JP4724041B2 - Imaging device, shooting warning method, and computer-readable recording medium - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging device, a shooting warning method, and a computer-readable recording medium. About.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional digital cameras having a display means such as a liquid crystal and a sound output means such as a speaker are known that output a display and sound that informs the operation content during operation. For example, Patent Document 1 proposes a technique for informing a display and sound whether zooming up or zooming down when the zoom magnification is changed. Patent Document 2 discloses a digital camera that displays an electronic zoom warning. Further, Patent Document 3 proposes a technique in which electronic zoom is prohibited when an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) serving as display means is OFF, and a photographing frame is displayed in the optical viewfinder.
JP 2004-247842 A JP 2001-169155 A JP 2003-274253 A

By the way, if it is not configured to display a frame that matches the electronic zoom in the optical viewfinder or has a mechanism that can change the optical viewfinder magnification according to the electronic zoom magnification, This causes a problem that the recorded range differs from the range viewed from the small window of the optical viewfinder. For example, even if the electronic zoom magnification (in the shaded area) as shown in FIG. 13 is set, the optical viewfinder looks as shown in FIG. In this case, when viewed from the optical viewfinder, even if shooting is performed assuming that the star at the upper left of the screen (FIG. 14) is reflected, the actual range is as shown in FIG. .
Also, depending on the magnification of the electronic zoom, the image may be processed at a lower resolution than the camera originally has for the enlargement processing of the captured image, and the image quality deteriorates when looking through the optical viewfinder. Sometimes I shoot without being aware of what I am doing.

And about the contribution of the above-mentioned prior art to such a problem, since the technique of patent document 1 does not warn about the operation | movement of an electronic zoom or the expansion process of a captured image, the above auxiliary functions are provided. When looking into an optical viewfinder that does not have, it is impossible to solve the problem of taking a picture without noticing that a part of the subject constituting the subject is out of the shooting range. In addition, there is a possibility that a warning function cannot be obtained when a setting that prohibits audio output is possible. Further, in Patent Document 2, although it is said that a warning sound may be used as a sound, there is no clarification of a specific configuration, and a technology cannot be realized. In the case of Patent Document 3, the cost of the optical finder is increased.
The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances described above, imaging such there with a simple structure but which prevents al, the expansion process of the preparative interrupt image from the user unintended image is recorded It is an object to provide an apparatus, a shooting warning method, and a computer-readable recording medium.

In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1, an electronic zoom unit configured to perform electronic zoom against the shooting target, in the imaging apparatus and an audio output means for outputting voice, the imaging apparatus If the number of pixels in the shooting range determined by the electronic zoom magnification is smaller than the set number of recorded pixels, the number of pixels is enlarged, and the number of pixels in the shooting range is greater than or equal to the set number of recorded pixels. In this case, by reducing the number of pixels, the image size changing means for converting the captured image into a size corresponding to the number of recorded pixels, the audio output switching means for switching on / off the audio output means, and the image quality warning means The image quality warning means includes the image size change regardless of the on / off state of the audio output switching means in the electronic zoom by the electronic zoom means. It is set magnification enlargement processing 1 times or more by the means is performed, an image with degraded resolution than the image pickup device has the when the magnification to be recorded is selected, to perform one or more times enlargement process It is controlled to a warning sound indicating that the output from the voice output means shall be the imaging device characterized according to claim.

In the invention described in claim 2, wherein the warning sound you characterized imaging apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it supports multiple languages.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, an electronic finder that reflects an object to be photographed in a liquid crystal device is provided, and a warning display is displayed on the electronic finder together with the output of the warning sound. The imaging device is characterized.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided display switching means for switching on / off of the electronic viewfinder, and the electronic viewfinder outputs the warning display regardless of the on / off state of the display switching means. you wherein imaging apparatus according to claim 3.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the shooting warning method in which electronic zooming is performed on a subject to be photographed by the electronic zoom means and sound is output by the sound output means , among the pixels of the imaging device, the electronic zoom magnification If the number of pixels in the shooting range determined by is smaller than the set number of recorded pixels, the number of pixels is increased. If the number of pixels in the shooting range is greater than the set number of recorded pixels, the number of pixels is reduced. Thus, the process of converting the photographed image into a size that matches the number of recording pixels is performed by the image size changing means, the sound output switching means is turned on / off by the sound output switching means , and the sound output switching means is turned on / off. Regardless of the off state, in the electronic zoom by the electronic zoom means, enlargement processing of 1 or more times is performed by the image size changing means. Magnification is set above, when the magnification image in degraded resolution than is recorded to the image pickup device has is selected, the image quality warning means a warning sound indicating that performing one or more times enlargement process It is characterized by a shooting warning method characterized in that control is performed so as to output from the sound output means.

In the invention described in claim 6, wherein the warning sound corresponding to multiple languages, and wherein the shooting warning method according to claim 5, characterized in that the audio data that matches the language setting.
In the invention described in claim 7, it said shooting warning method according to claim 5 or 6 displays a warning display along with the output of the alarm sound on the electronic viewfinder.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the electronic finder is turned on / off by display switching means, and the electronic finder displays the warning display regardless of the on / off state of the display switching means. 7 is characterized by the shooting warning method described in 7 .
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer-readable recording medium on which a control program for executing the operation in the photographing warning method according to any one of the fifth to eighth aspects is recorded.

According to the present invention, regardless of the on / off state of the audio output switching means , a warning sound is emitted when a magnification at which an image is recorded at a resolution deteriorated from the resolution of the imaging device is selected . It is possible to avoid mistakes such as shooting with unintended image quality degradation. Further, only the alarm sound even if you were to turn off the audio output by to be output, Ru can be avoided more reliably fail shooting.
Further, by displaying the warning content on the display device together with the warning sound, it is possible to visually confirm the warning, and the warning can be transmitted to the user more reliably. In addition, since it is possible by visually confirmed in an environment such as voice is difficult to hear, Ru can avoid the problem of an increasing number of failed shooting of the user by the use environment. Also, when the display of the electronic viewfinder is off, the period of the warning display by turning on the automatically displayed, thereby enabling more effective warning than just a warning sound.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The best mode for carrying out an imaging apparatus, a shooting warning method, and a computer-readable recording medium according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a case where a digital camera is used as an example of the imaging apparatus will be described. However, the imaging apparatus is not limited to a digital camera as long as the imaging apparatus can perform electronic zoom processing. Also, the shooting warning method is a control method (operation) when warning is given for the operation of the electronic zoom as well as the warning for image quality degradation corresponding to the warning of the present invention , and the processing operation shown in the description here. is there. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital camera as the best mode for carrying out the present invention, and FIGS. 2 to 4 are a rear view, a front view, and a top view of the digital camera, respectively. First, each part of the block diagram of the digital camera will be described. A lens (zoom and focus lens) 1 and a shutter 2 in the lens unit are driven by a motor driver 3. The motor driver 3 is controlled by a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer) 5 included in the signal processing IC 4.

The imaging unit includes a CCD (imaging device) 6, a timing signal generator (hereinafter referred to as TG) 7 for driving the CCD 6, an analog gain controller (hereinafter referred to as AGC) 8, and a CCD output electrical signal (analog image data) converted into a digital signal A / D converter 9 and the like. Digital data input from the imaging unit is temporarily stored as RGB data in an SDRAM 12 which is a frame memory of the image storage unit via a CCD I / F (Inter Face) 11.
The signal processing IC 4 includes a CCD I / F 11, an image processing unit 13, a display I / F 14, a JPEG codec unit 15, a resizing unit (image size changing means) 16, a card controller 17, an audio codec unit 18, a memory controller 19, and system control. It is comprised from the microcomputer 5 to perform. The CCD I / F 11 outputs a screen horizontal synchronizing signal (HD) and a screen vertical synchronizing signal (VD), and takes in a digital RGB signal input from the A / D converter in accordance with the synchronizing signal, and a memory controller 19. The RGB data is written to the SDRAM 12 via
The image processing unit 13 converts the RGB data temporarily stored in the SDRAM 12 into YUV data based on the image processing parameters set by the control unit, and outputs the YUV data to the SDRAM 12. The resizing unit 16 reads the YUV data and performs size conversion to a size necessary for recording, size conversion to a thumbnail image, size conversion to a size suitable for display, and the like. The display I / F 14 sends display data written in the SDRAM 12 to a display device (LCD (liquid crystal display)) 21 to display a captured image. The display data can be displayed on the LCD, or output as a TV video signal and displayed on the television. The display device 21 displays a live view video and functions as an electronic viewfinder.

The JPEG codec unit 15 compresses the YUV data written in the SDRAM 12 during recording and outputs JPEG-encoded data, and decompresses the JPEG-encoded data read from the card into YUV data during reproduction. . The audio codec unit 18 converts the audio information read out to the SDRAM 12 into an electric signal and outputs it to an audio output device (speaker) 22 as an audio output unit. The card controller 17 reads the data in the memory card 23 to the SDRAM 12 and writes the data on the SDRAM 12 to the memory card 23 according to instructions from the microcomputer.
The microcomputer 5 loads the program and control data stored in the ROM 24 upon startup to the SDRAM 12, and controls the whole based on the program code. Further, in accordance with an instruction from the button of the operation unit 25, an external operation instruction such as a remote controller (not shown), or a communication operation instruction by communication from an external terminal such as a personal computer, the imaging operation control and the image processing parameters in the image processing apparatus Setting, memory control, and display control.
The operation unit 25 is used by the photographer to instruct the operation of the image pickup apparatus, and includes a release key 31 (FIGS. 3 and 4) for instructing photographing, a zoom button 32 for setting optical zoom and electronic zoom magnification, It has buttons for making various other settings from the outside. Here, the electronic zoom is a process for enlarging a part of the image captured by the CCD and changing the size of the subject, and the function is given by the electronic zoom means. Since the configuration of the electronic zoom means is a well-known technique, a detailed description thereof will be omitted except for the operation method.

Next, the photographing operation at the time of electronic zoom will be described. When the shooting / playback switching dial 33 in FIG. 4 is set to shooting and the camera is activated by the power button 34, the lens is set to the zoom wide position and the live view image is displayed on the display device 21. When the zoom telephoto button (hereinafter referred to as zoom T button) 32t is pressed from the activated state, the zoom lens moves to the telephoto side (hereinafter referred to as tele side). When the zoom wide-angle button (hereinafter, zoom W button) 32w is pressed, the zoom lens moves to the wide-angle side (hereinafter, wide side).
13 and 14 shown in the description of the prior art will be used again. FIG. 14 shows a display when the optical zoom is at the maximum magnification (tele end). The lower left of the screen is a zoom position display bar, and the black dot indicates the current tele end position. In FIG. 14, it can be seen that the electronic zoom range is not within the shaded area. When the zoom T button 32t (FIG. 2) is pressed again, the electronic zoom state is entered. FIG. 13 shows a state when the electronic zoom is set. When the release key 31 (FIGS. 3 and 4) is pressed here, shooting preparation processing such as focusing operation and exposure time setting is performed, and then recording exposure processing is performed. Then, after the shutter 2 (FIG. 1) is closed, RGB data for all the pixels of the CCD is once taken into the SDRAM 12. Next, as shown in FIG. 5, only the portion corresponding to the currently displayed range is sent to the image processing unit and converted into YUV data. This YUV data is converted into a size corresponding to the number of recording pixels by the resizing unit 16 (FIG. 1), JPEG compression processing is performed, header information is added, and it is stored in the memory card 23 (FIG. 1) as a JPEG file. The

Here, the electronic zoom warning will be described. Since the optical viewfinder 35 (FIGS. 2 and 3) of this digital camera does not have a structure corresponding to the enlargement of the object to be photographed by the operation of the electronic zoom, it is recorded when the range that can be viewed from the optical viewfinder 35 and enlarged by the electronic zoom In some cases, the shooting range is different. In order to avoid this problem, in this digital camera, when the electronic zoom state is entered, the electronic zoom warning means outputs a warning sound notifying that the electronic zoom is activated from the audio output device 22 (FIG. 1). Be controlled. At the same time, it is controlled to display a warning to that effect on the display device 21 (FIG. 2). These warnings are output when the zoom T button 32t is pressed again from the zoom telephoto end.
The control operation of the electronic zoom warning means is realized in the microcomputer 5 (FIG. 1). With this electronic zoom warning means, it is possible to prevent the user from taking a picture without noticing that a part of the subject constituting the subject is out of the shooting range. The digital camera includes audio output switching means (not shown) for switching on / off of the audio output, but the audio output device 22 regardless of the on / off state of the audio output switching means. (FIG. 1) outputs a warning sound based on the electronic zoom warning means. As a result, it is possible to more reliably prevent failed shooting related to the shooting range.

Audio output data corresponding to a plurality of languages is stored in the ROM 24 (FIG. 1). Audio data is read out to the SDRAM 12 in accordance with the language setting state of the digital camera. For example, when the electronic zoom is turned on while Japanese is set, audio information uttered as “electronic zoom” is read into the SDRAM 12 and converted into an electrical signal by the audio codec unit 18. Audio is output from the audio output device 22. When connected to a TV, a similar signal is also output to the audio line of the TV output terminal. If English is set, “Digital Zoom” and audio output are performed.
The warning sound output may be a serious problem when the range where the image is intended to be shot and the range where the image is actually shot may be serious. Therefore, even when the normal operation sound output is OFF, As you can see, it makes sure that you don't notice a serious problem by making a sound. In addition, even if it is configured not to have a memory capacity to store data corresponding to each language, if it has only a function to output a buzzer sound without a voice output device in order to reduce costs, For example, an electronic zoom warning can be issued by continuously outputting a buzzer for 1 second.
The warning display is output for one second in this example when the zoom T button is pressed again from the zoom telephoto end (FIG. 6) of the electronic zoom off. The display characters are switched according to the language setting state, such as Japanese display in FIG. 7 and English display in FIG. When the zoom W button 32w (FIG. 2) is pressed from the state of FIG. 7, the electronic zoom is turned off. FIG. 9 shows a display when the electronic zoom is turned off. There is also an audio output at this time. As with the electronic zoom warning, the sound “electronic zoom off” is output in Japanese settings.

Next, an image quality warning corresponding to the warning of the present invention will be described. The image quality warning is issued when a magnification at which an image is recorded with a resolution deteriorated from the resolution of the CCD 6 (FIG. 1) is selected. In other words, an image quality warning is issued when a magnification for enlarging processing is selected when creating a recorded image. In the present digital camera, when the magnification at which the enlargement process of 1 × or more is set in the electronic zoom by the electronic zoom means, the sound output device 22 (see FIG. The microcomputer 5 (FIG. 1) has a function as image quality warning means for controlling to output from 1). By this image quality warning means, it is possible to prevent photographing without noticing that the image quality has deteriorated.
In this example, the image quality warning means controls to display a warning to that effect on the display device 21 (FIGS. 1 and 2) simultaneously with the sound output. As a result, visual confirmation can be made, and a warning can be transmitted to the user more reliably. In addition, since it can be confirmed visually even in an environment where it is difficult to hear the sound, it is possible to avoid the problem that the user's failure shooting increases depending on the use environment.
The digital camera is provided with display switching means (not shown) for switching on / off of the warning display. However, regardless of the on / off state of the display switching means, the display device 21 is an electronic zoom. Warnings based on warning means and image quality warning means are displayed. As a result, it is possible to more reliably prevent the failure shooting related to the deterioration of the image quality.

Also, the sound of the warning sound is set to be different between the case of output by the control of the electronic zoom warning means and the case of output by the control of the image quality warning means. The user can know clearly. Similarly, the contents of the warning display are set differently when the display is performed under the control of the electronic zoom warning means and when the display is performed under the control of the image quality warning means. Similarly, the user can clearly know what the problem is to occur.
Here, a description will be given by taking a CCD with 1.2 million pixels as an example. The number of recording pixels of this CCD is 1260 horizontal pixels and 960 vertical pixels. The camera can select the number of recording pixels from two of 1,200,000 pixels (1280 × 960) and 300,000 pixels (640 × 480). The digital zoom magnification can be set in increments of 0.2. When the number of recording pixels is 1.2 million pixels and the digital zoom is 1.2 times, the number of pixels after YUV conversion is about 1068 × 800. This data is input to the resizing unit 16 (FIG. 1) and is multiplied by 1.2 to obtain 1280 × 960 pixels, and JPEG compression is performed.

In the resizing module, for example, enlargement processing is performed by bilinear or bicubic interpolation and resampling. Since 1.2 million pixels are made based on pixels smaller than 1.2 million pixels, recording is performed at a lower resolution than that of the original CCD, and image quality deteriorates.
The degree of deterioration becomes stronger as the electronic zoom magnification becomes higher. When the number of recording pixels is 300,000 pixels and the digital zoom is 1.2 times, the number of pixels after YUV conversion is about 1068 × 800. This data is input to the resizing unit, and JPEG compression is performed with 640 × 480 pixels by reduction processing. In this case, since there is more YUV data than the number of recording pixels, an image quality equivalent to that when the electronic zoom is off can be obtained.
In the 300,000 pixel mode, YUV data is larger than the number of recording pixels up to 1.8 times the electronic zoom. At 2.0 times, the number of recorded pixels and the number of YUV converted pixels match. So far there is almost no image quality degradation. However, when it becomes 2.2 times, the number of YUV conversion pixels becomes smaller than the number of recording pixels, the enlargement processing is performed in the resizing unit 16, and deterioration of the image quality related to the resolution starts.
As described above, the magnification of the electronic zoom at which the image quality starts to deteriorate varies depending on the number of recording pixels. FIG. 10 shows the tele end of the electronic zoom off in the 300,000 pixel mode. When the electronic zoom is further operated by the zoom T button 32t (FIG. 2) from the state of FIG. 10, the state is as shown in FIG. FIG. 11 shows a display when the electronic zoom of 300,000 pixels is increased to 2.0 times. At this time, no image quality warning is displayed. FIG. 12 shows a display when the zoom T button is pressed again from the 2.0 × state, resulting in an electronic zoom of 300,000 pixels of 2.2 ×. Since the enlargement / resize processing is performed as described above from this magnification, an image quality warning is given at this point.

In the above-mentioned 1.2 million pixel recording mode, since the enlargement process has already started from the electronic zoom of 1.2 times, the image quality warning is issued with the zoom T button 32t being pressed once from the electronic zoom off state. By giving such a warning, it is possible to prevent a failure to take a picture without noticing that the image quality is set to deteriorate.
FIG. 12 shows a warning display when English is set. The voice output is also the same voice output as the display characters. When Japanese is set, there are “Image quality”, warning display, and audio output. Moreover, it is good also as a specification which outputs only a buzzer sound similarly to an electronic zoom warning sound. In this case, in order to indicate a warning different from the electronic zoom warning, for example, it is preferable to output a buzzer sound of 0.3 seconds three times continuously.
Up to this point, the operations in the shooting warning method for warning that the electronic zoom is activated and the shooting warning method for warning that the image quality is deteriorated have been described. A control program for executing these operations has been described. By recording on a readable recording medium, it becomes easy to selectively employ the shooting warning method shown here, and the above shooting warning function can be obtained without increasing the cost.

It is a block diagram which shows the control system of the digital camera which concerns on this invention. It is a rear view of a digital camera. It is a front view of a digital camera. It is a top view of a digital camera. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the relationship between an image pick-up element and an electronic zoom range. It is a figure which shows the display apparatus screen at the time of zoom tele end of electronic zoom off. It is a figure which shows the display apparatus screen (Japanese display) immediately after electronic zoom ON. It is a figure which shows the display apparatus screen (English display) immediately after electronic zoom ON. It is a figure which shows the display apparatus screen at the time of electronic zoom off. It is a figure which shows the display apparatus screen of the electronic zoom off (tele end) at the time of 300,000 pixel mode. It is a figure which shows the display apparatus screen of the electronic zoom 2.0 time at the time of 300,000 pixel mode. It is a figure which shows the display apparatus screen of electronic zoom 2.2 times at the time of 300,000 pixel mode. It is a figure which shows a display apparatus screen when the electronic zoom is act | operating. It is a figure which shows a display apparatus screen when an optical zoom is the maximum magnification (tele end).

Explanation of symbols

  1 lens, 2 shutter, 3 motor driver, 4 signal processing IC, 5 microcomputer, 6 CCD (imaging device), 7 TG (timing signal generator), 8 AGC (analog gain controller), 9 A / D converter, 11 CCD I / F, 12 SDRAM, 13 Image processing unit, 14 Display I / F, 15 JPEG codec unit, 16 Resize unit, 17 Card controller, 18 Audio codec unit, 19 Memory controller, 21 Display device (LCD (liquid crystal display)) , 22 Audio output device, 23 Memory card, 24 ROM, 25 Operation unit, 31 Release key, 32 Zoom button, 32t Zoom telephoto button (zoom T button), 32w Zoom wide-angle button (zoom W button), 33 Shooting / playback switching Dial, 34 Power button, 35 Optical viewfinder

Claims (9)

In an imaging apparatus comprising an electronic zoom means for performing electronic zoom on a subject to be imaged and an audio output means for outputting sound,
If the number of pixels in the imaging range determined by the electronic zoom magnification is smaller than the set recording pixel number among the pixels of the imaging device, the number of pixels is enlarged, and the recording in which the number of pixels in the imaging range is set Image size changing means for converting the captured image to a size that matches the number of recorded pixels by reducing the number of pixels if the number of pixels is greater than the number of pixels ;
Voice output switching means for switching on / off of the voice output means and image quality warning means,
The image quality warning means sets a magnification at which enlargement processing of 1 or more times by the image size changing means is performed regardless of the on / off state of the audio output switching means in the electronic zoom by the electronic zoom means. When the magnification at which an image is recorded at a resolution deteriorated from the resolution of the imaging device is selected , control is performed so that a warning sound notifying that the enlargement process of 1 or more is performed is output from the audio output unit An imaging apparatus characterized by: The imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the warning sound corresponds to a plurality of languages. Equipped with an electronic viewfinder that reflects the imaging target in a liquid crystal device, an imaging apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it presents a warning display on the electronic viewfinder together with the output of the alarm sound. Includes a display switching means for switching the electronic viewfinder on / off, regardless of the state of the on / off the display switching means, said electronic viewfinder according to claim 3, characterized in that for outputting the warning display Imaging device. In a shooting warning method in which electronic zooming is performed on an object to be photographed by electronic zoom means and sound is output by sound output means,
If the number of pixels in the imaging range determined by the electronic zoom magnification is smaller than the set recording pixel number among the pixels of the imaging device, the number of pixels is enlarged, and the recording in which the number of pixels in the imaging range is set If the number of pixels is greater than or equal to the number of pixels, by reducing the number of pixels, the image size changing means performs processing for converting the captured image to a size that matches the number of recorded pixels,
The audio output switching means is turned on / off by the audio output switching means. Regardless of the on / off state of the audio output switching means, in the electronic zooming by the electronic zooming means, the image size changing means is more than 1 times. When a magnification at which enlargement processing is performed is set, and a magnification at which an image is recorded at a resolution deteriorated from the resolution of the imaging device is selected , a warning sound is displayed to notify that enlargement processing of 1 or more times is performed. A shooting warning method, wherein the quality warning means controls to output from the voice output means. 6. The shooting warning method according to claim 5 , wherein the warning sound is audio data corresponding to a plurality of languages and adapted to a language setting state. 7. The shooting warning method according to claim 5 , wherein a warning display is displayed on the electronic viewfinder together with the output of the warning sound. 8. The photographing according to claim 7 , wherein the electronic finder is switched on / off by a display switching means, and the warning display is displayed by the electronic finder regardless of the on / off state of the display switching means. When warning way. A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a control program for executing the operation in the shooting warning method according to claim 5 .

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