JP2004007273A - Camera and camera system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera and a camera system which have a function of storing high-definition image data, while being capable of recognizing a display image of smooth movement with an external device in photographing. <P>SOLUTION: The camera is provided with an imaging means 22 for imaging an object to obtain an electronic image, an image processing means 23 for processing a signal output from the means 22 to generate digital image data, a reduction means 24 for applying compression processing or decimation processing to the image data output from the means 23, and a communication means 25 for transmitting the image data to the external device. In this camera, the means 24 sets a compression rate of the image data before inputting an imaging command signal so that the rate is higher than that after inputting the imaging command signal or the decimation amount is large. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a camera and a camera system, and more particularly, to a camera and a camera system having an external device and enabling mutual communication between the camera and the external device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The subject image formed by the photographing optical system is photoelectrically converted using an image pickup device such as a CCD, and the converted image data is converted into a digital signal, subjected to various processes, and stored as digital image data. So-called digital cameras are well known.
[0003]
In this type of digital camera, an image obtained by imaging is generally stored in a memory element fixedly arranged in the camera or detachably mounted, but is mounted in the camera. Since there is a limit to the memory capacity that can be used, the number of images that can be taken is limited by the capacity of the memory element.
[0004]
Therefore, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-284894, captured image data is transferred to an external device having a large-capacity storage medium by wireless communication means, and the transferred image data is deleted from a memory built in the camera. Thus, an invention has been proposed in which the shortage of memory capacity at the time of shooting is solved.
[0005]
In addition, although a technique for executing a shutter control of a camera in response to a release signal from a remote controller is conventionally known, when a photograph is taken using the remote controller, a photographer is required to take a part of the subject as in a self-timer photography. Therefore, there is a problem that the photographer cannot confirm the composition or determine the shutter timing by himself.
[0006]
Therefore, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-72608 discloses a method in which an image captured by a digital camera is transmitted to a remote control device prior to a shutter operation so that an image of a subject can be confirmed in advance on an image display unit of the remote control device. The proposed invention has been proposed.
[0007]
Therefore, by combining the technology of the remote control device proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-72608 with the image storage technology proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-284894, the remote control function of the camera can be realized. It is possible to realize an external device having both a function of confirming a subject image in advance and a function of storing a large amount of image data after photographing.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in recent years, digital cameras have been improved in image quality and the amount of data per image has become extremely large. Therefore, it is common to reduce the amount of data to be stored by executing JPEG compression processing on captured image data. It has become a target.
[0009]
However, the image quality of a compressed image and the amount of data are in an opposite relationship, and setting a high compression ratio reduces the data amount but degrades the image quality. Setting a low compression ratio results in a high-definition image. However, the amount of data increases.
[0010]
Therefore, if the compression ratio is set high, the communication time to the external device is shortened, but only images with severe image degradation can be stored in the image storage memory. On the other hand, if the compression ratio is set low, high definition The image can be stored, but the communication time to the external device becomes long.
[0011]
In the inventions proposed in JP-A-5-72608 and JP-A-11-284894, the method of communicating with an external device does not take into account the above-mentioned problem, and therefore, the captured image cannot be captured. It takes an enormous amount of time to communicate with an external device, which is very inconvenient for a photographer, and there is a risk that an important shutter chance may be missed.
[0012]
In view of the above problems, in the invention disclosed in JP-A-11-174576, when transmitting a captured image to an external communication device, a binarization process is performed to improve the communication speed. However, the binarized image is very difficult to see, and has not yet improved the convenience in determining the composition.
[0013]
An object of the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and has a function of enabling a display image of a smooth motion to be confirmed by an external device at the time of shooting, and having a function of storing high-definition image data. And a camera system.
[0014]
Means and Action for Solving the Problems
In order to achieve the above object, a camera according to the present invention includes: an imaging unit that captures an image of a subject via a photographic optical system, and an electronic image of the subject; and a digital image that is processed by processing a signal output from the imaging unit. Image processing means for generating data; reducing means for performing compression processing or thinning processing of image data output from the image processing means; and communication means for transmitting the image data to an external device. In the camera, the reduction unit may be configured to set the compression ratio of the image data before the input of the imaging instruction signal to be higher than that after the input of the imaging instruction signal, or to increase the thinning amount.
[0015]
The camera system according to the present invention transmits image data captured by a camera to an external device, and displays and stores the image data on the external device. In the camera system, the camera stores a data amount of a display image. And transmitting the processed image data so as to be smaller than the data amount of the image for use.The camera system further includes a display unit configured to display image data captured by the camera, and a display unit configured to display image data captured by the camera. An external device including storage means for storing image data and communication means capable of communicating with the camera, wherein the storage means has a lower compression ratio than the display image data, or an amount of thinning-out. And storing the small amount of image data only when the image data is received by the communication means. Identifying and performing one of a display operation and a storage operation of the image data, and further, the external device displays the image data according to an amount of image data transmitted from the camera. One of an operation and a storage operation is performed.
[0016]
Furthermore, the camera according to the present invention wirelessly communicates display image data to an external device before inputting an imaging instruction signal, and wirelessly communicates storage image data to an external device after inputting an imaging instruction signal. It is characterized in that the data amount of transmission data differs before and after signal input.
[0017]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed obliquely from the upper rear left side, and FIG. 2 is a camera system including the camera of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
[0018]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a camera system according to the present invention includes a digital camera 1 (hereinafter, referred to as a camera) that forms an image of a subject on an image sensor such as a CCD by a photographing optical system and captures the image. 1 and an external device 11 for communicating with each other and exchanging information.
[0019]
The camera 1 includes a photographing lens 2 for forming a subject image on a light receiving surface of the image sensor, an antenna 3 for wirelessly communicating various information including a photographed image, and inputs a photographing operation. Button 4 and an optical finder 5.
[0020]
The external device 11 includes a display device 12 such as a liquid crystal monitor for displaying an electronic image and various other information, an antenna 14 for wirelessly communicating with the camera 1, and a memory card including, for example, a flash memory. 16, a card insertion unit 15 for detachably mounting the memory card, an operation button 17 including a button for operating the external device 11 and giving a display instruction, and performing a release operation on the camera 1 It has a remote control operation button 18 for making it operate.
[0021]
Here, in the camera and the camera system according to the embodiment of the present invention, which are configured by the camera 1 and the external device 11, the following three types of photographing methods are possible in the usage form.
[0022]
(1) Normal shooting in which the composition of a subject is determined while looking through the optical viewfinder 5 and shooting is performed by pressing the release button 4.
[0023]
(2) No finder photography in which photographing is performed by pressing the release button 4 while looking at the subject image displayed on the display device 12 without looking through the optical finder 5.
[0024]
(3) Remote control shooting in which the camera executes a shooting operation by pushing the remote control operation button 18 while looking at the subject image displayed on the display device 12 without looking through the optical viewfinder 5.
[0025]
Note that the above three photographing methods are not specially set, and normal photographing is performed if the photographer directly performs a pressing operation of the release button 4, and the remote control button 18 is used instead of the release button 4. When the push operation is performed, remote control shooting is performed. When the display button 17 is operated to set the display device 12 to the display state, and when the release button 4 is pressed, no viewfinder shooting is performed. Things.
[0026]
Next, the internal configuration and operation of the camera 1 will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an electric circuit of the camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0027]
As shown in FIG. 3, the camera 1 includes an operation unit 21, an imaging unit 22, an image processing unit 23, a reduction unit 24, and a communication unit 25, and an output terminal of the operation unit 21. Are connected to the input end of the image pickup means 22 and the input end of the reduction means 24, respectively, and the output end of the image pickup means 22 is connected to the input end of the image processing means 23. The output end of the image processing means 23 is connected to the input end of the reduction means 24, and the output end of the reduction means 24 is connected to the input end of the communication means 25. Further, the output end of the communication unit 25 is connected to the antenna 3 that wirelessly communicates with a communication unit 31 (see FIG. 4) of the external device 11 described later, the input end of the imaging unit 22, and the reduction unit 24. Connected to input terminal.
[0028]
The operation means 21 is for the photographer to manually perform various operation inputs, and includes the release button 4 and other buttons (not shown) disposed on the outer surface of the camera 1. When the release button 4 is pressed, a release signal is output to the image pickup means 22.
[0029]
The imaging unit 22 includes the imaging lens 2 and an imaging element (not shown) and the like, and continuously repeats an imaging operation when a power switch (not shown) of the camera 1 is turned on. In accordance with a release signal from the operation means 21, an image for storing a subject image in a storage means described later is taken and output to the image processing means 23.
[0030]
The image processing means 23 includes an A / D conversion circuit, a digital signal processing circuit, and the like. The output signal from the imaging means 22 is converted into digital data by the A / D conversion circuit. The image data digitized by the conversion circuit is subjected to predetermined image processing such as brightness and color balance adjustment by the digital signal processing circuit, and is output to the reduction means 24.
[0031]
The reduction means 24 has a compression circuit for compressing the image data output from the image processing means 23 by a known JPEG method, and outputs the compressed output to the communication means 25.
[0032]
The communication unit 25 includes the antenna 3 as a component, wirelessly transmits image data compressed by the reduction unit 24 to the external device 11 described below, and receives a remote control signal from the external device 11. Or something to do.
[0033]
Here, the reducing means 24 has a function of changing the compression ratio of the image data according to the release signal output by the pressing operation of the release button 4 or a remote control signal from the external device 11 described later. More specifically, the release button 4 is pushed and operated to receive a release signal from the operation means 21 or a remote control signal from the external device 11 from the communication means 25. Until the above, the image data output from the image processing means 23 is subjected to compression processing at a high compression ratio setting (setting emphasizing to reduce the data capacity), while the release signal or the remote control signal (imaging instruction signal) After receiving ()), the image data output from the image processing means 23 is compressed with a low compression ratio setting (a setting that emphasizes high-definition images). You have me. The image data compressed by the reducing means 24 is transmitted to the external device 11 by the communication means 25 as needed.
[0034]
The reason for changing the compression ratio of the reducing means 24 according to the situation is that the image data is used for the preliminary confirmation display until the release signal or the remote control signal is received. After receiving the release signal or the remote control signal, reduce the image data capacity so that the speed becomes shorter, and since the image data is used for storage, it is better to suppress the compression ratio to lower the compression ratio so as to obtain high definition. It is based on
[0035]
Next, the internal configuration and operation of the external device 11 will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an electric circuit of the external device in the camera system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[0036]
As shown in FIG. 4, the external device 11 has a remote control operation function, an image storage function, and an image display function, and includes a communication unit 31, an image control unit 32, and a storage unit (detachable type). 33, reading means 34, display means 35, display instruction means 36, and remote control operation means 37. The input end of the communication means 31 is connected to the antenna 14 for wirelessly communicating with the communication means 25 (see FIG. 3) of the camera 1, and the output end of the remote control operation means 37 is connected to the input end. An output terminal of the communication unit 31 is connected to an input terminal of the image control unit 32, and an output terminal of the image control unit 32 is connected to an input terminal of the storage unit 33 and an input terminal of the display unit 35. The output end of the storage means 33 and the output end of the display instruction means 36 are connected to the input end of the reading means 34, and the output end of the reading means 34 is connected to the display means. 35 input terminals.
[0037]
The communication unit 31 includes the antenna 14 as a constituent element, receives image data wirelessly transmitted from the camera 1 and outputs the image data to the image control unit 32, or the communication unit 25 of the camera 1 (see FIG. 3). ) Transmits a remote control signal from the remote control operation means 37 by a push operation of the remote control operation button 18 described later.
[0038]
The image control means 32 performs control to output and store the image data received by the communication means 31 to the storage means 33 described later, or outputs the image data to the display means 35 described later, and directly It is to be displayed.
[0039]
The storage means 33 includes the card insertion section 15 and the memory card 16 (both shown in FIG. 2) which is removably mounted on the insertion section 15. It stores image data.
[0040]
The reading means 34 reads the image data stored in the storage means 33 in accordance with an instruction of the display instructing means 36 described later, and outputs the image data to the display means 35.
[0041]
The display means 35 displays the image data read and output by the read means 34 or the image data directly output from the image control means 32, and corresponds to the display device 12. (See FIG. 2).
[0042]
The display instruction means 36 is for inputting an instruction signal for displaying an image on the display means 35, and corresponds to the operation button 17 (see FIG. 2).
[0043]
The remote control operation means 37 outputs to the communication means 31 by a push operation from the remote control operation button 18 (see FIG. 2) and transmits a remote control signal to the camera 1.
[0044]
Here, the image control means 32 controls switching between an operation for storing the image data output from the communication means 31 in the storage means 33 and two kinds of operations for displaying the image data on the display means 35. Switching of control is determined based on the amount of image data. That is, the received image data amount is compared with a prescribed value, and if it is equal to or more than the predetermined value, the image data is determined to be storage image data, and if less than the predetermined value, it is determined to be a display image.
[0045]
Therefore, when it is determined that the image data is the storage image data, the image data is sent to the storage unit 33 and stored. On the other hand, if the image data is determined to be display image data, the image data is sent to the display means 35 and displayed in a visible state.
[0046]
Therefore, the transmitted data can be automatically and appropriately sorted by the external device 11 without the photographer being conscious.
[0047]
Next, the overall operation of the camera 1 will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the camera in detail.
[0048]
As shown in FIG. 5, when the initialization is completed by turning on a power switch (not shown) in the camera 1, the image pickup operation is executed by the image pickup means 22 in step S1, and the process proceeds to step S2. Predetermined image processing is performed on the image data obtained by the imaging operation by the image processing means 23, and then the process proceeds to step S3.
[0049]
In step S3, the image data subjected to the image processing in step S2 is compressed at a high compression rate by the reducing means 24, and the process proceeds to step S4. In step S4, the image data compressed at the high compression rate by the communication unit 25 is transmitted to the external device 11, and the process proceeds to step S5.
[0050]
In the following step S5, it is determined whether or not the release button 4 has been pressed to input a release signal, or whether or not a remote control signal from the external device 11 has been input via the communication means 25. If it is determined in step S5 that the input of both the release signal and the remote control signal is “absent”, the process returns to step S1, and the operations from step S1 to step S4 are repeated, and the imaging operation is repeatedly performed. . On the other hand, when it is determined that the release signal or the remote control signal is “present”, the process proceeds to step S6, and an imaging operation for acquiring storage image data is performed.
[0051]
When the image capturing operation is performed in step S6, the process proceeds to step S7, in which the image data is compressed at a low compression ratio by the reducing unit 24 in order to convert the captured image data into high-definition image data. The process proceeds to S8, and in step S8, the data is transmitted to the external device 11 by the communication unit 25. Thereafter, the process returns to step S1.
[0052]
When the power of the camera 1 is turned on, the operations of steps S1 to S8 are repeated.
[0053]
Next, the overall operation of the external device 11 will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the external device in detail.
[0054]
As shown in FIG. 6, in step S9, the image data transmitted from the camera 1 is received by the communication unit 31, and the process proceeds to step S10. In step S10, the data amount received by the image control unit 32 is: It is determined whether it is greater than a prescribed value. If the result of determination in step S10 is greater than the predetermined value, the flow shifts to step S11 to store it in the storage means 33, and then shifts to step S13. On the other hand, if the value is smaller than the predetermined value, the flow branches to step S12, an image is displayed by the display means 35, and the flow shifts to step S13.
[0055]
In the following step S13, it is determined whether or not the display button 17 has been pressed. If the display button 17 has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S14, and the image stored in the storage means 33 in the display subroutine is read by the reading means 34. An operation of reading and displaying on the display means 35 is performed, and the process proceeds to step S15. On the other hand, if the display button 17 has not been pressed in step S13, the process jumps to step S15.
[0056]
Next, in step S15, it is determined whether or not the remote control operation button 18 has been pressed. If the button has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S16, where a remote control signal (release signal) is transmitted via the communication means 31 to the remote controller. The data is transmitted to the camera 1, and the process returns to step S9. On the other hand, if the remote control operation button 18 has not been pressed in step S15, the process returns to step S9.
[0057]
The external device 11 repeats the operation from step S9 to step S16 when the power is on.
[0058]
As described above, in the camera and the camera system according to the embodiment of the present invention, if the image data for confirmation is set to a high compression ratio (the data capacity is reduced) by the reduction unit 24 built in the camera 1. In the case of image data for storage, compression processing is performed in a low compression ratio setting (a setting in which high-definition images are emphasized), and communication means 25 on the camera side is used. Has a function of transmitting image data to the external device 11. The image control means 32 built in the external device 11 has a function of compressing the image data transmitted from the communication means 25. It has a function to automatically determine whether to store the image data in the built-in storage means 33 or to display it on the display means 35, so that the composition of the image at the time of shooting can be confirmed by an external device. You Case, it is possible to shorten the communication time of the camera 1 and the external device 11, the display image of smooth movement becomes possible confirmation. Also, when confirming the image data for recording, since the data is compressed, the communication time can be reduced while the image data is high definition.
[0059]
Further, in the present invention, the amount of image data is varied by changing the compression ratio at the time of JPEG compression by the reduction means 24. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a thinning process is performed on the image data. Needless to say, the size may be reduced. In this case, the data amount may be reduced by increasing the thinning amount until the imaging instruction signal is input, and the thinning amount may be reduced after the imaging instruction signal is input.
[0060]
Furthermore, the camera 1 according to the present invention has an advantage that the configuration of the camera 1 is simplified because the captured image data is transferred to the external device 11 without storing the image data in the camera 1, but on the other hand, If communication fails, there is also a problem that data is lost.
[0061]
Therefore, in order to solve this problem, as shown in FIG. 7, a temporary storage means 26 composed of a small-capacity memory is provided in the camera 1, and when the communication fails, the temporary storage means 26 is provided. The image data may be temporarily stored. At the same time, a warning means 27 is built in the camera 1 so that if communication fails, the warning is stored in the temporary storage means 26 and then a warning is displayed by the warning means 27, so that the photographer is notified. It goes without saying that the communication failure may be notified.
[0062]
The external device 11 according to the present invention determines whether the image data is for storage or display in accordance with the amount of image data sent from the camera body 1. An identification code may be added when the image data is transmitted, and the external device may determine the identification code to determine which type of image data.
[0063]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a camera and a camera system having a function of storing high-definition image data while allowing a display image of a smooth motion to be confirmed by an external device at the time of shooting. be able to.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed obliquely from the upper left on the rear side;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an external device in the camera system according to the embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electric circuit of the camera in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electric circuit of the external device in FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the camera according to the embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of an external device in the camera system according to the embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an electric circuit including a temporary storage unit and a warning unit in the camera according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Camera 11 ... External device 22 ... Imaging means 23 ... Image processing means 24 ... Reduction means 25 ... Communication means 31 on the camera side ... Communication means 33 on the external device side ... Storage means 35 ... Display means

Claims (6)

Imaging means for capturing an image of a subject via a shooting optical system and acquiring an electronic image of the subject;
Image processing means for processing the signal output from the imaging means to generate digital image data,
Compression processing of image data output from the image processing means, or reduction means for performing thinning processing,
Communication means for transmitting the image data to an external device,
In a camera comprising
A camera according to claim 1, wherein said reduction means is configured to increase a compression ratio of said image data before input of an imaging instruction signal or to increase an amount of thinning out after inputting of said imaging instruction signal. In a camera system in which image data captured by a camera is transmitted to an external device and displayed and stored by the external device,
The camera system according to claim 1, wherein the camera processes the data amount of the display image so as to be smaller than the data amount of the storage image, and then transmits the processed image. The camera system is an external device comprising: display means for displaying image data captured by the camera; storage means for storing image data captured by the camera; and communication means capable of communicating with the camera. Has,
3. The camera system according to claim 2, wherein the storage unit stores the image data only when image data having a lower compression ratio or a smaller amount of thinning than the display image data is received by the communication unit. 4. 3. The camera system according to claim 2, wherein the external device identifies one of the image data transmitted from the camera and performs one of a display operation and a storage operation of the image data. The camera system according to claim 2, wherein the external device executes one of a display operation and a storage operation of the image data according to an amount of image data transmitted from the camera. Before the input of the imaging instruction signal, the camera wirelessly communicates the display image data to the external device, and after the input of the imaging instruction signal, the camera wirelessly communicates the storage image data to the external device.
A camera characterized in that the data amount of transmission data differs before and after input of an imaging instruction signal.

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