JPH1169280A - Still camera recording azimuth information and reproduction method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a user to recognize not only a photographed place and azimuth but also to classify and manage photographed images easily by recording data specifying the place and azimuth. SOLUTION: Position data from an azimuth information artificial satellite are received from an antenna Ant, at the same as when photographing is made, and a position calculation circuit 14 converts the data into longitude, latitude and altitude being position information based thereon. Together with the converted information, an azimuth from an azimuth sensor is automatically, recorded on a memory card 2 as one of management data, and the position/ azimuth information is reproduced in the case of reproducing the image. In this method, a photographed position image is displayed on a map in an image, and an azimuth image is displayed on a same screen.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a still camera capable of recording azimuth information by recording position data and azimuth information at the time of imaging together with a photographed image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a camera widely used at present, a silver halide film is used as a recording medium, and this film is developed by chemical processing after photographing, so that an image photographed by the camera can be instantly viewed. That was impossible.

In order to address such a problem, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 49-52192, an electronic type of converting an optical image into an electric signal and displaying an image on a television receiver is disclosed. Photography systems have been developed and have recently been commercialized.

That is, this electrophotographic system is:
This method uses a recording medium in the form of a cassette or cartridge, such as a tape, a disk, or a drum, made of a magnetic material, mounts the recording medium on a camera, and obtains a reproduced image by a television receiver connected to a reproducing apparatus. .

However, in this method, since the recording medium is made of a magnetic material, considering the memory capacity of a normally used size, it is extremely difficult to store digital data requiring a large capacity. Only a small amount of information can be stored. Therefore, analog data is stored, which causes deterioration of image quality.

In response to this problem, there is a memory card camera using a semiconductor storage element as a recording medium for digital data of a currently photographed image. When recording on this memory card, management data of each image data is recorded together with the image data in header information added to each image data in the memory area. However, some of the management data, which records only simple data such as date and time, is insufficient.

[0007]

In the above-described conventional apparatus for recording image data, there is a problem that occurs when a picture specifying a place is not recorded in photographed image information or when a landscape or the like is photographed. However, there are many cases where the location and orientation of the image are lost. In order to solve this problem, the location and orientation of the photographed image may be recorded each time. However, there is a problem that it takes much time and effort to do this. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a still camera capable of recording azimuth information for automatically recording position information and azimuth information during shooting.

[0008]

According to the present invention, a still camera capable of recording azimuth information includes first recording means for recording a photographed image on a recording medium, and a photographing direction at the time of photographing the image. Azimuth information output means for outputting azimuth information, an antenna provided on the top of the still camera for receiving a signal from an artificial satellite, and a position at the time of capturing the image based on a signal received by the antenna. A position information output unit that outputs position information having at least latitude and longitude information; and a second recording unit that records the direction information and the position information on the recording medium in association with the image. It is characterized by.

The reproducing method according to the present invention further comprises a step of reading out a photographed image and position information and direction information at the time of photographing the photographed image from a recording medium recorded by a still camera capable of recording the direction information. Reading the map information based on the position information from a map recording medium on which the map information is recorded; displaying a map created based on the map information on a screen; Displaying a position image indicating a shooting point at a position corresponding to the position information, and displaying an azimuth image corresponding to an azimuth corresponding to the azimuth information on the screen together with the map and the position image. And a step.

[0010]

The position information is automatically recorded on the basis of the signal from the artificial satellite together with the azimuth information at the time of photographing by the above-mentioned means, so that not only the azimuth and location of the photographing can be easily known but also the photographing. Classification and management of images can be easily performed.

According to the above-described method, the azimuth image is automatically displayed on the same screen at the same time as the photographic position image is displayed on the map in the screen, so that the actual photographic location is geographically determined, and At the same time, you can know the shooting direction at the time of shooting.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an example in which a still camera capable of recording azimuth information of the present invention is applied to an electronic still camera will be described.
This will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing an electronic still camera according to one embodiment of the present invention. The electronic still camera shown in FIG.
And a memory card 2 detachable from the camera body 1.
It is composed of

The camera body 1 is similar to a normal camera,
The camera includes a lens barrel 3, a viewfinder 4, a shutter 5, and the like, a receiving unit for receiving radio waves, and an opening 6 for inserting the memory card 2 serving as a film used in a normal camera. The antenna is for receiving a signal from an artificial satellite.

FIG. 2 is a circuit configuration diagram for explaining the configuration of the camera body 1. Lens 7 arranged in lens barrel 3
Projects a subject image via the lens 7 onto a CCD 8 disposed on the back of the lens 7. The CCD 8 outputs an analog electric signal according to the brightness of the projected optical image. This electric signal is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 9.

The CPU 11 performs overall control of the entire electronic still camera including the memory card 2. When the user determines the recording timing with the shutter 5, the CPU 11 sends a shutter pulse to the band compression circuit 10. The band compression circuit 10 performs band compression of the digital image data supplied from the A / D converter 9 and outputs data to the memory card control circuit 13.

When the recording timing is input, the CPU 11 sends a shutter pulse to the position calculating circuit 14. The position calculation circuit 14 converts the signal from the artificial satellite received from the antenna Ant into longitude, latitude, and altitude data, and outputs the data to the memory card control circuit 13.

FIG. 3 shows a memory card control circuit 13.
FIG. 2 is a circuit configuration diagram for describing a configuration around the device. When the shutter is pressed, the CPU 11 also sends a shutter pulse to the timing generation circuit 15. The timing generation circuit 15 outputs a predetermined pulse to the I / O control system 17 and the address generation circuit 16 according to the input of the pulse. In the address generating circuit 16 supplied with the pulse, C
An address signal corresponding to an initial address value specified by the PU 11 and an address generation value obtained by sequentially adding 1 is generated,
The data is sent from the address output terminal 20 to the memory card 2.

On the other hand, the data input terminal is connected to the band compression circuit 10.
The data relating to the image from
The / O control system 17 sends 8-bit data corresponding to the address signal generated by the address generation circuit 16 to the memory card 2 from the data output terminal 18.

FIG. 4 is a memory map for explaining a memory area formed by a memory mounted on the memory card 2. The memory area is a card header area 2 for recording data, which is unique to the memory card 2 itself.
2. Start address 2 of the area for recording each image data
Directory area 23 for storing 3a and end address 23b, image data area 2 for recording each image data
It can be broadly divided into three areas of 4.

The card header area 22 is a card number for recording data, which is unique to the memory card 2 itself. Area 2
2a, a remaining memory area 22b for recording remaining amount data of an area where data can be written in the image data area 24, a captured image number area 22c for recording data of the number of captured images of the memory card 2, and a final image data in the image data area 24. It is composed of an image data final address area 22d for recording data of a use address.

In the directory area 23, a start address 23a and an end address 23b of the data area are recorded. The data area 24 is divided into one for each screen.
The one screen data area 24a is recorded in the screen data area 24a, and each of the one screen data area 24a includes an image header area 24b and an image data area 24c for recording actual image data.

The image header area 24b includes an information classification area 24d indicating how data of a type, for example, image data and audio data, is recorded in an image data area 24c of one screen data area 24a, and an image data area. 24c,
What image processing method, for example, NTSC, CCIR
Area 24e indicating whether data is recorded by a method such as a method, a screen number area 24 for recording data of a screen number
f, an image quality mode area 24 for recording data of an image quality mode set by a compression ratio of the band compression circuit 10, for example.
g, time area 24h for image recording of the date and time of recording
24i, a title area 24j for recording data of the title of the recorded image, a position data area 24k for recording information on the recorded latitude, longitude and altitude.

FIG. 5 explains the details of the position data area 24k. The position data area 24k records the order of latitude, longitude, and altitude. Regarding latitude, the distinction between north latitude and south latitude 24l, degree 24m, minute 24n, second 24o,
24p below the decimal point of the second is secured for each 2 bytes, and the longitude is 24q, degree 24r, minute 24
s, 24t, and 24u below the decimal point of the second are secured for 2 bytes each, and for altitude 27v, 4 bytes are secured.
The data format is represented by a binary number. For example, north latitude 126 °
Assuming 50'33.6 ", east longitude 130 ° 32'25.6" and altitude 756m, 01,7E, 32,2 in hexadecimal
1, 06, 01, 82, 20, 19, 06, 02, F4
As shown in the above, one byte at a time is recorded in the memory from the beginning of the position data area 24k.

In this embodiment, the shooting location is recorded in the memory at the time of shooting, so that even if an image such as a landscape where the location cannot be determined is shot, the location can be determined immediately. In addition, there is no need for time and effort when classifying by shooting location.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the present invention. The electronic still camera shown in FIG. 1 includes a camera body 25 and a memory card 26 that can be attached to and detached from the camera body 25. The camera body 25 includes a color liquid crystal panel 28 for displaying image data and management data recorded on a memory card 26, a trackball 27 for operating a cursor, a parabolic antenna Ant for receiving signals from artificial satellites, A shutter 31 and a selection button 29 for selection are provided.

The trackball 27 has a built-in pulse generating circuit, and generates one pulse as the user moves the trackball 27 by a predetermined distance. The upper and lower and left and right pulse generation circuits are separated and generate pulses individually.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of the camera body 25 of FIG. In the figure, a lens 32 disposed in a lens barrel projects a subject image onto a CCD 33 via the lens 32. The CCD 33 outputs an analog electric signal according to the brightness of the image thus projected. The A / D converter 34 converts this electric signal into a digital signal.

The CPU 39 controls the entire electronic still camera including the memory card. When the user determines the timing for recording by the shutter, the CPU 39 sends a shutter pulse to the band compression circuit 35. The band compression circuit 35 compresses the band of the digital image data output from the A / D converter 34,
Output to the memory card control circuit 40.

When a recording timing is input, the CPU 39 sends a shutter pulse to the position calculating circuit 36. The position calculation circuit 36 converts the satellite signal received from the antenna Ant into latitude, longitude, and altitude data,
Output to the memory card control circuit 40.

Further, the azimuth discriminating circuit 37 uses the geomagnetism to set the photographed direction to 0 ° in the north direction, and indicates the direction.
Output to the memory card control circuit 40. When the shutter 31 is pressed, the photographing environment measurement circuit 43 measures the weather and temperature at the time of photographing and outputs it to the memory card control circuit 40. A thermocouple is used for measuring the temperature. Since the temperature of the thermocouple with respect to the output voltage is specified, the temperature can be measured from the output voltage. The measurement of the temperature is not limited to a thermocouple, and a variable resistor or a semiconductor element whose resistance changes depending on the temperature may be used. 4
Reference numeral 2 denotes a display circuit, and the liquid crystal screen 28 is instructed by the CPU 39.
To display map and image data.

FIG. 8 shows the memory card control circuit 4
FIG. 2 is a circuit configuration diagram for explaining the configuration of 0 and its surroundings. When the shutter is pressed, the CPU 39 sends a shutter pulse to the timing generation circuit 44 as well. The timing signal generation circuit 44 performs I / O by inputting a pulse.
The control system 46 outputs a predetermined pulse to the address generation circuit 45. The address generation circuit 45 generates an address signal corresponding to an initial address value designated by the CPU 39 and an address value obtained by sequentially adding 1 to the address signal, and outputs the address signal to the memory card 26 from an address output terminal.

The data input terminal receives data relating to an image from the band compression circuit 35. The I / O control system 46 outputs 8-bit data corresponding to the address signal generated by the address generation circuit 45. Data output terminal 4
7 to the memory card 26.

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram for explaining the configuration of the display circuit 42 and its peripherals. Numeral 53 denotes a cursor control circuit which controls the trackball 27, determines the position of the pointer, and sends position data to the image reproducing circuit 51. The cursor control circuit 53 has a cursor pointer (Px, Py). When the user moves the trackball 27 upward, a pulse is input from a pulse generation circuit built in the trackball 27, and P
Subtract 1 from the y counter. When moving downward, the Py counter is incremented by one. Moving to the left decrements the Px counter by one, moving to the right decrements the Px counter by one.
to add. When moving left and up, the Px counter is incremented by one, and the Py counter is decremented by one. Similarly, when moving in an oblique direction, the counter is incremented or decremented according to the moving direction.

Reference numeral 52 denotes a read-only memory,
The map data and the latitude corresponding to the map,
Longitude data is recorded in advance. The map data consists of a wide area map data that can display all the world maps and 16 world maps.
The divided enlarged map data is recorded. Many enlarged views of the enlarged view are also recorded. As for the latitude and longitude data, a reference for one point is provided on the map, and the latitude and longitude data of the reference point are recorded. The latitude / longitude data other than the reference point on the map is calculated based on the reference data.

A comparison circuit 54 compares the latitude and longitude data pointed by the trackball 27 with the latitude and longitude data of the position data in the management data of the image data shown at 24k in FIG. When the two data substantially match, the image number is output to the image reproducing circuit 47.

Reference numeral 51 denotes an image reproducing circuit.
2, the reproduction of the image data recorded in the memory card 26 and the retrieval of the image data in the memory card 26 are performed.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the details of the image reproducing circuit 51. When the memory card 26 is inserted into the camera body, the position data area 24k is read from the memory card 26, and the most enlarged map data that can mark the position data of all the images recorded on the memory card 26 is read from the ROM 52. Read and display on LCD screen.

The mark 57 is for indicating a more detailed position on the map, and marks a position on the map corresponding to the position data recorded on the memory card 26. 5
5 is a cursor on the screen operated by the trackball 27, the cursor 55 is moved,
Is pressed, the latitude / longitude corresponding to the position of the cursor 55 is calculated from the latitude / longitude data of the reference point provided on each map. Calculated latitude and longitude data,
The comparison circuit 54 compares the position data of the image data recorded on the memory card 26 with the position data. The comparison circuit 54 outputs the image number of the image data having the closest position data to the latitude / longitude data pointed by the cursor 55 to the image reproduction circuit 51. The image reproducing circuit 51 includes a comparing circuit 54
The image data of the image number output from is reproduced on the liquid crystal screen.

Reference numeral 56 denotes an azimuth at the time of photographing the reproduced image data. The azimuth is displayed in the direction of an arrow, such as north for upward, east for right, south for downward, and west for left. Next, the operation of the embodiment configured as described above will be described.

At the time of reproduction, when the user inserts the memory card 26, the position data in the management data unique to all the image data of the memory card 26 is read, and the most enlarged map on which all the position data can be marked is stored in the ROM 5.
2 and display it on the LCD screen. Further, a mark 57 corresponding to the position data is displayed on the liquid crystal screen for the entire image data on the map. The user moves the cursor 55 on the screen using the trackball 27 provided on the back of the camera. When the cursor is moved to the target position and the select button 29 is pressed, the position of the cursor 55 is converted into latitude / longitude data, and an image whose converted data is closest to the position data of the image data is displayed on the liquid crystal screen. . Further, when the selection button 29 is pressed, the map can be displayed again on the liquid crystal screen. In this embodiment, the azimuth information can be displayed at the time of image reproduction by detecting and recording the azimuth together with the image information at the time of photographing.

[0041]

According to the still camera capable of recording azimuth information of the present invention, the position information is automatically recorded based on the signal from the artificial satellite together with the azimuth information at the time of shooting. In addition to easily knowing the azimuth and location, the classification and management of the captured images can be easily performed.

According to the reproducing method of the present invention, since the photographing position image is displayed on the map in the screen and the azimuth image is automatically displayed on the same screen, the photographing direction at the time of photographing is easy. I understand.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing an electronic still camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit configuration diagram showing the configuration of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a circuit configuration diagram showing a configuration of a memory card control circuit shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a memory map diagram for explaining a memory area of the memory.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for describing a position data area in detail.

FIG. 6 is a rear view schematically showing the electronic still camera according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a circuit configuration diagram showing the configuration of FIG. 6;

8 is a circuit configuration diagram showing a configuration of the display circuit shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a state explanatory view showing an example of a display screen.

FIG. 10 is a rear view schematically showing the image and reproduction of the electronic still camera according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1. Camera body, 2. Memory card, 7. Lens, 8.
CCD, 9 A / D converter, 11 CPU, 13 Memory card control circuit, 14 Position calculation circuit, 15
... Timing generation circuit, 16 ... Address generation circuit, 17
... I / O control circuit, 28 ... liquid crystal screen, Ant ... antenna, 37 ... direction discriminating circuit, 42 ... display circuit, 51 ... image reproducing circuit, 52 ... ROM.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H04N 5/225 G06F 15/40 370C 5/781 H04N 5/781 510L

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A first method for recording a photographed image on a recording medium.
Recording means, azimuth information output means for outputting azimuth information in accordance with the azimuth at which the image was taken, an antenna provided at the top of the still camera for receiving signals from artificial satellites, A position information output unit that outputs position information having at least latitude and longitude information in accordance with the position when the image is captured based on the obtained signal, and the azimuth information and the position information to the recording medium, And a second recording means for recording in association with the image. A still camera capable of recording azimuth information. 2. A step of reading a photographed image and position information and direction information at the time of photographing the photographed image from a recording medium recorded by the still camera capable of recording the direction information according to claim 1. Reading map information based on the position information from a recording medium of the map on which is recorded, displaying a map created based on the map information on a screen, and displaying the map on the displayed map. Displaying a position image indicating a shooting point at a position corresponding to the position information; anddisplaying an azimuth image corresponding to an azimuth corresponding to the azimuth information on the screen together with the map and the position image. A reproducing method characterized by comprising: