JPH1188824A - Still camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a still camera capable of executing high-speed continuous photography independently of the writing processing speed of a recording medium for storing picture data without using a frame memory of large capacity and capable of instinctively discriminating continuous photography speed. SOLUTION: Picture data inputted from an image pickup part 1 in a continuous photography mode are stored in an area A of a frame memory 3, and while storing data in the area A, picture data stored in the area A are compressed by a picture processing circuit 2 and the compressed picture data are temporarily stored in an area B of the memory 3. After the end of continuous photography, the compressed data are stored in a picture data memory 4 of which writing speed is slow. Thereby continuous photography can be executed at a high speed without depending on a writing speed in a picture data memory 4 and the frame memory 3 can be effectively utilized. When display indicating the continuous photography mode is flashed in accordance with the continuous photography speed, the continuous photography speed can be instinctively discriminated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a still camera which continuously captures a subject image and records a plurality of continuous images.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a still camera for recording digital image data of a picked-up image has a continuous shooting mode for continuously recording a plurality of (frame) images, and a single image (frame) for reducing an image. Is a multi-continuous shooting mode in which a plurality of reduced images are applied and recorded.

Normally, in such a still camera, image data is temporarily stored in a frame memory, and then the image data is compressed and recorded on a recording medium for storing image data. Therefore, in the continuous shooting mode, the continuous shooting speed depends on the compression processing speed and the writing processing speed of the recording medium for storing image data. Therefore, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-99629, the continuous shooting speed is improved by providing a frame memory (buffer memory) for a plurality of frames.

However, in the case where the continuous shooting speed is improved by providing a frame memory for a plurality of frames, the number of continuous shots depends on the capacity of the frame memory. Is required, and there is a possibility that a large increase in cost may be caused. In the continuous shooting mode and the multi-shot shooting mode, low-speed continuous shooting and high-speed continuous shooting are performed within the allowable range of the continuous shooting speed. The photographer did not know whether the shooting was in low-speed continuous shooting or high-speed continuous shooting, and had to temporarily remove his / her eyes from the subject for confirmation. Therefore, it is conceivable to display characters such as "continuous multi-F" (F: Fast, high-speed continuous shooting) and "continuous multi-S" (S: slow, low-speed continuous shooting) in the viewfinder. It is necessary to prepare different display characters for each of them, and there is a possibility that an inexperienced user may not be able to judge which state by simply displaying them.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and does not require a large-capacity frame memory and has a continuous shooting speed of a recording process for a recording medium for storing image data. An object of the present invention is to provide a still camera that can perform high-speed continuous shooting without depending on speed. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a still camera capable of easily determining whether the camera is in continuous shooting or low-speed continuous shooting or high-speed continuous shooting in continuous shooting multi-mode.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a still camera according to the present invention, comprising: an image pickup means for picking up an image and outputting image data; and a temporary memory for temporarily storing image data output from the image pickup means. Storage means, compression means for compressing the image data stored in the temporary storage means, auxiliary storage means for temporarily storing the image data compressed by the compression means, and image recording means for recording the compressed image data With
The image recording means is characterized in that after a plurality of compressed image data are stored in the auxiliary storage means, the compressed image data read from the auxiliary storage means is recorded.

A still camera according to a second aspect of the present invention comprises:
The invention according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary storage means is provided in the temporary storage means. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the still camera according to the first or second aspect, the image data is compressed by the compression unit while the image data is stored in the temporary storage unit.

A still camera according to the present invention according to claim 4 is:
An image capturing unit that captures an image and outputs image data; a temporary storage unit that temporarily stores image data output from the image capturing unit; and a monitor unit that performs image display based on the image data. A still camera capable of continuous shooting at a continuous shooting speed, a mode display means for generating a continuous shooting mode display indicating a state of continuous shooting, and a continuous shooting mode display on a monitor means according to the continuous shooting speed. Display control means for blinking the display.

A still camera according to a fifth aspect of the present invention comprises:
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the continuous shooting mode display by the display control means blinks at a cycle based on the continuous shooting speed.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a still camera according to one embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 denotes an imaging unit as an imaging unit that outputs image data of a captured image using a lens and a CCD corresponding to color, and 2 denotes image processing as a compression unit that performs image processing such as compression and decompression of image data from the imaging unit 1. The circuit 3 is a frame memory as temporary storage means for temporarily storing image data from the imaging unit 1.
A DRAM having a high access speed is used for the frame memory 3, and its storage area includes, as shown in FIG. 2, an area A as a temporary storage means for storing image data from the imaging unit 1 without compression. Further, an area B is provided as auxiliary storage means for temporarily storing a plurality of image data compressed by the image processing circuit 2. Reference numeral 4 denotes an image data memory as an image recording means for recording the compressed image data, which is a flash memory card or the like having a large storage capacity.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a selector for selectively outputting either the image data from the image pickup unit 1 or the image data stored in the frame memory 3; 6 a video encoder for converting the image data output from the selector 5 to analog; 7
Reference numeral denotes a video output terminal for outputting image data from the video encoder 6 from the camera body to an external device.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a display control means for performing display control of a monitor, which will be described later, and a CPU for controlling the entire control.
An on-screen display (hereinafter referred to as OS) as mode display means for generating a display of status guidance and operation guidance including a continuous shooting mode display indicating a state of performing continuous shooting under the control of the PU 8
D) The circuit 10 is a display and OSD based on image data.
As a monitor means using a display device such as a liquid crystal display for performing the operation.
An operation unit 12 having a plurality of switch means for giving to the PU 8 is a power supply circuit which contains a battery and supplies power to each unit.

First, the operation in the continuous shooting mode will be described. A switch (not shown) of the operation unit 11 is operated to set the continuous shooting mode in the shooting mode. In the present embodiment, the continuous shooting modes include “fast” (for example, shooting at 0.1-second intervals) and “slow” (for example, shooting at 0.2-second intervals) of the continuous shooting speed. It is assumed that “fast” is set.

In the photographing mode, under the control of the CPU 8, the image data from the image pickup section 1 is supplied to the image processing circuit 2 and input to the video encoder 6 via the selector 5 in the initial state. After being converted into an analog signal in (1) and (2), the image is supplied to the monitor 10 and captured by the imaging unit 1, and is displayed as a moving image. Furthermore, CPU
8 is a setting state of the continuous shooting mode “fast”, the display C which is the continuous shooting mode shown in FIG.
, And superimposed on the image from the imaging unit 1 on the monitor 10 and displayed. When displaying the display C in the continuous shooting mode, the CPU 8 determines that the speed is in accordance with the continuous shooting speed, for example, a period of 0.1 second based on the continuous shooting speed since the continuous shooting mode is “fast”. Use to flash the display C.

When the continuous shooting mode is "slow", the display C may blink at intervals of 0.2 seconds based on the continuous shooting speed. Depending on the speed, in the continuous shooting mode “slow”, the blinking may be relatively slower than the blinking cycle in the continuous shooting mode “fast”. In this state, when the shutter button of the operation unit 11 is operated, the CPU 8 causes the image processing circuit 2 to store the first image data (frame) from the imaging unit 1 in the area A of the frame memory 3. Let it start. After storing the image data of the first eight lines in the frame memory 3, the image processing circuit 2 reads out the stored image data from the frame memory 3 while storing the image data from the imaging unit 1, and uses the JPEG compression method. The compression process is performed based on the compressed image data, and the compressed image data is stored in the area B of the frame memory 3.
Are stored sequentially. Then, a compression process is performed in parallel with the storage of the image data in the area A of the frame memory 3, and the frame memory 3 stores the image data from the imaging unit 1.
The compression processing ends almost in real time with the storage in the area A.

The CPU 8 instructs the image processing circuit to store the second image data (frame) in the area A of the frame memory 3 at a timing based on the set continuous shooting speed. The image processing circuit 2 starts storing the image data from the imaging unit 1 in the area A of the frame memory 3 as described above. At this time, even if the compression processing of the image data of the previous frame may not be completed, since the compression processing is performed on the last line of the frame, the compression processing of the frame which has already been completed is performed. At the first line position of
Since there is no problem in storing the image data of the next frame, the image processing circuit 2 stores the image data of the next frame while performing the compression processing. Then, when the compression processing of the image data of the previous frame is completed, the compression processing of the image data of the next frame is subsequently performed. The compressed image data is stored in the area B of the frame memory 3 following the compressed image data of the previous frame.

Continuous shooting is performed by repeating the above processing,
When the storage of the compressed image data of the number of frames (frames) that allows the capacity of the area B is completed, the continuous shooting ends. In this embodiment, for example, a capacity capable of storing five pieces of compressed image data is allocated to the area B.
When the storage of the image data of five frames (frames) is completed, the continuous shooting ends.

In this embodiment, the area of the frame memory 2 is
Writing of image data to A is performed at the NTSC video signal rate (1/30 sec. Per frame, 1/30 sec. Per field).
60 seconds), and continuous shooting at a maximum speed of 1/60 second is possible. A storage unit other than the frame memory may be provided for the area B for temporarily storing the compressed image data. However, as in the present embodiment, the capacity of the image data for one frame is set as the area B. By using the remaining storage area after ensuring the above, the continuous shooting speed can be improved without increasing the cost. Further, the number of images that can be continuously shot is determined by the capacity of the area for temporarily storing the compressed image data and the compression ratio. Since the storage area A is half the capacity of the case where the frame image in NTSC is used,
Accordingly, the capacity of the area B is increased, and the number of images that can be continuously shot can be increased.

When the continuous shooting is completed, the CPU 8 causes the image processing circuit 2 to sequentially read the compressed image data stored in the area B of the frame memory 3 and record it in the image data memory 4. During the recording operation to the image data memory 4, by selecting the last image stored in the area A of the frame memory 2 by the selector 5, the image photographed on the monitor 10 is displayed as a still image. deep. When the recording operation to the image data memory 4 is completed, the selector 5 selects the image data from the imaging unit 1 to return to the moving image display state.

Next, the multi-continuous shooting mode will be described.
As described above, a switch (not shown) of the operation unit 11 is operated to set the multi-shot mode in the shooting mode. Even in the multi-shot mode, the continuous shooting speed “fast” (for example, shooting at 0.1 second intervals) and “slow” (for example,
(Photographing at intervals of 0.2 seconds), and here, it is assumed that “fast” is set.

Since the mode is the photographing mode, the CP
Under the control of U8, the image captured by the imaging unit 1 is displayed on the monitor 1
0 is displayed as a moving image. Then, the CPU 8
Since the multi-continuous shooting mode “fast” is set, the display D in the multi-continuous shooting mode shown in FIG.
The output from the circuit 9 is superimposed on the image from the imaging unit 1 on the monitor 10 and displayed. Display D in multi-continuous shooting mode
Is displayed, the CPU 8 blinks the display D at a speed corresponding to the continuous shooting speed, for example, at a cycle of 0.1 seconds based on the continuous shooting speed, because the multi continuous shooting mode is “fast”. Let it. In the same manner as described above, when the multi-continuous shooting mode is “Slow”, the blinking cycle is “Fast” and “Slow” depending on the continuous shooting speed, even at intervals of 0.2 seconds based on the continuous shooting speed. The display D may be blinked by changing the blinking cycle relatively.

When the shutter button of the operation section 11 is operated for multi-continuous shooting, the image processing circuit 2 transmits the first (frame) image data from the imaging section 1 to a predetermined image under the control of the CPU 8. After reduction (scaling) at the reduction ratio, the image data is stored at a predetermined position in the area A of the frame memory 3. When the CPU 8 instructs the image processing circuit to store the second image data (frame) in the area A of the frame memory 3 at a timing based on the set continuous shooting speed, the image processing circuit 2 Is reduced at the same reduction ratio, and the reduced image data is stored in a predetermined position next to the position where the previous image data was stored. This is a predetermined number of frames (frames), for example, 9 when scaled down to 1/3, and 1 when scaled down to 1/4.
This is performed continuously for six pieces of image data. When a predetermined number of reduced images are stored in the area A of the frame memory 2,
The continuous shooting ends.

When the multi-continuous shooting is completed, under the control of the CPU 8, the image processing circuit 2 operates the area A of the frame memory 3.
The image data of the multi-image stored in the image data is read out and recorded in the image data memory 4 while performing compression processing. During the recording operation to the image data memory 4, the multi-image stored in the area A of the frame memory 2 is selected by the selector 5, so that the multi-image photographed on the monitor 10 is displayed as a still image. . Then, when the recording operation to the image data memory 4 is completed, the selector 5 selects the image data from the imaging unit 1 to return to the moving image display state.

[0024]

As is apparent from the above description, the present invention temporarily stores compressed image data in the continuous shooting mode and records it in an image data memory having a low writing speed after continuous shooting is completed. Thereby, continuous shooting can be performed at high speed without depending on the writing speed to the image data memory. Furthermore, by storing image data before compression and performing compression processing in parallel, efficient image processing can be performed, and high-speed continuous shooting can be realized without any trouble. By temporarily storing the compressed image data in a free area of the frame memory, the memory can be effectively used, and there is no increase in cost for improving the continuous shooting speed.

In the continuous shooting mode and the multi-shot shooting mode, the display indicating the mode is blinked according to the continuous shooting speed, so that in each mode, even if the user is unfamiliar with the operation, the display can be viewed. Just intuitively (multi)
The speed of the continuous shooting mode can be determined. Since only one type of display indicating each mode may be prepared, it is not necessary to prepare a large amount of mode display data, the memory capacity for storing the display data can be reduced, and the production cost can be reduced.

[0026]

[Brief description of the drawings]

[0027]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an embodiment of a still camera according to the present invention.

[0028]

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing area allocation in a frame memory in FIG. 1;

[0029]

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display example of a continuous shooting mode on a monitor in FIG. 1;

[0030]

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display example of a multi-continuous shooting mode on a monitor in FIG. 1;

[0031]

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 imaging unit (imaging means) 2 image processing circuit (compression means) 3 frame memory (temporary storage means, auxiliary storage means) 4 image data memory (image storage means) 8 CPU (display control circuit) 9 OSD circuit (mode display means) ) 10 monitor (monitor means)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H04N 5/781 520A

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image pickup means for picking up an image and outputting image data, a temporary storage means for temporarily storing image data output from the image pickup means, and compressing the image data stored in the temporary storage means. A compression unit; an auxiliary storage unit that temporarily stores the image data compressed by the compression unit; and an image recording unit that records the compressed image data. A still camera characterized by storing compressed image data read from auxiliary storage means after storing compressed image data for minutes. 2. The still camera according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary storage means is provided in the temporary storage means. 3. The still camera according to claim 1, wherein the compression unit compresses the image data while storing the image data in the temporary storage unit. 4. An image capturing means for capturing an image and outputting image data, a temporary storage means for temporarily storing image data output from the image capturing means, and a monitor means for displaying an image based on the image data. A still camera capable of continuous shooting at at least two or more continuous shooting speeds, a mode display means for generating a continuous shooting mode display indicating a state of continuous shooting, and a continuous shooting mode display on a monitor means A still camera, comprising: display control means for blinking and displaying according to speed. 5. The continuous shooting mode display by the display control means,
5. The still camera according to claim 4, wherein the blinking display is performed in a cycle based on a continuous shooting speed.