JP2008204300A - Imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To selectively utilize a plurality of DCIM directories in one recording medium. <P>SOLUTION: A directory structure in accordance with DCF is disposed under an optional directory on a file system of the recording medium, and an image file or the like is disposed in a predetermined portion. In accessing, a user is forced to select a directory as a route of the DCF file system. A file path is created on the basis of the selected directory to read and write the image file. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus (digital camera or the like) that records image data on a recording medium, and relates to an imaging apparatus that can arrange image data in an arbitrary directory.

  In recent years, with the widespread use of digital cameras, there is an increasing need to exchange images directly between devices, such as playing back captured images with other digital cameras and outputting images to various types of printers. The DCF (Design Rule for Camera File System) standard (hereinafter referred to as “DCF”) was established by the Japan Electronics Industry Promotion Association (JEIDA) to meet such needs, and almost all of the current standards. This is a standard that digital cameras conform to. Further, a DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) standard (hereinafter referred to as “DPOF”) is also known as a standard that the digital camera complies with. A file conforming to DPOF stores at least print designation information for designating an image to be printed and transfer designation information for designating an image to be transferred to an external device.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of a directory structure compliant with DCF. A directory 102 having a directory name “DCIM” directly under the root directory 101 is called a DCF image root directory (hereinafter abbreviated as “DCIM directory”). A plurality of image storage directories 103 and 104 are placed under the directory DCIM102. The names of the image storage directories 103 and 104 are composed of three digits from 100 to 999 and five digits free characters, and are called “DCF directories”. Each of the DCF directories 103 and 104 can store one or more DCF object files (hereinafter abbreviated as “DCF files”) 105 and 106. The DCF files 105 and 106 are image files including, for example, a JPEG-compressed captured image. The file names of the DCF files 105 and 106 are composed of 4 free characters and 4 file numbers (0001 to 9999) excluding the extension.

A directory having the directory name “MISC” immediately under the root directory, that is, the MISC directory 107 stores a DPOF file 108 which is a file conforming to the DPOF.
JP 2002-199334 A

  In DCF, the directory name of the DCIM directory is fixed to “DCIM”. Therefore, when the DCIM directory of the first recording medium is copied or backed up to the second recording medium, there is a problem that the DCIM directory of the second recording medium is overwritten by the DCIM directory of the first recording medium. Patent Document 1 describes a camera that sets a virtual directory name to a directory name actually recorded on a recording medium. However, the method described in Patent Document 1 also solves this problem. I can't.

  As a method for solving such a problem, a method of copying or backing up to the first recording medium by changing the directory name of the DCIM directory of the first recording medium to a directory name other than “DCIM” is conceivable.

  However, in this method, the DCIM directory of the first recording medium copied or backed up to the second recording medium is changed to a directory name other than “DCIM”, and therefore cannot be handled as a DCIM directory. Therefore, there is a problem that a plurality of DCIM directories cannot be selectively used in one recording medium.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus that can selectively use a plurality of DCIM directories on one recording medium.

  In order to achieve the above object, an imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes, for example, image data using a directory selection unit that selects an arbitrary directory from a plurality of directories, and the directory selected by the directory selection unit as a root directory. And recording means for recording the information on the recording medium.

  In order to achieve the above object, another imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes, for example, a directory generation unit that generates a directory having an arbitrary name on a recording medium, and a directory generated by the directory generation unit as a root directory. And recording means for recording image data on the recording medium.

  In order to achieve the above object, another imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes, for example, a directory selection unit that selects an arbitrary directory from a plurality of directories, and directories and files included in the directory selected by the directory selection unit. And moving means for moving to the root directory.

  According to the present invention, a plurality of DCIM directories can be selectively used in one recording medium.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, “directory” may be rephrased as “folder”.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a digital camera 10 that is an example of an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The imaging lens 12 causes an optical image from the subject to enter the imaging element 18 via the aperture 14 and the shutter 16. The aperture 14 and the shutter 16 adjust the exposure amount from the imaging lens 12. The image sensor 18 converts an optical image of a subject into an analog image signal. A CCD image sensor or a CMOS image sensor can be used for the image sensor 18. The A / D converter 20 digitizes the analog image signal from the image sensor 18 and converts it into image data.

  The timing generator 22 supplies a clock signal to the image sensor 18, the A / D converter 20 and the display controller 30 under the control of the memory controller 26 and the system controller 50.

  The image processing unit 24 performs pixel interpolation processing, color conversion processing, and the like on the image data from the A / D converter 20 or the memory control unit 26 based on the processing data added to the image data.

  The image processing unit 24 performs calculations for TTL (through-the-lens) autofocus (AE) processing, automatic exposure (AE) control, autofocus (AF) processing, and strobe light control processing. . According to the calculation results for these, the system control unit 50 controls the focus, the exposure amount, and the strobe light emission. That is, the focus control unit 42 controls the focus of the imaging lens 12. The exposure amount is controlled by the shutter control unit 38 and the aperture control unit 40. The strobe controller 46 controls pre-flash and dimming of the strobe 44. The image processing unit 24 also performs color balance adjustment (AWB) processing on the captured image.

  The memory control unit 26 controls the A / D converter 20, the timing generation unit 22, the image processing unit 24, the image display memory 28, the display control unit 30, the memory 34, and the compression / decompression unit 36. Further, the memory control unit 26 writes the image data output from the A / D converter 20 in the image display memory 28 for image display and transfers it to the memory 34 for recording.

  The display control unit 30 relates various information from the system control unit 50 to the image data from the memory control unit 26, such as operation mode, presence / absence of focusing, presence / absence of camera shake, shutter speed, aperture value, exposure correction, and the like. The information is superimposed and supplied to the image display unit 32. Thereby, the image display part 32 functions as an electronic viewfinder.

  The image display unit 32 includes a liquid crystal display. Further, the image display unit 32 can be displayed and turned on / off according to instructions from the system control unit 50. For example, when the display of the image display unit 32 is turned off, the power consumption of the digital camera 10 can be greatly reduced.

  The memory 34 functions as a buffer for temporarily storing captured still images and moving images, and has a sufficient storage capacity for storing a predetermined number of still images and moving images for a predetermined time. Thereby, continuous shooting and panoramic shooting for continuously shooting a plurality of still images can be realized. The memory 34 can also be used as a work area for the system control unit 50. Further, the memory 34 is also used as a buffer when a recorded image is read from the recording medium 70 and reproduced and displayed.

  The compression / decompression unit 36 converts the image data in the memory 34 into compressed data (for example, JPEG data) using a predetermined compression method (for example, adaptive discrete cosine transform or the like). The compression / decompression unit 36 decompresses the compressed image data read from the recording medium 70 and writes the decompressed image data to the memory 34.

  The shutter control unit 38 controls the shutter 16. The aperture control unit 40 controls the aperture 14. The focus control unit 42 controls the focusing of the imaging lens 12. The strobe control unit 46 controls the light emission of the strobe 44.

  The system control unit 50 controls the entire digital camera 10 according to a program in the memory 52. The memory 52 stores constants, variables, programs, and the like for operating the system control unit 50. The memory 52 stores a program for controlling an imaging operation, a program for controlling image processing, a program for controlling processing for recording an image file on the recording medium 70, a program for controlling processing for reading an image file from the recording medium 70, and the like. Has been. The memory 52 also stores system programs such as an OS (operating system) that realizes a multitask configuration of these programs. Further, the memory 52 also stores a program for controlling processing described with reference to FIGS.

  The mode dial 54, the first release switch 56, the second release switch 57, the menu switch 58, the edit switch 60, the delete switch 62, and the attribute change switch 64 are used by the photographer to input various operation instructions to the system control unit 50. It is an operation means.

  The mode dial 54 is used to switch and set each function mode. For example, there are a power on / off mode, a playback mode, a shooting mode, a multi-screen playback / erase mode, an edit mode, a file read-only attribute change mode, a PC connection mode, and the like. Shooting modes include automatic shooting mode, program shooting mode, shutter speed priority shooting mode, aperture priority shooting mode, manual shooting mode, portrait shooting mode, landscape shooting mode, close-up shooting mode, sports shooting mode, night scene shooting mode, etc. is there.

  The first release switch 56 is turned on during the shutter release operation (half-pressed state), and the second release switch 57 is turned on at the end of the shutter release operation (fully pressed state). When the first release switch 56 is turned on, the system control unit 50 starts AF processing, AE processing, AWB processing, EF processing, and the like. When the second release switch 57 is turned on, the system control unit 50 executes recording of a captured image on a recording medium. More specifically, the system control unit 50 instructs each unit to start operation of a series of processes including an exposure process, a development process, and a recording process. In the exposure process, the analog image signal read from the image sensor 18 is written into the memory 34 via the A / D converter 20, the image processing unit 24, and the memory control unit 26. The image processing unit 24 and the memory control unit 26 are used for the development processing. In the recording process, the image data is read from the memory 34, compressed by the compression / decompression unit 36, and the compressed image data is written to the recording medium 70.

  The menu switch 58 is used to change various settings such as shooting conditions and development conditions of the digital camera 10. The edit switch 60 is used for editing an image file. The erase switch 62 is used for erasing the image file. The attribute change switch 64 is used to change the read-only attribute of the image file. These switches 58, 62, and 64 can be realized by a combination of general-purpose switches including a cross key and a set key.

  The power control unit 66 includes a battery detection circuit, a DC-DC converter, a switch circuit that switches a block to be energized, and the like, and detects whether or not a battery is installed, the type of battery, and the remaining battery level. The power supply control unit 66 controls the DC-DC converter based on the detection result and the instruction from the system control unit 50, and supplies a necessary voltage to each unit including the recording medium 70 for a necessary period. The interface 68 is connected to the recording medium 70 via the connector 69 and reads / writes data from / to the recording medium 70. The connector 69 is connected to the connector 72 of the recording medium 70.

  Although this embodiment has only one interface 68 and connector 69, a plurality of systems may be provided. Different interfaces 68 and connectors 69 may be provided.

  The interface 68 and the connector 69 comply with standards related to PCMCIA cards, memory cards, and the like. By connecting various communication cards to the connector 69, image data and management information attached to the image data can be transferred to and from other computers and peripheral devices (such as a printer). Communication cards include LAN cards, modem cards, USB cards, IEEE 1394 cards, P1284 cards, SCSI cards, PHS, and the like.

  The recording medium 70 is a removable recording medium having a non-volatile memory, and is composed of a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk device. The recording medium 70 includes a connector 72 that is connected to the connector 69, a recording medium interface 74, and a recording area 76 that records a file such as an image file.

  FIG. 2 shows a directory structure configured in the recording medium 70. A DCIM directory 102, a MISC directory 107, an "AAA" directory 81, and a "BBB" directory 91 exist below the root directory 80 ("/"). The DCIM directory 102 includes DCF directories 103 and 104. The DCF directory 103 (“100ABCDE”) has a DCF file 105 (“ABCCD0001.JPG”), and the DCF directory 104 (“101FGHIJ”) has a DCF file 106 (“EFGH0001.JPG”). The MISC directory 107 has a DPOF file 108 (“AUPRINT.MRK”) which is a file compliant with DPOF. The “AAA” directory 81 and the “BBB” directory 91 are directories that can be virtually selected as the root directory, and a DCIM directory and a MISC directory can be arranged in any of the directories 81 and 91. The “AAA” directory 81 has a DCIM directory 82, and the “BBB” directory 91 has a DCIM directory 92 and a MISC directory 97. The DPOF file 97 is a file compliant with DPOF. The DCIM directory 82 has a DCF directory 83 (“200ABCDE”), and the DCF directory 83 has a DCF file 85 (“ABCCD0001.JPG”). The DCIM directory 92 has a DCF directory 93 (“100FGHIJ”), and the DCF directory 93 has a DCF file 95 (“EFGH0001.JPG”). The DCF file 96 is a file recorded in the DCF directory 93. The MISC directory 97 includes a DPOF file 98 (“AUPRINT.MRK”) which is a file compliant with DPOF.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a route selection list which is one of display screens in the present embodiment. In the route selection list shown in FIG. 3, a list of directories that can be selected as the root directory is displayed. As shown in FIG. 3, in addition to the original root directory 80 (“/”), an “AAA” directory 81 and a “BBB” directory 91 that can be selected as a root directory by the user are displayed in the route selection list. . In the route selection list, an option “new creation” 99 for generating a directory that can be newly selected by the user as a root directory is also displayed, and the user can select any of them.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a sequence of selection and generation of the root directory by the user. Note that the processing described with reference to FIG. 4 is controlled by the system control unit 50 according to a program in the memory 52. In addition, the system control unit 50 functions as a directory selection unit, a directory generation unit, and a movement unit described in the claims.

  The directory structure of the recording medium 70 is searched, and the route selection list shown in FIG. 3 is displayed on the image display unit 32 (S11).

  For the route selection list displayed on the image display unit 32, the user operates the menu switch 58 to select a desired option, and the system control unit 50 temporarily stores the selection result in the memory 52 (S12). When “new creation” 99 is selected (S13), a new directory is generated (S14). The generation of the directory name may be automatic or the user may input an arbitrary character string. A change process for handling the newly created directory as a virtual root directory is performed (S15).

  If the user's selection is other than “new creation” 99 (S13), a change process for handling the selected directory as a virtual root directory is performed (S15). In the root directory change process (S15), a search process for searching all directories and files under the specified directory is executed. A determination process for determining whether the naming conforms to DCF is executed. Then, processing for temporarily storing information for recording and reproduction in the memory 34 is executed.

  In this embodiment, the directory below the selected directory is not moved to the root directory 80 ("/"), but the directory below the selected directory is moved to the root directory 80 ("/") and the root directory 80 ("/") is moved. ") The following directories other than the selected directory may be moved to another directory.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a series of sequences from shooting to recording of a shot image on the recording medium 70. Here, the operation will be described by taking as an example the case where the “BBB” directory 91 is selected as the virtual root directory and the DCF file 96 (“EFGH0002.JPG”) is recorded. The processing described with reference to FIG. 5 is controlled by the system control unit 50 in accordance with a program in the memory 52.

  In response to the operation of the first release switch 56, a series of photographing processes from the AF process, the AE process and the exposure process are performed (S21). A DCF file 96 including image data, shooting information and the like is generated and temporarily stored in the memory 34 (S22). The “BBB” directory 91 temporarily stored in the memory 34 by the above-described selection of the root directory is set as the root directory. Then, the file path “/BBB/DCIM/100FGHIJ/EFGH0002.JPG” of the DCF file 96 generated in step S22 is generated and temporarily stored in the memory 34 (S23). The DCF file 96 temporarily stored in the memory 34 is written to the recording medium 70 with the file path temporarily stored in the memory 34 (S24).

  In the present embodiment, the file path is generated after the shooting operation, but of course, the file path may be generated before the shooting operation.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the image reproduction operation of this embodiment. Here, a case will be described as an example where the “BBB” directory 91 is selected as the root directory and the DCF file 95 (“EFGH0001.JPG”) is reproduced as the processing target image data in the above-described selection of the root directory. Note that the processing described with reference to FIG. 6 is controlled by the system control unit 50 according to a program in the memory 52.

  The user selects a playback mode by operating the mode dial 54 and designates an image file to be played back (S31). In this embodiment, the DCF file 95 (“EFGH0001.JPG”) is selected. From the “BBB” directory 91 specified as the root directory by the above-described selection of the root directory and the DCF file 95 (“EFGH0001.JPG”) specified in step S31, the file path “/BBB/DCIM/100FGHIJ/EFGH0001.JPG” is selected. Is generated. The generated file path is temporarily stored in the memory 34 (S32). In accordance with the file path temporarily stored in the memory 34, the DCF file 95 (“EFGH0001.JPG”) is read from the recording medium 70 and temporarily stored in the memory 34 (S33).

  The compression / decompression unit 36 reads and decompresses the compressed image data of the DCF file 95 (“EFGH0001.JPG”) from the memory 34, and writes the decompressed image data to the memory 34. The memory control unit 26 transfers the image data reproduced by the expansion of the memory 34 to the image display memory 28, and transfers the image data from the image display memory 28 to the display control unit 30 repeatedly at a constant cycle. As a result, the reproduced image is displayed on the image display unit 32 (S34).

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining a series of print designation information recording sequences according to this embodiment. Again, in the above-mentioned selection of the root directory, the “BBB” directory 91 is selected, and the print designation of the DCF file 95 (“EFGH0001.JPG”) is described in the print designation file 98 (“AUTOPRINT.MRK”). Explained as an example. The print designation file 98 (“AUTOPRINT.MRK”) corresponds to the processing content designation file described in the claims. Note that the processing described with reference to FIG. 7 is controlled by the system control unit 50 according to a program in the memory 52.

  The user designates the DCF file 95 (“EFGH0001.JPG”) as the processing target image data using the menu switch 58 (S41). This process corresponds to the specifying means described in the claims.

  A file path “/BBB/DCIM/100FGHIJ/EFGH0001.JPG” is generated from the “BBB” directory 91 specified as the root directory by the selection of the root directory and the DCF file 95 specified in step S41. The generated file path is temporarily stored in the memory 34 (S42). Further, using the “BBB” directory 91 as a root directory, a file path “/BBB/MISC/AUTOPRNT.MRK” to the print designation file 98 is generated and temporarily stored in the memory 34 (S43).

  In accordance with the file path to the print designation file 98 temporarily stored in the memory 34, the print designation file 98 is read into the memory 34, added to the print designation information designating the DCF file path generated in step S42, and temporarily saved in the memory 34. (S44). The print designation file 98 temporarily stored in the memory 34 is written to the recording medium 70 in accordance with the file path in step S43 (S45).

  In the present embodiment, the procedure for editing the print designation file 98 has been described with reference to FIG. 7. However, if the transfer designation file for designating the image file to be transferred to the external device exists in the recording medium 70, the procedure shown in FIG. The transfer designation file may be edited using a procedure. Further, if there is an automatic reproduction file for designating an image file automatically reproduced by the digital camera 10 in the recording medium 70, the automatic reproduction file may be edited using the procedure shown in FIG.

  In this embodiment, a digital camera has been described as an example of an imaging apparatus according to the present invention. However, the imaging apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to a digital camera, and a digital video camera, a camera-equipped mobile terminal, and a camera. It is clear that it can be applied to mobile phones and the like.

  Various processing procedures described in this embodiment can be realized by a computer such as a microcomputer or a personal computer according to a computer program. In this case, a computer program that realizes all or part of the processing procedures described in the first and second embodiments is provided to the computer via a network or a recording medium.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a digital camera that is an example of an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the directory structure in a present Example. It is a figure which shows an example of the route selection list | wrist which is one of the display screens in a present Example. It is a figure which shows the flowchart explaining the root directory selection sequence of a present Example. It is a figure which shows the flowchart explaining the recording sequence of a present Example. It is a figure which shows the flowchart explaining the reproduction | regeneration sequence of a present Example. It is a figure which shows the flowchart explaining the printing designation | designated sequence of a present Example. It is an example of the directory structure based on DCF.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Digital camera 12 Imaging lens 14 Aperture 16 Shutter 18 Image sensor 20 A / D converter 22 Timing generation part 24 Image processing part 26 Memory control part 28 Image display memory 30 Display control part 32 Image display part 34 Memory 36 Compression / decompression part 38 Shutter control unit 40 Aperture control unit 42 Focus control unit 44 Strobe 46 Strobe control unit 50 System control unit 52 Memory 54 Mode dial 56 First release switch 57 Second release switch 58 Menu switch 60 Edit switch 62 Erase switch 64 Attribute change switch 66 Power control unit 68 Interface 69 Connector 70 Recording medium 72 Connector 74 Recording medium interface 76 Recording area

Claims (7)

Directory selection means for selecting an arbitrary directory from a plurality of directories;
An image pickup apparatus comprising: a recording unit configured to record image data on the recording medium using the directory selected by the directory selection unit as a root directory. Designation means for designating processing target image data from image data recorded on the recording medium;
A processing content designation file describing processing content of the processing target image data designated by the designation means, further comprising a processing content designation file stored in the directory selected by the directory selection means; The imaging device according to claim 1.   3. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein image data in a directory other than the directory selected by the directory selection unit is not set as an operation target. Directory generation means for generating a directory having an arbitrary name on a recording medium;
An image pickup apparatus comprising: a recording unit that records image data on the recording medium using the directory generated by the directory generation unit as a root directory. Designation means for designating processing target image data from image data recorded on the recording medium;
A processing content designation file that describes the processing content of the processing target image data designated by the designation means, further comprising a processing content designation file that is stored in the directory generated by the directory generation means; The imaging device according to claim 4.   6. The imaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein image data in a directory other than the directory generated by the directory generation unit is not set as an operation target. Directory selection means for selecting an arbitrary directory from a plurality of directories;
An imaging apparatus comprising: moving means for moving directories and files included in the directory selected by the directory selecting means to a root directory.

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