KR100318748B1 - Additional Information Display Device and Display Method of Digital Still Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

The additional information display device and display method of the disclosed digital still camera display a OSD screen displaying additional information for each picture on a liquid crystal display screen of the digital camera to display the additional information for each picture taken. An additional information display apparatus and a display method are provided.

The present invention removes the noise of the electrical signal from the CCD and converts the image signal of the subject incident through the lens unit into an electrical signal, and automatically increases the gain so that the output is always constant even if the level of the input image signal is changed. CDS / AGC for amplifying and adjusting the digital signal, an analog / digital converter for converting analog signals input from the CDS / AGC to digital signals, a temporary memory for storing image information of one frame output through a CCD, and a large number of A JPEG processing unit for compressing the captured image signal to hold an image, a compression storage memory for storing the input image compressed by the JPEG processing unit, and an additional information display signal for displaying the additional information of the photographed picture; Receives additional information display signal from 2 key input section and 2nd key input section, and stores it in temporary memory or compressed storage memory A control unit for outputting additional information, an additional information OSD unit for designating an OSD screen for displaying an additional information signal output from the control unit, and an OSD screen for displaying additional information on an OSD screen designated by the additional information OSD unit. LCD panel is configured to display.

Therefore, by displaying the additional information for each picture taken so that you can see it at a time, you do not need to prepare a computer or monitor to know additional information. This confirms the effect of shortening the verification time.

Description

Additional Information Display Device and Display Method of Digital Still Camera

The present invention relates to an additional information display device and a display method of a digital still camera, and more particularly, a picture taken by displaying an OSD screen displaying additional information for each picture on a liquid crystal display screen of a digital camera. An additional information display apparatus and a display method of a digital still camera for displaying the additional information at a time for each time.

In general, a digital still camera is a peripheral device for inputting an image connected to a PC and is a compact and lightweight camera that can be easily operated by anyone with the recent expansion of the home PC.

Such a digital still camera converts the image information into an electric signal and performs all the signal processing such as processing, recording, and reproduction.

In addition, as in the case of a camera using a conventional film, it is not necessary to perform darkroom work or chemical processing for development, and can immediately check the captured image. Since the recorded image information is electronicized, it is connected to a PC after shooting. Post-processing and remote transmission are possible, and its use is various.

For example, you can make a homepage using images taken with a digital still camera by connecting to the Internet, create various reports by inserting the shot images, and commemorative photos such as graduation or marriage. Can be made or stored on diskette.

These digital still cameras typically offer VGA (640 × 480) or higher resolutions, and have a large memory to record and record dozens of shots at a time.

1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a general digital still camera as described above.

As shown, the CCD (Charge Coupled Device) 2 converts the image signal of the subject incident through the lens unit 1 into an electrical signal.

Various driving pulses for extracting the signal of the CCD 2 are converted into an actual driving voltage and supplied by a TG (Timing Generator) 10 to be described later.

In addition, unlike the interlace method used in the conventional camcorder, the CCD 2 uses a progressive scan method.

In other words, in interlaced scanning, a field image is output every 1/60 seconds (the first field represents an odd line and the second field represents an even line). Since the frame signal is output at the interval of 1/30 second, one image is read at a time, so the vertical resolution is excellent compared to the interlaced scanning method.

CDS (Correlated Double Sampling) / AGC (Automatic Gain Control) (3) eliminates the noise of the electrical signal output from CCD (2), and automatically gains the output so that the output is always constant even if the level of the input video signal changes. Amplify and adjust.

The analog / digital converter 4 converts the analog signal input from the CDS / AGC 3 into a digital signal.

The temporary memory 5 stores image information of one frame output through the CCD 2 so that the control unit 6 to be described later can perform signal processing.

At this time, the image information stored in the temporary memory 5 merely changes the signal of the CCD 2 into a digital form.

This temporary memory 5 normally uses DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory).

The controller 6 processes white balance, contour correction, and luminance / color difference signal conversion of the captured image input from the temporary memory 5.

In addition to the operations of the CCD 2, the CDS / AGC 3, the analog / digital converter 4, and the temporary memory 5 described above, the control unit 6 also includes the JPEG processing unit 7 and the compressed storage memory (described later). 8), the overall operation of the digital still camera, such as the encoder (9) and TG (10).

The Joint Photographic Coding Experts Group (JPEG) processing unit 7 compresses a video signal in order to contain a large number of images in a limited capacity compression storage memory 8 described later.

At this time, the compression ratio of the video signal input from the JPEG processing unit 7 is about 10: 1.

The compression storage memory 8 sequentially stores the image compressed and output from the JPEG processing unit 7.

In addition, the compression storage memory 8 is capable of high-speed recording / reproducing, and the reproduction is usually performed through a PC, and the image provided can be stored, processed and output to a printer or the like by an image editing program.

This compressed storage memory 8 usually uses a flash memory that is a nonvolatile memory.

The encoder 9 converts and outputs a captured image compressed by a digital still camera with a PC or the like.

The TG (Timing Generator) 10 generates various clocks and synchronization signals used for the digital camera, pulses for driving the CCD 2, etc., according to the control signal of the control unit 6.

Then, the shutter speed information necessary for light quantity control is input to adjust the amount of light accumulation of the CCD 2.

In addition, the controller 6 allows the user to easily manipulate a focal length or the like so that the photographing object displayed through the viewfinder is displayed on the LCD panel 12.

The first key input unit 11 applies an operation such as a shutter, an automatic focus adjusting function, or a basic information checking function of a camera according to a user's operation to the controller 6.

In the conventional digital still camera configured as described above, when the user wants to know camera information such as the number of shots or the total number of shots that the user has taken, the basic information confirmation key of the first key input unit 11 (not shown in the drawing) Information could be known by.

However, the information displayed on the LCD panel 12 of the digital camera is only limited information about the number of shots or the total number of shots that are extremely limited information, and the size of the photo data at the time of shooting and the information of the recorded image file (VGA / XGA). ), Additional information such as resolution, number of pixels (PIXEL), image signal (monochrome / color), image quality (High Quality / Normal), photographing date, shutter speed or aperture brightness, etc. were not known.

In order to know the additional information, conventionally, the output terminal of the encoder 9 and a computer (not shown in the drawing) may be connected and downloaded to a computer and then down loaded.

However, it is time-consuming and cumbersome to check by computer in order to know the additional information for each photograph taken.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an additional information display device and display method of a digital still camera which displays an OSD screen displaying additional information on a liquid crystal display screen of a digital camera so that the additional information can be displayed at a time for each photograph taken. There is.

1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a general digital still camera;

2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a device for displaying additional information of a digital still camera according to the present invention;

3 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method for displaying additional information of a digital still camera according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

1 Lens 2 CCD

3: CDS / AGC 4: analog / digital converter

5a: temporary memory 6a: control unit

7a: JPEG processing section 8a: Memory for compressed storage

9: Encoder 12a: LCD Panel

13: additional information OSD unit 14: second key input unit

The additional information display device of the digital still camera according to the present invention for achieving the above object is a CCD for converting the image signal of the subject incident through the lens unit into an electrical signal, and removes the noise of the electrical signal output from the CCD CDS / AGC that automatically amplifies and adjusts the gain so that the output is always constant even when the level of the video signal changes, analog / digital converter that converts the analog signal input from the CDS / AGC into a digital signal, and outputs through a CCD A temporary memory for storing one frame of image information, a JPEG processing unit for compressing a video signal photographed to contain a large number of images, a compression storage memory for storing an image compressed and input by a JPEG processing unit, and A second key input unit for outputting an additional information display signal to display additional information of a photo, and a second key input unit A control unit for receiving the additional information display signal and outputting additional information stored in a temporary memory or a compression storage memory, an additional information OSD unit for designating an OSD screen to display the additional information signal output from the control unit on an OSD screen, and The LCD panel is configured to display an OSD screen for displaying additional information on the OSD screen designated by the information OSD unit.

In addition, in the display method of the digital still camera of the present invention, when the additional information display signal is input, it is determined whether the additional information display signal is input, and when the result is input, the additional information is read from the temporary memory or the compression storage memory, A second step of repeating the operation from the beginning again if not input, and after reading the additional information from the temporary memory or the compressed storage memory, specifying additional information to be displayed on the OSD screen, and displaying a main directory on the OSD screen. And a third step of confirming additional information about a picture of the file name by using the corresponding file name selected from the plurality of file names of the main directory.

Hereinafter, an additional information display apparatus and a display method of a digital still camera of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a device for displaying additional information of a digital still camera according to the present invention.

As illustrated, the CCD 2 converts an image signal of an object incident through the lens unit 1 into an electrical signal.

Various driving pulses for extracting the signal of the CCD 2 are converted into an actual driving voltage and supplied to the TG 10 described later.

The CDS / AGC 3 removes the noise of the electrical signal output from the CCD 2 and automatically amplifies and adjusts the gain so that the output is always constant even if the level of the input video signal changes.

The analog / digital converter 4 converts the analog signal input from the CDS / AGC 3 into a digital signal.

The temporary memory 5a stores image information of one frame output through the CCD 2 so that signal processing can be performed by the controller 6a, which will be described later. The temporary memory 5a usually uses DRAM.

The controller 6a processes white balance, outline correction, and luminance / color difference signal conversion of the captured image input from the temporary memory 5a, and the above-described CCD (2), CDS / AGC (3), analog / Control not only the operation of the digital converter 4 and the temporary memory 5a but also the overall operation of the digital still camera such as the JPEG processing unit 7a, the compression storage memory 8a, the encoder 9 and the TG 10, which will be described later. .

The JPEG processing unit 7a compresses the video signal in order to contain a large number of images in the limited-capacity compression storage memory 8a described later.

At this time, the compression ratio of the input video signal from the JPEG processing unit 7a is usually about 10: 1.

The compression storage memory 8a sequentially stores the image compressed and output from the JPEG processing unit 7a.

In addition, the compression storage memory 8a is capable of high-speed recording / reproducing, and reproduction is usually performed through a PC. The provided image can be stored, processed and output to a printer or the like by an image editing program.

This compressed storage memory 8a uses a flash memory which is usually a nonvolatile memory.

The encoder 9 converts and outputs a captured image compressed by a digital still camera with a PC or the like.

The TG 10 generates various clocks and synchronization signals used for the digital camera, pulses for driving the CCD 2, and the like, in accordance with the control signals of the control section 6a.

The first key input unit 11 applies an operation such as a shutter, an automatic focus adjusting function or a basic information checking function of a camera according to a user's operation to the controller 6a.

The second key input unit 14 is an input signal for displaying additional information of the photographed picture on the OSD screen of the camera. When the additional information display signal is input to the control unit 6a by the second input unit 14, the control unit ( 6a) reads all contents of the additional information from the temporary memory 5a or the compressed storage memory 8a and transmits it to the additional information OSD unit 13 described later.

The additional information may include information about the number of shots or the total number of shots possible, the size of photographic data at the time of shooting (eg, 180 KB), the information (VGA / XGA) of the recorded image file, the resolution, the number of pixels (PIXEL), and the video signal (Black and white / color), image quality (High Quality / Normal), shooting date, shutter speed or aperture brightness. The additional information is stored in the temporary memory 5a or compressed at the time of shooting. It is recorded in the storage memory 8a.

The additional information is read from the temporary memory 5a or the compression storage memory 8a according to the input signal of the second key input unit 14, and the additional information is transmitted to the additional information OSD unit 13, and the additional information OSD unit In 13, additional information to be displayed on the OSD screen is designated, and the additional information designated according to the additional information input signal of the user is displayed on the LCD panel 12a as the OSD screen.

3 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method for displaying additional information of a digital still camera according to the present invention.

As shown, when the additional information display signal is input from the second key input unit 14 (S1), the control unit 6a determines whether the additional information display signal is input (S2), and when the determination result is input, The additional information is read from the temporary memory 5a or the compressed storage memory 8a (S3), and if it is not input as a result of the determination, it is repeated again from the beginning.

In the second step, after reading the additional information from the temporary memory 5a or the compressed storage memory 8a (S3), the additional information to be displayed on the OSD screen is designated (S4), and the OSD is displayed according to the user's additional information input signal. The main directory is displayed on the screen (S5).

In fact, since the number of characters that can be displayed on the limited OSD screen of the LCD panel 12a is limited, it is difficult to display on one screen.

Therefore, only a file name representatively representing a single screen may be displayed first, and the additional information may be abbreviated.

For example, if the file name of the first picture is stored in the memory 8a for compression storage as SDC 30001.JPG, the second picture is saved as SDC 30002.JPG and the third picture is SDC 30003.JPG. When the user inputs the additional information display signal, the OSD screen displays the file names SDC 30001.JPG, SDC 30002.JPG, SDC 30003.JPG. Only the main directory is displayed.

In the third step, the corresponding file name in which the information of the picture is recorded is selected from among the plurality of file names of the main directory (S6), and the additional information of the picture is confirmed using the selected corresponding file name (S7).

Therefore, when the additional information display signal is inputted to the controller 6a by the second key input unit 14, the main directory is displayed on the OSD screen of the LCD panel 12a. Information such as size, information of recorded image file, resolution, number of pixels (PIXEL), monochrome / color signal, image quality state, shooting date, shutter speed or aperture brightness can be obtained.

In addition, it is possible to display the size of the entire memory and the remaining size of the image.

As described above, the additional information display apparatus and display method of the digital still camera of the present invention display the additional information at a time for each picture taken so that it is not necessary to check the additional information by computer in order to know the computer or the monitor. Not only do not need to prepare a cumbersome, since the additional information is checked directly from the digital camera has the effect of reducing the time.

Claims (2)

A CCD for converting an image signal of a subject incident through the lens unit into an electrical signal; A CDS / AGC which removes noise of the electrical signal input from the CCD and automatically amplifies and adjusts a gain so that the output is always constant even if the level of the input image signal changes; An analog / digital converter for converting an analog signal input from the CDS / AGC into a digital signal; A temporary memory for storing image information of one frame input from the CCD; JPEG processing unit for compressing the captured image signal to contain a large number of images; A compression storage memory configured to store an image compressed and input by the JPEG processing unit; A second key input unit which outputs an additional information display signal to display additional information of the photographed picture; A control unit which receives the additional information display signal from the second key input unit and outputs additional information stored in a temporary memory or a compression storage memory; An additional information OSD unit which designates an OSD screen to display the additional information signal output from the controller on an OSD screen; And And an LCD panel unit which displays an OSD screen to display additional information on the designated OSD screen from the additional information OSD unit. When the additional information display signal is input, it is determined whether the additional information display signal is input. If the additional information display signal is input, the additional information is read from the temporary memory or the compression storage memory. step; A second step of designating additional information to be displayed on an OSD screen after reading the additional information from the temporary memory or the compressed storage memory, and displaying a main directory on the OSD screen; And And a third step of confirming additional information about a picture of the file name by using the corresponding file name selected from among the plurality of file names of the main directory.