JP4400942B2 - Recording medium, electronic camera, and processing method thereof - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a recording medium, an electronic camera, and a processing method thereof, and more particularly, to record information for setting processing contents of the electronic camera on the recording medium and execute processing of the electronic camera based on the information. The present invention relates to a medium, an electronic camera, and a processing method thereof.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-43667 describes a camera system in which a camera can be operated according to the operation program by attaching a memory card in which the operation program of the camera is registered to the camera.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the camera described in the above document is applied to a photographic camera using a photographic film, and is not described for application to an electronic camera. In addition, a memory card is usually attached to an electronic camera, but it is normal to record a photographed image on this memory card, and information is obtained from this memory card based on this information. There has been no proposal for controlling the operation of the camera.
[0004]
With photo cameras, you can change the characteristics of the recorded image, such as changing the sensitivity of brightness, changing the image to black and white, or changing the resolution by changing the type of photo film. There is no change in the characteristics of an image to be recorded in this way depending on the type. Further, since the same change can be made in the setting on the electronic camera side, it is not necessary to provide a type such as a photographic film on the memory card. For this reason, when it is desired to change the characteristics of the image to be recorded, it is necessary to change the setting of the processing content of the electronic camera each time, and this operation is time-consuming. In addition, there is a problem that it is difficult for a user who does not use the electronic camera very much to make a setting to obtain a desired effect.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and a recording medium and an electronic device capable of changing the characteristics of a photographed image by changing the recording medium attached to the electronic camera, such as a photographic film. It is an object to provide a camera and a processing method thereof.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a recording medium according to claim 1 is a recording medium that can be detachably attached to an electronic camera including a signal processing circuit that performs signal processing on an image captured by an imaging unit. a first storage area that stores characteristic information for setting a first signal processing content of image data in the signal processing circuit in a non rewriting state, the image data signal processed by the signal processing circuit and a second storage area rewritable for storing, wherein the characteristic information recording medium is stored in the first storage area by the electronic camera mounted is read out, read out the with the first signal processing content in the signal processing circuit is set based on the characteristic information, said first signal processing content based on the signal processed image data is said second storage One in the area Stored in the characteristic information for setting the second signal Processing content in the signal processing circuit set by the user is, the rewritable second memory area to said first signal processing content stored in the different part of the area of the signal processing is the storage area of the image data on the basis Rutotomoni, the second signal processing signal processed image data based on the contents of the second storage area It is characterized in Rukoto stored in part of a different storage area and the second signal processing content and the first signal based on the signal processing content processing stored area of the image data.
[0007]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic camera in which a detachable recording medium is mounted, an image captured by the imaging unit is recorded on the recording medium, and signal processing is performed on the image captured by the imaging unit. In an electronic camera provided with a circuit, the recording medium according to claim 1 is mounted, and the optional characteristic information when the characteristic information and the optional characteristic information are recorded is read from the recording medium. It is characterized by setting the signal processing content in the signal processing circuit based on the read characteristic information and option characteristic information.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic camera processing method comprising: mounting a detachable recording medium; recording an image captured by an imaging unit on the recording medium; and converting the image captured by the imaging unit into a signal processing circuit. in the processing method for an electronic camera which performs signal processing by said recording medium comprises a first memory which stores characteristic information for setting the signal processing content of image data in the signal processing circuit in a non-rewritable state And the rewritable second storage area for storing the image data signal-processed by the signal processing circuit, and the electronic camera on which the recording medium is mounted has the first storage area reading the characteristic information stored sets the signal processing content in the signal processing circuit based on the read characteristic information, the basis of the first signal processing content Signal processed image data is recorded in a portion of the second storage area, the characteristic information for setting the second signal Processing content in the signal processing circuit set by a user, the rewritable And recording in a part of the second storage area different from the storage area of the image data signal-processed based on the first signal processing content, and based on the second signal processing content. The image data that has undergone signal processing is stored in a storage area that is different from the storage area of the image data that has been signal-processed based on the second signal processing content and the first signal processing content of the second storage area. It is characterized by recording in part.
[0008]
According to the present invention, since the processing of the electronic camera is executed based on the characteristic information for setting the processing content of the electronic camera recorded on the recording medium, the user sets various processing content of the electronic camera. Time and effort is reduced. In addition, by preparing a recording medium that records the characteristic information of various contents, it becomes possible to change the characteristics of the image to be taken by selecting the type of the recording medium, such as a photographic film. It is possible to easily shoot an image aiming at the effect.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a recording medium, an electronic camera, and a processing method thereof according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
1 and 2 are perspective views of an electronic camera according to the present invention as viewed from the front side and the back side, respectively. As shown in FIG. 1, members such as a photographing lens 12, an optical viewfinder 14, an auxiliary light emitting unit 16, a shutter button 18, and a power switch 20 are disposed on the front or top surface of the electronic camera 10. A digital film insertion portion 22 is provided on the side surface of the electronic camera 10. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, members such as a liquid crystal monitor 24, an eyepiece 15 of the optical viewfinder 14, and a film type confirmation window 26 are disposed on the back of the electronic camera 10. The electronic camera 10 is provided with various operation switches (not shown) other than these members.
[0010]
A card-type recording medium is mounted on the digital film insertion unit 22, and an image photographed by the electronic camera 10 is recorded on the recording medium. As will be described in detail later, the electronic camera 10 can use a recording medium on which information for automatically setting the processing contents of the electronic camera 10, which is referred to as film characteristic information, is recorded. The electronic camera 10 reads out the film characteristic information from the recording medium, and executes photographing with the processing content indicated by the film characteristic information. Accordingly, by preparing a plurality of recording media on which film characteristic information of different contents is recorded, the characteristics of an image to be recorded on the recording medium, such as a photographic film having different sensitivity, can be set depending on the type of the recording medium. Can be done.
[0011]
Note that the recording medium used in the electronic camera 10 is similar to a photographic film in which a photographed image is recorded and the characteristics of the recorded image can be changed depending on the type of the recording medium, that is, the content of the flame characteristic information. Therefore, it is referred to as a digital film in correspondence with a photographic film.
Next, a digital film that can be used in the electronic camera 10 will be described. Any recording medium may be used as the digital film, but two different types of recording media are shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B as examples. The recording medium shown in FIG. 3A is called a flash memory card, and this recording medium is provided with a connector 60 at the tip. On the other hand, the recording medium shown in FIG. 3B is called smart media (SSFDC), and this recording medium is provided with a connector 62 on a part of one side. Further, when such a detachable card type recording medium is used as a digital film, film type display portions 64 and 66 are secured at predetermined positions on the surface, and the film type display portions 64 and 66 are digitally displayed. A display for discriminating the contents of the film characteristic information recorded on the film is performed. As a result, the type of the digital film can be discriminated from the outside, and when the digital film is mounted on the film insertion portion 22 of the electronic camera 10, the film type confirmation window 26 (see FIG. 2), the film type display portions 64 and 66 can be seen.
[0012]
4A and 4B are diagrams showing a circuit configuration of a recording medium used as a digital film. The configuration shown in FIG. 4A is employed in, for example, a flash memory card, and includes an interface unit 70, a memory controller 72, and a memory 74. On the other hand, the configuration shown in FIG. 4B is employed in, for example, smart media, and does not include a memory controller as shown in FIG. 4A, and includes an interface unit 76 and a memory 78. ing. The recording medium used as the digital film may have any configuration, and may or may not include a memory controller. Other configurations may also be used.
[0013]
Now, the following film characteristic information is recorded in the digital film as described above.
(1) Number of pixels in the captured image
(2) Number of images to be shot
(3) Quality of captured images (whether or not compression, lossless or lossy compression, compression rate, compression method, imaging device raw data recording, etc.)
(4) Color information such as whether the captured image is full-color, black-and-white, or, for example, 256 colors or sepia
(5) Gradation information of captured images (number of bits, gradation characteristics such as gamma, knee, etc.)
(6) White balance information (automatic, tungsten, daylight, etc.)
(7) Focus information of the image to be shot (fixed to infinity, fixed to 3m, moving object prediction AF, person AF, etc.)
(8) AE information of the image to be taken (center weight, average, portrait (portrait mode), vertical shooting, shutter speed priority, or sports mode)
(9) Zoom information of the captured image (optical zoom, electronic zoom fixed, etc.)
(10) Information indicating the presence or absence of various corrections (whether black correction is performed, defective pixel correction is performed, lens aberration correction is performed, etc.)
(11) SN information (can specify the SN of the obtained image)
(12) Information on various special effects (foggy, multi-split, circle, mask, tilt, etc.)
(13) Information about whether an image has already been read
(14) Information on whether an image has already been printed A digital film may record all of the above-mentioned film characteristic information (1) to (14), or only a part thereof. It is also possible to create a digital film for special purposes by combining For example, by recording raw data of the imaging device of the electronic camera 10, and reading this data later to create a digital film that performs processing such as image processing by another high-performance processing device or personal computer, professional It can also be a film.
[0014]
Such film characteristic information (1) to (14) can be set by a user and recorded on a digital film. However, some of these pieces of information are sold as digital films dedicated to specific applications. It is also possible to record it in (except for film characteristic information (13) and (14)). FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a memory configuration of a digital film in which predetermined film characteristic information is recorded in advance for exclusive use. As shown in the figure, the digital film memory is divided into a non-rewritable film characteristic storage area M1 and a rewritable data (image) recording area M2. The film characteristic information is recorded in the film characteristic storage area M1, and the image data processed by the electronic camera is recorded in the data (image) recording area M2.
[0015]
Further, even in such a digital film dedicated to a specific application, a part of the rewritable memory area can be used as an area for recording the film characteristic information in order to permit rewriting of the film characteristic information. Further, in order to record the film characteristic information (13) and (14), a rewritable film characteristic storage area is required. FIG. 6 shows a part of the rewritable memory area as an area for recording film characteristic information. Similar to FIG. 5, the non-rewritable film characteristic storage area M1 in which the film characteristic information is recorded in advance is stored in the memory. In addition, a film characteristic storage area (option area) M3 for recording the film characteristic information set by the user or the like is allocated to a rewritable area in the memory. The remaining portion of the rewritable area is allocated as a data (image) recording area M2 in which image data and the like are recorded as in FIG.
[0016]
It is also possible to set all the film characteristic information by the user and record the film characteristic information on the digital film. In this case, as shown in FIG. 7, a non-rewritable memory area is not provided, but all are rewritable areas. In this area, the film characteristic storage area M3 for recording the film characteristic information set by the user and the image data Etc., a data (image) recording area M2 to be recorded is allocated.
[0017]
In addition, when there is no more free space in the digital film memory at the time of shooting, and another type of digital film remains, after fixing the film characteristic information, temporarily attach another digital film to the electronic camera 10. It is convenient if it can be used as the same kind of digital film as the original digital film.
[0018]
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, a film characteristic storage area (for recording area 2) for recording new film characteristic information is allocated to the rewritable memory area, and the previous data (image) recording area (recording area 1). In this case, an image using the film characteristic information recorded in the non-rewritable film characteristic storage area (for recording area 1) is recorded, and in the subsequent data (image) recording area (recording area 2), the film is recorded. An image using the new film characteristic information recorded in the characteristic storage area (for recording area 2) is recorded.
[0019]
The film characteristic information may be written in a binary format or a text format. When written in a text format, the user can check the film characteristic information later with a personal computer or the like relatively easily.
Next, FIG. 9 shows a circuit configuration of the electronic camera 10 in which the above-described digital film can be used. First, the basic operation of the electronic camera 10 will be described. When the shutter button 18 (see FIG. 1) is pressed, the CPU 30 shown in the figure detects this and sends a shutter release command to the control circuit 32. As a result, the control circuit 32 drives the shutter 34. When the shutter 34 is driven, a subject image is formed on the light receiving surface of the imaging device 40 via an optical system such as a lens 36 and a diaphragm 38. The imaging device 40 converts the image light imaged on the light receiving surface into a signal charge having an amount corresponding to the light amount. The signal charge is converted into a voltage signal (image signal) and then sequentially transferred to the analog signal processing circuit 42.
[0020]
The image signal transferred to the analog signal processing circuit 42 is subjected to necessary analog signal processing such as white balance adjustment in the analog signal processing circuit 42, and then converted into digital signal image data by the A / D converter 44. And transferred to the digital signal processing circuit 46.
The digital signal processing circuit 46 performs necessary digital signal processing such as gamma correction and electronic zoom on the image data transferred as described above, and then converts the image data into YC signals (luminance signal Y and chroma signal C). Convert. The compression / decompression circuit 48 compresses the YC signal generated by the digital signal processing circuit 46 in a predetermined format, and records the compressed data in a predetermined memory area of the digital film 50. As a result, an image captured by the imaging device 40 is recorded on the digital film 50.
[0021]
The compression / decompression circuit 48 outputs the YC signal generated by the digital signal processing circuit 46 as it is to the liquid crystal monitor 24 (see FIG. 2) via the D / A converter 52 in addition to the above processing. Thereby, the captured image is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 24. When the image recorded on the digital film 50 is reproduced on the liquid crystal monitor 24, the compression / decompression circuit 48 decompresses the compressed data read from the digital film 50, and then the liquid crystal monitor 24 via the D / A converter 52. Output to.
[0022]
Incidentally, the control circuit 32 shown in the figure controls the operation of the optical system (the shutter 34, the lens 36, the aperture 38, etc.) of the electronic camera 10 by a command applied from the CPU 30, and the processing contents of the analog signal processing circuit 42. Is a circuit for controlling For example, a predetermined lens of a lens 36 composed of a plurality of lenses is driven to perform operations such as focusing and optical zoom, and the aperture 38 is controlled to control the brightness of the image. Further, processing contents such as white balance adjustment performed in the analog signal processing circuit 42 are controlled.
[0023]
The CPU 30 sends commands to the control circuit 32, the digital signal processing circuit 46, and the compression / decompression circuit 48 to cause these circuits to execute required processing. At this time, the CPU 30 sets processing contents to be executed by these circuits as described below, and sends a command to each circuit. First, when the digital film 50 is inserted into the film insertion section 22, the CPU 30 detects whether or not the above-described film characteristic information is recorded on the digital film 50. When the film characteristic information is recorded, the film characteristic information is read from the digital film 50, and the processing contents to be executed by the control circuit 32, the digital signal processing circuit 46, and the compression / decompression circuit 48 based on the film characteristic information are read out. Set. For example, film characteristic information (focus information of the film characteristic information (7), AE information of the film characteristic information (8)) related to the control of the optical system of the electronic camera 10 (shutter 34, lens 36, aperture 38, etc.) , Zoom information of the film characteristic information (9), or the like, or film characteristic information related to the processing contents of the analog signal processing circuit 42 (white balance information of the film characteristic information (6), film characteristic information (10 ), Information indicating the presence or absence of various corrections, SN information of the film characteristic information (11), etc.) is recorded on the digital film 50. Based on the information, the optical system or analog signal processing circuit 42 is The processing contents of the control circuit 32 to be controlled are set, and a command is output to the control circuit 32 based on this. Also, film characteristic information related to the digital signal processing circuit 46 (number of pixels of the film characteristic information (1), color information of the film characteristic information (4), gradation information of the film characteristic information (5), Related to zoom information of the film characteristic information (9), information indicating the presence / absence of various corrections of the film characteristic information (10), information on various special effects of the film characteristic information (12), etc.), or compression / decompression circuit 48 In the case where certain film characteristic information (the quality of the above-mentioned film characteristic information (3)) is recorded in the digital film 50, the execution contents of the digital signal processing circuit 46 or the compression / decompression circuit 48 are set based on the information. Based on this, a command is output to the digital signal processing circuit 46 or the compression / decompression circuit 48. Accordingly, the control circuit 32, the digital signal processing circuit 46, and the compression / decompression circuit 48 execute processing corresponding to the contents of the film characteristic information.
[0024]
As a result, the processing contents of the electronic camera 10 are automatically set based on the film characteristic information recorded in the digital film, and the user's trouble of setting the processing contents of the electronic camera by operating the operation switch of the electronic camera is reduced. The
On the other hand, when the required film characteristic information is not recorded on the digital film, or when the user sets the processing contents of the electronic camera by changing the film characteristic information recorded on the digital film by the user's designation, Similar to a conventional electronic camera, the user operates an operation switch provided on the electronic camera 10 to set the processing content. The CPU 30 sets the processing contents of the control circuit 32, the digital signal processing circuit 46, and the compression / decompression circuit 48 in the same manner as described above based on the setting contents, and sends a command to each circuit based on the setting contents. In addition, the processing content set by the user in this way can also be recorded on the digital film 50 as film characteristic information. When the user makes such designation, the film characteristic information is stored in the digital film film. Record in the characteristic storage area. As a result, when this digital film is used next time, since the film characteristic information is recorded on the digital film, it is possible to reduce the trouble of the user performing the same setting again.
[0025]
When film characteristic information is recorded on a digital film, if the film characteristic information does not match the processing content currently set in the electronic camera, sound or light (lamp, LED, EL, etc.) is used. You may make it warn. Further, after the warning, automatically or after confirmation by the user, only matching contents may be set as processing contents of the electronic camera.
[0026]
In the above embodiment, the recording medium used as the digital film is described as recording image data and film characteristic information. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a small image processing circuit or CPU is mounted on the recording medium. It is also possible to control the electronic camera and perform signal processing by a circuit mounted on these recording media.
[0027]
In the above embodiment, the electronic camera and recording medium for taking a still image have been described. However, the present invention is not limited to a still image and is similarly applied to an electronic camera and recording medium for taking a moving image. it can.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, since the processing of the electronic camera is executed based on the characteristic information for setting the processing content of the electronic camera recorded on the recording medium, the user can perform various processing of the electronic camera. The time and effort to set the content is reduced. In addition, by preparing a recording medium that records the characteristic information of various contents, it becomes possible to change the characteristics of the image to be taken by selecting the type of the recording medium, such as a photographic film. It is possible to easily shoot an image aiming at the effect.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electronic camera according to the present invention as viewed from the front side.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the electronic camera according to the present invention as viewed from the back side.
FIGS. 3A and 3B are views showing the appearance of a recording medium, respectively.
FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating a circuit configuration of a recording medium, respectively.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a memory configuration of a digital film.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a memory configuration of a digital film.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a memory configuration of a digital film.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a memory configuration of a digital film.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of an electronic camera according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 ... Electronic camera 30 ... CPU
32 ... Control circuit 40 ... Imaging device 42 ... Analog processing circuit 44 ... A / D converter 46 ... Digital signal processing circuit 48 ... Compression / decompression circuit 50 ... Digital film

Claims (5)

A recording medium detachably attachable to an electronic camera provided with a signal processing circuit that performs signal processing on an image captured by an imaging means,
A first memory area for storing the first signal Processing content can not rewrite the characteristic information for setting the state of the image data in the signal processing circuit,
And a second storage area rewritable for storing a signal processed image data by the signal processing circuit,
The characteristic information stored in the first storage area is read out by the electronic camera to which the storage medium is attached, and a first signal processing circuit is configured to read the characteristic information based on the read characteristic information . with signal processing content is set, the first signal processing signal processed image data based on the contents stored in a portion of the second storage area,
Characteristic information for setting the second signal Processing content in the signal processing circuit set by the user is, the rewritable second memory area, signal processing based on said first signal processing content stored in the different part of the region and the storage region of the image data Rutotomoni, the second signal processing signal processed image data based on the contents of the second storage area, the second signal processing content and the first and the signal processing is the storage area of the image data based on the signal processing content stored in the part of the different storage areas recording medium characterized Rukoto of.   The characteristic information includes the number of pixels of the captured image, the number of captured images, the quality of the captured image, the color information of the captured image, the gradation information of the captured image, and the white of the captured image. It includes at least one of balance information, focus information of a captured image, AE information of a captured image, zoom information of a captured image, information on various corrections, SN information, and information on various special effects. The recording medium according to claim 1. In an electronic camera equipped with a detachable recording medium, recording an image picked up by the image pickup means on the recording medium, and having a signal processing circuit for performing signal processing on the image picked up by the image pickup means,
When the recording medium according to claim 1 or 2 is mounted and the characteristic information and the optional characteristic information are recorded from the recording medium, the optional characteristic information is read and the read characteristic information and optional characteristic are read. electronic camera and sets the signal processing content in the signal processing circuit based on the information. Signal Processing content in the signal processing circuit set by the user is, the if different from the signal Processing content that is set based on recorded on the recording medium has the characteristic information and the option characteristic information, a warning The electronic camera according to claim 3, wherein the electronic camera emits light. In a processing method of an electronic camera in which a detachable recording medium is mounted and an image captured by an imaging unit is recorded on the recording medium and signal processing is performed on the image captured by the imaging unit by a signal processing circuit.
The recording medium includes a first storage area that stores the characteristic information of the non-rewritable state for setting the signal Processing content of image data in the signal processing circuit, which is the signal processed by the signal processing circuit and a second storage area rewritable for storing image data,
It said electronic camera in which the recording medium is mounted, set the signal Processing content in the signal processing circuit based on the first of the characteristic information read out by the read characteristic information stored in the storage area And image data signal-processed based on the first signal processing content is recorded in a part of the second storage area,
Signal processing based on characteristic information for setting the second signal Processing content in the signal processing circuit set by the user, the rewritable second memory area to said first signal processing content Recorded in a partial area different from the storage area of the image data, and the image data subjected to signal processing based on the content of the second signal processing is stored in the second storage area of the second storage area. An electronic camera processing method comprising: recording in a part of a storage area different from a storage area of the image data subjected to signal processing based on signal processing content and the first signal processing content .

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