JP4721417B2 - Imaging apparatus and control method thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus such as a digital camera and a control method thereof.

  In recent years, “simultaneous photographing transfer” has been proposed as one of the functions of a digital camera (see, for example, Patent Document 1). “Simultaneous image transfer” is a function of recording a captured image on a storage medium such as a memory card and simultaneously (or concurrently) transferring the captured image to an external device such as a personal computer. If this function is used, the captured image can be immediately transferred to the external device.

  Also, “Quick Review” is known as one of the functions of a digital camera (see, for example, Patent Document 2). “Quick review” is a function for displaying a photographed image on a liquid crystal panel immediately after photographing. By using this function, it is possible to immediately confirm the image immediately after shooting.

JP 2000-137796 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-261853

  However, neither of Patent Documents 1 and 2 proposes to perform a quick review during simultaneous photographing transfer.

  Further, neither Patent Document 1 nor 2 proposes to prevent a photographed image that has been quickly reviewed during simultaneous photographing transfer from being recorded on a storage medium such as a memory card or deleted from the storage medium. .

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is possible to prevent a photographed image that has been quickly reviewed during simultaneous photographing transfer from being recorded on a storage medium such as a memory card or to be erased from the storage medium. The purpose is to do so.

  In order to achieve the above object, an imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes an imaging unit that captures an image of a subject and acquires image data, a recording unit that records the image data in a storage medium, and a communication for communicating with an external device. A display means for displaying the image data for a predetermined time after imaging by the imaging means, an instruction means for instructing deletion of the image data while the image data is being displayed on the display means, and the instruction means An erasing unit for erasing the image data when an erasing instruction is given; and a control unit, wherein the control unit records the image data on the storage medium by the recording unit; and the communication unit When the transmission of the image data to the external device is performed in parallel, the instruction unit is invalidated, and the recording unit records the image data on the storage medium. When the one of transmission of the image data to an external device is performed by said communication means, to enable said instruction means.

  In addition, an imaging unit that captures an image of a subject and acquires image data, a recording unit that records the image data in a storage medium, a communication unit that communicates with an external device, and the image data after the imaging unit captures the image data Display means for displaying the image data for a predetermined time, instruction means for instructing deletion of the image data while the image data is being displayed on the display means, and when the instruction means instructs to delete the image data, An image pickup apparatus control method comprising: an erasing unit for erasing, wherein the recording unit records the image data on the storage medium and the communication unit transmits the image data to the external device in parallel. The instruction means is invalidated, the image data is recorded on the storage medium by the recording means, and the external device is provided by the communication means. When said one of the transmission of the image data is being performed, and a step of enabling said indication means.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent a photographed image that has been quickly reviewed during simultaneous photographing transfer from being recorded on a storage medium such as a memory card or to be erased from the storage medium.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an imaging system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the imaging system according to the present embodiment includes a digital camera 100 and an external device 200.

  Digital camera 100 is an example of an imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment. The imaging device according to the present embodiment is not limited to a digital camera, and may be a device that operates as a digital camera. Therefore, the digital camera 100 may be a digital video camera, a portable terminal with a digital camera, or the like.

  The external device 200 can be a computer such as a PC (personal computer). In this case, although not shown, the external device 200 includes an arithmetic processing device such as a CPU, a primary storage device such as a RAM, a secondary storage device such as a hard disk, an operation device such as a keyboard and a mouse, and a display device. Have. The external device 200 may be a printer or a device that operates as a printer.

  In FIG. 1, 10 is a lens unit, 12 is a shutter having a diaphragm function, 14 is an image sensor that converts an optical image into an electrical signal, and 16 is an A that converts an analog image signal from the image sensor 14 and converts image data. / D converter. Note that a CCD image sensor, a CMOS image sensor, or the like can be used for the image sensor 14.

  A timing generator 18 supplies a clock signal and a control signal to the image sensor 14, the A / D converter 16, and the D / A converter 26, respectively, and is controlled by the memory control unit 22 and the system control unit 50.

  An image processing unit 20 performs predetermined pixel interpolation processing and color conversion processing on the image data from the A / D converter 16 or the image data from the memory control unit 22. Further, the image processing unit 20 performs a predetermined calculation process using the image data output from the A / D converter 16. Based on the obtained calculation result, the system control unit 50 performs TTL (through-the-lens) type autofocus (AF) processing, automatic exposure (AE) on the exposure control unit 40 and the distance measurement control unit 42. ) Processing and flash pre-emission (EF) processing. Further, the image processing unit 20 performs predetermined calculation processing using the image data output from the A / D converter 16, and also performs TTL auto white balance (AWB) processing based on the obtained calculation result. ing.

  A memory control unit 22 controls the A / D converter 16, the timing generation unit 18, the image processing unit 20, the image display memory 24, the D / A converter 26, the memory 30, and the compression / decompression unit 32. The image data output from the A / D converter 16 is written into the image display memory 24 or the memory 30 via the image processing unit 20, the memory control unit 22, or only through the memory control unit 22.

  Reference numeral 26 denotes a D / A converter, and 28 denotes an image display unit composed of a TFT, an LCD, etc. Display image data written in the memory 30 is displayed by the image display unit 28 via the D / A converter 26. The An electronic viewfinder (EVF) function can be realized by sequentially displaying captured image data using the image display unit 28. The image display unit 28 can arbitrarily turn on / off the display according to an instruction from the system control unit 50. When the display is turned off, the power consumption of the digital camera 100 can be significantly reduced. it can.

  Reference numeral 30 denotes a memory for storing captured still images and moving images, and has a storage capacity sufficient to store a predetermined number of still images and a moving image for a predetermined time. Thereby, even in the case of continuous shooting or panoramic shooting in which a plurality of still images are continuously shot, it is possible to write a large amount of images to the memory 30 at high speed. The memory 30 can also be used as a work area for the system control unit 50.

  A compression / decompression unit 32 has a function of compressing image data using a predetermined image compression method and a function of expanding image data compressed using the predetermined image compression method. The compression / decompression unit 32 reads the image data stored in the memory 30, performs compression processing or decompression processing, and writes the processed data to the memory 30 again. As the predetermined image compression method, an image compression method defined by JPEG, JPEG 2000, or the like can be used, and an image compression method using adaptive discrete cosine transform (ADCT) can also be used.

  Reference numeral 40 denotes an exposure control unit that controls the shutter 12 having an aperture function. The exposure control unit 40 also has a flash light control function in cooperation with the flash 48. Reference numeral 42 denotes a distance measurement control unit that controls focusing of the lens unit 10, 44 denotes a zoom control unit that controls zooming of the lens unit 10, and 46 denotes a barrier control unit that controls the operation of the barrier 102. A flash 48 has an AF auxiliary light projecting function and a flash light control function. The exposure control unit 40 and the distance measurement control unit 42 are controlled using the TTL method. As described above, the system control unit 50 controls the exposure control unit 40 and the distance measurement control unit 42 based on the calculation result obtained by calculating the image data from the A / D converter 16 by the image processing unit 20.

  Reference numeral 50 denotes a system control unit that controls the entire digital camera 100, and 52 denotes a memory that stores constants, variables, programs, and the like for operation of the system control unit 50.

  Reference numeral 54 denotes a notification unit for notifying the outside of an operation state, a message, and the like using characters, images, sounds, and the like in accordance with execution of a program in the system control unit 50. As the notification unit 54, for example, a display unit that performs visual display using an LCD, an LED, or the like, or a sound generation element that performs voice notification, etc., is used, and the notification unit 54 is configured by a combination of one or more of these. In particular, in the case of the display unit, the digital camera 100 is installed at one or a plurality of locations near the operation unit 70 that are easily visible. In addition, the notification unit 54 has a part of its function installed in the optical viewfinder 104.

  Among the display contents of the notification unit 54, the following are displayed on the LCD or the like. First, there are displays related to the shooting mode such as single shot / continuous shooting display, self-timer display, and the like. In addition, there are displays relating to recording such as compression rate display, recording pixel number display, recording number display, and remaining image number display. In addition, there are displays relating to shooting conditions such as shutter speed display, aperture value display, exposure correction display, flash display, and red-eye reduction display. In addition, macro shooting display, buzzer setting display, clock battery level display, battery level display, error display, information display with multiple digits, memory card 92 attachment / detachment status display, communication I / F operation display, date・ Time display is also performed.

  Among the display contents of the notification unit 54, what is displayed in the optical viewfinder 104 includes in-focus display, camera shake warning display, flash charge display, shutter speed display, aperture value display, exposure correction display, and the like.

  Reference numeral 56 denotes an electrically erasable / recordable nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM.

  58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68 and 70 are operation means for inputting various operation instructions of the system control unit 50, such as switches, dials, touch panels, pointing by eye-gaze detection, voice recognition devices, etc. Consists of a single or a plurality of combinations.

  Here, a specific description of these operating means will be given.

  An erasure button 58 is used for giving an instruction to erase the displayed captured image during the quick review.

  Reference numeral 60 denotes a mode dial switch, which can switch and set various function modes such as power-off, automatic shooting mode, program shooting mode, panoramic shooting mode, playback mode, multi-screen playback / erase mode, and PC connection mode.

  The first shutter switch (SW1) 62 is turned on by a first stroke (for example, half-press) of a shutter button provided in the digital camera 100,

The start of AF (autofocus) processing, AE (automatic exposure) processing, AWB (auto white balance) processing, EF processing, etc. is instructed.
The second shutter switch (SW2) 64 is turned on by a second stroke (for example, full press) of a shutter button provided in the digital camera 100, and instructs the start of a series of processes including exposure processing, development processing, and recording processing. . First, in the exposure process, a signal read from the image sensor 14 is written to the memory 30 via the A / D converter 16 and the memory control unit 22, and further, an operation in the image processing unit 20 and the memory control unit 22 is performed. Development processing using is performed. Further, a recording process is performed in which the image data is read from the memory 30, compressed by the compression / decompression unit 32, and written to the memory card 92.

  Reference numeral 66 denotes an image display ON / OFF switch which can set ON / OFF of the image display unit 28. With this function, when photographing is performed using the optical viewfinder 104, it is possible to save power by cutting off the current supply to the image display unit 28 having a TFT, an LCD, and the like.

  Reference numeral 68 denotes a quick review ON / OFF switch, which sets ON / OFF of a so-called “quick review” function for automatically reproducing image data taken immediately after photographing for a predetermined time. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that a function for setting a quick review function when the image display unit 28 is turned on is provided.

  An operation unit 70 includes various buttons and a touch panel. For example, a menu button, a set button, a macro button, a multi-screen playback page break button, a flash setting button, a single shooting / continuous shooting / self-timer switching button, a menu movement + (plus) button, a menu movement-(minus) button Including. Further, a playback image movement + (plus) button, a playback image movement-(minus) button, a shooting image quality selection button, an exposure correction button, a date / time setting button, a format operation button, and the like are also included. Also included is a simultaneous photographing transfer ON / OFF button for setting whether or not the photographed image is stored in the memory card 92 and transmitted to the external device (external device 200 in the present embodiment) at the time of photographing.

  A power control unit 80 includes a battery detection circuit, a DC-DC converter, a switch circuit that switches a block to be energized, and the like. The presence / absence of the battery, the type of battery, and the remaining battery level are detected, and the DC-DC converter is controlled based on the detection result and the instruction of the system control unit 50. Supply to each part.

  Reference numerals 82 and 84 denote connectors, and 86 denotes a primary battery such as an alkaline battery or a lithium battery, a secondary battery such as a NiCd battery, NiMH battery, or Li-ion battery, an AC adapter, or the like.

  A memory card 92 is an example of a removable storage medium. As the memory card 92, an SD memory card, a compact flash (registered trademark), or the like can be used. A card controller 90 transmits and receives data to and from the memory card 92. A card I / F (interface) 91 is an interface with the memory card 92. A memory card detection unit 98 detects whether or not the memory card 92 is attached to the digital camera 100.

  Reference numeral 102 denotes a barrier that is a protective device that prevents the imaging unit from being stained or damaged by covering the imaging unit including the lens unit 10 of the digital camera 100.

  Reference numeral 104 denotes an optical viewfinder, which can perform photographing using only the optical viewfinder without using the electronic viewfinder function of the image display unit 28. In addition, in the optical viewfinder 104, some functions of the notification unit 54, for example, in-focus state, camera shake warning, flash charging, shutter speed, aperture value, exposure correction, and the like are displayed.

  Reference numeral 112 denotes a communication I / F (interface) that performs bidirectional communication with the external apparatus 200. The communication method of the communication I / F 112 is not particularly limited, and various methods such as a wired connection method such as a USB cable with a PC, a wireless LAN method, a Bluetooth method, and an infrared method can be applied. In the communication I / F 112, the communication control unit 110 converts the data into signal format data in accordance with a predetermined communication method, so that it is attached to the image data and image data with the peripheral device such as the computer and printer of the external device 200. Management information can be transferred.

  Next, with respect to the recording and transfer processing of the captured image in the present embodiment when the digital camera 100 is in a state where the external device 200 is communicably connected and the quick review is set to ON, FIG. This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, when photographing is performed (step S101), a photographed image is stored in the memory 30 (step S102).

  Next, it is determined whether or not simultaneous shooting transfer is selected by the simultaneous shooting ON / OFF button of the operation unit 70 (step S103). If simultaneous shooting transfer is selected, the delete button 58 is disabled in step S104. To. Here, for example, even when the delete button 58 is operated, the operation is set to be ignored. Thereafter, the three tasks of recording the image stored in the memory 30 to the memory card 92 (step S105), transferring to the external device 200 (step S107), and quick review (step S109) are performed in parallel. The recording process in step S105 is continued until the captured image is recorded on the memory card 92 (until YES in step S106). The transfer process in step S107 is continued until the captured image has been transferred to the external apparatus 200 (until YES in step S108). The quick review in step S109 is continued until a predetermined time set in advance (YES in step S110). Note that when a predetermined time elapses, the quick review is terminated, and a so-called through image (an image taken at a predetermined time interval without recording) is displayed on the image display unit 28.

  In step S111, the process waits for all the three tasks to be completed, and when completed, the area storing the captured image in the memory 30 is released (step S122).

  In this way, when simultaneous shooting transfer is selected, control is performed so that a shot image cannot be erased during quick review.

  On the other hand, if it is determined whether or not simultaneous shooting transfer is selected in step S103, if simultaneous shooting transfer is not selected, two tasks of recording processing (step S112) and quick review (step S117) are performed in parallel. And run.

  The quick review in step S117 is basically performed until a predetermined time has elapsed (YES in step S118). As described above, when a predetermined time elapses, the quick review ends, and a so-called through image (an image taken at a predetermined time interval without recording) is displayed on the image display unit 28. However, if the simultaneous shooting transfer is not selected, if a deletion instruction is given by the delete button 58 (NO in step S119) before the predetermined time has elapsed (NO in step S118), the process proceeds to step S120 and quick. Interrupt the review.

  Further, the recording process for recording the image stored in the memory 30 in step S112 is basically continued until the photographed image is recorded on the memory card 92 (until YES in step S113). . However, as described above, when the delete button 58 is pressed during the quick review (YES in step S114), the following processing is executed. First, in step S115, the current recording process is interrupted, and the image data of the captured image that has been recorded so far is erased from the memory card 92.

  In step S121, the process waits for the recording process and quick review to be completed (completed or interrupted). When the recording process and quick review are completed, the area of the memory 30 storing the captured image is released (step S122).

  As described above, when simultaneous shooting transfer is not selected, control is performed so that a shot image can be erased during quick review.

  In addition, when an erasure instruction is given by the erasure button 58, a confirmation message such as “Do you want to erase?” May be displayed to cope with an erroneous operation of the erasure button 58. And when cancellation is instruct | indicated with respect to the confirmation message, you may control to complete | finish quick review and to switch to through display, or to continue quick review.

  In the above embodiment, the dedicated erasure button 58 is provided to instruct the erasure of the image during the quick review. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, various deletion instruction methods such as assigning the function to another button, displaying the “erase” button on the image display unit 28 by software, and selecting using the button of the operation unit 70, etc. Can be considered. In the latter case, in the process of step S104, the “erase” button itself may not be displayed, or it may be indicated that the “erase” button cannot be selected. Alternatively, it may be displayed differently from when it can be selected (for example, displayed in a light color).

  In the above-described embodiment, it has been described that recording to the memory card 92 is performed when simultaneous photographing transfer is not selected. However, transmission processing to the external apparatus 200 may be performed. That is, when recording and transmission are performed in parallel, control is performed so that images that have been subjected to quick review cannot be erased. What is necessary is just to control so that it can erase.

  In this way, it is possible to prevent the photographed image that has been quickly reviewed during simultaneous photographing transfer from being recorded on the memory card 92 or to be erased from the memory card 92.

<Modification>
In the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which whether or not to perform simultaneous shooting transfer has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the following control is also possible. It is determined whether the memory card 92 is in a state where image data can be recorded and whether the memory card 92 is communicable with the external device 200, and it is determined whether to perform simultaneous photographing transfer according to the determination result. . The contents of this determination process are shown in FIG.

  This determination processing is performed by the system control unit 50 based on information on the memory card 92 obtained from the card controller 90 and the memory card detection unit 98 and information on a communication state with the external device 200 obtained from the communication control unit 110. It is possible to execute.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the imaging system in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the recording and transfer process of the captured image of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the content of the judgment process of the imaging | photography simultaneous transfer in the modification of embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10: Lens unit, 12: Shutter, 14: Image sensor, 16: A / D converter, 18: Timing generation unit, 20: Image processing unit, 22: Memory control unit, 26: D / A converter, 28: Image display unit, 30: memory, 32: compression / expansion unit, 40: exposure control unit, 42: distance measurement control unit, 44: zoom control unit, 46: barrier control unit, 48: flash, 50: system control unit, 52 : Memory, 54: Notification unit, 56: Non-volatile memory, 58: Erase button, 60: Mode dial switch, 62: First shutter switch (SW1), 64: Second shutter switch (SW2), 66: Image display ON / OFF switch, 70: operation unit, 80: power supply control unit, 82, 84: connector, 86: power supply, 90: card controller, 92: memory card, 98: memory card detection , 100: digital camera, 102: barrier, 110: communication controller, 112: communication interface 200: external device

Claims (8)

Imaging means for imaging a subject and acquiring image data;
Recording means for recording the image data in a storage medium;
A communication means for communicating with an external device;
Display means for displaying the image data for a predetermined time after imaging by the imaging means;
Instruction means for instructing erasure of the image data while displaying the image data on the display means;
An erasure unit for erasing the image data when an erasure instruction is given by the instruction unit;
Control means,
The control means includes
When the recording of the image data to the storage medium by the recording unit and the transmission of the image data to the external device by the communication unit are performed in parallel, the instruction unit is invalidated,
Enabling the instruction unit when the recording unit records the image data on the storage medium and the communication unit transmits the image data to the external device. An imaging apparatus characterized by the above.   Selection means for selecting whether the recording means records the image data on the storage medium and the communication means transmits the image data to the external device, or performs both in parallel. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: Means for determining the state of the storage medium;
Means for determining a communication state with the external device;
Based on the state of the storage medium and the communication state, whether the recording means records the image data on the storage medium or the communication means transmits the image data to the external device The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a determination unit that determines whether to perform both in parallel. A temporary storage unit for storing image data acquired by the imaging unit;
Said erasing means, from said temporary storage means and said recording means, the image pickup apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that erasing the image data. Imaging means for imaging a subject and acquiring image data, recording means for recording the image data in a storage medium, communication means for communicating with an external device, and imaging after the imaging by the imaging means Display means for displaying time, instruction means for instructing erasure of the image data while the image data is being displayed on the display means, and erasure of the image data when instructed to erase by the instruction means An image pickup apparatus control method having an erasing means,
The step of invalidating the instruction means when the recording of the image data to the storage medium by the recording means and the transmission of the image data to the external device by the communication means are performed in parallel. When,
A step of validating the instruction means when either the recording of the image data to the storage medium by the recording means or the transmission of the image data to the external device by the communication means is performed. A control method for an imaging apparatus, comprising : A step of selecting whether to perform one of recording of the image data on the storage medium by the recording unit and transmission of the image data to the external device by the communication unit, or to perform both in parallel. The method of controlling an imaging apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: Determining a state of the storage medium;
Determining a communication state with the external device;
Based on the state of the storage medium and the communication state, whether the recording means records the image data on the storage medium or the communication means transmits the image data to the external device The method for controlling the imaging apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: determining whether to perform both in parallel. The imaging device, the further comprising a temporary storage means for storing image data obtained by the imaging means, the erasing means, from said temporary storage means and said recording means, characterized in that erasing the image data method for controlling an image sensing apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 7.

Images