U.S. patent application number 11/401850 was filed with the patent office on 2006-08-17 for digital camera.
This patent application is currently assigned to SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Yasumasa Nakajima, Nobuyuki Nishi.
Application Number | 20060181617 11/401850 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18883206 |
Filed Date | 2006-08-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060181617 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nishi; Nobuyuki ; et
al. |
August 17, 2006 |
Digital camera
Abstract
Printing the image data displayed on an LCD (38) and its print
number or incrementing the print number by one can be specified
only by depressing a DPOF dedicated switch (41) while the still
image is being displayed on the LCD (38). For example, if the DPOF
dedicated switch (41) is depressed when still image is being
displayed in a reproduction mode, the print number of displayed
image data is set to one, and if the DPOF dedicated switch (41) is
depressed successively without changing the displayed image, the
print number of the image data is set to two.
Inventors: |
Nishi; Nobuyuki; (Nagano,
JP) ; Nakajima; Yasumasa; (Nagano, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SUGHRUE MION, PLLC
2100 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W.
SUITE 800
WASHINGTON
DC
20037
US
|
Assignee: |
SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
18883206 |
Appl. No.: |
11/401850 |
Filed: |
April 12, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10052911 |
Jan 23, 2002 |
7053931 |
|
|
11401850 |
Apr 12, 2006 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
348/231.99 ;
348/E5.047; 386/E5.072 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 1/00461 20130101;
H04N 1/32101 20130101; H04N 1/00458 20130101; H04N 5/772 20130101;
H04N 5/23245 20130101; H04N 2101/00 20130101; H04N 2201/3242
20130101; H04N 5/23293 20130101; H04N 1/00482 20130101; H04N 5/907
20130101; H04N 1/2112 20130101; H04N 9/8205 20130101; H04N
2201/3274 20130101; H04N 9/8047 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
348/231.99 |
International
Class: |
H04N 5/76 20060101
H04N005/76 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 25, 2001 |
JP |
P.2001-016918 |
Claims
1. An image displaying apparatus comprising: an access unit for
accessing a nonvolatile recording medium in which plural pieces of
image data are stored; a display unit that displays the plural
pieces of image data stored in the nonvolatile recording medium in
sequence in an automatic frame feeding mode; an interface unit for
accepting input or edit of a preset data regarding the image data
which is displayed on the display unit; a storing unit for storing
the preset data in a predetermined file format; and a memory unit
for storing a copy of the preset data stored in the nonvolatile
recording medium at least during a period for which the interface
unit can accept the input or edit of the preset data, wherein the
display unit continues displaying the plural pieces of image data
in sequence in the automatic frame feeding mode after the interface
unit accepts the input or edit of the preset data.
2. The image displaying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
preset data is data for setting number of printing the image data
displayed on the display unit.
3. The image displaying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
storing unit stores the preset data in the nonvolatile recording
medium.
4. A method comprising: accessing a nonvolatile recording medium in
which plural pieces of image data are stored; displaying the plural
pieces of image data stored in the nonvolatile recording medium in
sequence in an automatic frame feeding mode; accepting input or
edit of a preset data regarding the image data which is displayed
on the display unit; storing the preset data in a predetermined
file format; storing, in a memory unit, a copy of the preset data
stored in the nonvolatile recording medium at least during a period
for which the interface unit can accept the input or edit of the
preset data; and continuing displaying the plural pieces of image
data in sequence in the automatic frame feeding mode after the
interface unit accepts the input or edit of the preset data.
5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the preset data is data
for setting number of printing the image data displayed on the
display unit.
6. The method according to claim 4, wherein in the storing step,
the preset data is stored in the nonvolatile recording medium.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 10/052,911
filed Jan. 23, 2002. The entire disclosure of the prior application
is hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a digital camera, and more
particularly to a digital camera with the preset data regarding the
image data.
[0003] In recent years, along with the rapid spread of the digital
camera, there is an increasing demand for utilizing an image
through a removable memory between devices, such that the image
captured by the digital camera is played by another digital camera,
or output directly to the printer. For this demand, the file format
for recording the image captured by the digital camera on a variety
of kinds of removable memory has been standardized.
[0004] One of the file formats for recording the preset data
regarding the image data is the DPOF (Digital Print Order Format)
(Version 1.00) as released in 1999, and the DPOF (Version 1.10) was
publicized in 2000. In the DPOF (Version 1.10), the specified data
for an image file to be printed, the specified data for the number
of prints, the specified data for the image file for automatic
transmission, and the specified data for the image file for
automatic reproduction can be recorded as the preset data. In the
digital camera that supports the DPOF, a determination whether or
not to print the data can be made, and the number of prints can be
specified, while confirming the captured image on the LCD screen.
In the digital camera, since the required information for printing
or transmission is recorded beforehand on the recording medium such
as a memory card, there is no need of taking care about the file
name or path name at the time of printing or transmission.
Therefore, the DPOF is applied in various areas, including the
laboratory print service or home printer, thereby making it easier
to output the image data from the digital camera to the paper
medium.
[0005] However, when a DPOF file such as an automatic print file is
created or edited by the related digital camera, it is necessary
that some operations is taken to switch from other modes such as a
play mode to a specific mode for setting the DPOF, and another
operation is taken to determine whether or not to select and print
an image and specify the number of prints in the specific mode.
[0006] FIG. 9 shows one example of the operation for creating or
editing an automatic print file in the related digital camera. For
example, when an image desired for printing is found in a play
mode, a dial switch 101 is firstly rotated to switch over to a DPOF
setting mode to make the DPOF setting for the image (step 101).
Then, a push button switch 102 is depressed in succession to change
the displayed image and search for the image to be printed (step
102). Then, a push button switch 103 is depressed to set the number
of printing the image (step 103). Then, a push button switch 104 is
depressed to determine the setting content and create or edit the
DPOF file (step 104). Then, the dial switch 101 is rotated to
return to the play mode or photographing mode (step 105). In this
manner, in the related digital camera, the operation of creating or
editing the DPOF file is some complex.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention has been achieved to solve the
aforementioned problems, and it is an object of the invention to
provide a digital camera that allows the preset data regarding the
image data to be input and edited easily.
[0008] It is another object of the invention to provide a digital
camera that takes a short time to make the operation for preset
data.
[0009] In order to solve the aforesaid object, the invention is
characterized by having the following arrangement.
[0010] (1) A digital camera comprising:
[0011] an input unit for inputting image data;
[0012] a first storing unit for storing the image data in a
nonvolatile recording medium in a predetermined file format;
[0013] a display unit for displaying the image data stored in the
nonvolatile recording medium;
[0014] a dedicated interface unit for accepting input or edit of a
preset data regarding the image data by one operation when the
image data stored in the nonvolatile recording medium is displayed
on the display unit; and
[0015] a second storing unit for storing the preset data with the
image data in the nonvolatile recording medium in a predetermined
file format.
[0016] (2) The digital camera according to (1), wherein the preset
data is data for setting number of printing the image data
displayed on the display unit.
[0017] (3) The digital still camera according to (2), wherein the
dedicated interface unit increments the number of printing the
image data displayed on the display unit for every operation.
[0018] (4) The digital camera according to (1), wherein the
dedicated interface unit includes a push button switch.
[0019] (5) The digital camera according to (4), wherein the push
button switch is provided on the left with respect to the display
unit.
[0020] (6) The digital camera according to (1) further comprising a
memory unit for storing a copy of the preset data stored in the
nonvolatile recording medium at least during a period for which
said dedicated interface unit can accept the input or edit of the
preset data.
[0021] Since the dedicated interface unit accepts the input or edit
of the preset data regarding the image data by one operation, when
the image data recorded on the nonvolatile recording medium is
displayed on the display means, it is very easy to input and edit
the preset data regarding the image data.
[0022] The phrase "accepting the input or edit of the preset data
regarding the image data when the image data is displayed on the
display means" means that the input or edit of the preset data can
be accepted in a state where the image data is displayed on the
display unit, and the input or edit of the preset data can be
accepted by one operation in that state. More specifically, it
means that when the digital camera is in the play mode and a
specific image is displayed on the entire LCD screen, an automatic
print file of the DPOF is created by one operation such as
"depressing once" or "rotating once", or the number of prints
recorded in the automatic print file is incremented. The term
"dedicated" for the dedicated interface unit that the interface
unit has any other functions than the function of accepting the
input or edit of the preset data, therefore the dedicated interface
unit is provided to enable the preset data to be clearly understood
and easily utilized.
[0023] The preset data is the data for setting the number of
printing the image data stored on the nonvolatile recording medium,
therefore it is very easy to preset the number of printing the
image data.
[0024] The dedicated interface unit increments the number of
printing the image data displayed on the display means for every
operation, therefore it is very easy to preset the number of
printing the image data.
[0025] The dedicated interface means has a push button switch,
therefore it is easy to designate the preset data while carrying
the digital camera.
[0026] The push button switch is provided near the display unit and
on the left with respect to the display unit, therefore it is easy
to designate the preset data while carrying the digital camera.
More specifically, a plurality of switches are provided on the
right with respect to the display unit in most cases, in which
these switches may be operated by the dominant hand usually right
hand except for the time of designating the preset data, and the
preset data is designated with the undominant hand usually left
hand, only when required, thereby resulting in simpler and easier
operation.
[0027] The digital camera further comprises a memory unit for
memorizing a copy of the preset data recorded on the nonvolatile
recording medium at least during a period for which the dedicated
interface means can accept the input or edit of the preset data,
therefore the time for designating the preset data can be
shortened. More specifically, when a processor built in the digital
camera edits the preset data, for example, it is unnecessary to
call the preset data from the nonvolatile recording medium into the
memory unit, so that it takes a shorter time to designate the
preset data.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] FIG. 1 is a typical view for explaining the preset operation
for printing according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0029] FIG. 2 is a front view of a digital still camera according
to one embodiment of the invention.
[0030] FIG. 3 is a rear view of the digital still camera according
to one embodiment of the invention.
[0031] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the digital still camera according
to one embodiment of the invention.
[0032] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the digital still camera
according to one embodiment of the invention.
[0033] FIG. 6 is a typical tree diagram for explaining the
directory structure for a DPOF file according to one embodiment of
the invention.
[0034] FIG. 7 is a typical diagram for explaining the contents of
the DPOF file according to one embodiment of the invention.
[0035] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the digital
still camera according to one embodiment of the invention.
[0036] FIG. 9 is a typical diagram for explaining the preset
operation for printing in the related digital still camera.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0037] One embodiment of the present invention will be described
below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0038] FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5 are a front view, a rear view, a plan
view and a functional block diagram of a digital still camera
according to the embodiment of the invention, respectively. An
input unit as defined in the claims comprises an optical system 11,
an area sensor 12, and an analog front end 13 (APE). A nonvolatile
recording medium as defined in the claims comprises a removable
memory 18. A first storing unit comprises an image generating
section 14, a color space conversion section 15, a compression
processing section 16, a file section 17, a CPU 20, and a memory
device 19 (MS). A display unit as defined in the claims comprises
the CPU 20 and a display unit 22. A dedicated interface unit as
defined in the claims comprises a part of an operation section 21
including a DPOF specific switch 41. A second storing unit as
defined in the claims comprises the CPU 20, the MS 19 and the file
section 17. A push button switch as defined in the claims comprises
the DPOF specific switch 41. A memory device as defined in the
claims comprises the MS 19.
[0039] The optical system 11 is constituted by an optical lens, an
infrared cut filter and an optical low-pass filter, and forms an
image of a subject onto the area sensor 12.
[0040] The area sensor 12 is an optical sensor such as a CCD sensor
or CMOS sensor having photoelectric conversion elements, each
photoelectric conversion element being provided with a
complementary color filter of C (Cyan), M (Magenta), Y (Yellow) or
G (Green). The filter may be a primary color filter for R (Red), G
(Green) or B (Blue). The photoelectric conversion elements are
arranged like a matrix. An analog signal of each color output from
the area sensor 12 is input into an AFE 13.
[0041] The AFE 13 is constituted by a program gain amplifier, a CDS
circuit and an A/D converter, and generates the digital data of 10
to 12 bits for each color of CMYG by sampling an analog signal
output from each photoelectric conversion element. Each digital
data for CMYG is input into the image generating section 14
directly or after being stored in a buffer memory.
[0042] The image generating section 14 is constituted by a hardware
technique for controlling an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated
Circuit) in which a predetermined algorithm is implemented by a
logic circuit with the CPU 20, or by a software technique employing
a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) engine. In the case where the ASIC
is used for the image generating section 14, there is a merit that
the processing can be faster than the case where the image
generating section 14 is constituted by software technique. The
image generating section 14 performs the automatic exposure (AE)
processing, the automatic white balance (AWB) processing, the image
generation processing, the conversion processing from the CMYG
color space into RGB color space, and the .gamma. correction
processing. The image generation processing as referred to herein
mainly involves generating the image data having four values of
CMYG colors for each pixel, employing the digital data representing
the intensity of CMYG corresponding to an output of each
photoelectric conversion element. The conversion processing from
the CMYG color space into RGB color space is made by hardware
technique with a 4.times.3 matrix operation processing circuit, or
software technique using a multiplication circuit and an addition
or subtraction circuit.
[0043] The color space converting section 15 is constituted by a
3.times.3 matrix operation processing circuit, or constituted by
software technique under the control of the CPU 20 employing a
multiplication circuit and an addition or subtraction circuit, and
generates the YCbCr digital image data from the RGB digital image
data by a linear transformation with a 3.times.3 matrix.
[0044] The compression processing circuit 16 is typically
constituted by a hardware technique using a specific chip for the
JPEG compression processing, but may be constituted by a software
technique using the DSP. The compression processing section 16
performs the JPEG compression processing by the discrete cosine
transform (DCT) or Huffman coding.
[0045] The file section 17 stores the compressed image data in a
removable memory 18 such as a compact flash memory in the Exif file
format.
[0046] The CPU 20 controls the optical system 11, the area sensor
12, the AFE 13, the image generating section 14, the color space
conversion section 15, the compressing processing section 16, and
the file section 17, and performs a reduction processing for the
main image data made up of the YCbCr image data generated in the
color space conversion section 15 to generate the thumb-nail image
data of 160.times.120 pixels in the MS 19. Various processing
performed by the image generating section 14, the color space
conversion section 15 and the compression processing section 16 may
be implemented by software technique in which predetermined
programs are executed by the CPU 20.
[0047] The MS 19 temporarily stores the main image data made up of
the YCbCr image data generated in the image generation section 14
and its reduced image data. The display section 22 is constituted
by a video memory, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 38 and a drive
circuit, and displays the thumbnail image data generated by the CPU
20 on the LCD 38. The operation section 21 is constituted by a
shutter button 30 provided on the upper surface of a case, a power
supply switch 31, a dial switch 32, various setting switches 35,
36, 37, 39 and 40 provided around the LCD 38, a DPOF dedicated
switch 41, and an input control circuit. The DPOF dedicated switch
41 is a push button switch provided on the back face of the digital
still camera 1 on the left with respect to the LCD 38. Moreover,
FIG. 2, for example, depicts a viewer 33 and a lens 34.
[0048] The constitution of the digital still camera 1 has been
described above. A DPOF file will be described below.
[0049] The DPOF file generated or edited by operating the DPOF
dedicated switch 41 is stored in an MISC directory made under the
route directory of the removable memory 18, as shown in FIG. 6. The
DPOF file is constituted by an automatic print file, an automatic
transmission file, and an automatic reproduction file. The
automatic print file will be described in the following. This
invention is also applicable to the automatic transmission file and
the automatic reproduction file, and its description is described
later.
[0050] The automatic print file 60 is constituted by a header
portion 61 and a job description portion 62, as shown in FIG. 7.
The header portion contains the version information of DPOF and the
like. The job description portion contains the print type related
with the product ID, the print number of sheets, and the path for
image data. When printing, the preset data such as the print type
and the print number of sheets described in the job description
portion can be associated with the specific image data via the path
for image data. Accordingly, an output device such as a printer can
read a DPOF file to create a print job of the specific image data
for each product ID in accordance with the print type and the print
number of sheets, whereby there is no need of making the settings
at the time of printing.
[0051] The DPOF dedicated switch 41 is effective when the digital
still camera 1 is in the play mode to display the still image, in
the photographing mode to make the basic play, immediately after
capturing to display the captured still image, or in the automatic
frame feed mode to display the still image. That is, in any of the
above modes, when the DPOF dedicated switch 41 is depressed during
execution of each module for implementing these functions, a DPOF
setting module is started.
[0052] The DPOF setting module operates the digital still camera in
accordance with a flowchart as shown in FIG. 8. At STEP1,
determination is made whether or not an automatic print file is
memorized in the MS 19. If no automatic print file is memorized in
the removable memory 18, the data for the header portion is
generated at STEP2, and stored in a predetermined area of the MS
19.
[0053] At STEP3, the job description portion of the automatic print
file is retrieved to determine whether or not there is any product
associated with the image data displayed on the LCD 38 at present.
The ID assigned to an image file associates the image data
displayed on the LCD 38 at present with the product, when the image
file is stored in the removable memory 18, for example. The
presence or absence of the product associated with the image data
may be determined in such a manner as to hold the file ID of image
data displayed on the LCD 38 in the MS 19, and the file ID of an
image file for each product, and retrieve the job description
portion with the file ID of image data displayed on the LCD 38 as a
retrieval key.
[0054] If the product associated with the image data displayed on
the LCD 38 at present is not present in the job description
portion, a new product is created at STEP4. That is, the product ID
which is not identical with other product IDs is generated, and
stored in a predetermined area of the MS 19. At STEP5, the print
number of sheets for its product ID is set to 1. Then, at STEP6,
the file ID of image data displayed on the LCD 38 at present is
stored. If the product associated with the image data displayed on
the LCD 38 at present is present in the job description portion,
the print number of sheets is incremented by one at STEP7. STEPs 4,
5, 6 and 7 are set forth as separate steps in succession for
convenience sake, but these steps are not necessarily divided
explicitly, and may be provided as one step or in another sequence,
or provided with different order. In essence, if the product
associated with the image data displayed on the LCD 38 at present
already exists, the print number of sheets is incremented by one,
or otherwise is set to 1. It is desirable that the set print number
of sheets is displayed on the LCD 38.
[0055] At STEP 8, the preset information stored in the MS 19,
namely, the automatic print file, is stored in the removable memory
18. At this time, the automatic print file is not deleted from the
MS 19, and a copy of the automatic print file stored in the
removable memory 18 is saved in the MS 19. In this manner, the
period from the time of operating the DPOF dedicated switch 41 to
the time of completion of editing the DPOF file can be shortened. A
copy of the DPOF file stored in the MS 19 may be deleted to utilize
the memory capacity of the MS 19 efficiently when the mode shifts
to a mode of displaying the image of the subject formed in the area
sensor 12 on the LCD 38 in real time. If deleted, the copy may be
saved in the MS 19 by calling the DOPF file from the removable
memory 18 prior to operating the DPOF dedicated switch 41, when the
mode shifts to the mode of displaying the still image on the LCD
38. Thereby, even when the DPOF dedicated switch 41 is operated
after the mode shifts to a mode of editing the DPOF file, the
period from the time of operation to the time of completion of
editing the DPOF file can be shortened.
[0056] The above operation for creating and editing the automatic
print file at STEP1 to STEP8 can be performed by only depressing
the DPOF dedicated switch 41, as shown in FIG. 1. That is, when the
digital still camera 1 is in the play mode to display the still
image, in the photographing mode to make the basic play or
immediately after photographing to display the captured still
image, or in the automatic frame feed mode to display the still
image, printing the image data displayed on the LCD 38 and the
print number or incrementing the print number by one can be
specified only by depressing the DPOF dedicated switch 41. For
example, if the DPOF dedicated switch 41 is firstly depressed while
the still image is being displayed in the play mode, the print
number of the image data being displayed is set to one, and if the
DPOF dedicated switch 41 is depressed successively without changing
the display image, the print number of the image data is set to
two. Since the mode is not changed before and after the DPOF
dedicated switch 41 is depressed, if the still image is being
displayed in the automatic frame feed mode immediately before the
DPOF switch 41 is depressed, the frame feed is continued in that
mode, even after the DPOF dedicated switch 41 is depressed.
[0057] Accordingly, with the digital still camera 1 according to
the embodiment, the input or edit of the print specification and
specification of the number of prints for the image data can be
accepted by one operation of the DPOF dedicated switch when the
image data is displayed on the LCD 38, therefore the preset data
regarding the image data is easily designated. With the digital
still camera 1 according to this embodiment, the DPOF dedicated
switch 41 is constituted by the push button switch, which is
provided on the back face of the digital still camera 1 on the left
with respect to the LCD 38, therefore it is easy to operate the
DPOF dedicated switch 41 while holding the digital still camera 1.
The digital still camera 1 according to this embodiment, since the
automatic print file is not deleted from the MS 19, and a copy of
the automatic print file stored in the removable memory 18 is saved
in the MS 19, the period from the time when the DPOF dedicated
switch 41 is operated to the time of completion of editing the
automatic print file can be shortened.
[0058] The DPOF files such as the automatic transmission file and
the automatic reproduction file other than the automatic print
file, to which the invention is applied, will be described
below.
[0059] For the automatic transmission file, it suffices that a
product for specifying the transmission for the image data
displayed on the LCD 38 may be created by depressing the DPOF
dedicated switch 41. The transmission destination may be input by
operating a switch other than the DPOF dedicated switch 41 in the
digital still camera 1, or input from the system using the DPOF
dedicated file. For the automatic reproduction file, it suffices
that a product for specifying the reproduction for the image data
displayed on the LCD 38 may be created by depressing the DPOF
dedicated switch 41. The order of reproduction may be the order in
which the DPOF dedicated switch is depressed, or specified in
accordance with the number of depressing the DPOF switch 41.
* * * * *