Digital Camera Patent AbstractA digital camera, which includes: an image playback module; and
a music playback module, wherein a plurality of images are played
back accompanied by music, an image playback time for the plurality
of images substantially coincides with a music playback time for
the music, and the image playback time is defined based on a number
of the images and a playback time for each of the images, when sequentially
playing back the plurality of images.
Digital Camera Patent ClaimsWhat is claimed is:
1. An image and music playback apparatus for playing back images
accompanied by music, comprising: an image playback module for playing
back a plurality of images accompanied by music prepared separately
from said plurality of images in a first playback time; a music
playback module for playing back said music in a second playback
time; and an editing section connected to said image playback module
and said music playback module for making a period of said first
playback time substantially coincide with a period of said second
playback time, said editing section defining said first playback
time based on the number of said images and on a playback time for
each of said plurality of images, when sequentially playing back
said plurality of images, said editing section achieving backup-tuned
images with coinciding image playback and music playback times,
wherein said editing section includes a screen switching-setting
section for retrieving one or more specific timings of said music
and switching images by synchronizing with at least one of said
specific timings of said music.
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said editing section
comprises: an image setting section for selecting said images; and
a music setting section for selecting said music, wherein said editing
section adjusts an image playback time to make said image playback
time and said music playback time substantially coincide, based
on said number of said images and said music playback time of said
music.
3. The as claimed in claim 1, wherein said editing section comprises:
an image playback time-setting section for setting said playback
time of each of said images; and a music setting section for selecting
said music, wherein said editing section adjusts said number of
said images to make said image playback time and said music playback
time substantially coincide, based on said playback time of each
of said images and said music playback time of said music.
4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said editing section
comprises: an image setting section for setting said number of said
images; and an image playback time-setting section for setting said
playback time of each of said images, wherein said music, which
is adjusted so that said image playback time and said music playback
time substantially coincide, is edited, based on said number of
said images and said playback time of each of said images.
5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said editing section
comprises an adjustment section for adjusting said image playback
time to substantially coincide with said music playback time, when
said image playback time and said music playback time are not substantially
the same.
6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein: said adjustment
section includes an image playback time-adjusting section for adjusting
said image playback time; said image playback time-adjusting section
includes: an image number-adjusting section for setting said number
of said images; and an image time-adjusting section for setting
said playback time of each of said images, wherein said image playback
time-adjusting section adjusts said image playback time to substantially
coincide with said music playback time, based on said image number-adjusting
section and said image time-adjusting section.
7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein: said adjustment
section includes a music playback time-adjusting section for adjusting
said music playback time; and said music playback time-adjusting
section adjusts said music playback time to substantially coincide
with said image playback time.
8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said editing section
comprises: a playback time setting section for setting a time defined
by a user as playback time of said images; an image playback time-adjusting
section for adjusting said image playback time to substantially
coincide with said playback time defined by the user; and a music
playback time-adjusting section for adjusting said music playback
time to substantially coincide with said playback time defined by
the user.
9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein an image file is
created having said music playback time and said image playback
time that substantially coincide.
10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a
movie playback module, wherein movies are played back having movie
playback time that substantially coincides with said music playback
time of said music, said music being separate from said movies and
played back to accompany said movies.
11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said editing section
comprises a screen switching-setting section for setting said playback
time of each of said images by synchronizing timing for switching
images with a specific timing of said music.
12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said specific
timing of said music is at least one of a beginning of each sub-section
of said music and a distinctive sound.
13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said editing section
comprises an image processing section for setting a process of image
switching for each genre of said music.
14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a
movie playback module, wherein movies and said images are played
back such that a total playback time for playing back said plurality
of images along with said movies substantially coincides with said
music playback time, said music being separate from said movies
and played back to accompany said movies and said images.
15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein creation information
of at least one of said images and said movies is outputted to a
file.
16. The image and music playback apparatus as claimed in claim
1, wherein said editing section includes: an adjustment section
having at least one of: an image number-adjusting section for adjusting
a number of images to be played back; and an image time-adjusting
section for adjusting a time for playing back an image.
17. The image and music playback apparatus as claimed in claim
16, wherein said editing section comprises: an image processing
section connected to said adjustment section, said image processing
section processing said images in concert with said music to be
played back; and a music processing section connected to said adjustment
section, said music processing section processing said music in
concert with said images to be played back.
18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said editing section
determines said playback time of each image based on said second
playback time and the number of said plurality of images.
19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein said editing section
includes an image time-adjusting section for setting said playback
time for each of said plurality of images based on a distinctive
sound in said music.
20. An apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein said editing section
includes an image time-adjusting section for setting said playback
time for each of said plurality of images based on a sub-section
of said music.
21. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein when said setting
step sets total playback time based on a previously designated total
playback time, said adjusting step adjusts music playback time and
the image playback time based on said total playback time, when
total playback time is not previously designated and image playback
time per image is set, said adjusting step adjusts music playback
time so that the music playback time substantially coincides with
total image playback time, and when total playback time is not previously
designated and image playback time per image is not set, said adjusting
step adjusts playback time per image so that total image playback
time substantially coincides with music playback time.
22. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a
display outputting a display screen menu used to receive user instructions
for selecting images and music to be played back.
23. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said apparatus
is a digital camera.
24. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least
one specific timing of said music comprises a specific timing of
a distinctive sound of said music.
25. A method for adjusting an image playback time of a plurality
of images and a music playback time of accompanying music to substantially
coincide, the method comprising: (a) accepting input of instructions
for selecting images and music to be played back; (b) setting at
least one of images to be played back, an image playback time for
playing back said images, music to be played back, movies to be
played back, a total playback time, a music genre, a screen switching
method, and a mixing level, wherein said music is prepared separately
from said images; (c) obtaining at least one of said image playback
time and said music playback time from said setting of said images
and said setting of said music; (d) adjusting at least one of said
obtained image playback time and said obtained music playback time
to make a period of a first playback time, which is the playback
time for the images, substantially coincide with a period of a second
playback time, which is the playback time for said music, wherein
said first playback time is defined based on the number of said
images and on a playback time for each of said plurality of images,
said adjusting step achieving backup-tuned images with coinciding
image playback and music playback times; and (e) processing at least
one of the images and the music after said adjusting of at least
one of said obtained image playback time and said obtained music
playback time, wherein said adjustment step includes the step of
retrieving one or more specific timings of said music and switching
images by synchronizing with at least one of said specific timings
of said music.
26. A method as claimed in claim 25, wherein playback time of each
image is determined based on said second playback time and the number
of said plurality of images.
27. A method as claimed in claim 26, wherein a playback time of
each of said plurality images is set based on a distinctive sound
in said music.
28. A method as claimed in claim 26, wherein a playback time for
each of said plurality of images is set based on a sub-section of
said music.
29. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein said setting step
sets a number of images to be played back and a playback time per
image and said adjusting step adjusts said obtained music playback
time so that the music playback time substantially coincides with
total image playback time.
30. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein when said setting
step sets total playback time based on a previously designated total
playback time, said adjusting step adjusts music playback time and
the image playback time based on said total playback time, when
total playback time is not previously designated and image playback
time per image is set, said adjusting step adjusts music playback
time so that the music playback time substantially coincides with
total image playback time, and when total playback time is not previously
designated and image playback time per image is not set, said adjusting
step adjusts playback time per image so that total image playback
time substantially coincides with music playback time.
31. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein a user inputs instructions
for selecting images and music to be played back using a display
screen menu.
32. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein said method is performed
by a digital camera.
33. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein said at least one
specific timing of said music comprises a specific timing of a distinctive
sound of said music.
34. A method of making a movie playback time and a music playback
time substantially coincide, comprising: (a) accepting input of
instructions for selecting a movie and music to be played back;
(b) setting a movie to be played back and music to be played back
based on said instructions; (c) obtaining at least one of a movie
playback time and a music playback time based on said setting step;
(d) adjusting at least one of said obtained movie playback time
and said obtained music playback time to make a period of a first
playback time, which is a playback time for the movie, substantially
coincide with a period of a second playback time, which is a playback
time for said music, said adjusting step achieving a backup-tuned
movie with coinciding movie playback and music playback times; and
(e) processing said music after said adjusting of said at least
one of said obtained movie playback time and said obtained music
playback time, wherein when total playback time is not previously
designated and movie playback time is chosen as a basis for adjustment,
said adjusting step adjusts music playback time so that the music
playback time substantially coincides with the movie playback time,
and when total playback time is not previously designated and movie
playback time is not chosen as a basis for adjustment, said adjusting
step adjusts movie playback time so that movie playback time substantially
coincides with the music playback time; and wherein said processing
step includes the step of mixing voice included in movie data and
separately-prepared music.
35. The method as claimed in claim 34, wherein a user inputs instructions
for selecting a movie and music to be played back using a display
screen menu.
36. The method as claimed in claim 34, wherein said method is performed
by a digital camera.
37. The method as claimed in claim 34, wherein said processing
step further comprises adjusting a mixing level of the voice included
in movie data and the separately-prepared music in a desired proportion.
38. The method as claimed in claim 37, wherein said proportion
comprises six parts to four.
39. A movie and music playback apparatus for playing back movies
accompanied by music, comprising: a movie playback module for playing
back a movie accompanied by music prepared separately from said
movie in a first playback time; a music playback module for playing
back said music in a second playback time; and an editing section
connected to said image playback module and said music playback
module, said editing section making a period of said first playback
time substantially coincide with a period of said second playback
time by: (a) accepting input of instructions for selecting a movie
and music to be played back; (b) setting a movie to be played back
and music to be played back based on said instructions; (c) obtaining
at least one of a movie playback time and a music playback time
based on said setting step; (d) adjusting at least one of said obtained
movie playback time and said obtained music playback time to make
a period of the first playback time substantially coincide with
a period of the second playback time, said adjusting step achieving
a backup-tuned movie with coinciding movie playback and music playback
times; and (e) processing said music after said adjusting, wherein
when total playback time is not previously designated and movie
playback time is chosen as a basis for adjustment, said editing
section adjusts music playback time so that the music playback time
substantially coincides with the movie playback time, and when total
playback time is not previously designated and movie playback time
is not chosen as a basis for adjustment, said editing section adjusts
movie playback time so that movie playback time substantially coincides
with the music playback time; and wherein said editing section further
comprises a music processing section which mixes voice included
in movie data and separately-prepared music.
40. The apparatus as claimed in claim 39, further comprising: a
display outputting a display screen menu used to receive user instructions
for selecting a movie and music to be played back.
41. The apparatus as claimed in claim 39, wherein said apparatus
is a digital camera.
42. The apparatus as claimed in claim 39, wherein said wherein
said editing section further comprises a mixing level setting section
which adjusts a mixing level of the voice included in movie data
and the separately-prepared music in a desired proportion.
43. The apparatus as claimed in claim 42, wherein said proportion
comprises six parts to four. Digital Camera Patent DescriptionThis patent application claims priority from a Japanese patent application
No. 2000-160036 filed on May 30, 2000, the contents of which are
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a digital camera. More particularly,
the present invention relates to a digital camera capable of playing
back both music and images.
2. Description of the Related Art
As digital cameras have become widely used in modern times, functions
of digital cameras have correspondingly improved. As one of various
functions of digital cameras, the function of record and playback
music is proposed.
If a digital camera sequentially plays back several images, the
digital camera may provide a slide show of the images. Moreover,
if the digital camera also plays back music along with the images,
the digital camera may provide a more attractive slide show in the
effect of the acoustics provided by the music playback. One example
is to play back music as background music while sequentially playing
back scenery pictures.
However, ordinal digital cameras cannot simultaneously play back
music, which is separately prepared, along with the playback of
images. Even if a digital camera could play back music as background
music along with the playback of pictures that a user wants to see,
the time needed for playing back pictures selected by the user and
the time needed for playing back music selected by the user are
usually different. If the time for playing back pictures is longer
than that of music, the playback of music ends first and only the
pictures are continually played back. On the other hand, if the
time for playing back music is longer than that of pictures, only
the music is played back without the pictures being played back.
Therefore, a user cannot get expected acoustic effects by merely
selecting pictures and music.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide
a digital camera with a music playback function, which is capable
of overcoming the above drawbacks accompanying the conventional
art. The above and other objects can be achieved by combinations
described in the independent claims. The dependent claims define
further advantageous and exemplary combinations of the present invention.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, a digital
camera, which includes: an image playback module; and a music playback
module, wherein a plurality of images are played back accompanied
by music, an image playback time for the plurality of images substantially
coincides with a music playback time for the music, and the image
playback time is defined based on a number of the images and a playback
time for each of the images, when sequentially playing back the
plurality of images.
The digital camera may further include: an image setting section
for selecting the images; and a music setting section for selecting
the music, wherein an image playback time is adjusted to make the
image playback time and the music playback time substantially coincide,
based on the number of the images and the music playback time of
the music.
The digital camera may further include: an image playback time-setting
section for setting the playback time of each of the images; and
a music setting section for selecting the music, wherein the number
of the images may be adjusted to make the image playback time and
the music playback time substantially coincide, based on the playback
time of each of the images and the music playback time of the music.
The digital camera may further include: an image setting section
for setting the number of the images; and an image playback time-setting
section for setting the playback time of each of the images, wherein
the music, which is adjusted so that the image playback time and
the music playback time substantially coincide, may be edited, based
on the number of the images and the playback time of each of the
images.
The digital camera may further include an adjustment section for
adjusting the image playback time to substantially coincide with
the music playback time, when the image playback time and the music
playback time are not substantially the same.
The adjustment section may include an image playback time-adjusting
section for adjusting the image playback time; the image playback
time-adjusting section includes: an image number-adjusting section
for setting the number of the images; and an image time-adjusting
section for setting the playback time of each of the images, wherein
the image playback time-adjusting section may adjust the image playback
time to substantially coincide with the music playback time, based
on the image number-adjusting section and the image time-adjusting
section.
The adjustment section may include a music playback time-adjusting
section for adjusting the music playback time; and the music playback
time-adjusting section may adjust the music playback time to substantially
coincide with the image playback time.
The digital camera may further include: a playback time setting
section for setting a time defined by a user as playback time of
the images; an image playback time-adjusting section for adjusting
the image playback time to substantially coincide with the playback
time defined by the user; and a music playback time-adjusting section
for adjusting the music playback time to substantially coincide
with the playback time defined by the user.
An image file may be created having the music playback time and
the image playback time that substantially coincide.
The digital camera may further include: a movie playback module,
wherein movies may be played back having movie playback time that
substantially coincides with the music playback time of the music,
the music being separate from the movies and played back to accompany
the movies.
The digital camera may further include a screen switching-setting
section for setting the playback time of each of the images by synchronizing
timing for switching images with a specific timing of the music.
The specific timing of the music my be at least one of a beginning
of each sub-section of the music and a distinctive sound.
The digital camera may further include an image processing section
for setting a process of image switching for each genre of the music.
The digital camera may further include: a movie playback module,
wherein movies and the images may be played back such that a total
playback time for playing back the plurality of images along with
the movies substantially coincides with the music playback time,
and the music may be separate from the movies and may be played
back to accompany the movies and the images.
Creation information of at least one of the images and the movies
may be outputted to a file.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, a method
for adjusting an image playback time of a plurality of images and
a music playback time of accompanying music to substantially coincide,
the method which includes: (a) accepting input of instructions for
selecting images and music to be played back; (b) setting at least
one of images to be played back, an image playback time for playing
back the images, music to be played back, movies to be played back,
a total playback time, a music genre, a screen switching method,
and a mixing level; (c) obtaining at least one of the image playback
time and the music playback time from the setting of the images
and the setting of the music; (d) adjusting at least one of the
obtained image playback time and the obtained music playback time;
and (e) processing at least one of the images and the music after
the adjusting of at least one of the obtained image playback time
and the obtained music playback time.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, an image
and music playback apparatus for playing back images accompanied
by music, which includes: an image playback module; a music playback
module; and an images editing section connected to the image playback
module and the music playback module, the images editing section
correlating an image playback time, which is a time for playing
back images, and a music playback time, which is a time for playing
back accompanying music.
The image editing section may include: an adjustment section having
at least one of: an image number-adjusting section for adjusting
a number of images to be played back; and an image time-adjusting
section for adjusting a time for playing back an image.
The image and music playback apparatus may further include: an
image processing section connected to the adjustment section, the
image processing section processing the images in concert with the
music to be played back; and a music processing section connected
to the adjustment section, the music processing section processing
the music in concert with the images to be played back.
The summary of the invention does not necessarily describe all
necessary features of the present invention. The present invention
may also be a sub-combination of the features described above. The
above and other features and advantages of the present invention
will become more apparent from the following description of the
embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates a diagram showing the exterior of a digital
camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a structural diagram of the digital camera 10 according
to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a relationship between an image playback
time and a music playback time for playing back backup-tuned images.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a relationship between a movie playback
time and a music playback time for playing back backup-tuned movies.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a relationship between an image and
movie playback time and a music playback time for playing back backup-tuned
mixed images of both still and moving pictures.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an exemplary manner of mixing voice
data and background music for playing back backup-tuned mixed images
of both still and moving pictures.
FIG. 7 is a structural diagram of a backup-tuned images editing
section.
FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary diagram showing a switching manner
of images synchronized with sub-sections.
FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary diagram showing a switching manner
of images synchronized with a distinctive sound.
FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C are diagrams showing switch processing
of images.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a process, which is taken when an
image quantity n and a music playback time Ts are previously set.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a process, which is taken when an
image playback time Pi and a music playback time Ts are previously
set.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a process, which is taken when an
image playback time Pi and an image quantity n are previously set.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a process, which is taken when images,
an image playback time, and music, which are to be played back,
are set by a user.
FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a process when creating a backup-tuned
movie.
FIG. 16 illustrates a diagram showing screen displays from A to
C displayed on an LCD monitor when creating backup-tuned images.
FIG. 17 illustrates a diagram showing screen displays from D to
F displayed on an LCD monitor when creating backup-tuned images.
FIG. 18 illustrates a diagram showing screen displays from G to
I displayed on an LCD monitor when creating backup-tuned images.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention will now be described based on the preferred embodiments,
which do not intend to limit the scope of the present invention,
but exemplify the invention. All of the features and the combinations
thereof described in the embodiment are not necessarily essential
to the invention.
FIG. 1 illustrates a diagram showing the exterior of a digital
camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
1 shows the opposite side of the lens of the digital camera. On
this side, there are an LCD monitor for displaying images and various
information, a multi-function operations switch for operating the
camera based on information displayed on the LCD monitor, and a
speaker for outputting sounds, as well as a power switch and a finder
of the camera. Moreover, a microphone, which is not shown in the
drawings, may record voices. The digital camera displays images
on the LCD monitor as well as outputting voices and the like from
the speaker.
FIG. 2 is a structural diagram of the digital camera 10 according
to an embodiment of the present invention. The digital camera 10
includes an image capturing section 20, a voice recording section
22, a data storing section 30, an image playback section 40, a movie
playback section 50, a music playback section 60, a data communications
section 70, a setting input section 72, a backup-tuned images playback
section 80, a backup-tuned movies playback section 90, and a backup-tuned
images editing section 100.
The image capturing section 20 includes structural and electric
members needed for photographing and imaging, such as a CCD. The
digital camera 10 according to the present embodiment is capable
of photographing images and movies by the image capturing section
20.
The data storing section 30 records data, such as photographed
images. The data storing section 30 writes image data in an external
storage device, such as a non-volatile memory, a volatile memory,
or a memory card of the digital camera 10.
The voice recording section 22 collects voices with a microphone
and the like. The voice recording section 22 then records the collected
voices in a memory by superimposing on movie data.
The image playback section 40 and the movie playback section 50
read the image data and the movie data written by the data storing
section 30 from a memory and so forth. The LCD monitor of the digital
camera 10 then plays back the read image data and the movie data.
The music playback section 60 outputs music data in a memory and
voices included in movie data, via a speaker and so forth.
The digital camera 10 is capable of playing back music by the music
playback section 60. The music playback section 60 includes structural
and electrical members for playing back music and voices. For example,
a speaker or headphones may output music and sounds.
The data communications section 70 may transfer recorded data to
an electronic appliance, such as a personal computer, which is outside
of the digital camera 10. The data communications section 70 includes
electrical members necessary for communication. The data communications
section 70 controls, for example, conversions of protocols according
to communications specifications, such as USB, RS-232C, Ethernet,
and Bluetooth.
The backup-tuned images playback section 80 may play back voice
data, such as music prepared separately from images, as well as
playing back images. The images that are played back along with
music, in another words, images accompanied by music, are referred
to as "backup-tuned images" hereinafter. An example of
playing back backup-tuned images is to play back a slide show, which
sequentially displays images along with playing back music as background
music that matches with the displaying images.
On the other hand, the backup-tuned movies playback section 90
may play back voice data, such as music prepared separately from
movies, as well as playing back movies. The movies that are played
back along with music are called backup-tuned movies. An example
of playing back backup-tuned movies is to play back a photographed
movie along with playing back music as background music.
The digital camera 10 accepts various settings from the user through
a setting input section 72, which includes a multi-function switch
having across key and so forth. The settings to be accepted include,
for example, a selection of images for playing back, a setting of
playback time for each image, a selection of movies for playing
back, a setting of playback time for each movie, a selection of
music for playing back, a setting of playback time for music, and
a setting of mixing level for voices.
The backup-tuned images editing section 100 edits backup-tuned
images (slide shows) based on the images and music as materials.
The backup-tuned images editing section 100 adjusts the playback
time of images and music, which are included in backup-tuned images,
according to need. The backup-tuned images editing section 100 then
creates backup-tuned images whose image playback time needed for
playing back images coincides with a music playback time needed
for playing back music. In the case of backup-tuned movies, the
backup-tuned images editing section 100 creates backup-tuned movies
whose movie playback time coincides with the music playback time.
The backup-tuned images editing section 100 may create backup-tuned
mixed images whose playback time of combination of slide show part
of images and movies coincides with the music playback time. The
details of the backup-tuned images editing section 100 are described
later.
Here, the relationship among images, movies, and music, which are
included in backup-tuned images are played back at the digital camera
10 according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a relationship between the image playback
time and the music playback time for playing back backup-tuned images.
With respect to playing back images, each of the previously selected
images (referred to as "image" hereinafter) are sequentially
played back. In this case, if it supposed that Tp represents the
image playback time and TS represents the music playback time, the
calculation of Tp is undertaken in the following manner. If the
number of images that are sequentially played back is n, Tp is calculated
as Tp=P1+P2+P3+ . . . Pn. Here, Pi(I=1.about.n) represents an image
playback time needed for playing back each image. On the other hand,
the music playback time is Ts. Since Tp and Ts usually do not coincide
with each other, the digital camera 10 according to the present
embodiment plays back music along with images by adjusting the image
playback time Pi, the number of images n, and the music playback
time Ts by the backup-tuned images editing section 100 so that Tp
and Ts coincide with each other. Thus, the image playback time of
images included in backup-tuned images coincides with the music
playback time of music included in backup-tuned images. Therefore,
the image playback time and the music playback time become the playback
time of backup-tuned images.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a relationship between the movie playback
time and the music playback time for playing back backup-tuned movies.
The music and movies played back in backup-tuned movies are data
separately or originally prepared, respectively. Therefore, since
the music playback time usually does not coincide with the movie
playback time, adjustments of the playback time are made by the
adjustments of the music playback time described above. For playing
back movies, the music playback time Ts of the music played back
along with movies is adjusted by the backup-tuned images editing
section 100 based on a movie playback time Tm required for playing
back the movies, and the music is played back along with the movies.
Thus, in the last result, the movie playback time of the movies
included in the backup-tuned movies coincides with the music playback
time of music included in the backup-tuned images, thereby the movie
playback time and the music playback time become the playback time
of the backup-tuned movies.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a relationship between the image and
movie playback time and the music playback time for playing back
backup-tuned mixed images of both still and moving pictures. Here,
the mixed images are a combination of a slide show part of images
and movies. The backup-tuned mixed images play back music prepared
separately from the mixed images, along with the mixed images.
The music that is played in the backup-tuned mixed images and the
mixed images are data prepared separately from or originally to
the mixed images. Here, the total playback time including both the
image playback time and the movie playback time is referred to as
a "mixed image playback time" hereinafter. Therefore,
since the music playback time and the mixed image playback time
do not coincide with each other, music is played back along with
the mixed images after the above-described adjustment of, for example,
the music playback time and the image playback time are made.
Thus, in the last result, the playback time of the mixed images
included in the backup-tuned mixed images coincides with the playback
time of the music included in the backup-tuned mixed images. Therefore,
the mixed image playback time and the music playback time become
the playback time of the backup-tuned mixed images. In this case
also, a backup-tuned mixed image file may also be made in the same
way as the backup-tuned images or the backup-tuned movies.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an exemplary manner of mixing voice
data and background music for playing back backup-tuned mixed images
of both still and moving pictures. When playing back separately-prepared
music data (background music) along with mixed images, the image
playback part in the mixed images plays only the background music
as a voice. On the other hand, the movie playback part in the mixed
images plays mixed data of both voice data included in movies and
the background music as a voice. FIG. 6 shows the case of playing
back both the voice data included in movies and the background music
by mixing them in the proportion of six parts to four.
FIG. 7 is a structural diagram of the backup-tuned images editing
section 100. The backup-tuned images editing section 100 edits backup-tuned
images and backup-tuned movies. The backup-tuned images editing
section 100 makes an adjustment of the image playback time, the
movie playback time, and the music playback time according to need.
The backup-tuned images editing section 100 also heightens an effect
of the playback of, for example, backup-tuned images by setting
the timing of switching images, processing displays of switching
images, and processing the introductory part and the ending part
of playing music.
The details of each functional structure in FIG. 7 are described
in the following. The image setting section 110 displays on the
LCD monitor images stored in a memory and the list of the images
capable of being transferred from a personal computer and played
back. The user selects images for setting as images from among the
displayed images. The image playback time-setting section 120 accepts
a setting of playback time for each set image. The image playback
time-obtaining section 130 obtains an image playback time by calculating
the sum of the playback time of each selected image when the selection
of images and the image playback time are made.
On the other hand, the music setting section 160 displays on the
LCD monitor the music stored in a memory and the list of music capable
of transferring from a personal computer and playing back. When
music is selected, the music playback time-obtaining section 170
obtains the music playback time of the set music.
The music genre setting section 162 sets the genre of music to
be played back. The music genre setting section 162 previously prepares
a music genre, such as classics and rock. The user sets a music
genre suited to the atmosphere of the playing images from among
prepared music genres. In this case, the music setting section 160
may automatically set a random number (title of music) from among
the set music genres. Thus, the user can play back music that matches
with playing images without setting the title of playing music.
The user may also select numbers from among the set music genres.
The playback time setting section 180 sets the playback time of
the backup-tuned images as the image playback time or the music
playback time, which is obtained based on each image playback time,
after the image, each image playback time, and music are temporarily
set. The user may decide which playback time to set. The user may
also set the playback time by himself/herself.
The image playback time-adjusting section 190 makes an adjustment
of the image playback time according to need. The adjustment of
the image playback time is made by increasing or decreasing the
number of playing images by the image number-adjusting section 200,
by increasing or decreasing the playback time of each image, and
by increasing or decreasing both the number of images and the playback
time of each image.
The music playback time-adjusting section 220 adjusts by increasing
or decreasing the music playback time according to need. When shortening
the music playback time, cutting of the introductory part or the
ending part of the music is undertaken. When prolonging the music
playback time, the music is continuously played back or other music
is sequentially played.
The details of functional structures relating to the editing of
backup-tuned movies in FIG. 7 are described in the following.
The movie setting section 140 displays on the LCD monitor movies
stored in a memory and the list of the movies capable of being transferred
from a personal computer and played back. The user selects movies
for playing from among the displayed listed movies. The movie playback
time-obtaining section 150 obtains a movie playback time of the
selected movies when the selection of movies are made.
The music setting section 160 sets music and the music playback
time-obtaining section 170 obtains the music playback time, in the
same way as the backup-tuned images, with respect to the music used
in backup-tuned movies.
The playback time setting section 180 sets a playback time of backup-tuned
movies. There are cases when the movie playback time is the basis,
when the music playback time is the basis, and the time set by the
user is the basis, for the backup-tuned movie playback time.
The movie playback time-adjusting section 230 adjusts the time
by increasing or decreasing the movie playback time when the movie
playback time and the backup-tuned movie playback time do not coincide
with each other. For example, when decreasing the movie playback
time, the required time for cutting is displayed to the user. The
user cuts the movie parts of the corresponding time.
On the other hand, the music playback time-adjusting section 220
adjusts the time by increasing or decreasing the music playback
time when the music playback time and the backup-tuned movies playback
time do not coincide with each other.
For playing back a voice of backup-tuned movies, the music processing
section 260 mixes the voice included in movie data and separately-prepared
music. This is the function for playing back separately-prepared
music along with the voice recorded in movies. In the mixing, volume
adjustments of both the voice in the movies and music are made in
order to play back the voice and music without a sense of discomfort.
The mixing level setting section 270 undertakes these adjustments.
The mixing level setting section 270 also mixes the voice included
in movies in mixed images and separately-prepared background music.
The backup-tuned image-editing section 100 may edit backup-tuned
images in order to make the image playback time and the music playback
time of backup-tuned images, the movie playback time and the music
playback time of backup-tuned movies, and the mixed image playback
time and the music playback time of backup-tuned mixed images, respectively
coincide with each other. For example, the backup-tuned image-editing
section 100 may edit backup-tuned images in order to make the difference
between the image playback time and the music playback time be within
a predetermined allowable range. The user may designate the allowable
range of the difference between the image playback time and the
music playback time.
The above is a description of functional structures for adjusting
playback times of backup-tuned images and backup-tuned movies. The
following description is about functional structures for making
it possible for users to listen and watch backup-tuned images more
naturally.
The screen switching-setting section 240 switches images in accordance
with a specific timing of music. Here, the specific timing of music
means, for example, timing at the beginning of a sub-section of
music and at which more than a certain level of volume sounds in
the music. FIGS. 8 and 9 describe this timing of switching.
FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary diagram showing a switching manner
of images synchronized with sub-sections. A triangle mark shows
the timing of the beginning of a sub-section of music. A circle
mark shows the timing of switching images. The timing of switching
images (the circle mark) is set in order to coincide with the beginning
of a sub-section of music (the triangle mark). Thus, images and
music are played back naturally without a sense of discomfort since
images are played back in a manner that matches with the progress
of the music.
FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary diagram showing a switching manner
of images synchronized with a distinctive sound. A cross mark shows
the timing of the distinctive sound to sound in music. Here, the
distinctive sound means the sound of a certain instrument. The detection
of the distinctive sound is made by retrieving the distinctive sound
from the music based on the playback frequency profile that is distinctive
to the instrument. A circle mark shows the timing of switching images.
In this case, the switching of images coincides with the timing
of the sound of the distinctive sound. In FIG. 9, the timing of
the circle mark and the cross mark are the same.
As an example of switching images in accordance with a distinctive
sound, a sound of a drum may be set as the distinctive sound. In
this case, the user can play back backup-tuned images whose images
and music are closer matched with each other since the images are
switched along with the sound of a drum thereby images may be switched
simultaneously to the rhythm of sound.
When setting the switching of images like this, the number of images
may sometimes fall short. In this case, the user sets images to
be played back, by using the image setting section 110. When images
are left, the number of remaining images is shown to the user. The
user then deletes the remaining images.
Referring back to FIG. 7, the remaining functional structures are
described in the following.
The image processing section 250 sets a display processing of switching
images when sequentially displaying the images. One of the switching
manner of images is, for example, an ordinary processing to instantaneously
switch the display of an image B after displaying an image A. Otherwise,
there are "spin door," "slide," and "box"
as switch processing of images.
FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C are diagrams showing switch processing
of images. The "spin door" is a method where by a playing
image rotates and displays the next image after the playing image
is reversed. The "slide" is a method whereby a playing
image moves to the right direction as the next playing image gradually
appears from the left side. The "box" is a method whereby
the next playing image is displayed by gradually increasing in size
after appearing at the center of a playing image, as a very small
image. The user may select a desired method of processing amongst
the above screen switch processing method.
The switch processing of images is set according to the music genre
to be played back, which is described later. For example, in a case
where the music genre is rock music, the user may feel a sense of
speed by the images being instantly switched. If the music genre
is classical, images may be smoothly switched in accordance with
a tune of music by displaying the image B as gradually brightening
up (referred to as "fade-in display" hereinafter) after
finishing the display by gradually darkening the image A (referred
to as "fade-out display" hereinafter).
The music processing section 260 processes for adjusting the music
playback time in order to make music sound natural. When adjusting
the music playback time to shorten, it is possible to give the user
a brusque impression since the music may start or end suddenly if
the playback time is merely shortened. So, the music processing
section 260 creates backup-tuned images whose image playback time
and music playback time coincide with each other by fading in and/or
fading out the beginning part and/or the end part of the music.
Thus, the user may listen or watch backup-tuned images without a
sense of discomfort.
The backup-tuned images-editing section 100 having the above-described
structures may adjust playback times for various combinations of
playback images and playback music. The description below is made
along with typical examples relating to the adjustments of playback
times. In the examples below, the "image processing" includes
the display processing of images, such as the "fade-in,"
the "fade-out," the "spin door" and so forth
at the image processing section 250 described above. The "music
processing" includes processing such as the "fade-in"
when starting playing back music at the music processing section
260.
If the number of images n and the music playback time Ts are previously
set:
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing this process. In this case, the
image setting section 110 sets images to be played back, at S10.
The image setting section 110 then obtains the set number of images,
at S20. Music is set by the user using the music setting section
160, at S30. The music playback time-obtaining section 170 obtains
the music playback time, at S40. The number of images n and the
music playback time Ts are fixed. The image time-adjusting section
210 automatically sets the image playback time for each image in
order to coincide the image playback time Tp with Ts, at S50. For
example, when Ts is five minutes and the number of images n is 10,
five minutes is set as the playback time, and the image playback
time is adjusted so that the image playback time also becomes five
minutes. In this case, the image playback time for one image becomes
thirty seconds per image, which is calculated by dividing the five
minutes by ten images. Thus, backup-tuned images whose image playback
time coincides with the music playback time are created. Subsequently,
the user makes an image processing setting of the images included
in the created backup-tuned images at S60 and a music processing
setting of music included in the created backup-tuned images at
S70. Finally, the user decides whether or not to create and store
the created backup-tuned images as a file such as an MPEG file,
at S80. Then, a necessary file is created according to need, at
S90.
If the image playback time Pi and the music playback time Ts are
previously set:
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing this process. In this case, the
image playback time-setting section 120 firstly sets the image playback
time, at S100. The music setting section 160 then sets the music,
at S102. The music playback time-obtaining section 170 obtains the
music playback time based on the set music, at S110. The number
of images n is calculated by the formula n=Ts/Pi. The image setting
section 110 randomly retrieves from a memory and the like, images
corresponding to the necessary number, at S120. Thus, backup-tuned
images whose image playback time and music playback time coincide
with each other are created. Subsequently, the user makes an image
processing setting of the images included in the created backup-tuned
images at S130 and a music processing setting of music included
in the created backup-tuned images at S140. Finally, the user decides
whether or not to create and store the created backup-tuned images
as a file such as an MPEG file, at S150. Then, a necessary file
is created according to need, at S160.
If the image playback time Pi and the number of images n are previously
set:
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing this process. In this case, the
image setting section firstly sets the playback time for each image,
at S170. The image playback time-setting section 120 then sets the
playback time for each image, at S180. Then, the image playback
time is uniquely decided. What is necessary is music to play back.
The image playback time Tp is calculated by the formula Tp=Pi*n.
The music setting section 160 automatically selects from a memory
and the like, music whose music playback time is close to the image
playback time, at S190. However, it is rare to find music having
the music playback time Ts that coincides with the image playback
time Tp. So, the music playback time-adjusting section 220 makes
the music playback time Ts of the set music coincide with the image
playback time Tp, at S200. For example, if Ts is longer than Tp,
Ts and Tp are coincided by cutting the beginning part and/or the
end part of the music. Subsequently, the user makes an image processing
setting of the images included in the created backup-tuned images
at S210 and a music processing setting of music included in the
created backup-tuned images at S220. Finally, the user decides whether
or not to create and store the created backup-tuned images as a
file such as an MPEG file, at S230. Then, a necessary file is created
according to need, at S240.
If there is only music data of Ts<Tp whose music playback time
is close to the image playback time, Pi or n may be slightly adjusted.
If the images, the image playback time, and music, which are to
be played back, are set by the user:
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing this process. In this case, it can
finally be divided into three cases. The first case is a case that
the playback time is decided by the user's designation. In this
case, the image playback time and the music playback time are coincided
with the designated playback time. The second case is a case that
the music playback time Ts is adjusted based on the image playback
time Tp. In this case, the music playback time is coincided with
the image playback time. The third case is a case that the image
playback time Tp is adjusted based on the music playback time Ts.
In this case, the image playback time is coincided with the music
playback time.
These three cases are described according to the flowchart.
The user firstly sets images for playing back using the image setting
section 110, at S250. The image playback time-setting section 120
sets the playback time for each image, at S260. The image playback
time-obtaining section 130 obtains the image playback time based
on the set image playback time, at S262. The music setting section
160 sets music to be played back, at S270. The music playback time-obtaining
section 170 obtains the music playback time based on the set music,
at S272. Then, the adjustments of the image playback time Tp and
the music playback time Ts begin. First, whether the playback time
is designated by the user is judged, at S280. If the time is designated
(the first case), the image playback time is adjusted in order to
coincide with the designated playback time (T), at S290. Since the
number of images are already decided, the image playback time Pi
is calculated by the formula Pi=T/n. On the other hand, the music
playback time Ts is adjusted in order to coincide with the playback
time. If this function is used when the user wants to set the playback
time to a predetermined time, backup-tuned images that are adjusted
to a desired playback time may be easily played back.
If the playback time is not originally designated by the user,
whether or not to make the image playback time of the backup-tuned
images be based on the image playback time is decided, at S310.
If the image playback time is set as the basis (the second case),
the music playback time Ts is adjusted based on the image playback
time Tp. The music playback time Ts is adjusted in order to coincide
with the image playback time Tp, at S320. Thus, the user may play
back music suited to the image playback time if the user only decides
images, music, and the image playback time for playing back.
At S310, if the image playback time is not set as a basis, the
music playback time becomes the basis. In this case (the third case),
the image playback time Tp is adjusted based on the music playback
time Ts. The image playback time Pi is adjusted according to Ts,
at S330. That is, Pi is calculated by the formula Pi=Ts/n. This
calculation is convenient when the user wants to make the image
playback time coincide with music that the user wants to play back.
Subsequently, the user makes an image processing setting of the
images included in the created backup-tuned images at S340 and a
music processing setting of music included in the created backup-tuned
images at S350. Finally, the user decides whether or not to create
and store the created backup-tuned images as a file such as an MPEG
file, at S360. Then, a necessary file is created according to need,
at S370.
Although the processing of images and music is made after the adjustment
of the playback time in the above typical examples, these processings
may be undertaken before the adjustment of the playback time.
On the other hand, typical examples in a case of creating backup-tuned
images are described in the following. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing
a process when creating a backup-tuned movie. First, the user sets
movies using the movie setting section 140, at S400. The user then
sets music using the music setting section 160, at S410. The playback
time setting section 180 sets a basis value of the playback time
of the backup-tuned movies, at S420. Then, whether or not the backup-tuned
movies are within the designated time is judged, at S430. If the
playback time is designated by the user, the movie playback time-adjusting
section 230 adjusts the movie playback time in order to coincide
with the set playback time as well as adjusting the music playback
time in order to coincide with the set playback time by the music
playback time-adjusting section 220.
On the other hand, if the playback time is not designated by the
user, whether or not to set the playback time as the movie playback
time is judged, at S460. If the movie playback time is set as the
playback time, the music playback time-adjusting section 220 adjusts
in order to make the music playback time coincide with the movie
playback time, at S470.
If the playback time is not set as the movie playback time, the
playback time is set as the music playback time. The movie playback
time-adjusting section 230 then adjusts the movie playback time
in order to coincide with the music playback time, at S480.
Subsequently, the user makes a music processing setting of music
included in backup-tuned movies at S500. Here, processing such as
mixing of voices included in the movie data and music as background
music, and the fade-in and fade-out processing of music, are undertaken
according to need. The music processing may be undertaken before
the adjustment of the playback time.
Finally, the user decides whether or not to create and store the
created backup-tuned images as a file such as an MPEG file, at S510.
Then, a necessary file is created according to need, at S520.
The backup-tuned images whose image playback time coincides with
the music playback time and the backup-tuned movies whose movie
playback time coincides with the music playback time, which are
created in the manner described above, may be stored in a memory
as a movie file of MPEG format as well as transferring to a personal
computer and playing back on the computer.
FIGS. 16 to 18 illustrate diagrams showing screen displays displayed
on an LCD monitor when creating backup-tuned images. FIGS. 16 to
18 follow the order of displaying display screens shown to the user
when the backup-tuned images editing section 100 edits backup-tuned
images.
First, the user inputs desired settings using the multi-function
operations switch, according to the menu displayed on the LCD monitor.
At the menu selection page A, the user selects the "create
backup-tuned images." Then, the user selects the "select
images" at the image/music selection page B. Then, at the image
selection page C, the list of the images stored in a memory and
the like is displayed on the LCD monitor. The user selects images
that he/she wants to play back. In this case, the user selects images
1, 6, 7, and 8.
Then, the display screen goes on to FIG. 17. At the image playback
order-setting page D, the user sets the order of playing back images.
For the playback order, there are the order of the photographed
date and time, the random order, and the user's manual setting,
whereby the user may freely change the order. In this example, the
user selects the "photographed order." Then, at the playback
time-setting page E, the user sets the playback time of images.
In this example, the user sets the image playback time as five seconds.
At the music selection page F, the user selects music to be played
back along with the selected images. The page F may display several
pieces of retrieved music having a close playback time to the image
playback time. Here, the user selects the "song3.wav."
After selecting images and music, the page moves to FIG. 18. The
playback time basis-designating page G displays scheduled playback
time for the respective selected images and music. The user then
selects a playback time to be the basis. Here, the user selects
the "image playback time." Then, the music playback time
is adjusted by, for example, cutting the end part of the music,
according to the selected time. At the page H, the images and music
are set processing for heightening an image display effect and a
music playback effect. Regarding the images, such as the "fade-in"
for displaying images by gradually lightening up the images and
the "spin door" for switching images are set. Regarding
the music, such as the "fade-in" for playing music by
gradually turning up the volume is set. Thus, backup-tuned images
are simply created by the above-described process. After all of
the settings, the user decides whether or not to store the created
backup-tuned images in an MPEG file and the like, at the data-storing
page I.
The user also decides whether to store data such as the type of
the images, the playback order, the image playback time, and the
method of processing images, which have been selected so far, as
a creation procedure file. By storing this data as the creation
procedure file, the later editing will be simple as well as making
it possible to create a slide show.
By using the digital camera with a music playback function described
above, the user may easily create and enjoy backup-tuned images
whose playback times of images and music coincide with each other
without a sense of discomfort and whose timing of such as switching
images is matched with the music. Moreover, a similar creation maybe
done for backup-tuned movies and backup-tuned mixed images. In the
case of the backup-tuned movies and the backup-tuned mixed images,
the mixing data of voices may be added to the above creation procedure
file.
As is obvious from the description above, according to the present
invention, a digital camera with a music playback function, which
plays back images and music by coinciding the image playback time
required for sequentially displaying images with the music playback
time, can be provided. Therefore, a user may easily create and enjoy
backup-tuned images whose playback times of images and music coincide
with each other without a sense of discomfort and whose timing of
such as switching images is matched up to the music.
Although the present invention has been described by way of exemplary
embodiments, it should be understood that those skilled in the art
might make many changes and substitutions without departing from
the spirit and the scope of the present invention which is defined
only by the appended claims. |