JPH044679A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain the pickup of a complicate pattern such as a KANJI (Chinese character) by providing a communication interface for a personal computer for receiving a pattern data recorded superimposingly on a picture or setting information relating to the pickup. CONSTITUTION:A camera section 18 connects to a personal computer section 8 through a cable 7 and an information transfer routine is started. Then a pattern data such as a KANJI to be picked up and information such as a type of pickup object, a portrait and a high speed object are entered from an input device 2 and stored tentatively in a storage device 5. Then a CPU 1 receiving an instruction of communication execution from the input device 2 sends a pattern data based on the data in the storage device 5 or a data for a pickup condition setting program to a communication interface 17 of the camera section 18. the data are written in memories 10a, 10b.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention is a camera, more specifically, a communication function using a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a personal computer) to enable information regarding photography to be imported into the camera. Regarding cameras.

[Prior Art] When recording a photographed image by superimposing the date, serial number, or English characters on the recorded image information, in other words, imprinting the data, conventionally, a data output section is provided on the back cover of the camera body, or , data was input into the camera body by inserting a separate data setting section externally. Furthermore,
When setting shooting conditions, for example, portrait shooting,
In cases where conditions need to be set based on different program processing for each subject, such as close-up shooting or shooting of high-speed subjects, recent cameras have, for example, automatic setting of shooting conditions. There is a commercially available device in which an IC memory card into which the above program is input is attached to the camera body, and the program data is loaded into the camera section, so that photographing conditions are determined based on the program.

Note that, as a camera system using a personal computer, a system that imports image information taken by a camera into a personal computer and displays the image on a display device of the personal computer is also commercialized separately, but the camera of the present invention It is for a different purpose.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the above-mentioned conventional cameras that are capable of imprinting characters and the like on photographed images, the characters are displayed based on dot information generated by lighting of LEDs. Therefore, the types of characters are limited to numbers or alphanumeric characters due to the capacity of the built-in/external ROM. However, when imprinting, for example, as shown in the imprinted image 41 in FIG. 5, there is a demand to display the photographing location, etc. in Chinese characters.

However, in the case of kanji, it is necessary to display 4 to 5 kanji characters in a format such as 16 dots x 24 dots or 24 dots x 24 dots per character, which requires an extremely large amount of storage capacity. do. Therefore, there is a problem that the external size becomes large not only when it is built in but also when it is attached externally. Furthermore, there are at least two types of kanji to be selected.
Since about 1,000 characters are required, it is extremely difficult to provide a built-in or external selection means.

On the other hand, with the conventional cameras mentioned above that use IC cards to set the shooting conditions, it is necessary to replace the IC card for each type of object to be photographed, which makes them very inconvenient to use. there were.

Further, if the user wishes to change the program or requires a program for setting special photographing conditions for personal use, it is necessary to rewrite or write the program in the IC card. However, the above I
Rewriting and writing to the memory of a C card requires specialized equipment such as a memory writer, which is impossible for ordinary users, and it has not been possible to meet this demand.

To specifically explain the settings by the setting program for the photographing conditions selected for each type of photographic subject mentioned above, for example, one condition for a certain photographic subject was an aperture of 5.6 and a shutter speed of 17,125 seconds. Then, when the aperture is changed to 8, conditions are set according to a predetermined program, such as changing the amount of incident light and setting the shutter speed to 1160 seconds depending on the object to be photographed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a means for communicating information regarding pattern data from a personal computer or information regarding photography regarding setting information regarding photography in the camera, and to communicate information regarding photography based on the received photography information. This makes it possible to easily import pattern data, shooting condition setting information, etc. without increasing the memory capacity of the camera itself, and also makes it possible for general users to rewrite and write the stored information. Regarding a camera that can be easily implemented.

[Means and effects for solving the problems] One aspect of the present invention is a communication interface means for receiving pattern data to be superimposed and recorded on recorded image information from the personal computer, and a method using the communication interface means. The apparatus is characterized by comprising a recording means for recording the received pattern data in a superimposed manner on the recorded image information obtained by the imaging unit, and recording the pattern data taken into the camera via the communication interface. The information is recorded by being superimposed on the image.

Another aspect of the invention provides a communication interface means for receiving setting information related to the photographing from a personal computer, and a setting operation for the corresponding functional unit based on the setting information received by the communication interface means. The camera is characterized in that it is equipped with a photographing condition setting means, in which the setting information is similarly taken into the camera via a communication interface, and the photographing conditions of the camera are set based on the setting information.

[Embodiment] The present invention will be explained below based on the illustrated embodiment. Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a system including a camera and a personal computer according to a first embodiment of the present invention. This system is composed of a personal computer section 8 and a camera section 18. and,
The personal computer unit 8 transmits or receives information regarding photography to the camera unit 18 via a communication interface. The control unit is a CPU, an input device 2 consisting of a keyboard, and a display device 3 consisting of a CRT.
and Kanji dot data for image superimposition recording, imprint pattern data such as figures, and setting information related to photography, such as program data that is selected for each subject to be photographed and determines its photography conditions, etc. It is composed of a storage device 5 for storing data, a floppy disk drive 4 for storing and reproducing software and data for operating the computer, and a communication interface 6 for R5-232C. On the other hand, the camera unit 18 has an R5-232C communication interface 1 that sends and receives communication signals to and from the communication interface 6 via the cable 7.
7, two memories 10a, 10b for storing data from this interface 17, and an output changeover switch 10c for the memories, and a system controller 10 that controls the entire camera, and an image pickup device including an image pickup element and an image pickup circuit. 11, an A/D conversion circuit 12 for digitally converting the photographing signal, a signal processing circuit 13 for superimposing pattern data on the digitized image signal, and an image processing circuit 13 for storing the processed signal as an image signal. It is composed of a memory 14, a shutter device 15, and an aperture device 16.

The shutter speed or aperture value of the shutter device 15 and the aperture device 16 are set based on a photographing condition setting program stored in the memories 10a and 10b which is switched by the changeover switch 10c. The signal processing circuit 13 and the image memory 14 are superimposition recording means for superimposing the data pattern stored in the memory 10a or 10b on the image data that is the recorded image information, and the shutter device 15 and the aperture device 16 are is a functional unit that functions based on setting data. The system controller 10 serves as an imaging condition setting unit that performs setting operations for the above-mentioned functional units. The memories 10a and 10b are holding means for storing and holding the pattern data or setting information, which is communication information. Note that the number of memories may be any number. The output changeover switch 10c of the memories 10a, 10b selectively supplies data or setting information in the memories 10a, 10b of the input holding means to the recording means or photographing condition setting means.

The operation of this system configured as described above will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The camera section is connected to the computer parts by cable 7, and the information transfer routine is started. First, in step S1, the software on the floppy disk inserted into the floppy disk drive 4 of the personal computer section 8 is started up. Then, pattern data such as kanji characters to be imprinted and the type of subject to be photographed such as a portrait or a high-speed subject are inputted through the input device 2 and stored in the storage device 5 (step S2). Subsequently, the CPU receives an instruction to perform communication from the input device 2, and transmits pattern data based on the data in the storage device 5 or data of the photographing condition setting program via the communication interface 6 to the communication interface 17 of the camera unit. Send to. The data is stored in memories 10a and 10b
(step S3). Note that once this step has been processed, the computer parts are in a state where they can be separated from the camera section 18, and it becomes possible to take pictures with the camera section 18 alone.

Then, the process proceeds to step S4, and when the release button (not shown) of the camera section 18 is turned on, the process proceeds to step S5. Therefore, the shutter speed and aperture setting values are calculated by the system controller 10 based on the photographing condition setting program.

Then, in step S6, the aperture operation of the aperture device 16 and the opening and closing of the shutter by the shutter device 15 are performed based on the above set values. Furthermore, in step S7, pattern data such as Chinese characters is output to the signal processing circuit 13 for superimposition on the image. Then, in step S8, the photographed image data on which the pattern data is superimposed is written into the image memory 14. Subsequently, in step S9, it is determined whether or not the photographing has ended. If the photographing has not been completed, the process returns to step S4 and repeats the photographing operation.

Note that during data input in step S2, the input imaging information, that is, the imaging condition setting program data and pattern data, will be displayed on the display device 3, and the data will not be transferred after confirming the input data. Because it is executed, data input with fewer errors is possible.

Furthermore, each photographic information recorded in the memories 10a and 10b can be transferred to the personal computer section 8 via the communication interface 17, thereby making it possible to confirm the data. Furthermore, since this embodiment has a memory changeover switch IOC, many types of transfer data can be read into the memory and selected and used as appropriate. Unlike conventional IC card type cameras, there is no need to carry around a large number of IC cards for setting programs during photographing, and there is no need to prepare a collection of expensive IC cards.

Furthermore, the personal computer section 8 may be a so-called personal computer that is normally available on the market, and it is a great advantage that any user can utilize this system. Furthermore, electronic notebooks and the like that have been on the market in recent years can be substituted for the personal computer section 8 by making them capable of communicating with the camera section 18.

Next, as a second embodiment of the present invention, a system for importing photographic information into a camera using an IC card, which is a solid-state memory card, will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 2.3. The above-mentioned photographic information is recorded (imprinted) superimposed on the recorded image, that is, pattern data for imprinting,
and program information for setting shooting conditions for various shooting targets, which is setting information related to shooting. This system includes a personal computer section 8, a card reader/writer 24, a camera section 40, and an IC card 23 that stores photographing information.
Consists of. The personal computer unit 8 is the same as that in the first embodiment. The card reader/writer 24 is the CPU 2
0, the memory interface 22 writes or reads the above-mentioned photographing information into the memory section 23a of the IC card 23.
It has a built-in communication interface 21 based on R5-232C. Further, the camera section 40 is a silver salt type camera. Then, the IC card 23 storing the photographing information is inserted into a predetermined connector, and the photographing information is taken in and based on the information, photographing and pattern data are imprinted on the film. be. The configuration of the camera section described above includes a built-in CPU 30 that controls the entire camera;
is an AF (
autofocus) device 32 to the AF actuator 31
Drive it through. Further, the photometric sensor 33 provides photometric data to the CPU 30. The aperture device 34 and the shutter 35 are set according to values calculated by the photographing condition setting program of the photographing information stored in the IC card 23. And O of release button 37
The shutter is operated in connection with the N operation.

The light emission of the strobe device 36 is also controlled based on the input information from the photometric sensor 33 or the results calculated by the setting program. Furthermore, the loading LED 38 composed of a large number of LED groups is connected to the IC card 23.
On/off is controlled by pattern data such as kanji and figures for imprinting stored in the . Then, the lighting pattern of the LED 38 is printed onto the film 39.

The operation of this system configured as above will be explained. first. To write the shooting information to the IC card 23,
As in the first embodiment, the personal computer 81; therefore, the photographing information is transmitted by the communication interface 6, and the reader
It is received by the communication interface 21 of the writer 24 and written into the memory section 23a of the IC card 23 by the memory interface 22 via the CPU 20.

Note that the reader/writer 24 can also read the data stored in the IC card 23 and transfer it to the personal computer section 8 side, so that the contents stored in the IC card 23 can be confirmed.

On the other hand, in the photographing operation of the camera 40, first, an IC card on which photographing information is recorded is attached to the camera 40, and when the release button 37 is operated, the photographing conditions stored in the IC card are set in relation to the operation. The program is called and the shutter speed and aperture value are determined. Subsequently, a diaphragm operation and a shirt shirt opening/closing operation are performed. and,
The imprint pattern stored in the IC card 23,
That is, characters, figures, etc. are output to the loading LED 38, and are printed onto the film 39 in a superimposed manner on the pattern image such as the above-mentioned Chinese characters, so-called imprinting is performed. and,
The film is wound and one photographing sequence is completed.

If there is no subsequent instruction to end photography, the camera waits for the release operation again.

As described above, according to the system of this embodiment, the user can use the personal computer unit 8 to freely write data into the IC card on which various photographic information is recorded.

Therefore, the user can also create and use personal photography information. In addition, as in the conventional example, the IC card 23
There is no need to prepare a large number of sheets depending on the purpose, and it is possible to rewrite and use a small number of sheets as necessary.

Note that the present invention can be applied to various electronically controlled cameras such as electronic still cameras and camcorders that use image pickup elements, and cameras that use silver halide film. Also,
The setting information related to shooting in the above embodiments refers only to the aperture and shutter speed, but other shooting conditions, such as setting the flash emission conditions and controlling the shutter operation timing for interval shooting, etc. Can be applied to everything.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the camera of the present invention is equipped with a communication interface that receives pattern data recorded superimposed on an image or setting information related to photography from a personal computer, and according to the present invention, This makes it possible to imprint complex patterns such as kanji characters, which was previously impossible. In addition, it becomes possible to transfer the above setting information to the camera's memory via the communication interface without using an IC card to store the setting information, and since a personal computer is used, the information can be easily stored by general users. It is possible to provide a camera that has many remarkable effects such as being able to input data.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of main parts of a system including a camera and a personal computer, showing a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a system including a camera and a personal computer, showing a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a personal computer and an IC card reader/writer in the system; FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the camera of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 2 and a camera in the personal computer system; A flowchart of the data transfer operation and photographing operation of the system shown in FIG. 1 is shown, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an image when Chinese characters, etc. are superimposed and imprinted on the photographed image. 10.30...CPU (shooting condition setting means)
17... Communication interface (communication interface means) 10a, 10b... Memory (input holding means) 1
0c...Memory selection switch (means for selectively supplying to recording means or photographing condition setting means) 8...Personal computer 18.4
0... Camera

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) Communication interface means for receiving pattern data to be superimposed and recorded on recorded image information from the personal computer; and recorded image information obtained by an imaging unit from the pattern data received by the communication interface means. A camera characterized by comprising: a recording means for superimposing recording on a camera; (2) a communication interface means for receiving setting information related to the photographing from a personal computer; a photographing condition setting means for performing a setting operation for the corresponding functional unit based on the setting information received by the communication interface means; A camera characterized by comprising: (3) input holding means for separately holding a plurality of pieces of data or setting information received by the communication interface means;
3. The camera according to claim 1, further comprising means for selectively supplying the data or setting information held by the input holding means to the recording means or photographing condition setting means.