KR20060067797A - Image pickup apparatus, and method for fixing photographic information - Google Patents

Abstract

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging device, a shooting information setting method, and a shooting information setting program that can easily perform setting according to a shooting situation of a camera. An imaging device for imaging on the basis of photographing information, comprising: imaging means for imaging an identification code and generating image data based on an imaging result, extraction means for extracting an identification code from image data generated by the imaging means, and extraction; There is provided an image pickup apparatus including identification code generation means for generating photographing information from the identification code extracted by the means and setting means for setting shooting conditions based on the photographing information generated by the identification code generating means.

Description

Image pickup apparatus, and method for fixing photographic information

1 is a schematic block diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an identification code.

3 is a diagram illustrating an example of shooting information.

4 is a flowchart for explaining an operation in the case where the CPU sets shooting conditions based on the shooting information.

<Description of Symbols for Major Parts of Drawings>

19 CPU 50 Extractor

52 Identification code generation section 54 Shooting information setting section

60 image data storage

`` 2002. 10 J-Phone synthesis catalog / Kanto, armor version ", Japan, J-Phone, October, 2014, page 19

The present invention relates to an image capturing apparatus, an image capturing information setting method, and a image capturing information setting program for capturing images based on image capturing information for setting image capturing conditions.

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, digital cameras are equipped with a manual mode function in which a user can freely set a shutter speed, an aperture value, and the like. By appropriately setting various setting values in accordance with this manual mode, shooting according to the brightness of the surroundings, the distance to the subject, or the like becomes possible. Here, a user who has sufficient camera knowledge can use the manual mode, but a user who does not have sufficient camera knowledge can change the settings using the manual mode. It is difficult to understand how to change the existing settings because it is unknown.

Therefore, even a user who does not have sufficient knowledge of the camera has been provided with a camera in which several shooting modes are set in advance so that shooting can be performed according to shooting conditions. By selecting any one of these shooting modes, shooting conditions can be changed. For example, photography modes include "sunny", "cloudy", "indoor," and the like. By selecting any one of these, photography suitable for the situation of the place is possible.

On the other hand, conventionally, a mobile telephone or the like is equipped with a charge-coupled device (CCD), and a mobile telephone capable of capturing and reading a two-dimensional bar code by the CCD has also been provided (see prior art document information).

However, in the above-described prior art, the shooting mode is set in advance, but due to the variety of scenes and situations that the user shoots, it is necessary to preset several shooting modes to the digital camera according to the demand, so that there are too many setting items. There was this. In addition, since the selection target increases as the photographing mode increases, there is a problem that hesitate to choose which one.

In addition, in a situation in which the shooting mode is not set in advance, since a user who does not have a shooting knowledge of the camera needs to shoot in the manual mode, there is a problem in that it is not known how to set it in the end.

On the other hand, in the cellular phone described in the prior art document information, the place name, telephone number, and URL (uniform resource locator) recorded in the two-dimensional bar code can be extracted by reading the two-dimensional bar code, but no consideration is given to the shooting conditions. .

The present invention has been made to solve various problems including the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image capturing apparatus, a photographing information setting method, and a photographing information setting program which can easily perform setting according to the photographing situation of a camera.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image pickup apparatus for image pickup based on shooting information for setting image pickup conditions, comprising: image pickup means for picking up an identification code and generating image data based on the image pickup result; Extraction means for extracting an identification code from the image data generated by the identification data, identification code generation means for generating photographing information from the identification code extracted by the extraction means, and photographing conditions based on the photographing information generated by the identification code generating means. Characterized in that it comprises a setting means for setting the.

The present invention also provides an image capturing apparatus comprising: image data storing means for storing image data generated by the image capturing means, and the extracting means extracts photographing condition data from image data stored in the image data storage means. It is characterized in that the extraction.

Moreover, this invention is an imaging device which image | photographs based on the photography information for setting imaging conditions, Comprising: Image data storage means which stores the image data containing an identification code as an image, and image data stored in the said image data storage means. Extracting means for extracting an identification code from the read image data, identification code generating means for generating photographing information from the identification code extracted by the extracting means, and photographing information generated by the identification code generating means. And setting means for setting shooting conditions.

Moreover, this invention is a photography information setting method in the imaging device which picks up on the basis of the photography information for setting image pick-up conditions, It picks up an identification code, produces | generates image data based on the imaging result, and produces the said image data. Extracting an identification code from the identification code, generating an identification code for generating shooting information from the extracted identification code, and setting shooting conditions on the basis of the generated shooting information.

The present invention also provides a photographing information setting program used for an imaging device for imaging based on photographing information for setting imaging conditions, the method comprising: imaging an identification code to generate image data based on an imaging result; And extracting an identification code from the image data, generating shooting information from the extracted identification code, and setting shooting conditions based on the generated shooting information.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a digital camera is described as an example of the camera according to the present invention.

The digital camera of this embodiment is provided with an imaging element (CCD) 4, a timing generator 8, and an amplifier (AMP) circuit 9 as imaging means for imaging an object.

A lens is disposed in front of the imaging device 4, and the subject image light through the lens is imaged on the light receiving surface of the imaging device 4. The imaging element 4 photoelectrically converts the subject image light formed on this light receiving surface. As this imaging element 4, a CCD imaging element, a CMOS (Complementary MOS) imaging element, etc. are used. The imaging device 4 is driven by the timing signal from the timing generator 8.

The timing generator 8 includes a shutter speed variable portion for changing the shutter speed. The AMP circuit 9 is provided with a gain variable part which varies the amplification degree with respect to the output of the imaging element 4 which constitutes the output of the imaging means. The timing generator 8 and the AMP circuit 9 constitute exposure changing means for changing the exposure state in the imaging means.

In addition, the digital camera of this embodiment includes an A / D converter 10, an image input controller 11, an image signal processing circuit 12, an image compression / extension circuit 13, a video encoder 14, an image display device. (15), CPU 19, AF detection circuit 20, AE AWB detection circuit 21, memory 22, VRAM 23, media controller 24, and recording medium 25. .

The CPU 19 controls the entire digital camera. Here, the CPU 19 has a configuration which is a feature of the present invention. Details will be described later. The AE (Automatic Exposure) and AWB (Automatic White Balance) detection circuit 21 detects an image signal level in order to perform exposure and white balance. The CPU 19 and the AE AWB detection circuit 21 automatically control the state of the exposure change means (timing generator 8, AMP circuit 9) on the basis of the output of the imaging element 4. The exposure control means is constituted.

The output signal of the imaging element 4 is supplied to the A / D converter 10 via the AMP circuit 9. The A / D converter 10 converts the image signal output from the AMP circuit into a digital signal. The output signal of the A / D converter 10 is sent to the CPU 19 via the image input controller 11, and the CPU 19 performs focus control AF.

The AF (Automatic Focus) detection circuit 20 is for performing AF based on the output of the imaging element 4. The AF detection circuit 20 detects a high frequency component level of the image signal in order to perform focus control. Based on the detected high frequency component level, the CPU 19 controls the lens to be the focus position.

The AE AWB detection circuit 21 detects an image signal level in order to perform exposure and white balance. The image signal level is detected by the AE AWB detection circuit 21, and an exposure control signal and a white balance control signal are formed. This exposure control signal and white balance control signal are supplied to the CPU 19.

In normal times, the CPU 19 controls the opening degree of the aperture with respect to the aperture mechanism provided in the lens in accordance with the exposure control signal output from the AE AWB detection circuit 21.

In addition, gain control from the CPU 19 is supplied to the AMP circuit 9, and the gain of the AMP circuit 9 is controlled so as to be at a predetermined signal level. In addition, the gain of the three primary color signals is controlled by the image signal processing circuit 12 in accordance with the white balance control signal from the AE AWB detection circuit 21.

A shutter switch (not shown) is a switch pressed at the time of image photography. When the shutter switch is pressed, the shutter signal is sent to the timing generator 8, and the image at this time is sent to the imaging device 4. The image signal for one screen at this time is accumulated in the memory 22.

The image signal for one screen sent to the memory 22 is supplied to the image compression / expansion circuit 13 after image processing is performed to the image signal processing circuit 12. The image compression / extension circuit 13 compression-codes the image data. As a compression method of image data, JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) is used, for example. JPEG is a standard for image compression using DCT (Discrete Cosine Transform). In addition, the compression method of image data is not limited to JPEG.

The compression-encoded image signal is supplied to the recording medium 25 via the media controller 24 and recorded on the recording medium 25. As the recording medium 25, for example, a card-type removable memory using flash memory is used. As the recording medium 25, a nonvolatile memory, a magnetic tape, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, or the like in which a digital camera is built in can also be used.

In addition, a photographing mode selection switch is provided here, and one photographing mode can be selected from the portrait photographing mode, the sports mode, the landscape mode, the night mode, etc. according to the photographing situation. Here, the portrait shooting mode is a mode suitable for portrait shooting. The sport mode is a mode suitable for photographing a moving subject. The landscape mode is a mode suitable for photographing distant scenery and the like in high quality. Night mode is a mode suitable for shooting night scenes clearly.

Next, the CPU 19 will be described. The CPU 19 has a function of imaging based on shooting information for setting imaging conditions.

In the CPU 19, the extraction unit 50 extracts an identification code from the image data generated by the imaging device 4. The output unit 50 outputs the output signal from the image pickup device 4, which has captured the identification code, to the extractor 50 via the AMP circuit 9, and supplies the A / D converter 10. Is digitized and supplied to the CPU 19 (extraction unit 50) via the image input controller 11 as image data. The extraction unit 50 also reads out image data stored in the image data storage unit 60 to be described later, and extracts shooting condition data from the read image data.

Here, the identification code is a code including shooting information for setting shooting conditions, for example, a two-dimensional barcode. The photographing information is information for specifying photographing conditions to be set according to the object to be photographed when photographing with a camera. For example, the photographing information is setting values such as shutter speed, aperture value, ISO sensitivity, and WB.

2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an identification code. In Fig. 2, the identification code (a) is printed together with the photographed picture (b) and provided to a book or magazine. This photograph is a sample photograph, and photographing information at the time of photographing this sample photograph is printed together with the photograph as a two-dimensional bar code.

The identification code generation unit 52 generates shooting information from the identification code extracted by the extraction unit 50. An example of this shooting information is shown in FIG. As shown in Fig. 3, the photographing information includes, for example, the name of the imaging mode and various setting values (here, for example, setting values of AF, AE, and WB).

The shooting information setting unit 54 sets the shooting conditions based on the shooting information generated by the identification code generation unit 52. The image data storage unit 60 stores the image data output from the CPU 19 after the image data output from the image input controller 11 is sent to the CPU 19.

Next, an operation in the case where the CPU 19 sets the shooting conditions based on the shooting information in the camera of the above-described configuration will be described with reference to the drawings.

4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation in the case where the CPU sets the shooting conditions based on the shooting information.

First, the user selects a sample picture similar to the situation he wishes to take from a magazine or book printed with the sample picture and the two-dimensional bar code, and reads the two-dimensional bar code to read the two-dimensional bar code in the camera mode. Switch to mode to shoot. Here, for example, as shown by reference numeral c in FIG. 2, a sample photograph (code b) and a two-dimensional barcode (code a) are photographed as one image.

In the camera, when a user's switching instruction is input through a switching switch or the like, the mode is changed to the two-dimensional barcode reading mode (step S11). Next, when the user presses the photographing button, the shutter signal is sent to the timing generator 8, and the image at this time is sent to the imaging element 4 to read (photograph) the two-dimensional barcode (step S12).

The picked-up identification code is output as an output signal from the picked-up imaging element 4, supplied to the A / D converter 10 via the AMP circuit 9, digitized in the A / D converter 10, and the image It is supplied as data to the extraction part 50 of the CPU 19 via the image input controller 11. The extraction unit 50 extracts an identification code from this image data (step S13), and outputs the extraction result to the identification code generation unit 52. The identification code generation unit 52 analyzes the two-dimensional barcode from the extraction result output from the extraction unit 50 (step S14), determines whether the two-dimensional barcode is normal (step S15), and the two-dimensional barcode is abnormal. If it is determined as a result, the process ends.

On the other hand, when the two-dimensional barcode is normal, the identification code generation unit 52 generates the photographing information by analyzing again, and stores it in the predetermined storage area as the photographing mode in which the generated photographing information is added (step S16). When the photographing information is stored in the predetermined storage area, the photographing information setting unit 54 reflects the photographing information in accordance with the stored photographing information. In this reflection, various setting values included in the photographing information are set as control data of each unit. For example, the CPU 19 controls AF, AE, WB, etc. based on these setting values. When the user presses the photographing button, the photographing is performed with a set value according to the photographing information.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the extraction unit 50 extracts the two-dimensional barcode from the image data when the extraction unit 50 extracts the two-dimensional barcode from the image data has been described. The image data sent by (4) may be stored in the image data storage unit 60 once, and the image data stored in the image data storage unit 60 may be read to extract a two-dimensional bar code. For example, by storing a plurality of image data obtained by photographing a sample photograph and a two-dimensional bar code together in the image data storage unit 60, a user who has taken the camera to a shooting location and has taken the image data storage unit 60 The image data stored in the display can be displayed on the image display device by the reproduction function, and the sample picture of the displayed image data is viewed, the sample picture of the scene corresponding to the shooting situation of the place can be selected, and the two-dimensional barcode can be extracted. Therefore, since the photographing information can be determined while viewing the sample picture according to the photographing situation, it is possible to set the photographing information that is simple and suitable for the photographing situation and photograph. In addition, the shooting situation can be identified by referring to the sample picture, so it is easy to select even if there are multiple shooting modes.

In addition, the image data stored in the image data storage unit 60 may receive and store not only image data photographed by the imaging element 4 but also image data transmitted from another device.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a two-dimensional bar code is generated based on various setting values at the time of photographing the image data by the camera, and the generated two-dimensional bar code is stored as an image data in an internal storage area or stored in another device. You can also output it.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the setting information for controlling AF, AE, and WB is included as the shooting information is described. However, other setting values such as whether or not the flash is fired or other combinations of various setting values are included. You can also make changes.

In addition, although the digital camera was demonstrated in the above-mentioned embodiment, the digital camera mounted in the mobile telephone may be sufficient.

In addition, a program for realizing the functions of the extracting unit 50, the identification code generating unit 52, and the shooting information setting unit 54 of the CPU 19 in FIG. 1 is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, The shooting information can also be set by reading and executing a program recorded on the recording medium by the camera. The recording medium referred to here is a memory card that can be read by a camera, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a memory built into the camera, or the like. The program can also be downloaded from the Internet.

As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described in detail with reference to drawings, a specific structure is not restrict | limited to this embodiment, The design of the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention, etc. are included.

According to the present invention, since the identification code is extracted from the image data, the shooting information is generated from the extracted identification code, and the shooting conditions are set, the user reads the identification code corresponding to the condition to be taken. Even without this sufficient user, it is possible to set the image in a state suitable for shooting conditions without performing complicated setting operation of the camera. In addition to the preset shooting mode, it is possible to freely add a shooting mode that meets the needs of the user.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings, this is merely exemplary, and any person skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may have various modifications and equivalent other embodiments. Will understand. Therefore, the true technical protection scope of the present invention will be defined by the technical spirit of the appended claims.

Claims (5)

An imaging device for imaging based on shooting information for setting imaging conditions, Imaging means for imaging the identification code and generating image data based on the imaging result; Extraction means for extracting an identification code from the image data generated by the imaging means; Identification code generation means for generating photographing information from the identification code extracted by the extraction means; And setting means for setting shooting conditions on the basis of the shooting information generated by the identification code generating means. The method of claim 1, Further comprising image data storage means for storing image data generated by the imaging means, And said extracting means extracts shooting condition data from image data stored in said image data storage means. An imaging device for imaging based on shooting information for setting imaging conditions, Image data storage means for storing image data including an identification code as an image, Extraction means for reading out the image data stored in the image data storage means and extracting an identification code from the read image data; Identification code generation means for generating photographing information from the identification code extracted by the extraction means; And setting means for setting shooting conditions on the basis of the shooting information generated by the identification code generating means. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, And said identification code is a two-dimensional bar code. In the shooting information setting method in the imaging device for imaging based on the shooting information for setting the imaging conditions, Imaging the identification code to generate image data based on the imaging result, Extracting an identification code from the generated image data, Generating an identification code for generating photographing information from the extracted identification code; And a shooting condition is set based on the generated shooting information.

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