KR100987771B1 - Digital Camera and controlling method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

 The present invention relates to a digital camera and a control method thereof for controlling the initial setting value of the camera at the time of camera initialization according to the user level. In the control method of the digital camera according to the present invention, when the digital camera is turned on, the functions of the camera having at least one or more functions are set to a preset initial setting and initialized to a setting function, and the user is returned to the setting function. A control method of a digital camera to perform photographing, the method comprising: (a) setting a user level; (b) determining a user level; (c) storing the current setup function to create a save setup; And (d) initializing a camera setting function from an initial setting or a storage setting according to the user level.

Description

Digital camera and controlling method

1 is a perspective view showing the front appearance of a conventional digital camera.

FIG. 2 is a rear view illustrating a rear shape of the digital camera of FIG. 1.

3 is a flowchart schematically illustrating an initialization process when power is turned on in a conventional digital camera.

4 is a flowchart schematically illustrating a control method of a digital camera according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a flowchart schematically illustrating a control method of a digital camera according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a diagram schematically illustrating a menu for setting a user level in the control method of the digital camera of FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically illustrating a menu for setting an initialization mode of each function in the control method of the digital camera of FIG. 5.

8 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a digital camera for implementing the control method of the digital camera of FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an overall configuration of a digital camera for implementing the control method of the digital camera of FIGS. 4 and 5.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

31: user level setting part, 32: user level decision part,

33: setting function storage unit, 34: storage settings restore unit,

35: Setting function reset section.

The present invention relates to a digital camera and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to allow a user to set a user level, and to control an initial setting value of the camera at the time of camera initialization according to the user level. A digital camera and a control method thereof.

1 is a perspective view showing the front appearance of a conventional digital camera.

Referring to the drawings, in front of a conventional digital camera 1, a microphone (MIC), a self-timer lamp 11, a flash 12, a shutter button 13, a mode dial 14, a function-selection button 15, the shooting-information display unit 16, the viewfinder 17a, the function-block button 18, the flash-light amount sensor 19, the lens unit 20, and the external interface unit 21.

The mode dial 14 is used to select and set various modes, for example, a still image shooting mode, a night view shooting mode, a moving picture shooting mode, a playback mode, a computer connection mode, and a system setting mode. The function-selection button 15 is used for the user to select one of the operation modes of the digital camera 1, for example, a still image shooting mode, a night view shooting mode, a moving picture shooting mode, and a playback mode. The shooting-information display section 16 displays information of each function related to shooting. The function-block button 18 is used for the user to select each function displayed on the shooting-information display unit 16.

FIG. 2 is a rear view illustrating a rear shape of the digital camera of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings, behind the conventional digital camera 1, the representative-voice button 42, the speaker SP, the power button 31, the monitor button 32, the auto-focus lamp 33, the view Finder 17b, flash standby lamp 34, display panel 35, confirm / delete button 36, enter / playback button 37, menu button 38, wide angle-zoom There is a button 39w, a telephoto-zoom button 39t, an up-move button 40up, a right-move button 40ri, a down-move button 40lo, and a left-move button 40le. .

The monitor button 32 is used by the user to control the operation of the display panel 35. For example, when the user presses the monitor button 32 first, an image of the subject and shooting information thereof are displayed on the display panel 35, and when the user presses the second button, only the image of the subject is displayed on the display panel 35. When pressed, the power applied to the display panel 35 is cut off. The auto-focus lamp 33 operates when the auto focusing operation is completed. The flash standby lamp 34 operates when the flash (12 in FIG. 1) is in standby for operation. The confirm / delete button 36 is used as a confirm button or a delete button in the process of setting each mode by the user. The enter / playback button 37 is used for inputting data from the user or for a function such as stopping or playing in the playback mode. The menu button 38 is used to display the menu of the mode selected in the mode dial 14. The up-movement button 40up, the right-movement button 40ri, the down-movement button 40lo, and the left-movement button 40le are also used in the process of setting each mode by the user.

In a conventional digital camera, turning on the power supplies power to the camera and makes the camera stand by for user input for use by the user. At this time, all the setting state of the camera is set to the required value to make it convenient for the user to use.

To do this, reset all camera settings to a preset value when the power is turned on, or save the settings when the camera was turned off before in the internal memory device and then turn the power back on. A method of restoring a camera setting state by reading a peak value of may be used.

3 is a flowchart schematically illustrating an initialization process when power is turned on in a conventional digital camera.

Referring to the drawings, the initialization process at the time of power-on of a conventional digital camera is performed by a power supply step (S101), a system initialization step (S102), a camera function setting initialization step (S103), and a camera startup completion step (S104). , And through the user input waiting step (S105).

When the digital camera is turned on, power is supplied to the digital camera in the power supply step S101. When power is supplied to the digital camera, hardware and software are initialized in the system initialization step S102, respectively. Next, in the camera function setting initialization step (S103), the function setting of the camera is initialized. In this case, the initialization function may include an automatically set flash mode, an exposure compensation set to 0 EV, a white balance, and the like.

However, when the function setting is set to an initial value every time the digital camera is started, there is an inconvenient problem that the user must always reset the digital camera to a desired setting when the digital camera is turned off and on.

In addition, a user using a digital camera in a format that supports automatic operation can be used by various layers from beginners to intermediate or expert. In general, in the conventional camera, not only the method of initializing the function setting of the camera when the camera starts, but also storing the last function setting state when the power is turned off in the internal nonvolatile memory in the same manner as described in the description of FIG. 3. Later, when the power is turned on again, each function of the camera may be set by reading the stored value from the nonvolatile memory stored in the nonvolatile memory.

However, even in this case, it can be regarded as a convenient initial value setting method for intermediate users who understand digital cameras well. There is a problem that you may not get.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and the digital camera for controlling the user to set the user level, and adaptively set the initial setting value of the camera at the time of camera initialization according to the user level and its It is an object to provide a control method.

The control method of the digital camera according to the present invention for achieving the above object, the function of the camera having at least one or more functions when the power of the digital camera (ON) is set to a preset initial setting to initialize the setting function A control method of a digital camera that enables a user to perform shooting with a setting function, the method comprising: (a) setting a user level; (b) determining a user level; (c) storing the current setup function to create a save setup; And (d) initializing a camera setting function from an initial setting or a storage setting according to the user level.

In the step (a), it is preferable to set the user level to either the beginner level or the expert level.

Preferably, the step (d) includes (d1) initializing the setting function to the initial setting according to the user level, and (d2) initializing the setting function to the storage setting according to the user level.

According to the determination result in the step (b), it is preferable to perform the step (d) if the user level is a beginner level, and to perform the step (d2) if the user level is an expert level.

If the user level is the expert level as a result of the determination in step (b), it is preferable to perform the step (c) to create a storage setting.

In the step (c), it is preferable to generate a storage setting by storing the current function setting in a nonvolatile memory.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of controlling a digital camera includes setting functions of a camera having at least one function when the digital camera is turned on to a preset initial setting, and initializing the set function to a preset function. Claims [1] A control method of a digital camera that enables shooting by a setting function, the method comprising: (a) setting a user level; (b) setting an initialization mode for each function of the camera; (c) storing the current setup function to create a save setup; (d) determining a user level; And (e) initializing the setting function of the camera from the initial setting and the storage setting according to the user level and the initialization mode.

In the step (a), it is preferable to set the user level to either the beginner level or the expert level.

The step (e) preferably includes (e1) initializing the setting function to an initial setting if the user level is a novice level, and (e2) initializing the setting function to a storage setting if the user level is an expert level. Do.

In the step (b), it is preferable to set the initialization mode to any one of initialization and setting maintenance.

In the step (e2), it is preferable to initialize the setting function to the initial setting for the function whose initialization mode is initialization, and to initialize the setting function to the storage setting for the function whose initialization mode is setting maintenance.

According to the present invention, the user can conveniently obtain the desired image by the initial setting of the camera according to his level.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

4 is a flowchart schematically illustrating a control method of a digital camera according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating a menu for setting a user level in the control method of the digital camera of FIGS. 4 and 5.

Referring to the drawing, the method 200 of controlling a digital camera may set functions of at least one camera having at least one function when the digital camera is turned on to be initialized to a preset initial setting, and then set to a user. Allowing the user to perform shooting with the setting function, (a) setting a user level (S201); (b) determining the user level (S203, S221); (c) storing the current setting function to generate a storage setting (S204); And (d) initializing the setting function of the camera from the initial setting or the storage setting according to the user level (S222, S223).

That is, the control method 200 of the digital camera according to the present embodiment includes a user level setting step S201, a power switch off S202, a user level determining step S203, and a camera setting state storing step S204. ), The camera system is turned off (S205), etc., the camera system is turned off (OFF), and the camera system is turned on by the power switch on (ON) (S206) and the boot process (S210) of the camera accordingly. ON), and waits for user input (S207) so that the user can take an image with a digital camera.

In step (a), the user level is set, and the user level may be set to either a novice level or an expert level. FIG. 6 illustrates a menu structure for setting a user level. Submenus such as language, user level, image file format, and date type are displayed under the SETUP menu. Allow user to choose user level.

At this time, the user level in the present embodiment has a beginner and an expert, and when the user selects a user level menu, the submenu of the novice and the expert is displayed so that the user can set the desired user level using the direction movement keys. In this case, in the present embodiment, it is possible to select one of the beginner and the expert at the user level, but according to the implementation, three or more levels are provided at the user level so that the user can select one of them, so that the digital camera is appropriate. You will be able to exercise control.

Setting the user level (S201) is to set the user's level by the user's input while the power is turned on and the user can operate the camera normally. Can be.

Next, when the power switch is turned off (S202), the user level is determined in the user level determination step (S203), and the camera is turned off after storing the current setting state of the camera only when the user level is set to expert (S204). Complete (S205). At this time, in the camera setting state storage step (S204), it is preferable to generate the storage setting by storing the current function setting in the nonvolatile memory.

Here, the present embodiment stores the current setting state of the camera only when the user level is an expert. An embodiment of storing the current setting state regardless of the user level may be possible in the process of turning off the camera.

Therefore, after the camera system is turned off through this process, when the camera system is turned on again, the storage setting can be restored according to the set user level so that the user can take a picture with the set function before turning off the camera. have.

When the power of the camera system is turned on, power is supplied (S211) and a series of booting processes (S210) proceed to complete the camera startup (S213), and then wait for user input (S207). do. At this time, the booting process (S210) includes a system initialization (S212) for initializing a system for initializing hardware and software, and a camera initial function setting (S220).

Camera initial function setting (S220) comprises a user level determination step (S221), and in accordance with the user level, the step of initializing the setting function of the camera from the initial setting and the storage setting (S222, S223). In this case, the initializing of the camera setting function includes a step of restoring the camera setting state (S222), and a step of initializing the camera function initial setting (S223).

Initializing the camera function to the initial setting (S223) is a step of initializing the setting function to the initial setting according to the user level, and restoring the camera setting state (S222) is a step of initializing the setting function to the save setting according to the user level. .

At this time, according to the determination result in the user level determination step (S221), if the user level is a beginner level (S223) is performed to initialize the camera function initial settings, if the user level is a professional level restore the camera settings state ( It is preferable to perform S222). At this time, in the initializing to the camera function initial settings (S223), regardless of the camera's function settings by the user to initialize the function settings to the preset initial settings inside the camera, it is set based on the automatic mode for beginners It is preferable.

In the present embodiment, when the beginner is selected as the user level, the user is not burdened with the function setting since the setting of each function is set to the automatic mode, that is, the mode in which the camera operates properly according to the situation when the camera is turned on. By simply pressing the shutter button, you will be able to take pictures that will satisfy you. In addition, even if the settings of the camera is changed to an unwanted setting by the beginner's operation, it is possible to restore the default settings simply by turning the camera off and on, thereby improving user convenience.

In this case, the functions to be set include, for example, flash mode, exposure compensation, white balance, and the like. In the case of the auto mode, the auto mode can be set to 0.0, auto, and the like. Various functions are controlled appropriately according to the shooting conditions of the camera, thereby reducing the probability of a photo shooting failure.

When the expert is selected at the user level in the present embodiment, when the camera is turned on, the function of the camera is set by reading a value stored in the built-in nonvolatile memory when the camera was turned off. Therefore, a user who wants to change the camera function freely can keep the function setting set according to his or her own preferences, and thus can conveniently obtain a desired quality picture. That is, the user convenience can be achieved by allowing the various functions of the camera set once to be used even after the camera is turned off and on.

For example, if the previous settings when the camera was turned off were set to flash mode forcible flash, exposure compensation 1.5EV, white balance for daylight, etc., these settings will not be displayed the next time the camera is turned off and on again. It will remain easy to use for advanced users.

5 is a flowchart schematically illustrating a control method of a digital camera according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically illustrating a menu for setting an initialization mode of each function in the control method of the digital camera of FIG. 5.

Referring to the drawing, the control method 300 of a digital camera may set functions of at least one camera having at least one function when the digital camera is turned on to be initialized to a preset initial setting, and then set to a user. A control method of a digital camera that allows a user to perform shooting with a setting function, the method comprising: (a) setting a user level (S301); (b) setting an initialization mode for each function of the camera (S302); (c) storing the current setting function to generate a storage setting (S304); (d) determining a user level (S321); And (e) initializing the setting function of the camera from the initial setting and the storage setting according to the user level and the initialization mode (S322, S323).

In the step of setting the user level (S301), it is preferable to set the user level to any one of the beginner level and the expert level. In this case, the initializing of the camera setting function may include initializing the setting function to an initial setting if the user level is a beginner level (S323), and initializing the setting function to a save setting if the user level is an expert level (S322). It is preferable to have a.

In the setting of the initialization mode for each function of the camera (S302), it is preferable to set the initialization mode to any one of the initialization and setting maintenance as shown in FIG. At this time, in step S322, when the user level is the expert level, the setting function is initialized to the storage setting. The setting function is initialized to the initial setting for the function whose initialization mode is initialization, and the setting is set for the function whose initialization mode is setting maintenance. It is desirable to reset the function to the save settings.

In the present embodiment, except for the above-described matters, the same function as the embodiment of FIG. 4 is performed, and detailed description thereof will be omitted herein.

However, there may be various embodiments in addition to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 5. The user level may be any one of a novice level, an expert level, and a user setting, and the setting function of the camera may be initialized according to each level. There will be.

That is, if the user level is the beginner level, the setting function is reset to the initial setting, if the user level is the expert level, the setting function is reset to the save setting, and if the user level is the user setting, it is set for each function of the camera. Depending on the initialization mode, the setting function may be initialized.

8 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a digital camera for implementing the control method of the digital camera of FIGS. 4 and 5.

Referring to the drawing, the digital camera 30 sets the functions of a camera having at least one function when the digital camera is turned on to a preset initial setting and initializes them to a setting function, and allows the user to set the setting function. In order to perform the shooting as a user, the user level setting unit 31; A user level determining unit 32; A setting function storage unit 33; And a setting function initialization unit 34.

The user level setting unit 31 sets a user level. The user level determining unit 32 determines a user level. The setting function storage unit 33 stores the current function setting to generate a storage setting. The setting function initialization units 34 and 35 initialize the setting function of the camera from the initial setting and the storage setting according to the user level.

At this time, the setting function initialization unit, the setting function reset unit 35 for initializing the setting function to the initial setting when the user level is the beginner level, and the storage function for initializing the setting function to the storage setting when the user level is the expert level. The setting restoration part 34 is provided.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an overall configuration of a digital camera for implementing the control method of the digital camera of FIGS. 4 and 5.

Referring to the drawing, an optical system OPS including a lens unit and a filter unit optically processes light from a subject. The lens unit of the optical system OPS includes a zoom lens, a focus lens, and a compensation lens.

When the wide-angle zoom button or the telephoto-zoom button included in the user input unit INP is pressed, a corresponding signal is input to the microcontroller 512. Accordingly, as the microcontroller 512 controls the lens driver 510, the zoom motor MZ is driven to move the zoom lens.

In the filter portion of the optical system OPS, an optical low pass filter (OLPF) removes high frequency optical noise. Infra-Red cut filters (IRFs) block infrared components of incident light.

A photoelectric conversion unit (OEC) of a charge coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) converts light from an optical system (OPS) into an electrical analog signal. Here, the digital signal processor 507 controls the timing circuit 502 to control the operation of the photoelectric converter OEC and the Correlation Double Sampler and Analog-to-Digital Converter (CDS-ADC) element 501. The CDS-ADC element 501 as an analog-to-digital converter processes the analog signal from the photoelectric converter (OEC), removes the high frequency noise, adjusts the amplitude, and converts the analog signal into a digital signal. The digital signal processor 507 processes the digital signal from the CDS-ADC element 501 to generate a digital video signal classified into luminance and chroma signals.

The light emitting portion LAMP driven by the microcontroller 512 includes a self-timer lamp, an auto-focus lamp and a flash standby lamp. In the user input unit (INP), the shutter button, mode dial, function-selection button, function-block button, monitor button, OK / Delete button, enter / playback button, menu button, wide-zoom button, tele-zoom button, upward A move button, a right-move button, a down-move button, and a left-move button.

The digital video signal from the digital signal processor 507 is temporarily stored in the DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) 504. The EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) 505 stores algorithms and setting data necessary for the operation of the digital signal processor 507. In addition, the EEPROM 505 is used as a nonvolatile memory that performs the function of the setting function storage unit 33 (Fig. 8), so that the setting state of the camera including the user level is stored.

The memory card of the user is attached to or detached from the memory card interface 506. The digital image signal from the digital signal processor 507 is input to the LCD driver 514, whereby the image is displayed on the color LCD panel 55.

On the other hand, the digital video signal from the digital signal processor 507 can be transmitted by serial communication via the USB (Universal Serial Bus) connection 61a or the RS232C interface 508 and its connection 61b, and the video filter ( 509 and video output 61c may be transmitted as a video signal.                     

The audio processor 513 outputs the audio signal from the microphone MIC to the digital signal processor 507 or the speaker SP, and outputs the audio signal from the digital signal processor 507 to the speaker SP. On the other hand, the microcontroller 512 drives the flash by controlling the operation of the flash controller 511 according to the signal from the flash-light amount sensor.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the control method of the digital camera according to the present invention is mainly performed by the microcontroller 512, and receives user input from the user input unit INP and sets functions such as user level. In this case, in addition to the present embodiment, the method for controlling the digital camera according to the present invention may be performed by the digital signal processor 507.

According to the digital camera and the control method thereof according to the present invention, the user can set the user level, and according to the user level is controlled to adaptively set the initial settings of the camera at the time of camera initialization, the user himself You can get the video you want conveniently by the initial camera setup.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to one embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, it is merely an example, and those skilled in the art may realize various modifications and equivalent other embodiments therefrom. I can understand. Accordingly, the true scope of protection of the invention should be defined only by the appended claims.

Claims (11)

When the digital camera is turned on, the functions of the camera having at least one or more functions are set to preset initial settings to initialize the setting functions, and the user can perform shooting with the setting functions. In the control method, (a) setting a user level; (b) determining the user level; (c) storing the current setting function to generate a storage setting; And and (d) initializing a setting function of the camera from the initial setting or the storage setting according to the user level. The method of claim 1, In the step (a), The control method of the digital camera to set the user level to any of the beginner level and expert level. The method of claim 2, In step (d), (d1) initializing the setting function to the initial setting according to the user level, and (d2) initializing the setting function to the storage setting according to the user level. Way. The method of claim 3, And (d) if the user level is a beginner level, and if the user level is an expert level, performing the step (d2) according to the determination result in the step (b). The method of claim 2, And (b) if the user level is an expert level, performing the step (c) to generate the storage settings. The method of claim 1, In step (c), the control method of the digital camera to create a storage setting by storing the current function settings in a nonvolatile memory. When the digital camera is turned on, the functions of the camera having at least one or more functions are set to preset initial settings to initialize the setting functions, and the user can perform shooting with the setting functions. In the control method, (a) setting a user level; (b) setting an initialization mode for each function of the camera; (c) storing the current setting function to generate a storage setting; (d) determining the user level; And and (e) initializing a setting function of the camera from the initial setting and the storage setting according to the user level and the initialization mode. The method of claim 7, wherein In the step (a), The control method of the digital camera to set the user level to any one of the beginner level and expert level. The method of claim 8, In step (e), (e1) if the user level is a beginner level, initializing the setting function to the initial setting, and (e2) if the user level is an expert level, digitally comprising the step of initializing the setting function to the storage setting. Camera control method. 10. The method of claim 9, In step (b), for each of the functions, the control method of the digital camera, wherein the initialization mode is set to either initializing to the initial setting and setting maintenance to reset to the storage setting. The method of claim 10, In the step (e2), The control method of the digital camera which initializes the said setting function to the said initial setting about the function whose initialization mode is initialization, and initializes the said setting function to the said storage setting about the function whose initialization mode is setting maintenance.

Images