JP4785778B2 - Imaging device, control method thereof, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus capable of recording image data on recording media such as different types of memory cards, a control method thereof, and a program.

  Conventionally, a digital camera that records and reproduces a captured image as a digital signal is known. In this type of digital camera, a memory card in which a rewritable flash memory is packaged in a card type is used as a recording medium. In this case, image data that the user does not like after shooting can be deleted, or all image data in the recording medium can be deleted (see Patent Document 1 and the like).

Japanese Patent No. 3177491

  In recent years, although the price of a memory card has been decreasing, it is still expensive when it has a large capacity.

  In view of this, a memory card is being studied in which cost reduction is achieved by making it impossible to rewrite data to the same address. In this way, by writing data only once, it is not necessary to guarantee the operation against repeated writing, the manufacturing cost is low, and the evaluation cost for the product can be reduced.

  In the future, it is conceivable to use a conventional digital camera with a memory card that cannot rewrite data to the same address as described above. However, in this case, for example, if shooting is performed in a state where the date and time setting is incorrect, the shooting date and time become an incorrect file, and the recording capacity is wasted.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described points, so that when a non-rewritable recording medium is loaded, useless recording capacity is prevented and the recording medium can be used effectively. The purpose is to do.

An imaging apparatus according to the present invention is an imaging apparatus in which a recording medium is detachably mounted, and is an imaging unit, image data obtained by the imaging unit, and data for recording additional information related to the image data on the recording medium a recording unit, as the recording medium, the first recording medium capable of rewriting data for the same address, and, the same address second incapable of rewriting data to the recording medium Determining means for determining which is mounted, a case where it is determined that the first recording medium is mounted based on a determination result by the determining means, and a case where the second recording medium is mounted in the case where it is determined, characterized in that a control unit made different operations relating to the image pickup means or said data recording means in a state in which setting of the additional information is not made To.

  According to the present invention, in an imaging apparatus capable of using two types of recording media in which data is rewritable / impossible, especially when a recording medium incapable of rewritable is mounted, wasteful consumption of recording capacity is prevented. The recording medium can be used effectively.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a digital camera 100 according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied. Reference numeral 10 denotes a photographing lens. Reference numeral 12 denotes a shutter having an aperture function. Reference numeral 14 denotes an image pickup device that converts an optical image into an electric signal, and the image pickup means referred to in the present invention corresponds to this. Reference numeral 16 denotes an A / D converter that converts an analog signal output of the image sensor 14 into a digital signal. A timing generation circuit 18 supplies a clock signal and a control signal to the image sensor 14, the A / D converter 16, and the D / A converter 26, and is controlled by the memory control circuit 22 and the system control circuit 50.

  An image processing circuit 20 performs predetermined pixel interpolation processing and color conversion processing on the data from the A / D converter 16 or the data from the memory control circuit 22. The image processing circuit 20 performs predetermined calculation processing using the captured image data, and the system control circuit 50 controls the exposure control unit 40 and the distance measurement control unit 42 based on the obtained calculation result. Do. As a result, TTL (through the lens) AF (autofocus) processing, AE (automatic exposure) processing, and EF (flash pre-emission) processing are performed. Further, the image processing circuit 20 performs predetermined calculation processing using the captured image data, and also performs TTL AWB (auto white balance) processing based on the obtained calculation result.

  A memory control circuit 22 controls the A / D converter 16, the timing generation circuit 18, the image processing circuit 20, the image display memory 24, the D / A converter 26, the memory 30, and the compression / decompression circuit 32. The data of the A / D converter 16 is written into the image display memory 24 or the memory 30 via the image processing circuit 20 and the memory control circuit 22 or the data of the A / D converter 16 is directly passed through the memory control circuit 22. It is.

  Reference numeral 24 denotes an image display memory. Reference numeral 26 denotes a D / A converter. Reference numeral 28 denotes an image display unit composed of a TFT LCD or the like, and display image data written in the image display memory 24 is displayed by the image display unit 28 via the D / A converter 26. If the image data captured using the image display unit 28 is sequentially displayed, the electronic viewfinder function can be realized. The image display unit 28 can arbitrarily turn on / off the display according to an instruction from the system control circuit 50. When the display is turned off, the power consumption of the digital camera 100 can be significantly reduced. it can.

  Reference numeral 30 denotes a memory for storing captured still images and moving images, and has a sufficient storage capacity to store a predetermined number of still images and a predetermined time of moving images. Thereby, even in the case of continuous shooting or panoramic shooting in which a plurality of still images are continuously shot, it is possible to write a large amount of images to the memory 30 at high speed. The memory 30 can also be used as a work area for the system control circuit 50.

  Reference numeral 32 denotes a compression / decompression circuit that compresses and decompresses image data by adaptive discrete cosine transform (ADCT) or the like, reads an image stored in the memory 30, performs compression processing or decompression processing, and stores the processed data in the memory 30. Write to.

  Reference numeral 40 denotes an exposure control unit that controls the shutter 12 having a diaphragm function, and has a flash light control function in cooperation with the flash 48. A distance measuring control unit 42 controls focusing of the photographing lens 10. The exposure control unit 40 and the distance measurement control unit 42 are controlled using the TTL method, and based on the calculation result obtained by calculating the captured image data by the image processing circuit 20, the system control circuit 50 includes the exposure control unit 40 and the distance measurement control unit. 42 is controlled.

  A zoom control unit 44 controls zooming of the photographing lens 10. A barrier control unit 46 controls the operation of the barrier 102. Reference numeral 48 denotes a flash having an AF auxiliary light projecting function and a flash light control function.

  Reference numeral 50 denotes a system control circuit for controlling the entire digital camera 100, which corresponds to the control means in the present invention. A memory 52 stores constants, variables, programs, and the like for operating the system control circuit 50.

  Reference numeral 54 denotes a display unit such as a liquid crystal display device or a speaker that displays an operation state, a message, and the like using characters, images, sounds, and the like in accordance with execution of a program in the system control circuit 50. The display unit 54 is installed at a single or a plurality of positions near the operation unit of the digital camera 100 so as to be easily visible, and is configured by a combination of, for example, an LCD, an LED, and a sounding element. The display unit 54 has a part of its function installed in the optical viewfinder 104. Among the display contents of the display unit 54, what is displayed on the LCD or the like includes single shot / continuous shooting display, self-timer display, compression rate display, number of recorded pixels, number of recorded pixels, number of remaining images that can be captured, shutter Speed display, Aperture display, Exposure compensation display, Flash display, Red-eye reduction display, Macro shooting display, Buzzer setting display, Clock battery level display, Battery level display, Error display, Multi-digit number information display, External There are a display state of the recording medium 120, a communication I / F operation display, a date / time display, and the like. Among the display contents of the display unit 54, what is displayed in the optical viewfinder 104 includes in-focus display, camera shake warning display, flash charge display, shutter speed display, aperture value display, exposure correction display, and the like.

  Reference numeral 56 denotes an electrically erasable / recordable nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM.

  Reference numerals 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, and 70 are operation means for inputting various operation instructions of the system control circuit 50, such as a switch, a dial, a touch panel, pointing by eye-gaze detection, a voice recognition device, and the like. Alternatively, it is composed of a plurality of combinations.

  Here, a specific description of these operating means will be given. Reference numeral 60 denotes a mode dial switch, which can switch and set various function modes such as power-off, automatic shooting mode, shooting mode, panoramic shooting mode, playback mode, multi-screen playback / erase mode, and PC connection mode.

  Reference numeral 62 denotes a shutter switch SW1, which is turned on during the operation of a shutter button (not shown) and instructs the start of operations such as AF processing, AE processing, AWB processing, and EF processing. Reference numeral 64 denotes a shutter switch SW2, which is turned on when an operation of a shutter button (not shown) is completed, and exposure in which a signal read from the image sensor 14 is written into the memory 30 via the A / D converter 16 and the memory control circuit 22. Processing, development processing using operations in the image processing circuit 20 and the memory control circuit 22, and a recording process in which image data is read from the memory 30, compressed by the compression / decompression circuit 32, and image data is written to the recording medium 120. The operation start of the process is instructed.

  Reference numeral 66 denotes an image display ON / OFF switch, which can set ON / OFF of the image display unit 28. With this function, it is possible to save power by cutting off the current supply to the image display unit 28 when shooting using the optical viewfinder 104.

  Reference numeral 68 denotes a quick review ON / OFF switch, which sets a quick review function for automatically reproducing image data taken immediately after photographing. In this embodiment, it is assumed that a function for setting a quick review function when the image display unit 28 is turned off is provided.

  Reference numeral 70 denotes an operation unit including various buttons, a touch panel, and the like, a menu button, a set button, a macro button, a multi-screen playback page break button, a flash setting button, a single shooting / continuous shooting / self-timer switching button, menu movement + (plus ) Button, menu movement-(minus) button, reproduction image movement + (plus) button, reproduction image-(minus) button, shooting image quality selection button, exposure correction button, date / time setting button, and the like.

  A power control unit 80 includes a battery detection circuit, a DC-DC converter, a switch circuit that switches a block to be energized, and the like. The power supply control unit 80 detects the presence / absence of a battery, the type of battery, and the remaining battery level, controls the DC-DC converter based on the detection result and an instruction from the system control circuit 50, and requires a necessary voltage. It is supplied to each part including the recording medium for a period.

  82 and 84 are connectors. A power source 86 includes a primary battery such as an alkaline battery or a lithium battery, a secondary battery such as a NiCd battery, a NiMH battery, or a Li battery, an AC adapter, or the like.

  A card controller 90 transmits and receives data to and from an external recording medium such as a memory card. Reference numeral 91 denotes an interface with an external recording medium such as a memory card. Reference numeral 92 denotes a connector for connecting to an external recording medium 120 such as a memory card. A recording medium attachment / detachment detection unit 98 detects whether or not the external recording medium 120 is attached to the connector 92.

  In the present embodiment, the interface or connector to which the recording medium is attached may have a single or a plurality of systems, any number of systems. Moreover, it is good also as a structure provided with combining the interface and connector of a different standard. The interface and the connector may be configured using a PCMCIA card, a CF (Compact Flash (registered trademark)) card, or the like based on a standard.

  Furthermore, when the interface 91 and the connector 92 are configured using a standard conforming to a PCMCIA card or a CF (Compact Flash (registered trademark)) card, various communication cards can be connected. The communication card is a LAN card, a modem card, a USB card, an IEEE 1394 card, a P1284 card, a SCSI card, a communication card such as a PHS, or the like. By connecting various communication cards, image data and management information attached to the image data can be transferred to and from other computers and peripheral devices such as a printer.

  Reference numeral 102 denotes a barrier as a protection unit, which covers the imaging unit including the lens 10 of the digital camera 100 to prevent the imaging unit from being soiled or damaged.

  Reference numeral 104 denotes an optical viewfinder, which can take an image using only the optical viewfinder without using the electronic viewfinder function of the image display unit 28. In the optical viewfinder 104, some functions of the display unit 54, for example, a focus display, a camera shake warning display, a flash charge display, a shutter speed display, an aperture value display, an exposure correction display, and the like are installed.

  An external recording medium 120 such as a memory card is detachably attached to the digital camera 100. In the digital camera 100 according to the present embodiment, both a recording medium that can rewrite data to the same address and a recording medium that cannot rewrite data to the same address can be mounted. It has become. The former recording medium corresponds to the first recording medium referred to in the present invention, and the latter recording medium corresponds to the second recording medium referred to in the present invention.

  Next, processing operations of the digital camera 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing operation at the time of starting the digital camera 100 according to the present embodiment. After the power is turned on, in step S201, the system control circuit 50 determines whether the date and time have been set. If the date / time has not been set in step S201, the process proceeds to step S202 to display the date / time setting screen. If the date and time has already been set in step S201, the shooting standby state is entered.

  Next, in step S203, the system control circuit 50 determines that the recording medium attached to the connector 92 via the card controller 90 is a recording medium in which data cannot be rewritten to the same address (one time). SD). This is an example of processing by the judging means in the present invention.

  If it is not the one-time SD in step S203, the process proceeds to step S204, and it is determined whether or not the cancel button on the operation unit 70 has been pressed.

  If the cancel button has not been pressed in step S204, the process proceeds to step S205, and it is determined whether date and time setting has been completed. If it is the one-time SD in step S203, the process proceeds to step S205 to determine whether the date / time setting is completed.

  If the date and time setting is not completed in step S205, the process proceeds to step S206, and the system control circuit 50 determines whether or not the shutter switch SW1 has been pressed. When the shutter switch SW1 is pressed in step S206, the process proceeds to step S207, the date / time setting screen is deleted, and the process proceeds to step S208 to perform shooting preparation operations such as AF processing, AE processing, and AWB processing. If the shutter switch SW1 is not pressed in step S206, the process returns to step S203.

  When the cancel button is pressed in step S204 or when the date and time setting is completed in step S205, the system control circuit 50 proceeds to step S209, deletes the date and time setting screen, and enters a shooting standby state.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing processing operations from the shooting standby state to shooting of the digital camera 100 according to the present embodiment. In the shooting standby state, in step S301, the system control circuit 50 determines whether or not the shutter switch SW1 has been pressed. When the shutter switch SW1 is pressed in step S301, the process proceeds to step S302, and it is determined whether the date and time are set. If the shutter switch SW1 is not pressed in step S301, the process waits until the shutter switch SW1 is pressed.

  If the date and time have not been set in step S302, the process proceeds to step S303, and the system control circuit 50 determines whether or not the recording medium attached to the connector 92 is the one-time SD via the card controller 90. judge. This is an example of processing by the judging means in the present invention.

  If it is not the one-time SD in step S303, or if the date and time is set in step S302, the process proceeds to step S304, and shooting preparation operations such as AF processing, AE processing, and AWB processing are performed. If it is the one-time SD in step S303, the process returns to step S301 and remains in the shooting standby state. That is, shooting is prohibited when the one-time SD is attached and the date and time are not set.

  When the shooting preparation operation in step S304 is completed, in step S305, the system control circuit 50 determines whether or not the shutter switch SW1 is pressed. If the shutter switch SW1 is pressed in step S305, the process proceeds to step S306, and it is determined whether the shutter switch SW2 is pressed. If the shutter switch SW1 is not pressed in step S305, the process returns to step S301 to enter a shooting standby state.

  If the shutter switch SW2 is pressed in step S306, the process proceeds to step S307, where it is determined whether date and time have been set. If it is determined in step S306 that the shutter switch SW2 has not been pressed, the process returns to step S305 to determine whether the shutter switch SW1 has been pressed.

  If the date and time is set in step S307, the process proceeds to step S308, and the current time is stored in the memory 52 as the shooting time. When the storage of the shooting time in step S308 is completed, the process proceeds to step S309, and a series of shooting processes such as an exposure process, a development process, and a compression process are performed. If the date and time have not been set in step S307, the process proceeds to step S310, the timer in the system control circuit 50 is operated to start timing, and the process proceeds to step S309 to perform a series of photographing processes.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing operations from photographing to recording of the digital camera 100 according to the present embodiment. When a series of photographing processes is completed, in step S401, the system control circuit 50 determines whether date and time have been set. If the date and time is set in step S401, the process proceeds to step S402, and the system control circuit 50 determines whether the recording medium attached to the connector 92 is the one-time SD via the card controller 90. To do. This is an example of processing by the judging means in the present invention. If the date has been set in step S401, the process proceeds to step S408.

  If it is the one-time SD in step S402, the process proceeds to step S403, and the date / time setting screen is displayed. Then, the process proceeds to step S404, where it is determined whether the date / time setting is completed, and waits until completion. That is, when the one-time SD is attached and the date / time is not set, the date / time is set before recording.

  When the date and time setting is completed in step S404, the process proceeds to step S405, where the time measurement started in step S310 is terminated, and the shooting time is calculated by subtracting the time measured from the set date and time. Next, the process proceeds to step S406 and is stored in the memory 52 as the photographing time. In step S407, the date / time setting screen is deleted. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S408, and the image data photographed in step S309 and the photographing time stored in the memory 52 are recorded as one file on the recording medium attached to the connector 92. This is an example of processing by the data recording means in the present invention.

  If the one-time SD is not determined in step S402, the process proceeds to step S408, and the shooting time is not stored. If the date and time has been set in step S401, the image data captured in step S309 and the shooting time stored in the memory 52 are recorded as a single file on a recording medium attached to the connector 92. .

  In the present embodiment, the setting of the additional information that is the target of the predetermined operation change when using the one-time SD has been described as the setting of the date / time information. However, in addition to this, file information such as photographer information (owner name), tag information for identifying the category of the photographed image, rotation information indicating the rotation direction of the camera at the time of photographing, GPS information regarding the photographing position, etc. It can also be applied to settings related to additional information required.

  Further, the user may be able to select a setting of additional information that is a target of a predetermined operation change when using the one-time SD by using a menu or the like.

  As described above, when one-time SD is used, if additional information necessary as file information is not set, the setting is made before recording on the recording medium, thereby creating an unnecessary file. Consumption of the recording capacity can be prevented and the recording medium can be used effectively.

  The object of the present invention can also be achieved by supplying a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus. In this case, the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the program code itself and the storage medium storing the program code constitute the present invention.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

  Further, the functions of the above-described embodiments are not limited to being realized by executing the program code read by the computer. For example, an OS (basic system or operating system) running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing based on an instruction of the program code, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing. May be.

  Further, the program code read from the storage medium may be written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. In this case, after being written in the memory, the CPU of the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instruction of the program code, and the function of the above-described embodiment is performed by the processing. Is realized.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the digital camera which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the processing operation at the time of starting of the digital camera which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the processing operation from the imaging standby state to imaging | photography of the digital camera which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the processing operation from imaging | photography to recording of the digital camera which concerns on embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10: Shooting lens 12: Shutter 14: Image pick-up element 16: A / D converter 18: Timing generation circuit 20: Image processing circuit 22: Memory control circuit 24: Image display memory 26: D / A converter 28: Image display part 30: Memory 32: Compression / decompression circuit 40: Exposure control unit 42: Distance measurement control unit 44: Zoom control unit 46: Barrier control unit 48: Flash 50: System control circuit 52: Memory 54: Display unit 56: Non-volatile memory 90: Card controller 91: Interface 92: Connector 98: Recording medium attachment / detachment detection unit 100: Digital camera 120: External recording medium

Claims (5)

An imaging device on which a recording medium is detachably mounted,
Imaging means;
Data recording means for recording image data obtained by the imaging means and additional information related to the image data on the recording medium;
As the recording medium, the first recording medium capable of rewriting data for the same address, and any are mounted in the second recording medium that can not be re-writing of data to the same address Determining means for determining whether or not
The setting of the additional information is performed when it is determined that the first recording medium is mounted according to a determination result by the determination unit, and when it is determined that the second recording medium is mounted. imaging apparatus characterized by comprising a control means made different operations relating to the image pickup means or said data recording means in a state that is not made. When the setting of the additional information is not performed, the thereby setting the additional information before recording by the data recording means to the user, or prohibits photographing by the imaging means or the additional information after photographing by the image pickup means the imaging apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that to set the.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the additional information is date / time information, photographer information, tag information, rotation information, or GPS information. An imaging unit, the additional information relating to the image data and the image data obtained by the imaging unit, a control method of an imaging device and a data recording means for recording on a recording medium which is detachably mounted,
As the detachably mounted recording medium, a first recording medium that can rewrite data to the same address, and a second recording that cannot rewrite data to the same address Determining which of the media is loaded;
The additional information is set when it is determined that the first recording medium is mounted according to the determination result of the determination, and when it is determined that the second recording medium is mounted. A control method for an image pickup apparatus, comprising the step of differentiating operations relating to the image pickup means or the data recording means in a state where the image pickup means is not in operation. An imaging unit, the additional information relating to the image data and the image data obtained by the imaging means, a program for controlling an image pickup apparatus and a data recording means for recording on a recording medium which is detachably mounted And
As the detachably mounted recording medium, a first recording medium that can rewrite data to the same address, and a second recording that cannot rewrite data to the same address A process of determining which medium is loaded;
The additional information is set when it is determined that the first recording medium is mounted according to the determination result of the determination, and when it is determined that the second recording medium is mounted. A program for causing a computer to execute a process for making the operation relating to the imaging unit or the data recording unit different in a state where the computer is not in operation.

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