JPH10341390A - Electronic camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To detect a communication error by acquiring image data, while utilizing the image pickup function of camera during optical communication, and detecting the amount of deviation from an image at the time of optical communication start. SOLUTION: The operator of a camera 1 starts optical communication by setting the position and direction of the camera, so as to locate a light-receiving part 3 of a personal computer 2 inside an area 40. While utilizing the fact that the camera has an image-pickup function and a function for processing image data, the image captured through a photographic lens can be monitored on an image display device 10 of the camera 1 during communication. When the camera 1 is set into normal position and direction, an area mark showing the area 40 is displayed on a screen, so that it can be confirmed that the light- receiving part 3 is located inside that area. When the position or the direction of the camera 1 is considerably deviated and the light-receiving part 3 is not located inside the area 40, it means the state of occurrence of communication error.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic camera having an optical communication function, and to detect a preliminary state before or after optical communication becomes impossible due to a positional shift of a camera body during optical communication. Electronic camera that can be.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Electronic cameras include an electronic still camera for photographing a still image and a video camera for photographing a moving image. Among them, a digital camera, which is an electronic still camera using digital, is provided with an image sensor such as a CCD, captures an image captured by an optical system, and incorporates the photoelectrically converted image data or an external image storage device. To record. Unlike a traditional still camera of the type that exposes a photosensitive film, image data can be processed by a digital signal, and editing, transfer, recording, etc. of an image can be easily performed on a computer.

[0003] Such digital cameras further have functions such as optical communication using infrared rays or communication using a communication cable and have a function of transferring image data between cameras or a personal computer. Can be That is, two cameras having mutually compatible communication functions or a camera and a personal computer are faced to each other and set in a state in which bidirectional communication by light is possible, and the compressed image data in the image storage device is set to one camera. Is transferred to the other camera or personal computer and stored in the image storage device in the other camera or personal computer.

[0004]

However, in the case of performing optical communication using infrared rays or the like, the light projecting / receiving section on the camera side and the light projecting / receiving section on the personal computer side each have a fixed directivity. It is necessary to set the position of each light emitting / receiving unit within the range of the directivity. Normally, each position is appropriately set by an operator before starting communication. However, if the positional relationship changes during communication and the positional relationship is out of the directivity range, normal optical communication cannot be performed.

[0005] Whether or not this optical communication has been normally performed can be performed, for example, by repeatedly transmitting and receiving confirmation by a complicated communication control program. This is a departure from the original function of, which leads to unnecessary cost increase and is not preferable. Further, even if a communication error is detected by the communication control program, it is not possible for the operator to specify whether or not the cause is due to a camera displacement.

[0006] Although there is no problem in normal communication during the communication, if the operator can be informed in advance that the probability is high due to positional deviation, the cause of the communication error can be prevented beforehand. .

In general, the capacity of image data is relatively large, and the time required to transfer the image data is on the order of several minutes. Therefore, it is necessary to avoid as much as possible to request the operator to re-communicate due to a communication error. It is.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic camera that can easily detect a communication error due to a camera position shift during optical communication.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an electronic camera capable of detecting in advance that the possibility of occurrence of a communication error due to a camera position shift during optical communication has increased.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to an electronic camera having an optical communication function, comprising: an image storage device for recording image data captured by an imaging device; A light projecting / receiving device for projecting and receiving an optical signal including: a first image data captured by the imaging device before communication and a second image data captured by the imaging device during communication. A control unit for detecting a change in the image from the previous image.

According to the present invention, a communication error can be detected by acquiring image data using an imaging function of a camera during optical communication and detecting an amount of deviation from an image at the start of optical communication. it can. Further, it is possible to detect the occurrence of the deviation although the deviation amount is not large, and to give a warning.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, such embodiments do not limit the technical scope of the present invention. The present invention can be applied to an electronic camera,
Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described by taking a digital camera which is an electronic still camera as an example.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a state in which image data is transmitted from a camera to a personal computer. The infrared light emitted from the light emitting / receiving unit 23 provided on the front side of the camera 1 is received by the light emitting / receiving unit 3 of the personal computer 2. The light projecting / receiving section 23 has directivity having a boundary 42 with respect to the central axis 41. On the personal computer 2, the light receiving section 3 needs to be located within, for example, an area 40 having a radius a. is there.

Usually, the area 40 is designated by the operator of the camera.
The position and orientation of the camera are set so that the light receiving unit 3 of the personal computer 2 is located inside the camera, and optical communication is started. If the position and orientation of the camera are not appropriate at the start of the optical communication, the camera issues a warning because it cannot receive a response signal from the other party due to a simple protocol at the start by the communication control program.

However, even if the position of the camera 1 shifts during communication after the optical communication starts normally, some kind of detection means is required.

In the present embodiment, an image captured through a photographing lens during communication is used as an image of the camera 1 by utilizing the fact that the camera 1 originally has an imaging function and a function of processing image data. It can be monitored on the display device 10.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an image captured during the communication. FIG. 2A is an example of an image when the camera 1 is set to a normal position and orientation. For example, area 4
By displaying the area mark 40A indicating 0 on the screen, it can be confirmed that the light receiving section 3 on the personal computer side is located in that area.

FIG. 2B shows that the position or the direction of the camera 1 is shifted, but the light receiving section 3 is still within the area 40.
Indicates that no communication error has occurred, but the probability that a communication error will occur is high. Note that the area mark 40A does not move regardless of a change in the camera position.

FIG. 2C shows a state in which the position or direction of the camera 1 is further shifted, the light receiving section 3 is not located in the area 40, and a communication error naturally occurs.

As described above, by sequentially monitoring the image captured by the imaging lens during the optical communication, it is possible to detect the position shift of the camera that hinders the optical communication. Further, by processing the image data, it is possible to compare the image data before the start of the communication with the image data during the communication and appropriately detect the shift amount.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the digital camera of the embodiment. The body of camera 1 has a boundary 4
Are rotatable by 90 degrees on both sides, so that the photographing can be performed while monitoring the monitor device 10 that displays the captured image. The image captured from the photographic lens window 5 is exposed to an image pickup device including a built-in CCD to generate image data. The basic functions of the camera include an optical viewfinder window 6, an auto focus window 7, a strobe window 8, a mode setting key 9, and a release switch 11.
Are provided. Further, a zoom drive switch 13, a camera control information display device 12, various switches 15, a monitor screen on / off switch 16, a rotation switch 17 for image selection or mode setting, and the like are provided.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a control unit and the like of the digital camera according to the present embodiment. The control device 30 composed of a microprocessor is the monitor device 1 shown in FIG.
0, display device 12, strobe 8, mode setting key 9, relays switch 11, monitor on / off switch 16,
It is connected to the rotary dial 17 and the light emitting / receiving unit 23 and the like.
In addition, an image storage device 2 in which image data is recorded
0, an auto-focusing device 21, a zoom lens driving device 24, a focus lens driving device 26, an image pickup device 27 including a CCD, an aperture driving device 28, an exposure device 29, and the like are also connected to the control device 30. As the image storage device 20, a flash memory made of, for example, a semiconductor which is recorded and held even when the power is turned off is used. Reference numeral 25 denotes a photographing lens.

By rotating the mode setting key 9,
From the power off state, a reproduction mode for photographing or a communication mode is set. The rotary dial 17 is used, for example, to select an image through an image selection screen displayed on the monitor device 10 in the playback mode. Furthermore,
The rotary dial 17 is also used for switching between a transmission mode and a reception mode in the communication mode.

The distance R to an object within a predetermined area of the finder is measured by the autofocus device 21.
Under the control of the control device 30, the focus lens driving device 26 is driven according to the distance, and autofocus is performed. Further, the control device 30 drives the zoom lens driving device 24 so that the magnification is set by the zoom driving switch 13, and the set focal length f of the photographing lens is recognized by a signal from an encoder (not shown).

Control device 30 comprising a microprocessor
The camera includes a shooting program, a communication program, an image processing program for communication, and the like, and performs appropriate control according to a set mode.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, an image captured by the image sensor 27 during communication is displayed on the monitor device 10. Further, an area display mark 40A corresponding to the area 40 is generated from the distance to the personal computer 2 and the zoom magnification detected by the autofocus device 21 and displayed on the monitor device 10. As a result, the operator observes the monitor device 10,
It can be determined whether the light receiving unit 3 is always located within the area display mark 40A.

In another embodiment, the data of the image captured by the image sensor 27 during the communication can be further processed to determine the deviation from the image at the start of the communication.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for detecting a shift of an image during communication. Hereinafter, description will be made according to this flowchart. The operator first adjusts the position and direction of the camera 1 and sets the light projecting / receiving unit 23 to correctly face the light receiving unit 3. Thereafter, when the communication mode is set by the mode setting switch 9 and the transmission mode is further set by the rotary dial 17, the camera 1 executes a control program for detecting a shift of an image during communication.

First, the control device 30 causes the AF device 21 to measure the distance R to the transmission partner (S1). Then, the photographing lens 25 is driven by the zoom lens driving device 24.
Is set to a wide state (S2). In general, it is necessary to keep the distance to some extent or less in order to perform optical communication. By making the taking lens 25 wide, it is possible to capture an entire image of the other personal computer. As a result, the focal length f of the photographing lens 25 is recognized by the control device 30. Then, the controller 30 calculates a length Δ ₀ = af / R corresponding to the radius a on the CCD imaging surface as a deviation determination value from the distance R, the focal length f, and the radius a of the directivity range. (S3). The determination value delta ₀ is recorded in the RAM area and the like by the control device is built.

Therefore, the control device 30 reads out image data from the CCD element 27 as the initial image A and records it in the image storage device 20 (S4). Then, after image selection (not shown) is performed, transmission of image data is started (S5).

During transmission of the image data, the CCD element 27 is detected at an image shift detection timing at a predetermined sampling interval.
Is read and compared with the initial image A. In step S6, the image B at that time is read (S9) every time the timer expires (S8) until the shift detection timing interval timer starts and the transmission ends (S7).

Then, the images A and B are transmitted to the control device 3
0 (S10).
The shift amount Δ between the two image patterns is calculated (S11). The comparison of the images can be performed by comparing the initial image data stored in the image storage device 20 and the newly acquired image data by a well-known image recognition program. For example, by comparing the abstracted patterns, a shift amount and a shift direction of the image are detected. Then, it is determined whether or not the deviation amount Δ is equal to or greater than the determination value Δ ₀ = af / R calculated in step S3 (S12).
If a shift amount equal to or greater than the determination value is detected, the transmission of the image data is stopped (S15), and the fact that a transmission error has occurred due to the camera position shift is displayed, for example, on the monitor device 10 together with the direction of the shift ( S16). Alternatively, the warning of the occurrence of the communication error can be issued by blinking the self-timer lamp 14 of the camera. Alternatively, the warning may be not a light warning but a sound such as an electronic sound.

In general, the operator cannot know the cause of the communication error only by warning of the occurrence of the communication error. In this case, in the present embodiment, by detecting the position shift on the camera side, it is possible to inform the operator of the necessity of setting the position or direction of the camera 1 again by displaying a communication error.

Comparing the images A and B, if the amount of deviation Δ is less than the judgment value Δ ₀ = af / R, there is no problem in communication. However, in the present embodiment, when a small amount of deviation is detected (S13), the deviation occurs, and the direction of the deviation is displayed on the monitor device 10 as a preliminary warning as a preliminary warning. . As a result, the operator can recognize that the probability of occurrence of a communication error is high, and the cause can be eliminated in advance. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a communication error from occurring during transmission of image data. As described above, such a preliminary warning may be a preliminary warning using light from the self-timer lamp 14 or a preliminary warning using an electronic sound.

The above-described comparison of the images is performed at each shift detection timing. In general, transmission of image data may take several minutes, during which it is possible to detect a communication error or a communication error due to a positional shift of the camera due to vibration or the like.

In a general digital camera, since the wide focal length is 5 to 7 mm, the distance at which the optical communication from the camera by infrared light is possible is 30 to 80 cm. Assuming a focal length of 6 mm, a distance of 500 mm, and a directivity radius of 100 mm when the distance is 10 cm, the above-described shift amount Δ is as follows: Δ = 100 mm × 6 mm / 500 mm = 1.2 mm.

Therefore, when performing the optical communication, as shown in FIG. 2, the user receives the light receiving unit on the other side at the center of the range indicated by the broken line indicating the directivity range of the light emitting and receiving unit on the display screen. In such a case, if a shift amount of about 1 mm or more occurs on the display screen, a communication error occurs.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to detect an optical communication error due to a positional shift of a camera by monitoring an image of a communication partner using an imaging function of the camera during communication. it can. Further, occurrence of an optical communication error can be detected in advance.

Further, by comparing the image at the time of communication start with the image at the time of predetermined sampling during optical communication, an optical communication error can be detected from the shift amount of the image. The cause of the optical communication error due to the deviation of the position and direction of the camera due to vibration or the like can be accurately communicated to the operator.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a state in which image data is transmitted from a camera to a personal computer.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image captured during communication.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a digital camera according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a control unit and the like of the digital camera according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for detecting a shift of an image during communication.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 camera 2 personal computer 3 light receiving unit 10 monitoring device 20 image storage device 23 light emitting / receiving unit 27 image pickup device

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H04N 5/225 H04N 5/91 J 5/91

Claims (6)

[Claims] An electronic camera having an optical communication function, comprising: an image storage device for recording image data captured by an imaging device; a light projecting and receiving device for projecting and receiving an optical signal including a predetermined communication signal; A control unit that detects a change in an image from an image before communication based on first image data captured by the imaging device before and second image data captured by the imaging device during communication. An electronic camera, characterized in that: 2. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit compares the first image data and the second image data, and when a shift amount between both images is equal to or more than a predetermined value,
An electronic camera characterized by detecting communication failure. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit sets the predetermined value as a focal length of a photographing lens,
An electronic camera which determines from a distance from the communication object and an effective directional range of the light projecting / receiving device whether or not a shift amount between the two images is equal to or more than the predetermined value. 4. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit compares the first image data and the second image data, and when a shift occurs between the two images, displays the shift direction together with the shift. An electronic camera, characterized in that: 5. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit compares the first image data and the second image data, and issues a warning by display, sound, or light when a shift occurs between the two images. An electronic camera characterized by causing the electronic camera to operate. 6. An electronic camera having an optical communication function, comprising: an image storage device for recording image data captured by an imaging device; an image display screen for displaying an image captured in accordance with the image data; An electronic camera, comprising: a light emitting / receiving device that emits and receives an optical signal including the light signal; and a control unit that displays image data captured by the imaging device during communication on the image display screen.