JP2016208203A - Imaging apparatus, imaging method and recording medium having recorded control program therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem of a cost increase of an imaging apparatus having a loaded out-camera and an in-camera, caused by the loading of orientation sensors for the out-camera and the in-camera on the imaging apparatus.SOLUTION: The imaging apparatus includes: first imaging means; second imaging means installed in a different direction from the first imaging means; orientation information acquisition means for acquiring first orientation information; orientation information calculation means for calculating second orientation information, which is the orientation of the second imaging means, from a difference between the directions of the first imaging means and the second imaging means, and the first orientation information; and record means for recording an image, imaged by the first imaging means, in a manner to associate with the first orientation information, and for recording an image imaged by the second imaging means in a manner to associate with the second orientation information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for taking an image.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a technique for recording a shooting position and a shooting direction when shooting an image is known. Patent Document 1 discloses a technique that uses a direction sensor that detects a shooting direction using geomagnetism, acquires a shooting direction, and records the image in association with an image.

  On the other hand, not only an out-camera for photographing a normal image but also an imaging apparatus equipped with an in-camera that faces in a different direction from the out-camera has been commercialized.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-69280

  However, in a photographing apparatus equipped with an out-camera and an in-camera, if a direction sensor is mounted on the photographing apparatus for each of the out-camera and the in-camera, there is a problem that the cost of the photographing apparatus increases.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is an imaging apparatus, wherein the first imaging means, the second imaging means installed in a direction different from the first imaging means, and the first orientation A direction information acquisition means for acquiring information, a difference in direction between the first imaging means and the second imaging means, and a second orientation that is the orientation of the second imaging means from the first orientation information Azimuth information calculating means for calculating the azimuth information, and an image photographed by the first photographing means is recorded in association with the first azimuth information, and the image photographed by the second photographing means is the first It has a recording means for recording the two azimuth information in association with each other.

  According to the photographing apparatus of the present invention, since it is not necessary to mount a plurality of azimuth sensors, the cost of the photographing apparatus can be reduced.

External view of photographing apparatus according to Embodiment 1 1 is a block diagram of a photographing apparatus 100 according to a first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a format of an image file shot by the shooting apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment. Flowchart for explaining photographing processing of photographing apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1 External view of photographing apparatus according to Embodiment 2 FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an imaging apparatus 500 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a change in orientation of the in-camera 505 when the angle of the in-camera 505 is changed with respect to the length and breadth of the image capturing apparatus 500 according to the second embodiment. Flowchart for explaining photographing processing of photographing apparatus 500 according to Embodiment 2

  Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the constituent elements described in this embodiment are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to them.

  Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail according to the attached screen.

  FIG. 1 is an external view of a digital camera that is a photographing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. The display unit 101 includes a liquid crystal display panel (LCD) that displays images and various information. The shutter button 102 is a button for giving a shooting instruction. The operation unit 103 includes operation members such as various switches, buttons, and a touch panel that receive various operations from the user. The recording medium 104 is a memory card, a hard disk or the like, and records data such as captured images. The in-camera 105 is a camera module that captures the photographer himself or the subject on the photographer side.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the photographing apparatus 100 of the present embodiment. The digital camera 100 according to the present embodiment includes an out-camera module (hereinafter referred to as “out-camera”) that captures a subject that is visible to the photographer, and an in-camera module (hereinafter referred to as “in-camera”) that captures the subject itself and the subject on the photographer side. Is installed. The out camera includes a first imaging optical system including a photographic lens 201, a shutter 202, and an imaging unit 203, and the in camera includes a second imaging optical system including a photographic lens 204, a shutter 205, and an imaging unit 206. The photographing lenses 201 and 204 are composed of a zoom lens, a focus lens, and the like. The shutters 202 and 205 have an aperture function. The imaging units 203 and 206 are imaging elements that convert light that has arrived from the photographing lens and the shutter into electrical signals. The A / D converter 207 converts the analog signal output from the imaging units 203 and 206 into a digital signal.

  The image processing unit 208 performs resizing processing and color conversion processing such as pixel interpolation and reduction on the data from the A / D converter 207 or the data from the memory control unit 209. In addition, predetermined calculation processing is performed using the captured image data, and the system control unit 210 performs exposure control and distance measurement control based on the obtained calculation result. Thereby, AF (autofocus) processing, AE (automatic exposure) processing, EF (flash pre-flash) processing, and AWB (auto white balance) processing are performed. Note that the A / D converter 207 and the image processing unit 208 may be provided in each of the imaging units 203 and 206.

  Output data from the A / D converter 207 is written into the memory 211 via the image processing unit 208 and the memory control unit 209 or via the memory control unit 209. The memory 211 stores image data obtained by the imaging units 203 and 206 and converted into digital data by the A / D converter 207 and image data to be displayed on the display unit 101. The D / A converter 212 converts the image display data stored in the memory 211 into an analog signal and supplies the analog signal to the display unit 101. The display unit 101 performs display according to the received analog signal on a display device such as an LCD.

  The nonvolatile memory 213 is an EEPROM or the like, and stores constants, programs, and the like for the operation of the system control unit 210. Here, the program is a program for executing various flowcharts described later in the present embodiment.

  The system control unit 210 controls the entire digital camera 100. By executing the program recorded in the non-volatile memory 213 described above, each process of the present embodiment to be described later is realized. In addition, a series of shooting processing operations from reading a signal from the imaging units 203 and 206 to writing image data in the recording medium 104 is started by a signal from the shutter button.

  The operation unit 103 is an operation unit for inputting various operation instructions to the system control unit 210. For example, the operation mode of the system control unit 210 is switched to any one of a still image recording mode, a moving image recording mode, a reproduction mode, and the like. Also, in the recording mode, it can be instructed whether to shoot with the out-camera or the in-camera, or to shoot simultaneously with both.

  The power supply unit 214 includes a primary battery such as an alkaline battery or a lithium battery, a secondary battery such as a NiCd battery, a MiMH battery, or a Li battery, an AC adapter, and a circuit that detects and controls information about the battery. Then, based on the detection result and an instruction from the system control unit 210, a necessary voltage is supplied to each unit including the recording medium 104 for a necessary period.

  The recording medium I / F 215 is an interface with the recording medium 104.

  The azimuth acquisition unit 216 is an azimuth sensor that uses a Hall element that detects geomagnetism or the like, magnetic impedance (MI) blocking, and the like, and acquires the azimuth that the out-camera of the photographing apparatus 100 is facing. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the azimuth acquisition unit 216 acquires a direction whose axis is a direction perpendicular to the ground. Of course, as another form, a direction and an elevation angle with a direction perpendicular to the ground as an axis may be acquired.

  The rotation acquisition unit 217 is a semiconductor-type acceleration sensor using MEMS technology or the like, and acquires rotation information of the imaging apparatus 100 by measuring gravity. Here, the rotation information means the vertical and horizontal directions of the photographing apparatus 100.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a format of an image file 300 captured by the image capturing apparatus 100 of the present embodiment. An image ID 301 is a unique ID that is generated each time an image is captured by the image capturing apparatus. The photographing information 302 is information acquired when the photographing apparatus has photographed an image, and includes, for example, photographing date / time, manufacturer name and model name of the photographing apparatus, resolution, shutter speed, aperture, ISO sensitivity, vertical / horizontal information, and the like. The imaging apparatus 100 of the present embodiment records the orientation acquired by the orientation acquisition unit 216 at the time of shooting or the orientation information calculated therefrom in the area indicated by 303. The direction information is assumed to take a value of 0 to 360 degrees clockwise with respect to the north direction. That is, 0 for the north, 90 for the east, 180 for the south, and 270 for the west. Of course, when the azimuth acquisition unit 216 acquires the elevation angle, the elevation angle may be recorded together. The image data 304 is data obtained by digitizing signals output from the imaging units 203 and 206 during shooting and performing various image processing and compression processing in accordance with an image format such as JPEG or RAW.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining processing when the photographing apparatus 100 of the present embodiment is used and images are simultaneously photographed by the out camera and the in camera.

  After starting the processing, in S401, when the user presses the shutter button 102, an image is taken by the out camera and the in camera, and is recorded in the memory 211 in the form of image data 304. At this time, for each of the out-camera and the in-camera, the image ID 301 is generated and the shooting information 302 is also acquired and simultaneously recorded in the memory 211. In S402, the orientation of the out-camera is obtained from the orientation acquisition unit 216. In S403, the orientation of the in-camera is calculated based on the difference between the installation directions of the out-camera and the in-camera. For example, if the difference in orientation between the out camera and the in camera is 180 degrees, the orientation of the in camera may be the opposite of the orientation of the out camera. In S404, the image file 300 is created from the image ID 301 of the out camera, the shooting information 302 including the orientation 303 of the out camera, and the image data 304 of the out camera, and recorded in the recording medium 104. In step S405, an image file 300 is created from the in-camera image ID 301, the shooting information 302 including the in-camera orientation 303, and the in-camera image data 304, and recorded in the recording medium 104. The process ends here.

  As described above, when the user gives an instruction using the operation unit 103, it is also possible to take a picture with only one of the out camera and the in camera. When shooting with only the in-camera, the processing for shooting with the out-camera in S401 and the processing in S404 may be omitted.

  With the configuration described above, the imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment has an effect of reducing the cost of the imaging apparatus because it is not necessary to mount a plurality of orientation sensors.

  Hereinafter, another embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail according to the attached screen.

  FIG. 5 is an external view of a digital camera that is the photographing apparatus 500 according to the present embodiment. The display unit 501 can display an image and various types of information and can change the angle in the vertical direction, like the display unit 101 in the first embodiment. Since 502 to 504 are the same as 102 to 104 in the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted. The in-camera 505 is a camera module similar to the in-camera 105 in the first embodiment, and can change the angle in the vertical direction together with the display unit 501.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the photographing apparatus 500 of the present embodiment. Since 601 to 617 are the same as those in the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted. The angle acquisition unit 618 acquires the angle of the in-camera 505 with respect to the photographing apparatus 500.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a change in the orientation of the in-camera 505 when the angle of the in-camera 505 is changed in the vertical and horizontal directions of the photographing apparatus 500. As shown in FIG. 7A, when the photographing apparatus 500 is held in the horizontal position, the horizontal direction of the in-camera 505 does not change even if the angle of the in-camera 505 with respect to the photographing apparatus 500 changes. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7 (B), when the photographing apparatus 500 is rotated and held in the vertical position, the horizontal direction of the in-camera 505 changes as the angle of the in-camera 505 with respect to the photographing apparatus 500 changes. To do.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining processing when the photographing apparatus 500 of the present embodiment is used and images are simultaneously photographed by the out camera and the in camera.

  After starting the processing, in S801, when the user presses the shutter button 502, an image is taken by the out camera and the in camera, and is recorded in the memory 611 in the form of image data 304. At this time, for each of the out-camera and the in-camera, the image ID 301 is generated and the shooting information 302 is also acquired and simultaneously recorded in the memory 611. In S802, the orientation of the out camera is obtained from the orientation acquisition unit 616. In S803, rotation information of the photographing apparatus 500 is acquired from the rotation acquisition unit. In S804, it is determined whether or not the photographing apparatus 500 is in the horizontal position. If it is the horizontal position, the process proceeds to S806. If it is the vertical position, the process proceeds to S805, and the angle acquisition unit 618 acquires the angle of the in-camera 505 with respect to the photographing apparatus 500. In S806, the azimuth of the in-camera is calculated based on the azimuth acquired in S802 and the angle of the in-camera 505 acquired in S805 when the photographing apparatus is in the vertical position. In step S807, an image file 300 is created from the image ID 301 of the out camera, the shooting information 302 including the out camera orientation 303, and the image data 304 of the out camera, and is recorded in the recording medium 504. In S808, an image file 300 is created from the in-camera image ID 301, the shooting information 302 including the in-camera orientation 303, and the in-camera image data 304, and is recorded in the recording medium 504. The process ends here.

  Note that, as described above, when the user gives an instruction using the operation unit 503, it is possible to shoot with only one of the out-camera and the in-camera. When shooting with only the in-camera, the process of shooting with the out-camera in S801 and the process of S807 may be omitted.

  With the configuration described above, in the photographing apparatus of the present embodiment, even when the in-camera is movable, the azimuth of the in-camera can be calculated and recorded based on the angle of the in-camera with respect to the photographing apparatus at the time of photographing. There is an effect.

  Although the present invention has been described in detail based on preferred embodiments thereof, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments, and various forms within the scope of the present invention are also included in the present invention. included. A part of the above-described embodiments may be appropriately combined.

  Also, when a software program that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied from a recording medium directly to a system or apparatus having a computer that can execute the program using wired / wireless communication, and the program is executed Are also included in the present invention.

  Accordingly, the program code itself supplied and installed in the computer in order to implement the functional processing of the present invention by the computer also realizes the present invention. That is, the computer program itself for realizing the functional processing of the present invention is also included in the present invention.

  In this case, the program may be in any form as long as it has a program function, such as an object code, a program executed by an interpreter, or script data supplied to the OS.

  As a recording medium for supplying the program, for example, a magnetic recording medium such as a hard disk or a magnetic tape, an optical / magneto-optical storage medium, or a nonvolatile semiconductor memory may be used.

  As a program supply method, a computer program that forms the present invention is stored in a server on a computer network, and a connected client computer downloads and programs the computer program.

101 Display section, 102 Shutter button, 103 Operation section, 104 Recording medium, 105 In-camera

Claims (7)

First imaging means;
Second imaging means installed in a different direction from the first imaging means;
Azimuth information acquisition means for acquiring first azimuth information;
Orientation information calculation means for calculating second orientation information, which is the orientation of the second imaging means, from the difference in installation direction between the first imaging means and the second imaging means and the first orientation information. When,
Recording means for recording the first azimuth information in association with the image photographed by the first photographing means and recording the second azimuth information in association with the image photographed by the second photographing means. A photographing apparatus comprising: The photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first photographing unit and the second photographing unit are installed in opposite directions. The photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the orientation information is a direction having a direction perpendicular to the ground as an axis. The photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the orientation information is a direction and an elevation angle with a direction perpendicular to the ground as an axis. Even when an image is captured using only the second imaging unit, the second direction information is calculated using the direction information acquisition unit and the direction information calculation unit, and the recording unit is used to calculate the second direction information. The photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photographing apparatus records in association with an image. In the photographing apparatus in which the second photographing means can change an angle with respect to the photographing apparatus,
Attitude information acquisition means for acquiring attitude information of the imaging device;
An angle acquisition means for acquiring an angle of the second imaging means with respect to the imaging device;
The azimuth information calculation means is based on a difference in installation direction between the first photographing means and the second photographing means, the first azimuth information, the rotation information, and an angle of the second photographing means with respect to the photographing device. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second orientation information is calculated. A program for realizing the image processing apparatus according to claim 1, a computer-readable storage medium describing the program, and a method.