JPH118817A - Automatic cd writer device for digital camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain an easy record production job by enabling a user to automatically and easily record the image data on a digital camera on an optical recording disk with no keyboard operation by using an input means such as a touch panel, a bar code, etc., and based on the screen guidance and the aural guidance. SOLUTION: An operator puts the coins into a coin slot 10 of a device main body 1, puts a PC card received from a camera into a PC card slit 3 and also loads a CD disk to be written into a CD disk slot 4 respectively. Then the operator inputs a start bar code based on the screen guidance and performs the image selection, image processing, image compression and print image production via a selection screen to produce a CD disk. When the image processing is selected, the lightness, saturation and sharpness are corrected according to the type of each camera. A camera image that is newly produced after the image processing is subjected to selection of wether to be compressed or not.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic unmanned digital recording system capable of transferring and recording an image from a memory card of a digital camera of a kind or a video reproducing apparatus provided at the same time to an optical disk from a video camera. It is an album creator. In recent years, digital cameras have become very popular. Images taken with a digital camera can be downloaded and edited on a PC by the user. However, we may expect this to become a problem as the number of vehicles increases in the future.
For one thing, if these images are stored semi-permanently, it is evident that the hard disk in the personal computer overflows. It must be stored on some kind of recording medium.
Secondly, from the current situation of digital camera shipments, it is necessary to consider how to process and display images for those who cannot (or cannot) use a personal computer. That is, when a person who has no personal computer or who cannot use a personal computer buys and uses a digital camera, the image of the camera is immediately overflowed with the image because the image is not transferred to the personal computer. Also, because memory cards are expensive, buying more than one increases the financial burden and is unlikely to do so. In addition, the burden increases when purchasing a personal computer and its peripheral devices. In view of the above points, the present invention provides a social infrastructure to support recording and editing, correction, writing, etc. of ordinary people using digital cameras in the future, so as to prepare a recording and viewing environment, and to provide a supporting social infrastructure. And an apparatus for performing the operation automatically.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a current digital camera, a transfer kit and a CD writer device designated by a camera maker are required by an individual to transfer the data to a personal computer, perform image processing, and write the data on an optical disk. Specialized software and its operation must be performed for each image.
Realizing and operating such an environment with a personal computer requires familiarity with the personal computer and knowledge. It is considered that such a series of operations cannot be performed by most conventional camera users. It is difficult for today's camera users who use simultaneous printing to use a digital camera unless the environment for viewing easily captured images is established. In addition, it has become an alienation factor for the spread of digital cameras in the future. The present invention can provide an automated digital image transfer recording environment for such layers.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A first object of the present invention is to install equipment having the above-mentioned functions in a shop in a town,
The camera user can easily record images on a CD disk and use a playback device connected to a personal computer or television at home to provide a recording creation means that can automatically display and turn the images. Equipment for promoting the social development of a virtualized environment. In particular, in this apparatus, a conventional image correction process for printing on silver halide paper, a plurality of print corrections for ink jet, digitized signals for CRT display, and the like are prepared and a recordable CD-ROM of a recording medium. , CDV, DVD, etc., add a compatible recording function to record on various storage media,
Provided is a digital device that can easily record at high speed, record on a digital medium with the same feeling as a conventional copier, and easily view it on a personal computer or television.

[0004] The most suitable use of this apparatus is a digital printing apparatus of a digital camera placed in a photo shop, a convenience store, a game center, or the like. The user can select a recording means (medium) in the same manner as a conventional copy. This is done by one-key operation at each stage of operation, digital processing and recording image type options can be selected, and then digital recording can be easily performed by operating a bar code like a normal copy.

[0005]

The digital printing environment provided by the apparatus according to the present invention is a control system comprising a software group for realizing an automatic printer apparatus for digital photographic image copying centered on an automatic and high-speed processing environment. And C
The hardware of a recording device such as a DR is housed in one housing, and is configured by hardware that is operated in an integrated manner. In particular, it records and writes on a disk as if it were a conventional copying printer. Therefore, the processing of the read image of the digital camera and the processing relating to the recording format are provided at a high speed.

[0006]

FIG. 2 shows the simplest overall configuration of the present invention. The present invention relates to a digital recording device which comprises a single CPU board, stores a card reader device and a CD-R recording device, and performs appropriate software control of these devices and functions from image processing and operation unit signals. It is. Fig. 1 shows the overall view.

Next, a CD disk used in this apparatus will be described. This device performs a series of processings on images read from commercially available digital photographic camera images and writes them on an optical disc, and by operating them integrally, much higher speed and automation than those handled by individuals, Furthermore, various types of processing and image optimization are realized. First, a user inserts a CD-ROM into a machine. This CD-R
The OM is sold by a CD-ROM vending machine mounted beside the main body. (Fig. 1) When this is purchased, this device is automatically activated. Further, since the present apparatus can additionally record on a CD disc which has already been written, a carry-in disc may be set. In that case, a separate fee will be charged with the carry-in disk set. In this case, when the coin is inserted, the main body is activated. After that, the user operates the barcode reader in accordance with the instructions on the screen to perform a desired operation. This processing flow is shown in FIG. (This apparatus uses barcode input means, but touch panel type input means can also be used.)

The information input by the user includes a camera to be used, selection of an image to be recorded, recording size, type of format, presence or absence of image compression, and the like. Make these choices according to the guide. Fig. 4 shows the selection screen (bar code table).
The procedure proceeds as described above. Eventually, a CD disk with an image display function is completed, and if this is set in a personal computer or CD-ROM playback environment at home, the software written at the same time starts up, image playback starts, and images are displayed automatically. Is done. This disc forms one photo book and becomes a photo album. The electronic photo book created by this device does not simply record images, but also writes functional software that automatically displays the recorded images by self-reproduction. It is different from the service that simply records images only on a disc because it is configured so that it can be automatically displayed without operation.

The function of the apparatus will be described according to the operation procedure. The operator first inserts coins into the device. Next, the PC card from the camera is inserted into the machine, and the CD disk to be written is mounted on the machine. Next, input the start bar code according to the instructions on the screen. Next, a CD disk is created by performing operations on a selection screen for image selection, image processing, image compression, and printing image creation. (Fig.-3, 4
Image selection displays the entire contents of the memory card in a small image. From among these, an image to be image-recorded or an image not to be image-recorded (switchable) is designated by a bar code with a number given below the image on the display screen.

In the selection of image processing, each correction of lightness, saturation and sharpness is processed according to the type of each digital camera. This is stored in advance with a correction coefficient for optimization according to the type of camera, and based on this value, is selected according to the type of camera of the user previously input. Regarding the processing of the image part, various image corrections other than the gradation processing can be designated. FIG. 6 shows the amount of correction for image data taken by a certain digital camera. Assuming that the correction amount of the original image is 1, each coefficient is
Contrast coefficient magnification of the etch portion, contrast indicates the coefficient magnification of the solid portion, and chroma brightness indicates the coefficient magnification multiplied by the position coordinates of the original image in the LAB color space. Other image decoration, tone adjustment, color correction, image file format conversion, and image size correction conditions can be selected from the image processing selection items first. In each case, processing is performed based on the value specified by the bar code.

Next, a selection is made as to whether or not a camera image in which image processing has been performed and an image having a different image size is newly created is to be squeezed. When the house is squeezed, it can be played back with the software written at the same time with this system, but the decompression process takes longer than the non-squeezed house. In this embodiment, the case of recording on a CD disk is shown, but other recording media, for example,
Even when a reusable CD disk, DVD, or the like is used, recording can be similarly performed. When the remaining CD disk is small, the compression mode is automatically set.

Next, a description will be given of a function in a case where a disk created by this apparatus is set in a personal computer.
Two modes, an automatic image display mode and a photo book editing mode, can be selected by software written at the same time. In the case of the automatic display mode, the reproduction display of the images is performed in the order in which the images are written. In the case of the edit mode, unlike the order of the recorded images, the necessary pictures can be selected and displayed in a new order. When newly re-assembled in order, the file information is stored and recorded on a hard disk in the main body. Therefore, when "New Photo Book" is selected, the photo book file is referred to the hard disk, and if there is no photo book file, "Create New Photo Book" is displayed. To enter edit mode. If an existing photo book file exists, it is called and the display mode is entered. This flow is shown in FIG.

[0013] Photo book CD created by this system
-ROMs can be stored sequentially as collections. This medium can store hundreds of images if it is squeezed,
Because it is convenient to record as a preservation version, it can function and use as a substitute for the conventional paper photo book. In addition, if a portable display is used, it can be viewed anywhere, and an environment in which a device such as a DVD connected to a television or the like can be sufficiently reproduced can be created. In addition, if a printer is connected in such an environment, a print can be obtained with an optimally corrected image.

The creation of this information disk can be used, for example, for other purposes, to store library document records.
If a digital camera is used as a recording medium instead of the conventional microfilm, disc recording can be performed by the same operation as that for making a normal copy with this apparatus. Document classification can be recorded and stored for each group with a certain intention.

As another image input means of the present apparatus, an image can be captured from a video disk and recorded as a filing device for a time-series still image. This is to reproduce the image from the video disk, video-tape, etc., which was recorded as a video image in advance, and set the record button so that the image can be captured at the user's desired image timing. These images can be created by means of recording them as a photo book on the previous recording disk. Handling of an image after being captured as a still image is processed in the same manner as in the case of a camera.

As an input method for photographing a person on the spot, a photograph can be taken with a video camera, and a portrait image of the photographer can be inserted as the creator or photographer at the end of the created photo book. The apparatus is provided with a video camera at the top, so that a captured image can be similarly recorded as one image. This can be done at the end of the course of the process, taking portraits and adding images.

[0017]

As described above, the present apparatus is capable of producing a digital data recording disk at a high speed and at a low cost. In particular, the operation of recording an image from a digital camera can be handled by a beginner of a personal computer. In addition, the created disk can be used as it is as a photo book, image and document filing medium, contributing to the saving of storage space, providing a storage environment for digital recording media from the traditional paper-based culture, and providing a paper storage environment. Realize a photographic environment that saves resources.

[Brief description of the drawings]

[Figure 1] Overall overview

Fig. 5 Flow of photo book display software

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a hardware configuration processing block.

FIG. 6 is a correction factor of image data.

FIG. 3 Operation and image signal processing flow

[Fig. 4] Input means and various condition setting screens

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Main unit, 2 Bar code table 3 PC memory card slot 4 CD (DVD) disk slot 5 CD (CDR, CDE) vending machine 6, 10 Coin slot 7 CD disk slot 8 CRT display screen 9 Explanation display panel 11 Barcode reader 12 Video camera 13 Video disk set tray

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] May 20, 1998

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] All figures

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG.

FIG. 5

FIG. 2

FIG. 3

FIG. 4

FIG. 6

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A digital camera comprising a reading device for a memory card as an image recording and holding medium, transferring images from the card, displaying the image data, ranking, selecting images, and decorating the images. An integrated automatic recording device that can perform processing and automatically record this processed image on a recording medium such as an optical disk.The user can select the selection at each work stage by using the touch panel or barcode with guidance on the screen and guidance by voice. An automatic system-based stand-alone device that records the camera image on the desk by proceeding with input means such as, and automatically automates the image data of the digital camera on the optical recording disk without operating the keyboard 2. An image recorded by the apparatus has means for simultaneously generating a plurality of images of different sizes with respect to one image from a digital camera, and photographing is performed for image correction. From the correction coefficient stored in advance to correct the characteristics of the camera
Means that can easily select and create two types of processing for high brightness for T display and optimization processing for increasing brightness and saturation on the premise of printing with one key operation of a viewing image creation key and a print image creation key In addition, a mode that allows the user to select various types of images from a single image, such as the number of original images and processed images, and to record a plurality of images, and to simply process the data in the memory in the same file format Automatic image correction recording device with a recording mode without recording. 3. The unmanned recording device has a function of reproducing digital video and analog recorded video, reproduces the reproduced video and displays it on a CRT, and when a recording button is pressed during display, an image at that moment is reproduced. An automatic image vending machine that stores digital frame images, automatically records a plurality of recorded images on an optical disk after playback, and can automatically create time-series frame images from continuous images. 4. In the apparatus as described above, a charge when a new disk is purchased and the apparatus is used is displayed differently from a charge when a user brings a recording disk and set, and a coin is displayed. After confirming the insertion of the digital camera, it is set to the operation state after the operation is confirmed.Compare the remaining recordable capacity of the brought-in disk with the memory recording capacity of the inserted digital camera, and if it is not enough, A device that prompts you to purchase a new disk, and if you do not use the new disk, shifts to the recording mode where there is no remaining disk space and performs automatic recording. 5. A part of the image recording, a portrait picture of the user is taken on the spot with a video camera provided in the machine, the image is corrected and added to a recording disk to introduce the author. Photo book creation recording device that can record people.