JP3569097B2 - Imaging device and digital still camera - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus having a data collection function at the time of imaging, and a PC card for realizing the data collection function, and relates to a technology effective when applied to, for example, a digital still camera.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, landscape photography is often performed using oblique rays in the morning and evening, avoiding the daylight in which the subject appears flat. For this reason, it is necessary to know in advance from which direction the sunrise and sunset will shine. In addition, when taking a landscape with the sunrise or sunset, it is essential to know the location of the sun in and out in advance. As described above, in camera shooting, high-quality shooting can be performed by collecting necessary information in advance.
[0003]
However, in order to obtain such information, it is possible to use a special device that predicts the direction and time of the sunrise / sunset and the time on a map with a template written on a transparent acrylic plate for each month. It is practically difficult to understand the situation that is blocked by mountains and buildings.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Therefore, the present inventors have studied an imaging device having a data collection function at the time of imaging. At this time, a number of digital still cameras have been provided, which are computerized silver halide cameras. Among them, a PC card interface is provided to temporarily store image data or exchange image data with a personal computer or the like. Some PC cards can be mounted with a flash memory.
[0005]
The present inventor pays attention to the data processing or image processing function of the digital still camera and the versatility of the PC card interface specification, and makes the digital still camera have a measurement function beyond the function of a simple photographing device. Considering that such a measurement function is realized by a PC card, it is possible to collect information necessary for imaging such as the sunrise and sunset, thereby facilitating high-quality imaging. Under the heading, as a result, the present invention described below has been attained.
[0006]
An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging device such as a digital still camera with a data collection function at the time of imaging.
[0007]
An object of the present invention is to provide a PC card that supports such a data collection function.
[0008]
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an imaging device and a digital still camera capable of simulating a natural situation in the background of a captured image.
[0009]
It is another object of the present invention to provide a PC card that supports a simulation of a natural situation behind a captured image.
[0010]
The above and other objects and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The outline of a representative invention among the inventions disclosed in the present application will be briefly described as follows.
[0012]
That is, the imaging device, imaging means, means for measuring the altitude angle of the imaging direction by the imaging means, means for measuring the azimuth angle of the imaging direction by the imaging means, position acquisition means for specifying the imaging position, Means for specifying an imaging timing; calculating means for simulating a natural situation to be observed at a point specified by the altitude angle, azimuth angle, imaging position and imaging time at the time of imaging by the imaging means; Superimposing means for superimposing the obtained natural situation on the image captured by the image capturing means.
[0013]
According to the above means, the imaging device acquires data required for the simulation, such as the altitude angle, the azimuth angle, the imaging position, and the imaging timing. The calculation means simulates a natural situation to be observed at a point specified by the acquired altitude angle, azimuth angle, imaging position, and imaging time. For example, the natural situation is a target celestial body, such as the trajectory or position of the sun. The simulated natural situation is superimposed on the captured image. A simulation image is superimposed on the superimposed image together with a background such as a mountain or a building. For example, the situation where the sun is blocked by the building, and the position and time of sunset or sunrise can be grasped from the superimposed image. Therefore, in the case of landscape photography, it is possible to know in advance from which direction the sunrise and sunset will shine, and in the case of taking a landscape with the sunrise and sunset, it is necessary to know the location of the sun in and out in advance Can be. As described above, since information necessary for camera shooting can be easily and accurately collected, high-quality shooting is easy, and shooting with a desired layout such as the position of the sun is easy. . It can also be used as an observation device that predicts the location and time of the sunrise and sunset, irrespective of preparations for photographing. According to the contents of the simulation program, the position of celestial bodies such as the moon, planets and stars can be predicted in the same way as the sun, and can be used to support astronomical observation.
[0014]
The imaging device may further include image display means capable of displaying the captured image and the superimposed image.
[0015]
A global positioning system can be adopted as the position acquisition means. In order to reduce the cost of the position acquisition means, a pointing input means for acquiring the position pointed on the image-displayed map can be adopted. Alternatively, the position designation can be replaced with the input of a telephone number or a postal code.
[0016]
The imaging apparatus can be configured as a digital still camera in which these circuit elements are incorporated in a housing including an imaging unit and a display unit capable of displaying an image captured by the imaging unit.
[0017]
A digital still camera supposed to perform the simulation calculation and the image superimposition processing by a personal computer having a PC card slot, an imaging unit, a unit for measuring an altitude angle of an imaging direction by the imaging unit, and the imaging unit For measuring the azimuth angle of the imaging direction, the position acquisition means for specifying the imaging position, and the PC card interface means for outputting the measured altitude angle, azimuth angle, and imaging data.
[0018]
To enable data collection at the time of imaging using a digital still camera having only a conventional imaging function having a PC card slot, the height angle of a predetermined reference plane of the housing is measured on the housing of the PC card. Means for measuring the azimuth of the reference plane, and PC card interface means for outputting the measured altitude and azimuth. With such a PC card, it is possible to support simulation of a natural situation in the background of a captured image.
[0019]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a digital still camera 1 which is an example of an imaging device according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 2 denotes an optical system for imaging. The optical system 2 has a lens unit and a diaphragm mechanism directed to a subject, and the focusing and exposure of the lens are set by an optical system driving circuit 3. The optical image input through the optical system 2 is stored as charge information by the CCD image pickup device 4. The CCD imaging device 4 is not particularly limited, but is a two-dimensional CCD of an interline transfer system. The charge transfer control is performed by an imaging controller 5, and the transferred charge information is amplified by an amplifier circuit and A / D converted. Are output to the bus 6 as image information. The microprocessor 7 stores the image information in a buffer area of a RAM (Random Access Memory) 8. The image information stored in the RAM 8 is drawn by a display controller 9 on a VRAM (Video RAM) 10, and the drawn image information is displayed on a liquid crystal display device 11 by display control of the display controller 9. Incidentally, the optical system 2 and the CCD image pickup device 4 constitute an image pickup means.
[0020]
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 12 denotes a rotary encoder for measuring the altitude angle of the optical system 2 in the imaging direction. Reference numeral 13 denotes a geomagnetic sensor for measuring the azimuth angle of the optical system 2 in the imaging direction. Although not shown in detail, the rotary encoder 12 has a large number of binary-coded holes formed on concentric circles in the disk, and arranges the holes in accordance with the rotation angle of the disk by transmitting light from a light source. It reads optically and measures the relative rotation angle between the disk and the light source. The rotary encoder 12 for measuring the altitude angle is provided on the housing of the camera so that the disk faces in the vertical direction with respect to the imaging operation position serving as the reference of the digital still camera 1. Although the geomagnetic sensor 13 is not shown in detail, an electromagnetic coil and a set of detection coils are wound around a ring-shaped magnetic core, and the angle of the sensor with respect to geomagnetism is determined from the output phase and level ratio of each detection coil. It is to measure. The terrestrial magnetism sensor 13 for measuring the azimuth is provided on the camera housing so as to face in the horizontal direction. Outputs of the rotary encoder 12 and the geomagnetic sensor 13 are converted into digital signals by A / D conversion circuits 14 and 15. The microprocessor 7 samples the converted data at a predetermined timing, and calculates an azimuth angle and an altitude angle based on the sampled data. The calculated altitude angle and azimuth angle are stored in a buffer area of the RAM 8, and the azimuth angle and the altitude angle are displayed on the liquid crystal display device 11 by the display controller 9 via the VRAM 10.
[0021]
In FIG. 1, what is indicated by 18 is a global positioning system (GPS), which is an example of a position acquisition unit that specifies an imaging location. The GPS 18 is a device that measures a current position based on a difference between arrival times of radio waves from a plurality of artificial satellites. Thereby, the longitude and the latitude of the imaging location can be obtained. The acquired longitude and latitude information is stored in the buffer area of the RAM 8 by the microprocessor 7, and the display controller 9 displays the latitude and longitude on the liquid crystal display device 11 via the VRAM 10.
[0022]
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 19 denotes a clock circuit for counting the current date and time. The date, time, and time information is stored in the buffer area of the RAM 8 by the microprocessor 7, and the current date, time, and time are displayed on the liquid crystal display device 11 by the display controller 9 via the VRAM 10. What is indicated by 20 is an input device. The input device 20 is a general term for operation buttons such as a shutter button, a mode setting button, a parameter input button, and a power switch. When the shutter button is turned on, the microprocessor 7 stores the image data, the azimuth angle data, the altitude angle data, the latitude and mild data, the current date, and the time data stored in the buffer area of the RAM 8 into the work of the RAM 8. Transfer to area. The data transferred to the work area is stored in, for example, the flash memory 23. At this time, the image data may be compressed. Further, the microprocessor 7 performs a simulation calculation and an image superimposition process described later based on the data transferred to the work area. Although not particularly limited, an operation program and a data table of the microprocessor 7 are stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 22. Reference numeral 21 denotes an output device for outputting image data and the like stored in the flash memory 23 to the outside.
[0023]
FIG. 2 shows an example of an operation flowchart of the digital still camera. When the digital still camera 1 is turned on, an image for monitoring is performed by the optical system 2 and the CCD imaging device 4 (S1). Similarly, the current date and time are measured by the clock circuit 19 (S2), the current position is measured by the GPS 18 (S3), the azimuth is measured by the geomagnetic sensor 13 (S4), and the altitude angle is calculated by the rotary encoder 12. It is measured (S5). The respective measurement data and image data are sampled by, for example, time division by the microprocessor 7 and displayed on the liquid crystal display device 11 via the buffer area of the RAM 8 (S6 to S10). The above operation is an idle state for imaging.
[0024]
In this idle state, the microprocessor 7 monitors whether or not the shutter button included in the input device 20 has been operated (S11). When the microprocessor 7 detects that the shutter button has been turned on, it is stored in the buffer area of the RAM 8 at a predetermined timing. The captured image data, date and time information, longitude and latitude data, azimuth angle data, and altitude angle data are loaded into the work area of the RAM 8 (S12). Although not shown, the data loaded in the work area of the RAM 8 is also stored in the flash memory 21 as data for storage.
[0025]
Then, the microprocessor 7 sequentially reads the data of the altitude angle, azimuth angle, longitude and latitude, and year, month, day and time loaded in the work area of the RAM 8 (S13). A simulation of a natural situation is performed (S14). For example, the trajectory of the target celestial body that can be observed at that position is calculated. The operation of celestial bodies such as the moon and the sun is currently measured precisely, and by specifying the observation position, observation date, and time, it is possible to simulate the operation of the celestial body at that time using higher-order functions. it can. In fact, such a simulation program is provided as being usable on a personal computer. Such a program is stored in the ROM 22. In general, the position of a celestial body is calculated in an equatorial coordinate system (equatorial ascension, declination) as illustrated in FIG. 3 because the earth rotates. The landscape of the sky on which the observer stands on the ground is specified by a horizontal coordinate system (altitude angle, azimuth angle) as illustrated in FIG. In the simulation program, the current date and time, altitude angle, azimuth angle, longitude and latitude are used to convert data into an equatorial coordinate system to obtain operation data of a target celestial object, and obtain the obtained celestial object Is converted to the horizon coordinate system. As a result, data of the trajectory of the celestial body corresponding to the scenery captured by the camera can be obtained.
[0026]
The operation trajectory data obtained by the simulation calculation is imaged at a magnification corresponding to the magnification of the camera (S15). Then, the image data is read from the work area of the RAM 8 (S16), and the image data and the imaged data of the operation locus are superimposed (S17). The superimposed image data is displayed on the liquid crystal display device 11 via the display controller 9 (S18).
[0027]
FIG. 5 shows a display example of the superimposed data. For example, in FIG. 5, Lc is a running track of the sun at the date of imaging. In this example, the operation trajectories Lb and La of the previous month and the next month are also simulated and displayed together. The time at the required position is also displayed on the operation track.
[0028]
By obtaining the superimposed image representatively shown in FIG. 5, it is possible to predict the sunset time for the captured scenery. Although not specifically shown, the time in the south of the sun can be predicted from the superimposed image for another daytime scenery, and the time of sunrise is obtained from the superimposed image for another scenery in the morning. Can be predicted. In addition, the time when the sun is blocked by a building can be predicted for an imaged landscape in an urban area. Therefore, in the case of landscape photography, it is possible to know in advance from which direction the sunrise and sunset will shine, and in the case of taking a landscape with the sunrise and sunset, it is necessary to know the location of the sun in and out in advance Can be. As described above, since information necessary for camera shooting can be easily and accurately collected in advance, high-quality shooting is easy, and shooting with a desired layout such as the position of the sun becomes easy. It can also be used as an observation device that predicts the location and time of the sunrise and sunset, irrespective of preparations for photographing. According to the contents of the simulation program, the position of celestial bodies such as the moon, planets and stars can be predicted in the same way as the sun, and can be used to support astronomical observations. In the above description, the date and time used for the simulation are the current date and time acquired from the clock circuit 19, but if a desired date is input as a parameter in step S14 of FIG. It is possible to calculate the operation of the sun and the like at the date. In addition, an observable astronomical object can be automatically determined according to the imaging date and time as the object to be simulated. Alternatively, a desired celestial object can be input as a parameter in step S14, and the operation can be calculated only for that celestial object.
[0029]
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a system that enables data collection at the time of imaging using a digital still camera having a PC card slot. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 1A denotes a digital still camera having a PC card slot 26, and reference numeral 25A denotes a PC card capable of collecting data at the time of imaging. FIG. 7 shows a state in which the PC card 25A is mounted on the digital still camera 1A, wherein (A) shows the front and (B) shows the back.
[0030]
The PC card 25A includes the rotary encoder 12, the geomagnetic sensor 13, A / D conversion circuits 14, 15, and a flash memory 23. The rotary encoder 12 measures an altitude angle of a predetermined reference plane 28 of the PC card housing 27, and the geomagnetic sensor 13 measures an azimuth angle of the reference plane 28. The A / D conversion circuits 14 and 15 and the flash memory 23 are connected to a bus 6A, which is further connected to a microprocessor 7A, a RAM 8A and a ROM 22A.
[0031]
Although not particularly limited, the PC card interface controller 24 has a PC card interface function conforming to a standard such as PCMCIA-ATA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association-ATA Attachment). The RAM 8A serves as a buffer area for data exchanged with the outside via the PC card interface controller 24 and a work area for the microprocessor 7A. The microprocessor 7A samples the azimuth and altitude data obtained by the rotary encoder 12 and the geomagnetic sensor 13, and stores the data in the RAM 8A. In this example, the GPS 18 for position measurement is not provided. Instead, a data table is prepared in the flash memory 23 in which a representative city name and latitude and longitude data of the center are paired. The designation of the imaging position is performed by the input device 20. The microprocessor 7A searches the table of the flash memory 23 using the input city name as a key, and obtains latitude and longitude data corresponding to the city name. The microprocessor 7A acquires the current date and time from the clock circuit 19. The microprocessor 7A monitors whether or not the shutter button has been operated on the digital still camera 1A. When the shutter button is operated, the microprocessor 7A detects the target celestial object based on the information of the azimuth angle, the altitude angle, the latitude / longitude, and the date / time. Calculate the trajectory. The microprocessor 7A images the operation result in the same manner as described above. Then, the microprocessor 7A receives the picked-up image data from the digital still camera 1A via the PC card interface controller 24, and superimposes the image data of the operation locus on this image data. The superimposed image data is transferred to the buffer area of the RAM 8B via the PC card interface controller 24, and displayed on the liquid crystal display device 11 via the display controller 9. Sampling of the azimuth and altitude, search of position data, simulation of trajectory of celestial body operation, imaging of simulation data, superimposition of imaged simulation data and imaging data, and digital still camera 1A via PC card interface controller 24 An operation program for data transfer control is stored in the ROM 22A.
[0032]
The digital still camera 1A includes the above-described optical system 2, optical system driving circuit 3, CCD imaging device 4, imaging controller 5, input device 20, output device 21, display controller 9, VRAM 10, liquid crystal display device 11, clock circuit 19 And a bus 6B. The microprocessor 7B, the RAM 8B and the ROM 22B are further connected to the internal bus 6B. The digital still camera 1A having these circuit means supports an imaging function. Operation programs for imaging and controlling the interface with the PC card are stored in the ROM 22B. The RAM 8B is used as a temporary data storage area and a work area for the microprocessor 7B. In the drawing, circuit blocks having the same functions as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.
[0033]
Even in such a configuration, as in FIG. 1, it is possible to easily and accurately collect information necessary for camera shooting in advance, so that high-quality shooting is easy, and a desired layout such as the position of the sun can be obtained. It is easy to take a picture. It can also be used as an observation device that predicts the location and time of the sunrise and sunset, irrespective of preparations for photographing. Moreover, since the PC card 25A has all the data collection functions required for imaging, the PC card 25A can be widely applied to various digital still cameras. Further, since the position data table is used instead of the GPS 18, the cost can be reduced. Further, the position data table can be mounted on the ROM 22A.
[0034]
If a pointing input circuit that has map data and acquires a position pointed on an image-displayed map is adopted as the input device 20 instead of the position data for specifying the imaging position, the imaging position can be visually specified. can do. Such an input device can be realized by a pen input device using so-called known electrostatic induction or the like, and can be configured by being incorporated in the 11 screen of the liquid crystal display device. Such a configuration for specifying the imaging position can be adopted in place of the GPS 18 in the configuration of FIG.
[0035]
FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of a system that enables data collection required for the imaging using a personal computer having a PC card slot. 8, 30 is a personal computer having a PC card slot 32, 31 is a connecting PC card such as a SCSI interface card, and 1C is a digital still camera. FIG. 9 shows an example of the appearance of the system of FIG.
[0036]
The digital still camera 1C of FIG. 8 differs from that of FIG. 1 in that a clock circuit 19, an output device 21, a display controller 9, a VRAM 10, and a liquid crystal display device 11 are omitted. The functions of the omitted circuit modules are replaced by a clock circuit 35 and a display device 38 mounted on the personal computer 30. The microprocessor 33 of the personal computer 30 controls the simulation of the trajectory of the celestial body, the imaging of the simulation data, the superposition of the imaged simulation data and the imaging data, and the display of the superimposed image. An application program for that purpose is stored in an auxiliary storage device 34 such as a hard disk device, and is executed by the microprocessor 33 as needed. In FIG. 8, 32 is a PC card slot, and 36 is an interface controller. The ROM 22 newly includes a program for a PC card interface as compared with that shown in FIG. 1, and the functions supported by the application programs are omitted.
[0037]
Also in this configuration, as in FIG. 1, information necessary for camera shooting can be collected easily and accurately in advance, so that high-quality shooting is easy, and shooting can be performed with a desired layout such as the position of the sun. It is easier to do. It can also be used as an observation device that predicts the location and time of the sunrise and sunset, irrespective of preparations for photographing.
[0038]
Although the invention made by the inventor has been specifically described based on the embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment, and it is needless to say that various changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention.
[0039]
For example, the simulation of the natural situation is not limited to the trajectory of the celestial body, but may be the position of the celestial body. It is also possible to simulate the brightness of the sky at the time of astronomical dawn such as sunset. The designation of the observation time does not necessarily have to be the date and time, and can be partially simplified according to the accuracy of the simulation. The present invention is not limited to a digital still camera, but can be applied to a video camera and the like.
[0040]
【The invention's effect】
The following is a brief description of an effect obtained by a representative one of the inventions disclosed in the present application.
[0041]
That is, an imaging device such as a digital still camera can be provided with a data collection function at the time of imaging. A PC card that supports such a data collection function can be provided. Further, it is possible to provide an imaging device and a digital still camera capable of simulating a natural situation in the background of a captured image.
[0042]
It is possible to provide a PC card that supports a simulation of a natural situation in the background of a captured image. Further, the imaging device can acquire data necessary for a simulation of a natural situation such as the altitude angle, the azimuth angle, the imaging position, and the imaging time. Then, it is possible to simulate a natural situation to be observed at a point specified by the acquired altitude angle, azimuth angle, imaging position, and imaging time.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital still camera which is an example of an imaging device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the digital still camera in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an example of an equator coordinate system.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a horizontal coordinate system (altitude angle, azimuth angle).
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a display state when the captured image data and the trajectory operation locus image data are superimposed.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an example of a system that enables data collection required for imaging using a digital still camera having a PC card slot.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the PC card is mounted on the digital still camera, as viewed from the front and the back.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a system that enables collection of data necessary for imaging using a personal computer having a PC card slot.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an example of the appearance of the system of FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
1,1A, 1C Digital still camera
2 Optical system
4 CCD imaging device
7,7A microprocessor
11 Liquid crystal display device
12 Rotary encoder for altitude measurement
13. Geomagnetic sensor for azimuth measurement
18 GPS
19 Clock circuit
20 Input device
22,22A ROM
23 Flash memory
24 PC Card Interface Controller
25A PC card
27 PC Card Housing
28 Reference plane
30 Personal computer
32 PC card slot
33 Microprocessor
34 Auxiliary storage device

Claims (6)

Imaging means, a semiconductor memory capable of storing imaging data obtained by the imaging means, means for measuring an altitude angle of the imaging direction by the imaging means, and means for measuring an azimuth angle of the imaging direction by the imaging means A position acquisition unit for specifying an imaging position, a unit for specifying an imaging timing, and a natural situation to be observed at a point specified by the altitude angle, the azimuth angle, the imaging position, and the imaging timing at the time of imaging by the imaging unit. Computing means for simulating the, and superimposing means for superimposing the natural situation simulated by the computing means on the imaging data read from the semiconductor memory ,
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the target natural situation is a position or a trajectory of a target celestial object. 2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising image display means capable of displaying the captured image and the superimposed image. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the position acquisition unit is a global positioning system. Wherein the position obtaining means, the image pickup apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that the pointing input means for acquiring a position pointed by the image display was on the map. A housing including an imaging unit , a semiconductor memory capable of storing imaging data obtained by the imaging unit, and a display unit capable of displaying an image captured by the imaging unit has a height of an imaging direction of the imaging unit. Means for measuring an angle, means for measuring the azimuth of the imaging direction by the imaging means, position acquisition means for specifying the imaging position, means for specifying the imaging time, and the altitude angle at the time of imaging by the imaging means Calculating means for simulating a natural state to be observed at a point specified by an azimuth angle, an imaging position, and an imaging time; and superimposing the natural state simulated by the calculating means on imaging data read from the semiconductor memory. And superimposing means for enabling display on the display means.
The digital still camera is characterized in that the target natural situation is a position or a trajectory of a target celestial object. 6. The digital still camera according to claim 5, further comprising: a PC card interface unit for outputting the measured altitude angle, azimuth angle, imaging position, and imaging time.

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