KR20100092219A - Apparatus for processing digital image and method for controlling thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An apparatus for processing a digital image and a method for controlling the same are provided to improve the convenience of a user by executing a user-friendly user interface. CONSTITUTION: If an operation sate of a digital image processing apparatus is in an idle state, a control unit reads out an appointed user-defined file(S420,S430). The control unit inspects the user-designated file(S440), and designates a new file as the user-designated file if the user-designated file is not unable to be reproduced(S460). If the user-designated file can be reproduced, the control unit reproduces the user-designated file(S470).

Description

Apparatus for processing digital image and method for controlling Technical Field

The present invention relates to a digital image processing apparatus and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to a digital image processing apparatus and a control method for displaying selection items such as a menu or an icon on a display panel and performing a function specified for user selection. will be.

Typically, the digital image processing apparatus includes all devices that process images such as a digital camera, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a phone camera, a PC camera, or use an image recognition sensor.

The digital image processing apparatus may image an image received through an image pickup device by a digital signal processor, compress the image, generate an image file, and store the image file in a memory.

In addition, the digital image processing apparatus may display and display an image of an image file received through an imaging device or stored in a storage medium on a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD).

Meanwhile, as the main consumer class of digital cameras is expanded from a few experts to the general public, the age and field of use of the consumer class are expanding. Therefore, in addition to the implementation of the functions of the product, ease of use and user acceptance has emerged as an important factor in the consumer's product selection.

An object of the present invention is to provide a digital image processing apparatus capable of executing a user-friendly user interface when operating in an idle mode and a control method thereof.

The present invention includes the steps of monitoring the operating state of the digital image processing apparatus; Determining whether the operating state is an idle state; Reading a specified user defined file when the operating state is an idle state; And reproducing the user-defined file.

Checking whether the user-defined file is a playable file; And designating a new file as the user defined file when the user defined file is not playable.

The method may further include terminating the playback of the user-defined file when the operation state has passed a predetermined time in the idle state.

The user defined file may be designated as a default, and the user defined file may be changed by user specification.

The user-defined file may be at least one of a still image file, a video file, and a sound file.

An image of one still image file is displayed, or a plurality of images of the still image are sequentially displayed at set time intervals, so that the user-defined file can be reproduced.

Another aspect of the invention, the storage unit is stored a user-defined file; A display unit displaying an image of the user-defined file; And a control unit which monitors an operating state of the digital image processing apparatus and controls the user-defined file to be played when the operating state is an idle state.

The sound output unit may further include a sound output unit to output a sound of the user-defined file to be reproduced.

The controller may determine whether the user-defined file is a playable file, and designate a new file as the user-defined file when the user-defined file is not playable.

It may further include a timer for generating the passage of time information.

The controller may be configured to inspect the operation state by receiving the elapsed information of the time and to terminate the reproduction of the user-defined file when the operation state has elapsed a predetermined time as the idle state.

The user definition file is designated by default, and the user definition file can be changed by user specification.

The user-defined file may be at least one of a still image file, a video file, and a sound file.

An image of one still image file is displayed, or a plurality of images of the still image are sequentially displayed at set time intervals, so that the user-defined file can be reproduced.

According to the digital image processing apparatus and the control method thereof according to the present invention, user convenience can be improved by executing a user-friendly user interface when operating in an idle mode.

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

FIG. 1 is a rear view of a digital camera 100 which is an embodiment of a digital image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, on the back of the digital camera 100, the direction button 21, the menu-OK button 22, the wide angle (Zoom) button (W), the telephoto (Zoom) ) Button T, a speaker SP, and a display panel 25 may be provided.

The direction button 21 may include four buttons, an up button 21a, a down button 21b, a left button 21c, and a right button 21d. The direction button 21 and the menu-OK button 22 are keys for executing various menus relating to the operation of the digital image processing apparatus such as a digital camera.

The wide-angle zoom button W or the tele-zoom button T has a wider angle of view or a narrower angle of view depending on its input. In particular, it may be used to change the size of the selected exposure area. In this case, when the wide-zoom button W is input, the size of the selected exposure area increases, and when the tele-zoom button T is input, the size of the selected exposure area may decrease.

As the display panel 25, an image display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) may be used. The display panel 25 may be included in the display unit 350 of FIG. 3 displaying an image of the user definition file when the user definition file is played.

Sound may be output to the speaker SP. The speaker SP may be included in the sound output unit 370 of FIG. 3, which outputs the sound of the user-defined file when the user-defined file is played.

Meanwhile, a power switch 23, a shutter release button 24, a flash (not shown), and a lens unit (not shown) may be provided on the front or top surface of the digital camera 100.

The direction button 21, the menu-OK button 22, the power switch 23, the shutter release button 24, and the like may be included in the user control unit (360 of FIG. 3) for inputting items that the user wants to operate from the outside. Can be.

The power switch 23 may be used to turn on or off the power for the digital camera 100 to operate. The shutter release button 24 opens and closes to expose the film or the image pickup device such as a charge coupled device (CCD) for a predetermined time. In addition, the shutter release button records an image on the image pickup device by properly exposing a subject in association with an aperture (not shown).

As an embodiment of a digital image processing apparatus to which the present invention can be applied, a digital camera, a control apparatus, and a control method thereof are disclosed in US Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0130650 (name: automatic using a secondary function of the camera). Method of automatically focusing using a quadratic function in camera.

Matters relating to the digital camera, the control apparatus, and the control method disclosed in the above-mentioned US application will be included in the present specification, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

2 is a block diagram of a control device 200 of a digital image processing apparatus, which is a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The control device 200 of the digital image processing apparatus may be mounted in the digital camera 100 of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawing, an optical system OPS including a lens unit and a filter unit optically processes light from a subject. The lens unit of the optical system OPS includes a zoom lens, a focus lens, and a compensation lens. When the user presses the wide-angle zoom button W or the tele-zoom button T included in the user input unit INP, a signal corresponding thereto is input to the microcontroller 212.

Accordingly, as the microcontroller 212 controls the lens driver 210, the zoom motor M _Z is driven to move the zoom lens. That is, when the wide-zoom button W is pressed, the focal length of the zoom lens is shortened to widen the angle of view, and when the tele-zoom button T is pressed, the focal length of the zoom lens becomes long and the angle of view is narrowed.

On the other hand, in the auto focusing mode, the main controller embedded in the digital signal processor 207 controls the lens driver 210 through the microcontroller 212, and thus the focus motor M _F is driven. do. That is, the focus lens is moved to a position where the sharpest picture is obtained by driving the focus motor M _F.

The compensation lens compensates for the overall refractive index and is not driven separately. Reference numeral M _A denotes an aperture adjusting motor M _A for driving an aperture (not shown).

In the filter section of the optical system OPS, an optical low pass filter removes optical noise of high frequency components. Infra-Red cut filter cuts the infrared component of the incident light.

The photoelectric conversion unit OEC may include an imaging device such as a charge coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS). The photoelectric conversion unit OEC converts light from the optical system OPS into an electrical analog signal.

The analog-to-digital converter may include a CDS-ADC (Correlation Double Sampler and Analog-to-Digital Converter) device 201. The analog-to-digital converter processes the analog signal from the photoelectric converter (OEC), removes the high frequency noise, adjusts the amplitude, and converts the analog signal into a digital signal. Here, the digital signal processor 207 controls the timing circuit 202 to control the operation of the photoelectric converter OEC and the analog-to-digital converter 201.

The optical system OPS, the photoelectric conversion unit OEC, the CDS-ADC element 201, and the like may be included in the image input unit 310 of FIG. 3.

The real time clock 203 provides time information to the digital signal processor 207. The digital signal processor 207 processes digital signals from the CDS-ADC element 201 to generate digital image signals classified into luminance (Y value) and chromaticity (R, G, B) signals. The real time clock 203 may be included in a timer (380 of FIG. 3) that provides time progress information.

The light emitting unit LAMP driven by the microcontroller 212 under the control of the main controller built in the digital signal processor 207 includes a self-timer lamp, an auto-focus lamp, a mode indicating lamp, a flash standby lamp, and the like. May be included.

The user input unit INP may include a direction button 21, a menu-OK button 22, a wide-angle zoom button W, a telephoto-zoom button T, and the like. The user input unit INP may be included in the user manipulation unit 360 of FIG. 3.

The digital image signal from the digital signal processor 207 is temporarily stored in the DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) 204. The EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory) 205 stores algorithms and setting data such as a boot program and a key input program required for the operation of the digital signal processor 207. In the memory card interface 206, a user's memory card may be attached or detached.

The digital signal processor 207 and / or the microcontroller 212 may be included in the controller 320 of FIG. 3 according to the present invention. The digital signal processor 207 and / or the microcontroller 212 may also be equipped with cache memory as temporary storage space.

In this case, the cache memory and the DRAM 204 may be included in the first storage unit 330 of FIG. 3 where the user definition file to be reproduced is temporarily stored. The cache memory included in the first storage unit 330 of FIG. 3 may be included separately from the digital signal processor 207 and / or the micro controller 212.

The memory card recognized through the memory card interface 206 may be included in the second storage unit 340 of FIG. The user-defined file may be selected and designated from among the files stored in the second storage unit 340.

The digital image signal from the digital signal processor 207 is input to the display panel driver 214, whereby the image is displayed on the display panel 215.

The controller 200 of the digital image processing apparatus may further include display units 214 and 215. The display units 214 and 215 may include a display panel 215 and a display panel driver 214 for driving the display panel 215. The display units 214 and 215 may be included in the display unit 350 of FIG. 3 according to the present invention.

On the other hand, the digital image signal from the digital signal processor 207 can be transmitted by serial communication via a universal serial bus (USB) connection portion 31a or an RS232C interface 208 and the connection portion 31b thereof, and a video filter ( 209 and through the video output unit 31c. Here, the digital signal processor 207 may incorporate a microcontroller therein.

The audio processor 213 outputs the audio signal from the microphone MIC to the digital signal processor 207 or the speaker SP, and outputs the audio signal from the digital signal processor 207 to the speaker SP. . The audio processor 213 and the speaker SP may be included in the sound output unit 370 of FIG. 3 in which the sound of the user-defined file is output according to the present invention.

3 is a block diagram of a digital image processing apparatus 300 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The digital image processing apparatus 300 may be controlled by the control method S400 of the digital image processing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 4.

Referring to the drawings, the digital image processing apparatus 300 includes an image input unit 310; The control unit 320; Storage units 330 and 340; Display unit 350; A user manipulation unit 360; Sound output unit 370; And a timer S380.

User-defined files may be stored in the storage units 330 and 340. The display unit 350 may display an image of a user definition file. The controller 320 may monitor a system operating state of the digital image processing apparatus and control the user-defined file to be played when the operating state is an idle state.

The digital image processing apparatus 300 monitors the operating state of the system and executes the designated user defined file when operating in the idle mode, thereby generating a user defined file that may cause the user to be bored with the idle state. Play it back. Accordingly, user convenience of the digital image processing apparatus can be improved.

In this case, the user definition file may be intuitive and interesting content using a user friendly graphical user interface (GUI). Therefore, the user can experience emotional intimacy or enjoyment by the user-defined file played during the idle mode operation. Accordingly, the usability and usability of the product can be improved.

The user-defined file may be at least one of a still image file, a video file, and a sound file. In this case, an image of one still image file may be displayed on the display unit 350, or a plurality of still image files may be sequentially displayed on the display unit 350 at set time intervals, and the user-defined file may be reproduced.

The sound output unit 370 may output a sound of a user-defined file to be reproduced. In one embodiment, the user definition file may be an audio file through which an audio signal is output through the sound output unit 370. In this case, the user-defined file may be a video file, and the sound included in the video file may be output through the sound output unit 370.

The controller 320 determines whether the user-defined file is a playable file, and designates another user-defined file when the user-defined file is not playable. In this case, the user definition file may be selected from files stored in the storage units 330 and 340.

The timer S380 generates time information. It may be determined whether the current operation mode is the idle mode based on the elapsed time information output from the timer S380. That is, when the elapsed elapsed time elapses without a user input determined by the elapsed time information, the system may operate in the idle mode.

In addition, the controller 320 may check the operation state by receiving time elapsed information from the timer S380 and may control to terminate the reproduction of the user-defined file when the operation state has elapsed for a predetermined time in the idle state. .

In this case, a specific image file or a sound file may be designated as a user definition file by default. In addition, the designated user definition file may be changed to another file by user specification.

The image input unit 310 receives an input image from the outside. The image input unit 310 may include an optical system (OPS), a photoelectric converter (OEC), a CDS-ADC device 201, and the like illustrated in FIG. 2. An image input through the image input unit 310 may be stored and designated as a user-defined file.

The controller 320 may include an image input unit 310; Storage units 330 and 340; Display unit 350; A user manipulation unit 360; Sound output unit 370; And controlling the timer S380 to play a user-defined file that the user may have fun during the idle mode operation of the system. The controller 320 may include the digital signal processor 207 and / or the microcontroller 212 illustrated in FIG. 2.

The storage unit 330 and 340 may store a user definition file and a captured image. The storage units 330 and 340 may include a first storage unit 330 and a second storage unit 340. The user defined file to be played may be temporarily stored in the first storage unit 330. The captured image may be stored in the second storage unit 340.

The display unit 350 may include the display panel 25 shown in FIG. 1 and / or the display panel driver 214 and the display panel 215 of FIG. 2.

The user may input a desired command from the outside through the user manipulation unit 360. The user manipulation unit 360 may include the direction button 21 and the menu-OK button 22 of FIG. 1, and / or the user input unit INP of FIG. 2.

The sound of the user-defined file may be output through the sound output unit 370. The sound output unit 370 may include the audio processor 213 and the speaker SP of FIG. 2. The timer 380 may provide time information. The timer 380 may include the real time clock 203 of FIG. 2.

According to the present invention, by operating a user-friendly user interface when operating in an idle mode, the usability or usability of the product can be improved.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a control method (S400) of a digital image processing apparatus as a preferred embodiment according to the present invention.

The control method S400 of the digital image processing apparatus may be implemented in the digital image processing apparatus of FIGS. 2 and / or 3 and the control apparatuses 200 and 300 thereof. To this end, the control method S400 of the digital image processing apparatus according to the present invention may be a program or algorithm stored in the storage means of FIG. 2 or implemented in the form of a semiconductor chip such as firmware.

Therefore, in the method S400 of controlling the digital image processing apparatus, the same matters as those described for the digital image processing apparatus and the control apparatuses 200 and 300 will be referred to, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Referring to the drawings, the control method (S400) of the digital image processing apparatus includes a system monitoring step (S410); Idle state determination step (S420); Reading the specified file (S430); And a designated file reproduction step (S470).

The system monitoring step (S410) monitors the operating state of the digital image processing apparatus. In the idle state determination step (S420), it is determined whether the operating state of the digital image processing apparatus is an idle state.

In the designated file reading step (S430), the designated user definition file is read when the digital image processing apparatus is in an idle state. In the designated file playing step (S470), the read user defined file is played.

The control method (S400) of the digital image processing apparatus monitors the operating state of the system and executes a specified user defined file when operating in the idle mode, thereby causing a user to be interesting to avoid boring the idle state. Play the definition file. Accordingly, user convenience of the digital image processing apparatus can be improved.

In this case, the user definition file may be intuitive and interesting content using a user friendly graphical user interface (GUI). Therefore, the user can experience emotional intimacy or enjoyment by the user-defined file played during the idle mode operation. Accordingly, the usability and usability of the product can be improved.

The user-defined file may be at least one of a still image file, a video file, and a sound file. In this case, an image of one still image file is displayed, or images of a plurality of still images are sequentially displayed at set time intervals, so that the user-defined file may be reproduced.

The control method (S400) of the digital image processing apparatus may include determining whether the user-defined interface function is in an on state (S405). At this time, it is determined whether the user-defined interface function is in an ON state, and when the user-defined interface function is in an ON state, the user-defined interface function performed below may be performed.

The user-defined interface function may be set by selection through a separately designated hot key or a button or a menu.

In the system monitoring step S410, the operating state of the digital image processing apparatus may be monitored in real time. In this case, when there is no user input for a predetermined time during the operation of the specific function of the digital image processing apparatus or the standby state, the operating state may be an idle state.

In the idle state determination step S420, it is determined whether the operating state of the system is an idle state, and if the system is in the idle state, the next designated file reading step S430 is performed. In this case, if the operating state of the system is not in the idle state, the system may be monitored in real time by performing the system monitoring step S410.

In the designated file reading step (S430), when the operation state of the digital image processing apparatus is in an idle state, the designated user definition file may be read, and the user-defined file read in the designated file reproduction step (S470) may be played. .

In this case, a specific image file or a sound file may be designated as a user definition file by default. In addition, the designated user definition file may be changed to another file by user specification.

On the other hand, it is determined whether there is an error in the user-defined file read before the execution of the designated file reproducing step (S470), and when there is an error in the user-defined file, the user-defined file can be reassigned. To this end, the control method (S400) of the digital image processing apparatus includes a designated file checking step (S440); Designation file determination step (S450); And a designated file redesignation step (S460).

In the designated file checking step (S440), it is checked whether the user-defined file is a playable file. In the designated file determination step (S450), it is determined whether the user-defined file is a playable file. In the designated file reassignment step (S460), when the user-defined file is not playable, a new file is designated as the user-defined file. In this case, the designated file reading step S430 may be performed after the designated file specifying step S460 is performed.

In this case, it is determined whether the user-defined file is a playable file in the designated file determination step (S450), and if the user-defined file is a playable file, the designated file play step (S470) may be performed. In addition, if the user-defined file is not playable, the designated file reassignment step (S460) may be performed.

On the other hand, when a certain time has elapsed in the idle state, playback of the user-defined file can be ended. To this end, the control method S400 of the digital image processing apparatus may include a monitoring and timer checking step S480 and a determining step S490.

In the monitoring and timer checking step (S480), the operation state of the system is monitored, and the timer is checked to obtain time progress information in the idle state. In the determination step (S490) it is determined whether the operation state has passed a predetermined time in the idle state.

As a result of the determination in the determination step S490, when the operation state of the system passes the idle state for a predetermined time, the user-defined interface function according to the present invention is terminated. At this time, when the operation state of the system does not pass a predetermined time in the idle state, the step of reading the designated file (S430) may be performed again.

According to the present invention, by operating a user-friendly user interface when operating in an idle mode, the usability or usability of the product can be improved.

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

1 is a diagram illustrating a rear surface of a digital camera as an embodiment of a digital image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a control apparatus that may be included in the digital camera of FIG. 1.

3 is a block diagram schematically showing a digital image processing apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a flowchart schematically illustrating a control method of a digital image processing apparatus as a preferred embodiment according to the present invention.

Claims (14)

Monitoring an operating state of the digital image processing apparatus; Determining whether the operating state is an idle state; Reading a specified user defined file when the operating state is an idle state; And And playing back the user-defined file. The method of claim 1, Checking whether the user-defined file is a playable file; And And designating a new file as the user-defined file when the user-defined file is not playable. The method of claim 1, And ending playback of the user-defined file when the operation state has passed a predetermined time in the idle state. The method of claim 1, The control method of the digital image processing apparatus, wherein the user-defined file is designated as a default and the user-defined file can be changed by user designation. The method of claim 1, And the user-defined file is at least one of a still image file, a moving image file, and a sound file. The method of claim 5, A control method of a digital image processing apparatus, in which an image of one still image file is displayed or a plurality of images of the still image are sequentially displayed at set time intervals so that the user-defined file is reproduced. A storage unit for storing a user-defined file; A display unit displaying an image of the user-defined file; And And a control unit which monitors an operating state of the digital image processing apparatus and controls the user-defined file to be played when the operating state is an idle state. The method of claim 7, wherein And a sound output unit configured to output a sound of the user-defined file to be reproduced. The method of claim 7, wherein And in the controller, checking whether the user-defined file is a playable file and designating a new file as the user-defined file when the user-defined file is not playable. The method of claim 7, wherein And a timer for generating elapsed time information. The method of claim 10, And the controller is configured to inspect the operation state by receiving the elapsed information of the time, and to terminate playback of the user-defined file when the operation state has elapsed for a predetermined time as the idle state. The method of claim 7, wherein And the user definition file is designated as a default, and the user definition file is changeable by user specification. The method of claim 7, wherein And at least one of a still image file, a moving image file, and a sound file. The method of claim 13, An image of one still image file is displayed on the display unit, or a plurality of images of the still image file are sequentially displayed on the display unit at set time intervals, so that the user-defined file is reproduced.

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