JP2007053616A - Digital camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital camera which is capable of easily photographing and reproducing images of a series of frames. <P>SOLUTION: When a user depresses a four-frame photographic mode button 20 under a photographic mode, the digital camera is shifted to a four-frame photographic mode. The user carries out the operation of depressing a shutter button 15 four times in succession observing through-images. Thereafter, when the four-frame photographic mode button 20 is depressed, four-frame tagged data are added to each EXIF tagged data of a four-frame image file and are stored in a memory card. When the four-frame photographing button 20 is depressed in a reproduction mode, the four-frame tagged data of the image file stored in the memory card are retrieved, each four-frame tagged data indicating [four-frame-(1)-1], [four-frame-(1)-2], [four-frame-(1)-3], and [four-frame-(1)-4] are detected, the four-frame tagged data are discriminated as being the four-frame images of a first group by the common part [four-frame-(1)], and the images of these image file files are displayed as a list. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a digital camera, and more particularly to a digital camera that displays a list of images of a plurality of frames.

  A digital camera that continuously shoots with a single release operation is known (Patent Document 1). This digital camera drives the photographic lens over the entire area, detects a plurality of focus evaluation value peaks by the contrast method, and continuously shoots a plurality of main subjects at the corresponding lens positions. Even in a different shooting position, it is possible to perform shooting with focus on the subject desired by the photographer.

In addition, there is known a digital camera having a multiple image processing mode in which the same subject is continuously photographed a plurality of times, and a predetermined composition process is performed on a plurality of obtained images to create one image ( Patent Document 2). This digital camera takes a picture when the reflecting mirror disposed in the optical path between the imaging optical system and the image sensor is moved to the position of the photographing state, and subsequently the reflecting mirror is slightly displaced. Then, photographing is performed in a state where the relative position between the subject image and the image sensor changes. Thereby, a plurality of images suitable for multiple image processing in which the relative positions of the subject image and the image sensor are different can be acquired.
JP 2003-114378 A JP 2002-077696 A

  The above Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose that a plurality of photographs can be easily taken continuously. For example, like a four-frame cartoon or a combined photograph, a plurality of photographs can be understood in the same place or situation. No digital camera has been disclosed so far that can capture and play back frame images.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a digital camera that can easily capture and reproduce a series of images of a plurality of frames.

  The digital camera of the present invention continuously captures images of a plurality of frames in a digital camera that stores an image obtained by an imaging unit in a storage medium together with tag information that is supplementary information of the images. Multi-frame shooting mode in which grouping information indicating that images belong to the same group is added to the tag information of each image, and multi-frame playback for displaying a list of the images of the plurality of frames on the screen of the display device based on the grouping information A mode is provided.

  The display device may display the images of the plurality of frames side by side in a vertical direction. Further, the plurality of images are continuously photographed by one release operation. Further, an angle-of-view switching means for switching to a different shooting angle of view every time when operated once in the multi-frame shooting mode is provided. Further, the present invention is characterized in that there is provided a template selection means for selecting one template common to the same group by operating in the multi-frame shooting mode and giving this template information to the tag information of each image.

  In addition, in a digital camera that stores an image obtained by the imaging means in a storage medium together with tag information that is supplementary information of the image, when the image is reproduced, a part of the image of one frame is trimmed by image processing. An image processing unit that generates a plurality of frames having different angles of view by enlarging, and adds grouping information indicating that the images of the plurality of frames belong to the same group to tag information of each image, and the group And a display device that displays a list of images of the plurality of frames on the screen based on the conversion information.

  According to the digital camera of the present invention, a plurality of frames of images are taken continuously, grouping information indicating that the images of the plurality of frames belong to the same group is added to the tag information of each image, and based on the grouping information Since a plurality of frames are displayed in a list on the screen of the display device, a series of images can be easily captured and played back.

  Further, since the display device displays a list of a plurality of frames in parallel in the vertical direction, a series of images can be reproduced and displayed like a four-frame cartoon. The plurality of images may be continuously photographed by a single release operation. In addition, since an angle-of-view switching means for switching to a different angle of view for each operation in the multi-frame shooting mode is provided, a variety of images can be taken with a very simple operation. In addition, since one template common to the same group is selected and this template information is added to the tag information of each image, it is possible to display the group images when the templates are added.

  In addition, when reproducing an image obtained by the imaging means, a part of an image of one frame is trimmed and enlarged by image processing to generate a plurality of frames having different angles of view, and the plurality of frames Grouping information indicating that the images belong to the same group is added to the tag information of each image, and a list of images of a plurality of frames is displayed based on the grouping information, so a series of images of a plurality of frames can be easily taken , Can play.

  In FIG. 1 showing the external appearance of the embodiment of the present invention from the front side, a photographing lens 11 and a mode switch 12 are provided on the front surface of the digital camera 10, and a power switch 14 and a shutter button 15 are provided on the top. . A slot 17 for setting the memory card 16 is provided on the side surface. As the memory card 16, an xD picture card (product name) is used in the present embodiment. However, for example, smart media (product name), compact flash (registered trademark), or the like may be used.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, on the back of the digital camera 10, a four-frame shooting mode button 20, a view angle switching button 21, a menu (MENU) button 22, a rotary roller type operation dial 23 and a rectangular shape elongated in the horizontal direction. A liquid crystal panel 24 is provided.

  The mode switch 12 switches between a shooting mode for shooting an image and a playback mode for playing back an image stored in the memory card 16 by sliding the knob 12a up and down. In the shooting mode, the liquid crystal panel 24 functions as an electronic viewfinder. In the reproduction mode, the image read from the memory card 16 is reproduced and displayed on the liquid crystal panel 24.

  The 4-frame shooting mode button 20 is pressed when shooting a series of 4-frame images such as a 4-frame cartoon. When the four-frame shooting mode button 20 is pressed in the shooting mode, as shown in FIG. 3, three small sub-areas 26, 27, and 28 are vertically stacked and displayed on the left side of the liquid crystal panel 24. In addition, a through image is displayed in the main area 29 on the right side. When the shutter button 15 is pressed down from this state, the photographed image is first displayed in the lowermost sub-area 28.

  Next, when the shutter button 15 is depressed, the first photographed image is moved to the middle sub-area 27 and the second photographed image is displayed in the lowermost sub-area 28. Next, when the shutter button 15 is depressed, the first photographed image is moved to the uppermost sub-area 26, the second photographed image is moved to the middle-layer subarea 27, and the third photographed image is taken. The image is displayed in the lowermost sub-area 28.

  Then, after pressing the shutter button 15 for the fourth time, the four-frame shooting mode button 20 is pressed again. As a result, 4-frame tag data as grouping information indicating that these are images of the same group is added to the EXIF tag data of each 4-frame image file. This will be described below with reference to FIG. 4 showing the file structure of the memory card 16.

  The image folder 31 of the memory card 16 stores captured image data as EXIF format image files PF1 to PFn (n is a natural number). The EXIF format is obtained by adding EXIF tag data 33 to image data 32. For example, the image data 32 is recorded in the JPEG format in which the image data is compressed and stored.

  As the format of the image data 32, in addition to this JPEG, a TIFF (Tagged Imafe File Format) format including image data and a tag for recording information indicating the storage position of the data in the file may be used. . Further, the EXIF format can include thumbnail image data 34 used for index display.

  The EXIF tag data 33 includes shooting condition data 35 relating to shooting conditions such as an exposure value, a focal length, and the presence or absence of strobe light emission, and four-frame tag data 36. The four-frame tag data 36 indicates that the four-frame image sandwiched by the two pressing operations of the four-frame shooting mode button 20 is one of a series of images. Is provided with 4-frame tag data 36 indicating “4 frames- (1) -1”. This “4 frames- (1) -1” represents the first frame in the first group in the 4-frame shooting mode.

  Similarly, “4 frames- (1) -2” for the image data of the second frame, “4 frames- (1) -3” for the image data of the third frame, and “4 frames- (1) -3” for the image data of the fourth frame Four-frame tag data 36 indicating “4 frames- (1) -4” is assigned. Note that the format of the image files PF1 to PFn may not be the EXIF format as long as the 4-frame tag data 36 can be added.

  When the four-frame shooting mode button 20 is pressed in the playback mode, four-frame images PIC1 to PIC4 shot in the four-frame shooting mode are displayed on the liquid crystal panel 24 at the left end as shown in FIG. Are displayed side by side in shooting order. When the four-frame shooting mode button 20 is pressed again from this state, as shown in FIG. 6, the four-frame images PIC1 to PIC4 are vertically aligned with the digital camera 10 in the vertical position as shown in a four-frame cartoon. They are displayed side by side in the shooting order from the upper end of the liquid crystal panel 24. That is, the horizontal display shown in FIG. 5 and the vertical display shown in FIG. 6 are alternately repeated every time the four-frame shooting mode button 20 is pressed.

  When the view angle switching button 21 is pressed in the shooting mode, the shooting angle of view is changed with one touch. A known digital zoom is used for changing the angle of view. When the angle-of-view switching button 21 is pressed, the angle of view is changed to the angle of view of 2 × zoom for the first time, the angle of view of 6 × zoom for the second time, and the angle of view of 10 × zoom for the third time. Therefore, by pressing the angle-of-view switching button 21 an arbitrary number of times in the four-frame shooting mode, for example, even for the same subject, four-frame shooting with different impressions can be performed. When there is a face in the image, a face extraction unit described later extracts the face from the image data, and the zoom magnification is varied around the face. The zoom magnification of the digital zoom is an example and can be arbitrarily determined.

  In addition, when the view angle switching button 21 is pressed in the playback mode, it functions as a frame advance button in the playback display of a normally shot image, and in the playback display of an image shot in the 4-frame shooting mode, Switches to the display of a 4-frame image in another group.

  When the menu button 22 is pressed after pressing the four-frame shooting mode button 20 in the shooting mode, a menu screen 38 is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 24 as shown in FIG. On this menu screen 38, a setup menu 39, a template shooting menu 40, a four-frame division menu 41, and the like are displayed. When the operation dial 23 having the same function as that of the well-known jog dial (registered trademark) is rotated to move the triangular cursor 42 to match the desired template shooting menu 40, the operation dial 23 is pushed in, as shown in FIG. As shown, a template selection menu screen 44 for selecting a template such as a decorative frame is displayed.

  On the template selection menu screen 44, two templates A and B are displayed. When the operation dial 23 is rotated to move the cursor 47 up and down, the operation dial 23 can be adjusted to either one of the templates A and B, and the operation dial 23 is further rotated to move the cursor 47 further upward or downward. When operated, the templates A and B are scrolled, and other templates C, D,... Can be displayed.

  When the cursor 47 is placed on the desired template B and the operation dial 23 is pressed, “4 frames- (1) -1-template B” with the template selection information added is added to the image file taken in the first frame. Four-frame tag data 36 is provided. Further, the 4-frame tag data 36 indicating “4 frames- (1) -2-template B” is assigned to the image file photographed in the second frame. Since it is the same below, it is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 9, when the four-frame shooting mode button 20 is pressed in the playback mode, the four-frame images shot in the four-frame shooting mode with the template selected in this manner are displayed with the template B attached. Is displayed.

  10, after shooting one image PIC11 in the normal shooting mode, the menu button 22 is pressed in the playback mode to display the menu screen 38 on the liquid crystal panel 24 and the four-frame division menu 41 is selected. As shown in the figure, images PIC12, PIC13, and PIC14 having respective angles of view of 2 × zoom, 4 × zoom, and 8 × zoom are generated from one original image PIC11 by the digital zoom function, and the second to fourth frames are generated. As an image, the original image PIC11 is displayed in parallel on the right side. The image PICs 12 to 14 are generated by an image processing unit 60 described later, and the 4-frame tag data 36, which is grouping information indicating that the images PIC12 to 14 belong to the same group, is the EXIF of the images PIC12 to 14. It is added to the tag data 33.

  In FIG. 11 showing the electrical configuration of the digital camera 10, the photographing unit 50 includes a photographing lens 11, a CCD, an A / D converter, and the like. Image data output from the imaging unit 50 is stored in the buffer memory 51. The CPU 52 controls each part of the device connected via the data bus 53. The operation unit 54 includes a mode switch 12, a power switch 14, a shutter button 15, a four-frame shooting mode button 20, a field angle switch button 21, a menu button 22, an operation dial 23, and the like.

  Various programs and the like are stored in the ROM 56. The CPU 52 loads the program in the ROM 56 into the RAM 57 and executes various steps described in the program. The VRAM 58 is an image output unit for outputting various screens and images to the liquid crystal panel 24.

  The image processing unit 60 mainly performs digital zoom processing, template image synthesis processing, and the like. In the digital zoom process, a predetermined area of the image data read from the buffer memory 51 is trimmed and enlarged. In the template image composition process, the template selected on the template selection menu screen 44 and the four frames of image data are synthesized.

  The face extraction unit 61 extracts the subject's face by extracting both eyes of the subject from the image data. To extract both eyes of a subject, an area having white pixels of the eye and an estimated color pixel is selected from an area containing many skin-colored pixels, and the subject on the image is selected from the selected areas. The position coordinates of both eyes are obtained, and the face position is obtained with the midpoint of the position coordinates of both eyes as a representative point. Then, the face extraction unit 61 regards an area including a lot of surrounding skin-colored pixels as a face area from the extracted position coordinates of both eyes of the subject.

  In addition, the CPU 52 controls the media controller 62 to access the memory card 16 and writes grouping information when the captured image is recorded on the memory card 16. When the image data is read from the memory card 16, it is determined whether or not the images are grouped based on the grouping information. If the images are grouped, based on the grouping information. Perform various processes.

  Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described. First, the power switch 14 is operated to turn on the digital camera 10. Next, the mode switch 12 is set to the shooting mode. As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 12, when the shutter button 15 is depressed as it is (st1), normal shooting is performed (st2), but when the four-frame shooting mode button 20 is pressed, the mode shifts to the four-frame shooting mode. As shown in FIG. 3, the screen of the liquid crystal panel 24 is switched to the four-frame shooting display mode.

  The operation of depressing the shutter button 15 is continuously performed four times while observing the through image displayed in the main area 29 (st3). An image captured by the first pressing operation is displayed in the sub-area 28. By the second pressing operation, the first captured image moves to the sub-area 27 and the second captured image is displayed in the sub-area 28. In addition, by the third press operation, the first captured image moves to the sub-area 26, and at the same time, the second captured image moves to the sub-area 27, and the third captured image is displayed in the sub-area 28.

  Then, after the shutter button 15 is depressed for the fourth time, when the four-frame shooting mode button 20 is pressed again (st4), four-frame tag data 36 is added to each EXIF tag data 33 for the four-frame image file ( st5) and stored in the memory card 16 (st6). In addition, the four-frame shooting mode ends, and the screen of the liquid crystal panel 24 switches from the four-frame shooting display mode to the normal display mode in which the entire surface displays a through image.

  In addition, when the view angle switching button 21 is pressed under the four-frame shooting mode, the shooting angle of view can be changed with one touch. When there is a face in the image, the face extraction unit 61 extracts the face portion from the image data of the through image, and the zoom magnification is changed around the face portion. In addition, when the menu button 22 is pressed in the four-frame shooting mode to display the menu screen 38 on the liquid crystal panel 24 and the template shooting menu 40 is selected, a desired template can be combined with the four-frame image.

  The knob 12a of the mode switch 12 is operated to switch from the shooting mode to the playback mode. In the normal reproduction mode, images stored in the memory card 16 are reproduced one frame at a time, and the operation dial 23 is rotated to advance the frame.

  When the four-frame shooting mode button 20 is pressed under the normal playback mode, the four-frame tag data 36 of each image file stored in the memory card is retrieved. 4-frame tag data indicating “4-frame- (1) -1”, “4-frame- (1) -2”, “4-frame- (1) -3”, “4-frame- (1) -4” When 36 is detected, it is determined from the common part “4 frames- (1)” that the images are the four frames of the first group, and the images of these image files are displayed as a list as shown in FIG. .

  When the four-frame shooting mode button 20 is pressed from this display state, as shown in FIG. 6, the orientation of each image is converted by 90 degrees and switched to the vertical display. In addition, when the angle of view switching button 21 is pressed, the group is switched to another group of four frames. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, a four-frame image shot by selecting a template is displayed in a state where the template is synthesized at the time of reproduction.

  The four-frame images shot and displayed in this way are easy to understand, like a four-frame manga or a combination photo, where good friends and family can shoot each other, and everyone can view the shot images. It is suitable for enjoying.

  In the embodiment described above, four frames shot in the four-frame shooting mode are displayed in parallel on the elongated liquid crystal panel, but the present invention is not limited to this, and is shown in FIG. As described above, the four-frame images PIC21 to 24 may be displayed on the square liquid crystal panel 67 provided in the digital camera 66. In this case, a cross-shaped general-purpose key 68 is preferably used instead of the operation dial 23.

  In the above embodiment, the number of frames in one group is four. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be eight frames, for example. In order to reproduce and display these eight frames, the four-frame shooting mode button 20 is pressed under the reproduction mode as in the above embodiment. First, as shown in FIG. 5, a list of the four frames shot first is displayed. From this state, when the operation dial 23 is rotated, the frames are advanced and the next 5 to 8 images are displayed.

  In the above-described embodiment, in the four-frame shooting mode, one frame image is shot every time the shutter button is pressed once. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and one-time shutter is performed. Four or more frames may be continuously shot (continuously shot) by pressing the button.

  In this case, each image file includes, for example, “4 frames- (1) -1” for the first continuous image and “4 frames- (1) -2” for the second continuous image. "4 frames-(1) -3" for the third continuous image, ..., 4 frames "4-(1) -6" for the sixth continuous image Tag data is given.

  In order to reproduce and display the continuously shot images as described above, the four-frame shooting mode button 20 is pressed under the reproduction mode as in the above embodiment. Then, first, as shown in FIG. 5, a list of the four frames shot first is displayed. From this state, when the operation dial 23 is rotated, the frames are advanced and the fifth and sixth continuous images are displayed.

  In the above embodiment, the shooting angle of view is switched using the digital zoom function. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a turret-shaped lens is provided on the front surface of the digital camera 70 as shown in FIG. A lens barrel 71 may be provided, and the shooting angles of view may be switched by rotating four lenses 72 to 75 having different focal lengths. In this case, each time the angle of view switching button is pressed, the lens barrel 71 rotates. For example, the first lens is switched to the wide lens 72, the second lens is switched to the ultra-wide lens 73, and the third lens is switched to the fisheye lens 74. If the angle of view switching button is not pressed, the normal lens 75 is used for shooting.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the selection of the template was performed in imaging | photography mode, this invention is not limited to this, You may perform it in reproduction | regeneration mode. In this case, the four frame tag data of each image file is overwritten with the four frame tag data including the template selection information.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the digital camera of this invention from the front side. It is a top view which shows the external appearance of a digital camera from the back side. It is explanatory drawing which shows the display state of the liquid crystal panel in 4-frame imaging | photography mode. It is a block diagram which shows the schematic structure of an image file. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which displayed the 4-frame image as a list on a liquid crystal panel. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which displayed the 4-frame image as the list vertically. It is explanatory drawing which shows a menu screen. It is explanatory drawing which shows a template selection menu screen. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which displayed on the liquid crystal panel the 4 frame image by which the image of the template was synthesize | combined. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which displayed the 4 frame image by 4 frame division | segmentation as a list on a liquid crystal panel. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of a digital camera. It is a flowchart which shows the main sequences of imaging | photography mode. It is explanatory drawing which shows the back surface of the digital camera which has a square liquid crystal panel. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the digital camera which switches a photographic lens.

Explanation of symbols

10, 66, 70 Digital camera 16 Memory card 20 Four-frame shooting mode button 21 Angle-of-view switch button 22 Menu button 23 Operation dial 24, 67 LCD panel 26-28 Subarea 29 Main area 32 Image data 33 EXIF tag data 36 Four frames Tag data 38 Menu screen 40 Template shooting menu 41 Four-frame split menu 44 Template selection menu screen 50 Shooting unit 52 CPU
60 Image processing unit 61 Face extraction unit 72 Wide lens 73 Super wide lens 74 Fisheye lens 75 Normal lens

Claims (6)

In a digital camera that stores an image obtained by an imaging unit in a storage medium together with tag information that is incidental information of the image,
A multi-frame shooting mode for continuously shooting images of a plurality of frames and adding grouping information indicating that the images of the plurality of frames belong to the same group to tag information of each image;
A digital camera, comprising: a multi-frame playback mode for displaying a list of images of the plurality of frames on a screen of a display device based on the grouping information.   The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the display device displays a list of the images of the plurality of frames in parallel in the vertical direction.   The digital camera according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plurality of images are continuously photographed by one release operation.   The digital camera according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising an angle-of-view switching means for switching to a different angle of view for each operation in the multi-frame shooting mode.   2. A template selecting means for selecting one template common to the same group by operating in the multi-frame shooting mode and adding this template information to tag information of each image is provided. 4. Any one of the digital cameras. In a digital camera that stores an image obtained by an imaging unit in a storage medium together with tag information that is incidental information of the image,
When the image is reproduced, a part of the image of one frame is trimmed and enlarged by image processing to generate a plurality of frames having different angles of view, and the images of the plurality of frames belong to the same group. An image processing unit for adding grouping information indicating that to tag information of each image;
A digital camera, comprising: a display device that displays a list of images of the plurality of frames on the screen based on the grouping information.

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