JP3135602B2 - Electronic still camera and its image recording method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention converts an optical image captured in the digital image data, an electronic still camera for recording in the memory and directed to the image recording how.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when an image photographed by an electronic still camera is recorded in a memory, information such as date, time, title, etc. of each image data is added to each image data in a memory area together with the image data. Was recorded in the header information area. However, apart from these pieces of information, there is no function that allows a photographer to easily record data for classifying and managing image data at the time of photographing.

[0003]

In such an electronic still camera as described above, there are cases where a photographer wants to record data for classifying photographed images into several types. For example, when the captured images are classified by photographer, the photographer name and the like can be recorded in a title area in the image data area. However, in this case, a separate title cannot be added to each image, and the original title function is lost. Further, simply recording the classification data in the area of the header information added to the individual image data causes a problem when managing the image data recorded in the entire memory card. In addition, the task of creating and inputting classification data for each captured image is extremely time-consuming.

In view of the above circumstances, the present invention provides an electronic still camera that can add new information to a captured image in addition to information such as date, time, title, etc., and can easily perform classification and management of captured images. and to provide the image recording how.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided an electronic still camera comprising: a digital image data conversion unit for converting a captured optical image into digital image data; a recording medium for recording digital image data; and a recording medium for recording on the recording medium. Related information recording means for recording related information related to the obtained digital image data on a recording medium, and
Related information selection method for selecting any related information from related information
And a code recording means for recording the code assigned to the related information selected by the related information selecting means on the recording medium in association with the digital image data. Also, the image recording method according to the present invention converts the photographed optical image into digital image data, records the converted digital image data on a recording medium, and stores related information related to the digital image data recorded on the recording medium. Is recorded on a recording medium, and the relevant information is recorded on the recording medium.
Desired related information is selected, and a code assigned to the selected related information is recorded on a recording medium in association with digital image data.

[0006]

According to the above means, a plurality of classification data can be recorded in advance in the header information recording area of the memory card. At the time of photographing, desired data is selected from these data and each image in the memory area is selected. It can be recorded in the header information recording area added to the data. As a result, new classification data can be added to the image data,
Classification and management of captured images can be easily performed.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an electronic still camera system according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an electronic still camera. The electronic still camera 1 converts a captured optical image into an image signal using a solid-state imaging device, converts this image signal into a digital signal, and then performs a data compression process.

Further, the electronic still camera 1 is provided with a card insertion slot 3, into which a memory card 2 having a built-in semiconductor memory is inserted.
Thereby, the electronic still camera 1 and the memory card 2 are connected. The memory card 2 records a digital image signal that has been compressed.

The electronic still camera 1 also includes a lens 4, a liquid crystal display section 5 for displaying the number of shots and a shooting mode, a finder 6, a release 7, a liquid crystal display section 8 of a dot matrix system, a cursor key 9, A setting switch 10 and a keyboard connection terminal 11 are provided. A keyboard 12 is connected to the keyboard connection terminal 11. The setting switch 10 is for setting a title for classification and the like, and the set title is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 8. (1) Signal System of Electronic Still Camera Hereinafter, a signal system of the electronic still camera will be described. FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the electronic still camera.

The lens and aperture functions in the lens unit 13 are driven by a lens unit driver 14 controlled by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 22. The optical image processed by the lens unit 13 is a charge-coupled device (hereinafter referred to as C).
Imaged on CD) 15

The CCD 15 is controlled by a CPU 22 controlled by the CPU 22.
Driven by the CD driver 16. Thereby, the transfer of signal charges in the vertical and horizontal directions and the like are controlled. CCD
15 is input to a signal processing circuit 17 for color separation,
Analog processing such as white balance is performed. The output of the signal processing circuit 17 is input to an analog / digital conversion (hereinafter, referred to as A / D) conversion unit 18 and converted into a digital signal, and then temporarily stored in a buffer memory 19.

The digital image data stored in the buffer memory 19 is sequentially read out to a compression / encoding processing circuit 20 to compress the data. The compressed digital image data is stored in a card I / F controlled by the CPU 22.
(Interface) Memory card 2 via circuit 21
5 is recorded.

A liquid crystal display 24 for displaying a title, the number of shots, and the like is controlled by the CPU 22. Further, the output of the keyboard 26 is input to the CPU 22 via the operation unit 23. (2) Configuration of Classification Title In this embodiment, a classification title and a classification subtitle are set as titles for classification. Hereinafter, FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, each classification title is composed of five classification subtitles A to E.
These titles correspond to the electronic still camera 1 shown in FIG.
Is displayed on the display unit 8. FIG. 4 shows the state of the display unit 8.

The display section 8 comprises an area 27 for displaying a classification title, an area 28 for displaying a classification subtitle, and an area 29 for displaying a classification title or a classification subtitle of a captured image. (3) Card format

The data format of the memory will be described below with reference to FIGS. The memory area is
It is divided into a card header area, a directory area, and a data area. First, the card header area will be described. In FIG. 5, the hexadecimal absolute address “00000”
Areas "0" to "0007FF" are card header areas.

Of these, the absolute address "000000"
In the area of ~ 00002A, data of card number, residual memory management and card label are recorded in 43 bytes. In the area of the absolute address “00002B”, data indicating the number of set classifications, that is, the number of all classification titles set in the card is recorded in 1 byte.
In the area of the absolute addresses “00002C” to “0000033”, the data of the classification (1) title is recorded in a total of 8 bytes of 8 alphanumeric characters. Absolute address “00”
In the area “0034”, data indicating the set number of subtitles of the category (1) is recorded in one byte.

Absolute addresses "0000035" to "000"
048 "area, each subtitle A of category (1)
The data of .about.E are recorded in a total of 20 bytes, each consisting of 4 alphanumeric characters and 4 bytes.

As described above, the data relating to the classification (1) title includes absolute addresses "00002C" to "0000".
48 "in a total of 29 bytes. Hereinafter, similar areas are set for the category (2) title, the category (3) title, and so on.

As described above, the absolute address “00”
In a 2K byte card header area of “0000” to “0007FF”, title data used for classification of image data is recorded before shooting.

Absolute addresses "000800" to "000"
The area of "3FFF" is a directory area. In the directory area, 14 Kbytes of management data of image data in the data area are recorded. Next, the data area will be described. An area having an arbitrary length from “004000” is a data area.

As shown in FIG. 6, classification code and classification subcode data are recorded in the first area of each image data. Each of the data of the classification code and the classification subcode is 1 byte. The manner in which a classification title and a classification subtitle are added to image data will be described below with reference to FIG.

The classification title and the classification subtitle include:
Eight alphanumeric characters and four alphanumeric characters can be assigned respectively. Alphabetic characters A to Z and numerals 0 to 9 are 41H to
5BH, corresponding to 00H to 09H. For example, in the case where the character “KOBAYASI” is assigned to the classification title and the character “JOB1” is assigned to the classification subtitle, FIG.
The recording format is as shown in FIG.

Classification (1) Title to Classification (50)
The titles correspond to the classification codes 01H to 32H, respectively, and the classification subtitles A to E correspond to the classification subcodes 01H to 05H, respectively. (3) Operation and Operation First, a case where a shooting and a classification title are set will be described with reference to FIG.

The power of the camera 1 is turned on (step S
1) Insert the memory card 2 into the insertion slot 3 of the camera 1 (step S2). Here, when the classification code is not added to the image data to be photographed (step S3), photographing is performed as it is (step S7).

When adding a classification code (step S
3) If the classification title is not set (step S4), after setting the classification title (step S5), a title to be added to the image data is selected (step S4).
6). When photographing is performed (Step S7), Step S7
The classification code of the classification title selected in 6 is added to the image data.

When the classification code added to the image data is changed (step S8), the classification title of the photographed image is confirmed (step S9), and the classification title to be added to the image data is selected (step S10). Thereafter, the classification title is changed (step S11), and the setting of the classification title is completed (step S12). Next, a case where a classification title is set in a card header area of a memory will be described with reference to FIG.

The memory card 2 is inserted into the insertion slot 3 of the camera 1 (Step S13). When the initialization of the memory card 2 is specified (step S14), the CPU 22
Initializes the memory card 2 inserted in the camera 1.

When the setting switch 10 or the keyboard 12 connected to the camera 1 turns on the classification title screen (step S15), the CPU 22 sets the number of classifications to 0 in the card header area of the memory card 2. Make sure that Then, as shown in V1, the display unit 8
An asterisk is displayed in the classification title display area of.

With the setting switch 10 or the keyboard 12,
When the classification title setting mode is designated (step S
16), the CPU 22 waits for an input of a classification title (step S17). And, as shown in V2,
The title input by the cursor key 9 or the keyboard 12 is displayed on the first line of the classification title display area of the display unit 8.

After the input of the classification title, if the setting mode of the classification subtitle is designated by the setting switch 10 or the keyboard 12 (step S18), the CPU 22
Enters a state of waiting for input of a classification subtitle (step S19). Then, as shown in V3, the cursor key 9
Alternatively, the title input by the keyboard 12 is displayed on the display unit 8.
Is displayed in the classification subtitle display area.

After the input of the classification subtitle is completed, when the registration of the classification subtitle is designated by the setting switch 10 or the keyboard 12 (step S20), the CPU 22
The input classification title and classification subtitle are recorded in the designated area of the card header area. Thus, the classification title and the classification subtitle are recorded in the classification (1) title area and the classification (1) subtitle A area of the card header area of the memory shown in FIG. 5, respectively. Further, the CPU 22 records 1 in the area of the set classification number and the classification (1) subtitle number. Furthermore, CPU2
2 sets the screen of the display unit 8 to the display mode of the classification title, as shown in V4, and displays the recorded classification title and the number of the classification subtitles. Further, a case where a classification code is added to image data will be described with reference to FIG.

With the setting switch 10 or the keyboard 12,
When the display mode of the classification title screen is specified (step S23), the CPU 22 reads the data of the classification title recorded in advance from the card header area of the memory card 2 inserted in the camera 1. Then, as shown in V5, the classification title and the number of subtitles registered in each classification title are displayed on the screen of the display unit 8 (step S24). The selection of the classification title is performed using the cursor key 9 or the keyboard 12, whereby the designated line is displayed in a reversed state on the screen.

Here, if there is only one classification subtitle registered in the classification title specified in the previous step (step S25), shooting is performed as it is (step S28). However, if two or more subtitles are registered, the cursor key 9 or the keyboard 12
Then, the display mode of the classification subtitle screen is designated (step S26). Then, the CPU 22 reads the classification subtitle registered in the specified classification title from the card header area of the memory card 2. And
As shown in V6, it is displayed in the classification subtitle display area of the display unit 8. The selection of the classification subtitle (step S27) is performed using the cursor key 9 or the keyboard 12, whereby the specified line is displayed in a reversed state on the screen.

After the specification of the classification subtitle is completed,
When the release 7 is pressed, the CPU 22 performs a shooting operation (step S28). Thus, the photographed image data is recorded in the image data area of the memory. Each data of the classification title and the classification subtitle is recorded in the area of the classification code and the classification subcode respectively corresponding to the image data area. This completes the operation of adding the classification code to the image data (step S29). Hereinafter, a case where the classification code of the captured image data is changed or added will be described with reference to FIG.

With the setting switch 10 or the keyboard 12,
When the captured image classification title confirmation mode is specified (step S30), the CPU 22 displays the image number of the final image data and the classification title recorded in the memory of the memory card 2 as indicated by V7. Is displayed in the classification title or classification subtitle display area of the photographed image. When an operation to select an image to be added or changed is performed using the cursor key 9 or the keyboard 12 (step S31), the CPU 22 determines the classification code added to each image, the classification title and the classification subtitle in the card header area. Are read from the memory of the memory card 2. Then, the images are sequentially displayed on the display unit 8.

After the desired image is displayed, when the display of the classification title is designated by the setting switch 10 or the keyboard 12 (step S32), the CPU 22 reads the data of the classification title from the card header area of the memory card 2. . Then, the display unit 8 displays the classification titles and the number of classification subtitles. The selection of the classification title is performed using the cursor key 9 or the keyboard 12, whereby the designated line is displayed in a reversed state on the screen.

When the display mode of the classification subtitle screen is specified (step S33), the CPU 22 reads the classification subtitle registered in the specified classification title from the card header area of the memory of the memory card 2 as indicated by V8. Is read out and displayed on the display unit 8. The selection of the classification subtitle (step S34) is performed by using the cursor key 9 or the keyboard 12, so that on the screen,
The specified line is displayed inverted.

After the designation of the classification subtitle is completed, when registration is designated by the setting switch 10 or the keyboard 12 (step S35), the CPU 22 determines the classification title and the classification subtitle of the designated image data in step S34. Rewrite the data in the memory so as to make it the selected title. And, as shown in V9,
The rewritten data is displayed on the display unit 8.

With the setting switch 10 or the keyboard 12,
When the classification title screen and the confirmation mode are turned off (step S36), the change or addition of the classification code of the captured image data ends (step S37). (4) Another embodiment

FIG. 12 shows a second embodiment of the electronic still camera according to the present invention. The difference from the electronic still camera 1 shown in FIG. That is, the display unit 35 has both functions of the liquid crystal display unit 5 and the liquid crystal display unit 8, and displays shooting information such as the number of shots and shooting mode and classification data such as a classification title. Other specifications are the same as those of the electronic still camera 1 shown in FIG.

FIG. 13 shows a third embodiment of the electronic still camera according to the present invention. The difference from the electronic still camera 1 shown in FIG. 1 is that the liquid crystal display units 5 and 8, the cursor key 9 and the setting switch 10 are provided on a wireless remote controller 30.

The wireless remote controller 30 is of an infrared type, and is provided with a liquid crystal display unit 31 of a dot matrix type, a cursor key 32, and a keyboard 33 also serving as a setting switch. The classification data set by the cursor keys 32 and the keyboard 33 is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 31. In addition, the setting liquid crystal display section 31 also serves to display shooting information.

On the other hand, the electronic still camera 1 is provided with an infrared transmitting / receiving section 34 for infrared rays. Thereby, the light transmitting and receiving unit 3
Data is transmitted and received between the wireless remote controller 4 and an infrared transmitting / receiving unit (not shown) provided at the tip of the wireless remote controller 30. Other specifications are the same as those of the electronic still camera 1 shown in FIG.

That is, the electronic still camera secures an area for writing data for classifying captured images in a header area recording area of the memory card and a header information recording area of each image data in the image data recording area. ing. A means for recording a plurality of classification data in the header area of the memory card is provided in advance. At the time of photographing, desired data is selected from these data and recorded in the header information recording area of each image. This makes it possible to easily create and input new classification data separately from information such as date, time, title, and the like in the captured image, and to easily perform classification and management of the captured image. The classification data is composed of data of a classification title and a classification subtitle. Therefore, for example, even when classification management is performed for each captured image and each memory card, information corresponding to each can be recorded.

[0047]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Date captured image, the time, can be easily added new classification data separately from the information such as the title, an electronic still camera which can easily perform classification and management of captured images and the image recording how it is possible to provide a.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an electronic still camera system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of the battery still camera shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a classification title.

FIG. 4 is a screen configuration diagram showing a display unit of the battery still camera shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a format of a card header area of a memory.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a format of a data area of a memory.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a recording format of classification data.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining operations and operations when setting a shooting and a classification title.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating operations and operations when a classification title is set in a card header area of a memory.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation and an operation when a classification code is added to image data.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating operations and operations when changing or adding a classification code of captured image data.

FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram showing a second embodiment of the electronic still camera system according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram showing a third embodiment of the electronic still camera system according to the present invention.

[Description of Signs] 1 ... Electronic still camera, 2 ... Memory card, 3 ... Insertion slot, 4 ... Lens, 5, 8, 31, 31, 35 ... Liquid crystal display unit,
6 Finder, 7 Release, 9, 32 Cursor key, 10 Setting switch, 11 Keyboard connection terminal, 12, 33 Keyboard, 13 Lens unit,
14 ... Lens unit driver, 15 ... CCD, 16 ...
CCD driver, 17: signal processing circuit, 18: A / D converter, 19: buffer memory, 20: compression encoding circuit,
21: Card I / F circuit, 22: CPU, 23: Operation unit, 24: Liquid crystal display unit, 25: Memory card, 26: Keyboard, 30: Wireless remote controller, 34: Transmitting / receiving unit.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 5/76-5/937 H04N 5/225 H04N 101: 00

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. Digital image data conversion means for converting a photographed optical image into digital image data, a recording medium for recording the digital image data, and related information relating to the digital image data recorded on the recording medium Related information recording means for recording information on the recording medium, and any related information from the related information recorded on the recording medium.
Features and related information selection means for selecting, that the code assigned to the relevant information selected by the related information selection unit, equipped with a code recording means for recording on the recording medium in association with the digital image data Electronic still camera. 2. A reading means for reading the related information and / or the code from the recording medium; a changing means for changing the related information and / or the code read by the reading means; 2. The electronic still camera according to claim 1, further comprising a writing unit for writing the relevant information and / or the code on the recording medium. 3. Converting the photographed optical image into digital image data, recording the converted digital image data on a recording medium, and recording the relevant information related to the digital image data recorded on the recording medium. Any related information recorded on the recording medium and from the related information recorded on the recording medium
And recording a code assigned to the selected related information on the recording medium in association with the digital image data. 4. Reading the related information and / or the code from the recording medium, changing the read related information and / or the code, and writing the changed related information and / or the code to the recording medium. The image recording method according to claim 3, wherein: