JPH11187351A - Imaging device and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To store an image in a storage medium after simplifying operability and adjusting an image tone according to a user's preference. SOLUTION: When a shutter SW121 is operated,
The image captured at that time and stored in the frame buffer 115 is adjusted by the digital image processing unit 116, stored in the image development area 151, and converted according to the capability of the display unit 131, and the VRAM 153 is processed. To be stored. Further, images for operating various parameters such as contrast are also stored in the VRAM 153. Thus,
The operator adjusts the image tone by operating the display on the display unit 131 and the switch on the operation unit 120. Then, the adjusted image data is stored in the data storage unit 160.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus and a control method therefor, and more particularly to an image pickup apparatus for taking a still image such as a digital camera and a control method therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in digital cameras and the like, CCDs are used.
After the image captured from is corrected by AWB (automatic white balance adjustment) and AE (automatic exposure correction), and subjected to image compression processing, the compressed image data is stored in a storage medium (flash memory or the like). .

[0003]

However, AWB
(Automatic white balance adjustment) / AE (Automatic exposure compensation)
In the case where the correction such as is not appropriate, the user needs to correct the correction. In such a case, the procedure is to expand and decompress the compressed data once, modify it, compress it again, and save it. There is a problem that image quality is deteriorated due to the process of decompressing and correcting, and going through the process of compression and storage again.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an image pickup apparatus and a control method therefor which solve the above-mentioned problems. The present invention provides an image pickup apparatus which simplifies operability, adjusts the image tone according to the user's preference, and stores the image. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image pickup device to be stored in a medium and a control method thereof.

[0005]

In order to solve this problem, an imaging apparatus according to the present invention has the following arrangement. That is, an imaging apparatus that stores an image captured by an imaging unit as digital data in a predetermined storage medium, a storage unit that temporarily stores and holds the captured image data by the imaging unit, and a storage unit that stores the image data. Converting means for converting the image tone of the image data according to a given parameter, display control means for confirming and displaying the image data obtained by the converting means on a predetermined display means, and changing means for appropriately changing the parameter. Determining means for determining whether or not a predetermined determination instruction has been issued; and, if the determination means determines that the determination instruction has been issued, storing the converted image data in accordance with the latest parameters in the storage medium. Control means.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<First Embodiment> A first embodiment according to FIGS.
An embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the digital camera according to the first embodiment, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation processing procedure, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a liquid crystal display screen provided on the back.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes a CPU (Central Processing Unit).
It is controlled by U100. The CPU 100 includes a camera module 110, an operation unit 120, a display drive unit 130,
Also, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 140 storing a control program, RA
M (random access memory) 150 and data storage means 160 are connected to each other.
A display unit 131 made of a CD is connected.

The CPU 100 performs various controls based on a control program in the ROM 140. These controls include a control process of each unit in the camera module 110, a process of reading captured image data output from the camera module 110 and transferring the data to the RAM 150, and a process of transferring display data from the RAM 150 to the display driving unit 130. The process includes a process of JPEG-compressing image data and storing it in the data storage unit 160 in a file format, and a process of instructing execution of operations such as photographing according to an instruction from the operation unit 120.

A camera module 110 is composed of a plurality of lenses, and is a lens group 111 for optically projecting a subject image onto the CCD 112, and a CCD for converting a photographed image projected by the lens group 111 into an analog electric signal. (Photoelectric conversion element) 112, an analog signal processing unit 113 for performing noise removal and gain control of a signal from the CCD 112, an A / D conversion circuit 114 for converting an analog signal from the analog signal processing unit 113 into a digital signal, Frame buffer 11 for storing one screen of digital signal sent from A / D conversion circuit 114
5. After performing processes such as edge enhancement, brightness adjustment, hue adjustment, white balance adjustment, and backlight correction on the digital image data in the frame buffer 115, the CPU 1
It is configured by a digital image processing unit 116 that sends data to 00.

The operation unit 120 selects a shutter SW 121 for instructing image photographing, a mode SW 122 for switching between an image reproducing mode, a normal photographing mode, and an adjustment photographing mode, and parameters of image processing performed by the image processing unit 116 in the adjustment photographing mode. Cursor keys 123 of four keys for up, down, left, and right. Of course, various other keys may be provided. Mode SW
When the image reproduction mode is selected by the user 122, a process of selecting one of the image data stored in the data storage unit 160, reproducing and displaying the image data, or outputting the data to an external device is included.

As shown in the figure, an image development area 151, a work area 152, a VRAM 153,
A temporary evacuation area 154 is secured. The image development area 151 stores the captured image sent from the digital image processing unit 116 and the J read from the data storage unit 160.
It is used as a temporary buffer for temporarily storing PEG compressed image data, and as a work area dedicated to images for image compression processing and decompression processing. The work area 152 is a work area for various programs. The VRAM 153 is used as a VRAM for storing display data to be displayed on the display unit 130. The temporary save area 154 is an area for temporarily saving various data.

The data storage means 160 is a memory for storing photographed image data JPEG-compressed by the CPU 100 or various ancillary data referred to by applications in a file format. In this embodiment, the data storage means 160 is a flash memory. Be composed. Of course, it may be a magnetic disk or the like, or may be a detachable form.

Now, in the above configuration, the operation unit 120
When the user operates the mode SW 122 to select either the normal shooting mode or the adjustment shooting mode, the video data (image data) stored in the frame buffer 115 in the camera module 110 is stored in the image development area 151, Displaying on the display unit 131 is repeated by performing thinning-out processing or the like on the number corresponding to the number of display pixels of the display unit 131 and developing it on the VRAM 153. To the operator, it looks as if the image in the direction in which the camera is facing is displayed on the display unit 131 in real time. Here, when the shutter SW 121 is operated (pressed), image data captured at that time and stored in the frame buffer 115 are written in the image development area 151,
It is stored in the data storage means 160 (however, until the storage processing is completed, the frame buffer 11
The data in 5 is updated, that is, overwriting with newly shot image data is not performed). This storage processing
The normal shooting mode and the adjustment shooting mode are different, and the details will be described below.

The flowchart of FIG. 2 is started when the shutter SW 121 is operated in any one of the photographing modes.

When the shutter SW 121 is operated, the process first proceeds to step S100, where the subject image entered from the lens group 111 is photoelectrically converted by the CCD 112, and noise removal and gain control are performed by the analog signal processing unit 113. After digitization by the A / D conversion circuit 114, data for one screen is stored in the frame buffer 115.

Next, in step S110, the image data in the frame buffer 115 is subjected to processes such as edge enhancement, brightness adjustment, color adjustment, white balance adjustment, backlight correction, and the like using initial values (default parameters) in the digital image processing unit. After performing in step 116, the image is stored in the image development area 151 by the CPU 100.

When the process proceeds to step S120, it is determined whether the photographing mode at that time is the normal photographing mode or the adjustment photographing mode.

If it is determined that the mode is the normal photographing mode, the process for adjusting the digital image processing parameters in the subsequent steps S130 and S140 is skipped, and the process branches to step S150. The stored image data of the default adjustment result is JPEG-compressed and encoded,
A process for storing the value in 0 is performed. That is, for the operator, in the normal shooting mode, the shutter SW 121
By operating, the user immediately feels that the captured video data is stored in the data storage unit 160.

If it is determined in step S120 that the shutter SW 121 has been operated in the adjustment photographing mode, the flow advances to step S130 to reduce the image data in the image development area 151 according to the display capability of the display unit 131, and perform color reduction and pixel adjustment. The data is written into the VRAM 153 while thinning is performed. Further, an image corresponding to a control bar for adjusting parameters of processing performed by the digital image processing unit 116 is also written in the VRAM 153. The completed image is sent from the VRAM 153 to the display drive unit 130 and displayed on the display unit 131. Display unit 1 at this time
A display example of 31 is as shown in FIG. 3, for example. The display unit 131 is provided on the back of the digital camera.

In step S140, the process branches to various processes according to a signal from the operation unit 120.

For example, when a key in the horizontal direction of the cursor is operated, the object to be adjusted is switched. FIG. 3 shows a state in which the contrast in the image tone adjustment element is to be adjusted. This can be confirmed by the fact that the rectangular portion 211 indicating the current adjustment value in the illustrated scroll bar has a different display form from the other portions.

When the up / down key of the cursor is operated, a rectangular portion indicating the value of the element to be adjusted at the time (in the embodiment, any of brightness, hue, and contrast) is vertically moved. In order to move and reflect the value (parameter) after the movement, step S
The process returns to step 110 and the digital image processing unit 116
, The digital image processing is performed again, and the resulting image is stored in the image development area 151,
The result of the thinning process or the like is stored in the VRAM 153 and displayed on the display unit 131.

In this way, the parameters of the various image tone adjustment elements are adjusted, and when the intended one is completed, the operator operates the shutter SW 121 again. As a result, the process proceeds to step S150, and the image data according to the parameters of each image tone adjustment element set at that time is stored in the image development area 151. Perform storage processing.

As described above, according to the present embodiment,
When the adjustment shooting mode is selected, the image tone can be adjusted according to the preference of the operator before the image data captured and stored is stored in the data storage unit 160. Become.

In the above embodiment, the shutter SW1
In the first operation 21, the image data in the frame buffer 115 is not updated and is temporarily held, and the storage operation is instructed in the data storage means in the second operation. However, these are separate switches. May be. However, when the number of switches of the operation unit increases, it becomes confusing and the number of parts also increases. Therefore, it is desirable to perform the operation with one switch as described above.

In the embodiment, the data storage means 16
Although the description has been made by taking JPEG compression encoding as an example when image data is stored in 0, the present invention is not limited to this, and any format may be used.

<Second Embodiment> FIGS. 4 and 5 are views showing a second embodiment of the digital camera according to the present invention. Note that, for the block diagram showing the schematic configuration,
Since it is common to FIG.

In the first embodiment, the parameters of the digital image processing are set by the user. In the second embodiment, the digital image processing is performed by the predetermined method using the 12 parameters and displayed. A feature is that a list is displayed on the section 131, and the user selects the image that he / she thinks best from the list.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the image photographing process in FIG. Note that, in this processing, the shutter SW is set in either the normal shooting mode or the adjustment shooting mode.
It operates when 121 is operated.

In step S 200, the subject image input from the lens group 111 is photoelectrically converted by the CCD 112, noise removal and gain control are performed by the analog signal processing unit 113, and digitized by the A / D conversion circuit 114. , The data for one screen is stored in the frame buffer 115. As described above, the data storage unit 1
Until the final image data is stored in 60, the data in the frame buffer 115 is not updated.

In step S210, the mode switch 122
It is determined whether the mode is the normal shooting mode or the adjustment shooting mode according to the mode set in. If it is determined that the shutter SW 121 has been operated in the normal shooting mode, the process for adjusting the digital image processing parameters in steps S220 to S270 is skipped and step S28 is performed.
Branch to zero. Then, the image data in the frame buffer 115 is stored in the image development area 151, and the image data is subjected to digital image processing according to default parameters.
The data is compressed and encoded and stored in the data storage unit 160.

On the other hand, in the adjustment photographing mode, the shutter SW
If it is determined that the key 121 has been operated, the process proceeds to step S2.
Go to 20.

In step S220, a parameter as an initial value (supposed to be stored in the ROM) is given to the digital image processing section 116 with respect to the image data in the frame buffer 115, so that edge enhancement, brightness adjustment,
The digital image processing unit 116 performs processes such as color adjustment, white balance adjustment, and backlight correction, and
The image is stored in the image development area 151 by the PU 100.

In step S230, the display 131 displays 3
The VRAM 1 performs color reduction and pixel thinning of the image data in the image development area 151 in accordance with the size of one frame when displaying a list of 12 frames of images in 4 rows and 4 columns.
Write to the corresponding part of 53.

In step S240, one of the digital image processing parameters to be performed next, which is stored in the ROM 140, is extracted, and is read out from the digital image processing unit 11.
Set to 6. The twelve parameters are, for example, to change only brightness in 12 steps, to form a matrix in which brightness is changed on the horizontal axis and to change the color on the vertical axis, and to adjust three or more types of elements. There are various ways to have a different pattern.

Steps S220 to S240 are performed until it is determined in step S250 that the processing based on the twelve parameters has been completed.

When the processing based on the twelve parameters is completed, the processing proceeds to step S260, in which the twelve pieces of image data generated and stored in the VRAM 153 are sent to the display driving unit 130 and displayed on the display unit 131. You. FIG. 5 shows a display example of the display unit 131 at this time.

Thereafter, in step S270, one image frame is selected from the display of FIG. 5 by the cursor key 123 and confirmed by the shutter SW 121. The selected image frame is framed to be distinguished from the others, as indicated by reference numeral 500 in the drawing, so that it can be distinguished.

In step S280, the same processing as in step S220 is performed again with the parameters corresponding to the determined image frame. In step S290, the image data converted by the determined parameters is stored in the image development area 151, compressed in the JPEG format, and then stored in the data development area 160 in the file format.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the operator is conscious of the advantages of being able to select while comparing images with other conditions on the list screen, and of the fine parameters such as brightness and color. There is an advantage that a favorite image can be easily selected to some extent without special knowledge.

Moreover, since each displayed video is not a sample image prepared by the apparatus but an actually photographed image, there is no sense of discomfort.

<Third Embodiment> Next, a third embodiment of the digital camera according to the present invention will be described. In the third embodiment, a portion of the camera module 110 of FIG. 1 of the first and second embodiments is improved.

FIG. 6 shows the internal configuration of the camera module 110 according to the third embodiment. The analog buffer 300 is connected between the CCD 112 and the analog signal processing unit 113 without the frame buffer 115 shown in FIG.

The analog memory 300 stores the analog signal from the CCD 112 for one screen as an analog value.

With this configuration, the analog signal processing unit 113 and the
A plurality of images in which both processing parameters of the character digital image processing unit 116 are changed can be obtained.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the processing parameters of the analog signal processing unit 113 can be changed, so that finer control is possible.

As described above, according to the first to third embodiments, before the image data obtained by photographing is stored in the data storage means, various image tone adjustments are performed by the operator or the user. You can do it as you like and save it later.

[0049]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to simplify the operability, adjust the tone according to the user's preference, and then store the adjusted tone in the storage medium. .

[0050]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital camera according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a process according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a process according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 100 CPU 115 Frame buffer 116 Image processing unit 120 Operation unit 131 Display unit 140 ROM 150 RAM 160 Data storage means 300 Analog memory

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image capturing apparatus for storing an image captured by an image capturing means as digital data in a predetermined storage medium, wherein the image capturing means temporarily stores and holds the captured image data; Conversion means for converting the image tone of the held image data according to given parameters; display control means for confirming and displaying the image data obtained by the conversion means on a predetermined display means; and appropriately changing the parameters. Changing means; determining means for determining whether or not a predetermined determination instruction has been issued; and when determining that the determination instruction has been issued, the storage medium stores the converted image data in accordance with the latest parameters in the storage medium. An imaging apparatus comprising: a control unit configured to store the information in a storage device. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said display control means includes means for adjusting the number of pixels or the number of colors of the image data obtained by conversion by said conversion means in accordance with the display capability of the display means. 2. The imaging device according to claim 1. 3. The changing means includes means for sequentially generating a plurality of parameters stored in advance, and the display control means includes means for reducing and arranging display image data based on the sequentially generated parameters. 2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said determining means includes means for selecting one of the displayed image data. 4. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said holding unit stores an analog signal image. 5. A control method for an image pickup apparatus for storing an image picked up by an image pickup means as digital data in a predetermined storage medium, wherein the image pickup means temporarily stores the picked-up image data in a predetermined storage holding means. A holding step; a conversion step of converting the image tone of the image data held by the holding step according to given parameters; and a display control step of confirming and displaying the image data obtained by the conversion step on a predetermined display means. A changing step of appropriately changing the parameter; a determining step of determining whether or not a predetermined finalizing instruction has been given; and, if it is determined that the finalizing instruction has been issued by the determining step, conversion according to the latest parameter. A control step of storing later image data in the storage medium.