JP2013175858A - Imaging apparatus, imaging method, and imaging program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a user to take an image without missing the best shot, while improving image quality.SOLUTION: The number of vacant banks in a buffer memory is detected (step S106). A scene mode is selected which uses the number of banks equal to or less than the detected number of vacant banks and to which the highest priority order is given (step S107). When determination in step S108 is YES and one of the scene modes is properly selected, determination is made as to whether a shutter key has been operated or not (step S109), and when the shutter key is operated, a CCD 2 is driven and image data of the number of used banks represented by the selected scene mode is captured (step S110). The image data of the captured number is allocated to the vacant memory banks, and image processing and a recording process, such as a pixel addition process, are performed according to the selected scene (step S111).

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus, an imaging method, and an imaging program.

Conventionally, a subject is shot continuously, and multiple shot images are added and combined to generate an image with sufficient brightness to record even in a shooting environment with low light intensity, such as a night view. A first image composition technique for recording is known.
In addition, as described in Patent Document 1, when hand-held shooting in which the user holds the camera in his / her hand, the subject is continuously shot, and a plurality of continuously shot images are partially added and combined, A second image composition technique that corrects, blurs, and synthesizes an image angle of view is also known.

JP 2006-148550 A

  When executing such an image composition technique, it is essential to have a memory that temporarily stores images acquired at the time of shooting with the number of continuous shots corresponding to the image composition technique until the addition composition process is completed. Become. Therefore, in order to enable the next shooting, it is necessary that the memory has a free space corresponding to the number of continuous shots required by the image composition technique.

  However, when a plurality of images stored in the memory are combined, an inevitable processing time is required, and during that time, the storage area of the memory is occupied by a plurality of images. For this reason, when the user takes a picture of the next subject and tries to compose and record the image using the image composition technique, the memory does not have enough capacity for executing the image composition technique. There is. In this case, after the image composition for the previous continuous shooting is completed and sufficient free space is generated in the memory, the next subject can be photographed. However, during this time, the subject may move and the composition may change, resulting in a loss of photo opportunity. Therefore, while an image with improved image quality can be recorded by image synthesis, there is a disadvantage that a photo opportunity is lost.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and provides an imaging apparatus, an imaging method, and an imaging program capable of imaging and recording without missing a photo opportunity while improving image quality. Objective.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention has an imaging unit that operates in response to an imaging instruction to capture an image of a subject and outputs image data, and a plurality of predetermined storage areas, and is output from the imaging unit. Until the processing required for the processed image data is completed, the storage means for allocating the image data to each storage area and temporarily storing it, and detecting the number of free storage areas to which the image data is not assigned in the storage means Control mode selection for selecting a control mode that is the number of times of imaging within the number of free storage areas detected by the detection unit from among a plurality of types of control modes for operating the imaging unit with a different number of times of imaging And control means for controlling the imaging means based on the control form selected by the control form selection means.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to capture and record without missing a photo opportunity while improving the image quality.

It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of the digital camera concerning one embodiment of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the structure of a buffer memory. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the structure of an evaluation value table. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the structure of a scene selection table. It is a flowchart which shows the main routine of this Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of an imaging | photography information acquisition process. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of an evaluation value calculation process. It is a transition diagram of a memory bank. FIG. 9 is a transition diagram of the memory bank following FIG. 8. FIG. 10 is a transition diagram of the memory bank following FIG. 9. FIG. 11 is a transition diagram of the memory bank following FIG. 10. FIG. 12 is a transition diagram of the memory bank following FIG. 11.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a digital camera 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The digital camera 1 has a CCD 2 that is an image sensor and a DSP / CPU 3. The CCD 2 photoelectrically converts an optical image of a subject formed through an optical system such as an imaging lens (not shown) and outputs an analog imaging signal corresponding to the optical image of the subject.

  The DSP / CPU 3 is a one-chip microcomputer that performs digital signal processing including compression / decompression of image data by the JPEG method and controls each part of the digital camera 1. The DSP / CPU 3 is connected with a TG (Timing Generator) 4 that drives the CCD 2, and the TG 4 is connected with a unit circuit 5 that receives an image pickup signal output from the CCD 2. The unit circuit 5 includes a CDS circuit that removes noise such as an output signal of the CCD 2 by correlated double sampling, a gain adjustment amplifier (AGC) that amplifies the imaging signal from which noise has been removed, and the amplified imaging signal as a digital signal. It is composed of an A / D converter (AD) for conversion, and the output signal of the CCD 2 is converted into a digital signal by the unit circuit 5 and sent to the DSP / CPU 3.

  The DSP / CPU 3 is connected to an angular velocity detection circuit 6, a strobe circuit 7, a photometry circuit 8, a distance measurement circuit 9, a key input unit 10, and a liquid crystal monitor 11, and a DRAM 13 via an address / data bus 12. A built-in flash memory 14 and a card interface 15 are connected. The card interface 15 is connected to a memory card 16 that is detachably attached to a card slot (not shown) provided in the main body.

  The angular velocity detection circuit 6 includes sensors that respectively detect the vertical and horizontal angular velocities, and detects camera shake of the digital camera 1. Based on the detected presence or absence of camera shake, the DSP / CPU 3 can also determine whether or not the digital camera 1 is in a state of using a tripod.

  The strobe circuit 7 includes a light source such as a xenon lamp constituting the strobe described above, a power feeding circuit, a dimming circuit, and the like. The photometry circuit 8 includes a sensor that detects the brightness of the shooting environment including the subject. The distance measuring circuit 9 includes a sensor that detects the distance to the subject. The key input unit 10 includes a plurality of operation keys and switches such as a mode selection key, and outputs an operation signal corresponding to the key operation by the user to the DSP / CPU 3.

  The liquid crystal monitor 11 includes a color LCD and its drive circuit, displays the subject image captured by the CCD 2 as a through image in the shooting standby mode, and is read from the memory card 16 in the playback mode (PLAY mode). The recorded image expanded by the DSP / CPU 3 is displayed. In addition, for operation assistance, a processing menu display at the time of selecting a function and a setting figure or icon are displayed.

  The DRAM 13 has a buffer memory, which will be described later, temporarily storing image data of a subject imaged and digitized by the CCD 2 in response to a shooting instruction when the shutter key is pressed, and is used as a working memory of the DSP / CPU 3. . At the time of shooting when the shutter key is pressed, the image data temporarily stored in the DRAM 13 is processed and compressed by the DSP / CPU 3 and finally recorded in the memory card 16 as an image file of a predetermined format. .

  The built-in flash memory 14 includes a control program for causing the DSP / CPU 3 to control the above-described units, for example, a program for AE / AF control, a program necessary for control according to various operation modes such as a data communication program, In addition, various data are stored in advance.

  FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of the buffer memory 131 provided in the DRAM 13. The buffer memory 131 is provided with ten memory banks (1) to (10). Each of the memory banks (1) to (10) has a capacity capable of storing image data for one image captured by the CCD 2 and digitized.

  FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of the evaluation value table 132 provided in the DRAM 13. The evaluation value table 132 includes a scene area 133, an exposure evaluation value area 134, a color evaluation value area 135, a focus evaluation value area 136, a face evaluation value area 137, other evaluation value areas 138, a multiplication result area 139, and a priority order area. 140 is provided for each of seven rows. Among these, the names of the scenes (1) to (7) and the number of banks used (“3bank”, “1bank”, etc.) are written in each row of the scene area 133, but the other areas 134 to 140 A numerical value is written in a blank (in the drawing, a numerical value is written) by a process described later.

  FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of the scene selection table 141 stored in advance in the built-in flash memory 14 together with the program and the like. In this scene selection table 141, storage areas are divided corresponding to seven types of scenes (1) to (7). Each scene (1) to (7) area has a wide range of shooting scene names (program names) such as HDR (Hight Dinamic Range) shooting and “normal”, and also prevents overexposure such as overexposure and blackout Control effects such as “reproduce dynamic range” and “reference to“ combine and process three images with different exposures ”,“ refer to brightness difference, face detection state, subject movement, etc. ” As described in the contents, a program for generating the control effect according to the control contents is stored.

  In other words, each of the scene (1) to (7) areas is an area in which a program having different control forms is stored. The DSP / CPU 3 executes processing according to this program, so that the described control contents are realized. The described control effect occurs. In each scene (1) to (7) area, the number of buffer memories 131 required until the DSP / CPU 3 completes the processing is stored as the “number of used banks”.

  In the present embodiment having the above configuration, when the shooting mode is set by operating the mode selection key provided in the key input unit 10, the DSP / CPU 3 uses the subject image captured by the CCD 2 as a through image. Based on the program displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 11 and stored in the built-in flash memory 14, processing is executed as shown in the flowchart of FIG. That is, first, shooting information is acquired (step S101).

  More specifically, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6, exposure information indicating the exposure value currently set in the digital camera 1 (step S201), color information indicating the main color of the subject or the entire through image (step S202). ), Focus information indicating the focus state of the through image (step S203), face information indicating the presence or absence of a face in the through image (step S204), brightness, presence / absence of use of a tripod based on the presence / absence of camera shake detection Other information (S205) such as the amount of movement of the subject is acquired.

  These exposure information, color information, focus information, face information, and other information are all acquired by numerical values. For example, exposure information = 10, color information = 10, focus information = 5, face information = 10, other information = 1 is acquired.

Next, in step S102 following step S101 in the flowchart of FIG. 5, a scene-specific evaluation value calculation process is executed.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing details of the scene-specific evaluation value calculation processing. First, an initial value “1” is set in a counter N for specifying a scene number (step S301). Next, the weighting coefficient of the scene (N) specified by the set counter N value is read (step S302).

  That is, although not shown, the built-in flash memory 14 corresponds to the scenes (1) to (7), and the weighting coefficients corresponding to “exposure”, “color”, “focus”, “face”, “others”. Is stored. Therefore, assuming that N = 1 now, the “exposure” weighting coefficient, “color” weighting coefficient, “focus” weighting coefficient, “face” weighting coefficient, and “other” weighting coefficient of the scene (1) are obtained from the weighting coefficient table. read out. These weighting coefficients are numerical values including “0”. Thus, for example, “exposure” = 10, “color” = 1, “focus” = 5, “face” = 0.1, and “others” = 1 are read as the weighting coefficients of the scene (1).

  Next, a weighted evaluation value calculation process based on exposure information (step S303) is executed. In the weighted evaluation value calculation process based on the exposure information, the numerical value of the exposure information acquired in step S201 is multiplied by the “exposure” weighting coefficient of the scene (N), and the result is stored in the evaluation value table 132 shown in FIG. Write to the row of scene (N). Therefore, as in the above-described example, assuming that the current exposure information = 10 and the weighting coefficient of “exposure” = 10, 10 × 10 = 100 is calculated. As shown in FIG. In 132, “100” is written in the exposure evaluation value area 134 of the scene (1).

  Subsequently, a weighted evaluation value calculation process based on color information (step S304), a weighted evaluation value calculation process based on focus information (step S305), a weighted evaluation value calculation process based on face information (step S306), and a weighted evaluation value calculation process based on other information ( Step S307) is executed sequentially.

  Therefore, as in the previous example, current color information = 10, focus information = 5, face information = 10, and other information = 1, “color” weighting coefficient = 1, and “focus” weighting coefficient = 1. , “Face” weighting coefficient = 0.1, “Other” weighting coefficient = 1,

Weighted evaluation value based on color information = 10 × 1 = 10
Weighted evaluation value by focus information = 5 × 1 = 5
Weighted evaluation value by face information = 10 × 0.1 = 1
Weighted evaluation value based on other information = 1 × 1 = 1
Is calculated and written to the corresponding areas 135 to 138 of the scene (1) in the evaluation value table 132.

Therefore, when the processing of steps S302 to S307 is executed in the state of N = 1, as shown in the “Scene (1)” row in FIG. 3, the evaluation values from “Exposure” to “Others” are as follows:
“100”, “10”, “5”, “1”, “1” will be written. In the next step S308, multiplication processing of all weighted evaluation values is executed and written in the corresponding multiplication result area 139 of the evaluation value table 132.

  Therefore, in this example, a multiplication process of the expression “100 × 10 × 5 × 1 × 1 = 5000” is executed, and “5000” is displayed in the multiplication result area 139 of “scene (1)” as shown in FIG. "Is written.

  Thereafter, the value of the counter N is incremented (step S309), it is determined whether or not N = 8, and the processing of steps S302 to S309 is repeated until N = 8. Therefore, the processing in steps S302 to S309 is repeated seven times, and the evaluation values are written in all the areas 134 to 139 corresponding to the scenes (1) to (7) in the evaluation value table 132 as shown in FIG. It becomes a state.

  Thereby, the process of step S102 is completed in the flowchart of FIG. 5, and the process proceeds to step S103. In step S103, priorities are set for the scenes (1) to (7) in descending order of the multiplication result values written in the multiplication result area 139, and the priority order area 140 of the evaluation value table 132 is set. Write. As a result, as shown in the example of FIG. 3, “1” is set as the priority for the scene (1) with the multiplication result “5000”, and “2” is set as the priority for the scene (5) with the multiplication result “1800”. ”And the priority order is set for the remaining scenes.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the priority order can be easily set by a simple process of calculation using numerical values.

  In addition, since information used for the calculation includes a plurality of types such as color information, focus information, and face information, an appropriate priority order can be set because there is no bias in the information used.

  Next, the DSP / CPU 3 determines whether or not any memory bank of the buffer memory 131 has image data that is no longer needed after image processing described later is completed (step S104). If there is image data that is no longer needed, this is deleted (overwritten) permission state, and the memory bank to which the image data is assigned is made free (step S105). Thereafter, the number of empty banks in the buffer memory 131 at the present time, that is, the number of memory banks that are not assigned image data and are in an empty state is detected (step S106).

  Then, a scene mode having the highest priority in the scene mode in which the number of used banks is within the detected number of empty banks is selected (step S107).

  Also, it is determined whether or not any scene mode has been properly selected in step S107 (step S108). That is, when the detected number of empty banks is “0” and image data is allocated to all the memory banks (1) to (10), the process of step S107 cannot be executed. Therefore, the process returns from step S108 to step S101, and the process from step S101 is repeated. During this time, when the processing for the image data assigned to any of the memory banks (1) to (10) is completed, the determination in step S104 is YES and deletion of unnecessary image data is permitted (step S105). The scene mode can be selected in step S107.

  If the determination in step S108 is YES and one of the scene modes can be properly selected, it is determined whether or not the shutter key has been operated (step S109) and until the shutter key is operated. The processing from step S101 is repeated. Therefore, even during this time, when the processing for the image data assigned to any one of the memory banks (1) to (10) is completed, the determination in step S104 is YES and deletion of unnecessary image data is permitted ( Step S105). Therefore, the number of empty banks used in the process of step S107 increases over time to the maximum value “10”.

  When the user operates the shutter key to take a picture, the DSP / CPU 3 controls the TG 4 to drive the CCD 2 and captures image data for the number of used banks indicated by the selected scene mode (step S110). That is, as shown in FIG. 4, since the “number of used banks” is stored in the scene selection table 141 corresponding to the scenes (1) to (7), the number indicated by the “number of used banks” is shown. Image data. Further, the acquired number of image data is assigned to an empty memory bank, and image processing corresponding to the selected scene such as pixel addition processing is executed (step S111).

  That is, as shown in FIG. 8A, when all the memory banks (1) to (10) are empty, the priority “scene (1) as shown in FIG. ), Scene (2), scene (3)... Then, since the number of empty banks is “10” and the number of used banks in the scene (1) having the priority “1” is “3”, the number of unused banks is within “10” as the number of used banks. The scene mode with the highest is “Scene (1)”. Therefore, “scene (1)” is selected. Then, when a shooting instruction is made by operating the shutter key at this timing, the image data for three sheets, which is the number of banks of “scene (1)”, is fetched, and as shown in FIG. 1) Assigned to (2) and (3) for processing.

  In the state shown in FIG. 9A in which the memory banks (1), (2), and (3) are used in this way, the priority order “scene (5), scene (6)” as shown in FIG. 9 (b). , “Scene (3)...” Is set. Then, although the number of empty banks is “10−3 = 7”, the number of used banks in the scene (5) with the priority “1” is “8”, so the scene (5) with the priority “1”. Is not selected. The scene mode having the highest priority with the number of used banks within the number of unused banks “7” is “scene (6)” with priority “2” and “4 bank”. Selected. Therefore, when a shooting instruction is issued by operating the shutter key at this timing, four pieces of image data are fetched, and as shown in FIG. 5C, memory banks (4) (5) (6) (7) Assigned to be processed. As a result, the buffer memory 131 is in a use state in which image data is allocated to the memory banks (1) to (7).

  In the state shown in FIG. 10A in which the memory banks (1) to (7) are used in this way, as shown in FIG. 10B, as in the previous time (as in FIG. 9B). Assume that the priority “scene (5), scene (6), scene (3)...” Is set. Then, although the number of empty banks is “10−7 = 3”, the number of used banks in the scene (5) having the priority “1” is “8” and the scene (6) having the priority “2”. Since the number of used banks is “4”, not only the scene (5) with the priority “1” but also the scene (6) with the priority “2” is not selected. The scene mode having the highest priority with the number of used banks within “3” as the number of used banks is “scene (3)” with priority “3” and “1 bank”. Selected. Therefore, when a shooting instruction is made by operating the shutter key at this timing, image data for one sheet is fetched and assigned to the memory bank (8) for processing as shown in FIG. As a result, the buffer memory 131 is in a use state in which image data is allocated to the memory banks (1) to (8).

  Further, when all of the image data assigned to the memory banks (1) to (8) becomes unnecessary image data as the processing time elapses, all of them are in a deletion permission state. As a result, as shown in FIG. 11A, all the memory banks (1) to (10) become empty. At this time, it is assumed that the priority “scene (5), scene (6), scene (3)...” Is set as shown in FIG. Then, the number of empty banks is “10”, and the number of used banks in the scene (5) having the priority “1” is “8”. The highest scene mode is “Scene (5)”. Therefore, “scene (5)” is selected. Then, when a shooting instruction is made by operating the shutter key at this timing, the image data for eight images are fetched and assigned to the memory banks (1) to (8) as shown in FIG. Is done.

  As the processing time elapses, only the image data assigned to the memory bank (1) among the image data assigned to the memory banks (1) to (8) becomes unnecessary image data. As shown in FIG. 12 (a), the memory bank (1) becomes empty, and as a result, a total of three memory banks (1), (9), and (10) become empty.

  At this time, it is assumed that the priority order “scene (1), scene (2), scene (3)...” Is set as shown in FIG. Then, the number of empty banks is “3”, and the number of used banks in the scene (1) having the priority “1” is “3”. The highest scene mode is “Scene (1)”. Therefore, “scene (1)” is selected. Then, when a shooting instruction is made by operating the shutter key at this timing, the image data for three images is fetched and assigned to the memory banks (1), (9), and (10) as shown in FIG. To be processed. As a result, image data is allocated to all the memory banks (1) to (10), and the buffer memory 131 becomes full.

  Further, as the processing time elapses, among the image data assigned to the memory banks (1) to (10), the image data assigned to the memory banks (5) to (8) is changed to unnecessary image data. Then, as shown in FIG. 4D, the four memory banks (5) to (8) become empty, and the number of usable memory banks is four.

  As described above, the number of free memory banks to which no image data is allocated is always detected, and the number of times of imaging is within the detected number of free banks, and the image is shot in a higher priority scene mode for image processing. , And the image data assigned to the empty bank and temporarily stored is processed and compressed by the DSP / CPU 3, and finally recorded in the memory card 16 as an image file of a predetermined format (step S110).

  Therefore, according to this embodiment, while improving the image quality by shooting in a higher priority scene mode, shooting and recording without missing a photo opportunity by shooting in a scene mode within the number of empty banks. can do.

In the embodiments, the case where the present invention is applied to a single digital camera has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to a device including a digital camera such as a mobile phone incorporating a digital camera.
1. In this embodiment, all scenes are evaluated and priorities are assigned, but only scenes within the number of empty banks are evaluated and priorities are assigned, or within the number of empty banks without priorities. It is also possible to evaluate only this scene and select the most highly evaluated scene. In this way, the processing for assigning priorities can be simplified and the overall processing speed can be increased.
2. In this embodiment, the scene is automatically selected. However, when the user selects a desired scene by a key operation (manual selection), it is possible to perform shooting for the number of shots of the scene. Then, when there are not enough empty banks necessary for performing the manually selected shooting, the shooting may be performed by automatically changing to the best (similar) scene within the number of empty banks.
3. Multiple similar scenes with different shooting counts are stored in advance (grouped), and when shooting of a scene selected automatically or manually becomes impossible due to a lack of empty banks, it is stored in association with that scene. It is also possible to automatically change to a scene with a small number of shootings and perform shooting. In this case, evaluation and prioritization of each scene is unnecessary, and the overall processing speed can be increased.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to these, The invention described in the claim and its equal range are included.

  The invention described in the claims of the present application will be added below.

<Claim 1>
An imaging means that operates in response to an imaging instruction to image a subject and outputs image data;
A storage unit having a plurality of predetermined storage areas, and temporarily storing the image data allocated to each storage area until processing required for the image data output from the imaging unit is completed;
Detecting means for detecting the number of free storage areas to which the image data is not allocated in the storage means;
A control mode selection unit that selects a control mode that is the number of times of imaging within the number of free storage areas detected by the detection unit from among a plurality of types of control modes that operate the imaging unit at different imaging counts;
Control means for controlling the imaging means based on the control form selected by the control form selection means;
An imaging apparatus comprising:

<Claim 2>
The control form selection means includes
The control mode which is the number of times of imaging within the number of free storage areas detected by the detecting means is selected from the plurality of types of control modes based on information related to the imaging of the subject. Item 2. The imaging device according to Item 1.

<Claim 3>
The control form selection means includes
Including priority order setting means for setting a priority order for the plurality of types of control forms based on information relating to imaging of the subject;
3. The imaging according to claim 2, wherein the number of times of imaging within the number of free storage areas detected by the detecting means is selected, and a control mode having a higher priority set by the priority setting means is selected. apparatus.

<Claim 4>
4. The imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein information related to imaging of the subject is represented by a numerical value, and the priority order setting means sets a priority order for the plurality of types of control forms based on the numerical value. .

<Claim 5>
There are a plurality of pieces of information related to the imaging of the subject, and each piece of information is represented by a numerical value. The imaging apparatus according to claim 3.

<Claim 6>
The imaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the calculation is multiplication of numerical values.

<Claim 7>
The control form selection means includes
First control form selection means for manually selecting an arbitrary control form from the plurality of types of control forms;
And a second control form selection means for automatically selecting a control form that is the number of times of imaging within the number of free storage areas detected by the detection means from among the plurality of types of control forms. Item 7. The imaging device according to any one of Items 1 to 6.

<Claim 8>
Control form storage means for storing the plurality of types of control forms in association with each other,
The control form selection means includes
First control form selection means for selecting one control form from the plurality of types of control forms;
Detected by the detection means by selecting a control form stored in the control form storage means in association with the control form selected by the first control form selection means from the plurality of types of control forms. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a second control mode selection unit that selects a control mode that is the number of times of imaging within the number of free storage areas.

<Claim 9>
An imaging unit that operates in response to an imaging instruction to capture an image of an object and outputs image data, and a plurality of predetermined storage areas, and processing required for the image data output from the imaging unit is completed. Up to this point, a computer having an apparatus including storage means for temporarily storing the image data allocated to each storage area,
Detecting means for detecting the number of free storage areas to which the image data is not allocated in the storage means;
A control mode selection unit that selects a control mode that is the number of times of imaging within the number of free storage areas detected by the detection unit from among a plurality of types of control modes that operate the imaging unit at different imaging counts;
Control means for controlling the imaging means based on the control form selected by the control form selection means;
An imaging program characterized by causing the function to function.

<Claim 10>
An imaging unit that operates in response to an imaging instruction to capture an image of an object and outputs image data, and a plurality of predetermined storage areas, and processing required for the image data output from the imaging unit is completed. Until the imaging method in the apparatus provided with storage means for temporarily storing the image data assigned to each storage area,
A detection step of detecting the number of free storage areas to which the image data is not allocated in the storage means;
A control mode selection step for selecting a control mode that is the number of imaging times within the number of free storage areas detected by the detection step, from among a plurality of control modes for operating the imaging means at different imaging times;
A control step for controlling the imaging means based on the control mode selected in the control mode selection step;
An imaging method comprising:

1 Digital camera 2 CCD
3 DSP / CPU
4 TG
5 Unit Circuit 6 Angular Velocity Detection Circuit 7 Strobe Circuit 8 Photometry Circuit 9 Distance Measurement Circuit 10 Key Input Unit 11 LCD Monitor 13 DRAM
14 Built-in flash memory 131 Buffer memory 132 Evaluation value table

Claims (10)

An imaging means that operates in response to an imaging instruction to image a subject and outputs image data;
A storage unit having a plurality of predetermined storage areas, and temporarily storing the image data allocated to each storage area until processing required for the image data output from the imaging unit is completed;
Detecting means for detecting the number of free storage areas to which the image data is not allocated in the storage means;
A control mode selection unit that selects a control mode that is the number of times of imaging within the number of free storage areas detected by the detection unit from among a plurality of types of control modes that operate the imaging unit at different imaging counts;
Control means for controlling the imaging means based on the control form selected by the control form selection means;
An imaging apparatus comprising: The control form selection means includes
The control mode which is the number of times of imaging within the number of free storage areas detected by the detecting means is selected from the plurality of types of control modes based on information related to the imaging of the subject. Item 2. The imaging device according to Item 1. The control form selection means includes
Including priority order setting means for setting a priority order for the plurality of types of control forms based on information relating to imaging of the subject;
3. The imaging according to claim 2, wherein the number of times of imaging within the number of free storage areas detected by the detecting means is selected, and a control mode having a higher priority set by the priority setting means is selected. apparatus.   4. The imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein information related to imaging of the subject is represented by a numerical value, and the priority order setting means sets a priority order for the plurality of types of control forms based on the numerical value. .   There are a plurality of pieces of information related to the imaging of the subject, each piece of information is represented by a numerical value, and the priority order setting means sets a priority order for the plurality of types of control forms by calculation using the numerical value of each piece of information. The imaging apparatus according to claim 3.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the calculation is multiplication of numerical values. The control form selection means includes
First control form selection means for manually selecting an arbitrary control form from the plurality of types of control forms;
And a second control form selection means for automatically selecting a control form that is the number of times of imaging within the number of free storage areas detected by the detection means from among the plurality of types of control forms. Item 7. The imaging device according to any one of Items 1 to 6. Control form storage means for storing the plurality of types of control forms in association with each other,
The control form selection means includes
First control form selection means for selecting one control form from the plurality of types of control forms;
Detected by the detection means by selecting a control form stored in the control form storage means in association with the control form selected by the first control form selection means from the plurality of types of control forms. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a second control mode selection unit that selects a control mode that is the number of times of imaging within the number of free storage areas. An imaging unit that operates in response to an imaging instruction to capture an image of an object and outputs image data, and a plurality of predetermined storage areas, and processing required for the image data output from the imaging unit is completed. Up to this point, a computer having an apparatus including storage means for temporarily storing the image data allocated to each storage area,
Detecting means for detecting the number of free storage areas to which the image data is not allocated in the storage means;
A control mode selection unit that selects a control mode that is the number of times of imaging within the number of free storage areas detected by the detection unit from among a plurality of types of control modes that operate the imaging unit at different imaging counts;
Control means for controlling the imaging means based on the control form selected by the control form selection means;
An imaging program characterized by causing the function to function. An imaging unit that operates in response to an imaging instruction to capture an image of an object and outputs image data, and a plurality of predetermined storage areas, and processing required for the image data output from the imaging unit is completed. Until the imaging method in the apparatus provided with storage means for temporarily storing the image data assigned to each storage area,
A detection step of detecting the number of free storage areas to which the image data is not allocated in the storage means;
A control mode selection step for selecting a control mode that is the number of imaging times within the number of free storage areas detected by the detection step, from among a plurality of control modes for operating the imaging means at different imaging times;
A control step for controlling the imaging means based on the control mode selected in the control mode selection step;
An imaging method comprising:

Images