JPS63303472A - Image editing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To identify an image selected by a user on a monitor, by providing a means which attaches a symbol expressing the fact that the image stored in an image storage medium is selected and displays it on the monitor. CONSTITUTION:In a selection mode, a R/W mode setting circuit 8 is set at a readout mode, and a switch S2 is depressed. Then, an address counter 2 is counted up at every depression of the switch S2, and the address of a memory card 1 is designated, and also, it is supplied to a memory 9, and identification information representing the selection of the image in each storing area in the memory card 1 is stored in the memory 9. Meanwhile, at the time of displaying the image desired to be recorded on the monitor 5, the identification information is read out from the memory 9 by depressing a switch S, and when a selected image is desired to be recorded, a symbol mark is generated from a symbol generation circuit 11, and is displayed on the monitor 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to an image@editing device suitable for editing an image captured by an electronic still camera.

(Prior Art) An electronic still camera stores an image projected by a ccoi image element or the like in a storage medium such as a memory card. The images stored in the recording medium are displayed on a monitor, and only the necessary images are recorded in an image file on a magnetic disk or the like by image editing. The storage medium whose contents have been transferred to the image file can be used to store newly created images.

By the way, in conventional image@editing devices, images stored in a storage medium are sequentially read out and displayed on a monitor, and when a desired image is displayed and a selection operation is performed, it is immediately stored in an image file. The structure is as follows. Therefore,
The distinction between selected images and non-selected images cannot be confirmed on the monitor, and the selected images cannot be confirmed until after they are actually recorded in the image file. For this reason, there is a problem in that it is difficult to perform appropriate editing in which only truly necessary images are selected and recorded in an image file.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, with conventional image editing devices, it is not possible to distinguish between selected images and unselected images on the monitor, making it difficult to perform appropriate editing. was there.

The present invention provides an image@editing device in which, after selecting an image to be recorded in an image file, the distinction between the selected image and unselected image can be confirmed on a monitor, and appropriate editing can be performed. The purpose is to

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention provides a selection means for selecting an image to be recorded in an image file from a plurality of images stored in an image storage medium;
means for adding a symbol indicating that the image has been selected to an image selected by the selection means stored in the image storage medium and displaying the image on the monitor; The method is characterized by comprising a means for recording in a file.

When you perform a selection operation to transfer a desired image from multiple images stored in an image storage medium such as a memory card to an image file and record it, the selection operation is performed when the image is displayed on the monitor. An appropriate symbol is added to indicate that the selected image is selected, and no symbol is added when other unselected images are displayed. This allows the user to check the difference between selected images and unselected images on the monitor, and check whether there are any omissions or selection errors, for example, and make additional selections or cancel selections accordingly. can be done.

When images are selected in this way, identification information is selectively set indicating whether each image in the storage medium has been selected, or the storage addresses of the selected images are stored and these identification information are stored. Only the selected images are continuously recorded in the image file according to the information or storage address.

(Example) Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an image editing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a memory card 1 is an image storage medium constructed using a semiconductor memory, and stores a plurality of images as digital data. The image stored in this memory card 1 is accessed and read by an address counter 2, and is reproduced by a reproduction circuit 3 having a built-in A/D converter. The output of the reproducing circuit 3 passes through a composition circuit 4 and is displayed on a monitor 5, or passes through a writing circuit 6 and is recorded in an image file 7 on a magnetic disk or the like.

SL is a mode changeover switch for switching the operating mode of this device between a selection mode, a recording mode, and an editing mode; S2 is a forward switch for sequentially reading images stored in the memory card 1; and S3 is a forwarding switch for sequentially reading images stored in the memory card 1. This is a selection switch for selecting an image to be recorded in an image file from among multiple images.

In the selection mode, first set the mode selector switch S1 to the S position and set the memory card 1 to the read mode by the read/write (R/W) mode setting circuit 8, and then turn the forward switch S2 in this state. push. Every time the forward switch S2 is pressed, the address counter 2
A clock signal is supplied to the clock input GK of the counter 2, and the counter 2 is counted up. The output of the address counter 2 is supplied to the memory card 1 and also to the memory 9. The memory 9 stores identification information indicating whether or not an image in each storage area in the memory card 1 has been selected. 9 stores, for each corresponding address of the memory card 1, 1-bit data indicating whether or not the image stored at that address has been selected.

When the contents of the memory card 1 are read out by the output of the address counter 2 and the image desired to be recorded is displayed on the monitor 5 via the reproduction circuit 3 and the composition circuit 4, the user presses the selection switch S3.

While S3 is pressed, the address memory 9 is set to write mode by the selection signal generation circuit 10, and a high level indicating image selection is input to the data input terminal Qin, and the output of the address counter 2 causes the address memory 9 to be set to write mode. The specified contents of the memory 9 become data "1pa" indicating that the image stored at the address of the corresponding memory card 1 has been selected.

When the selection switch S3 is released, the memory 9 is returned to the read mode by the selection signal generation circuit 10, and the data "1" written in only one command is successively outputted from the data output terminal [)Out.This data "1" The switch circuit 12 is turned on, and the symbol generated from the symbol generation circuit 11 is supplied to the synthesis circuit 4 via the switch circuit 12.The symbol here means, for example, a character indicating that the corresponding image has been selected.・Information such as symbols, etc.
This is combined with the image signal from the reproducing circuit 3 in the combining circuit 4, so that a symbol is added to the image selected by the selection switch S3 and displayed on the monitor 5. On the other hand, images that are not selected are displayed on the monitor 5 without such symbols added.

This allows the user to clearly distinguish between selected images and unselected images after the selection is complete. Therefore, if it is found from the display on the monitor 5 that a desired image has not been selected, it is sufficient to press the selection switch S3 when that image is displayed to select a new one. On the other hand, if an unnecessary image is selected, by pressing the cancel switch S5 and the selection switch $3 when that image is displayed, a low level is input to the data input terminal Qin. The selection will be cancelled.

The signal from the selection switch S3 is also input to the counter 13, and the output of the counter 13 causes the selected number display circuit 14 to display the number of images selected.

When recording the image selected in this way in the image file 7, move the mode selector switch S1 to the recording mode position R.
1,: Set. In this recording mode, the memory card 1 is set to the read mode as in the selection mode, and the address counter 2 is once cleared by the signal from the clear circuit 16, and then the pulse from the pulse generator 17 is clocked. It is counted up by being supplied to input CK as a clock signal.

The output of the address counter 2 is supplied to the memory card 1, and the images stored in the memory card 1 are sequentially read out, and the memory 9 is also sequentially accessed by the output of the address counter 2.

The writing circuit 6 is activated only when the output of the memory 9 reaches 1, and only the image selected in the previous selection mode is transferred to the image file 7 via the writing circuit 6.
are recorded continuously.

Next, in the edit mode, the mode selector switch S1 is set to the edit mode position C. This editing mode is a mode for erasing the image recorded in the image file 7 among the images stored in the memory card 1, and the memory card 1 is set to the write mode by the R/W mode setting circuit 8.

Then, as in the recording mode, the address counter 2
After is cleared by the clear circuit 16, it is counted up by the pulse from the pulse generator 17, and
When the output of the memory 9 is 1'', the gate circuit 18 is closed, and the reset signal (for example, all O's or all 1's data) from the reset signal generating circuit 17 is output to the gate circuit 18.
The data is loaded into the memory card 1 via the . As a result, among the images stored in memory card 1, image file 7
The recorded image is replaced with the data of the reset signal and erased. If the image recorded in image file 7 remains on memory card 1, there is a problem that it is impossible to confirm whether it is actually recorded in image file 7, but if you delete it, this problem will not occur. , which is advantageous in managing the memory card 1.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the invention. In the first embodiment, the memory 9 stores 1-pitch 1- data (identification information) indicating whether or not each image stored in the memory card 1 has been selected, corresponding to each storage address of the memory card 1. However, in this second embodiment, the storage address data of the selected image of the memory card 1 itself is stored in the memory 21, which corresponds to the memory 9 in the first embodiment. The address setting circuit 22 supplies address data to the address counter 2 via the switch circuit 23 and to the memory 21 via the switch circuit 23 and the bidirectional buffer 24.

When the selection switch S3 is pressed and a selection signal is generated,
At that time, the address memory 21 records the address data output from the address setting circuit 22! :! At the same time, the flip-flop 26 is set and the switch circuit 12 is turned on.

As a result, as in the first embodiment, the symbol generation circuit 1
A symbol generated from 1 indicating that an image has been selected is superimposed on the image signal from the reproduction circuit 3 by the synthesis circuit 4 and displayed on the monitor 5. flip flop 26
is brought into a reset state by a signal from the forward switch S2. The counter 13 is activated by the signal from the selection switch S3.
As before, the number of selected images is displayed in the selected number display circuit 14 via .

In addition, in this embodiment, a write switch S4 is newly provided, and when this switch S4 is pressed, a mode changeover switch S4 is added.
1 is switched from the selection position S to the recording position R, the pulse from the pulse generator 17 is supplied to the address counter 25 that drives the memory 21, and the bidirectional buffer 24 transfers the signal from the memory 21 to the address counter 2. is set to transmit. As a result, the address data stored in the memory 21 is loaded into the address counter 2, and the image selected in the selection mode is read out from the memory card 1 and recorded in the image file 7 via the playback circuit 3 and the write circuit 6. Ru.

FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of the present invention, in which the function of the memory 9 in the first embodiment is provided in the memory card 1. That is, an area (referred to as a selection determination address) for storing identification information indicating whether each image in the memory card 1 has been selected is provided within the memory card 1 itself.

In this embodiment, first, in the initial setting, all data at the selection determination address in the memory card 1 is reset. Next, when the forward switch S2 is pressed, before the image signal is read out from the memory card 1, the selection determination address corresponding to the image signal about to be read out from the memory card 1 is determined by the address setting circuit 22 and the address counter. 2 to the memory card 1. When the selection switch S3 is pressed, the judgment address of the image displayed on the monitor 5 is specified, and the memory card 1
A selection data generator 33 is connected to the data input of the memory card 1 via a switch circuit 32 controlled by a controller 31, and the selection data as identification information indicating that the image has been selected is sent to a specified determination address of the memory card 1. written to. At the same time, the switch circuit 12 is turned on under the control of the controller 31, and the symbols from the symbol generation circuit 11 are displayed on the monitor 5 via the synthesis circuit 4, superimposed on the image.

After making the selection in this way, the forward switch S2
When the images in the memory card 1 are sequentially read by pressing , the content of the judgment artless corresponding to the read image is inputted to the judgment circuit 34 via the switch circuit 32, and it is judged whether it is selected data or not. When it is determined that the data is selection data, the switch circuit 12 is turned on via the switch circuit 35, and the symbol from the symbol generation circuit 11 is superimposed on the image on the monitor 5 via the synthesis circuit 4 and displayed in the same way as at the time of selection. be done.

Next, when the capture switch S4 is pressed, the output of the determination circuit 34 is supplied to the write circuit 6 via the switch circuit 35, and only the selected image among the images read from the memory card 1 is stored in the image file 7. recorded.

As explained in the first to third embodiments above, according to the present invention, a selected image is selected among a plurality of images stored in an image storage medium such as a memory card. By adding a symbol indicating that the selected image has been selected and displaying it on the monitor, the user can check the difference between the selected image and the unselected image on the monitor.
Appropriate editing can be done.

By the way, when a rewritable image storage medium such as a memory card is used, the address order is not necessarily the same as the storage order<'ti shadow order) not only between multiple media but even within the same medium. When trying to re-edit a photograph, it becomes complicated to display all the images on a monitor and check them.

To solve this problem, for example, you can incorporate a clock into the camera and read the date at the same time as the photo is taken.

The time is written in a predetermined position on an image storage medium, the date and time data is read out by an editing device and held in memory, and then compared with each other, sorted in ascending order of date and time, and transferred to another image storage medium. do it.

4 to 6 show examples thereof, and FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the camera section. In FIG. 4, an image signal obtained from an image carrier circuit 41 is digitized by an A/D converter 42 and then written to a memory card 43. Note that instead of providing the A/D converter 42, the imaging circuit 4
1 itself may be digital signal processing. The synchronizing signal generator 44 is connected to the imaging circuit 41. A synchronizing signal is supplied to the A/D converter 42 and the address generator 45, and the address generator 4
5 gives address data to the memory card 43. When the image signals are written to the memory card 43, the date and time data generated from the date and time data generator 46 are simultaneously written to predetermined positions of the memory card 43 corresponding to each image signal. It is best to use the blanking period when the date and time data is not displayed on the monitor to store the date and time data. Furthermore, instead of writing date and time data into the memory card 43, a memory exclusively for date and time data may be prepared. Since the memory card 43 has a built-in battery, it is possible to retain data for a short period of time.

Figure 5 schematically shows the configuration of the image editing device.
It is configured so that a plurality of memory cards 51 can be set therein. The date and time data processing circuit 52 is connected to each memory card 5.
The date and time data is read from 1 and compared with υ, and the data is sorted in order of oldest date and time. Here, when a read command is received from the control circuit 59, the video data selection circuit 53 selects the recording position (memory card or storage address) of the image signal corresponding to the oldest date and time data from the memory card 51 via the address generator 54. The image signal is output from the data bus, passes through the image signal processing circuit 55, and is sent to the monitor 5.
6 and displayed. Further, this image signal is sent to another memory card or recording medium 58 via a recording circuit 57.
recorded in

FIG. 6 is an example of an external view of this image editing apparatus, which includes an input section 61 into which a plurality of memory cards can be set, a monitor section 62, a console section 63, and an output section 64 for recording editing results. For example, if a postponement command is input through the console unit 63, the images in the memory card are displayed on the monitor 62 in chronological order of date and time. When an image to be saved is displayed, the image signal is written to the recording medium set in the output section 64 by inputting a recording command. In addition, if the displayed image is unnecessary, you can input a forward command to read and display the next oldest image, or input an erase command to erase unnecessary image signals from the memory card. All you have to do is delete it.

Also, in this case, it is possible to create a system that displays a symbol indicating selection or non-selection on the monitor. Needless to say, it is also possible to record it.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, for an image selected to be recorded in an image file among a plurality of images stored in an image storage medium, a symbol indicating that the image has been selected is added. By displaying the image on the monitor, it is possible to check the difference between the selected image and the unselected image on the monitor. This makes it possible to check, for example, whether there are any omissions or selection errors, and by making additional selections or canceling selections based on this, more accurate editing work becomes possible.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 3 are diagrams showing the configuration of an image editing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 4 to 6 are diagrams for explaining other embodiments. ]...Memory card (image storage medium), 3...Reproduction circuit, 4...Composition circuit, 5...Monitor, 6...Location circuit, 7...Image frame? 9...Memory (identification information storage means), 10...Selection signal generation circuit, 1
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Symbol generation circuit, 21...Memory (storage means for storage address of selected image), 33...Selection data generator, 34...Determination circuit. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue Figures 4-6

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) In an image editing device that selects a desired image from an image storage medium storing a plurality of images and records it in an image file, an image to be recorded in the image file is selected from the images stored in the image storage medium. a selection means for selecting; a means for displaying the images stored in the image storage medium on a monitor with a symbol indicating that the image selected by the selection means has been added to the image; An image editing device comprising: recording means for recording the image selected by the selection means in the image file. (2) The recording means stores the images selected by the selection means into an image file based on the contents of the storage means that stores identification information indicating whether each image stored in the image storage medium has been selected by the selection means. The image editing device according to claim 1, wherein the image editing device is for recording. (3) The recording means reads only the image selected by the selection means from the image storage medium and records it in an image file based on the contents of the storage means that stores the storage address of the image selected by the selection means. An image editing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: (4) The image storage medium has an area for storing identification information indicating whether each image stored in the image storage medium has been selected by the selection means, and the recording means, based on this identification information,
2. The image editing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image selected by the selection means is recorded in an image file.