JP2014049798A - Digital camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital camera which simultaneously acquires plural static images being selection candidates and a moving image for slow reproduction.SOLUTION: The digital camera comprises: storage unit which successively stores plural frame images captured repeatedly; a moving image data generation unit which, on the basis of the frame images stored by the storage unit, generates slow motion moving image data to be reproduced at a second frame rate slower than a first frame rate at the time of storing the frame images by the storage unit; a selection unit which selects a predetermined number of frame images in accordance with great and small evaluation values based on a predetermined reference, from the frame images stored by the storage unit; a static image data generation unit which generates a predetermined number of static images on the basis of the frame images selected by the selection unit; and a recording control unit which interconnects slow motion moving image data generated by the moving image data generation unit and static image data generated by the static image data generation unit and records the result on a recording medium.

Description

  The present invention relates to a digital camera.

  A mode is known in which a best shot image of several frames is selected from a plurality of still images acquired before and after a shooting instruction (see Patent Document 1). Also, a mode is known in which one still image acquired at the time of shooting instruction is associated with a slow playback moving image for slow playback of a moving image acquired before and after the shooting instruction (see Patent Document 2).

JP2011-229127A JP 2011-250004 A

  In order to obtain a still image obtained in the mode of Patent Literature 1 and a slow playback moving image obtained in the mode of Patent Literature 2, the mode of Patent Literature 1 and the mode of Patent Literature 2 are switched to each other. There was a need to get images.

  The digital camera according to the present invention has a storage unit that sequentially stores a plurality of repeatedly captured frame images, and a lower speed than the first frame rate during storage by the storage unit, based on the plurality of frame images stored in the storage unit. A moving image data generating unit that generates slow motion moving image data to be played back at the second frame rate, and a predetermined number of frame images stored in the storage unit according to a magnitude of an evaluation value based on a predetermined criterion A selection unit that selects a frame image, a still image data generation unit that generates a predetermined number of still image data based on the frame image selected by the selection unit, and slow motion moving image data generated by the moving image data generation unit And a recording control unit that records the still image data generated by the still image data generation unit in a recording medium in association with each other. Characterized in that it obtain.

  In the digital camera according to the present invention, a plurality of still images that are selection candidates and a moving image for slow reproduction can be acquired at the same time.

It is a block diagram which illustrates the principal part structure of the digital camera by one embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the acquisition timing of the image in slow play animation mode.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The digital camera according to the present embodiment has a slow playback moving image mode in addition to a moving image mode for capturing a normal moving image. The slow playback moving image mode is a mode for acquiring still images of a plurality of frames that are candidates for the best shot image before and after the shooting instruction while acquiring moving images for slow playback before and after the shooting instruction. Since the feature of this embodiment is in the slow playback video mode, the following description will be focused on the slow playback video mode.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the main configuration of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. The digital camera includes a camera body 1 and an interchangeable lens 2. In FIG. 1, a camera body 1 includes an image sensor 101, a buffer memory 102, a control unit 103, a drive circuit 104, a monitor 105, and an operation member 106, and a battery (not shown) on which a recording medium 10 is mounted. Is loaded.

  1 illustrates a camera system including a camera body 1 and a detachable interchangeable lens 2, a digital camera in which the camera body and the lens are configured integrally (lens is not interchangeable) will be described later. A function of acquiring and recording an image may be installed. In that case, the configuration of reference numeral 2 in FIG. 1 is included in the camera body 1.

  The image sensor 101 is configured by a CMOS image sensor or the like, and captures a subject image via the interchangeable lens 2. The photoelectric conversion signal output from the image sensor 101 is converted from an analog signal to a digital signal by an A / D conversion unit (not shown) and input to the control unit 103.

  The buffer memory 102 temporarily stores image data generated based on the image signal from the image sensor 101. The buffer memory 102 includes a still image area 102A and a moving image area 102B. The still image area 102A stores a plurality of still images. A best shot image to be described later is selected from a plurality of still images stored in the still image region 102A. The moving image area 102B stores frame images constituting the slow playback moving image.

  In the present embodiment, a plurality of frame images output from the image sensor 101 at a predetermined frame rate (for example, 60 fps) are stored in the moving image area 102B and the still image area 102A of the buffer memory 102, respectively. The image of each frame has the number of pixels of the HDTV (high definition television) standard (for example, 1920 × 1080 pixels).

  The control unit 103 includes a microprocessor and controls each unit of the camera system. The control unit 103 includes a still image data block 103A, a moving image data block 103C, a still image processing block 103B, a moving image processing block 103D, and a camera control unit 103E.

  The still image data block 103 </ b> A controls storage and reading of a frame image with respect to the still image area 102 </ b> A of the buffer memory 102. The moving image data block 103C controls storage and reading of frame images for the moving image area 102B of the buffer memory 102.

  The still image processing block 103B selects the best shot image from the frame images stored in the still image area 102A of the buffer memory 102. Specifically, an evaluation value for each frame image is calculated based on a predetermined criterion, a frame image having a predetermined number of frames (for example, 5 frames) is selected from the one having a higher evaluation value, and the frame image having the highest evaluation value is selected. The best shot image. The predetermined number of frames may be configured to be changeable (for example, 3 frames or 10 frames) using a setting menu.

  The still image processing block 103B further generates still image data of a predetermined number of frames by performing image processing and compression processing for still images on the frame images of the predetermined number of frames selected as described above. Further, when the still image data is reproduced and displayed on the monitor 105, the still image processing block 103B resizes the still image data so as to reduce the definition according to the display resolution of the monitor 105.

  The moving image processing block 103D performs resolution conversion (resizing) processing for reducing the definition on the frame image stored in the moving image area 102B. This is because the resolution of moving images is generally lower than that of still images. The moving image processing block 103D further generates moving image data and slow playback moving image data by performing image processing and compression processing for moving images on the resized moving image. Here, the moving image data refers to moving image data that is acquired by the image sensor 101 and reproduced at the same frame rate (60 fps in this example) as the frame rate when stored in the moving image area 102B. On the other hand, the slow playback moving image data refers to moving image data that is acquired at the image sensor 101 and is played back at a frame rate (24 fps in this example) that is slower than the frame rate when stored in the moving image area 102B.

  The camera control unit 103E controls the mounted interchangeable lens 2. For example, automatic focus adjustment (AF) control and aperture control are performed. The camera control unit 103E further controls driving of a shutter driving mechanism and a mirror driving mechanism (not shown).

  The recording medium 10 is constituted by a memory card that is detachably attached to a card slot (not shown). The recording medium 10 records still image data generated by the still image processing block 103B, moving image data generated by the moving image processing block 103D, and slow playback moving image data.

  The monitor 105 is a liquid crystal monitor mounted on the back surface of the camera body 1. The monitor 105 includes an image acquired by the image sensor 101, a reproduced image based on an image file recorded on the recording medium 10 (a moving image based on moving image data, a slow motion moving image based on slow reproduction moving image data, a still image). A still image based on the data), a menu screen for setting the functions of the camera body 1, and the like.

  The operation member 106 includes a power switch, a shutter button, a menu button, and a mode switching dial, and sends an operation signal corresponding to each operation to the control unit 103. The shutter button is an operation member for instructing photographing, and the menu button is an operation member for displaying a menu screen on the monitor 105. The mode switching dial is an operation member for switching between the moving image mode and the slow reproduction moving image mode.

  The control unit 103 switched to the slow playback moving image mode has the above-described configuration, so that it is slower than the moving image frame rate (first frame rate: 60 fps) stored in the moving image area 102B of the buffer memory 102. Slow moving image data for reproduction at a frame rate (24 fps) is generated. The control unit 103 further generates still image data having a predetermined number of frames based on a frame image having a predetermined number of frames selected from a plurality of frame images stored in the still image area 102A of the buffer memory 102. Still image data to be generated may be in RAW format or JPEG format. Then, the generated slow moving image data and still image data of a predetermined number of frames are recorded on the recording medium 10 in association with each other.

  Hereinafter, the image acquisition timing in the slow playback moving image mode will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, when a half-press operation signal indicating a half-press operation of the shutter button is input at time t0, the camera control unit 103E of the control unit 103 starts a release standby process. The release standby process causes the image sensor 101 to capture a subject image at a frame rate of 60 fps, performs exposure calculation and focus adjustment based on the acquired imaging signal, and sequentially acquires the acquired image data in the moving image area of the buffer memory 102. 102B and the still image area 102A are stored (pre-capture).

  Sufficient capacities (for example, 300 frames) are secured for the memory capacities of the still image area 102A and the moving image area 102B, respectively. When the number of frame images stored in the still image area 102A and the moving image area 102B after the time t0 reaches the above 300 frames, the still image data block 103A and the moving image data block 103C Then, the old frame images are overwritten and erased in order. As a result, the memory capacity of the still image area 102A and the moving image area 102B used in the pre-capture can be limited.

  When the full-press operation signal indicating the full-press operation of the shutter button is input at time t1, the camera control unit 103E starts the release process. In the release processing, the still image data block 103A stores the frame image captured by the image sensor 101 in response to the full-press operation signal in the still image area 102A of the buffer memory 102.

  Further, after time t1, the camera control unit 103E causes the image sensor 101 to capture a subject image at a frame rate of 60 fps, and sequentially stores the acquired image data in the moving image area 102B and the still image area 102A of the buffer memory 102, respectively. (Post capture).

  Then, a plurality of frame images stored in the moving image area 102B from the first predetermined time before the time t1 (for example, 0.6 seconds before) to the time t1, and a second predetermined time after the time t1 from the time t1 (for example, Based on a plurality of stored frame images (captures) stored in the moving image area 102 </ b> B (after 0.4 seconds), the moving image processing block 103 </ b> D generates slow reproduction moving image data. That is, the playback time is 2.5 based on a plurality of frame images stored in the moving image area 102B for 1 second (0.6 seconds before time t1 to 0.4 seconds after time t1) with time t1 interposed therebetween. Generate slow-motion video data for seconds.

  On the other hand, the still image processing block 103B is imaged by the image sensor 101 in response to the full-press operation signal and stored for one second (time) between the frame image stored in the still image region 102A of the buffer memory 102 and the time t1. A number (for example, 5) designated by the setting menu based on a plurality of frame images (captures) stored in the still image area 102A from 0.6 seconds before t1 to 0.4 seconds after time t1. Frame image. The frame image having the highest evaluation value among the five frames is set as the best shot image. The still image processing block 103B generates still image data based on the selected frame image.

  The first predetermined time (0.6 seconds before time t1) and the second predetermined time (0.4 seconds after time t1) may be appropriately changed.

According to the embodiment described above, the following operational effects can be obtained.
(1) The camera body 1 has a buffer memory 102 that sequentially stores a plurality of frame images that are repeatedly captured, and a speed lower than 60 fps at the time of storage by the buffer memory 102 based on the plurality of frame images stored in the buffer memory 102. A frame processing image 103D for generating slow motion moving image data to be reproduced at 24 fps and a frame image of 5 frames according to the evaluation value based on a predetermined criterion from a plurality of frame images stored in the buffer memory 102 A still image processing block 103B for selecting the image, a still image processing block 103B for generating five frames of still image data based on the frame image selected by the still image processing block 103B, and a slow motion generated by the moving image processing block 103D Moving image data and still image processing block Tsu still image data of 5 frames generated by click 103B, and so and a still image processing block 103B to be recorded on the recording medium 10 in association with each other. Thus, since a plurality of still images that are selection candidates and a moving image for slow reproduction can be acquired at the same time, both a best shot image of a still image and a slow reproduction moving image can be obtained. By obtaining a slow playback moving image, an impressive video effect can be obtained as compared with the case of obtaining only a still image.

(2) In the camera body 1 of the above (1), the buffer memory 102 includes a still image area 102A for storing a plurality of frame images used by the still image processing block 103B to select five frame images, and a moving image processing block. 103D has a moving image area 102B for storing a plurality of frame images used for generating slow motion moving image data, so that the frame image in the still image area 102A and the frame image in the moving image area 102B are different from each other. Can process.

(3) In the camera body 1 of (2) above, the frame image stored in the moving image area 102B has the same definition (1920 × 1080 pixels) as the frame image stored in the still image area 102A. The processing block 103D generates the slow motion moving image data after reducing the definition of the frame image. Thereby, the common image signal read from the image sensor 101 can be used for both the slow reproduction moving image and the still image. High-definition still image data can be obtained by setting the common imaging signal to high-definition.

(4) In the camera body 1 of (3), the still image data block 103A for controlling the storage and reading of the frame image for the still image region 102A and the storage and reading of the frame image for the moving image region 102B are controlled. A still image data block 103A. The still image data block 103A includes a frame image captured in accordance with a shooting instruction and a plurality of frames captured at 60 fps within 1 second with the shooting instruction interposed therebetween. The moving image data block 103C stores a plurality of frame images captured at 60 fps within one second across the shooting instruction in the moving image region 102B. Images can be temporarily stored.

(5) In the camera body 1 of the above (4), the still image processing block 103B has five frames from a plurality of frame images stored in the still image area 102A according to the evaluation value based on a predetermined criterion. Since the frame image is selected, the selection process can be performed in parallel with the processing by the moving image processing block 103D (that is, without waiting for the processing by the moving image processing block 103D).

(Modification)
The frame rate, the first predetermined time and the second predetermined time, and the definition value described above may be appropriately changed.

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

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Camera body 2 ... Interchangeable lens 101 ... Imaging device 102 ... Buffer memory 102A ... Still image area 102B ... Moving image area 103 ... Control part 103A ... Still image data block 103B ... Still image processing block 103C ... Moving image Data block 103D ... Movie processing block 103E ... Camera control unit 105 ... Monitor 106 ... Operation member

Claims (5)

A storage unit for sequentially storing a plurality of repeatedly captured frame images;
Moving image data generation for generating slow motion moving image data reproduced at a second frame rate lower than the first frame rate at the time of storage by the storage unit based on the plurality of frame images stored in the storage unit And
A selection unit that selects a predetermined number of frame images according to the magnitude of an evaluation value based on a predetermined criterion from the plurality of frame images stored in the storage unit;
A still image data generation unit that generates the predetermined number of still image data based on the frame image selected by the selection unit;
A recording control unit for recording the slow motion moving image data generated by the moving image data generation unit and the predetermined number of still image data generated by the still image data generation unit in association with each other on a recording medium;
A digital camera comprising: The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein
The storage unit includes a still image storage unit that stores the plurality of frame images used by the selection unit to select the predetermined number of frame images, and the moving image data generation unit generates the slow motion moving image data. A moving image storage unit for storing the plurality of frame images to be used;
A digital camera comprising: The digital camera according to claim 2,
The frame image stored in the moving image storage unit has the same definition as the frame image stored in the still image storage unit,
The digital camera, wherein the moving image data generation unit generates the slow motion moving image data after reducing the definition of the frame image. The digital camera according to claim 3, wherein
A still image storage control unit for controlling storage and reading of the frame image with respect to the still image storage unit;
A moving image storage control unit that controls storage and reading of the frame image with respect to the moving image storage unit;
The still image storage control unit stores a frame image captured in accordance with a shooting instruction and a plurality of frame images captured at the first frame rate within a predetermined time sandwiching the shooting instruction. To remember
The moving image storage control unit causes the moving image storage unit to store a plurality of frame images captured at the first frame rate within the predetermined time with the shooting instruction interposed therebetween. The digital camera according to claim 4, wherein
The selection unit selects the predetermined number of frame images from the plurality of frame images stored in the still image storage unit according to an evaluation value based on the predetermined criterion. camera.

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