JP3459681B2 - Card type 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 card type camera which is used by being connected to an information processing device such as a portable information device such as an electronic notebook, a personal word processor or a personal computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional electronic still camera is shown in FIG.
FIG. 25 shows a block diagram and FIG. 25 shows a block diagram (JP-A-1-176168). The electronic still camera 1 is composed of a card camera having an image input section composed of a lens 4 and a CCD (charge coupled device) 5 in the center of a card-shaped body 3 as shown in FIG. By connecting to the dedicated reproducing unit 2 (see FIG. 25), the still image information written in the image memory is reproduced.

In FIG. 25, a drive pulse is generated by the drive pulse generator 8 based on the timing signal from the synchronization signal generator 7 so that the drive circuit 9 drives the C pulse.
Generates a drive signal for CD5. And CCD5
The output signal from is sampled by the sample and hold 10, gain-adjusted by the automatic gain control (AGC) compressor 11, and then logarithmically compressed. The logarithmically compressed signal is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 12 and then logarithmically expanded by the expansion unit 13, and the process processing unit 14 performs color classification, horizontal / vertical contour correction, γ correction, white balance, etc. Process processing is performed. The R, G, B signals thus obtained are stored in the image memory 16 including the R memory, G memory and B memory via the data buffer 15.

Thus, the R, G, B signals stored in the image memory 16 are sent to the reproducing section 2 via the connector 6. Then, it is converted into an analog signal by the D / A converter 17 of the reproduction section 2 and amplified by the video amplification section 18. Then, a still image is displayed on the monitor 19 based on the amplified analog signal. Various image processes on the captured still image at that time are executed by an image processing unit (not shown) on the reproduction unit 2 side.

[0005]

In the above electronic still camera 1, as shown in FIG. 24, an image input portion including a lens 4 and a CCD 5 is provided in the central portion of a card-shaped body 3, and a connector is provided at a side edge thereof. 6 is provided. Therefore, when the electronic still camera 1 is connected to the dedicated reproduction section 2 and is photographed while being monitored in real time,
Since the whole body 3 excluding the connector 6 projects from the reproducing portion 2, there is a problem in that it is inconvenient to use.

Further, since the lens 4 projects vertically to the extending direction of the card-shaped body 3, when the electronic still camera 1 is connected to the dedicated reproducing section 2, the display of the reproducing section 2 is displayed. The orientation of the subject is naturally limited to the orientation of the screen. Therefore, there is also a problem in that the display screen of the reproduction unit 2 is set in a state where it is easy to monitor and the subjects in various directions cannot be photographed.

Further, in the electronic still camera 1, the image data of the subject is taken in by pressing the shutter switch 20, and at that time, there is a function of generating a shutter sound when the shutter switch 20 is pressed. I don't have it. Therefore, the operator
It is not possible to confirm that the shutter switch has operated and the image data of the subject has been captured.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is that when it is mounted on an external information processing apparatus, the direction other than that of the image input section is stored in the information processing section, and the direction of the subject changes depending on the direction of the display screen of the information processing apparatus. An object of the present invention is to provide a card-type camera that is easy to use and can confirm the capture of image data of a subject by the shutter sound without being restricted.

[0009]

[0010]

In order to solve the problem] was to achieve the above purpose
Therefore, the invention according to claim 1 is an image input section having an image forming section for connecting an image of a subject on an image forming surface and an image forming section for taking in an image on the image forming surface to generate digital image data. A memory unit, a memory control unit, an interface unit, and an IC card unit having a connector. The image data from the image input unit is stored in the memory unit, and the stored image data is transferred via the connector. In a card type camera for sending to an electrically connected external information processing device, the IC card portion is formed in a card shape and can be inserted into the information processing device from a card slot provided in the information processing device. The image input unit is integrally provided at an end of the IC card unit opposite to the side where the IC card unit is inserted into the information processing apparatus, and the IC card unit is connected to the image input unit. When mounted on an information processing device and electrically connected, the device protrudes to the outside of the information processing device, and the main body part and the image forming part are connected by a hinge. It becomes possible to change the direction of the optical axis on the incident side in the direction of extension of the IC card section
Further, it is characterized in that the main body part is provided with a shutter switch for controlling the capture of image data when pressed.

Further, the invention according to claim 2 is an image having an image forming section for forming an image of a subject on an image forming surface and an image forming section for taking in the image on the image forming surface to generate digital image data. An input section and an IC card section having a memory section, a memory control section, an interface section, and a connector are provided. The image data from the image input section is stored in the memory section, and the stored image data is stored in the connector. In a card type camera for sending to an external information processing device electrically connected via a card, the IC card unit is formed in a card shape from a card slot provided in the information processing device to the inside of the information processing device. The image input unit is detachably provided at the end of the IC card unit opposite to the side where the IC card unit is inserted into the information processing device. The serial IC card unit when connected electrically by mounting the above information processing apparatus is adapted to protrude outside the information processing apparatus, the image input unit and the IC
Each of the card parts has a connecting means for electrically connecting each other, and also has an attaching means for detachably attaching each other, and the image data from the image input part separated from the IC card part is connected to the connection part. It is characterized in that it is provided with an image data carrying means for carrying to the IC card section via the means.

[0012]

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image having an image forming section for connecting an image of a subject on an image forming plane and an image forming section for taking in the image on the image forming plane to generate digital image data. An input section and an IC card section having a memory section, a memory control section, an interface section, and a connector are provided. The image data from the image input section is stored in the memory section, and the stored image data is stored in the connector. In a card type camera that sends to an external information processing device electrically connected via a shutter, a shutter switch that outputs an interrupt signal when pressed is provided, and the information processing device sends the interrupt signal based on the interrupt signal. A shutter sound generation unit that generates a shutter sound in response to a received acoustic signal, and the interface unit includes the shutter switch and It is characterized by transmitting and receiving signals between the Yatta sound generation unit and the information processing apparatus.

[0014]

The image data obtained by the image input section is stored in the memory section of the IC card section under the control of the memory control section. Then, the image data stored in the memory unit is read out from the memory unit under the control of the memory control unit as necessary, and transferred to the information processing device via the connector by the interface unit. Displayed on the display screen.

[0016]

In the invention according to claim 1 , particularly, when the IC card unit is housed in the information processing device , the image input unit is
The optical axis on the incident side of the image forming unit can be changed with respect to the extending direction of the IC card unit by the operation of the hinge of the image input unit protruding outside the information processing apparatus. The main body of the input unit is provided with a shutter switch for controlling the capture of image data regardless of the hinge operation. In this way, shooting is performed with the display screen of the information processing apparatus set in a state in which it is easy to monitor without being influenced by the direction of the subject.

In the invention according to claim 2 , particularly, I
Image data sent from the image input section which is separated from the C card section and faces in any direction or which is provided separately from the IC card section and which faces in any direction is sent by the image data carrying means. It is transported to the IC card section.
In this way, shooting is performed without any limitation on the direction of the subject due to the direction of the display screen of the information processing apparatus.

According to the third aspect of the invention, when the shutter switch is pressed, an interrupt signal is output and transferred to the information processing device by the interface. on the other hand,
When an acoustic signal based on the interrupt signal transferred from the information processing device side is sent to the shutter sound generation unit by the interface, the shutter sound generation unit generates a shutter sound. Thus, the operator
Photographing is performed while confirming that the image data is captured from the image input unit by the shutter sound.

[0019]

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a card type camera in this embodiment.

This card type camera is roughly composed of an image input section 23 and an IC card section 33. The image input unit 21 includes an image forming unit 21 including an optical system lens and the like, and an image pickup unit 22 including a CCD, a CCD drive circuit, an A / D converter, and the like. In addition, the IC card unit 33
Memory unit 24, memory control unit 25, camera shake correction unit 26, brightness conversion unit 27, edge enhancement unit 28, edge amount detection unit 29,
The error diffusion unit 30, the adaptive binarization unit 31, and the IC card interface 32 are made into an LSI (large-scale integrated circuit) and housed in a card-shaped body. An IC card connector 34 connected to the IC card interface unit 32 is provided at the edge of the IC card unit 33 so that it can be connected to an external information processing device such as a portable information device, a personal word processor or a personal computer. Has become.

FIG. 2 is an external view of a system electronic notebook type portable information device which is an example of the card type camera and an example of the external information processing device to which the card type camera is attached. As described above, the IC card section 33 of the card type camera 35 is formed in a card shape, and the image input section 23a is provided at one end thereof. The image input section 23a is bent by a hinge 35a as the movable means, and the lens 21a forming the image forming section 21.
The angle of the optical axis with respect to the surface of the IC card unit 33 can be changed.

The card type camera 35 is mounted on the portable information device 36 by inserting the IC card section 33 into the slot 36b of the portable information device 36. The IC card connector 34 provided on the edge 33a at the other end of the IC card section 33 is connected to the connector provided inside the portable information device 36.

Therefore, the image captured from the image input unit 23a of the card type camera 35 is displayed on the display screen 36a of the portable information device 36 in real time or temporarily stored in the memory unit 24 (see FIG. 1). The display screen 36 displays the result of image processing as described in detail later on the image data.
It can be displayed on a. Reference numeral 51 is a shutter switch, and 49 is a shutter sound generation unit that generates a shutter sound.

FIG. 3 is a diagram in which the card type camera 35 is mounted on the portable information device 36. In this case, the IC card unit 33 is hidden by being inserted into the portable information device 36, but since the image input unit 23a projects outside the portable information device 36, it is possible to take a picture. At this time, by rotating the image input unit 23a with the hinge 35a as the center of rotation, it is possible to photograph subjects in various directions with respect to the display screen 36a of the portable information device 36.

For example, in the case of FIG. 3, the display screen 3
The subject in front can be photographed by holding 6a substantially horizontally. Further, in the case of FIG. 4, it is possible to hold the display screen 36a vertically to shoot a subject in front, or hold the display screen 36a horizontally to shoot a subject below. Further, in the case of FIG. 5, it is possible to hold the display screen 36a vertically to shoot a subject behind, or to hold the display screen 36a horizontally to shoot an upper subject.

The focus adjustment in the card type camera 35 is manually adjusted by rotating the outer cylinder 21b of the image forming unit 21, as shown in FIG.

The card type camera 37 shown in FIG. 7 has an image input section 23b of the card type camera 35 shown in FIG.
The card type camera 37 is fixed to the C card unit 33.
This is a simplified configuration of. In this case,
As shown in (b), when the card type camera 37 is mounted on the portable information device 36, the extending direction of the surface of the display screen 36a and the optical axis direction of the lens 21a are fixed to each other.

Further, the card type camera 38 shown in FIG.
This is a modification of the card type camera 37 shown in FIG. 7, in which a lens 21a is attached to the side of the image input section 23c. In this case, as shown in FIG. 8B, when the display screen 36a is held horizontally, the lens 21a faces left.

In the card type camera 39 shown in FIG. 9, the image input section 23d is provided with the above-mentioned movable means so that the front end can rotate about the axis of the card type camera 39. The lens 21a and the outer cylinder 21b thereof are provided on the side surface of the rotating portion 21c, and the image forming portion 2 is attached to the rotating portion 21c.
1 is formed. In this case, as shown in FIGS. 10 (a) and 10 (b), when the display screen 36a of the portable information device 36 equipped with the card type camera 39 is held vertically, the lens 21a 360 in the horizontal plane
You can rotate.

The card type camera 40 shown in FIG. 11 has connectors 23f, 3 as the connecting means and mounting means as shown in FIG. 12 in the image input section 23e and the IC card section 33.
3a or connectors 23g and 33b are provided, and the image input unit 2
3e is removable from the IC card unit 33. Then, the image input unit 23e is replaced with the IC card unit 33.
When separated from each other, the two connectors 23f, 33a;
The cable 41a or the cable 41b as the image data carrying means is used for connection via g and 33b. In this case, the lens 21a in the image input unit 23e can be oriented freely without being restricted by the orientation of the display screen 36a of the portable information device 36. Further, the image input unit 23e may be provided separately from the IC card unit 33, and both may be connected by the cable 41. At this time, it is also possible to use a wireless transmission means or an optical transmission means as the image data carrying means to make it cableless.

As described above, in the card type cameras 35, 37, 38, 39, 40 of this embodiment, the image input sections 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d, 23e are replaced by the IC card section 33.
When the IC card unit 33 is installed on the side of or separately from the portable information device 36 and is mounted on the portable information device 36, the entire IC card portion 33 is
It is housed in 6 and hidden, and only the image input section 23 projects out of the portable information device 36. Therefore, unlike the conventional electronic still camera 1 shown in FIG. 24, the entire IC card portion 33 does not protrude from the portable information device 36, and the usability is very good. Further, as in the card type cameras 35 and 39 shown in FIGS. 2 and 9, the direction of the optical axis on the incident side of the image forming unit 21 is changed by the movable means to the IC card unit 3.
Changeable with respect to the extension direction of 3, or
The image input unit 23 such as the card type camera 40 shown in FIG.
By separating e from the IC card unit 33, the direction of the subject is not restricted by the direction of the display screen 36a of the portable information device 36, and the usability is further improved.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of the portable information device 36. A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 42 controls a system controller 44 and a pulse code modulation computer interface adapter (PCMCIA) controller 45 in accordance with a system program stored in a main memory 43, and a card type camera (hereinafter, referred to as a card type). The image capturing processing operation by the camera 35 side) and various image processing operations described in detail later are controlled. further,
The system controller 44, the PCMCIA controller 45, and the display controller 47 are controlled to display the display screen 3 via the video memory 46 based on the image data from the card type camera 35 taken in from the connector 46.
An image is displayed on a liquid crystal display (LCD) as 6a.

Next, an image capturing process by the card type camera 35 having the above configuration will be described. FIG. 14 is a flowchart of the image capture processing operation performed on the card type camera 35 side under the control of the CPU 42 in the portable information device 36. The image capturing process operation will be described below with reference to FIG. When the CPU 42 issues an instruction to start the image capture processing operation, the image capture processing operation is started.

In step S1, each register in the IC card section 33 is initialized, the image processing function to be executed is set, and the area of the memory section 24 for transferring the image data to the portable information device 36 is set. Be implemented. The setting of the image processing function at that time may be all of the image processing functions of the image stabilization process, the brightness conversion process, the edge enhancement process, the edge amount detection process, the error diffusion process, and the adaptive binarization process, Only the error diffusion process or the adaptive binarization process necessary for displaying on the display screen 36a of the portable information device 36 may be performed. In short, the setting may be made so that the optimum image can be displayed on the image display means of the information processing apparatus to be mounted. In step S2, the image data for one field image is fetched by the image pickup section 22 for the processing such as the focus adjustment and the brightness conversion, and is digitized and stored in the memory section 24.

In step S3, the image data of the 1-field image stored in the memory section 24 is converted into the image data in step S3.
The image data read out from the area set in 1 is subjected to the image processing set in step S1 of the image processing functions. In step S4, the image data of the one-field image after the image processing is executed in step S3 is IC
The data is sent to the portable information device 36 by the card interface unit 32 via the IC card connector 34. Then, on the side of the portable information device 36, based on the image data thus transmitted, the display screen 36a is displayed.
The image is displayed on. Here, the reason why the image data of only one field image is sent to the portable information device 36 side is to reduce the transfer information and display the image at high speed. Since the image display based on the image data transferred in this step is an image display as a monitor at the time of focus adjustment or the like, a one-field image is sufficient.

In step S5, the card type camera 35
It is determined whether or not the shutter switch 51 provided at the position is pressed, or whether or not the shutter operation is instructed from the portable information device 36 side. As a result, when the shutter switch 51 is pressed or the shutter operation is instructed (hereinafter, both are simply referred to as "the shutter switch is pressed"), the process proceeds to step S6. On the other hand, if the shutter switch is not pressed because the desired image is not displayed on the display screen 36a, the process returns to step S2 and the next one-field image is captured. Thus, the display screen 36 in the portable information device 36 is pressed until the shutter is pressed.
One-field images are sequentially displayed on a. During that time, the operator refers to the images sequentially displayed on the display screen 36a, and, for example, the manual focus adjustment or the like is performed as described above. When the desired image is displayed on the display screen 36a and the shutter switch is pressed by the operator, it is determined in step S5 that the shutter switch has been pressed, and step S6
Move to.

In step S6, the image data of the next field image, which is continuous with the field image captured when the shutter switch is pressed, is captured by the image pickup section 22, digitized and stored in the memory section 24. . In step S7, since the frame image has been captured in the memory section 24, the image capturing is stopped.

In step S8, the image processing set in step S1 is executed on the image data of the frame image stored in the memory section 24. Here, the image processing executed in step S3 is
Even if you get tired of it, you can display images for monitoring on the portable information device 36.
In contrast to the image processing for displaying on the display screen 36a, the present step is the original image processing such as camera shake correction performed on the frame image captured by the operator. In step S9, the image data of the frame image after the image processing in step S8 is sent to the portable information device 36 through the IC card connector 34 by the IC card interface section 32, and the image capturing process operation is performed. To finish. Thereafter, on the side of the portable information device 36, an image is displayed on the display screen 36a based on the image data thus transmitted, or the transmitted image data is stored in the main memory 43.

As described above, the card-type camera 35 functions as if it were a single camera when it is mounted on the portable information device 36, and captures a one-field image of the subject when the operator adjusts the focus. Image processing such as error diffusion processing and adaptive binarization processing is performed, and the image is displayed on the display screen 36a of the portable information device 36 in real time. Then, when the optimum image is obtained, the shutter switch 5
When 1 is pressed, the image data of the frame image composed of the above-mentioned one-field image and the next-field image is fetched and stored in the memory unit 24, and then the image stabilization processing or the like preset for this frame image data is performed. The image is processed and sent to the portable information device 36. At that time, since the image displayed on the display screen 36a in real time is displayed based on the image data that has undergone image processing such as error diffusion processing and adaptive binarization processing, the image is displayed on the display screen 36a. The image display means to be used can display a high-quality image regardless of whether it is an image display means capable of multi-gradation display or a liquid crystal display means.

In the image capture processing operation, the card-type camera 35 performs various image processes on the image data of one field image or one frame image captured and stored in the memory section 24. I am
The images stored in the memory unit 24 are directly transferred to the portable information device 3
It is also possible to read from the 6 side. In that case, a high-quality image can be obtained by performing the above-described image processing on the portable information device 36 side.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram relating to the shutter switch pressing operation. When the shutter switch 51 provided in the image input unit 23 of the card type camera 35 is pressed, information indicating an interrupt request from the shutter switch 51 is written in the interrupt request register 52, and
The interrupt signal is sent to the IC card interface 32. Then, the IC card interface 32 sends an interrupt signal to the portable information device 36 via the IC card connector 34.

If it is necessary to investigate the cause of the interrupt on the portable information device 36 side because another interrupt signal is wired-OR to the interrupt signal, the CPU 42 of the portable information device 36. Accesses the interrupt request register 52 via the IC card interface 32. Then, when the information indicating the interrupt request from the shutter switch 51 is detected, it is confirmed that the interruption is caused by pressing the shutter switch.

On the side of the portable information device 36,
When an interrupt signal is received from the shutter switch 51 or when an interrupt request by pressing the shutter switch is confirmed, it is determined whether or not interrupt processing is currently possible. If interrupt processing is impossible, the display screen 36a
Is displayed to that effect. On the other hand, if interrupt processing is possible, an acoustic signal is sent to the card type camera 35 side, and a shutter sound generation unit 49 generates a shutter sound. Then, after that, the image data acquisition control of the next frame image is executed. The interrupt request information from the shutter switch 51 written in the interrupt request register 52 is cleared by an access (read or clear request) from the portable information device 36 side.

Hereinafter, the shake correction process performed by the shake correction unit 26 in the IC card unit 33, the brightness conversion process performed by the brightness conversion unit 27, the edge emphasis process executed by the edge emphasis unit 28, and the edge amount detection. The image processing of the edge amount detection process performed by the unit 29, the error diffusion process performed by the error diffusion unit 30, and the adaptive binarization process performed by the adaptive binarization unit 31 will be described in detail.

<Image Stabilization Processing> This card type camera 35
When the camera is mounted on the portable information device 36 for shooting, there are many occasions when the user holds the camera without fixing the whole by a tripod or the like. However, in the case of hand-held photography, a shift due to camera shake occurs between consecutive field images, resulting in two consecutive images.
The image quality of the still image obtained by the field image is significantly deteriorated. In order to correct such a shift between continuous field images, first, the shift amount between both field images is obtained by using representative point matching.
Then, the calculated shift amount is used as an offset value of the address when the image data of one of the field images is read from the memory unit 24. By doing so, the shift amount between the two field images is corrected, and a high-quality still image can be obtained.

FIG. 16 is a detailed block diagram of the camera shake correction section 26. The image data of one field image (for example, an odd number field image) captured by the image capturing unit 22 at a certain time is the low pass filter 53.
Entered in. An infinite impulse response using the image data of the pixel of interest, the pixel one line before, and the pixel one pixel before in the image data of the odd field image
(IIR) A noise component of an image is removed by a low pass filter. In this way, the representative point table creation unit 54 is selected from the odd field image data from which the noise component is removed.
Then, a plurality of representative points (representative pixels) are selected and stored in the representative point table.

Next, the image data of the even field image following the odd field image is fetched, and the noise component of the image is removed by the low pass filter 53 in the same manner as described above. Then, a matching process is performed between each pixel in the even field image data from which the noise component is removed and the representative point. The matching process at that time is performed within a predetermined search range of (n pixels × m pixels) where the position of the pixel corresponding to the representative point is (1, 1).

That is, the difference calculator 55 calculates the difference between the brightness value of each representative point in the representative point table and the brightness value of each pixel in the search range corresponding to each representative point in the even field image data. To be done. The luminance values of the pixels in the even field image data at that time are 2 consecutive pixels in the even field image data.
It is determined by the average value of the brightness values of pixels adjacent to each other on the line. This is because the frame image is composed of an odd field image and an even field image, and a line of the odd field image exists between two consecutive lines of the even field image.

The residual table creating unit 56 creates the residual table by adding the absolute values of the differences obtained by the difference calculating unit 55 to each of the same elements in all the matrices related to all the representative points. This addition processing is performed sequentially, and the content of the residual table at the time when the processing of two consecutive fields is completed is used as the matching result. The offset detection unit 57 searches the residual table created by the residual table creation unit 56 for the element exhibiting the minimum value, and sets the address of the searched element to the shift amount between the odd field image and the even field image. It is detected as the corresponding offset value.

If the above process is performed during the blanking period, the offset value can be detected every two fields. At this time, if the offset value is too large and it is predicted that the resolution cannot be secured even if the camera shake correction process is performed, the results of the following two fields are adopted.

The offset value thus detected is sent to the memory control unit 25 and used as correction data when reading the even field image data from the memory unit 24. In this way, by providing the offset value to the read start address when reading either the odd field image data or the even field image data that is continuous from the memory section 24, the difference between the odd field image and the even field image is set. The image data of the frame image can be read out so that no shift occurs in the image, and effective camera shake correction processing can be performed.

<Luminance Conversion Processing> In the image pickup section 22, .gamma. Correction processing is performed on the output signal from the CCD. However, when it is desired to change the brightness value in accordance with the characteristics of the image display unit of the portable information device 36 to which the card type camera 35 is attached, or when a brighter image or a darker image is displayed according to the brightness of the environment. You may want to display. In the former case, the brightness conversion unit 27 performs brightness conversion based on the reference table, and in the latter case, the CCD accumulation time is controlled at the time of image capturing.
In any case, the IC card interface unit 3
By enabling information to be transferred bidirectionally by means of 2, the brightness conversion condition can be controlled from the portable information device 36 side.

FIG. 17 is a detailed block diagram of the brightness conversion section 27. The address selector 58 is a RAM according to the brightness value of the input image based on the image data read from the memory unit 24 under the control of the memory control unit 25.
Select the address of (random access memory) 59. Then, the RAM 59 is accessed based on the selected address, a new brightness value in the reference table stored in the RAM 59 is read out, and sent to the edge emphasizing section 28. So, in short,
The brightness value of the input image is converted using the lookup table.

At this time, different luminance data can be converted by changing the contents of the RAM 59. At that time, the contents of the RAM 59 are updated as follows. That is, the RAM controller 6 is synchronized with the write control information input from the portable information device 36 side via the IC card interface unit 32.
0 generates an address signal and sends it to the address selector 58. Further, a write signal is generated and sent to the RAM 59. Then, the element value (luminance data) of the new reference table from the portable information device 36 is written to the address of the RAM 59 selected by the address selector 58 based on the address signal. That is,
The write control information and the element value of the new reference table form the update information of the conversion table described above.

As described above, by making the brightness data to be written in the RAM 59 rewritable by the external information processing device, it is possible to display the brightness according to the usage condition. Further, for example, even if the image display unit of the information processing apparatus is an image display unit that expresses gradation by controlling the lighting time of the pixel, it is possible to display with an optimum brightness according to the brightness characteristics of the image display unit. . Also, CRT
(Cathode ray tube) and LCD have different γ characteristics,
It is possible to correct the brightness according to the γ characteristic of the image display means used.

The present invention is not limited to this, and instead of the RAM 59, a ROM (read only memory) in which brightness data for brightness conversion is written is used.
The conversion of the brightness value as described above may be performed on the card type camera 35 side. In that case, a plurality of ROMs in which brightness data for brightness conversion is written are prepared, and the portable information device 36 is
If the ROM to be used is selected from the side, the luminance data for conversion can be changed from the side of the portable information device 36.

<Edge Enhancement Processing> If the focus adjustment is not sufficient and the subject is out of focus, or
If the modulation transfer function (MTF) of the lens system is bad,
A sharp image can be obtained by applying edge enhancement processing to the input image data. Such edge enhancement processing is particularly effective when it is desired to make the edges of the character image stand out.

FIG. 18 is a detailed block diagram of the edge enhancement unit 28. The image data subjected to the brightness conversion processing by the brightness conversion unit 27 is delayed by the first-in first-out memory 61. Then, the delayed image data is further delayed by the next first-in first-out memory 62. By using the image data of two lines delayed in this way and the image data of one line not delayed, the luminance value of the target pixel a and the luminance values of the four neighboring pixels b, c, d, e are stored in the image data calculation unit 63. To be done. The arithmetic processing unit 64 uses the luminance values of the pixels a to e to calculate the pixel of interest a by the following equation.
The brightness value A of is converted into a new brightness value A ′. Thus
Edge enhancement is performed by increasing the luminance value of the pixel of interest. A ′ = 3A−1 / 2 (B + C + D + E) where B, C, D, and E are the brightness values of the pixels b, c, d, and e.

At this time, if edge enhancement processing is applied to all the pixels, noise components are also enhanced, and on the contrary, an image of poor quality results. Therefore, the edge emphasis processing is selectively applied only to the pixels to be emphasized. That is, the arithmetic processing unit 64 determines how much the brightness values of the four neighboring pixels b, c, d, and e change with respect to the brightness value of the target pixel a. For example, when inputting 256 gradations, if any one of | AB |, | AC |, | AD |, | AE | It is considered as a pixel that needs to be processed. In this way, the arithmetic processing unit 64 performs the above-described luminance value conversion on the pixel of interest that is determined to require edge enhancement processing, while leaving the pixel of interest that is determined not to require edge enhancement processing as it is. The brightness value is output. The brightness change value "32" for determining that the edge enhancement processing is necessary may be set to an optimum value as appropriate depending on the enhancement method. Also, it may be adaptively changeable according to the brightness of the entire image and the like.

It should be noted that by applying such edge enhancement processing to the image data taken in by the image input unit 23, the edge portion is saved as much as possible in the subsequent error diffusion processing, or the adaptation 2 It is possible to prevent small parts from disappearing during the digitization process.

<Edge Amount Detection Process> When the focus adjustment is manually performed in the card type camera 35, it is necessary to know the focus state (focus adjustment state) by some method during image capturing. By the way, when the subject is focused, the amount of high frequency components included in the image is naturally maximized by just focusing. Further, if the arithmetic processing unit 64 in the edge enhancement unit 28 counts the number of pixels that require edge enhancement processing (that is, pixels located at edges) because the brightness value difference with the four neighboring pixels is “32” or more. (That is, if the edge amount is detected), the relative amount of the high frequency component included in the image can be known. Therefore, the edge amount may be used as the focus state and the focus adjustment may be performed so that the edge amount is maximized.

Therefore, the edge amount detecting section 29 is constructed similarly to the edge enhancing section 28 described above. Then, in the arithmetic processing unit, the difference in luminance value | A−B |, | A−C |, | A−D |, | A− from the four neighboring pixels b, c, d, and e
The number of pixels a whose value of E | is 32 or more is counted. Then, the obtained count value is sent to the IC card interface 32 as an edge amount.

CPU 4 in the portable information device 36
2 reads the edge amount through the IC card interface 32, determines the current focus state as follows, and displays the determination result on the display screen 36a.
By doing so, the operator can refer to the focus state displayed on the display screen 36a to perform the focus adjustment.

The first focus state determination method is as follows:
This is a method of making a determination based on the absolute amount of edges. That is, a value indicating the edge amount is displayed on the display screen 36a, and the operator refers to the display value to perform focus adjustment so that the edge amount is maximized.

The second focus state determination method is as follows:
This is a method of making a determination based on the changing direction of the edge amount. That is, the edge amount obtained from the one-field image captured this time with respect to the edge amount obtained from the one-field image previously captured in the circulation of steps S2 to S5 in the flowchart of the image capture processing operation shown in FIG. If the amount increases, a mark indicating that the display screen 36a is in focus is displayed, and if the amount decreases, a mark indicating that the focus is out of focus is displayed. Displays a mark indicating that it is just focus. The operator adjusts the focus so that the just focus mark is displayed.

As the third focus state determination method,
Step S2 of the flow chart of the image capturing processing operation
This is a method of holding the maximum value of the edge amount of the images continuously captured in the circulation of step S5 and comparing the edge amount of the image captured this time with the maximum value. That is, if the result of comparison between the edge amount and the maximum value at this time is increased, a mark indicating that the display screen 36a is in focus is displayed, and if it is decreased, the focus is out of focus. Is displayed, and if they are equal, the mark showing that it is just focus is displayed.

As a fourth focus state determination method,
This is a method of normalizing and determining the edge amount. That is,
Since the edge amount contained in the image changes depending on the brightness and lighting condition of the subject, the edge amount is normalized by dividing the edge amount of the image captured this time by the maximum value of the edge amount described above and the edge amount. To obtain the rate of increase or decrease. By doing so, it is possible to determine the focus state that is not influenced by the absolute amount of the edge amount. Also,
By passing the obtained edge amount through an appropriate low-pass filter, it is possible to avoid an erroneous determination in the focus state determination.

As described above, the edge amount detection processing is a function for assisting the focus adjustment, and is a function for improving the usability for the user. Therefore, by using this auxiliary function of focus adjustment, it is possible to facilitate the focus adjustment operation while looking at the image of the LCD 36a having a poor contrast, for example.

When the focus adjustment is performed in this way and the shutter switch 51 is pressed, an image of one frame is captured, and the captured image data is subjected to the above-described image stabilization process, brightness conversion process, and edge enhancement process. And is sent to the error diffusion unit 30 and the adaptive binarization unit 31. Then, an error diffusion process for performing halftone display and an adaptive binarization process for reducing the data amount or when contrast is required because of a character image are performed.

<Error Diffusion Processing> The error diffusion processing is
When rounding the gradation of the input image using some set thresholds, the error that occurs when replacing the brightness value of one pixel with another brightness value is reflected in the threshold processing of the subsequent pixels, This processing is to store the gradation information of 1 as much as possible to enable multi-gradation expression with a small number of gradations.

FIG. 19 is a detailed block diagram of the error diffusion section 30. The error addition unit 65 adds the error value calculated by the error calculation unit 69 to the brightness value of the pixel of interest based on the image data from the edge enhancement unit 28 to obtain the brightness value of the pixel. Then, the threshold processing unit 66
Performs threshold processing on the new brightness value of the pixel thus obtained according to a preset threshold value, and outputs the rounded brightness value to the IC card interface unit 32. The error detection unit 67 detects an error between the rounded luminance value from the error addition unit 65 and the rounded luminance value from the threshold value processing unit 66. Then, the detected error value is sent to the error calculation unit 69 and the first-in first-out memory 68.

Then, the error calculating unit 69, based on the error value sequence from the error detecting unit 67 and the error value sequence from the first-in first-out memory 68, the error value relating to the pixel immediately before the target pixel and the target pixel. The error value of the pixel of interest is obtained by multiplying each of the four error values and the error values of the three neighboring pixels in the preceding line by a coefficient and averaging them.
Note that the above four coefficients are set so that their total value is smaller than "1".

At this time, the threshold value and the number thereof set in advance by the threshold value processing unit 66 are the same as those of the portable information device 36.
It can be newly set from the side via the IC card interface section 32. By doing this, 8 bits
It becomes possible to selectively express the brightness of the input image expressed by (256 gradations) by any one of 1 bit (2 gradations) to 4 bits (16 gradations), and it is possible to match the characteristics of the image display means. It is possible to convert the gradation.

<Adaptive Binarization Processing> The captured image includes shadows of the card type camera 35 itself, illumination spots, changes in background density of the subject itself, and the like. Therefore, if the image data is binarized with a certain threshold value in order to display a black and white two-gradation image on the display screen 36a, pixels that should be originally displayed as black are skipped white or pixels that should be originally displayed as white. It may become black and dirty. In order to avoid such an inconvenience, in this embodiment, the threshold value is adaptively changed according to the brightness state of the image to achieve the optimum binarization.

FIG. 20 is a detailed block diagram of the adaptive binarization unit 31. Based on the image data from the edge enhancement unit 28, the neighborhood pixel brightness average calculation unit 70 produces neighborhood pixels (16 pixels to 64 pixels) on the line where the pixel of interest exists.
(Pixel) luminance average value to calculate the first-in first-out memory 71
Send to. Further, the one-line brightness average calculation unit 72 calculates the brightness average value of all the pixels on the line in which the pixel of interest exists. Then, the threshold value calculation unit 73 calculates the threshold value by the following formula based on the average brightness value of one line from the average brightness calculation unit 72 and the average brightness value of the neighboring pixels from the first-in first-out memory 71. Then, the obtained threshold value is sent to the threshold value processing unit 75. th = k · th ₀ + (1-k) m where th: Threshold to be obtained th ₀ : Brightness average value of neighboring pixels m: Brightness average value of 1 line

The threshold processing unit 75 performs threshold processing on the brightness value of the pixel of interest in the image data sent through the first-in first-out memory 74, using the threshold from the threshold calculation unit 73. And the processing result is IC
It is sent to the card interface unit 32.

That is, in this embodiment, the threshold for binarizing the brightness value for each target pixel is calculated by adding the global brightness change of one line to the brightness change near the target pixel. And is updating. Therefore, according to the brightness environment of the surrounding pixels, the adaptive 2
It becomes possible to carry out the digitization process.

As described above, the result of the error diffusion processing by the error diffusion unit 30 and the result of the adaptive binarization processing by the adaptive binarization unit 31 are the IC card interface unit 32.
Is transferred to the attached information processing device.
Then, on the side of the information processing apparatus, the PCMC is controlled by the system controller 44 under the control of the CPU 42.
The display controller 47 is different from the IA controller 44.
Also, it is instructed to adopt either the result of the error diffusion processing or the result of the adaptive binarization processing according to the display capability of the LCD 36a and fetch it from the connector 46. The thus-acquired image data which has been subjected to the error diffusion processing or the adaptive binarization processing is transferred to the video memory 48 through the system bus and displayed on the LCD 36a by the display controller 47.

That is, when the display controller 47 and the LCD 36a are capable of displaying halftones by, for example, four gradations, the threshold value used by the threshold value processing unit 66 of the error diffusion unit 30 from the portable information device 36 side. Set
The obtained error diffusion processing result is adopted and a halftone screen by four gradation display is displayed on the LCD 36a. Thus, a high-quality natural image can be displayed even on a low gradation LCD. In this case, the image data of 8 bits per pixel (256 gradations) of the captured image can be compressed into 2 bits per pixel (4 gradations), and the amount of information can be reduced to 8 pixels at a time by a 16-bit bus. Image data can be transferred at high speed. On the other hand, the display controller 47 and the LCD 36
When a displays only two-gradation display, the result of the adaptive binarization process is adopted and the high-quality two-gradation image subjected to the adaptive binarization process is displayed on the display screen 36a. is there.

In this way, on the card type camera 35 side, for the halftone display with a low gradation according to the capability of the image display means on the information processing device side by the error diffusion section 30 and the adaptive binarization section 31 which are implemented as an LSI. By obtaining the image data and the image data for 2-gradation display at high speed, the image can be displayed in real time on the side of the information processing apparatus.

As described above, the card type camera 3
By providing both the error diffusion unit 30 and the adaptive binarization unit 31 in 5, even if the image display unit on the side of the mounted information processing device is an image display unit capable of halftone display,
Even an image display unit that displays only a gradation image can display a high-quality image. Furthermore, the image input unit 23
Image captured in some way (classified by user
By classifying into a character image and a natural image by (manual classification) or automatic classification), in the case of a character image, an adaptive binarization unit 31 performs an adaptive binarization process to display an image with clear edges. On the other hand, in the case of a natural image, it is possible to display a natural image that has been subjected to error diffusion processing by the error diffusion unit 30.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the shake correction process, the brightness conversion process, the edge emphasis process, the edge amount detection process, and the error diffusion are performed on the image data of one frame taken in the memory unit 24. Processing and image processing of adaptive binarization processing and sending to the portable information device 36,
It is stored in the main memory 43 or displayed on the display screen 36a. On the other hand, the portable information device 36 side accesses the memory unit 24 of the card type camera 35 through the IC card interface unit 32 to read unprocessed image data, and the software described above is used under the control of the CPU 42. It is also possible to perform the image processing of.
However, in that case, the processing speed is lower than that in the case where the image processing units are integrated into an LSI and the above-described image processing is performed by hardware as in the present embodiment.

As described above, it is necessary to display a monitor image on the display screen 36a of the portable information device 36 during the focus adjustment or the brightness conversion. In that case,
The portable information device 36 needs to continuously capture images from the card type camera 35 side at high speed. Moreover, in that case, the transfer request of the image is issued from the portable information device 36 asynchronously with the cycle in which the card camera 35 captures the image.

Therefore, particularly when monitoring during the focus adjustment, one field (for example,
Only the (odd field) image is written in the memory unit 24,
In the vertical direction, the odd field images are simply complemented and transferred as image data of one frame image to the portable information device 36, thereby enabling high-speed image data transfer with a small storage amount. FIG. 21 shows a case in which the image data of the odd field image captured by the card type camera 35 is asynchronously read from the portable information device 36 side during the monitoring (step S4 in the flowchart of the image capture processing operation shown in FIG. 14). Is a timing chart of (corresponding to). At this time, the memory unit 24 has two RAMs, a first RAM 24a and a second RAM 24b, so that the portable information device 36 can always read the latest image data. The numbers in the figure are field image numbers.

First, the image data of the first field sent from the image pickup section 22 is written in the first RAM 24a. Then, when this writing operation is completed, the level of the transfer permission signal to the portable information device 36 becomes "H". In this way, when the reading from the first RAM 24a is possible, the portable information device 36 reads the image data of the first field from the first RAM 24a. And the first
When the image data of the third field is sent from the image pickup unit 22 while the RAM 24a is operating, the second RAM 2
It is written in 4b.

Next, when the image data of the fifth field is sent from the image pickup unit 22, the first RAM
24a is still in operation (portable information device 36 is reading)
If so, the contents of the second RAM 24b are rewritten to the image data of the fifth field. At that time, the first RAM 24a
The second RAM 24b is operating even after reading from the
If (the image data of the fifth field is being written),
Reading is not permitted for the portable information device 36.
Then, when the writing of the image data of the fifth field to the second RAM 24b is completed, the reading is permitted,
The image data of the fifth field is read by the portable information device 36.

Thereafter, the above operation is repeated, and the latest odd-numbered field image data is always transferred to the portable information device 36.

On the other hand, the shutter switch 5
When 1 is pressed and the image capturing is stopped after the image data of the next field image is captured, the image data of the captured frame image is transferred from the portable information device 36 side at the following timing. Read out. FIG. 22 is a timing chart of image data reading (corresponding to step S9 in the flowchart of the image capture processing operation shown in FIG. 14) when the shutter switch is pressed.

Until the shutter switch 51 is pressed, the first R mode is performed in the same manner as in the monitor limb state.
Image data of an odd field is written in the AM 24a and the second RAM 24b. And shutter point A
When the shutter switch 51 is pressed at, the memory controller 25 causes the first RAM 24a and the second RAM 2 to operate.
The write address is controlled so as to write both odd / even field images in 4b. As a result, the CCD
When the image of the sixth field is captured by
Image data of continuous field images is written in the first RAM 24a and the second RAM 24b. When the writing operation is completed in this way, the image capturing from the CCD is stopped and the reading from the first RAM 24a and the second RAM 24b is permitted. And the portable information device 3
6, the image data of the sixth field is read from the first RAM 24a, while the image data of the fifth field is read from the second RAM 24b. In this way, one frame image is read.

When the shutter switch 51 is pressed at the shutter point B, the above-mentioned CCD
At the time when the image of the ninth field is captured by the first RAM 24a and the second RAM 24b, the image data of the continuous field image has not been written.
Only when the 0 field image is captured, the first R
Image data of continuous field images is written in the AM 24a and the second RAM 24b. Therefore, at this point, the image capturing from the CCD is stopped and
Reading from the first RAM 24a and the second RAM 24b is permitted.

Further, in monitoring during the focus adjustment, it is important to display the image captured by the image pickup unit 22 on the display screen 36a of the portable information device 36 in real time. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the first RAM 24a or the second RA in the memory unit 24 is used.
Instead of transferring all of the odd-numbered field image data written in M24b to the portable information device 36, both of the R fields described above are transferred according to the transfer address generated by the memory control unit 25.
By transferring image data of a small area in AM, high-speed transfer becomes possible and real-time monitoring becomes possible.

FIG. 23 is a block diagram relating to the generation of the transfer address of the first RAM 24a or the second RAM 24b in the memory control section 25. When the address data is sent from the IC card interface unit 32, the start address in the X direction is loaded into the register Xs, the end address in the X direction is loaded into the register Xe, and the start address in the Y direction is sent according to the address data. It is loaded into the register Ys, and the end address in the Y direction is loaded into the register Ye. Further, when the transfer request signal is sent out, the value of the register Xs is first loaded into the X counter 76, and the value of the register Ys is transferred to the Y counter 78.
Loaded in. Then, the X counter 76 is counted up (counted down) and the address is updated. At this time, the address signal from the X counter 76 is always x
The address signal is sent to the memory unit 24 and the X address comparison unit 77. On the other hand, the address signal from the Y counter 78 is always sent to the memory section 24 and the Y address comparison section 79 as a y address signal.

The X address comparison unit 77 compares the address sent from the X counter 76 with the end address loaded in the register Xe, and when they are equal, the value of the register Xs is loaded again in the X counter 76 and counted. Up (count down). Further, the contents of the Y counter 78 are incremented (decremented). Thus, when the Y counter 78 counts up (counts down), the Y address comparison unit 79 compares the address sent from the Y counter 78 with the end address loaded in the register Ye, and when they are equal, X
The operation of the counter 76 and the Y counter 78 is stopped.

As described above, the x address signal output from the X counter 76 and the y address signal output from the Y counter 78 are transferred to the first RAM 24a or the second RAM 24b by the CAS (column address strobe signal) and RAS (low) signals. By using it as an address strobe signal), the read address can be automatically updated and the image data can be transferred to the portable information device 36.

At this time, in step S1 in the flow chart of the image capturing processing operation, the start address and the end address are designated, for example, to read the image data of several lines every few lines from the field image. By transferring the image data of the small areas in the both RAMs, high-speed monitoring in real time becomes possible.

The address designation in the memory section 24 is valid even during writing. Therefore, the memory unit 24
After writing the image data into the memory section 24 at high speed from the portable information device 36 side by designating a writing area to the memory area and performing the above-mentioned various image processing on the card type camera 35 side, the processed image data is carried again. It is also possible to return it to the pattern information device 36.

As described above, in this embodiment, the image input section 23 including the image forming section 21 having the optical system lens 21a and the image pickup section 22 having the CCD and the like, and the memory section 2 are provided.
4. Since the card type camera is constituted by the IC card unit 33 formed by integrating the various image processing units and the IC card interface unit 32 into an LSI, the IC card unit 33 is a slot of the portable information device 36 as an external information processing device. By being inserted into 36b, it can be integrated with the portable information device 36 and function as a single camera.

Therefore, the error diffusion processing and the adaptive binarization unit 31 by the error diffusion unit 30 of the IC card unit 33 are applied to the image data of the image captured by the image input unit 23.
By carrying out the adaptive binarization processing by the above, it is possible to obtain image data for halftone display and two-gradation display according to the capability of the image display means of the portable information device 36 at high speed, and thus the portable information. Images can be displayed on the display screen 36b of the device 36 in real time. Further, a high-quality image can be displayed on the display screen 36a without being limited by the capability of the image display means.

At this time, since the IC card unit 33 is housed in the portable information device 36 and only the image input unit 23 is exposed, the subject can be photographed very conveniently. Further, by making the direction of the lens 21a constituting the image forming unit 21 of the image input unit 23 rotatable or by separating the image input unit 23 from the IC card unit 33, the direction of the subject is portable information. Display screen 36 of device 36
It is not restricted by the direction of a, and it is easier to use.

Further, when the shutter switch 51 is pressed during frame image capturing, the shutter switch is pressed by the interruption signal sent from the IC card interface section 32.
When confirmed on the 6 side, the shutter sound generation unit 4 on the card type camera 35 side by the acoustic signal from the portable information device 36.
A shutter sound is generated by 9. Therefore, the operator can confirm that the image data of the target subject has been reliably captured.

In the above embodiment, the CPU 42 of the portable information device 36 determines the focus state based on the edge amount obtained by the card type camera 35. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the focus state determination may be performed on the card type camera 35 side. Further, in each of the above card type cameras 35, 37, 38, 39, 40, focus adjustment is performed by manual operation. However, the determination result of the focus state on the information processing device side or each card type camera side You may perform auto-focusing based on the determination result of a focus state.

In the above embodiment, the memory unit 2
4 → luminance conversion unit 27 → edge enhancement unit 28 → error diffusion unit 3
Although the image data is transferred in the order of 0, the present invention is not limited to this, and each image processing unit has image data from the memory unit 24, image data from the image pickup unit 22, and arbitrary data. The image data processed by the image processing unit may be input.

Further, in the above embodiment, the portable information equipment 36 is described as an example of the external information processing apparatus to which the card type camera is attached, but the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, it can be a personal word processor or personal computer. In that case, the card type camera 35 can be attached to the portable information device 36 and an imaged image can be processed by a personal computer or the like. Further, in the above embodiment, the case of displaying an image on the LCD is taken as an example.
Although the processing operations of the brightness conversion unit 27, the edge enhancement unit 28, and the edge amount detection unit 29 have been described, the same operation is performed when displaying an image on a CRT or the like, and "the characteristics of the image display unit to be used are changed. Display according to the corresponding brightness "," enhancement for edge part ", or" detection of relative amount of high-frequency component included in image ".

[0104]

[0105]

As is apparent from the above, the card type camera according to the first aspect of the present invention, in particular, the image input unit is an IC
When the card unit is housed in the information processing apparatus, the hinge of the image input unit protruding outside the information processing apparatus causes the optical axis on the incident side of the image forming unit to be I.
The configuration is changeable with respect to the extending direction of the C card part,
Further, since the main body of the image input unit is provided with a shutter switch for controlling the capture of image data regardless of the hinge operation, the operator can operate the information processing device without being influenced by the direction of the subject. You can shoot while holding the display screen in a state where it is easy to monitor.

Further, in the card type camera of the invention according to claim 2 , the image input section is detachably provided to the IC card section, and the image data from the image input section separated from the IC card is transferred to the image data conveying means. Since the image is conveyed to the IC card section by the operator, the operator can take a picture without the direction of the subject being restricted by the direction of the display screen of the information processing apparatus.

The card type camera of the invention according to claim 3 receives a shutter switch that outputs an interrupt signal when pressed, and receives a sound signal sent from the information processing device based on the interrupt signal. Since a shutter sound generation unit that generates a shutter sound and an interface unit that transmits and receives a signal between the shutter switch and the shutter sound generation unit and the information processing device are provided, when the shutter switch is pressed, A shutter sound can be generated by the shutter sound generator. Therefore, the operator can confirm that the image data has been reliably captured by the shutter sound.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a card type camera of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view showing an example of the card type camera shown in FIG. 1 and a diagram showing an example of attachment to a portable information device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an operation example in an image input unit of the card type camera shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an operation example different from FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an operation example different from FIGS. 3 and 4;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of focus adjustment in the card type camera shown in FIG.

7 is an external view of the card type camera shown in FIG. 1 different from that in FIG. 2 and a diagram showing an example of attachment to a portable information device.

FIG. 8 is an external view of the card type camera shown in FIG. 1 different from FIGS. 2 and 7 and a diagram showing an example of attachment to a portable information device.

9 is an external view of the card type camera shown in FIG. 1, which is different from FIGS. 2, 7, and 8. FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an operation example of an image input unit in the card type camera shown in FIG. 9.

11 is a plan view of the card type camera shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 7, FIG.
10 is an external view different from FIG. 9.

12 is an explanatory diagram of separation of an image input unit from an IC card unit in the card type camera shown in FIG.

13 is a schematic block diagram of the portable information device in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of an image capture processing operation.

15 is a block diagram relating to a shutter switch pressing operation in the card type camera shown in FIG.

16 is a detailed block diagram of a camera shake correction unit in FIG.

17 is a detailed block diagram of a luminance conversion unit in FIG.

FIG. 18 is a detailed block diagram of an edge enhancement unit in FIG. 1.

FIG. 19 is a detailed block diagram of an error diffusion unit in FIG.

20 is a detailed block diagram of an adaptive binarization unit in FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 21 is a timing chart when reading image data from the portable information device side during monitoring.

FIG. 22 is a timing chart when reading image data from the portable information device side when the shutter switch is pressed.

FIG. 23 is a block diagram regarding generation of an address by the memory control unit in FIG. 1.

FIG. 24 is an external view of a conventional electronic still camera.

FIG. 25 is a block diagram of the electronic still camera shown in FIG. 24.

[Explanation of symbols]

21 ... Image forming unit, 22 ... Imaging unit, 2
3 ... Image input section, 23f, 33a, 23g,
33b ... Connector, 24 ... Memory part,
26 ... Image stabilization unit, 27 ... Luminance conversion unit,
28 ... Edge emphasis section, 29 ... Edge amount detection section,
30 ... Error diffusion unit, 31 ... Adaptive binarization unit,
32 ... IC card interface section, 3
3 ... IC card part, 34 ... IC card connector, 35 ... Card type camera, 36 ... Portable information equipment, 41, 41a, 41b ... Cable, 4
9 ... Shutter sound generator.

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Masako Nakanishi               22-22 Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Prefecture               Within Sharp Corporation (72) Inventor Hiroyoshi Toda               22-22 Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Prefecture               Within Sharp Corporation (72) Inventor Toshifumi Horikawa               22-22 Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Prefecture               Within Sharp Corporation                (56) Reference JP-A-4-97665 (JP, A)                 JP-A-7-121147 (JP, A)                 Special table flat 7-505751 (JP, A)

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image input section having an image forming section for connecting an image of a subject on an image forming surface and an image forming section for taking in an image on the image forming surface to generate digital image data, a memory section and a memory. The image data from the image input unit is stored in the memory unit, and the stored image data is electrically connected via the connector. In the card type camera for sending to an external information processing apparatus, the IC card unit is formed in a card shape and can be inserted into the information processing apparatus from a card slot provided in the information processing apparatus, The image input unit is integrally provided at an end of the IC card unit opposite to the side where the IC card unit is inserted into the information processing apparatus, and the IC card unit is used for the information processing. When it is mounted on a table and electrically connected, it protrudes to the outside of the information processing apparatus, and the main body part and the image forming part are connected by a hinge. The direction of the optical axis of the IC card can be changed with respect to the extending direction of the IC card section, and the main body section is provided with a shutter switch for controlling the capture of image data. Card type camera. 2. An image input section having an image forming section for connecting an image of a subject on an image forming plane and an image forming section for taking in the image on the image forming plane to generate digital image data, a memory section and a memory. The image data from the image input unit is stored in the memory unit, and the stored image data is electrically connected via the connector. In the card type camera for sending to an external information processing apparatus, the IC card unit is formed in a card shape and can be inserted into the information processing apparatus from a card slot provided in the information processing apparatus, The image input unit is removably provided at an end of the IC card unit opposite to the side where the IC card is inserted into the information processing apparatus, and the IC card unit is provided with the information. When it is mounted on the processing device and electrically connected, it projects out of the information processing device. Each of the image input unit and the IC card unit has a connection means for electrically connecting each other. Image data transporting means for transporting image data from the image input section separated from the IC card section to the IC card section via the connecting section. A card-type camera that is equipped with. 3. An image input section having an image forming section for connecting an image of a subject on an image forming surface and an image forming section for taking in an image on the image forming surface to generate digital image data, a memory section and a memory. The image data from the image input unit is stored in the memory unit, and the stored image data is electrically connected via the connector. In a card-type camera that sends to an external information processing device, a shutter switch that outputs an interrupt signal when pressed is provided, and an acoustic signal sent from the information processing device based on the interrupt signal is received. The interface unit includes a shutter sound generation unit that generates a shutter sound, and the interface unit includes the shutter switch and the shutter sound generation unit. Card type cameras and performs transmission and reception of signals between the processor.