JP5669526B2 - IMAGING DEVICE, IMAGING DEVICE CONTROL METHOD, AND PROGRAM THEREOF - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus, an imaging apparatus control method, and a program thereof.

  There is known a camera that includes a GPS device that receives a navigation message data signal from a GPS satellite and obtains position information, and associates the obtained position information as a shooting position of image data. In this imaging apparatus, arithmetic processing for calculating a position based on navigation message data sent from a satellite is performed at a constant cycle. This calculation process is a process that imposes a heavy load on the CPU. In order to reduce this load, for example, in Patent Document 1, when a satellite cannot be captured, a configuration is proposed in which the entire GPS circuit is stopped for a certain period and the GPS circuit is activated again after a certain period.

JP-A-11-202041

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, when a satellite can be captured, there is a case where calculation processing for calculating position information from a received GPS signal is performed even during imaging processing.

  Since the shooting process is a process that is a load on the CPU as with the calculation process, there is a problem that if the calculation process is performed in parallel with the shooting process, a larger load is applied to the CPU.

In order to solve the above problems, an imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes a receiving unit that receives data from an external device, an arithmetic unit that calculates position data based on the data received by the receiving unit, and an image of a subject. Then, image data is generated and an image capturing unit that executes an image capturing process for recording on the recording medium, and at least while the image capturing process is being performed by the image capturing unit, reception data is received by the receiving unit, and have a control means for controlling not to perform the calculation processing of the position data by the calculating means, when the imaging device is operated by power not battery, the control means executes the image pickup processing by the image pickup means In particular, control is performed so that position data is calculated by the calculation means .

  According to the present invention, since the photographing process and the arithmetic process are not performed in parallel, the load on the CPU can be reduced.

It is a block diagram for demonstrating an Example. It is a flowchart for demonstrating an Example. It is a flowchart for demonstrating an Example. It is a flowchart for demonstrating an Example.

  EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Below, the form for implementing this invention is demonstrated in detail using attached drawing.

  The embodiment described below is an example as means for realizing the present invention, and may be appropriately modified or changed depending on the configuration of the apparatus to which the present invention is applied and various conditions. Each embodiment can also be combined as appropriate.

[First Embodiment]
In the present embodiment, an example of a camera that performs position information calculation processing in the playback mode or power saving mode without performing position information calculation processing from the GPS signal when shooting processing is performed will be described. .

  FIG. 1A shows a block diagram of an imaging apparatus including a GPS device according to this embodiment.

  Reference numeral 101 denotes an imaging unit that performs imaging processing that converts subject light imaged by a lens into an electrical signal, performs noise reduction processing, and outputs digital data as image data.

  An operation unit 102 is used by the user to instruct the operation of the imaging apparatus. The operation unit 102 is a mode switch for instructing switching of a mode to be executed among operation modes such as a playback mode, a shooting mode, and a power saving mode, which are operation modes of the imaging apparatus, and a release for performing a shooting instruction in the shooting mode. An operation member such as a switch is included. Here, the imaging mode is a mode in which image data is acquired by the imaging unit 101 controlled by the main control unit 110 described later. The reproduction mode is a mode in which the user can browse image data and position data recorded on a recording medium by a recording unit 103 described later via a display unit 108 described later. The power saving mode is a mode in which energization to the imaging unit 101 and the display unit 108 is stopped to reduce power consumption.

  Reference numeral 104 denotes a GPS reception block that performs GPS signal acquisition processing. The GPS signal is a signal including information indicating navigation message data such as almanac data which is orbital information about the satellite in the orbit and ephemeris data including accurate position information of each satellite and time information when the satellite transmits the signal. is there. The GPS signal acquisition process refers to receiving a GPS signal from an external device (a GPS satellite in this embodiment), converting the GPS signal into digital data, and outputting the received data as received data. The received data is data including satellite orbit information, satellite position information, and time information when the satellite transmits a signal.

  Reference numeral 105 denotes a GPS memory for holding reception data output from the GPS reception block 104.

  Reference numeral 106 denotes a baseband block for performing demodulation processing of received data held in the GPS memory 105. By demodulating the baseband block 106, satellite orbit information, satellite position information, time information when the satellite transmits a signal, and the like can be obtained from the received data.

  Reference numeral 107 denotes a position information calculation processing block for calculating position data indicating the position of the imaging device based on the orbit information of the satellite obtained by the baseband block 106, the position information of the satellite, and the time information when the satellite transmits a signal. . The position data indicates the position of the imaging device in the form of latitude and longitude.

  Reference numeral 103 denotes a recording unit that performs recording processing of image data and position data. The recording unit 103 may be configured to be connected to a removable storage medium (not shown) or may have a built-in storage medium. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the recording medium is detachable, and the recording unit 103 can exchange data with the attached storage medium. Hereinafter, the process of recording data on the recording medium via the recording unit 103 is referred to as recording in the recording unit 103. The recording unit 103 is controlled by a main control unit 110 (to be described later) to perform recording processing by associating received data or position data with image data.

  Here, FIG. 1B and FIG. 1C show the structure of data recorded in the recording unit 103 by associating captured image data with received data and position data. Reference numeral 112 in FIG. 1B denotes header information indicating shooting conditions such as a date when image data is acquired and a shutter speed when shooting. Reference numeral 113 denotes image data. 114 and 115 in FIG. 1C are part of data recorded in the header information 112. 114 is reception data or position data. As described above, the reception data is digital data (data before calculation) of a signal received by the GPS reception block 104. The position data is data obtained by being calculated by the position data calculation processing block 107 based on information obtained by decoding the received data by the baseband block 106. Reference numeral 115 denotes a discrimination bit. The discrimination bit is information for determining whether the data 114 recorded in the header information 112 is reception data or position data. The determination bit 115 is added when the main control unit 110 records image data in the recording unit 103. In the operation of the image pickup apparatus according to the present embodiment, the determination bit determines whether the data added to the image data is reception data or position data, and performs processing according to the result. Details will be described later.

Returning to the description of FIG.
A display unit 108 can display image data, position data, and the like.
Reference numeral 109 denotes a program memory in which a program loaded by a main control unit described later is stored.
Reference numeral 111 denotes a working memory for the main control unit to expand and execute a program stored in the program memory 109. The work memory 111 is also used when temporarily storing data read from a recording medium via the recording unit 103.
A main control unit 110 includes a CPU for controlling the entire imaging apparatus and performing data processing. The main control unit 110 controls each unit of the imaging apparatus according to a program stored in the program memory 109. Note that the control performed by each unit of the digital camera 100 may be performed by one piece of hardware, or the entire apparatus may be controlled by sharing processing by a plurality of pieces of hardware.

  The above is the configuration of the imaging device used in this embodiment.

  Next, the operation of the imaging apparatus of the present embodiment will be described using the flowchart of FIG. Each process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2 is realized by the main control unit 110 loading a program stored in the program memory 109, developing the program in the work memory 111, and controlling each unit of the digital camera 100 according to the program. Is done. The same applies to each process shown in the following flowcharts.

  First, when the imaging apparatus is activated, the flowchart of FIG. 2 is started.

  First, in step S201, the main control unit 110 activates the GPS reception block 104 and the GPS memory 105 in order to acquire reception data. The calculation for obtaining the position data from the received data is not performed here. Therefore, the baseband block 106 and the position data calculation processing block 107 are stopped.

  Next, in step S202, the main control unit 110 determines whether or not to operate the imaging apparatus in the power saving mode. Specifically, it is determined whether or not to operate in the power saving mode by determining whether or not an operation is not received for a certain period of time after receiving an input of some operation from the operation unit 102. If the main control unit 110 determines to operate in the power saving mode, the process proceeds to step S215. If the main control unit 110 determines not to operate in the power saving mode, the process proceeds to step S203.

  First, the case where the process proceeds to step S203 will be described.

  In step S203, the main control unit 110 determines whether to operate the imaging apparatus in the shooting mode or the playback mode. Specifically, the state of the mode switch included in the operation unit 102 is determined, and by determining whether the mode switch is in a state in which the imaging device is operated in the shooting mode or in the playback mode, the imaging device is determined. Switch the operation mode. If the main control unit 110 determines that the mode switch is in a state of operating the imaging apparatus in the shooting mode, the process proceeds to step S204. If the main control unit 110 determines that the mode switch is in a state in which the imaging apparatus is operated in the reproduction mode, the process proceeds to step S211.

  First, the case where it progresses to step S204 is described.

  In step S204, the main control unit 110 activates the operation of the imaging unit 101. If the imaging unit 101 has already been activated, the process proceeds to step S205 without performing this process.

  Next, in step S <b> 205, the main control unit 110 determines whether a shooting instruction has been received by the operation unit 102. If the main control unit 110 determines that it has not received a shooting instruction, the process proceeds to step S209. If the main control unit 110 determines that a shooting instruction has been received, the process proceeds to step S206.

  In step S <b> 206, the main control unit 110 performs shooting processing with the imaging unit 101 and acquires image data.

  In step S <b> 207, the main control unit 110 controls the GPS reception block 104 to acquire reception data and hold it in the GPS memory 105. This process may be performed in parallel with step S206.

  Next, in step S208, the main control unit 110 records the image data acquired in step S206 and the reception data acquired in step S207 in association with each other in the recording unit 103. At this time, “1” indicating that the data associated with the image data is received data, that is, data before calculation, is recorded as the discrimination bit 115 described with reference to FIG. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S209.

  In step S209, as in step S202, the main control unit 110 determines whether or not to operate the imaging apparatus in the power saving mode. If the main control unit 110 determines to operate in the power saving mode, the process proceeds to step S215. The processing after step S215 will be described later. When the main control unit 110 determines not to operate in the power saving mode, the process proceeds to step S210.

  Next, in step S210, the main control unit 110 determines whether or not the operation of the imaging apparatus is operating in the shooting mode by determining the state of the mode switch as in step S203. If the main control unit 110 determines that the mode switch is in the shooting mode, the process returns to step S205. On the other hand, when the main control unit 110 determines that the mode switch is not in the shooting mode, the process returns to step S202.

  That is, if the CPU 201 determines in step S203 that it is in the shooting mode, the received data that is the data before the calculation is associated with the image data, and the position data is not calculated at this point.

  Next, a case where the process proceeds to step S211 in step S203 will be described.

  In step S211, the operation of the imaging unit 101 is stopped. If the imaging unit 101 has already been stopped, this process is not performed.

  After the operation of the imaging unit 101 is stopped in step S211, the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3 is performed. Hereinafter, the flowchart of FIG. 3 will be described.

  The flowchart of FIG. 3 shows processing for rewriting received data associated with image data recorded in the recording unit 103 into position data.

  In step S <b> 301, the main control unit 110 sets the image data that is “1” indicating that the received data is associated among the determination bits 115 associated with the image data recorded in the recording unit 103. Search for. When the main control unit 110 determines that there is image data associated with the received data, the process proceeds to step S303. Processing when it is determined that there is not will be described later.

  In step S303, the main control unit 110 activates the baseband block 106 and the position data calculation processing block 107.

  Next, in step S304, the main control unit 110 reads received data associated with the searched image data.

  In step S305, the main control unit 110 controls to calculate position data. Specifically, the main control unit 110 performs demodulation processing on the reception data read in step S304 by the baseband block 106. Further, position data is calculated by the position data calculation processing block 107 from the received data demodulated by the baseband block 106.

  When the calculation is finished, in step S306, the main control unit 110 rewrites the reception data associated with the image data recorded in the recording unit 103 with the position data obtained in step S305. At this time, the value of the discrimination bit 115 recorded in the image data is rewritten to “0” indicating that the associated data is position data obtained by calculating the received data.

  On the other hand, when the main control unit 110 determines in step S301 that there is no image data associated with the received data, the process proceeds to step S302.

  In step S302, the main control unit 110 controls the baseband block 106 and the position data calculation processing block 107 to stop. If the baseband block 106 and the position data calculation processing block 107 have already been stopped, this processing is not performed. Thereafter, the processing returns to FIG.

  Returning to FIG.

  Next, in step S212, the main control unit 110 performs a reproduction process. Specifically, the main control unit 110 controls the display unit 108 to display image data, video data, position data, and the like recorded in the recording unit 103. Note that the main control unit 110 may perform control so as to change the display content and method according to the operation received by the operation unit 102. The process in this step is performed in parallel with the processes in steps S211, S301 to S307, and steps S213 and S214 described later.

  Next, in step S213, as in step S202, the main control unit 110 determines whether to operate the imaging apparatus in the power saving mode. If the main control unit 110 determines to operate in the power saving mode, the process proceeds to step S215. The processing after step S215 will be described later. When the main control unit 110 determines not to operate in the power saving mode, the process proceeds to step S214.

  In step S214, the main control unit 110 determines whether or not the operation of the imaging apparatus is operating in the reproduction mode by determining the state of the mode switch as in step S203. If the main control unit 110 determines that the mode switch is in a state of operating in the playback mode, the process returns to step S213. On the other hand, when the main control unit 110 determines that the mode switch is not in a state of operating in the reproduction mode, the process returns to step S202.

  Next, the case where the process proceeds to step S215 in step S202 will be described.

  In step S215, the operation of the imaging unit 101 is stopped. If the imaging unit 101 has already been stopped, this process is not performed.

  Next, the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3 is performed. Since the processing indicated by each step is the same as that described above, description thereof is omitted.

  Thereafter, in step S216, the main control unit 110 determines whether or not to operate the imaging apparatus in the power saving mode. Specifically, while operating in the power saving mode, it is determined whether or not to continue operating in the power saving mode by determining whether an input of any operation by the operation unit 102 has been accepted. If the main control unit 110 determines to continue operating in the power saving mode, the process returns to step S216. On the other hand, when the main control unit 110 determines that the operation is not continued in the power saving mode, the process proceeds to step S203.

  The operation of the imaging device according to the first embodiment has been described above. In the imaging apparatus according to the first embodiment, position information calculation processing is not performed during shooting processing, and position information calculation processing is performed in the playback mode or power saving mode. This eliminates the possibility of increasing the load on the CPU because the position data calculation process and the photographing process, which are a heavy load on the CPU, are not performed in parallel. Note that the possibility of applying a large load to the CPU at a time can be reduced, and as a result, deterioration of the battery can also be suppressed.

[Second Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, the example in which the position data calculation process is performed in the playback mode or the power saving mode has been described. In contrast, in the present embodiment, an example in which position data calculation processing is performed when an instruction to turn off the power is received will be described.

  An imaging apparatus to which the present embodiment is applied is as shown in FIG. 1 and is the same as that of the first embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  In the operation of the imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment, the process A (the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3) is not performed among the processes shown in the flowchart of FIG. That is, in the process of the flowchart of FIG. 2, the process of step S212 is performed next in step S211 and the process of step S216 is performed next in step S215. Since the operation of the image pickup apparatus according to the present embodiment is the same as the operation of the image pickup apparatus according to the first embodiment except that the process A is not performed, the description of the process at each step is omitted.

  FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of processing performed by the imaging apparatus when an instruction to turn off the power is received.

  Hereinafter, the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4 will be described. This flowchart is started by receiving an instruction to turn off the power when the main control unit 110 performs the processing in FIG.

  In step S401, the main control unit 110 determines whether or not the processing performed when the power-off instruction is received is processing in steps S206 to S208 in FIG. When the main control unit 110 determines that the processing performed when the power-off instruction is received is processing in steps S206 to S208 in FIG. 2, the processing proceeds to step S402. If the main control unit 110 determines that the process performed when receiving the power-off instruction is not the process of steps S206 to S208 in FIG. 2, the process proceeds to step S403.

  In step S402, the process waits until completion of the process performed when an instruction to turn off the power is received. When the process is completed, the process proceeds to step S403.

  In step S403, the main control unit 110 performs an end process of the imaging device. Specifically, the operation of the part (imaging unit 101, display unit 108, etc.) not related to the position data calculation process is stopped.

  Next, in step S404, the main control unit 110 determines whether or not the battery cover is open. When the main controller 110 determines that the battery lid is open, the process proceeds to step S405. When the main control unit 110 determines that the battery lid is not open, the process shown in FIG. 3 is performed. Since each process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3 is as described above, a description thereof will be omitted. When the process of FIG. 3 is finished, the process proceeds to step S405.

  In step S405, the power of the entire imaging apparatus is turned off, and the process ends.

  With the configuration described above, the arithmetic processing is executed in parallel with the reproduction processing in the first embodiment, whereas the arithmetic processing is performed when the power is turned off in the present embodiment. Therefore, the reproduction process and the arithmetic process are not performed in parallel, and the possibility of increasing the load on the CPU can be further reduced. As a result, battery deterioration can also be suppressed.

[Other Embodiments]
In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the position data is calculated in the reproduction mode, the power saving mode, and when the power-off instruction is received has been described. As described above, one of the main purposes for performing such an operation is to suppress the deterioration of the battery. For this reason, the operation described in the above-described embodiment may be performed when the imaging apparatus operates with a battery as a power source, and may not be performed when the battery is not used as a power source. For example, when the imaging device is operating with an AC adapter or the like as a power source, position data may be calculated when image data is captured and associated with the image data. In this way, unlike the above-described embodiment, when there is no possibility of premature battery deterioration, it is possible to perform post-computation when image data is captured without performing a playback mode or power-off operation. Position data can be added to image data.

  The above-described embodiment can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various recording media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus reads the program. It is a process to be executed.

Claims (9)

An imaging device comprising:
Receiving means for receiving data from an external device;
Calculation means for calculating position data based on data received by the receiving means, imaging means for imaging a subject to generate image data, and executing an imaging process for recording on a recording medium;
Control means for performing reception of reception data by the reception means and controlling not to perform calculation processing of position data by the calculation means, at least while the imaging processing is being executed by the imaging means,
When the imaging device is operated by a power source that is not a battery, the control unit performs control so as to perform calculation processing of position data by the calculation unit even during execution of imaging processing by the imaging unit. .   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an association unit that associates the data received by the reception unit with the image data.   3. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the calculating unit further calculates position data based on the data received by the receiving unit that is already associated with the image data by the associating unit. .   The associating means associates the position data calculated by the calculating means with the image data instead of the data received by the receiving means, which is already associated with the image data. The imaging device according to claim 3.   5. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the calculation unit performs a calculation process of position data while the imaging process by the imaging unit is not executed. The imaging apparatus has a plurality of modes including an imaging mode for executing an imaging process by the imaging means,
In response to the transition from the imaging mode to another mode, the control unit obtains position data based on the data received by the receiving unit that has already been associated with the image data by the association unit. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the calculation unit is controlled to perform calculation.   7. The method according to claim 2, wherein when the instruction to stop the operation of the imaging apparatus is received, the calculation unit performs a calculation process of position data before stopping the operation of the imaging apparatus. The imaging device according to item. A method for controlling an imaging apparatus,
A receiving process for receiving data from an external device;
Based on the data received in the receiving step, a calculation step for calculating position data;
An imaging process for imaging a subject to generate image data and recording it on a recording medium;
At least while the image capturing process is running, it performs in parallel the reception step, and have a controlling process of controlling not to perform the calculation step,
When the imaging apparatus is operated by a power source that is not a battery, the control process controls the execution of the calculation process even during the imaging process .   A computer-readable program for causing a computer to function as the imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.