U.S. patent application number 09/096213 was filed with the patent office on 2001-12-06 for electronic photographing device.
Invention is credited to DOTSUBO, NOBUHIDE, HARUKI, TOSHINOBU, HAYASHI, HIDETO, TOYOFUKU, TOSHIYUKI, YAMASAKI, MASAFUMI.
Application Number | 20010048465 09/096213 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 15641840 |
Filed Date | 2001-12-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010048465 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
TOYOFUKU, TOSHIYUKI ; et
al. |
December 6, 2001 |
ELECTRONIC PHOTOGRAPHING DEVICE
Abstract
According to this invention, an electronic photographing device
in which image information corresponding to one set of images
photographed by panorama photographing can be recorded on a
recording medium includes: a rotating direction setting device for
setting information corresponding to a rotating direction of the
electronic photographing device in the panorama photographing; a
rotating direction recording device for recording information
corresponding to the rotating direction set by the rotating
direction setting device on the recording medium; a control device
for controlling an arrangement of the one set of panorama images on
the basis of the information corresponding to the rotating
direction recorded on the recording medium; and a display device
for displaying the one set of panorama images arranged by the
control device.
Inventors: |
TOYOFUKU, TOSHIYUKI; (TOKYO,
JP) ; YAMASAKI, MASAFUMI; (TOKYO, JP) ;
DOTSUBO, NOBUHIDE; (OSAKA, JP) ; HARUKI,
TOSHINOBU; (KYOTO, JP) ; HAYASHI, HIDETO;
(OSAKA, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OSTROLENK FABER GERB & SOFFEN
1180 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
NEW YORK
NY
100368403
|
Family ID: |
15641840 |
Appl. No.: |
09/096213 |
Filed: |
June 11, 1998 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
348/36 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 1/00453 20130101;
H04N 2201/3253 20130101; H04N 2201/3254 20130101; H04N 1/215
20130101; H04N 2201/3247 20130101; H04N 2201/3252 20130101; H04N
2201/3226 20130101; H04N 1/00442 20130101; H04N 2101/00 20130101;
H04N 1/2125 20130101; H04N 1/2112 20130101; H04N 2201/218 20130101;
H04N 2201/3277 20130101; H04N 2201/3214 20130101; H04N 1/0044
20130101; H04N 1/32128 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
348/36 |
International
Class: |
H04N 007/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 13, 1997 |
JP |
H9-157081 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An electronic photographing device in which image information
corresponding to one set of images photographed by panorama
photographing can be recorded on a recording medium comprising:
rotating direction setting means for setting information
corresponding to a rotating direction of said electronic
photographing device in the panorama photographing; rotating
direction recording means for recording information corresponding
to the rotating direction set by said rotating direction setting
means on said recording medium; control means for controlling an
arrangement of the one set of panorama images on the basis of the
information corresponding to the rotating direction recorded on
said recording medium; and display means for displaying the one set
of panorama images arranged by said control means.
2. An electronic photographing device according to claim 1, where
an index indicating at least one of the rotating direction and the
rotating angle of said electronic photographing device in panorama
photographing is superimposed on said display means.
3. An electronic photographing device according to claim 1, wherein
information representing the rotating direction is recorded as a
header of each image.
4. An electronic photographing device according to claim 1, wherein
said rotating direction setting means manually sets a rotating
direction.
5. An electronic photographing device according to claim 1, wherein
said rotating direction setting means automatically sets the
information corresponding to the rotating direction on the basis of
an output from a rotating angle detection means for detecting a
rotating direction.
6. An electronic photographing device according to claim 1, wherein
said rotating direction setting means is means for automatically
setting a predetermined rotating direction.
7. An electronic photographing device according to claim 1, wherein
said display means divides a screen into a plurality of screens to
display the images in a photographing order.
8. An electronic photographing device according to claim 1, wherein
said display means divides a screen into a plurality of screens to
sequentially display the screens in a rotating direction in
photographing of a panorama image on the basis of information
corresponding to the rotating direction recorded on said recording
medium.
9. An electronic photographing device in which image information
corresponding to one set of images photographed by panorama
photographing can be recorded on a recording medium comprising:
rotating direction setting means for setting information
corresponding to a rotating direction of said electronic
photographing device in the panorama photographing; rotating
direction recording means for recording information corresponding
to the rotating direction set by said rotating direction setting
means on said recording medium; control means for controlling an
arrangement of the one set of panorama images on the basis of the
information corresponding to the rotating direction recorded on
said recording medium; display means for dividing a screen into a
plurality of screens to display the screens in a rotating direction
in photographing of a panorama image on the basis of information
corresponding to the rotating direction recorded on said recording
medium; and shift means for shifting the panorama image displayed
by said display means in the rotating direction and a direction
opposing the rotating direction.
10. An electronic photographing device according to claim 8 or 9,
wherein said display means horizontally or perpendicularly displays
the panorama image at a center portion of a screen in one line.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an electronic photographing
device being capable of panorama photographing.
[0003] 2. Related Art Statement
[0004] Conventionally, a photographing device being capable of
panorama photographing has been proposed. However, in a
conventional panorama photographing device, information related to
a rotating direction of a camera in panorama photographing is not
recorded. For this reason, when one set of panorama images are
displayed or printed, a cumbersome process is required to arrange
the panorama images. Even if information about the arrangement is
recorded, the information requires a complex operation and is not
easily used.
[0005] In a prior art, the photographing device is independent of a
display device for displaying a panorama image which is
photographed by the photographing device, and the photographed
image cannot be easily checked immediately after photographing.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is a first object of the invention to provide an
electronic photographing device being capable of easily checking a
photographed panorama image.
[0007] It is a second object of the invention to provide an
electronic photographing device in which image data photographed by
panorama photographing and information related to a rotating
direction of a camera corresponding to the image data are recorded
on a recording medium as header information, and the photographed
panorama image is displayed in an appropriate arrangement and an
appropriate arrangement direction on the screen of a display device
arranged on the camera by using the information recorded on the
recording medium.
[0008] In short, an electronic photographing device in which image
information corresponding to one set of images photographed by
panorama photographing can be recorded on a recording medium
comprises:
[0009] a rotating direction setting device for setting information
corresponding to a rotating direction of the electronic
photographing device in the panorama photographing;
[0010] a rotating direction recording device for recording
information corresponding to the rotating direction set by the
rotating direction setting device on the recording medium;
[0011] a control device for controlling an arrangement of the one
set of panorama images on the basis of the information
corresponding to the rotating direction recorded on the recording
medium; and
[0012] a display device for displaying the one set of panorama
images arranged by the control device.
[0013] This objects and advantages of the present invention will
become further apparent from the following detailed
explanation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a front view showing the appearance of an
electronic photographing device according to the first and second
embodiments of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a side view showing the appearance of the
electronic photographing device according to the first and second
embodiments of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the
electronic photographing device according to the first and second
embodiments when viewed from the rear surface side of the
electronic photographing device.
[0017] FIG. 4 is a view showing a state wherein the electronic
photographing device according to the first and second embodiments
of the present invention is connected to a personal computer, a
digital recorder, and a printer.
[0018] FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an entire electric
arrangement of the electronic photographing device according to the
first embodiment of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 6 is a recording format of the image information
corresponding to a one-frame image recorded on the recording medium
of the electronic photographing device according to the first and
second embodiments of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the flow of the entire
operation of the electronic photographing device according to the
first embodiment of the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing an initial setting operation
of a photographing mode in the electronic photographing device
according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing an operation of setting the
number of panorama-photographed frames of one set (the predictive
number of panorama-photographed frames) in the electronic
photographing device according to the first embodiment of the
present invention.
[0023] FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the flow of photographing
operations of the electronic photographing device according to the
first embodiment of the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing the flow of the entire
operation of an editing mode serving as a sub-mode of a panorama
mode in the electronic photographing device according to the first
embodiment of the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing the flow of the entire
operation of an erase mode serving as a sub-mode of the editing
mode in the electronic photographing device according to the first
embodiment of the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing the flow of the entire
operation of a protect mode serving as a sub-mode of the editing
mode in the electronic photographing device according to the first
embodiment of the present invention.
[0027] FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing the flow of the entire
operation of a print mode serving as a sub-mode of the editing mode
in the electronic photographing device according to the first
embodiment of the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 15 is a view showing a display example of a
liquid-crystal display unit when selection of the sub-mode of the
panorama mode is performed in the electronic photographing device
according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 16A is a view showing a display example of a
liquid-crystal display unit when selection of a rotating direction
of a camera in panorama photographing in the electronic
photographing device according to the first embodiment of the
present invention.
[0030] FIG. 16B is a view showing a display example of a
liquid-crystal display unit when selection of a rotating direction
of a camera in panorama photographing is performed in the
electronic photographing device according to the first embodiment
of the present invention.
[0031] FIG. 16C is a view showing a display example of a
liquid-crystal display unit when selection of a rotating direction
of a camera in panorama photographing is performed in the
electronic photographing device according to the first embodiment
of the present invention.
[0032] FIG. 17A is a view showing a display example of a
liquid-crystal display unit when selection of a rotating direction
of a camera in panorama photographing is performed in the
electronic photographing device according to the first embodiment
of the present invention.
[0033] FIG. 17B is a view showing a display example of a
liquid-crystal display unit when selection of a rotating direction
of a camera in panorama photographing is performed in the
electronic photographing device according to the first embodiment
of the present invention.
[0034] FIG. 17C is a view showing a display example of a
liquid-crystal display unit when selection of a rotating direction
of a camera is rotated in panorama photographing is performed in
the electronic photographing device according to the first
embodiment of the present invention.
[0035] FIG. 18 is a view showing a display example of a
liquid-crystal display unit when selection of the number of
photographed frames in panorama photographing is performed in the
electronic photographing device according to the first embodiment
of the present invention.
[0036] FIG. 19 is a view showing a display example of a
liquid-crystal display unit when selection of the sub-mode of the
editing mode is performed in the electronic photographing device
according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0037] FIG. 20A is a view showing a display example in which a
multi-divided photographed image is displayed on the liquid-crystal
display unit in the erase mode serving as a sub-mode of the editing
mode in the electronic photographing device according to the first
embodiment of the present invention.
[0038] FIG. 20B is a view showing a display example in which a
multi-divided photographed image is displayed on the liquid-crystal
display unit in the erase mode serving as a sub-mode of the editing
mode in the electronic photographing device according to the first
embodiment of the present invention.
[0039] FIG. 21A is a view showing an example in which only a
panorama image is displayed at the central portion of the screen of
the liquid-crystal display unit in the erase mode serving as a
sub-mode of the editing mode in the electronic photographing device
according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0040] FIG. 21B is a view showing an example in which only a
panorama image is displayed at the central portion of the screen of
the liquid-crystal display unit in the erase mode serving as a
sub-mode of the editing mode in the electronic photographing device
according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0041] FIG. 22 is a view showing a display example of the
liquid-crystal display unit when selection of a sub-mode of the
protect mode serving as a sub-mode of the editing mode in the
electronic photographing device according to the first embodiment
of the present invention.
[0042] FIG. 23 is a view showing an example in which an image to be
printed is selected by a circular flicker display in the print mode
serving as a sub-mode of the editing mode in the electronic
photographing device according to the first embodiment of the
present invention.
[0043] FIG. 24 is a block diagram showing an entire electric
arrangement of the electronic photographing device according to the
second embodiment of the present invention.
[0044] FIG. 25 is a view showing an example in which a rotating
direction of a camera is displayed on the liquid-crystal display
unit in panorama photographing of the electronic photographing
device according to the second embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0045] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0046] A first embodiment of the present invention will be
described below.
[0047] The entire arrangement and operation of an electronic
photographing device (to be referred to as a "camera" hereinafter)
according to this embodiment will be described below.
[0048] FIGS. 1 to 3 are views showing the appearances of the
camera, in which FIG. 1 is a front view, FIG. 2 is a side view, and
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the camera when viewed from
the rear surface.
[0049] FIG. 4 is a view showing a state wherein the camera is
connected to a personal computer (to be referred to as a "PC"
hereinafter) 44, a digital recorder 45, and a printer 46.
[0050] FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the entire electric
arrangement of the camera.
[0051] As shown in FIG. 1, a photographing lens 2 held by a lens
mirror cylinder 3 is arranged on an almost-right side of the
central portion on the front surface of a camera body 1 as shown in
FIG. 1. An optical finder objective unit 4 is exposed to the upper
side of the photographing lens 2, and distance measurement lenses 5
and 6 are arranged on the left and right sides of the optical
finder objective unit 4 to be spaced apart from each other by a
predetermined base length. An electric-flash device 7 for
illuminating an object is arranged on the left side of the distance
measurement lens 5, and a grip portion 8 for holding the camera
body 1 is arranged on the left side of the electric-flash device 7.
A strap fixing portion 9 is arranged on the side surface of the
grip portion 8.
[0052] On the side surface of the camera body 1 opposing the grip
portion 8, as shown in FIG. 2, a recording medium
insertion/extraction port 15 for inserting/removing a recording
medium 33 serving as a recording means (to be described later)
which is detachably set. On the lower side of the recording medium
insertion/extraction port 15, a video output terminal 19 for
connecting the camera to a monitor television and a data
input/output terminal 20 for connecting the camera to an external
machine such as a printer or a PC are formed.
[0053] Referring to FIG. 3, on the upper surface of the camera body
1, a release switch 10; an increment switch 11 for updating a set
numeral value such as a date to increase the value; contrary to
this, a decrement switch 12 for updating a set numeral value or the
like to decrease the value; a fixing switch 13 for fixing the data
such as a date selected by the increment switch 11 or the decrement
switch 12; a mode selection switch 14 for selecting a predetermined
mode from various modes of the camera; and a liquid-crystal display
unit 16 for displaying mode information or the like selected by the
mode selection switch 14 are arranged. These various operation
switches are automatic-reset switches.
[0054] On the rear surface of the camera body 1, a liquid-crystal
display unit 17 for displaying information which is required for a
predetermined editing operation (to be described later) performed
by the camera, such as a date selected by the increment switch 11
or the decrement switch 12 or a photographed image is arranged. A
power supply switch 18 for supplying a power to the camera is
arranged on the upper right portion on the rear surface of the
camera body 1.
[0055] Referring to FIG. 4, the camera body 1 is connected to the
PC 44 to execute, as needed, further various types of image
processing which cannot be executed by the camera itself. The
camera 1 is connected to the digital recorder 45 to record a large
amount of image data recorded on the recording medium 33 on the
digital recorder 45. The camera 1 is also connected to the printer
46 to cause the printer 46 to print the image corresponding to the
image data recorded on the recording medium 33. The printer 46 is
also connected to the PC 44 to be able to print the image
corresponding to the image data processed by the PC 44.
[0056] The electric arrangement of the camera according to this
embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. 5. The
same reference numerals as in the arrangements described in FIGS. 1
to 3 denote the same parts in the arrangement described in FIG.
5.
[0057] The photographing lens 2 is arranged to form an object image
on the photographing surface of a solid state imaging element 25
arranged behind the photographing lens 2. The photographing lens 2
is mechanically connected to a photographing lens drive unit 21.
The photographing lens 2 is driven to a predetermined position such
that a clear object image is always formed on the photographing
surface of the solid state imaging element 25 on the basis of a
distance to an object measured by a distance measurement circuit 34
(to be described later).
[0058] An aperture 22 arranged behind the photographing lens has an
aperture function of adjusting a depth of field and an amount of
exposure for the solid state imaging element 25 and a shutter
function of determining a shutter speed. This aperture 22 is
mechanically connected to an aperture drive unit 23. The aperture
22 is set to have a predetermined numeral aperture and a
predetermined shutter speed on the basis of a command signal from a
CPU (Center Processing Unit) 39.
[0059] An optical low-pass filter 24 for preventing reflected
distortion from being generated in a video signal is arranged
behind the aperture 22.
[0060] The solid state imaging element 25 is arranged behind the
optical low-pass filter 24. A drive circuit 26 is connected to the
solid state imaging element 25 to store a signal from the solid
state imaging element for a predetermined period of time and
generate a signal for reading the stored signal at a predetermined
timing. The drive circuit 26 is connected to the CPU 39 to be
controlled on the basis of a signal from the CPU 39.
[0061] The output terminal of the solid state imaging element 25 is
connected to the input terminal of an A/D converter 27. An analog
output signal from the solid state imaging element 25 is converted
into a digital signal by the A/D converter 27, and the digital
signal is sent to a Digital Signal Processor 28 connected to the
output terminal of the A/D converter 27. The DSP 28 is a processor
for dividing the digital signal into a color-difference signal and
a luminance signal to perform correction and a
compression/expansion process.
[0062] The output terminal of the digital signal processor 28 is
connected to a Discrete Cosine Transform (to be referred to as DCT
hereinafter) circuit 29. In the DCT circuit 29, orthogonal
transformation which is one process of image compression/expansion
processes in accordance with the JPEG is performed. The DCT circuit
29 is connected to a Huffman Encoder/Decoder 30. In this Huffman
Encoder/Decoder 30, a predetermined process which is one process of
image compression in accordance with the JPEG. With the Huffman
encoding/decoding process performed here, a high-efficient image
compression/expansion process can be performed.
[0063] The output terminal of the Huffman encoder/decoder circuit
30 is connected to a Memory Control Circuit 31. The output terminal
of this memory control circuit 31 is connected to the recording
medium 33 through a connector 32. The memory control circuit 31 is
to record data on the recording medium 33 or read recorded data
from the recording medium 33.
[0064] A distance measurement circuit 34 is a circuit for forming a
signal for measuring a distance from the camera to an object. In
this camera, since the principle of triangular distance
measurement, the two distance measurement lenses 5 and 6 which are
spaced apart from each other by a predetermined base length are
arranged such that an object image is formed on a light-receiving
surface of a distance measurement sensor (not shown) constituting
the distance measurement circuit 34.
[0065] The CPU 39 executes a predetermined process on the basis of
an output signal from the distance measurement circuit 34 to
calculate a distance to the object. On the basis of the calculation
result, the CPU 39 sends a predetermined signal to the
photographing lens drive unit 21. With this arrangement, the
photographing lens drive unit 21 drives the photographing lens 2 to
a predetermined position such that a focused object image is always
formed on the photographing surface of the solid state imaging
element 25.
[0066] The electric-flash circuit 35 is connected to the CPU 39.
The CPU 39 is a circuit which radiates auxiliary light on the
object under the condition in which the CPU 39 determines, on the
basis of bright information of the object measured by a photometric
circuit 38 (to be described later), that the object has low
brightness or other conditions.
[0067] A calendar signal generation means 36 is connected to the
CPU 39 to generate a calendar signal on the basis of a date input
by a camera operator, photographing date data recorded on the
recording medium 33, or the present date generated by a timer
incorporated in the CPU 39. This calendar signal may be
incorporated in the CPU 39.
[0068] The character signal generation circuit 37 is connected to
the CPU 39 to generate a character signal consisting of fonts such
as letters, numbers, and alphabets which are required for at least
a calendar. The character signal may be incorporated in the CPU
39.
[0069] The liquid-crystal display units 16 and 17 are connected to
the CPU 39 to be controlled by the CPU 39. The video output
terminal 19 and the data input/output terminal 20 are also
connected to the CPU 39, and all the various operation switches are
also connected to the CPU 39. The basic functions of the various
operation switches have been described above in FIGS. 1 to 3.
[0070] The photometric circuit 38 is connected to the CPU 39. The
photometric circuit 38 is a circuit to measure the brightness of
the object prior to a photographing operation. The value of a
shutter speed is determined on the basis of information obtained by
a photometric operation by the photometric circuit 38, and it is
determined whether auxiliary light is illuminated through the
electric-flash circuit 35, as described above.
[0071] The CPU 39 is arranged to identify information input by an
operator of the camera 1 and perform various controls of the entire
camera depending on the identification information.
[0072] The operation of the first embodiment will be described
below.
[0073] When the mode selection switch 14 arranged on the upper
surface of the camera 1 is pressed, the mode is sequentially
switched to various photographing modes or various process modes.
This embodiment relates to a mode for performing panorama
photographing (to be referred to as a "panorama mode" hereinafter)
of these various modes.
[0074] This embodiment will be described below with reference to
FIG. 6 showing a recording format of image information of each
frame photographed and recorded on the recording medium 33, FIGS. 7
to 14 which are flow charts showing the flows of operations of this
embodiment, and FIGS. 15 to 23 which are display examples of the
liquid-crystal display unit 17 corresponding to the operations of
this embodiment.
[0075] FIG. 7 is a main routine showing the entire flow of the
operation of this embodiment.
[0076] The mode selection switch 14 is pressed to select a panorama
mode while checking the liquid-crystal display unit 16. When the
panorama mode is set, as shown in FIG. 15, a menu constituted by a
"photographing" mode, an "editing" mode, and "end" serving as
sub-modes are displayed at the upper right portion of the
liquid-crystal display unit 17. Operation contents operated by a
camera operator are displayed at the lower left portion of the
liquid-crystal display unit 17.
[0077] A display "+-" represents that one sub-mode can be selected
from the menu by operating the increment switch 11 or the decrement
switch 12. The display at the upper left portion of the
liquid-crystal display unit 17 is a display representing that the
panorama mode is set.
[0078] When the increment switch 11 or the decrement switch 12 is
operated, a triangle index on the left of the sub-modes moves. When
the index moves to the position of a predetermined sub-mode, the
fixing switch 13 is pressed, selection of the predetermined
sub-mode is fixed. At the same time, a mark representing that the
predetermined sub-mode is selected and fixed is displayed at the
lower right portion of the liquid-crystal display unit 17. It is
checked whether the selected sub-mode is the "photographing" mode.
In the following description, for descriptive convenience, this
determination process is called [J701].
[0079] As a result of this determination process [J701], if it is
determined that the "photographing mode" is set, various processes
for panorama photographing (to be descried later) are executed. On
the other hand, as a result of the determination process [J701], if
it is determined the editing mode is set, a predetermined editing
process such as an erase process is executed to a panorama image
photographed in the "photographing" mode.
[0080] As a result of the determination result [J701], if the
"photographing" mode is selected, a subroutine (to be referred to
as "subroutine 1") for predetermined initial setting is executed.
The subroutine 1 will be described below with reference to FIG.
8.
[0081] In the subroutine 1, a change direction of a rotating angle
of the camera in the panorama photographing is set.
[0082] When the "photographing" mode is selected, a predetermined
display as shown in FIG. 16A appears on the liquid-crystal display
unit 17 to overlap the image of the object. Upper and lower
rectangular marks and arrows in FIG. 16A represent that the camera
is rotated such that the photographing surface of the solid state
imaging element 25 corresponding to the position of the upper
rectangular mark moves to the position where the object in the
lower rectangular mark is photographed in the next photographing
operation. More specifically, in this case, the camera is rotated
from the upper side to the lower side.
[0083] When the increment switch 11 is pressed, as shown in FIG.
16B, the direction of the arrows is switched. In this case,
according to the same theory as described above, the camera is
rotated from the lower side to the upper side.
[0084] When the increment switch 11 is pressed, as shown in FIG.
17A, rectangular marks and arrows are displayed on the left and
right sides of the liquid-crystal display unit 17. In this case,
according to the same theory as described above, the camera is
rotated clockwise.
[0085] In addition, when the increment switch 11 is pressed, the
direction of the arrows is switched as shown in FIG. 17B. In this
case, according to the same theory as described above, the camera
is rotated counterclockwise.
[0086] Although the display of the liquid-crystal display unit 17
is switched by pressing the increment switch 11 in the above
description, the decrement switch 12 may be pressed. In this case,
the display order is reversed.
[0087] When any one of the above displays representing the rotating
directions of the camera appears on the liquid-crystal display unit
17 by pressing the increment switch 11 or the decrement switch 12,
if the fixing switch 13 is pressed, the rotating direction of the
camera is fixed.
[0088] As shown in FIG. 6, information representing the rotating
direction of the camera is recorded on the recording medium 33 as
header information in correspondence with each image.
[0089] Upon completion of setting of the rotating direction of the
camera, the number of panorama-photographed frames of one set (the
predictive number of panorama-photographed frames) is set. This
setting will be described below with reference to subroutine 11 in
FIG. 9.
[0090] In the subroutine 11, the number of photographing-capable
frames (n1) which can be recorded on the recording medium 33 is
calculated. Selection is performed to check whether the predictive
number of photographed frames (N) is equal to or larger than the
predetermined number of frames.
[0091] FIG. 18 shows an example in which two selection menus
representing that the predictive number of frames N is equal to or
larger than the number of panorama-photographing-capable frames n1
(temporarily set as 10) that the predictive number of frames N is
smaller than the number of panorama-photographing-capable frames n1
are displayed on the upper right portion of the liquid-crystal
display unit 17. As in the above operation, the triangle mark on
the left side of the menus is moved by operating the increment
switch 11 or the decrement switch 12.
[0092] The selected predictive number of frames to be
panorama-photographed (N) is compared with the number of
panorama-photographing-capable frames (n1). Here, if N>n1, a
display representing "require spare recording medium" is made on
the liquid-crystal display unit 17 with warning (not shown).
[0093] When the fixing switch 13 is pressed, a menu indicated by
the triangle mark is fixed.
[0094] FIG. 18 is a view showing a case wherein 10 or more is
selected as the predictive number of photographed frames. As
described above, when a lack of capacity of the recording medium is
predicted, the photographer is warned of the lack of capacity, so
that inconvenience that photographing is unexpectedly stopped can
be prevented.
[0095] As a result of the selection, it is checked whether N>n1
is satisfied. If N>n1 is satisfied, "1" is set in a flag ("FLG1"
is set) serving as a predetermined memory in the CPU 39. On the
other hand, in the above determination, if N>n1 is not
satisfied, "0" is set in the FLG1. Here, FLG1=1 represents that a
spare recording medium is required, and FLG1=0 represents no spare
recording medium is required. Upon completion of the above flag,
the control flow returns from the subroutine 11.
[0096] The number of photographed frames to be selected is not
limited to the above example. More various numbers having small
intervals may be selected as the number of photographed frames.
[0097] When the flow returns from the subroutine 11, the flow
returns to the subroutine 1 shown in FIG. 8, and the flow returns
from the subroutine 1. When the flow returns from the subroutine 1,
returning to FIG. 7, the subroutine 2 representing the flow of
photographing operation is executed.
[0098] The operations of the operations of the subroutine 2 will be
described below with reference to FIG. 10.
[0099] It is checked whether the first frame is photographed in
panorama photographing. For convenience in the following
description, this determination process is called [J1001]. As the
determination result, if it is determined that the first frame is
photographed, it is checked whether the release switch 10 is
pressed.
[0100] Here, this determination process is called [J1002]. If the
release switch 10 is not pressed, the determination process [J1001]
is performed again, and the above operation is repeated. As a
result of the determination process [J1001], if the first frame is
not photographed, i.e., if the second frame or a frame subsequent
to the second frame is photographed, it is checked by the following
manner whether the rotating angle of the camera falls within an
allowable range.
[0101] When the camera is rotated in the direction designated in
FIG. 16A, the image of a rectangular region "B" in the image of the
first frame is ideally rotated to be located at a position "A" in
photographing of the second frame. A correlation operation for
detecting the degree of coincidence between both the images is
performed between the image data of the region B in FIG. 16A
recorded on the recording medium 33 after the releasing operation
and the image data of the region A in FIG. 16A of image data which
are photographed on real time at predetermined intervals of time
and converted into a digital signal before the next release
operation. As a result of the correlation operation, if the degree
of coincidence falls within an allowable range, it is determined
that the rotating angle of the camera is appropriate, and flickered
"OK" is displayed on the liquid-crystal display unit 17 (not
shown).
[0102] It is determined in the determination process [J1002] that
the release switch 10 is pressed, it is checked again whether the
first frame is panorama-photographed. This determination process is
called [J1003]. If it is determined in the determination process
that the first frame is panorama-photographed, distance measurement
for measuring the distance from the camera to the object is
performed to drive the photographing lens 2 to a predetermined
position. A photometric operation for determining a numeral
aperture and a shutter speed is performed. The photometric
information is stored in an internal memory of the CPU 39. White
balance information is also stored in the memory. Exposure is
performed on the bases of the photometric information.
[0103] If it is determined in the determination process [J1003]
that the first frame is not photographed, the distance measurement
and the photometric operation are not performed, but exposure is
performed under the same conditions as those in photographing of
the first frame. This is because photographing of the second frame
or a frame subsequent to the second frame is performed on the basis
of the same distance measurement information, photometric
information, and white balance information as those of the first
frame. In this manner, the images of frames obtained by panorama
photographing are synthesized with each other, a panorama image
having an exposure, a focusing state, and white balance which are
similar to those of a panorama image obtained by performing
panorama photographing once can be obtained.
[0104] Upon completion of the exposure, an analog output signal
from the solid state imaging element 25 is converted into a digital
signal by the A/D converter 27. The digital signal is subjected to
various signal processing such as image compression by the digital
signal processor 28, the DCT circuit 29, and the Huffman
encoder/decoder 30. The image data subjected to the predetermined
signal processing is recorded on the recording medium 33 under the
control of the memory control circuit 31.
[0105] As shown in FIG. 6, in correspondence with the image data of
the respective frames, shared file names of frames constituting
panorama images, panorama numbers serving as data added to panorama
images in a photographing order, and frame numbers serving as data
representing the photographing order of all images are recorded as
header information. As the header information, in addition to the
above information, a rotating direction which is described above
and represents a rotating direction of the camera in panorama
photographing, a photographing date, and a protect code (to be
described later) are recorded.
[0106] Upon completion of photographing, the menus of the same
sub-modes as shown in FIG. 15 are displayed at the upper right
portion of the liquid-crystal display unit 17, and selection is
performed to check whether panorama photographing continues. As in
the above selection of a sub-mode, a predetermined sub-mode is
selected from the menu by operating the increment switch 11 or the
decrement switch 12, and the selected sub-mode is fixed by the
fixing switch 13.
[0107] In this embodiment, as described above, the above selection
for checking whether panorama photographing continues is performed
every panorama photographing of one frame. However, the invention
is not limited to this embodiment, following methods may be used.
For example, an interrupt function is given to a predetermined
switch during panorama photographing, and the panorama
photographing is ended when the predetermined switch is pressed. In
addition, the number of panorama-photographed frames is input in
advance, the panorama photographing may continue until
photographing of the frames corresponding to the input number of
panorama-photographed frames is completed. In this manner, the
selection, performed each time photographing of one frame is ended,
for checking whether panorama photographing continues is not
necessary.
[0108] It is checked whether the fixed sub-mode is a
"photographing" mode. Here, this determination process is called
[J1004].
[0109] If the "photographing" mode is selected in the determination
process, it is checked whether the number of remaining frames which
can be recorded on the recording medium 33 is smaller than the
predetermined number of frames (n2). This determination process is
called [J1005]. As a result of the determination process, if the
number of remaining recordable frames is smaller than n2, the flow
branches off to the determination process [J1001] to repeat the
above operations.
[0110] If it is determined in the determination process [J1004]
that "end" is selected, the flow returns from the subroutine 2 to
end panorama photographing.
[0111] If the "photographing" mode is selected in the determination
process [J1004], and if it is determined in the determination
process [J1005] that the number of remaining frames which can be
recorded on the recording medium 33 is smaller than n2, the
determination results are displayed on the liquid-crystal display
unit 17 with warning (not shown). With this arrangement, a
photographer can prepare for an exchange of recording media 33.
[0112] It is checked whether the number of remaining frames which
can be recorded on the recording medium 33 is "0". This
determination process is called [J1006]. If it is determined in the
determination process that the number of remaining frames which can
be recorded on the recording medium 33 is not "0", the flow
branches off to the determination process [J1001] to repeat the
operations described above.
[0113] If it is determined in the determination process [J1006]
that the number of remaining frames which can be recorded on the
recording medium 33 is "0", the determination result is displayed
with warning.
[0114] This warning display will be described below with reference
to FIGS. 16C and 17C.
[0115] FIG. 16C shows a case wherein the rotating direction of the
camera is set to be a direction in which the camera is rotated from
the upper side to the lower side (FIG. 16A). FIG. 16 shows the
following case. That is, when the capacity of the recording medium
33 becomes zero in the middle of panorama photographing of several
frames, the rectangular mark and the arrow on the lower side of the
screen are cleared and only the upper mark is displayed to warn a
photographer that the capacity becomes zero. In this case, a
panorama mark at the upper left portion of the screen, a mark "+-"
at the lower left portion of the screen, and a mode display are
cleared. This is because it is apparent that panorama photographing
is performed, and such displays are not necessary.
[0116] FIG. 17C shows a case wherein the rotating direction of the
camera is set to be right (FIG. 17A). FIG. 17C shows the following
state. That is, when the capacity of the recording medium 33
becomes zero in the middle of panorama photographing of several
frames, the rectangular mark and the arrow on the right side of the
screen are cleared and only the left mark is displayed to display
that the capacity becomes zero. In this case, for the same reason
as described above, a panorama mark at the upper left portion of
the screen, a mark "+-" at the lower left portion of the screen,
and a mode display are cleared.
[0117] As described above, when one of the rectangular marks is
cleared, it is sensuously apparent that the capacity of the
recording medium 33 becomes zero, and a panorama photographing
device which can be used in human engineering can be provided.
[0118] When the warning display is made, then it is checked whether
the FLG1 is "0". This determination process is called [J1007].
Although the FLG1 is described in the explanation of the subroutine
11 shown in FIG. 9, FLG1=1 represents that the number of
panorama-photographed frames is so large that a spare recording
medium is required as the recording medium 33, and FLG1=0
represents that the spare recording medium is not necessary.
[0119] If FLG1=1 is satisfied in the determination process [J1007],
a display representing that recording media must be exchanged is
made on the liquid-crystal display unit 17 with warning (not
shown).
[0120] If FLG1=1 is not satisfied in the determination process
[J1007], the flow returns from the subroutine 2 to end panorama
photographing of one set of frames. More specifically, in this
case, the determination process [J1007] serves as an inhibition
means for inhibiting panorama photographing when the number of
remaining frames which can be recorded on the recording medium 33
is determined as "0" in the determination process [J1006].
[0121] When the photographer does not want to continue panorama
photographing, if the number of remaining frames which can be
recorded on the recording medium 33 is determined as "0", the
panorama photographing is forcibly inhibited, so that waste
operations such as mode switching can be omitted.
[0122] It is checked whether the recording media 33 are exchanged.
If it is determined that the recording media 33 are exchanged, the
flow goes to the determination process [J1001] again to repeat the
above operations. Predetermined identification codes respectively
recorded on recording media 33 are checked to check whether the
recording media 33 are exchanged. Here, when the recording media 33
are exchanged, the same file names as in the panorama photographing
before the exchange, and series panorama numbers are added to the
image data of frames of the next panorama photographing. In this
manner, searching and editing operations for one set of panorama
images after photographing can be easily performed.
[0123] If FLG1=1 is not satisfied in the determination process
[J1007], the flow returns from the subroutine 2. When the flow
returns from the subroutine 2, the flow returns to the main routine
in FIG. 7 to end the panorama mode.
[0124] The editing mode will be described below.
[0125] If it is determined in the determination process [J701] in
FIG. 7 that the "photographing" mode is not set, then it is checked
whether the "editing" mode is set. This determination process is
called [J702]. As a result of the determination process, if it is
determined that the "editing" mode is set, the flow branches off to
subroutine (subroutine 3) for performing editing.
[0126] The operation of the subroutine 3 will be described below
with reference to FIGS. 11 to 14.
[0127] In the subroutine 3 shown in FIG. 11, as shown in FIG. 19,
menus "erase", "protect", "download", "print", and "end" which are
sub-modes of the "editing" mode which are sequentially ordered from
the upper side are displayed at the upper right portion of the
liquid-crystal display unit 17. The "erase" is a mode for erasing
predetermined image data.
[0128] The "protect" is a mode for writing information for
inhibiting the predetermined image data from being written and
read. The "download" is a mode for storing image information stored
in the recording medium 33 in an external memory device such as the
digital recorder 45. The "print" is a mode for printing the image
corresponding to the image data recorded on the recording medium
33. The "end" is a mode for ending an editing operation to cause
the flow to return to the main routine.
[0129] As in the above sub-mode selection, the increment switch 11
or the decrement switch 12 is operated to select a predetermined
sub-mode from the sub-modes. After the predetermined sub-mode is
selected, when the fixing switch 13 is pressed, the sub-mode is
fixed.
[0130] It is checked whether the fixed sub-mode is the "erase"
mode. This determination process is called [J301]. As a result of
the determination process, if the "erase" mode is set, subroutine
(subroutine 31) in this mode is executed.
[0131] The operation of the subroutine 31 will be described below
with reference to the flow chart in FIG. 12.
[0132] When the "erase" mode is selected, as shown in FIG. 20A, the
multi-divided image corresponding to image data recorded on the
recording medium 33 is displayed on the liquid-crystal display unit
17. In FIG. 20A, the same alphabets denote one set of panorama
images. The screen is divided into nine (3.times.3) small screens,
and the small screens are sequentially repeatedly displayed such
that, in a photographing order, the three screens of the uppermost
horizontal row of the entire screen are arranged from the left, and
the three screens of the second horizontal row of the entire screen
are arranged from the left. The arrangement of the small screens is
called a screen sequential arrangement.
[0133] Selection of the erased screen is performed. On one of the
multi-divided small screens, a circular point is flickered as shown
in FIG. 20A. This flickered display represents the screen
corresponding to image data to be erased. When the increment switch
11 is pressed, the flickered display moves horizontally in units of
small screens. In a state wherein the flickered display is located
in the small screen on the right end, when the increment switch 11
is pressed, the flickered display moves to the small screen on the
left end of the next row. The same operations as described above
are repeated. When the decrement switch 12, the flickered display
moves in the direction opposing the direction when the increment
switch 11 is pressed.
[0134] The increment switch 11 is pressed, and, as shown in FIG.
20A, the flickered display is located in the small display on the
right end of the lowermost row. In this case, when the increment
switch 11 is pressed, as shown in FIG. 20B, the small screen shifts
in the right direction. In this manner, even if an image cannot be
displayed on the screen at once, the entire image recorded on the
recording medium can be easily confirmed.
[0135] When a protect code (see FIG. 6) is added to the image data
corresponding to the small screen selected as described above, the
protect code is displayed with warning as a code representing an
inhibition of erasing (not shown). In this case, if the small
screen corresponding to the image data to be erased is selected,
the fixing switch 13 is invalid, and the image data is forcibly
inhibited from being erased.
[0136] When the screen corresponding to image data to which a
protect code is not added is selected, and the image corresponding
to the fixed screen partially constitutes a panorama image, warning
about that the image partially constitutes a panorama image is made
(not shown). The check whether the image partially constitutes a
panorama image is made by identify panorama numbers (shown in FIG.
6) serving as data added to panorama images in the photographing
order. The warning is made when the image is a one frame partially
constituting a panorama image because the panorama image has higher
relativity to another frame than that of a single image.
[0137] When the fixing switch 13 is pressed, the image
corresponding to the selected small screen is erased. If the fixing
switch is not pressed, the operations following the selection on
the erased screen are repeated.
[0138] When the fixing switch 13 is pressed to erase the image data
corresponding to the selected small screen, if the erased image
data is data partially constituting a panorama image, of header
information added to the image data shown in FIG. 6, the file name,
panorama number, and frame number of one separated panorama image
are updated.
[0139] When the number of frames constituting a panorama image
separated by erasing the image data is only one, the image is not a
panorama image. The panorama number is updated to a code
corresponding to an ordinarily photographed frame. In this manner,
a panorama image can be prevented from being erroneously
recognized.
[0140] Upon completion of the above operation, the flow returns
from the memory control circuit 31, and, in FIG. 11, returning to
the selection of sub-mode in the "editing" mode, the same
operations as described above are repeated.
[0141] In the explanation of the "erase" mode, a display having a
screen sequential arrangement is used as a multi-divided display.
However, the display is not limited to the display having the
screen sequential arrangement. More specifically, when the image
corresponding to image data recorded on the recording medium 33 is
a panorama image, if the panorama image is horizontally rotated to
be photographed, the panorama image is horizontally displayed at
the center of the screen as shown in FIG. 21A. The direction and
order of the arrangement of images constituting the panorama image
are determined on the basis of the panorama number and the rotating
direction which are header information shown in FIG. 6.
[0142] FIG. 21B shows a state in which the panorama image is
shifted to the right by one frame by pressing the increment switch
11. When the display is made as described above, the same image as
an object actually photographed is displayed. For this reason, a
checking operation and an editing operation for the photographed
panorama image can be easily performed advantageously.
[0143] In the above description, the case wherein in addition to
the panorama image, ordinarily photographed images are displayed at
once is explained. The present invention is not limited to the
description, and only the panorama image may be selectively
displayed.
[0144] In the subroutine 3 representing the operations in the
"editing" mode, if it is determined in the determination process
[J301] that the "erase" mode is not set, then it is checked whether
the "protect" mode is set. This determination process is called
[J302]. As a result of the determination process, if the "protect"
mode is set, subroutine (subroutine 32) in this mode is
executed.
[0145] This protect mode will be described below with reference to
the flow chart shown in FIG. 13. In the subroutine 32 shown in FIG.
13, selection of a sub-modes is performed. The sub-modes are
constituted by "setting" representing setting of the protect mode,
"cancel" representing cancel of the protect mode, and "end"
representing the setting/cancel of the protect mode. The selection
of the sub-mode is performed by the same manner as described in the
explanations of the several operations such that one of the menus
displayed at the upper right portion of the liquid-crystal display
unit 17 is selected as shown in FIG. 22.
[0146] In the selection of the sub-menu, if "setting" or "cancel"
is selected, then setting of a protect code or selection of an
image to be canceled is performed. This image selection is
performed by displaying the image photographed by the
liquid-crystal display unit 17 in a multi-division state in the
same manner as that of the selection of an erased screen. In this
case, unlike the selecting operation of the erased screen, when an
image subjected to setting or cancel of the protect code is to be
selected, it is checked whether a protect code is added to the
selected image or whether the selected image is included in one set
of panorama images, but warning is not performed.
[0147] Upon completion of the selection of the image subject to the
setting or cancel of the protect code, it is checked whether the
selected image is an image included in one set of panorama images.
This determination process is called [J3201]. As a result of the
determination process, if it is determined that the selected image
is one image included in one set of panorama image, then it is
checked whether the protect code is set. This determination process
is called [J3202].
[0148] As a result of the determination process, if it is
determined that setting of the protect code is performed, the
protect codes are set to all of one set of panorama images as the
header information of the image data as shown in FIG. 6.
[0149] As described above, protect modes are added to all of the
panorama images when it is determined that the selected image is an
image of one set of panorama images because the panorama images are
processed as a whole at high probability. As a matter of course,
the invention is not limited to the above description, a protect
code may be singly added to even an image included in the panorama
images.
[0150] As a result of the determination process [J3202], if it is
determined that setting of the protect code is not performed, i.e.,
if it is determined that cancel of the protect code is performed,
the protect codes of all of one of the panorama images are
canceled. Upon completion of the above operation, the flow shifts
to the selection of a sub-mode again to repeat the above
operations.
[0151] If it is determined in the determination process [J3201]
that the selected image is not an image of one set of panorama
images, i.e., if it is determined that the selected image is an
image photographed by ordinary photographing, then it is checked
whether setting of a protect code is performed. This determination
process is called [J3203]. As a result of the determination
process, if it is determined that setting of a protect code is
performed, a protect code is set to the selected image.
[0152] As a result of the determination process [J3203], if setting
of the protect code is not performed, i.e., if the protect code is
canceled, the protect code of the selected image is canceled. Upon
completion of the above operations, the flow shifts to the
selection of a sub-mode again to repeat the above operations.
[0153] If "end" is selected in the selection of a sub-mode, the
flow returns from the subroutine 32.
[0154] As shown in FIG. 11, if it is determined in the
determination process [J302] that the "protect" mode is not set,
then it is checked whether a "download" mode is set. This
determination process is celled [J303]. As a result of the
determination process, if it is determined that the "download" mode
is set, image information recorded on the recording medium 33 is
stored in the digital recorder 45 serving as an external memory
device. Upon completion of the above operations, the flow shifts to
the selection of a sub-mode again to repeat the above
operations.
[0155] If it is determined in the determination process [J303] that
the "download" mode is not set, then it is checked whether a
"print" mode is set. This determination process is called [J304].
As a result of the determination process, if it is determined that
the "print" mode is set, subroutine (subroutine 33) in this mode is
executed. The subroutine 33 will be described below with reference
to FIG. 14.
[0156] When the flow branches off to the subroutine 33, a print
image is selected. As in the "erase" mode, a photographed image is
displayed in a multi-division state. As in the selection of an
erased image in the "erase" mode, a print image to be printed is
selected.
[0157] FIG. 23 shows a case wherein an image A2 serving as one
frame of panorama images is selected. Here, if the selected image
is the image of one frame of a panorama image, it is displayed that
the selected image is one frame of the panorama image. In an
example in FIG. 23, for this purpose, a panorama mark at the upper
left of the screen is flickered.
[0158] It is checked whether the fixing switch 13 is pressed. If
the fixing switch 13 is not pressed, the operation for selecting
the print image is repeated. On the other hand, if the fixing
switch 13 is pressed, then it is checked again whether the image is
the image of one frame of the panorama image. This determination
process is called [J3301]. Here, if the selected image is the image
of one frame constituting the panorama image, after all of one of
panorama images to which the frame belongs are printed, the flow
returns from the recording medium 33.
[0159] As a result of the determination process [J3301], if it is
determined the selected image is not the image of one frame of the
panorama image, after the image of one selected frame is printed,
the flow returns from the subroutine 33.
[0160] As described above, a predetermined image selected by the
camera is printed on the basis of a command signal output from the
camera. For this reason, the system can be reduced in size and
cost.
[0161] As shown in FIG. 11, it is determined in the determination
process [J304] that the "print" mode is not set, it is understood
that "end" is set, and the flow returns from the subroutine 3.
[0162] When the flow returns from the subroutine 3, in FIG. 7, the
flow shifts to the selection of a sub-mode again to repeat the
above operations.
[0163] In the determination process [J702], if it is determined
that the "editing mode" is not set, it is understood that "end" is
set, and all executions of the panorama mode are ended.
[0164] The second embodiment of the present invention will be
described below. In the following description, only arrangements
and operations which are different from those of the first
embodiment of the present invention will be explained.
[0165] In the first embodiment, when data corresponding to a
rotating direction of the camera when panorama photographing is
performed is to be recorded on the recording medium 33 as header
information for each photographed image, the rotating direction of
the camera is manually selected. However, in the second embodiment,
as a means for setting information corresponding to the rotating
direction of the camera, a means for automatically setting the
information on the basis of an output signal from an angular
velocity sensor for detecting the rotating angle and rotating
direction of the camera body 1 is used.
[0166] The appearances of a camera serving as an electronic
photographing device according to the second embodiment are the
same as those in FIGS. 1 to 3. A view showing a connection state
between the camera and a PC 44 in the second embodiment is the same
as that shown in FIG. 4.
[0167] FIG. 24 is a block diagram showing the entire electric
arrangement of the camera according to the second embodiment. The
arrangement and operation of the camera will be described
below.
[0168] The output terminal of an angular velocity sensor 40 is
connected to the input terminal of an A/D converter 42. The output
terminal of the A/D converter 42 is connected to a CPU 39.
[0169] The angular velocity sensor 40 is to detect an angular
velocity obtained when the camera is rotated about an X-axis
direction which is a left-right direction when the camera is viewed
from an object. An analog signal representing the angular velocity
detected by the angular velocity sensor 40 is converted into a
digital signal at a predetermined interval of time by the A/D
converter 42, and the converted digital signal is subjected to time
quadrature by the CPU 39. The digital signal subjected to time
quadrature corresponds to an amount of rotation of the camera body
1 about the X axis. The rotating direction is determined by
checking the polarity of the analog output signal from the angular
velocity sensor 40.
[0170] The output terminal of the digital recorder 41 is connected
to the input terminal of an A/D converter 43. The output terminal
of the A/D converter 43 is connected to the CPU 39.
[0171] When the upper-lower direction of the camera is set to be a
Y-axis direction, the digital recorder 41 is to detect an angular
velocity obtained when the camera is rotated about the Y-axis
direction. An analog signal representing the angular velocity
detected by the angular velocity sensor 41 is converted into a
digital signal at a predetermined interval of time by the A/D
converter 43, and the converted digital signal is subjected to time
quadrature by the CPU 39. The digital signal subjected to time
quadrature corresponds to an amount of rotation of the camera body
1 about the Y axis. The rotating direction is determined by
checking the polarity of the analog output signal from the angular
velocity sensor 41.
[0172] The operation of the camera according to the second
embodiment will be described below.
[0173] As described above, the second embodiment is different from
the first embodiment in only a means for recording information
related to the rotating direction of the camera in the
"photographing" mode on the recording medium 33. Therefore, only
the different portion will be explained below in a description of
the operations of the second embodiment.
[0174] In the second embodiment, in the subroutine 1 shown in FIG.
8, any operation for manually setting a direction in which the
rotating angle of the camera is changed is not required. In the
subroutine 1, upon completion of execution of the subroutine 11 for
setting the number of panorama-photographed frames, the subroutine
2 shown in FIG. 10 is executed.
[0175] In the subroutine 2 shown in FIG. 10, as in the first
embodiment, it is checked whether the first frame is photographed
in panorama photographing. This determination process is called
[J1001].
[0176] As a result of the determination process, if it is checked
whether the release switch 10 is pressed. Here, the determination
process is called [J1002].
[0177] If the release switch 10 is pressed, as in the first
embodiment, predetermined photographing operations such as a
photometric operation and an exposure operation are performed.
However, in the second embodiment, in addition to the operations
performed in the first embodiment, the time quadrature is executed
to the angular velocity sensors 40 and 41 immediately after the
exposure operation. On the basis of the time quadrature, the
rotating angle and rotating direction of the camera after
photographing (exposure) of the first frame are calculated.
[0178] As a result of the determination process [J1001], if it is
determined that the first frame is photographed, i.e., if the
second frame or a frame subsequent to the second frame is
photographed, the rotating angle of the camera after the
photographing (exposure) operation performed immediately before the
photographing of the second frame or a frame subsequent to the
second frame falls within an allowable range. More specifically,
the rotating angle of the camera is determined on the basis of the
rotating angle of the camera calculated on the basis of the result
obtained by performing time quadrature to the output signal from
the angular velocity sensors 40 and 41, and information such as a
focal length of the photographing lens 2.
[0179] At the same time, the rotating direction is recorded as
header information shown in FIG. 6. While the camera is rotated, an
arrow indicating the rotating direction of the camera is flickered
and displayed at the lower right portion of a liquid-crystal
display unit.
[0180] FIG. 25 shows an example wherein the camera is rotated
clockwise. As a result of checking whether the rotating angle of
the camera falls within an allowable range, if it is determined
that the rotating angle of the camera falls within the allowable
range, "OK" is flickered and displayed on the liquid-crystal
display unit 17 (not shown). When this flickered display is
confirmed, a release operation is performed again, and the next
frame is panorama-photographed in the same manner as described
above.
[0181] In the second embodiment, whether the rotating angle of the
camera falls within the allowable range is checked by directly
calculating the rotating angle on the basis of the time quadrature
of the output signals from the angular velocity sensors 40 and 41.
However, the present invention is not limited to this method, and,
as in the first embodiment, the rotating angle may be calculated by
performing a correlation operation between the image data of
photographed frames after and before the exposure operation.
[0182] In the second embodiment, an angular velocity sensor is used
as a sensor for detecting the rotating direction and rotating angle
of the camera. For example, as the sensor, not only the angular
velocity sensor, but also an acceleration sensor may be used.
[0183] The angular velocity sensor used in the second embodiment
and a sensor for detecting blurring of the camera to prevent the
camera from blurring are used, so that a cost/performance ratio may
be increased.
[0184] According to the second embodiment of the present invention
described above, information related to a rotating direction of
panorama photographing can be recorded on the recording medium 33
with a simple operation. In addition, since the rotating angle of
the camera can be correctly known, everybody can easily perform
panorama photographing with a simple operation.
[0185] In each of the first and second embodiments, when the data
corresponding to the rotating direction of the camera in panorama
photographing is to be recorded on the recording medium 33 as
header information for each photographed image, information related
to the rotating direction is manually set or automatically an
angular velocity sensor. The rotating direction is not limited to
the above-described direction, and the rotating direction may be
set to be a predetermined direction, e.g., a closing direction of a
tripod screw for fixing the camera.
[0186] As has been described above according to the embodiments of
the present invention, on a display screen arranged on the same
camera as that used in panorama photographing, the photographed
panorama image can be easily reproduced in an appropriate
arrangement and an appropriate arrangement direction.
[0187] In this invention, it is apparent that working modes
different in a wide range can be formed on this basis of this
invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention. This invention is not restricted by any specific
embodiment expect being limited by the appended claims.
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