JP3736129B2 - Digital camera - Google Patents

Description

【０１１８】
なお、表１は全体画像を撮影するときの代表的な４個の焦点距離ｆ１及びそのときの水平及び垂直の各方向の画角θh1，θv1と各焦点距離ｆ１に対する部分画像を撮影するときの焦点距離ｆ２及びそのときの水平及び垂直方向の画角θh2，θv2、部分画像を撮影するときの光軸Ｌの方向の正面方向からの変位量Δθh，Δθv及び焦点距離比Ｋ（＝ｆ２／ｆ１）を示したものである。なお、８ｍｍ以下の代表値以外の任意の焦点距離ｆ１についても同様に算出、設定することができる。
【０１１９】
本実施の形態では図５に示すように、被写体全体を４分割しているので、各部分画像Ｇ_A〜Ｇ_Dの撮像時の焦点距離ｆ２は全体画像Ｇの撮像時の焦点距離ｆ１の略２倍となるが、境界部分で画像を重複させて貼合わ合成をし易くすることや撮影時のカメラブレにより貼合合成位置の画像の欠如を防止することを考慮して焦点距離比Ｋ（＝ｆ２／ｆ１）は２倍よりも小さくしている。
【０１２０】
同表において、水平画角θhi，垂直画角θvi（ｉ＝１，２）はそれぞれ図２４（ａ），（ｂ）に示す角度である。本実施の形態では、撮像素子として４．８ｍｍ×３．６ｍｍのＣＣＤ２３９ａを用いているので、水平画角θhi，垂直画角θviはそれぞれθhi＝２・tan~¹(2.4/fi）、θvi＝２・tan~¹(1.8/fi）で算出される。また、光軸変位量Δθh，Δθvは、図２５に示すように、それぞれＣＣＤ２３９ａを傾けた場合の水平方向の傾斜角と垂直方向の傾斜角である。
【０１２１】
図２３に戻り、ズームアウトスイッチＳＺＯがオン状態になっていれば（＃７０でＮＯ，＃８６でＹＥＳ）、撮影レンズ２３１の焦点距離調節用のレンズ２３１ａがワイド側の終端位置にあるか否かが判別され（＃８８）、焦点距離調節用のレンズ２３１ａがワイド側の終端位置になければ（＃８８でＮＯ）、焦点距離調節用のレンズ２３１ａがワイド側に駆動され（＃９０，＃８６〜＃９０のループ）、焦点距離調節用のレンズ２３１ａがワイド側の終端位置に設定された時点でレンズ２３１ａの駆動が停止される（＃８８でＹＥＳ，＃９２）。
【０１２２】
すなわち、ズーム操作ボタン７（又は１７）が押し続けられると、撮影レンズ２３１の焦点距離調節用のレンズ２３１ａをワイド側に移動してズームアウトの動作が行われる。そして、焦点距離調節用のレンズ２３１ａがワイド側の終端位置に到達してもなおズーム操作ボタン７（又は１７）が押し続けられていると、レンズ２３１ａは当該終端位置で停止され、撮影レンズ２３１はワイド端（本実施の形態ではｆ＝５ｍｍ）に固定される。なお、ズームアウト操作では撮影レンズ２３１の焦点距離ｆが８ｍｍを超えることはないので、高精細撮影モードにおけるズームイン操作の場合のような制限は設けられていない。
【０１２３】
図１９に戻り、ＳＷ判別処理において、光軸変更レバー９もしくは光軸変更ボタン１９ａ〜１９ｄが操作されてスイッチＳＵ〜ＳＬのいずれかがオンになると（＃１６〜＃２２のいずれかがＹＥＳ）、図２６，図２７に示すサブルーチン「撮像ユニット駆動」の処理が実行され、撮像ユニット２２の光軸方向の変更処理が行われる。
【０１２４】
「撮像ユニット駆動」のサブルーチンに移行すると、光軸変更レバー９（もしくは光軸変更ボタン１９ａ）の操作によりスイッチＳＵがオン状態になっているか否かが判別される（＃１００）。
【０１２５】
スイッチＳＵがオン状態になっていれば（＃１００でＹＥＳ）、更に撮影モードスイッチ１４により高精細撮影モードが設定されているか否かが判別される（＃１０２）。高精細撮影モードが設定されていれば（＃１０２でＹＥＳ）、撮像ユニット２２が中心位置から上方向に１０°未満の角度Δθvで変位した位置にあるか否かが判別され（＃１０４）、角度ΔθvがΔθv＜１０°であれば（＃１０４でＹＥＳ）、撮像ユニット２２が垂直面内で上方向に駆動され（＃１０８、＃１００〜＃１０４，＃１０８のループ）、撮像ユニット２２が中心位置から上方向に１０°変位した位置に達すると（＃１０４でＮＯ）、撮像ユニット２２の駆動が停止される（＃１１０）。すなわち、高精細撮影モードにおいては光軸変更レバー９（もしくは光軸変更ボタン１９ａ）の操作に応じて撮像ユニット２２が中心位置から１０°の範囲内で上方向に駆動される。
【０１２６】
一方、通常撮影モードが設定されていれば（＃１０２でＮＯ）、撮像ユニット２２が中心位置から上方向に２０°未満の角度Δθvで変位した位置にあるか否かが判別され（＃１０６）、角度ΔθvがΔθv＜２０°であれば（＃１０６でＹＥＳ）、撮像ユニット２２が垂直面内で上方向に駆動され（＃１０８、＃１００，＃１０２，＃１０６，＃１０８のループ）、撮像ユニット２２が中心位置から上方向に２０°変位した位置に達すると（＃１０６でＮＯ）、撮像ユニット２２の駆動が停止される（＃１１０）。すなわち、通常撮影モードにおいては光軸変更レバー９（もしくは光軸変更ボタン１９ａ）の操作に応じて撮像ユニット２２が中心位置から２０°の範囲内で上方向に駆動される。
【０１２７】
また、スイッチＳＵがオフ状態であるか、オン状態からオフ状態になると（＃１００でＮＯ）、撮像ユニット２２の回動動作は停止される（＃１１２）。
【０１２８】
続いて、光軸変更レバー９（もしくは光軸変更ボタン１９ｂ）の操作によりスイッチＳＤがオン状態になっているか否かが判別され（＃１１４）、スイッチＳＵの場合と同様の撮像ユニット２２の回動動作の制御が行われる（＃１１４〜＃１２６）。すなわち、高精細撮影モードにおいては光軸変更レバー９（もしくは光軸変更ボタン１９ｂ）の操作に応じて撮像ユニット２２が中心位置から１０°の範囲内で下方向に駆動され（＃１１４，＃１１６，＃１１８，＃１２２，＃１２４）、通常撮影モードにおいては光軸変更レバー９（もしくは光軸変更ボタン１９ｂ）の操作に応じて撮像ユニット２２が中心位置から２０°の範囲内で下方向に駆動される（＃１１４，＃１１６，＃１２０，＃１２２，＃１２４）。そして、スイッチＳＤがオフ状態であるか、オン状態からオフ状態になると（＃１１４でＮＯ）、撮像ユニット２２の回動動作は停止される（＃１２６）。
【０１２９】
なお、高精細撮影モードにおける撮像ユニット２２の上下方向の駆動範囲をΔθv＜１０°に制限しているのは、表１に示したように、ｆ１＝８ｍｍにおける部分画像撮影時の撮像ユニット２２の光軸Ｌの変位量｜Δθv｜が１０°を超えることがないからである。また、通常撮影モードにおける撮像ユニット２２の上下方向の駆動範囲をΔθv＜２０°に制限しているのは、変位量｜Δθv｜を２０°以上にすると、撮像ユニット２２の撮影レンズ２３１がカメラ本体２の開口部５に露出しなくなり、撮影できなくなるからである。従って、両撮影モードにおいて、実質的に撮影に必要でない範囲については撮像ユニット２２の垂直面内の回動を制限して無意味な操作をさせないようにしている。
【０１３０】
続いて、光軸変更レバー９（もしくは光軸変更ボタン１９ｃ）の操作によりスイッチＳＬがオン状態になっているか否かが判別される（＃１２８）。スイッチＳＬがオン状態になっていれば（＃１２８でＹＥＳ）、更に撮影モードスイッチ１４により高精細撮影モードが設定されているか否かが判別される（＃１３０）。
【０１３１】
高精細撮影モードが設定されていれば（＃１３０でＹＥＳ）、撮像ユニット２２が中心位置から左方向に７°未満の角度Δθhで変位した位置にあるか否かが判別され（＃１３２）、角度ΔθhがΔθh＜７°であれば（＃１３２でＹＥＳ）、撮像ユニット２２が水平面内で左方向に駆動され（＃１３６、＃１２８〜＃１３２，＃１３６のループ）、撮像ユニット２２が中心位置から左方向に７°変位した位置に達すると（＃１３２でＮＯ）、撮像ユニット２２の駆動が停止される（＃１３８）。すなわち、高精細撮影モードにおいては光軸変更レバー９（もしくは光軸変更ボタン１９ｃ）の操作に応じて撮像ユニット２２が中心位置から７°の範囲内で左方向に駆動される。
【０１３２】
一方、通常撮影モードが設定されていれば（＃１３０でＮＯ）、撮像ユニット２２が中心位置から左方向に２０°未満の角度Δθhで変位した位置にあるか否かが判別され（＃１３４）、角度ΔθhがΔθh＜２０°であれば（＃１３４でＹＥＳ）、撮像ユニット２２が水平面内で左方向に駆動され（＃１３６、＃１２８，＃１３０，＃１３４，＃１３６のループ）、撮像ユニット２２が中心位置から左方向に２０°変位した位置に達すると（＃１３４でＮＯ）、撮像ユニット２２の駆動が停止される（＃１３８）。すなわち、通常撮影モードにおいては光軸変更レバー９（もしくは光軸変更ボタン１９ｃ）の操作に応じて撮像ユニット２２が中心位置から２０°の範囲内で左方向に駆動される。
【０１３３】
また、スイッチＳＬがオフ状態であるか、オン状態からオフ状態になると（＃１２８でＮＯ）、撮像ユニット２２の回動動作は停止される（＃１４０）。
【０１３４】
続いて、光軸変更レバー９（もしくは光軸変更ボタン１９ｄ）の操作によりスイッチＳＲがオン状態になっているか否かが判別され（＃１４２）、スイッチＳＬの場合と同様の撮像ユニット２２の回動動作の制御が行われる（＃１４２〜＃１５４）。すなわち、高精細撮影モードにおいては光軸変更レバー９（もしくは光軸変更ボタン１９ｄ）の操作に応じて撮像ユニット２２が中心位置から７°の範囲内で右方向に駆動され（＃１４２〜＃１４６，＃１５０，＃１５２）、通常撮影モードにおいては光軸変更レバー９（もしくは光軸変更ボタン１９ｄ）の操作に応じて撮像ユニット２２が中心位置から２０°の範囲内で右方向に駆動される（＃１４２，＃１４４，＃１４８，＃１５０，＃１５２）。そして、スイッチＳＲがオフ状態であるか、オン状態からオフ状態になると（＃１４２でＮＯ）、撮像ユニット２２の回動動作は停止される（＃１５４）。
【０１３５】
なお、高精細撮影モードにおける撮像ユニット２２の左右方向の駆動範囲をΔθv＜７°に制限しているのは、表１に示したように、ｆ１＝８ｍｍにおける部分画像撮影時の撮像ユニット２２の光軸Ｌの変位量｜Δθh｜が７°を超えることがないからである。また、通常撮影モードにおける撮像ユニット２２の左右方向の駆動範囲をΔθv＜２０°に制限しているのは、変位量Δθvを２０°以上にすると、撮像ユニット２２の撮影レンズ２３１がカメラ本体２の開口部５に露出しなくなり、撮影できなくなるからである。従って、両撮影モードにおいて、水平面内においても実質的に撮影に必要でない範囲については撮像ユニット２２の回動を制限して無意味な操作をさせないようにしている。
【０１３６】
図１９に戻り、ＳＷ判別処理において、レリーズボタン８（又は１８）が半押しされ、スイッチＳ１がオンになっていると（＃１０でＹＥＳ）、図２８，図２９に示すサブルーチン「Ｓ１ ＯＮ」の処理が実行され、撮影処理が行われる。
【０１３７】
「Ｓ１ ＯＮ」のサブルーチンに移行すると、まず、フラグＦＩＡＢが「０」にリセットされる（＃１６０）。続いて、撮像部２３９による撮像動作が行われ（＃１６２）、撮像部２３９から出力される画像信号はＡ／Ｄ変換部２０６で画像データに変換された後、信号処理部２０８で所定の信号処理が行われてＲＡＭ２０９に一時、記憶される（＃１６４）。ＲＡＭ２０９に一時記憶された画像データは直ちに読み出され、間引き処理が行われてケーブル１１を介してＬＣＤ表示部３の表示制御部３０１に転送され、ＬＣＤパネル１２に表示される（＃１６６）。すなわち、ＬＣＤ表示部３にライブビュー表示が行われる。
【０１３８】
続いて、ＲＡＭ２０９に一時記憶された画像データを用いて露出調整が行われる（＃１６８）。本実施の形態に係るデジタルカメラ１は絞り固定（例えばＡｖ＝４．０〔Ｅｖ〕）で、ＣＣＤ２３９ａの露光時間（電荷蓄積時間）ＳＳを制御することにより露出制御が行われるようになっている。そして、この露光時間ＳＳはＲＡＭ２０９に一時記憶された画像データを用いて被写体輝度Ｂｖ（例えばＧの色成分の画素データの平均レベル値）を算出し、この被写体輝度Ｂｖに基づいて設定されるようになっている。すなわち、ライブビュー表示においては、予め設定された所定の周期（例えば１／３０秒）で画像が撮像されるので、撮像画像毎に被写体輝度Ｂｖを算出するとともに、被写体輝度Ｂｖが適正範囲であるか否かを判別し、適正範囲を超えて明かるければ、現在の露光時間ＳＳを１段階短くし、適正範囲を超えて暗ければ、現在の露光時間ＳＳを１段階長くして次の撮像動作を行ことにより被写体輝度Ｂｖが適正範囲となる露光時間ＳＳが設定される。
【０１３９】
表２は露光時間ＳＳを制御するためのテーブルである。表２において、網掛けの露光時間ＳＳ（１１ｍｓ）はカメラ起動時に設定される初期設定値である。また、露光時間ＳＳの最小値は０．２５ｍｓ、最大値は３２ｍｓである。
【０１４０】
【表２】

【０１４１】
また、表３は被写体輝度Ｂｖに基づく露光時間ＳＳの調整方法の一例を示すものである。
【０１４２】
表３において、被写体輝度Ｂｖの値は８ビットデータで表したものである。輝度レベルを「高」、「中」、「低」の３つのレベル範囲に分け、Ｇの色成分の画素データの平均値が「中」のレベル範囲（８５〜１６９）にあるときは適正範囲として露光時間ＳＳは変更せず、「低」のレベル範囲（０〜８４）にあるときは露光アンダーとして露光時間ＳＳを１段階長くし、「高」のレベル範囲（１７０〜２５５）にあるときは露光オーバーとして露光時間ＳＳを１段階短くするようにしている。なお、露光時間ＳＳが３２ｍｓで被写体輝度Ｂｖが「低」のレベルのとき（Ｂｖ≦８４のとき）は、フラッシュが自動発光される。
【０１４３】
【表３】

【０１４４】
従って、スイッチＳ１がオンになると、露光時間ＳＳが初期値（１１ｍｓ）に設定されて最初の撮像が行われ、この撮像画像により算出された被写体輝度値Ｂｖに基づいて露光時間ＳＳの調整が行われる。すなわち、１７０≦Ｂｖ≦２５５であれば、露光時間ＳＳが８．０〔ｍｓ〕に変更され、０≦Ｂｖ≦８４であれば、露光時間ＳＳが１６．０〔ｍｓ〕に変更され、８５≦Ｂｖ≦１６９であれば、露光時間ＳＳは変更されない。
【０１４５】
続いて、スイッチＳ２がオンになったか否かが判別され（＃１７０）、スイッチＳ２がオフ状態であれば（＃１７０でＮＯ）、スイッチＳ１のオン状態が継続されている限り（＃１７２でＹＥＳ）、ステップ＃１６２に戻り、撮像、表示及び露出調整の各動作が繰り返される（＃１６２〜＃１７２のループ）。そして、この間にスイッチＳ２がオンになることなくスイッチＳ１がオフになると（＃１７２でＮＯ）、ＬＣＤ表示部３でのライブビュー表示が停止され（＃１７４）、メインフローのＳＷ判別処理にリターンする。
【０１４６】
一方、ライブビュー表示において、レリーズボタン８（又は１８）が全押しされてスイッチＳ２がオンになると（＃１７０でＹＥＳ）、ステップ＃１７６に移行し、撮像及び撮像画像のフラッシュメモリ２１２への記録が行われる。
【０１４７】
すなわち、直前に調整された露光時間ＳＳで撮像部２３９により撮像動作が行われ（＃１７６）、撮像部２３９から出力される画像信号はＡ／Ｄ変換部２０６で画像データに変換された後、信号処理部２０８で所定の信号処理が行われてＲＡＭ２０９に一時、記憶される（＃１７８）。なお、ＲＡＭ２０９は、上述のように５枚分の記憶容量を有しているので、画像データは１枚目の画像記憶エリアに記憶される。
【０１４８】
ＲＡＭ２０９に一時記憶された画像データは直ちに読み出され、間引き処理が行われてケーブル１１を介してＬＣＤ表示部３の表示制御部３０１に転送され、ＬＣＤパネル１２に表示される（＃１８０）。すなわち、撮影者が撮像画像をモニタすることができるようにＬＣＤ表示部３に撮像画像が表示される。
【０１４９】
続いて、撮影モードの設定状態が判別され（＃１８２）、高精細撮影モードが設定されていると（＃１８２でＹＥＳ）、ステップ＃１８４〜＃２１６，＃２３２で高精細撮影処理が行われ、通常撮影モードが設定されていると（＃１８２でＮＯ）、ステップ＃２１８〜＃２３２で通常撮影処理が行われる。
【０１５０】
高精細撮影処理に移行すると、撮影レンズ２３１が所定の焦点距離比Ｋ（＝ｆ２／ｆ１）でズームインされ（＃１８４、表１参照）、図５において、左上（部分画像Ｇ_A）、右上（部分画像Ｇ_B）、右下（部分画像Ｇ_D）及び左下（部分画像Ｇ_C）の順で撮影動作が４回繰り返される（＃１８６〜＃２１０）。
【０１５１】
すなわち、各部分画像Ｇ_A〜Ｇ_Dに対する撮像ユニット２２の駆動方向及び駆動量が決定され（＃１８６）、まず、撮像ユニット２２が部分画像Ｇ_Aの撮像方向（図５のａの方向）に駆動される（＃１８８）。そして、撮像部２３９により部分画像Ｇ_Aの撮像が行われ（＃１９０）、この撮像画像はＡ／Ｄ変換部２０６で画像データに変換され、信号処理部２０８で所定の信号処理が行われた後、ＲＡＭ２０９の２枚目の画像記憶エリアに一時、記憶される（＃１９２）。
【０１５２】
続いて、撮像ユニット２２が部分画像Ｇ_Bの撮像方向（図５のｂの方向）に駆動され（＃１９４）、撮像部２３９により当該部分画像Ｇ_Bの撮像が行われ、この撮像画像が所定の信号処理の後、ＲＡＭ２０９の３枚目の画像記憶エリアに一時、記憶される（＃１９６，＃１９８）。以下、同様に撮像ユニット２２が部分画像Ｇ_D，Ｇ_Cの撮像方向（図５のｄ，ｃの方向）に順次、駆動され（＃２００，＃２０６）、それぞれ撮像部２３９により当該部分画像Ｇ_D，Ｇ_Cの撮像が行われ（＃２０２，＃２０８）、その撮像画像が所定の信号処理の後、ＲＡＭ２０９の４枚目と５枚目の画像記憶エリアにそれぞれ一時、記憶される（＃２０４，＃２１０）。
【０１５３】
そして、全ての部分画像Ｇ_A〜Ｇ_Dの撮像が終了すると、撮像ユニット２２は中心位置に戻され（＃２１２）、ＲＡＭ２０９に一時、記憶された５枚の画像データ（最初に撮影された被写体全体の画像Ｇと４枚の部分画像Ｇ_A〜Ｇ_Dの画像データ）は伸長／圧縮処理部２１０で所定の圧縮処理が行われた後、記録／読出処理部２１１を介してフラッシュメモリ２１２に記録される。このとき、全体画像Ｇ及び部分画像Ｇ_A〜Ｇ_Dはそれぞれ独立の画像ファイルが作成されてフラッシュメモリ２１２に記録される（＃２１４）。また、撮影レンズ２３１の焦点距離が元の焦点距離に（すなわち、部分画像撮影用の焦点距離ｆ２から全体画像撮影用の焦点距離ｆ１に）ズームアウトされる（＃２１６）。なお、撮影画像の画像データの記録の際には当該撮影画像に関する非画像データ（例えば撮影モードに関する情報や撮影日等の情報）も併せて記録される。
【０１５４】
図３０は、上述の高精細撮影モードでの撮影処理（ステップ＃１６０〜＃１７０，＃１７６〜＃２１６の処理）を模式的に示した図である。
【０１５５】
同図において、全体画像Ｇ内のＡ，Ｂ，Ｃ，Ｄはそれぞれ部分画像Ｇ_A〜Ｇ_Dに含まれる画像である。また、表示画像はＬＣＤ表示部３に表示される画像を示し、記憶画像はＲＡＭ２０９に一時記憶される画像を示している。
【０１５６】
同図に示すように、スイッチＳ１がオン状態では被写体像全体が撮像され、その撮像画像がＬＣＤ表示部３に表示される。そして、レリーズが指示されると、被写体の全体画像Ｇが取り込まれ、この全体画像ＧはＲＡＭ２０９に記憶されるとともに、ＬＣＤ表示部３にモニタ表示される。続いて、部分画像Ｇ_A〜Ｇ_DがＧ_A，Ｇ_B，Ｇ_D，Ｇ_Cの順に取り込まれ、各部分画像Ｇ_A〜Ｇ_DはそれぞれＲＡＭ２０９に記憶される。一方、ＬＣＤ表示部３には全体画像Ｇのモニタ表示が継続され、部分画像Ｇ_A〜Ｇ_Dのモニタ表示は行われない。このように部分画像Ｇ_A〜Ｇ_Dのモニタ表示を行わないようにしているのは、高精細撮影モードでは撮影者は被写体全体を撮影し、その撮影画像（被写体の全体画像）のモニタを希望しているのが通常だからである。
【０１５７】
図３１は、フラッシュメモリ２１２に記録される全体画像Ｇ及び部分画像Ｇ_A〜Ｇ_Dの画像ファイルの構成を示す図である。
【０１５８】
各画像ファイルはヘッダ部ＡＲ１と画像記録部ＡＲ２とからなり、ヘッダ部ＡＲ１には撮影モードに関する情報、撮影日、画像のタイトル、露光時間ＳＳ等の記録画像に付随する各種情報（非画像データ）が記録され、画像記録部ＡＲ２には撮像画像の画像データが記録される。
【０１５９】
そして、撮影モードに関する情報としては、下記表４に示すように撮影モード情報、画像の種類情報、画像の位置情報、コマ番号及び焦点距離の情報がビットデータで記録される。
【０１６０】
【表４】

【０１６１】
撮影モード情報は通常撮影モードと高精細撮影モードとを識別する情報である。撮影モード情報は１ビットデータで構成され、例えば「１」がセットされていれば、高精細撮影モードを示し、「０」がセットされていれば、通常撮影モードを示す。画像の種類情報は高精細撮影モードで撮影される５枚の画像の全体画像と部分画像とを識別する情報である。
【０１６２】
画像の種類情報も１ビットデータで構成され、例えば「１」がセットされていれば、全体画像を示し、「０」がセットされていれば、部分画像を示す。位置情報は、部分画像が全体画像のどの位置に対応するかを示す情報である。本実施の形態では全体を４つに分割しているので、位置情報は２ビットデータで構成され、全体画像に対する左上、右上、左下及び右下の各位置に対して、例えば「００」，「０１」，「１０」，「１１」のビットデータが割り当てられている。なお、このビットデータの割当て方法は任意に行うことができる。
【０１６３】
コマ番号は部分画像が何番の全体画像に付随するかを識別する情報である。各撮影画像には４ビットデータからなるコマ番号が付与されるようになっており、表４では全体画像Ｇのコマ番号が「＃＃＃＃」であるので、それに関連する部分画像Ｇ_A〜Ｇ_Dに対するコマ番号も「＃＃＃＃」となっている。焦点距離の情報は撮影時の撮影レンズ２３１の焦点距離を示すものである。高精細撮影モードでは、表１に示したように、全体画像は焦点距離ｆ１で撮像され、部分画像は焦点距離ｆ２（＝Ｋ・ｆ１）で撮像されるので、各画像ファイルには対応する焦点距離ｆ１又は焦点距離ｆ２が、例えば４ビットデータで記録される。
【０１６４】
上記のように、フラッシュメモリ２１２には撮影モードに関係なく全ての画像データは独立した画像ファイルで記録されるが、各画像ファイルにはヘッダ部ＡＲ１に撮影モードに関する情報を記録しているので、高精細撮影モードで撮影された部分画像Ｇ_i（ｉ＝Ａ，Ｂ，Ｃ，Ｄ）であってもこれに関連する他の部分画像Ｇ_i及び全体画像Ｇとの関係が不明確になることはなく、例えばコンピュータシステムにより部分画像Ｇ_A〜Ｇ_Dを合成して全体画像Ｇ′を作成する場合にも確実に画像を検索することができるようになっている。
【０１６５】
図２９に戻り、撮影レンズ２３１の焦点距離のズームアウトが終了すると、ＬＣＤ表示部３への撮像画像のモニタ表示の時間をカウントする表示タイマの計時が開始され（＃２３２）、ＳＷ判別処理（図１９参照）に戻る。
【０１６６】
一方、ステップ＃１８２で通常撮影処理に移行すると、撮影動作が２回連続して行われ（＃２１８，＃２２２）、各撮像画像がＡ／Ｄ変換部２０６で画像データに変換され、信号処理部２０８で所定の信号処理が行われた後、ＲＡＭ２０９の２枚目と３枚目の画像記憶エリアにそれぞれ一時、記憶される（＃２２０，＃２２４）。この連続撮影は上述したオートブラケット撮影である。
【０１６７】
続いて、撮像ユニット２２が中心位置に戻され（＃２２６）、ＲＡＭ２０９に一時、記憶された３枚の画像データのうち、１枚目の画像記憶エリアに記憶された画像データが伸長／圧縮処理部２１０で所定の圧縮処理が行われた後、記録／読出処理部２１１を介してフラッシュメモリ２１２に独立の画像ファイルとして記録される（＃２２８）。そして、フラグＦＩＡＢが「１」にセットされ（＃２３０）、表示タイマの計時が開始された後（＃２３２）、ＳＷ判別処理（図１９参照）に戻る。
【０１６８】
フラグＦＩＡＢのセットは、上述したステップ＃３８で図３２に示すサブルーチン「画像選択」に移行し、ブラケット撮影確認ボタン１５の操作に基づくフラッシュメモリ２１２への記録画像の変更もしくは追加を可能にするものである。
【０１６９】
ここで、サブルーチン「画像選択」の処理について説明する。
「画像選択」のサブルーチンに移行すると、光軸変更レバー９（もしくは光軸変更ボタン１９ａ〜１９ｄ）の操作によりスイッチＳＵ，ＳＤ，ＳＬ，ＳＲのいずれかがオンになったか否かが判別される（＃２４０，＃２４４，＃２４８，＃２５４）。いずれのスイッチもオンになっていなければ、ブラケット撮影確認ボタン１５の操作によりスイッチＳＣＨＧがオンになっているか否かが判別され（＃２５８）、スイッチＳＣＨＧがオンになっていなければ（＃２５８でＮＯ）、ステップ＃２４０に戻り、スイッチＳＵ，ＳＤ，ＳＬ，ＳＲの変化判別が繰り返され、スイッチＳＣＨＧがオンになっていれば（＃２５８でＹＥＳ）、ＳＷ判別処理（図１９参照）にリターンする。
【０１７０】
スイッチＳＵ，ＳＤ，ＳＬ，ＳＲの変化判別でスイッチＳＵがオンになっていれば（＃２４０でＹＥＳ）、ＬＣＤ表示部３に表示されている画像が１つ前の撮像画像に変更され（＃２４２）、スイッチＳＤがオンになっていれば（＃２４４でＹＥＳ）、ＬＣＤ表示部３に表示されている画像が１つ後の撮像画像に変更される（＃２５６）。
【０１７１】
また、スイッチＳＬがオンになっていれば（＃２４８でＹＥＳ）、フラッシュメモリ２１２に記録された１枚目の画像ファイルが消去され（＃２５０）、その画像ファイルにＬＣＤパネル１２に表示されている撮影画像が記録される（＃２５２）。更に、スイッチＳＲがオンになっていれば（＃２５４）、フラッシュメモリ２１２に記録された１枚目の画像ファイルに追加してＬＣＤパネル１２に表示されている撮影画像が新たに記録される（＃２５６）。
【０１７２】
図３３は、上述の「画像選択」の処理を模式的に表した図である。
通常撮影モードでの撮影終了時は、図３３に示すように、ＲＡＭ２０９に記憶された最初の撮像画像（１枚目の画像）がＬＣＤパネル１２にモニタ表示されるとともに、フラッシュメモリ２１２に記録されている（＃１８０，＃２２８の処理参照）。この状態で光軸変更レバー９の下方操作（もしくは光軸変更ボタン１９ｂ）によりスイッチＳＤがオンになると、その度に白抜き矢印に示すように１枚目→２枚目→３枚目→１枚目の順（降順）にＬＣＤパネル１２に表示される画像が変更される。一方、光軸変更レバー９の上方操作（もしくは光軸変更ボタン１９ａ）によりスイッチＳＵがオンになると、その度に黒塗り矢印に示すように１枚目→３枚目→２枚目→１枚目の順（昇順）にＬＣＤパネル１２に表示される画像が変更される。
【０１７３】
また、例えばＬＣＤパネル１２に２枚目の撮影画像を表示させた状態で光軸変更レバー９の左方操作（もしくは光軸変更ボタン１９ｃ）によりスイッチＳＬがオンになると、フラッシュメモリ２１２に記録された１枚目の撮影画像が消去され、それに換えて２枚目の撮影画像がフラッシュメモリ２１２に記録される。また、例えばＬＣＤパネル１２に３枚目の撮影画像を表示させた状態で光軸変更レバー９の右方操作（もしくは光軸変更ボタン１９ｄ）によりスイッチＳＲがオンになると、フラッシュメモリ２１２に記録された１枚目の撮影画像に加えて３枚目の撮影画像もフラッシュメモリ２１２に記録される。
【０１７４】
上記のように、通常撮影モードでは、撮影者のレリーズ動作が１回であっても撮影は３回連続的に行われ、それらの撮像画像がＲＡＭ２０９に一時記憶されるとともに、最初に撮影された画像がフラッシュメモリ２１２に記録される。そして、撮影者がブラケット撮影確認ボタン１５を操作することなく次のレリーズ動作を行うと、再度、撮影が３回連続的に行われ、それらの撮影画像がＲＡＭ２０９に一時記憶されるとともに、最初に撮影された画像がフラッシュメモリ２１２に記録される。
【０１７５】
従って、撮影者はブラケット撮影確認ボタン１５を操作することなくレリーズボタン８（又は１８）を操作する限り、最初の撮影された画像がフラッシュメモリ２１２に記録されるので、オートブラケット撮影機能は実質的に潜在化し、通常の撮影動作（１回のレリーズ動作で１枚の撮影）と同様の処理が行われる。一方、撮影終了後に撮影者がブラケット撮影確認ボタン１５を操作して画像変更可能な確認モードに入ると、オートブラケット撮影機能が顕在化し、撮影者の光軸変更レバー９（もしくは光軸変更ボタン１９ａ〜１９ｄ）の操作に応じてフラッシュメモリ２１２の記録内容を変更又は追加することができるようになる。
【０１７６】
すなわち、撮影者は撮影終了直後にオートブラケット撮影機能の利用を選択することができるので、必要に応じて撮影結果の良否を判別し、その判別結果に応じてより良好な撮影画像に変更もしくは追加することができるので、撮影の失敗が少なく、操作性が向上する。
【０１７７】
なお、本実施の形態では、オートブラケット撮影において、単純に３回だけ連続撮影を行うようにしているが、各撮影で露光時間ＳＳを微妙に変化させて連続撮影を行うようにしてもよい。また、各撮影で撮影レンズ２３１の焦点位置を微妙に変化させたり、焦点距離を僅かに変化させたり、撮像ユニット２２の光軸方向を変化させて連続撮影を行うようにしてもよい。また、ＲＡＭ２０９の容量が５枚まで記憶可能であるので、５回連続撮影を行い、これらの撮影画像から記録画像を選択できるようにしてもよい。
【０１７８】
図２０に戻り、ＳＷ判別処理において、撮影モードスイッチ１４が操作され、高精細撮影モードが設定されていると（＃２４でＹＥＳ）、図３４に示すサブルーチン「レンズチェック」の処理が実行され、撮像ユニット２２の位置及び撮影レンズ２３１の焦点距離の調整処理が行われる（＃２６）。
【０１７９】
「レンズチェック」のサブルーチンに移行すると、撮影レンズ２３１の焦点距離ｆが８ｍｍを超えているか否かが判別され（＃２６０）、ｆ＞８ｍｍであれば（＃２６０でＹＥＳ）、撮影レンズ２３１の焦点距離調整用の撮影レンズ２３１ａがｆ＝８ｍｍとなる位置までワイド側に駆動される（＃２６２，＃２６４，＃２６６）。
【０１８０】
ｆ≦８ｍｍであれば（＃２６０でＮＯ）、撮像ユニット２２の位置が水平面内で中心位置を含む垂直面に対して±７°以上ずれているか否かが判別され（＃２６８）、±７°以上の位置ずれがあれば（＃２６８でＹＥＳ）、撮像ユニット２２を水平面内に駆動して中心位置を含む垂直面内に設定される（＃２７０，＃２７２，＃２７４）。
【０１８１】
続いて、撮像ユニット２２の位置が垂直面内で中心位置を含む水平面に対して±１０°以上ずれているか否かが判別され（＃２７６）、±１０°以上の位置ずれがあれば（＃２７６でＹＥＳ）、撮像ユニット２２を垂直面内に駆動して中心位置を含む水平面内に設定されて（＃２７８，＃２８０，＃２８２）、メインフローにリターンする。
【０１８２】
このレンズチェックの処理は、高精細撮影モードでは撮像ユニット２２を中心位置に設定し、表１に示したように撮影レンズ２３１の焦点距離ｆを８ｍｍ以下に設定して被写体の全体画像Ｇが撮像されるので、高精細撮影モードでの撮影が可能になるように撮像ユニット２２の位置及び撮影レンズ２３１の焦点距離ｆを調整するものである。すなわち、撮影レンズ２３１の焦点距離ｆを最大値８ｍｍに設定するとともに、撮像ユニット２２の光軸方向がｆ＝８ｍｍにおける撮像ユニット２２の光軸方向の変位量Δθh，Δθvの範囲内にないときは撮像ユニット２２を中心位置（光軸方向が正面方向となる位置）に設定し、撮影者がマニュアルで焦点距離ｆを変更しなかった場合でも撮像ユニット２２の位置及び撮影レンズ２３１の焦点距離ｆを自動的に所定の位置及び所定の焦点距離に設定して確実に高精細撮影が行えるようにするものである。
【０１８３】
次に、再生モードの処理について説明する。
ステップ＃６で図３５に示す「再生モード」のサブルーチンに移行すると、まず、フラッシュメモリ２１２に記録されたコマＮｏ．１の撮影画像が記録／読出処理部２１１により読み出され、伸長／圧縮処理部２１０で伸長された後、ケーブル１１を介してＬＣＤ表示部３内の表示制御部３０１に転送され、ＬＣＤパネル１２に再生表示される（＃２９０）。
【０１８４】
続いて、スイッチＳＭ，ＳＰ／Ｒ，ＳＵ，ＳＤ，ＳＲ，ＳＬ，ＳＣＨＧ，ＳＤＥＬの変化の有無が順次、判別される（＃２９２，＃２９４，＃２９６，＃３００，＃３０４，＃３１４，＃３２２，＃３３６）。
【０１８５】
いずれのスイッチも変化がなければ、ステップ＃２９２に戻り、上記スイッチＳＭ〜ＳＤＥＬの変化の有無の判別処理（以下、ＲＳＷ判別処理という。）が行われる（＃２９２，＃２９４，＃２８６，＃３００，＃３０４，＃３１４，＃３２２，＃３３６のループ）。
【０１８６】
ＲＳＷ判別処理において、メインスイッチＳＭがオフにされ（＃２９２でＮＯ）、もしくは記録／再生モードスイッチ１３の設定状態が記録モードに切り換えられると（＃２９４でＹＥＳ）、メインフローのステップ＃２（図１９参照）に戻る。
【０１８７】
再生モードが維持されている状態で、光軸変更レバー９（もしくは光軸変更ボタン１９ａ）の操作によりスイッチＳＵがオンになると（＃２９６でＹＥＳ）、フラッシュメモリ２１２から次のコマＮｏ．の撮影画像が記録／読出処理部２１１により読み出され、伸長／圧縮処理部２１０で伸長された後、ケーブル１１を介してＬＣＤ表示部３内の表示制御部３０１に転送され、ＬＣＤパネル１２に再生表示される（＃２９８）。
【０１８８】
また、光軸変更レバー９（もしくは光軸変更ボタン１９ｂ）の操作によりスイッチＳＤがオンになると（＃３００でＹＥＳ）、フラッシュメモリ２１２から前のコマＮｏ．の撮影画像が記録／読出処理部２１１により読み出され、伸長／圧縮処理部２１０で伸長された後、ケーブル１１を介してＬＣＤ表示部３内の表示制御部３０１に転送され、ＬＣＤパネル１２に再生表示される（＃３０２）。
【０１８９】
すなわち、図３７に示すように、フラッシュメモリ２１２に記録された撮像画像がスイッチＳＵがオンになる毎に、コマ番号が増加する方向（昇順方向）に、また、スイッチＳＤがオンになる毎にコマ番号が減少する方向（降順方向）に、順次、ＬＣＤパネル１２に再生される。この場合、高精細撮影モードで撮影されたＮｏ．４，Ｎｏ５の画像は全体画像ＧのみがＬＣＤパネル１２に再生され、部分画像Ｇ_i（Ｎｏ．４-１〜４-４，Ｎｏ．５-１〜５-４）はＬＣＤパネル１２に再生されない。このように部分画像Ｇ_iの再生を行わないようにしているのは、操作者は撮影画像（すなわち、高精細撮影モードでは被写体全体の画像）のモニタを要求していると考えられるので、合成を目的とする部分画像Ｇ_iの再生はしないようにしている。また、ＬＣＤパネル１２に再生される画像には縁取りＷ1,Ｗ2（Ｎｏ．１，Ｎｏ．４の二重枠参照）を行い、通常撮影モードで撮影された画像の縁取りＷ1の色と高精細撮影モードで撮影された全体画像の縁取りＷ2の色とを異ならせることで、操作者がいずれの撮影モードで撮影された画像であるかの識別できるようにしている。
【０１９０】
図３５に戻り、光軸変更レバー９（もしくは光軸変更ボタン１９ｄ）の操作によりスイッチＳＲがオン状態になると（＃３０４でＹＥＳ）、ＬＣＤパネル１２に再生表示されている画像の撮影モードに関する情報に基づき当該画像が高精細撮影モードで撮影された画像であるか否かが判別され（＃３０６）、高精細撮影画像でなければ（＃３０６でＮＯ）、ステップ＃３１４に移行し、高精細撮影画像であれば（＃３０６でＹＥＳ）、撮影モードに関する情報に基づき全体画像Ｇであるか否かが判別される（＃３０８）。
【０１９１】
そして、再生画像が全体画像Ｇであれば（＃３０８でＹＥＳ）、フラッシュメモリ２１２から最初に撮影された部分画像Ｇ_Aが記録／読出処理部２１１により読み出され、伸長／圧縮処理部２１０で伸長された後、ケーブル１１を介してＬＣＤ表示部３内の表示制御部３０１に転送され、ＬＣＤパネル１２に再生表示される（＃３１０）。また、再生画像が部分画像Ｇ_i（ｉ＝Ａ，Ｂ，Ｃ，Ｄ）であれば（＃３０８でＮＯ）、フラッシュメモリ２１２から当該再生されている部分画像Ｇ_iの次に撮影された部分画像Ｇ_iが記録／読出処理部２１１により読み出され、伸長／圧縮処理部２１０で伸長された後、ケーブル１１を介してＬＣＤ表示部３内の表示制御部３０１に転送され、ＬＣＤパネル１２に再生表示される（＃３１２）。
【０１９２】
すなわち、ＬＣＤパネル１２に再生表示された画像が高精細撮影画像の場合は、スイッチＳＲがオンになる毎にＧ_A（左上画像），Ｇ_B（右上画像），Ｇ_D（右下画像），Ｇ_C（左下画像）の順に部分画像Ｇ_iがサイクリックにＬＣＤパネル１２に再生表示される。例えば図３７において、Ｎｏ．４の全体画像ＧがＬＣＤパネル１２に表示されている状態で、操作者により光軸変更レバー９の右側傾動（もしくは光軸変更ボタン１９ｄの押圧）が行われると、その操作毎にＮｏ．４-１→Ｎｏ．４-２→Ｎｏ．４-３→Ｎｏ．４-４→Ｎｏ．４-１の順に部分画像Ｇ_iがサイクリックにＬＣＤパネル１２に再生される。
【０１９３】
なお、部分画像Ｇ_iがＬＣＤパネル１２に表示される場合にも縁取りが行われ、この縁取りの色を通常撮影画像や高精細撮影画像の全体画像の再生時と異ならせて、操作者が部分画像Ｇ_iの再生であることを識別できるようにしている。
【０１９４】
本実施の形態でＬＣＤパネル１２の表示画像に色違いの縁取りＷ1，Ｗ2を設けることで、再生画像の内容を識別できるようにしているが、例えばコマ番号や撮影モードの文字情報や絵記号等を表示させることで再生画像の内容の識別を可能にしてもよい。
【０１９５】
図３６に戻り、光軸変更レバー９（もしくは光軸変更ボタン１９ｃ）の操作によりスイッチＳＬがオン状態になると（＃３１４でＹＥＳ）、ＬＣＤパネル１２に再生表示されている画像の撮影モードに関する情報に基づき当該画像が高精細撮影画像であるか否かが判別され（＃３１６）、高精細撮影画像でなければ（＃３１６でＮＯ）、ステップ＃３２２に移行し、高精細撮影画像であれば（＃３１６でＹＥＳ）、撮影モードに関する情報に基づきＬＣＤパネル１２の再生画像が部分画像Ｇ_iであるか否かが判別される（＃３１８）。
【０１９６】
そして、再生画像が全体画像Ｇであれば（＃３１８でＮＯ）、ステップ＃３２２に移行し、再生画像が部分画像Ｇ_iであれば（＃３１８でＹＥＳ）、フラッシュメモリ２１２から当該部分画像Ｇ_Aに対応する全体画像Ｇが記録／読出処理部２１１により読み出され、伸長／圧縮処理部２１０で伸長された後、ケーブル１１を介してＬＣＤ表示部３内の表示制御部３０１に転送され、ＬＣＤパネル１２に再生表示される（＃３２０）。
【０１９７】
すなわち、ＬＣＤパネル１２に再生表示された画像が高精細撮影モードで撮影された部分画像Ｇ_iのとき、スイッチＳＬがオンになると、ＬＣＤパネル１２の再生画像が当該部分画像Ｇ_iに対応する全体画像Ｇに切り換えられる。例えば図３７において、Ｎｏ．４-１の部分画像Ｇ_AがＬＣＤパネル１２に表示されている状態で、操作者により光軸変更レバー９の左側傾動（もしくは光軸変更ボタン１９ｃの押圧）が行われると、Ｎｏ．４の全体画像ＧがＬＣＤパネル１２に再生される。なお、ＬＣＤパネル１２にＮｏ．４の全体画像Ｇが再生された状態で、再度、操作者により光軸変更レバー９の左側傾動（もしくは光軸変更ボタン１９ｃの押圧）が行われてもＬＣＤパネル１２の表示は変更されず、Ｎｏ．４の全体画像Ｇの表示が保持される。
【０１９８】
再生モードが維持されている状態で、ブラケット撮影確認ボタン１５の操作によりスイッチＳＣＨＧがオンになると（＃３２２でＹＥＳ）、ＬＣＤパネル１２に再生表示されている画像の撮影モードに関する情報に基づき当該画像が高精細撮影画像であるか否かが判別され（＃３２４）、高精細撮影画像でなければ（＃３２４でＮＯ）、ステップ＃３３６に移行し、高精細撮影画像であれば（＃３２４でＹＥＳ）、撮影モードに関する情報に基づきＬＣＤパネル１２の再生画像が全体画像Ｇであるか否かが判別される（＃３２６）。
【０１９９】
そして、再生画像が全体画像Ｇであれば（＃３２６でＹＥＳ）、フラッシュメモリ２１２の当該再生画像に対応する画像ファイルのヘッダ部に記録された撮影に関する情報の「撮影モード情報」の内容が「高精細撮影モード」から「通常撮影モード」に変更される（＃３２８）。すなわち、撮影モード情報を示すビットデータが「１」から「０」に変更される（表４参照）。
【０２００】
また、フラッシュメモリ２１２内の当該全体画像Ｇに関連する４枚の部分画像Ｇ_iの画像ファィルが全て消去される（＃３３０）。また、再生画像が部分画像Ｇ_iであれば（＃３２６でＮＯ）、フラッシュメモリ２１２に当該部分画像Ｇ_iの画像ファイルが複製され（＃３３２）、この複製された画像ファイルのヘッダ部に記録された撮影に関する情報の「撮影モード情報」の内容が「高精細撮影モード」から「通常撮影モード」に変更される（＃３３４）。
【０２０１】
すなわち、ＬＣＤパネル１２に再生表示された画像が高精細撮影モードで撮影された全体画像Ｇのとき、スイッチＳＣＨＧがオンになると、フラッシュメモリ２１２に記録された当該全体画像Ｇとこの全体画像Ｇに関連する部分画像Ｇ_iとからなる一組の高精細撮影モードの画像ファイルは、全体画像Ｇの画像ファイルを通常撮影モードの画像ファイルに変更し、部分画像Ｇ_iの画像ファイルを抹消することによって通常撮影モードの画像ファイルに変更される。
【０２０２】
再生モードが維持されている状態で、消去ボタン２０の操作によりスイッチＳＤＥＬがオンになると（＃３３６でＹＥＳ）、ＬＣＤパネル１２に再生表示されている画像の撮影モードに関する情報に基づき当該画像が高精細撮影画像であるか否かが判別され（＃３３８）、高精細撮影画像でなければ（＃３３８でＮＯ）、フラッシュメモリ２１２の当該再生されている画像に対応する画像ファイルが消去される（＃３４０）。
【０２０３】
高精細撮影画像であれば（＃３３８でＹＥＳ）、撮影モードに関する情報に基づき再生画像が全体画像Ｇであるか否かが判別され（＃３４２）、全体画像Ｇであれば（＃３４２でＹＥＳ）、フラッシュメモリ２１２の当該全体画像Ｇの画像ファイルとこの全体画像Ｇに関連する４枚の部分画像Ｇ_iの画像ファイルとが全て消去される（＃３４４，＃３４６）。ＬＣＤパネル１２の再生画像が部分画像Ｇ_iであれば（＃３４２でＮＯ）、フラッシュメモリ２１２の当該部分画像Ｇ_iの画像ファイルが消去され（＃３４８）、フラッシュメモリ２１２の当該部分画像Ｇ_iに関連する他の部分画像Ｇ_i及び全体画像Ｇの画像ファイルのヘッダ部に記録された撮影に関する情報の「撮影モード情報」の内容が「高精細撮影モード」から「通常撮影モード」に変更される（＃３５０，＃３５２）。
【０２０４】
例えば図３７において、ＬＣＤパネル１２の再生画像がコマ番号Ｎｏ．４-１の部分画像Ｇ_Aである場合、フラッシュメモリ２１２の当該部分画像Ｇ_Aの画像ファイルが消去され、コマ番号Ｎｏ．４-２，４-３，４−４の他の部分画像Ｇ_B，Ｇ_D，Ｇ_C及びコマ番号Ｎｏ．４の全体画像Ｇの画像ファイルのヘッダ部に記録された「撮影モード情報」の内容が「通常撮影モード」に変更される。
【０２０５】
次に、高精細撮影モードで撮影された全体画像Ｇ及び部分画像Ｇ_A〜Ｇ_Dを用いて画像を貼合合成することにより全体画像Ｇよりも精細度の高い全体画像を作成する方法について説明する。
【０２０６】
本実施の形態では撮影時の画像合成処理の処理負担を軽減するため、当該画像合成処理は撮影後に専用の画像処理装置もしくはコンピュータシステムにより構成された画像処理装置で行うようにしている。従って、上述のデジタルカメラ１と画像処理装置とを組み合わせて高精細画像作成システムが構成される。なお、デジタルカメラ１内に以下に説明する画像合成処理機能を設け、デジタルカメラ１のみで高精細画像作成システムを構成するようにしてもよい。このデジタルカメラ１では、撮影後にＲＡＭ２０９に記憶された全体画像Ｇ及び部分画像Ｇ_A〜Ｇ_Dを貼合合成することにより全体画像Ｇよりも精細度の高い全体画像が作成され、この高精細撮影画像がフラッシュメモリ２１２に記録される。
【０２０７】
図３８は、画像処理装置の一実施の形態のブロック構成図である。
同図に示す画像処理装置は、制御部３１、ＲＯＭ（Read Only Memory）３２、ＲＡＭ（Random Access Memory）３３、画像メモリ３４、ＧＵＩ（Graphical User Interface）３５、Ｉ／Ｆ３６、入力装置３７、表示装置３８及び外部記憶装置３９から構成されている。制御部３１、ＲＯＭ３２、ＲＡＭ３３及び画像メモリ３４、ＧＵＩ３５、Ｉ／Ｆ３６は、装置本体３０内に内蔵され、入力装置３７及び表示装置３８は、ＧＵＩ３５を介して制御部３１に接続され、外部記憶装置３９は、Ｉ／Ｆ３６を介して制御部３１に接続されている。
【０２０８】
制御部３１は、全体画像Ｇ及び部分画像Ｇ_A〜Ｇ_Dを用いて画像の貼合合成処理を実行するものである。制御部３１は、画像の合成処理を行うための画像ファイル入出力処理部３１１及び画像合成部３１２を備えている。
【０２０９】
画像ファイル入出力処理部３１１は、入力装置３７から入力された画像ファイルのカラー画像（電気画像）を当該画像ファイルが記憶された記録媒体（例えば外部記録装置３９、あるいは具備している場合は内部記憶装置等）から読み出す処理及び画像合成後の画像データを入力装置３７から入力された所定の出力先（記録媒体、プリンタその他の周辺機器等）に出力する処理を行うものである。
【０２１０】
画像合成部３１２は、外部記憶装置３９を介してフラッシュメモリ２１２から読み出された全体画像Ｇ及び部分画像Ｇ_A〜Ｇ_Dを用いて貼合合成処理を行い、精細度の高い被写体全体の撮影画像を作成するものである。画像合成部３１２は、後述するように全体画像Ｇを拡大して合成後の画像のサイズ（すなわち、合成画像の枠）を決定する一方、各部分画像Ｇ_A〜Ｇ_Dから合成すべき所定の領域の一部画像を抽出し、その枠内で各部分画像Ｇ_A〜Ｇ_Dの抽出画像を拡大した全体画像Ｇ′に貼り付けるように合成して高精細の全体画像Ｇ″を作成する。
【０２１１】
ＲＯＭ３２は、後述する画像合成処理の処理プログラムが記憶されたメモリである。ＲＡＭ３３は、画像合成処理によって算出された種々のデータを一時的に記憶するものである。また、画像メモリ３４は、画像合成処理を行うため、フラッシュメモリ２１２から読み出された画像データを記憶するものである。画像メモリ３４は、少なくとも１５枚分の画像データの記憶容量を有し、全体画像Ｇ及び部分画像Ｇ_A〜Ｇ_Dを構成する画像データがＲ，Ｇ，Ｂの各色成分に分離されて記憶される。
【０２１２】
表示装置３８は、作業メニュー、処理状態、処理結果等の種々の表示（画像合成後の高精細画像のモニタ表示を含む）を行うもので、ＣＲＴ（Cathode Ray Tube）、ＬＣＤ（Liquid Crystal Display）等の電子表示ディスプレレイからなるものである。表示装置３８には、作業メニューに画像補正項目がアイコンで表示され、作業者は、そのアイコンを選択することにより後述の画像合成処理を行わせることができるようになっている。
【０２１３】
外部記憶装置３９は、フラッシュメモリ２１２が装着脱可能になされ、当該フラッシュメモリ２１２に記録された画像ファイルの読出し及び新規作成された画像ファイルの当該フラッシュメモリ２１２への書込みを行うものである。
【０２１４】
図３９は、画像合成部３１２における画像合成処理を示すフローチャートである。また、図４０は、画像合成の処理手順を示す図である。図４０において、部分画像Ｇ_A〜Ｇ_Dはそれぞれ全体画像Ｇに対して点線部分ａ，ｂ，ｃ，ｄを拡大して撮影したもので、各画像の斜線部分は全体画像Ｇの枠から食み出した部分を示している。
【０２１５】
画像合成処理ではフラッシュメモリ２１２に記録された高精細撮影画像の画像ファイル（全体画像Ｇ及び部分画像Ｇ_A〜Ｇ_Dの５個の画像ファイル）が画像合成装置内の画像メモリ３４に読み出され、図３９に示す処理手順に従って高精細の合成画像が作成される。
【０２１６】
まず、全体画像Ｇの画像ファイルから画像データが読み出され、拡大処理が行われる（＃３６０，図４０の（ａ）参照）。この拡大処理は全体画像Ｇのサイズを部分画像Ｇ_iのサイズに合わせるものであり、合成後の画像の枠を決定するものである。すなわち、予め合成画像のサイズを決定するものである。
【０２１７】
部分画像Ｇ_iは、表４に示したように全体画像Ｇに対して焦点距離比Ｋの倍率で拡大されて撮影されているので、この拡大処理では全体画像Ｇが焦点距離比Ｋで拡大される。
【０２１８】
なお、焦点距離比Ｋは部分画像Ｇ_iの画像ファイルに記録された撮影モードに関する情報を読み出すことにより得ることができる。部分画像Ｇ_iの画像ファイルに記録された焦点距離比Ｋを利用しない場合や部分画像Ｇ_iの画像ファイルに焦点距離比Ｋが記録されていない場合は、部分画像Ｇ_i又は全体画像Ｇの大きさを変更しながら相関演算を行うことにより全体画像の拡大倍率を設定することができる。この方法では部分画像Ｇ_iを取り込むとき、何らかの原因でデジタルカメラ１の移動により被写体までの距離が変化して各部分画像Ｇ_iの大きさが互いに僅かにずれた場合でも適切にマッチング位置の算出と画像合成とを行うことができる利点がある。
【０２１９】
続いて、部分画像Ｇ_Aの画像ファイルから画像データが読み出され、この部分画像Ｇ_Aと拡大された全体画像Ｇ′（以下、拡大全体画像Ｇ′という。）との相関演算が行われ、その演算結果に基づいて拡大全体画像Ｇ′における当該拡大全体画像Ｇ′と部分画像Ｇ_Aとが一致する位置（以下、この位置をマッチング位置という。）が算出される（＃３６２）。そして、算出された拡大全体画像Ｇ′のマッチング位置に部分画像Ｇ_Aの対応する部分の画像を貼り付けるように画像合成が行われる（＃３６４，図４０の（ｂ）参照）。すなわち、拡大全体画像Ｇ′のマッチング位置の画像データが部分画像Ｇ_Aの対応する位置の画像データに置き換えられる。
【０２２０】
上記相関演算は、例えば拡大全体画像Ｇ′内に含まれる複数の特徴点を抽出し、図４１に示すように部分画像Ｇ_Aを平行移動、回転移動、拡大／縮小等の幾何学的な変換を行いつつ拡大全体画像Ｇ′と比較して特徴点の重なり度が最も大きくなる幾何学的変換量を算出するものである。上記のように拡大全体画像Ｇ′のマッチング位置における画像データを各部分画像Ｇ_A〜Ｇ_Dの画像データで置換することにより合成画像が作成されることから、相関演算で算出される幾何学的変換量は各部分画像Ｇ_A〜Ｇ_Dの合成処理における合成位置（すなわち、マッチング位置）を与える情報となっている。
【０２２１】
なお、図４１において、ｇ１，ｇ２，ｇ３，ｇ４はそれぞれ左上、右上，右下及び左下の部分画像Ｇ１，Ｇ２，Ｇ３，Ｇ４の拡大全体画像Ｇ０における最も重なり度が高い位置（すなわち、マッチング位置）を示している。左上の部分画像Ｇ１は、「ＡＢＣ」の文字列Ｃ１又は長方形Ｃ２を特徴点として平行移動法によりマッチング位置ｇ１が算出される場合を示し、右上の部分画像Ｇ２は、矩形Ｃ３を特徴点として拡大／縮小法によりマッチング位置ｇ２が算出される場合を示している。また、右下の部分画像Ｇ３は、太線Ｃ４又は太線Ｃ４のエッジ部分を特徴点として回転移動法によりマッチング位置ｇ３が算出される場合を示し、左下の部分画像Ｇ４は、長方形Ｃ２又は太線Ｃ４を特徴点として輝度変換法によりマッチング位置ｇ４が算出される場合を示している。
【０２２２】
また、特徴点は特定の文字や文字列、特定の線、特定の幾何学的形状（例えば三角形、円、楕円等）、特定のエッジ部分等の特徴的な画像情報を有する領域の画像データである。特徴点としての文字や文字列は公知の文字認識方法により抽出され、特徴点としての幾何学的図形は公知のテクスチュア解析により抽出され、特徴点としてのエッジ部分は公知のエッジ検出手法により抽出される。
【０２２３】
特徴点の重なり度は拡大全体画像Ｇ０の特徴点を構成する画像データとその特徴点に対応する幾何学変換された部分画像Ｇ１〜Ｇ４の画素位置の画像データとの相関値や両画像データの差の絶対値和もしくは両画像データの差の２乗和を用いて判別される。
【０２２４】
図３９に戻り、続いて、部分画像Ｇ_Bの画像ファイルから画像データが読み出され、この部分画像Ｇ_Bと拡大全体画像Ｇ′との相関演算が行われ、その演算結果に基づいて部分画像Ｇ_Bに対する拡大全体画像Ｇ′のマッチング位置が算出される（＃３６６）。そして、算出された拡大全体画像Ｇ′のマッチング位置に部分画像Ｇ_Bの対応する部分の画像を貼り付けるように画像合成が行われる（＃３６８，図４０の（ｃ）参照）。すなわち、拡大全体画像Ｇ′のマッチング位置の画像データが部分画像Ｇ_Bの対応する位置の画像データに置き換えられる。
【０２２５】
以下、同様の方法で部分画像Ｇ_C，Ｇ_Dに対する拡大全体画像Ｇ′のマッチング位置がそれぞれ算出され（＃３７０，＃３７４）、その拡大全体画像Ｇ′のマッチング位置の画像データがそれぞれ部分画像Ｇ_C，Ｇ_Dの対応する位置の画像データに置き換えられて（＃３７２，＃３７６，図４０の（ｄ）（ｅ）参照）、精細度の高い合成画像（被写体全体の撮像画像）Ｇ″が作成される。
【０２２６】
なお、上記実施の形態では、全体画像Ｇを拡大して合成画像Ｇ″の大きさ（すなわち、合成画像Ｇ″の枠）を決定した後、その枠内で部分画像Ｇ_iを貼り付けるように画像合成しているが、部分画像Ｇ_iだけで貼合合成した後、拡大全体画像Ｇ′を用いて合成画像Ｇ″の周辺の不要部分（図４０の部分画像Ｇ_A〜Ｇ_Dの斜線部分）を除去して合成画像Ｇ″の大きさを決定するようにしてもよい。
【０２２７】
しかし、前者の方法では、拡大全体画像Ｇ′の画像データを部分画像Ｇ_A〜Ｇ_Dの画像データに置換することにより高精細の全体画像Ｇ″が作成されるので、画像データの置換時に合成画像Ｇ″の枠外にある不要な画像データ（図４０の部分画像Ｇ_A〜Ｇ_Dの斜線部分）が除去され、後者の方法に比べて合成処理が容易となる。
【０２２８】
また、図４２に示すように、例えば部分画像Ｇ_Cと部分画像Ｇ_Dとの貼り合わせ部分に画像が重複しない部分Ｐがある場合、後者の方法では合成画像Ｇ″の部分画像Ｇ_Cと部分画像Ｇ_Dとの貼り合わせ部分Ｐに画像データの欠落が生じ、実質的に合成画像Ｇ″を作成することはできなくなるが、本実施の形態に係る方法では、拡大全体画像Ｇ′のマッチング位置の画像データが部分画像Ｇ_A〜Ｇ_Dの対応する位置の画像データに置換され、図４３に示すように、合成画像Ｇ″の部分画像Ｇ_Cと部分画像Ｇ_Dとの貼り合わせ部分Ｐには拡大全体画像Ｇ′の画像データ（同図の斜線で示す部分）が残るので、この部分Ｐの精細度は周辺の精細度よりも若干低下するものの画像データが欠落して合成画像Ｇ″が作成できないという不都合はなくなる。
【０２２９】
ところで、撮影レンズによってはレンズの周辺部の光量が中央部の光量に対して減少する特性を有するものがある。このような特性を有する撮影レンズを用いて被写体が撮影されると、撮影画像は、図４４に示すように画面周辺部が画面中央部より暗い輝度偏差の大きい画像となる。
【０２３０】
高精細撮影モードで撮影すると、部分画像Ｇ_iの各々が図４４に示すような輝度分布を有するので、これらを合成した高精細の全体画像Ｇ″は、図４５に示すように画面内で明部と暗部とが交互に表れる輝度分布となり、精細度は向上するものの輝度分布は不自然となり、全体としては画質が著しく低下することになる。また、各部分画像Ｇ_iの間でホワイトバランスに差が生じた場合には貼り合わせの境界部分に色ずれが生じることがあり、この色ずれによっても画質が低下する。
【０２３１】
このように高精細撮影モードでは撮影レンズの光量透過特性に基づく撮影画像の画質劣化が画像合成により更に増長されるので、少なくとも全体画像Ｇの輝度分布程度になるように合成画像Ｇ″の輝度分布を補正して画質劣化を抑制することが望ましい。この画像補正処理は、図３８の仮想線で示すように、制御部３１内に画像補正部３１３を設けることにより必要に応じて当該画像補正部３１３で画像合成部３１２で合成された画像Ｇ″の輝度分布の補正を行うことができる。
【０２３２】
図４６は、上述の画質劣化を抑制するための画像補正方法を示す概念図である。
【０２３３】
画像補正は、まず、拡大全体画像Ｇ′と合成画像Ｇ″とを、例えば（８×８）画素の小ブロックＢＬＫに分割し（図４６の（ａ）参照）、各ブロックＢＬＫ毎にＲ，Ｇ，Ｂの各色成分について画素データｇ_R，ｇ_G，ｇ_Bの平均値Ｒ１_AV，Ｇ１_AV，Ｂ１_AV，Ｒ２_AV，Ｇ２_AV，Ｂ２_AVを算出する（図４６の（ｂ）参照）。次に拡大全体画像Ｇ′及び合成画像Ｇ″の対応するブロックＢＬＫ間で平均値が等しくなるように、合成画像Ｇ″の画素データｇ_R，ｇ_G，ｇ_Bのシフト量を算出する（図４６の（ｃ）参照）。このシフト量は、例えば拡大全体画像Ｇ′及び合成画像Ｇ″の対応するブロックＢＬＫ間の平均値の差ΔＲ_AV，ΔＧ_AV，ΔＢ_AVを用いることができる。
【０２３４】
そして、合成画像Ｇ″の各画素データｇ_R，ｇ_G，ｇ_Bにシフト量ΔＲ_AV，ΔＧ_AV，ΔＢ_AVを加算して合成画像Ｇ″の補正を行う（図４６の（ｄ）参照）。この補正により合成画像Ｇ″の小ブロックの画素データの平均値は拡大全体画像Ｇ′の小ブロックの画素データの平均値と略一致するようになるので、図４６の（ｅ）に示すように、補正後の合成画像Ｇ″の輝度分布は拡大全体画像Ｇ′の輝度分布に近似したものとなる。
【０２３５】
なお、本実施の形態では小ブロックＢＬＫのサイズとして（８×８）画素を例示しているが、小ブロックＢＬＫのサイズ及び形状は任意に設定することができる。小ブロックＢＬＫのサイズを大きくし過ぎると、同一ブロックＢＬＫ内では画素間での画素データの大小関係は補正されないので、ブロックＢＬＫの境界部分で輝度変化の不連続が顕著になるという不具合が生じる一方、逆に小ブロックＢＬＫのサイズを小さくし過ぎると、拡大全体画像Ｇ′と合成画像Ｇ″との間に位置ずれが生じた場合、画像補正により画素データが大幅に変化してしまい、合成画像Ｇ″の画質が劣化するという不具合が生じる。従って、小ブロックＢＬＫのサイズ及び形状はこれらの不具合と撮影レンズの光量透過特性とを考慮して適宜のものを採用するとよい。
【０２３６】
次に、図４７の示すフローチャートに従って画像補正部３１３で行われる上述の画像補正の処理手順を説明する。
【０２３７】
まず、拡大全体画像Ｇ′が（ｘ×ｙ）個の小ブロックＢＬＫに分割される（＃３８０）。続いて、合成画像Ｇ″が（ｘ×ｙ）個の小ブロックＢＬＫに分割される（＃３８２）。続いて、小ブロックＢＬＫの行数ｘと列数ｙとをそれぞれカウントするカウント値ａ，ｂがそれぞれ「１」にセットされる（＃３８４）。
【０２３８】
続いて、拡大全体画像Ｇ′の１行１列の小ブロックＢＬＫ(1,1)について、Ｒ，Ｇ，Ｂの各色成分毎に当該小ブロックＢＬＫ(1,1)に含まれる画素データｇ_i（ｉ＝Ｒ，Ｇ，Ｂ）の平均値Ｒ１_AV(1,1)，Ｇ１_AV(1,1)，Ｂ１_AV(1,1)が算出され（＃３８６）、同様に合成画像Ｇ″の１行１列の小ブロックＢＬＫ(1,1)について、Ｒ，Ｇ，Ｂの各色成分毎に当該小ブロックＢＬＫ(1,1)に含まれる画素データｇ_i（ｉ＝Ｒ，Ｇ，Ｂ）の平均値Ｒ２_AV(1,1)，Ｇ２_AV(1,1)，Ｂ２_AV(1,1)が算出される（＃３８８）。なお、（１，１）は１行１列の小ブロックＢＬＫのものであることを示している。以下、ａ行ｂ列の小ブロックＢＬＫのものには（ａ，ｂ）を付することとする。
【０２３９】
続いて、平均値Ｒ１_AV(1,1)，Ｇ１_AV(1,1)，Ｂ１_AV(1,1)及び平均値Ｒ２_AV(1,1)，Ｇ２_AV(1,1)，Ｂ２_AV(1,1)を用いてシフト量ΔＲ_AV(1,1)，ΔＧ_AV(1,1)，ΔＢ_AV(1,1)が算出される（＃３９０）。なお、シフト量ΔＲ_AV(a,b)，ΔＧ_AV(a,b)，ΔＢ_AV(a,b)は、例えばΔＲ_AV(a,b)＝Ｒ２_AV(a,b)−Ｒ１_AV(a,b)、ΔＧ_AV(a,b)＝Ｇ２_AV(a,b)−Ｇ１_AV(a,b)、ΔＢ_AV(a,b)＝Ｂ２_AV(a,b)−Ｂ１_AV(a,b)により算出される。
【０２４０】
続いて、合成画像Ｇ″の１行１列の小ブロックＢＬＫ(1,1)の各色成分の画素データｇ_i(1,1)がシフト量ΔＲ_AV(1,1)，ΔＧ_AV(1,1)，ΔＢ_AV(1,1)を用いて補正される（＃３９２）。なお、補正データｇ_R′(a,b)，ｇ_G′(a,b)，ｇ_B′(a,b)は、それぞれｇ_R′(a,b)＝ｇ_R(a,b)＋ΔＲ_AV(a,b)、ｇ_G′(a,b)＝ｇ_G(a,b)＋ΔＧ_AV(a,b)、ｇ_B′(a,b)＝ｇ_B(a,b)＋ΔＢ_AV(a,b)で算出される。
【０２４１】
続いて、カウント値ａが行数ｘになっているか否かが判別され（＃３９４）、ａ＜ｘであれば（＃３９４でＮＯ）、カウント値ａが１だけインクリメントされてステップ＃３８６に戻り、（ａ＋１）行ｂ列の小ブロックＢＬＫ(a+1,b)について上述の補正処理が行われる。いま、ａ＋１＝２であるから、ステップ＃３８６に戻り、２行１列の小ブロックＢＬＫ(2,1)について上述の補正処理が行われ、以下、同様に（３，１）、（４，１）、…（ｘ，１）の１列目の各小ブロックＢＬＫ(a,1)（ａ＝３，４，…ｘ）について順次、上述の補正処理が行われる。
【０２４２】
１列目の小ブロックＢＬＫ(a,1)について画像補正が終了すると、ステップ＃３９４でａ＝ｘとなり、ステップ＃３９８に移行してカウント値ｂが列数ｙになっているか否かが判別され、ｂ＜ｙであれば（＃３９８でＮＯ）、カウント値ａが「１」に設定されるとともに、カウント値ｂが「１」だけインクリメントされてステップ＃３８６に戻り、１行（ｂ＋１）列の小ブロックＢＬＫ(1,b+1)について上述の補正処理が行われる。いま、ｂ＋１＝２であるから、ステップ＃３６６に戻り、２列目の小ブロックＢＬＫ(a,2)（ａ＝１，２，…ｘ）について順次、上述の補正処理が行われる（＃３８６〜３９６のループ）。
【０２４３】
そして、以下、同様の方法で各列の小ブロックＢＬＫ(a,b)について順次、上述の画像補正が行われ（＃３８６〜＃４０２のループ）、全ての小ブロックＢＬＫ(a,b)（ａ＝１，２，…ｘ，ｂ＝１，２，…ｙ）について画像補正が終了すると（＃３９８でＹＥＳ）、処理を終了する。
【０２４４】
なお、上記実施の形態では、画像合成プログラムが搭載された専用の画像処理装置について説明したが、図４８に示すように、画像合成プログラム及び画像補正プログラムを、フロッピーディスク、磁気テープ等の磁気記録媒体やＣＤーＲＯＭ、光ディスクカード、光磁気ディスク等の光記録媒体等の外部記録媒体４３に記憶しておき、外部記憶装置４２を介してコンピュータ本体４１に読み込むことにより、あるいはインターネット等のネットワークを介してコンピュータ本体４１に読み込むことにより、コンピュータシステムによる画像処理装置４０を構築するようにしてもよい。
【０２４５】
【発明の効果】
以上説明したように、本発明によれば、被写体全体の画像と被写体の各部分の画像とを順次、撮像し、これらの撮像画像を画像記録手段に記録するデジタルカメラにおいて、各撮像画像に対して独立の画像ファイルを作成し、互いに関連画像であることを示す情報と共に各撮像画像を画像記録手段に記録するようにしたので、各画像ファイルの画像データに付随する情報を変更するだけで簡単に独立の画像ファイルに変更することができ、画像ファイルの管理が容易となる。
【０２４６】
また、画像記録手段の記録画像を表示手段に再生する際、互いに関連する撮像画像の再生が指示されたとき、被写体全体の撮像画像のみを再生するようにしたので、被写体の部分の撮像画像を合成した高精細の被写体全体の画像を再生させるよりも迅速に合成後の被写体全体の画像のモニタが可能になる。
【０２４７】
また、表示手段に互いに関連する撮像画像のうちの被写体全体の撮像画像を再生した状態で記録消去が指示されると、互いに関連する被写体全体の撮像画像及び被写体の部分の撮像画像の画像ファイルを全て消去するようにしたので、画像ファイルの整理を簡単に行うことができる。
【０２４８】
また、表示手段に互いに関連する撮像画像のうちの被写体全体の撮像画像を再生した状態で関連性の解消する指示があると、当該被写体全体の撮像画像の画像ファイルに記録された関連画像であることを示す情報を消去するようにしたので、簡単に被写体全体の撮像画像を独立した撮像画像に変更することができる。
【０２４９】
更に表示手段に互いに関連する撮像画像のうちの被写体全体の撮像画像を再生した状態で関連性を解消する指示があると、当該被写体全体の撮像画像と関連した被写体の部分の撮像画像の画像ファィルを消去するようにしたので、画像記録手段における互いに関連する撮像画像の画像ファイルの整理も容易に行うことができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明に係るデジタルカメラの一実施の形態の外観を示す前側から見た斜視図である。
【図２】本発明に係るデジタルカメラの一実施の形態の外観を示す後側から見た斜視図である。
【図３】表示部をカメラ本体から取り外した状態を示す斜視図である。
【図４】カメラ本体における撮像ユニットの配置位置を示す要部斜視図である。
【図５】高精細撮影モードでの撮影における被写体と撮影範囲との関係を示す図である。
【図６】撮像ユニットの正面図である。
【図７】撮像ユニットの平面図である。
【図８】撮像ユニットの右側面図である。
【図９】撮影レンズの焦点距離を検出する機構を示す図である。
【図１０】撮像ユニットを駆動する駆動部材の構造を示す斜視図である。
【図１１】駆動部材の圧電素子に印加される駆動電圧の波形を示す図である。
【図１２】位置検出部材の構造を示す図である。
【図１３】位置検出回路の一実施の形態を示すブロック図である。
【図１４】位置検出回路の出力信号の波形を示す図である。
【図１５】メインスイッチをオン／オフさせたときの撮像ユニットの設定位置を示す図である。
【図１６】撮像ユニットが中心位置に設定された状態を示す要部斜視図である。
【図１７】撮像ユニットが正面方向に対して右下方向の開口部を遮蔽する位置に設定された状態を示す要部斜視図である。
【図１８】本発明に係るデジタルカメラの回路構成を示すブロック図である。
【図１９】本発明に係るデジタルカメラの撮影動作のメインフローを示すフローチャートである。
【図２０】本発明に係るデジタルカメラの撮影動作のメインフローを示すフローチャートである。
【図２１】サブルーチン「ＳＭ ＯＦＦ」のフローチャートである。
【図２２】サブルーチン「撮像ユニットセット」のフローチャートである。
【図２３】サブルーチン「ズーム」のフローチャートである。
【図２４】水平方向の画角θh及び垂直方向の画角θvを示す図である。
【図２５】水平方向の変位量Δθh及び垂直方向の変位量Δθvを示す図である。
【図２６】サブルーチン「撮像ユニット駆動」のフローチャートである。
【図２７】サブルーチン「撮像ユニット駆動」のフローチャートである。
【図２８】サブルーチン「Ｓ１ ＯＮ」のフローチャートである。
【図２９】サブルーチン「Ｓ１ ＯＮ」のフローチャートである。
【図３０】高精細撮影モードにおける撮影処理を模式的に示す図である。
【図３１】画像ファイルの構成を示す図である。
【図３２】サブルーチン「画像選択」のフローチャートである。
【図３３】通常撮影モードにおける記録画像の選択処理を模式的に示す図である。
【図３４】サブルーチン「レンズチェック」のフローチャートである。
【図３５】サブルーチン「再生モード」のフローチャートである。
【図３６】サブルーチン「再生モード」のフローチャートである。
【図３７】記録画像の再生処理におけるＬＣＤ表示部への表示画像を説明するための図である。
【図３８】高精細画像を作成する画像処理装置の一実施の形態のブロック構成図である。
【図３９】画像合成処理を示すフローチャートである。
【図４０】画像合成の処理手順を示す図である。
【図４１】相関演算処理を説明するための図である。
【図４２】貼合部分に画像の重複部分を有しない部分画像があるとき、部分画像だけを単純に張り合わせた場合の合成画像を示す図である。
【図４３】貼合部分に画像の重複部分を有しない部分画像があるとき、全体画像の対応部分を部分画像で置換するように合成した場合の合成画像を示す図である。
【図４４】レンズ周辺部の光量がレンズ中央部の光量より小さくなる特性を有する撮影レンズで撮影された画像の輝度分布を示す図である。
【図４５】レンズ周辺部の光量がレンズ中央部の光量より小さくなる特性を有する撮影レンズで撮影された画像を合成して高精細画像を作成した場合の輝度分布を示す図である。
【図４６】画像補正方法の概念を示す図である。
【図４７】画像補正の処理手順を示すフローチャートである。
【図４８】コンピュータシステムにより構築された画像処理装置を示す図である。
【符号の説明】
１ デジタルカメラ
２ カメラ本体
２０１ ユニット駆動部
２０２ ユニット位置検出部
２０３ ＦＬ制御部
２０４ 電源部
２０５ スイッチ群
２０６ Ａ／Ｄ変換部
２０７ タイミングジェネレータ
２０８ 信号処理部
２０９ ＲＡＭ
２１０ 伸長／圧縮処理部
２１１ 記録／読出処理部
２１２ フラッシュメモリ（画像記録手段）
２１３ 制御部（撮像制御手段，情報生成手段，記録制御手段，表示制御手段，記録消去手段，情報消去手段、画像消去手段）
３ ＬＣＤ表示部
４ フラッシュ
５ 開口部
６，７，１６，１７ ズーム操作ボタン
８，１８ レリーズボタン（撮影指示手段）
９ 光軸変更レバー（指示手段）
１０ 取付板
１１ ケーブル
１２ ＬＣＤパネル（表示手段）
１３ 記録／再生モードスイッチ（再生指示手段）
１４ 撮影モードスイッチ
１５ ブラケット撮影確認ボタン（指示手段）
１９ａ〜１９ｄ 光軸変更ボタン
２０ 消去ボタン（消去指示手段）
２１ メインスイッチ
２２ 撮像ユニット
２３ ユニット本体
２３１ 撮影レンズ
２３２ ズームモータ
２３９ 撮像部（第１，第２の撮像手段）
２４ 第１支持枠
２５ 第２支持体
２６ 駆動部材
２７，２８ 位置検出部材
３０ 画像処理装置本体
３１ 制御部
３２ ＲＯＭ
３３ ＲＡＭ
３４ 画像メモリ
３５ ＧＵＩ
３６ Ｉ／Ｆ
３７ 入力装置
３８ 表示装置
３９ 外部記憶装置
４０ コンピュータシステム
４１ コンピュータ本体
４２ 外部記憶装置
４３ 外部記録媒体
Ｍ 磁石[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a digital camera that photoelectrically converts a subject image into an image signal by an image sensor and captures the entire subject in a plurality of parts, and combines the captured images of the parts of each subject. The present invention relates to a digital camera that can obtain a captured image of the entire subject with high definition.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in a digital camera, in order to increase the effective resolution of an image sensor such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), the subject is divided into a plurality of parts, enlarged and imaged, and these partial images are combined. Thus, there has been proposed a digital camera that can obtain a captured image of the entire subject with high definition.
[0003]
A digital camera that captures only a portion of a subject and records the recorded image on a recording medium such as a memory card without synthesizing the captured image, thereby reducing the burden of synthesizing the partial image on the camera side. It has been commercialized.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, since the conventional digital camera does not synthesize the entire subject image on the camera side, for example, an image processing device configured by a computer system reads out captured images of a plurality of subject portions from a memory card, and these partial images. It is necessary to create an image of the entire subject by compositing them together, but since the image of the entire subject is not recorded on the memory card, the pasting position of the image of each subject portion is accurately determined There is a problem that image quality deterioration is likely to occur due to the pasting process of the image of each subject portion.
[0005]
In addition, even if the camera body is equipped with a display unit such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and the captured image can be monitored, the entire subject is not photographed in high-definition photography, and the photographed portion of the subject is synthesized. Since an image of the entire subject is not created, there is also a disadvantage that the photographing result cannot be monitored on the LCD display unit.
[0006]
Furthermore, the captured images recorded on the memory card are played back and displayed on the LCD display section, and the contents of the recording are organized (the images of the pair of subjects for erasing unnecessary images and compositing are changed to independent captured images, respectively. Even in the case where it is possible to organize), since only the captured image of the subject portion is reproduced and displayed on the LCD display section for the high-definition image, there is a disadvantage that it is not possible to easily determine whether or not to erase.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a digital camera capable of imaging and recording processing so that captured images of a plurality of subject portions can be easily and accurately combined in high-definition shooting. To do.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention includes a first imaging unit that images the entire subject, a second imaging unit that divides the entire subject into a plurality of parts and images each part of the subject, a shooting instruction unit that instructs shooting, When shooting is instructed by the shooting instruction unit, the first and second imaging units are operated to sequentially capture the entire subject and the subject portion, and the first and second imaging units. In the digital camera comprising the image recording means for recording the image picked up by the image pickup means, information indicating that each of the images picked up by the first and second image pickup means is a related image is generated. Each of the images captured by the information generating means and the first and second imaging means is combined with the information generated by the information generating means corresponding to these captured images, and each of the images is converted into an independent image file. Image recording means It is obtained and recording control means for recording (claim 1).
[0009]
According to the above configuration, an image of the entire subject is captured by the first imaging unit, and then the subject is divided into a plurality of parts by the second imaging unit, and images of each part of the subject are captured. Then, an independent file is created for the captured image of the entire subject and the captured image of each part of the subject and recorded in the image recording means. At this time, information indicating that each captured image is a related image is generated, and each captured image is recorded in the image recording unit together with the information.
[0010]
The contents of the image file of the captured image of the entire subject or the captured image of the portion of the subject are read from the image recording means, and even when these captured images are combined, the related captured image is reliably read from the content of the information accompanying the image data. It becomes possible.
[0011]
Further, the present invention provides a display unit for reproducing and displaying a captured image recorded in an image recording unit, a reproduction instruction unit for instructing reproduction display of the captured image on the display unit, and the reproduction instruction in the digital camera. And display control means for causing the display means to reproduce and display only the image of the entire subject imaged by the first imaging means when the means is instructed to reproduce and display the captured image. ).
[0012]
According to the above configuration, when the reproduction instruction unit instructs to reproduce a set of captured images that are related to each other, only the captured image of the entire subject of the instructed group is read from the image recording unit and displayed on the display unit. The image of the other subject is reproduced and is not reproduced on the display means.
[0013]
According to the present invention, in the digital camera, an erasure instruction means for instructing erasure of the recorded image in the image recording means reproduced and displayed on the display means, and an image reproduced and displayed on the display means by the erasure instruction means. When erasing an image is instructed, the image recording unit further includes a recorded erasing unit that erases the captured image recorded in the image recording unit and a captured image of a portion of a subject related to the captured image. 3).
[0014]
According to the above configuration, when the recording instruction is issued by the erasure instruction unit in a state where the captured image of the entire subject is displayed on the display unit, the recorded image is recorded on the recording unit. All of the captured image of the entire subject and the captured image of each part of the subject constituting the set of captured images are erased.
[0015]
Further, the present invention provides a digital camera that includes an instruction unit that instructs cancellation of the relevance between a captured image of the entire subject reproduced and displayed on the display unit and a captured image of a portion of the subject related thereto, and the instruction unit. An information erasing unit for erasing information indicating that the image is a related image recorded in an image file of the captured image of the entire subject of the image recording unit when an instruction to cancel a set of relationships is given; (Claim 4).
[0016]
According to the above configuration, when the instruction unit cancels the relevance in a state where the captured image of the entire subject of the pair of captured images associated with each other is displayed on the display unit, the recording unit records the relationship. Information indicating that the image is a related image in each image file of the entire captured image forming the set of captured images and the captured image of each part of the subject is deleted. Thereby, each image file of the captured image of the entire subject and the captured image of each part of the subject is treated as an image captured independently.
[0017]
According to the present invention, in the digital camera, when the instruction means cancels the relevance, the portion of the subject related to the captured image of the entire subject reproduced and displayed on the display means recorded in the image recording means And an image erasing means for erasing the image file of the captured image.
[0018]
According to the above configuration, when the instruction unit cancels the relevance in a state where the captured image of the entire subject of the pair of captured images that are related to each other is displayed on the display unit, the image is recorded in the image recording unit. All the image files of the captured image of each part of the subject constituting the set of captured images are deleted, and information indicating that the image is the related image in the image file of the captured image of the entire subject is deleted.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A digital camera according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 to 3 are views showing the appearance of an embodiment of a digital camera according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view seen from the front side, FIG. 2 is a perspective view seen from the rear side, and FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the state which removed the part from the camera main body. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the main part showing the arrangement position of the imaging unit 22 in the camera body.
[0020]
In the digital camera 1 shown in the figure, a photographing lens made up of a zoom lens and an image pickup device made up of a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) are integrated into a unit, and the front direction of the camera body (with respect to the front surface 2a of the camera body 2). The imaging unit 22 is supported so as to be able to rotate vertically and horizontally with respect to the vertical direction), and by controlling the posture of the imaging unit 22 (that is, the optical axis direction), a predetermined angle with respect to the front direction. A subject can be photographed in any direction within the range.
[0021]
In addition, as a shooting mode, a mode for performing a normal shooting operation (hereinafter referred to as a normal shooting mode) and a mode for obtaining a shot image with higher definition than a shot image in the normal shooting mode (hereinafter referred to as a high-definition shooting mode). And so on.)
[0022]
In the normal shooting mode, one shot image is recorded in a flash memory as a recording medium by one release operation. In the present embodiment, a predetermined time interval (in a single release operation, as will be described later). For example, exposure control is performed a predetermined number of times (for example, three times) at intervals of 0.1 seconds (that is, a plurality of images are continuously captured), and among these captured images, a preset captured image ( For example, the first captured image) is automatically recorded in the flash memory. Then, it is possible to record the captured image desired by the photographer (for example, the second captured image) in the flash memory in place of the automatically recorded captured image or in addition to the captured image in accordance with the photographer's instruction. It can be done.
[0023]
The above-described shooting control in the normal shooting mode is similar to the bracket shooting function in the silver halide camera. In a silver salt camera, bracket shooting is usually performed when the photographer sets the mode, but the present embodiment is different in that bracket shooting is always performed in the normal shooting mode. Therefore, in the following description, bracket shooting in the normal shooting mode is referred to as “auto bracket shooting” and is distinguished from bracket shooting in a silver halide camera.
[0024]
In the high-definition shooting mode, as shown in FIG. 5, the entire image G of the subject Q and the partial image G obtained by dividing the subject Q into four parts. _A , G _B , G _C , G _D And the four partial images G based on the entire image G of the subject Q _A ~ G _D Is used to create an overall image of a subject with higher definition than the overall image G of the subject Q. In this high-definition shooting mode, the entire image G of the subject Q is captured with the optical axis direction of the imaging unit 22 facing the front direction (direction o in FIG. 5) in one release operation, and the imaging unit The optical axis direction of 22 and the imaging magnification are changed only four times while automatically changing the predetermined direction (directions a, b, c, and d in FIG. 5) and the predetermined magnification (about 1.8 to 1.9 times). A partial image G of the subject Q by performing an imaging operation _A ~ G _D Is to be captured.
[0025]
Although the subject Q is divided into four in this embodiment, the number of divisions is not limited to this, and can be divided into an appropriate number. In the present embodiment, the partial image G of the subject Q from the viewpoint of reducing the image processing load in the digital camera 1. _A ~ G _D These partial images G _A ~ G _D Is performed by an image processing system such as a computer.
[0026]
Returning to FIG. 1, the digital camera 1 has a vertically long rectangular parallelepiped shape. One narrow side surface 2 a of the camera body 2 forms the front surface of the camera body, and the other side surface 2 b forms the rear surface of the camera body. A display unit 3 (hereinafter referred to as an LCD display unit 3) having a display screen composed of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) on the left side surface 2c when viewed from the rear side of the camera can be opened and closed with respect to the camera body 2. It is provided so that it can be detached (see FIGS. 2 and 3). That is, a mounting plate 10 made of a magnetic material such as iron or nickel is attached to the upper front end of the left side surface 2c of the camera main body 2 so as to be opened and closed by a hinge mechanism (not shown), while being attached to the right end of the display surface of the LCD display unit 3. A powerful magnet M is embedded, and the LCD display unit 3 is detachably attached to the mounting plate 10 by the attractive force of the magnet M.
[0027]
The camera body 2 and the LCD display unit 3 are electrically connected to each other by a cable 11 that can be housed in the camera body 2 by a winding mechanism (not shown). Data of the power source and display image is transmitted to the unit 3, and operation signals of various switches provided on the LCD display unit 3 described later are transmitted from the LCD display unit 3 to the camera body 2 via the cable 11. It has become. That is, when the LCD display unit 3 is detached from the camera body 2, photographing can be performed remotely.
[0028]
A flash 4 is provided at an appropriate upper position on the front surface 2a of the camera body, and an opening 5 for exposing the photographing lens 231 of the imaging unit 22 is provided below the flash 4. As shown in FIG. 4, the imaging unit 22 is provided at a position where the opening 5 in the camera body 2 faces to change the direction of the optical axis L. The structure of the imaging unit 22 will be described later.
[0029]
A pair of operation buttons 6 and 7 (hereinafter referred to as zoom operation buttons 6 and 7) for changing the focal length of the photographic lens 231 are arranged in parallel at an appropriate position on the rear surface 1b of the camera body, and the lower part thereof. A release button 8 for instructing photographing is provided, and an operation lever 9 (hereinafter referred to as an optical axis changing lever 9) for manually adjusting the optical axis direction of the imaging unit 22 is provided below the release button 8. Note that the optical axis changing lever 9 is multifunctional, and as will be described later, the display image on the LCD display unit 3 of a plurality of captured images taken by auto bracketing is changed, and the reproduction to the LCD display unit 3 in the reproduction mode is performed. Also used to change frames.
[0030]
The flash 4 is composed of a xenon discharge tube and automatically emits light at low luminance. The opening 5 defines a range in which the photographing lens 231 of the imaging unit 22 can be exposed (that is, a change range in the optical axis direction in which photographing can be performed). In the present embodiment, the optical axis direction of the photographing lens 231 is within a range in which ± 20 ° can be changed with respect to the front direction in the horizontal plane and the vertical plane. Accordingly, in the photographing enabled state, the rotation of the imaging unit 22 is controlled within a range in which the photographing lens 231 can be exposed from the opening 5. On the other hand, in the shooting disabled state, the imaging unit 22 is rotated to a predetermined position where the shooting lens 231 is not exposed from the opening 5 (for example, a predetermined position where the optical axis direction of the shooting lens 231 is obliquely downward). The opening 5 is shielded by the main body 23 of the imaging unit 22.
[0031]
The zoom operation button 6 is an operation member for changing the focal length of the photographing lens 231 of the image pickup unit 22 to the telephoto (tele) side, and the zoom operation button 7 is used to change the focal length of the photographing lens 231 of the image pickup unit 22 to a wide angle ( This is an operation member for changing to the (wide) side. If the zoom operation buttons 6 and 7 are continuously operated, the focal length of the photographic lens 231 is continuously changed in a corresponding direction at a predetermined change speed, and when the operation is canceled, the focal length of the photographic lens 231 is set to the focal length at the time of release. The focal length is set.
[0032]
The operation of the release button 8 is detected by switches S1 and S2 described later. When the release button 8 is half-pressed, the switch S1 is turned on, thereby preparing for the photographing operation (preparation of focus adjustment, exposure control value setting, etc.), and when the release button 8 is fully pressed, the switch S2 is turned on. Thus, exposure control is performed with the exposure control value set thereby. In the normal shooting mode, since the auto bracket shooting is performed as described above, the exposure control is repeated a predetermined number of times at a predetermined time interval set in advance. In the high-definition shooting mode, the exposure control is performed a predetermined number of times by automatically changing the optical axis direction and shooting magnification of the shooting lens 231.
[0033]
The optical axis changing lever 9 can be tilted in four directions, up, down, left and right. By tilting the optical axis changing lever 9, the optical axis direction of the imaging unit 22 can be changed in the tilting direction. For example, when the optical axis change lever 9 is tilted upward, the imaging unit 22 is rotated in the elevation direction at a predetermined speed until the tilt is released, and when the optical axis change lever 9 is tilted downward, The imaging unit 22 is rotated in the depression direction at a predetermined speed until the tilt is released. When the optical axis direction of the imaging unit 22 exceeds a changeable allowable range (a range of ± 20 ° with respect to the front direction), the rotation operation is performed when the imaging unit 22 reaches the limit position of the allowable range. Is automatically stopped.
[0034]
An LCD panel 12 is provided in the center of the back surface of the LCD display unit 3. In addition, a recording / playback mode switch 13, a shooting mode switch 14, A bracket shooting confirmation button 15, zoom operation buttons 16 and 17, a release button 18, optical axis change buttons 19 a to 19 d, an erase button 20, and a main switch 21 are provided. The optical axis change buttons 19 a to 19 d are also multifunctional like the optical axis change lever 9.
[0035]
A recording / playback mode switch 13 is provided at the lower part of the left peripheral portion of the LCD display unit 3 and switches between a recording mode for shooting and a playback mode for playing back and displaying an image recorded in the flash memory on the LCD panel 12. It is. The recording / playback mode switch 13 is a two-contact slide switch. For example, when the knob is slid to the left, the recording mode is set, and when the knob is slid to the right, the playback mode is set.
[0036]
The shooting mode switch 14 is provided below the recording / playback mode switch 13 and switches between the normal shooting mode and the high-definition shooting mode described above. The shooting mode switch 14 is also a two-contact slide switch like the recording / playback mode switch 13. For example, when the knob is slid to the left, the normal shooting mode is set, and when the knob is slid to the right, the high-definition shooting mode is set. Is set.
[0037]
The bracket shooting confirmation button 15 is provided at the left end of the lower peripheral portion of the LCD display unit 3, and is a mode (hereinafter referred to as a confirmation mode) for confirming the contents of auto bracket shooting in the normal shooting mode, changing the recorded image, and the like. Set and cancel. The bracket shooting confirmation button 15 is also multifunctional and functions as an operation button for instructing to change the attribute of a recorded image shot in the high-definition shooting mode in the playback mode. Note that partial images G of a plurality of subjects Q taken in the high-definition shooting mode. _A ~ G _D Is recorded in the flash memory with attribute information as attribute data so that it can be identified as an image for pasting composition. Image G _A ~ G _D The content of the information related to the shooting mode is changed so that the image can be handled as an image shot in the normal shooting mode.
[0038]
The bracket shooting confirmation button 15 is formed of a push switch. When the bracket shooting confirmation button 15 is pressed immediately after the end of shooting in the recording mode, setting and release of the confirmation mode are alternately input each time the button is pressed. When the bracket shooting confirmation button 15 is pressed in the playback mode, an image file corresponding to the shot image in the high-definition shooting mode displayed on the LCD display unit 3 each time it is pressed is an image file of the shot image in the normal shooting mode. Changed to
[0039]
The zoom operation buttons 16 and 17 are operation buttons provided at the center of the lower peripheral portion of the LCD display unit 3 and performing the same functions as the zoom operation buttons 6 and 7 provided on the camera body 2, respectively. The release button 18 is an operation button provided at the right end of the lower peripheral portion of the LCD display unit 3 and performing the same function as the release button 8 provided in the camera body 2.
[0040]
The optical axis change buttons 19 a to 19 d are operation buttons that are provided at substantially the center of each of the upper, lower, left, and right peripheral parts of the LCD display unit 3 and perform the same function as the optical axis change lever 9 provided on the camera body 2. The operation of each of the optical axis changing buttons 19a to 19d corresponds to the tilting operation of the optical axis changing lever 9 in the vertical and horizontal directions. Therefore, for example, when the optical axis change button 19a is pressed in the recording mode, the imaging unit 22 is rotated in the elevation direction at a predetermined speed until the press operation is released, and when the optical axis change button 19b is pressed, The imaging unit 22 is rotated in the depression direction at a predetermined speed until the pressing operation is released. Note that, in the same manner as in the case of the optical axis change lever 9, the manual change in the optical axis direction of the imaging unit 22 is performed within an allowable range (a range of ± 20 ° with respect to the front direction).
[0041]
The erase button 20 is an operation button that is provided at the upper part of the left peripheral portion of the LCD display unit 3 and instructs to erase the image recorded in the flash memory. The main switch 21 is provided below the delete button 20 and supplies / stops power.
[0042]
6 is a front view of the imaging unit, FIG. 7 is a plan view of the imaging unit, and FIG. 8 is a right side view of the imaging unit.
[0043]
The imaging unit 22 includes a unit main body 23, a U-shaped first support frame 24 that supports the unit main body 23 so as to be swingable in the vertical direction, and an L-shaped first support that supports the unit main body 23 so as to be rotatable in the horizontal direction. 2 It is comprised from the support member 25, the drive member 26 which rotates the unit main body 23 to each direction of an up-down direction, left-right, and the position detection members 27 and 28 which detect the rotation position of the unit main body 23.
[0044]
The unit main body 23 has a capsule shape in which both ends of a cylinder are covered with a hemispherical surface, and has a circular window 23c that exposes the photographing lens 231 at the center of one hemispherical surface. In the unit main body 23, a photographing lens 231 is arranged on the central axis so as to face the window 23c, and an imaging unit having an imaging element made up of a CCD (not shown) is arranged behind the photographing lens 231. .
[0045]
The taking lens 231 is configured by a zoom lens whose focal length can be changed within a range of 5 mm to 15 mm, for example. As shown in FIG. 8, the photographic lens 231 has a lens 231a that can move in the optical axis direction for changing the focal length, and the focal length is controlled by controlling the position of the lens 231a. It has become. The focal length adjustment lens 231a is fixed to a nut member 234 that is screwed to a rod-like screw member 233 that is directly connected to a rotor 232a of an electric motor 232 (hereinafter referred to as a zoom motor 232). When the zoom motor 232 is driven, the screw member 233 rotates, whereby the nut member 234 moves straight in the axial direction of the screw member 233, and the lens 231a moves back and forth on the optical axis.
[0046]
The lens 231 a is provided with an encoder 235 that detects the position of the lens 231 a that moves linearly by the zoom motor 232. The encoder 235 is composed of a code plate 235a provided at a position below the screw member 233 and a brush 235b composed of a plurality of contact pieces whose ends are pressed against the code plate 235a. When the lens 231a moves straight by driving the zoom motor 232, the brush 235b slides on the code plate 235a and a code sign signal (for example, a 4-bit signal) indicating the position is output from the brush 235b. Is decoded so that the position of the lens 231a (that is, the focal length corresponding to the position) is detected. In the present embodiment, the focal length can be detected in units of 1 mm in the range of 5 mm to 15 mm.
[0047]
In addition to the CCD, the imaging unit has a signal processing circuit that performs predetermined analog signal processing on an image signal (analog signal) output from the CCD. This signal processing circuit includes a CDS circuit (correlated double sampling circuit) that reduces sampling noise of an image signal and an AGC circuit (automatic gain adjustment circuit) that amplifies the image signal.
[0048]
Pins 23d and 23e project from substantially the center of both side surfaces of the cylindrical portion of the unit main body 23, and the pins 23d and 23e are respectively formed in holes 24a and 24b (see FIG. 6), the unit main body 23 is supported by the first support frame 24 so as to be rotatable in a vertical plane. Also, a hole (not shown) is formed in the approximate center of the lower surface of the cylindrical portion of the unit main body 23 and the approximate center of the first support frame 24, and protrudes at an appropriate position on the long side portion 25 a of the second support body 25. The unit body 23 and the first support frame 24 are supported by the second support body 25 so as to be rotatable in a horizontal plane by loosely fitting the pin 25c thus formed into these holes.
[0049]
Further, a driving member 26 protrudes at an appropriate position above the short side portion 25 b of the second support body 25, and the tip of the driving member 26 is in contact with the center of the hemispherical surface 23 b on the rear side of the unit body 23. As shown in FIG. 10, the driving member 26 has piezoelectric elements 262 to 265 such as PZT attached to the four side surfaces of a quadrangular prism-shaped elastic member 261, and a laminated piezoelectric element 266 and a contact piece 267 on the upper end surface. And pasted. The contact piece 267 is formed with a protrusion 267 a for contacting the hemispherical surface 23 b of the unit main body 23.
[0050]
As shown in FIG. 10, when the orthogonal coordinate system xyz is set for the driving member 26, the pair of piezoelectric elements 262 and 264 provided in the x-axis direction causes the driving member 26 to vibrate the tip of the driving member 26 in the xz plane. The pair of piezoelectric elements 263 and 265 provided in the y-axis direction are drive sources that vibrate the tip of the drive member 26 in the yz plane. That is, when a sine wave voltage whose phases are reversed is applied to the piezoelectric element 262 and the piezoelectric element 264, when the piezoelectric element 262 contracts, the piezoelectric element 264 expands and the tip of the driving member 26 tilts in the + x direction. Conversely, when the piezoelectric element 262 expands, the piezoelectric element 264 contracts and the tip of the drive member 26 tilts in the −x direction, so the tip of the drive member 26 vibrates in the xz plane. Similarly, when sinusoidal voltages whose phases are reversed are applied to the piezoelectric element 263 and the piezoelectric element 265, the tip of the driving member 26 vibrates in the yz plane by the same mechanism.
[0051]
The laminated piezoelectric element 266 is a drive source that extends the drive member 26 in the z direction. That is, when a sinusoidal voltage is applied to the multilayer piezoelectric element 266, the multilayer piezoelectric element 266 expands and contracts in the thickness direction, so that the tip of the drive member 26 vibrates in the z-axis direction.
[0052]
Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 11, the piezoelectric element 262 and the piezoelectric element 264 are driven with sinusoidal voltages e 1 and e 2 whose phases are reversed, and the stacked piezoelectric element 266 is driven with respect to the driving voltage e 1 for the piezoelectric element 262. When driven by a sinusoidal voltage e3 with a 90 ° phase delay, the tip of the drive member 26 performs a combined motion of vibration in the x-axis direction and expansion and contraction in the z-axis direction, and performs an elliptical motion in the xz plane. (See the rotation arrow in FIG. 10). The piezoelectric element 263 and the piezoelectric element 265 are driven by a sine wave voltage whose phases are inverted from each other, and the stacked piezoelectric element 266 is driven by a sine wave voltage whose phase is delayed by 90 ° with respect to the driving voltage for the piezoelectric element 263. Even in this case, the tip of the drive member 26 performs elliptical motion in the yz plane by the same mechanism. When the phase of the driving voltage of the multilayer piezoelectric element 266 is advanced by 90 ° with respect to the driving voltage for the piezoelectric element 262 or 263, the rotational direction of the elliptical motion in the xz plane or the yz plane delayed the phase by 90 °. The opposite is true.
[0053]
Accordingly, when the xz plane coincides with the horizontal plane, the piezoelectric element 262 and the piezoelectric element 264 are driven by sinusoidal voltages e1 and e2 whose phases are reversed from each other, and the stacked piezoelectric element 266 is driven by the piezoelectric element 262. When driving with a sinusoidal voltage e3 whose phase is delayed by 90 ° with respect to the driving voltage e1, the contact piece 267 of the drive member 26 that is in contact with the hemispherical surface 23b on the rear end side of the unit body 23 is in a horizontal plane. For example, since the elliptical motion is performed in the counterclockwise direction, the unit body 23 is rotated clockwise in the horizontal plane around the pin 25c by this elliptical motion, and the phase of the driving voltage e3 of the laminated piezoelectric element 266 is changed to that of the piezoelectric element 262. When the drive voltage e1 is advanced by 90 °, the contact piece 267 of the drive member 26 performs an elliptical motion in the clockwise direction in the horizontal plane. It rotates counterclockwise in the horizontal plane around c.
[0054]
On the other hand, the piezoelectric element 263 and the piezoelectric element 265 drive a sine wave voltage whose phases are inverted with each other, and the stacked piezoelectric element 266 has a sine wave voltage (90 ° phase delayed with respect to the driving voltage for the piezoelectric element 263). When driven by a sine wave voltage with a 90 ° phase advance), the unit main body 23 rotates clockwise (or counterclockwise) in the vertical plane around the pins 23d and 23e by the same mechanism.
[0055]
A position detection member 27 is provided on the right side when viewed from the front of the unit body 23, and a position detection member 28 is provided on the lower side (see FIGS. 7 and 8). The position detection member 27 detects the rotation position of the unit body 23 in the yz plane (in the vertical plane), and the position detection member 28 detects the rotation position of the unit body 23 in the xz plane (in the horizontal plane). To do.
[0056]
As shown in FIG. 12, the position detection member 27 includes a magnetic head 271, an arc-shaped magnet scale 272, and a position detection circuit (not shown). The magnet scale 272 is fixed to the right side of the unit main body 23, while the magnetic head 271 is rotated at a position facing the magnet scale 272 at the end of the first support frame 24 in the vertical plane. When moved, the magnetic head 271 is attached so as to relatively move on the magnet scale 272. Further, the position detection circuit is provided at an appropriate position in the camera body 2.
[0057]
The magnet scale 272 has three tracks 272a, 272b, and 272c. The outer two tracks 272a and 272b have a plurality of S poles and N poles m1 and m2 having a predetermined angular pitch Δα (for example, the track 272b). In FIG. 2, the magnetic poles m1 and m2 are magnetized so that the adjacent magnetic poles m1 and m2 have the same polarity alternately at an angle pitch at which the distance d between the magnetic poles m2 is 200 μm.
[0058]
The boundary position between the adjacent S-pole magnetic pole m1 and the N-pole magnetic pole m1 formed on the track 272a corresponds to the scale position of the arc-shaped scale, and the adjacent S-pole magnetic pole m2 and N formed on the track 272b. The boundary position between the pole and the magnetic pole m2 also corresponds to the scale position of the arc-shaped scale. The two tracks 272a and 272b corresponding to the same scale are provided so that the rotation direction of the imaging unit 22 can be detected and the rotation angle α can be detected at Δα / 2 pitch. is there. That is, by detecting each boundary position of the magnetic pole m1 of the track 272a or each boundary position of the magnetic pole m2 of the track 272b, the rotation amount (or the rotation angle α) from the reference position R can be detected, but the magnetic pole m1 of the track 272a. The amount of rotation is detected at an angle pitch of Δα / 2 by electrically shifting the phase of the detection timing of the boundary position between them and the detection timing of the boundary position between the magnetic poles m2 of the track 272b by π / 2.
[0059]
The reference position R refers to the position of the imaging unit 22 in which the optical axis L of the imaging unit 22 is in the front direction as the “center position”, and the imaging unit 22 moves downward from the center position in the vertical plane. It is a position rotated by 40 °.
[0060]
The innermost track 272c is magnetized with a pair of S-pole and N-pole magnetic poles m3 at appropriate positions on one end. A pair of magnetic poles m3 formed on the track 272c provides a reference position R for the scales of the tracks 272a and 272b. Accordingly, these magnetic poles m3 are also magnetized at positions having the same polarity as the magnetic pole m2 adjacent to the track 272b.
[0061]
The magnetic head 271 has magnetoresistive elements 271a, 271b, 271c for detecting magnetic poles m1, m2, m3 formed on the tracks 272a, 272b, 272c of the magnet scale 272, respectively. The magnetoresistive element 271a and the magnetoresistive element 271c are arranged at the same rotational position (rotational position n in FIG. 12) on the magnet scale 272, and the magnetoresistive element 271b is connected to the magnetoresistive element 271a and the magnetoresistive element 271c. On the other hand, they are arranged at positions shifted clockwise by ½ of the angular pitch Δα. The reason why the position of the magnetoresistive element 271b is shifted with respect to the magnetoresistive element 271a is that the detection timing of the boundary position between the magnetic poles m1 of the track 272a and the detection timing of the boundary position between the magnetic poles m2 of the track 272b are electrically This is because the phase is shifted by π / 2.
[0062]
FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the position detection circuit.
The position detection circuit 273 includes three waveform shaping circuits 273a, 273b, 273c, a phase detection circuit 273d, a signal change detection circuit 273e, and a counter 273f. The magnetic wave detection signals of the magnetoresistive elements 271a, 271b, and 271c are input to the waveform shaping circuits 273a, 273b, and 273c, respectively. The output signals Sg1 and Sg2 of the waveform shaping circuits 273a and 273b are input to the phase detection circuit 273d and the signal change detection circuit 273e, respectively, and the output signal Sg3 of the waveform shaping circuit 273c is input to the reset terminal of the counter 273f. The signal Sg4 output from the phase detection circuit 273d is input to the +/− terminal of the counter 273f, and the signal Sg5 output from the signal change detection circuit 273e is input to the count terminal of the counter 273f. Then, angle data (that is, data of the rotation angle α from the reference position R in FIG. 12) is detected from the OUT terminal of the counter 273f.
[0063]
When the magnetic head 271 moves relatively on the magnet scale 272 by the rotation operation of the image pickup unit 22, the magnetic resistance elements 271a, 271b, and 271c use magnetic poles m1, m2, and m3 formed on the tracks 272a, 272b, and 272c, respectively. A magnetic field is detected. Since the magnetic poles m1 and m2 are alternately formed on the tracks 272a and 272b in N and S directions, signals that change in a sine wave form at a predetermined cycle are output from the magnetoresistive elements 271a and 271b. Since the track 272c has a pair of N and S magnetic poles m3 formed at predetermined positions, when the magnetoresistive element 271c passes the formation position of the magnetic pole m3, it changes in a sine wave form from the magnetoresistive element 271c. Is output for one period.
[0064]
The waveform shaping circuits 273a, 273b, and 273c respectively shape the sinusoidal signals output from the magnetoresistive elements 271a, 271b, and 271c into rectangular signals. In addition, the phase detection circuit 273d has a phase relationship between the output signal Sg1 of the waveform shaping circuit 273a and the output signal Sg2 of the waveform shaping circuit 273b (for example, the relationship of whether the phase of the signal Sg1 is an advanced phase or a delayed phase relative to the phase of the signal Sg2). ) Is detected. This phase-related detection signal Sg4 indicates the relative movement direction of the magnetic head 271 with respect to the magnet scale 272 (that is, the rotation direction of the imaging unit 22).
[0065]
The signal change detection circuit 273e detects signal changes of the output signals Sg1 and Sg2 (that is, change from, for example, S pole detection to N pole detection). This detection signal Sg5 is obtained by detecting the amount of movement (or rotation angle α) of the magnetic head 271 relative to the magnet scale 272 in units of 100 μm (or Δα / 2 units).
[0066]
Since the magnetoresistive element 271a and the magnetoresistive element 271b are set so that the detection positions thereof are 90 ° out of phase with each other in the magnetic head 271, the output signal Sg1 of the waveform shaping circuit 273a and the waveform detection as shown in FIG. The phase of the output signal Sg2 of the circuit 273b is shifted by π / 2. In addition, whether the moving direction of the magnetic head 271 with respect to the magnet scale 272 is clockwise or counterclockwise, the phase advance / delay relationship of the signal Sg1 with respect to the signal Sg2 is opposite to each other. That is, when the magnetic head 271 moves clockwise with respect to the magnet scale 272, the magnetic head 271 moves the magnet scale 272a from right to left in FIG. 14, so the phase of the signal Sg1 with respect to the signal Sg2 is When the magnetic head 271 moves counterclockwise with respect to the magnet scale 272 (in FIG. 14, the magnetic head 271 moves the magnet scale 272a from the left to the right). ), The phase of the signal Sg1 with respect to the signal Sg2 is a leading phase.
[0067]
Accordingly, in the phase detection circuit 273b, for example, when the phase of the signal Sg1 with respect to the signal Sg2 is a leading phase (when the imaging unit 22 is rotating counterclockwise), a high level signal is output, and the signal for the signal Sg2 When the phase of Sg1 is a lagging phase (when the imaging unit 22 is rotating clockwise), a low level signal is output. Note that the high / low relationship of the output signal of the phase detection circuit 273b may be reversed.
[0068]
The signal change detection circuit 273e detects rising and falling edges of the output signals Sg1 and Sg2 of the waveform shaping circuit 273a and the waveform shaping circuit 273b, and outputs a pulse signal every time the detection is performed. The pulse trains in which the signal changes of the signals Sg1 and Sg2 are detected are those in which the movement of the magnetic head 271 on the magnet scale 272 is detected at a pitch of 200 μm, but the signal train of the signal Sg1 and the signal change in the signal Sg2 are detected. Since the detection timing is deviated by π / 2 from the pulse train that detected the signal, the pulse train signal Sg5 output from the signal change detection circuit 273e detects the movement of the magnetic head 271 on the magnet scale 272 at a pitch of 100 μm ( That is, the rotation of the image pickup unit 22 is made by an angle Δα / 2 pitch).
[0069]
Accordingly, the counter 273f resets the count value with the detection signal Sg3 (signal change signal) at the reference position R output from the waveform shaping circuit 273a, and then counts the number of pulses Nm input to the count terminal. A rotation angle α from the reference position R of the imaging unit 22 is calculated by multiplying Nm by an angle Δα / 2, and the angle data is output from the OUT terminal. Further, the rotation direction of the imaging unit 22 is determined from the level of the signal Sg4 input to the +/− terminal, and data on the rotation direction is also output from the OUT terminal.
[0070]
The position detection member 28 has the same configuration as the position detection member 27, and the position detection member 28 detects the rotational position of the imaging unit 22 in the horizontal plane by the same mechanism as described above. The reference position R in the position detection member 28 is a position where the imaging unit 22 is rotated 40 ° to the right from the center position in the horizontal plane.
[0071]
In the above configuration, when the main switch 21 is turned on, the recording mode is initially set, and the image pickup unit 22 automatically starts the center position (that is, the photographing lens 231 is automatically moved as shown in the solid line state of FIG. 15 and FIG. 16). It is exposed from the opening 5 and is set to a position where the optical axis L is in the front direction. In the recording mode, the imaging unit 22 is in the range of about ± 20 ° in each of the upper, lower, left, and right directions from the center position by the photographer's operation of the optical axis change lever 9 or the optical axis change buttons 19a to 19d (the above-described tolerance (Equivalent to the range) is set at an arbitrary position within the range and shooting is performed.
[0072]
When the main switch 21 is turned off, as shown by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 15, the imaging unit 22 is automatically set to a position rotated about 40 ° downward with respect to the center position, and the opening 5 is set. The unit body 23 is shielded by the front hemispherical surface 23a. Note that the imaging unit 22 may be set at a position rotated by approximately 40 ° other than the downward direction with respect to the center position, and the opening 5 may be shielded by the front hemispherical surface 23a of the unit body 23. In the present embodiment, in consideration of the ease of drive control of the imaging unit 22, the imaging unit 22 is rotated until the reference position R is detected by the position detection members 27 and 28, respectively, and as shown in FIG. The imaging unit 22 is set at a position rotated by 40 ° in the lower right direction.
[0073]
Thus, since the opening 5 is shielded by the unit main body 23 without providing a barrier or a slide cover at the opening 5, the shielding mechanism of the opening 2 is simplified and the unit main body 23 is accommodated when the camera is stored. Is securely stored in the camera body 2 so that dirt and dust do not adhere to the photographing lens 231 with a simple configuration, and unnecessary light does not enter the imaging unit through the photographing lens 231. Yes.
[0074]
In the present embodiment, the piezoelectric element is used as the driving member of the imaging unit 22, but a motor such as a stepping motor may be used as the driving member. In this case, for example, the imaging unit 22 may be directly motor-driven by directly connecting the rotor of the stepping motor to the rotation axis in the vertical plane of the imaging unit 22 and the rotation axis in the horizontal plane. The imaging unit 22 may be indirectly driven by a motor by transmitting a force to the rotating shaft via a driving force switching transmission member including a gear and a cam.
[0075]
FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the digital camera 1.
In the figure, the same members as those described above are denoted by the same reference numerals. The image capturing unit 239 in the unit main body 23 corresponds to an image capturing unit including the above-described image sensor and a signal processing circuit. The zoom driving unit 237 controls the driving of the focal length adjusting lens 231a in the photographing lens 231. The zoom driving unit 237 corresponds to a driving mechanism including the zoom motor 232, the screw member 233, and the nut member 234 described above. . The zoom drive unit 237 controls the position of the lens 231a by driving the zoom motor 232 based on a control signal from the control unit 213.
[0076]
The lens position detection unit 238 detects the position of the lens 231a for adjusting the focal length, and includes the above-described encoder 235 and a decoder that decodes the code code output from the encoder 235 into position information. Position information output from the lens position detection unit 238 is input to the control unit 213.
[0077]
The unit driving unit 201 controls the rotation operation of the imaging unit 22 and includes the above-described driving member 26 and a driving circuit for the driving member 26. The unit driving unit 201 controls the position of the imaging unit 22 by driving the driving member 26 based on a control signal from the control unit 213.
[0078]
The unit position detection unit 202 detects the rotational position of the imaging unit 22, and includes the above-described position detection members 27 and 28 and a position detection circuit. Information on the rotation direction and rotation amount of the imaging unit 22 output from the unit position detection unit 202 is input to the control unit 213.
[0079]
The FL control unit 203 controls the light emission of the flash 4. The FL control unit 203 includes a light emission energy storage circuit and a light emission timing control circuit, and controls light emission of the flash 4 based on a control signal from the control unit 213. When the shooting is a predetermined low-brightness shooting, a light emission command signal is output from the control unit 213, and the FL control unit 203 causes the flash 4 to automatically emit light at the time of shooting.
[0080]
The power supply unit 204 includes a power supply battery and a DC / DC converter, and generates and supplies power necessary for various electric circuits. The power supply unit 204 also controls power supply based on a control signal from the control unit 213.
[0081]
The switch group 205 detects operations of the zoom operation buttons 6 and 7, the release button 8, and the optical axis change lever 9, and inputs detection signals to the control unit 213.
[0082]
The switch group 205 includes switches S1, S2, SZI, SZO, SU, SD, SR, and SL. The contents of the switches S1 to SL are as follows.
S1; a switch for detecting a half-pressed state of the release button 8.
S2: A switch for detecting the fully pressed state of the release button 8.
SZI: a zoom-in switch for detecting the pressing state of the zoom operation button 6.
SZO: a zoom-out switch for detecting the pressing state of the zoom operation button 7.
SU: A switch for detecting the upward tilt state of the optical axis changing lever 9.
SD: a switch for detecting the downward tilt state of the optical axis changing lever 9.
SR: a switch for detecting the right tilt state of the optical axis changing lever 9.
SL: A switch for detecting a leftward tilt state of the optical axis changing lever 9.
[0083]
The A / D conversion unit 206 converts the image signal (analog signal) output from the imaging unit 239 into, for example, an 8-bit digital signal (hereinafter, this image signal is referred to as image data).
[0084]
The timing generator 207 generates a timing pulse for performing an imaging operation of the imaging unit 239 and time series processing in the imaging unit 239 and the A / D conversion unit 206 of pixel data constituting the captured image. The timing generator 207 has a reference clock, divides the reference clock to generate timing pulses of a predetermined frequency, and inputs them to the imaging unit 239 and the A / D conversion unit 206, respectively. In addition, a timing signal for starting / ending the CCD integration operation is generated and input to the imaging unit 239. The timing generator 207 generates a timing signal based on the control signal from the control unit 213 and inputs the timing signal to the imaging unit 239 and the A / D conversion unit 206.
[0085]
The signal processing unit 208 includes signal processing circuits such as a black level correction circuit, a white balance circuit, and a γ correction circuit, and corrects black level, white balance adjustment, and gradation of image data output from the A / D conversion unit 206. Predetermined signal processing such as correction is performed.
[0086]
A RAM (Random Access Memory) 209 temporarily stores image data output from the signal processing unit 208. The RAM 209 has a storage capacity for five captured images. The reason why the plurality of captured images can be stored in the RAM 209 is to enable partial image capturing in the above-described high-definition shooting mode. Since the storage capacity of the RAM 209 is sufficient, auto bracket shooting is performed in the normal shooting mode.
[0087]
The recording / reading processing unit 211 performs recording processing of image data stored in the RAM 209 in the flash memory 212 and reading processing of a captured image recorded in the flash memory 212 for reproduction on the LCD display unit 3. The recording / reading processing unit 211 records or reads an image based on a control signal from the control unit 213.
[0088]
The expansion / compression processor 210 compresses the image data stored in the RAM 209 in the flash memory 212 and decompresses the image data (compressed data) read from the flash memory 212. . The decompression / compression processing unit 210 compresses / decompresses image data based on a control signal from the control unit 213 by, for example, JPEG (Joint Photographic Coding Experts Group) method. The compression method is not limited to the JPEG method, and other compression methods such as an MPEG (Moving Picture Coding Experts Group) method can be employed.
[0089]
The flash memory 212 is a nonvolatile rewritable external storage medium. Other types of storage media such as MD, PC card, and hard disk card may be used as the external storage medium. The flash memory 212 is detachable from the camera body 2.
[0090]
In the following description, in order to distinguish between temporary storage of image data in the RAM 209 and storage in the flash memory 212, the former is referred to as “storage” and the latter is referred to as “recording”.
[0091]
The control unit 213 centrally controls the shooting operation of the digital camera 1. The control unit 213 includes a microcomputer, and controls the photographing operation by organically controlling driving of each member in the camera body 2 and the LCD display unit 3 described above. Further, the control unit 213 has a focus adjustment function (AF function) and an exposure control function (AE function), detects the in-focus position using the image data stored in the RAM 209, detects the subject luminance, The exposure time of the CCD corresponding to the shutter speed is set from the subject brightness.
[0092]
In the shooting standby state, the control unit 213 drives the imaging unit 239 in a predetermined cycle to capture a live view image (video image) into the RAM 209, and sequentially outputs the captured image to the LCD display unit 3 to display the LCD. Display on the panel 12. That is, a viewfinder display is performed on the LCD panel 12. When shooting is instructed by the release button 8 (or 18), the focus adjustment and the exposure time of the CCD are set, and then the subject is shot at this exposure time, and the shot image is recorded in the flash memory 212.
[0093]
A display control unit 301 in the LCD display unit 3 controls image display on the LCD panel 12. The display control unit 301 has an image memory for display corresponding to the number of pixels of the LCD panel 12, and the image data is transferred from the control unit 213 to the display control unit 301 by performing thinning processing on the image data for reproduction. . The display control unit 301 displays the reproduced image on the LCD panel 12 by writing the image data into the image memory. The display control unit 301 has a D / A conversion circuit that converts image data written in the image memory into a video signal, and the video signal generated by the D / A conversion circuit is output to the VIDEO signal terminal. . Therefore, by connecting a display device such as a CRT via the VIDEO terminal, the same image as that displayed on the LCD panel 12 can be reproduced and displayed on the display device.
[0094]
The switch group 302 is an operation of the recording / playback mode switch 13, shooting mode switch 14, bracket shooting confirmation button 15, zoom operation buttons 16 and 17, release button 18, optical axis change buttons 19 a to 19 d, erase button 20 and main switch 21. And the detection signal is input to the control unit 213 via the cable 11.
[0095]
The switch group 302 includes switches SM, S1, S2, SZI, SZO, SU, SD, SR, SL, SCHG, SDEL, SR / P, and SMOD. The contents of the switches SM to SMOD are as follows.
SM: A switch for detecting the pushing operation of the main switch 21.
S1; a switch for detecting a half-pressed state of the release button 18.
S2: A switch for detecting the fully pressed state of the release button 18.
SZI: a zoom-in switch that detects the pressing state of the zoom operation button 16.
SZO: a zoom-out switch that detects the pressing state of the zoom operation button 17.
SU: A switch for detecting the upward tilt state of the optical axis change button 19a.
SD: A switch for detecting the downward tilt state of the optical axis change button 19b.
SR: A switch for detecting the rightward tilt state of the optical axis change button 19c.
SL: A switch for detecting a leftward tilt state of the optical axis change button 19d.
[0096]
SCHG: A switch for detecting the pressing operation of the bracket shooting confirmation button 15.
SDEL: a switch for detecting the pressing operation of the erasing button 20.
SR / P: a switch for detecting the setting state of the recording / reproducing mode switch 13.
SMOD: a switch for detecting the setting state of the shooting mode switch 14.
[0097]
As described above, in this embodiment, the camera body 2 and the LCD display unit 3 are electrically connected by the cable 11, and the power source and the thinned image data are transmitted from the camera body 2 to the LCD display unit 3. Since the switch detection signal is transmitted from the display unit 3 to the camera body 2, for example, it is easier to handle a signal transmitted through the cable than in a configuration in which the imaging unit and the camera body are connected by a cable. The amount of data is reduced, and the circuit configuration for transmitting and receiving the cable 11 and signals can be simplified.
[0098]
Note that the recording / playback processing unit 211 and the flash memory 212 may be arranged in the LCD display unit 3. Also in this case, since the image data transmitted from the camera body 2 to the LCD display unit 3 is compressed by the decompression / compression processing unit 210, the data amount is small, and the cable 11 and the circuit configuration for signal transmission / reception can be simplified. become. In the present embodiment, the camera body 2 and the LCD display unit 3 are connected by a cable. However, the camera body 2 and the LCD display unit 3 may be made wireless by using infrared light or radio waves.
[0099]
Next, the photographing operation of the digital camera 1 will be specifically described with reference to a flowchart.
[0100]
19 and 20 are flowcharts showing a main flow of the photographing operation. When the power battery is attached to the camera body 2, the main flow is executed.
[0101]
First, the on / off state of the main switch 21 is determined (# 2), and when the main switch 21 is off (NO in # 2), the processing of the subroutine “SM OFF” shown in FIG. The imaging unit 22 is set to a predetermined reference position R that shields the opening 5.
[0102]
When the subroutine “SM OFF” is entered, the imaging unit 22 is rotated rightward with respect to the front direction in the horizontal plane until the reference position R is detected by the position detection member 28 (loops # 40 and # 42). When the reference position R in the right direction is reached, the reference position R is subsequently rotated downward in the vertical plane until the reference position R is detected by the position detection member 27 (loops # 44 and # 46). When the rotation reference position R in the downward direction is reached (that is, when the optical axis direction of the imaging unit 22 reaches a position in the lower right direction), the driving of the imaging unit 22 is stopped and the main switch SM is turned on. That state is maintained until it is turned on (# 48 loop). This state is a state in which the power supply battery is attached to the camera body 2 and the main switch 21 is turned off (that is, the digital camera 1 is left or stored in the case). As described above, when the digital camera 1 is housed in the case and is not in the photographing-permitted state, the imaging unit 22 is set to a position that shields the opening 5 of the camera body 2, so that the CCD light shielding and photographing lens The protection of 231 is preferably performed.
[0103]
Returning to FIG. 19, when the main switch 21 is turned on (YES in # 2), the setting state of the recording / reproduction mode switch 13 is further determined (# 6), and when the reproduction mode is set (# 6). NO), the processing of the subroutine “reproduction mode” shown in FIGS. 35 and 36 is executed, and the reproduction processing of the recorded image on the LCD display unit 3 is performed. The playback mode process will be described later.
[0104]
On the other hand, when the recording mode is set (YES in # 6), the processing of the subroutine “imaging unit set” shown in FIG. 22 is executed, and the imaging unit 22 is exposed to the center position (that is, the photographing lens 231 is exposed from the opening 5). The optical axis direction is set to the front direction). When the main switch 21 is turned on, this process sets the optical axis direction of the image pickup unit 22 in the front direction so that the drive of the image pickup unit 22 can be controlled easily and with high accuracy. A normal photographing operation can be immediately performed without adjusting the unit 22.
[0105]
When the subroutine “image pickup unit set” is entered, the image pickup unit 22 is rotated rightward with respect to the front direction in the horizontal plane until the reference position R is detected by the position detection member 28 (# 50, # 52). Loop), when the rotation reference position R in the right direction is reached, it is subsequently rotated downward in the vertical plane until the reference position R is detected by the position detection member 27 (# 54, # 56). loop). This process is a process for setting the imaging unit 22 to the rotation reference position R in the vertical and horizontal directions (a predetermined position in the direction of the lower right corner in the present embodiment) for rotation control.
[0106]
Subsequently, when the imaging unit 22 reaches the downward rotation reference position R, the imaging unit 22 is further rotated to the left in the horizontal plane by a predetermined amount and set to the center position in the horizontal plane (# 58). , # 60 loop), it is rotated upward by a predetermined amount in the vertical plane and set to the center position in the vertical plane (# 62, loop of # 64), and the process returns to the main routine. In the present embodiment, the rotation reference position R is a position rotated 40 ° downward from the center position and 40 ° rightward. Therefore, in steps # 58 to # 64, the imaging unit 22 is moved to the left in the horizontal plane. After being rotated by 40 ° in the direction, it is rotated by 40 ° in the upward direction and set to the center position.
[0107]
Returning to FIG. 19, when the setting process of the imaging unit 22 is completed, it is determined whether or not the various switches S1, SZI, SZO, SU, SD, SR, SL, SMOD, SP / R, and SM have changed (# 10 to # 10). # 30).
[0108]
If none of the switches have changed (NO in # 10 to # 24, YES in # 28, # 30), it is determined whether or not the display time counting by the display timer has ended (# 32). This display timer counts the predetermined time when the captured image is displayed on the LCD display unit 3 for a predetermined time when a photographing operation is performed in the process of “S1 ON” described later. . The display timer is built in the control unit 213.
[0109]
When the timing of the display time has been completed (YES in # 32), the display of the captured image on the LCD display unit 3 is stopped (# 34), and a process for determining whether or not the various switches S1 to SM have changed (hereinafter, referred to as “changed”). The process returns to step # 10 to perform SW discrimination processing. On the other hand, if the timing of the display time has not ended (NO in # 32), the content of the flag FIAB is determined (# 36), and if the flag FIAB is reset to “0” (NO in # 36), Returning to step # 10 to perform the SW discrimination process, if the flag FIAB is set to “1” (YES in # 36), it is further discriminated whether or not the switch SCHG is on (# 38). . If the bracket shooting confirmation button 15 is operated and the switch SCHG is not turned on (NO in # 38), the process returns to step # 10 to perform the SW discrimination process, and if the switch SCHG is turned on (in # 38). YES), the process proceeds to the subroutine “image selection” shown in FIG.
[0110]
The flag FIAB is a flag for determining whether or not it is possible to change or add a recorded image in auto bracket shooting. When it is set to “1”, the flag FIAB is set according to the operation of the bracket shooting confirmation button 15. A recorded image can be changed or added. If the recorded image is reset to “0”, the recorded image cannot be changed or added. Therefore, the determination of the switch SCHG in step # 38 is a determination of whether or not the bracket shooting confirmation button 15 is operated, and the processing of the subroutine “image selection” is processing for selecting an image to be changed or added to the recorded image. . The “image selection” process will be described later.
[0111]
In the SW determination process, when the setting state of the recording / reproduction mode switch 13 is switched to the reproduction mode (NO in # 28) or the main switch SM is turned off (NO in step # 30), the process returns to step # 2. .
[0112]
In the SW determination process, when the zoom operation buttons 6 and 7 (or 16, 17) are operated and the switch SZI or the switch SZO is turned on (YES in # 12 or # 14), the subroutine “zoom” shown in FIG. This process is executed, and the zooming process of the photographing lens 231 is performed.
[0113]
When the process proceeds to the “zoom” subroutine, it is determined whether or not the zoom-in switch SZI or the zoom-out switch SZO remains on (# 70, # 86). If the zoom-in switch SZI is on (YES in # 70), it is further determined whether or not the high-definition shooting mode is set by the shooting mode switch 14 (# 72).
[0114]
If the normal shooting mode is set (NO in # 72), it is determined whether or not the lens 231a for adjusting the focal length of the shooting lens 231 is at the telephoto end position (# 74), and for adjusting the focal length. If the lens 231a is not at the tele end position (NO in # 74), the focal length adjustment lens 231a is driven to the tele side (loop of # 76, # 70 to # 76), and the focal length adjustment lens is adjusted. When the lens 231a is set to the tele end position, the driving of the lens 231a is stopped (YES in # 74, # 78). That is, when the zoom operation button 6 (or 16) is kept pressed in the normal shooting mode, the zoom lens 231a for adjusting the focal length of the shooting lens 231 is moved to the tele side to perform a zoom-in operation. If the zoom operation button 6 (or 16) is kept pressed even when the focal length adjusting lens 231a reaches the tele end position, the lens 231a is stopped at the end position and the photographing lens 231 is stopped. Is fixed at the tele end (in this embodiment, f = 15 mm).
[0115]
On the other hand, if the high-definition shooting mode is set (YES in # 72), it is determined whether or not the focal length f of the photographing lens 231 is 8 mm (# 80), and the focal length f of the photographing lens 231 is determined. If smaller than 8 mm (NO in # 80), the lens 231a for adjusting the focal length of the photographing lens 231 is driven to the tele side (loop of # 82, # 70, # 72, # 80, # 82), and the photographing lens. When the focal length f of 231 reaches 8 mm, the driving of the lens 231a is stopped (YES in # 80, # 84). That is, in the high-definition shooting mode, the focal length f of the shooting lens 231 is controlled to 8 mm or less.
[0116]
In the present embodiment, the zoom-in operation in the high-definition shooting mode is limited so that the focal length f of the taking lens 231 is 8 mm or less. In this embodiment, the partial image G of the subject Q is shown in Table 1 below. _A ~ G _D Since the focal length f2 when shooting (see FIG. 5) is 1.8 to 1.9 times the focal length f1 of shooting the entire image G of the subject Q, it is approximately ½ of the maximum focal length f = 15 mm. This is because it is easy and reliable to control the photographing of the entire image G of the subject Q that is photographed first.
[0117]
[Table 1]

[0118]
Table 1 shows typical four focal lengths f1 when photographing the entire image, and the angle of view θh1, θv1 in each of the horizontal and vertical directions at that time and partial images corresponding to the focal lengths f1. Focal length f2 and horizontal and vertical field angles θh2 and θv2 at that time, displacement amounts Δθh and Δθv from the front direction in the direction of the optical axis L when capturing a partial image, and focal length ratio K (= f2 / f1) ). An arbitrary focal length f1 other than the representative value of 8 mm or less can be calculated and set in the same manner.
[0119]
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, since the entire subject is divided into four, each partial image G _A ~ G _D The focal length f2 at the time of imaging is approximately twice the focal length f1 at the time of imaging of the entire image G. However, the images are overlapped at the boundary portion to make it easy to combine and to be combined by camera shake at the time of shooting. The focal length ratio K (= f2 / f1) is set to be smaller than twice in consideration of preventing the lack of the image at the composite position.
[0120]
In the table, the horizontal field angle θhi and the vertical field angle θvi (i = 1, 2) are angles shown in FIGS. 24A and 24B, respectively. In the present embodiment, since the CCD 239a of 4.8 mm × 3.6 mm is used as the imaging device, the horizontal field angle θhi and the vertical field angle θvi are respectively θhi = 2 · tan˜ ¹ (2.4 / fi), θvi = 2 ・ tan ~ ¹ Calculated at (1.8 / fi). Further, as shown in FIG. 25, the optical axis displacement amounts Δθh and Δθv are a horizontal inclination angle and a vertical inclination angle when the CCD 239a is inclined, respectively.
[0121]
Returning to FIG. 23, if the zoom-out switch SZO is in the on state (NO in # 70, YES in # 86), whether or not the focal length adjusting lens 231a of the photographing lens 231 is at the wide end position. Is determined (# 88), and if the focal length adjusting lens 231a is not at the wide end position (NO in # 88), the focal length adjusting lens 231a is driven to the wide side (# 90, #). When the focal length adjusting lens 231a is set to the end position on the wide side, the driving of the lens 231a is stopped (YES in # 88, # 92).
[0122]
That is, when the zoom operation button 7 (or 17) is kept pressed, the zoom-out operation is performed by moving the focal length adjusting lens 231a of the photographing lens 231 to the wide side. If the zoom operation button 7 (or 17) is kept pressed even when the focal length adjusting lens 231a reaches the end position on the wide side, the lens 231a is stopped at the end position and the photographing lens 231 is stopped. Is fixed to the wide end (in this embodiment, f = 5 mm). In the zoom-out operation, since the focal length f of the photographing lens 231 does not exceed 8 mm, there is no restriction as in the case of the zoom-in operation in the high-definition photographing mode.
[0123]
Referring back to FIG. 19, in the SW determination process, when the optical axis change lever 9 or the optical axis change buttons 19a to 19d are operated and any of the switches SU to SL is turned on (any of # 16 to # 22 is YES). 26 and FIG. 27, the subroutine “imaging unit drive” processing is executed, and the optical axis direction changing processing of the imaging unit 22 is performed.
[0124]
When the process proceeds to the “imaging unit driving” subroutine, it is determined whether or not the switch SU is in an ON state by operating the optical axis changing lever 9 (or the optical axis changing button 19a) (# 100).
[0125]
If the switch SU is in the ON state (YES in # 100), it is further determined whether or not the high-definition shooting mode is set by the shooting mode switch 14 (# 102). If the high-definition shooting mode is set (YES in # 102), it is determined whether or not the imaging unit 22 is in a position displaced upward by an angle Δθv less than 10 ° from the center position (# 104). If the angle Δθv is Δθv <10 ° (YES in # 104), the imaging unit 22 is driven upward in the vertical plane (a loop of # 108, # 100 to # 104, # 108), and the imaging unit 22 is When a position displaced by 10 ° upward from the center position is reached (NO in # 104), the driving of the imaging unit 22 is stopped (# 110). That is, in the high-definition shooting mode, the imaging unit 22 is driven upward within a range of 10 ° from the center position in accordance with the operation of the optical axis change lever 9 (or the optical axis change button 19a).
[0126]
On the other hand, if the normal shooting mode is set (NO in # 102), it is determined whether or not the imaging unit 22 is in a position displaced upward by an angle Δθv of less than 20 ° from the center position (# 106). If the angle Δθv is Δθv <20 ° (YES in # 106), the imaging unit 22 is driven upward in the vertical plane (a loop of # 108, # 100, # 102, # 106, # 108), When the image pickup unit 22 reaches a position displaced 20 ° upward from the center position (NO in # 106), the drive of the image pickup unit 22 is stopped (# 110). That is, in the normal photographing mode, the imaging unit 22 is driven upward within a range of 20 ° from the center position in accordance with the operation of the optical axis changing lever 9 (or the optical axis changing button 19a).
[0127]
Further, when the switch SU is in the off state or is switched from the on state to the off state (NO in # 100), the rotation operation of the imaging unit 22 is stopped (# 112).
[0128]
Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the switch SD is turned on by operating the optical axis changing lever 9 (or the optical axis changing button 19b) (# 114), and the rotation of the imaging unit 22 is the same as in the case of the switch SU. The dynamic operation is controlled (# 114 to # 126). That is, in the high-definition shooting mode, the imaging unit 22 is driven downward within a range of 10 ° from the center position in accordance with the operation of the optical axis change lever 9 (or the optical axis change button 19b) (# 114, # 116). , # 118, # 122, # 124), and in the normal photographing mode, the imaging unit 22 moves downward within a range of 20 ° from the center position in accordance with the operation of the optical axis changing lever 9 (or the optical axis changing button 19b). Driven (# 114, # 116, # 120, # 122, # 124). Then, when the switch SD is in the off state, or when the switch SD is switched from the on state to the off state (NO in # 114), the rotation operation of the imaging unit 22 is stopped (# 126).
[0129]
Note that the vertical drive range of the image pickup unit 22 in the high-definition shooting mode is limited to Δθv <10 °, as shown in Table 1, because the image pickup unit 22 at the time of partial image shooting at f1 = 8 mm is used. This is because the displacement amount | Δθv | of the optical axis L does not exceed 10 °. Further, the vertical drive range of the image pickup unit 22 in the normal shooting mode is limited to Δθv <20 ° when the displacement amount | Δθv | is set to 20 ° or more, the shooting lens 231 of the image pickup unit 22 is connected to the camera body. This is because the second opening 5 is not exposed and cannot be photographed. Accordingly, in both shooting modes, the rotation of the imaging unit 22 in the vertical plane is limited so that meaningless operations are not performed in a range that is not substantially necessary for shooting.
[0130]
Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the switch SL is turned on by operating the optical axis changing lever 9 (or the optical axis changing button 19c) (# 128). If the switch SL is on (YES in # 128), it is further determined whether or not the high-definition shooting mode is set by the shooting mode switch 14 (# 130).
[0131]
If the high-definition shooting mode has been set (YES in # 130), it is determined whether or not the imaging unit 22 is at a position displaced leftward from the center position by an angle Δθh of less than 7 ° (# 132). If the angle Δθh is Δθh <7 ° (YES in # 132), the imaging unit 22 is driven leftward in the horizontal plane (a loop of # 136, # 128 to # 132, # 136), and the imaging unit 22 is centered. When a position displaced by 7 ° to the left from the position is reached (NO in # 132), the driving of the imaging unit 22 is stopped (# 138). That is, in the high-definition shooting mode, the imaging unit 22 is driven leftward within a range of 7 ° from the center position in accordance with the operation of the optical axis change lever 9 (or the optical axis change button 19c).
[0132]
On the other hand, if the normal shooting mode is set (NO in # 130), it is determined whether or not the imaging unit 22 is in a position displaced from the center position to the left by an angle Δθh of less than 20 ° (# 134). If the angle Δθh is Δθh <20 ° (YES in # 134), the imaging unit 22 is driven to the left in the horizontal plane (a loop of # 136, # 128, # 130, # 134, # 136), and imaging is performed. When the unit 22 reaches a position displaced 20 ° to the left from the center position (NO in # 134), the drive of the imaging unit 22 is stopped (# 138). That is, in the normal photographing mode, the imaging unit 22 is driven leftward within a range of 20 ° from the center position in accordance with the operation of the optical axis changing lever 9 (or the optical axis changing button 19c).
[0133]
Further, when the switch SL is in the off state, or when it is changed from the on state to the off state (NO in # 128), the rotation operation of the imaging unit 22 is stopped (# 140).
[0134]
Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the switch SR is turned on by operating the optical axis change lever 9 (or the optical axis change button 19d) (# 142), and the rotation of the imaging unit 22 is the same as in the case of the switch SL. The dynamic operation is controlled (# 142 to # 154). That is, in the high-definition shooting mode, the imaging unit 22 is driven rightward within a range of 7 ° from the center position in accordance with the operation of the optical axis change lever 9 (or the optical axis change button 19d) (# 142 to # 146). , # 150, # 152), in the normal photographing mode, the imaging unit 22 is driven rightward within a range of 20 ° from the center position in accordance with the operation of the optical axis changing lever 9 (or the optical axis changing button 19d). (# 142, # 144, # 148, # 150, # 152). Then, when the switch SR is in the off state or when the switch SR is changed from the on state to the off state (NO in # 142), the rotation operation of the imaging unit 22 is stopped (# 154).
[0135]
Note that the drive range in the left-right direction of the imaging unit 22 in the high-definition shooting mode is limited to Δθv <7 °, as shown in Table 1, as shown in Table 1 of the imaging unit 22 at the time of partial image shooting at f1 = 8 mm. This is because the displacement amount | Δθh | of the optical axis L does not exceed 7 °. In addition, the drive range in the left-right direction of the image pickup unit 22 in the normal shooting mode is limited to Δθv <20 °. When the displacement Δθv is 20 ° or more, the shooting lens 231 of the image pickup unit 22 is This is because the image is not exposed to the opening 5 and cannot be photographed. Therefore, in both shooting modes, the rotation of the image pickup unit 22 is restricted so as to prevent meaningless operations in a range that is not substantially necessary for shooting even in a horizontal plane.
[0136]
Returning to FIG. 19, when the release button 8 (or 18) is pressed halfway and the switch S1 is turned on in the SW determination process (YES in # 10), the subroutine “S1 ON” shown in FIGS. 28 and 29 is performed. The above process is executed, and the photographing process is performed.
[0137]
When the process proceeds to the “S1 ON” subroutine, first the flag FIAB is reset to “0” (# 160). Subsequently, an imaging operation by the imaging unit 239 is performed (# 162), and an image signal output from the imaging unit 239 is converted into image data by the A / D conversion unit 206, and then a predetermined signal is output by the signal processing unit 208. Processing is performed and temporarily stored in the RAM 209 (# 164). The image data temporarily stored in the RAM 209 is immediately read out, thinned out, transferred to the display control unit 301 of the LCD display unit 3 via the cable 11, and displayed on the LCD panel 12 (# 166). That is, live view display is performed on the LCD display unit 3.
[0138]
Subsequently, exposure adjustment is performed using the image data temporarily stored in the RAM 209 (# 168). In the digital camera 1 according to the present embodiment, the aperture is fixed (for example, Av = 4.0 [Ev]), and exposure control is performed by controlling the exposure time (charge accumulation time) SS of the CCD 239a. . The exposure time SS is calculated based on the subject brightness Bv (for example, the average level value of the pixel data of the G color component) calculated using the image data temporarily stored in the RAM 209. It has become. That is, in live view display, an image is captured at a predetermined cycle (for example, 1/30 second), so that the subject luminance Bv is calculated for each captured image and the subject luminance Bv is within an appropriate range. If it is clear beyond the appropriate range, the current exposure time SS is shortened by one step. If it is dark beyond the proper range, the current exposure time SS is increased by one step and the next exposure time SS is increased by one step. By performing the imaging operation, an exposure time SS in which the subject luminance Bv is within an appropriate range is set.
[0139]
Table 2 is a table for controlling the exposure time SS. In Table 2, the shaded exposure time SS (11 ms) is an initial setting value set when the camera is activated. The minimum value of the exposure time SS is 0.25 ms, and the maximum value is 32 ms.
[0140]
[Table 2]

[0141]
Table 3 shows an example of a method for adjusting the exposure time SS based on the subject brightness Bv.
[0142]
In Table 3, the value of the subject brightness Bv is represented by 8-bit data. The luminance level is divided into three level ranges of “high”, “medium”, and “low”, and an appropriate range when the average value of the pixel data of the G color component is in the “medium” level range (85 to 169). The exposure time SS is not changed, and when it is in the “low” level range (0 to 84), the exposure time SS is increased by one step as an underexposure and is in the “high” level range (170 to 255). In this case, the exposure time SS is shortened by one step due to overexposure. When the exposure time SS is 32 ms and the subject brightness Bv is at the “low” level (when Bv ≦ 84), the flash is automatically emitted.
[0143]
[Table 3]

[0144]
Therefore, when the switch S1 is turned on, the exposure time SS is set to the initial value (11 ms) and the first image is taken, and the exposure time SS is adjusted based on the subject luminance value Bv calculated from this captured image. Is called. That is, if 170 ≦ Bv ≦ 255, the exposure time SS is changed to 8.0 [ms]. If 0 ≦ Bv ≦ 84, the exposure time SS is changed to 16.0 [ms], and 85 ≦ If Bv ≦ 169, the exposure time SS is not changed.
[0145]
Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the switch S2 is turned on (# 170). If the switch S2 is in the off state (NO in # 170), as long as the switch S1 is kept on (in # 172). YES), the process returns to step # 162, and the operations of imaging, display, and exposure adjustment are repeated (loop of # 162 to # 172). If the switch S1 is turned off without turning on the switch S2 during this time (NO in # 172), the live view display on the LCD display unit 3 is stopped (# 174), and the process returns to the SW determination process of the main flow. To do.
[0146]
On the other hand, when the release button 8 (or 18) is fully pressed in the live view display and the switch S2 is turned on (YES in # 170), the process proceeds to step # 176, and the captured image and the captured image are recorded in the flash memory 212. Is done.
[0147]
That is, after the imaging unit 239 performs an imaging operation with the exposure time SS adjusted immediately before (# 176), the image signal output from the imaging unit 239 is converted into image data by the A / D conversion unit 206, and then The signal processing unit 208 performs predetermined signal processing and temporarily stores it in the RAM 209 (# 178). Since the RAM 209 has a storage capacity for five sheets as described above, the image data is stored in the first image storage area.
[0148]
The image data temporarily stored in the RAM 209 is immediately read out, thinned out, transferred to the display control unit 301 of the LCD display unit 3 via the cable 11, and displayed on the LCD panel 12 (# 180). That is, the captured image is displayed on the LCD display unit 3 so that the photographer can monitor the captured image.
[0149]
Subsequently, the setting state of the shooting mode is determined (# 182), and if the high-definition shooting mode is set (YES in # 182), the high-definition shooting process is performed in steps # 184 to # 216 and # 232. If the normal shooting mode is set (NO in # 182), normal shooting processing is performed in steps # 218 to # 232.
[0150]
When shifting to the high-definition photographing process, the photographing lens 231 is zoomed in at a predetermined focal length ratio K (= f2 / f1) (# 184, see Table 1). In FIG. _A ), Upper right (partial image G _B ), Lower right (partial image G _D ) And lower left (partial image G _C ), The photographing operation is repeated four times (# 186 to # 210).
[0151]
That is, each partial image G _A ~ G _D The driving direction and the driving amount of the imaging unit 22 with respect to the image are determined (# 186). _A In the imaging direction (direction a in FIG. 5) (# 188). Then, the partial image G is captured by the imaging unit 239. _A (# 190), the captured image is converted into image data by the A / D conversion unit 206, subjected to predetermined signal processing by the signal processing unit 208, and then stored in the second image in the RAM 209. It is temporarily stored in the area (# 192).
[0152]
Subsequently, the imaging unit 22 performs the partial image G _B In the imaging direction (direction b in FIG. 5) (# 194), and the partial image G is captured by the imaging unit 239. _B The captured image is temporarily stored in the third image storage area of the RAM 209 after predetermined signal processing (# 196, # 198). Hereinafter, similarly, the image pickup unit 22 performs the partial image G. _D , G _C Are sequentially driven (# 200, # 206) in the imaging direction (directions d and c in FIG. 5), and the partial images G are respectively captured by the imaging unit 239. _D , G _C Are captured (# 202, # 208), and the captured images are temporarily stored in the fourth and fifth image storage areas of the RAM 209 after predetermined signal processing (# 204, # 210). ).
[0153]
And all the partial images G _A ~ G _D When the image pickup is completed, the image pickup unit 22 is returned to the center position (# 212), and the five pieces of image data (the first image G of the entire subject photographed and the four partial images G) temporarily stored in the RAM 209 _A ~ G _D The image data is subjected to a predetermined compression process in the decompression / compression processing unit 210 and then recorded in the flash memory 212 via the recording / reading processing unit 211. At this time, the entire image G and the partial image G _A ~ G _D Independent image files are created and recorded in the flash memory 212 (# 214). Further, the focal length of the photographing lens 231 is zoomed out to the original focal length (that is, from the focal length f2 for capturing a partial image to the focal length f1 for capturing an entire image) (# 216). Note that when image data of a captured image is recorded, non-image data related to the captured image (for example, information regarding a shooting mode and information such as a shooting date) is also recorded.
[0154]
FIG. 30 is a diagram schematically showing the imaging process (the processes of steps # 160 to # 170 and # 176 to # 216) in the above-described high-definition imaging mode.
[0155]
In the figure, A, B, C, and D in the entire image G are partial images G, respectively. _A ~ G _D It is an image included in. Further, the display image indicates an image displayed on the LCD display unit 3, and the stored image indicates an image temporarily stored in the RAM 209.
[0156]
As shown in the figure, when the switch S1 is in the on state, the entire subject image is captured and the captured image is displayed on the LCD display unit 3. When the release is instructed, the entire image G of the subject is captured, and the entire image G is stored in the RAM 209 and displayed on the LCD display unit 3 on the monitor. Subsequently, partial image G _A ~ G _D Is G _A , G _B , G _D , G _C In this order, each partial image G _A ~ G _D Are stored in the RAM 209. On the other hand, the monitor display of the entire image G is continued on the LCD display unit 3, and the partial image G _A ~ G _D Is not displayed on the monitor. Thus, partial image G _A ~ G _D The reason why the monitor display is not performed is that, in the high-definition shooting mode, the photographer normally captures the entire subject and wants to monitor the captured image (entire image of the subject).
[0157]
FIG. 31 shows the entire image G and the partial image G recorded in the flash memory 212. _A ~ G _D It is a figure which shows the structure of these image files.
[0158]
Each image file includes a header part AR1 and an image recording part AR2, and the header part AR1 includes various information (non-image data) attached to the recorded image such as information on the photographing mode, photographing date, image title, and exposure time SS. Is recorded, and image data of the captured image is recorded in the image recording unit AR2.
[0159]
As information regarding the shooting mode, shooting mode information, image type information, image position information, frame number, and focal length information are recorded as bit data as shown in Table 4 below.
[0160]
[Table 4]

[0161]
The shooting mode information is information for identifying the normal shooting mode and the high-definition shooting mode. The shooting mode information is composed of 1-bit data. For example, when “1” is set, the high-definition shooting mode is indicated, and when “0” is set, the normal shooting mode is indicated. The image type information is information for identifying the whole image and the partial image of the five images shot in the high-definition shooting mode.
[0162]
The image type information is also composed of 1-bit data. For example, if “1” is set, the entire image is indicated, and if “0” is set, the partial image is indicated. The position information is information indicating which position of the entire image the partial image corresponds to. In the present embodiment, since the whole is divided into four parts, the position information is composed of 2-bit data, and for example, “00”, “ Bit data of “01”, “10”, and “11” are allocated. This bit data allocation method can be arbitrarily performed.
[0163]
The frame number is information for identifying the number of the whole image associated with the partial image. Each photographed image is assigned a frame number consisting of 4-bit data. Since the frame number of the entire image G is “####” in Table 4, the associated partial image G _A ~ G _D The frame number for "" is also "####". The focal length information indicates the focal length of the photographing lens 231 at the time of photographing. In the high-definition shooting mode, as shown in Table 1, the entire image is picked up at the focal length f1, and the partial image is picked up at the focal length f2 (= K · f1). The distance f1 or the focal distance f2 is recorded as, for example, 4-bit data.
[0164]
As described above, all image data is recorded as independent image files in the flash memory 212 regardless of the shooting mode. However, since information about the shooting mode is recorded in the header part AR1 in each image file, Partial image G taken in high-definition shooting mode _i Even if (i = A, B, C, D), other partial images G related thereto _i And the relationship with the whole image G does not become ambiguous. _A ~ G _D The image can be reliably searched even when the entire image G ′ is created by combining the images.
[0165]
Returning to FIG. 29, when the zoom-out of the focal length of the taking lens 231 is completed, the display timer that counts the monitor display time of the captured image on the LCD display unit 3 is started (# 232), and SW discrimination processing ( Return to FIG.
[0166]
On the other hand, when the process proceeds to the normal photographing process in step # 182, the photographing operation is continuously performed twice (# 218, # 222), and each captured image is converted into image data by the A / D conversion unit 206, and signal processing is performed. After predetermined signal processing is performed in the unit 208, the signal is temporarily stored in the second and third image storage areas of the RAM 209 (# 220, # 224). This continuous shooting is the above-described auto bracket shooting.
[0167]
Subsequently, the imaging unit 22 is returned to the center position (# 226), and among the three pieces of image data temporarily stored in the RAM 209, the image data stored in the first image storage area is expanded / compressed. After predetermined compression processing is performed by the unit 210, it is recorded as an independent image file in the flash memory 212 via the recording / reading processing unit 211 (# 228). Then, the flag FIAB is set to “1” (# 230), the display timer starts counting (# 232), and the process returns to the SW determination process (see FIG. 19).
[0168]
The setting of the flag FIAB shifts to the subroutine “image selection” shown in FIG. 32 in step # 38 described above, and allows the recording image to be changed or added to the flash memory 212 based on the operation of the bracket shooting confirmation button 15. It is.
[0169]
Here, the processing of the subroutine “image selection” will be described.
When the process proceeds to the “image selection” subroutine, it is determined whether or not any of the switches SU, SD, SL, and SR is turned on by operating the optical axis change lever 9 (or the optical axis change buttons 19a to 19d). (# 240, # 244, # 248, # 254). If neither switch is turned on, it is determined whether or not the switch SCHG is turned on by operating the bracket shooting confirmation button 15 (# 258), and if the switch SCHG is not turned on (in # 258). NO), the process returns to step # 240, and the change determination of the switches SU, SD, SL, SR is repeated, and if the switch SCHG is on (YES in # 258), the process returns to the SW determination process (see FIG. 19). To do.
[0170]
If switch SU is turned on in the change determination of switches SU, SD, SL, SR (YES in # 240), the image displayed on LCD display unit 3 is changed to the previous captured image (# 242), if the switch SD is on (YES in # 244), the image displayed on the LCD display unit 3 is changed to the next captured image (# 256).
[0171]
If the switch SL is on (YES in # 248), the first image file recorded in the flash memory 212 is erased (# 250) and displayed on the LCD panel 12 as the image file. The captured image is recorded (# 252). If the switch SR is turned on (# 254), the captured image displayed on the LCD panel 12 in addition to the first image file recorded in the flash memory 212 is newly recorded ( # 256).
[0172]
FIG. 33 is a diagram schematically illustrating the above-described “image selection” process.
At the end of shooting in the normal shooting mode, the first captured image (first image) stored in the RAM 209 is displayed on the LCD panel 12 and recorded in the flash memory 212 as shown in FIG. (Refer to the processing of # 180 and # 228). In this state, when the switch SD is turned on by the downward operation of the optical axis changing lever 9 (or the optical axis changing button 19b), the first sheet → second sheet → third sheet → 1 as indicated by the white arrow each time. The image displayed on the LCD panel 12 is changed in the order of the sheets (descending order). On the other hand, when the switch SU is turned on by the upward operation of the optical axis changing lever 9 (or the optical axis changing button 19a), the first sheet → the third sheet → the second sheet → the first sheet as indicated by the black arrow each time. The image displayed on the LCD panel 12 is changed in the order of eyes (ascending order).
[0173]
Further, for example, when the switch SL is turned on by the left operation of the optical axis changing lever 9 (or the optical axis changing button 19c) in a state where the second photographed image is displayed on the LCD panel 12, it is recorded in the flash memory 212. The first photographed image is deleted, and the second photographed image is recorded in the flash memory 212 instead. Further, for example, when the switch SR is turned on by the right operation of the optical axis changing lever 9 (or the optical axis changing button 19d) in a state where the third photographed image is displayed on the LCD panel 12, it is recorded in the flash memory 212. In addition to the first photographed image, the third photographed image is also recorded in the flash memory 212.
[0174]
As described above, in the normal shooting mode, even if the photographer performs a single release operation, shooting is continuously performed three times, and these captured images are temporarily stored in the RAM 209 and first shot. An image is recorded in the flash memory 212. Then, when the photographer performs the next release operation without operating the bracket shooting confirmation button 15, the shooting is continuously performed three times again, and these shot images are temporarily stored in the RAM 209. The captured image is recorded in the flash memory 212.
[0175]
Therefore, as long as the photographer operates the release button 8 (or 18) without operating the bracket shooting confirmation button 15, the first shot image is recorded in the flash memory 212, so that the auto bracket shooting function is substantially effective. Therefore, the same processing as the normal photographing operation (one photographing by one release operation) is performed. On the other hand, when the photographer enters the confirmation mode in which the image can be changed by operating the bracket photographing confirmation button 15 after the photographing is finished, the auto bracket photographing function becomes obvious, and the photographer's optical axis changing lever 9 (or the optical axis changing button 19a). To 19d), the recorded contents of the flash memory 212 can be changed or added.
[0176]
In other words, since the photographer can choose to use the auto bracket shooting function immediately after shooting, the shooting result is judged as necessary, and a better shot image is changed or added according to the judgment result. Therefore, there are few shooting failures and operability is improved.
[0177]
In this embodiment, in auto bracket shooting, continuous shooting is simply performed three times. However, continuous shooting may be performed by slightly changing the exposure time SS in each shooting. Further, continuous shooting may be performed by slightly changing the focal position of the shooting lens 231 in each shooting, slightly changing the focal length, or changing the optical axis direction of the imaging unit 22. Further, since the capacity of the RAM 209 can be stored up to five, it is possible to perform continuous photographing five times and select a recorded image from these photographed images.
[0178]
Returning to FIG. 20, in the SW determination process, when the shooting mode switch 14 is operated and the high-definition shooting mode is set (YES in # 24), the subroutine “lens check” process shown in FIG. 34 is executed. Adjustment processing of the position of the imaging unit 22 and the focal length of the photographing lens 231 is performed (# 26).
[0179]
When the process proceeds to the “lens check” subroutine, it is determined whether or not the focal length f of the photographing lens 231 exceeds 8 mm (# 260). If f> 8 mm (YES in # 260), the photographing lens 231 is checked. The photographing lens 231a for adjusting the focal length is driven to the wide side to a position where f = 8 mm (# 262, # 264, # 266).
[0180]
If f ≦ 8 mm (NO in # 260), it is determined whether or not the position of the imaging unit 22 is shifted by ± 7 ° or more with respect to the vertical plane including the center position in the horizontal plane (# 268), ± 7 If there is a misalignment of more than 0 ° (YES in # 268), the imaging unit 22 is driven in the horizontal plane and set in the vertical plane including the center position (# 270, # 272, # 274).
[0181]
Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the position of the imaging unit 22 is shifted by ± 10 ° or more with respect to the horizontal plane including the center position in the vertical plane (# 276), and if there is a positional shift of ± 10 ° or more (#) When the imaging unit 22 is driven in the vertical plane and set in the horizontal plane including the center position (# 278, # 280, # 282), the process returns to the main flow.
[0182]
In this lens check process, in the high-definition shooting mode, the imaging unit 22 is set at the center position, and as shown in Table 1, the focal length f of the shooting lens 231 is set to 8 mm or less, and the entire image G of the subject is captured. Therefore, the position of the imaging unit 22 and the focal length f of the photographing lens 231 are adjusted so that photographing in the high-definition photographing mode is possible. That is, when the focal length f of the photographing lens 231 is set to a maximum value of 8 mm and the optical axis direction of the imaging unit 22 is not within the range of the displacement amounts Δθh and Δθv in the optical axis direction of the imaging unit 22 at f = 8 mm. Even when the imaging unit 22 is set at the center position (position where the optical axis direction is the front direction) and the photographer does not manually change the focal length f, the position of the imaging unit 22 and the focal length f of the photographing lens 231 are set. The camera is automatically set to a predetermined position and a predetermined focal length so that high-definition shooting can be reliably performed.
[0183]
Next, processing in the playback mode will be described.
When the process proceeds to the “playback mode” subroutine shown in FIG. 35 in step # 6, first, the frame No. recorded in the flash memory 212. One captured image is read by the recording / reading processing unit 211, expanded by the expansion / compression processing unit 210, transferred to the display control unit 301 in the LCD display unit 3 via the cable 11, and then the LCD panel 12. Is reproduced and displayed (# 290).
[0184]
Subsequently, the presence / absence of changes in the switches SM, SP / R, SU, SD, SR, SL, SCHG, and SDEL are sequentially determined (# 292, # 294, # 296, # 300, # 304, # 314). # 322, # 336).
[0185]
If there is no change in any of the switches, the process returns to step # 292, and the process for determining whether or not the switches SM to SDEL have changed (hereinafter referred to as RSW determination process) is performed (# 292, # 294, # 286, # 286). 300, # 304, # 314, # 322, and # 336 loop).
[0186]
In the RSW determination process, when the main switch SM is turned off (NO in # 292) or the setting state of the recording / playback mode switch 13 is switched to the recording mode (YES in # 294), step # 2 ( Return to FIG.
[0187]
If the switch SU is turned on by operating the optical axis change lever 9 (or the optical axis change button 19a) while the reproduction mode is maintained (YES in # 296), the next frame No. is read from the flash memory 212. The captured image is read by the recording / reading processing unit 211, expanded by the expansion / compression processing unit 210, transferred to the display control unit 301 in the LCD display unit 3 via the cable 11, and then transferred to the LCD panel 12. Playback is displayed (# 298).
[0188]
When the switch SD is turned on by operating the optical axis change lever 9 (or the optical axis change button 19b) (YES in # 300), the previous frame No. is read from the flash memory 212. The captured image is read by the recording / reading processing unit 211, expanded by the expansion / compression processing unit 210, transferred to the display control unit 301 in the LCD display unit 3 via the cable 11, and then transferred to the LCD panel 12. Playback is displayed (# 302).
[0189]
That is, as shown in FIG. 37, every time the switch SU is turned on in the captured image recorded in the flash memory 212, every time the frame number increases (in ascending order) and every time the switch SD is turned on. The images are sequentially reproduced on the LCD panel 12 in the direction in which the frame numbers decrease (descending order). In this case, no. As for the images of No. 4 and No. 5, only the entire image G is reproduced on the LCD panel 12, and the partial image G _i (Nos. 4-1 to 4-4, Nos. 5-1 to 5-4) are not reproduced on the LCD panel 12. Thus, partial image G _i Is not performed, since the operator is considered to require monitoring of the captured image (that is, the image of the entire subject in the high-definition shooting mode). _i I am trying not to play. The image reproduced on the LCD panel 12 is subjected to borders W1 and W2 (see the double frames No. 1 and No. 4), and the color of the border W1 of the image taken in the normal shooting mode and high-definition photography. By making the color of the border W2 of the whole image photographed in the mode different, the operator can identify the image photographed in which photographing mode.
[0190]
Returning to FIG. 35, when the switch SR is turned on by the operation of the optical axis change lever 9 (or the optical axis change button 19d) (YES in # 304), information regarding the shooting mode of the image reproduced and displayed on the LCD panel 12 Is determined whether the image is an image captured in the high-definition shooting mode (# 306). If the image is not a high-definition captured image (NO in # 306), the process proceeds to step # 314, where the high-definition image is captured. If it is a photographed image (YES in # 306), it is determined whether or not it is the entire image G based on information relating to the photographing mode (# 308).
[0191]
If the reproduced image is the entire image G (YES in # 308), the partial image G that was first taken from the flash memory 212 is displayed. _A Is read out by the recording / reading processing unit 211 and expanded by the expansion / compression processing unit 210, then transferred to the display control unit 301 in the LCD display unit 3 through the cable 11, and reproduced and displayed on the LCD panel 12. (# 310). The reproduced image is a partial image G. _i If i = A, B, C, D (NO in # 308), the reproduced partial image G from the flash memory 212 is reproduced. _i Partial image G taken after _i Is read out by the recording / reading processing unit 211 and expanded by the expansion / compression processing unit 210, then transferred to the display control unit 301 in the LCD display unit 3 through the cable 11, and reproduced and displayed on the LCD panel 12. (# 312).
[0192]
That is, when the image reproduced and displayed on the LCD panel 12 is a high-definition photographed image, G is displayed every time the switch SR is turned on. _A (Upper left image), G _B (Upper right image), G _D (Lower right image), G _C Partial image G in the order of (lower left image) _i Is cyclically reproduced and displayed on the LCD panel 12. For example, in FIG. 4 is displayed on the LCD panel 12, if the operator tilts the optical axis changing lever 9 to the right (or presses the optical axis changing button 19d), No. 4 is displayed for each operation. 4-1 → No. 4-2 → No. 4-3 → No. 4-4 → No. Partial image G in the order of 4-1. _i Are cyclically reproduced on the LCD panel 12.
[0193]
Partial image G _i Is also displayed on the LCD panel 12, and the border is colored, and the color of the border is different from that during the reproduction of the whole image of the normal photographed image or the high-definition photographed image. _i It is possible to identify that it is a reproduction of.
[0194]
In the present embodiment, the display image of the LCD panel 12 is provided with different-colored borders W1 and W2 so that the content of the reproduced image can be identified. May be displayed so that the content of the reproduced image can be identified.
[0195]
Returning to FIG. 36, when the switch SL is turned on by the operation of the optical axis change lever 9 (or the optical axis change button 19c) (YES in # 314), information regarding the shooting mode of the image reproduced and displayed on the LCD panel 12 Is determined whether the image is a high-definition photographed image (# 316). If it is not a high-definition photographed image (NO in # 316), the process proceeds to step # 322, and if it is a high-definition photographed image. (YES in # 316), the reproduction image of the LCD panel 12 is the partial image G based on the information regarding the shooting mode. _i Is determined (# 318).
[0196]
If the reproduced image is the entire image G (NO in # 318), the process proceeds to step # 322, where the reproduced image is the partial image G. _i If so (YES in # 318), the partial image G is read from the flash memory 212. _A Is read out by the recording / reading processing unit 211, decompressed by the decompression / compression processing unit 210, and then transferred to the display control unit 301 in the LCD display unit 3 via the cable 11. It is reproduced and displayed on the panel 12 (# 320).
[0197]
That is, the partial image G in which the image reproduced and displayed on the LCD panel 12 is captured in the high-definition shooting mode. _i When the switch SL is turned on, the reproduced image on the LCD panel 12 is displayed in the partial image G. _i Is switched to the entire image G corresponding to. For example, in FIG. 4-1 Partial image G _A Is displayed on the LCD panel 12, if the operator tilts the optical axis changing lever 9 to the left (or presses the optical axis changing button 19 c), No. 4 is displayed. 4 is reproduced on the LCD panel 12. The LCD panel 12 has a No. 4, the display on the LCD panel 12 is not changed even if the operator again tilts the left side of the optical axis changing lever 9 (or presses the optical axis changing button 19 c). No. The display of the entire image G of 4 is maintained.
[0198]
If the switch SCHG is turned on by operating the bracket shooting confirmation button 15 in the state where the playback mode is maintained (YES in # 322), the image is displayed based on information about the shooting mode of the image played back and displayed on the LCD panel 12. Is a high-definition photographed image (# 324). If it is not a high-definition photographed image (NO in # 324), the process proceeds to step # 336, and if it is a high-definition photographed image (# 324) YES), it is determined whether or not the reproduced image of the LCD panel 12 is the entire image G based on the information regarding the photographing mode (# 326).
[0199]
If the reproduced image is the entire image G (YES in # 326), the content of the “shooting mode information” of the information related to shooting recorded in the header portion of the image file corresponding to the played image in the flash memory 212 is “ “High-definition shooting mode” is changed to “normal shooting mode” (# 328). That is, the bit data indicating the shooting mode information is changed from “1” to “0” (see Table 4).
[0200]
Also, four partial images G related to the entire image G in the flash memory 212 are displayed. _i Are erased (# 330). The reproduced image is a partial image G. _i If so (NO in # 326), the partial image G is stored in the flash memory 212. _i The image file is copied (# 332), and the content of the “shooting mode information” in the information related to shooting recorded in the header of the copied image file is changed from “high definition shooting mode” to “normal shooting mode”. (# 334).
[0201]
That is, when the image reproduced and displayed on the LCD panel 12 is the whole image G taken in the high-definition shooting mode, when the switch SCHG is turned on, the whole image G recorded in the flash memory 212 and the whole image G are displayed. Related partial image G _i A set of high-definition shooting mode image files consisting of the image file of the whole image G is changed to a normal shooting mode image file, and the partial image G _i By deleting the image file, the image file is changed to the image file in the normal shooting mode.
[0202]
If the switch SDEL is turned on by operating the delete button 20 while the playback mode is maintained (YES in # 336), the image is displayed on the basis of information on the shooting mode of the image played back and displayed on the LCD panel 12. It is determined whether or not the image is a fine photographic image (# 338), and if it is not a high-definition photographic image (NO in # 338), the image file corresponding to the image being reproduced in the flash memory 212 is erased ( # 340).
[0203]
If it is a high-definition photographed image (YES in # 338), it is determined whether or not the reproduced image is the entire image G based on information relating to the photographing mode (# 342). If it is the entire image G (YES in # 342). ), An image file of the whole image G in the flash memory 212 and four partial images G related to the whole image G _i Are deleted (# 344, # 346). The reproduced image on the LCD panel 12 is a partial image G. _i If so (NO in # 342), the partial image G in the flash memory 212 _i Is deleted (# 348), and the partial image G in the flash memory 212 is deleted. _i Other partial images G related to _i In addition, the content of the “shooting mode information” in the information related to shooting recorded in the header portion of the image file of the entire image G is changed from “high definition shooting mode” to “normal shooting mode” (# 350, # 352).
[0204]
For example, in FIG. 4-1 Partial image G _A The partial image G in the flash memory 212 _A Image file is deleted and frame number no. Other partial images G of 4-2, 4-3 and 4-4 _B , G _D , G _C And frame number no. The content of the “shooting mode information” recorded in the header portion of the image file of the entire image 4 is changed to “normal shooting mode”.
[0205]
Next, the entire image G and the partial image G captured in the high-definition shooting mode. _A ~ G _D A method of creating an overall image having a higher definition than the overall image G by pasting and synthesizing images using the above will be described.
[0206]
In the present embodiment, in order to reduce the processing load of image composition processing at the time of shooting, the image composition processing is performed by a dedicated image processing apparatus or an image processing apparatus configured by a computer system after shooting. Accordingly, a high-definition image creation system is configured by combining the digital camera 1 and the image processing apparatus. Note that an image composition processing function described below may be provided in the digital camera 1 so that a high-definition image creation system is configured by the digital camera 1 alone. In this digital camera 1, the entire image G and partial image G stored in the RAM 209 after shooting. _A ~ G _D Are combined to create a whole image having a higher definition than the whole image G, and this high-definition photographed image is recorded in the flash memory 212.
[0207]
FIG. 38 is a block diagram of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment.
The image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 includes a control unit 31, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 32, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 33, an image memory 34, a GUI (Graphical User Interface) 35, an I / F 36, an input device 37, a display. It comprises a device 38 and an external storage device 39. The control unit 31, the ROM 32, the RAM 33, the image memory 34, the GUI 35, and the I / F 36 are built in the apparatus main body 30, and the input device 37 and the display device 38 are connected to the control unit 31 via the GUI 35, and are external storage devices. 39 is connected to the control unit 31 via the I / F 36.
[0208]
The control unit 31 performs the entire image G and the partial image G _A ~ G _D Is used to execute the image combining process. The control unit 31 includes an image file input / output processing unit 311 and an image composition unit 312 for performing image composition processing.
[0209]
The image file input / output processing unit 311 stores the color image (electrical image) of the image file input from the input device 37 on the recording medium (for example, the external recording device 39 or the internal storage if the image file is stored). Read out from a storage device or the like) and output the image data after image synthesis to a predetermined output destination (recording medium, printer, or other peripheral device) input from the input device 37.
[0210]
The image composition unit 312 reads the entire image G and the partial image G read from the flash memory 212 via the external storage device 39. _A ~ G _D Is used to create a photographic image of the entire subject with high definition. As will be described later, the image synthesis unit 312 enlarges the entire image G and determines the size of the image after synthesis (that is, the frame of the synthesized image), while each partial image G _A ~ G _D Extract a partial image of a predetermined area to be synthesized from each of the partial images G within the frame. _A ~ G _D The extracted image is synthesized so as to be pasted on the enlarged whole image G ′ to create a high-definition whole image G ″.
[0211]
The ROM 32 is a memory in which a processing program for image composition processing to be described later is stored. The RAM 33 temporarily stores various data calculated by the image composition process. Further, the image memory 34 stores image data read from the flash memory 212 for image synthesis processing. The image memory 34 has a storage capacity of at least 15 image data, and the entire image G and the partial image G _A ~ G _D Is separated into R, G, and B color components and stored.
[0212]
The display device 38 performs various displays such as a work menu, a processing state, and a processing result (including a monitor display of a high-definition image after image synthesis), and includes a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) and an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). And the like. On the display device 38, image correction items are displayed as icons in the work menu, and the operator can perform an image composition process described later by selecting the icon.
[0213]
The external storage device 39 is detachable from the flash memory 212, and reads an image file recorded in the flash memory 212 and writes a newly created image file to the flash memory 212.
[0214]
FIG. 39 is a flowchart showing image composition processing in the image composition unit 312. FIG. 40 is a diagram showing a processing procedure for image composition. In FIG. 40, partial image G _A ~ G _D Are taken by enlarging the dotted line portions a, b, c, and d with respect to the entire image G, and the hatched portion of each image indicates a portion protruding from the frame of the entire image G.
[0215]
In the image composition process, the image file of the high-definition photographed image recorded in the flash memory 212 (the entire image G and the partial image G _A ~ G _D Are read into the image memory 34 in the image composition apparatus, and a high-definition composite image is created according to the processing procedure shown in FIG.
[0216]
First, image data is read from the image file of the entire image G, and an enlargement process is performed (# 360, see FIG. 40A). This enlargement process reduces the size of the entire image G to the partial image G. _i The frame of the image after synthesis is determined. That is, the size of the composite image is determined in advance.
[0217]
Partial image G _i As shown in Table 4, since the entire image G is photographed with a magnification of the focal length ratio K, the entire image G is magnified with the focal length ratio K.
[0218]
The focal length ratio K is the partial image G _i It can be obtained by reading out information related to the shooting mode recorded in the image file. Partial image G _i When the focal length ratio K recorded in the image file is not used or the partial image G _i If the focal length ratio K is not recorded in the image file, the partial image G _i Alternatively, the magnification of the entire image can be set by performing correlation calculation while changing the size of the entire image G. In this method, the partial image G _i When the digital camera 1 is moved for some reason, the distance to the subject changes and the partial images G _i There is an advantage that matching position calculation and image synthesis can be performed appropriately even when the sizes of the two are slightly shifted from each other.
[0219]
Subsequently, partial image G _A Image data is read out from the image file of the partial image G _A And the enlarged whole image G ′ (hereinafter referred to as the enlarged whole image G ′) are calculated, and based on the calculation result, the enlarged whole image G ′ and the partial image G in the enlarged whole image G ′ are calculated. _A (Hereinafter, this position is referred to as a matching position) is calculated (# 362). Then, the partial image G is placed at the matching position of the calculated enlarged whole image G ′. _A The image synthesis is performed so as to paste the image of the corresponding portion of (# 364, see FIG. 40B). That is, the image data at the matching position of the enlarged whole image G ′ is the partial image G _A Is replaced with image data at a corresponding position.
[0220]
In the correlation calculation, for example, a plurality of feature points included in the enlarged whole image G ′ are extracted, and a partial image G as shown in FIG. _A The geometrical transformation amount that maximizes the degree of overlap of the feature points is calculated as compared with the enlarged whole image G ′ while performing geometric transformation such as translation, rotation, enlargement / reduction, and the like. As described above, the image data at the matching position of the enlarged whole image G ′ is converted into each partial image G. _A ~ G _D Since a composite image is created by substituting with the image data, the geometric transformation amount calculated by the correlation calculation is determined by each partial image G. _A ~ G _D This is information that gives a synthesis position (that is, a matching position) in the synthesis process.
[0221]
In FIG. 41, g1, g2, g3, and g4 are positions with the highest degree of overlap in the enlarged whole image G0 of the upper left, upper right, lower right, and lower left partial images G1, G2, G3, and G4 (that is, matching positions). ). The upper left partial image G1 shows a case where the matching position g1 is calculated by the parallel movement method using the character string C1 or the rectangle C2 of “ABC” as a feature point, and the upper right partial image G2 is enlarged using the rectangle C3 as a feature point. / A case where the matching position g2 is calculated by the reduction method is shown. The lower right partial image G3 shows a case where the matching position g3 is calculated by the rotational movement method with the edge portion of the thick line C4 or the thick line C4 as a feature point, and the lower left partial image G4 shows a rectangle C2 or a thick line C4. The case where the matching position g4 is calculated by the brightness | luminance conversion method as a feature point is shown.
[0222]
A feature point is image data of a region having characteristic image information such as a specific character or character string, a specific line, a specific geometric shape (for example, a triangle, a circle, an ellipse, etc.) or a specific edge portion. is there. Characters and character strings as feature points are extracted by a known character recognition method, geometric figures as feature points are extracted by a known texture analysis, and edge portions as feature points are extracted by a known edge detection method. The
[0223]
The overlapping degree of the feature points is the correlation value between the image data constituting the feature points of the enlarged whole image G0 and the image data of the pixel positions of the geometrically transformed partial images G1 to G4 corresponding to the feature points, The determination is made using the absolute value sum of the differences or the square sum of the differences between the two image data.
[0224]
Returning to FIG. 39, subsequently, the partial image G _B Image data is read out from the image file of the partial image G _B And the enlarged whole image G ′ are calculated, and the partial image G is calculated based on the calculation result. _B The matching position of the enlarged whole image G ′ with respect to is calculated (# 366). Then, the partial image G is placed at the matching position of the calculated enlarged whole image G ′. _B Image synthesis is performed so as to paste the image of the corresponding part of (# 368, see FIG. 40C). That is, the image data at the matching position of the enlarged whole image G ′ is the partial image G _B Is replaced with image data at a corresponding position.
[0225]
Hereinafter, the partial image G is processed in the same manner. _C , G _D The matching positions of the enlarged whole image G ′ with respect to the image are respectively calculated (# 370, # 374), and the image data at the matching position of the enlarged whole image G ′ is respectively the partial image G. _C , G _D (See # 372, # 376, (d) and (e) of FIG. 40), a high-definition composite image (captured image of the entire subject) G ″ is created.
[0226]
In the above-described embodiment, the entire image G is enlarged to determine the size of the composite image G ″ (that is, the frame of the composite image G ″), and then the partial image G within the frame. _i Are combined so that the partial image G _i After the pasting and synthesizing only, unnecessary portions around the synthesized image G ″ using the enlarged whole image G ′ (the partial image G in FIG. 40). _A ~ G _D The size of the composite image G ″ may be determined by removing the hatched portion.
[0227]
However, in the former method, the image data of the enlarged whole image G ′ is converted into the partial image G. _A ~ G _D Since the high-definition whole image G ″ is created by substituting with the image data, unnecessary image data outside the frame of the composite image G ″ when the image data is replaced (the partial image G in FIG. 40). _A ~ G _D The hatched portion is removed, and the synthesis process becomes easier compared to the latter method.
[0228]
Further, as shown in FIG. 42, for example, the partial image G _C And partial image G _D When there is a portion P where the images do not overlap in the pasted portion, the latter method uses the partial image G of the composite image G ″. _C And partial image G _D However, in the method according to the present embodiment, the image data at the matching position of the enlarged whole image G ′ cannot be generated. Is partial image G _A ~ G _D , The partial image G of the composite image G ″ as shown in FIG. _C And partial image G _D Since the image data of the enlarged whole image G ′ (the hatched portion in the figure) remains in the pasted portion P, the definition of this portion P is slightly lower than the surrounding definition, but the image data is missing. Thus, there is no inconvenience that the composite image G ″ cannot be created.
[0229]
By the way, some photographing lenses have a characteristic that the light amount in the peripheral portion of the lens is reduced with respect to the light amount in the central portion. When a subject is photographed using a photographing lens having such characteristics, the photographed image becomes an image having a larger luminance deviation in the periphery of the screen than in the center of the screen, as shown in FIG.
[0230]
When shooting in high-definition shooting mode, partial image G _i 44 have a luminance distribution as shown in FIG. 44, the high-definition whole image G ″ obtained by synthesizing these has a luminance distribution in which bright and dark portions appear alternately in the screen as shown in FIG. Although the definition is improved, the luminance distribution becomes unnatural, and the image quality as a whole deteriorates significantly. _i If there is a difference in white balance between the two, a color shift may occur at the boundary portion of the bonding, and this color shift also deteriorates the image quality.
[0231]
In this way, in the high-definition shooting mode, the image quality degradation of the shot image based on the light quantity transmission characteristic of the shooting lens is further increased by the image synthesis. It is desirable to suppress the image quality degradation by correcting the image correction process, as shown by the phantom line in Fig. 38, by providing an image correction unit 313 in the control unit 31 as necessary. In 313, the luminance distribution of the image G ″ synthesized by the image synthesizing unit 312 can be corrected.
[0232]
FIG. 46 is a conceptual diagram showing an image correction method for suppressing the above-described image quality deterioration.
[0233]
In the image correction, first, the enlarged entire image G ′ and the synthesized image G ″ are divided into small blocks BLK of, for example, (8 × 8) pixels (see FIG. 46A), and R, R for each block BLK. Pixel data g for each color component of G and B _R , G _G , G _B Average value R1 _AV , G1 _AV , B1 _AV , R2 _AV , G2 _AV , B2 _AV Is calculated (see FIG. 46B). Next, the pixel data g of the composite image G ″ is set so that the average value becomes equal between the corresponding blocks BLK of the enlarged whole image G ′ and the composite image G ″. _R , G _G , G _B Is calculated (see FIG. 46C). This shift amount is, for example, the difference ΔR in the average value between the corresponding blocks BLK of the enlarged whole image G ′ and the synthesized image G ″. _AV , ΔG _AV , ΔB _AV Can be used.
[0234]
Then, each pixel data g of the composite image G ″ _R , G _G , G _B Shift amount ΔR _AV , ΔG _AV , ΔB _AV Is added to correct the composite image G ″ (see FIG. 46D). By this correction, the average value of the pixel data of the small blocks of the composite image G ″ becomes the pixel data of the small blocks of the enlarged whole image G ′. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 46 (e), the luminance distribution of the corrected composite image G ″ approximates the luminance distribution of the enlarged entire image G ′.
[0235]
In the present embodiment, (8 × 8) pixels are exemplified as the size of the small block BLK, but the size and shape of the small block BLK can be arbitrarily set. If the size of the small block BLK is excessively increased, the magnitude relationship of the pixel data between the pixels is not corrected in the same block BLK. On the other hand, if the size of the small block BLK is made too small, if a positional shift occurs between the enlarged whole image G ′ and the composite image G ″, the pixel data changes significantly due to the image correction, and the composite image There arises a problem that the image quality of G ″ deteriorates. Accordingly, the size and shape of the small block BLK may be appropriately selected in consideration of these problems and the light amount transmission characteristics of the photographing lens.
[0236]
Next, the above-described image correction processing procedure performed by the image correction unit 313 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0237]
First, the enlarged entire image G ′ is divided into (x × y) small blocks BLK (# 380). Subsequently, the composite image G ″ is divided into (x × y) small blocks BLK (# 382). Subsequently, count values a and x for counting the number of rows x and the number of columns y of the small blocks BLK, respectively. Each b is set to “1” (# 384).
[0238]
Subsequently, for the small block BLK (1,1) in one row and one column of the enlarged entire image G ′, the pixel data g included in the small block BLK (1,1) for each color component of R, G, B. _i Average value R1 of (i = R, G, B) _AV (1,1), G1 _AV (1,1), B1 _AV (1,1) is calculated (# 386), and for the small block BLK (1,1) in the first row and the first column of the composite image G ″, the small block BLK ( 1,1) Pixel data included in g _i Average value R2 of (i = R, G, B) _AV (1,1), G2 _AV (1,1), B2 _AV (1,1) is calculated (# 388). Note that (1, 1) indicates that the small block BLK has one row and one column. Hereinafter, (a, b) is attached to the small block BLK of a row and b column.
[0239]
Subsequently, the average value R1 _AV (1,1), G1 _AV (1,1), B1 _AV (1,1) and average value R2 _AV (1,1), G2 _AV (1,1), B2 _AV Shift amount ΔR using (1,1) _AV (1,1), ΔG _AV (1,1), ΔB _AV (1,1) is calculated (# 390). The shift amount ΔR _AV (a, b), ΔG _AV (a, b), ΔB _AV (a, b) is, for example, ΔR _AV (a, b) = R2 _AV (a, b) -R1 _AV (a, b), ΔG _AV (a, b) = G2 _AV (a, b) -G1 _AV (a, b), ΔB _AV (a, b) = B2 _AV (a, b) -B1 _AV Calculated by (a, b).
[0240]
Subsequently, pixel data g of each color component of the small block BLK (1,1) in the first row and the first column of the composite image G ″. _i (1,1) is the shift amount ΔR _AV (1,1), ΔG _AV (1,1), ΔB _AV It is corrected using (1,1) (# 392). Correction data g _R ′ (A, b), g _G ′ (A, b), g _B ′ (A, b) is g _R ′ (A, b) = g _R (a, b) + ΔR _AV (a, b), g _G ′ (A, b) = g _G (a, b) + ΔG _AV (a, b), g _B ′ (A, b) = g _B (a, b) + ΔB _AV Calculated by (a, b).
[0241]
Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the count value a is the number of rows x (# 394). If a <x (NO in # 394), the count value a is incremented by 1 and the process proceeds to step # 386. Returning, the above-described correction processing is performed on the small block BLK (a + 1, b) of (a + 1) rows and b columns. Now, since a + 1 = 2, the process returns to step # 386 and the above-described correction processing is performed on the small block BLK (2,1) of 2 rows and 1 column, and hereinafter, (3,1), (4, 1),... (X, 1) The above-described correction processing is sequentially performed on each small block BLK (a, 1) (a = 3, 4,... X) in the first column.
[0242]
When the image correction is completed for the small block BLK (a, 1) in the first column, a = x is set in step # 394, and it is determined whether or not the count value b is the column number y in step # 398. If b <y (NO in # 398), the count value a is set to “1”, the count value b is incremented by “1”, the process returns to step # 386, and one row (b + 1) The above-described correction processing is performed on the small block BLK (1, b + 1) in the column. Now, since b + 1 = 2, the process returns to step # 366, and the above-described correction processing is sequentially performed for the small block BLK (a, 2) (a = 1, 2,... X) in the second column (# 386). ~ 396 loops).
[0243]
Thereafter, the above-described image correction is sequentially performed on the small blocks BLK (a, b) of each column in the same manner (loop of # 386 to # 402), and all the small blocks BLK (a, b) ( When the image correction is completed for a = 1, 2,... x, b = 1, 2,... y) (YES in # 398), the process is terminated.
[0244]
In the above embodiment, a dedicated image processing apparatus equipped with an image composition program has been described. However, as shown in FIG. 48, an image composition program and an image correction program are stored in a magnetic recording medium such as a floppy disk or a magnetic tape. It is stored in an external recording medium 43 such as an optical recording medium such as a medium, a CD-ROM, an optical disk card, or a magneto-optical disk, and is read into the computer main body 41 via the external storage device 42 or a network such as the Internet. The image processing apparatus 40 may be constructed by a computer system by being read into the computer main body 41 via the computer system 41.
[0245]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, an image of the entire subject and an image of each part of the subject are sequentially captured, and the digital camera that records these captured images in the image recording unit is configured to capture each captured image. Independent image files are created and each captured image is recorded in the image recording means together with information indicating that the images are related to each other, so it is easy to change only the information accompanying the image data of each image file. The image file can be changed to an independent image file, and management of the image file becomes easy.
[0246]
Further, when the recorded image of the image recording means is reproduced on the display means, when the reproduction of the captured images related to each other is instructed, only the captured image of the entire subject is reproduced. It is possible to monitor the entire image of the combined subject more quickly than to reproduce the combined high-definition image of the entire subject.
[0247]
Further, when recording and deletion are instructed in a state where the captured image of the entire subject among the captured images related to each other is reproduced on the display unit, the image file of the captured image of the entire related subject and the captured image of the portion of the subject are saved. Since all of them are erased, the image files can be easily organized.
[0248]
Further, when there is an instruction to cancel the relevance in a state where the captured image of the entire subject among the captured images related to each other is reproduced on the display unit, the related image is recorded in the image file of the captured image of the entire subject. Since the information indicating this is erased, the captured image of the entire subject can be easily changed to an independent captured image.
[0249]
Further, when there is an instruction to cancel the relevance in a state where the captured image of the entire subject among the captured images related to each other is reproduced on the display means, the image file of the captured image of the portion of the subject related to the captured image of the entire subject. Since the image files are erased, it is possible to easily organize the image files of the captured images related to each other in the image recording means.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view showing an external appearance of an embodiment of a digital camera according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view showing the appearance of an embodiment of a digital camera according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state where a display unit is detached from the camera body.
FIG. 4 is a main part perspective view showing an arrangement position of an imaging unit in a camera body.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a subject and a shooting range in shooting in a high-definition shooting mode.
FIG. 6 is a front view of the imaging unit.
FIG. 7 is a plan view of the imaging unit.
FIG. 8 is a right side view of the imaging unit.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a mechanism for detecting a focal length of a photographic lens.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a structure of a driving member that drives the imaging unit.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a waveform of a driving voltage applied to a piezoelectric element of a driving member.
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a structure of a position detection member.
FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a position detection circuit.
FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a waveform of an output signal of a position detection circuit.
FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a setting position of the imaging unit when a main switch is turned on / off.
FIG. 16 is a main part perspective view showing a state in which the imaging unit is set at the center position;
FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a main part showing a state in which the imaging unit is set to a position that shields the opening in the lower right direction with respect to the front direction.
FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a digital camera according to the present invention.
FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a main flow of photographing operation of the digital camera according to the present invention.
FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a main flow of photographing operation of the digital camera according to the present invention.
FIG. 21 is a flowchart of a subroutine “SM OFF”.
FIG. 22 is a flowchart of a subroutine “imaging unit set”.
FIG. 23 is a flowchart of a subroutine “Zoom”.
FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating a horizontal field angle θh and a vertical field angle θv.
FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating a horizontal displacement amount Δθh and a vertical displacement amount Δθv.
FIG. 26 is a flowchart of a subroutine “imaging unit driving”;
FIG. 27 is a flowchart of a subroutine “imaging unit driving”;
FIG. 28 is a flowchart of a subroutine “S1 ON”.
FIG. 29 is a flowchart of a subroutine “S1 ON”.
FIG. 30 is a diagram schematically illustrating photographing processing in a high-definition photographing mode.
FIG. 31 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image file.
FIG. 32 is a flowchart of a subroutine “image selection”.
FIG. 33 is a diagram schematically illustrating a selection process of a recorded image in a normal shooting mode.
FIG. 34 is a flowchart of a subroutine “lens check”.
FIG. 35 is a flowchart of a subroutine “reproduction mode”.
FIG. 36 is a flowchart of a subroutine “reproduction mode”.
FIG. 37 is a diagram for explaining a display image on the LCD display unit in a recorded image reproduction process;
FIG. 38 is a block configuration diagram of an embodiment of an image processing apparatus that creates a high-definition image.
FIG. 39 is a flowchart showing image composition processing;
FIG. 40 is a diagram illustrating an image composition processing procedure;
FIG. 41 is a diagram for explaining correlation calculation processing;
FIG. 42 is a diagram illustrating a composite image when only partial images are simply pasted when there is a partial image that does not have an overlapping portion of images in the pasted portion.
FIG. 43 is a diagram showing a composite image in a case where there is a partial image that does not have an overlapping part of the image in the pasted part and the corresponding part of the entire image is composited so as to be replaced with the partial image.
FIG. 44 is a diagram illustrating a luminance distribution of an image photographed by a photographing lens having a characteristic that the light amount in the lens peripheral portion is smaller than the light amount in the lens central portion.
FIG. 45 is a diagram showing a luminance distribution when a high-definition image is created by synthesizing images taken by a photographing lens having a characteristic that the light amount at the lens peripheral portion is smaller than the light amount at the lens central portion.
FIG. 46 is a diagram illustrating a concept of an image correction method.
FIG. 47 is a flowchart illustrating an image correction processing procedure.
FIG. 48 is a diagram illustrating an image processing apparatus constructed by a computer system.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Digital camera
2 Camera body
201 Unit driver
202 Unit position detector
203 FL controller
204 Power supply
205 switches
206 A / D converter
207 Timing Generator
208 Signal processor
209 RAM
210 Decompression / compression processor
211 Recording / reading processing unit
212 Flash memory (image recording means)
213 Control unit (imaging control means, information generation means, recording control means, display control means, recording erasing means, information erasing means, image erasing means)
3 LCD display
4 Flash
5 openings
6, 7, 16, 17 Zoom operation buttons
8,18 Release button (shooting instruction means)
9 Optical axis change lever (instruction means)
10 Mounting plate
11 Cable
12 LCD panel (display means)
13 Recording / playback mode switch (playback instruction means)
14 Shooting mode switch
15 Bracket shooting confirmation button (instruction means)
19a-19d Optical axis change button
20 Erase button (erase instruction means)
21 Main switch
22 Imaging unit
23 Unit body
231 Photo lens
232 Zoom motor
239 Imaging unit (first and second imaging means)
24 First support frame
25 Second support
26 Drive member
27, 28 Position detection member
30 Image processing device
31 Control unit
32 ROM
33 RAM
34 Image memory
35 GUI
36 I / F
37 Input device
38 Display device
39 External storage
40 Computer system
41 Computer body
42 External storage device
43 External recording media
M magnet

Claims (5)

First imaging means for imaging the entire subject;
A second imaging unit that divides the entire subject into a plurality of parts and images each part of the subject;
Photographing instruction means for instructing photographing;
When shooting is instructed by the shooting instruction unit, the first and second imaging units are operated to sequentially capture the entire subject and the subject portion, and the first and second imaging units. In a digital camera comprising image recording means for recording an image picked up by the image pickup means,
Information generating means for generating information indicating that each of the images captured by the first and second imaging means is a related image;
The first, together with information generated by the information generating means each image captured by the second imaging means corresponding to these captured images, recorded in the image recording means and independently of the image file A digital camera comprising: a recording control unit that performs recording. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein
Display means for reproducing and displaying the captured image recorded in the image recording means;
Reproduction instruction means for instructing reproduction display of the captured image on the display means;
And a display control means for causing the display means to reproduce and display only the image of the entire subject imaged by the first imaging means when the reproduction instruction means instructs to display and reproduce the captured image. Digital camera. The digital camera according to claim 2, wherein
An erasure instruction means for instructing erasure of recording in the image recording means of the captured image reproduced and displayed on the display means;
When erasure of the captured image reproduced and displayed on the display unit is instructed by the erasure instruction unit, the captured image recorded in the image recording unit and the captured image of the portion of the subject related to the captured image are erased. A digital camera, further comprising a recording / erasing unit. The digital camera according to claim 2 or 3,
Instruction means for instructing cancellation of the relevance between the captured image of the entire subject reproduced and displayed on the display means and the captured image of the portion of the subject related thereto;
And an information erasing unit for erasing information indicating that the image is a related image recorded in an image file of the captured image of the entire subject when the instruction unit cancels the relevance. A digital camera characterized by that. The digital camera according to claim 4, wherein
An image erasing unit for erasing an image file of a captured image of a portion of the subject related to a captured image of the entire subject reproduced and displayed on the display unit recorded in the image recording unit when the instruction unit cancels the relevance And a digital camera.

Images