JP2007221679A - camera - Google Patents

Abstract

When performing automatic dust erasure processing inside a camera, if there is an error in automatic determination for error correction, dust erasure processing is performed on a portion that is not dust, and information of the original image is lost. Resolve.
When there is dust on an image sensor, an image that has been automatically repaired and the image that has been repaired and an image that has not yet been repaired are selectively recorded. When there is dust on the image sensor, automatic repair is performed, and both the repaired image and the image before repair are recorded. In order to save memory, only a part of the original image to be restored is recorded simultaneously with the restored image.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a camera control method in which an image is captured using an image sensor and an image sensor, and the image is recorded in a storage element such as a flash memory, instead of a film.

  2. Description of the Related Art A camera having a function of capturing a captured image using a CCD or CMOS type image sensor (imaging sensor) and recording the image on a recording medium such as a memory card is well known.

  These are usually referred to as “digital cameras”.

  In contrast, a conventional camera in which a silver salt film is exposed to light and chemically recorded is referred to as an “analog camera”.

  In the case of an analog camera, even if dust or the like temporarily adheres to the film surface, the influence is limited to the photographing frame, and the film is fed, and subsequent photographing is not affected.

  On the other hand, in the case of a digital camera, once dust is placed on the image sensor, it remains as dust on all of the shooting frames and adversely affects the shot image.

  Therefore, if dust adhesion can be detected reliably, it is desirable to warn the photographer and perform dust removal work.

  However, even if dust can be detected, since it takes time to remove dust, it may be necessary to shoot without removing dust in scenes that require rapid shooting.

  In such a case, if there is dust in the image that has already been taken, if you cannot take the shot again, then you must observe or print the image with dust attached. It will be.

  Automatic compensation for image loss due to dust and scratches by image processing has long been a technical field of expertise in computers, but recently, the high performance of microcomputers mounted on consumables such as cameras. Based on the progress of computerization, the fact that image processing functions can be realized at low cost using dedicated devices such as digital signal processors and ASICs, and the arithmetic expressions for image processing have been improved, By combining these technologies, automatic dust erasing processing inside the camera is becoming possible.

As another conventional example, Patent Document 1 can be cited.
JP 2004-222231 A

  Checking the processing result is a problem when dust removal processing is enabled inside the camera.

  In a stationary computer (including a personal computer), it is general that an operator can check a processing result and has sufficient time for the processing result.

  Large monitors and output can also be prepared. If the operator determines that the processing result is inappropriate, it can be redone.

  On the other hand, in the case of a camera, if continuous shooting is being performed, a quick shooting property is required. In addition, since the installed confirmation means must be performed on a liquid crystal monitor of about several inches, there are many cases where it is impossible to confirm the details of the details. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out all the dust erasing processing with “camera left”.

  However, there are many cases in which the judgment of garbage removal is really “garbage” or not, and it is dangerous to leave everything to “camera”.

  For example, even if there are white or black lines in the face of the photographed person, it may be a real “raw wound”, “mole” or “痣”. The information of the original image may be missed.

  It is possible to prevent error erasure by always recording only the original image.

  However, since the memory capacity for storing the original image is generally large, there remains a problem that the number of shots that can be recorded on a storage element having the same capacity is reduced.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems.

  A first object of the present invention is to propose a camera characterized in that it is possible to selectively record at least one of an image before defect repair and an image after defect repair.

  If the setting is made to record the image before defect repair, the photographer can completely prevent error erasure.

  This setting is effective when shooting for business reasons or when taking some evidence photograph.

  In the case where it is not necessarily necessary to prevent error erasure, the photographer does not need to reduce the number of shots if the photographer is set to record the image after defect repair.

  This is effective when taking commemorative photos.

  A first object of the present invention is to propose a camera characterized in that it is possible to selectively record at least one of an image before defect repair and an image after defect repair.

  If the setting is made to record the image before defect repair, the photographer can completely prevent error erasure.

  In the case where it is not necessarily necessary to prevent error erasure, the photographer does not have to reduce the number of shots if the photographer is set to record the image after defect repair.

  In the present invention, in order to further improve the operability, when recording an image after defect repair, it is possible to set to record the image part before defect repair of the same size as the part subjected to defect repair simultaneously We propose a camera characterized by this.

  This makes it possible to recover even if the original image information is lost due to the illusion of dust as a result of automatic processing left to the camera. The purpose can be achieved by consuming the recording capacity.

  The present invention provides an improvement in camera function having an automatic compensation function for image loss due to dust and scratches.

  It was necessary to improve some inconveniences in cameras with automatic compensation function for image defects due to dust and scratches, but according to the present invention, these problems are solved and operability is improved. Bring.

  Next, details of the present invention will be described in accordance with the description of the embodiments.

  FIG. 5 is an example of a simple block diagram of an information device according to the present invention.

  Reference numeral 1 denotes a photographing lens.

  The AF (autofocus) drive circuit unit 2 is constituted by a stepping motor, for example, and adjusts the focus by changing the focus lens position in the lens 1 under the control of the microcomputer 16. The defocus amount used for the focus calculation is calculated by using the video signal processing circuit 10 for a specific area of the sensor output.

  The zoom drive circuit unit 3 is constituted by, for example, a stepping motor, and changes the focal length of the photographing lens by changing the position of the variable magnification lens (not shown) in the lens 1 under the control of the microcomputer 16.

  The aperture drive circuit unit 4 is configured by, for example, an auto iris or the like, and changes the optical aperture value under the control of the microcomputer 16.

  A CCD, CMOS sensor, or the like is used as the image sensor section 6, and a film image formed on the image sensor by the optical lens 1 is photoelectrically converted and taken out as an electric signal.

  The clamp / CDS circuit 7 and AGC 8 perform basic analog processing before A / D conversion.

  The microcomputer 16 can change the clamp level and the AGC reference level.

  The A / D converter 9 converts an analog sensor output signal into a digital signal.

  The video signal processing circuit 10 performs filter processing, color conversion processing, and gamma processing on the digitized sensor image data, and outputs the result to the memory controller 13.

  On the other hand, the video signal processing circuit 10 also includes DA conversion, converts the video signal input from the sensor 6 and the image data input reversely from the memory controller 13 into an analog signal, and passes through the EVF drive circuit 11. It is also possible to output to the EVF monitor 12.

  The function switching is performed by exchanging data with the microcomputer 16, and the exposure information, focus information, white balance, and autofocus information of the sensor signal can be output to the microcomputer 16 as necessary.

  Based on the information, the microcomputer 16 performs white balance and gain adjustment.

  Also, the focus information is evaluated and communicated to the AF drive circuit 2 to drive the focus lens.

  Further, it is possible to record image data in 19 buffer memories through 13 memory controllers without doing anything according to instructions from the microcomputer 16.

  The video signal processing circuit 10 also has a function for compression processing such as JPEG. In the case of continuous shooting, shooting data is temporarily stored in the buffer memory, and when there is time to process, unprocessed image data is read out through the memory controller 13, and the video signal processing circuit 10 performs image processing and compression processing to perform continuous shooting. Earn speed. The number of continuous shots depends on the size of the buffer memory.

  The microcomputer 16 confirms the memory capacity through the memory controller 13 based on the predicted image size data corresponding to the ISO sensitivity, image size, and image quality set before shooting, and determines the remaining number of images that can be shot. It calculates and displays on the external liquid crystal display member 22 through the liquid crystal drive circuit 21.

  In the memory controller 13, unprocessed digital image data input from the video signal processing circuit 10 is stored in the buffer memory 19, and the processed digital image is stored in the memory 14, or conversely from the buffer memory 19 and the memory 14. The image data is output to the video signal processing circuit 10.

  Further, the memory controller 13 can store the video sent from the external interface 15 in the memory 14 and can output the image stored in the memory 14 from the external interface 15. The memory 14 may be free to remove.

  The power supply unit 17 supplies power necessary for each IC and drive system.

  The operation member 18 informs the microcomputer 16 of the state of the operation member, and the microcomputer 16 controls each part in accordance with the change of the operation member.

  Reference numerals 20 (a) and 20 (b) denote release buttons, which are input switches of the operation member 18. When only 20 (a) is on, the release button is half-pressed, and when both 20 (a) and 20 (b) are on, the release button is on to hold and record the captured image.

  In addition to 20, the operation members 18 are connected to switches (not shown) such as an ISO setting button, an image size setting button, an image quality setting button, and an information display button, and the switch state is detected.

  Reference numeral 21 denotes a liquid crystal drive circuit which drives the external liquid crystal display 22 and the liquid crystal display 23 in the finder according to the display content command of the microcomputer 16. The liquid crystal display in the finder 23 is provided with a backlight such as an LED (not shown), and the LED is also driven by the liquid crystal drive circuit 21.

  Note that an auxiliary function for repairing image loss due to dust may be provided in the video signal processing circuit 10.

  In this case, the microcomputer 16 uses a defect repair circuit built in the video signal processing circuit 10 to perform a defect repair function.

  When the video signal processing circuit 10 has an auxiliary function for repairing image loss due to dust, the processing speed is faster than when all processing is performed by the microcomputer 16.

  If the auxiliary function is not provided, the processing time may become a time that cannot be practically used. In such a case, the video signal processing circuit 10 is provided with an auxiliary for repairing an image defect. It is essential to have a function.

  The operation of the block diagram configured as described above will be described below based on the flowchart.

  The flowchart describes the control of the microcomputer 16, and the program code is stored in a read-only memory (hereinafter referred to as ROM) provided in the microcomputer 16.

  Examples of other storage methods include a method in which the microcomputer 16 is provided with an external bus terminal and stored in a memory device connected to the external bus.

  In the embodiment, the program is divided into a plurality of tasks, and each task performs an operation according to a multitask system in which parallel processing is performed at the same time.

  FIG. 1 is a flowchart describing an operation when a photographing operation is performed, and illustrates a task unit that processes the operation.

  In FIG. 1, [Step S101] processing is started.

  In this case, the series of shooting operations is completed, and the process is started from the operation of recording an image.

[Step S102]
It is determined whether or not the setting is the original image recording mode. If the setting is the original image recording mode, the process branches to step S103.

  If it is not in the original image recording mode, the process branches to step S104.

[Step S103]
The original image is stored in the memory 14 as it is.

[Step S104]
It is determined whether or not the setting is the defect repair image recording mode. If the setting is the defect repair image recording mode, the process branches to step S105.

  If it is not in the original image recording mode, the process branches to step S106.

[Step S105]
A defect repair image that has been automatically repaired with dust is stored in the memory 14.

  The microcomputer 16 performs automatic defect repair.

  As described above, the video signal processing circuit 10 may have an auxiliary function for repairing image loss due to dust.

  In this case, the microcomputer 16 uses a defect repair circuit built in the video signal processing circuit 10 to perform a defect repair function.

  The subject matter of the present invention is not an improvement of the repair method.

  The defect repair is performed by the microcomputer 16, but detailed description of the detailed method and algorithm details are different from the main subject of the present invention, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

[Step S106]
When the setting is neither the original image recording mode nor the defect repair image recording mode, the mode is a mode for storing both the original image and the defect repair image, so that the original image is stored in the memory 14 as it is. In addition, a defect repair image that has been automatically repaired with a defect is stored in the memory 14.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart describing an operation when the recording mode is changed, and illustrates a task unit that processes the operation.

  In FIG. 2, [Step S201] processing is started.

  The change of the recording mode is started by pressing the recording mode change button in the operation member 18.

[Step S202]
It is determined whether or not the setting is the original image recording mode. If the setting is the original image recording mode, the process branches to step S203.

  If it is not in the original image recording mode, the process branches to step S204.

[Step S203]
Change the recording mode to the defect repair image recording mode.

[Step S204]
It is determined whether or not the setting is the defect repair image recording mode. If the setting is the defect repair image recording mode, the process branches to step S205.

  If it is not in the original image recording mode, the process branches to step S206.

[Step S205]
The mode is changed to store both the original image and the defect repair image.

[Step S206]
Change the recording mode to the original image recording mode.

  By the above operation, the modes are cyclically selected in the order of “original image recording mode”, “defect repair image recording mode”, and “original image and defect repair image recording mode”.

  FIG. 3 shows an image having a defect due to dust and an image after automatic repair.

  (A) is an example of an image in which a defect due to dust exists, and (B) is an example of an image after automatic repair.

  3A and 3C is an image defect due to dust. In (A), for the sake of convenience, it is expressed in black, but when the light path is blocked by dust, it is generally drawn as a white scratch mark.

  The image (B) in FIG. 3 that has been subjected to the automatic dust erasure repair process is further subjected to a compression process such as JPEG, and is recorded in the memory 14 after the image capacity is reduced.

  In the “original image recording mode”, only the image (A) is stored, in the “defect repair image recording mode”, only the image (B) is stored. In the “original image and defect repair image recording mode”, the image (A ) And (B) are recorded.

  As can be understood from the above description, a camera capable of selectively recording at least one of an image before defect repair and an image after defect repair, which is the first object of the present invention, can be set Can be realized.

  If the setting is made to record the image before defect repair, the photographer can also prevent error erasure.

  This is effective when shooting for business reasons or when taking evidence photographs.

  In the case where it is not necessarily necessary to prevent error erasure, the photographer does not have to reduce the number of shots if the photographer is set to record the image after defect repair.

  This is effective for easy shooting as a memo during travel.

  In the case of recording an image after defect repair as another proposal for the purpose of improving operability in the present invention, the image part before defect repair having the same size as the part subjected to defect repair is recorded simultaneously. We propose a camera that can be set.

  This makes it possible to recover even if the original image information is lost due to the illusion of dust as a result of automatic processing left to the camera. The purpose can be achieved by consuming the recording capacity.

  An embodiment for realizing the above proposal will be described.

  Since the basic circuit configuration and operation flowchart are the same as those in the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 4 shows an image having a defect due to dust and an image after automatic repair.

  (A) is an example of an image in which a defect due to dust exists, and (B) is an example of an image after automatic repair.

  In FIG. 4, the portion shown in FIG. 4C is an image defect due to dust. 4 (A) and 4 (C), for the sake of convenience, it is expressed in black, but when the optical path is blocked by dust, it is drawn as a white scratch mark.

  The image (B) that has been subjected to the automatic dust erasure repair process is further subjected to a compression process such as JPEG, and is recorded in the memory 14 after the image capacity is reduced.

  In the “original image recording mode”, only the image (A) is stored, in the “defect repair image recording mode”, only the image (B) is stored. In the “original image and defect repair image recording mode”, the image (C ) And (B) are recorded.

  Since (C) is a part of the image of (A), the storage capacity required for storage is naturally small, and the images (A) and (B) are stored in the “original image and defect repair image recording mode”. Compared with the case of storing the image, the memory capacity can be greatly reduced when the images (C) and (B) are stored in the “original image and defect repair image recording mode”.

  The image (C) has the minimum information necessary for returning the automatic restoration unit of the image (B) to the original image as an attribute.

The information is the position information indicating which part of the image (B) corresponds to, and the information of the size of the image, for example, the vertical size and the horizontal size, respectively. These attribute information Thus, it is possible to return to the original image from the images (C) and (B).

  Since the dust on the image sensor is not necessarily one, the image (C) is naturally not limited to one and may be plural.

  In that case, each image has the minimum information necessary for returning the automatic restoration unit to the original image as an attribute.

  The image (C) may be in the same file as the image (B) or may be a different file.

  Even when there are a plurality of images (C), they may be in the same file as the image (B) or in different files.

  The plurality of images (C) may be different files or the same file.

  As can be seen from the above explanation, relying on the automatic processing left to the camera makes it possible to recover even if the original image information is lost by illusion of trash and compared to recording the entire original image. The purpose can be achieved with a small amount of recording capacity.

[Industrial applicability]
The present invention can be used as a camera of a type that takes an image using an image sensor or an image sensor and records the image in a storage element such as a flash memory as an alternative to a film.

It is a flowchart describing the operation when a photographing operation is performed, and illustrates a task unit that processes the operation. It is a flowchart describing the operation when the recording mode is changed, and illustrates the task unit that processes the operation. It shows an image with a defect due to dust and an image after automatic repair. (A) is an example of an image in which a defect due to dust exists, and (B) is an example of an image after automatic repair. It shows an image with a defect due to dust and an image after automatic repair. (A) is an example of an image in which a defect due to dust exists, and (B) is an example of an image after automatic repair. The part indicated by (C) is the original image of the part to be automatically repaired. It is an example of the simple block diagram of the information equipment by this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Shooting lens 2 AF (autofocus) drive circuit part 3 Zoom drive circuit part 4 Aperture drive circuit part 5 Aperture (iris)
6 Image sensor 7 Clamp / CDS circuit 8 AGC
9 A / D conversion section 10 Video signal processing circuit 11 EVF drive circuit 12 EVF monitor 13 Memory controller 14 Memory 15 External interface 16 Microcomputer 17 Power supply section 18 Operation member 19 Buffer memory 20 Release button 21 Liquid crystal drive circuit 22 23 LCD display in the viewfinder

Claims (2)

A camera that captures and records an image with an image sensor;
Repair defects in captured images due to foreign matter adhering to the surface of the image sensor,
Has the ability to repair and repair defects
A camera capable of selectively recording at least one of an image before defect repair and an image after defect repair. In the camera according to claim 1, in the case of recording an image after defect repair,
The image part before defect repair, the same size as the part that was repaired defect,
A camera that can be set to be recorded simultaneously with an image after defect repair.

Images