JP2000253228A - Electronic album and its picture processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a small and light electronic album which can easily be carried and with which anyone can easily deal and to provide the picture processing method. SOLUTION: A first slot 5 that can attach/detach a user CF card 11, a liquid crystal panel 3 having a touch panel 9, a portable casing provided with a system CF card 13, a card controller 21 which automatically transfers digital picture data and stores it in the system CF card 13, a liquid crystal controller 33 engaging a sum nail picture into the respective frame parts of a film picture, displaying them and displaying a mount picture and a touch panel controller 37 displaying a digital picture in a moving position with the sum nail picture when the digital picture is dragged on the mount picture from the film picture and storing it in accordance with the mount picture are installed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for converting digital images into digital image data by a digital input device such as a digital camera or digital video camera and storing the digital images in a user memory such as a CF (Compact Flash) card or a smart media card. The present invention relates to an electronic album that can be fetched and freely laid out and displayed by a user, and an image processing method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional apparatus of this kind, there is, for example, one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-294226.
This device sends digital image data of video captured by a digital camera to a personal computer (hereinafter abbreviated as a personal computer) and captures it, and operates a mouse or keyboard connected to the user to select a desired video. Then, a digital image is arranged on an album-like screen drawn on a display.

[0003] In the apparatus configured as described above, a desired digital image data can be selected and filed into an album while confirming the digital image data just photographed on the screen of a personal computer. You can do it.

[0004]

However, the prior art having such a structure has the following problems. In other words, a personal computer is used when filing digital image data that has been shot, but recent laptops and other computers are still smaller and lighter, but they are still heavy and very sensitive to vibration and shock. And an expensive product, the edited album cannot be easily carried around to show it to others.

[0005] Further, although the operability has been improved than before, it is necessary to handle a personal computer which is not easily handled by anyone, so that no one can use it as easily as a photo album. There are also problems.

Further, since it takes time to start up the personal computer, there is another inconvenience that the album cannot be viewed or edited immediately.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and is an electronic album and an image thereof, which are small and lightweight, can be easily carried around, and can be easily handled by anyone as a photo album. It is an object to provide a processing method.

[0008]

The present invention has the following configuration in order to achieve the above object. That is, the electronic album according to the present invention is an electronic album in which digital images can be freely laid out, and a slot in which a user memory storing digital image data can be detached and a position instructed to be contacted are determined. A portable housing having a possible image display unit and a system memory for storing various data, and all digital images stored in the user memory when the user memory is installed in the slot. A transfer unit for automatically transferring data and storing the data in the system memory; displaying a film-like image simulating the form of a photographic film on an image display unit; and transferring all digital image data stored in the system memory. , Each digital image is displayed on each frame part of the film tone image in a unified manner, and each digital image is reduced in size. A display image control means for displaying the image of the mount image data of the photo album on the image display unit while displaying the image in the frame image in the nail image, and a frame of the film image displayed on the image display unit. In the case where the designated position is directly moved and the designated position is moved to the mount tone image, the digital image of the frame is displayed as a reduced thumbnail image at the movement position of the mount tone image, and Image pasting means for storing the image in the system memory in association with the toned image.

[0009] The electronic album according to claim 2 is
2. The electronic album according to claim 1, wherein the transfer means creates an individual directory for each user memory when transferring the digital image data to the system memory, and stores each digital image data in another directory. It is characterized by being stored separately from digital image data.

[0010] The electronic album according to claim 3 is
3. The electronic album according to claim 1, wherein the image pasting unit enlarges only the designated digital image on the image display unit among the digital images displayed on the image display unit together with the mount tone image. 4. It is characterized by displaying.

The electronic album according to claim 4 is
The image pasting means obtains the actual image size of the instructed digital image, obtains the enlargement / reduction ratio from the size of the display area of the digital image in the image display unit and the actual image size, and based on the enlargement / reduction ratio, The digital image is enlarged and reduced and displayed on the image display unit.

[0012] The electronic album according to claim 5 is
The electronic album according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a detection unit configured to detect a position or a trajectory instructed to contact on the image display unit, in addition to the components, and the detection unit detects the position and the trajectory. The position and the trajectory thus set are stored as handwritten data in association with the digital image displayed on the image display unit at the time of detection.

The electronic album according to claim 6 is
6. The electronic album according to claim 1, wherein the image pasting unit selects a digital image selected and instructed from a plurality of digital images pasted on the mount image as a representative image of the mount image. 7. It is characterized by storing.

Further, the electronic album according to claim 7 is
7. The electronic album according to claim 1, wherein the display image control means scrolls the film tone image in accordance with a photographic film feeding direction in an image display unit.

According to a still further aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic album image processing method capable of freely laying out digital images. After automatically transferring the digital image data to the system memory and storing the digital image data, the digital image data stored in the system memory is displayed on the image display unit.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the electronic album image processing method according to the eighth aspect, wherein the digital image data is transferred to the system memory for each user memory. An individual directory is created, and each digital image data is stored separately from digital image data in another directory.

[0017]

The operation of the first aspect of the present invention is as follows. When the user memory is inserted into the slot, the transfer means automatically transfers and stores all the digital image data stored therein to the system memory. The display image control means displays the film-like images on the image display section. In this case, the display-image control means groups the user memories into groups, displays a thumbnail image on each frame portion, and displays the mount image. In this way, all digital image data is copied to the system memory simply by inserting the user memory into the slot, and each user memory corresponds to one film tone image as if it corresponds to one photographic film. It can be close to the feeling of creating a photo album from conventional photographic films and their prints. Further, since the slot, the image display unit, and the system memory are provided in a portable housing without a keyboard, a mouse, and the like as in the conventional example, the size and weight can be reduced.

[0018] The image pasting means is directly instructed by the user from each frame of the film-like image, and when the designated position is moved (dragged) onto the mount-like image, the thumbnail image is converted to the mount-like image. And display it, and store it in the system memory in association with the mount tone image. Therefore, a digital image from each frame of the film-like image can be attached to the mount-like image as if the print created by printing from the photographic film was attached to the photo album by hand.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when transferring all the digital image data from the user memory to the system memory, the transfer means creates an individual directory for each user memory. For example, the user memory No. 1 and user memory No. 2 are inserted into the slots in that order, the user memory No.
1 and user memory No. A directory corresponding to 2 is created in the system memory. Therefore, each user memory can be treated as one photographic film.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when a thumbnail image of digital image data attached to the mount image is designated, the image attaching means enlarges and displays only the digital image. So that the image can be viewed in detail.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the digital image is scaled up and down at a scale factor based on the display area size of the image display unit and the actual image size of the digital image. The digital image can be enlarged or reduced so that it almost just fits the size of the display area.

According to the apparatus described in claim 5, it is possible to add the handwritten data such as a comment to the digital image by storing the position and the locus detected by the detecting means in association with the digital image. it can.

Further, according to the apparatus invention of claim 6, one of the plurality of digital images pasted on the mount-like image is stored in the representative image, so that the image is composed of the mount-like image. The contents of the album can be easily understood.

According to the apparatus of the present invention, the film-like image is scroll-displayed in accordance with the feeding direction of the photographic film, so that it can be used with a feeling very close to that of the photographic film.

According to the method of the present invention, it is detected that the user memory has been inserted into the slot, and all the digital image data are automatically transferred to the system memory and then displayed. Since the image processing to be performed is performed, the preparation just before the digital image is pasted is completed without the user performing any special operation.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, when transferring all digital image data from the user memory to the system memory, an individual directory is created for each user memory. 1
Can be treated like a book photographic film.

[0027]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external view of an electronic album according to an embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration thereof. In particular, FIG. 1A is a plan view of the electronic album, and FIG. 1B is a side view thereof.

This electronic album is composed of a flat casing 1 which is made of a resin, for example, to reduce its weight so as to be easy to carry. The casing 1 has a liquid crystal panel 3 on its upper surface.
Power switch (not shown) on the side, CF on the front side
Two slots (first slot 5,
A second slot 7) is provided. The liquid crystal panel 3 has a touch panel 9 on its surface for detecting a position instructed by the pointing pen. In the first slot 5, for example, a user CF card 1 mounted on a digital camera by a user and storing various digital image data is stored.
1 is detachable, and a second slot 7 stores a system CF card 1 for storing various data described later.
3 is attached.

The liquid crystal panel 3 corresponds to an image display section in the present invention, the first slot 5 corresponds to a slot, the user CF card 11 corresponds to a user memory, and the system CF card 13 corresponds to a system memory.

The card controller 21 stores the user CF card 11 in the first slot 5 under the control of the CPU 23.
Is detected, digital image data is automatically and sequentially read from the inside thereof, and once written to the main memory 29 via the CPU bus 25 and the buffer 27, the digital image data is stored in the second slot 7. It controls the writing to the mounted system CF card 13 and the reading of various data from the system CF card 13.

Incidentally, the card controller 21 and the main memory 29 correspond to the transfer means in the present invention.

The system memory 31 stores various icons displayed on the liquid crystal panel 3 in various modes described later, data of a film-like image imitating a photographic film, data of a mount-like image imitating the mount of a photo album, and the like. The resources including the data described above, programs corresponding to flowcharts described later, and the like are stored in advance.

The liquid crystal controller 33 is mainly composed of a CPU
Under the control of 23, the liquid crystal panel 3 is driven based on data written in the frame memory 35 from within the system CF card 13 or the system memory 31. The display mode differs depending on various modes described later, but in the organizing mode, a film-like image is mainly displayed on the liquid crystal panel 3,
In addition, a thumbnail image in which a digital image represented by each digital image data is reduced is fitted and displayed in each frame. Furthermore, a mount tone image represented by the mount tone image data is displayed below the mount tone image data.

The liquid crystal controller 33 and the frame memory 35 correspond to a display image control unit in the present invention.

The touch panel controller 37 detects, via the touch panel 9, a position on the liquid crystal panel 3 which is directly instructed by a pen, and further determines that the position has been moved (dragged), and It detects a position or a trajectory when moving, detects a tap that instructs a certain position to be in contact with the pen for a short time, or detects a double tap that taps the same position twice in a short time. These detected positions / trajectories / movements are output to the CPU 23. For example, when one of the frames of the film-like image is dragged and moved on the mount-like image in the organizing mode, the touch panel controller 37 detects it and the thumbnail image of the frame is displayed on the mount-type image. The image is displayed at the destination on the toned image, and the digital image data representing the thumbnail image is stored as a file in the system CF card 13 in association with the mount image.

The CPU 23 and the touch panel controller 37 correspond to an image pasting unit in the present invention, and the touch panel controller 37 corresponds to a detecting unit.

The clock IC 39 is referenced when the CPU 23 displays the date and time on the liquid crystal panel 3 and records the data when writing data to the system CF card 13.

The electronic album according to the present embodiment is configured as described above, and mainly operates in three types of modes: "organization mode", "handwriting mode", and "actual size mode". ing. Hereinafter, each of these modes will be described in order.

First, the "arrangement mode" will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the automatic transfer process, and FIG.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a directory structure in the F card, FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a structure of an image file, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a liquid crystal panel after digital image data is automatically transferred. 7 is a flowchart showing an album creation process. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a liquid crystal panel in an initial state of album creation, FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a structure of a mount information file, and FIG. 10 is a mount tone image. It is the schematic diagram which showed a mode that a thumbnail image was moved and pasted on it.

Step S1 For example, the user inserts the user CF card 11 storing a digital image using a digital camera into the first slot 5
Attach to Note that the system C is already in the second slot 7.
It is assumed that the F card 13 is mounted.

Step S2 The CPU 23, which has detected through the card controller 21 that the user CF card 11 has been inserted, reads out data relating to the menu from the system memory 31 and displays a menu for prompting selection in the frame memory 35. Specifically, "Do you want to copy? (Yes) (No) "is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 3, and the user waits until either (Yes) or (No) in the menu is tapped by the user.

Step S3 Here, the processing branches according to the contents selected from the menu. If (No) is selected, step S4
The menu is erased and the display on the liquid crystal panel 3 is returned to the original state before the menu was displayed.

Step S5 If (Yes) is selected in the menu in step S3, a new film directory is created at a predetermined location in the system CF card 13.

The steps S2 and S3 described above may be omitted, and steps S5 and subsequent steps may be automatically executed.

In this embodiment, the directory structure in the system CF card 13 adopts the structure shown in FIG. That is, under the root directory, an image file directory for controlling a film directory accommodating digital image data as an image file for each user CF card 11, a film information file created for each user CF card 11, A system file directory for managing a mount information file and a handwritten data file created for each album has been created. Therefore, to create a new film directory as described above,
This means creating a new directory under the image file directory in FIG.

Step S6 First, all digital image data in the user CF card 11 is copied as individual image files to the film directory newly created in step S5. At the same time, each digital image data is thinned out by an appropriate method to generate thumbnail image data of a reduced image size, and stored as a thumbnail image file in association with the image file of each digital image data.

Step S7 A film information file is created in the system file directory. This film information file is, for example,
It has a structure as shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. 5, and in the film information file, non-overlapping in-film identifiers include:
Link information (system C) to the image file stored under the new film directory created in step S5
The directory name and the image file name in the F card 13) and the actual image size of the digital image data constituting the image file are merely added and recorded, but the entity is not stored. Further, a file name such as “FILMxxxx.LST” is assigned to each film information file created to have such a structure. Here, the “xxxx” part of the file name is a serial number starting from “0000”.

The link information shown in FIG. 5 will be supplementarily described with reference to FIG. Among these, "d:" described at the beginning of the link information indicates that the system CF card 13 is handled as a d drive of a storage medium by the OS of this electronic album. Therefore, the route of the system CF card 13 is “d:”. The next “user” indicates the above-described image file directory itself. Then, the next “/ 000000” indicates the film directory itself, and the next “AAAA.JPG”
"Indicates an image file name composed of digital image data. An extension" .JPG "indicates a general digital image data format in a compression format.

Step S8 When the above-mentioned step S7 is completed, a display as shown in FIG. 6 is made on the liquid crystal panel 3. That is, in the upper display area R1, a film tone image FL imitating a photographic film is displayed.
Are displayed horizontally, and only five frames from the left end are displayed. The upper right corner of each frame is provided with an in-film identifier of the film information file for convenience of explanation, but these are not actually displayed. Each frame has an in-film identifier 0 to 0 obtained by referring to the film information file created in step S7.
Thumbnail images corresponding to up to four image files are displayed inset. Further, when the “advance” icon ICN1 displayed near the upper right end of the film tone image FL is tapped with a pen, each frame is shifted by one so that the film tone image FL horizontally scrolls rightward. You. That is, the in-film identifiers are 1 to 5, and the corresponding thumbnail images are displayed. On the other hand, when the "return" icon ICN2 is tapped, it is displayed to move in the opposite direction. By scroll-displaying the film-like image FL in accordance with the feed direction of the photographic film in this way, the film-like image FL can be used with the same feeling as the photographic film, and can be used without discomfort.

At the right end of the film tone image FL, a "new film" icon ICN3 and an "old film" icon ICN4 are displayed. These are used to display a file created after or a file created before the current film information file on the film tone image FL.

At the right end of the upper display area R1, a “film” icon ICN5 and an “album” icon ICN
N6 is displayed. The former icon is tapped to select a film information file as in the case of selecting a photographic film as described above, and the latter icon is tapped to create a new album as described later.

As described above, according to this electronic album, all digital image data can be stored in the system CF card 1 only by inserting the user CF card 11 into the first slot 5.
3 automatically, and the contents of each user CF card 11 are displayed on one film tone image so as to correspond to one photographic film. Therefore, even if the user is unfamiliar with the operation of the personal computer, it can be easily handled. Thus, it is possible to create a photo album from photographic films and prints. In addition, since the portable housing 1 is adopted without the need for a keyboard or the like, the electronic album itself can be made small and lightweight and can be easily carried around.

Next, the creation of an album in the organizing mode will be described with reference to FIG.

Step S10 When the user taps the album icon ICN6 in FIG. 6 with a pen, the display on the liquid crystal panel 3 becomes as shown in FIG. That is, instead of the film-like image FL in the upper display area R1, the "already-created album" icon
And a "create new" icon ICN8 are displayed. Also,
On the created album icon ICN7, a representative image to be described later is displayed in a superimposed manner, and an album title is displayed below the icon, so that the contents of the album can be easily understood.

The created album icon is displayed only when there is an already created album.
If there is no created icon, only a newly created icon is displayed.

Step S11 The following description is based on the assumption that the user double taps the new creation icon ICN8 to create a new album. When the double tap is performed, a new mount tone image BP imitating the mount of the photo album is displayed in the lower display area R2 below the upper display area R1. In this example, 12 thumbnail images can be pasted on the mount-like image BP. Also, the number 0 written in the center of the pasteable position on the mount-like image BP
Numerals 11 to 11 are in-board identifiers, which will be described later, and are attached for convenience of explanation, but are not actually displayed.

Step S12 A new mount tone image BP is displayed in the lower display area R2, and a mount information file is newly created in the system file directory of the system CF card 13 (see FIG. 4). The newly created mount information file has, for example, a structure as shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. In this file, link information to the image file corresponding to the thumbnail image that has been moved and pasted, as described later, to the identifier in the mount that is not duplicated in the mount information file (the directory name and the image file name in the system CF card 13) Then, the actual image size of the digital image data constituting the image file is recorded. Also,
The mount information file created to have such a structure is given a file name such as “USERxxxx.LST”, for example, but the “xxxx” part of the file name is “0000”.
A serial number starting with “may be used. Note that the in-board identifier“ 0 ”is set as the initial setting as the representative image, but can be changed by an operation described later. .

Step S13 In the state shown in FIG. 6, when the user taps the film icon ICN5 with a pen, the display in the upper display area R1 changes as shown in FIG. If necessary, in this state, the old film icon ICN4 or the new film icon ICN5 is tapped with the pen P so that the desired one is displayed on the film tone image FL. Here, description will be made on the assumption that the image file group stored from the user CF card 11 to the system CF card 13 is pasted as described above. That is, the operation is performed on the image file group in the film 1 directory under the image file directory in FIG.

Step S14 As shown in FIG. 10, the user designates a desired one of the thumbnail images displayed on each frame portion of the film tone image FL with the pen P, and the desired paste of the mount tone image BP can be performed. Drag to the position. Here, it is assumed that the thumbnail image “A” at the left end (in-film identifier 0) of the film-like image FL is dragged with the pen P and moved to the position of the upper left corner (in-paper identifier 0) of the mount-like image BP. Then, the thumbnail image "A" at the left end of the film-like image FL
Is copied and pasted on the upper left corner of the mount-like image BP. Since the representative image is initially set to the one with the in-board identifier “0”, the representative image mark “!” At the upper left corner of the thumbnail image pasted on the upper left corner of the mount image BP indicates that it is a representative image. ] Is attached.

Step S15 When the thumbnail image is pasted as described above, step S15 is performed.
The mount information file created in step 12 is updated. That is, as shown in FIG. 9B, the link information of the thumbnail image “A” and the actual image size are recorded as the information of the mount tone identifier “0” from the state of FIG. 9A.

Step S16 The process branches depending on whether or not the pasting to the mount-like image BP has been completed. Here, a description will be given assuming that the process returns to step S13 to continue pasting the thumbnail images.

The processes performed or performed by repeating steps S13 to S16 are listed below (see FIG. 10). The second thumbnail image “B” from the left of the film-like image FL is dragged with the pen P, and is attached to the lowermost portion (in-board identifier 2) of the first row of the mount-like image BP. Drag the third thumbnail image “C” from the left of the film-like image FL with the pen P to the second thumbnail image “BP” of the mount-like image BP.
It is pasted in the middle of the column (in-mount identifier 4). Tap the old film icon ICN4 to select a different film (film in the film 2 directory). From among them, the thumbnail image “A” is pasted on the uppermost part (in-board identifier 6) in the third column of the backing-like image BP. Tap the old film icon ICN4 to select a different film (film in the film 3 directory). From among them, the thumbnail image “A” is attached to the uppermost portion (in-mounting identifier 6) in the fourth column of the mounting image BP.

By the above-described processing, the mount-like image BP is changed to that shown in FIG.
0, and the mount information file is updated as shown in FIG. In other words, the link information of the image file corresponding to each thumbnail image and the actual image size are added to the mount identifier indicating the position on the mount tone image BP to which the thumbnail image is pasted.

The representative image mark "!" Attached to the thumbnail image "A" which is set as the representative image of this album by default. Is dragged with the pen P to, for example, move to the thumbnail image “B” on the mount image BP, the identifier in the mount set as the representative image of the mount information file is changed from “0” to “2”. (See FIG. 9).
(C)).

As described above, when each frame of the film tone image FL is dragged onto the mount tone image BP by the user, the thumbnail image is moved to the mount tone image BP and displayed, and the mount tone image BP is displayed. Is stored in the system CF card 13 in such a manner that a thumbnail image can be attached to the mount image BP as if the user were holding a print made from a photographic film by hand and attaching it to a photo album. Therefore, anyone can easily handle the electronic album like a photo album.

Also, after detecting that the user CF card 11 has been inserted, all the digital image data is automatically transferred to the system CF card 13 and then image processing such as display thereof is performed. Therefore, preparations are made immediately before the digital image is pasted without any special operation by the user. Therefore, the electronic album can be used more easily.

In the case where all of the positions where the pasteboard image BP can be pasted are filled with the thumbnail images, or in order to display the previous pasteboard image BP, the “next page” icon IC
What is necessary is just to tap N9 or the "previous page" icon ICN10. When the thumbnail image pasted on the mount tone image BP becomes unnecessary, the thumbnail image may be dragged to the “trash box” icon ICN11.

Although not described, a comment can be added to an album or a comment can be added to each thumbnail image as in the case of a photo album. They are shown in FIG.
As shown in (1), it is stored in the system file directory as a mount title file / comment file.

Next, the "handwriting mode" will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a state of the liquid crystal panel in the handwriting mode.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a process in the handwriting mode, FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a handwriting process in the handwriting mode, and FIG. 14 is a diagram provided for explaining superimposed display of digital image data and handwritten data.

To shift to the handwriting mode, a desired thumbnail image on the mount image BP, for example, the thumbnail image “A” is double-tapped with the pen P in the “arrangement mode” shown in FIG. Then, only the thumbnail image “A” is displayed on the display area R of the liquid crystal panel 3 as shown in FIG.
3 is enlarged and displayed so as to substantially match the number 3.

The processing at this time is executed as shown in FIG. That is, first, the image file (JPEG format) of the thumbnail image “A” is analyzed to obtain the actual image size (step S20). Next, the obtained image width Pw and image height Ph, and the width Dw and height D of the display region R3 are obtained.
h (step S2).
1). Specifically, the enlargement / reduction ratio m = min (Dw / P
w, Dh / Ph), where min is the display area R3
Represents that the smaller of the two ratios is used as the enlargement / reduction ratio m so that the distortion does not increase even if the aspect ratio of the actual image size does not match the aspect ratio of the actual image.

Next, the JPEG format image file is developed into bitmap data (step S22), and the developed bitmap data is enlarged or reduced in accordance with the enlargement / reduction ratio m by an interpolation method or the like (step S23). And
This scaled bitmap data is displayed in the display area R3.
Is displayed (step S24), it is determined whether or not there is handwritten data (step S25). If there is no handwritten data, the process ends.

As described above, the image is enlarged / reduced so as to substantially match the display region R3 of the liquid crystal panel 3 based on the enlargement / reduction ratio obtained from the size of the display region R3 of the liquid crystal panel 3 and the actual image size of the digital image. Therefore, the user can enjoy the image with the maximum screen size that can list the whole of one image.

Next, processing for adding handwritten data will be described with reference to the schematic diagram of FIG. 11 and the flowchart of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 11, with the thumbnail image "A" displayed in the display area R3, the "pencil" icon I of the two icons displayed in the upper right corner is displayed.
The user taps CN12. Then, the user moves the pen P on the display area R3 to write a character or a picture in a manner similar to writing a comment or the like on the mount of the photo album. The internal operation of the electronic album at this time will be described below.

For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the touch panel controller 37 detects the designated position and the locus (character: Aioeo) of the pen P operated by the user (step S30). Next, the detected position and locus data are converted into RLE (run-length encoding) format in order to reduce the capacity (step S31). Thereafter, the process branches depending on whether the user has finished creating the handwritten data. To complete the creation of the handwritten data, the "Exit" icon ICN14 in the lower right corner of FIG.
Tap

In the handwriting mode, by selecting a desired one from the “thickness list” icon LST1 and the “color list” icon LST2 on the right side,
The thickness and color of the locus of the pen P can be changed.

If the user taps the exit icon ICN14 in step S32, the process proceeds to step S33.
Then, the process is shifted to the image file of the thumbnail image “A”, and the image file of the thumbnail image “A” is stored in the system file directory in association with the handwritten data (RLE format) “Aueo” (see FIG. 4).

When the user exits the handwriting mode by tapping the exit icon ICN14, the mount tone image BP as shown in FIG.
Is displayed, but if the thumbnail image “A” in which the handwritten data is written is double-tapped again, the handwritten data is displayed as shown in the flowchart of FIG. Step S20
Steps S24 to S24 are as described above.

First, handwritten data associated with the double-tapped thumbnail image "A" is searched for in the system file directory and expanded from the RLE format into bitmap data (step S26). Next, the bitmap data of the handwritten data is written into the frame memory 35 via the liquid crystal controller 33, and the handwritten data is displayed so as to overlap the data of the image file corresponding to the thumbnail image "A" (step S27).

When the data of the image file corresponding to the thumbnail image and the handwritten data are superimposed and displayed, the frame memory 35 is used as shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. Here, X and Y in FIG. 14A indicate the size of the display area R3 (see FIG. 11) of the liquid crystal panel 3, and indicate that the frame memory 35 is composed of 32 bits. Further, 24 bits thereof are used for displaying image file data (FIG. 14).
(D)), indicating that 7 bits of the remaining 8 bits are used for displaying handwritten data (FIG. 14 (c)), and that the remaining 1 bit is used for selection data (FIG. 14 (c)). FIG. 14 (b)). Incidentally, FIG. 14E shows a display mode of the display region R3 when superimposed and displayed.

The selection data represents whether or not to display handwritten data in one bit. For example, when a bit is set to “1”, the handwritten data corresponding to the position of the bit is displayed, and Is set to "0", the handwritten data corresponding to the bit position is not displayed. Since the handwritten data is superimposed and displayed in such a manner, the handwritten data does not interfere with the data of the image file. Therefore, by tapping the “Eraser” icon ICN13 displayed at the upper right in FIG. 11 and tracing the part of the handwritten data to be erased with the pen P, only the handwritten data is erased and the image of the image file is displayed below it. Will be displayed as it is.

Next, the "actual size mode" will be described.

In order to shift to the real size mode, in the state of the "handwriting mode" in FIG. 11, the "camera" icon ICN15 displayed at the lower right is tapped. Then, as shown in FIG. 15, the image has the actual image size and the liquid crystal panel 3
Is displayed in the display area R3. When the actual image size is larger than the display area R3, a scroll bar SB is displayed around the display area R3. By operating this, the entire image of the actual image size can be viewed. ing.

As described above, in the real size mode, only the image can be enlarged and displayed, so that the display can be performed by making use of the resolution at the time of photographing the digital image data, and even a detailed portion of the digital image can be viewed. You can do it.

The present invention can be variously modified as follows. (1) When not only an image but also a voice is stored in the user CF card, the voice may be pasted together with the image on the backing image.

(2) Depending on the format of the digital image data, it is known that the image was shot in a vertical composition, so that the digital image data may be attached to the mount image in accordance with the composition.

(3) When handwriting is performed in the handwriting mode, the handwritten data may be displayed so as to be superimposed on the thumbnail image when returning to the organizing mode.

(4) User CF card or system CF
As the card, a recording medium such as a PC card, a floppy disk, a removable hard disk, and an MD (mini disk) can be used in addition to the CF card.

[0090]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the first aspect of the present invention, all the digital image data is copied to the system memory only by inserting the user memory into the slot, However, since it corresponds to one film tone image as if it corresponds to one photographic film, it is easy to handle even without knowledge of a personal computer, and creates a photo album from photographic film and its prints so far It can be close to feeling. In addition, since the portable housing is not provided with a keyboard and a mouse as in the conventional example, the electronic album itself can be made small and lightweight, and can be easily carried around.

When the user directly designates from among the frames of the film tone image and the designated position is dragged onto the mount tone image, the thumbnail image is moved to the mount tone image and displayed. Since it is stored in the system memory in association with the mount tone image, a digital image from each frame can be attached to the mount tone image as if holding a print created by printing from a photographic film by hand and attaching it to a photo album. . Therefore, anyone can easily handle the electronic album like a photo album.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when transferring all the digital image data from the user memory to the system memory, an individual directory is created for each user memory. 1
It can be treated like a book photographic film, and the management of electronic albums can be made closer to the feeling of a conventional photo album.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when a thumbnail image on the mount image is designated, only that image can be enlarged and displayed. This makes it possible to make the best use of the display and to see the details of the digital image.

[0094] According to the apparatus of the fourth aspect, the display area of the image display section is just fit to the display area dimension based on the enlargement / reduction ratio based on the display area dimension of the image display section and the actual image size of the digital image. Since the digital image can be enlarged or reduced as described above, the digital image can be enjoyed with the maximum screen size that allows the entirety of one image to be viewed.

Further, according to the apparatus described in claim 5, by storing the position and the trajectory in association with the digital image, it is possible to add handwritten data such as a comment to the digital image, thereby further improving the photo album. It can be an electronic album close to feeling.

According to the apparatus described in claim 6, the contents of the electronic album can be easily understood by using the representative image.

Further, according to the apparatus of the present invention, by scrolling and displaying the film-like image in accordance with the photographic film feeding direction, the film-like image can be used in the same sense as the photographic film, and can be used without discomfort. can do.

Further, according to the method of the present invention, it is detected that the user memory has been inserted into the slot, and all the digital image data are automatically transferred to the system memory and then displayed. Since the image processing to be performed is performed, preparations are made immediately before the digital image is pasted without any special operation by the user.
Therefore, anyone can use the electronic album as easily as a conventional photo album.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, by creating an individual directory for each user memory, each user memory can be treated as a single photographic film. Can be brought closer to the feeling of a conventional photo album.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view illustrating a schematic configuration of an electronic album according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an electronic album.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an automatic transfer process of digital image data from a user CF card.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a directory structure in a system CF card.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a structure of an image file.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a liquid crystal panel after digital image data is automatically transferred.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an album creation process in the organizing mode.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the liquid crystal panel in an initial state of album creation.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a mount information file.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an operation of moving and pasting a thumbnail image on a mount image.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a state of a liquid crystal panel in a handwriting mode.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating processing in a handwriting mode.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating handwriting processing in a handwriting mode.

FIG. 14 is a diagram provided for describing superimposed display of digital image data and handwritten data.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing a state of the liquid crystal panel in an actual size mode.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Housing | casing 3 ... Liquid crystal panel (image display part) 5 ... 1st slot 9 ... Touch panel 11 ... User CF card (user memory) 13 ... System CF card (system memory) 21 ... Card controller (transfer means) 33 ... Liquid crystal Controller (display image control means) 35 ... frame memory 37 ... touch panel controller (image pasting means) R1 ... upper display area R2 ... lower display area R3 ... display area FL ... film tone image BP ... mount tone image

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 5/765 H04N 5/781 510F 5/781 F term (Reference) 5B050 AA10 BA15 DA04 EA03 EA07 FA02 FA08 5B062 AA10 CC01 FF02 5C062 AA01 AB20 AB23 AC05 AC06 AC24 AE15 BA01 5C076 AA02 AA13 AA17 BA02 BA03 BA04 CA02

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An electronic album capable of freely laying out digital images, comprising: a slot in which a user memory storing digital image data is detachable; and an image display unit capable of discriminating a contacted position. A portable housing having a system memory for storing various data; and, when a user memory is installed in the slot, all digital image data stored in the user memory are automatically transferred. Transfer means for storing the image data in the system memory, and displaying a film-like image of the form of a photographic film on an image display unit, and supervising all digital image data stored in the system memory for each user memory. To be displayed on each frame portion of the film-like image, and each digital image is displayed as a reduced thumbnail image on each frame portion. Display image control means for displaying the image of the mount tone image data of the photo album on the image display unit, and directly instructing each frame of the film tone image displayed on the image display unit. When the designated position is moved to the mount tone image, the digital image of the frame is displayed as a reduced thumbnail image at the shift position of the mount tone image, and is associated with the mount tone image. An electronic album, comprising: an image pasting unit that stores an image in a system memory. 2. The electronic album according to claim 1, wherein the transfer means creates an individual directory for each user memory when transferring the digital image data to the system memory, and stores each digital image data. An electronic album characterized by being stored separately from digital image data in another directory. 3. The electronic album according to claim 1, wherein the image pasting unit displays only the designated digital image among the digital images displayed on the image display unit together with the mount tone image. An electronic album characterized by being enlarged and displayed in a section. 4. The electronic album according to claim 3, wherein the image pasting means obtains a real image size of the designated digital image, and determines a size of a display area of the digital image on an image display unit and the real image size. An electronic album, wherein the digital image is enlarged and reduced based on the enlargement / reduction ratio and displayed on the image display unit. 5. The electronic album according to claim 1, further comprising: a detecting unit configured to detect a position or a trajectory designated on the image display unit, in addition to the components. An electronic album, wherein the position and the locus detected by the detecting means are stored as handwritten data in association with the digital image displayed on the image display unit at the time of detection. 6. The electronic album according to claim 1, wherein the image pasting means converts the digital image selected and instructed from the plurality of digital images pasted on the mount image to the mount image. An electronic album characterized by being stored as a representative image. 7. The electronic album according to claim 1, wherein the display image control means scrolls the film-like image in accordance with a photographic film feeding direction on an image display unit. Electronic album. 8. An image processing method for an electronic album capable of freely laying out digital images, wherein the digital camera automatically detects that a user memory is mounted in a slot and automatically transfers all digital image data to a system memory. An image processing method for an electronic album, comprising, after storing the digital image data, displaying digital image data stored in the system memory on an image display unit. 9. The image processing method for an electronic album according to claim 8, wherein when transferring the digital image data to the system memory, an individual directory is created for each user memory, and each digital image data is stored. An image processing method for an electronic album, wherein the image data is stored separately from digital image data in another directory.