JP2001292368A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus that generates a point. SOLUTION: The imaging apparatus picking up an image is provided with a point generating section 230 that generates a point when the image pickup device satisfies a prescribed condition, a condition storage section 222 that stores prescribed conditions, and a point storage section 232 that receives and stores the point from the point generating section 230. The condition storage section 222 stores a plurality of conditions and when the imaging apparatus satisfies any of a plurality of the conditions, the point generating section 230 generates a point.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus. In particular, the present invention relates to an imaging device that captures an image and generates points according to an imaging operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, electronic games have rapidly spread, and Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 10-198650 discloses an electronic camera that captures an image and decides whether to win or lose according to pixels included in the captured image. Also, among electronic games, electronic pets have been particularly popular.
No. 7 discloses an electronic pet that behaves based on internal state parameters.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Imaging apparatuses are intended to capture images, and many of them do not have any other functions. The imaging device is often carried when traveling. However, since it is not used for anything other than photographing, there are many times when it is wasted luggage. Therefore, it is preferable to reduce wasted time in order to promote sales of the imaging device.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an imaging device capable of solving the above-mentioned problems. 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.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image pickup apparatus for picking up an image, wherein a point is generated when the image pickup apparatus satisfies a predetermined condition. A condition holding unit that holds the predetermined condition; and a point holding unit that receives and holds the points from the point generation unit.

[0006] The condition holding unit may hold a plurality of the conditions, and the point generation unit may generate the points when the imaging device satisfies any of the plurality of conditions.

[0007] The point generating section may generate a different number of points according to the condition.

[0008] A condition changing unit for randomly changing the condition held in the condition holding unit may be further provided.

An image pickup unit for picking up the image may be further provided. The condition holding unit may hold that the imaging unit captures a predetermined image as the condition.

[0010] An image pickup unit for picking up the image may be further provided. The condition holding unit may hold that the imaging unit captures a predetermined color as the condition.

[0011] The imaging unit may include a shutter unit. The condition holding unit may hold that the shutter unit operates as the condition.

[0012] A microphone for inputting voice may be further provided. The condition holding unit may hold the condition that the microphone inputs a predetermined sound.

[0013] A character display section for displaying a character, a character image holding section for holding a plurality of character images as a character series, and a plurality of character holding sections for storing the character images according to the number of points held by the point holding section. A character change unit that selects the specific character image from the character image and displays the selected character image on the character display unit may be further provided.

The character holding unit may hold a plurality of the character series, and the character changing unit may
There may be provided a means for changing the character series displayed by the character display unit.

The above summary of the present invention does not list all of the necessary features of the present invention, and a sub-combination of these features may also be an invention.

[0016]

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 claimed invention and have the features described in the embodiments. Not all combinations are essential to the solution of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a digital camera 10 that generates points in accordance with an imaging operation. Digital camera 1
0 is mainly the imaging unit 20, the imaging control unit 40,
Processing unit 60, display unit 100, operation unit 110, audio unit 120, and temperature sensor 1
40 inclusive.

The imaging unit 20 includes a mechanism member and an electric member related to photographing and image formation. Imaging unit 20
First, a photographing lens 22 for capturing and processing images,
An aperture 24, a shutter 26, an optical LPF (low-pass filter) 28, a CCD 30, and an image signal processing unit 32 are included. The taking lens 22 includes a focus lens, a zoom lens, and the like. With this configuration, the subject image is
Image on the light receiving surface of. Charges are accumulated in each sensor element (not shown) of the CCD 30 according to the amount of light of the formed subject image (hereinafter, the charges are referred to as “accumulated charges”). The accumulated charge is read out to a shift register (not shown) by a read gate pulse, and is sequentially read out as a voltage signal by a register transfer pulse.

Since the digital camera 10 generally has an electronic shutter function, a mechanical shutter such as the shutter 26 is not essential. In order to realize the electronic shutter function, the CCD 30 is provided with a shutter drain via a shutter gate. When the shutter gate is driven, accumulated charges are swept out to the shutter drain. By controlling the shutter gate, the time for accumulating the electric charges in each sensor element, that is, the shutter speed can be controlled.

A voltage signal output from the CCD 30, that is, an analog signal is color-separated into R, G, and B components by an image signal processing unit 32, and a white balance is adjusted first.
Subsequently, the imaging signal processing unit 32 performs gamma correction, sequentially A / D converts the R, G, and B signals at necessary timing, and obtains digital image information (hereinafter, simply referred to as “image information”) obtained as a result. Is output to the processing unit 60.

The imaging unit 20 further includes a finder 3
4 and a strobe 36. The finder 34 may be equipped with an LCD (not shown). In this case, various information from the main CPU 62 and the like described later can be displayed in the finder 34. The strobe 36 functions by emitting light when energy stored in a capacitor (not shown) is supplied to the discharge tube 36a.

The imaging control unit 40 includes a zoom driving unit 4
2. It has a focus drive unit 44, an aperture drive unit 46, a shutter drive unit 48, an imaging system CPU 50 that controls them, a distance measurement sensor 52, and a photometry sensor 54. The driving units such as the zoom driving unit 42 each have a driving unit such as a stepping motor. When a release switch 114 described later is pressed, the distance measurement sensor 52 measures the distance to the subject, and the photometry sensor 54 measures the brightness of the subject. The measured distance data (hereinafter simply referred to as “distance measurement data”) and the subject luminance data (hereinafter simply referred to as “photometry data”) are sent to the imaging system CPU 50. Imaging system CPU 50
Controls the zoom drive unit 42 and the focus drive unit 44 to adjust the zoom magnification and focus of the photographing lens 22 based on the photographing information such as the zoom magnification designated by the user.

The imaging system CPU 50 controls the R of one image frame.
The aperture value and the shutter speed are determined based on the integrated value of the digital signal of GB, that is, the AE information. According to the determined values, the aperture driving unit 46 and the shutter driving unit 48 adjust the aperture amount and open and close the shutter 26, respectively.

The imaging system CPU 50 controls the light emission of the strobe 36 based on the photometric data, and at the same time adjusts the aperture of the aperture 26. When the user instructs the capture of an image, the CCD 30 starts to accumulate electric charges, and the accumulated electric charges are output to the imaging signal processing unit 32 after a lapse of a shutter time calculated from the photometric data.

The processing unit 60 includes the digital camera 10
The main C that controls the whole, especially the processing unit 60 itself
PU 62 and memory control unit 6 controlled by PU 62
4, a YC processing unit 70, an optional device control unit 74, a compression / decompression processing unit 78, and a communication I / F unit 80. Main C
The PU 62 is connected to the imaging CPU 5 by serial communication or the like.
Necessary information is exchanged with 0. Main CPU6
The second operation clock is provided from a clock generator 88. The clock generator 88 also provides clocks having different frequencies to the imaging system CPU 50 and the display unit 100, respectively.

The main CPU 62 is provided with a character generator 84 and a timer 86. The timer 86 is backed up by a battery and always counts the date and time.
From this count value, information about the shooting date and time and other time information are given to the main CPU 62. The character generation unit 84 generates character information such as a shooting date and time and a title, and the character information is appropriately combined with the captured image.

The memory control unit 64 includes a nonvolatile memory 66
And the main memory 68. Non-volatile memory 66
The digital camera 1 includes an EEPROM (electrically erasable and programmable ROM), a flash memory, and the like, and stores setting information by a user and adjustment values at the time of shipment.
The data to be held even while the power supply of 0 is off is stored. The non-volatile memory 66 may have a main CPU
62, a boot program and a system program may be stored. On the other hand, the main memory 68 generally has a DR
It is composed of a relatively inexpensive and large-capacity memory like an AM. The main memory 68 has a function as a frame memory for storing information output from the imaging unit 20, a function as a system memory for loading various programs, and a function as a work area. The nonvolatile memory 66 and the main memory 68 exchange data with each unit inside and outside the processing unit 60 via the main bus 82.

The YC processing section 70 performs YC conversion on the image information, and outputs a luminance signal Y and color difference (chroma) signals BY, RY.
Generate The luminance signal and the color difference signal are temporarily stored in the main memory 68 by the memory control unit 64. The compression / decompression processing unit 78 sequentially reads out the luminance signal and the color difference signal from the main memory 68 and compresses them. The information thus compressed (hereinafter simply referred to as “compression information”) is written to a memory card, which is a type of the optional device 76, via the optional device control unit 74.

The processing unit 60 further includes an encoder 72
With. The encoder 72 receives a luminance signal and a color difference signal, converts them into a video signal (NTSC or PAL signal), and outputs the video signal from a video output terminal 90. When a video signal is generated from information recorded in the optional device 76, the information is first supplied to the compression / decompression processing unit 78 via the optional device control unit 74. Subsequently, the information subjected to the necessary expansion processing in the compression / expansion processing section 78 is converted into a video signal by the encoder 72.

The optional device control unit 74 generates a necessary signal between the main bus 82 and the optional device 76, performs logical conversion, or converts voltage according to the signal specifications recognized by the optional device 76 and the bus specifications of the main bus 82. And so on. The digital camera 10 may include, for example, a PCM as an optional device 76 in addition to the above-described memory card.
A standard CIA-compliant standard I / O card may be supported. In that case, the optional device control unit 74
It may be constituted by an IA bus control LSI or the like.

The communication I / F unit 80 is a digital camera 10
Communication specifications supported by, for example, USB, RS-23
It performs control such as protocol conversion according to specifications such as 2C and Ethernet (registered trademark). The communication I / F unit 80 includes a driver IC as necessary, and communicates with an external device including a network via a connector 92. In addition to such standard specifications, data may be exchanged with an external device such as a printer, a karaoke machine, a game machine, or the like by a unique I / F.

The display unit 100 includes an LCD monitor 10
2 and an LCD panel 104. These are the LCD driver monitor driver 106, panel driver 10
8 respectively. LCD monitor 102
Is provided on the back of the camera with a size of, for example, about 2 inches, and displays a current shooting and playback mode, a zoom ratio for shooting and playback, a remaining battery level, a date and time, a screen for mode setting, a subject image, and the like. . The LCD panel 104 is, for example, a small black-and-white LCD provided on the upper surface of the camera and has an image quality (FINE).
/ NORMAL / BASIC etc.), information such as strobe light emission / non-light emission, standard number of recordable images, number of pixels, battery capacity, etc. are simply displayed.

The operation unit 110 includes mechanisms and electrical members necessary for the user to set or instruct the operation of the digital camera 10 and its mode. The power switch 112 determines whether the power of the digital camera 10 is turned on or off. The release switch 114 has a two-stage pressing structure of half pressing and full pressing. As an example, AF and AE are locked by a half-press, captured images are captured by a full-press, and are recorded in the main memory 68, the optional device 76, etc. after necessary signal processing, data compression, and the like. The operation unit 110 may receive a setting using a rotary mode dial, a cross key, or the like in addition to these switches, and these are collectively referred to as a function setting unit 116 in FIG. Examples of operations or functions that can be specified by the operation unit 110 include “file format”, “special effects”, “printing”, “determine / save”, and “display switching”. The zoom switch 118 determines a zoom magnification.

The audio unit 120 includes a speaker 122, an A / D converter 124, a microphone 126, a microphone amplifier 128, and a D / A converter 130. Microphone 1
26 captures an external voice and sends it to the microphone amplifier 128. The microphone amplifier 128 amplifies the audio information received from the microphone 126 with a predetermined gain, and
Send to 0. The A / D converter 130 converts the input audio information from an analog signal to a digital signal and sends the digital information to the main bus 82.

When receiving the audio information from the main bus 82, the D / A converter 124 converts the digital signal into an analog signal. The analog signal is output from speaker 122 as sound.

The temperature sensor 140 is connected to the digital camera 10
, And sends temperature information indicating the temperature to the main bus 82.

The main operation of the above configuration is as follows. First, the power switch 11 of the digital camera 10
2 is turned on, and power is supplied to each part of the camera. The main CPU 62 determines whether the digital camera 10 is in the shooting mode or the playback mode by reading the state of the function setting unit 116.

When the camera is in the shooting mode, the main C
The PU 62 monitors the half-pressed state of the release switch 114. When the half-pressed state is detected, the main CPU 62
Obtains photometry data and distance measurement data from the photometry sensor 54 and the distance measurement sensor 52, respectively. The imaging control unit 40 operates based on the obtained data, and the focus, aperture, and the like of the photographing lens 22 are adjusted. Once the adjustment is complete,
Characters such as "standby" are displayed on the LCD monitor 102 to inform the user of the fact, and then the release switch 114 is fully pressed. Release switch 11
When the button 4 is fully pressed, the shutter 26 is closed after a predetermined shutter time, and the accumulated charges of the CCD 30 are swept out to the image signal processing unit 32. The digital image data generated as a result of the processing by the imaging signal processing unit 32 is output to the main bus 82. The digital image data is temporarily stored in the main memory 68, thereafter processed by the YC processing unit 70 and the compression / decompression processing unit 78, and recorded in the optional device 76 via the optional device control unit 74. The recorded image is frozen for a while on the LCD monitor 1
02, the user can know the captured image. Thus, a series of photographing operations is completed.

On the other hand, when the digital camera 10 is in the reproduction mode, the main CPU 62 reads out the last photographed image from the main memory 68 via the memory control unit 64,
This is displayed on the LCD monitor 102 of the display unit 100.

In this state, when the user instructs “forward” or “reverse” in the function setting section 116, images taken before and after the currently displayed image are read out and displayed on the LCD monitor 102. You.

FIG. 2 shows an opening screen displayed on the LCD monitor 102 when the power switch 112 of the digital camera 10 is pressed and the digital camera 10 is turned on. Thus, the image of the character is displayed on the LCD monitor 102 for several seconds. The image displayed on the LCD monitor 102 changes to a grown character image as the number of points held by the digital camera 10 increases. Therefore, the user can develop a character by accumulating points.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the LCD monitor 102 for displaying a character. As shown in the figure, the character may always be displayed on the periphery of the LCD monitor 102. Further, character image data may be added to the image data of the image displayed on the LCD monitor 102, and the character image may be printed together with the image. As another form, a character may be displayed on the LCD panel 104 instead of the LCD monitor 102.

FIG. 4 is a schematic functional block diagram of the character processing section 200. The character processing unit 200 generates points when predetermined information is input. The character processing unit 200 also holds the generated points and changes the character image displayed on the LCD monitor 102 according to the number of held points.

As an example, the character processing section 200 can be realized by cooperation of the main CPU 62 of FIG. 1 and a program stored or loaded in the main memory 68 or the nonvolatile memory 66. When the main CPU 62 has a built-in memory, necessary programs may be stored in the memory and various functions may be realized as firmware. Although FIG. 2 describes each function contributing to the change of the character image as a unitary structure, these functions are not necessarily physically unitary, and are not necessarily required. For example, the function of the condition storage unit 214 may be provided in the main memory 68, and the character image storage unit 2
The function of the non-volatile memory 66 and the main memory 6
8 may be provided. Thus, the digital camera 10
There is considerable freedom in designing to realize the function of the character processing unit 200.

The character processing unit 200 includes an input unit 21
0, monitoring unit 220, condition holding unit 222, condition changing unit 22
4, a point generation unit 230, a point holding unit 232, a point monitoring unit 234, a character changing unit 236, and a character image holding unit 238. The monitoring unit 220
Image recognition unit 212, voice recognition unit 214, and microphone 12
6 inclusive.

The input section 210 receives, as point information, information indicating an image input from the imaging signal processing section 32 of the imaging unit 20 and information indicating audio input from the microphone 126 of the audio unit 120 via the main bus 82. I do. The input unit 210 also has a temperature sensor 140
, Information indicating the temperature is input as point information. The input unit 210 sends the input point information to the monitoring unit 220.

The condition holding unit 222 holds at least one point condition to be satisfied by the point information. The point condition held by the condition holding unit 222 includes a condition for specifying an image, a condition for specifying a sound, and a condition for specifying a temperature outside the digital camera 10. Condition holder 222
Holds the point condition in association with the number of points.
The plurality of point conditions held in the condition holding unit 222 include:
Each of them is held in association with the number of points according to each point condition.

The condition changing section 224 changes the point conditions and the number of points held in the condition holding section 222 at random. The condition changing unit 224 changes the content of the point condition, for example. Further, for example, the number of points corresponding to the point condition is changed.

The monitoring unit 220 monitors whether the information received from the input unit 210 satisfies the point condition held in the condition holding unit 222. The image recognition unit 212 determines whether the image captured by the imaging unit 20 includes an image stored in the condition storage unit 222. Voice recognition unit 214
Determines whether the sound input by the microphone 126 of the audio unit 120 includes the sound held in the condition holding unit 222. The temperature recognition unit 216 includes the temperature sensor 140
It is determined whether or not the temperature sensed is a temperature held by the condition holding unit 222.

The point generating section 230 generates points when the point information satisfies the point condition held in the condition holding section 222. That is, the point generation unit 230
Receives the condition designation information from the monitoring unit 220 and extracts from the condition holding unit 222 the number of points held in association with the point condition indicated by the condition designation information. The point generation unit 230 sends the points extracted from the point storage unit 232 to the point storage unit 232. Condition holder 222
Stores a different number of points for each point condition, the point generation unit 230 extracts a different number of points from the condition storage unit 222 according to the point condition indicated by the received condition specification information.

The point holding section 232 holds the received points. When the points are already held, the point holding unit 232 adds the received points to the held points and holds the points.

The character image holding section 238 holds a plurality of character series. Each character series changes into a grown character as the number of points held in the point holding unit 232 increases.
Includes multiple character images. Each of the plurality of character images included in the character series is held in association with the number of points held in the point holding unit 232.

The point monitoring section 234 monitors the number of points held in the point holding section 232. The point monitoring unit 234 compares the number of points held in the point holding unit 232 with the number of points held in the character image holding unit 238, and sends an image change command to change the character image to the character changing unit 236. send. Point monitoring unit 234 also sends to character change unit 236 a series change command instructing a change from the character series including the character image currently displayed on LCD panel 104 to another character series. (Confirmation of correspondence with CL9, 10)

When the character change unit 236 receives the image change command from the point monitor 234, it extracts the character image indicated by the image change command from the character image holding unit 238, and outputs the character image indicated by the image change command via the main bus 82 to the LCD monitor 102.
Send to The character change unit 236 also changes from a character series including a character image to be displayed on the LCD monitor 102 to another character series. As described above, since the character series changes on the way, different characters can be displayed even when the same number of points is held.

The image displayed on the LCD monitor 102 is
When the number of points held by the point holding unit 232 increases, the image is changed to a character image that has grown along the character series. Therefore, the user can enjoy as a game for nurturing characters.

FIG. 5 schematically shows point conditions held in the point holding section 232. In the digital camera 10 of the present embodiment, points are generated when the conditions shown in the figure are satisfied. The two conditions of “pressing the power switch 112” and “pressing the release switch 114” are held in association with one point. The two conditions of the imaging unit 20 of the digital camera 10 “capturing a predetermined image” and “capturing a predetermined color” are held in association with five points. The predetermined images are, for example, an image in which two faces are photographed, an image in which faces are arranged at the center, and the like. The predetermined color may be, for example, a condition of red, and may further limit lightness and saturation in more detail. Also, 10% of the whole may be limited to red.

The condition of “inputting a predetermined voice” is as follows.
It is held in association with 10 points. The predetermined sound may be limited by a frequency, for example. The condition of “detecting a predetermined temperature for a certain time” is held in association with 20 points. This condition is, for example, a condition that one hour has elapsed at 5 degrees or less. The condition "print instruction" is held in association with 30 points. As described above, the condition holding unit 222 holds a plurality of conditions in association with different numbers of points.

The point conditions shown in the drawing are merely examples, and the contents of the point conditions and the corresponding number of points are not limited to these, and various modifications are possible.

FIG. 6 schematically shows a character image held by the character image holding unit 238. The character image is stored for each parameter depending on the number of points.
As shown in this figure, the setting may be such that the plant growth ends when 1000 points are held, and then the animal growth starts. Further, since different images are stored for each parameter as described above, a plurality of characters can be displayed even when the point storage unit 232 stores the same number of points. Therefore, a different character can be displayed for each digital camera 10.

Further, Series 1A and Series 1B are:
There is a branch condition on the way. As described above, up to the plant 1-5, the series 1A and the series 1B may have the same character image and display different character images from the animals. Further, like the parameter 2, the same character image may be displayed up to the animal 2-2, and images different from the animal 2-3, that is, the animal 2-3A and the animal 2-3B may be displayed. This allows the character to grow into a different character during the growth. When the breeding of one character is completed, another character can be bred again.

FIG. 7 shows the animals 2-1 to 2-5A and 2-5B included in the parameter 2 described in FIG. As described above, the same character is shown up to the animal 2-2, but in the next growth stage, it grows into two kinds of characters, the animal 2-3A and the animal 2-3B. This allows a plurality of users to cultivate different characters.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the character processing section 200. The operation of the character processing unit 200 starts, the input unit 210 inputs point information via the main bus 82, and determines whether the input point information satisfies the condition held in the condition holding unit 222. (S100). The point generation candidate is the condition holding unit 22
If the point condition held in No. 2 is satisfied, a corresponding point number is generated (S102). Next, the number of points held in the point holding unit 232 is added to the point generation unit 23.
The number of points generated by 0 is added (S104). Next, the character displayed on the LCD panel 104 is changed according to the number of points currently held by the point holding unit 232 (S106).

FIG. 9 shows that the point information is
9 is a flowchart showing a detailed operation of the character processing unit 200 in S100 of FIG. When the image capturing unit 20 captures an image (S200), the input unit 210 inputs the captured image via the main bus 82 and sends it to the image recognition unit 212 of the monitoring unit 220 (S202). The image recognizing unit 212 determines whether the received image includes a predetermined image. If a predetermined image is included (S204), the process jumps to S102 in FIG. If the image received by the image recognition unit 212 does not include a predetermined image in S204, the image recognition unit 212
Determines whether the received image contains a predetermined hue. If a predetermined hue is included (206), S10 in FIG.
Jump to 2. If the predetermined hue is not included in S206, the point generation unit 230 does not generate a point (S208). Here, the operation of the character processing unit 200 ends.

FIG. 10 shows the character processing section 200 in S100 of FIG. 8 when the point information is audio information input from the microphone 126 of the audio unit 120.
5 is a flowchart showing a detailed operation of the embodiment. Microphone 12
6 is turned on (S300), the input unit 2
10 starts inputting the voice information, and sends the input voice information to the temperature recognition unit 216 (S302). Voice recognition unit 21
4 inputs voice information indicating voice of a predetermined frequency (S304), and jumps to S102 in FIG. S30
If the voice information indicating the predetermined frequency is not input in 4, the point generation unit 230 does not generate points (S306). Here, the operation of the character processing unit 200 ends. When the power of the microphone 126 is on, the input unit 210 always inputs audio information and
Repeat to monitor the audio information.

FIG. 11 shows that the point information is stored in the temperature sensor 14.
S in FIG. 8 when 0 is temperature information indicating the sensed temperature
4 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed operation of the character processing unit 200 in FIG. The input unit 210 inputs temperature information from the temperature sensor 140 via the main bus 82, and sends the input temperature information to the temperature recognition unit 216 (S4).
00). When temperature information indicating a temperature lower than the predetermined temperature is input (S402), the temperature recognition unit 216 monitors whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed while maintaining the temperature lower than the predetermined temperature. If the temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature for a predetermined time (S404), the process jumps to S102 in FIG.

If temperature information indicating a temperature higher than the predetermined temperature is input in S402, and if the time has not elapsed in S404, the point generation unit 230 does not generate points (S406). Here, the operation of the character processing unit 200 ends. The input unit 210 periodically inputs temperature information from the temperature sensor 140. Thus, the temperature outside the digital camera 10 can be constantly monitored.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the detailed operation of the character processing unit 200 in S106 of FIG. The point monitoring unit 234 includes a point holding unit 232.
Is compared with the number of points for changing the parameter. Point holding unit 23
If the number of points held in 2 matches the number of points to change the parameter (S300), the parameter for which the image is currently acquired is changed to another parameter. If it does not match the parameter to be changed, S504.
Jump to Next, when the number of points held in the point holding unit 232 exceeds the number of character growth points (S504), the point monitoring unit 234 changes the character image displayed on the LCD panel 104 (S504). S506). If the current point number does not exceed the trillion character point number in S504, the character displayed on the LCD panel 104 is
It does not change. This is the end of S106.

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. Various changes or improvements can be added to the above embodiment. It should be noted that such modified or improved embodiments may be included in the technical scope of the present invention.
It is clear from the description of the claims.

As a first modification, the digital camera 10 of the present embodiment holds the generated points inside the digital camera 10, but the point holding unit 2
32 may be provided outside the digital camera 10. For example, the digital camera 10 may communicate with an external terminal and a server via the connector 92 and the video output terminal 90. In this case, the digital camera 10
The points may be held in an external terminal or a server.
For example, an optional device 76 such as a memory card
, A point holding unit 232 may be provided, and each user may accumulate points on this memory card. by this,
For example, when one user has a plurality of digital cameras 10, a character can be generated with the total number of points.

In this case, a user is specified by personal authentication information for identifying an individual and a code, and the point holding unit 232 is associated with one user. The point holding unit 232 generates points only after recognizing a specific user. As a result, a plurality of persons can
32 can be avoided.

As a second modification, in the present embodiment, the character grows in accordance with the point. However, in addition to or instead of this, the digital camera 10 is connected to the printing lab. When brought in, gifts and services may be received according to points.
As a service, for example, if a predetermined number of points are accumulated, the printing fee may be free.

As a third modification, the point condition held by the condition holding unit 222 of the present embodiment is an image picked up by the image pickup unit 20, but this is not limited to the image picked up. Good. For example, optional device 76
May be input through the connector 92 and the video output terminal 90.
The sound may be the sound input from the optional device 76, the connector 92, and the video output terminal 90 in addition to the sound input via the microphone 126.

As a fourth modification, the point condition held by the condition holding unit 222 of the present embodiment includes a condition relating to a still image, but in addition to or instead of this, includes a condition relating to a moving image. May be.

As a fifth modification, the image pickup apparatus of the present embodiment is a digital camera 10, but may be a silver halide camera instead. The silver halide camera may hold a point and, when brought into a printing lab, receive a gift and a service according to the point.

As a sixth modification, the L of the present embodiment is
Although the character displayed on the CD panel 104 is a still image, a character of a moving image may be displayed.

[0076]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an imaging apparatus which generates points when a predetermined condition is satisfied.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a digital camera 10. FIG.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an opening screen displayed on an LCD monitor 102.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another form of the LCD monitor 102 displaying a character.

FIG. 4 is a schematic functional block diagram of a character processing unit 200.

FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing point conditions held in a point holding unit 232;

FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating a character image held by a character image holding unit 238.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing animals 2-1 to 2-5 included in the character series 2 described in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the character processing unit 200.

9 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed operation of the character processing unit 200 in S100 of FIG. 8 when the point information is image information input from the imaging unit 20.

10 is a flowchart showing a detailed operation of the character processing unit 200 in S100 of FIG. 8 when the point information is audio information input from the microphone 126 of the audio unit 120.

11 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed operation of the character processing unit 200 in S100 of FIG. 8 when the point information is temperature information indicating a temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 140. FIG.

12 is a character processing unit 2 in S106 of FIG.
12 is a flowchart showing a detailed operation of the first embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Digital camera 20 Imaging unit 22
... Shooting lens 24 ... Aperture 26 ... Shutter 2
8 Optical LPF 30 CCD 32 Imaging signal processing unit 34 Viewfinder 36 Strobe 40
... Imaging control unit 50 ... Imaging system CPU 60 ...
Processing unit 62: Main CPU 64: Memory controller 66: Non-volatile memory 68
... Main memory 70 ... YC processing unit 72 ... Encoder 74 ... Option device control unit 76 ... Option device 78 ... Compression / decompression processing unit 80 ... Communication I /
F section 82: Main bus 90: Video output terminal
92 ... connector 100 ... display unit 102
... LCD monitor 104 ... LCD panel 106 ...
Monitor driver 108 ... Panel driver 110
... operation unit 112 ... power switch 114
... Release switch 116 ... Function setting section 118
… Zoom switch 120… Audio unit
122: speaker 124: D / A converter 126
... Microphone 128 ... Microphone amplifier 130 ... A / D
Conversion unit 140 temperature sensor 200 point processing unit 210 input unit 212 image recognition unit 2
14. Voice Recognition Unit 216 Temperature Recognition Unit 220 Monitoring Unit 222 Condition Storage Unit 224 Condition Change Unit 230 Point Generation Unit 232 Point Storage Unit 234 Point Monitoring Unit 236 Character Change Unit 238 Character Image Storage Unit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hitoshi Ueno 3--11-46 Izumi, Asaka-shi, Saitama Prefecture Inside Fujisha Shin Film Co., Ltd. (72) Norihisa Haneda 3--11-46 Izumi, Asaka-shi, Saitama F-term (reference) in Fujisha Shin Film Co., Ltd. JJ31 JJ76 KK42

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An imaging device that captures an image, a point generation unit that generates a point when the imaging device satisfies a predetermined condition, a condition holding unit that holds the predetermined condition, An image pickup apparatus comprising: a point holding unit that receives and holds the points from a point generation unit. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the condition holding unit holds a plurality of the conditions, and the point generation unit generates the points when the imaging device satisfies any of the plurality of conditions. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the point generation unit generates a different number of points according to the condition. 4. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a condition changing unit that randomly changes the condition held in the condition holding unit. 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an imaging unit configured to capture the image, wherein the condition storage unit stores the condition that the imaging unit captures a predetermined image as the condition. An imaging device according to any one of the above. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an imaging unit configured to capture the image, wherein the condition storage unit stores the condition that the imaging unit captures a predetermined color as the condition. An imaging device according to any one of the above. 7. The imaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the imaging unit has a shutter unit, and the condition holding unit holds the operation of the shutter unit as the condition. . 8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a microphone for inputting a voice, wherein the condition holding unit holds the condition on condition that the microphone inputs a predetermined voice. Imaging device. 9. A character display unit for displaying a character, a character image holding unit for holding a plurality of character images as a character series, and the character holding unit holding the character according to the number of points held by the point holding unit. 9. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a character changing unit that selects a specific one of the character images from the plurality of character images and displays the selected character image on the character display unit. 10. The character holding unit according to claim 9, wherein the character holding unit holds a plurality of the character series, and the character changing unit includes a unit that changes the character series displayed by the character display unit. Imaging device.