JPH05252432A - Camera system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To retain an image, and also, to record generated keyword information by recording various sensor information corresponding to the image in a recording medium simultaneously with photographing. CONSTITUTION:A photographing optical system 4 photographs an object to be photographed, and various sensors obtain information for generating keyword information for retrieving a photographed image. Subsequently, image information and sensor information are recorded in a memory card 3, and a keyword information generator reads out the image information and the sensor information from the card 3, generates the keyword information, and stores it in a hard disk. In this case, an image signal photographed by an image pickup optical system is subjected to color separation and adjustment of white balance by a process circuit 8, and thereafter, converted to a digital signal by an A/D converter 9, and outputted to a bus 50. Also, the sensor information used for generating the keyword information is outputted to an interface 2 through the bus 50. In such a way, information at the point of time of photographing can be recorded directly, and correct retrieval information can be added.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus, and more particularly to a camera system which uses an electronic camera, a single-lens reflex camera or the like to input an image and perform a search later.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a solid-state image sensor such as a CCD is used to photoelectrically convert a subject of an optical image, and a floppy disk or a memory card is recorded as information consisting of electric signals.
There is an electronic still camera system capable of reproducing images by a reproducing device using a television receiver.

On the other hand, in the same way as the electronic still camera system, a film or a print photograph obtained by photographing a subject on a conventional silver salt film and developing it is photoelectrically converted by an image pickup device to obtain a television receiver. A system for playing back images has also been developed.

In these camera systems, the picked-up image is stored in a large-capacity hard disk or the like on the reproducing apparatus side, and a desired image is searched for and used as needed. In this search, it is necessary to add appropriate information for identifying an image, for example, keyword information such as a shooting place and date and time. This keyword information can be added while viewing the image when it is stored in the hard disk or the like.

There is a video camera described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 108962/1993 which gives the keyword information at the time of photographing. This is because a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor are provided inside the camera as shown in FIG.
Information indicating the environment at the time of shooting is imprinted on the image as shown in FIG. 16B, and the environment at the time of shooting can be recognized at the time of reproduction.

[0006]

However, when shooting an image on a silver salt film of an ordinary optical camera, the shooting date and time can be inserted, but information such as the shooting location name cannot be given at the time of shooting. Further, it may take several months to finish shooting a loaded film when shooting with an optical camera, and such keyword information may be ambiguous after printing.

Further, when a photograph taken by another person is mixed in one film loaded in the optical camera, it becomes difficult to add accurate keyword information. Further, when the number of photographs and the keyword information to be given are large, it takes a lot of time for the writing work.

Further, since the above-mentioned video camera imprints the information at the time of shooting in the image, it is always displayed in the reproduced image, narrowing the field of view, and unnecessary when only the image is required. It may be Particularly, the video camera disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-108962 aims to directly copy the information on a video tape, and does not apply this to a filing device and actively use it for retrieval. ..

Therefore, in such a conventional camera system, since the keyword information accompanying the image information is added when the data is stored in the hard disk or the like, it takes a lot of time to add wrong keyword information or to perform complicated writing work. Will be spent.

Therefore, the present invention provides a camera system in which various sensor information for creating keyword information corresponding to an image at the same time as photographing is recorded in a recording medium, and the keyword information is created and recorded together with the saving of the image. The purpose is to

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image generating means for photographing a subject and generating an image, and a keyword corresponding to an image obtained at the time of photographing by the image generating means. A sensor unit for detecting information for creating information; a removable recording medium for recording the image captured by the image generating unit and the sensor information obtained by the sensor unit as a set; and the recording medium. Information reading means for reading the recorded image and sensor information, keyword information creating means for creating keyword information for image retrieval from the sensor information, and storage means for storing the keyword information corresponding to the image as a set. Search means for searching a desired image by giving the keyword information corresponding to the image stored in the storage means, To provide a camera system including a display means for displaying a desired image.

[0012]

The camera system having the above-described structure is provided with various sensors for creating keyword information in the camera, and various sensor information for creating keyword information corresponding to an image is detected at the same time as photographing. , Is recorded on a recording medium. Then, when the image is saved, the keyword information created based on various sensor information is saved in association with the image.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The camera system of the present invention is a camera system that incorporates a sensor that detects information necessary for obtaining keyword information independently of image information.

FIG. 1 shows an example of the relationship between keyword information to be obtained by the camera system of the present invention and a sensor for creating the keyword information. Each sensor has a commonly used structure. The relationship between the keyword information and the sensor shown in FIG. 1 will be described. (the weather)

This keyword information is the weather conditions at the time of photographing, that is, weather conditions such as fine weather, cloudy weather, rain, and snow. The weather condition is determined based on the date and time output from the electronic timepiece and the outputs of the temperature sensor and the humidity sensor. Further, the color temperature of the illumination light source is obtained from the white balance sensor, and it is determined whether or not it is direct sunlight. It is also possible to determine the weather condition by providing a portable barometer like a wristwatch. (Season, time, year / month) These keyword information can be obtained from the time and date output from the electronic timepiece. (Place name)

This is the name of the place where the image was taken, and is very effective information as a search material. This can be determined by inquiring position information such as longitude, latitude, altitude and the like on the map information.

As a position sensor for detecting this position information, for example, a navigation system using an artificial satellite currently applied to automobiles is very effective.

Further, by using a miniaturized radio, it is possible to know the approximate position from the information as to how strong the radio wave of which broadcasting station can be obtained. That is, the radio wave transmitted by each broadcasting station is received, and which station can receive with high sensitivity is detected to determine the approximate position. It is also possible to detect the direction and amount of camera movement using a gyro sensor, detect relative displacement from an arbitrary initial position, and calculate the current position. (Photographing location) Information on the photographing location, for example, indoors, outdoors, and the environment of the photographing location such as a mountain or the sea.

First, whether indoors or outdoors, the exposure amount at the time of photographing, that is, the F number of the photographing optical system, the shutter speed (exposure time), or the AGC (Auto Gain Controller) is used.
ol) adjustment value. Furthermore, the barometer (altimeter) can be used to know the altitude of the shooting location, and to know the top of the mountain or near the sea. Further, the photographing place can be known by determining the illumination light source by the white balance sensor and knowing whether the light is indoor electric light or outdoor direct sunlight. Further, it is possible to use an anemometer to determine that the room is indoors if there is no wind. (Shooting conditions)

The shooting conditions of the camera, such as the F number, the focal length, the shutter speed (exposure time), and the like at the time of shooting. In addition, it is possible to know the azimuth (north, east, west, and west) at the time of shooting with the compass needle. (Shooting subject) Information on whether the subject is a thin pattern or a pattern with little change. This can be known by the AF sensor.

For example, in the contrast method in which focus adjustment is performed by moving the photographing optical system to a position where the contrast of the subject is maximum, a predetermined spatial frequency component (power spectrum) of the subject is detected. Since this spatial frequency component represents the subject information itself, the amount of this spatial frequency component is used as the sensor signal. The use of multiple frequency components will more accurately describe the subject.

Focusing is adjusted by using the light fluxes passing through different pupil positions of the photographing optical system. The so-called phase difference method corresponds to detecting the autocorrelation function of the subject.
By subjecting this autocorrelation function to a Fourier transform, the power spectrum of the subject is obtained, so that the information of the subject itself is also obtained, which is effective as information of the photographed subject as in the contrast system. In this way, the keyword information required for the search can be obtained by equipping the camera with an appropriate sensor. Next, an embodiment of a camera system equipped with the above-mentioned sensors will be specifically described. Next, the first embodiment according to the present invention comprises an electronic camera for inputting an image, a memory card for recording, and a filing device for performing storage and retrieval processing.

First, FIG. 2 shows the structure of an electronic still camera and a memory card on which image signals and the like are recorded. The configuration of this camera system is roughly divided into an electronic still camera 1, an interface 2, and a memory card 3, and image signals of the electronic still camera 1 are recorded in the memory card 3 via the interface 2.

First, in the structure of the electronic still camera 1, a lens system 4 having an aperture 5 which is driven to be opened and closed by an aperture adjuster 12, a solid-state image sensor (CCD) 6 having a color filter array mounted on a light receiving surface, and , A photographing optical system having a driver 7 for driving the solid-state image sensor.

An image signal picked up by this photographing optical system is converted into a digital signal by an A / D converter 9 after being subjected to, for example, color separation and white balance adjustment in a process circuit 8, and a bus signal. Is output to 50.

The exposure amount calculation circuit 10 calculates an appropriate exposure amount from the brightness of the imaged image, and the white balance calculation circuit 11 calculates, for example, R (red), G (green), B.
Based on the output ratio of (blue), the adjustment value w for the white balance performed in the process circuit 8 is output. The adjustment value w is output to the interface 2 via the bus 50 as the sensor information used to create the keyword information described above.

Then, the AF motor 13 is driven by the drive signal from the focus adjustment circuit 14 of the contrast method, and the lens system 4 is brought into focus. Then, the focus adjustment circuit 14 outputs a component amount (contrast value) u of a predetermined spatial frequency to the interface 2 via the bus 50.

The data compressor 15 includes the A / D converter 9
The image signal digitally converted by the above is input, and is compression-encoded according to a preset data compression encoding method, and then the memory card 3 is passed through the interface 2.
Recorded in.

Further, an electronic viewfinder (Electrica) for confirming a subject to be imaged, a photographing range, etc.
l View Finder (EVF) 16 is provided, and a radio wave sensor 17 detects a radio wave transmitted from a broadcasting station, and an output detection circuit 18 detects, for example, the strongest three radio wave outputs. A station is selected, and the frequency and strength of the station are output as "r" to the interface 2.

The electronic timepiece 19 used in a digital wristwatch or the like uses the barometer 2 as the date d and the time t of image pickup.
0 outputs the atmospheric pressure p to the interface 2, respectively.
Further, the F number F of the photographing optical system output from the aperture adjuster 12, the focal length f of the photographing optical system output from the focal length detector 21, and the exposure time of the CCD output from the CCD driver 7. T is output to each interface 2. In addition, the system controller 22
Controls the electronic camera 1.

The memory card 3 is, for example, an IC
It is composed of a card and is composed of an image memory 3a and a memory controller 3b. In the image memory 3a, in addition to the compression-coded image signal output from the data compressor 15, outputs detected by the respective sensors, that is, radio wave output r, electronic timepiece output d, t barometer output p, The white balance calculation circuit output w, the focus adjustment circuit output u, the F number F, the focal length f, and the CCD exposure time T are recorded at predetermined addresses.

Under the control of the recording memory controller 3b, for example, as shown in FIG. 3A, the image signal is sequentially written from the head address thereof, and the sensor output is sequentially written from the last address thereof, or FIG. ), The sensor information is added to the front of the image signal and sequentially written in image units. Next in FIG.
The configuration of the filing device 23 will be described using.

The memory card 3 is connected to the filing device 23 via the interface 2a, and the sensor signal (sensor information) read from the memory card 3 is input to the keyword information generator 24.

The keyword information creator 24 creates the above-mentioned keyword information based on the sensor information.
Here, using the sensor information shown in FIG.
Each keyword information is created. Then, the created keyword information is recorded together with the image signal in the hard disk 25 having a large memory capacity, for example.

The retrieval circuit 27 retrieves the corresponding image from the images recorded in the hard disk 25 with reference to the keyword information, and decodes the retrieved image into the decoder 28.
Then, the data decompression / decoding process is performed. Video processor 29
Performs signal processing such as r correction, and the D / A converter 30 converts the output of the video processor 29 into an analog signal. Then, the analog-converted image signal is subjected to predetermined amplification by the amplifier 31 and output to the display unit 35 such as an external monitor via the output end 31 '. The search information input unit 32 is an input device such as a keyboard operated by a searcher, and the system controller 33 is a control unit that controls the entire filing device 23.

Next, the operation of the camera system of the embodiment thus constructed will be described. In this camera system, shooting is performed when a release button (not shown) is completely pressed, and exposure amount adjustment is performed when the release button is half-pressed.
White balance adjustment and focus adjustment are performed.

That is, the image signal output from the CCD 6 is color-separated by the process circuit 8, and the exposure amount calculation circuit 10 calculates the exposure time T and F number F for capturing an image with proper exposure.

On the other hand, the white balance calculation circuit 11 calculates the white balance adjustment value w from the ratio of each color component. Then, the exposure time and the F number are set to the calculated values, and the white balance adjustment is performed based on the adjustment values calculated by the process circuit 8. The image signal whose exposure amount and white balance have been adjusted is A
/ D conversion is performed and the result is guided to the focus adjustment circuit 14. The focus adjustment circuit detects the magnitude (contrast) of a predetermined spatial frequency of the image signal, and drives the AF motor so as to maximize the magnitude, thereby performing focus adjustment. At this time, it is effective to use the low spatial frequency u ₁ when the defocus amount is large and use the high spatial frequency u ₂ when the defocus amount is small.

Then, the contrast of the spatial frequencies u ₁ and u ₂ at the end of the focus adjustment is output to the interface 2 as "u". Next, the image signal captured when the release button is completely pressed is data-compressed by the data compressor 15 and recorded at a predetermined address in the image memory 3a. At the same time, the output signal from each sensor is also recorded in a predetermined address of the image memory 3a.

That is, the radio wave sensor 17 scans the frequency, inputs its output to the output detection circuit 18, detects the three stations with the highest output, and outputs the frequency and strength as "r". .. Further, the electronic clock 19 outputs the date d and the time t, and the barometer 20 outputs the atmospheric pressure p. In addition, the value F of the F number that has already been set, the exposure time T of the CCD image pickup element, the white balance adjustment value w, the frequency component value u of the image signal, and the photographing optical system detected by the focal length detector. The focal length f is recorded at a predetermined address in the image memory. The image captured by the CCD 6 is confirmed by the EVF 16 during this photographing. The shooting is performed as described above. Next, FIG. 2 and FIG.
The storage of images recorded in the memory card and the retrieval of desired images from the hard disk will be described with reference to FIG.

When storing the image of the memory card, first, the memory card in which the image and the sensor information are stored is inserted into the first filing device 23. And
Sensor information (r, d, t, p, w,
u, F, f, T) and reads the keyword information generator 2
In 4, the keyword information (weather, season, time, year, month, place name, shooting location, shooting condition, and shooting subject) is created, and the information is saved in the hard disk 25 together with the corresponding image.

On the other hand, in the case of a search, first, the searcher inputs desired image information from the search information input unit 32 (weather, season, time, year / month, place name, shooting location, shooting condition, shooting object, all or part of shooting object). ) Is entered. Then, the search circuit 27 searches for an image having keyword information that matches the image information, the decoder 28 decompresses the data, and the video processor 29 performs signal processing such as r-correction, and the D / A.
The converter 30 converts the analog signal, the output amplifier 31 amplifies the output, and displays the image on an external display device (not shown).

As described above, the electronic camera itself is provided with the sensor for obtaining the information required for the retrieval, so that the sensor information for creating the keyword information is taken in at the same time as the photographing, and the photographer purposely adds it after the photographing. Eliminate complicated work. Moreover, since the obtained sensor signal is not written in the image, the image itself is not damaged.

In this embodiment, the sensor signal itself is written as sensor information in the image memory of the memory card, but this sensor signal may be appropriately coded and written, or keyword information may be created in the camera. It may be equipped with a device 24, and may be written into a memory card after being converted into keyword information.

Further, in this embodiment, when the keyword information is added and stored in the filing device, the image recorded on the memory card is not interactively corrected, but it is created by the keyword information creator. The keyword information may be confirmed or corrected by the photographer or a third party.

That is, as a configuration example of the second filing device as shown in FIG. 5, a keyword information correction circuit 34 may be provided to confirm and correct the keyword information via the search information input section 32. ..

In the first embodiment, a memory card such as an IC card is used as a recording medium for image signals and sensor signals taken by a camera, but a magnetic disk such as a floppy disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, etc. May be used.

For example, as shown in FIG. 6, a magneto-optical disk writing circuit 80 is built in the electronic still camera shown in FIG. 2, and an image signal and a sensor signal are written in the magneto-optical disk 81. Then, when storing, a filing device as shown in FIG. 7 is used. In this apparatus, the reading circuit 82 reads the image information and the sensor information recorded on the magneto-optical disk 81.

A modem or the like may be connected to the interface 2 to transfer image information and sensor information to an external medium by using a telephone line, ISDN or the like. Alternatively, it may be connected to an aerial transmission device such as a wireless device and transmitted to an appropriate place. Further, the sensor unit may be provided with a voice input unit to input the sound of the shooting location, or the photographer may input the keyword information as voice.

Next, FIG. 8 shows the structure of a camera system according to the second embodiment of the present invention, which will be described. Where the second
In the constituent members constituting the embodiment, the same constituent members as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

In the second embodiment, when the size and weight of each sensor to be mounted becomes large and it becomes difficult to mount the sensor inside the camera, the sensor itself is provided outside and the camera is connected via a connector or the like. It is a system that sends sensor information to.

The GPS receiver 35 is connected to the bus 50 for transmitting image signals and sensor signals of the electronic still camera 1 shown in FIG. 8 via the interface 2b. The GPS receiver 35 is a NAVSTAR / GPS (NAV
igation System with Time
And Ranging / Groba / Position
Ning System), which is a method of measuring the delay time of the radio wave transmitted from the Toma satellite and obtaining the current position from the distance from the orbit.

Regarding this NAVSTAR / GPS,
"Electro Six Life May 1990 issue, P15
4 ”, it is described that the GPS can perform accurate positioning by receiving radio waves from four artificial satellites, that is, three-dimensional positioning of longitude, latitude and altitude.

This method is beginning to be applied to an automobile navigation system, but has not been miniaturized to the extent that it is mounted inside a camera. Therefore, in this embodiment, G
The PS receiver 35 is not built in the camera, but is connected to the GPS receiver 35 via the interface 2b and the connector 36, and positioning data, that is, longitude, latitude, altitude signal (g)
Is configured to be transmitted into the camera. In addition, a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor are provided in the camera, and the temperature (temperature) s,
The humidity h is detected.

In the second embodiment, the GPS is used instead of the radio wave detection, so that the position detection accuracy is ± 10.
m, and the place name information can be obtained very accurately. Further, since the temperature sensor and the humidity sensor are also used, the weather information can be obtained more accurately. In this embodiment, the connector 36 is used for communication with the external sensor, but wireless or optical communication may be used.

Next, FIGS. 9 to 11 show and explain a configuration of a camera system applied to a single-lens reflex camera as a third embodiment according to the present invention. Here, in the second embodiment, the same members as those of the electronic camera of the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and different parts will be described.

In this configuration, first, the main mirror 5
Reference numeral 1 is at the position shown in the figure during distance measurement and photometry, and moves upward so that the light flux (subject image) incident from the lens 4 can be irradiated onto the film 52 during photography. The sub mirror 53 guides a part of the light flux to the AF sensor 54. The AF sensor 54 is composed of, for example, a focus adjustment device using a phase difference method, and a drive signal for drive control is output to the AF motor 13 and frequency component information u of the correlation function is output to the encoding circuit 55.

The half mirror 56 guides a part of the luminous flux to the photometric sensor 57. The photometric signal output from the photometric sensor 57 is output to the exposure setting circuit 58 so that the shutter speed T and the F number F of the aperture 5 are in the automatic exposure mode (aperture priority AE program AE ...) During shooting. Set by. The remaining light flux is guided to the finder 72.

Both the shutter speed T and the F number F are output to the encoding circuit 55. Further, the white balance sensor 59 directly takes in outside light and outputs the above-mentioned white balance adjustment value w to the encoding circuit 55.

Then, in the encoding circuit 55, sensor codes (u, F, T, r, d,
t, p, w) are compressed and coded. For example, it is converted into a coded signal such as a barcode. In the barcode writing section 60, the sensor information encoded directly on the film is written by the LED 61 and the LED driver 62 as shown in FIG.

Next, FIG. 11 shows the image signal input device 63 and the above-mentioned filing device 23. The photographed film 52 is inserted by a roller 64 into an image pickup section including an illumination light source 65 and a CCD sensor 66. The CCD sensor 66 is composed of, for example, a licensor. The CCD driver 67 controls the CCD sensor 66 and the illumination light source 65, and the signal read from the CCD sensor 66 is subjected to signal processing such as color separation in the process circuit 68,
The digital signal is converted by the A / D conversion circuit 69.

The signal separation circuit 70 separates the photographed image signal from the bar coded sensor information signal, and the image signal is input to the data compressor 15 and subjected to predetermined data compression coding. The sensor information is converted into an original signal of the sensor by the decoding circuit 71 and output to the interface 2a. System controller 7
2 controls the image signal input device. Next, the operation of the second embodiment configured as described above will be described.

When a release button (not shown) is pressed once, photometry and distance measurement are performed, and an F number F and a shutter speed T at which proper exposure should be performed are set. At the same time, the lens system 4 is driven to the in-focus position. Then, the information (u, F, T, r, d, t, p, w) of each sensor is sent to the encoding circuit and bar coded. When the release button is completely pressed, the main mirror 51 moves upward, the shutter curtain (not shown) moves, and the film is exposed. At the same time, the bar-coded sensor signal is transferred to the bar-code writing unit 60. Is imprinted on the film by.

The film thus photographed is then inserted into the input section of the image signal input device 63. Then, the roller 64 sequentially sends the information to each line to the image pickup unit including the illumination light source 65 and the CCD 66, and the information of each line is read and the process circuit 68, the A / D converter 69, and the signal separation circuit 70.
Thus, signals of sensor information and image information can be obtained. The sensor information is decoded by the decoding circuit 71, and the image information is data-compressed by the data compressor 15 and output to the interface 2a. After being input to the filing device 23, it is as described above.

As described above, according to the camera system of the second embodiment of the present invention, even a single-lens reflex camera using a silver salt film is provided with a sensor for obtaining keyword information for retrieval. Therefore, the photographer is relieved of the trouble of adding information for retrieval.
Further, even when a film is photographed for a long period of time and the photographer forgets the information photographed, the sensor information at the time of photographing is recorded, so that an accurate keyword can be added.

In this embodiment, the CCD line sensor 6
Although 6 is used, an image can be input at a higher speed by using an area sensor. Moreover, although the bar coded sensor signal is decoded, the image signal input device can be further downsized by providing the decoding circuit 71 inside the filing device 23. The image signal input device may be integrated with the filing device 23.

Although the embodiments described so far are intended for the electronic still camera, the magnetic recording medium is provided near the perforation of the frame (image pickup area) where the optical image of the photosensitive film is exposed next. An example of using a recording film will be described. For such recording film,
FIG. 12 shows the structure of a recording film having an information processing section made of a magnetic recording medium, which will be described.

The recording film 41 is made of a photosensitive film, and magnetic recording tracks 42a, 42b made of a magnetic recording medium are provided above and below a frame (a perforation side (not shown)) on which a light image is exposed.

In the third embodiment described above, the encoded sensor information is written on the magnetic recording tracks 42a and 42b as a bar code beside the frame.
In this embodiment, as in the tape recorder, the magnetic head is brought into contact with the magnetic recording tracks 42a and 42b to record the encoded signal.

FIG. 13 shows, as a fourth embodiment, the construction of a single-lens reflex camera for writing sensor information and the like on the magnetic recording tracks 42a and 42b described above. Here, in the constituent members of this single-lens reflex camera, the same members as the constituent members shown in FIG. 9 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

This single-lens reflex camera is provided with an information magnetic recording circuit 44 including a recording magnetic head 43 which comes into contact with the magnetic recording tracks 42a and 42b of the recording film 41. Therefore, the information output from the encoding circuit 55 is recorded on the magnetic recording tracks 42a and 42b by the recording magnetic head 43.

As a structure for reading the recorded information, a magnetic read circuit 46 including a read magnetic head 45 which comes into contact with the magnetic recording tracks 42a and 42b of the recording film 41 as shown in FIG. 14 is provided. Information such as a sensor signal is read and output to the decoding circuit 71.

Therefore, when information is used as the recording portion on the magnetic recording track as in this embodiment, the bar code can record only about 10 characters (10 bytes).
A capacity of 0.5 to 1 Kbyte can be recorded on the magnetic recording track, and more sensor information and the like can be stored.

In the fourth embodiment, the magnetic recording track 42 as shown in FIG. 12B is used for positioning the sensor information and the like when recording it on the film.
a to 42d may be provided in upper and lower two rows, and the sensor signal may be recorded on one magnetic recording track 42a and the address signal may be written on the other magnetic recording track 42c.
It may also be used for positioning the film 41 in the film input device 63.

Next, as a fifth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 15, the filing apparatus has an authoring operation section and an image processing circuit for authoring. Here, of the constituent members of this filing device, the same members as those shown in FIG. 11 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. The authoring refers to image enlargement / reduction, rotation, noise reduction, combination processing with other images, and the like.

First, the retrieval circuit 47 reads out a desired image from the hard disk 25. Then, while observing the read image on the monitor, the authoring operation section 48 is operated to perform the above-mentioned authoring processing by the image processing circuit 49, and the processed image is recorded again in the hard disk 25. Further, new keyword information may be added when recording on the hard disk 25.

As described above in detail, in the filing, the camera system of the present invention can obtain the keyword information necessary for searching a desired image from various sensors mounted in the camera at the same time as photographing, The photographer does not need to add the keyword information afterwards.
Further, since the information at the time of photographing is directly recorded, correct search information can be added. Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it goes without saying that various modifications and applications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0078]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, various sensors for creating keyword information are provided in a camera, and various sensors for creating keyword information corresponding to an image simultaneously with photographing. Recording information on a recording medium,
It is possible to provide a camera system capable of easily recording a desired image by recording the created keyword information in association with the image when the image is saved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a relationship between keyword information to be obtained by a camera system of the present invention and a sensor for creating the keyword information.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing configurations of an electronic still camera and a memory card according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3A shows a structure of a head address of an image signal, and FIG. 3B shows a structure of sensor information.
(C) is a figure which shows the structure of keyword information.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a first filing device of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a second filing device of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an electronic still camera obtained by modifying the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an electric filing device which is a modification of the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing configurations of an electronic still camera and a memory card according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration of a single-lens reflex camera according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a structure of a film in which coded sensor information is written.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration of an image signal input device and a filing device.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the structure of a recording film having an information processing section made of a magnetic recording medium used in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a configuration of a single-lens reflex camera that writes sensor information and the like on a recording film as a fourth embodiment according to the present invention.

14 is a diagram showing a configuration example for reading information recorded on a magnetic recording track of the recording film shown in FIG.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a filing apparatus having an authoring operation unit and an image processing circuit for authoring as a fifth embodiment according to the present invention.

16 (a) is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional camera having a sensor provided therein, FIG. 16 (b).
[Fig. 6] is a diagram showing a configuration example of a conventional image.

[Explanation of Codes] 1 ... Electronic still camera, 2, 2a, 2b ... Interface, 3 ... Memory card, 3a ... Image memory, 3b ... Memory controller, 4 ... Lens system, 5 ... Aperture, 6 ... Solid-state image sensor (CCD) ), 7 ... Driver, 8 ... Process circuit, 9 ... A / D converter, 10 ... Exposure amount calculation circuit, 11 ...
White balance calculation circuit, 12 ... Aperture adjuster, 13 ...
AF motor, 14 ... Focus adjustment circuit, 15 ... Data compressor, 16 ... Electronic viewfinder (EVF), 17 ... Radio wave sensor, 18 ... Output detection circuit, 19 ... Electronic clock,
20 ... Barometer, 21 ... Focal length detector, 22, 33 ... System controller, 23 ... First filing device, 2
4 ... Keyword information creator, 25 ... Hard disk, 2
6 ... Image input controller, 20 ... Search circuit, 28 ...
Decoder, 29 ... Video processor, 30 ... D / A converter, 31 ... Output amplifier, 32 ... Search information input section, 34 ...
Keyword information correction circuit, 35 ... Display unit, 36 ... Connector, 41 ... Recording film, 42a, 42b, 42c, 4
2d ... Magnetic recording track, 43 ... Recording magnetic head, 4
4 ... Information magnetic recording circuit, 45 ... Read magnetic head, 4
6 ... Magnetic read circuit, 47 ... Search circuit, 48 ... Authoring operation section, 49 ... Image processing circuit, 50 ... Bus, 80 ...
Magneto-optical disk writing circuit, 81 ... Magneto-optical disk,
82 ... Circuit for reading sensor information, 51 ... Main mirror,
52 ... Film, 53 ... AF motor, 54 ... AF sensor, 55 ... Encoding circuit, 56 ... Half mirror, 57 ... Photometric sensor, 58 ... Exposure setting circuit, 59 ... White balance sensor, 60 ... Bar code writing section, 61 ... LE
D, 62 ... LED driver, 63 ... Input device, 64 ... Roller, 65 ... Illumination light source, 66 ... CCD sensor, 67 ... C
CD driver, 68 ... Process circuit, 69 ... A / D conversion circuit, 70 ... Image signal, 71 ... Decoding circuit, 72 finder.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location H04N 5/907 B 7916-5C

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image generating unit for capturing an image of a subject and generating an image; a sensor unit for detecting information for generating keyword information corresponding to the obtained image when the image generating unit captures the image; A removable recording medium for recording the image captured by the image generating means and the sensor information obtained by the sensor means as a set; an information reading means for reading the image and the sensor information recorded on the recording medium; Keyword information creating means for creating keyword information for image search from information, storage means for storing the keyword information corresponding to the image as a set, and the keyword corresponding to the image stored in the storage means A search means for searching a desired image by giving information and a display means for displaying the searched desired image are provided. The camera system according to claim.