KR20100100179A - Digtal photographing appratus and method of controlling the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A control method of a digital image photographing apparatus for rapidly performing automatic focusing around a desired area is provided to implement the automatic focusing according to a selected photographing mode. CONSTITUTION: A block setting unit sets up a plurality of blocks(S101). A calculation unit produces each block focus value of the blocks(S102). A area setting unit searches the blocks of the block focus value greater than the predetermined value(S103). The area setting unit sets up the predetermined area(S104). The area setting unit sets up a focus area(S105). A control unit performs automatic focusing(S106).

Description

Digital imaging apparatus and its control method {Digtal photographing appratus and method of controlling the same}

The present invention relates to a digital imaging apparatus and a control method thereof.

A typical digital imaging apparatus converts an electrical image signal of a subject into a digital signal using a sensor such as a CCD / CMOS to store a digital signal of a subject photographed by a compression / restore operation of the digital signal in a memory. Or output the corresponding data through the output device.

In such a digital image photographing apparatus, an automatic focus adjustment is performed to automatically adjust focus on a subject. In order to perform auto focus, a focus value calculated through an edge output by signal processing an image acquired through a charge coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensor is calculated in every picture unit, and the calculated focus value is calculated. The focus is automatically adjusted by moving the moving direction and distance of the focus lens on the basis of.

In detail, an automatic focusing may be performed by extracting a focus value from a partial region selected by a user among the divided regions (9 divided or 11 divided) in the image. In addition, automatic focusing may be performed by automatically extracting a focus value from the center (spot) or the entire (multi) region of the image.

When photographing a person, autofocusing may be performed by setting a focusing area around the face area recognized by face recognition.

When auto focusing is performed by extracting the focus value from the center (spot) or the entire (multi) area of the image, auto focusing is performed by simply selecting the area with the larger focus value. There is a problem that is performed. In addition, when autofocusing is performed around the recognized face area, an additional function such as face recognition must be performed for autofocusing, which causes a problem of delaying autofocusing.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a digital image photographing apparatus and a control method thereof in which auto focusing is performed centering on an area desired by a user and auto focusing can be performed accordingly.

A control method of a digital image photographing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the steps of (a) dividing an input image into a plurality of blocks, (b) obtaining a block focus value for each of the blocks, and (c) Setting a set area consisting of the blocks having the block focus value equal to or greater than a predetermined value; and (d) focusing the set area.

In the present invention, the block focus value may sum the focus values of pixels belonging to the block.

In the present invention, step (b) comprises: (b1) extracting focus values of pixels belonging to each of the blocks, (b2) summing the focus values of the pixels belonging to the block; (b3) setting the summed focus value to the block focus value of the block.

In the present invention, the setting area is one in which the blocks having a block focus value of the predetermined value or more are in contact with each other.

In the present invention, the step (d) may include: (d1) obtaining the number of blocks belonging to each of the setting areas, (d2) comparing the number of blocks belonging to the setting areas, and (d3) setting the set area having the largest number of blocks as a focus area, and (d4) performing focusing around the focus area.

The method may further include searching for the setting area having a pattern corresponding to a shooting mode set by the digital image photographing device among the setting areas between steps (c) and (d). In step (d), the focusing may be performed based on the setting area corresponding to the pattern.

In the present invention, when the photographing mode is a portrait mode, the pattern may be person formation.

In the present invention, when the photographing mode is a landscape mode, the pattern may be a landscape.

A recording medium according to an embodiment of the present invention records a program for executing the control method on a computer.

A digital image photographing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a block setting unit for dividing an input image into a plurality of blocks, the digital image photographing apparatus generating a captured image by performing image signal processing on an input image; A calculation unit for calculating block focus values of blocks, an area setting unit for searching the blocks having the block focus value of a predetermined value or more, and setting a setting area consisting of the blocks, and focusing around the setting area; It may be provided with a control unit for controlling to.

In the present invention, the block may consist of a plurality of pixels.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the block focus value calculator may calculate the block focus value by summing focus values of pixels belonging to the block.

In the present invention, the setting area is one in which the blocks having a block focus value of the predetermined value or more are brought into contact with each other.

In the present invention, the control unit may obtain the number of blocks belonging to each of the setting areas, and set the setting area having the largest number of blocks as a focus area.

In the present invention, the controller may control to perform auto focusing on the focus area.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the controller may search for the setting area having a pattern corresponding to a shooting mode set by the digital image photographing apparatus.

In the present invention, when the photographing mode is the person mode, the controller may search for the setting area corresponding to the pattern of the person shape.

In the present invention, when the photographing mode is a landscape mode, the controller may search for the setting area corresponding to the landscape pattern.

According to the digital image photographing apparatus and control method thereof according to the present invention made as described above, auto focusing is performed according to a shooting mode selected by a user, and faster auto focusing can be realized.

Hereinafter, with reference to the embodiments of the present invention shown in the accompanying drawings will be described in detail the present invention. But. The present invention may be modified in various other forms, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below. The embodiments of the present invention are provided to more completely explain the present invention to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the shape and size of elements in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity, and the elements denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings are the same elements.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a digital image capturing apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 illustrates a digital signal processing unit 70 of the digital image capturing apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1. Is a block diagram.

Referring to FIG. 1, the digital photographing apparatus 100 may include an optical unit 10, an optical driver 11, an imaging device 15, an imaging device controller 16, an operation unit 20, a program storage unit 30, A buffer storage unit 40, a data storage unit 50, a display control unit 60, a data driver 61, a scan driver 63, a display unit 65, and a digital signal processor (DSP) 70 are included.

The optical unit 10 receives an optical signal from a subject and provides it to the imaging device 13. The optical unit 10 may include at least one lens, such as a zoom lens for controlling the view angle to be narrowed or widened according to a focal length, and a focus lens for focusing a subject. In addition, the optical unit 10 may further include an aperture for adjusting the amount of light.

The optical driver 11 adjusts the position of the lens, opening and closing of the iris, and the like. You can focus by shifting the position of the lens. In addition, the amount of light may be adjusted by adjusting the opening and closing of the iris. The optical driver 11 may control the optical unit 10 according to a control signal automatically generated by an image signal input in real time or a control signal manually input by a user's manipulation.

The optical signal transmitted through the optical unit 10 reaches the light receiving surface of the imaging element 15 to form an image of the subject. The imaging device 15 may use a Charge Coupled Device (CCD), a Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor Image Sensor (CIS), or the like that converts an optical signal into an electrical signal. Such an image pickup device 15 may be controlled by the image pickup device controller 16. The imaging device controller 16 may also control the imaging device 15 according to a control signal automatically generated by an image signal input in real time or a control signal manually input by a user's operation.

The operation unit 20 is a place that can input a control signal from the outside, such as a user. The operation unit 20 is a shutter-release button for inputting a shutter-release signal for taking a picture by exposing the imaging device 15 to light for a predetermined time, a power button for supplying power, and a wide angle of view according to the input. There are a wide-angle zoom button and a tele-zoom button for increasing or narrowing the angle of view, and various function buttons for selecting a mode such as a text input or shooting mode, a playback mode, a white balance setting function, and an exposure setting function. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the user may display the preview image or the playback image on the display unit 65 via the operation unit 20.

The operation unit 20 may have the form of various buttons as described above, but is not limited thereto, and may be implemented in any form that a user can input, such as a keyboard, a touch pad, a touch screen, a remote controller, and the like.

In addition, the digital photographing apparatus 100 may include a program storage unit 30 for storing a program such as an operating system or an application system for driving the same, a buffer storage unit 40 for temporarily storing data or result data necessary for performing an operation, It includes a data storage unit 50 for storing a variety of information required for the program, including an image file including an image signal.

In addition, the digital photographing apparatus 100 may include a display control unit 60 that controls to display its operation state or image information photographed by the digital photographing apparatus 100, and a data driver that is input from the display control unit 60 to transmit display data. And a display unit 65 for displaying a predetermined image according to signals input from the data driver 61 and the scan driver 63. The display unit 65 may include a liquid crystal display panel (LCD), an organic light emitting display panel (OLED), an electrophoretic display panel (EDD), and the like.

In addition, the digital photographing apparatus 100 includes a digital signal processor 70 that processes an input image signal and controls each component according to the input signal or an external input signal.

The digital signal processing unit 70 will be described with reference to FIG. 2 together.

Referring to FIG. 2, the digital signal processing unit 70 may include an image signal processing unit 71, a block setting unit 72, a calculation unit 73, an area setting unit 74, and a controller 75. .

The image signal processor 71 converts an image signal input from the image pickup device 15 into a digital signal, and performs gamma correction and color filter array interpolation to convert the image signal according to the human vision. Image signal processing such as color matrix, color correction, color enhancement, and the like. In addition, when the function is set, the image signal processor 72 may perform an auto white balance or auto exposure algorithm. In addition, the size of the image data is adjusted using a scaler and compressed to form an image file of a predetermined format. Conversely, image files can be extracted. The image signal processing unit 72 may perform the above image signal processing on the image signal input in real time in the live-view mode before taking a picture and the image signal input by the shutter-release signal. In this case, different video signal processing may be performed on each of the video signals.

The block setting unit 72 sets a plurality of blocks 102 in the input image 101. 3 illustrates an input image 101, and FIG. 4 illustrates an input image 101 in which a plurality of blocks 102 are set by the block setting unit 72. Light input through the optical unit 10 is formed on the image pickup device 15 to generate an input image. The input image is signal-processed through the image signal processing unit 71, and then is displayed by the block setting unit 72. As shown in Fig. 4, a plurality of blocks 102 are set. Block 102 consists of a plurality of pixels.

The calculator 73 calculates a block focus value for each of the blocks 102. The block focus value means a sum of focus values of pixels belonging to the block 102. The calculator 73 calculates a block focus value of the corresponding block 102 by summing focus values of pixels belonging to the block 102. In more detail, the calculator 72 extracts the focus values of the pixels belonging to the block 102, sums the focus values, and sets the summed focus value as the block focus value of the block 102. In this way, the calculator 73 calculates a block focus value for each of the blocks 102.

The area setting unit 74 sets the setting area A by searching for blocks having a block focus value of a predetermined value or more. The setting area refers to an area in which blocks 104 having a block focus value of a predetermined value or more are gathered adjacent to each other.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6 in more detail as follows.

FIG. 5 illustrates blocks 104 having a block focus value greater than or equal to a certain value and blocks 103 having a block focus value less than or equal to a predetermined value in the input image 101 in which the block 102 is set. Shows the setting area A detected in.

5 and 6, the area setting unit 74 determines whether the block focus values calculated by the calculation unit 73 have a predetermined value or more. That is, the area setting unit 74 detects blocks 104 having a block focus value of a predetermined value or more and blocks 103 having a block focus value of a predetermined value or less. In addition, the area setting unit 74 searches for an area in which blocks 104 having a block focus value of a predetermined value or more are adjacent to each other, and sets the area as the setting area A. FIG.

The controller 75 controls the overall operation of the digital signal processor 70. In addition, the controller 75 controls to perform auto focusing on the focus area A. FIG.

In detail, the controller 75 calculates the number of blocks belonging to each of the setting regions. As described above, the setting area refers to an area in which blocks having a block focus value of a predetermined value or more are gathered adjacent to each other. There may be a plurality of setting regions in the input image. When a plurality of setting areas are set, the controller 75 obtains the number of blocks belonging to the setting area and sets the setting area having the most blocks as the focus area. The controller 75 controls the optical driver 11 to perform auto focusing using the block focus value of the focus area. 5 and 6, a block having a block focus value equal to or greater than a predetermined value is 104 and a setting area A consisting of the blocks 104 becomes a focus area. Therefore, the controller 75 controls the auto focusing to be performed around the focus area A. FIG.

In addition, the controller 75 may search for a setting area having a pattern corresponding to the shooting mode set in the digital image photographing apparatus 100 and control the auto focusing to be performed around the setting area corresponding to the pattern. The digital image capturing apparatus 100 is provided with a capturing mode such as a portrait mode and a landscape mode to provide a user with an image capturing convenience. The digital image photographing apparatus 100 according to an exemplary embodiment may store a block pattern corresponding to a photographing mode in advance. That is, the digital image capturing apparatus 100 may include a block pattern corresponding to the face of the person or a block pattern corresponding to the entire person in response to the person mode, and correspond to a landscape such as a mountain or a river corresponding to the person in the landscape mode. A block pattern may be provided. The controller 75 may search for a setting area similar to the block pattern corresponding to the photographing mode, set a setting area similar to the block pattern as the focus area, and control auto focusing around the focus area.

This will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9.

7 illustrates a case where a shooting mode is not selected. That is, when the photographing mode is not selected, the controller 75 includes the blocks 104 having a block focus value of a predetermined value or more, and the focus area A, which is a setting area where the number of the blocks 104 is the largest. Control to perform auto focusing center.

8 illustrates a case where a person mode is selected. When the person mode is selected in the digital image capturing apparatus 100, the controller 75 detects a setting area B similar to a pre-stored person shape pattern, sets the setting area B as a focus area, and then autofocussing. Control to perform. The digital image photographing apparatus 100 of the present invention may store not only the pattern as shown in FIG. 8 but also various patterns regarding the person such as the face of the person, the overall shape of the person, and the like.

9 illustrates a case where a landscape mode is selected. When the landscape mode is selected in the digital image capturing apparatus 100, the controller 75 detects a setting area C similar to a previously stored landscape shape pattern, sets the setting area C as a focus area, and then autofocussing. Control to perform. The digital image capturing apparatus 100 of the present invention may store not only a mountain-shaped pattern as shown in FIG. 9 but also various landscape-related patterns such as an ocean and a river.

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram schematically illustrating a control method of a digital imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 10, in the method of controlling a digital image photographing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, setting a plurality of blocks of an input image (S101) and calculating block focus values of each of the blocks (S102) Searching for blocks having a block focus value equal to or greater than a predetermined value (S103), setting a setting area (S104), setting a focus area (S105), and performing auto focusing (S106). can do.

First, a plurality of blocks 102 are set in the input image 101 (S101). Light input through the optical unit 10 is formed on the image pickup device 15 to generate an input image. The input image is signal-processed through the image signal processing unit 71, and then is displayed by the block setting unit 72. As shown in Fig. 4, a plurality of blocks 102 are set. Block 102 consists of a plurality of pixels.

The block focus value for each of the blocks 102 is then calculated. The block focus value means a sum of focus values of pixels belonging to the block 102. In detail, the calculation unit 72 extracts a focus value of pixels belonging to the block 102, and sets the summed focus value as the block focus value of the block 102 by summing the focus values.

Next, blocks having a block focus value equal to or greater than a predetermined value are searched to set the setting area A (S103, S104). The setting area refers to an area in which blocks 104 having a block focus value of a predetermined value or more are gathered adjacent to each other.

In detail, the area setting unit 74 detects blocks 104 having a block focus value greater than or equal to a predetermined value and blocks 103 having a block focus value less than or equal to a predetermined value. Thereafter, the area setting unit 74 searches for an area in which blocks 104 having a block focus value of a predetermined value or more are adjacent to each other and sets the area as the setting area A. FIG.

Next, the number of blocks belonging to each of the setting areas is calculated, and the setting area having the largest number of blocks is set as the focus area (S105).

Next, autofocusing is performed centering on the set focus area (S106).

In addition, the digital image photographing apparatus 100 may search for a setting area having a pattern corresponding to the set shooting mode and perform auto focusing on the setting area corresponding to the pattern.

As described above, since auto focusing is performed using block focus values of a plurality of blocks set in the input image without face recognition, faster auto focusing can be achieved. Since auto focusing is performed on a desired subject, focusing may be performed on an area desired by a user.

The above embodiments have been described based on a digital camera as an example of a digital photographing apparatus to which the present invention can be applied, but is not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be applied to camera phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and portable multimedia players (PMPs) with added camera functionality.

Meanwhile, the present invention can be embodied as computer readable codes on a computer readable recording medium. The computer-readable recording medium includes all kinds of recording devices in which data that can be read by a computer system is stored.

Examples of computer-readable recording media include ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, floppy disks, optical data storage devices, and the like, which may also be implemented in the form of carrier waves (for example, transmission over the Internet). Include. The computer readable recording medium can also be distributed over network coupled computer systems so that the computer readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion. In addition, functional programs, codes, and code segments for implementing the present invention can be easily deduced by programmers skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs.

The present invention is not limited by the above-described embodiment and the accompanying drawings, but is intended to be limited by the appended claims, and various forms of substitution and modification within the scope not departing from the technical spirit of the present invention described in the claims. And it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes are possible.

1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a digital image photographing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the digital signal processor 70 of the digital image photographing apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

 3 shows an input image.

4 illustrates an input image in which a plurality of blocks are set by the block setting unit.

FIG. 5 illustrates blocks having a block focus value greater than or equal to a certain value and blocks having a block focus value less than or equal to a predetermined value in an input image in which a block is set.

6 illustrates a setting area detected in an input image.

7 illustrates a case where a shooting mode is not selected.

8 illustrates a case where a person mode is selected.

9 illustrates a case where a landscape mode is selected.

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram schematically illustrating a control method of a digital imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

100: digital photographing apparatus 70: digital signal processing unit

71: video signal processing unit 72: block setting unit

73: calculator 74: region setting unit

75: control unit

Claims (18)

(a) dividing the input image into a plurality of blocks; (b) obtaining a block focus value for each of the blocks; (c) setting setting areas consisting of the blocks having the block focus value equal to or greater than a predetermined value; (d) performing focusing on the set area; and controlling the digital image photographing apparatus. The method of claim 1, And the block focus value is the sum of focus values of pixels belonging to the block. The method of claim 1, In step (b), (b1) extracting focus values of pixels belonging to each of the blocks; (b2) summing the focus values of the pixels belonging to the block; And and (b3) setting the summed focus value to the block focus value of the block. The method of claim 1, And wherein the setting area is arranged such that the blocks having a block focus value of the predetermined value or more are in contact with each other. The method of claim 1, In step (d), obtaining a number of blocks belonging to each of the setting areas; (d2) comparing the number of the blocks belonging to the setting areas; (d3) setting the setting area having the largest number of blocks as a focus area; And (d4) performing focusing on the focus area; and controlling the digital image photographing apparatus. The method of claim 1, Between step (c) and step (d), Searching for the setting area having a pattern corresponding to a shooting mode set by the digital image photographing device among the setting areas; In the step (d), the focusing method is performed on the setting area corresponding to the pattern. The method of claim 6, And the pattern is person formation when the photographing mode is a portrait mode. The method of claim 6, And the pattern is a landscape when the photographing mode is a landscape mode. A recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing a method according to any one of claims 1 to 8 on a computer. A digital image photographing apparatus for generating a captured image by performing image signal processing on an input image, A block setting unit dividing the input image into a plurality of blocks; A calculator for calculating block focus values of the blocks; An area setting unit for searching the blocks having the block focus value equal to or greater than a predetermined value and setting a setting area consisting of the blocks; And And a controller configured to control focusing on the setting area. The method of claim 10, And the block is composed of a plurality of pixels. The method of claim 10, And the block focus value calculator calculates the block focus value by summing focus values of pixels belonging to the block. The method of claim 10, And wherein the set area is the blocks having the block focus value equal to or greater than the predetermined value are in contact with each other. The method of claim 10, And the control unit obtains the number of blocks belonging to each of the setting areas, and sets the setting area having the largest number of blocks as a focus area. The method of claim 14, And the control unit controls to perform auto focusing on the focus area. The method of claim 10, And the control unit searches for the setting area having a pattern corresponding to a shooting mode set by the digital image photographing device. The method of claim 16, And when the photographing mode is the person mode, the controller searches for the setting area corresponding to the pattern of the person shape. The method of claim 16, And when the photographing mode is a landscape mode, the controller searches for the setting area corresponding to a landscape pattern.

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