JPH11250224A - Picture processor and method therefor and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display a main picture and an index picture on one screen. SOLUTION: The picture of each frame of a film 12 is photoelectrically converted by an image pickup element 22, and stored in a memory 30a through an image pickup circuit 24, picture processing circuit 26, and memory control circuit 28. The memory control circuit 28 stores an index picture obtained by thinning out picture data for the plural pictures stored in the memory 30a, and synthesizing them into a multiple picture in a memory 30b, reads the picture data of a picture to be read as a main picture from the memory 30a, reads the index picture from the memory 30b, synthesizes the read main picture with the index picture on one screen, and stores it in a memory 30c. As for the arrangement of the main picture and the index picture, a main control circuit 36 controls the memory control circuit 28 according to a condition designated by a user by a position setting device 40 to store the synthetic picture in the designated arrangement in the memory 30c.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method, and a storage medium, and more specifically to an image processing apparatus, a method for converting an image of a developed film, an image of a digital still camera, or an image recorded on a photo CD. The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method for performing a reproduction process, and a storage medium for storing program and software therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A film image reproducing apparatus which captures an image photographed in each frame of a developed film by a CCD image pickup device or the like and reproduces and displays the photographed image on a monitor TV. An image reproducing apparatus that reproduces an image stored in a storage medium such as a card and displays the image on a screen of a video monitor, an image reproducing apparatus that reproduces an image recorded on a photo CD and displays the image on a screen of a video monitor, and the like Is already known.

In such a conventional image reproducing apparatus, there is known a method of reducing an image of each frame to a predetermined image size, arranging the images as index images in a predetermined arrangement pattern, and displaying a predetermined number of images as one screen. Have been. An operation method is adopted in which a user selects an image that he or she wants to view larger from among small images included in an index image and displays it as a main image in an enlarged or standard size.

In a TV receiver or the like, a small image is fitted into a main image (picture-in-picture).
Alternatively, there is a type having a multi-display function of dividing a screen into two and displaying two screens simultaneously.

[0005]

In the multi-image display function of the conventional image reproducing apparatus, since the main image and the index image are not displayed at the same time, it is necessary to select an image to be displayed next as the main image while watching the main image. Could not. In addition, since the main image and the index image are not displayed at the same time, it is necessary to switch between the main image and the index image, which requires time and is not good in operability.

[0006] The present invention solves such problems,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus and method for displaying a main image and an index image simultaneously.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus and method capable of changing a relative position between a main image and an index image according to a user setting.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium for storing program software useful for implementing the above-described image processing method in an externally readable manner.

[0009]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus comprising: an arrangement determining unit for determining an arrangement of a main image and one or more index images on the same screen; and an arrangement determined by the arrangement determining unit. And an image synthesizing means for synthesizing the main image and the plurality of index images on one screen.

[0010] An image processing method according to the present invention comprises an arrangement determining step of determining an arrangement of a main image and one or more index images on the same screen; An image combining step of combining a plurality of the index images into one screen.

In the storage medium according to the present invention, a software program for executing each of the above-described image processing methods is stored in an externally readable manner.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention applied to a film image reproducing apparatus. A film 12 is wound and housed inside the film cartridge 10. The leading end of the film 12 is locked on a spool 14, and is pulled out of the film cartridge 10 by rotating the spool 14 by an internal motor 16. When the film 12 is stored in the film cartridge 10, the spool 14 may be set free from the motor 16 and the winding roller of the film cartridge 10 may be rotated. The film 12 is a silver halide photographic negative or positive film, which has been developed.

A luminous body 18 such as a surface-emitting type fluorescent lamp or a xenon tube is arranged on the back surface of the film 12 pulled out from the film cartridge 10. Luminous body 18
Is transmitted through the film 12 and the photographing lens 20
And enters the image sensor 22 via the. The taking lens 20 is arranged so that the optical image of the film 12 is formed on the photoelectric conversion surface of the image sensor 22.

The image pickup circuit 24 samples and amplifies the RGB output signal of the image pickup device 22 and
Represents white balance adjustment for the output signal of the imaging circuit 24,
It performs well-known camera signal processing such as exposure adjustment and gamma correction.
The memory control circuit 28 includes the memories 30a, 30b, 30c
Controls writing and reading of image data to and from the memory. Specifically, the image of each frame subjected to the image processing by the image processing circuit 26 is stored in the memory 30a. Memory control circuit 28
In addition, by performing address control on the memories 30a and 30b, the image stored in the memory 30a is subjected to a thinning process of image data (reduction in image size) and a multi-image combining process using the image data after the thinning process is performed. The stored multi image (index image) is stored in the memory 30b. The memory control circuit 28 further reads the image data of the image to be displayed as the main image from the memory 30a, reads the index image from the memory 30b, combines the read main image and index image into one screen, and stores the combined image in the memory 30c. .

The image output circuit 32 includes a memory control circuit 28
Converts the image data read from the memories 30a and 30b into an analog video signal and applies the analog video signal to the monitor TV.

The main control circuit 36 is composed of a microcomputer, and the operation device 38 and the position setting device 4 by the user are provided.
0, the film 12 is pulled out of the film cartridge 10 and stored in the film cartridge 10, and the image pickup device 22, the image pickup circuit 2
4. Control the operations of the image processing circuit 26 and the memory control circuit 28. The position setting device 40 is used by a user to specify a relative display position relationship between the main image and the index image.

The present embodiment has a main display mode for displaying only the main image, an index display mode for displaying only the index image, and a simultaneous display mode for displaying both the main image and the index image at the same time. The device 38 can instruct the main control circuit 36 which display mode to use. The main control circuit 36 causes the memory control circuit 28 to select the memory 30a, 30b or 30c for image output according to the designated display mode.

In the simultaneous display mode, the user can freely specify the relative positional relationship between the main image and the index image by using the position setting device 40. The main control circuit 36 determines the display size of the main image and the index image and the number of index images from the display position relationship between the main image and the index image, controls the memory control circuit 28 according to the result, and is stored in the memory 30a. The image to be displayed as the main image is reduced to the determined size, stored in the storage position corresponding to the display position in the memory 30c, and the image data of the image to be displayed simultaneously as the index image is read from the memory 30a or 30b. , The memory 30c
Is stored in the storage position corresponding to the display position of. As a result, the main image and the index image are stored in the memory 30c while being arranged at the designated display position.

In the main display mode, the main control circuit 36 reads specified image data from the memory 30a,
The data is supplied to the monitor TV 34 via the memory control circuit 28 and the image output circuit 32. In index display mode,
The main control circuit 36 causes the designated number of index image data to be read from the memory 30b and supplies the read index image data to the monitor TV 34 via the memory control circuit 28 and the image output circuit 32. In the simultaneous display mode, the main control circuit 36
The composite image data of the main image and the index image is read from 0c and supplied to the monitor TV 34 via the memory control circuit 28 and the image output circuit 32.

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 show examples of display modes in the simultaneous display mode.

In FIG. 2, the index images F11 to F20 are arranged below the main image F1. This arrangement is suitable for displaying a main image having an aspect ratio of 16: 9 (H size). The index image may be arranged on the main image.

In FIG. 3, index images F21 to F26 are arranged on the right side of main image F2. This arrangement is suitable for displaying the main image with an aspect ratio of 3: 2 (C size). As indicated by XXXX in the figure, character information relating to an image (particularly, a main image) may be simultaneously displayed in an empty space. The index image may be arranged on the left of the main image.

In FIG. 4, the main image F3 is arranged at the center, and the index images F31 to F50 are arranged around the main image F3.

In the examples shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the image to be displayed as an index image is scrolled by a predetermined operation in the vertical direction, the horizontal direction, the direction of rotation around the main image, and the like. You may do it.

In the above embodiment, the index image can be arranged at a different position with respect to the main image.
The main image and the index image may be automatically arranged so as to reduce waste on the monitor display area. FIG.
Shows a schematic configuration block diagram of such a modified embodiment. The same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The magnetic medium of the film 12 has an aspect ratio of a photographed image (H size of 16: 9, C size of 2: 2, P size of 2: 1) as one of photographing information when photographing with a camera. ) Is magnetically recorded. The aspect ratio information magnetically recorded in each frame is read by the magnetic read head 50 and supplied to the main control circuit 52.

In the simultaneous display mode, the main control circuit 52
The optimum display position and number of index images are calculated according to the aspect ratio information of the main image obtained from the output of the magnetic read head 50, and the synthesized image of the main image and the index image according to the calculation result is stored in the memory 30c. It instructs the memory control circuit 28 to generate it.

Therefore, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the index image can be arranged at an optimum position with respect to the main image without waiting for a command from the user.

Although the embodiment applied to a film image reproducing apparatus for reproducing an image of a developed film has been described, the present invention relates to an image reproducing apparatus for a photographed image of a digital still camera and a reproducing process for a recorded image of a photo CD. It is clear that the present invention can be applied to an image reproducing apparatus or the like that performs the above-described operations.

The present invention can be realized not only as a dedicated device but also as application software installed on a computer. That is, in order to operate various devices so as to realize the functions of the above-described embodiments, a computer in an apparatus or a system connected to the various devices stores software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments. The present invention also encompasses those which supply and execute the computer (CPU or MPU) of the apparatus or system by operating the various devices according to stored programs.

In this case, the program code itself of the software realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the program code itself and means for supplying the program code to the computer, for example,
A storage medium storing such a program code constitutes the present invention. As a storage medium for storing such a program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM and the like can be used.

When the computer executes the supplied program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (operating system) or other operating system running on the computer. Even when the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized in cooperation with application software, etc.,
It goes without saying that such a program code is included in the embodiment of the invention according to the present application.

Further, the supplied program code is:
After being stored in the memory provided in the function expansion board of the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs one of the actual processing based on the instruction of the program code. It is needless to say that a case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by performing all or part of the processes and executing the processing is also included in the invention according to the present application.

[0035]

As can be easily understood from the above description, according to the present invention, the main image and the index image can be displayed simultaneously and in a positional relationship designated by the user or a preferred positional relationship.

By allowing the relative position between the main image and the index image to be changed according to the user's settings,
Simultaneous display of the main image and the index image that is easy to see according to the user's preference can be realized.

By detecting the aspect ratio of the main image as image information and automatically setting the position of the index image and the number of images to be displayed in accordance with the information, the main image and the index image can be simultaneously and preferably positioned without troublesome operation. Can be displayed in a relationship.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention applied to a film image reproducing apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a display example in which an index image is simultaneously displayed below a main image.

FIG. 3 is a display example in which an index image is simultaneously displayed on the right side of a main image.

FIG. 4 is a display example in which an index image is simultaneously displayed around a main image.

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a modified embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10: Film Cartridge 12: Film 14: Spool 16: Motor 18: Light Emitting Element 20: Photographic Lens 22: Image Sensor 24: Imaging Circuit 26: Image Processing Circuit 28: Memory Control Circuit 30a, 30b, 30c: Memory 32: Image Output circuit 34: Monitor TV 36: Main control circuit 38: Operating device 40: Position setting device 50: Magnetic read head 52: Main control circuit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FIG06F 15/62 380

Claims (10)

[Claims] An arrangement determining means for determining an arrangement of a main image and an index image on the same screen, and combining the main image and a plurality of the index images on one screen with the arrangement determined by the arrangement determining means. An image processing apparatus comprising: 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a designating means for designating a positional relationship between the main image and the index image in the arrangement determining means. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an aspect ratio detection unit configured to detect an aspect ratio of the main image, wherein the arrangement determining unit determines the main image and the index according to the aspect ratio information output from the aspect ratio detection unit. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement of the images and the number of the index images are determined. 4. An image synthesized by the first image storing means for storing image data of the main image, a second image storing means for storing image data of the index image, and an image synthesized by the image synthesizing means. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a third image storage unit configured to store the image data. 5. An arrangement determining step of determining an arrangement of a main image and an index image on the same screen, and combining the main image and a plurality of the index images on one screen with the arrangement determined by the arrangement determining step. An image processing method comprising: 6. The image processing method according to claim 5, further comprising a designating step of designating a positional relationship between the main image and the index image before the arrangement determining step. 7. An aspect ratio detecting step for detecting an aspect ratio of the main image, wherein the arrangement determining step includes the main image and the index according to the aspect ratio information detected by the aspect ratio detecting step. The image processing method according to claim 5, wherein the arrangement of the images and the number of the index images are determined. 8. An arrangement determining step of determining an arrangement of a main image and an index image on one screen, and an image for combining the main image and the index image on one screen with the arrangement determined by the arrangement determining step. A storage medium storing program software for executing an image processing method having a synthesizing step so as to be externally readable. 9. The storage medium according to claim 8, further comprising a designation step of designating a positional relationship between the main image and the index image before the arrangement determination step. 10. An aspect ratio detecting step for detecting an aspect ratio of the main image, wherein the arrangement determining step includes the main image and the index according to the aspect ratio information detected by the aspect ratio detecting step. 9. The storage medium according to claim 8, wherein the arrangement of the images and the number of index images are determined.