JPH11284897A - Digital still camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the convenience for post-use of photographed image data by receiving a image from a camera main body as a horizontal state image at all times regardless that a photographing direction of the camera main body is a horizontal or vertical direction. SOLUTION: The digital still camera that photographs an object through a shutter operation and receives a photographed image to a recording medium as digital data is provided with a photographing direction detection section 120 that detects whether a photographing direction of a camera main body is horizontal or vertical and a signal processing circuit 103 that rotates the image data photographed based on the detection state by the photographing direction detection section 120 to a prescribed state.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital still camera for recording and reproducing image data and audio data to and from a storage medium, and more particularly, to whether the direction of the camera at the time of shooting is vertical or horizontal. The present invention also relates to a digital still camera having means for capturing horizontal image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when photographing a subject using a digital camera, the photographing is usually performed with the camera body horizontal. Then, the image data obtained by the photographing is used for INDEX printing as necessary, or taken into a personal computer or the like and displayed on a display. In addition, when the person or the subject is vertically long such as a tower or a high-rise building, it often happens that the camera body is set upright in the vertical direction. That is, in this case, the captured image data is captured as a vertically long image, and the image data is used as described above.

[0003]

However, in the conventional digital still camera as described above, the image data obtained by photographing includes horizontal and vertical directions according to the orientation of the camera body. Since images are mixed, I
There is a problem that it is hard to see when using NDEX print. Further, when the image data is displayed on the display, the image data in the vertical direction is rotated and displayed and output in the horizontal direction, so that the processing is troublesome. In addition, when performing print output, it is necessary to check the direction of the print paper and the direction of the image and then match them, so that this operation is troublesome or causes an operation error. As described above, the direction of the image data obtained by photographing is vertically long or horizontally long, and the directions are mixed, so that the image data lacks convenience when subsequently used in various forms.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above, and by taking in an image in a horizontal state at all times irrespective of the photographing direction of the camera body, the convenience in post-use of photographed image data is obtained. The purpose is to improve.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital still camera according to the first aspect, wherein a subject is photographed by a shutter operation, and the photographed image is recorded on a recording medium as digital data. In a digital still camera to be taken in, a camera shooting direction detecting means for detecting whether the shooting direction of the camera body is horizontal or vertical, and image data shot based on a detection state by the camera shooting direction detecting means are rotated to a predetermined state. And signal processing means for performing the processing.

That is, the camera photographing direction detecting means detects whether the photographing direction of the camera body is vertical / horizontal, and the image data photographed based on the detected information is rotated in a predetermined direction, so that it is always constant. Since the image data in the direction is taken in, the vertical / horizontal image data does not coexist, and post-processing such as print processing and display processing on an external device is simplified.

In the digital still camera according to a second aspect, the signal processing means rotates the image data by 90 ° or 270 ° when the detection state by the camera shooting direction detecting means is vertical. This executes signal processing.

That is, by executing signal processing for rotating image data by 90 ° or 270 ° when the detection state by the camera photographing direction detecting means is vertical,
Regardless of whether the state of the camera body at the time of photographing is vertical or horizontal, it can be captured as a horizontal image, and subsequent use of the image data can be performed smoothly.

In the digital still camera according to a third aspect, the signal processing means adds data relating to a shooting direction when storing image data in the recording medium.

That is, by adding vertical / horizontal information indicating the camera direction at the time of photographing to the image data,
It can be used effectively when the image data is used later.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a digital still camera according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(Configuration and Operation of Digital Still Camera) FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital still camera according to this embodiment. The digital still camera includes a camera imaging unit 101 including a camera mechanism for optically capturing an image, and a microphone 10 for inputting audio.
2, a signal processing circuit 103 as signal processing means for performing various signal processing (including rotation processing of image data, etc.) on image data and audio data input by the camera imaging unit 101 and the microphone 102, A data compression / decompression circuit 104 for performing data compression or data decompression processing of audio data, and a memory card (SRA) for storing captured image data and input audio data.
M) 105, a card I / F (interface) circuit 106 for inputting / outputting data between the memory card 105, a battery 107 for supplying power to the entire digital still camera, and a power supply voltage of the battery 107 Battery voltage detection circuit 108 for detecting a control program and an RO storing a control program and various control numerical values and the like.
M 109, a RAM 110 for temporarily storing the set mode and the like and used as a working memory, a display panel 111 for a set mode display and an error display, and various input switches / buttons for a mode setting A group 112 and a C for controlling the above-described units in a comprehensive manner based on a control program stored in the ROM 109.
A PU 113 and a photographing direction detecting unit 120 as a camera photographing direction detecting means for detecting whether the direction of the camera body at the time of photographing is a horizontal direction or a vertical direction are provided. Reference numeral 106a denotes a connector for connecting the memory card 105.

The ROM 109 is used for determining a reference value which is a battery voltage level necessary for each operation mode to perform a stable operation, and for determining whether or not the recording process according to the operation mode being executed is forcibly terminated. And a card access reference value that is lower than the forced termination reference value and is a battery voltage level at which access to the memory card 105 can be interrupted.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are external views of a digital still camera according to this embodiment. The digital still camera according to this embodiment has a recording mode (operation mode).
There are two modes: a still image mode for recording captured images as still images, a continuous shooting mode for continuously recording still images, an audio mode for recording audio, and a still image + audio mode for recording audio simultaneously with still images. A video mode for recording a moving image like a video camera, and a character mode for recording characters and the like neatly.

Here, referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the display panel 111 and various input switches / button groups 1
12 will be described. The display panel 111 is disposed on the upper surface of the camera body as shown in the figure, and is configured to display the status of the camera, such as the status of the battery, the number of recordable images, the set mode, and the like, with marks and numerals.

As the various input switches / button groups 112, a main switch 201 of the camera body, a self mode button 202 for setting self-timer shooting (self mode), and a mode relating to flash emission (strobe mode) are set. Button, a recording mode button 204 for setting the recording mode, a zoom lever 205 for changing the size of the subject in the viewfinder, and a two-step button. (Hereinafter, the first stage is referred to as release 1), and the auto focus is operated and further depressed (hereinafter, the second stage is referred to as release 2), and a release button 206 for starting recording on the memory card 105 is started.
, A date button 207 used for date adjustment, a time button 208 used for time adjustment, and an image quality mode (for example,
And an image quality mode switch 209 used for switching between an economy mode in which the number of recorded images is prioritized and a normal mode in which image quality is prioritized.

In the figure, reference numeral 210 denotes a card insertion slot for inserting the memory card 105, and 211 denotes a battery cover of a battery unit in which the battery 107 is stored. Further, a microphone 102 is arranged as shown.

FIG. 3 shows a display screen of the display panel 111, which is used for remaining number, remaining time, date, time, card status display, mode display at the time of recording, and image file number display, counter display, at the time of reproduction. A recording information display section 301 used for card status display / mode display, a strobe display section 302 for indicating whether or not to use the strobe, and a use state; a card display section 303 for indicating whether or not the memory card 105 is set; A memory card battery mark section 304 for indicating the remaining amount of the battery (battery) for the card 105, a battery mark 305 indicating the remaining amount of the battery 107, a still image mode display section 306 for setting the still image mode, An audio mode display unit 307 for setting the audio mode, a continuous shooting mode display unit 308 for setting the continuous shooting mode, and a moving image mode. Video mode display unit 3, which shows a set of
09 and a character mode display section 31 indicating the setting of the character mode
0.

Although FIG. 1 shows a state in which all information is displayed at the same time, only necessary information is actually displayed. Further, in this embodiment, the still image mode display unit 306 and the audio mode display unit 307 are used to display a still image +
It is assumed that the voice mode is displayed.

FIG. 4 shows the switching of the display screen on the display panel 111 according to the set recording mode. Each time the recording mode button 204 shown in FIG. 2 is pressed, the display screen of the display panel 111 is changed as shown in FIG. Switches.

(Camera Rotation Detecting Mechanism) Next, a camera rotation detecting mechanism which characterizes the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a camera rotation detection state during camera shooting. FIG. 5A shows a state where the shooting direction of the camera is horizontal, and FIGS. 5B and 5C show a state where the shooting direction of the camera is vertical. Note that 50
1 is a shutter.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a detecting mechanism of the photographing direction detecting section 120 (see FIG. 1). This detection mechanism is provided inside the camera, and uses a sensor (1) 602 using three photointerrupters according to the shooting direction of the camera.
a, a sensor (2) 602b, and a shield plate 601 that shields one of the sensor (3) 602c. Reference numeral 603 denotes a stopper for restricting the movement of the shielding plate 601. The photographing direction detecting unit 120 (see FIG. 1) includes a shielding plate 601 that passes (opens) / blocks the light receiving / emitting line of the photo interrupter according to the position of the camera body, and three sensors, namely, the sensor (1). 602a, the sensor (2) 602b, and the sensor (3) 602c.

5 and 6, when the position of the shielding plate 601 is at the sensor (1) 602a, the sensor (1) 602a outputs a detection signal in the state of (b) in FIG. Further, the position of the shielding plate 601 is determined by the sensor (2).
When it is at 602b, the sensor (2) 602b outputs a detection signal in the state of (a) in FIG. Further, when the position of the shielding plate 601 is at the sensor (3) 602c,
The sensor (3) 602c is configured to output a detection signal in the state of (c) in FIG.

(Image Data Capture Operation) Next, an image data capture processing operation using the camera rotation detecting mechanism configured as described above will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. Note that this processing operation is executed in the image data capturing processing by the signal processing circuit 103 (see FIG. 1).

In FIG. 7, first, the shutter 5
It is checked whether or not 01 has been turned on, that is, whether or not an image has been taken (S701). Here, if it is determined that the switch is not turned on, the process returns. On the other hand, shutter 5
01 is turned on, it is further determined whether or not the sensor (1) 602a is turned on (S70).
2). Here, if it is determined that the sensor (1) 602a is ON, the image data obtained by photographing is in the horizontal direction (see FIG. 5B).
It rotates by 0 ° (S703).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S702 that the sensor (1) 602a is not ON, it is further determined whether the sensor (2) 602b is ON (S2).
704). Here, if it is determined that the sensor (2) 602b is not turned on, the image data obtained by shooting is horizontal (see FIG. 5C), so that the image data is rotated by 270 °. (S705).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S704 that the sensor (2) 602b is ON, the image data obtained by photographing is in the horizontal direction (see FIG. 5A). Instead, the image is taken in the same direction (S706).

Therefore, the photographing direction of the camera is detected,
By constantly capturing image data taken in a horizontal direction based on the detection information, for example, INDEX
The print image becomes easier to see.

Also, when viewed on a display such as a CRT, the image data in the vertical direction can be viewed as a horizontal image without rotating the image data. Furthermore, at the time of print output, it is not necessary to check the orientation of the print paper and the orientation of the image data each time.
Its convenience is improved.

As described above, the photographed image data is recorded on the memory card (SRAM card) 105. At this time, the direction data at the time of photographing is added to the image data of the memory card (SRAM card) 105. May be added. It can be used effectively when the image data is used later.

[0032]

As described above, according to the digital still camera of the present invention (claim 1), the camera photographing direction detecting means detects whether the photographing direction of the camera body is vertical / horizontal. By rotating the image data shot based on the detection information in a predetermined direction, image data in a fixed direction is always taken in, so that vertical / horizontal image data is not mixed, for example, in a print process or an external device. Convenience of post work such as display processing can be improved.

According to the digital still camera of the present invention, the signal processing for rotating the image data by 90 ° or 270 ° is executed when the detection state by the camera photographing direction detecting means is vertical. By doing
Regardless of whether the state of the camera body at the time of shooting is vertical or horizontal, it can be captured as a horizontal image. Therefore, since the horizontal direction is always used without paying attention to the photographing direction, the subsequent use of the image data can be performed smoothly.

According to the digital still camera of the present invention, since the vertical / horizontal information indicating the camera direction at the time of shooting is added to the image data, it is effective when the image data is used later. It can be used.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital still camera according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an external view of a digital still camera of the digital camera in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a display screen of a display panel of the digital camera in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a switching state of a display screen on a display panel according to a set recording mode of the digital camera in FIG. 1;

5A and 5B are explanatory diagrams showing a camera rotation detection state during camera photographing according to the embodiment, wherein FIG. 5A shows a state where the photographing direction of the camera is horizontal, and FIGS. The respective vertical states are shown.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a detection mechanism of a photographing direction detection unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an image data capturing processing operation using a camera rotation detecting mechanism according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 101 Camera imaging unit 103 Signal processing circuit 105 Memory card 113 CPU 120 Photographing direction detection unit 501 Shutter 601 Shielding plate 602a, 602b, 602c Sensor 603 Stopper

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A digital still camera for photographing a subject by a shutter operation and taking the photographed image as digital data into a recording medium, a camera photographing direction detecting means for detecting whether the photographing direction of the camera body is horizontal or vertical. A digital still camera, comprising: a signal processing unit that rotates image data shot based on a detection state of the camera shooting direction detection unit to a predetermined state. 2. The signal processing means according to claim 1, wherein the signal processing means executes signal processing for rotating the image data by 90 ° or 270 ° when the detection state by the camera shooting direction detecting means is vertical. A digital still camera according to item 1. 3. The digital still camera according to claim 1, wherein said signal processing means adds data relating to a shooting direction when storing image data in said recording medium.