KR101058023B1 - Image Rotating Device and Method - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for operating a camera, and more particularly, to an image rotating apparatus and method for rotating selected images simultaneously or selecting and rotating a plurality of images. An image rotation method includes the steps of (a) selecting at least two or more thumbnail images and specifying a rotation direction thereof; (b) rotating the selected thumbnail images in a specified direction; (c) rotating the full screen images corresponding to the thumbnail image in a specified direction; And (d) storing the rotated thumbnail images and corresponding full screen images. According to the present invention, by rotating the entire selected images simultaneously or by rotating each of the selected multiple images, the inconvenience of the menu operation performed when rotating with respect to each one of the images is released.

Description

Apparatus and method for rotating imgae in digital camer}

1 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image rotation method according to the prior art.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the front appearance of the digital camera.

FIG. 3 is a rear view illustrating a rear appearance of the digital camera of FIG. 2.

Figure 4 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the digital camera shown in Figures 2 and 3, including the configuration of the image rotation apparatus according to the present invention.

5 is a view for explaining image rotation.

6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image rotation method according to the present invention.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for operating a camera, and more particularly, to an image rotating apparatus and method for rotating selected images simultaneously or selecting and rotating a plurality of images.

In the related art, since the camera is stored as it is rotated and photographed, the stored picture is manually rotated in a menu or rotated on a PC and stored again.                         

1 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of an image rotating method according to the related art. After selecting an image to be rotated (step 100), a Rotate menu is selected (step 102). It is determined whether to rotate the selected image (step 104), and the rotation direction is set (step 106). When the rotation direction is set, the selected image is rotated (step 108) and the rotated image is stored (step 110).

If you shoot the camera upright or upside down, the images are stored differently from the original subject, so you need to check the camera by rotating it during playback. In order to solve such inconvenience, a menu for rotating an image in a playback state is provided. However, since each of the images must be rotated one by one, it is inconvenient to operate a menu each time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in an effort to provide an image rotating apparatus and method for rotating selected images simultaneously or selecting and rotating a plurality of images.

The image rotation apparatus for solving the technical problem to be achieved by the present invention comprises: input means for selecting at least two or more thumbnail images and designating the rotation direction; Signal processing means for rotating the selected thumbnail images in a specified direction and rotating the full screen images corresponding to the thumbnail image in the direction; And storage means for storing the rotated thumbnail images and corresponding full screen images.

In the present invention, the input means is characterized in that the rotation direction by specifying the entire thumbnail image or a predetermined number of thumbnail images stored in the storage means.

In the present invention, the input means is characterized in that the direction of rotation of the selected image in the same direction, or in different directions respectively.

In the present invention, when the rotation direction is designated in the same direction, the signal processing means is characterized in that to rotate the selected image in the specified direction.

In the present invention, when the rotation directions are designated in different directions, the signal processing means displays the selected images one by one, rotates each of the displayed thumbnail images one by one according to the designated rotation direction, and then It is characterized by rotating the full screen image.

In the present invention, the storage means is characterized in that to overwrite the rotated thumbnail images and the corresponding full screen image to an existing image or to store in a new area.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of rotating an image, the method comprising: (a) selecting at least two or more thumbnail images and specifying a rotation direction thereof; (b) rotating the selected thumbnail images in a specified direction; (c) rotating the full screen images corresponding to the thumbnail image in a specified direction; And (d) storing the rotated thumbnail images and corresponding full screen images.

In the present invention, when the rotation direction is designated in the same direction, the selected thumbnail and full screen image is characterized in that to rotate in the specified direction.

In the present invention, when the rotation direction is specified in a different direction, the signal processing means displays the selected thumbnail images one by one, and rotates each of the displayed thumbnail images one by one in accordance with the designated rotation direction. Rotating the full screen image.

In the present invention, the rotated thumbnail images and the corresponding full screen images are overwritten on an existing image or stored in a new area.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the front appearance of a typical digital camera.

Referring to FIG. 2, in front of a general digital camera, a microphone (MIC), a self-timer lamp 11, a flash 12, a shutter 13, a mode dial 14, a function-selection key 15, There is a shooting-information display section 16, a viewfinder 17a, a function-block key 18, a flash-light amount sensor 19, a lens section 20, and an external interface section 21.

In the self-timer mode, the self-timer lamp 11 operates for a set time from the time when the shutter 13 is pressed to the time when the shutter 13 operates.

The mode dial 14 is used to select and set various modes, for example, a still image shooting mode, a night view shooting mode, a moving picture shooting mode, a playback mode, a computer connection mode, and a system setting mode.

The function-selection key 15 is used for the user to select any one of operation modes of the digital camera, for example, a still image shooting mode, a night view shooting mode, a moving picture shooting mode, and a playback mode.

The shooting-information display section 16 displays information of each function related to shooting. The function-block key 18 is used for the user to select each function displayed on the shooting-information display unit 16.

FIG. 3 is a rear view illustrating a rear appearance of the digital camera illustrated in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 3, behind the conventional digital camera, a speaker SP, a power key 31, a monitor key 32, an auto-focus lamp 33, a viewfinder 17b, and a flash standby lamp 34 ), Display panel (LCD) 35, exposure compensation / deletion key 36, enter / playback key 37, menu / OK key 38, wide angle-zoom key 39w , Telephoto-zoom key 39t, up-move key 40up, right-move key 40ri, down-move key 40lo, and left-move key 40le, Playback key 42 have.

The monitor key 32 is used by the user to control the operation of the display panel (LCD) 35. For example, when the user presses the monitor key 32 first, an image of the subject and photographing information thereof are displayed on the display panel 35, and when the user presses a second time, only the image of the subject is displayed on the display panel 35. When pressed for the third time, power applied to the display panel 35 is cut off.

The auto-focus lamp 33 operates when the auto focusing operation is completed.                     

The flash standby lamp 34 operates when the flash 12 (in FIG. 2) is in an operation standby state.

The exposure compensation / deletion key 36 is used as a deletion key in the process of adjusting the amount of light or manually setting each mode when the digital camera is manually operated.

The enter / playback key 37 is used for inputting data from the user or for a function such as stopping or playing in the playback mode.

The menu / OK key 38 is used to display and select the menu of the mode selected in the mode dial 14.

The up-movement key 40up, the right-movement key 40ri, the down-movement key 40lo, and the left-movement key 40le are used in the process of setting each mode by the user, and are displayed in the image displayed on the display panel 35. It is used to change the location in.

The playback mode key 42 is used to check and manipulate the last photographed image, video or audio information.

Figure 4 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the digital camera shown in Figures 2 and 3, including the configuration of the image rotation apparatus according to the present invention.

The optical system OPS optically processes light from a subject. The lens unit 20 of the optical system OPS includes a zoom lens ZL, a focus lens FL, and a compensation lens CL.

Reference numeral MA denotes a motor for driving an aperture (not shown). Here, the rotation angle of the aperture drive motor MA is changed depending on the case of the designated exposure mode and the case of not. The designated exposure mode is a mode for setting the exposure amount of the digital camera with respect to the average brightness of the designated detection area when the desired area of the target area matches the designated detection area displayed on the display panel 35 of the digital camera. Say.

A photoelectric converter (OEC) 500 of a charge coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) converts light from an optical system (OPS) into an electrical analog signal. Here, the digital signal processor 507 controls the timing circuit 502 to control the operations of the photoelectric converter OEC and the analog-digital converter 501. The CDS-ADC (Correlation Double Sampler and Analog-to-Digital Converter) element 501 as an analog-to-digital converter processes the analog signal from the photoelectric converter (OEC), removes the high frequency noise, and adjusts the amplitude. After that, it is converted into a digital signal. The digital signal processor 507 processes the digital signal from the CDS-ADC element 501 to generate a digital image signal classified into luminance and chroma signals.

The light emitting portion LAMP driven by the microcontroller 512 includes a self-timer lamp 11, an auto-focus lamp (33 in FIG. 3) and a flash standby lamp (34 in FIG. 3).

The user input unit INP includes a shutter (13 in Fig. 2), a mode dial (14 in Fig. 2), a function-selection key (15 in Fig. 2), a function-block key (18 in Fig. 2), a monitor key (Fig. 3 of 32), OK / Delete key (36 of FIG. 3), Enter / Playback key (37 of FIG. 3), Menu / OK key (38 of FIG. 3), Wide-Zoom key (39w of FIG. 3), Tele- 3 includes a zoom key (39t in FIG. 3), an up-shift key (40up in FIG. 3), a right-shift key (40ri in FIG. 3), a down-shift key (40lo in FIG. 3), and a left-shift key (40le in FIG. 3). .

In the DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) 504, the digital image signal from the digital signal processor 507 is temporarily stored. The EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) 505 stores algorithms and setting data necessary for the operation of the digital signal processor 507.

The memory card 515 of the user is detached from the memory card interface 506.

The digital image signal from the digital signal processor 507 is input to the LCD driver 514, whereby the image is displayed on the color LCD panel 35, that is, the display unit.

On the other hand, the digital video signal from the digital signal processor 507 can be transmitted by serial communication via a universal serial bus (USB) connection 21a or an RS232C interface 508 and its connection 21b, and a video filter ( 509 and the video output unit 21c can be transmitted as a video signal.

The audio processor 513 outputs the audio signal from the microphone MIC to the digital signal processor 507 or the speaker SP, and outputs the audio signal from the digital signal processor 507 to the speaker SP.

On the other hand, the flash 12 is driven through the microcontroller 512 and the flash controller 511 according to the signal from the flash-light amount sensor 19.

The microcontroller 512 provides various menus for digital camera operation, and in particular, provides a Rotate menu for image rotation. To use the Rotate menu, you need to select images to rotate and specify the rotation direction of the selected images. When the Rotate menu is selected by the user, the microcontroller 512 extracts only the thumbnail image from the memory card 515 to control the thumbnail screen as shown in FIG. 5A to be displayed on the display panel 35.

In the displayed thumbnail screen, the user selects at least two images to be rotated through the user input unit INP. In this case, the thumbnail images may be continuously selected or partially selected according to an operation of the user input unit INP. 5B and 5C are diagrams for thumbnail image selection.

To continuously select a predetermined number of images, an exposure compensation / deletion button 36 and a menu / OK button 38 are used to adjust the amount of light or to delete the displayed image. After pressing the exposure compensation / deletion button 36, the user moves to the first image to select on the thumbnail screen (FIG. 5A) displayed on the display panel 32 and enters the menu / OK button 38. FIG. For example, assume that the first image to be selected is 1 as shown in FIG. 5B. Then, while pressing the exposure compensation / deletion button 36, the thumbnail (up-move button 40up, right-move button 40ri, down-move button 40lo, and left-move button 40le) thumbnail When the screen reaches the last image to select, enter the menu / OK button 38. For example, assume that the last image to select is 6, as shown in FIG. 5B. As a result, thumbnail images from 1 to 6 are selected continuously.

To partially select the predetermined number of images, a monitor button 32 and a menu / OK button 38 for turning on / off the operation of the display panel 35 are used. After pressing the monitor button 32, the thumbnail screen (FIG. 5A) displayed on the display panel 35 is moved to the initial image to be selected, and the menu / OK button 38 is input. For example, assume that the first image to be selected is 1 as shown in FIG. 5C. Then, while pressing the monitor button 32, the thumbnail screen is moved with the arrow keys (up-move button 40up, right-move button 40ri, down-move button 40lo, and left-move button 40le). Press the menu / OK button 38 when it reaches the last image to select. For example, assume that the last image to select is 6, as shown in FIG. 5C. As a result, thumbnail images 1 and 6 are selected.

The user sets the rotation direction of the selected thumbnail images, and the microcontroller 512 receives the control and controls the digital signal processor 507 to rotate the thumbnail images and the corresponding full screen images in the specified direction.

When the same rotation direction is set for the selected thumbnail images, the digital signal processor 507 rotates the selected thumbnail images in a specified direction according to the rotation direction input through the user input unit INP. The digital signal processor 507 then retrieves the full screen images corresponding to the thumbnail images from the memory card 515 and rotates them in the same direction.

The rotated thumbnail images and the full screen images are stored back to the memory card 515 through the DRAM 504, where the existing images are overwritten or stored in a separate storage area.

When the direction of rotation is set differently for the selected thumbnail images, the digital signal processor 507 may display the selected thumbnail images one by one while setting the rotation direction. The digital signal processor 507 rotates a thumbnail image of which a rotation direction is set, and then retrieves a full screen image corresponding to the thumbnail image from the memory card 515 and rotates the same in the same direction. This removes the inconvenience of rotating about each image.

Again, the rotated thumbnail image and full screen image are stored back into the memory card 515 via the DRAM 504, where the existing image is overwritten or stored in a separate storage area.

6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of an image rotating method according to the present invention, in which a Rotate menu is selected in a reproduction mode for rotating an image (step 600).

When the Rotate menu is selected, a thumbnail screen as shown in FIG. 5A is displayed on the display panel 35 (step 602).

Select thumbnail images to be rotated from the displayed thumbnail screen (step 604). The thumbnail image may be continuously selected (FIG. 5B) or partially selected (FIG. 5C) according to an operation of the user input unit INP.

When the selected images are rotated in one direction (step 606), the rotation direction is designated from the Rotate menu (step 608).

If the rotation direction is specified, the digital signal processor 507 rotates the selected thumbnail images in the specified direction, and then retrieves the full screen images corresponding to the thumbnail images from the memory card 515 and rotates them in the same direction (610). step).

The rotated thumbnail images and the full screen images are stored back into the memory card 515 through the DRAM 504, where the existing images are overwritten or stored in a separate storage area (step 612).                     

When the direction of rotation of the selected thumbnail images is different, the digital signal processor 507 displays the first thumbnail image of the selected thumbnail images on the display panel 35 (step 614).

When the first thumbnail image is displayed, the rotation direction is designated from the Rotate menu (step 616).

If the rotation direction is specified, the digital signal processor 507 rotates the first thumbnail image in the specified direction, and then retrieves the full screen image corresponding to the thumbnail image from the memory card 515 and rotates it in the same direction (618). step).

The rotated thumbnail image and the full screen image are stored back into the memory card 515 through the DRAM 504, where the existing images are overwritten or stored in a separate storage area (step 620).

If there is a next thumbnail image to be rotated (step 622), the next image among the selected thumbnail images is displayed (step 624), and the flow returns to step 616 to rotate and store the direction until the selected last thumbnail image. This removes the inconvenience of rotating about each image.

So far I looked at the center of the preferred embodiment for the present invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be implemented in a modified form without departing from the essential features of the present invention. Therefore, the disclosed embodiments should be considered in descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. The scope of the present invention is shown not in the above description but in the claims, and all differences within the scope will be construed as being included in the present invention.

According to the present invention as described above, by rotating the entire selected image at the same time or by rotating each of the selected multiple images, it is free from the inconvenience of the menu operation performed when rotating with respect to each one image.

Claims (10)

Input means for selecting at least two or more thumbnail images continuously or partially and specifying a direction of rotation thereof; Signal processing means for rotating the selected thumbnail images in a specified direction and then rotating the full screen images corresponding to the thumbnail images in the direction; And And a storage means for storing the rotated thumbnail images and corresponding full screen images. The method of claim 1, wherein the input means And a rotation direction by selecting the entire thumbnail image or a predetermined number of thumbnail images stored in the storage means. The method of claim 1, wherein the input means Image rotation apparatus characterized in that the direction of rotation of the selected image in the same direction, or in each other direction. The method of claim 3, wherein when the rotation direction is designated in the same direction, And said signal processing means rotates said selected images in a specified direction. The method of claim 3, wherein when the rotation directions are respectively designated in different directions, And the signal processing unit displays the selected images one by one, rotates each of the displayed thumbnail images one by one according to a specified rotation direction, and then rotates the corresponding full screen image. The method of claim 1, wherein the storage means When the rotation in the designated direction is completed, the rotated thumbnail images and the corresponding full screen image is overwritten on the existing image, or stored in a new area. (a) selecting at least two or more thumbnail images successively or partially and specifying a direction of rotation thereof; (b) rotating the selected thumbnail images in a specified direction; (c) rotating the full screen images corresponding to the thumbnail image in a specified direction; And (d) storing the rotated thumbnail images and corresponding full screen images. The method of claim 7, wherein the rotation direction is designated in the same direction, And rotate the selected thumbnail and full screen images in a specified direction. The method of claim 7, wherein when the rotation direction is designated in each other direction, And displaying the selected thumbnail images one by one, rotating each of the displayed thumbnail images one by one according to a specified rotation direction, and then rotating the corresponding full screen image. The method of claim 7, wherein the rotated thumbnail images and the corresponding full screen images are overwritten on an existing image or stored in a new area.

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