JP2008193218A - Digital camera and image printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

An ID photo is created by a simple operation.
An image acquisition unit 104b acquires an image by controlling an image sensor 103, and an image processing unit 104c recognizes a person's face from the acquired image, a face recognition result, and a preset value. Based on the image size at the time of printing, an image in a predetermined range including a human face is extracted from the image as an ID photo image. The image recording unit 104 d records an image file generated based on the ID photo image extracted by the image processing unit 104 c on a memory card inserted in the memory card slot 106.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a digital camera and an image printing system for printing an image taken by the digital camera.

  The following imaging devices are known. In this imaging apparatus, a frame corresponding to the type of ID photo is displayed on the through image displayed on the monitor in a size corresponding to the size of the print paper. Then, the photographer takes an ID photo image by adjusting the direction of the camera and the distance to the photographed subject so that the upper body of the photographed subject is within the frame (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP-A-2005-244998

  However, according to the conventional imaging apparatus, since it is necessary to take an image with the upper body of the person being photographed within the frame displayed on the monitor, it is necessary to check the display content of the monitor at the time of shooting. The operation of the camera was troublesome because the camera orientation and the distance to the subject had to be adjusted.

The digital camera according to the present invention captures a subject image to acquire an image, recognizes a person's face from the acquired image, and based on the face recognition result and a preset image size at the time of printing, An image of a predetermined range including a human face is extracted from the inside, and the extracted image is recorded on a recording medium.
At this time, the recognition result of the person's face by the face recognition means is notified, and it is determined whether the size of the person's face in the image is within a predetermined allowable range based on the image size at the time of printing. However, when it is determined that the size of the person's face is not within the allowable range, the fact may be notified.
A zoom optical system capable of changing the zoom magnification of the subject image incident on the image sensor is provided, and based on the image size at the time of printing, whether or not the size of the human face in the image is within a predetermined allowable range If it is determined that the size of the person's face is not within the allowable range, the zoom magnification at the time of image acquisition is changed so that the size of the person's face is within the allowable range. May be. Alternatively, when it is determined that the size of the person's face is not within the allowable range, the acquired image may be enlarged or reduced so that the size of the person's face is within the allowable range.
Further, the recording timing of the extracted image may be controlled based on the face recognition result. At this time, the recording timing is controlled using the self-timer, and when the person's face is recognized, the self-timer You may make it start timing.
Also, a plurality of images of the same subject are acquired, an image most suitable for the purpose of the image is selected from the plurality of images based on the recognition result of the person's face, and an extracted image extracted from the selected image is recorded. You may do it.
Further, an image file including the extracted image may be generated and the image file may be recorded. A recording target image in which a plurality of extracted images are arranged is generated, and an image file including the recording target is generated and recorded. You may do it. In addition, images of the same subject are acquired a plurality of times, the human face is recognized for each of the acquired images, and a plurality of images are obtained based on the result of the face recognition and a preset image size at the time of printing. Extract a predetermined range of images including the face of a person from each of them, generate a recording target image in which a plurality of extracted images corresponding to each of the plurality of images are arranged, and generate an image file including the recording target image And may be recorded.
At this time, it is preferable to record the image file including information on the image size at the time of printing the extracted image.
Further, when a person's face cannot be recognized within a certain period of time, it may be notified, or when a person's face can be recognized, it may be notified.
An image printing system according to the present invention includes the digital camera according to claim 11 and a printer for printing an image recorded by the digital camera, and the printer includes information on an image size at the time of printing from the digital camera. An image file is read, and an extracted image or a recording target image included in the image file is printed based on the image size at the time of printing. At this time, it is preferable that the printer prints the extracted image or the recording target image so that the print result of the extracted image always becomes the image size at the time of printing regardless of the paper size at the time of printing.

  According to the present invention, an image including a human face can be taken with a simple operation.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a digital camera according to the present embodiment. The digital camera 100 includes an input switch 101, a lens 102, an image sensor 103, a control device 104, a memory 105, a memory card slot 106, a monitor 107, and an LED 108.

  The input switch 101 includes various input members operated by the user. For example, the input switch 101 includes a release switch and various operation buttons for operating the digital camera 100.

  The lens 102 is composed of a plurality of optical lens groups, but is represented by a single lens in FIG. The lens 102 has a zoom mechanism, and can change the zoom magnification at the time of shooting based on an instruction from the control device 104 described later. That is, the lens 102 is a zoom optical system that can change the zoom magnification of the subject image incident on the image sensor 103. The image sensor 103 is, for example, a CCD, captures a subject image input through the lens 102, and outputs the obtained image data to the control device 104.

  The memory 105 is used as a buffer memory that temporarily records an image captured by the image sensor 103, and further stores various programs executed by the control device 104 described later. The memory card slot 106 is a slot for inserting a memory card as a recording medium for recording images, and can write data into the memory card and read data from the memory card.

  The monitor 107 is a liquid crystal monitor (rear monitor) mounted on the back of the digital camera 100 and displays an image captured by the image sensor 103 and an image read from a memory card. The LED 108 is installed on the surface of the digital camera 100, that is, the surface on which the lens 102 is mounted, and the light emission timing is controlled by the control device 104.

  The control device 104 includes a CPU, a memory, and other peripheral circuits, and functionally includes a mode setting unit 104a, an image acquisition unit 104b, an image processing unit 104c, and an image recording unit 104d. It should be noted that the processing by the units 104a to 104d is executed by the control device 104 reading a program from the memory 105 and starting it.

  The mode setting unit 104a sets the shooting mode of the digital camera 100. The digital camera 100 according to the present embodiment has an ID photo mode in addition to a shooting mode of a general digital camera, such as a portrait mode and a night view mode. In the ID photo mode, the user can take a photo for ID photo using the digital camera 100.

  When the ID photo mode is selected by the user, the mode setting unit 104a sets the digital camera 100 to the ID photo mode. At this time, the mode setting unit 104a prompts the user to specify the size of the ID photo in order to set the size of the ID photo to be created, that is, the size of the image at the time of printing. In general, since the size of the ID photo is determined according to its use, in the present embodiment, the user is prompted to specify the use of the ID photo, and the mode setting unit 104a uses the specified use. Automatically set the size according to.

  For this purpose, the mode setting unit 104a displays a usage list of ID photos on the monitor 107 when the ID photo mode is selected by the user. When the user operates the input switch 101 and selects a use from the list, the mode setting unit 104a automatically determines the size of the ID photo according to the use selected by the user. Set. For example, when the user selects a driver's license as an application, the size of the ID photo for the driver's license is set to 3 cm × 4 cm.

  When the designation of the usage of the ID photo is completed, the user points the digital camera 100 toward the person who creates the ID photo, that is, the target subject. For example, when the user himself is the target subject, the user moves the digital camera 100 to the shooting range of the digital camera 100 after fixing the digital camera 100 to a tripod or the like. In addition, when there is a person who is the target subject other than the user, the digital camera 100 may be fixed to a tripod or the like to encourage the person who is the target subject to move within the shooting range. You may hold the digital camera 100 toward the person who becomes an object. In the following description, the case where the user is the target subject will be described. However, the same processing can be performed when the user other than the user is the target subject.

  When the setting of the ID photo size by the mode setting unit 104 a is completed, the image acquisition unit 104 b controls the image sensor 103 to start capturing a subject image input via the lens 102. Since the image obtained here is an image used in the preparation stage for acquiring the image for the ID photo, in the present embodiment, this image is defined as a preliminary image. The acquisition of the preliminary image is repeated at predetermined time intervals until the ID photograph image (main image) is captured.

  When the input of the preliminary image is started from the image sensor 103, the image processing unit 104c performs a known face recognition process on the acquired preliminary image. That is, the eyes, nose, mouth, and the like of a person's face included in the preliminary image are extracted as feature points, and the person's face existing in the image is recognized based on the feature points. At this time, when the state in which the human face cannot be recognized from the preliminary image continues for a certain period of time, the control device 104 causes the LED 108 to emit light and notifies the user that the human face could not be recognized.

  Here, the reason why a person's face cannot be recognized from the preliminary image is that there is no person in the preliminary image from when the digital camera 100 is fixed to a tripod or the like until the user moves to the shooting range. This is considered to be because of this. In addition, there may be a case where the feature points cannot be accurately extracted, such as when the distance from the digital camera 100 to the user as the target subject is too far or too close.

  On the other hand, when a person's face can be recognized from the preliminary image, the image processing unit 104c notifies the user that the person's face has been recognized by causing the LED 108 to emit light. Here, when the face of a person cannot be recognized, the light emission pattern of the LED 108 is changed so that the user can distinguish the notification contents. For example, if the person's face cannot be recognized, the LED 108 is blinked, and if the person's face is recognized, the LED 108 is lit for a certain period of time. Further, a plurality of colors of LEDs may be mounted so that the notification contents can be distinguished depending on the color of light to be emitted. In the following processing, when notifying the user by causing the LED 108 to emit light, the light emission pattern and the color to be emitted are changed so that the user can understand the content of each notification.

  The image processing unit 104c specifies the size of the person's face in the preliminary image based on the face recognition result in the preliminary image. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, a face recognition frame 2a is set in the preliminary image by face recognition processing, and the size of the face of the person in the preliminary image is based on the size of the face recognition frame 2a. Identify

  Then, the image processing unit 104c determines whether or not the size of the person's face is suitable for use as the ID photo based on the ID photo size set in advance. For example, a permissible range of the person's face size is set for each size of the ID photo, and it is determined whether or not the specified person's face size is within the permissible range. As a result, when it is determined that the size of the face of the person in the image is within the allowable range, the size of the face of the current person is determined to be suitable for use as an ID photo, The LED 108 is caused to emit light to notify the user to that effect.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the size of the person's face is not within the allowable range, the LED 108 is caused to emit light to notify the user and the size of the person's face is within the allowable range. Take measures. For example, the image processing unit 104c adjusts the zoom magnification of the lens 102 to change the size of the person's face in the image so that the size of the person's face falls within an allowable range. For example, when the size of a person's face is smaller than the allowable range, the zoom magnification of the lens 102 is increased so that the user's face is photographed larger. On the other hand, when the size of the person's face is larger than the allowable range, the zoom magnification of the lens 102 is lowered so that the user's face is photographed smaller.

  Alternatively, when notifying the user that the face size is not within the allowable range by causing the LED 108 to emit light, the user himself / herself is prompted to approach or separate from the digital camera 100 by changing the light emission pattern of the LED 108. It may be. For example, when the size of the person's face is smaller than the allowable range, the LED 108 is caused to emit light with a light emission pattern that prompts the user to approach the digital camera 100. On the other hand, when the size of the person's face is larger than the allowable range, the LED 108 emits light with a light emission pattern that prompts the user to move away from the digital camera 100. Thus, it is possible to notify the user that the face size is not within the allowable range, and at the same time, a solution to be solved.

  The image processing unit 104c performs a face recognition process again on the preliminary image of the next frame input from the image sensor 103 after taking measures so that the size of the person's face falls within the allowable range. . Then, it is determined whether the size of the person's face is within an allowable range according to the recognition result. The image processing unit 104c repeats this process until the size of the person's face falls within the allowable range. When the image processing unit 104c determines that the face size of the person in the image is within the allowable range, the current face size of the person is a size suitable for use as an ID photo. It is determined that there is, and the LED 108 is caused to emit light to notify the user of that.

  If the image processing unit 104c determines that the current person's face size is suitable for use as an ID photo by the above processing, all preparations for obtaining the ID photo image are all made. Judge that it is in order. Then, the image acquisition unit 104b stops the acquisition of the preliminary image by controlling the image sensor 103, and thereafter acquires the main image used for creating the ID photo.

  In acquiring the main image, the image acquisition unit 104b uses a self-timer function provided in the digital camera 100 in order to notify the user of the acquisition timing of the main image. That is, the image acquisition unit 104b controls the image sensor 103 to stop acquiring the preliminary image, and then activates the self-timer function to start the timer count (time measurement). Then, the user is notified of the counting status of the self-timer by blinking the LED 108. This makes it possible for the user to grasp the timing of the actual image used to create the ID photo, and that the user closes his eyes or tilts his head when capturing the actual image. Can be prevented.

  The image acquisition unit 104b acquires a plurality of main images obtained by capturing the target subject using the continuous shooting function of the digital camera 100 at the image acquisition timing controlled by the self-timer. Then, the image processing unit 104c performs the above-described face recognition processing on each of the plurality of main images acquired by the image acquisition unit 104b, and recognizes the face of a person included in each main image. Here, since the main image is acquired after performing the above-described preparation using the preliminary image, the image processing unit 104c can recognize the person's face from all the main images. The size of a person's face included in all the main images is a size suitable for use as an ID photo.

  The image processing unit 104c detects the face state of the person included in each of the master images, selects one master image whose face state of the person is most suitable for the ID photo, and uses it as an ID photo creation image. Specifically, the image processing unit 104c executes a known eye-meditation determination process and a neck tilt determination process on all human faces, so that the user is not meditating and the head is tilted. Any one of the unprinted main images is used as an ID photo creation image.

  The image processing unit 104c extracts (cuts out) the ID photo image from the ID photo creation image based on the face recognition result for the ID photo creation image and the preset ID photo size. To decide. That is, as described above with reference to FIG. 2, the face recognition frame 2a is set in the image for creating the ID photo as a result of the face recognition, and the image processing unit 104c uses the face recognition frame 2a as the size of the ID photo. The expanded range is determined as the extraction range in accordance with.

  For example, when the size of the ID photo is set to 3 cm × 4 cm, the extraction range is expanded by expanding the face recognition frame 2a by a predetermined amount in the vertical and horizontal directions until the frame size becomes 3 cm × 4c. decide. At this time, the face recognition frame 2a is positioned at the center of the extraction range by making the extension amounts in the upward and downward directions the same and making the extension amounts in the left and right directions the same. Like that. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, it is possible to determine the extraction range 3a in which the recognized human face is located at the center of the range and has the same size as the ID photo.

  Then, the image processing unit 104c extracts an image within the determined extraction range 3a, and uses this extracted image as an ID photo image. As a result, an ID photo image as shown in FIG. 4 can be created.

  The image recording unit 104d generates a recording target image in which a plurality of ID photo images extracted by the image processing unit 104c are arranged. That is, the image recording unit 104d creates a predetermined number, for example, three copies of the ID photo image, and obtains a total of 4 ID photo images. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, a recording target image in which four ID photograph images are arranged at a predetermined interval is generated. The recording target image is recorded on a memory card inserted in the memory card slot 106.

  At this time, the image recording unit 104d generates an image file based on the recording target image, and records the image file on the memory card. The image file generated here is an image file including an image data part for storing image data of an image to be recorded and an additional information part for storing additional information related to the image data, for example, an Exif format image file. The image recording unit 104d records information about the size of the ID photo, for example, 3 cm × 4 cm together with additional information such as the creation date and time information of the recording target image in the additional information unit of the image file.

  As a result, even when the image file generated by the digital camera 100 is read into another device such as a personal computer, the size of the ID photo can be recognized by the application on the personal computer side. In addition, when printing an ID photo directly by outputting an image file to a printer, the printer must be equipped with a function for reading the ID photo size information from the additional information section and determining the ID photo size. Thus, it is possible to print the ID photo of the size desired by the user without specifying the ID photo size again at the time of printing. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, when printing a recording target image in which four ID photo images are arranged, the size of each ID photo image can be printed so as to match the size of the ID photo. .

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing of the digital camera 100 in the present embodiment. The process shown in FIG. 6 is executed by the control device 104 as a program that is activated when the ID photo mode is selected as the shooting mode by the user.

  In step S10, the mode setting unit 104a sets the digital camera 100 to the ID photo mode, and sets the ID photo size, that is, the size of the image at the time of printing, according to the designation of the ID photo application by the user as described above. Set. Then, it progresses to step S20. The image acquisition unit 104b controls the imaging element 103 to start acquiring the preliminary image described above, and proceeds to step S30.

  In step S <b> 30, the image processing unit 104 c performs a known face recognition process on one frame of the preliminary image input from the image sensor 103 to recognize a human face included in the preliminary image. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S40, and the image processing unit 104c determines whether or not a person's face can be recognized from the preliminary image as a result of performing the face recognition process. If it is determined that the person's face cannot be recognized, the process proceeds to step S41.

  In step S41, after starting the acquisition of the preliminary image in step S20, the image processing unit 104c determines whether or not a state in which the human face cannot be recognized from the preliminary image has continued for a certain period of time. When it is determined that the predetermined time has not been continued, the process proceeds to step S42, where the image processing unit 104c acquires a preliminary image of the next frame input from the image sensor 103, and returns to step S30. On the other hand, if it is determined that the operation has continued for a certain time, the process proceeds to step S43, and the control device 104 notifies the user that the person's face cannot be recognized by causing the LED 108 to emit light. The process ends.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S40 that the person's face has been recognized, the process proceeds to step S50, and the image processing unit 104c notifies the user that the person's face has been recognized by causing the LED 108 to emit light. Proceed to step S60. In step S60, as shown in FIG. 2, as a result of face recognition, the size of the face of the person shown in the preliminary image is determined based on the size of the face recognition frame 2a set in the preliminary image. Is identified. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S70.

  In step S70, it is determined whether or not the face size of the identified person is within a preset allowable range. If it is determined that it is not within the allowable range, the process proceeds to step S71. In step S71, the image processing unit 104c notifies the user that the size of the recognized face is not within the allowable range by causing the LED 108 to emit light, and proceeds to step S72. In step S72, the image processing unit 104c adjusts the zoom magnification of the lens 102 so that the size of the person's face falls within the allowable range. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S73, a preliminary image of the next frame input from the image sensor 103 is acquired, and the process returns to step S30.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the size of the face of the identified person is within a preset allowable range, the process proceeds to step S80. In step S80, the image processing unit 104c notifies the user that the size of the recognized face is within the allowable range by causing the LED 108 to emit light. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S90, where the image acquisition unit 104b controls the image sensor 103 to stop acquiring the preliminary image, and then proceeds to step S100.

  In step S100, the image acquisition unit 104b activates a self-timer function included in the digital camera 100 and starts counting the timer in order to control the photographing timing of the main image. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S110, and it is determined whether or not the acquisition timing of the main image has come based on the count value of the timer. If it is determined that the acquisition timing of the main image has come, the process proceeds to step S120, and the image acquisition unit 104b acquires a plurality of main images using the continuous shooting function. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S130.

  In step S130, the image processing unit 104c performs the above-described face recognition processing on each of the plurality of main images acquired by the image acquisition unit 104b, and recognizes the human face included in each main image. To do. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S140, and as described above, the image processing unit 104c detects the face state of the person included in each of the master images, and selects the master image with the best person face state for creating the ID photo. Select as an image and go to step S150.

  In step S150, the image processing unit 104c determines, as an extraction range, a range in which the face recognition frame 2a obtained as a result of the face recognition process for the image for creating the ID photo is expanded according to a preset ID photo size. To do. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S160, and the image processing unit 104c extracts an image within the determined extraction range as an ID photo image, and the process proceeds to step S170.

  In step S170, the image recording unit 104d generates a recording target image in which a plurality of ID photo images extracted by the image processing unit 104c are arranged. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S180, and the image recording unit 104d stores an image to be recorded in the image data unit, generates an image file in which information on the image data including information on the size of the ID photo is stored in the additional information unit, Proceed to step S190. In step S190, the image recording unit 104d records the generated image file on the memory card, and ends the process.

According to the present embodiment described above, the following operational effects can be obtained.
(1) The face of the person is recognized from the image for creating the ID photo by the face recognition process, and the ID photo image including the recognized face of the person is extracted based on the preset ID photo size. . Thus, conventionally, when taking a photo using a digital camera, the photographer must be able to hold the upper body of the subject within the frame displayed on the monitor. Although it was necessary to adjust the distance, ID photographs can be taken with a simple operation by eliminating these operations. Furthermore, since an image taken with the camera fixed on a tripod or the like can be used as an ID photo creation image, an ID photo can be taken without a photographer.

(2) As a preparation stage for acquiring the main image, it is determined whether or not the person's face can be normally recognized using the preliminary image. If the human face cannot be normally recognized, the acquisition of the preliminary image is repeated until it can be recognized. I did it. This makes it possible to prevent the acquisition of the main image until the subject is included in the image, considering that the ID photo must always include a person's face. .

(3) Further, when the face of a person can be recognized from the preliminary image, it is checked whether the size of the human face in the preliminary image is within an allowable range according to the size of the ID photo. As a result, in the image acquired to create the ID photo, the face of the person needs to be captured at a certain size or more, and the allowable range of the size varies depending on the size of the ID photo. It is possible to prevent the acquisition of the main image until a face having a size suitable for the size of the ID photo can be photographed.

(4) If it is determined that the size of the person's face in the preliminary image is not within the allowable range, the zoom magnification of the lens 102 is adjusted so that the size of the person's face is within the allowable range; The size of the person's face in the image was changed. As a result, the face size of the person in the preliminary image can be automatically adjusted so as to be suitable for the ID photo.

(5) The self-timer function is used for photographing the main image, and the user is notified of the count state of the self-timer by blinking the LED 108. Thus, the user can know the shooting timing of the main image before shooting, and can prevent the eyes from being closed or the neck from being tilted during shooting.

(6) A plurality of main images are taken by the continuous shooting function, the face state of the person included in each main image is detected, and the ID image is selected by selecting the main image that best matches the ID photo. It was made to be an image for creation. As a result, even if the user closes his eyes or tilts his head at a certain moment during the actual image shooting, the image shot at that moment is excluded, and the image is suitable for an ID photo. ID photo can be created based on.

(7) An image in which a plurality of ID photo images are arranged is generated as a recording target image, and an image file in which the recording target image is stored in the image data portion is recorded. Thus, by printing this image file, an ID photo in which a plurality of the same photos are arranged can be obtained in the same manner as a general ID photo.

(8) The additional information section of the image file is recorded including information on the size of the ID photo. Accordingly, printing can be performed so that each ID photo image included in the recording target image becomes the size of the ID photo without specifying the ID photo size again at the time of printing.

(9) When a person's face cannot be recognized within a certain period of time, the LED 108 is made to emit light to notify that effect. Thus, the user can grasp that the face recognition process has timed out.

(10) When the face of a person can be recognized, the LED 108 is made to emit light to notify that effect. Thus, the user can grasp that the face recognition process has been successful.

-Modification-
The digital camera according to the above-described embodiment can be modified as follows.

(1) In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the processing by each unit 104a to 104d is software processing has been described. However, among the processes performed by the respective units 104a to 104d, processes that can be realized by hardware processing may be performed by hardware. For example, if the face recognition process executed by the image processing unit 104c is processed by hardware, the processing speed of the face recognition process can be further increased.

(2) In the above-described embodiment, when the size of the person's face in the preliminary image is not within the allowable range according to the size of the ID photo, the zoom magnification of the lens 102 is changed to be included in the preliminary image. The example in which the size of the face of the included person is adjusted to be within the allowable range has been described. However, the size of the person's face is not determined at the preliminary image stage, but the size of the person's face included in the main image is determined after the main image is photographed. If it is not within the allowable range according to the size, the size of the person's face included in the main image may be adjusted to be within the allowable range by enlarging or reducing the main image. Good.

(3) In the above-described embodiment, the self-timer function is used for photographing the main image, and the user is notified of the count state of the self-timer by blinking the LED 108. The example which can grasp | ascertain imaging | photography timing was demonstrated. However, the main image may be taken without using the self-timer function. In this case, for example, the user may be notified of the shooting timing of the main image by pre-lighting the LED 108 immediately before shooting the main image.

(4) In the above-described embodiment, a plurality of main images are acquired by the continuous shooting function, the state of the face of the person included in each of the main images is detected, and the main image having the best state of the person's face The example in which one is selected and used as an ID photo creation image has been described. However, only one main image may be acquired, and an ID photo image may be created based on the acquired one main image. If all of the images are not suitable for the ID photo when all the images are acquired, or if only one of the images is not suitable for the ID photo, the images are suitable for the ID photo. You may make it correct | amend by performing image processing so that it may become an image. For example, when it is determined that the person's face is not suitable for the ID photo because the face is inclined, the inclination of the face may be corrected. Further, other correction processing, for example, red-eye correction processing may be performed simultaneously. Furthermore, since the ID photo is generally required to have a single color background, if the background is not a single color, the background area in the image may be corrected to a single color. .

  Alternatively, a human face is recognized for each of a plurality of images acquired by the continuous shooting function, and based on the recognition result and a preset printing image size (size of ID photo), You may extract the image of the predetermined range containing a person's face from each. Then, a recording target image in which a plurality of extracted images corresponding to each of the plurality of images is arranged may be generated, and an image file including the recording target image may be generated and recorded. This makes it possible to generate and record an ID photo that includes all the faces of a person extracted from a plurality of images acquired by the continuous shooting function.

(5) In the above-described embodiment, an example in which a recording target image in which a plurality of ID photo images are arranged is generated, and an image file in which the recording target image is stored in the image data portion is generated and recorded has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an image file may be generated and recorded for each ID photo image.

(6) In the above-described embodiment, an example in which various notifications are given to the user by causing the LED 108 to emit light has been described. However, a speaker is mounted on the digital camera 100 to perform various notifications by voice. Also good. At this time, as a sound to be output, a sound effect may be output or a guidance sound may be output.

(7) The digital camera 100 in the above-described embodiment can also be used as an image printing system in combination with a printer. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the digital camera 100 may include a printer connection interface 109 for connecting to the printer 200 so that the ID photo created by the digital camera 100 can be output to the printer 200 and printed. . The connection with the printer 200 via the printer connection interface 109 may be a wired connection such as a USB connection, or a wireless connection via a wireless LAN or the like.

  In this case, as described above, in the digital camera 100, an image file including information on the size of the ID photo is generated and recorded in the additional information section. The printer 200 captures an image file from the connected digital camera 100 and reads information related to the size of the ID photo from the additional information section. Then, the recording target image is printed so that each ID photo has the read size. As a result, the ID photo created by the digital camera 100 can be printed directly, and there is no need to specify the size of the ID photo again. Further, when a general-purpose printer capable of printing using various sizes of paper is used as the printer 200, it is necessary to prevent the ID photo size from changing according to the set paper size. That is, the printer 200 prints the image to be recorded so that each ID photo has the read size regardless of the set paper size. This makes it possible to always print an ID photo having a preset size.

(8) The present invention is not limited to application to the digital camera 100, but can also be applied to a device having a photographing function and an image processing function, such as a mobile phone with a camera. Further, the photographing function and the image processing function may be installed in different devices. For example, a CCD camera having a photographing function and a personal computer having an image processing function may be connected, and an ID photo may be created based on an image photographed by the CCD camera on the personal computer.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the configurations in the above-described embodiments as long as the characteristic functions of the present invention are not impaired.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a digital camera. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the recognition result by a face recognition process. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the extraction range extracted as an ID photograph image. It is a figure which shows the specific example of an ID photograph image. It is a figure which shows the specific example of a recording target image. 2 is a flowchart showing processing of the digital camera 100. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of an image printing system.

Explanation of symbols

100 digital camera, 101 input switch, 102 lens, 103 image sensor, 104 control device, 104a mode setting unit, 104b image acquisition unit, 104c image processing unit, 104d image recording unit, 105 memory, 106 memory card slot, 107 monitor, 108 LED

Claims (16)

Image acquisition means for acquiring an image by capturing a subject image;
Face recognition means for recognizing a person's face from the image acquired by the image acquisition means;
Image extracting means for extracting an image of a predetermined range including the face of the person from the image based on a recognition result by the face recognition means and a preset image size at the time of printing;
A digital camera comprising recording means for recording the extracted image extracted by the extracting means on a recording medium. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein
A digital camera further comprising notification means for notifying the recognition result of the person's face by the face recognition means. The digital camera according to claim 2,
Based on the image size at the time of printing, further comprising a determination means for determining whether the size of the face of the person in the image is within a predetermined allowable range,
The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein when the determination unit determines that the size of the face of the person is not within the allowable range, the notification unit notifies the fact. The digital camera according to claim 1 or 2,
A zoom optical system capable of changing the zoom magnification of the subject image incident on the image acquisition means;
Determination means for determining whether the size of the face of the person in the image is within a predetermined allowable range based on the image size at the time of printing;
If the determination means determines that the size of the person's face is not within the allowable range, the zoom magnification at the time of image acquisition is set so that the size of the person's face is within the allowable range. A digital camera, further comprising zoom magnification changing means for changing. The digital camera according to claim 1 or 2,
Determination means for determining whether the size of the face of the person in the image is within a predetermined allowable range based on the image size at the time of printing;
When the determination unit determines that the size of the person's face is not within the allowable range, the size of the person's face is acquired by the image acquisition unit so as to be within the allowable range. A digital camera further comprising image size changing means for enlarging or reducing an image. In the digital camera according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The digital camera further comprising timing control means for controlling recording timing by the recording means based on a face recognition result by the face recognition means. The digital camera according to claim 6, wherein
The timing control means controls the recording timing by the recording means using a self-timer, and starts timing by the self-timer when the face of the person is recognized by the face recognition means. Digital camera. In the digital camera according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The image acquisition means acquires a plurality of images of the same subject,
Based on the recognition result of the person's face by the face recognition means, further comprising a selection means for selecting an image most suitable for the use of the image from a plurality of images acquired by the image acquisition means,
The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the recording unit records the extracted image extracted from the image selected by the selection unit. The digital camera according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the recording unit generates an image file including the extracted image and records the image file. The digital camera according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
The digital camera characterized in that the recording means generates a recording target image in which a plurality of the extracted images are arranged, generates an image file including the recording target, and records the image file. The digital camera according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
The image acquisition means acquires an image of the same subject multiple times,
The face recognition means recognizes the face of the person for each of a plurality of images acquired by the image acquisition means;
The image extraction unit extracts a predetermined range of images including the person's face from each of the plurality of images based on a recognition result by the face recognition unit and a preset image size at the time of printing,
The recording means generates a recording target image in which a plurality of extracted images corresponding to each of the plurality of images are arranged, generates an image file including the recording target image, and records the image file. A featured digital camera. The digital camera according to any one of claims 9 to 11,
The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the recording unit records the image file including information related to an image size when the extracted image is printed. The digital camera according to claim 2,
The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein when the face recognition unit cannot recognize the face of the person within a predetermined time, the notification unit notifies the fact. The digital camera according to claim 2,
The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein when the face recognition unit can recognize the face of the person, the notification unit notifies the fact. A digital camera according to claim 12,
A printer for printing an image recorded by the digital camera,
The printer reads an image file including information about an image size at the time of printing from the digital camera, and prints an extracted image or a recording target image included in the image file based on the image size at the time of printing. Image printing system. The image printing system according to claim 15, wherein
The image printing system, wherein the printer prints the extracted image or the recording target image so that the print result of the extracted image always becomes the image size at the time of printing regardless of the paper size at the time of printing.

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