JP2012049808A - Digital camera and apparatus with built-in digital camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a photographer to intentionally add information to the image file of a photograph, separately from the photographing conditions of the photograph.SOLUTION: A digital camera which captures images of a subject through an optical system and stores the image file F of the captured images in an image memory M comprises: classification storage means 1 in which a plurality of classifications of the subject are stored; input means 2 for allowing a user to select a desired classification from the classifications of the subject stored in the classification storage means 1; and information addition means 3 which adds, to the image file F, the information on the classification of the subject selected from the input means 2.

Description

  The present invention relates to a digital camera that adds information to an image file of a photograph taken.

  Information such as GPS information of a shooting location and shooting time is added to an image file of a photo taken with a digital camera (Patent Document 1). Such information is added by, for example, EXIF (Exchange Image File Format), and includes the shooting date and time, the camera manufacturer and model, exposure time, ISO sensitivity, GPS information, and the like. Such additional information is useful for searching an image file.

  However, the additional information is information indicating the shooting conditions of the photos stored in the image file, and the photographer cannot intentionally add information regardless of the shooting conditions of the photos.

JP 2010-093395 A

  An object of the present invention is to enable a photographer to intentionally add information to an image file of a photograph separately from the photographing conditions of the photograph.

  In order to solve this problem, the present invention provides a classification storage unit that stores a plurality of classifications of a subject in a digital camera that images a subject through an optical system and stores an image file of the captured image in an image memory. An input means for a user to select a desired classification from a plurality of subject classifications stored in the means; and an information adding means for adding information on the subject classification selected from the input means to the image file. It has a configuration that it is equipped.

  According to the present invention, a photographer can intentionally add information to an image file of a photographed photograph separately from the photographing conditions of the photograph.

It is a block diagram for demonstrating 1st, 2nd and 3rd embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram for demonstrating 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram for demonstrating 5th Embodiment of this invention.

<First Embodiment>
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. In the first embodiment, in a digital camera that captures an image of a subject through an optical system and stores an image file F of the captured image in the image memory M, the classification storage unit 1 that stores a plurality of classifications of the subject, and the classification storage An input means 2 for the user to select a desired classification from a plurality of subject classifications stored in the means 1, and a control means for adding information on the classification of the subject selected from the input means 2 to the image file F ( Information adding means) 3.

  The image file F of the subject photographed through the optical system is sequentially stored in the image memory M. When the user operates the input unit 2 and selects a desired category from the plurality of subject categories stored in the category storage unit 1, the control unit 3 adds the selected subject category information to the image file F. To do.

  According to this, the photographer can intentionally add information to the image file F of the photograph separately from the photographing conditions of the photograph.

Second Embodiment
In the first embodiment described above, the classification storage unit 1 is a rewritable nonvolatile memory, for example, “family”, “landscape”, “work relation”, “pet”, “dog”, “family trip”. A plurality of subject categories such as The input unit 2 may be a physical switch such as a button provided on the housing of the digital camera, or a liquid crystal monitor with a touch panel function provided on the housing of the digital camera. The control means 3 realizes various functions by the operation of the processor. The image memory M may be a main body built-in memory or a removable medium such as an SD card. The file format of the image file F may be a JPG file or a RAW file, and the file format is not limited.

  In the first embodiment, there are several methods for selecting the user-desired subject classification from the input unit 2. For example, a method of displaying a list of classifications stored in the classification storage unit 1 on a display unit (not shown) and selecting a desired classification from the list by operating the input unit 2 can be considered. At this time, the input unit 2 may be a touch panel, and the display unit may be a liquid crystal monitor provided with the touch panel. In addition, after associating each of the buttons stored in the camera housing with the classifications stored in the classification storage unit 1 one by one and displaying a message prompting selection of the classification on a display unit (not shown), the user You may make it select the classification matched with the button by pushing the button corresponding to a desired classification.

  Even if it does in this way, the same operation effect as a 1st embodiment can be acquired.

<Third Embodiment>
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment, a selection result storage unit 4 that stores the classification of the subject selected from the input unit 2 is provided.

  When the user operates the input unit 2 and selects a desired category from the plurality of subject classes stored in the category storage unit 1, the control unit 3 stores the selected subject category in the selection result storage unit 4. Hold. Thereafter, every time the image file F of the subject photographed through the optical system is accumulated in the image memory M, the control means 3 stores information on the classification of one subject stored in advance in the selection result storage means 4. Read out and add to each image file F to be accumulated. The selection result storage means 4 may be a volatile memory that retains storage of data during energization or may be a rewritable nonvolatile memory.

  In this way, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, the classification of a specific subject selected in advance can be automatically added to the image files of a plurality of photographs to be taken thereafter.

<Fourth embodiment>
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described based on FIG. 1 and FIG. In the present embodiment, the control means 3 has a reception function for accepting selection of a user-desired subject classification from the input means 2 every time an image file F of a photographed photograph is generated. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the present embodiment. The control unit 3 monitors the generation of the image file F in the image memory M. When the control unit 3 detects the generation of the image file F (S1), the selection of the user-desired subject classification from the subject classifications stored in the classification storage unit 1 is accepted via the input unit 2 (S2). .

  Here, when the control means 3 itself is configured to generate the image file F, the generation of the image file F can be detected by monitoring the execution of an internal process for generating the image file F. When the elements other than the control unit 3 are configured to generate the image file F, the control unit 3 detects the generation of the image file F by monitoring the generation of the image file F in the image memory M. can do. When the elements other than the control unit 3 generate the image file F, the control unit 3 receives a notification that the image file F has been generated from the element that generates the image file F. Can be detected.

  The control means 3 adds information on the classification of the subject whose selection has been received in S2 to the image file F that has detected the generation (S3). After that, every time a photo image file F is generated by photographing, the processes of S1 to S3 are repeated.

  If it does in this way, in addition to the same effect as a 1st embodiment, desired classification can be added for every photograph taken.

<Fifth Embodiment>
Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 4, the input unit 2 includes a plurality of input units 2 a individually corresponding to the classification of each subject stored in the classification storage unit 1. Each input unit 2a may be, for example, a plurality of physical buttons provided on the housing of the camera, or a plurality of icons displayed on a liquid crystal monitor with a touch panel function.

  In the present embodiment, each input unit 2a functions as a shutter operation unit for photographing a subject. The shutter signal generated by the operation of the input unit 2a is input to the imaging processing means C. The imaging processing means C receives the shutter signal and opens and closes the shutter of the optical system to photograph the subject. Further, the imaging processing means C generates an image file F of the photographed subject in the image memory M.

  When taking a picture, the user determines the classification of the subject to be added to the picture, and selects and operates the input unit 2a corresponding to the classification. The operation of the input unit 2a serves both as a classification selection and a camera shutter operation. When an arbitrary input unit 2a is operated, the imaging processing unit C captures a subject and generates an image file F of the photographed photograph in the image memory M. At the same time, the control unit 3 reads out the subject classification associated with the operated input unit 2a from the classification storage unit 1, and uses the image processing unit C to generate the information on the read out subject classification at this time. Append to The classification storage unit 1 stores the identifier of the input unit 2a and the classification of the subject in association with each other.

  In this way, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, the shutter operation and the selection of the classification can be performed simultaneously.

<Sixth Embodiment>
In each of the above embodiments, the control unit 3 may include an editing function for adding, changing, or deleting the classification of the subject stored in the classification storage unit 1. There are several possible configurations for this editing function. For example, the subject classification stored in the classification storage unit 1 may be added, changed, or deleted in response to an input from the input unit 2. Further, for example, the subject classification stored in the classification storage unit 1 may be added, changed, or deleted according to a command and data from an externally connected computer. Further, for example, a subject classification downloaded from a communication network such as the Internet may be added to the classification storage unit 1. In the case of a configuration for communicating with an external computer or a communication network, the digital camera includes communication means corresponding to each communication protocol.

<Other embodiments>
Here, the example of the second embodiment may be applied to the third to sixth embodiments described above. Further, the present invention may be applied to a device (for example, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a game machine, a PDA, etc.) incorporating a digital camera. In each embodiment, the image file F may be a still image file or a moving image file. In addition, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above, It has the range of the invention based on the component requirements described in the claim.

1 Classification storage means 2 Input means 2a Input section 3 Control means 4 Selection result storage means C Imaging processing means F Image file M Image memory

Claims (6)

In a digital camera that images a subject through an optical system and stores an image file of the captured image in an image memory,
Classification storage means for storing a plurality of subject classifications, input means for the user to select a desired classification from the plurality of subject classifications stored in the classification storage means, and the subject selected from the input means A digital camera comprising information adding means for adding classification information to the image file. Selection result storage means for storing the classification of the subject selected from the input means is provided, and the information adding means is stored in the selection result storage means every time an image file of the captured image is generated. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein classification information is added to the image file. A receiving unit that receives a selection of a desired subject classification from the input unit each time an image file of the captured image is generated;
2. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the information adding unit adds, to the image file, information on a classification of a subject that has been selected by the receiving unit. The input means includes a plurality of input units corresponding to the classification of the plurality of subjects, and each input unit functions as a shutter operation unit for imaging the subject;
The information adding unit adds information on the classification of the subject corresponding to the input unit that performed the shutter operation to an image file of an image captured by the shutter operation of the one input unit. Digital camera. 5. The digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising an editing function for adding, changing, or deleting a classification of a subject stored in the classification storage unit. A digital camera built-in device incorporating the digital camera according to claim 1.

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