JP2014171142A - Image photographing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for efficiently transferring a resized image when transferring an image to a smartphone or the like.SOLUTION: When an external apparatus such as a smartphone is connected to a digital camera, a reduced image is not developed while a reduced image is transferred to the external apparatus, and a reduced image of one image which is selected by a camera as an optimum one from among untransferred images is created after completion of transfer, and is transferred to the external apparatus.

Description

  The present invention relates to a photographing apparatus for photographing a still image, and more particularly to image transfer connected to an external device.

  A system has been proposed in which a digital camera is connected to an external device such as a smartphone, and an image in the digital camera is viewed from the external device.

  When transferring an image to a smartphone or the like, there is a problem that if the captured image is transferred with the same size as it is, the transfer takes time, and the size of the transfer image is large, so that there is a problem that it cannot be displayed on the smartphone.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-32593 JP 2006-345188

  However, in the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above, an image acquisition request is received from an external device, and the image is read out and transferred from the recording device. There is a problem that you have to wait for it to be recorded.

  In the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 2 described above, since both the main image data and the reduced image data are created at the time of shooting, it is necessary to create two images at the time of shooting. However, there is a problem that image processing cannot catch up and the number of images that can be continuously shot decreases (FIG. 4: Circled number 2).

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for connecting a digital camera to an external device such as a smartphone and efficiently transferring a resized image to the external device.

  To achieve the above objective, when an external device such as a smartphone is connected to a digital camera, the reduced image is not developed while the reduced image is being transferred to the external device, and the transfer is completed. It is characterized by creating one reduced image selected by the camera from the untransferred images and transferring it to an external device (Figure 4: circled number 3).

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, when displaying the picked-up image with a smart phone during continuous shooting, the imaging device which can transfer a picked-up image optimal for a user efficiently can be provided.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a single-lens reflex digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the process of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process of this invention. It is a time chart which shows the process of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a single-lens reflex digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes a photographing lens. Reference numeral 102 denotes an AF (autofocus) drive unit. The AF drive unit 102 is configured by, for example, a DC motor or a stepping motor, and focuses by changing the focus lens position of the photographing lens 101 under the control of the microcomputer 123.

  Reference numeral 103 denotes a zoom drive unit. The zoom drive unit 103 is constituted by, for example, a DC motor or a stepping motor, and changes the focal length of the photographic lens 101 by changing the zoom lens position of the photographic lens 101 under the control of the microcomputer 123.

  Reference numeral 104 denotes an aperture. Reference numeral 105 denotes an aperture driving unit. The diaphragm driving unit 105 drives the diaphragm 104. The amount to be driven is calculated by the microcomputer 123, and the optical aperture value is changed.

  Reference numeral 106 denotes a main mirror for switching the light beam incident from the photographing lens 101 between the viewfinder side and the image sensor side. The main mirror 106 is always arranged so as to reflect the light beam to the finder unit. However, when photographing is performed, the main mirror 106 jumps upward so as to guide the light beam to the image pickup device 112 and evacuates from the light beam. . The main mirror 106 is a half mirror so that a central portion thereof can transmit a part of the light, and transmits a part of the light beam so as to enter a sensor for performing focus detection.

  Reference numeral 107 denotes a sub-mirror for reflecting a light beam transmitted from the main mirror 106 and guiding it to a sensor (disposed in the focus detection circuit 109) for focus detection.

  Reference numeral 108 denotes a pentaprism that constitutes a finder. In addition, the viewfinder is composed of a focus plate, an eyepiece lens (not shown), and the like.

  Reference numeral 109 denotes a focus detection circuit. The light beam transmitted through the center of the mirror 106 and reflected by the sub-mirror 107 reaches a sensor for performing photoelectric conversion disposed inside the focus detection circuit 109. The defocus amount used for the focus calculation is obtained by calculating the output of the sensor. The microcomputer 123 evaluates the calculation result and instructs the AF driving unit 102 to drive the focus lens.

  Reference numeral 110 denotes a focal plane shutter. Reference numeral 111 denotes a shutter drive circuit that drives the focal plane shutter 110. The opening time of the shutter is controlled by the microcomputer 123.

  Reference numeral 112 denotes an image sensor. A CCD, CMOS sensor, or the like is used as the image sensor 112, and the subject image formed by the photographing lens 101 is converted into an electrical signal. Reference numeral 113 denotes a clamp circuit.

Reference numeral 114 denotes an AGC circuit. The clamp circuit 113 and the AGC circuit 114 perform basic analog signal processing before A / D conversion, and the microcomputer 123 changes the clamp level and the AGC reference level. Reference numeral 115 denotes an A / D converter. The A / D converter 115 converts the analog output signal of the image sensor 112 into a digital signal. Reference numeral 116 denotes a video / audio signal processing circuit, which is realized by a logic device such as a gate array.
Reference numeral 117 denotes an EVF drive circuit. Reference numeral 118 denotes an EVF (electronic viewfinder) monitor.

  Reference numeral 119 denotes a memory controller. Reference numeral 120 denotes a memory. Reference numeral 121 denotes an external interface that can be connected to a computer or the like. Reference numeral 122 denotes a buffer memory. The video / audio signal processing circuit 116 performs filtering processing, color conversion processing, gamma processing, and compression processing such as JPEG on the digitized image data, and outputs the result to the memory controller 119.

  The video / audio signal processing circuit 116 compresses the audio signal from the microphone 132 or the audio line input 133 and outputs the compressed signal to the memory controller 119. The video / audio signal processing circuit 116 can also output the video signal from the image sensor 112 and the image data input in reverse from the memory controller 119 to the EVF (electronic viewfinder) monitor 118 through the EVF drive circuit 117. It is. Switching between these functions is performed according to instructions from the microcomputer 123.

  The video / audio signal processing circuit 116 can output information such as exposure information and white balance of the signal from the image sensor 112 to the microcomputer 123 as necessary. Based on the information, the microcomputer 123 instructs white balance and gain adjustment. In the case of the continuous shooting operation, the shooting data is temporarily stored in the buffer memory 122 as an unprocessed image, the unprocessed image data is read through the memory controller 119, and image processing and compression are performed by the video / audio signal processing circuit 116. Process and perform continuous shooting. The number of continuous shots depends on the size of the buffer memory.

  The video / audio signal processing circuit 116 can output audio data from the microphone 132 or the audio line input 133 to the speaker 136 through the DA conversion 135.

  In the memory controller 119, unprocessed digital image / audio data input from the video / audio signal processing circuit 116 is stored in the buffer memory, and processed digital image / audio data is stored in the memory 120. Conversely, the image / audio data is output from the buffer memory 122 or the memory 120 to the video / audio signal processing circuit unit 116. The memory 120 may be removable. The memory controller 119 can output images and sounds stored in the memory 120 via an external interface 121 that can be connected to a computer or the like.

  Reference numeral 123 denotes a microcomputer. Reference numeral 124 denotes an operation member. The operation member 124 transmits the state to the microcomputer 123, and the microcomputer 123 controls each part according to the change of the operation member. Reference numeral 125 denotes a switch 1 (hereinafter SW1).

  Reference numeral 126 denotes a switch 2 (hereinafter referred to as SW2). The switches SW1 and SW2 are switches that are turned on and off by operating the release button, and are each one of the input switches of the operation member 124. When only the switch SW1 is on, the release button is half-pressed. In this state, the auto focus operation or the photometric operation is performed.

  When the switches SW1 and SW2 are both on, the release button is fully pressed, and the release button for recording an image is on. Shooting is performed in this state. Further, a continuous shooting operation is performed while the switches SW1 and SW2 are kept on. In addition, switches such as an ISO setting button, an image size setting button, an image quality setting button, and an information display button are connected to the operation member 124, and the state of the switch is detected.

  Reference numeral 127 denotes a liquid crystal driving circuit. Reference numeral 128 denotes an external liquid crystal display member. Reference numeral 129 denotes a liquid crystal display member in the viewfinder. The liquid crystal drive circuit 127 drives the external liquid crystal display member 128 and the in-finder liquid crystal display member 129 in accordance with the display content command of the microcomputer 123. The in-viewfinder liquid crystal display member 129 is provided with a backlight such as an LED (not shown), and the LED is also driven by the liquid crystal drive circuit 127. The microcomputer 123 confirms the capacity of the memory through the memory controller 119 based on the predicted value data of the image size according to the ISO sensitivity, the image size, and the image quality set before shooting, and then the remaining number of images that can be shot. Can be calculated. If necessary, it can also be displayed on the external liquid crystal display member 128 and the liquid crystal display member 129 in the viewfinder.

  Reference numeral 130 denotes a nonvolatile memory (EEPROM) that can store data even when the camera is not turned on. Reference numeral 131 denotes a power supply unit. The power supply unit 131 supplies power necessary for each IC and drive system. Reference numeral 132 denotes a microphone. Reference numeral 133 denotes a voice line input. Reference numeral 134 denotes an A / D converter. The A / D converter 133 converts the analog output signal of the microphone 132 or the audio line input 133 into a digital signal. Reference numeral 135 denotes a D / A converter. The D / A converter converts the digital signal into an analog output signal.

  136 speakers. Reference numeral 137 denotes an external device typified by a personal computer, a mobile phone, and a portable information terminal. Through the above-described interface 121, it becomes a partner for transmitting and receiving various information and image data of the camera. Similarly, a camera provided with a communication circuit can also be used as an external device. In this case, various information and image data can be transmitted and received between the cameras.

[Example 1]
The resized image transfer to the smartphone according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the conceptual diagram of FIG. 2 and the flowchart of the camera of FIG. 3a.

   When the external device (137) and the camera interface (121) are connected by wire (USB, Ether, dedicated cable, etc.) or wirelessly (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth (registered trademark), etc.), the microcomputer (123) is connected to FIG. The operation shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3b is started.

  First, imaging processing will be described using the flowchart of FIG. In step S101, it is determined whether or not the release button on the operation member (124) is pressed. If the release button is pressed, the process proceeds to S102. If not, the imaging process is terminated.

  In step S102, the analog output signal in which the clamp level (113) and the AGC reference level (114) are changed from the image sensor (112) is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter (115).

  In step S103, the digital signal converted in step S102 is stored in the buffer memory (122) as an image before development, and the process proceeds to S101.

  Next, the development process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In step S201, it is checked whether there is an image before development, and if there is, the process proceeds to step S202, and if not, the development process is terminated.

  In step S202, the pre-development image recorded in step S103 is developed with the image quality determined by the user, notified to the file recording module, and the process proceeds to step S203.

  The file recording module sequentially records the developed images notified in step S202 in the memory (120).

  In step S203, it is confirmed whether the camera is connected to the smartphone. If the camera is connected, the process proceeds to step S204. If not, the pre-development image developed in step S202 is stored in the buffer memory (122). And proceed to step S201.

  In step S204, the developed image is evaluated and given a score. If there is an image that has already been evaluated, the image is compared with the score of the image, and an image with a high score is left as an image for transfer to a smartphone. The low image is deleted from the buffer memory (122), and the process proceeds to step S205. As an image evaluation method in step S204, an evaluation score is given by comprehensively judging whether AF is correct, camera shake is not caused, a person is smiling, or the like.

  In step S205, it is determined whether an image is being transferred to the smartphone. If the image is being transferred, the process proceeds to step S201, and if not, the process proceeds to step S206.

  In step S206, the transfer image selected in S204 is resized and developed to the image size for smartphone, notified to the communication module for smartphone, and the process proceeds to step S201.

  In the communication module for smartphones, the image notified in step S206 is transferred from the interface (121) to the smartphone (137).

  As described above, the invention corresponding to the present embodiment connects the camera and the smartphone, and when transferring the resized image being shot to the smartphone, the optimum shot image for the user is selected from all the shot images. It can be transferred efficiently.

[Example 2]
In the first embodiment, the resized image for the smartphone is not created during the transfer. However, when the continuous shooting is finished and a new image is not shot, the number of continuous shots of the camera is not affected. A resized image of all images may be created and transferred to the smartphone.

  In addition, after continuous shooting is completed, all images that have not been transferred to the smartphone may be read from the memory (120), a resized image may be created, and transferred to the smartphone.

  As described above, the invention corresponding to the present embodiment connects the camera and the smartphone, and when transferring the resized image being shot to the smartphone, it does not affect the number of continuous shots of the camera and efficiently resize. You can transfer images to your smartphone.

  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.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Shooting lens 102 AF drive part 103 Zoom drive part 104 Diaphragm 105 Diaphragm drive part 106 Main mirror 107 Sub mirror 108 Penta prism 109 Focus detection circuit 110 Shutter 111 Shutter drive circuit 112 Image sensor 113 Clamp circuit 114 AGC circuit 115 A / D converter 116 Video signal processing circuit 117 EVF drive circuit 118 EVF monitor 119 Memory controller 120 Memory 121 External interface 122 Buffer memory 123 Microcomputer 124 Operation member 125 Switch 1
126 Switch 2
127 Liquid crystal drive circuit 128 External liquid crystal display 129 Finder liquid crystal display 130 Non-volatile memory 131 Power supply unit 132 Microphone 133 Audio line input 134 AD conversion 135 DA conversion 136 Speaker 137 External device 201 Imaging device 202 External device

Claims (7)

  In the imaging apparatus (201) that is connected to the external device (202) and has a function of transferring a reduced image of the captured image, during continuous shooting, if the reduced image is transferred to the external device, create a reduced image. An image pickup apparatus that creates a reduced image selected by the camera as optimal from untransferred images after transfer is complete and transfers the image to an external device.   2. The image according to claim 1, wherein one of the images continuously captured is one in which a reduced image is created, and the image is determined by the imaging device (201) as the most in-focus in the untransferred image. Imaging device.   The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of the consecutively shot images for creating a reduced image is an image determined by the image pickup apparatus (201) to have the least camera shake among untransferred images. .   The imaging according to claim 1, wherein one of the consecutively captured images for generating a reduced image is an image determined by the imaging device (201) to have the best subject expression among untransferred images. apparatus.   A single image for creating a reduced image among images taken continuously is an image that is determined to be the best based on the criteria of any one of claims 2, 3, and 4. Item 2. The imaging device according to Item 1.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when continuous shooting is finished, a reduced image of the last shot image is created even when the reduced image is being transferred to the external device.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when continuous shooting is finished, all reduced images of untransferred images are created and transferred to the external device (202).