JP4173379B2 - Imaging apparatus and recording / reproducing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a camera-integrated recording / reproducing apparatus, an electronic still camera, a photographing apparatus such as a camera-equipped mobile phone, a recording / reproducing apparatus, and a recording medium on which a recording / reproducing processing program is recorded.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a conventional image recording / playback apparatus, when a recorded still image is played back and displayed on a screen, a thumbnail (Thumbnail) is used prior to playback of the image data for convenience of search and editing. There are some which display a plurality of reduced sample images on the screen. Further, there is a type in which a small area screen is formed in the entire display screen, and another image different from the image displayed on the entire display screen is displayed on the small area screen.
[0003]
For example, Patent Literature 1 describes a technique called picture-in-picture (PinP) that displays a thumbnail-like child screen in a parent screen. This technology superimposes a child screen in which a moving image or a still image is compressed in the moving image or a still image in the moving image or the same image as the parent screen with the same aspect ratio as the parent screen. Further, the place where the child screen is superimposed can be set to an arbitrary place on the parent screen.
[0004]
Patent Document 2 describes a camera-integrated recording / reproducing apparatus that creates a multi-image from an image captured by a camera unit and an image stored in a storage unit. Patent Document 3 describes a digital still camera that classifies images taken at the time of image shooting according to information and stores them in a recording medium. Furthermore, Patent Document 4 describes a method for displaying any two stored images and facilitating visual comparison.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-205670 (FIG. 1)
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-11-261935 (FIG. 1)
[Patent Document 3]
JP-A-6-178261 (FIG. 1)
[Patent Document 4]
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 63-84258 (FIG. 1)
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Such an image recording / reproducing apparatus has the following problems.
In the devices described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, displaying a child screen is disclosed. However, when the subject is large, the subject may be hidden no matter where the child screen is moved.
[0007]
Further, in the apparatus described in Patent Document 3, when images captured at the time of image capturing are classified according to information and stored in a recording medium, it is necessary to check the stored image and then shift to a shooting mode to perform shooting. There is a problem in that the operation is complicated and the camera is missed.
[0008]
Further, in the apparatus described in Patent Document 4, since any two stored images are displayed and compared by visual observation, a video to be shot is also reduced, and accurate shooting cannot be performed. There was a problem.
[0009]
The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and can prevent the subject that is currently being photographed from being hidden by the sub-screen and disappearing in real time without requiring any special operation. It is an object of the present invention to provide an imaging apparatus, a recording / reproducing apparatus, and a recording medium on which a recording / reproducing processing program is recorded, which can perform imaging while comparing.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The photographing apparatus of the present invention includes a photographing means for photographing a subject, a recording / reproducing means for recording image data photographed by the photographing means on a recording medium, and reproducing the image data recorded on the recording medium, and the photographing An image processing means for creating a multi-image from the image data photographed by the means and the image data reproduced by the recording / reproducing means, and a multi-image that has been image-processed by the image processing means comprises a parent screen and a child screen. Displayed on the display screen according to instructions by the display means, operation means for instructing the size, position, or display content of the main screen and sub-screen displayed on the display screen, and the display contents And a control means for controlling the size, position, or display content of the parent screen and / or the child screen.
[0011]
Further, the image processing apparatus includes similar image extraction means for extracting image data similar to the image data photographed by the photographing means from image data recorded on the recording medium, and the control means includes More preferably, the extracted similar image is displayed on the sub-screen.
[0012]
Further, the similar image extracting means calculates the similarity between the image data photographed by the photographing means and the image data recorded on the recording medium, and the image data having the largest similarity is calculated as a similar image. May be output.
[0013]
Further, the similar image extracting means may output, as a similar image, image data in which the photographing position of the image recorded on the recording medium and the photographing position of the image photographed by the photographing means are the closest. Good.
[0014]
Further, the similar image extracting means may output, as a similar image, image data having the closest shooting date / time of the image recorded on the recording medium and the shooting date / time of the image shot by the shooting means. Good.
[0015]
Furthermore, the camera includes a photographing position detecting means for detecting a photographing position, the recording / reproducing means records the photographed image data together with the photographing position on the recording medium, and the similar image extracting means is photographed by the photographing means. It is also possible to output image data in which the shooting position of the image and the shooting position of the image recorded on the recording medium are the closest.
[0016]
The recording / reproducing means records the photographed image data on the recording medium together with photographing conditions including information on a flash emission state and aperture information, and the similar image extracting means is an image photographed by the photographing means. The image data that is closest to the shooting conditions of the image recorded on the recording medium may be output.
[0017]
The recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention records captured image data on a recording medium, reproduces the image data recorded on the recording medium, and reproduces the captured image data and the recording / reproducing means. Displayed on the display screen, image processing means for creating a multi-image from the image data, display means for displaying the multi-image processed by the image processing means on a display screen comprising a parent screen and a child screen, An operation means for instructing the size, position, or display contents of the parent screen and the child screen, and the size, position, or display of the parent screen and / or the child screen displayed on the display screen according to the instruction by the operation means. And a control means for controlling the contents.
[0018]
The image processing apparatus further includes similar image extraction means for extracting image data similar to the captured image data from the image data recorded on the recording medium, and the control means displays the extracted similar image on the sub-screen. More preferably.
[0019]
The present invention also provides a computer that records captured image data on a recording medium and reproduces the image data recorded on the recording medium, and reproduces the captured image data and the recording / reproducing means. Image processing means for creating a multi-image from the processed image data, display means for displaying the multi-image subjected to image processing by the image processing means on a display screen comprising a parent screen and a child screen, and display on the display screen Operating means for instructing the size, position, or display content of the main screen and the sub-screen, and the size, position, or position of the main screen and / or sub-screen displayed on the display screen according to the instruction by the operating means It is a program for functioning as a recording / reproducing apparatus provided with the control means which controls a display content.
[0020]
Furthermore, the present invention provides a computer for recording captured image data on a recording medium, reproducing the image data recorded on the recording medium, and reproducing the captured image data and the recording / reproducing means. Image processing means for creating a multi-image from the processed image data, display means for displaying the multi-image subjected to image processing by the image processing means on a display screen comprising a parent screen and a child screen, and display on the display screen Operating means for instructing the size, position, or display content of the main screen and the sub-screen, and the size, position, or position of the main screen and / or sub-screen displayed on the display screen according to the instruction by the operating means A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for functioning as a recording / reproducing apparatus comprising a control means for controlling display contents It is.
[0021]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a photographing apparatus and a recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0022]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a photographing apparatus and a recording / reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. This is an example of application to a camera-integrated recording / reproducing apparatus as the photographing apparatus and recording / reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment.
[0023]
In FIG. 1, a camera-integrated recording / reproducing apparatus 1 displays a camera unit 2 (photographing means) having a camera lens for photographing a subject, images taken by the camera unit 2, and image data stored in an image storage unit 4. An image display unit 3 (display unit) composed of an LDC or the like, an image recording unit 4 (image recording / reproducing unit) that records image data on a recording medium such as a memory, and the image recording unit 4 according to a designated search condition. A similarity calculation unit 5 for calculating the similarity of all the image data, a similarity database 6 for storing the calculated similarity as table data in a memory, and searching the similarity database 6 to find an image closest to the current image. It consists of a similarity comparison unit 7 that outputs to the image display unit 3.
Reference numeral 8 denotes a parent screen displayed on the image display unit 3, and reference numeral 9 denotes a child screen displayed in an arbitrary size at an arbitrary position on the parent screen 8.
[0024]
The similarity calculation unit 5, the similarity database 6, and the similarity comparison unit 7, as a whole, extract image data similar to the image data captured by the camera unit 2 from the image data recorded in the image recording unit 4. The similar image extraction means to extract is comprised. The similar image extraction unit is realized by a control unit 10 (control unit) including a microcomputer that controls the entire apparatus including the camera unit 2 and the image display unit 3.
[0025]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the camera-integrated recording / reproducing apparatus 1.
In FIG. 2, a camera-integrated recording / reproducing apparatus 1 includes a CPU 21 (control means, similar image extraction means) that is a control unit for controlling the entire apparatus, a ROM 22 that stores control programs, fixed data, and the like, and CPU operations. A storage area RAM 23, a hard disk (HDD) and the like, an external storage device 24 (recording medium) for storing input image information / audio signals, a photographing lens, a zoom lens, a drive motor for driving the zoom lens, A camera unit 25 (photographing means) configured to input target image information composed of a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or the like, an A / D conversion unit 26 that converts an input video signal into a digital signal, captured image data, and LCD display unit 27 for displaying image data read from the recording medium, guidance for operation, graphic characters, and the like Display means), a touch panel 28 (operation means) formed of a transparent electrode for detecting that the operation button display stacked on the LCD display section 27 and displayed on the LCD display section 27 is touched, a shutter button, a zoom button, An operation unit 29 (operation means) for inputting and generating key operation information from a user such as a cross key and a numeric keypad, a card system such as a PC card, a compact flash card, a smart media, an SD card, a memory stick, a small HDD, a magneto-optical disk, etc. A card controller 31 for connecting the disk-type recording medium 30 and the CPU 21 and a GPS antenna 32a for receiving a radio wave of position information from a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite. From information received via the GPS antenna 32a, Current position information is two parameters of latitude / longitude Calculated configured with a GPS device 32 (imaging position detecting means) for.
[0026]
The CPU 21 performs overall control of the camera-integrated recording / reproducing apparatus 1 including execution of application processing such as image display processing, and controls each control unit collectively.
In particular, the CPU 21 records image data captured by the camera unit 25 on a recording medium 30 (or an external storage device 24), and reproduces the image data recorded on the recording medium 30, and the camera unit 25. The size of the sub-screen displayed on the display screen of the LCD display unit 27 in accordance with instructions from the touch panel 28 and the operation unit 29 according to the image processing means for creating a multi-image from the image data captured by the image and the reproduced image data , A function as a control means for controlling the position or display content.
[0027]
In the present embodiment, the camera unit 25 has a function as a similar image extraction unit that extracts image data similar to the image data captured by the camera unit 25 from the image data recorded on the recording medium 30. At the time of shooting by 25, control is performed to display the extracted similar image on the child screen.
[0028]
The ROM 22 is a read-only semiconductor memory that stores fixed data such as programs and control data required when the CPU 21 operates. The RAM 23 is used as a so-called working memory that temporarily stores data relating to image display and similarity determination, data used for calculation, calculation results, and the like. A program processed by the camera-integrated recording / reproducing apparatus 1 is developed in the RAM and executed. Further, a part of the RAM is an EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable ROM) which is an electrically rewritable nonvolatile memory, and various specifications, particularly in the camera-integrated recording / reproducing apparatus 1, can be changed by changing a program written in the EEPROM. Can be changed. That is, recently, in order to avoid the time loss of changing the mask ROM for each debugging of the system development, the program ROM is a non-volatile memory, for example, EPROM, EEPROM, and the time for program development / modification time is greatly reduced. . Further, if the program is downloaded and the program contents of the EEPROM are rewritten, it is possible to easily upgrade functions or change functions.
[0029]
The external storage device 24 is a disk device such as a digital video cassette (DVC) or a hard disk drive (HDD), an SRAM (Static RAM) card that holds information written by power backup, or a flash that does not require power backup. Compact flash (CF) composed of memory, smart media, memory stick, and the like.
[0030]
The LCD display unit 27 displays the image-processed multi-image on a display screen including a parent screen and a child screen.
On the touch panel 28 and the operation unit 29, the user instructs the size, position, or display content of the main screen and the sub screen displayed on the display screen of the LCD display unit 27.
[0031]
Each functional block in FIG. 1 specifically corresponds to each constituent block in FIG. The image recording unit 4 in FIG. 1 includes the recording medium 30 and / or the external storage device 24 in FIG. 2, and the similarity database 6 in FIG. 1 is constructed as a table on a predetermined storage area of the RAM 23 in FIG. When the external storage device 24 is configured by a flash memory or a high-speed HDD, the external storage device 24 may be built on the external storage device 24.
[0032]
Further, the control unit 10 including the similarity calculation unit 5, the similarity database 6, and the similarity comparison unit 7 of FIG. 1 is specifically developed by the CPU 21 of FIG. 2 on the control program of the ROM 22 or the ROM 22 on the RAM 23. In accordance with the execution program, the RAM 23 is used to execute an image display process described later in FIGS. 3 and 4. The image display unit 3 in FIG. 1 corresponds to the LCD display unit 27 in FIG. 2, and the parent screen 8 and the child screen 9 of the image display unit 3 are displayed by a multi-screen on the display screen of the LCD display unit 27. The The camera unit 1 in FIG. 1 corresponds to the camera unit 25 in FIG.
[0033]
Hereinafter, the operation of the camera-integrated recording / reproducing apparatus 1 configured as described above will be described.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an image display operation of the camera-integrated recording / reproducing apparatus 1, and this flow is executed by the CPU 21. In the figure, S indicates each step of the flow.
[0034]
First, in step S1, it is determined whether or not the power source of the camera-integrated recording / reproducing apparatus 1 is turned on. If the power of the camera body is not turned on, it is determined whether or not the recording medium 30 is inserted in the camera body in step S2. If the recording medium 30 is not inserted, it is determined in step S3 whether there is a change in search conditions for searching for similar images. If there is a change in the search condition, the process proceeds to step S4, and if not, this flow ends. When the camera is turned on in step S1 or when the recording medium 30 is inserted in step S2, the process directly proceeds to step S4.
[0035]
In step S4, the similarity calculation unit 5 extracts all data necessary for searching for similar images for all images stored in the recording medium 30, and stores them in the similarity database 6 on the memory. For example, when a search condition based on position information is specified, the position information from the image and information that can uniquely specify the image are created as a table in the similarity database 6 on the memory. At this time, sorting is performed so that the results can be obtained in a short time during the search. By creating and storing this similarity database 6 on the memory, real-time search can be performed at the time of shooting. Also, by storing only the search conditions in the similarity database 6, memory saving and table creation time can be reduced. Details of the similarity calculation processing in step S4 will be described later with reference to FIG.
[0036]
Next, in step S5, it is determined whether or not the camera is in the shooting mode by operating the operation unit 29. If the camera is in the shooting mode, it is determined in step S6 whether or not an image is captured from the camera unit 25 by pressing the shutter button. If the shooting mode is not set in step S5, or if no image is captured in step S6, this flow is terminated.
[0037]
In step S7, the captured current image is displayed on the main screen 8 (see FIG. 1), and the search condition (for example, the current shooting position) specified by the similarity calculation unit 5 is obtained. Next, in step S8, the similarity comparison unit 7 searches for the one closest to the similarity calculated from the similarity database 6 on the memory. Here, the interval for obtaining the search condition from the current image is the time interval specified by the user or when the photographic scene has changed significantly. In addition, it is also possible to stop searching for similar images by a user operation and display the currently displayed similar images as they are.
[0038]
In step S9, the search image recorded in the image recording unit 4 that is closest to the current image is displayed as a sub-screen 9 (see FIG. 1). Next, in step S10, it is determined whether or not there is a change in the position or size of the child screen by operating the cross key or the like. If there is a change in the position or size of the child screen, the position specified in step S11 and The sub-screen is displayed with the size and this flow ends. Further, when there is no change in the position or size of the child screen, this flow is finished as it is. For example, the user can arbitrarily change the display position or size of the sub-screen 9 with a cross key or the like. As shown in FIG. 1, when the size of the child screen 9 is minimized, the child screen 9 disappears and only the parent screen 8 is displayed. Conversely, when the child screen 9 is maximized, only the child screen 9 is displayed.
[0039]
Here, the similar images displayed on the child screen 9 can be changed in the order of similarity by a user operation. The position can be changed with, for example, a cross key, and the size can be changed with, for example, a zoom button (actually, the zoom button is used at the time of shooting. If it is configured such that different keys are assigned as in (), the operation of both can be performed easily.
[0040]
FIG. 4 is a subroutine for similarity calculation processing, and corresponds to the processing in step S4 in FIG.
When this routine is entered, first, in step S21, it is determined whether or not there is a user selection for the user to select data to be extracted by the similarity calculation unit 5. If there is no user selection, the image recorded in step S31 is determined. It outputs as it is and returns to the flow of step S4 of FIG. When there is a user selection, it is determined whether or not the selection is made so that the child screen is not displayed at step S22. When the selection is made such that the child screen is not displayed, the child screen is not displayed at step S23 and the flow returns to the flow of FIG.
[0041]
If it is not a selection that does not display the child screen in step S22, it is determined in step S24 whether or not an image similar to the current scene is selected. If the selection is an image similar to the current scene, an image similar to the current scene is extracted in step S25, and the flow returns to the flow of FIG.
[0042]
If it is determined in step S24 that an image similar to the current scene is not selected, it is determined in step S26 whether an image at a shooting position close to the current shooting position is selected. If the image at the shooting position close to the current shooting position is selected, the image at the shooting position close to the current shooting position is extracted in step S27, and the flow returns to the flow of FIG.
[0043]
If it is determined in step S26 that an image at a shooting position close to the current shooting position is not selected, it is determined in step S28 whether an image with a shooting date and time close to the current date is selected. If it is the selection of an image with a shooting date and time close to the current date and time, an image with a shooting date and time close to the current date and time is extracted in step S29, and the flow returns to the flow of FIG.
[0044]
If it is not the selection of an image with a shooting date and time close to the current date and time in step S28, it is determined in step S30 whether or not the previous image is selected. If it is not the previous image selection, the process returns to step S21 to select the user again. To determine. If the immediately preceding image is selected, the image stored in the image recording unit 4 is output as it is in step S31, and the flow returns to the flow of FIG.
[0045]
As described above, the data extracted by the similarity calculation unit 5 can be selected by the user, and as an option, an image similar to the current scene, an image close to the current position, and an image where the current position is photographed, which does not display a child screen, An image whose current date and time are close to each other and an image stored in the image recording unit 4 are output as they are without searching.
By executing the above flow, specifically, the following sub-screen display is performed.
[0046]
5A and 5B are diagrams showing the display layout. FIG. 5A shows the basic display layout, FIG. 5B shows the display layout when the subject is large, and FIG. 5C shows the subject. The display layout for each case is shown.
In FIG. 5, reference numeral 41 denotes a parent screen for displaying the current scene, reference numeral 42 denotes a child screen which is a similar image display area, and reference numeral 43 denotes a subject to be photographed.
[0047]
As shown in FIG. 5A, basically, the currently captured image is displayed on the main screen 41 in the maximum size, and a similar image 42 a is displayed in the sub-screen 42. This child screen 42 can be displayed at an arbitrary position and in an arbitrary size. For example, as shown in FIG. 5B, when the subject 43 is large and the child screen 42 is obstructive, the size can be reduced. When the subject 43 is small as shown in FIG. 5C, the similar image 42a of the child screen 42 is enlarged. Can be displayed.
[0048]
As described above, the camera-integrated recording / reproducing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment has a camera unit 2 that captures a subject, an image that is captured by the camera unit 2, and an image that displays image data stored in the image storage unit 4. Display unit 3, image recording unit 4 for recording image data on a recording medium, similarity calculation unit 5 for calculating the similarity of all image data stored in image recording unit 4 in accordance with a designated search condition, The similarity database 6 that stores the similarity as table data in the memory, and the similarity comparison unit 7 that searches the similarity database 6 and outputs the image closest to the current image to the image display unit 3 are provided. The image data photographed by the camera unit 2 is recorded in the image recording unit 4 as a recording medium, and the image data photographed by the camera unit 2 and the image data reproduced from the image recording unit 4 are recorded. In addition to basic control for creating a multi-image and controlling the size, position, or display content of the sub-screen displayed on the display screen of the image display unit 3 in accordance with a user instruction, the image data captured by the camera unit 2 Since similar image data is extracted from the image data recorded in the image recording unit 4 and the similar image is displayed on the sub-screen 9 at the time of shooting by the camera unit 2, as shown in FIG. The sub screen 42 can be displayed without hiding the portion of the subject 43 to be imaged.
[0049]
In addition, the subject 43 to be imaged is displayed on the main screen 41, and an image 42a similar to the image to be imaged is displayed in the sub-screen 42 that does not hide the subject 43, so that it is compared with images captured in the past. While shooting.
[0050]
For example, by displaying a similar image close to the scene that is currently being shot, if you don't like what was shot last time, you can immediately take another shot with the same angle of view while changing the shooting conditions. It is also useful for shooting at a slightly different angle while looking at what was taken last time. By the way, even if a conventional digital camera or the like is set to the playback mode, the captured image can be confirmed, but the image cannot be captured while comparing the image with the current scene. In the present embodiment, it is possible to shoot the same scene or slightly different angles while confirming a similar image in real time by displaying the image on the small screen.
[0051]
In the present embodiment, the camera-integrated recording / reproducing apparatus 1 includes a GPS device 32 that detects the shooting position, and records the shooting position in the recording medium 30 or the external storage device 24 together with the image data at the time of shooting. deep. At the next shooting, an image shot at a location closest to the current shooting position is displayed. As a result, it is possible to shoot from exactly the same position, accurately seeing the difference in scenery according to the season and date and time, up to the angle of view while viewing the image. A simple GPS-equipped camera does not know the direction in which the camera is facing or the angle with the ground, but this apparatus can display images at exactly the same angle by displaying similar images. In addition, it is possible to shoot the exact same scene or slightly different angle at the same position as the last shot.
[0052]
Here, the similar image displayed on the child screen 42 includes the above-described method of extracting the image with the highest similarity and the mode of extracting the image at the shooting position closest to the past shooting position, as well as the similar image extraction described below. There is a way.
[0053]
For example, the shooting date / time of the image is recorded together with the image data, and the image data of the shooting date / time closest to the shooting date / time of the shot image is displayed as a similar image. For observations of plants taken at the same time every day, or for growth records of children taken on the same day every year or every month, by displaying images of similar time zones and dates, the same angle ( (Or a different angle). This makes it possible to shoot the same scene or slightly different angle at the same date and time as the last time.
[0054]
Also, the shooting conditions such as the flash emission status and aperture information are recorded together with the image data, and the image data of the shooting condition closest to the shooting condition of the shot image is displayed as a similar image. Displaying image data with similar shooting conditions is useful for manually shooting while looking at the image, such as hitting the flash and increasing sensitivity since it was dark last time. In addition, it is possible to shoot the same scene under shooting conditions different from those shot last time.
[0055]
In addition to the above examples, if the user knows about the image stored in the recording medium or avoids a drop in response that occurs when searching for similar images, the image in the recording medium is displayed as it is without searching. A mode is also prepared (see step S31 in FIG. 4).
[0056]
Of course, the function of displaying the similar image on the child screen is not limited to one and may be arbitrarily combined. In this combination, it is preferable that the search condition can be changed depending on the object to be taken and the place. With such a configuration, it is possible to respond to various comparative photographing requests with one camera.
[0057]
In the above embodiment, the imaging device and the recording / reproducing device are examples applied to a camera-integrated recording / reproducing device. However, the imaging device and the recording / reproducing device are not limited to the camera-integrated recording / reproducing device. But you can. For example, in addition to a photographing device such as a digital camera, a mobile phone with a camera, and a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants) with a camera, an image recording that does not have a camera for recording data on a recording medium such as an HDD, DVD, or DVC. Applicable to playback devices.
[0058]
Image data read from a recording medium such as a disc is not only uncompressed data, but also still images such as JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group), moving images compliant with MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group), etc. It may be of the form
[0059]
In the present embodiment, the names camera-integrated recording / reproducing apparatus, photographing apparatus, and recording / reproducing apparatus are used for convenience of explanation. The photographing apparatus, the digital still camera, the camera-integrated VTR, and the image processing are used. Of course, an apparatus, an information display method, etc. may be sufficient.
Further, any number, arrangement, color, display format, etc. of the sub-screens on the display screen may be used.
[0060]
Further, the type of recording apparatus, the recording method, and the like are not limited, and can be applied to all apparatuses. For example, the recording apparatus may be one that records on a DVD, CD-R / RW, or MD (Mini Disc) in addition to the HDD. In particular, if an HDD with high data transfer speed and random access performance and high-speed access is used as a recording medium, it is possible to instantly search for a desired image from a large number of recorded images and use it immediately. Become. A recording device other than the HDD such as a magneto-optical disk may be used, and the same effect can be obtained.
[0061]
Furthermore, it goes without saying that the number and type of circuits and members constituting the photographing apparatus and recording / reproducing apparatus are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and may be realized by hardware instead of software.
[0062]
Further, the photographing apparatus and the recording / reproducing apparatus described above are also realized by a program for causing the photographing apparatus and the recording / reproducing apparatus to function. This program is stored in a computer-readable recording medium. In the present invention, as the recording medium, the main memory itself of the CPU 21 shown in FIG. 2 may be a program medium, or a program reading device such as a CD-ROM drive is provided as an external storage device. It may be a program medium such as a CD-ROM that can be read by inserting a recording medium into the CD-ROM. In any case, the stored program may be configured to be accessed and executed by the CPU of the system control unit, or in any case, the program is read and the read program is not illustrated. The program may be downloaded to the program storage area and executed. This download program is assumed to be stored in advance in each device.
[0063]
Here, the program medium is a recording medium configured to be separable from the communication terminal device or the information processing device, and is a magnetic disk such as magnetic tape or cassette tape, CD-ROM, CD-R / RW, MO, MD. , DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW and other optical disk systems, PC cards, compact flash cards, smart media, IC cards, SD cards, memory sticks, etc., or mask ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash It may be a medium that carries a fixed program including a semiconductor memory such as a ROM.
[0064]
Further, the medium may be a medium that carries the program in a fluid manner so as to download the program from the communication network via a communication connection means that can be connected to an external communication network such as an Internet connection provider or a mobile mail service. . When the program is downloaded from the communication network in this way, the download program may be stored in advance or may be installed from another recording housing. The content stored in the recording medium is not limited to a program, and may be data.
[0065]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the child screen can be displayed at an arbitrary position in an arbitrary size, and an important part such as a subject to be photographed is hidden. Can be avoided.
[0066]
In addition, by displaying the image captured in real time on the main screen and displaying the similar image on the sub screen, the photographer can always compare the information of similar images without any special operation. You can make use of it.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a photographing apparatus and a recording / reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a photographing apparatus and a recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an image display operation of the photographing apparatus and recording / reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a subroutine of similarity calculation processing of the photographing apparatus and recording / reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display layout of the photographing apparatus and recording / reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Camera-integrated recording / reproducing device (photographing device, recording / reproducing device)
2 Camera part (photographing means)
3 Image display section (display means)
4 Image recording unit (image recording / reproducing means)
5 Similarity calculator
6 Similarity database
7 Similarity comparison section
8,41 Main screen
9,42 Sub-screen
10 Control unit (control means, similar image extraction means)
21 CPU 21 (control means, image processing means, similar image extraction means)
22 ROM
23 RAM
24 External storage device (recording medium)
25 Camera unit (photographing means)
26 A / D converter
27 LCD display (display means)
28 Touch panel (operation means)
29 Operation part (operation means)
30 recording media
31 Card controller
32 GPS device (shooting position detection means)
32a GPS antenna
42a Similar Images
43 subjects

Claims (7)

Photographing means for photographing the subject;
Recording and reproducing means for recording image data photographed by the photographing means on a recording medium and reproducing the image data recorded on the recording medium;
Image processing means for creating a multi-image from image data photographed by the photographing means and image data reproduced by the recording / reproducing means;
Display means for displaying a multi-image subjected to image processing by the image processing means on a display screen comprising a parent screen and a child screen;
Operation means for instructing the size, position, or display content of the main screen and the sub-screen displayed on the display screen;
Control means for controlling the size, position, or display content of the main screen and / or sub-screen displayed on the display screen in accordance with instructions from the operation means,
Furthermore, it comprises similar image extraction means for extracting image data similar to the image data photographed by the photographing means from the image data recorded on the recording medium,
The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit displays the extracted similar image on the sub-screen when the imaging unit performs imaging. The similar image extracting means includes
The similarity between the image data photographed by the photographing means and the image data recorded on the recording medium is calculated, and the image data having the largest calculated similarity is output as a similar image. Item 1. The photographing apparatus according to Item 1 . The similar image extracting means includes
Photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the outputting the closest image data and photographing position of the photographed image by the imaging means and the imaging position of the image recorded on the recording medium as a similar image. The similar image extracting means includes
Photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the outputting the shooting date and time and the closest image data of a photographed image in photographing date and the photographing means of the image recorded on the recording medium as a similar image. Furthermore, a photographing position detecting means for detecting a photographing position is provided,
The recording / reproducing means records the photographed image data together with the photographing position on the recording medium,
The similar image extracting means includes
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the imaging apparatus outputs image data having the closest imaging position of the image captured by the imaging means and the imaging position of the image recorded on the recording medium. The recording / reproducing means records the photographed image data on the recording medium together with photographing conditions including information on a flash emission state and aperture.
The similar image extracting means includes
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the imaging apparatus outputs image data having the closest imaging conditions for the image captured by the imaging unit and the imaging conditions for the image recorded on the recording medium. Recording and reproducing means for recording photographed image data on a recording medium and reproducing the image data recorded on the recording medium;
Image processing means for creating a multi-image from photographed image data and image data reproduced by the recording / reproducing means;
Display means for displaying a multi-image subjected to image processing by the image processing means on a display screen comprising a parent screen and a child screen;
Operation means for instructing the size, position, or display content of the main screen and the sub-screen displayed on the display screen;
Control means for controlling the size, position, or display content of the main screen and / or sub-screen displayed on the display screen in accordance with instructions from the operation means,
Furthermore, the image data similar to the photographed image data is provided with similar image extraction means for extracting from the image data recorded on the recording medium,
The recording / reproducing apparatus, wherein the control means displays the extracted similar image on the sub-screen.

Images