JP2006115045A - Imaging apparatus, imaging method, program, and user interface - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily make the settings relating to shooting conditions and image configuration the same as those relating to already taken images.
A captured image R and reproduced images P1, P2 are simultaneously displayed on a display screen ST1 of the LCD. When the menu button 25 is pressed, the camera menu 28 is displayed, and the item “setting diversion” is selected. An image whose setting is to be diverted is selected from the already shot images. As shown in the display screen ST4, a frame-like cursor Cs that indicates a reproduction image is displayed. When the cursor Cs is positioned on a desired reproduction image, the image can be confirmed by pressing the enter key. On the display screen ST5, a confirmation 29 is displayed for confirming whether or not the set diversion is OK. When it is determined that the setting is to be diverted, the shooting setting information and the image configuration setting information of the digital camera are changed to the same as the already shot image to be diverted.
[Selection] Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus, an imaging method, an imaging method program, and a user interface that are applied to, for example, an electronic camera and facilitate retrieval of a captured image.

  A conventional electronic camera can set shooting conditions in advance when shooting. However, if you are not proficient with camera shooting, it is difficult to imagine the resulting image from the setting values of the shooting conditions, and you cannot understand the meaning of the setting values and the relationship between the setting conditions. was there. Further, once the setting is changed, if it is desired to return to the previous setting state, the setting state must be stored and set again. Therefore, it is usual that an automatic shooting function for automatically setting shooting conditions such as exposure and shutter speed is provided.

  The following Patent Document 1 includes a pre-program mode having settings optimized for a plurality of situations, for example, a normal shooting mode and a sports mode, and the pre-program mode is used by a user from a factory default setting. It is described that learning is performed as the user performs, and the setting value is changed to a value suitable for the user's preference.

JP 2002-204387 A

  When a certain subject is photographed, there is a case where it is desired to set the same photographing condition for photographing a similar subject based on the good photographing. Patent Document 1 changes the pre-program mode to one according to the user's preference through learning, and does not describe that the same shooting conditions as those of the already shot image are realized.

  When shooting is performed well with auto shooting, if you want to shoot with the same settings as the auto shooting, you can display and check shooting conditions from the Exif information attached to the already shot image. It was necessary to set a set value, and a troublesome operation was required. In addition, only a part of the Exif information can be seen in many cases, and it is difficult to reproduce the shooting conditions. Also, when the shooting conditions are set manually, if the shooting conditions are changed, it is necessary to remember the settings when the shooting was successful and to make a new setting, which requires troublesome operations.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an imaging device, an imaging method, an imaging method program, and a user interface that can capture an image of a currently captured subject with the same setting as an image captured in the past. is there.

In order to solve the above-described problem, a first aspect of the present invention provides an imaging device that includes an imaging device, a display device, a storage medium that stores an image displayed on the display device, and an input device that receives user input. In the device
Displaying one or more already captured images stored in a storage medium on a display device, selecting a desired already captured image;
In this imaging apparatus, the setting of a selected already-captured image is used as a setting.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an imaging method that uses an imaging device including an imaging device, a display device, a storage medium that stores an image displayed on the display device, and an input device that receives a user input.
Displaying one or more already captured images stored in a storage medium on a display device, selecting a desired already captured image;
In this imaging method, the setting of a selected already captured image is used.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an imaging method program for an imaging device including an imaging device, a display device, a storage medium that stores an image displayed on the display device, and an input device that receives a user input.
Displaying one or more already captured images stored in a storage medium on a display device, selecting a desired already captured image;
This is an imaging method program for causing a computer to execute an imaging method in which a setting of a selected captured image is diverted.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in a user interface of an imaging apparatus including an imaging element, a display device, a storage medium that stores an image displayed on the display device, and an input device that receives a user input,
Displaying one or more already captured images stored in a storage medium on a display device;
Select the displayed image that has already been shot.
It is a user interface of an imaging device that displays on a display device whether or not to use a setting of a selected already-captured image.

  According to the present invention, since it is possible to photograph with the same setting based on the setting information of the already photographed image, it is possible to easily realize a setting different from the present. That is, it is not necessary for the user himself / herself to store setting information, and unlike manual setting, there is no burden of understanding the meaning of setting values and the relationship between setting conditions.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. One embodiment complies with the current standard digital camera standard set as a standard of the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA).

That is, one embodiment conforms to the DCF (Design rule for Camera File System) file system standard, and Exif (Exchangeable image file format for digital still
camera) file format standard. In the JPEG file format, an area called an application marker segment is defined so that application-specific information can be stored. The Exif file format stores Exif-specific information in this area.

In FIG. 1, a portion 1 surrounded by a broken line indicates a processing unit controlled by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 2. The processing unit 1 includes an internal recording medium 3 such as a RAM, an image processing unit 4, an external interface 5, an RGB processing unit 6, a signal processing unit 7, and a video output processing unit 8. An operation unit 9 is connected to the CPU 2, and a signal corresponding to an operation of a shutter or the like provided in the operation unit 9 is supplied to the CPU 2.

Furthermore, data obtained by compressing the image signal with JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) or the like is recorded on the external recording medium 11 via the media processing unit 10. The external recording medium 11 is a writable optical disc, a memory card, or the like.

  The signal processing unit 7 is supplied with an imaging signal from a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) 12 as an imaging device, and processes the imaging signal. Regardless of the presence or absence of input from the operation unit 9, the image signal captured by the CCD 12 is output from the signal processing unit 7 and stored in the internal recording medium 3. During shooting, the image on the internal recording medium 3 is constantly updated. Writing and reading of data on the internal recording medium 3 are controlled by the CPU 2.

An imaging signal from the internal recording medium 3 is supplied to the RGB processing unit 6 through the signal processing unit 7, and a display signal formed by the RGB processing unit 6 is supplied to an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 13 as a display device. . The LCD 13 is provided on the back surface of the camera body, for example.
The LCD 13 displays not only the image pickup signal but also an image signal captured from the external recording medium 11 via the media processing unit 10.

  When the shutter of the operation unit 9 is pressed, the image signal captured in the internal recording medium 3 is converted into an image file such as JPEG in the image processing unit 4. The image file is stored in the internal recording medium 3 as data different from the imaging signal. Then, the image file read from the internal recording medium 3 is stored in the external recording medium 11 via the media processing unit 10 under the control of the CPU 2.

It is constantly updated and the reproduced image is displayed on the LCD 13. OSD data such as reduced images of recorded image data and icons are superimposed on the reproduced image by the signal processing unit 7 and displayed on the LCD 13. OSD (On Screen Display) is a generic term for a memory area and a mechanism for preparing data such as icons to be displayed overlaid on a real-time image captured from a camera.

  When creating OSD data, the latest image data already recorded on the external recording medium 11 is acquired, converted into a size suitable for OSD display by the image processing unit 4, and then stored in the internal recording medium 3. Store in the OSD display area. However, it is not necessary to acquire data from the external recording medium 11 when an image having a size suitable for OSD display of the image taken immediately before exists on the internal recording medium 3. The image processing unit 4 is controlled by the CPU 2 so as to perform enlargement or reduction processing of an image to be displayed in response to an operation of a user key or the like in the operation unit 9.

  An analog color video signal is extracted from the video output processing unit 8 to a video output terminal (not shown). When the external monitor 14 is connected to the video output terminal, the image stored in the internal recording medium 3 or the external recording medium 11 can be displayed on the external monitor 14. Further, for example, a printer 15 is connected to the external interface 5 so that an image can be printed.

  The operation unit 9 includes a cross key. The cross key designates the moving direction of the cursor in one of up, down, left, and right directions by pressing each tip (referred to as a left button, right button, up button, and down button) of the cross-shaped operation unit. . In addition to the cross key, an input device such as a dial, a roller, a trackball, or a touch panel can be used as the direction key. Further, not limited to a mechanical configuration, a GUI (Graphical User Interface) for operating buttons on the display screen may be used.

  In the Exif file format, attached information of Exif IFD as shown in FIG. 2 is defined. FIG. 2 is an excerpt of the attached information, and shows a tag related to shooting conditions and a tag related to the structure of image data. For simplicity, only the meaning, tag name, and tag (2 bytes) of the information attached to the Exif IFD are shown, and the value type and the number of values are omitted.

  Image setting information stored in the internal recording medium 3 or the external recording medium 11 is included in the image file in the Exif file format. This shooting setting information is read into a volatile memory (RAM) portion of the internal recording medium 3. For example, if the setting is related to the lens, the lens is controlled from the camera / lens control unit of the signal processing unit 7, and the lens setting is reflected in the image displayed on the LCD 13. As will be described later, when diverting the settings of an image that has been captured and saved in the past (referred to as an already captured image), the lens and the like are controlled by the settings of the already captured image, and the current image is captured and displayed on the LCD 13. The setting of the already shot image is reflected in the image.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, an already captured image stored in the internal recording medium 3 or the external recording medium 11 is displayed on the LCD 13, and a desired image in the displayed already captured image is selected and stored. The setting information of the selected image is called, and the setting of the digital camera is changed to the setting information called. In this way, by using the setting information of the already shot image, it is possible to take a picture with the same setting as that image. The attached information of the Exif IFD described above is used as setting information. In this case, some necessary information is used. For example, in FIG. 2, information marked with * is used.

  As can be seen from FIG. 2, not only the shooting setting information relating to the shooting conditions such as the exposure time, shutter speed, lens focal length, etc. is used, but also the image configuration setting relating to the configuration of the image data (the width of the image, the height of the image). Information is also diverted. By diverting the image configuration settings, the aspect ratio can be set to be the same as that of the already captured image. For example, (4: 3), a shape such as portrait, square, panorama, etc. can be set easily.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of the operation according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating image transition. The uppermost display screen ST1 in FIG. 4 is a screen displayed on the LCD 13 when the power is turned on, for example. In the auto shooting mode, shooting conditions such as white balance and exposure are automatically set to appropriate ones. As the LCD 13, any one having an aspect ratio of 4 to 3 and a wide one such as 16 to 9 can be used. FIG. 4 shows a case where a wide LCD is used. In this case, the captured image R and the reproduced images P1 and P2 are displayed at the same time.

  The captured image R is an image currently captured through the lens, and the reproduced images P1 and P2 are reproduced images of the already captured images. The reproduced images P1 and P2 are arranged in the horizontal direction along the time axis. The reproduced image P1 is an image captured immediately before, and the reproduced image P2 is an image reproduced before that.

  In order to easily identify the captured image R and the reproduced image P, the captured image R has a larger size than the reproduced image P. Further, the captured image R and the reproduced image P may be identified by adding icons having different shapes to the image.

  The display screen ST1 on which the photographed image R and the reproduced images P1 and P2 are displayed at the same time is a mixed state of the photographing mode and the reproduction mode. That is, by pressing the shutter button 24, a new image can be recorded and a desired image can be displayed as a reproduced image. Therefore, the user can determine the composition of an image to be newly photographed while viewing the image photographed immediately before.

  Further, reference numeral 24 is a shutter button, reference numeral 25 is a menu button, reference numeral 26 is a delete button, and reference numeral 27 is a cross key. The cross key 27 is a key that can press the upper, lower, left, and right keys and can press the center. The direction can be instructed by pressing the up / down / left / right keys, and the determination can be instructed by pressing the key in the center.

  When the menu button 25 is pressed in step S1 while the display screen ST1 is displayed, the camera menu is displayed on the LCD 13 (step S2).

  The display screen displayed on the LCD 13 in step S2 is shown as ST2 in FIG. The camera menu indicated by reference numeral 28 displays, for example, items of “flash”, “self-timer”, “setting diversion”, and “macro shooting”. The user operates the up / down keys of the cross key 27 to select a desired item. The display screen ST2 shows a state in which the item “flash” is selected.

  In step S3, an item “setting diversion” is selected. As shown in the display screen ST3, the up and down keys of the cross key 27 are operated to position a highlight portion meaning selection in the item “setting diversion”, and the determination key at the center of the cross key 27 is pressed to determine the selection. . As a result, the playback mode transitions to the set diversion mode.

  In step S4, an image whose setting is to be diverted is selected from the already captured images by the cross key 27. As shown in the display screen ST4, a frame-like cursor Cs that indicates a reproduction image is displayed. On the display screen ST4, the cursor Cs is positioned with respect to the reproduced image P3. By operating the left and right keys of the cross key 27, the position of the cursor Cs is fixed, while the arrangement of the reproduced images is sent to the left and right, and the reproduced image that matches the position of the cursor Cs changes.

  Step S7 is an image determination process. That is, the image can be determined by pressing the center of the cross key 27 in a state where the cursor Cs is positioned on the desired reproduction image. In step S8, it is determined whether the set diversion is OK. On the display screen ST5, a confirmation display 29 for the user is made. By operating the left and right keys of the cross key 27 and the center determination key, it is determined whether or not to use the setting. When it is determined that the setting is to be diverted, the shooting setting information and the image configuration setting information of the digital camera are changed to the same as the already shot image to be diverted (step S9).

  As shown in the display screen ST5, when the setting diversion confirmation display 29 is displayed, the setting of the digital camera is set to the same setting as the already captured image to be diverted, and the setting to divert is set. The reflected captured image R is displayed. The user can refer to the determination of whether or not to use the setting by looking at the captured image R.

  FIG. 5 is an image showing another example of photographing according to the present invention. For example, if you are shooting a fashion show model one by one, the distance to the model as the subject is almost the same, the subject's moving speed is almost the same, and the brightness is almost the same, so You can shoot continuously without changing settings related to shooting.

  However, in FIG. 5, when the entire stage is photographed after the image P11 is photographed and the image P12 is recorded, the photographing setting information is changed, so that the model is the same as the photographing setting of the image P11 next. You will not be able to shoot with this setting. Such a problem occurs in both the auto mode in which shooting settings are automatically set and the manual mode in which shooting settings are set manually.

  According to the present invention, even when an image whose shooting setting is changed in the middle is shot, the settings of the image P11 and the image P13 can be made the same by executing the setting diversion menu. Images of the models P14, P15,... After the image P13 can be taken with the same shooting settings.

  Furthermore, in the diversion of settings, it is possible to change some conditions without making the settings completely the same. 6 and 7 show the operation and transition of the display screen. FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 show a series of transitions, but the transitions are separated into two diagrams due to the limitation of the drawing creation space.

  On the display screen ST11, images P9, P10, and P11 obtained by photographing the model, an image P12 obtained by photographing the entire stage, and a photographed image R that is currently being photographed are displayed on the LCD 13. When the menu button 25 is pressed while the display screen ST11 is displayed, the display screen ST12 is displayed.

  A camera menu 28 is displayed on the display screen ST12. The user operates the up and down keys of the cross key 27 to select the “setting diversion” item as shown in the display screen ST13. The up and down keys of the cross key 27 are operated to position the highlight portion in the “setting diversion” item, and the selection key at the center of the cross key 27 is pressed to determine the selection. As a result, the playback mode transitions to the set diversion mode.

  The cross key 27 is used to select an image to which the setting is to be diverted from the already captured images. As shown in the display screen ST14, a frame-like cursor Cs that indicates a reproduction image is displayed. On the display screen ST14, the cursor Cs is positioned with respect to the reproduced image P11. With the cursor Cs positioned on the reproduced image P11, pressing the center of the cross key 27 determines the image P11 to which the setting is to be used.

  On the display screen ST15, a display 29 for confirming whether or not the setting diversion is OK is made to the user. By operating the left and right keys of the cross key 27 and the center determination key, it is determined whether or not to use the setting. When it is determined that the setting is to be diverted, the shooting setting information and the image configuration setting information of the digital camera are changed to the same as the already shot image to be diverted.

  Up to the display screen ST15 is the same as the screen transition shown in FIG. As described above, when the setting diversion confirmation display 29 is displayed, the captured image R reflecting the setting to be diverted is displayed.

  The display screen ST16 in FIG. 7 is displayed in a state where the same setting as that of the already-captured image P11 is made in the setting diversion mode. The captured image R can be captured as it is, but here the setting is changed manually.

  When the menu button 25 is pressed, the display screen ST17 is displayed. A shooting menu 30 is displayed on the display screen ST17. The shooting menu 30 displays an image size and an image configuration. In addition, the display of the shooting menu 30 is translucent so that a reproduced image can be seen to some extent.

  On the display screen ST17, the right key of the cross key 27 is operated to move the highlighted portion to the image size change column as shown in the display screen ST18. On the display screen ST18, the image size is set by operating the up and down keys of the cross key 27. As the image size, “VGA”, “1M (mega)”, “2M”, “3M”, and “5M” are prepared. The current setting is “VGA”. Further, if necessary, the image configuration can be changed by operating the left and right keys of the cross key 27 to move the highlighted portion to the image configuration change column. “Panorama”, “vertically long”, “16: 9”, “3: 2”, and “4: 3” are prepared as image configurations. Here, the “vertically long” image configuration is selected.

  For example, in the state where the image size of “3M” is selected on the display screen ST19, the determination key of the cross key 27 is pressed, and the image size is changed from “VGA” to “3M”. The display screen ST20 is a screen that is displayed after the enter key is pressed. Then, the shooting menu 30 disappears and the display screen ST21 is displayed. The photographed image R can be photographed and recorded by pressing the shutter button 24 while the display screen ST21 is displayed.

  FIG. 8 shows an example in which the present invention is applied to panoramic photography. For example, when a panoramic image is created by combining a plurality of photos with image editing software of a personal computer, it is necessary to fix shooting settings such as “white balance”, “exposure”, and “zoom magnification”.

  For example, in the case of a sunny outdoor landscape, the user usually sets the white balance setting to “Auto” if the light is evenly distributed throughout. However, if a part of the scenery being photographed is strongly lit by the sun, or if the scenery is not constant in brightness, the colors may differ from photograph to photograph, making it difficult to synthesize with software. Therefore, it is necessary to avoid “auto” and fix the setting appropriately.

  The same applies to settings other than white balance. For example, as shown in FIG. 8A, when the photos P21, P22, and P23 are to be combined, if the zoom magnification of the photo P22 is different from that of the other photos, the photos are not connected well when the photos P21 to P23 are combined. Problems arise.

  In the present invention, since the shooting setting of the already shot image can be diverted in both manual shooting and auto shooting, the next image can be shot with the same setting, and panorama composition can be performed satisfactorily.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, and various modifications and applications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, the present invention is not limited to the Exif file format, and can be applied to an imaging apparatus and an imaging method capable of recording shooting setting and image setting information in association with an already shot image. Further, the present invention is not limited to a digital camera that records still images, but can also be applied to a shooting device that records moving images and a shooting device that can record both still images and moving images.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of one Embodiment of the imaging device by this invention. It is a basic diagram for demonstrating the tag regarding the imaging | photography condition in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a basic diagram which shows an example of the transition of the screen display at the time of using wide LCD. It is a basic diagram which shows an example of the screen display for demonstrating operation | movement of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a basic diagram which shows the other example of the transition of the screen display at the time of using wide LCD. It is a basic diagram which shows the other example of the transition of the screen display at the time of using wide LCD. It is a basic diagram which shows the other example of the screen display for demonstrating operation | movement of one Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Processing part 2 ... CPU
3 ... Internal recording medium 9 ... Operation unit 11 ... External recording medium 12 ... CCD
13 ... LCD
24 ... Shutter button 25 ... Menu button 27 ... Cross key

Claims (6)

In an imaging device comprising: an imaging element; a display device; a storage medium that stores an image displayed on the display device; and an input device that receives user input.
Displaying one or a plurality of already-captured images stored in the storage medium on the display device to select a desired already-captured image;
An imaging apparatus configured to use a setting of the selected already captured image as a setting. In claim 1,
An imaging device configured to capture an image displayed on the display device. In claim 1,
An imaging apparatus capable of changing the settings of the selected already captured image that has been diverted. In an imaging method using an imaging device comprising: an imaging element; a display device; a storage medium that stores an image displayed on the display device; and an input device that receives a user input.
Displaying one or a plurality of already-captured images stored in the storage medium on the display device to select a desired already-captured image;
An imaging method in which the setting of the selected already shot image is used as a setting. In an imaging method program for an imaging device, comprising: an imaging device; a display device; a storage medium that stores an image displayed on the display device; and an input device that receives a user input.
Displaying one or a plurality of already-captured images stored in the storage medium on the display device to select a desired already-captured image;
An imaging method program for causing a computer to execute an imaging method in which the setting of the selected already-captured image is used. . In a user interface of an imaging device including an imaging device, a display device, a storage medium that stores an image displayed on the display device, and an input device that receives a user input,
Displaying one or more already captured images stored in the storage medium on the display device;
Select the displayed image that has already been displayed,
A user interface of the imaging apparatus that displays on the display apparatus whether or not the setting of the selected already-captured image is used as a setting.