JP4558615B2 - Imaging apparatus and image file creation method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus and an image file creation method for recording attached information together with image data for an image file .

  At present, Exif (Exchangeable Image File Format) of JEIDA (Japanese Electronic Industry Development Association) standard is widely used as an image file format for digital cameras and the like. In this Exif, related auxiliary information can be described in a tag.

  Among these tags are the creator (Artist) and the shooting / editing copyright holder (Copyright). In order for the user to set the tag information, a digital camera is set in advance of shooting, or in the case of a digital camera that cannot be set in advance, a file is edited after shooting.

  In the case of a digital camera that can be set in advance, for example, there is a method in which a personal computer (PC) and a digital camera are connected and settings are made directly from the PC to the digital camera. For example, the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1 enables a photographer to input information corresponding to a photographed image for each photographed image, and the photographed image is directly edited without being edited later. It can be used for business purposes.

  However, if there is no PC, such as when away from home, the settings of the digital camera cannot be changed. Even when the digital camera can be set alone, the operability is poor because the liquid crystal screen and the operation buttons are small.

  Furthermore, when using a single digital camera with a plurality of names, the conventional method as described above has to change the settings of the digital camera every time the user changes, which also takes time.

  On the other hand, in the case of a digital camera that cannot be set in advance, for example, there is a method of editing an image file on a PC after shooting with the digital camera. However, after saving the image file on the PC, it is difficult to know who has taken which image file, and editing is performed for each file.

As described above, the setting method in the conventional digital camera as described above is very troublesome and troublesome for the user.
JP 2003-224750 A

In view of such a problem, the present invention provides an imaging apparatus and an image file creation that can easily change the settings of an Exif tag creator (Artist) and a shooting copyright holder / editing copyright holder (Copyright). It aims to provide a method.

To achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention, images a subject, have a image data acquisition means for acquiring image data, an imaging apparatus which is detachably mountable to a recording medium for recording image data Then, after the recording medium is mounted and the image pickup apparatus is turned on, the reading means for reading a character string preset in the volume label of the recording medium, and the characters of the volume label of the recording medium read by the reading means And creating means for creating an Exif file by recording a row together with image data .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image file creation method performed by an apparatus that allows a recording medium for recording image data to be attached and detached, wherein the recording medium is loaded after the recording medium is loaded and the apparatus is turned on. A reading step of reading a character string set in advance in the volume label, and a creation step of creating an Exif file by recording the volume label character string of the recording medium read in the reading step together with the image data. And

  As described above, according to the imaging apparatus and imaging method of the present invention, it is possible to easily change the settings of the creator of the Exif tag (Artist) and the shooting copyright holder / editing copyright holder (Copyright).

Hereinafter, the imaging apparatus of the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, this embodiment is not limited to what will be described later, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present embodiment. Further, a description will be given using a digital camera as the imaging apparatus in the present embodiment.
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating the appearance of a digital camera according to the present embodiment.

  The digital camera of this embodiment includes an LCD monitor 1, a sub LCD 2, an optical viewfinder 3, a strobe light emitting unit 4, a distance measuring unit 5, a remote control light receiving unit 6, a lens barrel unit 7, an SD card / battery. A lid 8, an autofocus LED 9, and a strobe LED 10 are provided.

  As various operation switches, a release shutter (SW1), a mode dial (SW2), a zoom switch (SW3), a self timer / deletion switch (SW4), a menu switch (SW5), and an up / strobe switch (SW6), right switch (SW7), down / macro switch (SW8), left / image confirmation switch (SW9), display switch (SW10), OK switch (SW11), and power switch (SW12) And.

  In FIG. 1, when the digital camera is viewed from the back, an autofocus LED 9 for informing the user that the focal length has been reached by autofocus (AF), a strobe LED 10 for informing the user of the completion of strobe charging, and an optical viewfinder 3 and a zoom switch (SW3) for operating the zoom in the Tele direction or Wide direction. In addition, a power switch (SW12) for turning on / off the power of the main body, an LCD monitor 1 for displaying a monitoring image and a setting screen, other up / down / left / right switches, a frequently used self-timer There are switches and OK switches.

  When the digital camera is viewed from above, there are a release shutter (SW1), a mode dial (SW2) for switching between various shooting modes and playback modes, a sub LCD 2 for displaying the remaining number of sheets, a battery end, and the like.

  Further, when the digital camera is viewed from above, there is an SD card / battery cover 8 for storing an external memory as a recording medium such as a battery or an SD card in the camera body. Further, there are a lens barrel unit 7 storing an imaging lens, a remote control light receiving unit 6, a distance measuring unit 5 for measuring a distance to a subject to realize autofocus, a strobe light emitting unit 4, and the like.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the digital camera of this embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 2, the digital camera 20 can communicate with the printer 30 using USB, Bluetooth, or the like.

The digital camera 20 includes an external storage device 22 such as a flash memory that stores image information, an imaging device 23 that is an image information input unit such as a CCD or an A / D converter, a display device 24 that displays various types of information, An operation console 25 that inputs data to the digital camera 20 and a communication I / F unit 26 that controls an interface with an external device (the printer 30 in FIG. 2) are provided. These are controlled by an overall control device 21 that controls the entire digital camera 20.
The overall control device 21 is configured by a known microcomputer including a CPU, ROM, RAM, input / output ports (I / O ports), bus lines for exchanging data with these, and the like.

Next, the digital camera of this embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the digital camera of this embodiment in more detail.

  The lens barrel unit 7 includes a zoom optical system 71 including a zoom lens 71a and a zoom drive motor 71b for capturing an optical image of a subject, a focus optical system 72 including a focus lens 72a and a focus drive motor 72b, an aperture 73a, and an aperture. A diaphragm unit 73 composed of a motor 73b, a mechanical shutter unit 74 composed of a mechanical shutter 74a and a mechanical shutter motor 74b, and a motor driver 75 for driving each motor are provided.

  The motor driver 75 then receives a drive command from a CPU block 1043 provided in the digital still camera processor 104, which will be described later, based on an input from the remote control light receiving unit 6 and operation inputs of various operation switches (SW1 to SW13). The drive is controlled by.

  The ROM 108 stores a control program, parameters for control, and the like. These data are described in codes that can be decoded by the CPU block 1043. When the power of the digital camera is turned on, various control programs are loaded into a main memory (not shown). The CPU block 1043 controls the operation of each part of the digital camera according to the program. At the same time, data necessary for control and the like are temporarily stored in the RAM 107 and a local SRAM 1044 provided in a digital still camera processor 104 described later. By using a rewritable flash ROM in the ROM 108, it is possible to change the control program and parameters for control, and the version upgrade in the control function of the digital camera can be easily performed.

The CCD 101 is a solid-state imaging device for photoelectrically converting an optical image.
The F / E (front end) -IC 102 receives a CDS 1021 that performs correlated double sampling for removing image noise, an AGC 1022 that performs gain adjustment, an A / D 1023 that performs digital signal conversion, and a vertical synchronization signal (from a CCD1 control block 1041). Hereinafter, a TG 1024 supplied with a horizontal synchronization signal (hereinafter referred to as HD) and controlled by the CPU block 1043 is provided. The TG 1024 generates drive timing signals for the CCD 101 and the F / E-IC 102.

The digital still camera processor 104 performs white balance setting and gamma setting on output data sent from the F / E-IC 102 via the CCD 101.
Further, as described above, the digital still camera processor 104 includes the CCD1 control block 1041, the CCD2 control block 1042, the CPU block 1043, the local SRAM 1044, the USB block 1045, the serial block 1046, the JPEG CODEC block 1047, and the like. , A RESIZE block 1048, a TV signal display block 1049, and a memory card block 10410.

  The CCD1 control block 1041 supplies the VD signal and HD signal to the TG 1024 of the E / F-IC 102. The CCD2 control block 1042 converts the image data into luminance data / color difference data by filtering processing. The CPU block 1043 controls the operation of each unit of the digital camera according to the present embodiment described above, and the local SRAM 1044 temporarily stores data necessary for this control.

  The USB block 1045 and the serial block 1046 respectively perform USB communication / serial communication with an external device such as a personal computer. The JPEG CODEC block 1047 performs compression / decompression of the image data converted into the JPEG format. The RESIZE block 1048 enlarges / reduces the size of the image data by interpolation processing. The TV signal display block 1049 converts the image data into a video signal for display on an external display device such as a liquid crystal monitor or a TV. A memory card block 10410 controls a memory card that records captured image data.

The SDRAM 103 temporarily stores image data when the digital still camera processor 104 performs various processes on the image data.
The image data stored here is, for example, “RAW-RGB image data in a state in which white balance setting and gamma setting are performed in the CCD 1 signal processing block 1041 after fetching from the CCD 101 via the F / E-IC 102. ”,“ YUV image data ”in which luminance data / color difference data conversion has been performed in the CCD 2 control block 1042,“ JPEG image data ”that has been JPEG compressed in the JPEG CODEC block 1047, and the like.

  The memory card throttle 121 is a throttle for attaching a removable memory card to the digital camera body, and is controlled by the memory card block 10410. The built-in memory 120 is a memory for storing captured image data even when no memory card is attached to the memory card throttle 121 described above.

  The LCD driver 117 is a drive circuit that drives the LCD monitor 1 described later, and also has a function of converting the video signal output from the TV signal display block 1049 into a signal for display on the LCD monitor 1. The LCD monitor 1 is a monitor for monitoring the state of a subject before photographing, confirming a photographed image, and displaying image data recorded in a memory card or the built-in memory 120 described above.

  The video AMP 118 is an amplifier for converting the impedance of the video signal output from the TV signal display block 1049 to 75Ω, and the video jack 119 is a jack for connecting to an external display device such as a TV.

  The USB connector 122 is a connector for performing USB connection with an external device such as a PC. The RS-232C connector 1232 is a connector for serial connection with an external device such as a personal computer, and is connected via the serial driver circuit 1231 that converts the output signal of the serial block 1046 described above.

  Further, the SUB-CPU 109 is a CPU in which ROM and RAM are built in a single chip, and output signals from various operation switches (SW1 to SW13) and the remote control light receiving unit 6 to the CPU block 1043 as user operation information. To do. Also, the camera state output from the CPU block 1043 is converted into control signals for the sub LCD 2, AF LED 9, strobe LED 10, and buzzer 113 described later, and output.

  The sub LCD 2 is a display unit for displaying, for example, the number of shootable images. The LCD driver 111 is a drive circuit for driving the sub LCD 2 by the output signal from the SUB-CPU 109 described above.

  The AF LED 9 is an LED for displaying an in-focus state at the time of shooting, and the strobe LED 10 is an LED for representing a strobe charging state. The AF LED 9 and the strobe LED 10 may be used for another display application, for example, while a memory card is being accessed. Various operation switches (SW1 to SW13) are key circuits operated by the user, and the remote control light receiving unit 6 is a signal reception unit of the remote control transmitter operated by the user.

  The audio recording unit 115 includes a microphone 1153 to which a user inputs an audio signal, a microphone AMP 1152 that amplifies the input audio signal, and an audio recording circuit 1151 that records the amplified audio signal. The audio reproduction unit 116 also converts an audio reproduction circuit 1161 that converts a recorded audio signal into a signal that can be output from a speaker, an audio AMP 1162 that amplifies the converted audio signal and drives the speaker, and an audio signal. And an output speaker 1163.

Next, an image file format in the digital camera of this embodiment will be described.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an Exif file format related to image data of the digital camera of the present embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, the compressed file of image data conforms to JPEG. In addition to the compressed data, there are application segments APP1 (Reserved for Application segments) which are attached information of Exif, DQT (Define Quantization Table (s)) that defines the actual state of the quantization table, and the actual state of the Huffman table. It includes one marker each for DHT (Define Huffman Table (s)) defined in a format according to the rules, various parameters SOF (Start of Frame) relating to frames, and various parameters SOS (Start of Scan) relating to components. Then, the compressed data starts with SOI (Start of Image) indicating the start of the file and ends with EOI (End of Image) indicating the end of the compressed data.

  Note that a restart interval marker DRI (Define Restart Interval) is optional. In the present embodiment, there are cases where a plurality of Exif extension data APP2 are optionally included.

The inside of APP1 is composed of an APP1 marker, an Exif identification code, and attached information.
The attached information has a TIFF structure including a file header, and the attached information of the main image is recorded in the 0 ^th IFD, and the thumbnail image is recorded in the 1 ^st IFD.

  Here, IFD (Image File Directory) will be further described. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an IFD related to image data of the digital camera of the present embodiment.

  The IFD is composed of the number of fields (tags), a field entry sequence, and an offset to the next IFD according to TIFF Revision 6.0. A field entry is composed of four elements: a tag number (tag), a data storage format (type), the number of data (count), and a data value or offset value to data (offset to value). ing.

The creator (Artist) of the Exif tag, which is a tag that records the name of the camera owner, photographer, or image creator, is as follows. Note that the brackets in Tag are in hexadecimal notation.
Tag = 305 (131h)
Type = ASCII
Count = Any
Default = None

In addition, when used for the display of both the shooting copyright and the editing copyright holder, the shooting copyright holder / editing copyright holder (Copyright), which is the copyright notice of the person or organization claiming the copyright to the image, It is as follows.
Tag = 315 (13Bh)
Type = ASCII
Count = Any
Default = None

  A flow of recording the volume label of the SD card together with the photographed image data as the copyright owner (Copyright) of the attached information Exif tag will be described below.

  First, the user sets a character string to be written on the Exif creator tag as a volume label of the SD card on the PC before shooting with the digital camera. Next, the SD card with the volume label set is attached to the digital camera, and the digital camera is turned on. Then, the contents of the volume label of the SD card are read.

Along with the image data obtained by the imaging operation, the value including the volume label of the read SD card is recorded in the copyright, which is one tag of the IFD exemplified in FIG. 5, to create an Exif file as follows. To do.
"Copyright, [Volume label contents], [Shooting year]. All right reserved."
Here, values other than those in parentheses are fixed values.

  As described above, according to the digital camera of the present embodiment, the setting / setting of the creator of the Exif tag (Artist), the photographing copyright owner / the editing copyright holder (Copyright) can be performed only by replacing the recording medium for recording the image data. It is possible to make changes. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the troublesome and troublesome work for the user.

  The imaging apparatus and imaging method of the present embodiment can also be applied as a device that records information in an external memory that is a recording medium.

It is an external view of the digital camera of this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of the digital camera of this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of the digital camera of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows typically the Exif file format in the digital camera of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows typically the IFD format in the digital camera of this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 LCD monitor 2 Sub LCD
3 Optical viewfinder 4 Strobe light emitting unit 5 Ranging unit 6 Remote control light receiving unit 7 Lens barrel unit 8 SD card / battery cover 9 Autofocus LED
10 Strobe LED
20 Digital Camera 21 Overall Control Device SW1 Release Shutter SW2 Mode Dial SW3 Zoom Switch SW4 Self Timer / Delete Switch SW5 Menu Switch SW6 Up / Strobe Switch SW7 Right Switch SW8 Down / Macro Switch SW9 Left / Image Confirmation Switch SW10 Display Switch SW11 OK Switch SW12 Power switch

Claims (8)

Imaging a subject, have a image data acquisition means for acquiring image data, an imaging apparatus which is detachably mountable to a recording medium for recording the image data,
Reading means for reading a character string set in advance on the volume label of the recording medium after the recording medium is mounted and the imaging apparatus is turned on;
Creating means for creating a Exif file by recording a character string of a volume label of the recording medium read by the reading means together with the image data;
An imaging device comprising: The character string of the volume label of the recording medium is
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one of the copyright owner of the creator and the image data of the image data. The creating means includes
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the character string of the volume label of the recording medium is recorded so as to be included in a part of a predetermined format . The creating means includes
The imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein a photographing year of the image data is recorded in addition to a character string of a volume label of the recording medium . An image file creation method performed by an apparatus that allows a recording medium for recording image data to be detachable ,
A reading step of reading a character string set in advance on a volume label of the recording medium after the recording medium is mounted and the apparatus is turned on;
A creation step of creating an Exif file by recording a character string of a volume label of the recording medium read by the reading step together with the image data;
An image file creation method characterized by comprising: The character string of the volume label of the recording medium is
6. The image file creation method according to claim 5, comprising at least one of a creator of the image data and a copyright holder of the image data . In the creation process,
7. The image file creating method according to claim 5, wherein the character string of the volume label of the recording medium is recorded so as to be included in a part of a predetermined format . In the creation process,
8. The image file creation method according to claim 5 , wherein a shooting year of the image data is recorded in addition to a character string of a volume label of the recording medium .

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