KR101080405B1 - Digital camera for storing authentication image and method for operating the digital camera - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a digital camera and an operation method of storing an authentication image which proves that the owner is a digital camera by photographing the authentication image indicating the owner of the digital camera and storing it in an internal memory together with a password. A digital camera operating method for storing an authentication image may include: (a) photographing an authentication image indicating that the digital camera is an owner; (b) adding a password to the captured authentication image; And (c) storing the authentication image added with the password in a predetermined area of the nonvolatile memory in which algorithms and various setting data necessary for the operation of the digital camera are stored.

Description

Digital camera for storing authentication image and method for operating the digital camera}

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

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

3 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the digital camera shown in FIG. 1 for storing an authentication image according to the present invention.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating a digital camera for storing an authentication image according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating a digital camera for storing an authentication image according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of storing a captured authentication image in an internal memory.

The present invention relates to a digital camera and a method of operating the same, which stores an authentication image for verifying the owner's digital camera by capturing an authentication image indicating the owner of the digital camera, storing it in an internal memory together with a password, and confirming it.

With the development of digital technology, a new type of camera using a digital signal, i.e., the image of a subject is stored in memory as a digital signal represented by 0 and 1 so that the stored image can be directly connected to the computer without developing, printing, or scanning. Portable digital cameras have been developed and are rapidly spreading.

A digital camera converts an electric image signal of a subject into a digital signal using an imaging device such as a CCD and stores the digital signal of the photographed subject in a memory by a compression / restore operation of the digital signal, or through an output device. Output the data.

Accordingly, a digital camera that performs a photographing operation of a subject according to the above principle stores image data of a photographed subject on a memory card or the like which stores data without using a separate film as in a conventional general camera.

Therefore, instead of purchasing a film and performing a shooting operation for a predetermined number of shots, and storing the film in a film lab and finding a photograph taken a few hours later, the video signals recorded on the memory card mounted by the operation of the digital camera are sequentially processed. The user can use the captured image data by connecting it to a computer.

That is, the image data can be output to a monitor of a computer, so that the captured image can be immediately checked without a separate developing operation, and the editing operation can be executed as desired, such as easily enlarging or transforming the captured digital image. Therefore, even if the photographed state is not good, you can edit it to your liking by modifying it as you like.

The digital still camera having a security function and a control method thereof (Application No. 1997-0074355) filed in advance of the present invention can execute the operation and reproduce the stored image only by inputting the correct password in order to protect the captured image. To make it work. That is, a password is input when the digital camera is booted so that the digital camera cannot operate when a password error is input.

According to the related art, it is inconvenient to go through a process of inputting and confirming a password every time it boots. In addition, when the digital camera is lost, other people do not use it, so that the loss and damage of the image data is prevented and stored, but can not prove that it is a digital camera.

The technical problem to be achieved by the present invention is a digital camera for storing the authentication image to prove that the owner of the digital camera by taking an authentication image indicating that the owner of the digital camera, and storing it in the internal memory with a password and confirming it and its operation To provide a method.

A digital camera for storing an authentication image for solving the technical problem to be achieved by the present invention comprises: a nonvolatile memory for storing an algorithm and various setting data necessary for operation of the digital camera, and storing a predetermined photographed image; And a control unit configured to provide an authentication image setting menu indicating that the digital camera is the owner, and, when the menu is selected, to set the captured image as an authentication image and to store it in the nonvolatile memory with a predetermined password. Do.

In the present invention, the controller controls to display the authentication image stored in the nonvolatile memory when the input password and the password stored in the nonvolatile memory match.

The operation method of the digital camera for storing the authentication image for solving the technical problem to be achieved by the present invention is a digital camera operation method for storing the image taken on the external memory card, (a) indicating that the owner of the digital camera Photographing the authentication image; (b) adding a password to the captured authentication image; And (c) storing the authentication image added with the password in a predetermined area of the nonvolatile memory in which the algorithm and various setting data necessary for the operation of the digital camera are stored.

In the present invention, before the step (a) provides an authentication image setting menu indicating that the owner of the digital camera, the initial operation of the digital camera, when the power is turned on the digital camera, the menu is automatically And the menu is selected during normal operation of the digital camera.

According to the present invention, the authentication image stored in the nonvolatile memory is displayed when the password inputted to confirm the authentication image and the password stored in the nonvolatile memory match.                     

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

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

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

In the self-timer mode, the self-timer lamp 11 operates for a set time from when the shutter button 13 is pressed to when the shutter is operated. 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 outline of the digital camera of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 2, behind the digital camera 1, a speaker SP, a power button 31, a monitor button 32, an auto-focus lamp 33, a viewfinder 17b, and a flash standby lamp ( 34), display panel (LCD) 35, exposure compensation / deletion button 36, enter / playback button 37, menu / OK button 38, wide angle-zoom button (39w) ), Telephoto-zoom button 39t, up-move button 40up, right-move button 40ri, down-move button 40lo, and left-move button 40le, playback mode (Playback) ) Button 42.                     

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, the image of the subject and the shooting information thereof are displayed on the display panel 35, and when the user presses the second time, only the image of the subject is displayed on the display panel 35. When pressed for the third time, 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 exposure compensation / deletion button 36 is used as a delete button in the process of adjusting the amount of light or manually setting each mode when the digital camera is manually operated.

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 / OK button 38 is used to display and select 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.

The playback mode button 42 is used to check and manipulate the last photographed image, video or audio information.

3 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the digital camera shown in FIG. 1 for storing an authentication image according to the present invention.                     

The optical system OPS optically processes light from a subject. The optical system OPS includes a zoom lens ZL (not shown), a focus lens FL (not shown), and a compensation lens CL (not shown).

When the user presses the wide angle-zoom button (39w in FIG. 2) or the telephoto-zoom button (39t in FIG. 2) included in the user input unit INP, a corresponding signal is output to the microcontroller 512. ) Is entered. Accordingly, as the microcontroller 512 controls the lens driver 510, the zoom motor MZ is driven to move the zoom lens ZL. That is, when the wide angle-zoom button (39w in FIG. 2) is pressed, the focal length of the zoom lens ZL is shortened to widen the angle of view, and the telephoto-zoom button 39t is When pressed, the focal length of the zoom lens ZL becomes long and the angle of view becomes narrow.

According to such a characteristic, the microcontroller 512 may obtain an angle of view θ with respect to the position of the zoom lens ZL from the design data of the optical system OPS. Here, since the position of the focus lens FL is adjusted while the position of the zoom lens ZL is set, the angle of view θ is hardly influenced by the position of the focus lens FL. The compensation lens CL serves to compensate for the overall refractive index and is not driven separately.

Reference numeral MA denotes a motor for driving an aperture. Here, the rotation angle of the aperture drive motor MA is changed depending on the case of the designated exposure mode and the case of not. The designated exposure mode refers to a mode for setting the exposure amount of the digital camera to the average brightness of the designated detection area when the desired area of the target area matches the designated detection area displayed on the display panel 35 of the digital camera. Say.

The optical system OPS includes an optical evening pass filter (OLPE, not shown) and an infrared cut filter (IRF, not shown). An optical low pass filter removes high frequency optical noise, and an infrared cut filter cuts off infrared light 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 operations of the photoelectric converter OEC and the analog-digital converter 501. The CDS-ADC (Correlation Double Sampler and Analog-to-Digital Converter) element 501 as an analog-to-digital converter processes the analog signal from the photoelectric converter (OEC), removes the high frequency noise, and adjusts the amplitude. After that, it is converted into a digital signal. The digital signal processor 507 processes the digital signal from the CDS-ADC element 501 to generate a digital image signal classified into luminance and chroma signals.

The light emitting portion LAMP driven by the microcontroller 512 includes a self-timer lamp 11, an auto-focus lamp (33 in FIG. 2) and a flash standby lamp (34 in FIG. 2). The user input unit INP includes a shutter button (13 in FIG. 1), a function-selection button (15 in FIG. 1), a function-block button (18 in FIG. 1), a monitor button (32 in FIG. 2), and confirm / delete. Button (36 in FIG. 2), enter / playback button (37 in FIG. 2), menu button (38 in FIG. 2), wide-zoom button (39w in FIG. 2), telephoto-zoom button (39t in FIG. 2), Up-move button (40up in FIG. 2), right-move button (40ri in FIG. 2), down-move button (40lo in FIG. 2), and left-move button (40le in FIG. 2).

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, and also stores authentication images and passwords taken by the owner of the digital camera. To this end, the EEPROM 505 is divided into first and second areas, in which the algorithm and setting data necessary for the operation of the digital signal processor 507 are stored, and in the second area, the authentication of the digital camera is taken. The image and password are saved. The EEPROM 505 is accessed under the control of the microcontroller 512 to input / output corresponding data stored in the first area or execute an algorithm, and compares the password input under the control of the microcontroller 512 with the password stored in the second area. In this case, the authentication image is output to the display panel 35 only when it matches.

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 35, that is, the display unit.

On the other hand, the digital video signal from the digital signal processor 507 can be transmitted by serial communication via a universal serial bus (USB) connection 21a or an RS232C interface 508 and its connection 21b, and a video filter ( 509 and video output 21c 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 flash 12 is driven through the microcontroller 512 and the flash controller 511 according to the signal from the flash-light amount sensor 19.

The microcontroller 512 provides various menus for operating the digital camera. In particular, the present invention provides an authentication image setting menu indicating that the digital camera is the owner. In general, the captured image is stored in the memory card, but in the present invention, the authentication image for indicating that the owner of the digital camera is stored in the internal memory EEPROM 505, so that the digital camera is not deleted even when the digital camera is rebooted.

The microcontroller 512 automatically displays the authentication image setting menu on the display panel 35 when the power is turned on during the initial operation of the digital camera, that is, when the digital camera is first purchased, so that the owner can set the authentication image. do. In the initial operation of the digital camera, after selecting the displayed authentication already set menu, if the authentication image is taken, it is stored in the second area of the internal memory EEPROM 505 together with the password entered by the owner and the embodiment shown in FIG. An example is shown. Thereafter, when a password is inputted to confirm the authentication image, the microcontroller 512 compares the password stored in the second area of the EEPROM 505, and the display panel 35 displays the image of the EEPROM 505 only when it matches. 2 Display the authentication image stored in the area.

The authentication image setting menu can be selected even during normal operation of the digital camera. In the normal operation of the digital camera, the owner selects an authentication image setting menu to set an authentication image, and selects an authentication image shooting menu (for example, an identification menu) which is a submenu, to prepare for authentication image shooting. The microcontroller 512 stores the authentication image photographed by the owner in the second area of the EEPROM 505 which is an internal memory along with the password inputted by the owner. An embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 6. Thereafter, when a password is inputted to confirm the authentication image, the microcontroller 512 compares the password stored in the second area of the EEPROM 505, and the display panel 35 displays the image of the EEPROM 505 only when it matches. 2 Display the authentication image stored in the area.

Next, an operation method of the digital camera for storing the authentication image will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6.

4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation method of a digital camera for storing an authentication image according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and illustrates a method for operating a digital camera for storing an authentication image during initial operation. In this case, the initial operation refers to the first purchase of a digital camera as mentioned above.

In the initial operation of the digital camera, the microcontroller 512 automatically displays the authentication image setting menu on the display panel 35 when the power is turned on, and determines whether to capture the authentication image (step 400).                     

If the authentication image setting menu is selected by the owner, the owner photographs the authentication image (step 402). Any image shooting that allows the owner to distinguish that it is his own authentication image is irrelevant.

When the photographing of the authentication image is completed by the owner, the microcontroller 512 determines whether to store the photographed authentication image in the EEPROM 505 which is an internal memory (step 404).

If the owner wants to store the captured authentication image in the EEPROM 505, the microcontroller 512 requests a password input, the owner enters a password, and the microcontroller 512 enters the password into the captured authentication image. In addition, it is stored in the second area of the EEPROM 505 (step 406). 6 illustrates an embodiment in which the authentication image photographed in FIG. 6 is stored together with a password in a second area of the EEPROM 505, which is an internal memory.

However, if the captured image is not satisfied and is not stored in the EEPROM 505, the microcontroller 512 may determine whether to retake the authentication image, and if the owner selects it, may retake the authentication image (408). step).

Thereafter, in the normal operation of the digital camera, the user selects an authentication image setting menu and selects an authentication image confirmation menu, which is a sub-menu, in order to confirm the authentication image (steps 410 and 412).

When the sub menu, the authentication image confirmation menu is selected, the microcontroller 512 requests a password input, and the owner inputs a password according to the request (step 414).                     

The microcontroller 512 compares the password entered in the owner with the password stored in the second area of the EEPROM 505 and displays the authentication image stored in the second area of the EEPROM 505 on the display panel 35 when it matches. (Steps 416, 418).

However, if the password entered in the owner does not match by comparing the password stored in the second area of the EEPROM 505, an error message is displayed on the display panel 35 to determine that the owner of the digital camera is not the owner. (Step 420).

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation method of a digital camera for storing an authentication image according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and illustrates a method for operating a digital camera for storing an authentication image during normal operation.

When the digital camera is in operation (step 500), and the user wants to set the authentication image (step 502), the owner selects the authentication image setting menu (step 504), and the submenu authentication image shooting menu (e.g., Identification menu) (step 506).

If the authentication image shooting menu is selected, the owner shoots the authentication image (step 508). Any image shooting that allows the owner to distinguish that it is his own authentication image is irrelevant.

When the authentication image photographing is completed by the owner, the microcontroller 512 determines whether to store the photographed authentication image in the EEPROM 505, which is an internal memory (step 510).

If the owner wants to store the captured authentication image in the EEPROM 505, the microcontroller 512 requests a password input, the owner enters a password, and the microcontroller 512 passwords the captured authentication image. In operation 512, the processor 2 stores the EEPROM 505 in a second area of the EEPROM 505. 6 illustrates an embodiment in which the authentication image photographed in FIG. 6 is stored together with a password in a second area of the EEPROM 505, which is an internal memory.

However, if the captured image is not satisfied and is not stored in the EEPROM 505, the microcontroller 512 may determine whether to retake the authentication image, and the owner may select it to retake the authentication image (514). step).

Thereafter, in the normal operation of the digital camera, the user selects an authentication image setting menu and selects an authentication image confirmation menu, which is a sub-menu, in order to confirm the authentication image (steps 516 and 518).

When the submenu of the authentication image confirmation menu is selected, the microcontroller 512 requests a password input, and the owner inputs a password according to the request (step 520).

The microcontroller 512 compares the password entered in the owner with the password stored in the second area of the EEPROM 505 and displays the authentication image stored in the second area of the EEPROM 505 on the display panel 35 when it matches. (Steps 522 and 524).

However, if the password entered in the owner and the password stored in the second area of the EEPROM 505 do not match, an error message is displayed on the display panel 35 to determine that the owner of the digital camera is not the owner. (Step 526).

So far I looked at the center of the preferred embodiment for the present invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be implemented in a modified form without departing from the essential features of the present invention. Therefore, the disclosed embodiments should be considered in descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. The scope of the present invention is shown in the claims rather than the foregoing description, and all differences within the scope will be construed as being included in the present invention.

As described above, according to the present invention, the authentication image indicating that the owner of the digital camera is taken and stored in the internal memory with a password, and when the correct password is input, the authentication image taken can be proved to be the owner's digital camera. .

Claims (5)

A nonvolatile memory for storing algorithms and various setting data necessary for the operation of the digital camera and storing a predetermined photographed image; And An authentication image setting menu indicating the owner of the digital camera, and if the menu is selected, sets a captured image as an authentication image, stores it in the non-volatile memory with a predetermined password, and inputs to confirm the authentication image. And a control unit which controls to display the authentication image stored in the nonvolatile memory when the stored password matches the password stored in the nonvolatile memory. delete A digital camera operation method for storing a photographed image on an external memory card, (a) photographing an authentication image indicating that the owner of the digital camera is present; (b) adding a password to the captured authentication image; (c) storing the authentication image added with the password in a predetermined area of the nonvolatile memory in which algorithms and various setting data necessary for the operation of the digital camera are stored; And and (d) displaying an authentication image stored in the nonvolatile memory when the password inputted to confirm the authentication image matches the password stored in the nonvolatile memory. 4. The method of claim 3, further comprising providing an authentication image setting menu indicating that the digital camera is the owner before the step (a). When the digital camera is powered on, the menu is automatically displayed. And the menu is selected during normal operation of the digital camera. delete

Images