JP2014053703A - Photographing time position information acquisition system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus for acquiring position information during photographing with minimum storage medium capacity and power consumption without especially troubling a user in setting.SOLUTION: An imaging apparatus for generating an image file including image data obtained by imaging a subject includes: position change amount measuring means for measuring a relative position change; position information acquiring means for acquiring a present position; first storage means for recording the image file; and second storage means for recording position change amount data obtained by the position change amount measuring means. The position change amount measuring means starts measuring the position change of the imaging apparatus at generation timing of at least one signal on a photographing operation of the imaging apparatus. Measurement of the position change by the position change amount measuring means is terminated at timing when the position information can be acquired by the position information acquiring means.

Description

  The present invention relates to a position information acquisition method and apparatus, and more particularly, to a position information acquisition method at the time of shooting by an imaging apparatus.

  Conventionally, position information cannot be acquired at the time of shooting when positioning by the global positioning system (GPS) cannot be performed underground or indoors, or during the period from when GPS is started to when positioning is possible (cold start period). However, it has been a problem that position information cannot be attached to an image file.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, when GPS positioning cannot be performed at an arbitrary point, the position fluctuation amount from the arbitrary point is stored at predetermined intervals using an autonomous navigation sensor such as an acceleration sensor and an angular velocity sensor or a geomagnetic sensor. In addition, a technique is disclosed in which position information of a period during which positioning by GPS cannot be performed is calculated by subtracting the history of position variation from the time point when positioning by GPS can be performed.

  Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for clearly indicating the reliability of position information to a user by attaching a time difference between a shooting time and a time when positioning by GPS is performed together with position information to an image file.

JP 2011-17610 A JP 2008-118695 A

  However, in the prior art disclosed in the above-mentioned patent document, the timing for starting and ending the measurement of the position fluctuation amount is not clearly shown, and when the image is taken when the position fluctuation amount is not measured, the GPS is later used. Even if positioning is performed, position information at the time of shooting cannot be obtained.

  Also, if the position fluctuation amount is always measured, the storage medium capacity for recording the position fluctuation amount may become full before shooting, and the position fluctuation amount may be measured for a long time. Is expensive because it requires a large capacity storage medium.

  Furthermore, since it is necessary to always operate the autonomous navigation sensor and continuously record the position variation amount in the storage medium, the power consumption also increases.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image pickup apparatus that can acquire position information at the time of shooting with a minimum storage medium capacity and power consumption without bothering the user with settings and the like. It is.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides:
An imaging device that generates an image file including image data obtained by imaging a subject,
Position change measuring means for measuring relative position change;
Position information acquisition means for acquiring the current position;
First storage means for recording the image file;
A second storage means for recording position change amount data obtained by the position change amount measuring means;
The measurement of the position change of the imaging device is started by the position change amount measuring means at the generation timing of any one signal related to the shooting operation of the imaging device,
The position change measurement unit ends the measurement of the position change at the timing when the position information acquisition unit can acquire the position information.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to acquire position information at the time of shooting even when shooting before positioning by the GPS function while minimizing the storage medium capacity and power consumption of the imaging device, and bother the user. Therefore, it is possible to provide an imaging apparatus that attaches position information to an image file.

System configuration block diagram of the present invention System flow chart of embodiment 1 of the present invention System flowchart of embodiment 2 of the present invention

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a system configuration block diagram of an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, an image pickup apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram of the present invention.

  101 is a CPU as a central processing unit that controls the functions of the entire image pickup apparatus, 102 is a shooting operation signal related to the shooting operation, 103 and 104 are GPS receiving antennas and a GPS receiving unit for receiving transmission data from GPS. is there.

  Reference numeral 105 denotes an autonomous navigation sensor as a means for measuring the amount of position fluctuation, 106 denotes a position fluctuation data recording unit as a means for recording data acquired from the autonomous navigation sensor 105, and 107 denotes an image obtained by the photographing operation and information about the image. An image file recording unit as a recording unit for the included image file, and an operation unit 108 as a unit for setting the imaging apparatus.

Reference numeral 109 denotes a display unit as a display means such as a captured image and a setting screen, 110 denotes an imaging lens,
111 is an image sensor such as a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) or CCD (Charge Coupled Device) that captures a subject image and converts the light intensity into a signal charge, and 112 is a digital signal. This is an image processing system that performs conversion processing.

  The CPU 101 creates an image file including image data input from the driving control unit of the photographing lens and the image processing system 112 and at least one photographing condition, image, and position information, and records the image file in the image file recording unit 107. Means for performing control related to other basic photographing, and the CPU 101 means in which direction and how much the imaging apparatus including the autonomous navigation sensor 105 has moved according to data obtained from the autonomous navigation sensor 105. The position fluctuation amount is calculated, and the position fluctuation data recording unit 106 records data related to the position fluctuation amount.

  In addition, the CPU 101 acquires position information from data transmitted from the GPS via the GPS receiving antenna 103 and the GPS receiving unit 104.

  The autonomous navigation sensor 105 is an autonomously operable sensor including an acceleration sensor and an angular velocity sensor or a geomagnetic sensor. The CPU 101 calculates a moving distance based on information from the acceleration sensor, and calculates a moving direction based on information from the angular velocity sensor or the geomagnetic sensor.

  The position variation data recording unit 106 and the image file recording unit 107 are all recording media such as an external recording medium such as a CF card and an SD card, a flash memory provided in the imaging apparatus, and an EEPROM. The position variation data recording unit 106 and the image file recording unit 107 may be the same recording medium or may be separate recording media. However, when it is assumed that a one-time memory (an external recording medium that can be written only once) is used as the external recording medium, the external recording medium is not used as the position variation data recording unit 106.

  The operation unit 108 and the display unit 109 are external user interfaces. The user controls the CPU 101 from the outside by the operation unit 108, and the user confirms the setting contents, image data, and image information of the CPU 101 by the display unit 109.

  The shooting operation signal 102 is one of the input / output signals of the CPU 101 related to the shooting operation. As a specific example, a shooting operation start command signal, a shutter drive control signal, a mirror drive control signal, which is generated when the shooting switch is pressed, The mechanical drive control signals related to the mechanical operation, etc. are mentioned, but it means not only this but all signals related to the photographing operation.

  Based on the above configuration, the operation of the CPU 101101 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  As a premise, it is assumed that GPS is not activated at START.

  First, the user selects whether or not to measure the position fluctuation amount by the autonomous navigation sensor 105 using the operation unit 108 and the display unit 109, thereby determining whether or not to measure the position fluctuation amount by the autonomous navigation sensor 105. If it is set (F201) and YES is determined, the GPS receiving unit 104 is activated and data reception from the GPS is started (F202).

  At the generation timing of the shooting operation signal 102 (F203), it is determined whether or not position information can be acquired from the GPS by communicating with the GPS receiver 104 (F204). If NO, the autonomous navigation sensor 105 is determined. Acquisition of data from is started, and measurement of the amount of position variation is started using the place where the photographing operation was performed as a start point (F205).

  The position fluctuation amount is measured a predetermined number of times at predetermined intervals, and recorded in the position fluctuation data recording unit 106 in time series (F206).

  When the measurement of the position variation amount is completed a predetermined number of times in F206, it is determined again whether or not the position information can be acquired from the GPS (F207). If NO is determined, F206 is repeated, and if YES, the autonomous navigation sensor is detected. The measurement of the position variation amount by 105 is finished, the position information is acquired from the GPS, and the position at the time of photographing is calculated in reverse from the position information and the position variation amount (F208).

  Attaching the calculated location information to the image data to create an image file, or adding the location information at the time of shooting to an image file containing image data that was created in advance, and the image file recording unit The data is stored in 107 (F209).

  If NO in F201, it is determined whether or not to receive data by GPS (F211). If YES, data reception from GPS is started (F212).

  At the timing when the photographing operation is performed (F213), it is determined whether or not the position information can be acquired from the GPS by communicating with the GPS receiving unit 104 (F214).

  In the case of NO determination in F211, when the image data is acquired by performing a shooting operation (F215), or in the case of NO determination in F214, the image file is sent to the image file recording unit 107 without attaching position information to the image file. Save (F216).

  If YES in F204 and F214, position information at the time of shooting is acquired from the GPS (F210), and the acquired position information at the time of shooting is attached to the image data, or an image file is created in advance. The position information at the time of shooting is added to the image file including the stored image data, and the image file is stored in the image file recording unit 107 (F209).

  According to the first embodiment, it is possible to acquire position information even in an image taken before positioning by the GPS function while minimizing the required capacity of the position variation data storage unit and the power consumption of the imaging device, The position information can be attached to the image file without bothering the user.

  Hereinafter, an image pickup apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

Since FIG. 1 is the same as that described in the first embodiment, a description thereof will be omitted.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the operation of the CPU 101 according to the second embodiment. The second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, it is assumed that the GPS is not activated at the time of START.

  First, the user selects whether to enable a function (hereinafter referred to as a logging mode) that continuously acquires position information at a predetermined interval regardless of shooting operation using the operation unit 108 and the display unit 109. Sets whether to enable the logging mode (F317), and in the case of YES determination, activates the GPS receiving unit 104, starts data reception from the GPS (F318), and determines the position variation amount by the autonomous navigation sensor 105. Measurement is started (F319).

  Here, the order of F318 and F319 may be interchanged.

  The position fluctuation amount is measured a predetermined number of times at predetermined intervals, and recorded in the position fluctuation data recording unit 106 in time series (F320).

  When the measurement of the position variation amount of the predetermined number of times is completed in F320, it is determined again whether or not the position information can be acquired from the GPS (F321), and it is determined whether or not the photographing operation is performed in the case of NO determination ( F322), in the case of NO determination, the process returns to F320, and in the case of YES determination, the measurement of the position fluctuation amount by the autonomous navigation sensor 105 is continued (F323).

  After completing the measurement of the position fluctuation amount a predetermined number of times in F323, it is determined again whether or not the position information can be acquired from the GPS (F324). If NO determination, F323 is repeated, and if YES determination, the autonomous navigation sensor The measurement of the position fluctuation amount by 105 is finished, the position information is acquired from the GPS, and the position at the time of shooting is calculated in reverse from the position information and the position fluctuation amount from the time of shooting to the acquisition of position information (F325).

  If YES in F321, the measurement of the position fluctuation amount by the autonomous navigation sensor 105 is terminated, and the position information from the GPS is performed (F326).

  When the photographing operation is performed after F326 (F327), the position information obtained from the GPS is added to the image file including the image data, and the image file is stored in the image file recording unit 107 (F328).

  In the case of NO determination in F317, Example 1 is performed.

  According to the second embodiment, it is possible to provide the user with two types of modes, a logging mode and a power saving mode as in the first embodiment. That is, it is possible to provide an imaging device that is easy to use for users who want to follow their own trajectories and for users who want to know only the position at the time of shooting.

  As mentioned above, although preferable embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to these embodiment, A various deformation | transformation and change are possible within the range of the summary.

101 CPU (central processing unit; microcomputer)
102 Imaging operation signal 103 GPS receiving antenna 104 GPS receiving unit 105 Autonomous navigation sensor (3-axis acceleration sensor, 3-axis angular velocity sensor, 3-axis geomagnetic sensor)
106 position variation data recording unit 107 image file recording unit 108 operation unit 109 display unit 110 photographing lens 111 image sensor (CMOS image sensor, CCD)
112 Image processing system

Claims (7)

An imaging device that generates an image file including image data obtained by imaging a subject,
Position change amount measuring means (105 in FIG. 1) for measuring relative position change;
Position information acquisition means (103, 104 in FIG. 1) for acquiring the current position;
A first storage means (107 in FIG. 1) for recording the image file;
Second storage means (106 in FIG. 1) for recording position change data obtained by the position change measurement means (105 in FIG. 1);
At the generation timing of any one signal (102 in FIG. 1) related to the photographing operation of the image pickup apparatus, measurement of the position change of the image pickup apparatus is started by the position change amount measuring means (105 in FIG. 1) (FIG. 1). 2 F205),
At the timing when the position information can be acquired by the position information acquisition means (103, 104 in FIG. 1), the measurement of the position change by the position change amount measurement means (105 in FIG. 1) ends (F208 in FIG. 2). An imaging apparatus characterized by that. An imaging device that generates an image file including image data obtained by imaging a subject,
Position change measuring means for measuring relative position change;
Position information acquisition means for acquiring current position information;
First storage means for recording the image file;
A second storage means for recording position change amount data obtained by the position change amount measuring means;
The measurement of the position change of the image pickup device is started by the position change amount measuring means at the generation timing of any one signal (102 in FIG. 1) related to the generation of the image file of the image pickup device,
The imaging apparatus, wherein the position change measurement unit ends the measurement of the position change at a timing when the position information acquisition unit can acquire the position information. If the function of acquiring position information at a predetermined interval is provided regardless of the shooting operation, and the function of acquiring position information at the predetermined interval is enabled, neither of claim 1 and claim 2 is implemented. When the position change amount measurement unit obtains the position change amount data at the predetermined interval and stores it in the second storage unit, and disables the function of obtaining the position information at the predetermined interval. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein one of the first and second aspects is implemented. 4. When the second storage unit is a recording medium that is externally attached to the imaging apparatus, the recording medium that is externally attached is limited to one-time writing. 5. The imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein none is implemented. If the current position information cannot be acquired by the position information acquisition means even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the image file was generated, the image file is stored in the first storage means without attaching the position information to the image file. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image pickup apparatus is stored. In the case where the first storage means is a recording medium that is externally attached to the imaging device, the first position information is not acquired by the position information acquisition means after the image file is generated. 4. When removing the storage means, the image file is stored in the first storage means without attaching position information to the image file. The imaging apparatus according to item 1. When the power of the imaging device or the position information acquisition unit is turned off in a state where the current position information by the position information acquisition unit has not been acquired since the generation of the image file,
The imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the image file is stored in the first storage unit without attaching position information to the image file.