JPH10271427A - Electronic camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the electronic camera that is able to composite by itself a composite image and a picked-up image without a large scale image processing unit. SOLUTION: In the electronic camera having an image pickup circuit 2 that receives an object light through an image pickup lens 22 and provides an output of an image signal, picked-up image information stored in a memory section 10 and a synthesis image stored in a composite image memory section 12 are composted by an image composite section 9, in which a composited image is generated. In the case of generating the composited image, the composited image is converted based on information when the picked-up image is picked up, that is, image pickup lens focal distance information, object distance information and luminance information and the composited image after conversion and the picked-up image are composited to obtain a resulting composited image.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic camera, and more particularly, to an electronic camera having a function of synthesizing a photographed image with a previously stored image or between photographed images.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various techniques relating to an electronic still camera having a display means for reproducing and displaying a picked-up image on a built-in color liquid crystal display panel in addition to an image pickup means and an image storage means have been proposed. Also, various techniques have been proposed that include a data communication unit, output image data to a personal computer (hereinafter, referred to as a personal computer), and perform image processing such as combining images on the personal computer.

[0003]

However, the conventional electronic still camera as described above does not have an image synthesizing function.
In the case of combining photographed images, it is necessary to once import the images into a personal computer and perform the combining operation on the personal computer. As described above, conventionally, it was not possible to combine images with a single camera, and the work of combining captured images required a large-scale apparatus and complicated procedures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and has as its object to synthesize a previously prepared image or captured images with a camera alone without using a large-sized image processing apparatus such as a personal computer. An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic camera having a function capable of performing the function.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic camera having an image pickup means for receiving an object light passing through a taking lens and outputting an image signal. , A photographed image storing means for storing a photographed image of a photographed subject, a synthesizing image storing means for storing a synthetic image separately from the photographed image, and a photographing information output means for outputting photographing information of the photographed image When,
An image synthesizing means for converting the image for synthesis based on the output information of the image information output means and synthesizing the converted image for synthesis with the photographed image to obtain a synthesized image. In the electronic camera, the combining image is converted based on the output information of the shooting information output unit, and the converted combined image is combined with the captured image to obtain a combined image.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the electronic camera according to the first aspect, wherein at least one of the plurality of compositing images stored in advance by the compositing image storage means is image-combined. The image processing apparatus includes a combination image selection unit that is selected for use by the processing unit, and an image display unit that can selectively display one of the captured image, the combination image, and the combination image. In the electronic camera according to the second aspect, one of the captured image, the composite image, and the composite image can be selectively displayed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic camera having an image pickup means for receiving an object light passing through a photographing lens and outputting an image signal.
Shooting information output means for outputting shooting time information of a shot image;
Registered image processing means for converting the first image captured by the first image capturing to the image data for synthesis, and storing the image data for synthesis for the first image capturing and the image capturing information Means, photographed image storage means for storing photographed image data of a second photographed image photographed by a second photographing separately from the first photographed image, and the combining based on output information of the photographing information output means Image synthesizing means for performing a conversion process on the image data for synthesis and synthesizing the converted image data for synthesis with the photographed image data to obtain a synthesized image.

In the electronic camera according to the third aspect, the image data for synthesis is converted based on the output information of the image information output means, and the converted image data for synthesis is synthesized with the image data. To obtain a composite image.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Prior to the detailed description of the electronic camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention, its outline will be described. FIGS. 1A and 1B show the appearance of the electronic camera according to the first embodiment. FIG. FIG. 1A is a front view, in which a photographing lens 22 is provided at a predetermined position on the front surface of an electronic camera body 21 and a relays switch 23 is provided on the upper surface. FIG. 1B is a rear view in which a display unit 24 made of a liquid crystal or the like and various switches, that is, a photographing / combining changeover switch 13, a combining image selection switch 14, and a combining image storage switch 15 are arranged. I have.

In this electronic camera, when the photographing / synthesizing switch 13 is set to the “photographing mode” where “photographing” is displayed, the photographing is performed via the photographing lens 22 by operating the release switch 23. Normal shooting in which an image is displayed on the liquid crystal screen of the display unit 24 can be performed. When the photographing / synthesis changeover switch 13 is set to the "synthesis mode" side where "go" is displayed, the image is selected by the synthesis image selection switch 14 from the pre-stored images for synthesis. It is possible to generate composite image data of an image and a captured image. The composite image data can be stored by operating the composite image storage switch 15.

Here, images before and after combination will be described with reference to FIGS. (A) of FIGS. 2 and 3 respectively show a photographed image,
2 and 3B are images for combination. 2 and 3
(C) shows a composite image. Figure 2
FIG. 3C shows an image obtained by simply superimposing and synthesizing a captured image and a synthesizing image like double exposure of a silver halide camera.
(C) shows an image obtained by combining the size and brightness of the combining image with the subject of the captured image in consideration of the photographic lens focal length, the subject distance, and the subject brightness at the time of capturing the captured image. The electronic camera according to the first embodiment can combine images so that the combined image is close to the condition of the actually captured image, particularly, taking into account the imaging conditions of the captured image as shown in FIG. This is one feature.

Next, the configuration of the electronic camera according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. Each component of the electronic camera is a system controller (hereinafter referred to as a CPU) including a one-chip microcomputer and the like.
11. The CPU 11 determines whether to perform normal shooting or image synthesis by detecting the input state of the shooting / synthesis changeover switch 13, and performs each sequence control according to the input state.

That is, when the user operates the release switch 23 during normal photographing, under the control of the CPU 11, the A / D circuit 3 converts the image pickup data taken in by the image pickup lens 22 and the image pickup circuit 2. Then, the image data is stored in the memory unit 10. The imaging circuit 2 has a CC
It has an image sensor such as D, and converts a subject image formed via the photographing lens 22 into an electric image signal. A
The / D converter 3 converts the image signal into a digital signal, and the frame memory 4 temporarily stores the digital signal. The CPU 11 reads out the data relating to the digital signal as a single block via the compression / decompression circuit 8 through a JPEG (JOINT PHOTOGRAPHICEXPERT GROUP).
After the data is compressed according to a predetermined format such as a system, the data is stored in the memory unit 10 serving as a captured image storage unit. At this time, the CPU 11 reads out photographing data such as photographing lens focal length data, subject distance data, and subject luminance data from the zoom driving unit 16, the distance measuring unit 17, and the photometric unit 18 as the photographing information output means, and It is stored in association with the data.

On the other hand, when reproducing the stored data, the CPU 1
1 selects a predetermined memory area, reads out predetermined data from the memory unit 10, inputs this to the compression / decompression circuit 8, performs decompression processing, and stores it in the frame memory 4. The image data is read again from the frame memory 4, converted into an analog signal by the D / A converter 5, converted into a video signal by the video encoder 6,
The image is displayed as an image on the display unit 24 which is an image display means made of liquid crystal or the like.

When synthesizing images, the CPU 11 detects the input state of the synthesizing image selection switch 14 as the synthesizing image selecting means, and determines the input state of the memory unit 10 and the synthesizing image memory unit 12 as the synthesizing image storage means. And reads out the captured image data and the image data for synthesis, and inputs them to the image synthesis unit 9 via the compression / decompression circuit 8. Then, it reads out the photographing lens focal length data, the subject distance data, and the subject luminance data stored in association with the above-mentioned photographed image data, and inputs these to the image combining section 9 as the image combining processing means.

The image synthesizing section 9 converts the size and brightness of the image for synthesis into the image magnification and shooting brightness of the shot image based on the shooting lens focal length data, subject distance data, and subject brightness data of the input shot image. After the conversion, the captured image and the image for combination are combined, and the combined image is stored in the frame memory 4. It should be noted that the data for the photographing information to be read may include the azimuth data and the posture data at the time of photographing, and may be used to convert the image for synthesis using these data.

The composite image data stored in the frame memory 4 is read out again in the same manner as when reproducing a normal image.
The signal is converted into an analog signal by the D / A converter 5, converted into a video signal by the video encoder 6, and a composite image is displayed on the display unit 24 based on the signal.

The image data synthesized and displayed as described above is compressed through the compression / decompression circuit 8 in the same manner as an ordinary photographed image by operating the synthesized image storage switch 15 and is stored in the memory unit 10. It is memorized. If the composite image is not the desired one, the composite image is not stored unless the composite image storage switch 15 is operated.

The sequence of photographing and image processing operations of the electronic camera having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, when a power switch, not shown in FIG.
Determines whether the shooting / synthesis changeover switch 13 is set to the shooting mode or the synthesis mode (S1). Each S number indicates the number of a processing step in each processing routine.

If the photographing mode has been set, the process proceeds to step S20 and subsequent steps, and the release switch 23
Wait for input (S20). If the shooting / synthesis changeover switch 13 is set to the synthesis mode while waiting for the input of the release switch 23 (S24), the process proceeds to S2. When the power switch is turned off (S25),
This routine ends. When the release switch 23 is pressed, a photographing sequence process is executed (S21), and the photographed image is stored in the memory unit 10 (S22).
Then, the photographed image is reproduced and displayed in Step 4 (S23), and the present routine ends.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1 that the mode is not the photographing mode but the synthesis mode, the CPU 11 sets the image selection switch 1 for synthesis.
4 is read out (S2, S3). Further, the memory unit 10 or the zoom driving unit 1 stores the photographed image data and the photographing information of the photographed image, that is, the photographing data that gives the photographing conditions such as the photographing lens focal length, the subject distance, and the subject luminance.
6. Reading is performed from the distance measuring unit 17 and the photometric unit 18 (S4).

Then, the size of the image for synthesis is converted by the magnification obtained from the focal length of the photographing lens and the object distance, and the brightness of the image for synthesis is converted by the luminance of the object (S5).
The converted image and the photographed image are combined (S6),
The composite image is displayed on the display unit 24 (S7).

Subsequently, an input from the composite image storage switch 15 is waited for (S8). When the composite image storage switch 15 is pressed, the composite image is stored (S11), and this routine ends. If the shooting / synthesis changeover switch 13 is set to the shooting mode while waiting for the input of the synthesis image storage switch 15 (S9), the synthesis image is not stored, and
The flow shifts to input waiting for the release switch 23 (S20). In addition, even when the power switch is turned off, this routine ends without storing the composite image.

Although not shown in the flow chart of FIG. 5, when the photographing / combining switch 13 is set to the combining mode in a state where there is no photographed image taken in step S1, a warning is issued or Alternatively, processing such as forcibly shifting to the processing after step S20 is performed.

In the conversion of the image for synthesis based on the photographing lens focal length, the object distance, and the object brightness in step S5, a predetermined coefficient is calculated from the above three data, and the image for conversion is converted based on the coefficient. I do.

That is, the composite image data conversion is performed according to the procedure shown in the flowchart of the subroutine composite image data conversion processing in FIG. First, as the focal length data fg, subject distance data Lg, and subject luminance data Eg of the photographing lens for the image for combination, the focal length data fs of the photographing lens and the subject distance data L for the photographed image.
s, subject brightness data Es, the image magnification conversion coefficient K
z is determined by Kz = (Lg / fg) / (Ls / fs) (1) (S100).

Further, the brightness conversion coefficient KE is obtained from the subject brightness data Eg and Es as an absolute amount of integration by KE = Es / Eg (2) (S101).

Then, according to the value of the image magnification conversion coefficient Kz,
If Kz> 1, an interval between pixel data is provided according to the value of Kz, and the interval is interpolated. Kz if Kz> 1
Is enlarged or reduced by a method such as erasing the pixel data at intervals according to the value of (1) and reducing the interval of the remaining pixel data (S102). The brightness is converted by multiplying the brightness data of the image for synthesis by the image magnification conversion coefficient Kz (S103).

As a modified example of the composite image data conversion processing in step S5, a plurality of image data having different image sizes and brightness are prepared in advance for one type of composite image, and It is also possible to determine and select a photographed image that is close to the photographing condition based on the coefficient calculated from the photographed data.

The image synthesis in step S6 is performed according to the procedure shown in the flowchart of the subroutine image synthesis data creation processing in FIG. First, a predetermined head address of the pixel data of the image for combination is set (S20).
0), the number n of pixel data is set (S201). Then, the pixel data at the designated address is read (S20
2) It is determined whether or not the pixel contains synthesis data (S203). The above determination is made by a method such as determining that there is no data if the data is 0.

If there is data for synthesis, the pixel data at the address corresponding to the photographed image is overwritten with the data for synthesis (S204), and the number n of pixel data is decremented (S205). The process returns to the next data reading process until (S206). This routine ends when n becomes 0. If there is no data in the determination in step S203, the process jumps to step S205.

By repeating the above-described process of creating image composite data, a captured image is overwritten to create a composite image. In addition,
As a modified example of the above-described image synthesis data creation, the synthesis image is divided into a plurality of predetermined blocks, the presence or absence of the synthesis data is determined, and the above-described overwriting process is performed on a block having the synthesis data. Is also good.

As described above, in the electronic camera of the first embodiment, the image captured by the electronic camera and the pre-stored composite image can be used without using other large-sized equipment such as a personal computer. You can easily enjoy combining the image with the image. In addition, since the synthesis image is converted based on the shooting data of the shot image so as to approach the shooting conditions of the shot image and synthesized, a synthesized image with a more natural feeling can be created.

Next, an electronic camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the electronic camera of the first embodiment, the image for synthesis is stored in the electronic camera in advance, but the electronic camera of the second embodiment can store the captured image as the image for synthesis. I do.

FIG. 8 is an external view of an electronic camera according to the second embodiment. FIG. 8 (A) is a front view thereof, and FIG. 8 (B) is a rear view thereof. As shown in FIG. 8A, the electronic camera body 2 is similar to the first embodiment.
1, a photographing lens 22 on the front and a relays switch 2 on the top
3 are provided. In addition, as shown in FIG. 8B, on the back of the electronic camera, in addition to the display unit 24, various switches, that is, a shooting / synthesis / registration changeover switch 30, a synthesis image selection switch 27, and a synthesis image storage switch 2
6 are arranged.

The photographing / synthesizing / registration changeover switch 3
If “0” is set to the “registration mode” side, the image is displayed on the liquid crystal screen of the display unit 24 as an image obtained by the first shooting captured through the shooting lens 22 by operating the release switch 23. By operating the composite image storage switch 26 in that state, the display image is used as the composite image and the N set by the composite image selection switch 27 is set.
O. You can register to. The operation when the shooting / synthesis / registration switch 30 is set to “shooting mode” and “synthesis mode” is the same as that in the first embodiment. In the “synthesis mode”, the photographed image captured by the second photographing and the registered compositing image are combined.

Next, referring to the block diagram of FIG.
The configuration of the electronic camera according to the embodiment will be described. Each component of the electronic camera is also controlled by the CPU 11. The CPU 11 determines whether to perform normal shooting, image synthesis, or registration of an image for synthesis by a shooting / synthesis / registration switch 3.
The determination is made by detecting the input state of 0, and each sequence control is performed according to the input state.

That is, when the user operates the release switch 23 at the time of registering the image for synthesis, the CPU 11
Sends an image captured by the photographing lens 22 and the photographing circuit 2 to the A / D converter 3 to convert the image into a digital signal, and temporarily stores the digital signal in the frame memory 4 as a photographed image storage means.

Then, the image data is converted into an analog signal by the D / A converter 5, further converted into a video signal by the video encoder 6, and an image is displayed on the display unit 24 as image display means. In this state, when the CPU 11 detects an input signal from the image-for-synthesis storage switch 26, the data of the displayed image is cleared by the registered image processing unit 31, which is the registered image processing means, in an area having a predetermined contrast or less. Converted to image data.

For example, the image 61 of FIGS.
If the shaded area is lower than the predetermined contrast as shown at 62, the data in the shaded area is cleared and the UFO 61a or the person 6 is cleared.
It is converted into image data of only the portion 2a. After the image data is compressed through the compression / decompression circuit 8, the image data in the combining image memory unit 12 of the combining image storage unit designated by the input state of the combining image selection switch 27, which is the combining image selection unit, is stored. It is stored in a predetermined area. In addition,
The operations during normal shooting and image synthesis are the same as those in the first embodiment.

Hereinafter, the photographing and image processing operations of the electronic camera according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the shooting / synthesis / registration changeover switch 30 is set to the combination mode (S30). When the switch is set to the combination mode, the CPU 11 performs the processing from step S31. The processes in steps S31 to S40 are the same as the processes in the first embodiment shown in FIG.

When the photographing / synthesis / registration changeover switch 30 is set to the photographing mode or the registration mode, it is determined whether or not the release switch 23 has been pressed (S41). Here, release switch 2
If the shooting / synthesis / registration changeover switch 30 is set to the synthesis mode while waiting for the input of No. 3 (S54), S
If the power switch is turned off (S55), this routine ends.

When the release switch 23 is input, the photographing and display are performed (S42, S43). Then, while the photographed image is displayed, it is determined whether the setting of the photographing / synthesis / registration switch 30 is the photographing mode or the registration mode (S44). The stored image is stored (S45), and this routine ends. On the other hand, when the mode is set to the registration mode, the input of the composite image storage switch 26 is waited for (S46). When the photographing / compositing / registration changeover switch 30 is set to the photographing mode while waiting for the input (S47), If the combination mode is set in the process of step S41 (S48), the process proceeds to step S31. If the release switch 23 has been pressed (S52), the process proceeds to step S42, where the photographing is performed again, and the power switch is turned off (S5).
In 3), this routine ends.

On the other hand, if there is an input from the composite image storage switch 26, the data in the area of the displayed image having a predetermined contrast or less is cleared and converted into a composite image (S49). The input state of the synthesizing image selection switch 27 is read (S50), and the set NO. The image and the photographing condition information data are stored in a predetermined area of the compositing image memory unit 12 corresponding to (1) (S51), and this routine ends.

In the above-described processing, the composite image storage switch 2 for storing a composite image in a state where the photographing / composite / registration switch 30 is set to the composite mode.
6 and a combination image selection switch 27 for designating a predetermined combination image, a switch for storing an image taken by the user as a combination image when the registration mode is set, and an area for storing the image. Although the switches are commonly used as switches for designation, these switches may be arranged separately.

Also, when storing a captured image as an image for synthesis, the data of the imaging conditions, that is, the data of the focal length of the imaging lens, the object distance, and the object brightness are stored together to perform image synthesis. It goes without saying that the composition image can be used for data conversion of the composition image so as to approximate the photographing condition of the photographed image.

According to the electronic camera of the second embodiment, images taken by the photographer can be combined with each other, and a composite image more preferable to the photographer can be created.

Next, an electronic camera according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the camera according to the second embodiment, when an image photographed by the photographer himself is stored as an image for composition, the photographing / compositing / registration switch 30 is used.
Is set to the registration mode, the first shooting is performed,
The captured image is stored as a composite image, and the images are composited using the latest captured image obtained by the second photography and the image for composition. On the other hand, the electronic camera according to the third embodiment selects an image to be registered from the captured images obtained by the first shooting so far, stores the selected image as a compositing image, and further composes the image. In addition, it can be performed with an arbitrary photographed image in the photographed image obtained by the second photographing and the image for combination.

FIG. 12 is an external view of an electronic camera according to the third embodiment. FIG. 12 (A) is a front view,
(B) is a rear view. As shown in FIG. 12A, as in the first embodiment, a photographing lens 22 is provided at a predetermined position on the front surface of an electronic camera body 21 and a relay switch 23 is provided on the upper surface.
Are arranged. Also, as shown in FIG. 12B, on the back of the electronic camera main body 21, in addition to the display unit 24, various switches, that is, a photographing / compositing / playback / registration changeover switch 40, a compositing image selection switch 14, A composite image storage switch 15 is provided.

When the photographing / synthesis / reproduction / registration switch 40 is set to the "reproduction mode", the NO. Is set to the "composite mode" or "registration mode" in the state where the photographing / synthesis / reproduction / registration switch 40 is set to the "composition mode" or "registration mode". It can be synthesized with an image or registered as an image for synthesis.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of an electronic camera according to the third embodiment. In this electronic camera, the operation of each component is controlled by the CPU 11. The input state of the photographing / synthesis / reproduction / registration switch 40 is detected by the CPU 11, and sequence control of each mode is performed according to the input state. That is, at the time of reproducing the photographed image, the NO. Read out the captured image data from a predetermined area of the memory unit 10 corresponding to
Playback display is performed in the same manner as in the case of the electronic camera of the first embodiment.

In this state, when the photographing / synthesis / reproduction / registration switch 40 is set to the synthesis mode, the image reproduced and displayed in the same manner as in the first embodiment is selected. Synthesis with the image is performed. Also,
When the registration mode is set, the reproduced image is stored as a compositing image in the designated predetermined area of the compositing image memory unit 12 in the same manner as in the second embodiment. When the shooting mode is set, a normal shooting state is set.

The photographing and image processing operations of the electronic camera according to the third embodiment will be described below with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. First, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the shooting / synthesis / reproduction / registration changeover switch 40 is set to the synthesis mode (S60). When the switch is set to the synthesis mode, the CPU 11 performs the processes from step S61. Steps SS61 to S70 are the same as steps S2 to S11 in the first embodiment.

If the shooting / synthesis / playback / registration switch 40 is set to a mode other than the synthesis mode, the process proceeds to step S71 to determine whether or not the setting mode is the shooting mode. Shifts to the processing of steps S72 to S75. That is, the input of the release switch 23 is awaited, and the release switch 2
When 3 is pressed, shooting is performed (S76). Then, photographing data at the time of photographing, that is, data of the photographing lens focal length, the subject distance, and the subject luminance are stored in the memory unit 10 together with the photographed image (S77). Display the captured image (S
78), this routine ends.

The reason that the photographing data is stored together with the photographed image in step S77 is that the photographed image is registered as a synthesizing image, and the photographing data is converted into the synthesizing image when the image is synthesized using the image. Is necessary.

If the photographing / compositing / playback / registration changeover switch 40 is set to the compositing mode while waiting for the input of the release switch in S72 to 75 (S72),
The process proceeds to the image synthesis processing after step S61. Also,
If the power switch has been turned off (S74), this routine ends.

Then, step S71 or S73
When the reproduction mode is set in the reproduction image selection NO. Is read (S79), and the selected NO. Is read from a predetermined area of the memory unit 10 and displayed (S80).

If the photographing / compositing / reproducing / registration switch 40 is set to the compositing mode while the reproduced image is being displayed in steps S79 to S84 (S82), the process proceeds to the image compositing process from step S61. Then, the image reproduced and displayed at that time is combined with the image for combination. When the photographing mode is set (S83), the flow shifts to the release switch input waiting state processing from step S72. When the power switch is turned off (S84), this routine ends.

When the photographing / synthesis / reproduction / registration switch 40 is set to the registration mode (S81), the processing shifts to steps S85 to S89 (see FIG. 15) to synthesize the reproduced and displayed image. It is in a state of waiting for an input of the composite image storage switch 15 for determining whether or not to be registered as a use image.

When the photographing / synthesizing / playback / registration switch 40 is set to the photographing mode while the image-for-synthesis storage switch 15 is in the input waiting state (S8).
5) The process proceeds to the release switch input waiting state after step S72. If the reproduction mode has been set (S86), the processing shifts to the reproduction image display and selection state processing from step S79. If the combination mode has been set (S87), the process proceeds to image combination processing from step S61, and the image reproduced and displayed at that time is combined with the combination image. When the power switch is turned off (S88), this routine ends.

When the image-for-synthesis storage switch 15 is pressed (step S89), the processing shifts to step S90 and thereafter, and the image reproduced and displayed is stored as the image for synthesis. This process is the same as the process after step S49 in the second embodiment of FIG.

With the operation described above, in the electronic camera according to the third embodiment, any one of the previously photographed images is registered as a synthesizing image, and any one of the photographed images is similarly registered. , And the stored photographed image and the registered compositing image can be selected to perform image compositing, so that various combinations of image compositing can be performed at a place where photographing is not performed.

In the electronic camera according to each of the above-described embodiments, the photographing data, which is the photographing condition applied during photographing, includes azimuth data during photographing, as well as data on the focal length of the photographing lens, subject distance, and subject brightness. Information that can be used for image processing, such as camera attitude data, may also be stored, and these may be used to convert the compositing image during the compositing process.

In the electronic camera according to each of the embodiments, when generating a composite image synthesized from the captured image and the image for synthesis, the size of the image for synthesis is determined based on the photographing data which is a photographing condition at the time of photographing. Although the brightness and the like are converted, the conversion process may be performed on the photographed image in reverse, and the synthesis process may be performed so as to match the image for synthesis.

(Supplementary Note) Based on the above-described embodiment, an electronic camera having the following configuration can be proposed. (1) In an electronic camera having image monitor means, image storage means for storing one image data for synthesis used for image synthesis for synthesizing two images, and focal length information in response to a change in the focal length of the photographing lens. A distance measuring means for measuring the distance of the object and outputting object distance information; a light measuring means for measuring the luminance of the object and outputting the object luminance information; Information, subject distance information, and subject distance information, based on at least one of the information, the one image data for synthesis used for image synthesis is converted, and the converted data and the captured image as the other image data are converted. An electronic camera, comprising: image combining processing means for creating a combined image with data.

(2) In an electronic camera having image monitor means, a photographed image storage means for storing photographed image data of a subject photographed through a photographing lens, and one synthesizing means using image synthesizing for combining two images. Compositing image storage means for storing image data, focal length changing means for outputting focal length information in response to a change in the focal length of the photographic lens, and ranging for outputting subject distance information by measuring the distance of the subject Means for measuring the brightness of the subject, outputting photometric brightness information; and using the photometric means for image synthesis based on at least one of the focal length information, the subject distance information, and the subject distance information. An image synthesizing means for converting one of the image data for synthesizing and forming a synthetic image with the converted data and the photographed image data as the other image data; , An electronic camera, characterized by comprising.

(3) In Supplementary Note 2, a plurality of the image data for synthesis are stored in advance in the image storage means for synthesis.

(4) In Supplementary note 3, there is provided a combining image selecting means for selecting at least one of the plurality of combining image data for use in the image combining processing means.

(5) In Supplementary Note 2, there is provided a combined image storage unit for storing the combined image by the image combining processing unit.

(6) In Supplementary Note 2, the image monitor means displays at least one of the photographed image, the composite image, and the composite image.

(7) In the supplementary note 2, there is provided an image registration processing means for converting the photographed image into the image data for synthesis and storing the data in the image storage means for synthesis.

(8) In Supplementary Note 7, when the image data for synthesis of the image is stored by the image storage means for synthesis, the focal length information of the photographing lens, the subject distance information, There is means for storing at least one of the luminance information.

(9) In an electronic camera that captures a subject image taken through a taking lens, a photographed image storage means for storing photographed image data of a photographed subject, and one synthesizing image used for synthesizing an image for synthesizing images Compositing image storage means for storing data, focal length changing means for outputting focal length information in response to a change in the focal length of the taking lens, and distance measuring means for measuring subject distance and outputting subject distance information Photometric means for measuring subject brightness and outputting subject brightness information; and image synthesis based on at least one of the focal length information, the subject distance information, and the subject distance information at the time of shooting. An image synthesizing process for converting the one image data for synthesizing to be used for the above, and creating a synthetic image by using the converted data and photographed image data as the other image data. Means and said captured image data and / or an electronic camera, characterized in that the image display means for displaying the image obtained based on the synthesized image data, comprising a.

(10) In the supplementary note 7 or 9, the image synthesizing processing means changes the image magnification and / or luminance of the synthesizing image in accordance with the photographed image to create a synthetic image.

(11) Registered image processing means for converting an image photographed by the first mode photographing into the above-mentioned image data for combination in an electronic camera for taking in a subject image photographed through a photographing lens; A synthesizing image storage unit for storing the synthesizing image data to be used, and a storage area when the synthesizing image data is stored by the synthesizing image storage unit. A combining image selecting unit for selecting and specifying a desired one from a plurality of combining image data stored in the image storing unit; and a subject photographed by the second mode photographing separately from the first mode photographed image Photographed image storage means for storing photographed image data of a photographed image; focal length changing means for outputting focal length information in accordance with focal length change of the photographing lens; Distance measuring means for measuring the distance of the subject and outputting subject distance information; photometric means for measuring the brightness of the subject and outputting subject brightness information; the focal length information and the subject distance at the time of the photographing Photographing information storage means for storing at least one of the information and the subject distance information; and the photographing information storage means for use in image synthesis based on at least one of the focal length information, the subject distance information, and the subject distance information. Image synthesis processing means for converting the image data for synthesis to create a synthesized image with the converted data and the photographed image data; and an image synthesizing means for the photographed image, the image for synthesis, and the image synthesized by the image synthesis processing means. , An image display means for displaying at least one of them.

(12) In an electronic camera having an image pickup means for receiving an object light passing through a photographing lens and outputting an image signal, a photographed image storage means for storing a photographed image of a photographed object, Image-for-synthesis storage means for storing an image for synthesis, image-synthesis processing means for synthesizing the image for synthesis and the photographed image to obtain a synthesized image,
An electronic camera comprising:

(13) In an electronic camera having an image pickup means for receiving an object light passing through a photographing lens and outputting an image signal, a photographing information output means for outputting photographing time information of a photographed image when photographing, A photographed image storing means for storing a photographed image and photographing information of the photographed image, a reproducing means for selecting and reproducing and displaying one of a plurality of photographed images stored in the photographed image storing means; Registered image processing means for converting a captured image into the composite image, and composite image storage means for storing the composite image data and the photographing information. A reproducing means for selecting and reproducing one of the two, a photographed image storing means for storing a photographed image and photographing information of a second photographed image selected separately from the first photographed image, The conversion processing is performed on one of the combined image and the captured image based on the respective captured information of the first and second captured images, and the converted image is combined with the other image to be combined. An electronic camera, comprising: an image synthesis processing unit for obtaining an image.

[0078]

As described in detail above, according to the electronic camera of the first aspect of the present invention, a complicated procedure is required only with the electronic camera without using a large-sized image processing device such as a personal computer. Thus, it is possible to easily obtain a synthesized image obtained by synthesizing the photographed image and the image for synthesis.

According to the electronic camera of the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the electronic camera of the first aspect, at least one of a plurality of images for synthesis is selected as an image for synthesis. Further, the photographed image, the image for synthesis, or the synthesized image can be displayed on the image display means for confirmation.

According to the electronic camera of the third aspect of the present invention, the photographed image and the image for compositing can be easily obtained without using a large-scale image processing device such as a personal computer and without any troublesome procedure using only the electronic camera. Can be obtained, and since the image data for synthesis used for the synthesis is converted based on the output of the photographing information output means and synthesized, a synthesized image synthesized in an extremely natural state is obtained. be able to.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of an electronic camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention, where FIG. 1A is a front view and FIG.
(B) is a rear view.

2A and 2B show a captured image, an image for synthesis, and a synthesized image in the electronic camera of FIG. 1; FIG. 2A shows a captured image; FIG. 2B shows an image for synthesis; C)
2A shows a combined image obtained by overlapping the captured image of FIG. 2A and the combining image of FIG. 2B.

3A and 3B show a captured image, an image for synthesis, and a synthesized image obtained by performing a synthesis process in consideration of shooting conditions at the time of shooting in the electronic camera of FIG. 1; FIG. 3A shows a shot image;
FIG. 3B shows an image for synthesis, and FIG.
FIG. 3 taking into account the photographing conditions in the photographed image of FIG.
3B shows a composite image obtained by converting the composite image of FIG. 3B and superimposing the composite image on the captured image of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the electronic camera shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a shooting and image processing routine in the electronic camera of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a subroutine composite image data conversion process called in the shooting and image processing routine of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a subroutine composite image data creation process called in the photographing and image processing routine of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is an external view of an electronic camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 (A) is a front view and FIG.
(B) is a rear view.

9A and 9B are diagrams showing a composition image obtained by converting data in an area having a predetermined contrast or less into clear image data in the electronic camera of FIG. 8; FIGS. 9A and 9B;
Shows two image examples.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the electronic camera shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a shooting and image processing routine in the electronic camera of FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 is an external view of an electronic camera according to a third embodiment of the present invention, where FIG. 2 (A) is a front view and FIG. 2 (B) is a rear view.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of the electronic camera shown in FIG. 12;

14 is a part of a flowchart of a shooting and image processing routine in the electronic camera in FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a part of a flowchart of a shooting and image processing routine in the electronic camera in FIG. 12;

[Explanation of symbols]

9 image combining unit (image combining processing unit) 10 memory unit (captured image storing unit) 12 image combining unit (synthetic image storing unit) 14, 27 image combining switch for combining (for combining) Image selecting unit 16 Zoom drive unit (Shooting information output unit) 17 Distance measuring unit (Shooting information output unit) 18 Photometry unit (Shooting information output unit) 24 Display unit (Image display unit) 31 ...... Registered image processing unit (registered image processing means)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An electronic camera having an image pickup means for receiving a subject light passing through a photographing lens and outputting an image signal, wherein a photographed image storage means for storing a photographed image of the photographed subject, and separately synthesized from the photographed image. Image-synthesizing means for storing images for photographing, photographing information output means for outputting information at the time of photographing of the photographed image, and, based on the output information of the photographing information output means, converting the image for synthesis, An electronic camera, comprising: image synthesis processing means for synthesizing the converted synthesis image with the photographed image to obtain a synthesized image. 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of images for synthesis stored in advance by said image storage unit for synthesis is:
Image combining means for selecting for use in the image combining processing means, and image display means for selectively displaying one of the photographed image, the image for combination, and the combined image. The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein: 3. An electronic camera having an image pickup means for receiving an object light passing through a photographing lens and outputting an image signal, the photographing information output means for outputting photographing information of a photographed image when photographing; Registered image processing means for converting a first captured image captured by shooting into the image data for synthesis; synthesizing image storage means for storing the image data for synthesis and the shooting information at the time of the first image capturing; Photographed image storage means for storing photographed image data of a second photographed image photographed by a second photographing separately from the first photographed image; and the synthesizing image data based on output information of the photographing information output means. And an image synthesizing unit for synthesizing the converted synthesizing image data with the photographed image data to obtain a synthetic image. La.