JP3848151B2 - Imaging apparatus, imaging method, program, and storage medium - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an imaging device that can easily print an image.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, an image taken with a digital camera is displayed on a display device such as a monitor, and an opportunity to print with a printer or the like for viewing is increasing. Under such circumstances, a standard called DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) has been announced from the viewpoint of user merit. In the DPOF standard, print information necessary for printing is digitized, and the print information is stored in a recording medium together with an image file, and the print information description format is unified.
[0003]
A file for storing print information (referred to as a DPOF file) is specified to be recorded on a recording medium in a text file format different from an image file. The standard has been expanded to standardize the description format for reproduction information and transmission information not only for print information but also for slide show and image file transmission.
[0004]
By storing print information, playback information, and transmission information together with image files in a recording medium in accordance with these standards, users such as direct printing with a personal printer, realization of a slide show between different models, and transmission of image files Effective in realizing the benefits.
[0005]
On the other hand, in the captured image, the subject luminous flux that has passed through the photographing lens reaches a solid-state imaging device (CCD or the like), and the subject image is converted into an electrical signal and output as a video signal. The output image is subjected to various conversion processes in the image processing circuit, and finally stored in the recording medium as an image file.
[0006]
A typical digital camera converts an image file to a digital camera. Built-in The display has a function of reproducing (displaying) on a liquid crystal monitor (LCD). For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-126724, a list of the reproduced images is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor and an image to be printed is designated. A device has been proposed.
[0007]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-045339 discloses means for issuing a print instruction on a confirmation screen for a photographed image in the photographing mode.
[0008]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-066944 discloses that additional information is stored in advance in a fixed file provided on a recording medium such as a memory card, and the additional information stored in the fixed file is automatically acquired and used at the time of shooting. A method is disclosed.
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In conventional print settings, a user issues a print instruction while confirming a captured image. For this reason, even when it is decided to print a photographed image, it is necessary to designate the number of prints for each image, and to perform settings such as rotation and trimming separately.
[0010]
In digital cameras where compactness is important, it is difficult to prepare buttons corresponding to each function due to physical restrictions, etc., so there are problems such as difficult to understand print setting operations. .
[0011]
Also, in order to make it easy to perform print settings, specially setting input keys such as buttons causes problems such as an increase in camera size and the possibility of causing problems during shooting.
[0012]
In addition, there is a method of giving a print instruction to all images, but if the print instruction is set for all images and the print information is confirmed, if the image is taken again in the shooting mode, it is changed to all images again. A user operation such as instructing print designation is required.
[0013]
There is also a method of automatically acquiring and using additional information at the time of shooting, but there is a problem that it is not easily applied because it is not assumed that print information is set for a shot image. Yes.
[0014]
Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to make it possible to easily print an image in a digital camera.
[0015]
This is to reduce the time and effort of the user's operation when reproducing and transmitting images between different models.
[0016]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, an imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes: Setting storage means capable of storing print information describing print conditions for images stored in a storage medium, reproduction information describing reproduction conditions, and transmission information describing transmission conditions, the print information, and the reproduction Information storage means for storing additional information for adding information to any one of the information and the transmission information; Before acquiring images by imaging means A selection unit that selects whether to add information to the print information of the image, the reproduction information, or the transmission information, and the information selected by the selection unit according to the acquisition of the image by the imaging unit. An additional recording means for automatically adding information based on the additional information; It is characterized by having.
[0017]
In the imaging apparatus according to the present invention, The print information is print information for setting at least one of print number, rotation angle, trimming, date input, and file name input when the image is printed. It is characterized by that.
[0018]
In the imaging apparatus according to the present invention, The reproduction information is reproduction information for setting at least one of a reproduction interval, a sound effect, a file number display, and a date display when the image is reproduced. It is characterized by that.
[0019]
In the imaging apparatus according to the present invention, The transmission information is transmission information for setting at least one of a transmission destination, a body, a subject, and a file name at the time of transmission of the image. It is characterized by that.
[0020]
In the imaging apparatus according to the present invention, Additional information acquisition setting means for setting contents of information to be added to the print information, the reproduction information, and the transmission information. It is characterized by that.
[0021]
Also, The imaging apparatus according to the present invention further includes display means for displaying the setting contents of the additional information. It is characterized by that.
[0022]
Also, An imaging method according to the present invention includes a setting storage step for storing print information describing a print condition for an image stored in a storage medium, reproduction information describing a reproduction condition, and transmission information describing a transmission condition. An information storage step for storing additional information for adding information to any one of the print information, the reproduction information, and the transmission information, and before the image is acquired by the imaging unit, the print information of the image, A selection step for selecting whether to add information to the reproduction information or the transmission information, and information based on the additional information is automatically added to the information selected in the selection step in accordance with acquisition of an image by the imaging means. And an additional recording step for additional recording It is characterized by that.
[0023]
Also related to this invention The imaging method further includes an additional information acquisition setting step for setting contents of information to be additionally recorded in the print information, the reproduction information, and the transmission information. It is characterized by that.
[0024]
Also related to this invention The imaging method further includes a display step of displaying the setting content of the additional information. It is characterized by that.
[0027]
A program according to the present invention is characterized by causing a computer to execute the above imaging method.
A storage medium according to the present invention is characterized in that the above program is stored in a computer-readable manner.
[0028]
With the configuration as described above, the user can perform print settings for all the captured images without performing complicated setting processing without performing print settings for each captured image. Similarly, troublesome setting processing is not required for image slideshows and image transmissions.
[0029]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0030]
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the first embodiment of the digital camera of the present invention.
[0031]
In FIG. 1, 101 is a lens that forms an image of light from a subject (not shown), 102 is a diaphragm mechanism that adjusts the amount of incident light from the lens 101, and 103 is an electric light that enters the lens 101 through the diaphragm mechanism 102. An image sensor 104 that converts the signal into a signal, a CDS / AGC circuit 104 that controls the gain obtained by sampling the signal photoelectrically converted by the image sensor 103, and an analog 105 that converts the analog signal output from the CDS / AGC circuit 104 into a digital signal. A digital converter (hereinafter referred to as an A / D converter), 106 is a camera signal processing circuit that performs predetermined processing on the signal A / D converted by the A / D converter 105, and 121 is a camera signal processing A data bar for transferring a digital signal output from a device such as the circuit 106 to another device such as the memory 116. 115 is a microcomputer for controlling the entire digital camera (hereinafter referred to as CPU), 120 is a control bus for transmitting control signals output from the CPU 115, and 116 is a digital signal such as image data sent from the data bus 121. A recording device for temporarily storing (hereinafter referred to as a memory) 117 is a secondary recording device 118 such as a memory card or disk for storing image data temporarily stored in the memory 116 in the form of an image file. Is an image compression / expansion device that compresses raw image data output from the camera signal processing circuit 106 using a compression algorithm such as JPEG and vice versa, and 108 is a video signal output to the LCD liquid crystal display device 109. The image display memory 107 holds the digital signal output to the image display memory. A digital / analog converter (hereinafter referred to as a D / A converter) 109 for converting to a digital signal, and an LCD liquid crystal display 109 for displaying an analog video signal output from the D / A converter 107 to the user .
[0032]
The transmission setting selection unit 110, the reproduction setting selection unit 111, and the print setting selection unit 112 use a single button key, a touch panel, or a cross button. 114 is a setting information creation / acquisition device that creates and acquires setting information such as print information, reproduction information, and transmission information, and 119 automatically sets print information, reproduction information, and transmission information for a captured image. An automatic additional information creation / acquisition device 113 for creating and acquiring automatic additional recording information for enabling execution, 113 is an automatic additional information creation / acquisition device 119, based on the acquired setting information, print information, reproduction information, transmission It is a setting information automatic appending device that automatically appends information.
[0033]
FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of the main routine in the photographing mode from when the power is turned on until the setting information is automatically added by the setting information automatic adding device 113.
[0034]
When the power is turned on, the process is started (step S100). In step S101, an automatic additional information acquisition routine described later is set, and in step S102, the automatic additional information acquired in step S101 is set based on the user selection result. The automatic information recording apparatus 113 is instructed to automatically create setting information after the image is taken.
[0035]
FIG. 6 shows a screen displayed on the LCD liquid crystal display device 109 when print information and reproduction information can be acquired and transmission information cannot be acquired as a result of trying to acquire automatic additional information in step S101. An image diagram is shown.
[0036]
The user selects whether to automatically add the setting information before shooting for the setting in which the automatic additional information is set in advance.
[0037]
FIG. 7 shows an image diagram of a screen displayed on the LCD liquid crystal display device 109 when setting information only for printing is automatically added (step S102).
[0038]
In step S103, pre-shooting processing such as moving image display on the LCD liquid crystal display 109 is performed. When the shutter button is pressed in step S104, the image signal output from the image sensor 103 is A / D converted in step S105. The image data is processed by the device 105 and the camera signal processing circuit 106 to create an image file such as JPEG. In step S106, the image file is recorded in the recording device 117. In step S107, a setting information automatic additional writing routine described later is executed, and then step S103 to step S107 are repeated.
[0039]
As shown in FIG. 2, the various setting processes that have been performed up to now are only a selection process (step S <b> 102) for whether or not to apply the automatic additional information, and the user can set the print settings necessary for each image, There is no need for cumbersome processing for playback settings and transmission settings.
[0040]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the automatic additional information acquisition routine in step S101 of FIG.
[0041]
This routine is a routine for searching the recording device 117, interpreting the contents of automatic additional information, if any, and displaying the automatic additional information currently set for the user using the LCD liquid crystal display device 109. is there.
[0042]
In step S151, if automatic additional information is recorded by searching the recording device 117, the automatic additional information is read into the memory 116. In step S152, if the automatic additional information is not recorded, the process returns to the main routine in step S156. If the automatic additional information is found and successfully read out to the memory 116, step S153 and subsequent steps are executed.
[0043]
In step S153, model-dependent information in the digital camera is acquired, and information serving as a parameter in step S154 is generated. In the model-dependent information, whether print settings, playback settings, and transmission settings can be set, whether paper settings can be set in print settings, playback intervals can be set in playback settings, and what kind of destination is specified in transmission settings It is possible to set the destination.
[0044]
In step S154, the automatic additional information read to the memory 116 is interpreted, and setting contents that can be automatically added for each digital camera are acquired based on the model-dependent information acquired in step S153.
[0045]
When the print setting is automatically added, automatic additional information as shown in FIG. 8 is edited and newly created in advance by the automatic additional information creation / acquisition device 119 (step S154). Similarly, in the case of reproduction setting, automatic additional information as shown in FIG. 9 is created, and in the case of transmission setting, automatic additional information as shown in FIG. 10 is edited and newly created by the automatic additional information creation / acquisition device 119 in advance. Is performed (step S154).
[0046]
FIG. 11 shows an image diagram of an image displayed on the LCD liquid crystal display device 109 of the model-dependent information acquired in step S153 in the print setting.
[0047]
In FIG. 12, based on the model-dependent information acquired in step S153 and the automatic additional information existing in the recording device 117, the contents of automatic additional recording are displayed on the LCD liquid crystal display device 109 in the digital camera provided with the setting information automatic additional recording device 113. The image figure of the screen displayed is shown.
[0048]
In FIG. 12, although the designation of trimming is set in the automatic additional information in the recording device 117 (FIG. 8), if the digital camera does not have a function for setting the trimming (FIG. 11), the automatic additional recording is finally performed. Indicates that it is not information. In step S155, the content of the automatic additional information acquired in step S154 is displayed on the LCD liquid crystal display device 109. In step S156, the process returns to the main routine.
[0049]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the setting information automatic addition routine in step S107 of FIG.
[0050]
This routine is a routine for automatically adding setting information to the image captured in step S105 of FIG. 2 if the automatic additional information is valid. In step S201, if the setting information is not automatically added in step S201 in step S201, the process returns to the main routine in step S205. If the setting information is automatically added, step S202 and subsequent steps are performed. Execute. In step S202, information on the image captured in step S105 of FIG. 2, the path name of the captured image, and the file format are acquired. In step S203, setting information is created based on the captured image data acquired in step S202 and the automatic additional recording information selected in step S102 in FIG. In step S204, the recording result of the setting information is displayed on the LCD liquid crystal display device 109. In step S205, the process returns to the main routine.
[0051]
FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of the main routine in the reproduction mode from when the power is turned on until the automatic additional information is edited.
[0052]
When the power is turned on, the process is started (step S250), and the captured image is displayed on the LCD liquid crystal display device 109 in step S251. When the setting button is pressed in step S252, the above-described automatic additional information acquisition routine is executed in step S253.
[0053]
8, FIG. 9, and FIG. 10 are image diagrams of an editing screen for performing settings for automatically adding setting information based on the automatic additional information acquired in step S253. When the print setting is automatically added, the automatic additional information as shown in FIG. 8 is edited and newly created in advance by the automatic additional information creation / acquisition device 119 (step S254). Similarly, in the case of reproduction setting, automatic additional information as shown in FIG. 9 is created, and in the case of transmission setting, automatic additional information as shown in FIG. 10 is edited and newly created by the automatic additional information creation / acquisition device 119 in advance. Is performed (step S254). In step S255, automatic additional information recording processing is performed, the automatic additional information is stored in the recording device 117, and step S251 and subsequent steps are repeated.
[0054]
By acquiring the content of additional recording with the automatic additional information creation / acquisition device 119 before shooting, the result of the automatic additional information edited in advance is reflected, and the setting information is automatically performed without performing the troublesome operations performed after shooting the image. Realize the operation to add.
[0055]
(Second Embodiment)
The second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings and flowcharts. In addition to the means shown in the first embodiment of the present invention, in the setting information creation (step S203 in FIG. 4), the print information, reproduction information, and transmission information created by the setting information automatic appending device 113 are set to the DPOF standard. Follow the description format. FIG. 13 is a flowchart for adding setting information in accordance with the DPOF standard from the automatic additional information created by the automatic additional information creation / acquisition device 119 to the setting information being created by the setting information automatic additional device 113. .
[0056]
When the power is turned on in FIG. 13, the process is started (step S300). In step S301, the above-described automatic additional information acquisition routine is executed. In step S302, based on the automatic additional information acquired in step S301 and the user selection result, the setting information automatic additional device 113 is instructed to automatically add setting information in accordance with the DPOF standard after the image is captured. . In step S303, if the recording file in accordance with the DPOF standard for recording the setting information does not exist on the recording device 117, the recording file is newly created. In step S304, pre-shooting processing such as moving image display on the LCD liquid crystal display device 109 is performed. In step S305, when the shutter button is pressed, the image signal output from the image sensor 103 is converted into an A / D signal in step S306. Processing is performed by the converter 105 and the camera signal processing circuit 106 to create an image file such as JPEG. In step S307, the image file is recorded in the recording device 117. In step S308, the setting information to be automatically added acquires the content that does not depend on the image file but only the automatic addition information, and creates a description format according to the DPOF standard. In step S309, setting information specific to the image file and setting information to be automatically added are acquired from the automatic addition information, and a description format in accordance with the DPOF standard is created. In step S310, setting information according to the DPOF standard created in step S308 and step S309 is written in the recording file. After setting information is written in the recording file, steps S304 to S310 are repeated.
[0057]
As shown in FIG. 13, the various setting processes that have been performed up to now are only a selection process (step S <b> 302) for determining whether or not to apply the automatic additional information. Also in the second embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, the user does not need troublesome operations for print setting, reproduction setting, and transmission setting that are necessary for each image.
[0058]
(Third embodiment)
The third embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings and flowcharts.
[0059]
In addition to the means shown in the first embodiment of the present invention, the automatic additional information created by the automatic additional information creation / acquisition device 119 is created in the area of the vendor unique region of the DPOF standard. .
[0060]
FIG. 14 is a flowchart for creating automatic additional recording information in the vendor unique region of the DPOF standard.
[0061]
When the power is turned on in FIG. 14, the process is started (step S350), and the captured image is displayed on the LCD liquid crystal display device 109 in step S351. When the setting button is pressed during reproduction of a captured image (step S352), a recording file in accordance with the DPOF standard describing automatic additional recording information is searched for in step S353. In step S354, if the recording file in which the automatic additional information is recorded exists, step S355 and subsequent steps are executed, and if not, step S357 and subsequent steps are executed. In step S355, the recording file is analyzed according to the DPOF standard to find a vendor unique region. If automatic additional information is described in the vendor unique region in step S356, the automatic additional information is acquired.
[0062]
For the automatic additional information setting menu, the automatic additional information acquired in step S356 is displayed on the LCD liquid crystal display device 109 as shown in FIG. 8, FIG. 9, and FIG. In the print setting, on the display screen as shown in FIG. 8, in step S357, the automatic additional information is edited and the result is described in the vendor unique region. Similarly, the playback setting is edited for the display screen as shown in FIG. 9 and the transmission setting is edited for the display screen as shown in FIG. 10 in step S357, and the result is stored in the vendor unique region. Describe. If there is no recording file conforming to the DPOF standard in step S354, a new recording file conforming to the DPOF standard is created (step S357). In step S358, the automatic addition information edited or newly created in step S357 is recorded by the recording device 117. After the automatic additional information is recorded, step S351 and subsequent steps are repeated.
[0063]
(Fourth embodiment)
The fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings and flowcharts.
[0064]
In addition to the means shown in the first embodiment of the present invention, the automatic additional information creation / acquisition device 119 creates and acquires a plurality of automatic additional information, and selects from the plurality of automatic additional information.
[0065]
FIG. 15 is an image diagram displayed on the LCD liquid crystal display device 109 that the automatic addition of print settings can be selected from a plurality of items in the automatic additional information setting menu of FIG. If you press the Add New button, you can save the setting information that will be automatically added with different settings.
[0066]
As described above, according to each of the above-described embodiments, the user operation in the print setting is performed by automatically adding the print information instead of performing the print instruction by the user in the digital camera having the print setting function. Therefore, it is possible to provide a digital camera that can easily print a captured image. Similarly, it is possible to provide a digital camera that automatically adds setting information for reproduction settings between different models and transmission settings assuming transmission of image files, thereby reducing the effort of user operations.
[0067]
In other words, by describing what kind of print settings are to be performed on the recording medium in advance, it is possible to save time and effort for user operations for print settings after image shooting.
[0068]
In addition, since the print settings are automatically added according to the DPOF standard, the setting contents can be used between models that support the DPOF standard. The same applies not only to print settings but also to playback settings and transmission settings.
[0069]
[Other Embodiments]
In addition, an object of each embodiment is to supply a storage medium (or recording medium) on which a program code of software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is recorded to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU) of the system or apparatus Needless to say, this can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included.
[0070]
Furthermore, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion card inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function is determined based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the CPU or the like provided in the expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.
[0071]
When the present invention is applied to the storage medium, the storage medium stores program codes corresponding to the flowcharts described above.
[0072]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily print an image in a digital camera.
[0073]
Further, it is possible to reduce the time and effort of the user's operation when reproducing and transmitting an image between different models.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a main routine in a shooting mode of the digital camera.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a routine for acquiring automatic additional recording information.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a routine for automatically adding setting information.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a main routine in a playback mode of the digital camera.
FIG. 6 is an image diagram of a menu screen for editing automatic additional information.
FIG. 7 is an image diagram of a menu screen for selecting automatic appending.
FIG. 8 is an image diagram of a print setting menu screen.
FIG. 9 is an image diagram of a reset menu screen.
FIG. 10 is an image diagram of a transmission setting menu screen.
FIG. 11 is an image diagram of a display screen for model-dependent information.
FIG. 12 is an image diagram of a display screen of automatic additional information.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart of an imaging routine.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a reproduction routine.
FIG. 15 is an image diagram showing that an automatic addition of print settings can be selected from a plurality of options in the automatic additional information setting menu of FIG. 8 on an LCD liquid crystal display device.
[Explanation of symbols]
122 LCD liquid crystal display
123 Automatic additional information acquisition result menu
124 Automatic append selection button
125 Auto-append decision state
126 Automatic additional information setting menu
127 Model-dependent information
128 Automatic additional information

Claims (11)

Setting storage means capable of storing print information describing print conditions for images stored in the storage medium, reproduction information describing reproduction conditions, and transmission information describing transmission conditions;
Information storage means for storing additional information for adding information to any one of the print information, the reproduction information, and the transmission information;
A selection means for selecting whether to add information to the print information of the image, the reproduction information, or the transmission information before acquiring an image by the imaging means ;
In accordance with acquisition of an image by the imaging means, additional recording means for automatically adding information based on the additional information to the information selected by the selection means;
An imaging device comprising: 2. The print information according to claim 1, wherein the print information is print information for setting at least one of a number of prints, a rotation angle, trimming, date input, and file name input when the image is printed. Imaging device. 2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reproduction information is reproduction information for setting at least one of a reproduction interval, a sound effect, a file number display, and a date display at the time of reproduction of the image. . The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission information is transmission information for setting at least one of a transmission destination, a text, a subject, and a file name when the image is transmitted. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an additional information acquisition setting unit that sets contents of information to be additionally recorded in the print information, the reproduction information, and the transmission information. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying a setting content of the additional information. A setting storage step for storing print information describing print conditions for images stored in the storage medium, reproduction information describing reproduction conditions, and transmission information describing transmission conditions;
An information storage step of storing additional information for adding information to any one of the print information, the reproduction information, and the transmission information;
A selection step of selecting whether to add information to the print information of the image, the reproduction information, or the transmission information before acquiring the image by the imaging means;
An additional recording step of automatically adding information based on the additional recording information to the information selected in the selection step in response to acquisition of an image by the imaging means;
An imaging method characterized by comprising: The imaging method according to claim 7, further comprising an additional information acquisition setting step of setting contents of information to be additionally recorded in the print information, the reproduction information, and the transmission information. The imaging method according to claim 7, further comprising a display step of displaying a setting content of the additional information. A program causing a computer to execute the imaging method according to claim 7 . A storage medium storing the program according to claim 10 in a computer-readable manner.

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