KR101304466B1 - Method of controlling digital image processing apparatus wherein continuous photographing mode is performed - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is a control method of a digital image processing apparatus in which a continuous shooting mode is performed, which includes steps (a) and (b). In step (a), when continuous shooting starts, the initial size data of the target subject is obtained from the data of the preview image. In step (b), a zooming operation is performed such that initial size data of the target subject is maintained in the process of continuously capturing the preview image.

Description

Method of controlling digital image processing apparatus where continuous photographing mode is performed}

1 is a perspective view showing the front and top appearance of a digital camera as a digital image processing apparatus to which a control method according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a rear view showing a rear outer shape of the digital camera of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of the digital camera of FIG. 1. FIG.

4 is a flow chart showing the main algorithm of the digital camera processor of FIG.

5 is a flowchart illustrating an algorithm of the photographing mode of FIG. 4.

6 is a flow chart showing the algorithm of the subject continuous-shooting mode of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of six images captured by the algorithm of the object continuous-shooting mode of FIG. 6.

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

1 ... digital camera, 11 ... self-timer lamp,

12 ... flash, 13 ... shutter release button,

15 ... function buttons, 16 ... ASR mode button,

17 ... power button, 19 ... flash-light sensor, 20 ... lens, 22 ... camera-status lamp,

23 ... special-effect button, 24 ... camera strap hook,

25 ... earphone connection, MIC ... microphone,

SP ... speaker, 35 ... display panel,

36 ... + / - button, 39 ... Zoom / 9 split / volume button,

42 ... play / printer button, 43 ... mode button,

OPS ... Optical system, OEC ... Photoelectric conversion unit, M _Z ... Zoom motor, M _F ... Focus motor,

M _A ... aperture motor, 501 ... analog-to-digital converter,

502 ... timing circuit, 503 ... real time clock,

504 ... DRAM, 505 ... EEPROM, 506 ... memory card interface, 507 ... digital camera processor, 508 ... RS232C interface, 509 ... video filter, 21a ... USB connection, 21b A lens controller for controlling the lens controller, a flash controller for controlling the flash controller, a controller for controlling the lens controller, ... audio processor, 514 ... LCD driver, 62 ... flash memory.

The present invention relates to a control method of a digital image processing apparatus, and more particularly, to a control method of a digital image processing apparatus in which a continuous shooting mode is performed.

As a typical digital image processing apparatus, for example, a digital camera of U.S. Patent No. 6,097,431 (entitled "Method and system for reviewing and navigating among images on an image capture unit") is exemplified.

Examples of the conventional digital image processing apparatus include a moving image photographing mode, a continuous photographing mode, and a general photographing mode. When the continuous-shooting mode is set, images are captured continuously while the user presses the shutter release button.

However, according to the conventional continuous-shooting mode, when the target subject moves toward the digital image processing apparatus or moves forward of the digital image processing apparatus, as the size of the target subject changes, the continuous capture of the target subjects continuously captured There is a problem that the user cannot see the normal operation clearly.

It is an object of the present invention, in the continuous-shooting mode, when the target subject moves toward the digital image processing apparatus or moves forward of the digital image processing apparatus, the user can clearly see the continuous operation of the continuously captured target subject. It is to provide a control method of a digital image processing device that can be viewed clearly.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a control method of a digital image processing apparatus in which a continuous shooting mode is performed, comprising steps (a) and (b).

In the step (a), when continuous shooting is started, the initial size data of the target subject is obtained from the data of the preview image.

In the step (b), the zoom operation is performed to maintain the original size data of the target subject in the process of continuously capturing the preview image.

According to the control method of the digital image processing apparatus of the present invention, when the target subject moves toward the digital image processing apparatus or moves forward of the digital image processing apparatus, the size of the target subject is uniformly photographed by the zooming operation. . Accordingly, the user can clearly see the continuous operation of the target subject captured continuously.

Furthermore, the effect of the image in which only the background changes as the target subject moves in place can be obtained.

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

Referring to FIG. 1, the front and upper sides of the digital camera 1 as a digital image processing apparatus according to the present invention include a self-timer lamp 11, a flash 12, a shutter release button 13, and an ASR (Advanced). Shake Reduction mode button 16, power button 17, lens unit 20, a microphone (MIC), and a speaker (SP).

The self-timer lamp 11 operates during the set time from when the shutter release button 13 is depressed to when it starts capturing an image in the self-timer mode. In addition, the self-timer lamp 11 generates auxiliary light according to the user's selection.

The ASR mode button 16 is used to compensate for camera shake. The ASR mode button 16 is also used as a lock button. For example, when the ASR mode button 16 is pressed for less than one second, the image stabilization function is performed. When the ASR mode button 16 is pressed for more than one second, the lock function in the playback mode is performed.

The shutter release button 13 has a two-stage structure. That is, when the user operates the wide angle-zoom button 39 _W and the tele-zoom button 39 _T and then presses the shutter release button 13 by one step, the SH1 signal from the shutter release button 13 is turned on ), And the SH2 signal from the shutter release button 13 is turned on when the second stage is pressed. In the still image shooting mode and the moving image shooting mode, an image is captured after the SH2 signal is turned on. In the continuous shooting mode, images are captured continuously while the SH1 signal is on.

2, behind the digital camera 1 according to the present invention, the function buttons 15, the camera-status lamp 22, the special-effects button 23, the camera strap 24, the earphone There is a connection 25, a display panel 35, a +/- button 36, a zoom / 9 split / volume button 39, a play / printer button 42, and a mode button 43.

The function buttons 15 are used by the user to perform specific functions of the digital camera 1 and are used as direction-movement buttons of the active cursor in the menu screen of the display panel 35, And is used to switch between the file and the recording medium.

The camera-state lamp 22 is used to show various operational states of the camera. The special-effect button 23 is used to provide special effects to the image to be photographed.

In the case of this embodiment, the display panel 35 employs a touch screen method. The +/- button 36 is used to adjust the shutter speed for night view shooting and the like.

The zoom / 9split / volume button 39 is used to perform a zooming operation in shooting or playback mode, to display nine pictures in a single playback mode, or to adjust the volume of audio. Used for

The reproduction / printer button 42 is used for switching between the reproduction mode and the preview mode or for direct output to the printer.

The mode button 43 is used to select a PMP (Portable Media Player) mode or various shooting modes.

Fig. 3 shows the overall configuration of the digital camera 1 of Fig. Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, the overall configuration and operation of the digital camera 1 of Fig. 1 will be described as follows.

An optical system (OPS) including a lens unit and a filter unit optically processes light from a subject. The lens portion of the optical system OPS includes a zoom lens, a focus lens, and a compensation lens. When the user presses the zoom / 9 division / volume button 39 included in the user input unit INP in the preview mode or the moving image shooting mode, a corresponding signal is input to the micro controller 512. Accordingly, as the micro controller 512 controls the lens driving unit 510, the zoom motor M _Z is driven to move the zoom lens.

Meanwhile, in the automatic focusing mode, the main controller built in the digital camera processor 507 controls the driving unit 510 through the micro controller 512 to drive the focus motor M _F. Thus, the focus lens is moved. In this process, the number of drive steps of the focus motor M _F , for example, the position of the focus lens where the high frequency component of the image signal is the largest, is set. Reference symbol M _A denotes a motor for driving an aperture (not shown).

A photoelectric conversion unit OEC of a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or a CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) converts light from the optical system OPS into an electrical analog signal. Here, the digital camera processor 507 controls the timing circuit 502 to control the operations of the photoelectric conversion unit (OEC) and the analog-digital conversion unit 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. Then convert it to a digital signal.

The real-time clock 503 provides time information to the digital camera processor 507. The digital camera processor 507 processes digital signals from the CDS-ADC device 501 to generate digital image signals classified into luminance and chrominance signals.

The light-emitting section (LAMP) driven by the microcontroller 512 according to the control signals from the digital camera processor 507 incorporating the main controller includes a self-timer lamp 11 and a camera-state lamp 22 .

The user input unit INP includes a shutter release button 13, function buttons 15, an ASR mode button 16, a power button 17, a special-effect button 23, a +/- button 36, A zoom / nine division / volume button 39, a playback / printer button 42, a mode button 43, and the like.

A digital image signal from the digital camera processor 507 is temporarily stored in a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) 504. An algorithm necessary for the operation of the digital camera processor 507 is stored in an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory) 505. In the memory card interface (MCI) 506, the user's memory card is detached. In the flash memory (FM), setting data necessary for the operation of the digital camera processor 507 is stored. In the memory card interface 506, a plurality of memory cards are detached and removed as user's recording media.

The digital video signal from the digital camera processor 507 is input to the LCD driver 514, whereby an image is displayed on the display panel 35.

In the interface unit 21, the digital video signal from the digital camera 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 may be transmitted as a video signal through the video filter 509 and the video output 21c.

The audio processor 513 outputs the audio signal from the microphone MIC to the digital camera processor 507 or the speaker SP and outputs the audio signal from the digital camera processor 507 to the speaker SP.

On the other hand, the micro controller 512 controls the operation of the flash controller 511 in accordance with the signal from the flash-light amount sensor 19 to drive the flash 12. [

4 shows the main algorithm of the digital camera processor 507 of FIG. A main algorithm of the digital camera processor 507 of FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 as follows.

When operation power is applied to the digital camera 1, the digital camera processor 507 executes initialization (step S1). When this initialization step S1 is executed, the digital camera processor 507 performs a preview mode (step S2). In this preview mode, the input image is displayed on the display panel 35.

Next, when the SH1 signal as the first stage signal from the shutter release button 13 is in the On state (step S3), the digital camera processor 507 performs the shooting mode (step S4).

Next, when signals corresponding to the setting mode are input from the input signals from the user input unit INP (step S5), a setting mode for setting the operating conditions according to the input signals from the user input unit INP is performed (Step S6).

On the other hand, if no termination signal is generated (step S7), the digital camera processor 507 determines whether a conversion signal to another arbitrary mode has been generated (step S8).

If no conversion signal to another mode is generated in step S8, the digital camera processor 507 repeats step S2 and the following steps. If a conversion signal to any other mode is generated in step S8, the digital camera processor 507 repeatedly performs step S2 and subsequent steps after performing the mode (step S9).

The algorithm of the photographing mode (step S4) of FIG. 4 will be described with reference to FIG. 5.

First, the digital camera processor 507 determines the shooting method currently set (step S51).

Next, if the currently set shooting method is the moving picture shooting method, the digital camera processor 507 performs the moving picture shooting mode (step S52). Since the algorithm for performing the moving picture photographing mode is the same as usual, the description thereof is omitted.

In addition, if the currently set photographing method is the normal photographing method, the digital camera processor 507 performs the normal photographing mode (step S53). Algorithms for performing the normal shooting mode are the same as those of the conventional one, and thus description thereof is omitted.

If the currently set shooting method is the continuous-shooting method, the digital camera processor 507 determines the method specifically set in the continuous-shooting method (step S54). In accordance with this specifically set manner, the digital camera processor 507 performs the actual continuous-shooting mode (step S55) or the target continuous-shooting mode (step S56). Since the algorithm for performing the actual continuous-shooting mode (step S55) is the same as usual, its description is omitted. Hereinafter, the target continuous shooting mode (step S56) will be described in detail.

FIG. 6 shows the algorithm of the target continuous-shooting mode (step S56) of FIG. FIG. 7 shows an example of 6 images captured by the algorithm of the object continuous-shooting mode (step S56) of FIG. 6. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 71 denotes an image captured when the person as the target subject is farthest from the digital camera (1 in FIG. 1). Reference numeral 76 denotes an image captured when the target subject, i.e., the person is closest to the digital camera 1. Thus, reference numerals 71 to 76 denote images of the result of the target continuous-shooting mode (step S56) performed when the target subject, i.e., a person, runs toward the digital camera 1.

Referring to Figs. 1, 3, 6, and 7, the algorithm of the target continuous shooting mode (step S56) of Fig. 5 will be described in detail as follows.

First, the digital camera processor 507 obtains contour information of the person as the target subject from the first preview image data (step S61). Here, a well-known contour recognition algorithm is used. In summary, whether to contour is determined according to the gray level difference between adjacent pixels. Among the subjects obtained by such a contour recognition algorithm, the largest subject is set as the target subject.

Next, the digital camera processor 507 obtains initial size data of the target subject (step S62).

Next, the digital camera processor 507 performs image capture and storage (step S63, see 71 in FIG. 7).

Next, the digital camera processor 507 obtains the position data of the target subject from the new preview image data using the outline information of the target subject obtained in step S61 (step S64).

Next, the digital camera processor 507 obtains new size data of the target subject (step S65).

Next, the digital camera processor 507 compares the new size data with the original size data (step S66).

Next, if the new size data and the initial size data are not the same in step S66, the digital camera processor 507 performs a zoom operation (step S67). For example, the digital camera processor 507 controls the driver 510 through the microcontroller 512 to drive the zoom motor M _Z so that the original size data of the person as the target subject is maintained.

More specifically, telephoto-zoom is performed when the new size data of the person as the target subject is smaller than the original size data, and wide angle-zoom is performed when the new size data of the target subject is larger than the original size data. The operation is performed. The example of FIG. 7 is a result of performing a wide angle-zoom operation while a person as a target subject runs toward the digital camera 1.

As described above, since the size of the target subject is uniformly photographed by the zoom operation, the user can clearly see the continuous operation of the target subject captured continuously. Furthermore, the effect of the image in which only the background changes as the target subject moves in place can be obtained.

When the step S67 is performed, the steps S64, S65, and S66 are performed again.

Next, if the new size data and the original size data are the same at step S66, the digital camera processor 507 performs image capture and storage (step S68, see 72 of Fig. 7).

The steps S64 to S68 are repeatedly performed until the continuous shooting ends, that is, until the SH1 signal is turned off because the user does not press the shutter release button 13 (steps S69 and 7 of FIG. 7). 73 to 76).

As described above, according to the control method of the digital image processing apparatus according to the present invention, when the target subject moves toward the digital image processing apparatus or moves forward of the digital image processing apparatus, the size of the target subject is changed by the zoom operation. Is taken constantly. Accordingly, the user can clearly see the continuous operation of the target subject captured continuously.

Furthermore, the effect of the image in which only the background changes as the target subject moves in place can be obtained.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but can be modified and improved by those skilled in the art within the spirit and scope of the invention defined in the claims.

Claims (9)

In the control method of the digital image processing apparatus is a continuous shooting mode, (a) when the continuous shooting starts, obtaining initial size data of the target subject from the data of the preview image; And (b) performing a zoom operation to maintain initial size data of the target subject in the process of continuously capturing the preview image; Step (a) is, (S61) obtaining contour information of the target subject from first preview image data; And (S62) obtaining initial size data of the target subject, The step (b) (S63) when the step (S62) is performed, performs image capture and storage; (S64) when the step S63 is performed, using the contour information of the target subject obtained in the step S61, obtaining position data of the target subject from new preview image data; (S65) when step S64 is performed, obtaining new size data of the target subject; And (S66) when the step (S65) is performed, comparing the new size data with the original size data. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises (b1) performing a telephoto-zoom operation when new size data of the target subject is smaller than the initial size data in the process of continuously capturing the preview image; And and (b1) performing a wide angle-zoom operation when the new size data of the target subject is larger than the initial size data in the process of continuously capturing the preview image. delete delete The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises And performing a zoom operation when the new size data and the first size data are not the same in the step S66. The method of claim 5, wherein in step S67, A telephoto-zoom operation is performed when the new size data of the target subject is smaller than the initial size data, and a wide angle-zoom operation is performed when the new size data of the target subject is larger than the initial size data. The control method of the digital image processing device. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein in step (b) And if the step (S67) is performed, the steps (S64), (S65), and (S66) are performed again. The method of claim 7, wherein step (b) And if the new size data and the first size data are the same in step (S66), performing image capture and storage (S68). The method of claim 8, wherein step (b) comprises And (S69) repeatedly performing the steps (S64) to (S68) until the continuous shooting is finished.

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