KR101589491B1 - Apparatus and method for capturing digital image - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a digital image photographing apparatus and method capable of determining a snapshot photographing mode when a first shutter-release button and a second shutter-release button are input at substantially the same time, and photographing an image under preset photographing conditions. The digital signal processing means of the digital image pickup apparatus includes a setting unit for setting shooting conditions for image shooting, a counter for counting a clock from the input of the first shutter-release button to the input of the second shutter-release button, And a photographing control section for controlling the photographing section to perform photographing under the photographing conditions set by the setting section when the clock count value is less than the reference value.

Shooting condition setting, clock count, snapshot

Description

[0001] Apparatus and method for capturing digital image [0002]

The present invention relates to a digital image photographing apparatus and method capable of improving snap shot performance.

In the basic image capturing method of the conventional digital image capturing apparatus, the first shutter-release button (half-shutter) is pressed and the AF detection operation is performed while operating the AF motor as a signal. When the AF detection operation is completed, a signal is sent to the user as a screen or a sound to notify the user that the AF operation has been completed and wait until the second shutter-release button (photographing shutter) is input. When the second shutter- And the photographing is executed.

Even if the first shutter-release button is input and the second shutter-release button is directly input, the image capturing is performed after the AF operation is completed, or the image capturing is performed immediately without driving the AF motor at all . In both cases, if the AF algorithm fails, unwanted pictures that are out of focus may appear. Furthermore, when the AF point is set to spot and the novice user is ignorant about how to use the AF point, the frequency increases.

 Also, the same situation occurs in the case of AWB (auto white balance). When the robustness of the AWB algorithm is lowered, the color often changes when the photograph is taken under the same illumination in the same place. For this reason, it often occurs that the colors do not coincide with each other even though the snapshot images are taken at a similar time.

 In addition, since the user can not change the setting of the digital image capture device in order to capture the instantaneous image even if the capture is carried out instantaneously, the blurring of the image occurs due to the long shutter speed due to the setting of auto exposure (AE) May be too shallow to properly represent the desired subject.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a digital image photographing apparatus capable of determining a snapshot photographing mode when a first shutter-release button and a second shutter- And a method.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital image photographing apparatus which sets photographing condition information, and when the time counted from the input of the first shutter-release button to the input of the second shutter-release button is less than the reference time And digital signal processing means for performing photographing under the set photographing conditions.

In the present invention, the digital signal processing unit may include: a setting unit for setting shooting conditions for image shooting; A counter for counting a clock from the input of the first shutter-release button to the input of the second shutter-release button; A comparison unit comparing the clock count value with a reference value; And an imaging control unit for controlling the imaging unit to perform imaging under the imaging condition set by the setting unit when the clock count value is less than the reference value as a result of the comparison.

In the present invention, the setting unit may set the position of the focus motor, the white balance range, the exposure value, and the like.

In the present invention, the image capturing controller may control the image capturing to be performed under the automatic capturing condition when the clock count value exceeds the reference value as a result of the comparison.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital image photographing method including the steps of: (a) setting photographing conditions for photographing; (b) counting a clock from the input of the first shutter-release button to the input of the second shutter-release button; And (c) if the time counted from the input of the first shutter-release button to the input of the second shutter-release button is less than the reference time, performing image capturing with the capturing condition set in step (a) .

In the present invention, the position of the focus motor, the white balance range, the exposure value, and the like can be set in the photographing condition in the step (a).

In the present invention, when the counted time from the input of the first shutter-release button to the input of the second shutter-release button in the step (c) exceeds the reference time, .

As described above, according to the present invention, when the first shutter-release button and the second shutter-release button are input at substantially the same time, it is determined as the snapshot shooting mode and the image is photographed under preset shooting conditions, You can shoot easily and quickly.

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

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital image photographing apparatus according to the present invention. 1 schematically shows a digital photographing apparatus as a kind of digital image processor. Of course, the present invention is not limited to the digital image photographing apparatus as shown in FIG. 1, and the present invention can be applied to image processing apparatuses such as PDAs (personal digital assistants) and PMPs (personal multimedia players). This also applies to the following embodiments and modifications thereof.

The overall operation of the digital image photographing apparatus is governed by the CPU 100. [ The digital image photographing apparatus is provided with an operation unit 200 including a key for generating an electrical signal from the user. An electric signal from the operation unit 200 is transmitted to the CPU 100 so that the CPU 100 can control the digital image pickup apparatus in accordance with an electrical signal.

The CPU 100 recognizes the signal and controls the lens driving unit 11, the diaphragm driving unit 21, and the imaging device control unit 31 as an electrical signal from the user is applied to the CPU 100 , Thereby controlling the position of the lens 10, the degree of opening of the diaphragm 20, and the sensitivity of the imaging element 30, respectively. The image pickup element 30 generates data from the input light, and the analog / digital conversion section 40 converts the analog data output from the image pickup element 30 into digital data. Of course, the analog-to-digital conversion section 40 may not be required depending on the characteristics of the imaging element 30. [

The data from the image pickup device 30 may be input to the digital signal processing unit 50 via the memory 60 or may be input to the digital signal processing unit 50 without going through the memory 60, (Not shown). Here, the memory 60 is a concept including ROM, RAM, and the like. The digital signal processing unit 50 can perform digital signal processing such as gamma correction, white balance change, and the like as necessary. 2, the digital signal processing unit 50 includes components such as a photographing condition information setting unit 51, a clock counter 53, a comparison unit 55, and a photographing control unit 57 It is possible. Of course, the photographing condition information setting section 51, the clock counter 53, the comparing section 55 and the photographing control section 57 may be constituent elements other than the constituent elements in the digital signal processing section 50, This is possible. That is, it suffices that the digital video image pickup apparatus according to the present embodiment includes the photographing condition information setting section 51, the clock counter 53, the comparing section 55, and the photographing control section 57. The photographing condition information setting unit 51 sets photographing conditions for photographing the image, and the clock counter 53 counts the clock from the first shutter-release button input to the second shutter-release button input, The photographing control unit 55 compares the clock count value with the reference value and when the clock count value is less than the reference value as a result of the comparison, the photographing control unit 57 performs control so as to perform photographing under the photographing condition set by the photographing condition information setting unit 51 do.

The operation of the photographing condition information setting section 51, the clock counter 53, the comparing section 55 and the photographing control section 57 will be described later.

The image from the data outputted from the digital signal processing section 50 is transmitted to the display control section 81 through the memory 60 or directly. The display control unit 81 controls the display unit 80 to display an image on the display unit 80. In the present invention, the display unit 80 may be a touch screen. The data output from the digital signal processing unit 50 is input to the memory 60 or directly to the storage / read control unit 71. The storage / And stores the data in the storage medium (70). Of course, the storage / read control unit 71 reads data from the image file stored in the storage medium 70 and inputs it to the display control unit 81 through the memory 60 or another path, So that the image is displayed. The storage medium 70 may be removable or permanently attached to the digital imaging device.

Hereinafter, functions of the photographing condition information setting unit 51, the clock counter 53, the comparing unit 55, and the photographing control unit 57 will be described with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG.

The photographing condition information setting section 51 sets the focus motor position, the exposure value (aperture value or shutter speed), the white balance range, and the like before the image photographing.

The photographing condition information setting section 51 moves the focus motor on the interface like ordinary manual focus photographing by user input before snapshot photographing in order to set the position where the focus motor moves, ) Input. If there is no user configuration, the default value can be applied.

The photographing condition setting unit 51 can set an automatic white balance, a manual white balance, or a custom white balance before the snapshot for the white balance setting. If there is no user configuration, the default value can be applied.

The photographing condition setting unit 51 can receive and set the aperture (F number) and the shutter speed from the user before snap shooting for exposure setting. When setting only the aperture value, the shutter speed and sensitivity can be adjusted to the exposure line calculated by the exposure in the aperture priority mode, and when only the shutter speed is set, the aperture and sensitivity are calculated in the shutter speed priority mode, . When setting both aperture and shutter speed, set ISO (sensitivity) only as manual exposure as close as possible to the calculated exposure index. In the case of sensitivity, undesirable characteristics such as noise may occur as the sensitivity increases. Therefore, it is possible to limit the sensitivity to a level below the predetermined level.

After the photographing condition information setting is completed, the live view image is displayed for the snapshot photographing. When the first shutter-release button is inputted after the desired composition is set, the clock counter 53 starts clock counting. The clock count reason is for judging whether or not the shot is a snapshot shot. The clock counter 53 counts the clock from the input of the first shutter-release button to the input of the second shutter-release button.

The comparison unit 55 compares the counted clock (time) with a reference time (hereinafter referred to as a reference value) and outputs the result to the photographing control unit 57. Here, the reference value may be set in advance by the manufacturer or may be set by the user. If the user sets the reference value, the reference value may be converted into a clock in units of seconds. For example, the reference value may be set to 0.3 seconds.

When the counted clock (time) is less than the reference value as a result of the comparison by the comparison unit 55, the photographing control unit 57 determines that the photographing operation is a snapshot and sets the focus motor moving position and the exposure value set by the photographing condition information setting unit 51 as And performs image processing with the set white balance and stores it. However, if the counted clock (time) exceeds the reference value as a result of the comparison by the comparison unit 55, the photographing control unit 57 determines that the photographing mode is the general photographing mode, performs AF, And stores it.

In another embodiment, when the first shutter-release button and the second shutter-release button are input at substantially the same time and the snapshot shooting mode is determined, shooting can be performed in a predetermined scene mode (for example, sports, portrait mode, etc.) .

When the first shutter-release button and the second shutter-release button are inputted at substantially the same time, the snapshot shooting mode is determined, and the user shoots the image with the preset shooting conditions, so that the user can easily and quickly shoot the desired image.

Hereinafter, a digital image photographing method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The digital image sensing method according to the present invention can be performed in a digital image processor as shown in FIG. 1. According to an embodiment, a main algorithm of an operation method is a digital signal processor 50). ≪ / RTI >

Before the snapshot shooting, the digital signal processing unit 50 receives the snapshot shooting condition information from the user, sets and stores the snapshot shooting condition information (step 301). The digital signal processing unit 50 receives and sets a focus motor position, an exposure value (aperture value or shutter speed), a white balance range, and the like by the user, and the set values have been described in detail above. The digital signal processor 50 may receive and set a reference value for determining a snapshot from the user. Furthermore, the digital signal processor 50 can receive and set a scene mode (e.g., sports, portrait mode, etc.) from the user.

When the photographing condition information setting is completed, the digital signal processing unit 50 displays a live view image on the display unit 80 (step 303), and the user sets a composition for photographing.

After the composition setting is completed, the digital signal processing unit 50 determines whether the first shutter-release button is input from the user (step 305).

In operation 307, the digital signal processor 50 counts the clock as the first shutter-release button is input by the user. The clock count reason is for judging whether or not the shot is a snapshot shot. The clun counter 53 counts the clock from the input of the first shutter-release button to the input of the second shutter-release button.

After inputting the first shutter-release button, the digital signal processor 50 determines whether the second shutter-release button is input while counting the clock (Step 309).

When the second shutter-release button is input, the digital signal processor 50 stops the clock count and determines whether the clock count value is less than the reference value (step 311).

When the clock count value is less than the reference value, the digital signal processor 50 determines that the snapshot is taken, and after taking the snapshot photographing mode, photographing is performed by applying the focus motor moving position and the exposure value set in the above, Image processing is performed with white balance (step 313).

However, if the clock count value exceeds the reference value, the digital signal processing unit 50 determines that the image capturing mode is the normal image capturing mode, performs the AF process, and then captures the image and performs the image process with the AWB (step 315).

Thereafter, the digital signal processing unit 50 stores the snapshot shot image and the general shot image (step 317).

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital image photographing apparatus according to the present invention.

2 is a detailed block diagram of the digital signal processing unit in FIG.

3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the digital image capturing method according to the present invention.

Claims (11)

When the snapshot shooting condition information for snapshot shooting is set and the time counted from the first shutter-release button input to the second shutter-release button input is less than the reference time for determining the snapshot shooting mode, And a digital signal processing means for performing the snapshot photographing based on the set snapshot photographing condition information when judged to be the shot photographing mode and performing photographing under the automatic photographing condition when the snapshot photographing condition is not less than the reference time, . The digital signal processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the digital signal processing means A setting unit for setting the snapshot photographing condition information; A counter for counting a clock from the input of the first shutter-release button to the input of the second shutter-release button; A comparison unit comparing the clock count value with a reference value corresponding to the reference time; And Wherein the control unit performs the snapshot photographing based on the set snapshot photographing condition information when the clock count value is less than the reference value as a result of the comparison, And a control unit. 2. The method according to claim 1, A focus motor position, a white balance range, and an exposure value. delete (a) setting snapshot photographing condition information for snapshot photographing; (b) counting a clock from the input of the first shutter-release button to the input of the second shutter-release button; And (c) if the counted time from the input of the first shutter-release button to the input of the second shutter-release button is less than the reference time for determining the snapshot shooting mode, the snapshot shooting condition information Taking a snapshot shot, and if the time is equal to or longer than the reference time, performing shooting under an automatic shooting condition. 6. The method according to claim 5, A focus motor position, a white balance range, and an exposure value. delete 2. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the predetermined scene mode is a predetermined scene mode set by a user. The apparatus according to claim 2, And sets the reference time according to the setting of the user. 6. The method according to claim 5, And a predetermined scene mode set by a user. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step (a) And setting the reference time according to a setting of a user.

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