JP4084963B2 - Digital camera - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a digital camera that forms an image of a subject on an image sensor to obtain an image representing the subject.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Some conventional digital cameras have a multiple exposure mode. In this multiple exposure mode, an image captured in the past and an image currently captured are superimposed to obtain a composite image. When it is desired to obtain such a composite image, the user selects the multiple exposure mode and performs photographing. In the current multiple exposure mode, an image subjected to multiple exposure is displayed on a display screen of a display device so that the user can recognize what the composite image is. When the composite image displayed on the display screen is what the user desires, the composite image is recorded on the recording medium by a user operation. If the composite image displayed on the display screen is different from the one desired by the user, the composite image is discarded by the user operation, and the image is shot again in the multiple exposure mode. Cameras having such multiple exposure modes include those described in JP-A-10-268413, JP-A-2000-321635, JP-A-6-121222, and JP-A-2000. -56358 and the like.
[0003]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-268413 discloses a camera capable of copying a subject image onto a silver salt film, in which the number of times of multiple exposure is set by a user, and the silver salt is reached until the set number of exposures is reached. Introduced a technology in which the subject image obtained by determining the shooting direction of the camera is exposed to the silver salt film while the film feeding is stopped and the silver salt film is stopped. Yes. In this publication, an image subjected to multiple exposure is displayed on a display screen, and the display screen is used as an assist for photographing. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-321635 discloses the same one as that described in the above-mentioned publication. This publication introduces what can change the composite form of an image, and in addition to the change of the composite form, it is possible to change the exposure amount to the silver salt film in the second and subsequent shootings. Things are introduced. Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-121222 also introduces an image in which a multi-exposure combined image is displayed on a display screen of a display device, and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-268413 discloses an already taken image. What is synthesized is also introduced.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, cameras having various multiple exposure functions are known, but most of them can recognize the composite image only after the multiple exposure is performed. There are many. Therefore, if the composite image that has been multiple-exposed is different from the image that you want, it will be confirmed only after you take it, and the composite image will be different from the image that you want. However, there is a drawback that the multiple exposure shooting must be performed again from the beginning.
[0005]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a digital camera that can perform framing of a composite image that is subjected to multiple exposure in advance without redoing and re-taking.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A first digital camera of the present invention that achieves the above object is a digital camera that forms an image of a subject on an image sensor to obtain an image representing the subject.
This digital camera is a digital camera having a multiple exposure mode for generating a multiple exposure image in which a plurality of images obtained by a plurality of shooting operations are superimposed,
A display screen for displaying an image captured by the image sensor;
An image display control unit for displaying a composite image obtained by combining a through image currently captured by the image sensor and a reduced image of the image obtained by the previous photographing on the display screen during the multiple exposure mode; Features.
[0007]
According to the first camera of the present invention, when a composite image obtained by combining a through image and a reduced image obtained by the previous shooting is displayed, which through image is within a shooting angle of view determined by the user. Thus, it can be seen at a glance whether multiple exposure is performed on the image obtained by the previous photographing.
[0008]
A second digital camera of the present invention that achieves the above object is a digital camera that forms an image of a subject on an image sensor to obtain an image representing the subject.
This digital camera is a digital camera having a multiple exposure mode for generating a multiple exposure image in which a plurality of images obtained by a plurality of shooting operations are superimposed,
A display screen for displaying an image captured by the image sensor;
In the multiple exposure mode, the display screen is provided with an image display control unit that alternately displays a through image currently captured by the image sensor and an image obtained by the previous shooting in response to a predetermined operation. It is characterized by that.
[0009]
According to the second digital camera of the present invention, what is the multiple-exposed image by alternately displaying the through image and the image obtained by the previous photographing in accordance with a predetermined operation. Can be recognized by the user.
[0010]
Here, the second digital camera is a digital camera that forms an image of a subject on an image sensor and obtains an image representing the subject.
It has a shooting button that allows you to recognize half-press and full-press when shooting,
The image display control unit recognizes the half-press of the shooting button as the predetermined operation and, while the shooting button is in the half-pressed state, the display screen displays the through image currently captured by the image sensor and the previous shooting. It is preferable to provide that the obtained images are displayed alternately.
[0011]
In this way, the image display control unit distinguishes between half-press and full-press of the shooting button, and if the through image and the image obtained by the previous shooting are alternately displayed by the half-press operation, the display screen is displayed. In this way, the through image and the previously captured image can be displayed alternately so that the user can recognize what the multiple exposure is, and the image recognized by the user is what he wants. In the case of an image, if the shooting button is fully pressed from the half-pressed state, the images can be easily superimposed and exposed. If it is different from the image that you want, do not press it fully, but keep it half pressed, and alternately display the next through image and the image obtained by the previous shooting. It is also possible to make the user recognize the image.
[0012]
Here, it is preferable that the image display control unit displays a best framing frame including vertical and horizontal line segments that assist framing together with the composite image during the multiple exposure mode.
[0013]
When the best framing frame is added and displayed on the multiple-exposure image in this way, it is more clearly recognized whether or not the image is desired by the user.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.
[0015]
FIG. 1 is an external view of a first digital camera showing an embodiment of the present invention. 1A is a front view, FIG. 1B is a top view, FIG. 1C is a side view, and FIG.
[0016]
In the digital camera 100 shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C, an image of a subject is guided from a lens 101 to a CCD solid-state imaging device 110 provided in the camera 100.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 1D, an operation unit for performing various operations when the user uses the digital camera 100 is provided on the back surface of the first digital camera 100 of the present embodiment.
[0018]
This operation unit is provided with an operation switch group and an LCD screen 105a. The operation switch group includes a power switch 102 for turning on the power for operating the digital camera, a shooting / playback switching lever 103 for freely switching between shooting and playback, an execution key 106a, a cancel key 106b, a cross key 107, and a flash light emitting unit. 104 pop-up switch 108 and the like. A display unit 107 a is provided inside the cross key 107 so that selection menu items displayed on the LCD screen 105 a can be selected by the cross key 107. Further, a display key 1051 for switching between display and non-display of the LCD screen 105a is also provided.
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 1B, a release button 109 is provided above the digital camera 100. When the release button 109 is fully pressed, an instruction to start shooting is transmitted to a signal processing unit (to be described later) inside the digital camera. This digital camera has two operation modes of half-pressing and full-pressing the release button 109, and the states corresponding to these operation modes are recognized as separate states in the digital camera 100, respectively. Yes.
[0020]
Further, in this digital camera 100, the shooting / playback switching lever 103 can freely switch between shooting and playback. When shooting, the user switches the shooting / playback switching lever 103 to the shooting side 103a and when playback is performed. The shooting / playback switching lever 103 is switched to the playback side 103b. Also, a flash light emitting device 104 is provided so that night photography can be performed.
[0021]
FIG. 2 is a configuration block diagram of a signal processing unit provided in the digital camera 100. The configuration of the signal processing unit in the digital camera 100 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, the CCD solid-state imaging device 110 is described as CCD.
[0022]
In the digital camera 100 of the present embodiment, all processing is controlled by the CPU 111, and processing of image data obtained by the CCD solid-state imaging device 110 is performed by the DSP 112 under the control of the CPU 111. The CPU 111 and the DSP 112 are connected by a bus (not shown), and data is exchanged via this bus. In addition, SDRAM 113 and FLASH ROM 114 are connected to CPU 111, image data to be processed by DSP 112 is stored in SDRAM 113, and a program for causing CPU 111 to execute processing is stored in FLASH ROM 114. In FIG. 2, an arrow indicates that image data stored in the SDRAM 113 is read out to the DSP 112 side.
[0023]
Electric signals corresponding to operations of various keys and various switches shown in FIG. 1 are input to the input unit of the CPU 111. In FIG. 2, these various keys and various switches are shown as KEY, SW... Using KEY indicating keys and SW. The key KEY indicating the various switches, the switch SW... 115 include the power switch 102, the shooting / playback switch 103, the display key 1051, the execution key 106a, the cancel key 106b, the up key 1071, and the right key 1072 shown in FIG. There are a cross key 107 composed of four keys, a down key 1073 and a left key 1074, a shutter switch that operates in synchronization with the release button 109, and the like. This shutter switch is provided with two contacts so that the half-pressed state and the fully-pressed state of the release button 109 are distinguished, and the half-pressed state of the release button 109 indicates to the CPU 111 that it indicates a standby state for photographing. Be recognized.
[0024]
Further, the digital camera 100 of the present embodiment is configured such that a display menu can be displayed on the LCD screen 105a, and an item displayed on the menu is selected by the cross key 107.
[0025]
With the cross key 107, one of a plurality of items in a selection menu displayed on the LCD screen 105a can be selected. Of the four keys of the cross key shown in FIG. 1, the cursor displayed on the LCD screen 105a moves upward when the up key 1071 is pressed, and the cursor moves to the right when the right key 1072 is pressed. It is configured. When these keys 1071 to 1074 are pressed, the CPU 111 recognizes that the keys 1071 to 1074 have been pressed, and the CPU 111 has pressed any one of the four keys 1071 to 1074. Based on the above, an instruction to move the cursor is transferred to the LCD screen 105a via the bus. Then, the cursor moves to one of the displayed items, and one of these items is selected by the moved cursor. If the execution key 106a is pressed while the cursor is placed on any of the items, the item is executed. Therefore, the user can select any of a plurality of items in the selection menu with the cursor displayed on the LCD screen 105a. In this display menu, there is an item of multiple exposure mode. When the multiple exposure mode is selected, the CPU 111 informs the DSP 112 that it is the multiple exposure mode, and the DSP 112 starts the process of multiple exposure processing. . In the DSP 112, combined with the through image processing, the image obtained by the previous shooting is reduced according to the operation mode of the release button 109, and the reduced image is replaced with a part of the through image. Is generated. Based on the generated composite image data, a composite image is displayed on the LCD screen 105a. The CPU 111 and the DSP 112 correspond to the image display control means referred to in the present invention.
[0026]
When such a display is performed, a through image is multiplexed on the image obtained by the previous shooting by the key operation such as the execution key 106a, the cancel key 106b, the right key 1072, and the left key 1074 shown in FIG. Then, a selection is made such that recording is performed or recording is not performed in a multiplexed manner.
[0027]
Also, a pop-up switch 108 of the flash light emitting device is connected, and when the switch 108 is pressed, the flash light emitting unit 104 is popped up.
[0028]
When the shooting / playback switching lever 103 is switched to the playback side 103b, playback from the recording medium is performed. At this time, no processing is performed even if a signal from a release button or the like for giving an instruction to perform photographing is input.
[0029]
Next, the output unit of the CPU 111 will be described.
[0030]
A timing generator (hereinafter referred to as TG) 116 and a motor driver (hereinafter referred to as DRV) 117 for driving the focus lens 118 are connected to the output unit. A flash light emitting device 104 a that causes the flash light emitting unit 104 to perform flash light emission is also connected to the CPU 111.
[0031]
First, what kind of signal is output from the output unit of the CPU 111 when the user performs shooting will be described. When shooting, a subject image is displayed on the LCD screen 105a in accordance with the movement of the subject. While viewing the displayed image of the subject, the user performs framing, and shooting is performed when the release button 109 is fully pressed. When the release button 109 is fully pressed, the CPU 111 outputs a signal for instructing the start of shooting to the TG 116. In response to this instruction, the TG 116 supplies a signal notifying the CCD solid-state image sensor 110 that the release button 109 has been pressed. In response to this signal, the CCD solid-state image sensor 110 outputs the image data captured by the CCD solid-state image sensor 110 as an RGB signal when the release button 109 is fully pressed.
[0032]
From here, how the image signal picked up by the CCD solid-state image sensor 110 is processed will be described in order.
[0033]
Imaging signals obtained by the CCD solid-state imaging device 110 are converted to RGB signals and supplied to the CDS and A / D unit 119. Noise is reduced by the CDS and A / D unit 119 and then converted into a digital signal, which is supplied to the DSP 112 as a digital RGB signal. The DSP 112 includes various signal processing units such as an image signal processing unit, a compression processing unit, an AE (Auto Exposure) detection unit, an AWB (Auto White Balance) detection unit, a video encoder, and an audio signal processing unit. Therefore, a series of processing is performed on the image data composed of the RGB signals obtained by the CCD solid-state imaging device 110 by the DSP 112, and the processed image data is output to an output device such as the LCD 105 and the recording medium 130. As for audio, the DSP 112 performs processing of audio signals necessary for audio input / output devices such as a microphone and a speaker. In the digital camera 100 of this embodiment, the audio signal from the microphone is received by the DSP 112 via the AUDIO I / F 140, and the received signal is temporarily stored in the DSP 112, and the stored audio signal is stored if necessary. Is supplied to the speaker via the AUDIO I / F 120. The audio signal processing unit in the DSP 112 is used when movie shooting is performed with the digital camera of this embodiment.
[0034]
The above is the flow of imaging signals obtained by the CCD solid-state imaging device 110.
[0035]
The flow of image data when the above-described shooting / playback switching lever 103 is switched to the shooting side 103a and shooting is performed will be described in detail.
[0036]
When shooting is performed, the shooting / playback switching lever 103 connected to the input unit of the CPU 111 is switched to the shooting side 103a.
[0037]
In such a digital camera 100, the subject image in the direction in which the photographing lens is directed is always displayed as a through image on the display screen 105a of the LCD 105 even when the release button 109 is not pressed. In the displayed through image, image data composed of RGB signals read out from the CCD solid-state imaging device 110 at predetermined intervals is converted into YC signals by the image signal processing unit in the DSP 112, and the YC signals are converted into the DSP 112. It is obtained by being supplied to the LCD 105 via a video encoder. When such a through image is displayed, camera-specific signal processing such as exposure adjustment and focus adjustment is performed by the DSP 112 for each through image.
[0038]
If the subject that the user wants is displayed as a through image on the LCD screen 105a, the release button 109 is fully pressed by the user. When the release button 109 is fully pressed by the user, the CPU 111 issues a shooting start instruction to the TG 112. In response to this start instruction, the CCD solid-state imaging device 110 outputs RGB signals. As described above, the release button 109 has two operation modes of half-press and full-press. Even when the release button 109 is pressed all at once, the state where the release button 109 is half-pressed is recognized by the CPU 111 for a moment. When it is half-pressed, it is in shooting standby.
[0039]
The output RGB signal is converted into a digital signal by the CDS and A / D conversion unit 119, guided to the DSP 112 side by the image input controller in the DSP 112, and the guided RGB signal is SDRAM 121 via the bus in the DSP 112. And the RGB signal of the digital signal is written in the SDRAM 121. When the acquisition of the RGB signals corresponding to all the image data is completed, the RGB signals are read from the SDRAM 121 and supplied to the DSP 112. The DSP 112 performs conversion from RGB signals to YC signals, and further, image data compressed in the DSP 121 is supplied to the recording medium 130 via an interface (hereinafter referred to as I / F). Are recorded as JPEG compressed files.
[0040]
The DSP 112 and the CPU 111 are connected by a bus, and exchange of addresses and data is performed via this bus. Various registers are prepared in the CPU 111, and the contents of these registers are rewritten according to the progress of processing of each signal processing unit. In the CPU 111, the contents of this register are read and processing according to the procedure of the program stored in the FLASH ROM 114 is performed.
[0041]
Since the digital camera 100 of this embodiment has a multiple exposure mode, refer to FIG. 2 for processing when the multiple exposure mode is selected by operating the cross key 107 from the selection menu displayed on the LCD screen 105a. To explain.
[0042]
First, when the multiple exposure mode is selected, the CPU 111 instructs the DSP 112 to shift to the multiple exposure mode. Then, the DSP 112 switches from the normal photographing mode process to the multiple exposure mode process. In the normal shooting mode, image data representing a through image is supplied to the LCD 105, but in the multiple exposure mode, the image data representing the through image and the image data obtained by the previous shooting are fully pressed. And supplied to the LCD 105. Here, the through image is obtained by processing image data read out from the CCD solid-state imaging device 110 at predetermined intervals by the DSP 112 and outputting the processed data in the direction in which the photographing lens 101 is directed. Images are obtained by reading from the CCD solid-state imaging device 110 at predetermined intervals. In the processing of the through image, signal processing unique to the camera such as exposure adjustment and focus adjustment is continuously performed in the DSP 112.
[0043]
When the multiple exposure mode is selected in the selection menu and the release button 109 is pressed halfway through the half-pressed state, the previously captured image data is reduced, and the reduced image data is combined with a part of the through image. It is displayed as a preview screen on the LCD screen 105a. When the reduced image obtained by the previous photographing is replaced with a part of the through image and synthesized, the size and position of the reduced image can be changed based on the operation of the display key 1051. The synthesized image data is supplied to the LCD 105, and a synthesized image based on the synthesized image data is displayed on the LCD screen 105a on a preview screen for confirming an image to be subjected to multiple exposure in advance.
[0044]
Then, while the user confirms both the through image and the reduced image obtained by the previous shooting on the preview screen, the user determines whether to multiplex the through image on the image obtained by the previous shooting. When the through image displayed on the preview screen is multiplexed with the image obtained by the previous shooting, when it is determined that the desired image is obtained, the execution key 106a is pressed, and the through image is displayed on the recording medium 130. It is multiplexed and recorded on the image obtained by the previous shooting. If it is determined that the through image displayed on the preview screen is different from the image requested by the user when it is multiplexed with the image obtained in the previous shooting, the cancel key 106b is pressed and the next image is displayed. The process for displaying the through image is performed.
[0045]
The above is the flow of image data until recording is performed on the recording medium 130 when shooting is performed with the digital camera 100 of the present embodiment.
[0046]
Next, an image displayed during the multiple exposure performed by the digital camera 100 of the present embodiment will be described.
[0047]
In the digital camera 100 of the present embodiment, a subject image is displayed by superimposing a previously captured image on a part of a through image displayed on the display screen 105a.
[0048]
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a concept when the multiple exposure mode is selected and the through image 1 and the through image 2 are combined. FIG. 3A is a diagram showing a state when the multiple exposure mode is selected and the through image 1 is displayed, and FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating a state in which the release button 109 is halfway from the state of FIG. FIG. 3C is a diagram showing a state when the button is pressed and transitions to a standby state, and FIG. 3C is a diagram illustrating transition from the state of FIG. It is. 3 (d) to 3 (f) are diagrams showing the same state transition from FIG. 3 (a) to FIG. 3 (c) in the case of the through image 2, and FIG. It is a figure which shows the composite image exposed.
[0049]
First, the multiple exposure mode is selected from a selection menu displayed on the LCD screen 105a. Since the through image 1 shown in FIG. 3A is displayed on the LCD screen 105a, in the multiple exposure mode processing, when the release button 109 is pressed halfway, the processing state transitions to the standby state. Here, when release button 109 is fully pressed, preview 1 is displayed as a preview screen.
[0050]
When the release button 109 is fully pressed and the through image 1 is displayed on the preview screen 1, the next through image 2 is processed. Image data representing the through image 1 displayed on the preview screen 1 is stored in the storage unit in the DSP 112 in accordance with a predetermined operation.
[0051]
Then, the through image 2 is processed. In this case as well, when the release button 109 is pressed halfway down to make a transition to the standby 2 state and then the release button 109 is fully pressed, the preview 2 is displayed as a preview screen. At this time, in the preview 2, the through image 2 and the image obtained by reducing the image data representing the through image 1 are combined, and the combined image is displayed on the display screen. Here, the image signal processing unit in the DSP 112 performs a process of reducing the image data representing the through image 1, and a part of the image data representing the through image 2 is replaced with the reduced image of the reduced through image 1. The image data is supplied to the LCD 105.
[0052]
When various operation keys are operated while the preview screen is displayed, it is determined that the composite image shown in FIG. 3G is recorded on a recording medium such as a card or not.
[0053]
Here, the process of the multiple exposure mode performed by the DSP will be described with reference to FIG.
[0054]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the multiple exposure mode process performed by the DSP.
[0055]
First, when the multiple exposure mode is selected from the selection menu, the multiple exposure mode process is activated in step S401. In the next step S402, a through image display is performed. At this time, if the release button 109 is half-pressed and the release button 109 is fully pressed after transitioning to the standby state, it is determined Yes in step S403, and the multiple exposure process is started. If it is not fully pressed here, it is determined No in step S403, the process returns to step, and the next through image is displayed.
[0056]
When it is determined Yes in step S403 and the next step S404 is performed, a preview screen for confirming what the multiple-exposed image looks like is displayed. When this preview screen is displayed, the following steps S405 to S408 are performed. Here, the multiple-exposure image is not recorded yet, and various processes are performed so that an image desired by the user is created based on operation keys such as the left key 1074, the right key 1072, and the cancel key 106b. The execution key 106a is used as an operation key for informing the CPU 111 of the end of the multiple exposure shooting.
[0057]
If the left key 1074 among the cross keys 1071 to 1074 is operated while the preview screen is displayed, whether or not the captured image displayed as a reduced image obtained by the previous shooting is discarded. Is decided. If the left key 1074 is operated and it is determined Yes, in step S409, the captured image obtained by the previous shooting is discarded. That is, the image obtained by the previous shooting is discarded, and the process returns to step S402, a new multiple exposure shooting is started, and the next through image is displayed.
[0058]
Here, if the left key 1074 is not operated, it is determined No in step S405, and it is determined whether or not the cancel key 106b is pressed this time. Here, when the cancel key 106b is operated, it is determined whether or not the through image displayed on the preview screen at that time is discarded. If the cancel key 106b is operated here, the through image displayed on the preview screen in step S410 is discarded, the process returns to step S402, and the next through image display is performed while the previous captured image remains. . If the cancel key 106b is not operated, No is determined in step S406, and the process proceeds to the next step S407.
[0059]
In step S407, whether or not to move to the next shooting in the multiple exposure mode is determined by operating the right key 1072. If the right key 1072 is operated, it is determined Yes, and in step S411, the through image and the previous captured image are combined and temporarily stored in the storage unit in the DSP 112 in preparation for the next shooting. The stored image is reduced at the next shooting, and is superimposed on the through image and displayed.
[0060]
If the right key 1072 is not operated here, the process proceeds to the next step S408, and whether or not to save in the card is determined by operating the execution key 106a. When the execution key 106b is operated in this step S408, the through image when the execution key 106a is pressed and the image obtained by the previous shooting are combined with the recording medium 130, for example, a card, and stored in the recording medium, and multiple exposure is performed. Shooting in mode ends. Again, if the execution key 106b is not operated, the process returns to step S405, and steps S405 to S408 described above are repeated. In this series of multiple exposure processes, when the release button 109 is changed from a half-pressed state to a fully-pressed state in step S403, multiple exposure shooting is confirmed and a preview screen is displayed, an execution key 106a, a cancel key 106b, and a right key 1072 are displayed. Any one of the left keys 1074 is operated, and processing corresponding to any one of these keys is performed. Under a situation where any of the operation keys other than the execution key 106a is operated, different through images are displayed one after another, and new through images are displayed one after another so that various multiple exposure images can be obtained. . Therefore, it is possible to create a desired image according to the operation of the operation keys. If it is different from the image that you want, you can operate the operation keys such as the left key of the cross key or the cancel key to discard the captured image obtained by the previous shooting or to obtain the through image and the previous shooting. Both discarded images can be discarded.
[0061]
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the digital camera of the present invention.
[0062]
FIG. 5A is a diagram showing a through image, FIG. 5B is a diagram showing an image obtained by the previous shooting, and FIG. 5C is obtained by the through image and the previous shooting. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an image when the image is subjected to multiple exposure and combined.
[0063]
The processing shown in FIG. 5 has the same appearance as that of the digital camera shown in FIG. 1, and the configuration of the signal processing unit is performed by the digital camera having the same configuration as that of FIG. Here, the program stored in the FLASH ROM showing the processing procedure of the CPU is slightly changed, and the processing of the image signal processing unit in the DSP is slightly changed. Further, in the first embodiment, the operation is performed by the operation keys provided on the camera body such as the execution key and the cancel key. However, in the second embodiment, the composite image is displayed when the release button is half pressed. When it is in the fully depressed state, a composite image is recorded.
[0064]
FIG. 5 shows an example in which the through image shown in FIG. 5A and the image obtained by the previous photographing shown in FIG. 5B are alternately displayed at predetermined intervals.
[0065]
In the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the composite image is displayed in which the reduced image of the image obtained by the previous photographing is replaced with a part of the roux image. In the second embodiment, the through image is displayed. And an image obtained by the previous shooting are alternately displayed at predetermined intervals.
[0066]
Also in the digital camera of the second embodiment, the CPU 111 identifies the half-pressed state and the fully-pressed state of the release button 109, and these two states are recognized as different states. If the multiple exposure mode is selected on the menu screen and the release button 109 is half-pressed, the through image and the captured image obtained by the previous shooting are displayed alternately, and if the release button is fully pressed A shooting instruction in multiple exposure is transmitted to the CPU 111, and the DSP 112 performs multiple exposure based on the instruction from the CPU 111.
[0067]
About 1 second is appropriate as the time interval when the display is alternately performed at every predetermined interval, but may be as short as possible. In addition, the time interval may be slightly longer as long as both images appear to overlap each other in terms of viewing angle. At this time, image data representing an image obtained by the previous photographing and image data representing a through image are alternately output from the DSP 112 to the LCD 105, and the LCD 105 alternately receives the image data, and the LCD 105 based on the image data. The subject images are alternately displayed on the LCD screen 105a. Thus, when both image data are output from the DSP 112 and subject images based on both image data are alternately displayed on the LCD screen, an instruction to display a framing frame is also issued from the CPU 111 or the DSP 112 to the LCD 105. Yes. When the CPU or DSP 112 instructs the LCD 105 to display a best framing frame consisting of vertical and horizontal lines having appropriate luminance, the LCD screen 105a receives this instruction and displays the best framing consisting of vertical and horizontal lines. A frame 1051a is displayed so as to be superimposed on the multiple exposure image. When the framing frame 1051a composed of vertical and horizontal lines is displayed on the alternately displayed images in this way, the quality of the composite photo in the multiple exposure mode is recognized more clearly by the user. When the recognized image is what the user wants, the release button is fully pressed, and the composite image shown in FIG. 5C is stored in the storage unit in the DSP. Then, the image recorded in the storage unit and the next through image are displayed on the display screen. Thereafter, the same operation is repeated. When the multiple exposure mode ends, an operation key such as an execution key or a cancel key is pressed and recorded on the recording medium 130.
[0068]
FIG. 5C shows a multiple-exposure image, and a through image shown in FIG. 5A and an image obtained by the previous photographing shown in FIG. 5B are alternately displayed. It appears to appear to the user as multiplexed. When a framing frame is further displayed from the vertical and horizontal lines on the multiple-exposed image in this way, the user can recognize exactly what the multiple-exposed image is.
[0069]
In the second embodiment, the release button is half-pressed to display alternately and the full-press operation is performed to perform multiple exposure. However, the present invention is not based on this, and an operator is separately provided. An image may be alternately displayed on the LCD screen according to the operation of the operator.
[0070]
As described above, according to the digital camera of the present invention, since the composite image that is multiple-exposed on the LCD screen is displayed in advance, it is possible to confirm in advance whether or not the image is desired without re-execution. There is.
[0071]
In addition, by operating the operation keys, it is possible to store and discard images that are subjected to multiple exposure, so that it is possible to obtain a composite image that is desired by a simple operation.
[0072]
In addition, since a framing frame is displayed, this framing frame is used as a reference, and the user can see at a glance how the through image obtained in the direction in which the camera is directed is superimposed on the image obtained by the previous shooting. There is also an effect of being recognized.
[0073]
In the present invention, an example in which the through image is superimposed on the captured image obtained by the previous imaging has been described. However, the present invention is not based on this, and the through image is superimposed on the already captured image data. It is also possible.
[0074]
When the image obtained by the previous shooting is reduced and displayed, the position where the reduced image is displayed can be moved by operating one of the cross keys, or the display key can be pressed twice. It is also possible to enter the image size change mode and change the size of the image to be reduced.
[0075]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the camera of the present invention, it is possible to provide a digital camera that can perform framing of a composite image that is subjected to multiple exposure in advance without redoing and re-taking.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external view of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a signal processing unit provided in the digital camera of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an example of a screen display in a multiple exposure mode performed by the digital camera of the first embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a display example of a preview screen of the digital camera according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a display example of a preview screen performed by the digital camera of the second embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
100 digital camera
101 Photography lens
102 Power switch
103 Mode selection lever
104 Flash emission part
104a Flash light emitting device
105 LCD
105a LCD screen
106a execution key
106b Cancel key
107 Four-way controller
1071 Up key
1072 Right key
1073 Down key
1074 Left key
108 Pop-up switch of flashlight device
109 Release button
110 CCD solid-state image sensor
111 CPU
112 DSP
113 SDRAM
114 FLASHROM
115 Various switches
116 Timing Generator
117 Driver for driving focus lens
118 Focus lens
119 CDS and A / D converter
120 I / F
130 Recording media
140 AUDIO I / F

Claims (1)

In a digital camera that forms an image of a subject on an image sensor and obtains an image representing the subject,
This digital camera is a digital camera having a multiple exposure mode for generating a multiple exposure image in which a plurality of images obtained by a plurality of shooting operations are superimposed,
A display screen for displaying an image captured by the image sensor;
An image display control unit for previewing a composite image obtained by combining the through image currently captured by the image sensor and a reduced image of the image obtained by the previous photographing on the display screen during the multiple exposure mode ;
End the current multiple exposure mode, continue the current multiple exposure mode, or compose the composite image previewed on the display screen, and the current captured image and the current captured image Discard the current captured image and continue the current multiple exposure mode from the previous captured images taken before or discard the previous captured image and continue the current multiple exposure mode A digital camera comprising an operator for determining whether or not to perform .

Images