JP2001078065A - Device and method for photographing image - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To record related plural images of a photographed object by imparting related information to the images and storing the images and the related information when the images are photographed and the imparting of the related information is instructed by a related photographing instructing part. SOLUTION: A photographic condition control part 36 controls the photographic conditions of images by controlling the focus of a lens 12, the stop quantity of a stop 14 and the shutter speed of a shutter 16. In this case, when the shutter speed of the shutter 16 is controlled, exposure time can be controlled. When a photograph button 40 instructs photographing and a related photographing instructing part 38 instructs the imparting of the related information, images are continuously photographed. A related information setting part 34 applies the same related information to the continuously photographed images. The photographed images are recorded on the photosensing part of an APS film 18 and the related information is recorded on the magnetic recording part of the APS film 18 by a magnetic head 20.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image photographing apparatus and an image photographing method for photographing a plurality of images of a subject and recording the plurality of images in association with each other.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At a construction site, in order to explain the construction volume, a photograph of the construction site is taken at each stage of the construction and submitted to the ordering side to report that the construction was performed correctly. Have been done.

In a construction photograph, a photographing place, a photographing date, a construction method, and the like are written on a blackboard, and the blackboard is copied into a subject. Therefore, in order to read the characters written on the blackboard, it is necessary that the blackboard is exposed. However, depending on the subject at the shooting location, the characters on the blackboard are not important, and the color of the cliff stratum as the subject is often important. In that case, it is necessary that the cliff stratum be exposed. Therefore, conventionally, a plurality of construction photographs have been photographed while changing photographing conditions such as exposure, and the photograph most frequently photographed after development has been selected.

A method of continuously photographing a subject while changing photographing conditions is called auto bracketing. The following is an invention for taking and recording a plurality of photographs. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-155302 discloses an electronic still camera that takes a plurality of images while changing exposure conditions and selects and records one of the images when an instruction for auto bracketing is given. ing. JP-A-8-
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 140025 discloses a digital still camera in which the same number or a shooting mode name is added to a header portion of image data and recorded in order to identify the image data for synthesis. Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 7-295873 discloses an image file recording apparatus that associates continuously shot images as image files in one group after a group setting button is pressed.

[0005]

In any of the above-mentioned inventions, since the photographer cannot freely input information for associating a plurality of images to be photographed, there has been a problem that the image association is difficult to understand.

[0006] For this reason, there is a problem that it takes time and effort to search for a photograph taken at the same construction site by changing photographing conditions from the developed photograph and select an optimum photograph from the photograph. Had occurred. In addition, the photographing conditions such as exposure are poor, and a photograph that cannot be adopted is wasted, so that there is a problem that the cost increases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image photographing apparatus and an image photographing method for photographing a plurality of images of a subject and recording the images in association with each other. . This object is achieved by a combination of features described in the independent claims. The dependent claims define further advantageous embodiments of the present invention.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image photographing apparatus for photographing a plurality of images of a subject and recording the images in association with the plurality of images. An association information input unit where the user inputs the association information, an association photographing instruction unit that instructs the provision of the association information, a photographing unit that photographs the image, and a case where the association photographing instruction unit instructs the provision of the association information. , An association information setting unit that assigns association information to an image, and a recording unit that stores the image and the association information.

The association information setting unit may have a function of associating a plurality of images with each other by giving the same association information to the plurality of images.

When the photographing condition control unit for controlling the photographing conditions of the photographing unit and the associating photographing instruction unit instruct to give the association information to the image, the photographing condition control unit changes the photographing conditions while changing the photographing conditions. May further include a continuous shooting function for obtaining a plurality of images by continuously shooting images.

The photographing condition controlled by the photographing condition control section may be a condition relating to at least one of focus, aperture, and exposure.

The associating information input section inputs the associating information as a character string, and automatically updates some characters in the associating information character string when the associating information input section instructs to change the associating information. You may.

The recording section may record an image on the photosensitive section of the film having the photosensitive section and the magnetic recording section, and record the association information on the magnetic recording section.

The recording unit may record the image, the association information, and the photographing conditions on a magnetic recording medium or a semiconductor memory.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image photographing method for photographing a plurality of images of a subject and recording the plurality of images in association with each other. In this case, a plurality of images are successively photographed while changing photographing conditions, and the images are recorded by adding the same association information to the plurality of continuously photographed images.

The photographing condition may be a condition relating to at least one of focus, aperture, and exposure.

In a film having a photosensitive portion and a magnetic recording portion, an image may be recorded on the photosensitive portion, and association information may be recorded on the magnetic recording portion.

Images, association information, and photographing conditions may be recorded on a magnetic recording medium or a semiconductor memory.

The above summary of the present invention does not list all of the necessary features of the present invention, and sub-combinations of these features can also be invented.

[0020]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described through embodiments of the present invention. However, the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims and are described in the embodiments. Not all combinations of the features described above are essential to the solution of the invention.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an APS camera 10 as an example of an image photographing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The APS camera 10 includes a lens 12
, Aperture 14, shutter 16, APS film 1
8, a magnetic head 20, an association information input unit 30,
Association information display section 32 and association information setting section 34
And a photographing condition control unit 36 and an associated photographing instruction unit 38
And a shooting button 40.

Lens 12, aperture 14, and shutter 1
6 is an example of a photographing unit. The lens 12 adjusts the focus to form an image of the subject, the aperture 14 adjusts the aperture amount, and the shutter 16 adjusts the exposure time. APS film 1
Reference numeral 8 denotes an APS (Advanced) having a photosensitive unit and a magnetic recording unit.
Photo System) This is a film mounting unit and an example of a recording unit. The photosensitive portion of the APS film 18 has a lens 12
The image of the subject on which is formed is captured.

The association information input section 30 inputs association information specified by the photographer. Association information display section 32
Displays the association information input by the association information input unit 30.

The associating photographing instructing section 38 instructs to perform associative photographing by adding the associating information inputted by the associating information inputting section 30 to the photographed image.

The shooting button 40 instructs to shoot an image. The imaging condition control unit 36 adjusts the imaging conditions of the image by controlling the focus of the lens 12, the aperture amount of the aperture 14, and the shutter speed of the shutter 16. Here, when the shutter speed of the shutter 16 is controlled, the exposure time is adjusted.

When the photographing button 40 instructs photographing and the associating photographing instructing unit 38 instructs to add the associating information, the photographing condition control unit 36 continuously photographs the image while changing the photographing conditions. The association information setting unit 34 assigns the same association information to images shot continuously.
The photographed image is recorded on the photosensitive section of the APS film 18, and the association information is recorded on the magnetic recording section of the APS film 18 by the magnetic head 20.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the APS camera 10. On the back of the APS camera 10, a shooting button 40, a viewfinder 42, a display unit 44, and a mode selection button 4
6, a send button 48, and a setting button 50.

From the viewfinder 42, the photographer can see the subject to be photographed. Mode selection button 4
6. The forward button 48 and the setting button 50 are examples of the association information input unit 30 and the association shooting instruction unit 38, and input the association information and instruct the association shooting.

The display unit 44 is an example of the association information display unit 32, and includes a mode selection button 46, a forward button 48,
And the association information input by the setting button 50 is displayed. The display unit 44 may be, for example, a liquid crystal screen.

When the photographer presses the mode selection button 46, the mode is set to the association information setting mode. In the association information setting mode, the leftmost digit of the display section 44 blinks. In this state, when the setting button 50 is pressed, the display character of the leftmost digit is advanced from 0 to 1, 2, 3 and up, and when it becomes 9, then it is advanced from A to Z of the alphabet, and thereafter 0
Return to

When the forward button 48 is pressed, the blinking display changes to the right by one.
Move digit. When the setting button 50 is pressed in this state, the displayed characters are sequentially advanced. When the feed button 48 is further pressed, the blinking display moves one digit further to the right, and returns to the leftmost digit after moving the required digit. When the photographer sets the desired association information and presses the mode selection button 46, the association information setting mode ends, and the blinking display becomes a normal lighting display. FIG.
In the example, the character KOUJI1 is set as the association information. As described above, the photographer can set, for example, information indicating the photographing item as a character string as the association information.

If the photographing button 40 is pressed while the setting button 50 is pressed in this state, images are continuously photographed while changing photographing conditions, and the photographed images are recorded with the same association information.

In the above description, a case has been described in which linked shooting is performed by continuously shooting while automatically changing the shooting conditions. However, the embodiment is not limited to this. For example, the photographer may manually adjust the photographing conditions, photograph a plurality of images, and assign the same association information to perform the associated photographing. Alternatively, the photographer may change the direction of the camera or change the shooting location, shoot a plurality of images, and assign the same association information to perform the associated shooting. In any case, the photographer can assign the same association information to the photographed image by pressing the photographing button 40 while pressing the setting button 50.

FIG. 3 is an example of image information including association information recorded on the magnetic recording section of the APS film 18. The image information includes an image file name, association information, and a shooting date. In this example, “image file name = IM10
0001, association information = KOUJI1, shooting date = 1999
June 10 "is image information, and the image file name associated with the same association information KOUJI1 is I
M100001, IM100002, IM10000
3 and the image of IM100004 are images that have been taken in association while changing the shooting conditions. Images with image file names IM100007 and IM100008 to which no association information has been assigned have not been imaged in association.

Shooting button 4 while holding down setting button 50
When 0 is pressed, the associated photographing is performed. However, when a new associated photographing is performed using another association information after the associated photographing, the setting button 50 is pressed while pressing the forward button 48, so that the association information is acquired. Part of the string can be updated automatically. In the example of FIG. 3, after the association shooting when the association information is KOUJI1, the setting button 5 is pressed while the feed button 48 is pressed.
When 0 is pressed, the association information is, for example, KOUJI2
Automatically updated to

In particular, in the case of a construction photograph, since a plurality of photographs are taken for a large number of photographing items, when the association information is automatically updated each time a new association photographing is started, the photographer inputs the association information. This saves time and effort.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the APS film 18. The APS film 18 has magnetic recording portions 62a, 62b,
c and d (hereinafter collectively referred to as 62) and photosensitive portions 64a, b and c (hereinafter collectively referred to as 64). The image captured by the APS camera 10 is captured and recorded on the photosensitive section 64 of the APS film 18. on the other hand,
The association information set by the association information setting unit 34 is A
It is recorded on the magnetic recording section 62 of the PS film 18. For example, the image file name shown in FIG.
The image of “1” is captured by the photosensitive unit 64a and “image file name = IM100001, association information = KOUJI
The image information including the association information of “1, shooting date = June 10, 1999” is recorded in the magnetic recording unit 62a. Similarly, an image having an image file name of IM100002 is provided to the photosensitive section 64b with image information “image file name = IM100002, association information = KOUJI” including association information.
1, shooting date = June 10, 1999 "is recorded in the magnetic recording unit 62b.

By recording the image information including the association information together with the photographed image, it is possible to easily identify the associated image among the developed photographs. When developing the APS film, by attaching the association information below or on the back of the developed photograph, the associated photograph can be easily identified. In the example of FIG.
For example, photos to which the association information KOUJI1 has been assigned are associated with each other.

The example in which the image information including the association information is recorded in the magnetic recording units 62a, 62b, and 62c divided for each image to be shot has been described.
The information may be collectively recorded on the magnetic recording section 62d above the photosensitive section 64.

According to the image photographing apparatus of the present embodiment, the photographer inputs the association information in the form of a character string and instructs the association photographing, thereby changing the photographing conditions such as the exposure time and the like, thereby continuously connecting a plurality of images. The image can be recorded by adding association information to the captured image. Therefore, the operator of the lab system that develops the APS film, or the user of the computer having the device that reads the APS film, can easily identify which of the APS film image files is associated with the associated APS film. The displayed image data is displayed on a display, and a desired image can be selected. The operator of the lab system or the user of the computer can store the selected desired image on a CD-ROM or print it with a printer.

Further, according to the image photographing apparatus of the present embodiment, the association information input by the photographer can be automatically updated each time the associated photographing is performed. Therefore, when photographing a plurality of photographs for a large number of photographing items such as a construction photograph, it is possible to save the trouble of inputting the association information.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a digital camera 11 as an example of an image photographing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The digital camera 11 includes a lens 12, an aperture 14, a shutter 16, a CCD 22,
, A frame memory 24, a recording medium 26, an association information input unit 30, an association information display unit 32, an association information setting unit 34, an imaging condition control unit 36, an association imaging instruction unit 38, an imaging button 40 And

The components having the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 operate in the same manner, and the description thereof will be omitted, and only the portions different from those of the first embodiment will be described.

The digital camera 11 differs from the APS camera 10 of the first embodiment in that a lens 12 forms an image of a subject on a CCD (Charged Coupled Device) 22 and the formed image data is a frame. After being buffered in the memory 24, it is recorded on the recording medium 26.

The recording medium 26 is an example of a recording unit, and is provided with a magnetic recording medium such as a floppy disk or a mini disk, or a semiconductor memory such as a flash memory or a RAM.

In this embodiment, the association information setting unit 34
Is set on the recording medium 26 together with the photographed image data.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the format of image data recorded on the recording medium 26. The image data has a header section and a data section. In the header section, tag information can be set in addition to compression information such as the name of a compression format, information such as a file name and a file size. It is possible to record image information including association information in tag information, and shooting conditions such as an aperture amount and an exposure time. The data section records the compressed data of the image.

The image data including the image data and the association information stored in the recording medium 26 is read out by a digital lab system or a computer having a reading device for reading data from the recording medium, and is read by a CD-ROM.
And the like.

According to the image photographing apparatus of the present embodiment, the association information and the photographing conditions can be recorded on the magnetic recording medium or the semiconductor memory together with the image data. Therefore, the operator of the lab system or the user of the computer having the device for reading the magnetic recording medium or the semiconductor memory can easily identify the associated image data under what imaging conditions. Then, the associated image data can be displayed on a display, and a desired image can be selected.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the image photographing method. This figure shows an image capturing method in the image capturing apparatuses of the first and second embodiments.

The photographer decides whether to start photographing (S200). The photographer inputs the association information using the association information input unit 30 (S202). The photographer determines whether or not to instruct the association photographing by using the association photographing instruction unit 38 (S204). When instructing the associative photographing, the photographer decides whether or not to instruct the photographing of the image by the photographing button 40 (S206). If the image capture is not instructed, the process returns to S200. When an image shooting is instructed, the shooting conditions such as focus, aperture, and exposure time are changed (S208). The image is photographed (S210), and the association information setting unit 34 adds the association information to the image (S212). The APS film 18 or the recording medium 26 records the photographed image and the association information (S214). The recording medium 26 may record the photographing conditions at the same time.

In the process of S204, when the photographer does not instruct the associated photographing by the associating photographing instructing section 38, the process proceeds to S216, and the photographer determines whether or not to instruct the photographing of the image by the photographing button 40. When not instructing to shoot an image by the shooting button 40,
The process returns to S200. When the photographing is instructed by the photographing button 40, the image is photographed (S218), and the image is recorded (S220). At this time, no association information is recorded.

As described above, according to the image photographing apparatus of the first embodiment, the photographer inputs the association information as a character string and instructs the associated photographing, thereby changing the photographing conditions such as the exposure time. Meanwhile, a plurality of images can be continuously photographed, and the photographed images can be recorded with association information added thereto. Therefore, the operator of the lab system that develops the APS film or the user of the computer having the device that reads the APS film can easily identify which of the APS film image data is associated with the associated APS film. The displayed image data is displayed on a display, and a desired image can be selected.

Further, according to the image photographing apparatus of the present embodiment, the association information input by the photographer can be automatically updated every time the associated photographing is performed. Therefore, when photographing a plurality of photographs for a large number of photographing items such as a construction photograph, it is possible to save the trouble of inputting the association information.

According to the image photographing apparatus of the second embodiment,
The association information and the photographing conditions can be recorded on the magnetic recording medium or the semiconductor memory together with the image data. Therefore, the operator of the lab system or the user of the computer having the device for reading the magnetic recording medium or the semiconductor memory can easily identify the associated image data under what imaging conditions. Then, the associated image data can be displayed on a display, and a desired image can be selected.

As described above, the present invention has been described using the embodiments. However, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. It is apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes or improvements can be added to the above embodiment. It is apparent from the description of the appended claims that embodiments with such changes or improvements can be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

[0057]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, a plurality of images of a subject can be photographed and recorded in association with the plurality of images.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an APS camera 10 as an example of an image photographing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the APS camera 10. FIG.

FIG. 3 is an example of image information including association information.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an APS film 18.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a digital camera 11 as an example of an image photographing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an example of a format of image data recorded on a recording medium 26;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an image capturing method.

[Explanation of symbols]

APS camera 10 Digital camera 11 Lens 12 Aperture 14 Shutter 16 APS film 18 Magnetic head 20 CCD 22 Frame memory 24 Recording medium 26 Association information input unit 30 Association information display unit 32 Association information setting unit 34 Association shooting instruction unit 38 Imaging condition control unit 36 Shooting button 40 viewfinder 42 display unit 44 mode selection button 46 forward button 48 setting button 50 magnetic recording unit 62 photosensitive unit 64

Claims (11)

[Claims] An image capturing apparatus that captures a plurality of images of a subject and records the plurality of images in association with each other, wherein an association information input unit that inputs association information by a user; An associating image instructing unit to instruct; an imaging unit to shoot the image; an associating information setting unit to add the associating information to the image when the associating image instructing unit instructs to give the associating information; An image capturing apparatus comprising: a recording unit that stores an image and the association information. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the association information setting unit has a function of associating the plurality of images with each other by assigning the same association information to the plurality of images. The image photographing apparatus according to claim 1. 3. A photographing condition control unit for controlling photographing conditions of the photographing unit, and when the association photographing instruction unit instructs to give the association information to the image, the photographing condition control unit performs photographing. The image photographing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a continuous photographing function of acquiring the plurality of images by the photographing unit continuously photographing the image while changing conditions. 4. The image photographing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the photographing condition controlled by the photographing condition control unit is a condition relating to at least one of focus, aperture, and exposure. 5. The association information input unit inputs the association information as a character string, and when the association information input unit instructs to change the association information, a part of the association information in the character string. The image photographing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein characters are automatically updated. 6. The recording device according to claim 2, wherein the recording unit records the image on the photosensitive unit and records the association information on the magnetic recording unit in a film having a photosensitive unit and a magnetic recording unit. The image photographing apparatus according to claim 1. 7. The image photographing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the recording unit records the image, the association information, and the photographing condition on a magnetic recording medium or a semiconductor memory. 8. An image photographing method for photographing a plurality of images of a subject and associating the plurality of images with each other and recording the plurality of images. An image photographing method, wherein the plurality of images are continuously photographed while changing, and the plurality of consecutively photographed images are recorded with the same association information added thereto. 9. The image photographing method according to claim 8, wherein the photographing condition is a condition relating to at least one of focus, aperture, and exposure. 10. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 9, wherein, in a film having a photosensitive portion and a magnetic recording portion, the image is recorded on the photosensitive portion, and the association information is recorded on the magnetic recording portion. Method. 11. The image photographing method according to claim 9, wherein the image, the association information, and the photographing conditions are recorded on a magnetic recording medium or a semiconductor memory.