JP5225136B2 - Location registration device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a position registration apparatus, and more particularly to a position registration apparatus that is applied to an electronic camera and has a function of detecting a current position.

  An example of this type of device is disclosed in Patent Document 1. According to this background art, when guiding a photographer to a pre-registered shooting point, a mark indicating the shooting point and a mark indicating the current position of the camera detected by the GPS receiver are displayed on the monitor screen together with the map. Is displayed. As a result, the photographer can reach the photographing point quickly and reliably.

JP 2002-214681 A

  However, in the background art, the GPS receiving unit is not used in a state where the main power is turned off, and there is a limit to improvement in operability using the current position information of the camera.

  Therefore, a main object of the present invention is to provide a location registration apparatus that can improve operability.

  The electronic camera according to the present invention (10: reference numeral corresponding to the embodiment; the same applies hereinafter) is registered by registration means (S29 to S33, S43, S47) and registration means for registering the current position in response to the registration operation. First calculation means (S63) for repeatedly calculating the difference between each of one or more positions and the current position, and second calculation means for repeatedly calculating the fluctuation amount of the current position in relation to the calculation processing of the first calculation means (S65) and generating means for generating a notification when the difference calculated by the first calculating means exceeds the first reference and the variation amount calculated by the second calculating means is below the second reference continues ( S67 to S73, S79).

  Preferably, at least one of the first calculation unit and the second calculation unit executes the calculation process in a predetermined cycle, and the generation unit generates a notification when the specific state continues for a period longer than the predetermined cycle.

  Preferably, imaging means (S49, S115 to S117) for executing imaging processing in response to a registration operation, and assignment means (S119) for assigning the current position registered by the registration means to the object scene image output from the imaging means ~ S121) are further provided.

  Preferably, a first activation unit (S9) that activates the registration unit during a period from a power-on operation to a power-off operation, and a first calculation unit and a second calculation unit during a period from the power-off operation to the power-on operation. Second activation means (S19) for activation is further provided.

  Preferably, supply means (S75, S79) for temporarily supplying power to the sound system (30) in relation to the generation processing of the generation means is further provided, and the generation means drives the sound system to generate a notification. .

  More preferably, drive means (S45) for driving the audio system in relation to the registration process of the registration means is further provided.

  The location registration support program according to the present invention is registered in the processor (34) of the location registration device (10) by registration steps (S29 to S33, S43, S47) and registration steps for registering the current location in response to a registration operation. A first calculation step (S63) for repeatedly calculating the difference between each of one or more positions and the current position, and a second calculation for repeatedly calculating the fluctuation amount of the current position in relation to the calculation process of the first calculation step. Step (S65) and a generating step for generating a notification when the difference calculated by the first calculation step exceeds the first reference and the variation amount calculated by the second calculation step is below the second reference continues. This is a location registration support program for executing (S67 to S73, S79).

  The location registration operation support method according to the present invention is a location registration support method executed by the location registration device (10), and registers the current location in response to the registration operation (S29 to S33, S43, S47). The first calculation step (S63) for repeatedly calculating the difference between each of the one or more positions registered in the registration step and the current position, and the fluctuation amount of the current position in relation to the calculation process of the first calculation step When the second calculation step (S65) for repeated calculation and the difference calculated by the first calculation step exceed the first reference and the variation amount calculated by the second calculation step continues below the second reference continue. A generation step (S67 to S73, S79) for generating a notification is provided.

  According to the present invention, the specific state corresponds to a state where the difference between the position registered in response to the registration operation and the current position is large and the variation amount of the current position is small. The notification is generated when such a specific state continues. The operator can recognize by notification that he / she has forgotten the registration operation even though his / her place is a favorite place. Thus, the operability of the location registration device is improved.

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

It is a block diagram which shows the basic composition of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of one Example of this invention. (A) is an illustrative view showing an example of a configuration of a current position register applied to the embodiment in FIG. 2, and (B) is an illustrative view showing an example of a configuration of a photographing position table applied to the embodiment in FIG. is there. FIG. 3 is a timing chart showing a part of the operation of the embodiment in FIG. 2 in a power-on state. FIG. 3 is a timing chart showing a part of the operation of the embodiment in FIG. 2 in a power-off state. FIG. 10 is an illustrative view showing another portion of the operation of the embodiment in FIG. 2 in a power-off state. FIG. 10 is a timing chart showing another part of the operation of the embodiment in FIG. 2 in the power-off state. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing one portion of behavior of a sub CPU applied to the embodiment in FIG. 2; FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing another portion of the behavior of the sub CPU applied to the embodiment in FIG. 2; FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing still another portion of the operation of the sub CPU applied to the embodiment in FIG. 2; FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing yet another portion of the behavior of the sub CPU applied to the embodiment in FIG. 2; FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing another portion of the behavior of the sub CPU applied to the embodiment in FIG. 2; FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing one portion of behavior of a main CPU applied to the embodiment in FIG. 2;

[Basic configuration]
Referring to FIG. 1, the location registration apparatus of the present invention is basically configured as follows. The registration unit 1 registers the current position in response to the registration operation. The first calculation means 2 repeatedly calculates the difference between each of one or more positions registered by the registration means and the current position. The second calculation means 3 repeatedly calculates the fluctuation amount of the current position in connection with the calculation process of the first calculation means. The generating unit 4 generates a notification when the specific state in which the difference calculated by the first calculating unit exceeds the first reference and the fluctuation amount calculated by the second calculating unit is below the second reference continues.

The specific state corresponds to a state in which the difference between the position registered in response to the registration operation and the current position is large and the variation amount of the current position is small. The notification is generated when such a specific state continues. The operator can recognize by notification that he / she has forgotten the registration operation even though his / her place is a favorite place. Thus, the operability of the location registration device is improved.
[Example]

  Referring to FIG. 2, the digital camera 10 of this embodiment includes a power supply circuit 38. The power supply circuit 38 generates a plurality of DC power supplies each indicating a different voltage value based on the battery 42. A part of the generated plurality of DC power supplies is directly supplied to the sub CPU 34 and the clock circuit 36, and the other part of the generated plurality of DC power supplies is supplied to the entire system via the switch group 40. Therefore, while the sub CPU 34 and the clock circuit 36 are always activated, elements constituting the entire system are activated / stopped in response to the on / off of the switch group 40.

  In this embodiment, “the entire system” refers to the imaging block IM1, the memory block MM1, the display block DP1, the recording block RC1, the main CPU 26, the GPS device 28, and the audio output circuit 30, and the sub CPU 34 and the clock circuit 36. Is excluded from the “system as a whole”.

  When a power-on operation is performed by the power button 32 p on the key input device 32, the sub CPU 34 controls the switch group 40 to activate the entire system and issues a through display command to the main CPU 26. In the following, the operation state from the power-on operation to the power-off operation described later is defined as “power-on state”, and the operation state from the power-off operation to the power-on operation is defined as “power-off state”. Define.

  Receiving the through display command, the main CPU 26 instructs the imaging device 12 constituting the imaging block IM1 to repeat the pre-exposure operation and the thinning-out readout operation in order to execute the moving image capturing process.

  Charges representing the object scene are repeatedly generated on the imaging surface, and the generated charges are repeatedly read out in a thinning manner. From the imaging device 12, low-resolution raw image data based on the read charges is periodically output.

  The camera processing circuit 14 performs processing such as white balance adjustment, color separation, color tone adjustment, and YUV conversion on the raw image data output from the imaging device 12. The YUV format image data thus created is written into the SDRAM 18 by the memory control circuit 16 constituting the memory block MM1.

  The LCD driver 20 constituting the display block DP1 repeatedly reads out the image data stored in the SDRAM 18 through the memory control circuit 16, and drives the LCD monitor 20 based on the read image data. As a result, a real-time moving image (through image) of the object scene is displayed on the monitor screen.

  Further, the sub CPU 34 repeatedly issues a geodetic command to the GPS device 28 in the power-on state. In the geodetic command, a setting value (current position information) of the current position register RGST1 is described in order to assist the geodetic operation of the GPS device 28. The GPS device 28 that has received the geodetic command measures the current position with reference to signals transmitted from a plurality of GPS satellites in the sky and the set value of the current position register RGST1 described in the geodetic command, and the measurement result is obtained. Return to the sub CPU 34. The measurement result indicates current position information when the current position has been successfully measured, and indicates an error when measurement of the current position has failed due to reasons such as inability to receive from a GPS satellite.

  Referring to FIGS. 3A and 4, when the current position measurement is successful, the current position information is set in current position register RGST1. The current position register RGST1 has only one column, and the current position information acquired last time is updated with the current position information acquired this time. Further, the time when the GPS device 28 continuously fails to measure the current position is measured by the timer TM1. The current position register RGST1 is cleared when the time during which continuous measurement of the current position has failed reaches 2 minutes.

  When the shutter button 32s on the key input device 32 is operated in the power-on state, the sub CPU 34 controls the audio output circuit 30 to generate a release sound, and the set value of the current position register RGST1 is set as shown in FIG. And a release command is issued to the main CPU 26.

  Due to the release sound, the photographer recognizes that the operation of the shutter button 32s has been accepted. Further, by copying the set value of the current position register RSGT1, the position at the time when the shutter button 32s is operated is registered in the photographing position table TBL1 as the photographing position (see FIG. 4).

  Receiving the release command, the main CPU 26 commands the imaging device 12 to execute the main exposure operation and all-pixel reading once each to execute the still image capturing process. The imaging device 12 performs main exposure on the imaging surface and reads out all charges generated thereby. As a result, high-resolution raw image data representing the scene is output from the imaging device 12. The output raw image data is subjected to the same processing as described above, and as a result, high-resolution image data conforming to the YUV format is secured in the SDRAM 18.

  Subsequently, the main CPU 26 detects the latest shooting position registered in the shooting position table TBL1, and assigns the detected shooting position to the image data secured in the SDRAM 18. Thereafter, the main CPU 26 gives a command corresponding to the memory I / F 24 constituting the recording block RC1 in order to execute the recording process.

  The memory I / F 24 reads the high-resolution image data and shooting position information stored in the SDRAM 18 through the memory control circuit 16, and records the read image data and shooting position information on the recording medium 26 in a file format. The main CPU 26 restarts the moving image capturing process after the recording process.

  When the power off operation is performed by the power button 32p, the sub CPU 34 controls the switch group 40 to stop the entire system. In the power-off state, the geodetic cycle is set to 5 minutes. When the measurement time by the timer TM2 reaches 5 minutes, the sub CPU 34 controls the switch group 40 to activate the GPS device 28, and directs the geodetic command describing the set value of the current position register RGST1 to the GPS device 28. Issue. As a result, the measurement result regarding the current position is returned from the GPS device 28 to the sub CPU 34. The GPS device 28 is stopped after the measurement result is returned.

  Referring to FIG. 5, when GPS device 28 succeeds in measuring the current position, current position information is set in current position register RGST1. Further, the difference between each of one or more shooting positions described in the shooting position table TBL1 and the current position set in the current position register RGST1 is calculated as “DF_N” (N: 1, 2,...) The fluctuation amount of the current position set in the current position register RGST1 is calculated as “ΔP”.

  Referring to FIG. 6, when the photographer performs a photographing operation at positions SP1 to SP3 and moves from position CP to position PP over 5 minutes in the power-off state, the distance from position SP1 to position CP is set as a difference DF_1. The distance from the position SP2 to the position CP is calculated as the difference DF_2, the distance from the position SP3 to the position CP is calculated as the difference DF_3, and the distance from the position PP to the position CP is calculated as the variation amount ΔP. .

  If any one or more of the difference DF_N is greater than the reference REF1 and the variation ΔP is less than the reference REF2, the photographer is considered to be located away from any of the shooting positions and close to the previous measurement position. It is. Such a state is defined as a “specific state”.

  If the specific state continues over a period corresponding to N times the geodetic cycle (N: an integer equal to or greater than 2), the photographer seems to have forgotten the photographing operation even though he / she is in a preferred location. At this time, the sub CPU 34 controls the switch group 40 to activate the voice output circuit 30 and controls the voice output circuit 30 to output a voice guide of “Would you like to shoot?” To the photographer. The photographer recognizes that the photographing operation has been forgotten by the voice guide. Note that the audio output circuit 30 is stopped after the output of the audio guide is completed.

  If the measurement result returned from the GPS device 28 in response to the geodetic command in the power-off state indicates an error, the sub CPU 34 clears the current position register RGST1, and the current time is from 8 pm to 6:30 am It is determined whether or not it belongs to the minute time zone. If the current time belongs to the attention time zone, the photographer is considered to be in a place where a geodetic survey is impossible or unnecessary, such as a hotel. At this time, as shown in FIG. 7, the time from the current time to 6:30 am is calculated as “Ts”, and the calculated time Ts is set in the timer TM2. The next geodesic order issuance time is extended to 6:30 am, and the geodetic processing by the GPS device 28 is limited to 6:30 am. As a result, unnecessary voice guidance can be eliminated and power consumption can be reduced.

  The sub CPU 34 executes processing according to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. A control program corresponding to these flowcharts is stored in a flash memory (not shown).

  First, the current position register RGST1 is cleared in step S1 of FIG. In step S3, it is determined whether or not a power-on operation has been performed. In step S15, it is determined whether or not a power-off operation has been performed.

  If “YES” in the step S3, the switch group 40 is controlled in a step S5 to activate the entire system, and a through display command is issued to the main CPU 26 in a step S7. In step S9, the flag FLGpw is set to “1” in order to state that the current state is the power-on state. Subsequently, in step S11, the measurement time of the timer TM1 (measurement time: grace time until timeout) is set to 2 minutes, and in step S13, the reset and start of the timer TM1 is executed. When the process of step S13 is completed, the process returns to step S3.

  If “YES” in the step S15, the process proceeds to a step S17 so as to control the switch group 40 and stop the entire system. Subsequently, the flag FLGpw is set to “0” in step S19 in order to declare that the current state is the power-off state. In step S21, the variable CNT for determining the duration of the specific state is set to “0”, and in step S23, the measurement time of the timer TM2 is set to 5 minutes. Thereafter, in step S25, the timer TM2 is reset and started, and the process returns to step S3.

  If both steps S3 and S15 are NO, the state of the flag FLGpw is determined in step S27 shown in FIG. If the flag FLGpw is “1”, it is considered that the current state is the power-on state, and the process proceeds to step S29. On the other hand, if the flag FLGpw is “0”, the current state is regarded as the power-off state, and the process proceeds to step S51 shown in FIG.

  In step S29, a geodetic command is issued toward the GPS device 28 to measure the current position. Upon receiving the geodetic command, the GPS device 28 receives signals from a plurality of GPS satellites in the sky, measures the current position, and returns the measurement result to the sub CPU 34.

  In step S31, it is determined based on the measurement result returned from the GPS device 28 whether or not the GPS device 28 has succeeded in measuring the current position. If the determination result is YES, the process proceeds to step S33, and the current position information indicated by the measurement result is set in the current position register RGST1. In steps S35 to S37, the same process as in steps S9 to S11 described above is executed, and when the process is completed, the process proceeds to step S43.

  If the determination result of step S31 is NO, it will progress to step S39 and it will be determined whether the timer TM1 timed out. If “NO” here, the process proceeds to a step S41 as it is, and if “YES”, the current position register RGST1 is cleared in a step S41, and then the process proceeds to a step S43.

  In step S43, it is determined whether or not the shutter button 38s has been operated. If NO, the process directly returns to step S3, whereas if YES, the process returns to step S3 through steps S45 to S49. In step S45, the audio output circuit 30 is instructed to output a release sound. In step S47, the set value of the current position register RGST is described in the photographing position table TBL1 as a photographing position. In step S49, the release instruction is directed to the main CPU 34. Issue.

  In step S51 shown in FIG. 10, it is determined whether or not a timeout has occurred in the timer TM2. If NO, the process returns to step S3, whereas if YES, the process proceeds to step S53. In step S53, the switch group 40 is controlled to activate the GPS device 28, and in step S55, processing similar to that in step S29 described above is executed. As a result, the measurement result regarding the current position is returned from the GPS device 28 to the sub CPU 34.

  In step S57, the switch group 40 is controlled to stop the GPS device 28. In the subsequent step S59, it is determined whether or not the GPS device 28 has succeeded in geodetic measurement. If the measurement result returned from the GPS device 28 indicates the current position, it is regarded as a successful geodetic operation, and the process proceeds to step S59. If the measurement result returned from the GPS device 28 indicates an error, it is regarded as a geodetic failure and the process proceeds to step S89. Proceed to

  In step S61, the current position indicated by the measurement result is set in the current position register RGST1. In step S63, the difference between each of one or more photographing positions described in the photographing position table TBL1 and the current position set in the current position register RGST1 is calculated as “DF_N” (N: 1, 2,...). To do. In step S65, the fluctuation amount of the current position set in the current position register RGST1 (difference in the set value of the current position register RGST1 before and after the process in step S61) is calculated as “ΔP”.

  In step S67 shown in FIG. 11, it is determined whether or not any one or two or more difference DF_N calculated in step S63 exceeds the reference REF1. In a succeeding step S69, it is determined whether or not the fluctuation amount ΔP calculated in the step S65 is lower than the reference REF2. If any one of steps S67 and S69 is NO, the variable CNT is set to “0” in step S83, the same processing as in steps S23 to S25 described above is executed in steps S85 to S87, and then step S3 is executed. Return to.

  On the other hand, if both steps S67 and S69 are YES, the variable CNT is incremented in step S71, and it is determined in step S73 whether or not the incremented variable CNT has reached the constant N. If the determination result is NO, the process directly proceeds to step S85, and if the determination result is YES, the process proceeds to step S85 through the processes of steps S75 to S81.

  In step S75, the variable CNT is returned to “0”. In step S77, the audio output circuit 30 is activated. In step S79, the activated audio output circuit 30 is controlled to output an audio guide. When the output of the voice guide is completed, the voice output circuit 30 is stopped in step S81, and then the process proceeds to step S85.

  In step S89 shown in FIG. 12, the current position register RGST1 is cleared, and in step S91, the variable CNT is set to “0”. In step S93, it is determined whether or not the current time belongs to a time zone from 8 pm to 6:30 am. If the determination result is NO, the measurement time of the timer TM2 is set to 5 minutes in step S99. On the other hand, if the determination result is YES, the process proceeds to step S95, and the time from the current time to 6:30 am is calculated as “Ts”. In step S97, the calculated time Ts is set as the measurement time of the timer TM2. When the process of step S97 or S99 is completed, the timer TM2 is reset and started in step S101, and then the process returns to step S3.

  The main CPU 26 executes processing according to the flowchart shown in FIG. A control program corresponding to this flowchart is also stored in a flash memory (not shown).

  When a through display command is issued from the sub CPU 34, YES is determined in a step S111, and a moving image capturing process is executed in a step S113. As a result, a through image is output from the LCD monitor 22. In step S115, it is determined whether or not a release command has been issued from the sub CPU 34. If YES, still image capture processing is executed in step S117. As a result, high-resolution image data representing the object scene image at the time when the shutter button 32 s is operated is secured in the SDRAM 18.

  In step S119, the latest photographing position described in the photographing position table TBL1 is detected, and the detected photographing position is assigned to the image data secured in the SDRAM 18. When the assignment of the shooting position is completed, a recording process is executed in step S121. As a result, the image data and shooting position information acquired by the processes of steps S117 and S119 are recorded on the recording medium 26 in the file format. When the recording process is completed, the moving image capturing process is restarted in step S123, and then the process returns to step S115.

  As can be seen from the above description, the current position is registered in the photographing position table TBL1 in response to the operation of the shutter button 32s during the period from the power-on operation to the power-off operation (= power-on period) (S29 to S29). S33, S43, S49). The current position is also repeatedly set in the current position register RGST1 during a period from the power-off operation to the power-on operation (= power-off period) (S53 to S61). In the power-off period, the sub CPU 34 calculates the difference between the position set in the current position register RGST1 and each of one or more positions registered in the photographing position table TBL1 as “DF_N” (S63). The fluctuation amount of the position set in the position register RGST1 is calculated as “ΔP” (S65). The voice guide is output from the voice output circuit 30 when the specific state in which the difference DF_N exceeds the reference REF1 and the variation ΔP is lower than the reference REF2 continues in the power-off period (S67 to S73, S79).

  As described above, the current position is registered in response to the shooting operation in the power-on state, and is repeatedly detected in the power-off state. The voice guide is generated when the difference between the position detected in the power-off state and the registered position is large and the variation amount of the position detected in the power-off state is small. The operator can recognize by the voice guide that he / she has forgotten the shooting operation even though his / her place is a favorite place. Thus, the operability of the digital camera 10 is improved.

  Looking at this embodiment from another viewpoint, the sub CPU 34 repeatedly detects the current position during the power-off period (S55), and sets the detected current position in the current position register RGST1 (S61). The sub CPU 34 also detects the current position with reference to the set value of the current position register RGST1 during the power-on period (S29). When the current position detection result in the power-off period indicates an error and the current time belongs to the predetermined time zone, the sub CPU 34 restricts the current position detection process in the power-off period (S93 to S97).

  Thus, the current position is detected in both the power-off period and the power-on period. However, at least the detection process in the power-on period is executed with reference to the detection result of the current position in the power-off period. As a result, the time required to detect the current position can be shortened.

  Further, when the current position detection result in the power-off period indicates an error and the current time belongs to the predetermined time zone, the current position detection process is limited. That is, the position detection process is limited if the current time is a time belonging to the predetermined time zone and the location of the operator cannot detect the position. Thereby, power consumption can be reduced.

  In this embodiment, a digital camera is assumed, but it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to apparatuses other than the digital camera as long as the apparatus has a function of registering the current position. In this embodiment, the GPS function is used to detect the current position, but other position detection functions may be used. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the content of the voice guide generated when the specific state continues is fixed, but the content of the voice guide may be changed depending on the position, such as including a place name in the voice guide. . However, in this case, it is necessary to prepare a map database.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Digital camera 12 ... Imaging device 26 ... Main CPU
28 ... GPS device 30 ... Audio output circuit 34 ... Sub CPU
36 ... Clock circuit

Claims (8)

A registration means for registering the current position in response to a registration operation;
First calculation means for repeatedly calculating a difference between each of one or more positions registered by the registration means and the current position;
Second calculation means for repeatedly calculating the fluctuation amount of the current position in relation to the calculation processing of the first calculation means; and the difference calculated by the first calculation means exceeds a first reference and is calculated by the second calculation means. A position registration device comprising generating means for generating a notification when a specific state in which the calculated fluctuation amount is below the second reference continues. At least one of the first calculation unit and the second calculation unit executes a calculation process at a predetermined period;
The location registration device according to claim 1, wherein the generation unit generates the notification when the specific state continues for a period longer than the predetermined period. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: an imaging unit that executes an imaging process in response to the registration operation; and an assigning unit that allocates a current position registered by the registration unit to a scene image output from the imaging unit. The location registration device described. First activation means for activating the registration means in a period from a power-on operation to the power-off operation; and the first calculation means and the second calculation means in a period from the power-off operation to the power-on operation. The location registration apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising second activation means for activation. A supply means for temporarily supplying power to the audio system in relation to the generation process of the generation means;
The location registration apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the generation unit generates the notification by driving the voice system.   The position registration apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a driving unit that drives the audio system in association with a registration process of the registration unit. In the processor of the location registration device,
A registration step for registering the current position in response to the registration operation;
A first calculation step of repeatedly calculating a difference between each of the one or more positions registered in the registration step and the current position;
A second calculation step of repeatedly calculating the amount of fluctuation of the current position in relation to the calculation process of the first calculation step; and the difference calculated by the first calculation step exceeds a first reference and the second calculation step A location registration support program for executing a generation step for generating a notification when a specific state in which the calculated fluctuation amount is below the second reference continues. A location registration support method executed by a location registration apparatus,
A registration step for registering the current position in response to the registration operation;
A first calculation step of repeatedly calculating a difference between each of the one or more positions registered in the registration step and the current position;
A second calculation step of repeatedly calculating the amount of fluctuation of the current position in relation to the calculation process of the first calculation step; and the difference calculated by the first calculation step exceeds a first reference and the second calculation step A location registration support method comprising a generation step of generating a notification when a specific state in which the calculated fluctuation amount is below the second reference continues.

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