KR101431541B1 - Method for grouping efficient image in digital camera - Google Patents

Abstract

A digital camera operating method comprising the steps of: (a) acquiring hand shake information about a photographed image from an acceleration sensor and storing the shaking information in a first area of the memory; (b) combining the camera shake information with shutter speed information; (c) comparing the combined shaking information with the shaking correction possible value; (d) determining whether to store the photographed image, which is compared with the shake correction possible value, as a valid image; And (e) if it is determined that the photographed image is to be stored as an invalid image as a result of the determination, storing the photographed image file in the second area of the memory, And storing the file of the image in the third area of the memory.

Camera, available video

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for classifying an effective image in a digital camera,

The present invention relates to a method of operating a digital camera, and more particularly, to a method of acquiring camera shake data at the time of capturing an image using an acceleration sensor and classifying the camera shake into valid and invalid images.

When a subject is photographed with a general digital camera, the image is processed in a DSP (not shown) using a CCD & COMS element (not shown) that receives the image, When shooting images with the camera, AF (auto focusing) motor is driven to focus by the half-shutter. Or without the AF process. In this case, the captured image is stored in the memory card that is currently used by us through the DSP, through image quality improvement or other image processing techniques.

Digital cameras that have been used so far store all image data on a memory card, which is a storage medium, without judging validity of photographed images. Recently, the capacity of the memory card is increasing, but as the development of the CCD & COMS device can have many pixels, users want to obtain a large size image. Even if the size of the memory card increases, the memory space of the storage medium always becomes insufficient. In addition, there is no proper means to classify and store valid images and invalid images in advance, and to retrieve only valid images or only invalid images, if necessary after the fact. Conventionally, judging whether an image is valid or invalid by only using the image information of the photographed image itself, it is judged whether or not the image is effective without considering the shooting conditions (shutter speed, shape of the subject, brightness of the photographing place) The reliability of judging effectiveness was low.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of classifying an image captured by an acceleration sensor into an effective image and an invalid image at the time of image capturing.

A method for classifying an effective image in a digital camera according to the first embodiment for solving the technical problem to be accomplished by the present invention is a digital camera operating method,

(a) acquiring hand shake information about a photographed image from an acceleration sensor and storing the shaking information in a first area of the memory;

(b) combining the camera shake information with shutter speed information;

(c) comparing the combined shaking information with the shaking correction possible value;

(d) determining whether to store the photographed image, which is compared with the shake correction possible value, as a valid image; And

(e) If it is determined that the photographed image is to be stored as an invalid image as a result of the determination, the file of the photographed image is stored in the second area of the memory, And storing a file of the image in a third area of the memory.

In the step (a), the camera shake information at the moment when the image is captured is acquired and stored in the first area of the memory.

Also, the second area of the memory is an invalid folder in which an invalid photographed image is stored, and the third area of the memory is a valid folder in which a valid photographed image is stored.

The determining may include determining whether to store the photographed image as an invalid image if the combined shaking information on the photographed image is out of the range of the shake correction possible value, Determining whether to store the image as an image; Determining whether to store the photographed image as a valid image or an invalid image when the combined shaking information on the photographed image falls within the range of the shake correction possible value in the comparing step; .

Here, the determining step is performed by the user's selection.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital camera operating method for classifying an effective image in a digital camera,

(a) correcting an unintentional hand movement;

(b) obtaining camera shake information about the photographed image from an acceleration sensor and storing the shaking information in a first area of the memory;

(c) combining the camera shake information with shutter speed information;

(d) comparing the combined shaking information with the shaking correction possible value;

(e) determining whether to store the photographed image compared with the shake correction possible value as a valid image; And

(f) If it is determined that the photographed image is to be stored as an invalid image, the file of the photographed image is stored in the second area of the memory. If it is determined that the photographed image is to be stored as a valid image, And storing a file of the image in a third area of the memory.

Here, the shake correction possible value is set differently according to the shutter speed.

The camera-shake correction possible value is set differently depending on the photographed subject.

Meanwhile, in the step (b), the camera shake information at the moment the image is captured is acquired and stored in the first area of the memory.

On the other hand, the second area of the memory is an invalid folder in which an invalid photographed image is stored, and the third area of the memory is a valid folder in which a valid photographed image is stored.

The determining may include determining whether to store the photographed image as an invalid image if the combined shaking information on the photographed image is out of the range of the shake correction possible value, Determining whether to store the image as an image; Determining whether to store the photographed image as a valid image or an invalid image when the combined shaking information on the photographed image falls within the range of the shake correction possible value in the comparing step; .

Optionally, after a predetermined time has elapsed, the shot image stored in the second area of the memory may be erased.

As described above, according to the present invention, the camera shake information is acquired from the acceleration sensor at the time of image capturing, and the captured image is classified into a valid image and an invalid image, whereby a valid image and an invalid image It can be easily classified and also the memory folder can be easily arranged.

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

1 is a perspective view showing a front appearance of a general digital camera.

1, a conventional digital camera includes a microphone (MIC), a self-timer lamp 11, a flash 12, a shutter button 13, a mode dial 14, a function- A photographing-information display section 16, a viewfinder 17a, a function-block button 18, a flash-light quantity sensor 19, a lens section 20 and an external interface section 21.

The self-timer lamp 11 operates during the set time from the time when the shutter button 13 is depressed to the time when the shutter operates, in the self-timer mode. The mode dial 14 is used by the user to select and set various modes such as a still image shooting mode, a night view shooting mode, a moving image shooting mode, a playback mode, a computer connection mode, and a system setting mode. The function-selection button 15 is used for the user to select one of the operation modes of the digital camera 1, for example, the still image shooting mode, the night view shooting mode, the moving image shooting mode, and the playback mode . The photographing-information display section 16 displays information of each function related to photographing. The function-block button 18 is used by the user to select each function displayed on the photographing-information display section 16. [

FIG. 2 is a rear view showing a rear outer shape of the digital camera of FIG. 1;

2, a conventional digital camera 1 includes a speaker SP, a power button 31, a monitor button 32, an auto-focus lamp 33, a viewfinder 17b, A lamp 34, a display panel (LCD) 35, an exposure correction / delete button 36, an enter / play button 37, a menu / OK button 38, a wide angle- Movement button 40w, a telephoto-zoom button 39t, an upward-movement button 40up, a right-movement button 40ri, a down-movement button 40lo, A voice button 42, and a playback mode (Playback) button 42.

The monitor button 32 is used by the user to control the operation of the display panel 35. For example, when the user presses the monitor button 32 for the first time, the image of the subject and the shooting information thereof are displayed on the display panel 35, and the second time, only the image of the subject is displayed on the display panel 35 The power applied to the display panel 35 is cut off.

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

The flash standby lamp 34 operates when the flash (12 in Fig. 1) is in the standby state for operation.

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

The enter / play button 37 is used for inputting data from the user, for stopping or playing back in the playback mode, and the like.

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

The up-shift button 40up, the right-shift button 40ri, the down-shift button 40lo, and the left-shift button 40le are also used in the process of setting each mode by the user.

The playback mode button 42 is used to confirm and manipulate the last captured image, moving image, or audio information.

3 is a block diagram showing an incident side structure of the digital camera of FIG.

4 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the digital camera of FIG. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the overall configuration of the digital camera will be described below.

An optical system 10 including a lens unit 20 and a filter unit 41 optically processes light from a subject. The lens section 20 of the optical system 10 includes a zoom lens ZL, a focus lens FL, and a compensation lens CL.

When the user presses the wide angle-zoom button (39w in Fig. 2) or the telephoto-zoom button (39t in Fig. 2) contained in the user input INP, a corresponding signal is sent to the micro controller 112 . Accordingly, as the microcontroller 112 controls the lens driving unit 110, the zoom motor MZ is driven to move the zoom lens ZL. That is, when the wide angle zoom button 39w is pressed, the focal length of the zoom lens ZL is shortened to enlarge the angle of view, and the telephoto-zoom button 39t The focal length of the zoom lens ZL becomes longer and the angle of view becomes narrower.

The micro controller 112 can obtain the angle of view? With respect to the position of the zoom lens ZL from the design data of the optical system 10 in accordance with such characteristics. Here, since the position of the focus lens FL is adjusted in a state where the zoom lens ZL is set, the angle of view? Is hardly affected by the position of the focus lens FL. The compensation lens CL is not separately driven since it serves to compensate the overall refractive index.

Reference symbol MA denotes a motor for driving an aperture (not shown). Here, the rotation angle of the diaphragm drive motor MA is different depending on whether the mode is the specific exposure mode or not. The designated exposure mode is a mode for setting the exposure amount of the digital camera with respect to the average luminance of the designated detection area when a certain area desired by the user in the subject area coincides with the designated detection area displayed on the display panel 35 of the digital camera It says.

In the filter section 41 of the optical system 10, an optical low pass filter (OLPF) removes optical noise of a high frequency content. Infra-red cut filter (IRF) blocks incoming infrared light.

A photoelectric conversion unit (OEC) of a charge coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) converts light from the optical system 10 into an electrical analog signal. Here, the digital signal processor 107 controls the timing circuit 102 to control the operations of the photoelectric conversion unit OEC and the analog-digital conversion unit 101. A CDS-ADC (Correlation Double Sampler and Analog-to-Digital Converter) element 101 as an analog-to-digital conversion section processes an analog signal from the photoelectric conversion section OEC, removes the high frequency noise, And then converted into a digital signal. The digital signal processor 107 processes digital signals from the CDS-ADC device 101 to generate digital image signals classified into luminance and chrominance signals.

Although not shown in the drawings, the camera has a system for correcting hand shake. Since the specific configuration of the system for correcting the shaking motion is not a matter of concern of the present invention, a detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

Meanwhile, the camera according to the present invention includes an acceleration sensor 120. The acceleration sensor detects movement of the camera. The specific configuration of the acceleration sensor itself is also not a concern of the present invention, so a detailed description thereof is omitted here. The acceleration sensor 120 transmits a signal of the movement of the camera to the micro controller 112.

The light-emitting section (LAMP) driven by the microcontroller 112 includes a self-timer lamp 11, an auto-focus lamp (33 in FIG. 2) and a flash standby lamp (34 in FIG. 2). 1), a mode dial (14 in Fig. 1), a function-selection button (15 in Fig. 1), a function-block button (18 in Fig. 1), a monitor button 2), an enter / play button (37 of FIG. 2), a menu button (38 of FIG. 2), a wide angle-zoom button (39w of FIG. 2) 2), a down-shift button (40lo in Fig. 2), and a left-shift button (Fig. 2) Of FIG.

A digital video signal from the digital signal processor 107 is temporarily stored in a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) 104. In the EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) 105, an algorithm and setting data necessary for the operation of the digital signal processor 107 are stored.

The memory card 115 of the user is attached to and detached from the memory card interface 106.

The digital image signal from the digital signal processor 107 is input to the LCD driver 114, thereby displaying an image on the color LCD panel 35, i.e., the display unit.

On the other hand, the digital video signal from the digital signal processor 107 can be transmitted by serial communication via a USB (Universal Serial Bus) connection unit 21a or RS232C interface 108 and its connection unit 21b, 109 and a video output unit 21c as video signals.

The audio processor 113 outputs the audio signal from the microphone MIC to the digital signal processor 107 or the speaker SP and outputs the audio signal from the digital signal processor 107 to the speaker SP. On the other hand, the flash 12 is driven through the microcontroller 112 and the flash controller 111 according to the signal from the flash-

The microcontroller 112 controls the memory card 115 to classify an image to be shot by the user or an image taken by the user into valid images and invalid images and stores them in the memory card 115, Space can be ensured. To this end, the memory card 115 is divided into three areas. The photographed image is stored in the first area of the memory card 115 and an invalid image is stored in the second area of the memory card 115 by the classification control operation of the microcontroller 112 according to the user's selection And a valid image is stored in the third area of the memory card 115 by the classification control operation of the microcontroller 112 according to the user's selection.

Hereinafter, a method of classifying valid images in a digital camera will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG.

5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a method of classifying a valid image in a digital camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention. First, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, a step S201 of photographing a subject is performed first. That is, after the subject is photographed, whether the photographed image is valid or not is judged afterwards.

At this time, the moment the image is captured, the acceleration sensor 120 detects the motion of the camera held in the user's hand or supported on the fixed frame. The detected motion information (referred to herein as "motion information" for convenience) is sent from the acceleration sensor 120 to the DSP 107, and the motion information is recorded in the tag of the photographed image file . Generally, the photographed image file has a structure of a tag, a header portion, and a data portion corresponding to a dummy portion, and has a structure in which information about user information or other files can be embedded in the tag portion in a non-public manner And can be used for search and comparison by inserting additional contents of the video data. In the present invention, the shaking information of the image to be photographed is inserted into the tag portion.

After the shaking information is recorded in the tag portion of the image file, the photographed image is temporarily stored in the DRAM 104 under the control of the microcontroller 112, and stored in the first area of the memory card 115.

Thereafter, the user brings up a shot image stored in the first area of the memory card 115 in order to secure a free space of the memory card 115, and the microcontroller 112 reads the shot image recorded in the tag portion of the shot image The information about the shutter speed at the moment of shooting the information and the image is combined or calculated to generate combined or calculated information (S204).

The reason why the camera shake information is combined with the shutter speed or computed is because a certain degree of shaking can be compensated when the shutter speed is fast, and the image becomes remarkably unclear even with small shaking when the shutter speed is slow.

The shaking motion information combined with the shutter speed or the calculated shaking motion information is compared with the stored shaking motion correction possible value (S206).

As a result of comparison by the microcontroller 112, whether or not the combination-calculated camera-shake information of the photographed images is compared with the stored camera-shake correction possible values is compared (S208). If the combined camera shake information is less than or equal to the set value at which the error of the image due to the camera shake can be corrected, the micro controller 112 determines that there is no shaking (shaking) in the taken image and judges the taken image as valid data S210).

The photographed image determined as valid data is not directly stored as an effective image, but is stored in the user's storage determination step (S220).

The microcontroller 112 judges whether the user wants to store the photographed image judged as valid data in step S220a and stores the valid image in the first area of the memory card 115 under the control of the microcontroller 112 To a third folder, that is, to a valid folder (S222).

A valid image stored in a third area of the memory card 115, that is, a valid folder, can then be used in a peripheral such as a printer.

If the photographed image is judged to be a valid image by steps S208 and S210 but the user does not store it as a valid image (S220a) , The photographed image is moved from the first area of the memory card 115 to the second area, that is, to the invalid folder under the control of the microcontroller 112 (S224) .

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S208 that the camera shake information calculated in combination with the shutter speed as a result of the comparison by the microcontroller 112 exceeds the preset range of the shake correction possible value, It is determined that the camera shake (camera shake) has occurred, and the captured image is determined as invalid data (S212).

The photographed image judged as invalid data is not directly stored as an invalid image, but is stored in the user's storage determination step (S220).

If it is determined by the user that the image is to be stored as an invalid image for the shot image determined to be invalid data (S220b) and the shake has occurred but is selected by the user to store the image as a valid image according to the user's need, (I.e., a valid folder) from the first area to the third area of the memory card 115 under the control of the control unit 112 (S222).

Also in this case, the valid image stored in the third area of the memory card 115, that is, a valid folder, as described above, can be used for a peripheral device such as a printer or the like.

If the photographed image is judged to be an invalid image by the steps S208 and S212 and the user also chooses to store it as an invalid image in the case of whether to store it as an invalid image (S220b) The image is moved from the first area of the memory card 115 to the second area, i.e., the invalid folder, under the control of the micro controller 112 (S224).

Although not shown in the drawing, the image files stored in the second area and the third area, respectively, are selected by the user from the invalid folder by the user's selection, and the selected images are stored in a valid folder of the memory card 115 Or may be moved to an invalid folder by being selected by the user from the folder for the valid image. In addition, when an image is not selected by the user from the second area of the memory card 115, that is, the invalid folder, it may be set to be deleted after a predetermined time elapses.

Here, the above-described shake correction possible value is information regarding the level of camera shake (camera movement) that can be corrected by a separate camera shake correction process in consideration of the shutter speed, which may be determined differently depending on the shutter speed, Or the brightness of the image is differently set according to the brightness at the time of shooting, and their correspondence relationship is determined by experiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a method of classifying images valid in a digital camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a method for sorting a valid image or an invalid image from the photographed image after activating the shake correction function.

First, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, a step S301 of photographing a subject after the step S300 in which the camera-shake correction function is activated is performed first. That is, despite the correction of the shaking motion and the correction of the shaking motion after the shooting of the subject, the captured image is judged again after the shooting.

At this time, the moment the image is captured, the acceleration sensor 120 detects the motion of the camera held in the user's hand or supported on the fixed frame. The sensed shaking information is sent from the acceleration sensor 120 to the DSP 107, and the shaking information is recorded in the tag of the photographed image file.

After the shaking information is recorded in the tag portion of the image file, the photographed image is temporarily stored in the DRAM 104 under the control of the microcontroller 112, and stored in the first area of the memory card 115.

Thereafter, the user brings up a shot image stored in the first area of the memory card 115 in order to secure the free space of the memory card 115, and the microcontroller 112 reads the recorded image in the tag portion of the photographed image Information on the shaking motion information and information on the shutter speed at the moment of shooting the image is combined or calculated to generate combined or calculated information (S304).

The combination or calculated shaking information with the shutter speed is compared with the stored shaking compensation possible value (S306).

As a result of comparison by the microcontroller 112, whether or not the combination-calculated camera shake information of the photographed images is compared with the stored camera shake correction possible value is compared (S308). If the combined camera shake information is less than or equal to the set value at which the error of the image due to the camera shake can be corrected, the micro controller 112 determines that there is no shaking (shaking) in the taken image and judges the taken image as valid data S310).

The photographed image judged as valid data is not stored as a valid image but is stored in a user's storage judgment step S320.

If the user judges (selects) whether to store a valid image as a valid image for the photographed image judged as valid data (S320a) and judges (selects) to store it as a valid image, the memory card 115 to the third area, that is, to a valid folder (S322).

A valid image stored in a third area of the memory card 115, that is, a valid folder, can then be used in a peripheral such as a printer.

If the photographed image is determined to be a valid image by steps S308 and S310 but the user does not store it as a valid image (S320a) , The photographed image is moved from the first area to the second area of the memory card 115, that is, moved to an invalid folder under the control of the micro controller 112 (step S324) .

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S308 that the camera shake information calculated in combination with the shutter speed exceeds the range of the shake correction possible value that is stored in advance, the microcontroller 112 It is determined that the camera shake (camera shake) has occurred, and the captured image is determined to be invalid data (S312).

The shot image judged as invalid data is not directly stored as an invalid image, but it is determined whether or not to store the image by going through a step S320 of judging whether or not the user has stored it.

(S320b). If the shake has occurred but is selected by the user to store the image as a valid image according to the user's need, the microcontroller 112, the first area to the third area of the memory card 115, that is, the valid folder is moved and stored (S322).

Also in this case, the valid image stored in the third area of the memory card 115, that is, a valid folder, as described above, can be used for a peripheral device such as a printer or the like.

If the photographed image is judged to be an invalid image by steps S308 and S312 and the user also stores it as an invalid image in step S320b, The image is moved from the first area of the memory card 115 to the second area, i.e., the invalid folder, under the control of the micro controller 112 (S324).

Although not shown in the drawing, the image files stored in the second area and the third area, respectively, are selected by the user from the invalid folder by the user's selection, and the selected images are stored in a valid folder of the memory card 115 Or may be moved to an invalid folder by being selected by the user from the folder for the valid image. In addition, when an image is not selected by the user from the second area of the memory card 115, that is, the invalid folder, it may be set to be deleted after a predetermined time elapses.

As in the case of the first embodiment, the above-described shake correction possible value is information on the level of camera shake (camera movement) that can be corrected by a separate camera shake correction process in consideration of the speed speed, Or determined depending on the subject of the subject, or differently depending on the brightness at the time of image capturing, and their correspondence relationship is determined by experiments.

The present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Therefore, the disclosed embodiments should be considered in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all differences within the scope of equivalents thereof should be construed as being included in the present invention.

The present invention can be used in the technical field related to digital cameras.

1 is a perspective view showing a front appearance of a digital camera.

FIG. 2 is a rear view showing a rear outer shape of the digital camera of FIG. 1;

3 is a block diagram showing an incident side structure of the digital camera of FIG.

4 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the digital camera of FIG.

5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a method of classifying a valid image in a digital camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a method of classifying images valid in a digital camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (12)

A method of operating a digital camera, (a) acquiring hand shake information about a photographed image from an acceleration sensor and storing the shaking information in a first area of the memory; (b) combining the camera shake information with shutter speed information; (c) comparing the combined shaking information with the shaking correction possible value; (d) determining whether to store the photographed image, which is compared with the shake correction possible value, as a valid image; And (e) If it is determined that the photographed image is to be stored as an invalid image as a result of the determination, the file of the photographed image is stored in the second area of the memory, And storing a file of the image in a third region of the memory. The method according to claim 1, In the step (a) Wherein the shaking information of the moment when the image is captured is acquired and stored in the first area of the memory. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the second area of the memory is an invalid folder in which an invalid photographed image is stored and the third area of the memory is a valid folder in which a valid photographed image is stored . The method according to claim 1, Wherein the determining step comprises: Determining whether to store the photographed image as an invalid image or a valid image when the combined shaking information on the photographed image is out of the range of the shake correction possible value; , Judging whether to store the photographed image as a valid image or an invalid image when the combined shaking information on the photographed image is in the range of the shake correction possible value in the comparing step The method comprising the steps of: delete A method of operating a digital camera, (a) correcting an unintentional hand movement; (b) obtaining camera shake information about the photographed image from an acceleration sensor and storing the shaking information in a first area of the memory; (c) combining the camera shake information with shutter speed information; (d) comparing the combined shaking information with the shaking correction possible value; (e) determining whether to store the photographed image compared with the shake correction possible value as a valid image; And (f) If it is determined that the photographed image is to be stored as an invalid image, the file of the photographed image is stored in the second area of the memory. If it is determined that the photographed image is to be stored as a valid image, And storing a file of the image in a third region of the memory. delete delete The method according to claim 6, In the step (b) And acquiring camera shake information at the moment when the image is captured and storing the acquired camera shake information in a first area of the memory The method according to claim 6, Wherein the second area of the memory is an invalid folder in which an invalid photographed image is stored and the third area of the memory is a valid folder in which a valid photographed image is stored . The method according to claim 6, Wherein the determining step comprises: Determining whether to store the photographed image as an invalid image or a valid image when the combined shaking information on the photographed image is out of the range of the shake correction possible value; , Judging whether to store the photographed image as a valid image or an invalid image when the combined shaking information on the photographed image is in the range of the shake correction possible value in the comparing step The method comprising the steps of: 11. The method of claim 10, After the predetermined time has elapsed, the shot image stored in the second area of the memory is deleted.

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