooting position included in the image file as Exif information, the information is acquired within a predetermined distance from the current position of the electronic camera 1 (position information acquired by the GPS unit 14). A list of thumbnail images based only on the image file may be displayed.

  According to the fourth modification, the number of thumbnail images displayed in a list by reducing the number of candidates for “selected images” is reduced, and the image selection operation is facilitated. Furthermore, even when the shooting scene changes due to changes in seasons or changes in times, “selected images” can be automatically included in the thumbnail images displayed in a list.

  The above description is merely an example, and is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment.

It is a block diagram explaining the structural example of the electronic camera by one embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the flow of the process which CPU performs when it switches to imaging | photography mode. It is a figure which illustrates the screen which displays a live view image. It is a figure which illustrates an image selection screen. It is a figure which illustrates the screen which displays a synthesized image. It is a figure which illustrates the screen which displays a live view image.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electronic camera 12 ... Image pick-up element 13 ... Image processing circuit 14 ... GPS unit 15 ... CPU
16 ... Buffer memory 17 ... Display device 18 ... Memory card interface 19 ... Operation member 51 ... Memory card

Claims (9)

Display means for displaying a reproduced image by image data;
An image sensor that captures a subject image and outputs image data;
Data reading means for reading out image data included in the designated image file among the image files stored in the storage medium;
Image generation means for generating a frame image by superimposing image data read by the data reading means and image data repeatedly picked up and sequentially output by the image sensor over substantially the entire area of the screen;
An electronic camera comprising: display control means for sequentially displaying the frame image generated by the image generation means on the display means. The electronic camera according to claim 1,
The superimposition processing by the image generation means includes an addition process between image data corresponding to display pixels of the display means, and a multiplication process that applies a gain of less than 1 to the image data before or after the addition process. An electronic camera characterized by including. The electronic camera according to claim 1,
The image data has color information,
The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the image generation unit performs a superimposition process after converting the color image data read by the data reading unit into monochrome image data. The electronic camera according to claim 1,
The image generation means terminates the superimposition process in response to a predetermined operation signal generated by an operation member, and generates a frame image based only on image data repeatedly captured and sequentially output by the image sensor. And an electronic camera. The electronic camera according to claim 3.
The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the operation signal is a signal issued as an instruction to start focus adjustment processing. The electronic camera according to claim 3.
The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the operation signal is a signal issued prior to an instruction to start photographing processing. The electronic camera according to claim 1,
The electronic camera, wherein imaging by the imaging device, image generation by the image generation unit, and display control by the display control unit are performed before an instruction to start a recording process for recording is given. The electronic camera according to claim 1,
The display control means causes the display means to display information indicating a list of image files stored in the storage medium in response to a list display instruction,
The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the data reading means reads image data contained in an instructed image file from the list display displayed on the display means. The electronic camera according to claim 1,
It further comprises position information acquisition means for acquiring position information,
The display control means is an image file stored in the storage medium in response to a list display instruction, and is an image file taken within a predetermined distance from the position indicated by the information acquired by the position information acquisition means To display information indicating a list of
The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the data reading means reads image data contained in an instructed image file from the list display displayed on the display means.

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