JP4065079B2 - Digital camera with printer and operation control method thereof - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
【Technical field】
The present invention provides a digital camera with a printer capable of capturing an image of an object and recording image data representing the image of the object on an external recording medium such as a memory card, and an operation control method thereof. About.
[0002]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There is a digital camera such as a digital still camera that captures a subject and records image data representing the subject image on an external recording medium such as a removable memory card. In such a camera, when the capacity of the recording medium attached to the camera is reduced or the recording medium is not attached and image data for one frame cannot be recorded on the recording medium, imaging of the subject is performed. Is prohibited. When imaging a subject, a new recording medium must be mounted on the digital still camera, or desired image data must be erased from the image data recorded on the recording medium.
[0003]
You may miss a shutter chance for these tasks.
[0004]
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to capture a subject and obtain image data representing a subject image even when image data cannot be recorded on an external recording medium.
[0005]
A digital camera with a printer according to the present invention has an imaging means for imaging a subject and outputting image data representing the subject image, an image memory for temporarily storing the image data output from the imaging means, and a storage in the image memory External recording control means for recording the image data recorded on the removable external recording medium, a printer for printing an image represented by the image data stored in the image memory, the external recording medium with the imaging means First determination means for determining whether or not image data representing an image of one frame obtained by imaging cannot be recorded, and when it is determined by the first determination means that the recording cannot be performed, the shutter release button In response to the depression, the image data output from the imaging means is stored in the image memory. Characterized in that it includes an image storage control means for controlling the.
[0006]
The present invention also provides an operation control method suitable for the camera. That is, in this method, an image pickup unit that picks up a subject and outputs image data representing the subject image, an image memory that temporarily stores the image data output from the image pickup unit, and the image memory are stored. A digital camera provided with external recording control means for recording image data on a removable external recording medium, wherein a printer for printing an image represented by the image data stored in the image memory is provided, and the external recording medium When it is determined whether or not image data representing a single frame image obtained by imaging by the imaging means cannot be recorded, it is determined that the recording is not possible and the shutter release button is pressed. Thus, the image data output from the image pickup means is stored in the image memory.
[0007]
According to the present invention, an image memory for temporarily storing image data obtained by imaging (having a capacity capable of storing at least one frame of image data obtained by imaging by the imaging means) is incorporated. Even when image data for one frame cannot be recorded on the external recording medium, pressing the shutter release button is not prohibited. When the shutter release button is pressed, the image data output from the image pickup means is temporarily stored in the image memory. The image data stored in the image memory in this way is given to the printer, whereby an image represented by the image data is printed.
[0008]
When image data obtained by imaging cannot be recorded on an external recording medium, a subject can be imaged, and image data representing the subject image can be temporarily stored in an image memory. The image data temporarily stored in the image memory is given to the printer, so that an image represented by the image data can be printed. Even if image data cannot be recorded on an external recording medium, a hard copy of a subject image obtained by imaging can be obtained.
[0009]
Preferably, when it is determined that the image data cannot be recorded on the external recording medium, a warning is given.
[0010]
This warning indicates that image data cannot be recorded on the external recording medium. The user will install a new external recording medium in the digital camera so that the image data can be recorded if necessary.
[0011]
In general, the resolution of the printer is worse than the resolution of the imaging means. For this reason, even if the image data output from the image pickup means is temporarily stored in the image memory and the image represented by the image data is printed using a printer, the image data is printed at the resolution of the image pickup means. Often not.
[0012]
For this purpose, the data amount of the image data output from the imaging means is reduced and the image data with the reduced data amount is stored in the image memory so that a plurality of frames of images can be stored in the image memory. You may do it.
[0013]
Even if the image data cannot be recorded on the external recording medium, the subject can be imaged a plurality of times, and the image data representing the images of a plurality of frames can be stored in the image memory. A plurality of frames can be printed using the printer.
[0014]
When the image data of a plurality of frames is stored in the image memory, the image to be printed is selected from the images of the plurality of frames, and the printer is controlled to print the selected image.
[0015]
A desired image can be printed.
[0016]
Further, among the image data representing a plurality of frames stored in the image memory, an image to be deleted may be designated. Image data representing the designated image is erased from the image memory.
[0017]
It is preferable to warn when an image to be deleted is designated. It is possible to prevent accidental deletion of image data.
[0018]
When image data cannot be stored in the image memory, when a shutter release button is pressed, predetermined image data (of image data representing images of a plurality of frames stored in the image memory) ( For example, the oldest stored image data) may be deleted.
[0019]
The subject can be imaged in response to pressing of the shutter relays button, and image data obtained by the imaging can be stored in the image memory. Priority can be given to imaging of a subject and storage of image data obtained by the imaging.
[0020]
[Explanation of Examples]
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention and is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a digital still camera with a printer.
[0021]
The overall operation of the digital still camera with a printer is controlled by the system control circuit 1.
[0022]
A digital still camera with a printer includes a control panel 2. The control panel 2 includes a power-on button, a shutter release button, a playback button, a print button, and a cursor key. A signal indicating depression of these buttons is sent to the system control circuit 1. input.
[0023]
An external memory 3 is detachably attached to the digital still camera with a printer. A mounting detection circuit 5 is provided. The mounting detection circuit 5 detects that the external memory 3 is mounted on the digital still camera. The mounting detection signal of the mounting detection circuit 5 is input to the system control circuit 1.
[0024]
The digital still camera with a printer is provided with a buzzer 31, and a warning sound can be generated by the buzzer 31. In addition, an OSD (On Screen Device) 33 is provided. Data representing characters is generated by the OSD 33. Data representing characters is provided to the image display device 4 via the captured image processing circuit 12. Characters are displayed on the display screen of the display device 4.
[0025]
A subject image is formed on the light receiving surface of the CCD 11 by the imaging lens 10. The subject is imaged by the CCD 11 and a video signal representing the subject image is output. The video signal is input to the captured image processing circuit 12.
[0026]
In the picked-up image processing circuit 12, luminance data and color difference data generation processing, NTSC signal generation processing, analog / digital conversion processing into digital image data, and the like are performed from the input video signal.
[0027]
The NTSC signal generated in the captured image processing circuit 12 is given to the image display device 4 to display the subject image.
[0028]
When the release button included in the control panel 2 is pressed while the power of the digital still camera with a printer is turned on, the luminance data and color difference data generated in the captured image processing circuit 12 are subjected to image arithmetic processing. It is given to the image memory 14 through the circuit 13 and temporarily stored. Luminance data and color difference data are read from the image memory 14 and input to the image arithmetic processing circuit 13 for data compression processing. The compressed luminance data and color difference data are given to the external memory 3 through the captured image processing circuit 12 and recorded.
[0029]
The digital image data subjected to analog / digital conversion in the captured image processing circuit 12 is input to the print image processing circuit 16. In the print image processing circuit 16, gradation conversion processing for converting the input image data into data for each gradation is performed and output. The gradation-converted data output from the print image processing circuit 16 is given to the printer 20 (the printer 20 may or may not be detachable from the camera).
[0030]
The printer 20 includes a recording head unit 21, a head travel mechanism 22, a film storage unit 23, and a film transport mechanism 24. The recording head unit 21 emits light for printing a film (recording paper). The head traveling mechanism 22 moves the recording head unit 21 in the film scanning direction (the same direction as the film transport direction). The film transport mechanism 24 transports a film.
[0031]
When a print button included in the control panel 2 is pressed, data output from the print image processing circuit 16 is given to the printer 20. The captured subject image is printed on the film.
[0032]
In the digital still camera with a printer according to this embodiment, the compressed image data recorded in the external memory 3 can be reproduced. When a playback button included in the control panel 2 is pressed, the compressed image data recorded in the external memory 3 is read and input to the image arithmetic processing circuit 13 via the captured image processing circuit 12. In the image arithmetic processing circuit 13, the compressed image data is expanded. The expanded image data is input to the captured image processing circuit 12 and converted into an NTSC signal. By applying the NTSC signal to the image display device 4, an image represented by the compressed image data recorded in the external memory 3 is displayed. It goes without saying that when the print button included in the control panel 2 is pressed, the image data read from the external memory 3 is given to the printer 20 and the image represented by the image data is printed.
[0033]
In the above description, all the circuits are configured by hardware, but it is needless to say that part or all of the circuits can be configured by software.
[0034]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the digital still camera with a printer.
[0035]
When the power-on button included in the control panel 2 is pressed, the processing shown in FIG. 2 starts.
[0036]
First, based on the detection signal output from the attachment detection circuit 5, it is confirmed whether or not the external memory 3 is attached to the digital still camera with a printer (step 31). When the external memory 3 is attached to the camera (YES in step 31), it is confirmed whether there is enough remaining capacity to record image data obtained by imaging the subject in the attached external memory 3 (Step 32). For example, by reading from the external memory 3 data representing the remaining capacity recorded in the management area of the external memory 3, data representing the total capacity of the external memory 3, data representing the amount of data used in the external memory 3, etc. The remaining capacity of 3 can be confirmed.
[0037]
When the external memory 3 is not attached to the camera (NO in step 31), or when there is not enough remaining capacity to record image data obtained by imaging the subject in the external memory 3 (NO in step 32) Even if the subject is imaged, the image data obtained by the imaging cannot be recorded in the external memory 3. For this reason, a warning is issued to notify the user of that fact (step 33). This warning may be a warning sound generated by the buzzer 31, or data representing a warning text may be generated by the OSD 33 and the warning text may be displayed on the display screen of the image display device 4.
[0038]
In the digital still camera according to this embodiment, even when image data obtained by imaging cannot be recorded in the external memory 3, the shutter release button (not shown) is allowed to be pressed down. When the shutter release button is pressed by the user (YES in step 34), as described above, in the captured image processing circuit 12 and the image arithmetic processing circuit 13, predetermined imaging processing such as generation of luminance data and color difference data is performed. Performed (step 35). The image data that has been imaged is temporarily stored in the image memory (step 36).
[0039]
When the user presses the print button (YES in step 45), the image data temporarily stored in the image memory 14 is read, and the image arithmetic processing circuit 13 and the print image processing circuit 16 are read as described above. Via the printer 20. The printer 20 prints an image represented by the image data obtained by imaging (step 46).
[0040]
Even if the external memory 3 is not attached to the digital still camera, or there is not enough remaining capacity to record image data obtained by imaging even if the external memory 3 is attached, the shutter release shutter The subject can be imaged by pressing the button, and the subject image can be printed using the printer 20. It is possible to image a subject and print a subject image without attaching a new external memory 3.
[0041]
When the external memory 3 having a remaining capacity capable of recording image data obtained by imaging is attached to the camera (YES in steps 31 and 32), the warning as in step 33 is not performed. When the shutter release button is pressed by the user (YES in step 41), a predetermined imaging process is performed on the image data (step 42). The image data subjected to the imaging process is temporarily stored in the image memory 14 (step 43).
[0042]
The image data stored in the image memory 14 is compressed in the image arithmetic processing circuit 13 and given to the external memory 3 through the captured image processing circuit 12. The compressed image data is recorded in the external memory 3 (step 44). Thereafter, when the print button is pressed by the user (YES in step 45), the image obtained by the imaging is printed (step 47) when the external memory 3 is attached to the digital still camera. This is the same as the case where there is no remaining capacity to record image data obtained by imaging even if the external memory 3 is attached.
[0043]
FIG. 3 shows the imaging area of the CCD 11. FIG. 4 schematically shows a memory map of the image memory 14.
[0044]
The CCD 11 of the digital still camera with a printer according to this embodiment has 1800 pixels in the horizontal direction and 1200 pixels in the vertical direction. By imaging the subject using the CCD 11, a video signal representing an image of 1800 pixels in the horizontal direction and 1200 pixels in the vertical direction is output from the CCD 11.
[0045]
As shown in FIG. 4, the image memory 14 has a capacity capable of storing image data representing an image of 1800 pixels in the horizontal direction and 1200 pixels in the vertical direction. Therefore, as described above, the external memory 3 is not attached to the digital still camera, or even when the external memory 3 is attached, there is no remaining capacity to record image data obtained by imaging. However, the subject can be imaged and the subject image can be printed.
[0046]
In the digital still camera according to this embodiment, image data can be thinned out by the image arithmetic processing circuit 13. As described above, when the external memory 3 is not attached to the digital still camera, or there is not enough remaining capacity to record image data obtained by imaging even if the external memory 3 is attached, As shown in FIG. 3, the image calculation processing circuit 13 performs imaging so that the image data of the horizontal direction of 1800 pixels and the vertical direction of 1200 pixels of the CCD 11 becomes image data of 640 pixels in the horizontal direction and 480 pixels in the vertical direction. The obtained image data may be thinned out. The thinned image data is given to the image memory 14 and temporarily stored.
[0047]
Since the image memory 14 can store image data for 1 frame in the horizontal direction and 1200 pixels in the vertical direction, if the image data is 640 pixels in the horizontal direction and 480 pixels in the vertical direction, the image data for 4 frames can be stored. Can be temporarily stored. In this embodiment, the recording area of the image memory 14 is divided into four areas A1 to A4 as shown in FIG.
[0048]
When the release button is pressed when the external memory 3 is not attached to the digital still camera or there is not enough remaining capacity to record image data obtained by imaging even if the external memory 3 is attached , Subject imaging is allowed up to 4 times. The image data obtained by the first imaging is temporarily stored in the area A1 of the image memory 14 with the data amount thinned out to 640 pixels in the horizontal direction and 480 pixels in the vertical direction. The image data obtained by the second imaging is temporarily stored in the area A2 of the image memory 14 after being thinned out. Similarly, the image data obtained by the third imaging is stored in the third area A3 of the image memory 14, and the image data obtained by the fourth imaging is stored in the fourth area of the image memory 14. Stored in area A4.
[0049]
FIG. 5 shows an example of the display screen of the image display device 4.
[0050]
When the image data obtained by imaging cannot be recorded in the external memory 3 as described above, the display screen of the image display device 4 corresponds to the memory areas A1 to A4 of the image memory 14 to the first area D1 to the fourth area. It may be divided into four regions D4.
[0051]
An image represented by the image data stored in the first area A1 of the image memory 14 is displayed in the first area D1, and stored in the second area A2 of the image memory 14 in the second area D2. An image represented by the existing image data is displayed. Similarly, an image represented by the image data stored in the third area A3 of the image memory 14 is displayed in the third area D3, and the fourth area A4 of the image memory 14 is displayed in the fourth area D4. An image represented by the image data stored in is displayed.
[0052]
A cursor C is displayed on the display screen of the display device 14. The cursor C can be moved by a cursor key included in the control panel 2. When the print button is pressed after the image is designated by the cursor C, a signal indicating that the image is designated is input to the image arithmetic processing circuit 13, and the image data stored in the corresponding area is stored in the image memory. Read from 14. In the case shown in FIG. 5, since the cursor C points to the image in the first area D1, the image data stored in the first area A1 of the image memory 14 is read out. The read image data is given to the printer 20 and printed as described above.
[0053]
After the images displayed in the other areas D2 to D4 of the image display device 14 are also designated by the cursor C, the image data representing the image is read from the image memory 14 by pressing the print button. , Will be printed.
[0054]
If four frames of image data after being thinned out in the image memory 14 are stored, the image memory 14 cannot store any more. When the shutter release button is further pressed at this time, the oldest image data stored in the image memory 14 among these four frames is erased. Image data obtained by pressing the shutter release button is stored in the area where the erased image data was stored. In addition, the subject can be imaged continuously. Of course, when erasing the image data stored in the image memory 14, it is preferable to warn by the buzzer 32 or the OSD 33 before that.
[0055]
Further, an erase button may be provided on the control panel 2. The image displayed on the display screen of the display device 14 is designated by the cursor C, and the delete button is pressed. A signal for specifying the image designated by the cursor C is input to the image arithmetic processing circuit 13 via the system control circuit 1. Image data representing the image designated by the cursor C is erased from the image memory 14 by the image arithmetic processing circuit 13.
[0056]
A desired image can be erased. However, if necessary, a new external memory 3 is attached to the camera, and the image data stored in the image memory 14 is recorded in the external memory 3.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a digital still camera with a printer.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a digital still camera with a printer.
FIG. 3 shows an imaging area of a CCD.
FIG. 4 schematically shows a memory map of an image memory.
FIG. 5 is an example of a display screen of the display device.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 System control circuit 2 Control panel 3 External memory 4 Image display device
11 CCD
12 Captured image processing circuit
13 Image processing circuit
14 Image memory
16 Printed image processing circuit
20 Printer

Claims (7)

An imaging means for imaging a subject and outputting image data representing the subject image;
An image memory for temporarily storing image data output from the imaging means;
A data amount reducing means for reducing a data amount of image data output from the imaging means so that a plurality of frames of images can be stored in the image memory;
External recording control means for recording image data stored in the image memory on a removable external recording medium;
A printer for printing an image represented by the image data stored in the image memory;
First determination means for determining whether image data representing an image of one frame obtained by imaging by the imaging means cannot be recorded on the external recording medium;
In response to the depression of the shutter release button when it is determined by the first determination means that image data representing an image of one frame obtained by imaging by the imaging means cannot be recorded, Image storage control means for controlling the image data reduced by the data amount reducing means to be stored in the image memory;
Of the image data representing a plurality of frames stored in the image memory, designation means for designating an image to be erased, and first data for erasing the image data representing the image designated by the designation means from the image memory Erasure control means,
Digital camera with printer.   2. The digital camera with a printer according to claim 1, further comprising first warning means for giving a warning when said determination means determines that said recording is impossible. Selection means for selecting an image to be printed by the printer from among a plurality of frames represented by the image data stored by the image storage control means, and control of the printer to print the image selected by the selection means Printer control means,
A digital camera with a printer according to claim 1, comprising:   2. The digital camera with a printer according to claim 1, further comprising second warning means for warning in accordance with designation by the designation means. A second determination means for determining whether or not image data can be stored in the image memory, and the shutter release button being depressed when it is determined by the second determination means that the image data cannot be stored; Second erasing means for erasing image data representing a predetermined image out of image data representing images of a plurality of frames stored in the image memory,
The digital camera with a printer according to claim 4, further comprising:   6. The printer according to claim 5, further comprising imaging control means for imaging a subject by the imaging means when the shutter relays button is pressed and storing image data representing the subject image in the image memory. Digital camera. Imaging means for imaging a subject and outputting image data representing the subject image, an image memory for temporarily storing image data output from the imaging means, and detachable image data stored in the image memory In an operation control method of a digital camera provided with an external recording control means for recording on an external recording medium,
A printer for printing an image represented by the image data stored in the image memory;
A determination means for determining whether or not image data representing an image of one frame obtained by imaging by the imaging means cannot be recorded on the external recording medium;
In response to the depression of the shutter release button when the image storage control means determines that recording of image data representing an image of one frame obtained by imaging by the imaging means cannot be performed , the image storage control means The image data output from the imaging means is reduced so that a plurality of frames of images can be stored so that a plurality of frames of images can be stored in the memory, and the image data whose data amount is reduced is stored in the image memory,
An erasing control means for erasing image data representing an image designated by the designation means from the image memory, out of image data representing a plurality of frames stored in the image memory;
Operation control method for digital camera with printer.

Images