JPH02222281A - Electronic camera equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate operation mistake of the user by providing a picture quality mode storage part on an IC card and selecting automatically the picture compression rate at the camera main body based on the information. CONSTITUTION:When a memory control section 16 controls a band compression section 15 to decide the data compression rate, the compression rate is decided based on mode information read from a memory 22 of an IC card 20. That is, whether a picture data with a low picture quality is obtained depending on the compression rate or a picture data with high picture quality is obtained based on the mode information is decided. Moreover, various information such as above mode information, pickup number information, pickup number residual information and content of card is recorded in a header part set in a memory space of the IC card 20. Thus, the IC card is selected depending on the pickup condition such that lots of photographs are desired to be picked up even with low picture quality or high picture quality pickup is desired with less number of photographs and loaded to an electronic camera main body, then the mode of the camera main body is selected automatically. Thus, misoperation is prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to an electronic camera device using a semiconductor memory as a recording and reproducing medium.

(Prior Art) In recent years, electronic camera devices have been developed that use a semiconductor memory instead of a magnetic floppy as a medium for recording and reproducing single image data. The semiconductor memory is located inside a so-called IC card, and is configured so that this card can be attached to and removed from the electronic camera body. Since this electronic camera device does not require a movable part to drive a magnetic floppy disk as in the past, it can be expected to be less likely to break down and to be smaller and lighter. Furthermore, various digital processing techniques can be applied to digitize and process image information.

Especially if you add image compression functionality.

The storage capacity of the memory can be used effectively.

For example, if you want to capture a large number of images (when shooting a scene with relatively few detailed patterns), reduce the compression rate to 1/4.
Alternatively, if the number of images is set to 178, the number of images to be captured can be increased. On the other hand, if it is desired to emphasize image quality even if the number of ζ images is small, the compression ratio can be set to zero or approximately 1/2.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) The conventional electronic camera device described above is equipped with a selection switch on the camera side to select the compression ratio. This is a system in which the user himself or herself decides whether to take low-quality images with a high compression ratio.

However, according to this system, there is a possibility that the user himself/herself makes a wrong selection before photographing. If the selection is incorrect or forgotten, the image may be of low quality even though the user wishes to take a high quality image. Also, if you mistakenly think that you are setting a large number of shots, you may not be able to capture important scenes.

Therefore, the present invention provides a storage section for information representing the characteristics (compression ratio, etc.) of images stored on the IC card side, and automatically adjusts the image compression ratio on the camera body side based on the information in this storage section. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic camera device that can switch to a camera and eliminate operational errors by a user.

[Structure of the invention] (Means for solving problems) This invention has a band compression function for an imaging signal.

An electronic camera body that selectively outputs image data band-compressed with different compression ratios, a memory device that stores the image data output from the electronic camera body, and a property of the image quality provided and stored in this memory device. an image quality mode storage section that stores information representing the image quality mode storage section; and a function control means provided in the electronic camera body that reads the mode information of the image quality mode storage section and determines the compression rate of the band compression function based on this mode information. It is equipped with the following.

(Function) With the above means, the compression ratio of the electronic camera body is automatically determined based on the mode information stored in advance in the IC card used, resulting in low image quality.

There is no mistake in selecting high image quality, and the reliability in use is good.

(Example) Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. Electronic camera body 1
1 has a built-in solid-state image sensor 13 that forms an optical image incident through a lens 12 on an imaging surface and performs photoelectric conversion. The solid-state image sensor 13 is a semiconductor device using, for example, a CCD. The image signal output from the solid-state image sensor 13 is input to the signal processing section 14 and converted into a video signal. The signal processing unit 14 performs processing such as gamma correction white clipping and color separation. Finally, the video signal obtained by combining the color signal and the luminance signal is digitized and input to the band compression section 15.

Band compression section 15 performs data compression based on compression rate control signal A from memory control section 16.

The compression ratio of image data includes, for example, a compression ratio of zero (no compression), 1/2 compression, 1/4 compression, and 1/8 compression.

This compression is achieved, for example, by thinning out and sampling the image data.

The memory control unit 16 outputs the image data from the band compression unit 15 to a data output terminal and stores it in the memory 22 of the IC card 20. The write address of the memory 22 is controlled by the address control section 21 inside the IC card 20.

In this embodiment, when the memory control section 16 controls the band compression section 15 to determine the data compression rate, the compression rate is determined based on the mode information read from the memory 22 of the IC card 20. Therefore, the mode information determines whether to obtain low-quality image data or high-quality image data depending on the compression and reduction ratio.

In a part of the header set in the memory space of the IC card 20, various information such as the above-mentioned mode information, information on the number of shots, information on the remaining number of shots, and card contents are recorded.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the operating procedure of the above system.

When the power of the electronic camera body 11 is turned on, the microcomputer in the memory control unit 16
Steps s1 and S2) to determine whether or not the
Once the collector is verified, read some information in the header (
Step 83). Then, the mode information of a part of the header is determined, and the compression ratio is determined. In image compression, captured digital image data is temporarily stored in a memory, and when it is read out, it is thinned out and read out, and the thinning rate is the compression rate. Therefore, the memory control unit 16 controls the band compression unit 15 based on the mode information read from the IC card 20.
control and thin out data.

If the compression ratio is zero, no thinning is performed.

The compressed image data is sent to the control unit 16 and the IC card 20.
The data is stored in the memory 22 through the internal address control unit 21. In this case, since information indicating the remaining capacity (number of images that can be taken), that is, remaining capacity information indicating the writable area is stored in a part of the header, the control unit 16 sets the write start address to the remaining capacity information. It is determined based on this and is given to the address control unit 21 (steps S6, S7). However, in step S8, if the remaining amount is zero, the indicator is turned on (step 5ll). Then, it is determined whether the forced switch is turned on (step 512). The forced switch is provided on the electronic camera body 11. This forced switch is activated even if there is no remaining capacity of the memory 22 of the IC card 20.
In the case of an important scene, this operation is performed when you want to keep capturing the current scene even if you discard the previously captured image.

In such a case, the process is forced to proceed to step S7, and writing is performed from the first address. If the forced switch is not turned on, the process returns to step S2.

After step S7, the camera waits for the shutter to be turned on, and when it is turned on, photographing, image data compression, and writing to the memory 22 are performed (steps 38-89). and,
When writing of one sheet of image data (one field or one frame) is completed, the remaining amount information of a part of the header is updated, and the process returns to step S2.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the configuration of a reproducing device 50 used when viewing images photographed and recorded on the IC card 20 as described above on the display 40.

The playback device 50 includes a memory control section 51.

When the memory control unit 51 detects that the IC card 20 is inserted into the playback device 50 , the memory control unit 51 reads information in the header section of the memory 22 through the address control unit 21 . This allows it to be recognized whether the image data on the IC card 20 is stored in any mode: no compression, 1/2 compression, 1/4 compression, or 1/It compression. When this recognition is completed, the memory control unit 51 controls the data restoration unit 52 to determine the image enlargement rate. Image enlargement processing is realized by interpolation processing of image data. The output image data processed in this manner is decoded by the signal processing section 53 into a television signal suitable for the display 40.

Here, image selection information for specifying a display image can be input into the memory control unit 51 from the outside. The image selection information is input as, for example, the number of a photographed image. Then, the memory control unit 51 causes the address control unit 2 to specify the corresponding read address of the memory 22.
Give a read start address to 1. This allows the user to display any one of the plurality of captured images on the display 40.

Furthermore, a multi-screen designation signal can also be input to the memory control unit 51. When multiple screens are specified, the memory-based S section 51 controls the data restoration section 52 and the address control section 21. In this case, the mode information is, for example, l/
When 4-screen compression is indicated, the address control unit 21 is controlled so that image data for four screens is read from the memory 22. In other words, the read start address and end address set for the address control unit 21 are 4.
Indicates the area of the screen. Image data for four screens is read out from the memory 22 by the collector. Furthermore, the data restoration unit 52 performs 1. At this time, the image data is not interpolated, and the image data is directly supplied to the signal processing section 53.

As a result, four screens will be displayed simultaneously on the display 40.

In the above embodiment, the address control section 22 for the memory 22 is built into the IC card 20, but the address control section 21 may also be provided inside the electronic camera body 11 and the playback device 50. Further, the electronic camera main body 11 and the playback device 50 may be integrated.

Furthermore, in the above explanation, mode information indicating four types of compression ratio is included in a part of the header, for example, (0,0)(1,0), (
0, 1), (Ll) is described as one in which data is recorded in advance, but it is not limited to four types, and more image quality modes can be determined by selecting the IC card itself. You can also do it. In addition, in the above embodiment, it was explained that if one IC card is selected, all the image quality recorded on it is fixed, but for example, the first 20 IC cards are recorded with low image quality, and the remaining 4 are recorded with a fixed image quality. The image quality mode may be freely selected using a changeover switch from the electronic camera body 11 side. In this case, the remaining amount information is determined, and when there are four sheets remaining, the compression ratio is determined based on the mode information switched on the main body side. In this way, by allowing you to freely select the image quality mode for recording in some areas, you can easily record images in high quality at first, and even if you want to take more pictures, there are only a few left. , you can set the number of shots to a low image quality mode.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, depending on the shooting conditions, the IC If you select a card and insert it into the electronic camera body,
The camera's mode automatically switches to prevent operational errors.

Moreover, as an index for an IC card, by displaying color coding and magnification according to whether it is for high image quality or low image quality, handling errors can be greatly reduced.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a playback device according to the invention, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart shown to explain the operation of the system shown in FIG. 1. be. 14.53...Signal processing unit, 15...Band compression unit,
16.51...Memory control unit, 2o...IC card, 21...Address control unit, 22...Memory, 5
2...Data restoration section.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) An electronic camera body that has a band compression function for imaging signals and selectively outputs image data band-compressed at different compression rates; and a memory device that stores image data output from the electronic camera body. The memory device includes an image quality mode storage section that stores information representing the nature of the image quality to be stored, and a mode information of the image quality mode storage section that is provided on the electronic camera body is read. An electronic camera device comprising: a function control means for determining a compression rate of a band compression function.