JP3427831B2 - Image processing program and image processing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to image processing for extracting a portion representing a subject from an image including the subject and the background with reference to an image including only the background, and more particularly to an image including only the background and an image including the subject and the background. Regarding the management of.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A difference between image data representing an image containing only a background and image data representing an image containing a subject and a background is detected,
It is possible to obtain an image of only the subject by extracting the difference between the latter and the former.
And Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-23452. In recent years, the resolution of imaging devices such as digital cameras has increased,
Since the amount of image data representing one image is becoming enormous, it is expected that the need to extract image data representing only the subject will increase in order to reduce the amount of data to be processed.

The process of extracting the image data can be carried out continuously for photographing the image and generating the image data, but since it takes a certain amount of time, the image data representing only the background image, the subject and the background are extracted. It is more efficient to temporarily record the image data representing the image including the image as a file in the recording medium and to perform the recording independently of the photographing. In that case, it is desirable to record the image data in a form that enhances the efficiency of the extraction process.

[0004]

However, no management method of image data before extraction has been proposed so far. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-105689 mentioned above
The present invention relates to an extraction process in a device that tracks the movement of a subject in real time, and does not describe recording image data before extraction. In addition, JP-A-10-23
No. 452 describes in detail the content of the extraction process, but does not mention management of image data before extraction.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a program and a device for recording image data before extraction in a file in a form that enables efficient extraction of image data. With the goal.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention detects a difference between first image data and second image data representing two images including a common portion,
An image recording program for recording the first image data and the second image data in a file for the image extraction processing for extracting the difference between the second image data and the first image data is the second When there are multiple image data, multiple second data
The image data of is to be recorded in one file.

This image recording program is for recording the first image data and the second image data in a file in the preparatory stage prior to the image extraction processing. By using the image data representing the image of only the background as the first image data and the image data representing the image including the subject and the background as the second image data, the image of only the subject is represented by the image extraction processing performed later. Image data is obtained. If there are a plurality of pieces of second image data corresponding to the first image data, a plurality of pieces of image data representing objects having different positions, forms, etc. can be obtained. Here, by recording a plurality of second image data in one file, it becomes easy to understand the correspondence relationship between the first image data and the second data, and the image extraction processing can be performed efficiently. .

The first image data may be recorded in a file for recording the second image data. It becomes clear that the second image data corresponds to the first image data. Also, file management is extremely easy.

Further, it is preferable to record the number of the second image data in the file for recording the second image data. Image extraction processing becomes easy.

According to the present invention, the difference between the first image data and the second image data representing two images including a common portion is detected, and the difference between the second image data and the first image data is detected. The image recording program for recording the first image data and the second image data in a file for the image extraction processing for extracting the portion of At the same time, information indicating the relationship between the file in which the first image data is recorded and the file in which the second image data is recorded is recorded in the file.

From the information indicating the relation, it can be understood that the first image data and the second image data recorded in separate files correspond to each other, and the image extraction processing can be efficiently performed. Become.

This information may be recorded in a file for recording the first image data. By simply looking at the file in which the first image data is recorded, the corresponding file in which the second image data is recorded can be understood, and the efficiency of the image extraction processing is further improved.

Here, when an instruction to delete the file in which the first image data is recorded is given, the information indicating the relationship is read to indicate that the file to be deleted is related to another file. It is preferable that the file in which the first image data is recorded is deleted after the execution instruction is given. This reduces the risk that the first image data is erroneously lost and the image extraction process cannot be performed.

According to the present invention, the difference between the first image data and the second image data representing two images including a common portion is detected, and the difference between the second image data and the first image data is detected. The image recording program for recording the first image data and the second image data in a file for the image extraction processing for extracting the portion of At the same time, information indicating that the image data used for the image extraction processing is recorded is recorded in the file recording the first image data, and an instruction to delete the file recording the first image data is given. At that time, the information is read, the file to be deleted is stated that the image data used for the image extraction processing is recorded, and the first image data is recorded after the execution instruction is given. It is assumed that you want to delete a file.

Even in this case, the risk that the first image data is erroneously lost and the image extraction processing cannot be performed can be reduced.

[0016] In the present invention, by detecting the first image data representing the background, the difference between <br/> second image data representing the subject in addition to the background in common with the background, the second image The part of the difference between the data and the first image data is the part representing the subject.
The image extracting program that extracts the first image data and the second image data from the file reads the portion representing the subject extracted from the second image data into the file in which the second image data is recorded. It shall be recorded.

[0017] This program executes the image extraction processing
Then, the image data representing the subject is generated . By recording the image data representing the subject extracted from the second image data in the file in which the second image data was recorded, the image data representing the subject and the background before and after the extraction process are recorded.
It becomes easy to understand the correspondence between the image data representing only the data and the subject, and the management of the image data becomes easy.

The present invention further includes 2 including a common part.
A first image data representing two images, a difference between the first image data and the second image data is detected, and an image extracting process for extracting a difference portion between the first image data and the second image data is performed. An image recording apparatus for recording the image data and the second image data in a file includes a storage medium in which any one of the above image recording programs is stored, and the image recording program causes the first image data and the second image data to be recorded. Shall be recorded in a file.

Utilizing the features of the image recording program,
Image extraction processing can be performed efficiently, and file management becomes easy.

Here, an image pickup section is provided for picking up an image and generating image data representing the picked-up image, and the image data generated by the image pickup section is used as either the first image data or the second image data. , It is also possible to record in a file. With this configuration, the image recording device is the imaging device itself, and the image data representing the captured image can be immediately recorded as a file suitable for image extraction processing and easily managed.

[0021]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The appearance of the digital camera 1 according to the first embodiment is schematically shown in the perspective view of FIG. 1 and the rear view of FIG. The digital camera 1 includes a taking lens 11 and a finder front window 12a on the front surface, a release button 13, a liquid crystal panel 14 and operation keys 15a on the upper surface.
15b, large liquid crystal panel 16 on the back, operation keys 17
a, 17b, 17c, 17d, an electronic buzzer 18, a rear window 12b of the finder, a recording medium insertion port 19 on the side surface, and an image sensor 20 inside.

The digital camera 1 captures an image by exposing the image pickup device 20 to light by forming an image of light from a subject on the image pickup device 20 by the taking lens 11. The image sensor 20 has a large number of pixels arranged two-dimensionally, and photoelectrically converts each pixel to output a signal representing the accumulated charge. The output signal of each pixel becomes a signal indicating the amount of light received from each point of the image capturing target, and after digitization, various processes are performed to obtain image data representing the captured image.

The generated image data is recorded on the recording medium 30 inserted in the insertion slot 19, and the image represented by the image data is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 16. It is also possible to read the image data recorded in the recording medium 30 and reproduce and display the image on the liquid crystal panel 16. Image shooting and image playback display can be switched by operating the operation key 15a. The operation key 15b is used for instructing the exposure control of the image sensor 20, and the liquid crystal panel 14 displays the setting status of the digital camera 1, operation guidance, a warning message, and the like.

The digital camera 1 prepares an image extracting process for extracting a difference between the normal mode in which the image is captured and the image data is recorded and the image data is recorded and the image data is recorded. Has an image cutout mode for shooting and recording. The normal mode and the image cutout mode are switched by operating the operation key 17a. The digital camera 1 can also perform the image extraction process itself, and the operation keys 17b to 17d are used in the image extraction process.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic circuit configuration of the digital camera 1.
Is schematically shown in. The digital camera 1 includes an analog processing unit 21, an A / D converter 22, an image processing unit 23, and a RAM.
24, the image integration unit 25, the image extraction unit 26, the CPU 27,
The ROM 28 is provided.

The analog processing section 21 subjects the analog signal output from the image sensor 20 to correlated double sampling and automatic gain control. The A / D converter 22 is
The analog signal from the analog processing unit 21 is converted into a 10-bit digital signal. The image processing unit 23 subjects the digital signal from the A / D converter 22 to processes such as white balance adjustment, γ correction, and color interpolation to generate image data representing a captured image.

The RAM 24 temporarily stores the image data generated in the image cutout mode. Image integration unit 25
The plurality of images stored in the RAM 24 are collectively recorded on the recording medium 30, and the image extraction unit 26 reads the image data recorded on the recording medium 30 and performs the image extraction processing.

The CPU 27 controls the overall operation of the digital camera 1. The CPU 27 operates the operation keys 15a, 15
b, 17a to 17d, and is connected to the operation unit 29, and reflects the instruction given by the user via the operation unit 29 in the control. The CPU 27 is also connected to the liquid crystal panels 14 and 16 and the electronic buzzer 18. ROM 28
Stores a program used by the CPU 27 for control and image processing.

An example of an image used in the image extraction processing is shown in FIG.
Shown in. In FIG. 4, (a) is an image with only the background, and (b) to (d) are images including the same background and subject as in (a). In (b), (c), and (d), the subjects are different.

When the number of images (image data) including the common portion is n, the maximum number of images (image data) obtained by the image extraction processing is n · (n−1), and the number of images is In this example, where 4 is 4, the maximum number of images extracted is 1.
It becomes 2. However, the image extraction processing that is meaningful in obtaining an image of the subject is limited, and in this example, (b),
3 obtained by extracting the difference between the image data representing the image of (a) and the image data representing the image of (a) from the image data representing the images of (c) and (d).
Only one piece of image data represents the image desired by the user.

Recording medium 30 in image cutout mode
A first recording method of image data on the recording medium will be described. In the first recording method, all the image data representing the image used for the image extraction process, that is, the image including the common portion is recorded in one file. In addition, information indicating the number of image data and the address of each image data in the file is also recorded in the file.

FIG. 5 schematically shows a file format in which image data representing the image of FIG. 4 is recorded by this method. An area for recording the image data itself and an area for recording the information are separately defined in the file, and at the beginning of the area for recording the information, whether or not the image data is recorded in the image cutout mode is described. (Information 1). In this case, the value is 1 because the image data is recorded in the image cutout mode. The value is set to 0 for the image data recorded in the normal mode. Next, the number of image data is written (information 2). The number of image data is four.

Following the number of image data, the head address of each image data is written (information 3 to 6). At this time, the address of the image data used for comparison for extracting a part from the other image data, that is, the address of the image data representing the background image is described first (information 3), and then a part is extracted. The address of the image data representing the image including the background and the subject is sequentially described (information 4 to
6).

When a file is created in such a format,
The correspondence relationship of image data is easy to understand, and the image extraction process can be performed efficiently. Also, management of files such as copying and deleting is extremely easy.

Recording medium 30 in image cutout mode
The second recording method of the image data to and from will be described. In the second recording method, the image data used for the image extraction processing is recorded in a separate file. However, in the image data used for comparison for extracting a part from other image data, that is, in the file recording the image data of only the background, all the file names of the other image data are recorded, and
The file name of the background image data is recorded in the image data of which a part is extracted, that is, the image data including the background and the subject.

FIG. 6 schematically shows the format of the information recording area in the file in which the image data representing the image of FIG. 4 is recorded by this method. In FIG. 6, (a) is a file in which the image data of the background image is recorded, and (b)-
(D) is a file in which image data of an image including a background and a subject is recorded. In each file, the file name of the file is written at the beginning of the area for recording information (information 1).

Following the file name, it is described whether or not the image data is recorded in the image cutout mode (information 2), and further, whether or not the image data includes a subject (information 3). . In (a), since the image data is only the background, this value is set to 0, and (b)-
In (d), since the image data includes a subject, this value is set to 1.

The information described below differs between the image data file containing only the background and the image data file containing the subject. The number of image data including the subject (information 4) is written in the file of the image data including only the background, and subsequently, the file name of the image data including the subject is written in order (information 5 to 7). The file name of the image data including only the background is written in the image data file including the subject (information 4).

When a file is created in such a format,
It is easy to understand the correspondence relationship between files and thus the correspondence relationship between image data, and the image extraction processing can be performed efficiently. Also, file management is easy.

The flow of processing from photographing an image to recording image data in the digital camera 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, release button 13
Is operated, that is, whether or not a shooting instruction is given, and if not, the operation waits until it is operated (step # 105). When the release button is operated, the set mode is read from the state of the operation key 17a (# 110), and it is determined whether the mode is the normal mode or the image cutout mode (# 115).

When the normal mode is set, photographing, that is, exposure of the image pickup device 20 is performed (# 120), and image data is generated (# 125). Then, the generated image data is recorded on the recording medium 30 (# 130), and the process returns to step # 105.

When the image cutout mode is set, photographing is performed (# 135), image data is generated (# 140), and the generated image data is stored in the RAM 24 (# 145). Next, the user waits for an instruction for shooting to be given by operating the release button (# 150), shooting is performed (# 155), and image data is generated (# 16).
0), the generated image data is stored in the RAM 24 (#
165).

Then, it is judged from the state of the operation key 17a whether or not the image cutout mode is maintained (#
170). When the image cutout mode is maintained, the process returns to step # 150 and the processes up to step # 170 are repeated. When the mode is changed, it is determined whether or not there is an instruction to select a background image (# 175), and if there is an instruction, image data representing the background is selected (# 18).
0). When performing the image cutout process, the user usually shoots the image representing the background first, so unless otherwise specified, the image data stored in step # 145 represents the background, and in step # 165. The stored image data is treated as representing the background and the subject. However,
This is because the user may take pictures in different orders, and in that case, the image data representing the background can be designated.

The instruction to select the image data representing the background is made by operating the operation key 17c. The CPU 27 has a predetermined time (for example, 2 seconds) from the time when the determination in step # 170 is made.
It is determined whether or not the operation key 17c is operated, and when it is operated, it is determined that a selection instruction has been given. Therefore, the user can give a selection instruction by operating the operation key 17a and operating the operation key 17c at the same time to maintain the state for a while. The image data representing the background is selected by operating the operation key 17b. The image data handled as the image data representing the background is the operation key 17b.
It changes in order each time is operated, and is confirmed by operating the operation key 17c again.

After selecting the image representing the background, and when there is no selection instruction in the determination of step # 175, R
The image data stored in the AM 24 is recorded as a file in the recording medium 30 (# 185). This recording is performed by the first method or the second method. When the image data is recorded by the first method, all the image data is recorded by the image integration unit 25.
I will put together by. Whichever method is used for recording, the CPU 27 creates the aforementioned information and records it in a file together with the image data.

The user can switch the mode by operating the operation key 17a. In the above process, after shooting in the image cutout mode, the mode is switched to the normal mode until another shooting is performed. I can't. Therefore, the minimum two image data required for the image extraction processing are secured.

Here, although the image data generated in the image cutout mode is temporarily stored in the RAM 24 and finally recorded in the recording medium 30, the recording medium 30 is directly recorded every time the image data is generated. It may be recorded in. The flow of processing in this case is shown in FIG. The difference from FIG. 7 is that step # 14 of storing in RAM 24.
5, steps # 145a and # 165a for recording on the recording medium 30 are provided in place of # 165, and step # 185a for recording only information is provided instead of step # 185 for recording image data and information. Is.

When an instruction to delete the file created in the recording medium 30 is given, the CPU 27 sends information (information 1 in FIG. 4, information 2 in FIG. 5) indicating that the image data is in the image cutout mode. The liquid crystal panel 14 reads and displays on the liquid crystal panel 14 that the image data is necessary for the image extraction processing, and deletes the image data when the deletion execution instruction is given. This can greatly reduce the risk of accidentally deleting a necessary file.

Since the files are individually created in the second recording method, if the image data file showing the background ((a) in FIG. 6) is deleted, the image data file containing the subject ((b) in FIG. 6) is deleted. The items (d) to (d) cannot be used in the image extraction process, and are left wasted.
On the other hand, when there are a plurality of image data representing an image including a subject, even if one of them is deleted, the image extraction processing is possible and no other files are wasted. Therefore, regarding the file created by the second recording method,
The fact that the image data is necessary for the image extraction process may be displayed only when the deletion of the file of the image data representing the background is instructed.

The flow of this deletion processing is shown in the flowchart of FIG. First, in response to a file deletion request, a list of file names is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 14 (step # 2
05), wait for the file to be deleted to be selected (# 2
10). The deletion request is made by operating the operation key 17d, and the selection is made by operating the operation key 17b.

When a file is selected, information is read from the file and it is determined whether or not the image data is only background data recorded in the image cutout mode (#
215). If there is image data only for the background, it is determined whether or not another file described in the information, that is, a file of image data representing an image including the subject exists on the recording medium 30 (# 220). If another file exists, the fact that the image data file representing the background is about to be deleted is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 14 to warn (# 22).
5). Also, 14 options of "cancel" and "execute" are displayed on the liquid crystal panel (# 230). The warning is also given by the voice output from the electronic buzzer 18.

Then, it waits for a cancellation instruction or a deletion execution instruction (# 235, # 240). Selection of cancellation and execution is made by operating the operation key 17b, and confirmation of selection is made by operating the operation key 17c. When cancellation is instructed, the process returns to step # 210, and when execution is selected, the file is deleted from the recording medium 30 (# 245) and the process returns to step # 210.

When it is determined in step # 215 that the image data does not include only the background, and when it is determined in step # 220 that no other file exists, step # 230 is performed.
Then, after the execution instruction is given (# 240), the selected file is deleted from the recording medium 30 (# 24).
5).

Image extraction processing performed by the digital camera 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, from the files recorded on the recording medium 30,
All the files created in the image cutout mode are found, and a list of these file names is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 14 (step # 305). At that time, when a file is created by the first recording method, the data number of the image data representing the image including the subject recorded in each file is displayed together with the file name. For example, if the total number of image data recorded in the file is 4, 1
Display the data numbers from 1 to 3. Further, when files are created by the second recording method, the file names created by a series of shootings are collectively displayed as one group, and the file name of the image data representing the background is marked with a mark to that effect. .

Then, the process waits until the data number or file name is selected (# 310). Select with operation key 17b
And is confirmed by operating the operation key 17c.
Here, only the data number or file name of the image data representing the image including the subject can be selected. This is because the image data representing the background is shown in the information recorded in the file.

When the data number or file name is selected, the image data is read from the file on the recording medium 30 and the image represented by the image data is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 16 (# 315). Also, the choices of “execute”, “reselect”, and “delete” are displayed on the liquid crystal panel 14 and wait until any one is designated (# 320, # 325, # 33).
0). The selection of these options is made by operating the operation key 17b and confirmed by operating the operation key 17c.

When the execution is designated by the judgment in steps # 320 to # 330, the image data representing the background corresponding to the image data of the image being displayed is read from the file of the recording medium 30 and the image extracting section 26 is used. , The difference between the former and the latter is detected, and the difference portion is extracted from the former (# 33).
5). In this way, image data representing only the subject is obtained. Then, an image of only the subject represented by the extracted image data is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 16 (# 340), and "save",
The option of “discard” is displayed on the liquid crystal panel to determine which has been designated (# 345). Select with operation key 1
It is done by operating 7b, and is confirmed by operating the operation key 17c. When discarding is designated, step # 310
Return to.

When the save is designated, the extracted image data is recorded on the recording medium 30 (# 350). On this occasion,
The extracted image data may be recorded in an independent file, or the image data before extraction may be added and recorded in the recorded file. When the extracted image data is recorded in the file in which the image data before extraction is recorded, the correspondence between the image data before and after extraction becomes clear, and the file management becomes easy. In that case, information about the extracted image data is added to the information recorded in the file. After recording the image data, the process returns to step # 310.

When the reselection is designated in the determinations in steps # 320 to # 330, the process returns to step # 310. When the deletion is designated, the fact that the image data representing the image including the background and the subject is about to be deleted is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 14 to warn (# 355). Warning is electronic buzzer 1
It is also performed by voice output from 8. Then, wait for an instruction to cancel or delete the deletion (# 360,
# 365), if cancellation is instructed, step # 310
Return to.

When execution is instructed, step # 31
The file recording the image data selected by 0 is deleted from the recording medium 30 (# 370), and step # 31
Return to 0. When the data number is selected, that is, when the file is created by the first recording method, the image data in the file is deleted instead of deleting the entire file. When deleting a file or image data, information about the file or image data to be deleted is also deleted.

The processing shown in FIGS. 7 to 10 is performed by the ROM 28.
Is performed by a program stored in. 9 and 1 even in an image processing apparatus that does not have a photographing function.
Processing of 0 is possible. In addition, when a plurality of image data generated by a digital camera or the like represent an image including a common portion, a process of converting the image data into a file of the format shown in FIG. 5 or 6 is photographed. It is also possible to use an image processing apparatus that does not have the function of.

The personal computer 3 of the second embodiment performs these processes. The external appearance of the personal computer 3 is schematically shown in FIG. The personal computer 3 includes a main body 31 having a CPU for performing arithmetic processing, a ROM and a RAM for storing information, a display unit 32 for displaying an image, a keyboard 33 and a mouse 34 operated by a user. The main body 31 is provided with two insertion openings 35 and 36 for mounting a recording medium. The recording medium M1 recording the image processing program is inserted into the insertion port 35, and the insertion port 36 is inserted into the insertion port 36.
The recording medium M2 on which the image data is recorded is inserted.

The image processing program of the recording medium M1 includes
A program is included that performs a process of converting a file of arbitrary image data into a file of a format created by the digital camera 1 of the first embodiment by the first recording method and a file of a format created by the second recording method. There is. Further, a program for performing the deletion process of FIG. 9 and a program for performing the image extraction process of FIG. 10 are also included. The CPU is the recording medium M1
Image data is processed by these programs.

The image data recorded on the recording medium M2 is the target of the processing of the program on the recording medium M1. As the recording medium M2, the recording medium 30 in which the digital camera 1 has recorded the image data can be used, or the recording medium in which the other imaging device has recorded the image data can be used.

The display unit 32 corresponds to the liquid crystal panels 14 and 16 of the digital camera 1, and the keyboard 33 and the mouse 34 correspond to the operation keys 17a to 17d. The personal computer 3 including these has the same function as that of the digital camera 1 with respect to the processing of image data, except that the personal computer 3 cannot take a picture.

[0066]

According to the image recording program of the present invention for recording a plurality of second image data in one file when there are a plurality of second image data, the correspondence relationship with the first image data is confused. It is possible to record a plurality of second image data that is easy to perform in a form in which the correspondence relationship with the first image data is easy to understand. Therefore, the image extraction process can be performed efficiently, and the file management becomes easy.

Here, if the first image data is recorded in the file in which the second image data is recorded, the efficiency of image extraction processing and the ease of file management are further improved. In addition, the second file is recorded in the file for recording the second image data.
Even if the number of image data items is recorded, the efficiency of image processing is improved.

The first image data and the second image data are recorded in separate files, and the information indicating the relationship between the file recording the first image data and the file recording the second image data is recorded in the file. According to the image recording program of the present invention, it is possible to record the first image data and the second image data in a form in which their correspondence is easy to understand. Therefore, the image extraction processing can be efficiently performed.

Here, if the information indicating the relation is recorded in the file in which the first image data is recorded, the corresponding second image data is recorded only by looking at the file in which the first image data is recorded. File is revealed,
The efficiency of image extraction processing is further improved. Also, when an instruction to delete the file in which the first image data is recorded is given, it is expressed that the file to be deleted is related to another file, and an execution confirmation instruction is requested. Thus, the risk that the image extraction process cannot be performed can be greatly reduced.

The first image data and the second image data are recorded in separate files, and the information indicating that the image data used for the image extraction processing is recorded is recorded in the file for recording the first image data. Then, when the instruction to delete the file in which the first image data is recorded is given, it is expressed that the image data used for the image extraction processing is recorded in the file to be deleted, and the execution confirmation instruction is requested. According to the image recording program of the present invention as described above, the first image data can be recorded in a form in which there is a low risk of erroneous deletion, which directly leads to the result that the image extraction process becomes impossible.

First image data representing the background, the background and the subject
Read the second image data representing the body from the file,
The portion representing the subject extracted from the second image data is the second
According to the image extraction program of the present invention for recording in the file in which the image data of the above is recorded, it is easy to understand the correspondence between the image data representing only the subject and the image data representing the background. The image data can be recorded, and the management of the image data becomes easy.

In the image recording apparatus of the present invention, which is equipped with a storage medium storing any one of the above image recording programs and records the first image data and the second image data in a file, By making the most of the features described above, it becomes possible to efficiently perform image extraction processing, and file management becomes easy.

In particular, in the configuration of the image pickup apparatus including the image pickup section, the image data representing the photographed image can be immediately recorded as a file suitable for the image extraction processing and easily managed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing the outer appearance of a digital camera according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a rear view schematically showing the outer appearance of the digital camera.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing a schematic circuit configuration of the digital camera.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an image used for image extraction processing.

FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing a file format in which the digital camera records image data.

FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing another format of a file in which the digital camera records image data.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an outline of a processing flow from image capturing to image data recording in the digital camera.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart in which a part of the processing in FIG. 7 is changed.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an outline of a flow of a process of deleting an image data file in the digital camera.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an outline of the flow of image extraction processing in the digital camera.

FIG. 11 is a front view schematically showing the outer appearance of the personal computer according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 digital camera 11 Shooting lens 12a, 12b finder window 13 Release button 14 LCD panel 15a, 15b operation keys 16 LCD panel 17a to 17d operation keys 18 electronic buzzer 19 Recording medium insertion slot 20 Image sensor 21 Analog processing unit 22 A / D converter 23 Image Processor 24 RAM 25 Image Integration Department 26 Image extractor 27 CPU 28 ROM 29 Operation part 30 recording media 3 personal computer 31 body 32 display 33 keyboard 34 mice 35, 36 Recording medium insertion slot M1, M2 recording medium

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (56) Reference JP-A-11-109849 (JP, A) JP-A-10-21370 (JP, A) JP-A-8-139911 (JP, A) JP-A-11- 175701 (JP, A) JP-A 2-127886 (JP, A) JP-A 7-225192 (JP, A) JP-A 8-154172 (JP, A) JP-A 8-315119 (JP, A) JP-A-8-235341 (JP, A) JP-A-2-301873 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06T 1/00 G03B 15/00 G03B 19/02 H04N 5/765

Claims (10)

(57) [Claims] 1. A difference between first image data and second image data representing two images including a common portion is detected, and a difference portion between the second image data and the first image data is detected. The first image data and the second image data
In the image recording program for recording the image data of 1. in a file, when there are a plurality of second image data, the plurality of second image data are recorded in one file. 2. The first image data is recorded in a file for recording the second image data.
The image recording program described in 1. 3. The image recording program according to claim 1, wherein the number of second image data is recorded in a file for recording the second image data. 4. A difference between the first image data and the second image data representing two images including a common portion is detected, and a difference portion between the second image data and the first image data is detected. The first image data and the second image data
An image recording program for recording the image data of the first image data in a file, the first image data and the second image data in separate files, and the file in which the first image data is recorded and the second image data. An image recording program for recording information indicating the relationship between the created files in the file. 5. The image recording program according to claim 4, wherein the information is recorded in a file for recording first image data. 6. When instructed to delete the file in which the first image data is recorded, the information is read to express that the file to be deleted is related to another file and execute the execution. The image recording program according to claim 5, wherein the file in which the first image data is recorded is deleted upon receiving an instruction. 7. A difference between first image data and second image data representing two images including a common portion is detected, and a difference portion between the second image data and the first image data is detected. The first image data and the second image data
In the image recording program for recording the image data of the above in a file, the first image data and the second image data are recorded in separate files, and information indicating that the image data used for the image extraction processing is recorded is provided. The image data used for the image extraction processing is recorded in a file for recording the first image data, and when the instruction to delete the file recording the first image data is given, the information is read and the file to be deleted is used for the image extraction processing. Is recorded and given instructions for execution, the first
An image recording program that deletes a file in which the image data of is recorded. 8. First image data representing a background and the spine
An image extraction program that detects a difference between second image data representing a subject in addition to a background common to the scenery and extracts a portion of the difference between the second image data and the first image data as a portion representing the subject. In, the first image data and the second image data are read from the file, and the portion representing the subject extracted from the second image data is recorded in the file in which the second image data was recorded. An image extraction program characterized by the above. 9. A difference between the first image data and the second image data representing two images including a common portion is detected, and a difference portion between the second image data and the first image data is detected. The first image data and the second image data
An image recording apparatus for recording the image data of claim 1 in a file, comprising a storage medium storing the image recording program according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the first image data and the first image data are recorded by the image recording program. An image recording device characterized by recording the image data of No. 2 in a file. 10. An image pickup unit for picking up an image and generating image data representing the picked-up image, wherein the image data generated by the image pickup unit is set as either the first image data or the second image data. The image recording device according to claim 9, wherein the image is recorded in a file.