JP4065057B2 - Electronic camera - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electronic camera, and particularly stores image data obtained for each release operation in a memory without being compressed, and starts compression processing of these image data by operating a recording start switch. The present invention relates to an electronic camera with improved quickness.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, in an electronic camera that records an object image converted into an electrical signal by an image sensor on a recording medium that is detachably disposed, the electrical signal from the image sensor is converted into a digital signal by an A / D converter. The image data once stored in the DRAM and then read out from the DRAM is subjected to a series of processing such as white balance correction processing, Y / C separation generation processing, compression processing, etc., and is recorded on a recording medium such as a memory card. It has become.
[0003]
In an electronic camera configured in this way, after taking a picture, a series of processes as described above are performed and recorded on a memory card. The scene cannot be shot. In order to improve this point, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-200333, after storing the first frame image, the second and subsequent frames store only the difference image data from the first frame image. Thus, there has been disclosed a technique in which the amount of data to be stored is reduced to improve the speed of copying.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, according to the technique disclosed in the above publication, the amount of data that can be reduced is small when the composition differs from frame to frame, and the effect of improving the quickness is small, and the image quality is higher than when all data is captured for each frame. There is a problem that it decreases.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems in the technique disclosed in the above-mentioned publication, and an object thereof is to provide an electronic camera capable of rapid shooting even when image data recording processing takes a long time. And
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
To solve the above problems, the present invention is responsive to the release switch operation, an imaging unit for outputting image data by imaging a subject, a first memory for storing the image data output from the image pickup unit , Setting means for switching the shooting mode between single shooting mode and rapid shooting mode, a recording start switch operated manually, and image data stored in the first memory in response to the operation of the recording start switch an image processing unit that performs a compression process for, and a recording portion for recording the image data compressed by the image processing section to the second memory, if it is set to rapid photographing mode by said setting means The operation of storing the image data obtained by operating the release switch in the first memory without performing compression processing is performed every time the release switch operation is performed. Repeated, constituting an electronic camera to record in response to image data stored in the first memory to the operation of the recording start switch to the second memory.
[0007]
Thus, may be stored in the first memory without compressing the image data obtained for each release switch operation, in response to the operation of the recording start switch manually operated, it is stored in the first memory Since the image data is compressed and recorded in the second memory, the image data before the compression process for recording can be stored in the first memory for a plurality of frames. Thus, it is possible to improve the speed of multiple frames.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an electronic camera according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a CCD image pickup device that photoelectrically converts an optical signal into an electrical signal, and a subject image is input through a lens, a diaphragm, and a shutter mechanism (not shown). 2 is an A / D converter for converting an analog imaging signal output from the CCD imaging device 1 into digital data, 3 is a white balance correction circuit for performing white balance correction processing of the imaging data, and 4 is a luminance signal from the imaging data. Y / C separation / generation circuit for separating and generating color signals and color signals, 5 is a compression circuit for compressing the amount of image data, and 6 is for recording image data on a memory card 7 which is detachably attached to the camera body. Card I / F. Note that the memory card 7 as a memory structure including a memory (second memory) therein is connected to the card I / F 6 via a known memory structure connection portion 6c such as a card connector. Thus, the memory card 7 is detachably applied to the electronic camera.
[0009]
The A / D converter 2, the white balance correction circuit 3, the Y / C separation generation circuit 4, the compression circuit 5, and the card I / F 6 are connected to the DRAM 9 via the bus line 8, respectively. These components are connected to the control circuit 10 and are controlled by the control circuit 10. Furthermore, the control circuit 10 includes a mode setting circuit 11 for switching between a single shooting mode and a rapid shooting mode in which continuous shooting is performed, a warning display unit 12 for displaying a storage capacity surplus state of the DRAM 9, a power switch 13, and the like. The release switch 14 and a recording switch 15 for instructing card recording start are connected.
[0010]
Next, the operation of the electronic camera configured as described above will be described. First, the first mode setting operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the power switch 13 is turned on (step S1), the mode setting circuit 11 sets the single shooting mode or the rapid shooting mode (step S2). Note that the rapid shooting means that the next release operation can be performed immediately. When the single shooting mode is selected, the operation shifts to the operation of the single shooting mode (step S3).
[0011]
In the single shooting mode, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3, an operation similar to the conventional shooting operation is performed. That is, it is first determined whether or not the power switch 13 is turned on again (step S11). If the power switch 13 is turned on, it is next determined whether or not the release switch 14 is turned on (step S12). When the release switch 14 is turned on, AE (automatic exposure adjustment) and AF (automatic focus adjustment) operations are performed (steps S13 and S14), followed by photographing (step S15). The image pickup signal output from is A / D converted and once written in the DRAM 9 (step S16). Then, in step S17, it is determined whether or not the release switch 14 remains ON. If the release switch 14 is kept pressed by the user, the next operation is not entered.
[0012]
At this time, if the release switch 14 is released (OFF), the image data written in the DRAM 9 is read (step S18), and the white balance correction circuit 3 performs white balance correction processing (step S19). Next, the Y / C separation / generation circuit 4 performs separation / generation processing of the luminance signal and the color signal (step S20), followed by compression processing by the compression circuit 5 (step S21), and the memory card via the card I / F 6 7 is recorded (step S22). The above is the normal single-shot mode operation.
[0013]
Next, the operation in the rapid shooting mode will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. As in the single-shot mode, first, it is determined again whether or not the power switch 13 is turned on (step S31). If the power switch 13 is turned on, it is next determined whether or not the release switch 14 is turned on. Is performed (step S32). When the release switch 14 is turned on, the AE and AF operations for the first frame are performed (steps S33 and S34), and then the first frame is captured (step S35) and output from the CCD image sensor 1. The captured image signal is A / D converted and once written in the DRAM 9 (step S36). In step S37, it is determined whether or not the release switch 14 remains ON. If the release switch 14 is kept pressed, the next operation is not entered, and if it is released (OFF), the recording switch 15 is turned ON. A determination is made as to whether or not it has been performed (step S38).
[0014]
In the rapid shooting mode, since the recording switch 15 is not turned on at first, the process proceeds to step S51, and it is determined whether or not the state of the DRAM 9, that is, the storage capacity is sufficient. If there is a margin, the process proceeds to the first step S32, and it is determined again whether the release switch 14 is turned on. If the second switch is turned on for shooting, the AE and AF operations for the second frame are performed. Then, the photographing operation is performed, and the imaging data of the second frame is written into the DRAM 9 (steps S33 to S36). If the release switch 14 is released at this point, the state of the recording switch 15 is determined again (steps S37 and S38). If the release switch 14 is not turned on yet, the presence or absence of the storage capacity of the DRAM 9 is similarly determined. If it is determined (step S51) and there is a margin, the process returns to step S32. In this way, when the release switch 14 is operated one after another and the recording switch 15 is not turned ON, the operation of the above-described step loop is continuously performed, and a plurality of imaging data is sequentially stored in the DRAM 9, and a rapid shooting operation is performed. Is possible.
[0015]
When the recording switch 15 is turned on with a plurality of image data stored in the DRAM 9, the image data is read from the DRAM 9 (step S39), and white balance correction processing is performed by the white balance correction circuit (step S39). In step S40, the luminance / color signal is separated and generated by the Y / C separation / generation circuit (step S41), and is then subjected to compression processing by the compression circuit (step S42). S43). Subsequently, the presence / absence of unprocessed imaging data is determined (step S44), and since there are a plurality of imaging data in the rapid shooting mode, the process returns to step S39 to read out the imaging data from the DRAM 9. The image data of the second frame is read out, and similarly, a series of processing operations including white balance correction processing, Y / C separation generation processing, compression processing, and writing processing to the memory card are performed and stored in the DRAM 9. This series of processing operations is repeated until there is no unprocessed imaging data.
[0016]
If it is determined in step S51 that the DRAM 9 has a sufficient storage capacity in step S51, the warning display unit 12 displays a warning (step S52). The display step S52 is returned to step S38 to prompt the user to turn on the recording switch 15.
[0017]
In the above embodiment, the memory card for recording image data (corresponding to the second memory in the claims) is shown as being detachably disposed on the electronic camera body. The memory for recording the imaging data may be fixedly attached to the electronic camera body. In the above embodiment, the memory (DRAM 9) that temporarily stores the imaging data before processing and the memory (memory card) that records the imaging data subjected to the recording process correspond to each other by separate memory media. Although what was demonstrated was shown, you may comprise so that it may memorize | store or record using a single memory medium, changing an area | region.
[0018]
【The invention's effect】
As described above based on the embodiment, according to the present invention, the recording start switch that is operated manually by storing the image data obtained for each release switch operation in the first memory without being compressed. In response to this operation, the image data is compressed and recorded in the second memory, so that the image data before the compression process is stored in the first memory for a plurality of frames. it becomes possible to store in, even if it takes a long time for image processing, it is possible to enable rapid photographing images of a plurality of frames.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an embodiment of an electronic camera according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an operation in a single shooting mode in the flowchart shown in FIG. 2;
4 is a flowchart for explaining an operation in a rapid shooting mode in the flowchart shown in FIG. 2. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 CCD image pick-up element 2 A / D converter 3 White balance correction circuit 4 Y / C separation production | generation circuit 5 Compression circuit 6 Card I / F
6c Memory structure connection part 7 Memory card 8 Bus line 9 DRAM
10 Control circuit
11 Mode setting circuit
12 Warning display
13 Power switch
14 Release switch
15 Record switch

Claims (2)

In response to a release switch operation , an imaging unit that images a subject and outputs image data;
A first memory for storing image data output from the imaging unit ;
Setting means for switching the shooting mode between the single shooting mode and the rapid shooting mode;
A recording start switch operated manually,
An image processing unit that performs compression processing on image data stored in the first memory in response to an operation of the recording start switch ;
And a recording portion for recording the image data compressed by the image processing section to the second memory,
When the speed shooting mode is set by the setting means, the release switch operation is performed to store the image data obtained by the release switch operation in the first memory without performing compression processing. An electronic camera characterized in that the image data stored in the first memory is recorded in the second memory in response to the operation of the recording start switch . A remaining capacity determining unit that determines whether or not the remaining capacity of the first memory has a margin;
After the storage of the image data in the first memory by the release switch operation is finished, when the release switch is OFF and the recording start switch is not pressed, the remaining capacity determination unit leaves a margin in the remaining capacity. If it is determined that there is no warning,
The electronic camera according to claim 1, further comprising:

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