JPH08340398A - Image information recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To perform write on a reloadable image information storage medium by the same condition as that for image data from a developed film by converting the compression system of the image information of a digital still camera to a prescribed system. CONSTITUTION: The image information is read by a film scanner part 11, and A/D-converted, and stored in a memory part 13 via an image processing part 12. Moreover, the image information, after receiving image data characteristic conversion and color correction by an RGB-YMC conversion part 14 and a color correction part 15, is image-compressed to a JPEG system by an MD processing part 21 via a selector 16, and written on an MD 20. While, the compression system of the image data photographed by the digital still camera is checked by a whole control part 30, and when it is not the one of the JPEG system, compression is canceled by a decoder part 31, and it is sent to the MD processing part 21. In this way, even the image data of the digital still camera is written on a reloadable image information recording medium, and it is handled systematically with the image information from film scan.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image information recording apparatus for storing image information converted into digital image data, and more particularly to an image used in a digital photographic image processing system which is a new generation film photographic image processing system. The present invention relates to an information recording device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In current film photo processing systems,
The user takes the filmed film to the DPE store,
Take the film to a large-scale laboratory (film development, image printing place) at the DPE store, develop the film, print the image on photographic paper, etc., and print it with the developed film to the user via the DPE store. It is a system that returns photos taken. In recent years, as minilabs have become smaller, some minilabs have been installed in DPE stores.

In this type of minilab, film (negative,
(Including positive) is developed with a film processor, and the developed film is optically stretched with a minilab printer,
The process of printing a positive image on photographic paper is performed. Since all of the above minilab film photographic systems are processed in an analog manner, there are naturally limits to processing such as color balance adjustment, density adjustment, and color conversion.

Therefore, a system for converting image information recorded on a developed film into digital image data and digitally processing the image has been developed.
Once the analog image information has been converted into digital image data, data processing becomes possible even if a CPU is used, so there is a great potential for development of a digital photographic image processing system. If the image-processed data is returned to an analog image signal using a D / A converter, a good image can be printed on recording paper, photographic paper, or the like.

In recent years, a digital photographic image processing system (hereinafter simply referred to as a photo CD system) using a CD (compact disc) as a memory has been developed. This photo CD system uses a CD as an image information storage medium. When the user takes a film of a filmed image, the film image recorded on the CD is returned. After that, the user can save this CD and print the image on the recording paper with the photo CD system when necessary. The number of frames that can be recorded on the Photo CD is about 100, and it is possible to record four frame images on a 24 film film. Since this type of Photo CD system digitally performs an intermediate image processing step, it can meet a variety of user requests.

[0006]

The above-described Photo CD system can be evaluated as having offered new possibilities in the field of photo processing. However, since this system uses a CD as an image information storage medium,
It can be written and read once, but it cannot be rewritten. Further, since it is necessary to provide a channel for each type of film for color adjustment, there is a problem that the procedure for inputting a film image is troublesome. Further, there is a problem that the price is high because the whole system becomes large.

Therefore, the present applicant has developed a new digital photographic image processing system using a rewritable image information storage medium, which is small in size, low in cost and easy to operate. The new digital photographic image processing system uses a small and portable (for example, floppy disk-like) image information storage medium for storing image data.

Incidentally, a digital still camera has been developed in addition to this type of digital photographic image processing system. This digital still camera also stores a photographic image as digital image data, and it can be said that the two are the same in this respect. Therefore, it would be convenient if the new digital photographic image processing system developed by the present applicant can handle image data taken by a digital still camera.

However, the image data compression method in the case of a digital still camera is often different depending on the manufacturer of the digital still camera, and there is a problem that it cannot be handled in a unified manner.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an image information recording apparatus capable of writing image data taken by a digital still camera into a rewritable image information storage medium. Has an aim.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention which solves the above-mentioned problems includes a film scanner section for reading image information from a developed film, and an image signal read by the film scanner section upon receiving the output of the film scanner section. An image information recording apparatus including an image processing unit that performs predetermined image processing on the image data, compresses the image data, and writes the image data in a rewritable image information storage medium, and inputs image information from a digital still camera. The image processing section includes means for checking the data compression method of the image information information from the digital still camera input from the input means, and performing predetermined processing according to the data compression method to rewritable image information. It is characterized in that it is written in a storage medium.

In this case, when the image processing unit writes the image information from the digital still camera in the rewritable image information storage medium, there is no ID of the digital still camera and / or a negative corresponding to this image. Data and / or the date of data transfer can be transferred from the digital still camera side and these information can be written as additional information. The image data written in the rewritable image information storage medium is read from the developed film. However, it is preferable for recognizing that it is not image data.

[0013]

Operation: The image data from the digital still camera is
In order to be able to write in a rewritable image information storage medium, an input means for inputting information from a digital still camera is provided, and a data compression method is examined for image data input from the input means, A predetermined process corresponding to the compression method is performed so that the image data can be written in the rewritable image information storage medium under the same conditions as the image data read from the developed film. As a result, the image data taken by the digital still camera can be written in the rewritable image information storage medium without deterioration of the image quality.

In this case, when the image processing unit writes the image information from the digital still camera in the rewritable image information storage medium, there is no ID of the digital still camera and / or a negative corresponding to this image. Image data and / or data transfer date is transferred from the digital still camera side and the information is written as additional information, so that the image data written in the rewritable image information storage medium is read from the developed film. However, it can be recognized that it is not image data.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an external configuration example of the embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, an MD (mini disk) is used as a rewritable image information storage medium. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 10 is an MD writer body as an image information recording device. Reference numeral 2 is an IC card slot for inserting an IC card as an image information storage medium, and 3 is an MD slot. Reference numeral 11 is a film scanner in which the developed film 1 is mounted and the film 1 is scanned to read image information. A CRT 19 displays image information. A digital still camera 4 is connected to the MD writer body 10 by connecting a cable 5 to the connector 6.

The circuit shown in FIG. 1 has a film scanner section 1
Details of the image processing unit that receives the output of 1 and performs predetermined image processing on the image signal read by the film scanner unit, then performs compression processing of the image data, and writes it in the MD as a rewritable image information storage medium. Is shown. In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes a film scanner unit for reading film image information, converting optical image information into an electric signal, and converting the converted analog electric signal into digital image data. The film scanner unit 11 is composed of a scanner for reading a film image and an A / D converter.
For example, a CCD is used as the scanner. The CC
D outputs an electric signal in a state of being separated for each of the three primary colors of light, R, G, and B. The A / D converter converts an analog electric signal for each color, which is a CCD output, into digital image data.

Reference numeral 12 denotes an LUT (look-up table) for performing shading correction (correction for adjusting the brightness of the entire surface in the absence of film), one-dimensional data conversion, and CC in response to the output of the film scanner unit 11.
Line correction is performed to correct the position of each of the R, G, and B lines of the image data read by D, a histogram for the entire film and a histogram for each frame are obtained, and histograms for brightness adjustment and color adjustment are collected. In addition, the image processing unit switches the image data.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a memory section including a main memory for storing image data and a memory control section for controlling the main memory. Reference numeral 14 is a color-adding system R for the image data sent through the image processing unit 12.
It is an RGB → YMC conversion unit for converting the G and B characteristics to the Y, M and C characteristics of the subtractive color system. The RGB → YMC conversion unit 14 reads out the image data read during the prescan from the memory unit 13, determines the film characteristics, and performs the image data characteristics conversion according to the film, and the predisplay displayed on the CRT 19. It is composed of a portion (one-dimensional LUT) for performing color correction based on Y, M, and C characteristics while referring to an image read by scanning. Conversion characteristics (gradation characteristic curve) after color correction
Is fed back to the image processing unit 12, is stored in the one-dimensional LUT in the image processing unit 12, and is used as the conversion characteristic of the one-dimensional LUT.

A color correction unit 15 receives the output of the RGB → YMC conversion unit 14 and performs characteristic conversion (including interpolation) of the image data, and is composed of, for example, a three-dimensional LUT. Reference numeral 16 is a selector that is connected to the color correction unit 15 and switches signals. Reference numeral 17 denotes an external interface unit connected to the selector 16. The external interface unit 17 is connected to an external SCSI (one of interface formats for connecting a CPU and peripheral devices) type device through the external interface unit 17 and receives data. Output is possible.

Reference numeral 18 denotes a CRT control section connected to the selector 16, which is image data for display (video data).
And a video memory control section for controlling the video memory. 19 is connected to the CRT control unit 18,
It is a CRT that displays the contents of a video memory.

In this embodiment, a mini disk (MD) is used as a rewritable image information storage medium. Reference numeral 20 denotes an MD, which is mounted in the MD slot 3 (see FIG. 2).
Reference numeral 21 denotes an MD processing unit that writes image data in the MD. The MD processing unit 21 receives an image data and an interface unit connected to the selector 16 and receives JPEG.
JPE that converts data in one of the image compression formats and decodes data in JPEG format
A G processing unit, a buffer memory connected to the JPEG processing unit and temporarily holding image data, a SCSI interface connected to the buffer memory, an MD drive for writing data to the MD 20, and the like. The data format of the MD is such that image data is stored in accordance with the picture MD standard which is a part of the data MD standard which is a format when data is stored in the MD. Approximately 100 frame images can be stored in the MD.

Reference numeral 30 denotes an overall control unit for controlling the operation of the entire circuit. Normally, each section has a separate CPU, and each section is controlled by a separate CPU. Photographic image data photographed and recorded by the digital still camera 4 is input to the overall control unit 30. The image data of the digital still camera 4 is input by the input means including the cable 5 and the connector 6 when the image data is stored in the digital still camera 4 itself. On the other hand, digital still camera 4
In the case where the image data photographed / recorded in 1 is stored in the IC card, the IC card slot 2 provided in the MD writer body 10 is input as the input means.
The image taken by the digital still camera 4 is
Assuming that image processing such as brightness and color condition is performed, no image processing is performed here, and when the format is such that the MD 20 can be written, the image is directly written to the MD 20.

Reference numeral 31 indicates that the image data of the digital still camera is not compressed in JPEG format.
A decoding unit that decodes the original image data, and the overall control unit 30
It is connected to the. An operation unit 32 is used to input various commands and to perform image correction operations, and is connected to the overall control unit 30. Further, image data is input to the selector 16 from the overall control unit 30 and enters the MD processing unit 21 via the selector 16. The operation of the circuit thus configured will be described below.

First, the overall operation of the MD writer will be described. (1) Prescan Mode A developed film (which may be negative or positive) is set in the film scanner unit 11, and image information recorded on the film is read by the CCD in the film scanner unit 11.
In this case, it is not necessary to provide channels according to the type of film, and all channels are read. When reading with the CCD, the pixels of the CCD are decimated and read, or integrated to reduce the number of pixels and read when compared with the main scan.

In the pre-scan, the read image data is not written in the MD, but the characteristic of the film is determined,
The pixel density does not need to be so high because it is used for color balance adjustment, index printing, and the like. For example, the pixel density during the main scan is 204 per screen.
In the case of 8 × 3072 pixels, the prescan reads with a density of about 128 × 192 pixels per screen. As described above, by thinning and reading, the time required for image processing can be shortened.

The determination as to whether the film is negative or positive is made by a discriminator (not shown) provided in the CCD reading section, and the inside of the image processing section 12 is determined according to the type of negative and positive. Conversion characteristic of one-dimensional LUT and 3 of color correction unit 15
Although it is necessary to change the conversion characteristic of the dimensional LUT, the case of a negative film will be described below.

The image data read by the CCD of the film scanner unit 11 is converted into digital image data by the A / D converter for each of R, G and B. The converted digital image data enters the subsequent image processing unit 12, undergoes predetermined image processing, and is sequentially stored in the main memory in the memory unit 13. Hereinafter, the overall control unit 30 performs the following processing on the image data for one film stored in the memory unit 13.

Frame Position Discrimination At the time of pre-scanning of the film, the whole film is stored in the memory unit 13. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the frame position. The overall control unit 30 discriminates the frames from each other using a predetermined determination algorithm.

Panorama / 35 mm Plate Type Discrimination Next, the overall control unit 30 determines the panorama image and the normal 35 mm version.
Discrimination processing from an image is performed. The overall control unit 30 determines the panorama / 35 mm version using a predetermined determination algorithm.

When the processes of and are completed, the overall control unit 30 next reads the prescan image stored in the memory unit 13, transfers it to the video memory in the CRT control unit 18, and displays it on the CRT 19. At this time, CR
The image displayed at T19 is an image showing the division between frames determined by the process of. When the position displayed on the CRT 19 is incorrect, the operator performs a frame position correction operation from the operation unit 32. When the frame position is displayed correctly, a histogram is created for each frame, a histogram is created for the entire film, representative brightness points are extracted for each frame, and color balance is extracted for the entire film. RGB → YMC converter 14 so that an image with optimum characteristics can be obtained.
The gradation curve is written in the one-dimensional LUT for prescan. By this processing, even when all kinds of films are read in one channel, an optimum image in which the film characteristics are corrected can be obtained.

After the gradation curve is written in the pre-scan scan one-dimensional LUT, the pre-scan image stored in the memory unit 13 is passed through the one-dimensional LUT to display the CRT.
It is stored in the video memory in the control unit 18. C
The prescan image having the corrected characteristic is displayed on the RT 19. Here, the operator looks at the display image on the CRT 19 and checks whether the color, brightness, etc. are optimum. If it is not optimal, RGB → YMC conversion unit 1
In step 4, the operator corrects the color and brightness so that the image displayed on the CRT 19 becomes the optimum color. This correction operation is a process of changing the curve of the one-dimensional LUT.

In the correction process described above, Y, M, and C of the subtractive color system are used.
Since the correction is based on the characteristics, there is an effect that the operator can easily operate. When the correction processing is completed, this characteristic is now analyzed by the one-dimensional LUT for the main scan (image processing unit 1
(Built-in 2) to give feedback. That is, the corrected gradation curve is written in the one-dimensional LUT for the main scan. The prescan operation is completed by the above processing.

(2) Main scan mode In the main scan, the film image is formed by using all the pixels (for example, 2048 × 3072 pixels) of the CCD. C
The R, G, B analog image signals photoelectrically converted by the CD are
The subsequent A / D converter converts each of R, G, and B into digital image data (for example, 11 bits), and the image processing unit 1
Sent to 2. The optimum gradation conversion curve determined by the prescan is stored in the one-dimensional LUT in the image processing unit 12. Therefore, the digital image data obtained by the main scan is subjected to optimum image conversion processing by this one-dimensional LUT. The film image data obtained by the main scan is temporarily stored in the main memory in the memory unit 13.

The film image data once stored in the main memory is read out frame by frame, passes through the RGB → YMC conversion section 14 through and enters the color correction section 15. The three-dimensional LUT of the color correction unit 15 is a three-dimensional LUT for converting the characteristics of the input image data, and the image data not stored in the LUT is interpolated and output by a predetermined method. From this three-dimensional LUT, the R, G, B image data is output as new R, G, B image data.
The output of the three-dimensional LUT is sent to the CRT via the selector 16.
It is stored in the video memory in the control unit 18 and CR
Displayed at T19. The operator can see the optimum image for each frame.

On the other hand, the output of the color correction unit 15 is the selector 1
The image data of the JPEG format is compressed by entering the MD processing unit 21 via 6, and the image data according to the JPEG standard is compressed. Next, the compressed frame image data is M
It will be sequentially written in D20.

Next, take a picture with the digital still camera 4.
The operation of writing the recorded photographic image data in the MD 20 will be described. A digital still camera forms an optical image input through an optical system on a photoelectric conversion element such as a CCD, converts it into an electric signal, and converts the electric signal into digital data by an A / D converter. This is a device for recording as digital photographic image data on an image information storage medium. In this type of camera, a mechanism that electronically controls the CCD element itself to determine the exposure time is used as the shutter. Image information storage media for digital still cameras include semiconductor memory built into the camera body,
IC cards and the like are used. Either way, 50
It can record photographic images of about a frame. In recent years, development in this direction has progressed, and a digital still camera having a CCD of several million pixels has also been developed.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the operation of one embodiment of the present invention. First, the operation unit 32 is set to the image data writing mode of the digital still camera. The device is set to a mode in which image data from the digital still camera is read and written in the MD 20.
In this mode, the overall control unit 30 reads image information from the digital still camera 4 or from an IC card (S1). Next, the overall control unit 30 checks how the read image data is compressed (S2). The format in which the image data is compressed can be determined using the existing algorithm technology.

In step S2, the compression format is JPE.
If it is G, it is basically possible to write it in the MD 20 as it is. However, since the data amount of one frame may be different, it is necessary to perform frame adjustment processing. Next, the overall control unit 30 reads the size of the data amount of one frame and checks whether it is larger than one frame of MD (S3). If it is not larger than one frame of MD, it is checked whether it is the same size as the frame of MD (S4). If they are the same size,
There are no restrictions on writing to the MD20. Therefore, the overall control unit 30 sends the image data from the digital still camera to the MD processing unit 21 via the selector 16 and writes the image data in the MD 20 by the writing process described above. In this case, since the image data is already in the JPEG format, the JPEG compression unit in the MD processing unit 21 is bypassed to enter the buffer, and the MD drive drives the MD.
20 (S9).

In step S4, if the amount of data of one frame is not the same as one frame of MD, it is 1 of MD.
This means that the frame is smaller than the frame. In this case, the overall control unit 30 adds dummy data so as to have the same size as one frame of the MD, and makes the data amount of a predetermined size (S5). This dummy data is data for matching the size of the data amount of one frame of MD,
Not particularly meaningful data. After that, the overall control unit 3
0 sends the image data from the digital still camera to the MD processing unit 21 via the selector 16 and writes the image data in the MD 20 by the writing process described above. In this case, since the image data is already in the JPEG format, it bypasses the JPEG compression unit in the MD processing unit 21, enters the buffer, and is written in the MD 20 from the MD drive (S9). In the above method, the compression of the image data is not restored and then compressed again. Therefore, it is possible to perform recording in conformity with the MD format without degrading the image quality.

When the compression format of the image data is not JPEG in step S2 (for example, in the case of vector coding or fractal compression), and in step S3, the digital still camera 1
If the amount of data in a frame is large, MD2 is left as it is.
Since it cannot write to 0, the overall control unit 30
The decoding unit 31 is activated to decode the input image data (S6). The image data decoding processing algorithm performed by the decoding unit 31 is performed using an existing technique. The decoding unit 31 sends the compressed image data back to the general control unit 30.

The overall control unit 30 inputs the input original image data to the MD processing unit 21 via the selector 16 (S7). In the MD processing unit 21, the input image data is compressed by the JPEG compression unit. In this case, when the data amount of one frame is larger than one frame of MD, the JPEG compression unit performs fixed length compression so that the size of one frame of MD is obtained (S8). By the above steps, M
Since the conditions for writing to D20 are satisfied, the MD processing unit 21 writes the JPEG-compressed digital still camera image in the MD drive to MD20 (S9).

M of the digital still camera image described above
In the writing process to the D20, if the data is directly written to the MD20, it is impossible to distinguish between the image data read from the developed film and the image data read from the digital still camera. Therefore,
When the image data is transmitted from the digital still camera side to the MD writer, other additional data indicating that the data is from the digital still camera, for example, the ID of the digital still camera and / or the negative corresponding to this image does not exist. The data and / or the date of data transfer are transferred from the digital still camera side.

The overall control unit 30 transfers the image data to the MD 20.
At the time of writing to, the additional data should be written together. In this way, if you record the additional data,
It is possible to recognize whether the written image data is from a developed film or a digital still camera. That is, it can be recognized that the image data written in the MD 20 is not the image data read from the developed film. This eliminates the inconvenience of searching for the film when printing from the film.

In the above embodiment, the case where the MD is used as the rewritable image information storage medium is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it is possible to store equivalent high density image data. Any medium may be used as long as it is available.

[0045]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the image data from the digital still camera is
In order to be able to write in a rewritable image information storage medium, an input means for inputting information from a digital still camera is provided, and a data compression method is examined for image data input from the input means, Image data taken with a digital still camera can also be rewritten by performing predetermined processing according to the compression method so that it can be written to a rewritable image information storage medium under the same conditions as the image data read from the developed film. The image data can be written in the image information storage medium, and the image data obtained by scanning the film and the image data taken by the digital still camera can be handled in a unified manner.

In this case, when the image processing unit writes the image information from the digital still camera in the rewritable image information storage medium, there is no negative corresponding to the ID of the digital still camera and / or this image. Image data and / or data transfer date is transferred from the digital still camera side and the information is written as additional information, so that the image data written in the rewritable image information storage medium is read from the developed film. However, it can be recognized that it is not image data.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an external configuration example of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of one embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 film scanner section 12 image processing section 13 memory section 14 RGB → YMC conversion section 15 color correction section 16 selector 17 external interface section 18 CRT control section 19 CRT 20 mini disk (MD) 21 MD processing section 30 overall control section 31 decoding Part 32 Operation part

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A film scanner unit for reading image information from a developed film, and receiving the output of the film scanner unit, subjecting the image signal read by the film scanner unit to predetermined image processing, and then compressing the image data. An image information recording apparatus comprising an image processing unit for performing processing and writing in a rewritable image information storage medium, comprising an input unit for inputting image information from a still camera, wherein the image processing unit is An image information recording apparatus, characterized in that a data compression method of image information input from a still camera is checked, and predetermined processing is performed according to the data compression method to write the image information in a rewritable image information storage medium. 2. The image processing unit, when writing the image information from the still camera to a rewritable image information storage medium, data and / or data indicating that the ID of the still camera and / or a negative corresponding to this image does not exist. Alternatively, the image information recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the date of data transfer is transferred from the still camera side and the information is written as additional information.