JP2006109063A - Image processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To minimize the overhead of reading a file for header analysis.
In reading a file when analyzing header information of an image, the initial reading size is read with a fixed length that is predicted to be completed when most of the headers set in advance are analyzed regardless of the contents described in the header, Perform header analysis.
[Selection] Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus that reproduces image data.

  Conventionally, image processing apparatuses such as electronic cameras for recording and reproducing still images and moving images using a memory card having a solid-state memory element as a recording medium are already on the market, and electronic cameras equipped with an electronic viewfinder such as a color liquid crystal panel are also sold. Has been.

In addition, there is a technique for analyzing additional information described in an image header or the like for image display or image information display through the electronic viewfinder (for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2001-111955 A

  However, in such a conventional electronic camera, an image file to be displayed and analyzed from a recording medium such as a memory card is generally read and analyzed through a file system. In header analysis, each time the multiple elements that make up the header are analyzed, the next element to be analyzed is read again through the file system, so there are multiple overheads for reading, which takes time for header analysis. There was a problem.

  On the other hand, if multiple header components are not read from the file each time they are analyzed, there is a method of reading and analyzing the size guaranteed by the header standard into the memory at once via the file system. Despite the fact that the actual header size is small, there is a problem that it takes more time to read because it reads more than necessary.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image processing apparatus capable of minimizing the overhead of reading a file for header analysis.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image processing apparatus of the present invention is an image processing apparatus having a header analysis means for reading a file having a structure having a variable length header and analyzing the variable length header portion. The header analysis means reads the file reading size for header analysis at a time by reading a fixed length that is less than the maximum length in the file header standard, and analyzes the read length at a fixed length that is less than the maximum length in the file header standard. When the analysis is not completed due to a lack of data size, the read size is changed, the read is performed again, and the reanalysis is performed.

  According to the present invention, the overhead of file reading for header analysis can be minimized.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a block configuration of an image capturing / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes an image capturing / reproducing apparatus. Reference numeral 10 denotes a photographing lens, 12 denotes a shutter having a diaphragm function, 14 denotes an image sensor that converts an optical image into an electrical signal, and 16 denotes an A / D converter that converts an analog signal output from the image sensor 14 into a digital signal. A timing generation circuit 18 supplies a clock signal and a control signal to the image sensor 14, the A / D converter 16, and the D / A converter 26, and is controlled by the memory control circuit 22 and the system control circuit 50. An image processing circuit 20 performs predetermined pixel interpolation processing and color conversion processing on the data from the A / D converter 16 or the data from the memory control circuit 22. Further, the image processing circuit 20 performs predetermined calculation processing using the captured image data, and the system control circuit 50 controls the exposure control means 40 and the distance measurement control means 42 based on the obtained calculation result. TTL (through-the-lens) AF (autofocus) processing, AE (automatic exposure) processing, and EF (flash pre-emission) processing are performed.

  Further, the image processing circuit 20 performs predetermined arithmetic processing using captured image data, and also performs TTL AWB (auto white balance) processing based on the obtained arithmetic result. A memory control circuit 22 controls the A / D converter 16, the timing generation circuit 18, the image processing circuit 20, the image display memory 24, the D / A converter 26, the memory 30, and the compression / decompression circuit 32. The data of the A / D converter 16 is written into the image display memory 24 or the memory 30 via the image processing circuit 20 and the memory control circuit 22 or the data of the A / D converter 16 is directly passed through the memory control circuit 22. It is. In reproduction, the compressed image data read from the recording medium 200 or 210 to the memory 30 is decompressed by the image processing 20 and developed in the image display memory 24.

  Reference numeral 24 denotes an image display memory, 26 denotes a D / A converter, 28 denotes an image display unit including a TFT LCD, and the image data for display written in the image display memory 24 passes through the D / A converter 26. Displayed by the image display unit 28. If the image data captured using the image display unit 28 is sequentially displayed, the electronic viewfinder function can be realized. The image display unit 28 can superimpose various information displays by OSD. The display contents include single shot / continuous shooting display, self-timer display, compression rate display, recording pixel number display, recording number display, display. Image serial number display, remaining shot count display, search key icon display, shutter speed display, aperture value display, exposure compensation display, flash display, red-eye reduction display, macro shooting display, buzzer setting display, battery level display for clock, battery There are a remaining amount display, an error display, an information display by a multi-digit number, an attachment / detachment state display of the recording media 200 and 210, a communication I / F operation display, a date / time display, and the like. Among these various information displays, the shooting conditions and settings can be obtained by storing each information in the image header at the time of shooting and analyzing and extracting the moving image header at the time of playback. Can be referred to.

  Reference numeral 30 denotes a memory for storing captured still images and moving images, and has a sufficient storage capacity to store a predetermined number of still images and a predetermined time of moving images. Thereby, even in the case of continuous shooting or panoramic shooting in which a plurality of still images are continuously shot, it is possible to write a large amount of images to the memory 30 at high speed. The memory 30 can also be used as a work area for the system control circuit 50. Reference numeral 32 denotes a compression / decompression circuit that compresses and decompresses image data by adaptive discrete cosine transform (ADCT) or the like, reads an image stored in the memory 30, performs compression processing or decompression processing, and stores the processed data in the memory 30. Write to.

  Reference numeral 40 denotes an exposure control means for controlling the shutter 12 having a diaphragm function, and has a flash light control function in cooperation with the flash 48. Reference numeral 42 denotes a distance measuring control means for controlling the focusing of the photographing lens 10, reference numeral 44 denotes a zoom control means for controlling zooming of the photographing lens 10, and reference numeral 46 denotes a barrier control means for controlling the operation of the protection means 102 as a barrier. A flash 48 has an AF auxiliary light projecting function and a flash light control function. The exposure control means 40 and the distance measurement control means 42 are controlled using the TTL method. Based on the calculation result obtained by calculating the captured image data by the image processing circuit 20, the system control circuit 50 performs the exposure control means 40 and the distance measurement. Control is performed on the control means 42.

  Reference numeral 50 denotes a system control circuit that controls the entire image processing apparatus 100, and reference numeral 52 denotes a memory that stores constants, variables, programs, and the like for operation of the system control circuit 50. Reference numeral 54 denotes a display unit such as a speaker that displays an operation state, a message, and the like using a voice or the like in accordance with execution of a program in the system control circuit 50, and is configured by a combination of, for example, an LED and a sounding element. In addition, the display unit 54 is partially installed in the optical viewfinder 104. Further, among the display contents of the display unit 54, what is displayed in the optical viewfinder 104 includes in-focus display, camera shake warning display, flash charge display, shutter speed display, aperture value display, exposure correction display, and the like. Reference numeral 56 denotes an electrically erasable / recordable nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM. Reference numerals 60, 62, 64, and 70 are operation means for inputting various operation instructions of the system control circuit 50, and may be a single or a combination of a switch, a dial, a touch panel, pointing by line-of-sight detection, a voice recognition device, or the like. Composed.

  Here, a specific description of these operating means will be given. Reference numeral 60 denotes a mode dial switch, which can switch and set various function modes such as power-off, automatic shooting mode, shooting mode, panoramic shooting mode, playback mode, multi-screen playback / erase mode, and PC connection mode. Reference numeral 62 denotes a shutter switch SW1, which is turned ON during the operation of a shutter button (not shown), and performs AF (auto focus) processing, AE (auto exposure) processing, AWB (auto white balance) processing, EF (flash pre-flash) processing, and the like. Instruct to start operation. Reference numeral 64 denotes a shutter switch SW2, which is turned on when the operation of a shutter button (not shown) is completed, and an exposure process for writing a signal read from the image sensor 12 to the memory 30 via the A / D converter 16 and the memory control circuit 22. Development processing using operations in the image processing circuit 20 and the memory control circuit 22, recording processing for reading image data from the memory 30, compression in the compression / decompression circuit 32, and writing the image data to the recording medium 200 or 210. Instructs the start of a series of processing operations.

  Reference numeral 70 denotes an operation unit composed of various buttons, a touch panel, and the like. A menu button, a set button, a macro button, a flash setting button, a single shooting / continuous shooting / self-timer switching button, a menu moving + (plus) button, a menu moving − (minus). ) Button, playback image feed + (plus) button, playback image feed-(minus) button, and the like.

  Reference numeral 80 denotes a power supply control means, which includes a battery detection circuit, a DC-DC converter, a switch circuit for switching a block to be energized, etc., and detects the presence / absence of a battery, the type of battery, the remaining battery level, In addition, the DC-DC converter is controlled based on an instruction from the system control circuit 50, and a necessary voltage is supplied to each unit including the recording medium for a necessary period. Reference numeral 82 denotes a connector, 84 denotes a connector, and 86 denotes a primary battery such as an alkaline battery or a lithium battery, a secondary battery such as a NiCd battery, a NiMH battery, or a Li battery, an AC adapter, or the like.

  90 and 94 are interfaces with a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk, 92 and 96 are connectors for connecting to a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk, and 98 is a recording medium 200 or 210 attached to the connector 92 or 96. Recording medium attachment / detachment detecting means for detecting whether or not the recording medium is present. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that there are two systems of interfaces and connectors for attaching a recording medium. Of course, the interface and the connector for attaching the recording medium may have a single or a plurality of systems and any number of systems. Moreover, it is good also as a structure provided with combining the interface and connector of a different standard. The interface and connector may be configured using a PCMCIA card, a CF (Compact Flash (registered trademark)) card, or the like that conforms to a standard. In addition, when the interfaces 90 and 94 and the connectors 92 and 96 are configured using a PCMCIA card, a CF (Compact Flash (registered trademark)) card, or the like, a LAN card, a modem card, a USB card, IEEE1394. Image data and management information attached to image data are transferred to and from peripheral devices such as other computers and printers by connecting various communication cards such as cards, P1284 cards, SCSI cards, and PHS communication cards. I can meet each other.

  Reference numeral 102 denotes protection means that is a barrier that prevents the imaging unit from being soiled or damaged by covering the imaging unit including the lens 10 of the image processing apparatus 100. Reference numeral 104 denotes an optical viewfinder, which can take an image using only the optical viewfinder without using the electronic viewfinder function of the image display unit 28. A communication unit 110 has various communication functions such as RS232C, USB, IEEE1394, P1284, SCSI, modem, LAN, and wireless communication. Reference numeral 112 denotes a connector for connecting the image processing apparatus 100 to another device by the communication unit 110 or an antenna in the case of wireless communication.

  Reference numeral 200 denotes a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk. The recording medium 200 includes a recording unit 202 composed of a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, or the like, an interface 204 with the image processing apparatus 100, and a connector 206 for connecting to the image processing apparatus 100. Reference numeral 210 denotes a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk. The recording medium 210 includes a recording unit 212 composed of a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, and the like, an interface 214 with the image processing apparatus 100, and a connector 216 that connects to the image processing apparatus 100.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an operation unit and a display unit according to the embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 301 denotes a playback image feed + (plus) button, 302 a playback image feed- (minus) button, and 303 a display unit capable of displaying images and various information. Details of the display unit 303 will be described. Reference numeral 307 denotes an image serial number. Reference numeral 308 denotes a shooting date of the reproduced image. Reference numeral 306 denotes a shooting mode at the time of shooting. Reference numeral 305 denotes an image compression rate and the number of pixels. Reference numeral 304 indicates the number of recordings in the image processing apparatus and the order of the current reproduced image. In this example, there are 280 images in the image processing apparatus, and the current image position is the 54th.

  The operation of the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the image header analysis process.

  If there is a header analysis instruction for acquiring various information in the image header, the file reading size for header analysis is set to a fixed length less than the standard maximum length (S301), and header reading analysis processing is performed (S302). ). If the header reading analysis process ends normally (S303), the process exits. If the analysis fails due to a factor other than the lack of data length (S304), the process is exited.

  On the other hand, if the analysis fails due to a lack of data length (S304), the file reading size for header analysis is set to the standard maximum length (S305), and header reading analysis processing is performed (S306). If the header reading analysis process ends normally (S307), the process exits. If the analysis fails due to a factor other than the lack of data length (S308), the process is exited.

  On the other hand, if the analysis fails due to a lack of data length (S308), the file reading size for header analysis is set to the file size (S309), header reading analysis processing is performed (S310), and the processing is exited.

  Note that. The fixed length in S301 is the minimum fixed size that is assumed to be sufficient for analyzing the header of most image files. For example, this size is the actual size required for the analysis every time the analysis is performed. The header size may be calculated and reflected, and the reading in S301, which is the first reading size, may be changed.

  The fixed length in S301 is the minimum fixed size that is assumed to be sufficient for analyzing the header of most image files. For example, this size is used when creating a header at the time of image shooting. The header size may be calculated and reflected to change the read size in S301, which is the initial read size.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the header reading analysis process. If there is an instruction for header reading analysis processing, the reading size is confirmed (S401). If the set reading size is smaller than the file size, the set size is set as the reading size (S402), and the set reading size is set. Is larger than the file size, the read size is set as the file size (S403), the file is read and analyzed (S404).

  If the analysis is successful (S405), the analysis success is returned (S407), and the process is terminated. If the analysis fails due to insufficient reading size (S406), a response indicating insufficient reading size is returned (S408), and the process is terminated. If the analysis fails due to a factor other than the read size shortage, a header analysis failure is returned (S409), and the process is terminated.

  When reading the file when analyzing the header information of the image, the initial read size is read as a fixed length that is expected to be completed when most of the headers set in advance are analyzed, and header analysis is performed. .

  As a result, analysis of the majority of headers is completed with a minimum of one reading, so there is no need for overhead (such as file seeking) when reading a file each time analysis is performed, and header analysis is possible at high speed. It becomes.

  According to the above flowchart, when header analysis cannot be performed due to insufficient data length in the read data having a fixed length, the header is analyzed by reading at the standard maximum size of the header. As a result, even if headers that could not be analyzed during fixed-length reading are analyzed by the second reading, the overhead (such as seeking the file) required for reading the file each time while performing analysis is not required, resulting in high speed. Header analysis is possible. Also. This analysis is rare because most headers are analyzed with a minimum of fixed-length reading.

  In addition, when the header analysis cannot be performed due to a lack of data length in the read data at the header standard maximum size, the entire file is read and the header analysis is performed.

  As a result, the header that could not be analyzed when reading the standard maximum size of the header is analyzed by the third reading, so the overhead (such as seeking the file) required for reading the file each time while analyzing is unnecessary It becomes possible to analyze the header at high speed. Further, this processing is performed when the header is irregular, such as a violation of the standard, and it is rare to perform this processing, but a file that violates the standard can be analyzed to the maximum extent.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the file reading size for header analysis is read at a time, and a fixed length less than the maximum length in the file header standard is read and analyzed. In the analysis with a fixed length less than the maximum length above, if the analysis is not completed due to a lack of data size, the read size is changed, read again, and then reanalyzed. Thereby, in many cases, the overhead of reading a file for header analysis can be minimized.

  In addition, the fixed length less than the maximum length in the standard is set in advance so that the average header can be accommodated in most cases, and in many cases, the file reading for header analysis is completed at once and the overhead for analysis is minimized. To the limit.

  In addition, since the fixed length less than the maximum length according to the standard is calculated based on the header size created at the time of image capture, the image processing apparatus itself can calculate the optimum read size.

  In addition, since the fixed length less than the maximum length is recalculated at the time of header analysis, the image processing apparatus itself can calculate the optimum reading size.

  In addition, since reanalysis is performed a plurality of times while changing the size, even if there is a header that does not fit in a fixed length less than the maximum length of the optimum standard in many images, the header can be analyzed without error.

  In addition, the reanalysis read size is set to the maximum length according to the standard of the file header, and in the analysis of the file conforming to the standard, the analysis is completed at the maximum of the second read.

  In addition, it is possible to provide an image processing apparatus characterized in that the reanalysis read size is a file size, and it is possible to perform analysis even on a file that violates the standard.

It is a configuration block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic diagram of the display operation part of this embodiment. It is a flowchart of the header analysis process of this embodiment. It is a flowchart of the header reading analysis process of this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Shooting lens 12 Shutter 14 Image pick-up element 16 A / D converter 18 Timing generation circuit 20 Image processing circuit 22 Memory control circuit 24 Image display memory 26 D / A converter 28 Image display part 30 Memory 32 Image compression / decompression circuit 40 Exposure Control means 42 Distance measurement control means 44 Zoom control means 46 Barrier control means 48 Flash 50 System control circuit 52 Memory 54 Display unit 56 Non-volatile memory 60 Mode dial switch 62 Shutter switch SW1
64 Shutter switch SW2
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 70 Operation part 80 Power supply control means 82 Connector 84 Connector 86 Power supply means 90 Interface 92 Connector 94 Interface 96 Connector 98 Recording medium attachment / detachment detection means 100 Image processing apparatus 102 Protection means 104 Optical finder 110 Communication means 112 Connector (or antenna)
200 Recording Medium 202 Recording Unit 204 Interface 206 Connector 210 Recording Medium 212 Recording Unit 214 Interface 216 Connector

Claims (7)

An image processing apparatus having a header analysis means for reading a file having a configuration having a variable length header and analyzing the variable length header portion,
The header analysis means reads a file read size for header analysis at a time, and analyzes a fixed length less than the maximum length in the file header standard,
An image processing apparatus characterized in that, in an analysis with a fixed length less than the maximum length in the file header standard, if the analysis is not completed due to a lack of data size, the read size is changed, the read is performed again, and the reanalysis is performed.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fixed length less than the maximum length according to the standard is set in advance to a size that can accommodate an average header.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fixed length less than the maximum length according to the standard is calculated based on a header size created at the time of image capturing.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fixed length less than the maximum length in the standard is recalculated at the time of the header analysis.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reanalysis is performed a plurality of times at different sizes.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reanalysis read size is a maximum length according to a standard of a file header.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reanalysis read size is a file size.

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