Digital Camera Patent AbstractA digital camera allowing searching of an image in a simple manner
is provided, in which an image folder is formed for each session
of continuous image pickup operations, and each of the plurality
of images picked up in one session of continuous image pickup operation
is stored as an image file in the corresponding image folder. Therefore,
as compared with the conventional example in which continuously
picked up images are stored in the order of pickup similar to the
images picked up normally, searching of an image is facilitated.
Further, as the images can be handled as an image group folder by
folder, efficiency in processing can be improved.
Digital Camera Patent ClaimsWhat is claimed is:
1. A digital camera, having a normal image pickup mode in which
images of an object are picked up one by one, a continuous image
pickup mode in which images of an object are picked up continuously,
a normally picked up image reproduction mode in which an image picked
up in said normal image pickup mode is reproduced and a continuously
picked up image reproduction mode in which an image picked up in
said continuous image pickup mode is reproduced, comprising: memory
unit storing an image; display unit for displaying an image; first
writing unit for storing each image picked up in said normal image
pickup mode in said memory unit; second writing unit classifying
into groups and storing in said memory unit a plurality of images
picked up in said continuous image pickup mode, session by session;
first selecting unit selecting, in said normally picked up image
reproduction mode, a desired image among images stored in said memory
unit; second selecting unit selecting, in said continuously picked
up image reproduction mode, a desired image group among image groups
stored in said memory unit, and a desired image among a plurality
of images belonging to the image group; and first reading unit taking
out the image selected by said first and second selecting units
from said memory unit and applying the image to said display unit,
wherein said display unit does not simultaneously display both reduced
images obtained from the normal pickup mode and the continuous image
pickup mode on one screen, said second writing unit forms a reduced
image of each image and stores the reduced image together with each
image to said memory unit, said digital camera further comprising:
third selecting unit selecting, in said continuously picked up image
reproduction mode, a predetermined number of reduced images among
reduced images of predetermined images in respective image groups
stored in said memory unit; and second reading unit for reading
the prescribed number of reduced images selected by said third selecting
unit from said memory unit, forming an image of one image plane
from said predetermined number of reduced images, and applying the
image to said display unit, wherein said first selecting unit has
at least three direction designating sections for moving a state
of display in at least three directions including a first direction,
a second direction opposite the first direction and a third direction
different from said first and second directions indicating a selected
image to a single desired reduced image to be displayed among a
plurality of reduced images displayed by said display unit, and
wherein said second selecting unit selects said image group by selecting
a single desired reduced image to be displayed from the predetermined
number of reduced images displayed on said display unit.
2. The digital camera according to claim 1, having a continuous
reproduction mode in which a plurality of images belonging to a
selected image group are continuously reproduced, comprising: third
reading unit taking, in said continuous reproduction mode, a plurality
of images belonging to the image group selected by said second selecting
unit and continuously applying the images to said display unit.
3. The digital camera according to claim 1, having a moving mode
for moving an image, comprising: moving unit extracting, in said
moving mode, an image selected by said second selecting unit from
the image group to which the image belongs, and storing the extracted
image to said memory unit of same directory as with an image picked
up in said normal pickup mode.
4. The digital camera according to claim 1, having a copy mode
for copying an image, comprising: copying unit forming a copy image
of an image selected by said second selecting unit and storing the
copied image in said memory unit of the same directory as for an
image picked up in said normal image pickup mode, in said copy mode.
5. The digital camera according to claim 1, having an image deletion
mode for deleting an image, and an image group deletion mode for
deleting an image group, comprising: first deletion unit deleting,
in said image deletion mode, the image selected by said first and
second selecting units among images stored in said memory unit;
and second deletion unit deleting, in said image group deletion
mode, an image group selected by said second selecting unit, among
image groups stored in said memory unit.
6. A digital camera, having a normal image pickup mode in which
images of an object is picked up one by one, and a continuous image
pickup mode in which images of an object are picked up continuously,
comprising: display unit displaying an image; memory unit storing
an image; and storing unit forming directories for storing files
of picked up image data in said memory unit, storing each of the
images picked up in said normal image pickup mode in one of said
directories, and classifying into groups and storing a plurality
of images picked up in said continuous image pickup mode, session
by session of continuous image pickup, in another of the directories;
wherein said display unit does not simultaneously display both reduced
images obtained from the normal pickup mode and the continuous image
pickup mode on one screen; said storing unit includes: first writing
unit writing each image picked up in said normal image pickup mode
to one of said directories, and second writing unit writing a plurality
of images picked up in said continuous image pickup mode, classified
into groups session by session of continuous image pickup, in said
another directory, said digital camera having a normally picked
up image reproduction mode for reproducing an image picked up in
the normal image pickup mode, and a continuously picked up image
reproduction mode for reproducing an image picked up in said continuous
image pickup mode, said digital camera further comprising: first
selecting unit selecting a desired image among images stored in
said directory in said normally picked up image reproduction mode;
second selecting unit selecting a desired image group among image
groups stored in said directory and a desired image among a plurality
of images belonging to the image group, in said continuously picked
up image reproduction mode; and first reading unit taking an image
selected by said first and second selecting units from said directory
and applying to said display unit; said second writing unit forms
a reduced image of each image and stores the reduced image together
with each image in said directory; said digital camera further comprising:
third selecting unit selecting a predetermined number of reduced
images among reduced images of predetermined images in respective
image groups stored in said directory, in said continuously picked
up image reproduction mode; and second reading unit reading from
said directory, a predetermined number of reduced images selected
by said third selecting unit, forming an image of one image plane
from said predetermined number of reduced images and applying to
said display unit, wherein said first selecting unit has at least
three direction designating sections for moving a state of display
in at least three directions including a first direction, a second
direction opposite the first direction and a third direction different
from said first and second directions indicating a selected image
to a single desired reduced image to be displayed among a plurality
of reduced images displayed by said display unit, and wherein said
second selecting unit selects said image group by selecting a single
desired reduced image to be displayed from the predetermined number
of reduced images displayed on said display unit.
7. The digital camera according to claim 6, having a continuous
reproduction mode for continuously reproducing a plurality of images
belonging to a selected image group, said digital camera further
comprising: third reading unit taking a plurality of images belonging
to the image group selected by said second selecting unit from said
directory and continuously applying to said display unit in said
continuous reproduction mode.
8. The digital camera according to claim 6, having a moving mode
for moving an image, comprising: moving unit extracting the image
selected by said second selecting unit from the image group to which
the image belongs, and storing the image in the same directory as
for the image picked up in said normal image pickup mode, in said
moving mode.
9. The digital camera according to claim 6, having a copy mode
for copying an image, comprising: copying unit forming a copy image
of an image selected by said second selecting unit and storing image
in the same said directory as with the image picked up in said normal
image pickup mode, in said copy mode.
10. The digital camera according to claim 6, having an image deletion
mode for deleting an image and an image group deletion mode for
deleting an image group, comprising: first deleting unit deleting
an image selected by said first and second selecting units among
images stored in said directory, in said image deletion mode, and
second deleting unit deleting the image group selected by said second
selecting unit among image groups stored in said directory, in said
image group deletion mode. Digital Camera Patent DescriptionBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a digital camera. More specifically,
the present invention relates to a digital camera having a normal
image pickup mode for taking images of an object one by one, a continuous
image pickup mode for picking up images of an object continuously,
a normally picked up image reproduction mode for reproducing images
picked up in the normal image pickup mode, and a continuously picked
up image reproduction mode for reproducing images picked up in the
continuous image pickup mode.
2. Description of the Background Art
Conventionally, a digital camera has a normal image pickup mode
(single still image pickup mode) for picking up still images of
an object one by one, and a continuously image pickup mode for picking
up still images of an object continuously at a prescribed period.
The picked up images are stored in a built-in image memory in the
order of pick up. In a reproduction mode, an image read from the
image memory is displayed on a liquid crystal display (hereinafter
referred to as an LCD). When a desired image is selected from the
reproduced images and handed to a printing bureau, a print just
like a photograph is obtained.
In the conventional digital camera, however, the plurality of images
picked up in the continuous image pickup mode are not classified
into groups session by session of continuous image pickup operations,
but simply stored in the image memory in the order of image pickup
as with the images picked up in the normal image pickup mode. Therefore,
searching of an image has been difficult to select a desired image
to be handed to the printing bureau.
In order to solve this problem, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No.
6-233225 (U.S. Pat. No. 5,719,987), for example, discloses a method
of image data recording of a digital still video camera. According
to the recording method, a directory for storing files of image
data picked up by a digital still video camera having a plurality
of image pickup modes is formed, and in the directory, only the
files of images picked up by at least one image pickup mode among
the plurality of image pickup modes are stored.
Though storing of image data in the directory is described in the
prior art mentioned above, specific manner of transferring the image
data from the directory to a personal computer, reproducing a desired
image by using a browser software, moving, copying or deleting the
image, or specific manner of facilitating searching of the image
are not described.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, a main object of the present invention is to provide
a digital camera allowing reproduction, moving, copying and deleting
of image data as well as searching of images in a simple manner.
Briefly stated, the present invention provides a digital camera
having a normal image pickup mode for picking up images of an object
one by one, a continuous image pickup mode for picking up images
of an object continuously, a normally picked up image reproduction
mode for reproducing images picked up in the normal image pickup
mode and a continuously picked up image reproduction mode for reproducing
images picked up in the continuous image pickup mode, including
a memory circuit, an image display section, first and second writing
circuits, first and second selecting circuits and a first reading
circuit. The memory circuit stores an image, and the image display
section displays the image. The first writing circuit writes images
picked up in the normal image pickup mode to the memory circuit,
and second writing circuit classifies a plurality of images picked
up in the continuous image pickup mode into groups session by session
of continuous image pickup operations and writes the groups of images
to the memory circuit. The first selecting circuit selects a desired
image among the images stored in the memory circuit in the normally
picked up image reproduction mode, the second selecting circuit
selects a desired image group among image groups stored in the memory
circuit and a desired image among the plurality of images belonging
to the selected image group in the continuously picked up image
reproduction mode, and the first reading circuit reads the selected
image selected by the first and the second selecting circuit and
applies the read image to the image display section.
Therefore, according to the present invention, searching of an
image is facilitated as compared with the prior art in which a plurality
of images picked up continuously are stored not classified into
groups but simply in the similar manner as the normally picked up
images.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second
writing circuit forms reduced images of respective images and writes
the reduced images together with the original respective images
to the memory circuit. A third selecting circuit selects a predetermined
number of reduced images from leading reduced images of respective
image groups stored in the memory circuit in the continuously picked
up image reproduction mode, the second reading circuits reads the
predetermined number of reduced images selected by the third selecting
circuit from the memory circuit, and forms an image corresponding
to one image plane, to display the predetermined number of reduced
images side by side at one time and applies the resulting image
to the image display section. That is, the second reading circuit
has the function of a so called multiple display. The second selecting
circuit selects an image group by selecting a desired reduced image
among the predetermined number of reduced images displayed on the
image display section. As a result, selection of an image group
is facilitated.
In a more preferred embodiment of the present invention, the digital
camera has a continuous reproduction mode in which a plurality of
images belonging to a selected image group are reproduced continuously,
and a third reading circuit takes a plurality of images belonging
to the image group selected by the second selecting circuit from
the memory circuit and applies to the image display section continuously,
in the continuous reproduction mode. This further facilitates searching
of an image.
In a more preferred embodiment, the digital camera has a moving
mode in which an image is moved, and a moving circuit extracts an
image selected by the second selecting circuit from the image group
to which the image belongs, and stores the extracted image in the
same directory as an image picked up in the normal image pickup
mode, in the moving mode. Therefore, in this case, an image can
be easily selected when the user asks printing of the image at a
printing bureau.
In a more preferred embodiment, the digital camera has a copy mode
for copying an image. A copying circuit forms a copy of an image
selected by the second selecting circuit in the copy mode, and stores
the copied image as an image picked up in the normal image pickup
mode, in the memory circuit. This facilitates selection of an image
when the user goes to a printing bureau asking printing of the image.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the digital
camera has an image deletion mode for deleting a selected image
and an image group deletion mode for deleting a selected image group.
As unnecessary image group can be erased collectively, images can
be deleted faster in a simple manner as compared with the prior
in which unnecessary images must be deleted one by one.
According to another aspect, the present invention provides a digital
camera having a normal image pickup mode in which images of an object
are picked up one by one, and a continuous image pickup mode in
which images of an object are picked up continuously, including
a memory circuit for storing images, and a storing circuit forming
directories for storing files of picked up image data in the memory
circuit, storing each image picked up in the normal image pickup
mode in one of the directories, and storing a plurality of images
picked up in the continuous image pickup mode in another directory,
with the plurality of images being classified into groups session
by session of image pickup operations.
According to the present invention, the images picked up in the
normal image pickup mode and the images picked up in the continuous
image pickup mode are stored collectively in subdirectries within
one same directory. A directory storing images picked up in the
continuous image pickup mode is not in the same directory as the
images picked up in the normal image pickup mode. Therefore, when
an image is to be selected by using a file browser software on a
personal computer, the directory storing the images picked up in
the continuous image pickup mode is displayed separate from the
images picked up in the normal image pickup mode. Accordingly, even
when a large number of images are picked up in the normal image
pickup mode, selection of an image from images picked up continuously
is easy.
In a more preferred embodiment of the present invention, each image
picked up in the normal image pickup mode is written to one of the
directories, and a plurality of images picked up in the continuous
image pickup mode are written to another directory, classified into
groups session by session of image pickup operations.
Further, according to a more preferred embodiment of the present
invention, an image picked up in the normal image pickup mode and
an image picked up in the continuous image pickup mode which are
in the same layer are reproduced and displayed.
In a more preferred embodiment, a reduced image of each image is
formed and at the time of reproduction, reduced images of leading
images of the plurality of image groups are displayed in multiple.
By selecting a desired reduced image from the plurality of reduced
images displayed in multiple, an image group is selected. This facilitates
selection of an image group.
In a more preferred embodiment, the digital camera has a continuous
reproduction mode in which a plurality of images belonging to the
selected image group are reproduced continuously, which further
facilitates searching of an image.
In a more preferred embodiment, the digital camera has a moving
mode in which a desired image is extracted from an image group and
stored in the same layer as an image picked up in the normal image
pickup mode. This facilitates selection of an image when user asks
printing of an image at a printing bureau.
Further, in a more preferred embodiment, the digital camera has
a copying mode in which a copy image of a desired image of an image
group is formed and the copied image is stored in the same layer
as an image picked up in the normal image pickup mode. This facilitates
selection of an image when the user asks printing of an image at
a printing bureau.
In a more preferred embodiment, the digital camera has an image
deletion mode for deleting a selected image and an image group deletion
mode for deleting a selected image group. As unnecessary image group
can be deleted collectively, images can be deleted faster in a simple
manner as compared with the conventional method in which unnecessary
images are deleted one by one.
The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages
of the present invention will become more apparent from the following
detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGS. 1A and 1B are perspective views showing appearance of a digital
camera in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image recording
and reproducing circuit contained in the digital camera shown in
FIGS. 1A and 1B.
FIGS. 3A and 3B are illustrations representing image pickup modes
of the digital camera shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B.
FIGS. 4A and 4B are illustrations showing reproduction modes of
the digital camera shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B.
FIG. 5 is another illustration related to the reproduction mode
of the digital camera shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B.
FIG. 6 is an illustration representing a multiple reproduction
mode of the digital camera shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B.
FIG. 7 is an illustration related to a deletion mode of the digital
camera shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B.
FIG. 8 is an illustration related to a copy mode and a moving mode
of the digital camera shown in FIGS. 1A and 113.
FIG. 9 is an illustration representing a method of file management
of the digital camera shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B.
FIG. 10 is a flow chart representing a method of initialization
of the digital camera shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B.
FIG. 11 is a flow chart representing a method of recording of the
digital camera shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B.
FIG. 12 represents a part related to normally picked up still image
reproduction mode, of the flow chart representing the reproduction
mode of the digital camera shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B.
FIG. 13 represents a part related to a continuously picked up still
image reproduction mode, of the flow chart representing the reproduction
mode of the digital camera shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B.
FIG. 14 is another flow chart representing a part related to the
continuously picked up still image reproduction mode, of the flow
chart representing the reproduction mode of the digital camera shown
in FIGS. 1A and 1B.
FIG. 15 represents a part related to a motion image reproduction
mode of the flow chart representing the reproduction mode of the
digital camera shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B.
FIG. 16 is an illustration representing an improvement of the method
of file management shown in FIG. 9.
FIG. 17 is an illustration representing another example of improvement
of the method of file management shown in FIG. 9.
FIG. 18 is an illustration showing a still further improvement
of the method of file management shown in FIG. 9.
FIG. 19 is an illustration representing a method of file management
of the digital camera in accordance with another embodiment of the
present invention.
FIG. 20 is a flow chart representing a method of initialization
of the digital camera in accordance with the embodiment shown in
FIG. 19.
FIG. 21 is a flow chart representing a recording mode.
FIG. 22 is a flow chart representing a reproduction mode.
FIG. 23 is an illustration representing another example of the
method of file management shown in FIG. 19.
FIG. 24 is an illustration representing another example of the
method of file management.
FIG. 25 is a block diagram representing another embodiment of the
image recording and reproducing circuit contained in the digital
camera.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1A is a perspective view taken from the front side (from the
side of the lens) and FIG. 1B is a perspective view taken from the
rear side, showing the appearance of the digital camera in accordance
with the first embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, on the front side of the digital
camera, there are provided a lens 1, a lens cover 2 linked to a
power switch, an optical finder 3, a flashlight 4 and an LED (Light
Emitting Diode) 5 for a self timer, and on the upper and side surfaces,
there are a shutter button 6, a three point type main switch 7,
a macro switch lever 8 and a terminal 9. On the rear surface of
the digital camera, there are provided an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)
10, a mode button 11, a set button 12, a direction designating button
13 and a microphone 14.
Main switch 7 is used for switching among three modes, that is,
an image pickup mode with LCD 10 on, an image pickup mode with LCD
10 off, and a reproduction mode. In the image pickup mode with LCD
10 on, a through image is displayed on LCD 10 and the through image
is recorded. In the image pickup mode with LCD 10 off, image is
picked up using optical finder 3 in the similar manner as the conventional
camera using silver film. In the reproduction mode, LCD 10 is turned
on and a reproduced image is displayed on LCD 10. On LCD 10, in
addition to the through image and the reproduced image, various
icons (characters) representing recording condition, reproduction
function and so on are also displayed.
By pressing lightly each of left, right, up and down direction
designating sections 13a, 13b, 13c and 13d of direction designating
button 13, feeding/reversing of the reproduced image, setting of
recording condition, selection of reproduction function and so on
can be set.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram representing a configuration of an image
recording and reproducing circuit 20 contained in the digital camera.
Referring to FIG. 2, in image recording and reproducing circuit
20, a system controller 41 applies various control signals to a
CPU (Central Processing Unit) 42 at prescribed timings, in response
to signals from lens cover 2, shutter button 6, main switch 7, macro
switch lever 8, mode button 11, set button 12 and direction designating
button 13. In accordance with the control signals applied from system
controller 41, CPU 42 controls a memory control circuit 27 and a
flash memory control circuit 47.
Memory control circuit 27 controls a first signal processing circuit
24, a second signal processing circuit 29, a JPEG (Joint Photographic
Expert Group) circuit 44, buffers 25, 28, 43 and an SDRAM (Synchronous
Dynamic random Access Memory) 26. Write/read of image data to and
from SDRAM 26 are performed through buffers 25, 28 and 43. As the
speed of transfer between buffers 25, 28 and 43 and SDRAM 26 (write/read)
is made faster than the speed of data transfer among buffers 25,
28, 43, the first signal processing circuit 24, the second signal
processing circuit 29 and JPEG circuit 44, the circuit 24, 29 and
44 can operate almost simultaneously.
Memory control circuit 27 controls a character generator 30 and
a switch 31 so that a part of image data is replaced with a character
image data, whereby a character image is overwritten on the through
image or the reproduced image.
Flash memory control circuit 47 controls buffer 45 and a flash
memory 46, writes image data compressed by JPEG circuit 44 to flash
memory 46 through buffer 45, and applies data read from flash memory
46 to JPEG circuit 44 through buffer 45.
In the image pickup mode, an optical image entering through lens
1 is incident on a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) imager 21 through
a complementary color filter, not shown. CCD imager 21 outputs electric
signals (progressive scan signals) of pixels in accordance with
progressive scanning (progressive scanning of pixels). The progressive
scan signals from CCD imager 21 are applied to a CDS/AGC circuit
22.
CDS/AGC circuit 22 performs known noise removal and level adjustment
on the progressive scan signals, and the progressive scan signals
which have been subjected to such processings are converted to digital
data (image data) by A/D converter 23. First signal processing circuit
24 performs known white balance adjustment and gamma correction
on the image data output from A/D converter 23, and thereafter,
applies the
Memory control circuit 27 writes the image data to SDRAM 26, and
thereafter reads the image data by interlace scanning. Therefore,
odd-numbered field image data and even-numbered field image data
are output alternately from SDRAM 26. The image data output from
SDRAM 26 are input to second signal processing circuit 29 through
buffer 28 and to JPEG circuit 44 through buffer 43.
The second signal processing circuit 29 performs processing such
as color interpolation on the input image data, and image data output
from second signal processing circuit 29 are applied to D/A converter
32 through switch 31. D/A converter 32 converts the image data to
analog signals (image signals), which image signals are output through
an output terminal 33 and applied to LCD 10. Therefore, real time
motion image (through image) 48 is displayed on LCD 10, as shown
in FIG. 3A.
When mode button 11 is pressed in this state, various icons 50
to 59 indicating the recording condition are displayed on an end
portion of LCD 10. In FIG. 3B, the icons are represented as a simple
white rectangle and hatched rectangles, for simplicity of the drawing.
Actually, the icons are marks representing corresponding recording
conditions. Icons 50 to 59 are for setting a normal single still
image pickup mode, continuous image pickup mode, motion image pickup
mode, resolution, voice memo, self timer, macro mode display, exposure
correction and digital zooming.
Icons 50 to 59 are selected by direction designating button 13.
Among icons 50 to 59, the selected icon (in the figure, icon 50)
is displayed in a positive state (white rectangle) and other icons
are displayed in a negative state (hatched rectangles). When set
button 12 is pressed in this state, the condition represented by
the selected icon (in this case, icon 50) is set (in this case,
still image pickup mode). When mode button 11 is pressed after the
setting of recording conditions, icons 50 to 59 disappear and the
display returns to the state of FIG. 3A.
When an operator presses a shutter button 6, JPEG circuit 44 is
activated, image data read from SDRAM 26 and input to JPEG circuit
44 through buffer 43 are compressed in accordance with a JPEG format,
and the compressed data is written to flash memory 46 through buffer
45.
In the continuous image pickup mode, fifteen (15) still images
are continuously picked up at the rate of 10 images/sec. In the
motion image pickup mode, a motion image is picked up for 5 sec,
at the rate of 10 frames/sec.
Memory control circuit 27 thins out images temporarily displayed
on buffer 43 to generate reduced images (thumb nail images) for
multiple reproduction, which reduce images are to be displayed on
9 windows on the screen. In the normal single still image pickup
mode and in the continuous image pickup mode, a reduced image is
formed for each still image. In the motion image pickup mode, a
reduced image is formed for the still image of the first frame only,
for each session of motion image pickup. The reduced image data
are written as index data of the corresponding image data, in flash
memory 46.
In a reproduction mode, the compressed data read from flash memory
46 is input to JPEG circuit 44 through buffer 45. JPEG circuit 44
decompresses the input compressed data and applies the data to SDRAM
26 through buffer 43. Memory control circuit 27 writes the image
data to SDRAM 26, and thereafter, reads the image data by interlace
scanning.
The image data read from SDRAM 26 are applied through buffer 28,
second signal processing circuit 29 and switch 31 to D/A converter
32 and converted to analog image signals. The analog image signals
are output to the outside through output terminal 33 and to LCD
10. Thus as shown in FIG. 4A, reproduced image 60 is displayed on
LCD 10. When left direction designating section 13a of direction
designating button 13 is pressed, an image recorded prior to the
reproduced image is reproduced, and when the light direction designating
section 13b is pressed, an image recorded after the reproduced image
is reproduced. In this manner, a desired image can be selected and
reproduced.
When mode button 11 is pressed in this state, various icons 61
to 68 representing reproducing functions are displayed on an end
portion of LCD 10 as shown in FIG. 4B. Icons 61 to 68 are for selecting
reproduction mode, multireproduction, reproduction zooming, protection,
deletion, edition, card operation and setting of date and time,
respectively. A desired one of icons 61 to 68 is selected by direction
designating button 13 and when set button 12 is pressed, the function
represented by the icon is selected. When mode button 11 is pressed
without pressing set button 12, the display returns to the state
of FIG. 4A.
When icon 61 for selecting reproduction mode is selected in the
state of FIG. 4B and the mode is set, characters and an icon 71
representing normally picked up single still image reproduction
mode, characters and an icon 72 representing continuously picked
up still image reproduction mode, and characters and an icon 73
representing a motion image reproduction mode are displayed on LCD
10. By selecting and setting any of the three reproduction modes
by direction designating button 13 and set button 12, an operation
in the set reproduction mode is executed.
When icon 62 for multiple reproduction is selected and set in the
state of FIG. 4B, nine reduced images P1 to P9 are displayed as
shown in FIG. 6. The contents of reduced images P1 to P9 are represented
by characters A to I in FIG. 6, for the simplicity of drawings.
At lower right corner of each of the reduced images P1 to P9, respective
image numbers 1 to 9 are displayed. A selection mark M is displayed
on any of the reduced images P1 to P9 (in the shown example, P1).
It is possible to move the selection mark M to each reduced image
by operating direction designating button 13. When selection mark
M is moved outside the display area (for example, right side of
reduced image P9), only one row of reduced images are left, and
two rows of reduced images are newly displayed. When the selection
mark M is positioned on a desired reduced image and set button 12
is pressed, the reduced image is displayed in full size on the full
LCD 10.
At this time, in the circuit of FIG. 2, reduced image data of nine
images are read continuously from flash memory 46, and written to
SDRAM 26 through buffer 45, JPEG circuit 44 and buffer 43. Memory
control circuit 27 reads image data of nine images written to SDRAM
26 so that nine reduced images P1 to P9 form a still image of one
image plane. Thus nine reduced images P1 to P9 are displayed on
LCD 10. When one of the nine reduced images P1 to P9 displayed on
LCD 10 is selected, the normal still image corresponding to the
reduced image is read from the flash memory 46, and the still image
is displayed on the full screen of LCD 10.
In the normally picked up single still image reproduction mode,
multiple reproduction display is given only when the multiple reproduction
mode is selected and set. In the continuously picked up still image
reproduction mode and in the motion image reproduction mode, reduced
images of representative images of each image group are reproduced
and displayed in multiple, simply when each mode is selected and
set, even when the multireproduction mode is not selected. Here,
the image group refers to a series of images picked up in one session
of image pickup operation in the continuous image picked up mode
or the motion image pickup mode.
When the icon 65 for deletion is selected in the state of FIG.
4B, characters and an icon 75 representing deletion of one image,
and characters and an icon 76 representing deletion of an image
group are displayed on the LCD 10. When icon 75 is selected, deletion
of the still image displayed on LCD 10 becomes possible. When icon
76 is selected, it is possible to delete the whole image group including
images displayed on LCD 10.
When icon 67 for card operation is selected and set in the state
of FIG. 4B, characters and an icon 77 representing copying of an
image, and characters and an icon 78 representing movement of an
image are displayed on LCD 10. When icon 77 is selected and set,
the image displayed on LCD 10 among an image group can be recorded
as an image picked up in the normal single still image pickup mode.
When icon 78 is selected and set, the image displayed on LCD 10
among the image group can be recorded as an image picked up in the
normal single still image pickup mode, and original image can be
deleted.
A file management method of the digital camera will be described
in the following. Referring to FIG. 9, in the digital camera, a
camera image folder 80 and the motion image folder 85 are formed
in a memory area of flash memory 46, and the motion image folder
85 is stored in camera image folder 80.
In the normal single still image pickup mode, the image data of
the picked up still image is stored as an image file 81 in camera
image folder 80. The image data of a reduced image of the still
image serves as an index of the corresponding image file 81. Voice
data input through microphone 14 in a voice memo mode is stored
in camera image folder 80 as voice file 82.
In the continuous image pickup mode, a continuously picked up image
folder 83 is formed for each session of continuous image pickup,
and the plurality of still images picked up in one session of continuous
image pickup are stored in the corresponding folder 83, as image
files 84. Reduced image data of each still image serves as an index
of the corresponding image file 84. The continuously picked up image
folder 83 is stored together with the image file 81 formed in the
normal still image pickup mode, in camera image folder 80.
In the motion image pickup mode, images of a plurality of frames
picked up in one session of motion image pickup are stored in the
motion image folder 85 as motion image files 86. Of the images of
the plurality of frames included in each motion image file 86, image
data of a reduced image of the first frame image serves as an index
of the corresponding motion image file 86.
In the following, the method of file management will be described
in detail with reference to the flow charts. FIG. 10 is a flow chart
representing a method of initializing flash memory (card) 46. Referring
to FIG. 46, CPU 42 searches card 46 in step 41 to determine whether
there is a camera image folder 80. When there is no camera image
folder 80, CPU 42 forms a camera image folder 80 in step S2, and
forms a motion image folder 85 in camera image folder 80 in step
S3, and thus initialization ends.
When there is camera image folder 80 in step S1, whether there
is a motion image folder 85 in camera image folder 80 is determined
in step S4. When there is no motion image folder 85, the flow proceeds
to step S3, and when there is motion image folder 85, initialization
ends.
FIG. 11 is a flow chart representing a method of recording. Referring
to FIG. 11, CPU 42 determines in step S10 to which of normal single
still image pickup mode, continuous image pickup mode and motion
image pickup mode, the pickup mode is set.
When the normal single still image pickup mode is set, CPU 42 sets
a recording destination directory in camera image folder 80 in step
S11 and waits for pressing of shutter button 6 in step S12. When
shutter button 6 is pressed, CPU 42 picks up a still image in step
S13 and ends recording. The data of the still image picked up at
this time are stored in camera image folder 80 as image file 81.
When the continuous image pickup mode is set, CPU 42 waits for
pressing of shutter button 6 in step S14. When the shutter button
6 is pressed, CPU 42 searches a continuous folder number in step
S15, and forms a new continuously picked up image folder 83 of which
number is the number of last folder number +1, in step S16. Thereafter,
CPU 42 sets the newly formed continuously picked up image folder
83 as a recording destination directory in step S17, picks up images
continuously in step S18, and recording ends. At this time, continuous
image pickup continuous until the shutter button 6 is off, within
the memory capacity. Image data of the plurality of still images
picked up continuously are stored as a plurality of image files
84 in the newly formed continuously picked up image folder 83.
When the motion image pickup mode is set, CPU 42 sets the recording
destination directory in motion image folder 85 in step S19, waits
for pressing of shutter button 6 in step S20, and when shutter button
6 is pressed, performs motion image pickup in step S21. At this
time, images of a plurality of frames picked up at this time are
stored as motion image file 86 in motion image folder 85.
FIGS. 12 to 15 are flow charts representing an operation in the
reproduction mode. In step S30, CPU 42 determines which of normally
picked up single still image reproduction mode, continuously picked
up still image reproduction mode and motion image reproduction mode
is set as the reproduction mode. When the normally picked up single
still image reproduction mode is set, CPU 42 sets camera image folder
80 in a reproduction object directory in step S31, and in step S32,
searches the still image file 81. Thereafter, CPU 42 selects a still
image file 81 in accordance with an instruction from the operator
in step S33, and reproduces the selected still image in step S34.
At this time, when direction designating section 13b or 13b of direction
designating button 13 is kept pressed for a prescribed time period
(for example, for 2 seconds), it is possible to continuously reproduce
a plurality of still images held in camera image folder 80 in the
order of pick up or reverse order.
Thereafter, in step S35, CPU 42 determines whether it is necessary
to reproduce another file 81. If it is necessary, the flow returns
to step S33, and otherwise, the flow proceeds to step S36. Thereafter,
in step S36, CPU branches to different function and performs different
function, and in step S37, it is determined whether it should exit
from the normally picked up single still image reproduction mode.
If not, the flow returns to step S32, and if it should exit the
mode, the flow proceeds to step S38. Thereafter, in step S38, CPU
42 determines whether the reproduction mode should be terminated.
If it should be terminated, the reproduction mode ends, and if not,
the flow returns to step S30.
When the continuously picked up still image reproduction mode is
set, CPU 42 searches continuously picked up image folders 83 in
step S40 of FIG. 13, and provides multireproduction display (index
display) of a plurality of reduced images on LCD 10, using reduced
image data of leading images of respective continuously picked up
image folders 83 in step S41.
Thereafter, CPU 42 selects an image to be reproduced among a plurality
of reduced images displayed as indexes in accordance with an instruction
from the operator in step S42, and in step S43, sets that continuously
picked up image folder 83 which includes the selected image in the
reproduction object directory.
Thereafter, CPU 42 searches still image files 84 in step S44, selects
a still image file 84 in accordance with an instruction of the operator
in step S45, and reproduces the selected still image in step S46.
At this time, when direction designating section 13b or 13a of direction
designating button 13 is kept pressed for a prescribed time period
(for example, 2 seconds), it is possible to continuously reproduce
the plurality of still images held in continuously picked up image
folder 83 in the order of pickup or the reverse order.
Thereafter, in step S47, CPU 42 determines whether another file
84 is to be reproduced or not. If the file should be reproduced,
the flow returns to step S45, and if not, the flow proceeds to step
S48. Thereafter, CPU 42 determines whether another directory is
to be reproduced or not in step S48. If the directory should be
reproduced, the flow returns to step S40, and if not, the flow proceeds
to step S49 of FIG. 14 in which whether the image file 84 is to
be moved or not. If the image file is not to be moved, whether the
image should be deleted or not is determined in step S50. If the
image should not be deleted, whether folder 83 should be deleted
or not is determined in step S51, and if the folder should not be
deleted, the flow proceeds to step S60 of FIG. 13.
When it is determined that image file 84 is to be moved in step
S49, CPU 42 determines whether the file should be copied or moved
in step S52. If the file is to be copied, a copy of the file 84
of the image which is being displayed is formed in a specific holder
85 in step S53 and the flow proceeds to step S60. When the file
should be moved, the file 84 of the image which is being displayed
is moved to the specific folder 85 in step S54, and the flow proceeds
to step S56.
If it is determined in step S50 that the image is to be deleted,
CPU 42 deletes the file 84 of the image which is being displayed
in step S55, searches folder 83 to determine whether there is file
84 in step S56, and if there is, the flow proceeds to step S60.
If not, a reproduction object folder 83 is deleted in step S57.
Thereafter, CPU 42 sets a reproduction object folder 83 newly in
step S58, and proceeds to step S60 of FIG. 13. When it is determined
that the folder should be deleted in step S51, the reproduction
object folder 83 containing the image which is being displayed is
deleted in step S59, and the flow proceeds to step S58.
Returning to FIG. 13, CPU 42 branches to different function and
performs the different function in steps S60. Whether the operation
should exit the continuously picked up still image reproduction
mode or not is determined in step S61. If the operation should not
exit this reproduction mode, the flow returns to step S44, and if
the operation should exit, the flow proceeds to step S38 of FIG.
12.
When the motion image reproduction mode is set, CPU 42 sets the
motion image folder 85 as the reproduction object directory in step
S70 of FIG. 15, searches motion image file 86 in step S71, and in
step S72, provides index display of a plurality of reduced images
on LCD 10, using reduced images as indexes of respective motion
image file 86.
Thereafter, CPU 42 selects an image to be reproduced among a plurality
of reduced images displayed as indexes in accordance with an instruction
from the operator in step S73, and reproduces the selected image
in step S74. At this time, by operating direction designating button
13, it is possible to feed/reverse a plurality of images contained
in the motion image file 86 including the selected image, one frame
by one frame. Further, when direction setting section 13b or 13a
of direction designating button 13 is kept pressed for a prescribed
time period (for example, 2 seconds), it is possible to continuously
reproduce the plurality of images included in the motion image file
86 in the order of pickup or in the reverse order.
Thereafter, CPU 42 determines whether another motion image file
86 is to be reproduced or not in step S75. If another motion image
file is to be reproduced, the flow returns to step S72, and if not,
the flow proceeds to step S76. Thereafter, CPU 42 determines whether
a still image is to be extracted from motion image file 86 or not
in step S76. If a still image should not be extracted, the flow
proceeds to step S78, and if a still image is to be extracted, the
image of one frame which is being displayed at present of motion
image file 86 is copied as a still image file 81, to camera image
folder 80 in step S77.
Thereafter, CPU 42 branches to different function and performs
the different function in step S78, whether the operation should
exit the motion image reproduction mode or not is determined in
step S79. If the operation should not exit the motion image reproduction
mode, the flow returns to step S71, and if the operation should
exit, the flow proceeds to step S38 of FIG. 12.
In the present embodiment, a plurality of still images picked up
continuously are classified into groups session by session of image
pickup operations, a reduced image of each still image is formed,
and in the continuously picked up image reproduction mode, reduced
images of respective image groups are reproduced in multiple and
displayed. By selecting one of the multiple reproduced and displayed
plurality of reduced images, an image group can be selected. Therefore,
as compared with the prior art in which a plurality of continuously
picked up still images are not classified into groups but stored
in the order of image pickup as with the still images picked up
in the normal single still image pickup mode, searching of an image
is facilitated.
Further, as continuous reproduction (slide show reproduction) by
the unit of image group can be done in a simple manner, it is possible
to search an image within an image group quickly in a simple manner.
Further, it is possible to extract a desired image file 84 from
each image group and store the file together with the image file
81 picked up in the normal single still image pickup mode. Therefore,
an image can be readily selected when the user asks printing at
a printing bureau. Further, it is possible to collect desired images
only and reproduce the collected images continuously. Further, it
is possible to extract only a desired image file 84 from each image
group and collectively delete unnecessary files 84 and folder 83.
Therefore, as compared with the prior art in which it was necessary
to delete image files one by one, unnecessary image files can be
deleted quickly in a simple manner.
In the present embodiment, all files 81, 82, 84 and 86 are stored
in one camera image folder 80. However, the manner of storing is
not limited thereto. For example, a normally picked up image folder
90, a continuously picked up image folder 91 and a motion image
folder 85 may be formed in flash memory 46, image file and voice
file 82 obtained through normal image pickup may be stored in the
normally picked up image folder 90, continuously picked up image
folders 83 and image files 84 obtained by continuous image pickup
may be stored in the continuously picked up image folder 91, and
motion image files 86 obtained by the motion image pickup may be
stored in the motion image folder 85.
Though motion image pickup mode is provided in the present embodiment,
the present invention is similarly applicable to a digital camera
not having the motion image pickup mode. In that case, motion image
folder 85 and motion image files 86 are not formed as shown in FIG.
17. Further, there is no problem if camera image folder 80 is omitted,
as shown in FIG. 18.
FIG. 19 is an illustration representing a method of file management
of a digital camera in accordance with another embodiment of the
present invention, which corresponds to FIG. 9.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9 described above, image data of
still images picked up in the normal single still image pickup mode
are stored as image file 81 in camera image folder 80, each of still
images picked up in the continuous image pickup mode is stored as
an image file 84 in continuously picked up image folder 83, and
images picked up in the motion image pickup mode are stored as motion
image files 86 in motion image folder 85.
By contrast, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 19, in order to store
image data in flash memory 46, directories are formed and image
data of a still image picked up in the normal single still image
picked up is stored as an image file 81 in a normally picked up
image folder 86 as one of the directories, data of voice input through
microphone 14 utilizing a voice memory card are stored as voice
file 82 in normally picked up image folder 86. Image file 84 of
a still image is stored in a continuously picked up image folder
83 as another directory.
FIG. 20 is a flow chart representing a method of initialization
of the digital camera in accordance with the embodiment shown in
FIG. 19, FIG. 21 is a flow chart representing recording mode, and
FIG. 22 is a flow chart representing a reproduction mode, which
correspond to FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 of the above described first embodiment.
Referring to FIG. 20, in the method of initialization, similar
to the method described with reference to FIG. 10, the process of
steps S1 to S3 are performed. If camera image folder 80 is not formed,
a camera image folder 80 and a motion image folder 85 are formed.
In the present embodiment, after the motion image folder is formed
in step S3, a normally picked up image folder 86 such as shown in
FIG. 19 is formed in step S81.
If camera image folder 80 has been already formed in flash memory
46, the camera image folder 80 is searched in step S82, and a normally
picked up image folder 86 is formed.
Referring to FIG. 21, the recording method will be described. Here,
the method of recording in the continuous image pickup image mode
and in the motion image pickup image mode are the same as those
described with reference to FIG. 11. Therefore, description thereof
is not repeated.
If the normal single still image pickup mode is determined in step
S10, CPU 42 sets the normally picked up image folder 86 as the recording
destination directory in step S83 and waits for pressing of shutter
button 6 in step S12. When shutter button 6 is pressed, CPU 42 performs
still image pickup in step S13, and ends recording. At this time,
data of the picked up still image is stored as an image file 86
in the normally picked up image folder 86.
Referring to FIG. 22, an operation in the reproduction mode will
be described. When single still image reproduction mode is set,
CPU 42 sets the normally picked up image folder 86 as a reproduction
object directory in step S84, and searches still image files 81
in step S32. Thereafter, CPU 42 selects a still image file 81 in
accordance with an instruction from the operator, and reproduces
the selected still image in step S34. At this time, when direction
designating section 13b or 13a of direction designating button 13
is kept pressed for a prescribed time period (for example, 2 seconds),
it is possible to continuously reproduce a plurality of still images
held in normally picked up image folder 86 in the order of pickup
or in the reverse order.
The steps S35 to S38 are the same as those described with reference
to FIG. 12. Therefore, description thereof is not repeated.
When the continuously picked up still image reproduction mode is
set, the process of FIG. 14 described above is performed, and when
the motion image reproduction mode is set, the process of FIG. 15
is performed. As these processes have been described above, description
thereof is not repeated.
FIG. 23 shows another example of the method of file management
shown in FIG. 19, which corresponds to FIG. 17. In this example,
the motion image folder 85 and motion image files 86 of FIG. 19
are omitted.
FIG. 24 shows a further example of the method of file management,
in which camera image folder 80 is omitted.
FIG. 25 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the image
recording and reproducing circuit contained in the digital camera.
In this embodiment, in place of flash memory 46 shown in FIG. 2,
a magneto-optical disc drive 48 using as a recording medium a magneto-optical
disc having large storage capacity is provided, and in place of
flash memory control circuit 47, a magneto-optical disc drive control
circuit 49 is provided. The use of the magneto-optical disc allows
formation of a large number of various image folders.
As described above, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 15, as
the normally picked up image files and continuously picked up image
folders belong to the same layer, when the number of normally picked
up image files is large, selection of a continuously picked up image
folder becomes difficult when the image files are transferred to
a personal computer, as the continuously picked up image folders
are displayed mixed with the large number of normally picked up
image files by the browser software on the personal computer. By
contrast, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 19 to 24, the normally
picked up image folder and the continuously picked up image folder
belong to the same layer, and therefore selection of the continuously
picked up image folder is facilitated. Further, as a magneto-optical
disc or a hard disc having large capacity is used as the recording
medium, the effect is more significant.
Further, in the present embodiment, the normally picked up image
folder and the continuously picked up image folder belong to the
same directory, and therefore the number of steps of control in
accessing an image file is the same. Therefore, a program for selecting
an object image of reproduction or deletion from image files on
digital camera body or on a personal computer can be used both for
the normally picked up images and the continuously picked up images.
Although the present invention has been described and illustrated
in detail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration
and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the
spirit and scope of the present invention being limited only by
the terms of the appended claims. |