JP2010119069A - Digital camera system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system capable of taking a wonderful picture like a picture taken by a professional cameraman when performing a photographing by using a digital camera. <P>SOLUTION: The digital camera system includes a digital camera, a server and a network. The digital camera has a display means for displaying an image. Current site information is transmitted to a server via the network. The server transmits at least one image in the vicinity of a predetermined range, around the current site, stored beforehand to the digital camera via the network. The digital camera has a control means that controls to display the image on the display means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a digital camera system that includes a digital camera, a network, and a server and guides shooting at a current position.

  In the past, I have seen wonderful photos at travel destinations in guidebooks or brochures at travel destinations, but I have tried to take pictures that mimic it, but I often cannot take them.

  Therefore, a plurality of shooting modes can be set according to the type of the subject, the shooting conditions of the apparatus at the time of shooting are controlled according to each shooting mode, and a plurality of sample images serving as samples of the subject corresponding to the shooting mode are obtained. There is known a camera device that includes setting means for storing, displaying a stored sample image, and setting a shooting mode corresponding to the sample image (Patent Document 1).

Hereinafter, Patent Document 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.
A mode selection screen 201 as shown in FIG. 12 is displayed on the TFT liquid crystal monitor 18 on the side opposite to the lens of the electronic still camera. The mode selection screen 201 shows three shooting modes of “normal (full auto)”, “portrait”, “landscape”, and “night view”, and a scene selection mode for specifying the shooting mode.

  A plurality of selection screens are prepared in the scene selection mode. When the scene selection mode is selected, the display on the TFT liquid crystal monitor 18 is switched to the scene selection selection screen 202 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 14, there are 29 types of screens prepared in the scene select mode, that is, sample images. By pressing the + (plus) key on the selection key, the number is incremented and the screen moves to the next number screen. Press the-(minus) key to return to the original screen. When the + (plus) key is pressed in the 29th screen state as shown in FIG. 12, the screen moves to the first screen. Conversely, when the-(minus) key is pressed from the first screen, the screen returns to the 29th screen.

  That is, when the photographer selects the sample image 103 corresponding to the subject to be photographed, photographing conditions suitable for photographing the subject are automatically set. Therefore, even when there are many shooting modes in which shooting conditions are set more finely than in the past, anyone can easily set appropriate shooting conditions for the subject without causing confusion in the shooting mode settings. Is possible. At the same time, it is possible to easily obtain a photographing result according to the photographer's preference.

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3543135

  However, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-260260, the aperture, shutter speed, and focus on shooting are set with reference to a sample image by referring to an atmosphere or feeling as a scene. However, it is difficult for amateurs to take pictures of great angles because they are not instructed which angle is better or composition when they are going to take a trip that is difficult to go again or to take landscape images of the land there. There was a problem that there was.

    To achieve the above object, claim 1 is a digital camera system comprising a digital camera, a server, and a network, wherein the digital camera displays display means for displaying an image, and current position information is stored in the server. Communication means for transmitting via a network, and the server comprises communication means for transmitting at least one image in a predetermined neighborhood range of the current position stored in advance to the digital camera via the network, the digital camera Provides a digital camera system comprising control means for controlling the image to be displayed on the display means and means for selecting an image from the images displayed on the display means.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the digital camera system according to the first aspect, wherein the current position information is identification information for identifying the current position such as a zip code or a name of a municipality, a famous place, or the like.

  A third aspect of the present invention provides the digital camera system according to the first aspect, wherein the digital camera includes GPS (Global Positioning Sensing System) detection means for detecting the current position.

  A fourth aspect of the present invention provides the digital camera system according to the first aspect, which includes an electronic compass for detecting the orientation of the external magnetic field.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital camera system according to the first aspect, in which a camera is fixed and a pan head that is movable is attached, and the position of the camera can be changed.

  6. The digital camera system according to claim 4, wherein the pan head is rotated so as to have a predetermined relationship with an optical axis of a lens of the digital camera with respect to an azimuth output from the electronic compass. It is in.

  A seventh aspect of the present invention is to provide the digital camera system according to the first aspect, wherein the server includes means for enlarging the vicinity range based on information from the digital camera.

  As described above, in the digital camera system of the present invention, the current position information is input by the digital camera or the current position information is acquired from the satellite like GPS information, and the current position information is sent to the server. When the photographer selects an image that can be taken from the digital camera, selects it from the image, and sets the current position information and direction signal at that time on the digital camera, the photographer takes a picture and You can take amazing images like a photographer.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a first embodiment of a digital camera system of the present invention.
1 is a digital camera, 2 is a network, 3 is a server, 1A is display means, 1B is input means for inputting information on the current position, 1C is a sample near the current position sent from the server, An image selection switch for selecting one image from at least one of the images. Reference numeral 1D denotes a power source, and reference numeral 1E denotes a control circuit.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the operation of the first embodiment relating to the digital camera system of the present invention, with a flowchart showing the contents of the program of the control circuit 1E of FIG.
When the current position information input means 1B inputs information on the current position to the control circuit 1E, it is transmitted to the server 3 via the network 2 as indicated by S2. As shown in S3, at least one sample image in the vicinity of the current position is displayed on the display means 1A as shown in S4 from the server 3 through the network 2 through the control circuit 1E of the digital camera 1. . In S5, it is determined whether or not there is a desired image. If there is a desired image, the process proceeds to S6. When the image selection switch 1C is turned on, a desired image is acquired from the sample images as shown in S7. The sample image acquisition mode is terminated. If there is no desired image in S5, the acquisition of the sample image is abandoned as shown in S9.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, which is a program showing the contents of the control circuit 1E different from FIG. In the flowchart of FIG. 3, if there is no desired image, the acquisition of the sample image is abandoned. However, in FIG. 4, if the desired image cannot be obtained, whether or not to extend the search range to obtain the desired image And the search range is expanded, that is, the range in the vicinity of the current position is expanded.
When the current position information input means 1B inputs information on the current position to the control circuit 1E, it is transmitted to the server 3 via the network 2 as shown in S12. As shown at S13, at least one sample image near the current position is displayed on the display means 1A as shown at S14 from the server 3 via the network 2 via the control circuit 1E of the digital camera 1. . In S15, it is determined whether or not there is a desired image. If there is a desired image, the process proceeds to S16. When the image selection switch 1C is turned on, a desired image is acquired from the sample images as shown in S17. Exit the image acquisition mode. If there is no desired image in S15, the process proceeds to S19, where it is determined whether or not to instruct from the digital camera 1 a range near the current position, that is, whether or not to expand the search range. Abandon the acquisition and end. If it is determined that the search range is to be expanded, the process proceeds to S20, and a message to that effect is transmitted to the server 3, and an image in a range in which the range in the vicinity of the current position information is expanded is transmitted from the server 3 to the digital camera as shown in S13. In step S14, the display unit 1A displays the image. It is determined whether there is a desired image with the number of images increased. If there is a desired image, the image selection switch 1C is turned on to acquire the image, and the sample image acquisition mode ends.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of an image transmitted from the server 3 to the digital camera 1 in S3 of the flowcharts of FIGS. An image near the current position is displayed, and a desired image is selected from four images here.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a desired image is displayed in the sample image area indicated by 1Y of the display means 1A, and an attempt is made to capture an image similar to this. A photographed or photographed image is displayed on the portion indicated by 1Z of the display means 1A. In the sample image area, 1Y remains for a predetermined time, but it is controlled by the control circuit 1F so that it disappears after the predetermined time and does not get in the way of shooting.

FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the present invention, in which the current position is detected by GPS without manual input, and the detected current position is input.
A tripod 4 is attached to the tripod 4 and shows a camera platform indicated by 5 that changes the direction of the optical axis of the camera. The camera platform 5 is fixed to a camera platform including a fixed platform 5A, a movable platform 5B, a movable platform 5C, and a movable platform 5D. The movable table 5B can rotate around the axis 5E with respect to the fixed table 5A. The movable table 5C can rotate around the axis 5F with respect to the movable table 5B. The movable table 5D can rotate around the axis 5G with respect to the movable table 5C. The digital camera 1 is fixed to the movable table 5D. The shaft 5E, the shaft 5F, and the shaft 5G are orthogonal to each other. The amount of rotation of the shaft 5E, the shaft 5F, and the shaft 5G from the reference position is detected by a potentiometer (not shown) and the detected data is supplied to the control circuit. The control circuit calculates a relative rotation angle of the digital camera 1 with respect to the camera platform 5 based on these detection data.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the operation of the digital camera system according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
First, when the GPS operation switch 1G is turned on, the current position information is acquired from the satellite through the control circuit 1E and transmitted to the server 3 via the network 2.

  The server transmits at least one image near the current position information stored in advance to the display means 1A of the digital camera.

  One of the images displayed on the display means 1A of the digital camera 1 is selected when the photographer turns on the image selection switch 1C.

  When an image is selected, information on the latitude, longitude, height of the lens optical axis from the ground, azimuth angle, and elevation angle of the place where the image was taken is transferred from the communication contact 1X to the camera platform 5 via the communication contact 5X. To transmit.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control circuit 1E in the mode for acquiring a sample image according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
When the GPS operation switch 1G of the digital camera 1 is turned on as indicated by S31, the current position information is acquired by GPS as indicated by S32. As shown in S33, the acquired current position information is transmitted to the server 3. As shown in S <b> 34, an image within a predetermined distance range from the server 3 to the current position is transmitted to the digital camera 1 via the network 2. At least one image transmitted to the display means 1A in S35 is displayed as shown in FIG. It is determined whether or not there is a desired image from the images displayed in S36. When there is a desired image as in S37, the desired image is selected by turning on the image selection switch 1C, and in S38. As shown, the image is acquired and the information, in this embodiment, the latitude and longitude of the current position at which this image was taken, the height of the optical axis of the lens, the azimuth angle, and the elevation angle data are acquired, as shown in S39. The acquired data is transmitted from the digital camera 1 to the camera platform 5 via the communication contact 1X and the camera contact 5X. The pan head 5 is provided with a motor (not shown). As shown in S40, whether or not the motor has been rotated and rotated by a predetermined rotation amount is detected by a potentiometer (not shown), and a desired rotation amount is obtained. Sometimes stop rotating.
If a desired image cannot be obtained in S36, the acquisition of the sample image is abandoned as shown in S42 and the process is terminated.

  5 shows at least one image within a predetermined distance range with respect to the current position transmitted from the server 3 to the digital camera 1, and FIG. 10 shows the latitude, longitude, and current position of the image shown in FIG. Data indicating the height, azimuth, and elevation data of the optical axis of the lens is transmitted from the server 3 to the digital camera 1. For example, the user of the digital camera 1 who wants to take an image of the sample image A moves to the indicated latitude of 35.1 degrees and longitude of 135.5 degrees, sets the lens to 1.5 m to the optical axis of the lens, From this image and the above data, the user of the digital camera turns on the image selection switch 1C to select one image and data, and sends the data to the camera platform 5 via the communication contacts 1X and 5X. Is driven by a motor (not shown) so as to have an azimuth angle of 20 degrees and an elevation angle of 0 degrees to prepare for photographing.

FIG. 11 shows a flowchart for the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 9, when there is no desired image in S36, the acquisition of the sample image is abandoned in S42. FIG. 11 is for determining whether or not to expand the search range, that is, the GPS range.
When the GPS operation switch 1G of the digital camera 1 is turned on as shown in S51, the current position information is acquired by GPS as shown in S52. As shown in S53, the acquired current position information is transmitted to the server 3. As indicated by S54, an image within a predetermined distance range from the server 3 to the current position is transmitted to the digital camera 1 via the network 2. At least one image transmitted to the display means 1A in S55 is displayed as shown in FIG. It is determined whether or not there is a desired image from the images displayed in S56. When there is a desired image as in S57, the desired image is selected by turning on the image selection switch 1C, and in S58. As shown, the image is acquired and the information, in this embodiment, the latitude and longitude of the current position at which this image was taken, the height of the optical axis of the lens, the azimuth angle, and the elevation angle data are acquired, as shown in S59. The acquired data is transmitted from the digital camera 1 to the camera platform 5 via the communication contact 1X and the camera contact 5X. The pan head 5 is provided with a motor (not shown). As shown in S60, the motor is rotated to detect whether or not a predetermined amount of rotation has been detected by a potentiometer (not shown). The rotation is stopped when the desired amount of rotation is reached.
If a desired image cannot be obtained in S56, it is determined in S62 whether or not to further expand the search range and the GPS range. In the case of enlargement, the instruction from the digital camera 1 moves to S63 and the expanded GPS range is determined. An image is transmitted from the server to the digital camera 1 to obtain a desired sample image. If it is determined in S62 that the GPS range is not expanded, the acquisition of the sample image is abandoned.

  1 is a conceptual diagram of a first embodiment of a digital camera system of the present invention.   Block diagram of the first embodiment of the present invention   The flowchart which shows the 1st example of the present invention.   Flowchart showing a second embodiment of the present invention   Example of the figure transmitted from the server 3 of the present invention to the digital camera   Example of images displayed on the display means of a digital camera during shooting   Conceptual diagram of a third embodiment of the digital camera system of the present invention.   Block diagram of the third embodiment of the present invention   The flowchart which shows the 3rd example of the present invention.   Positioning, latitude, longitude, azimuth, and elevation data for sample images near the current position   The flowchart which shows the 4th example of the present invention.   The figure which shows the display means of a prior art example   Diagram showing sample image switching in the conventional example   The display order of the sample image stored in the conventional example and the scene number. connection of

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Digital camera 1A Display means 1B Current position information input means 1C Image selection switch 1D Power supply 1E Control circuit 1F Direction sensor 1G GPS operation switch 1H Wiring code 1X Communication contact 2 Network 3 Server 4 Tripod 5 Platform 5A Fixed stand 5B Movable stand 5C Movable stand 5D Movable stand 5E-5G axis

Claims (7)

  A digital camera system including a digital camera, a server, and a network, wherein the digital camera includes display means for displaying an image, and communication means for transmitting current position information to the server via the network. Comprises communication means for transmitting at least one image in a predetermined vicinity range of the current position stored in advance to the digital camera via the network, and the digital camera controls to display the image on the display means. A digital camera system comprising control means and means for selecting an image from the images displayed on the display means.   2. The digital camera system according to claim 1, wherein the current position information is identification information for identifying the current position such as a postal code or a name of a municipality or a famous place.   The digital camera system according to claim 1, wherein the digital camera includes a GPS (Global Positioning Sensing System) detection unit that detects the current position.   The digital camera system according to claim 1, further comprising an electronic compass for detecting the orientation of the external magnetic field.   The digital camera system according to claim 1, further comprising means for fixing a camera and attaching a pan head that enables movement, and means for changing a position of the camera.   5. The digital camera system according to claim 4, further comprising means for rotating the camera platform so as to have a predetermined relationship with an optical axis of a lens of the digital camera with respect to an azimuth output from the electronic compass.   The digital camera system according to claim 1, wherein the server includes means for expanding the neighborhood range based on information from the digital camera.

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