JP2011041145A - Image display apparatus, image display method, and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce erroneous photographing by using information about peripheral planimetric features when photographing a planimetric feature by means of a camera or the like. <P>SOLUTION: The image display apparatus 10 displays an image captured by a camera (e.g., a photographing section 20) on a display screen of a display device. The image display apparatus 10 comprises a planimetric feature specification information storage section 81 which stores planimetric feature specification information for specifying a planimetric feature such as a location or a name. Planimetric feature specification information corresponding to an image captured by the camera is retrieved and the retrieved planimetric feature specification information is displayed on the display screen while being superimposed with the captured image. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image display device that displays a name of a feature included in an image photographed by a camera in a superimposed manner with a photographed image, an image display method, and a computer program for causing the image display device to control operations.

  Conventionally, when shooting an image using a digital camera or the like (hereinafter referred to as “camera or the like”), shooting status information such as shooting date / time or location coordinate information of the shooting location is superimposed on the shot image, There is known an imaging apparatus that stores a captured image in a storage memory in association with shooting situation information.

  As shown in Patent Document 1 below, such an imaging device creates a distance image based on the values of a plurality of distance measuring points obtained by a distance measuring device such as an external light passive method, and is extracted based on the distance image. The position coordinate information of a person or the like is calculated, unique information such as a person is extracted as main subject information, and the position coordinate information and the main subject information are recorded on a recording medium.

  According to such an image device, position coordinate information on the captured image of the main subject can be calculated, and the position coordinates and unique information of the main subject can be recorded together with the captured image.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-12307

  However, in a conventional imaging device, information that can be extracted as unique information of the main subject is a matter that can be estimated from the size of the main subject that can be calculated from the image and the physical features of the image (for example, the main subject is a person). As a means for recording information such as the name of the main subject and the like that can identify what was photographed, the user has to input the information again. According to such an image capturing device, when the user does not grasp the information of the image captured at the place where the user first performed, the user can recognize the feature (for example, a part of the lake or the appearance of the lake). As a result, it is impossible to determine the name of a building, etc.), and there is a problem that an image of a feature different from the purpose is recorded.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and is capable of reducing mistakes in copying using information related to surrounding features when photographing the features with a camera or the like. With the goal.

  An image display device of the present invention is an image display device that displays an image captured by a camera on a display screen of a display device, and stores feature specifying information for specifying a feature by position, name, or the like. Feature specifying information storage means, feature specifying information search means for searching for the feature specifying information corresponding to the image taken by the camera, feature specifying information searched by the feature specifying information search means, and The photographed image is superimposed and displayed on the display screen.

  By adopting the above-described configuration, it is possible to reduce mistakes in copying using information related to surrounding features when photographing the features with a camera or the like.

  The feature specifying information search unit includes a shooting space specifying unit that specifies a shooting space shot by the camera, and the feature specifying information searching unit includes the feature specifying information of the feature existing in the shooting space specified by the shooting space specifying unit. It is good also as a structure which searches.

  A shooting point specifying unit for specifying a shooting point; a direction detecting unit for detecting a shooting direction of the camera; and a three-dimensional posture detecting unit for detecting a three-dimensional posture of the camera. The shooting space specifying unit includes: and a shooting point and the photographing azimuth and the 3-dimensional posture may be configured to identify the imaging space.

  The photographing space specifying means may be configured to specify a quadrangular pyramid-shaped space having a predetermined height with the focal point of the camera as an apex and an angle of view of the camera as the photographing space.

  The feature specifying information includes representative point information indicating a representative point of each feature and information indicating the existence range of each feature, and a plurality of feature specifying information display means are provided by the feature specifying information search means. The feature specifying information may be displayed based on the representative point and the existence range of each feature in the shooting space specified by the shooting space specifying means in response to the search of the feature specifying information. Good.

  Focusing means for focusing an image photographed by the camera, wherein the feature specifying information display means is the feature of the feature existing in a portion in focus in the photographing space by the focusing means. It is good also as a structure which displays object specific information and other feature specific information so that identification is possible.

  Among the feature specifying information searched by the feature specifying information searching means, including display information receiving means for receiving selection of feature specifying information to be displayed on the display screen, the feature specifying information display means It is good also as a structure which displays the feature specific information which received selection by the said display information reception means.

  Including a shooting object distance specifying means for specifying a distance to a shooting object in an image shot by the camera, wherein the feature information searching means is for the shooting object specified by the shooting object distance specifying means. It is good also as a structure which sets the search condition of the said feature specific information according to distance.

  A display possibility calculating means for calculating a display possibility that the feature indicated by the feature specifying information searched by the feature specifying information searching means is displayed on a display screen as an image photographed by the camera; The feature identification information display means may display the feature identification information based on the display possibility calculated by the display possibility calculation means.

  The image display method of the present invention is an image display method for displaying an image taken by a camera on a display screen of a display device, and stores feature specifying information for specifying a feature by position, name, or the like. A feature specification information search process for searching for feature specification information corresponding to an image photographed by the camera from among the feature specification information stored in the feature specification information storage means, and the feature specification information search And a feature specifying information display process in which the feature specifying information retrieved in the process and the photographed image are superimposed on each other and displayed on the display screen.

  The image display program of the present invention is an image display program for controlling an operation of an image display device that displays an image captured by a camera on a display screen of the display device. The feature specifying information stored in the feature specifying information storage means for storing the feature specifying information for specifying the feature by searching for the feature specifying information corresponding to the image photographed by the camera is retrieved. The feature specifying information search processing to be performed, and the feature specifying information display processing for displaying the feature specifying information searched in the feature specifying information search processing and the captured image on the display screen in a superimposed manner are executed. It is for making it happen.

  According to the present invention, when a feature is photographed by a camera or the like, it is possible to reduce mistakes in copying using information related to surrounding features.

It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of the digital camera using the image display apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the storage state of the feature specific information memorize | stored in the feature specific information storage part with which the image display apparatus which concerns on this invention is provided. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the storage state of the display mode information memorize | stored in the display mode information storage part with which the image display apparatus which concerns on this invention is provided. It is a flowchart which shows the example of the image display process in this example. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the imaging | photography space in this example. It is a flowchart which shows the example of the display mode determination process in this example. The method determines whether each feature is displayed on the display screen is an explanatory view for explaining the. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the storage state of the display mode information memorize | stored in the display mode information storage part with which the image display apparatus which concerns on this invention is provided. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a display screen. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the example in case a plane range is made into a search range.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments do not limit the invention according to each claim, and all combinations of features described in the embodiments are indispensable for the solution means of the invention. Not exclusively.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a digital camera 100 using an image display device 10 according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the digital camera 100 includes an image display device 10 and a photographing unit 20.

  The imaging unit 20 includes a condenser lens 21, an area sensor 22, and an A / D converter 23. The condensing lens 21 condenses light from the subject onto the area sensor 22. The area sensor 22 has a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements such as CCDs. The area sensor 22 has a plurality of image sensors that constitute pixels. A plurality of image sensors constituting pixels are arranged in a matrix in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction.

  Each pixel has a color filter disposed on the light receiving surface side. As the color filter, a complementary color filter composed of Cy (Cyan), Mg (Magenta), Ye (Yellow), and G (Green) is used. Light incident on each pixel of the area sensor 22 is converted into an electrical signal and output from the area sensor 22. Since the electrical signal output from the area sensor 22 is an analog signal, it is converted into digital electronic data by the A / D converter 23.

  In addition, an azimuth information acquisition unit 62 of an imaging space specifying unit 60 (to be described later) is connected to the condensing lens 21, and the direction in which the condensing lens 21 faces (the direction of the camera line of sight) is determined by the azimuth information acquisition unit 62. The shooting direction information shown can be acquired.

  The image display device 10 is a device for displaying an image photographed by the photographing unit 20, and includes a storage unit 30, a processing unit 40, a display unit 50, a photographing space specifying unit 60, and a map information storage unit 80. A feature specifying information storage unit 81, a display mode information storage unit 82, a search unit F1, and a display mode determination unit F2.

  The storage unit 30 includes a RAM (Random Access Memory) 31 and a flash memory 32. The flash memory 32 is a rewritable recording medium that can retain recorded contents without being energized, and is built in the image display device 10 or detachably attached to the digital camera 100. The RAM 31 temporarily stores digital electronic data output from the A / D converter 23 and image data processed by the processing unit 40. The flash memory 32 accumulates and stores / stores image data temporarily recorded in the RAM 31.

  The processing unit 40 is an electric circuit for processing the electronic data output from the photographing unit 20, and includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 41, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 42, and a processing circuit 43.

  The ROM 42 stores computer programs executed by the CPU 41 and the processing circuit 43. The processing circuit 43 has a function of executing various image processing such as exposure correction, pixel interpolation, and data compression on the digital electronic data output from the photographing unit 20. The processing circuit 43 is an electronic circuit dedicated to image processing that performs image processing. The CPU 41 controls and controls each component of the image display device 10 according to the computer program stored in the ROM 42, and executes various program processes.

  The processing unit 40 is connected to an input unit for receiving input from the user. The input unit includes, for example, a shutter button 71 that receives a recording request for an image taken in response to being pressed by a user, an input button 72 that receives operation inputs of various functions in the digital camera 100, and the like.

  The display unit 50 is a display (monitor) that displays the electronic data processed by the processing unit 40 as an image. For example, a known liquid crystal panel is used.

  The imaging space specifying unit 60 includes a position information acquisition unit 61, an orientation information acquisition unit 62, and a three-dimensional posture detection unit 63.

  The position information acquisition unit 61 has a function of acquiring position information (longitude, latitude, altitude) of a shooting point by GPS (Global Positioning System) or the like.

  The azimuth information acquisition unit 62 has a azimuth detection sensor, detects the attitude of the condensing lens 21, and acquires photographing azimuth information indicating the direction (azimuth and elevation angle) in which the condensing lens 21 is facing. Have

  The three-dimensional posture detection unit 63 has a posture detection sensor and has a function of acquiring posture information indicating the three-dimensional posture of the condenser lens 21.

  The shooting space specifying unit 60 specifies a shooting space shot by the shooting unit 20 based on the position information of the shooting point, shooting direction information, and posture information. In this example, the photographing space specifying unit 60 photographs a substantially cone-shaped space having a photographing point as a vertex, a predetermined angle as an apex angle, and a predetermined height in a direction in which the condenser lens 21 faces. Space.

  The map information storage unit 80 is a storage medium that stores map information by dividing it into a rectangular range (mesh) divided by a certain longitude width and latitude width. In addition to being stored in the map information storage unit 80, the map information can be stored in an auxiliary storage device as a removable medium called an SD memory card, for example.

  The feature specifying information storage unit 81 stores feature specifying information including information such as names, positions, sizes, plane shapes, and representative video data of points and features (buildings, mountains, rivers, lakes, etc.). Storage medium. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a storage state of the feature specifying information stored in the feature specifying information storage unit 81. As shown in FIG. 2, the feature identification information in this example includes feature ID, feature genre, feature name, representative point coordinates, planar shape, height information, representative This is information associated with an image. Here, the plane shape is for showing the area occupied by each feature when the map is considered as a two-dimensional plane (two-dimensional coordinates without height information), and shows the detailed shape of the feature. For example, it may be information such as “circle of radius ○ meter centered on representative point coordinates” or information indicating an area where each feature exists in the range of latitude and longitude. Good. In this example, the case where the planar shape indicates a region where each feature exists in the range of latitude and longitude will be described as an example.

  The display mode information storage unit 82 displays the display mode information in which the feature specifying information of the feature located in the shooting space is associated with the information indicating the display mode when displaying the feature specifying information on the display screen. It is a storage medium for storing.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a storage state of display mode information stored in the display mode information storage unit 82. As shown in FIG. 3, the display mode information is information in which a feature name and a display mode are associated with each other. In this example, it is assumed that there are “solid line”, “list”, “dashed line”, and “no display” as display modes. The display mode information will be described in detail later.

  The search unit F <b> 1 has a function of referring to the feature specifying information storage unit 81 and searching for feature specifying information indicating features existing in the shooting space specified by the shooting space specifying unit 60. In addition, it is good also as a structure which can adjust the processing time which a search process requires as a structure which can set a search condition previously by a user. In this case, for example, as a search condition, various conditions such as the genre selection and maximum number of searches set of features can be considered.

  The display mode determination unit F2 displays the feature specification information to be displayed on the display screen of the display unit 50 by the display mode determination process to be described later in response to the search for the feature specification information of the feature existing in the shooting space. It has a function of determining the display mode.

  Next, the operation of the image display apparatus 10 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that a detailed description of processing not particularly related to the present invention may be omitted.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of image display processing executed by the image display apparatus 10. In the image display process, a process for searching for the feature specifying information corresponding to the image shot by the shooting unit 20 and displaying the feature specifying information on the display screen is performed. In this example, description will be made by taking as an example the case of displaying the name of a feature among the feature specifying information. The image display device 10 in this example has a live view function for displaying an image captured by the photographing unit 20 on a display screen in substantially real time according to an output from the image sensor. The “performed image” means not only an image stored in the storage unit 30 but also an image displayed on the display unit 50 by the live view function.

  The image marking process in this example is started in response to the output of electronic data from the imaging unit 20 to the processing unit 40.

  In the image display process, first, the processing unit 40 acquires a location information by specifying a shooting location by the location information acquisition unit 61 (step S101). In this example, the focal point of the photographing unit 20 is used as the position indicating the photographing point. When the position information of the shooting point is acquired, the processing unit 40 acquires the shooting direction information by the direction information acquisition unit 62 (step S102).

  When the shooting direction information is acquired, the processing unit 40 performs a process for specifying the shooting space (step S103). Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram for describing imaging space specified this time. As shown in FIG. 5, the shooting space specifying unit 60 sets the coordinates indicated by the position information of the shooting point as the vertex O (hereinafter referred to as “shooting point O”), the angle of view of the digital camera 100 as the apex angle θ, A quadrangular pyramid shaped space 90 having a height H as a limit distance that can be focused in the digital camera 100 is defined as an imaging space. Note that points a to e in FIG. 5 represent representative points of the features A to E.

  When the shooting space is specified, the processing unit 40 searches the feature specifying information indicating the feature existing in the shooting space by the search unit F1 (step S104). Here, in this example, the search condition is that the representative point coordinates in the feature specifying information are located in the specified shooting space. That is, in FIG. 5, the search unit F <b> 1 stores the features A to D where the representative points are located in the space 90 as the search results.

  When searching for the feature specifying information, the processing unit 40 determines whether or not there is feature specifying information indicating the feature existing in the imaging space.

  If it is determined from the search result of the feature specifying information that there is feature specifying information indicating the feature existing in the shooting space (Y in step S105), the processing unit 40 displays the feature name in the feature specifying information by the display unit. executing a display mode decision processing for deciding a display mode when displaying 50 the display screen (step S106).

  Here, will be described with reference to the drawings display mode determining process in the present embodiment.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of display mode determination processing in this example. In the display mode determination process, a process for determining the display mode when displaying the feature specifying information indicating the feature having the representative point in the imaging space on the display screen of the display unit 50 is performed.

  In the display mode determination process, first, the processing unit 40 calculates the distance between the shooting point and the representative point of each feature by the display mode determination unit F2 (step S201). In this example, the distance between the shooting point and the representative point of each feature is calculated from the position information of the shooting point and the representative point.

  When the distance between the shooting point and each feature is calculated, the processing unit 40 causes the display mode determination unit F2 to determine that the shooting space is in focus based on the subject distance and the depth of field (hereinafter referred to as the focus). , “Focused space”) is specified (step S202). In addition, since a known technique is used for the calculation processing of the subject distance and the depth of field, a detailed description thereof is omitted here.

  When the in-focus space is specified, the processing unit 40 determines whether or not each feature is displayed on the display screen based on the information on the shooting space and the feature specifying information corresponding to each feature by the display mode determination unit F2. Is determined (step S203).

  FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a method of determining whether or not each feature is displayed on the display screen. As shown in FIG. 7, the feature specifying information indicating the feature located in the space 90 specified as the shooting space in this example has information indicating the planar shape and height of the feature. The presence range of the feature can be shown. Therefore, the display mode determination unit F2 is a feature displayed in the display range depending on whether or not the existence range of other features is located on a straight line connecting the shooting point O and the existence range of each feature. It is determined whether or not there is. In FIG. 7, the display mode determination unit F2 determines that the features A to C are features displayed on the display screen. In FIG. 7, the in-focus space identified in step S202 can be indicated by a square pyramid-shaped space 91 having a depth of field of height S.

  If it determines with it being the feature currently displayed on the display screen (Y of step S203), the process part 40 will determine whether the representative point of the feature exists in the focusing space by the display mode determination part F2. Is determined (step S204). In this example, the display mode determination unit F2 determines that all the features A to C displayed on the display screen have representative points in the in-focus space 91.

  If it is determined that there is a representative point in the in-focus space (Y in step S204), the processing unit 40 sets the display mode information as information to be displayed in the vicinity of the representative point by the display mode determination unit F2 (step S205). The process proceeds to step S210. Here, when it is determined that there is no representative point in the in-focus space (N in step S204), the processing unit 40 sets the display mode information as information to be displayed in a list by the display mode determination unit F2 (step S206). The process proceeds to step S210.

  On the other hand, when it determines with it not being the feature currently displayed on the display screen in step S203 (N of step S203), the process part 40 is the feature which exists in an in-focus area by the display mode determination part F2. It is determined whether or not (step S207). In this example, the display mode determination unit F2 determines that the feature D is a feature that is not displayed on the display screen, and determines that there is a representative point in the in-focus space 92.

  If it is determined that there is a representative point in the in-focus space (Y in step S207), the processing unit 40 informs the user that the display mode determining unit F2 does not display the display screen but exists in the imaging space. It sets to display mode information as information to notify (Step S208), and changes to Step S210. Here, when it is determined that there is no representative point in the in-focus space (N in step S207), the processing unit 40 sets the display mode information as information not to be displayed by the display mode determination unit F2 (step S209). The process proceeds to step S210.

  In step S210, the processing unit 40 refers to the display mode information storage unit 82 and determines whether or not all the display modes of the feature specifying information indicating the features in the shooting space have been determined.

  If it is determined that all display modes have not been determined (N in step S210), the processing unit 40 proceeds to step S201. On the other hand, if it is determined that all display modes have been determined (Y in step S210), the processing unit 40 transitions to step S107 of the image display process (see FIG. 4).

  When the display mode determination process ends, the processing unit 40 refers to the display mode storage unit 82 and superimposes the feature name on the image displayed on the display screen according to the display mode information set in the feature specifying information. Are displayed (step S107). In this example, the display mode information at this time is in a state as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the display screen at this time. As shown in FIG. 10, the display screen 51 is in the vicinity of the captured images of the features A to C (for example, in the vicinity of the coordinates when the representative point coordinates of each feature are converted to the coordinates on the display screen). , Corresponding feature names 101 to 103 are displayed by solid lines.

  In addition, for the feature D in which “notification” is set as the display mode, the existence range of the feature D on the display screen 51 is indicated by a broken line on the basis of the information indicating the existence range of the feature D, and The presence of the object name 104 is notified to the user.

  In the case where “list” is set as the display mode, the feature name is displayed in the list display area 101 on the display screen. If “no display” is set, the name of the feature is displayed as the peripheral feature information by operating the input button 72. Note that the display mode of the feature specifying information is not limited to this, and various methods are conceivable, for example, the feature names of the features that are not displayed on the display screen are blinked.

  When the feature name is displayed superimposed on the display screen, or when it is determined that there is no feature specifying information indicating the feature existing in the shooting space (N in step S105), the processing unit 40 causes the shutter button 71 to Then, a request for recording an image photographed by the photographing unit 20 is received (step S108). Here, for example, when a recording request is received by the user pressing the shutter button 71 with a finger (Y in step S108), the processing unit 40 displays the image displayed on the display screen and the feature searched by the search unit F1. The specific information is associated and stored in the storage unit 30 (step S109). At this time, information indicating the shooting space (position information of shooting points, shooting direction information, etc.) is also stored.

  By storing the image and the feature specifying information in association with each other, the user can easily retrieve the target image when searching for the stored image. That is, for example, when the image display device 10 has a function of searching for an image stored based on a search word, a search is performed for an image associated with feature specifying information including the search word input by the user. Will be able to. In this example, for example, when the stored image is reproduced on the display screen, the presence / absence of the display of the feature name or the like is stored in a state selectable by the user.

  If the image and the feature specifying information are stored, or if it is determined that the recording request by the user is not received (N in Step S108), the processing unit 40 determines whether or not the photographing by the photographing unit 20 is finished (Step S108). S110). For example, in response to accepting a photographing end request or live view mode end by a user's operation of the input button 72, the processing unit 40 determines that photographing is finished (Y in step S110), and performs image display processing. Exit. If it is determined that shooting has not been completed (N in step S110), the processing unit 40 proceeds to step S101.

  As described above, in the above-described embodiment, the image display device 10 that displays an image photographed by the camera (for example, the photographing unit 20) on the display screen of the display device (for example, the display unit 50) has a position, a name, and the like. The feature specifying information storage unit 81 for storing the feature specifying information for specifying the feature is searched, the feature specifying information corresponding to the image photographed by the camera is searched, and the searched feature specifying information and Since it is configured to superimpose the captured image on the display screen, when shooting a feature with a camera or the like, it is possible to reduce mistakes by using information about the surrounding feature. .

  In other words, since it is possible to shoot with reference to the feature identification information displayed on the display screen, it is possible to recognize what the image displayed on the display screen is, and prevent erroneous shooting. Will be able to.

  In the above-described embodiment, the image display device 10 is configured to specify a shooting space to be shot by the camera and search for feature specifying information of a feature existing in the specified shooting space. It becomes possible to efficiently search for features that may be displayed on the display screen. In addition, it is possible to perform shooting in consideration of peripheral information other than the features that are actually visible to the user.

  In the above-described embodiment, the image display device 10 specifies the shooting point, detects the shooting direction of the camera, detects the three-dimensional posture of the camera, and takes a picture from the shooting point, the shooting direction, and the three-dimensional posture. Since the space is specified, it is possible to specify a shooting space having position information.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the image display device 10 is a quadrangular pyramid type having a predetermined height (for example, a limit distance that can be focused) with the focal point of the camera as the apex and the angle of view of the camera as the apex angle. Therefore, it is possible to specify a range that can be actually shot by the camera as the shooting space.

  In the above-described embodiment, the feature specifying information includes representative point information (for example, representative point coordinates) indicating the representative point of each feature, and information (for example, planar shape and height) indicating the existence range of each feature. The image display device 10 obtains the feature specifying information based on the representative points and the existence ranges of the features in the specified shooting space in response to the search of the plurality of feature specifying information. Since it is set as the structure which displays, it becomes easy to make a user recognize the positional relationship of the feature specific information displayed on a display screen.

  In the above-described embodiment, the screen display device 10 focuses the image photographed by the camera, and the features existing in the focused portion (for example, in the focused space) of the photographing space. Since the object specifying information and the other feature specifying information are displayed so as to be distinguishable, the visibility of the display screen can be improved.

  Although not particularly mentioned in the above-described embodiment, the screen display device 10 accepts selection of the feature specifying information to be displayed on the display screen from the searched feature specifying information, and the received ground. It is good also as a structure which displays object specific information. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the information displayed on the display screen from becoming complicated.

  Although not specifically mentioned in the above-described embodiment, the screen display device 10 specifies the distance to the object to be imaged (for example, the distance between the imaging position and the representative point of the feature) in the image captured by the camera. And it is good also as a structure which sets the search condition of feature specific information according to the distance to the specified imaging | photography target object. That is, for example, in the feature specifying information, features are classified into a plurality of types based on a specific size (for example, a large type such as a mountain or a building is classified as a first type, a size of a copper image or the like as a second type) The processing unit 40 is configured to separate the feature to be searched when the distance to the shooting target is within a specific distance and the feature to be searched when the shooting target is farther than the specific distance. Can reduce the load required for the search. In addition, when the shooting target is within a specific distance, the feature specifying information may not be searched, but may be searched for information related to a thing having a smaller scale than the feature such as an article stored in advance. In this case, a configuration may be adopted in which the search condition for the feature specifying information is set according to the focal length in the imaging unit 20 instead of the distance to the imaging object.

  Although not particularly mentioned in the above-described embodiment, the screen display unit 10 may display the feature indicated by the searched feature specifying information as an image captured by the camera on the display screen. The feature specifying information may be displayed based on the calculated display possibility. That is, for example, when the image display device 10 cannot determine whether or not it is a feature displayed on the display screen, the image display device 10 including information included in the shooting point and the feature specifying information can be acquired. The possibility of being displayed on the display screen is calculated using the information (for example, the size and positional relationship of each feature) as a parameter, and for example, the calculated possibility is displayed as a numerical value on the display screen together with the name of the feature. With the configuration, it is possible to provide useful information to the user. In this case, the genre to which each feature belongs is stored in association with the feature specifying information, the user's favorite genre can be registered, and the display possibility of the feature belonging to the registered genre is set high. Also good.

  Although not particularly mentioned in the above-described embodiment, the azimuth information acquisition unit acquires the elevation angle of the condensing lens 21 as photographing azimuth information indicating the direction in which the condensing lens 21 is facing (the direction of the camera line of sight). When the height information is not stored as the feature specifying information, the configuration may be such that the feature search range is not a three-dimensional shooting space but a two-dimensional plane range. In this case, as shown in FIG. 10, the features A to D are searched for as features located in a triangular plane range 91 having a photographing point as a vertex and a predetermined angle and height set. . In addition to the triangular shape, for example, a sector-shaped plane range may be used as the feature search range. In principle, the plane range is a distance range from 0 m to ∞ m, but in general photographing, it is preferably set to several hundreds m to several tens km.

  Although not particularly mentioned in the above-described embodiment, the name of the feature close to the shooting point may be displayed when a plurality of feature candidates are searched.

  Although not particularly mentioned in the above-described embodiment, features that can be photographed from a predetermined point (for example, Tokyo Tower Observatory, Osaka Castle Tenshukaku, Kiyomizu-dera Grand Stage) are stored and specified in advance. It is good also as a structure which determines whether the image | photographing spot is a predetermined point, and displays a feature name according to having been determined that it is a predetermined point.

  Further, in the search for the feature specifying information, the method for searching for the feature specifying information from the specified position information has been described. This search method is a representative image of a facility stored in advance in the feature information storage unit 81. A configuration may be adopted in which a captured image is discriminated using image recognition technology based on the information. In addition, when the user knows the feature to be photographed in advance, the photographing target may be designated and the feature name may be displayed only by measuring the orientation by the orientation information acquisition unit 62.

  Moreover, although the case where the present invention is applied to the display unit of a digital camera has been described in the above embodiment, the present invention may be applied to a handy type navigation system.

  The present invention is useful for an image display device used in a photographing apparatus.

F1 search unit F2 display mode determination unit 10 image display device 20 imaging unit 30 storage unit 40 processing unit 50 display unit 60 imaging space identification unit 71 shutter button 80 map information storage unit 81 feature identification information storage unit 82 display mode information storage unit 100 digital camera

Claims (11)

An image display device that displays an image captured by a camera on a display screen of a display device,
Feature specifying information storage means for storing feature specifying information for specifying a feature by position, name, etc .;
Feature specifying information search means for searching for the feature specifying information according to an image photographed by the camera;
An image display apparatus comprising: feature specification information display means for displaying the feature specification information searched by the feature specification information search means and the photographed image on the display screen in a superimposed manner. Including a shooting space specifying means for specifying a shooting space shot by the camera;
The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the feature specifying information search unit searches for the feature specifying information of a feature existing in the shooting space specified by the shooting space specifying unit. A shooting point specifying means for specifying a shooting point;
Direction detection means for detecting the shooting direction of the camera;
Three-dimensional posture detection means for detecting the three-dimensional posture of the camera,
The image display device according to claim 2, wherein the shooting space specifying unit specifies the shooting space from the shooting point, the shooting direction, and the three-dimensional posture. The shooting space specifying means specifies a quadrangular pyramid-shaped space having a predetermined height with the focal point of the camera as an apex and the angle of view of the camera as the apex angle as the shooting space. The image display device described. The feature specifying information includes representative point information indicating a representative point of each feature, and information indicating an existence range of the feature,
The feature specifying information display means includes a representative point of each feature in the shooting space specified by the shooting space specifying means in response to a plurality of feature specifying information being searched by the feature specifying information searching means. The image display device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the feature specifying information is displayed based on a presence range. Focusing means for focusing an image taken by the camera;
The feature specifying information display means displays the feature specifying information of the feature existing in a portion focused on by the focusing means in the photographing space and other feature specifying information in an identifiable manner. The image display device according to claim 2. A display information receiving means for receiving selection of feature specifying information to be displayed on the display screen among the feature specifying information searched by the feature specifying information searching means;
The image display device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the feature specifying information display unit displays the feature specifying information received by the display information receiving unit. A shooting object distance specifying means for specifying a distance to the shooting object in an image shot by the camera;
The feature information search means sets a search condition for the feature specification information according to the distance to the shooting target specified by the shooting target distance specification means. The image display device described in 1. A display possibility calculating means for calculating a display possibility that the feature indicated by the feature specifying information searched by the feature specifying information searching means is displayed on a display screen as an image photographed by the camera;
The image display device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the feature specifying information display unit displays the feature specifying information based on the display possibility calculated by the display possibility calculating unit. . An image display method for displaying an image captured by a camera on a display screen of a display device,
Feature identification according to the image photographed by the camera from the feature identification information stored in the feature identification information storage means for storing the feature identification information for identifying the feature by position, name, etc. A feature identification information search process for searching for information;
An image display method, comprising: a feature specification information display process in which the feature specification information searched in the feature specification information search process and the photographed image are superimposed and displayed on the display screen. An image display program for controlling an operation of an image display device that displays an image captured by a camera on a display screen of a display device,
In the image display device,
Feature identification according to the image photographed by the camera from the feature identification information stored in the feature identification information storage means for storing the feature identification information for identifying the feature by position, name, etc. A feature identification information search process for searching for information;
An image display program for executing a feature specifying information display process in which the feature specifying information searched in the feature specifying information search process and the photographed image are superimposed and displayed on the display screen.

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