JP2995033B2 - Digital camera - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital camera, and more particularly, to a recording mode for recording a through image captured via an optical system, a reproduction mode for reproducing the recorded image, and a combination of the through image and the reproduced image. The present invention relates to a digital camera having an image synthesis mode for generating an image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a digital camera has a CCD.
Imager, image memory, liquid crystal display (hereinafter, L
CD, etc.), and C in the shooting mode.
An image captured by the CD imager is stored in the image memory, and in the playback mode, the image read from the image memory is L
Displayed on CD.

Further, by connecting a digital camera to a personal computer (hereinafter, referred to as a personal computer), image data is read out to a hard disk and then displayed on a large display screen of a monitor device, and images are synthesized. Or printing by a printer.

[0004]

However, the conventional digital camera has a problem that images cannot be synthesized unless a person who owns a personal computer and is proficient in the operation of the personal computer or the like is required. .

Therefore, a main object of the present invention is to provide a digital camera capable of easily synthesizing images.

[0006]

The invention according to claim 1 is
A digital camera having a recording mode for recording a through image captured via an optical system, a reproduction mode for reproducing the recorded image, and an image composition mode for generating a composite image of the through image and the reproduced image, the mode comprising: Switching means ,
An image display unit, a setting unit, an image synthesizing unit, and a recording unit are provided. The image display means is switched to the playback mode
Reproduced image is displayed on the time you are setting means image composition mode
When the mode is switched to the mode, a through image display area is set in a part of the reproduced image displayed by the image display means, and the image synthesizing means causes the through image to be displayed in the through image display area set by the setting means, and the synthesized image is displayed. generates, recording means for recording the synthesized image generated by the image synthesizing means.

In the invention according to claim 2, the setting means of the invention according to claim 1 includes a drawing means and a position adjusting means. The drawing means sets two intersections of a horizontal line and a vertical line in a part of the reproduced image displayed by the image display means to draw an outer frame of the through image display area, and the position adjustment means It is provided for adjusting the position of the outer frame of the through image display area drawn by the drawing means.

In the invention according to claim 3, the drawing means according to claim 2 changes the color of the outer frame in accordance with the aspect ratio of the outer frame of the through image display area reaching a predetermined ratio.

[0009]

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the front side (lens side), and FIG. 1B is a view from the rear side. FIG.

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, a lens 1, a power switch interlocking lens cover 2, an optical finder 3, a flash 4, and a self-timer LED 5 are provided on the front side of the digital camera. A shutter button 6, a three-point main switch 7, a macro switching lever 8, and a terminal 9 are provided on the upper and side surfaces. An LCD 10, a mode button 11, a set button 12, a direction instruction button 13, and a microphone 14 are provided on the rear surface of the digital camera.

The main switch 7 has a shooting mode in which the LCD 10 is turned on, a shooting mode in which the LCD 10 is turned off,
It is used for switching between three modes such as a reproduction mode. LC
In the shooting mode in which D10 is turned on, a through image is displayed on the LCD 10, and the through image is recorded. LCD
In the shooting mode in which 10 is turned off, shooting is performed using the optical viewfinder 3 in the same manner as a normal silver halide camera. In the playback mode, the LCD 10 is turned on, and the playback image is displayed on the LCD 10.
Will be displayed. The LCD 10 also displays various icons (characters) indicating recording conditions, playback functions, and the like, in addition to the through image and the playback image.

By lightly pressing each of the left direction indicator 13a, the right direction indicator 13b, the upward indicator 13c, and the downward indicator 13d at the four corners of the direction indicator button 13 with a finger, the playback image is forwarded / returned. It is possible to set recording conditions, select a reproduction function, and the like.

FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram showing a configuration of the image recording / reproducing circuit 20 built in the digital camera.

Referring to FIG. 2, this image recording / reproducing circuit 2
0, the system controller 41 responds to signals from the lens cover 2, the shutter button 6, the main switch 7, the macro switching lever 8, the mode button 11, the set button 12, and the direction instruction button 13 at various times at predetermined timings. To the CPU 42. CPU
Reference numeral 42 controls the memory control circuit 27 and the flash memory control circuit 47 according to a control signal given from the system controller 41.

The memory control circuit 27 controls the first signal processing circuit 24, the second signal processing circuit 29, the JPEG circuit 44, the buffers 25, 28, 43 and the SDRAM 26. Writing / reading of image data of the SDRAM 26 is performed via buffers 25, 28, 43. Buffer 2
The transfer speed (write / read speed) of the buffers 25, 28, 43 and the SDRAM 26 is higher than the data transfer speed of the first signal processing circuit 24, the second signal processing circuit 29, and the JPEG circuit 44. By increasing the speed, these circuits 24, 29, and 44 can be operated almost simultaneously.

The memory control circuit 27 controls the character generator 30 and the switch 31 to replace a part of the image data with the character image data, thereby overwriting the through image or the reproduced image with the character image.

The flash memory control circuit 47 controls the buffer 45 and the flash memory 46, and
The image data compressed by the circuit 44 is written to the flash memory 46 via the buffer 45, and the data read from the flash memory 46 is supplied to the JPEG circuit 44 via the buffer 45.

In the photographing mode, a light image incident from the lens 1 is irradiated on the CCD imager 21 via a complementary color filter (not shown). The CCD imager 21 outputs an electric signal (progressive scan signal) of each pixel according to progressive scan (pixel sequential scan).
The progressive scan signal from the CCD imager 21 is provided to a CDS / AGC circuit 22.

The CDS / AGC circuit 22 performs known noise removal and level adjustment on the progressive scan signal, and the A / D converter 23 converts the processed progressive scan signal into digital data (image data). Is converted to First signal processing circuit 24
Performs well-known white balance adjustment and gamma correction on the image data output from the A / D converter 23, and thereafter supplies the image data to the SDRAM 26 via the buffer 25.

The memory control circuit 27 converts the image data into SD
The image data is written into the RAM 26, and thereafter, this image data is read out by interlaced scanning. Therefore, SDRAM
From 26, odd field image data and even field image data are output alternately. The image data output from the SDRAM 26 is input to the second signal processing circuit 29 via the buffer 28 and is also input to the JPEG circuit 44 via the buffer 43.

The second signal processing circuit 29 performs a process such as color interpolation on the input image data.
The image data output from 9 is supplied to a D / A converter 32 via a switch 31. The D / A converter 32
The image data is converted into an analog signal (image signal), and the image signal is output through an output terminal 33.
Give to 10. For this reason, as shown in FIG.
A real-time moving image (through image) is displayed on the CD 10.

When the mode button 11 is pressed in this state, various icons 51 to 59 indicating recording conditions are displayed on the edge of the LCD 10 as shown in FIG. FIG.
In (b), each icon is shown as a simple white square or a hatched square for simplification of the drawing, but is actually a symbol indicating a corresponding recording condition. Icon 5
Numerals 1 to 59 are for setting a still image shooting mode setting, a high-speed continuous shooting mode setting, a resolution setting, a voice memo setting, a self-timer setting, a macro mode display, an exposure correction setting, and a digital zoom setting. Icons 51 to 59
Is selected by the direction instruction button 13. Icon 5
The icon selected from 1 to 59 (51 in the figure) is displayed in a positive state (open square), and the other icons are displayed in a negative state (hatched square). When the set button 12 is pressed in this state, a condition (in this case, a still image shooting mode) indicated by the selected icon (in this case, 51) is set. After setting the recording conditions,
When the mode button 11 is pressed, the icons 51 to 59 disappear and return to the state of FIG.

When the operator presses the shutter button 6,
The JPEG circuit 44 is activated, the image data read from the SDRAM 26 and input to the JPEG circuit 44 via the buffer 43 is compressed according to the JPEG format, and the compressed data is written to the flash memory 46 via the buffer 45.

In the reproduction mode, the compressed data read from the flash memory 46 is transferred to the JPE via the buffer 45.
It is input to the G circuit 44. The JPEG circuit 44 expands the input compressed data, and
AM26. The memory control circuit 27 writes the image data to the SDRAM 26, and then reads this image data by interlaced scan.

The image data read from the SDRAM 26 is supplied to a buffer 28, a second signal processing circuit 29, a switch 3
The signal is supplied to a D / A converter 32 via an interface 1 and is converted into an analog image signal. The analog image signal is output to the output terminal 33.
And output to the LCD 10. For this reason, as shown in FIG.
The reproduced image 60 is displayed at 0. In this state, when the left direction indicator 13a of the direction indicator button 13 is pressed, the image recorded before the reproduced image is reproduced, and when the right direction indicator 13b is pressed, the image recorded after the reproduced image is reproduced. You. Therefore, a desired image can be selected and reproduced.

When the mode button 11 is pressed in this state, as shown in FIG. 4B, various icons 61 to 68 indicating the reproduction function are displayed at the end of the LCD 10. The icons 61 to 68 are used for selecting a reproduction mode, multi-reproduction, reproduction zoom, protect, delete, image composition,
This is for scanning the card and setting the date and time.
When a desired one of the icons 61 to 68 is selected with the direction instruction button 13 and the set button 12 is pressed, the function indicated by the icon is selected. Set button 12
If the mode button 11 is pressed without pressing, the state returns to the state shown in FIG.

Next, an image synthesizing function which is a characteristic part of the present invention will be described. First, in the state of FIG. 4A, the reproduction image is fed / returned using the direction instruction button 13, and a desired reproduction image 60 to be a background is selected.
Next, the mode button 11 is pressed to display the icons 61 to 68 as shown in FIG.
Is used to select the image combining icon 66, and press the set button 12.

As a result, the image synthesizing function is selected, and FIG.
As shown in (a), a vertical line L1 and a horizontal line L2 are displayed in the reproduced image 60. When the left direction indicator 13a or right direction indicator 13b of the direction indicator button 13 is pressed, the vertical line L
1 moves leftward or rightward, and its upward direction indicator 1
When the user presses 3c or the downward direction indicator 13d, the horizontal line L2 moves upward or downward. The vertical line L1 and the horizontal line L2 are moved to make a first point P1 which is an intersection thereof.
Position. This first point P1 is the upper left point of the frame F.

When the set button 12 is pressed in this state, the first point P1 is determined and the vertical line L3 and the horizontal line L4 in the reproduced image 60 are determined as shown in FIG.
Is further displayed. When the left direction indicator 13a or the right direction indicator 13b of the direction indicator button 13 is pressed, a vertical line L3 is displayed.
Moves leftward or rightward, and its upward direction indicator 13
Pressing c or the downward direction indicator 13d moves the horizontal line L4 upward or downward. Vertical line L3 and horizontal line L
4 are movable below and to the right of the first point P1, respectively. The vertical line L3 and the horizontal line L
When one of the horizontal lines L4 and L4 moves, the other of the vertical line L3 and the horizontal line L4 follows such that the aspect ratio of the frame F having four sides L1 to L4 is always 3: 4. The vertical line L3 and the horizontal line L4 are moved to determine the position of the second point P2, which is the intersection between them. This second point B2 is the lower right point of the frame F.

When the set button 12 is pressed in this state, the size and the approximate position of the frame F are determined as shown in FIG. Direction indicator 1 of direction indicator button 13
When the user presses 3a to 13d, the frame F moves in the specified direction. The position of the frame F is determined by moving the frame F.

When the set button 12 is pressed in this state, a through image 50 is displayed in an area surrounded by the frame F as shown in FIG. At this time, in the circuit 20 of FIG. 2, the through image data generated by the A / D converter 23 is thinned out by the first signal processing circuit 24 in accordance with the size and position of the frame F. The thinned-out through image data is supplied to the SDRAM 26 via the buffer 25, and is overwritten on a portion corresponding to the area surrounded by the frame F in the reproduced still image data written in the SDRAM 26. Since the through image is a moving image, the overwrite data is sequentially updated. In this way, a window of a desired size and position is opened in the reproduced image 60, and the through image 50 is displayed in the window.

When the shutter button 6 is pressed in this state, the image data of the composite image displayed on the LCD 10 at that time is compressed by the JPEG circuit 44 and written into the flash memory 46 via the buffer 45. Therefore,
The composite image can be reproduced in the same manner as a still image photographed in the normal photographing mode.

Pressing the mode button 11 in the state of FIGS. 5A to 5D returns to the state of FIG. 5A, and pressing the mode button 11 returns to the state of FIG. 3B.

In this embodiment, the synthesized image is generated by overwriting the reproduced image data with the through image data thinned out at the time of image synthesis. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Playback image data in SD
After separately writing in the memory area of the RAM 26, the reproduced image data may be read out of the frame F, and the through image data may be read out in the frame F to generate a composite image.

Further, in the above embodiment, the vertical line L3 and the horizontal line L4 are made to follow so that the aspect ratio of the frame F having four sides L1 to L4 is always 3: 4. However, without being limited to this, the position of the second point P2 may be set irrespective of the 4: 3 ratio.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a display example showing another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6A shows a reproduced image displayed on the LCD 10, and FIG. 6B shows a through image. In the above-described embodiment, when the set button 12 is pressed after the position of the frame F is determined, the through image 50 reduced by performing the thinning process on the area surrounded by the frame F as shown in FIG. Was displayed.

On the other hand, in this embodiment, when the set button 12 is subsequently pressed, the through image is displayed as shown in FIG.
FIG. 6 (c) without thinning processing as shown in FIG.
A part of the image extracted from only the inside of the frame from the full angle of view is displayed as shown in FIG.

When the position of the first point P1 is determined by moving the vertical line L1 and the horizontal line L2, the colors of the vertical line L1 and the horizontal line L2 are changed from white to orange, and the vertical line L3 and the horizontal line L4 are changed. When the frame F is moved and the aspect ratio of the frame F becomes 3: 4, the color of the vertical line L3 and the horizontal line L4 is changed from white to the double line shown in FIG.
The thick black line portion shown in (f) may be changed to green.

It should be understood that the embodiments disclosed this time are illustrative in all aspects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

[0040]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a part of the reproduced image displayed in the reproduction mode includes :
Set the through image display area when it is switched to the image synthesis mode, displays a through image on the set area
The composite image generated Te, recording child the generated synthesized image
Thus , the reproduced image and the through image can be easily combined by the digital camera alone.

[0041] In the invention according to claim 2, setting means of the invention according to claim 1, horizontal line portion of the displayed reproduced image
And the intersection of the vertical line with two places
By drawing the outer frame and adjusting the position of the outer frame,
The size and position of the through image display area can be easily set.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the drawing means of the first aspect changes the color of the outer frame in accordance with the aspect ratio of the outer frame of the through image display area reaching a predetermined ratio, thereby providing an arbitrary color. Can be displayed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image recording / reproducing circuit incorporated in the digital camera shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a shooting mode of the digital camera shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a playback mode of the digital camera shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an image synthesizing function of the digital camera shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display example of another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 lens 6 shutter button 7 main switch 10 LCD 11 mode button 12 set button 13 direction indication button 24 first signal processing circuit 25, 28, 43, 45 buffer 26 SDRAM 30 character generator 31 switch 46 flash memory 50 through image 51 to 51 59, 61-68 Icon 60 Playback image L1, L3 Vertical line L2, L4 Horizontal line F Frame

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A digital camera having a recording mode for recording a through image captured via an optical system, a reproduction mode for reproducing the recorded image, and an image composition mode for generating a composite image of the through image and the reproduced image. For switching between the reproduction mode and the image synthesis mode.
Mode switching means, which is switched to the reproduction mode by the mode switching means.
Display means for displaying a reproduced image when the display mode is switched to the image synthesis mode by the mode switching means.
When, setting means for setting a through image display area on a part of the displayed reproduced image by the image display means, said synthesized by displaying the through image on the through image display area set by said setting means A digital camera, comprising: an image synthesizing unit that generates an image; and a recording unit that records the synthesized image generated by the image synthesizing unit. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit includes a part of a reproduced image displayed by the image display unit.
Drawing means for setting two intersections between a horizontal line and a vertical line to draw an outer frame of the through image display area, and a position for adjusting the position of the outer frame of the through image display area drawn by the drawing means The digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising an adjusting unit. 3. The drawing unit according to claim 2, wherein the drawing unit changes the color of the outer frame in accordance with the aspect ratio of the outer frame of the through image display area reaching a predetermined ratio. Digital camera.