JP3786270B2 - Digital camera - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a digital camera.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A digital camera has a use of recording data as a material of a composite image, for example. Composite images are widely used for printing greeting cards with photos, photo stickers with frames, and the like.
Patent Document 1 discloses a digital camera that displays a composite still image (default image) stored in advance in a nonvolatile memory or the like and an image representing a subject until the shutter switch is pressed in a shooting mode. .
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-45352 (paragraph 0030, FIG. 7c)
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, according to the digital camera disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the default image selected by the user does not include a pixel to be superimposed and synthesized on the still image representing the subject, the default image is not selected in the shooting mode. There is a problem that the state and the state in which the default image is selected cannot be distinguished. Note that the default image having no pixels superimposed and synthesized on the still image representing the subject is an image in which, for example, the entire still image representing the subject is laid out on a part of the front surface thereof.
[0005]
An object of the present invention is to provide a digital camera that can easily discriminate between a state in which a default image is not selected and a state in which a default image is selected in a shooting mode.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a digital camera according to the present invention includes an optical system that forms an optical image of a subject, a conversion unit that converts the optical image of the formed subject into a digital image, and an output from the conversion unit. A selection means for selecting a default image to be combined with the digital image to be displayed, a display, and a determination for determining whether or not there is a pixel to be superimposed and combined on the digital image output from the conversion means for the selected default image And a thumbnail image of the selected default image in a state in which a still image recording instruction can be input when the default image having pixels to be superimposed and synthesized on the digital image output by the conversion means is selected The digital moving image to be output by the converting means is synthesized and displayed on the display, and is superimposed on the digital image output by the converting means. Display control means for combining and displaying a predetermined object and a digital moving image to be output to the conversion means on the display in a state in which a still image recording instruction can be input when a default image having no pixels to be selected is selected. Image recording means for storing the digital still image output by the conversion means in a non-volatile memory in association with the selected default image when an image recording instruction is input.
[0007]
According to the digital camera of the present invention, when the user selects a default image having pixels to be superimposed and synthesized on the digital image output from the conversion means, the thumbnail image of the selected default image and the output to the conversion means. The displayed digital moving image is synthesized and displayed on the display. Further, when a user selects a default image that does not have a pixel to be superimposed and synthesized on the digital image output from the conversion means, a predetermined object and the digital moving image output from the conversion means are combined and displayed on the display. . Therefore, in a state where the default image is selected in the shooting mode, the thumbnail image of the selected default image or a predetermined object is displayed on the display, so that the user has selected the default image. You can easily know that. That is, according to the digital camera of the present invention, it is possible to easily discriminate between a state in which the default image is not selected and a state in which the default image is selected in the shooting mode.
[0008]
Furthermore, in the digital camera according to the present invention, the object is a band-like figure displayed at an end of the display. For this reason, even if the user is gazing at the digital moving image of the subject, the user can easily discriminate between the state in which the default image is not selected and the state in which the default image is selected in the shooting mode.
[0009]
The functions of the plurality of means provided in the present invention are realized by hardware resources whose functions are specified by the configuration itself, hardware resources whose functions are specified by a program, or a combination thereof. The functions of the plurality of means are not limited to those realized by hardware resources that are physically independent of each other. The present invention can be specified not only as an apparatus invention but also as a program invention, a recording medium recording the program, and a method invention.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on a plurality of examples.
(First Example)
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the digital camera 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 3A and 3B are a rear view and a front view, respectively, showing the external appearance of the digital camera 1.
The optical system 30 includes a lens 68 housed in a housing 64, a diaphragm, and the like. The optical system 30 forms an optical image of the subject on the light receiving surface of the image sensor 32.
[0011]
The image sensor 32 as a conversion unit is an area image sensor including photoelectric conversion elements discretely arranged in a two-dimensional space and charge transfer elements such as a charge coupled device (CCD). The image sensor 32 is driven by the sensor controller 40. The image sensor 32 accumulates charges obtained by photoelectric conversion for a certain period of time for each photoelectric conversion element, and outputs an electric signal corresponding to the amount of light received for each photoelectric conversion element. Provide C (Cyan), M (Magenta), Y (Yellow), and G (Green) complementary color filters, or R (Red), G (Green), and B (Blue) primary color filters on the light-receiving surface. Thus, a color image can be formed.
[0012]
An A / D converter (ADC) 34 as a conversion unit quantizes an analog signal output from the image sensor 32 and converts it into a digital signal. Specifically, for example, the ADC 34 performs noise reduction processing included in the analog signal, analog signal level adjustment processing by gain adjustment, quantization processing, and the like.
[0013]
An image forming unit 36 serving as a conversion unit performs image forming processing, white balance correction, γ correction, color space conversion, and the like on the digital signal output from the ADC 34, and R, G, and B tone values for each pixel. Or image data representing tone values of Y, Cb, and Cr. The image forming process referred to here is digital image data having three gradation values of RGB or YCbCr for each pixel by interpolating pixels composed of density information for one color with density information of different colors of neighboring pixels. Is output.
[0014]
A compression / decompression unit 38 as image recording means compresses or decompresses digital image data. Specifically, digital image data is compressed by performing series conversion and entropy coding of the digital image data, and digital image data is expanded by performing inverse conversion thereof. Specifically, the digital image data is compressed using, for example, discrete cosine transform, wavelet transform, run length coding, Huffman coding, or the like. The digital image data compressed by the compression / decompression unit 38 is stored in a removable memory 56 as a nonvolatile memory by the memory controller 50.
[0015]
The operation unit 44 as selection means includes a dial switch 60, push button switches 14, 16, 20, a cross key 18, a shutter switch 62, and the like. The dial switch 60 is a dial switch for setting a shooting mode, a playback mode, and the like according to the rotation angle. The push button switch 20 is a switch for calling a menu on an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 54. The push button switches 14 and 16 and the cross key 18 are switches for operating a menu displayed on the LCD 54. The shutter switch 62 is a switch for inputting a still image recording instruction. In the shooting mode, a still image recording instruction can be input by pressing the shutter switch 62.
[0016]
The LCD 54 as a display functions as an electronic viewfinder in the shooting mode. The display controller 52 includes a frame buffer for storing digital image data for one screen of the LCD 54 and a display circuit for driving the LCD 54 based on the digital image data stored in the frame buffer. In the shooting mode, a digital moving image representing the subject, a digital still image representing all or part of the image synthesized with the still image representing the subject, an α channel for synthesizing these two images, and a digital image representing the subject An object indicating that an image to be synthesized is selected and an object constituting the menu are stored in the frame buffer. The display circuit combines and displays these objects stored in the frame buffer on the LCD 54.
[0017]
The CPU 42 controls the entire digital camera 1 by executing a computer program stored in the ROM 46. The work memory 48 is a memory for temporarily storing programs and data. The program and various data stored in the ROM 46 may be downloaded from a predetermined server via a network and stored in the ROM 46, or read from a computer-readable storage medium such as a removable memory and stored in the ROM 46. Also good.
[0018]
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a directory of files stored in the removable memory 56. A digital still image representing the subject (subject image) and information (layout definition file) defining the layout at the time of reproduction of the subject image are stored as separate files. In addition, a file (association file) describing information for associating these files is stored as another file. Note that the subject image and the layout definition file may be associated with each other by storing, for example, information for associating them in the file of the subject image, or may be associated with each other by, for example, partially overlapping their file names. For example, they may be associated with each other by being stored in the same folder. The layout definition file may be stored in the ROM 46 in advance or may be stored in the removable memory 56 in advance.
[0019]
A file with the extension “.usd” is a layout definition file, and is stored for each paper size. The layout definition file will be described in detail later. Files with the extension “.usm” are index files. In the index file, index information of a plurality of layout definition files having different paper sizes and similar relationships is described. Specifically, for example, the index file describes the number of layout definition files that are similar to each other, the file name of the layout definition file, and the like. The file with the extension “.eff” is a digital still image (default image) to be synthesized with the subject image based on the layout definition file. Files with the extension “.usf” are thumbnails for playback devices. The playback device thumbnail is a thumbnail image file for displaying the layout defined in the layout definition file on a playback device such as a printer or a personal computer. Files with the extension “.ctf” are camera thumbnails. The camera thumbnail is a thumbnail image file for displaying the layout defined in the layout definition file as an image on the LCD 54 of the digital camera 1. The camera thumbnail will be described in detail later. The default image, playback device thumbnail, and camera thumbnail are stored in a folder with the same name as the file name of the index file that describes the path of the layout definition file that defines the layout displayed by the playback device thumbnail and the camera thumbnail. Has been. That is, the camera thumbnail and the index file are associated with each other by the name of the folder in which the camera thumbnail is stored.
[0020]
A file with the extension “.jpg” is a subject image. The file with the extension “.ust” is the association file described above. In the association file, the path of the index file is described, and the same file name as the file name of the subject image to be associated with the layout definition file described in the index file is given. That is, the subject image and the association file are associated with each other by their file names. The association file and the index file are associated by a path described in the association file. The index file and the layout definition file are associated with each other by the index file path described in the layout definition file. By the association by the plurality of files, a plurality of layout definition files having different paper sizes and similar relationships with each other are associated with one subject image.
[0021]
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the contents of the layout definition file 70. FIG. 6A is a schematic diagram for explaining an image reproduced using the layout definition file 70. FIG. 6B is a plan view showing a postcard 74 printed using the layout definition file 70. In the layout definition file 70, the layout of the subject image is defined by a script. The script uniquely interprets position information for placing the subject image on the printing paper, information for rotating the subject image and placing it on the printing paper, information for enlarging or reducing the subject image, etc. Define as possible. Specifically, for example, information that defines the print size (for example, “postcard”), the orientation of the printing paper (for example, “vertically long”), and information that defines the frame (subject image frame) in which the subject image is placed (for example, the upper right of the frame) Coordinates “(x1, y1)” and lower left coordinates “(x2, y2)”) of the frame, information defining the rotation when the subject image is placed in the frame (for example, “rotate 90 degrees counterclockwise”), Information for specifying an image (default image) to be combined with the subject image (for example, “birthday.eff” as a path of the default image), information for defining a frame in which the default image is arranged (for example, upper right coordinates “(x1 , Y1) ”and the lower left coordinates“ (x2, y2) ”) of the frame are defined by the script. Further, the α channel 72 may be stored in the layout definition file 70. The α channel is information that defines, for each pixel, which image pixel is reflected in the synthesized image when two images are superimposed and synthesized.
[0022]
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the contents of the camera thumbnail 78. The camera thumbnail 78 includes a digital still image (entire thumbnail) 17 that represents the entire layout defined in the layout definition file 70 and a digital still image (a portion of the default image that is superimposed and synthesized on the subject image). (Partial thumbnail) 24 is stored. The camera thumbnail 78 stores an α channel 76 for combining and displaying the entire thumbnail 17 and the subject image, and an α channel 77 for combining and displaying the partial thumbnail 24 and the subject image. The entire thumbnail 17, the partial thumbnail 24, and the α channels 76 and 77 are preferably compressed in a data format such as JPEG. Further, the camera thumbnail 78 defines, as attached information, a partial thumbnail pointer that indicates the address of the partial thumbnail 24 by an offset value, information that defines the orientation of the entire thumbnail 17 (for example, “vertically long”), and a frame in which the subject image is arranged. Information (for example, the upper right coordinate “(x1, y1)” of the frame and the lower left coordinate “(x2, y2)” of the frame), information for defining the direction of the frame in which the subject image is placed (for example, “vertically long”), etc. Stored as information. The partial thumbnail pointer stores a null value when there is no image information of the partial thumbnail 24.
[0023]
FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing for controlling the LCD 54 in the photographing mode of the digital camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 8, FIG. 9, and FIG. 10 are schematic diagrams showing the transition of the screen of the LCD 54. FIG. The processing shown in FIG. 1 is started when the push button switch 20 and the push button switch 16 are continuously pressed in the photographing mode, and proceeds by the CPU 42 executing a predetermined program stored in the ROM 46. That is, the CPU 42 functions as a selection unit, a determination unit, a display control unit, and an image recording unit by executing a predetermined program stored in the ROM 46.
[0024]
In step S100, the entire thumbnail 17 corresponding to the currently selected layout is displayed as shown in screen 3 of FIG. By selecting any one index file, the default image can be selected without specifying the paper size. Specifically, since the name of the folder storing the camera thumbnail and the index file have a common name (for example, “daen_0”), the name of the folder storing the camera thumbnail or the camera thumbnail is stored. By selecting the file name, it is possible to select both a plurality of layout definition files and camera thumbnails that are similar to each other. Based on the name of the folder storing the camera thumbnail or the name of the folder storing the camera thumbnail, the entire thumbnail 17 corresponding to the selected layout is searched, and the entire thumbnail 17 is stored in the frame buffer of the display controller 52. Is stored and displayed on the LCD 54.
[0025]
In step S105, it is determined whether or not the next layout has been selected by determining whether or not the cross key 18 has been pressed. If the cross key 18 is pressed, the next layout is selected (step S110), and the process returns to step S100. If not, the process proceeds to step S115. Screen 6 in FIG. 10 is an example of a screen displayed in step S100 after the next layout is selected.
[0026]
In step S115, it is determined whether or not the currently selected layout has been determined by determining whether or not the push button switch 16 has been pressed. If the push button switch 16 is pressed, the process proceeds to step S125. If the push button switch 16 is not pressed, the process waits for a predetermined time (step S120), and then returns to step S105. When the layout definition file defining the default image is selected in step S115, the default image is selected.
[0027]
In step S125, the presence / absence of a pixel to be superimposed and synthesized with the subject image in the selected default image is determined from the value of the partial thumbnail pointer in the attached information of the camera thumbnail corresponding to the currently selected default image. Specifically, for example, when the value of the partial thumbnail pointer is a null value, it is determined that there is no pixel to be superimposed and synthesized with the subject image.
[0028]
When there is no pixel superimposed and synthesized with the subject image in the default image, the subject moving image 26, the menu 27, and the band 22 indicating no pixel to be superimposed and synthesized with the subject image are synthesized and displayed on the screen 4 of FIG. 9 (step S130). . At this time, the band 22 indicating no pixel to be superimposed and synthesized with the subject image is displayed at the end of the screen with a width that does not hinder the user from seeing the subject moving image.
[0029]
In step S125, if the value of the partial thumbnail pointer is an offset value other than the null value, it is determined that there is a pixel to be superimposed and synthesized with the subject image, and the partial thumbnail 24 and the subject moving image 26 indicated by the offset value are determined. The menu 27 is synthesized and displayed on the screen 7 of FIG. 10 (step S140).
[0030]
In step S125, in order to determine whether or not there is a pixel to be superimposed and synthesized with the subject image, here, the value of the partial thumbnail pointer of the attached information of the camera thumbnail is used. May be determined based on the presence / absence of the data, or 1-bit data representing the presence / absence of the pixel to be superimposed and synthesized with the subject image may be stored and determined based on the bit.
The object indicating the state in which the default image is selected may be any figure or may be a character (for example, “Default image is being selected”).
[0031]
In step S145, it is determined whether or not the menu is to be hidden by determining whether or not the push button switch 20 has been pressed. If the push button switch 20 has been pressed, the process proceeds to step 10, and if not, the process waits for a predetermined time and then repeats step S145.
[0032]
In step S160, the menu 27 displayed on the foremost layer is not displayed and is ready for photographing. As a result, the partial thumbnail 24 corresponding to the currently selected layout or the band 22 indicating no pixel to be superimposed and combined with the subject image and the subject image 26 are combined and displayed as shown in the screen 5 in FIG. 9 or the screen 8 in FIG. Is done. If the shutter switch 62 is pressed in this state, the subject image output from the image forming unit 36 and compressed by the compression / expansion unit 38 is stored in the removable memory 56 by the memory controller 50. Further, an association file describing the path name of the index file corresponding to the currently selected layout is stored in the same folder as the subject image. As a result, the subject image is stored in the removable memory 56 in association with the currently selected default image.
[0033]
According to the digital camera of the embodiment of the present invention, it is easily determined that the default screen selected in the shooting mode is in a state where the default screen is selected even when there is no pixel to be superimposed and synthesized with the subject image. be able to.
The program and various data of the embodiment may be downloaded and input from a predetermined server via a network, or may be read and input from a computer-readable storage medium such as a removable memory (not shown). .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing for controlling an LCD.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the digital camera of the first embodiment.
FIG. 3A is a rear view of the digital camera. FIG. 2B is a front view of the digital camera.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a file directory;
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the contents of a layout definition file.
FIG. 6A is a schematic diagram for explaining an image reproduced using a layout definition file. (B) is a plan view showing a postcard printed using a layout definition file.
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the contents of a camera thumbnail.
FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing transition of an LCD screen.
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing transition of an LCD screen.
FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing transition of an LCD screen.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Digital camera, 22 band indicating presence of default screen, 26 subject moving image (digital moving image to be output to conversion means), 30 optical system, 32 image sensor (conversion means), 36 image forming unit (conversion means), 42 CPU (Discriminating means, display control means, image recording means, recording means), 43 attitude sensor (attitude detection means), 44 operation unit (selection means), 56 removable memory (nonvolatile memory), 64 housing, 70 layout definition file

Claims (2)

An optical system that forms an optical image of the subject;
Conversion means for converting an optical image of the imaged subject into a digital image;
Selecting means for selecting a default image to be combined with the digital image output by the converting means;
Display,
A discriminating unit for discriminating whether or not there is a pixel to be superimposed and synthesized on the digital image output by the converting unit for the selected default image;
When a default image having pixels to be superimposed and synthesized on the digital image output by the conversion means is selected, a thumbnail image of the selected default image and the conversion means are input in a state where a still image recording instruction can be input. In the state where a still image recording instruction can be input when a digital image to be output is synthesized and displayed on the display, and a default image having no pixels to be superimposed and synthesized on the digital image output by the converting means is selected Display control means for combining and displaying a predetermined object and a digital moving image to be output to the conversion means on the display;
An image recording means for storing the digital still image output to the conversion means in a nonvolatile memory in association with the selected default image when a still image recording instruction is input;
A digital camera comprising: The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the object is a strip-like figure displayed at an end of the display.

Images