JP3030277B2 - Digital camera - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital camera, and more particularly, to a digital camera for transferring, for example, one frame of photographed image data and a plurality of continuous frames of photographed image data to another image processing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional digital camera of this type,
By mode switching, a normal mode in which one frame of still image is captured or a continuous shooting mode in which a plurality of continuous frames of still images are captured can be selected. In any of the modes, the image data (captured image data) of the captured image is stored in a memory card such as a smart media in the order of capture. For example, when a digital camera is connected to a personal computer (PC), photographed image data stored in smart media can be downloaded to the PC or photographed by remote control from the PC.

[0003]

In this conventional digital camera, photographed image data is stored in the order of photographing. Therefore, when the photographed image data is downloaded to an image processing device such as a PC, one frame is obtained as shown in FIG. ) And the photographed image data of a plurality of continuous frames (continuous shooting 1, continuous shooting 2,...) Are mixed. Therefore, it is difficult to process desired photographed image data (file) after downloading to a PC.

Therefore, a main object of the present invention is to provide a digital camera capable of easily processing a file after downloading.

[0005]

The present invention has an independence.
In a digital camera that transfers a plurality of first image files and a plurality of second image files related to each other from a recording medium to another image processing apparatus, a continuous
The first number of the plurality of first image files and the plurality of first
Two image files are individually assigned to one
Multiple consecutive second numbers following the maximum value of one number
Other than the first image file and the plurality of second image files
A digital camera, comprising: a table creating means for creating a table individually assigned to the image processing apparatus; and a transfer means for transferring the first image file and the second image file to the image processing apparatus with reference to the table. is there.

[0006]

In the normal mode, when the shutter button is pressed, image data of the photographed image (photographed image data) is stored in the memory card. In a memory card, photographed image data (file) is managed in a directory system, and photographed image data (first image file) is stored in a first directory.

On the other hand, in the continuous shooting mode, when the shutter button is pressed, a plurality of image data related to each other, that is, a plurality of continuous frames of photographed image data are stored in the memory card. At this time, the second directory is created by the directory creating means, and a plurality of frames of photographed image data (second image files) are stored in the second directory.

[0008] As described above, the first image file and the second image file are stored in different directories. For example, a PC as an image processing device and a digital camera are connected. Prior to establishing this connection, the table creator
A plurality of consecutive first numbers are stored in a plurality of first image files and
And individually assigned to one of a plurality of second image files,
A plurality of second numbers following the maximum of one or more first numbers
Numbers are assigned to a plurality of first image files and a plurality of second image files.
Create a table individually assigned to the other side of the file . The transfer means refers to the table and refers to the first image file and the second image file.
Transfer image files . That is, the first image file and the second image file are downloaded to the PC.

[0009]

According to the present invention, the first image file and the second image file are managed in different directories, and when the photographed image data is transferred to an image processing apparatus such as a PC, the second image file is stored in the second image file. Subsequently, the first image file is transferred, so that the downloaded file can be easily processed.

The above objects, other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments with reference to the drawings.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, a digital camera 10 of this embodiment includes a lens 12, and a light image incident from the lens 12 is a color in which Cy, Ye, Mg and G are arranged in a mosaic pattern. CCD imager 1 via filter
4 is irradiated. When outputting a moving image from the liquid crystal display (LCD) 34, the CCD imager 14 performs so-called pixel mixture reading, and the obtained pixel signal is
It is provided to CDS / AGC circuit 16. CDS / AGC
The circuit 16 performs well-known noise removal and level adjustment on the input pixel signal, and the CDS / AGC circuit 16
Is converted into digital data, that is, pixel data by the A / D converter 18. The first signal processing circuit 20 performs color separation on the pixel data output from the A / D converter 18, performs white balance adjustment and gamma correction on the RGB data obtained by the color separation, and then converts the RGB data into YUV data. Convert to

The YUV data thus generated is written to the memory area 24a of the DRAM 24 by the memory control circuit 26 via the internal bus 22, and then output to the second signal processing circuit 30. When outputting a moving image, the second signal processing circuit 30
D / A without processing data (moving image data)
Output to the converter 32. The moving image data is converted into an analog signal by the D / A converter 32, supplied to the LCD 34, and output from the output terminal 36. Therefore, a moving image is output from the LCD 34.

When the operator presses the shutter button 40, the system controller 42 controls the CCD imager 14 to perform so-called all-pixel reading. Thereby, the CCD imager 14 outputs a pixel signal for each line. Since the mosaic color filters are mounted on the CCD imager 14, Cy and Ye are alternately output on odd lines, and Mg and G are alternately output on even lines. The CDS / AGC circuit 16 performs noise removal and level adjustment on the pixel signal in the same manner as described above, and the A / D converter 18 converts the pixel signal from the CDS / AGC circuit 16 into digital data, that is, pixel data. The CCD imager 14 is disabled after outputting pixel signals for one frame, and the A / D converter 1
8 is directly supplied to the bus 22 without being processed by the first signal processing circuit 20, and is supplied to the memory area 24 by the memory control circuit 26.
is written to a.

The CPU 28 performs YUV conversion of the pixel data in the memory area 24a using the work area 24b, and converts the YUV data, that is, the photographed image data into JPE data.
The data is compressed according to the G format, and the compressed data is written to the memory card 46. In the above-described color separation and YUV conversion, Cy, 2 × 2 adjacent four pixels,
By creating the Y, U, and V data for one of the four pixels using the data of Mg, Ye, and G, the Y, U, and V data can be obtained for each of all the pixels. The memory control circuit 26 also stores Ye, Cy, Mg, and G pixel data from the memory area 24a as 1
The data is read out line by line and applied to the second signal processing circuit 30.
When the shutter button 40 is pressed, the second signal processing circuit 30 performs color separation and YUV conversion on the pixel data, whereby a captured image (still image) is output from the LCD 34.

When the normal mode is selected by the mode changeover switch 52, one frame of photographed image data when the shutter button 40 is pressed is compressed, and one frame of compressed image data is stored in the memory card 46. You. On the other hand, when the continuous shooting mode is selected by the mode changeover switch 52, the shooting is performed, for example, every 0.1 seconds while the shutter button 40 is pressed, and the captured image data of a plurality of frames obtained thereby is obtained. Is temporarily stored in the memory 24a. Therefore, in the continuous shooting mode, 10
An image of the frame is taken. The captured image data of a plurality of frames is compressed in accordance with the JPEG format in the same manner as the captured image data of one frame, and the compressed image data of the plurality of frames is also stored in the memory card 46.

In both the normal mode and the continuous shooting mode, the compressed image data is given a file name for each frame, and each image file is managed in the memory card 46 in a directory system as shown in FIG. . The file name given in each mode is DSC0000S.
jpg (S is a positive integer), and the file number S is incremented in the shooting order. However, a plurality of image files obtained by one continuous shooting in the continuous shooting mode are always assigned file numbers starting with “1”.

In the memory card 46, a first directory for managing image files (first image files) generated in the normal mode is provided at a level below the root directory, and a subdirectory of the first directory is provided. Is provided as a second directory for managing image files (second image files) generated in the continuous shooting mode. Therefore, in the normal mode, the first image file is stored in a layer immediately below the first directory. In the continuous shooting mode, a plurality of second image files are stored in a layer below the second directory created for each continuous shooting. An image file is stored. In this embodiment, the name of the first directory is “IM
FIDX10 ", and the name of the second directory is" S
EQ0001 "," SEQ0002 ", etc. As described above, the first image file generated in the normal mode and the second image file generated in the continuous shooting mode are managed in different directories. The second directory is created by the CPU 28 for each continuous shooting.

When a personal computer (PC) as an image processing device is connected to the output terminal 38, the digital camera 10 creates a file list for communicating with the PC. In this embodiment, a PC connection cable (compatible with RS232C) is used for connection. In the digital camera 10, a communication session is opened by a start command transmitted from communication application software of the PC. Thereafter, communication is performed between the PC and the digital camera 10 until the communication session is closed.

That is, the return key of the PC (not shown)
Is operated, a photographing instruction is given to the CPU 28,
The CPU 28 executes photographing according to the instruction. Also,
When the execution key (not shown) is pressed, an instruction to transfer the compressed image data is given to the CPU 28, and the CPU 28 starts the transfer of the compressed image data according to the instruction. That is, the compressed image data stored in the memory card 46 is
The data is transferred (downloaded) to the hard disk of the PC.

More specifically, when connected to a PC via a communication cable, the CPU 28 sets a table number corresponding to a file as shown in Table 1. That is, a file list is created. The file list is created using a part of the memory card 46. Therefore, a memory corresponding to the total number N of files is secured so as not to use a useless memory. The file list is created before the communication session is released. Therefore, even if a large amount of compressed image data is stored in the memory card 46, there is no adverse effect on communication.

[0021]

[Table 1]

As can be seen from Table 1, table numbers are set in order from the second image file, and then table numbers are set in the first image file. The second image files are grouped for each file managed in a common subdirectory, and are assigned a table number in the order of photographing. On the other hand, the PC creates a file name independently and assigns a table number to each file name. That is, a file list as shown in Table 2 is created.

[0023]

[Table 2]

The CPU 28 transfers the image file to the PC with reference to the file list shown in Table 1. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, the PC stores compressed image data in the continuous shooting mode (continuous shooting 1 and continuous shooting 2) followed by compressed image data in the normal mode (still image 1, still image 2,...). Is downloaded. Here, when shooting is performed in accordance with an instruction from the PC, the above-described shooting processing is performed, and
The compressed image data of the captured image is stored in the memory card 46. The CPU 28 updates the file list, and the compressed image data of the new captured image is set at the end of the file list. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 4, the compressed image data (new) of the new captured image is downloaded to the PC. In this manner, the compressed image data in the continuous shooting mode and the compressed image data in the normal mode are arranged, so that the PC can easily process the file after downloading.

In this embodiment, when the photographing is performed according to the instruction from the PC, the photographing is performed in the normal mode.
As shown in (1), when the compressed image data in the continuous shooting mode is downloaded after the compressed image data in the normal mode, when the photographing is newly performed, the digital camera 10 stores the compressed image data in the first directory. , And are downloaded after the continuous shooting 2 on the PC side. As described above, the compressed image data in the normal mode and the compressed image data in the continuous shooting mode are mixed. Therefore, in this example,
Following the compressed image data in the continuous shooting mode, the compressed image data in the normal mode is downloaded.

The above-mentioned operation is performed by the CPU 28 in accordance with the flowcharts shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 6, when the power of the digital camera 10 is turned on, the process starts, and the directory structure in the memory card 46 is recognized in step S1. In the following step S3, it is determined whether or not the communication cable is connected. If "NO", another process is executed in a step S4, and the process returns to the step S3. If "YES", a step S5 is described later. Execute the file list setting process. In step S7, it is determined whether or not the communication session has been released.
If "O", another process is executed in step S23 and the process returns to step S7. If "YES", the process proceeds to step S23.
At 9, it is determined whether or not a download (transfer) instruction has been given. If "NO" here, a step S25 is performed.
If "YES", the total number N of compressed image data (files) to be transferred is detected in step S11.
In step S13, whether the total number N is greater than 0,
That is, it is determined whether or not the file exists. If “NO” here, another process is executed in a step S23 and the process returns to the step S7, but if “YES”, the counter 28b is set to 1 (initial value). Subsequent step S17
Then, the compressed image data is transferred, and the counter 28b is incremented in a step S19. In step S21, it is determined whether or not all the compressed image data has been transferred,
If “NO”, the process returns to the step S17, but “YE
If S ", the process proceeds to step S35.

In step S25, it is determined whether a photographing instruction has been given. Here, if "NO",
Other processing is executed in step S23, and the process returns to step S7. If “YES”, the photographing processing is executed in step S27. That is, an image is captured, compressed, and the compressed image data is stored in the memory card 46. In a succeeding step S29, the directory structure is updated, and in a step S31, the file list is updated. In step S33, the compressed image data of the new captured image is transferred to the PC,
In step S35, it is determined whether the communication session has been closed. If "NO" here, a step S2 is determined.
3 to execute another process and return to step S7,
If "S", the file list is released in step S37, that is, the process shifts to file management in the directory, and the process ends.

When the file list setting process is started,
As shown in FIG. 8, in step S41, the memory card 46
The total number N of the compressed image data (files) stored in is stored. In a succeeding step S43, a memory for creating a file list corresponding to the total number N is secured.
At 45, the second directory number M is detected. Step S4
At 7, it is determined whether the second directory number M is greater than 0, that is, whether there is compressed image data in the continuous shooting mode.

If "YES" in the step S47, the count value of the counter 28b is set to 1 (initial value) in a step S49. In step S51, the second directory is referred to, and in step S53, the compressed image data in the continuous shooting mode is set in the file list. That is, the table number is sequentially set to the file name of the compressed image data. In a succeeding step S55, the counter 28b is incremented, and in a step S57, it is determined whether or not the count value is larger than the number M of the sub directories. Here, "NO"
If so, the process returns to step S51 to refer to the next subdirectory. If "YES", the process proceeds to step S59.
Proceed to.

On the other hand, if "NO" in the step S47, the process proceeds to a step S59. In step S59, the first
With reference to the directory (IMFIDX10), a table number is sequentially set for one frame of compressed image data in step S61, and the process returns. According to this embodiment, the compressed image data (file) in the normal mode and the continuous shooting mode are combined, and the compressed image data in the normal mode is transferred following the compressed image data in the continuous shooting mode.
Files downloaded to an image processing apparatus such as a PC can be easily processed.

In this embodiment, when a photographing instruction is given from the PC, the photographing in the normal mode is executed. Therefore, the compressed image data in the continuous photographing mode is transferred before the photographing in the normal mode. Compressed image data is transferred, but when shooting is performed in continuous shooting mode according to instructions from the PC, image data shot in normal mode is transferred before image data shot in continuous shooting mode do it.

In this embodiment, only the case where a still image is photographed is shown. However, when a moving image is also photographed, the photographed moving image may be stored in another directory. Further, in this embodiment, the photographed image data is compressed,
May be stored.

Further, in this embodiment, a PC as an image processing apparatus is connected by a cable, but when the digital camera 10 and the PC have an IrDA conversion function, a download instruction is given from the PC. And convert the compressed image data to infrared data
May be transferred to

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an illustrative view showing one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an illustrative view showing a directory of the memory card shown in FIG. 1 embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an illustrative view showing compressed image data downloaded to a hard disk of a PC;

FIG. 4 is an illustrative view showing compressed image data downloaded to a hard disk of a PC;

FIG. 5 is an illustrative view showing compressed image data downloaded to a hard disk of a PC;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a part of the processing of the CPU shown in the embodiment in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a part of the processing of the CPU shown in the embodiment in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an illustrative view in which compressed data of image data taken by a conventional digital camera is downloaded to a hard disk of a PC.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Digital camera 28 CPU 40 Shutter button 46 Memory card 52 Mode switch

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A digital camera for transferring a plurality of independent first image files and a plurality of mutually related second image files from a recording medium to another image processing apparatus, wherein a plurality of consecutive first numbers are provided. The plurality of first image files
And individually assigned to one of the plurality of second image files.
And successively following the maximum value of the plurality of first numbers.
A plurality of second numbers, the plurality of first image files and
Table creation means for creating a table individually assigned to the other of the plurality of second image files , and transfer means for transferring the first image file and the second image file to the image processing device with reference to the table A digital camera, comprising: 2. The digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising establishing means for establishing a connection with said image processing apparatus, wherein said table creating means creates said table prior to establishing said connection. 3. The plurality of first image files hold image data of a plurality of frames photographed in a normal mode one by one.
The plurality of second image files hold image data of a plurality of frames photographed in a continuous shooting mode one by one.
Or the digital camera according to 2. 4. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said transfer means transfers said first image file subsequent to said second image file. 5. The recording medium, the first image file is managed by the first directory, the second stroke
The digital camera according to claim 4, wherein the image files are managed by the second directory. 6. The recording medium according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of second image files are stored in the recording medium.
6. The digital camera according to claim 5, further comprising: a directory creating unit that creates the second directory each time recording is performed on a body .