JP4055961B2 - Image processing device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus that is connected to an electronic camera that stores a plurality of image data and that captures image data captured by the electronic camera.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, an electronic camera called a digital still camera that stores image data captured by an imaging device such as a CCD in a memory or the like has been developed and marketed.
[0003]
In addition, various applications for capturing image data captured by such an electronic camera on the personal computer side have been developed.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in such a personal computer application, only the arbitrarily selected image data out of a plurality of image data stored on the electronic camera can be processed. In order to store and save, other image processing software can only be activated and stored as one file.
[0005]
In addition, when a plurality of images are separately captured and stored as individual files by other image processing software in this way, in order to find out which image data is stored in which file In this case, there is no choice but to search each image file individually while reading out and displaying the image data itself.
[0006]
In addition, when storing and storing the image data sent from the electronic camera, there is a process in which the image processing software is separately activated to store the image data after the image processing is performed. It was necessary.
[0007]
In any case, conventionally, it has been difficult to smoothly perform processing from image capture to storage.
[0008]
An object of the present invention is to enable smooth processing from image capture to storage.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention of claim 1 is an image processing apparatus connected to an electronic camera for storing a plurality of image data, wherein a frame number for designating each of the plurality of image data stored in the electronic camera is listed on the display unit. display control means for displaying a selection means for arbitrarily selecting a desired frame number of the plurality of frame number listed in the display unit by the display control means, the frame number which is selected by said selection means A frame number transmission means for transmitting to the electronic camera; a capture instruction means for instructing capture of image data from the electronic camera; and when capture is instructed by the capture instruction means, a capture signal is sent to the electronic camera An electronic camera that receives the capture signal transmission means for transmitting to the camera, the frame number transmitted by the frame number transmission means, and the capture signal transmitted by the capture signal transmission means An image receiving means for receiving image data corresponding to the frame number in which the received transmitting when receiving the serial accepting signal, that anda storage means for storing stores the received image data by the image receiving means It is characterized by.
The invention of claim 2 further comprises a judging means for judging whether or not the connection with the electronic camera is made in the invention of the above-mentioned claim 1, wherein the display control means is controlled by the judging means. When it is determined that the electronic camera is connected, frame numbers specifying each of a plurality of image data stored in the electronic camera are displayed in a list.
[0010]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, the electronic camera includes a frame number receiving unit that receives the frame number transmitted by the frame number transmitting unit, and the capture signal transmission. Capture signal receiving means for receiving the capture signal transmitted by the means, and image data corresponding to the frame number received by the frame number receiving means when the capture signal is received by the capture signal receiving means The image receiving means receives the image data transmitted by the image transmitting means .
[0012]
According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in the third aspect of the invention, the electronic camera includes display means for displaying image data corresponding to the frame number received by the frame number receiving means. .
The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the display control means includes means for displaying the image data received by the image receiving means on a display unit. Features.
[0013]
According to a sixth aspect of the invention, in the fifth aspect of the invention, the display control means includes means for displaying the plurality of frame numbers and the image data received by the image receiving means on the same screen. It is characterized by that.
The invention of claim 7 is the invention of claim 5 or 6, further comprising input means for arbitrarily inputting the supplied text information for the image data displayed on the display unit by the display control means, said The saving means includes means for saving and storing the attached character information input by the input means in association with the image data received by the image receiving means .
[0014]
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any of the fifth to seventh aspects, the image data displayed on the display unit by the display control unit is arbitrarily selected according to an input by the input unit. The image processing device further includes image processing means for processing, and the storage means includes means for storing and storing image data processed by the image processing means.
A ninth aspect of the present invention provides the data format for converting the data format of the image data received by the image receiving means into a data format handled by the image processing apparatus according to any one of the first to eighth aspects. The image processing apparatus further includes conversion means, and the storage means includes means for storing and storing the image data whose data format has been converted by the data format conversion means.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0016]
FIG. 1A is a diagram illustrating an appearance of an embodiment. In the present embodiment, the image processing apparatus 10 stores an electronic camera 10 that stores a plurality of image data that are captured still image data. The present invention is applied to a personal computer (hereinafter abbreviated as a personal computer) 100 connected via a connection cable CA.
[0017]
Here, the electronic camera 10 includes a liquid crystal display 12 as a small display, and can check the image data that has been taken. The personal computer 100 includes a keyboard 102A and a mouse 102B as input units, a display unit 104, and a floppy disk drive (FDD) 106.
[0018]
1B and 1C are block configuration diagrams of the electronic camera 10 and the personal computer 100. FIG.
[0019]
That is, in FIG. 1B, reference numeral 14 denotes a CPU that controls the entire electronic camera 10. Reference numeral 16 denotes an optical system mechanism including an aperture (not shown), a lens, an image sensor (hereinafter referred to as a CCD), and its drive system. An image input unit. Reference numeral 20 denotes an image data memory for storing input image data, and reference numeral 22 denotes a VRAM in which data to be displayed on the liquid crystal display 12 is expanded. Reference numeral 24 denotes an external interface (hereinafter abbreviated as I / F), which is connected to the I / F 108 on the personal computer 100 side via the cable CA and receives various instruction signals from the personal computer 100 side. The image data stored in the image data memory 20 is transmitted to the personal computer 100 side.
[0020]
In FIG. 1B, 110 is a CPU that controls the entire personal computer 100, and 112 is a hard disk drive (hereinafter referred to as HDD) that stores an image creation application for causing the personal computer 100 to function as an image processing apparatus. Abbreviated). Reference numeral 114 denotes a work RAM used for temporarily storing captured image data, for example, and reference numeral 116 denotes captured image data processed as necessary and text data input from the input unit 102. It is image RAM for memorize | storing the image file formed by matching. Reference numeral 118 denotes a display memory in which display data on the display unit 104 is expanded.
[0021]
The display on the display unit 104 of the personal computer 100 is, for example, as shown in FIG. That is, the frame number display area 104A for selecting the frame number of the image data to be captured from the electronic camera 10, the captured image display area 104B for displaying the image data captured from the electronic camera 104, and the input unit 102 are used. It consists of a text input area 104C for displaying attached character information such as a file name, a comment, and an explanation for the input image data. The captured image display area 104B is also used as an image editing area for processing the image data displayed there. That is, the captured image can be edited as it is.
[0022]
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the structure of an image file stored in the image RAM 116. As shown in FIG. 3, image data that has been captured and edited as appropriate is text data that is attached character information relating to the image, and text data. Correspondingly, each file name (including directory) is stored as one record. Of course, this image file can be appropriately stored in a floppy disk as an external storage medium by the FDD 106 or in a hard disk as an internal storage medium by the HDD 112.
[0023]
Next, the operation in such a configuration will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 4 is a process flowchart of an image creation application stored in the HDD 112 of the personal computer 100 and executed by the CPU 110. FIG. 5 is a process flowchart of the CPU 14 of the electronic camera 10 in the transmission mode.
[0024]
That is, the personal computer 100 first checks whether the electronic camera 10 is connected (step S100), and if not connected, displays a message for prompting the connection on the display unit 104 (step S102). .
[0025]
When connected, first, in the frame number display area 104A of the display unit 104, for example, up to the maximum shooting frame number (96 frames in FIG. 2) according to the type of the connected electronic camera specified in advance. The frame number is displayed (step S104), and input is waited for.
[0026]
Here, when the operator designates and inputs a frame number that the operator wants to capture on the frame number display area 104A by operating the input unit 102, for example, the mouse 102B (step S106), the CPU 110 displays the input frame number. The number is transmitted to the electronic camera 10 via the connection cable CA by the I / F 108 (step S108), and then the input is waited (step S110).
[0027]
On the other hand, on the electronic camera 10 side, the CPU 14 monitors the I / F 24 in the transmission mode and is waiting to receive a frame number from the personal computer 100 side (step S10). When the frame number is received, the CPU 14 reads out the image data corresponding to the frame number from the image data memory 20 (step S12), expands it in the VRAM 22, and displays it on the liquid crystal display 12 (step S14). Then, it waits for reception again (steps S16 and S18).
[0028]
Here, the operator looks at the image displayed on the liquid crystal display 12 of the electronic camera 10 and confirms whether or not it is a desired one. If not, another frame number is input again from the input unit 102 of the personal computer 100. In step S110, when an operation other than the capture key is performed, that is, when another frame number is selected, the process returns to step S106, and the input of the frame number is accepted. The received frame number is transmitted again to the electronic camera 10 side.
[0029]
On the electronic camera 10 side, when this new frame number is received in step S16, the process returns to step S12, and the corresponding image data is read and displayed on the liquid crystal display 12 in step S14.
[0030]
Thus, when the image data desired to be loaded into the personal computer 100 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 12 of the electronic camera 10, the operator instructs the input of the image data from the input unit 102 of the personal computer 100. That is, when the capture key is operated (operation for designating the capture key display area of the display unit 104 with the mouse cursor), the CPU 110 transmits the capture signal to the electronic camera 10 via the cable CA by the I / F 108. (Step S112), and the reception of image data is awaited (Step S114).
[0031]
On the electronic camera 10 side, when this capture signal is received in step S18, image data corresponding to the previously received frame number among the plurality of image data stored in the image data memory 20 is converted to I. / F24 transmits to the personal computer 110 via the connection cable CA (step S20). Thereafter, the process returns to step S10 to wait for reception of the next frame number.
[0032]
On the personal computer 100 side, the image data transmitted from the electronic camera 10 side is temporarily stored in the work RAM 114. In this case, if the image data format of the electronic camera is different from the data format handled by the personal computer 100, for example, compression is performed. If the formats are different, it is necessary to convert the data into a format handled by the personal computer 100 (step S116). The image data temporarily stored in this manner is expanded in the display memory 118 and displayed in the captured image display area 104B (step S118).
[0033]
Here, when the operator wants to edit and process the image data, for example, to cut the image data, if the cut range is designated by operating the mouse 102B of the input unit 102 (step S120), processing corresponding to the designation, for example, The image data is cut out (the image data temporarily stored in the work RAM 114 is thereby updated) (step S122). Further, when text such as a file name, a comment, and an explanation is input by operating the keyboard 102A of the input unit 102, the text is stored in the work RAM 114 and displayed in the text input area 104C (step S124).
[0034]
When the save key is operated (an operation for designating the save key display area of the display unit 104 with a mouse cursor) (step S126), the cut image data and text stored in the work RAM 114 are stored in the text. The file name is added to the image file stored in the image RAM 116 in association with the file name (step S128).
[0035]
Thereafter, if the end is not instructed (step S130), the process returns to step S104 to repeat the above process, and if the end is instructed, the process ends.
[0036]
It should be noted that each image file stored in the image memory 116 can be appropriately stored in the floppy disk FDD 106 or the hard disk HDD 112, and the stored file can be an arbitrary file by using predetermined file conversion software. It can be converted into a format and output.
[0037]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention , a series of processing from image capture from an electronic camera to storage can be smoothly performed. In addition, desired attached character information can be immediately associated with image data that is arbitrarily selected and captured from the electronic camera side, and can be stored immediately.
[0038]
Further , the image data captured from the electronic camera can be arbitrarily processed and stored.
[0039]
Further , the data format of the image data captured from the electronic camera can be converted into a data format handled by the image processing apparatus and stored.
In addition , a series of processing from image capture from an electronic camera to storage can be performed smoothly. Further, it is possible to immediately perform arbitrary processing on the image data arbitrarily selected and captured from the electronic camera side, and immediately save it.
In addition , a series of processing from image capture from an electronic camera to storage can be performed smoothly. In addition, the data format of image data that is arbitrarily selected and captured from the electronic camera side can be immediately converted into a data format handled by the image processing apparatus, and can be immediately stored.
Also , arbitrarily selected image data can be confirmed on a small display on the electronic camera side prior to capturing from the electronic camera. In this case, since the display function on the electronic camera side is used as it is, display can be performed at high speed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1A is a diagram showing a personal computer and an electronic camera to which an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment is applied, and FIGS. 1B and 1C are block configuration diagrams of the electronic camera and the personal computer, respectively. is there.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a personal computer.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a storage structure of an image file.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a processing flowchart on the personal computer side for explaining the operation of the embodiment;
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a processing flowchart on the electronic camera side for explaining the operation of the embodiment;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Electronic camera, 12 ... Liquid crystal display, 14 ... CPU, 20 ... Image data memory, 24 ... Interface (I / F), 100 ... Personal computer (PC), 102 ... Input part, 102A ... Keyboard, 102B ... Mouse, 104 ... Display section, 104 A ... Frame number display area, 104 B ... Captured image display area (image editing area), 104 C ... Text input area, 108 ... I / F, 110 ... CPU, 112 ... Hard disk drive (HDD), 114 ... Work RAM, 116 ... Image RAM, CA ... Connection cable.

Claims (9)

An image processing apparatus connected to an electronic camera that stores a plurality of image data,
Display control means for displaying a list of frame numbers designating each of a plurality of image data stored in the electronic camera on a display unit;
Selecting means for arbitrarily selecting a desired frame number among a plurality of frame numbers displayed in a list on the display unit by the display control means;
Frame number transmission means for transmitting the frame number selected by the selection means to the electronic camera;
Capture instruction means for instructing capture of image data from the electronic camera;
An acquisition signal transmitting means for transmitting an acquisition signal to the electronic camera when the acquisition is instructed by the acquisition instruction means;
Corresponding to the received frame number transmitted when the electronic camera that receives the frame number transmitted by the frame number transmission unit and the capture signal transmitted by the capture signal transmission unit receives the capture signal Image receiving means for receiving image data to be received;
Storage means for storing and storing image data received by the image receiving means ;
An image processing apparatus comprising: A judgment means for judging whether or not a connection with the electronic camera is made;
The display control means displays a list of frame numbers for designating each of a plurality of image data stored in the electronic camera when the determination means determines that the connection with the electronic camera is established. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: Before Symbol electronic camera,
Frame number receiving means for receiving the frame number transmitted by the frame number transmitting means;
Capture signal receiving means for receiving the capture signal transmitted by the capture signal transmitting means;
An image transmission means for transmitting image data corresponding to the frame number received by the frame number receiving means when the capture signal is received by the capture signal receiving means;
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the image receiving unit receives the image data transmitted by the image transmitting unit . The electronic camera is
4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising display means for displaying image data corresponding to the frame number received by the frame number receiving means. The display control means includes
The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises a means of displaying a received image data by the image receiving means. The display control means includes
6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5 , further comprising means for displaying the plurality of frame numbers and the image data received by the image receiving means on the same screen. An input unit for arbitrarily inputting attached character information for the image data displayed on the display unit by the display control unit;
The storage means includes
7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5 , further comprising means for storing and storing the attached character information input by the input means in association with the image data received by the image receiving means . Further comprising image processing means for arbitrarily processing the image data displayed on the display unit by the display control means according to the input by the input means,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the storage unit includes a unit that stores and stores the image data processed by the image processing unit. Further comprising data format conversion means for converting the data format of the image data received by the image receiving means into a data format handled by the image processing apparatus;
Said storage means, the image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8 data format by the data format converting means, characterized in that it comprises a means for storing stores the image data converted.

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