JP4268287B2 - Digital camera - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an image of the semiconductor imaging device captures a still image in the process of the various restraining picture processor, a digital signal, in which relates to a digital camera of the type that stores the hard disk, a semiconductor memory.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, this type of digital camera stores video data in memory at the time of shooting, and if there is no more free space in the memory, replace the memory card or leave the memory after each captured video is stored as a hard copy. It was a method of erasing.
[0003]
Also, when viewing the captured images, the images are not continuous, but are viewed one by one while checking each image.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the above conventional digital camera was mainly used for consumer use, so it was a method of memory card replacement or memory erasure. Is a method of taking a lot of photos and selecting the necessary images from a large number of captured images. In many cases, it is taken away or taken just in case, and the taken images are not necessarily required There is a problem that the memory is occupied due to such unnecessary images, the memory becomes insufficient during shooting, and the memory card must be replaced.
[0005]
The present invention has been made to solve such a problem. Even if there is no free memory area during shooting, the captured image can be rewritten to enable new shooting, and the memory card can be replaced. it is intended to provide a digital camera that allows a large amount of shooting without.
[0006]
Also, the present invention does not rewrite the video that you want to keep in the memory even if the memory is full, rewrite the new video in another video memory and store it, and replace the memory card while leaving the necessary video. it is intended to provide a digital camera that allows a large amount of shooting without.
[0007]
Furthermore, the present invention is to provide a digital camera which can be easily carried out reproduction and stopping of the video taken.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
To solve the above problems, a digital camera of the present invention, in a digital camera having a memory for storing the captured image as a still image by pressing the shutter, the captured image stored in the memory forward to a new captured image and rewriting means for rewriting, the rewriting means rewrites prohibit by a control unit and a rewrite disable storage means for storing the captured image in the memory, and a shutter to enter a rewrite prohibition instruction by said rewriting means, the rewrite disable Display means indicating that an instruction input operation is being performed, and indicating that the display means is performing a rewrite prohibition instruction input operation when the shutter is pressed to store a captured image in the memory, while indicating that the input operation displayed in the injunction rewriting display means, Rewrite disable by pressing the serial shutter again has a configuration to be set. With this configuration, the captured video is written to the memory, and even if the memory is full and there is no free space, the captured video previously stored in the memory can be rewritten with a new captured video. Shooting can be performed endlessly without any restrictions.
[0009]
Further, the configuration of this, the video you want to keep the memory, prohibits rewriting the shutter can be left to store the captured image in the memory, the image you want to save the not rewritten Can be saved.
[0010]
Further, the configuration of this, while indicating that the input operation displayed display means, by performing a shutter operation, since the input of the rewrite prohibition instruction can be reliably input rewriting injunction, leaving It is possible to securely store a video to be recorded as a rewrite-inhibited video.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0020]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 1, a digital camera 100 includes a CCD 101, an amplification unit 102, a still image processing 103, an A / D 104, an image memory 105, a D / A 106, an amplification unit 107, a shutter 108, a CPU 109, a memory 110, and a transmission unit 111. , Transmission 112, output 113, display drive 114, shutter display 115, and connection detection 116.
[0022]
The digital camera 100 appropriately amplifies the image captured by the CCD 101 by the amplifying unit 102, and performs still image processing by any one of a number of international standard or defect standard image processing methods such as MPEG, JPEG, GIF, GP3, etc. A still image is obtained by 103. This still image is converted as a digital signal by the A / D 104 and stored in the image memory 105.
[0023]
The shutter 108, which is the shutter of the CCD 101, transmits a shutter signal to the CPU 109, and the CPU 109 performs still image processing 103, A / D 104, image memory 105, and D / A 106 according to the camera operating conditions stored in the memory 110. Then, a signal is transmitted to the display drive 114 by the signal of the shutter 108, and the shutter display 115 is turned on for the shutter period.
[0024]
The video signal stored in the image memory 105 is converted by the D / A 106, amplified by the amplification unit 107, and output to the video output 113 and the optical transmission unit 111. The optical transmission unit 111 is modulated by driving the transmission 112. Transmit the light to the monitor.
[0025]
As the image memory 105, a semiconductor memory or a hard disk memory is used, but since a digital camera is carried around, a small and lightweight one such as a semiconductor memory is convenient.
[0026]
Currently, semiconductor memories with a capacity of 4 Mbytes or more are often used, and even with the same size, the memory capacity is increasing due to semiconductor technology. However, although a single still image has a different number of recorded pixels under many conditions such as black and white, color, and the number of pixels, the number of recorded pixels is several tens of kilobytes or more.
[0027]
When the memory becomes insufficient, it is not possible to shoot at that time, but the latest photographic data erases the first memory of the image memory 105 and stores the latest still image at the address of the erased memory. As described above, when the maximum allowable number of recordings of the memory being used is exceeded, the new video is rewritten and stored with the old video.
[0028]
In the above description, when the image captured by the CCD 101 is stored in the memory as a still image, and the memory capacity of the image memory 105 is insufficient, the old image data is rewritten with new image data and the image is continuously captured. As mentioned, there are some images that you want to keep in memory.
[0029]
Processing in the case where there is a video to be left in the memory as described above will be described.
[0030]
When taking an image, a desired image is taken by the shutter 108, and the shutter 108 is further pressed instantaneously at the time of taking this image. Since the CPU 109 configures the data to be added to the still image as a header at the beginning of the video, when the shutter 108 is continuously pressed, the rewrite prohibition data is displayed in the header or video recording data area. At the digitized A / D 104, the CPU 109 adds and records it in the image memory 105. In this way, necessary images can be left out of many images.
[0031]
The captured still image is stored in the image memory 105, and the video to be retained is prohibited from being rewritten by pressing the shutter 108 a plurality of times at the time of shooting. However, when the shutter 108 is pressed a plurality of times, the shutter 108 is pressed. Since the period until the next press is unknown, it is convenient for the photographer to clarify the criteria for the shutter period.
[0032]
Therefore, in the digital camera of the present invention, during the period when the shutter 108 is operating, the CPU 109 detects the shutter operation and outputs a signal to the display drive 114 to turn on the shutter display 115, and the shutter display 115 is turned on. By detecting that the shutter 108 is double-pressed when the shutter 108 is pressed again, the shutter period becomes clear, and the photographer can confirm the double-press by looking at the shutter display 115, and the image to be left It is possible to securely leave the data with rewrite prohibition data.
[0033]
Next, a case where a digital camera is connected to a monitor or a personal computer and video stored in the image memory 105 is reproduced will be described.
[0034]
When the video stored in the digital camera is viewed on the monitor, the monitor is connected to the output 113 of the digital camera. When a monitor is connected to the output 113, the impedance or contact information of the connector of the output 113 is detected by the connection detection 116, and the detection information is transmitted from the connection detection 116 to the CPU 109. When the CPU 109 detects that a device such as a monitor is connected to the output terminal of the camera, the CPU 109 issues an instruction to reproduce the data in the image memory 105 at a constant speed, and outputs an image.
[0035]
FIG. 2 shows an example of connection between a digital camera and a monitor. As shown in FIG. 2, when the camera output 207 of the digital camera 201 is connected to the monitor input 208 of the monitor 204 via the cable 203, the connection to the monitor 204 is detected and the images captured by the digital camera 201 are sequentially output. The video can be viewed on the monitor 204 without any operation.
[0036]
When the user wants to stop the sequentially output images, the user presses the shutter 202 of the digital camera 201. When the shutter 202 is pressed, the CPU 109 instructs the image memory 105 to stop the video in the playback state with the signal from the connection detection 116 and the shutter data, stops the video transmission, and the shutter 202 is pressed. Display the video.
[0037]
On the other hand, in order to manually advance images one by one in a stopped state, the shutter 202 is pressed once. When the shutter 202 is pressed in the stop state, the CPU 109 instructs the image memory 105 to output the stored video based on the previous stop state stored in the memory 110 and the signal from the shutter 108, and the video is output from the output 113. Each time the shutter 202 is pressed, it is sequentially output to the monitor 204 manually.
[0038]
In addition, in order to automatically output the video sequentially again from the stopped state, the shutter 202 is pressed a plurality of times. By pressing the shutter 202 a plurality of times, the CPU 109 instructs the image memory 105 to output the stored video based on the previous stop state stored in the memory 110 and the signal from the shutter 108, and the video is output from the output 113. The data is sequentially output to the monitor 204.
[0039]
Next, a case where video is monitored wirelessly will be described. In the case of wireless, either the monitor is equipped with an optical receiver, or an external optical receiver is prepared and a video signal is received from the optical receiver to the video input of the monitor. .
[0040]
FIG. 3 shows an example of a monitor equipped with a digital camera and an optical receiver. In this case, the digital camera 301 outputs the video stored in the image memory 105 from the amplifying unit 107 to the transmitting unit 111, and the transmitting unit 111 modulates the image to a carrier for optical transmission, and the light is transmitted by the transmission 112 such as an LED. Transmission 303 is performed, and transmission is performed toward the optical reception unit 304 of the monitor 305. The transmitted video data is received by the light receiving unit 304 of the monitor 305 and output by the monitor 305, so that the video can be monitored wirelessly and the video captured by the digital camera 301 can be confirmed.
[0041]
Furthermore, the control by the shutter 302 can be equivalent to the video control by the cable by inputting a signal for sending the video from the transmission unit 111 to the connection detection 116.
[0042]
Further, a flowchart showing the control processing of the imaging / playback apparatus of the digital camera is shown in FIG.
[0043]
First, a semiconductor memory is attached to the digital camera (S401). The subject is determined, the subject is imaged (S402), the semiconductor memory is empty (S403), and whether the shutter is pressed a plurality of times (S404) is checked, and the captured image is stored in the memory (S405).
[0044]
If there is no free space in the semiconductor memory, the old memory is erased (S407) and a new video is stored. If the shutter is pressed a plurality of times, a rewrite prohibition process is performed (S408), and a new video is stored. If the memory becomes full with the video for which rewriting is prohibited, the old memory cannot be erased, and the semiconductor memory is replaced (S409).
[0045]
Through the above processing, the memory for photographic recording can be used endlessly, a photograph can be taken regardless of the memory capacity, and a necessary photograph can be left in the memory without being erased by a simple operation.
[0046]
A method for reproducing a captured image of a digital camera will be briefly described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.
[0047]
The cable connection process and the wireless connection process are the same because of the approximate operation.
[0048]
First, cable connection processing will be described. When the digital camera is connected to the monitor with a cable (S501), the CPU detects the connection based on the impedance change of the output terminal of the digital camera or hardware contact information (S502). When the CPU detects the connection, the video is continuously output from the digital camera (S503). Next, it is confirmed that the shutter is pressed (S504), and when the shutter is not pressed, the captured video is viewed on the monitor (S505).
[0049]
When it is desired to stop the automatic continuous output and view the images one by one, the image is fixed (stopped) when the shutter is pressed (S506). After the image is fixed, it is confirmed again that the shutter is pressed (S507). If the shutter is pressed, it is confirmed whether the shutter is pressed a plurality of times (S508). If the shutter is pressed only once, the next video is output (S509), and the video is fixed again (S506). When the shutter is pressed a plurality of times, the images are continuously output as in the original (S503), and the captured images can be viewed on the monitor.
[0050]
As described above, the playback of the digital camera can be viewed continuously or manually.
[0051]
In the case of wireless connection processing, when the digital camera is connected to the monitor by optical transmission (S511), the CPU detects the operation of the optical transmission unit of the digital camera (S512).
[0052]
Thereafter, as in the case of cable connection, when the CPU detects connection, video is continuously output from the digital camera (S503). Next, it is confirmed that the shutter is pressed (S504), and when the shutter is not pressed, the captured video is viewed on the monitor (S505).
[0053]
When it is desired to stop the automatic continuous output and view the images one by one, the image is fixed (stopped) when the shutter is pressed (S506). After the image is fixed, it is confirmed again that the shutter is pressed (S507). If the shutter is pressed, it is confirmed whether the shutter is pressed a plurality of times (S508). If the shutter is pressed only once, the next video is output (S509), and the video is fixed again (S506). When the shutter is pressed a plurality of times, the images are continuously output as in the original (S503), and the captured images can be viewed on the monitor.
[0054]
As described above, the reproduction of the digital camera can be continuously or manually viewed even in the optical connection.
[0055]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the present invention writes the imaged image in the memory, and even if the memory is full and there is no free space, the imaged image previously stored in the memory can be rewritten with a new imaged image, In addition, video that you want to keep in the memory can be prohibited from being rewritten and the captured video can be stored in the memory, so you can select whether to rewrite or prohibit rewriting as necessary. constraint without being, it is possible to perform photographing endlessly video you want to save can provide a digital camera having an excellent effect of being able to store prohibits rewriting .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the connection between the digital camera of the present invention and a monitor.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a monitor equipped with a digital camera and an optical receiver according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing control processing of the digital camera of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a playback method of the digital camera of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
100 Digital camera 101 CCD
102 Amplifying unit 103 Still image processing 104 A / D
105 Image memory 106 D / A
107 Amplifier 108 Shutter 109 CPU
110 Memory 111 Transmission unit 112 Transmission 113 Output 114 Display drive 115 Shutter display 116 Connection detection 201 Digital camera 202 Shutter 203 Cable 204 Monitor 205 Lens 206 Sensitivity switching 207 Camera output 208 Monitor input 301 Digital camera 302 Shutter 303 Light transmission 304 Light reception unit 305 monitor

Claims (1)

In digital cameras with a memory that stores captured images as still images by pressing the shutter ,
Control means having rewrite means for rewriting a photographed image previously stored in the memory with a new photographed image, and rewrite prohibition storage means for prohibiting rewriting by the rewrite means and storing the photographed image in the memory;
A shutter for inputting a rewrite prohibition instruction by the rewriting means;
And display means indicating that it is an input operation of the rewrite disable instruction,
Indicates that the captured image is the display input operation in means rewrites injunction when you press the shutter to accumulate in said memory indicates that the display means is an input operation displayed in the rewriting injunction In the digital camera, the rewrite prohibition is set by pressing the shutter again.

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