JP2000305207A - Electronic still camera - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To provide an electronic still camera that notifies a user of an optimal timing for shooting, efficiently shoots a panoramic image, and can shoot a quantitatively accurate panoramic image. . An electronic still camera capable of providing one panoramic image by photographing a plurality of images so as to be spatially and stereoscopically continuous and combining them, wherein a previous photographing trigger signal is provided. And a rotation angle measuring unit 111 that measures the rotation angle of the camera body from the time when the is transmitted to the present time, and compares the measured rotation angle with a preset value of the trigger rotation angle to automatically shoot if equal. Automatic photographing means, and photographing timing notifying means for comparing the measured rotation angle with the trigger rotation angle to notify the user if they are equal by displaying them on a live viewer via an indicator; and Trigger rotation angle setting means for manually setting the value of the rotation angle.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic still camera capable of taking a manorama image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, when taking a panoramic image using a commercially available electronic still camera, a user rotates the camera by the number of images necessary to compose the panoramic image and takes the image. Conventionally, when performing panoramic shooting,
The user has taken the image by rotating the camera by an approximate amount for his own sense.

Further, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-142682, a part of an already photographed image is displayed on a live viewer, and a user performs photographing so as to match the current image with that image. I was going.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, since the photographing is performed with the sense of the user, the image photographing is not always optimal for obtaining a panoramic image. For example, there is a problem that it is difficult to perform quantitative imaging because the timing of imaging largely depends on the sense of the user.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and notifies a user of an optimal timing for photographing, efficiently performs panoramic image photographing, and has a quantitatively accurate panoramic image. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic still camera capable of capturing an image.

[0006]

The present invention can solve the above-mentioned problems by providing the following constitution.

(1) By photographing a plurality of images so as to be spatially and stereoscopically continuous and combining them,
An electronic still camera capable of providing one panoramic image, comprising: a rotation angle measurement unit that measures a rotation angle of a camera body from a time when a previous shooting trigger signal is transmitted to a current time; and a measured measurement rotation. The angle is compared with a preset value of the trigger rotation angle, and automatic photographing means for automatically photographing if the values are equal. Further, if the measured rotation angle and the value of the trigger rotation angle are compared, the user is notified of the fact. An electronic still camera, comprising: a photographing timing notifying unit for notifying by displaying on a viewer via an indicator; and a trigger rotation angle setting unit for manually setting a value of the trigger rotation angle.

(2) The electronic still camera according to the above (1), further comprising a measurement rotation angle display means for displaying the measurement rotation angle on a live viewer of the camera body.

(3) An electronic still camera according to the above item (1), further comprising automatic photographing setting means for setting whether or not to automatically perform photographing based on the coincidence between the measured rotation angle and the trigger rotation angle. .

(4) The electronic device according to the above (1), further comprising user notification setting means for setting whether or not the user is notified of the coincidence between the measured rotation angle and the trigger rotation angle. Still camera.

(5) The electronic device according to the item (1), further comprising a sound notifying unit that compares the measured rotation angle and the trigger rotation angle, and notifies the user if the values are equal. Still camera.

(6) When taking a panoramic image, there is provided a panning warning means for notifying a user to change the panning speed of the camera body in accordance with a time interval until the next image can be taken. An electronic still camera.

(7) By photographing a plurality of images so as to be spatially and stereoscopically continuous and combining them,
An electronic still camera capable of providing one panoramic image, comprising: a rotation angle measurement unit that measures a rotation angle of a camera body from a time when a previous shooting trigger signal is transmitted to a current time; and a measured measurement rotation. The angle is compared with a preset value of the trigger rotation angle, and automatic photographing means for automatically photographing if the values are equal. Further, if the measured rotation angle and the value of the trigger rotation angle are compared, the user is notified of the fact. Photographing timing notifying means for notifying by displaying on a viewer via an indicator, trigger rotating angle setting means for manually setting the value of the trigger rotating angle, and photographing and recording for the purpose of obtaining a panoramic image by the electronic still camera The displayed image is displayed on a live viewer of the camera body, and the photographed image is displayed according to the measurement rotation angle.
An electronic still camera, comprising an overlay display unit for displaying an image currently captured by an image sensor in a margin portion of a live viewer generated by shifting and displaying the image.

(8) By photographing a plurality of images so as to be spatially and stereoscopically continuous and combining them,
An electronic still camera capable of providing one panoramic image, comprising: a rotation angle measurement unit that measures a rotation angle of a camera body from a time when a previous shooting trigger signal is transmitted to a current time; and a measured measurement rotation. The angle is compared with a preset value of the trigger rotation angle, and automatic photographing means for automatically photographing if the values are equal. Further, if the measured rotation angle and the value of the trigger rotation angle are compared, the user is notified of the fact. A photographing timing notifying unit for notifying by displaying the image on the viewer via an indicator, a trigger rotation angle setting unit for manually setting the value of the trigger rotation angle, and panning the camera body during panoramic image shooting At this time, if a rotation angle component other than the panning direction is detected, the rotation angle in that direction is larger than the warning rotation angle set in advance. If it becomes, by displaying the indicator on the live viewer, electronic still camera, characterized in that it has a tilt rotation angle warning means for notifying the user.

(9) At the time of panning the camera body during panorama image capturing, if a rotation angle component other than the panning direction is detected, the rotation angle in that direction is set in advance. The electronic still camera according to (8), further including a vibration warning unit that notifies the user by vibrating the camera body held by the user with a vibrator when the rotation angle becomes larger than the rotation angle.

(10) The electronic still camera according to the above (8), further comprising warning tilt rotation angle setting means for manually setting the warning rotation angle.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an electronic still camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the overall operation of the first embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a subroutine of the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a display method, which is a subroutine of the flowchart of FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is a front external view of the electronic still camera of the first embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a rear view of the electronic still camera, FIG. 7 is a top view of the electronic still camera of the first embodiment, and FIG.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory view of the entire screen for performing the panoramic shooting setting, FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing the setting of the panoramic shooting, and FIG. 11 is a view showing the setting of the trigger rotation angle. FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing that the automatic shooting is being set; FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing that the notifying unit is being set;
FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the rotation angle measuring means, FIG. 15 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the rotation angle is displayed on the display unit during the display of the subject, and FIG. FIG. 17 is an explanatory view showing a state in which a panning speed is displayed and a warning is displayed during display of an object, and FIG. 18 is a view showing a state in which a panning speed is displayed while a subject is not displayed. Explanatory diagram showing the warning
FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of displaying and notifying that automatic shooting has been performed while the subject is not displayed. FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of displaying and notifying that automatic shooting has been performed while the subject is being displayed. , FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the shooting timing is displayed and notified while the subject is not displayed, FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the shooting timing is displayed and displayed while the subject is displayed, and FIG. FIG. 24 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an electronic still camera according to the second embodiment. FIGS. 24A and 24B are explanatory diagrams illustrating a state of overlay display. FIG.
FIG. 26 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic still camera of FIG.
FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a tilt rotation angle warning is displayed and notified while a subject is not displayed, and FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a tilt rotation angle warning is displayed and notified while the subject is displayed. .

(Embodiment 1) Embodiment 1 will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIGS. 5 to 8, when the release button 1 of the electronic still camera is not depressed, the subject image acquired by the image sensor 101 is output as an analog signal in FIG. The signal is converted into a digital signal by 102 and output. The color components, white balance, and the like of the digital signal as image data are adjusted by the signal processing circuit 103. The adjusted image data is recorded in the memory buffer 1 (107) by the memory controller 109. Memory buffer 1
The data recorded in (107) is subjected to image reproduction processing by the reproduction circuit 104, and is processed by the frame buffer 105.
And is displayed on the display unit 106 (refers to the liquid crystal display indicated by reference numeral 9 in FIG. 6).

When a release signal for prompting photographing and recording of a subject is transmitted by the release button 1 of the electronic still camera, the image pickup device 101 clears the electric charge accumulated in the device, newly accumulates electric charge, and outputs it as an analog signal. .

The digital components are converted by the A / D conversion circuit 102 and the color components of the image are processed by the signal processing circuit 103.
The white balance is adjusted and the memory controller 1
09 is recorded in the memory buffer 1 (107).

The image data recorded in the memory buffer 1 (107) is compressed by the compression / decompression circuit 110 and recorded in the removable recording section 114.

The rotation angle measuring means 111 measures the rotation angle of the camera from the previous photographing point when a part of the image forming the panoramic image has already been photographed in the panoramic photographing mode.

The control circuit 108 compares the measured camera rotation angle with a preset trigger rotation angle. If the camera rotation angle is equal, a release signal is transmitted, the electric charge is taken in by the image pickup device 101, and the photographing is automatically performed.

The photographing of the subject and the operation related to the photographing are performed by the operation unit 113, and the control circuit 108 controls the camera as this device in conjunction with the operation.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, a release button 1, a set button 2, a cancel button 3, a zoom switch 7, a liquid crystal ON / OFF switch 10, a power switch 11, a liquid crystal panel 4, A liquid crystal display 9 is provided, and a panorama mode setting, a trigger rotation angle setting, an automatic shooting setting, a setting as to whether or not to display a measurement rotation angle, a notification means setting, and a warning when a panning is early are issued. Set whether or not to do so.

The power switch 11 can perform a switching operation of a photographing mode, a reproduction mode, and a power OFF.
"Cam": shooting, "L": power off, "P"
Indicates a reproduction mode.

On the liquid crystal panel 4, the photographing state of the camera is shown. In this liquid crystal panel 4, the mark on the left indicates that the camera is in the panorama mode, and the number on the right indicates that a maximum of 38 images have been shot. Can be recorded, and FIG. 7 shows that five images have been captured at present.

The liquid crystal ON / OFF switch 10 controls display ON / OFF of the liquid crystal display 9.

When the liquid crystal display 9 is in the display state and is in the mode for displaying the rotation angle, the measured camera rotation angle is written into a predetermined location of the frame buffer 105 by the overlay control circuit 112, and the display unit 106 (refer to the liquid crystal display 9 in FIG. 6).

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the overall operation of the first embodiment according to the present invention. The operation of the electronic still camera will be described below with reference to this flowchart.

First, in step S201, when the power is turned on, in step S202, the trigger rotation angle,
Setting of initial values such as whether to display the measured rotation angle, whether to notify the user when the trigger rotation angle is equal to the measured rotation angle, and whether to give a warning when panning is early, Is performed.

As the initial value, the value set when the power was last turned on is stored in the internal memory 115 (see FIG. 1), and is set to that value.

In step S203, it is determined whether the mode is the photographing mode or the reproducing mode. If the mode is the reproducing mode, the process proceeds to step S204 to perform the reproducing process. If the mode is the shooting mode, the process proceeds to step S205.

In step S205, it is determined whether the mode is the setting mode or the photographing mode. If the mode is the setting mode, the process proceeds to step S206; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S207.

In step S206, settings relating to photographing are performed.

The setting / photographing mode is switched by the set button 2 in FIG.

When the set button 2 is depressed in the state of being started in the photographing mode, the setting screen of FIG. 9 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 9 of FIG.

In FIG. 9, the setting of the panorama mode is selected. In this state, when the zoom switch 7 in FIG. 6 is pressed, the selection frame 901 moves (see FIG. 10). The zoom switch 7 can be zoomed in / out with the right / left of the switch. In the setting mode, pressing the left of the switch moves the selection frame 901 upward, and pressing the right moves the selection frame 901 downward. When the set button 2 in FIG. 5 is pressed in the selected state, the setting of the selection item can be performed.

FIG. 11 shows the setting of the trigger rotation angle. The trigger rotation angle is adjusted by the zoom switch 7 and set by the set button 2. At this time,
When the cancel button 3 in FIG. 5 is pressed, the setting is canceled and is not reflected. 1101 in FIG.
Is a display form for the user to visually understand the trigger rotation angle, and 1102 is a numerical value indicating the actual trigger rotation angle. This example indicates that the trigger rotation angle is 32 degrees.

FIG. 12 shows a state of the automatic photographing setting, in which ON / OFF is selected by the zoom switch 7 of FIG. 6 and set by the set button 2 of FIG.

FIG. 13 shows the setting of the notifying means, in which the zoom switch 7 selects sound or display by an indicator, and the setting is made by the set button 2.

The set information is transmitted to the control circuit 108 of FIG.
Is stored in the internal memory 115.

Returning to the flowchart of FIG. 2, in step S207, it is determined whether the mode is the panorama shooting mode or the normal shooting mode. In the case of the normal shooting mode, step S208
To take a picture, and in the next step S210, turn on the power
If it is OFF, the process returns to step S205, and if it is OFF, the process ends (step S211).

In the case of the panoramic photographing mode, step S
The subroutine 1 proceeds to subroutine 1 of 209 to perform panoramic shooting, and in the next step S210, it is determined whether or not the power is off.
If it is not FF, the process returns to step S205, and if it is OFF, the process ends (step S211).

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the panoramic photographing. The flow of the panoramic photographing will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In subroutine 1 of the panoramic photographing flow, it is determined in step S301 whether or not the photographing is the first frame.

In the case of the first frame, the process proceeds to step S305, and in the case of the second and subsequent frames, the process proceeds to step S302, where the rotation angle is measured.

Here, the measurement of the rotation angle will be described. The rotation angle measuring means 111 in FIG. 1 measures the rotation angle using, for example, an angular velocity sensor, an acceleration sensor, and a direction sensor.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a rotation angle measuring means using a sensor. The output obtained by each sensor is output as a digital signal by an amplifier circuit 1402 and an A / D conversion circuit 1403. The camera rotation angle can be obtained by applying an angle calculation algorithm according to digital signal output values of various sensors.

FIG. 14 corresponds to the rotation angle measuring means of the electronic still camera according to the present invention.

Here, returning to the flowchart of FIG. 3, step S303 is a subroutine 11 for displaying the camera rotation angle measured in step S302.

The flowchart of FIG. 4 shows the subroutine 11, and in step S401, it is determined whether or not to display the measured rotation angle. This determination is made based on the information set in step S206 of FIG. If the measured rotation angle has been displayed, the measured rotation angle is displayed in step S402, and the process proceeds to step S403.

Here, the measurement rotation angle display will be described. The measurement rotation angle is displayed on the display unit 106 in FIG. 1, that is, on the liquid crystal display 9 in FIG. When the liquid crystal display 9 in FIG. 6 is in the display state, the subject image captured by the image sensor 101 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 9.
The measured rotation angle is indicated by reference numeral 1 in FIG.
As shown in 501, the image is displayed as a part of the subject image being live-viewed.

The photographer can see how much the camera has panned by looking at this value.

When the liquid crystal display 9 in FIG. 6 is not in the display state, only the measured rotation angle is displayed as shown in FIG. Reference numeral 1601 denotes a display format for allowing the photographer to visually understand the measured rotation angle, and reference numeral 1602 denotes an actual measured rotation angle.

Here, returning to FIG. 4, step S401 will be described.
When it is determined in step S403 that the measured rotation angle is not displayed, the process proceeds to step S403. In step S403,
It is determined whether or not a warning is displayed when the panning speed is high. If there is a warning display, step S4 is performed.
In step S04, if there is no warning display, the process returns from the subroutine, and proceeds to step S304 in FIG.

In FIG. 4, in step S404, it is determined whether the panning speed is high. If it is determined in step S404 that the panning speed is too high, a warning is displayed to the photographer in the next step S405. If not, the process returns from the subroutine and proceeds to step S304 in FIG.

In step S404, the threshold value of the speed to be determined is determined according to the time from when the photographed image is recorded on the recording medium until the next photographing can be performed.

For example, suppose that the time until the next image is photographed after photographing the subject is 2 seconds, and the trigger rotation angle in panoramic photographing is 35 degrees. That is, when the camera is rotated by 35 degrees in less than 2 seconds, a warning is issued.

An angular velocity threshold value V_pa for issuing a warning in this case
n is V_pan = 35 [deg] / 2 [sec] = 17.5
[Deg / sec]. If, for example, an angle sensor, an acceleration sensor, and an azimuth sensor are used as the sensor 1401 in FIG. 14, the rotation angle and the angular velocity are calculated by the angle calculation circuit 1404.

In this case, the angular velocity is V_panang
If le is faster than 17.5, a warning is displayed on the liquid crystal display of FIG.

FIG. 17 shows a warning display when the panning speed of the camera is larger than the angular velocity threshold value V_pan while the liquid crystal display 9 of FIG. 6 is displayed.
FIG. 18 shows a warning display when the subject image is not displayed on the liquid crystal display 9 of FIG.

Returning to FIG. 4, in step S405,
When a warning is displayed, the process returns from the subroutine 11 and proceeds to step S304 in FIG.

Here, returning to the flowchart of FIG. 3, in step S304, the measured rotation angle and the trigger rotation angle are compared. If they are equal, the process proceeds to step S307, and if not, the process proceeds to step S305. In step S305, when photographing is performed, photographing is performed in the next step S306, the process returns from subroutine 1, and proceeds to step S210 in FIG.

If it is determined in step S307 that automatic shooting has been set, the flow advances to step S308 to perform automatic shooting. After that, the process proceeds from step S308 to step S309, and a determination as to whether or not to notify the photographer that automatic photographing has been performed is made based on the set value in step S206 in FIG.

When the liquid crystal display 9 shown in FIG. 6 is not displayed, the photographer is notified that automatic photographing has been performed as shown in FIG. When the liquid crystal display 9 is in the display state and the subject image is displayed, the liquid crystal display 9 is imposed during the display as shown in FIG. 20 to notify the photographer that automatic photographing has been performed. Thereafter, the process returns from the subroutine 1 and proceeds to step S210 in FIG.

If it is determined in step S307 that automatic shooting has not been performed, the flow advances to step S311.
In step S311, it is determined whether to notify the photographer that the measured rotation angle has become the trigger rotation angle, based on the value set in step S206. If not notified, the process proceeds to step S313, and if the setting is to notify the photographer, the process proceeds to step S312 to be notified to the photographer. In this case, the means set in step S206 of FIG. 2 is used as the notification means.

If the means set in step S206 is sound, the sound processing circuit 117 reproduces the notification sound from the speaker 118.

If the notification means is a display notification and the liquid crystal display 9 is not in the display state,
As shown in FIG. 1, the photographer is notified that it is the photographing timing. When the liquid crystal display 9 is in the display state and the subject image is displayed, as shown in FIG. 22, the subject is imposed during the display of the subject image and the photographer is notified that it is the shooting timing.

If it is determined in step S313 that photographing is to be performed, photographing is performed in step S314, and thereafter, the process returns from subroutine 1 and proceeds to step S210 in FIG.

If the photographing is terminated and the power is turned off in step S210, the power is turned off in step S211 and the process ends. If not, the process proceeds to step S210.
Returning to 205, shooting is continued.

In the case of panoramic photography, the above-described flow is repeated for the number of images necessary for forming a panorama.

For example, when shooting is performed with a trigger rotation angle of 30 degrees in order to obtain a panoramic image of 180 degrees,
A desired panoramic image can be obtained by taking six images.

In this embodiment, step S3 in FIG.
14, the rotation angle measuring means of the electronic still camera according to the present invention is realized by the configuration shown in the block diagram of FIG. 14. In step S307 of FIG. 3, the control circuit 108, the image sensor 101, and the A / D of FIG. Conversion circuit 10
2. Automatic photographing means is realized by the signal processing circuit 103. In step S311, FIG. 3, the control circuit 108, the frame buffer 105, the display unit 106, and the overlay control circuit 112 of FIG. In step S206 of FIG.
The operation unit 113 realizes a trigger rotation angle setting unit.

Further, in the present embodiment, in step S402 in FIG. 4, a measurement rotation angle display means is realized by the control circuit 108, the frame buffer 105, and the overlay control circuit 112 in FIG.
In step 206, the operation unit 113 of FIG. 1 realizes an automatic shooting setting unit. In step S206 of FIG. 2, a user notification setting unit is realized by the operation unit 113 of FIG. 1. In step S311 of FIG. A sound notification unit is realized by the control circuit 108, the sound processing circuit 117, and the speaker 118. In step S405 of FIG. 4, the control circuit 108 and the frame buffer 10 of FIG.
5. A panning warning unit is realized by the display unit 106 and the overlay control circuit 112.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 23 is a block diagram showing an embodiment in which a panoramic image is shot while an overlay display is performed by an electronic still camera according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIGS. 23 and 24 show the second embodiment.
This will be described below with reference to (a) and (b).

In taking a panoramic image, when the first image constituting the panoramic image is taken, the image pickup device 23
01, A / D conversion circuit 2302, signal processing circuit 2303
The image 2401a acquired by the imaging unit consisting of
Memory buffer 1 by the memory controller 2310
2307 of the memory buffer 2
8 and then compressed by the compression / decompression circuit 2311 and recorded in the removable recording unit 2315.

In taking a panoramic image, when taking a second image constituting the panoramic image, the rotation angle is measured by the rotation angle measuring means 2312 having the configuration shown in the block diagram of FIG.

In the case where the liquid crystal display 9 in FIG. 6 is in the display state and the mode in which the previously acquired image is displayed in the overlay mode, the previously captured image 2401a is in the memory buffer 2308 at 2308. The data is written to the frame buffer 2305 by the circuit 2313, and the display unit 2306, that is, the liquid crystal display 9 in FIG.
Will be displayed. At this time, the image 2401a is displayed at a predetermined location on the screen according to the measured camera rotation angle (see 2401b in FIG. 24B).

For example, it is assumed that when the angle of view of the camera is 60 degrees and the number of horizontal PIXELs on the liquid crystal display 9 is 240, it is measured that the camera rotation angle is panning 20 degrees to the right.

In this case, once the camera is rotated once, 3PI
Since the XEL movement is performed, the movement of 60 PIXEL is performed by the panning of 20 degrees.

That is, the image 2401b at this time is displayed by being shifted by 60 pixels in the right horizontal direction. Further, the current imaging units (2301, 2302, 230
The image 2402 acquired by 3) and stored in 2307 of the memory buffer 1 is written into the frame buffer 2035 by the overlay control circuit 2313 in the remaining space of 60 PIXEL on the right of the liquid crystal display 9, and is displayed on the display unit 2306, ie, FIG. Is displayed on the liquid crystal display 9.

In this embodiment, an overlay display unit is realized by the overlay control circuit 2313, the memory buffer 2 2308, the frame buffer 2305, and the display unit 2306 in FIG.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 25 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic still camera according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

Embodiment 3 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 25, 26 and 27.

The electronic still camera of this embodiment has two rotation angle measuring means, which can measure the rotation angles in two orthogonal directions.

Each measuring means measures the rotation angle in the configuration shown in the block diagram of FIG.

The panning rotation angle of the camera is measured by the X rotation angle measuring means 2511 in FIG. 25, and the tilt rotation angle of the camera is measured by the Y rotation angle measuring means 2518.

If the tilt rotation angle of the camera becomes larger than a preset tilt rotation angle threshold while the camera is panned and the second and subsequent panoramic images are shot, the liquid crystal display 9 is not in the display state. In this case, the user is notified that the tilt rotation angle has shifted as shown in FIG. When the liquid crystal display 9 is in the display state and the subject image is displayed, as shown in FIG. 27, the subject is imposed during the display of the subject image, and the tilt rotation angle is shifted to the photographer. Notify that

The setting of the threshold value of the tilt rotation angle, the setting of whether or not to notify this, and the item of the notifying means are displayed in the same manner as in the embodiment of FIG. 9, and the photographer uses the operation unit 2513 of FIG. To set.

The threshold value of the tilt rotation angle is stored in the internal memory 251.
6 and the control circuit 2508 performs a threshold determination of the tilt rotation angle.

When the vibrator is selected in the setting of the notification means, if the tilt rotation angle exceeds the threshold rotation angle,
The camera body vibrates slightly and the photographer can know that the panning is out of alignment.

In this embodiment, the tilt rotation angle warning means is realized by the configuration of the block diagram shown in FIG. 25, the vibration warning means is realized by the vibration generator 2515 in FIG. 25, and the warning is issued by the operation unit 2513 in FIG. A tilt rotation angle setting means is realized.

[0097]

According to the present invention, it is possible to notify a user of an optimal timing for photographing, efficiently perform panoramic image photographing, and enable quantitatively accurate panoramic image photographing. Present.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an electronic still camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the overall operation of the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a subroutine of the flowchart of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a subroutine of the flowchart of FIG. 3, showing a display method;

FIG. 5 is a front external view of the electronic still camera according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a rear external view of the electronic still camera according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a top external view of the electronic still camera according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a side external view of the electronic still camera according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of an entire screen for setting panorama shooting;

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which panorama shooting is being set;

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing that a trigger rotation angle is being set;

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which automatic shooting is being set;

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing that notification means is being set.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a rotation angle measuring unit.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which a rotation angle is displayed on a display unit and displayed while a subject is displayed.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a rotation angle is displayed and notified while a subject is not displayed.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a panning speed is displayed while a subject is displayed and a warning is issued.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a panning speed is displayed while a subject is not displayed and a warning is issued.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which automatic shooting is displayed and notification is given while a subject is not displayed.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which automatic shooting is displayed and a notification is displayed while a subject is being displayed.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which shooting timing is displayed and notified while a subject is not displayed.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which shooting timing is displayed and displayed while a subject is displayed.

FIG. 23 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an electronic still camera according to a second embodiment.

FIGS. 24A and 24B are explanatory diagrams showing a state of overlay display. FIGS.

FIG. 25 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an electronic still camera according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a tilt rotation angle warning is displayed and notified while a subject is not displayed.

FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which a tilt rotation angle warning is displayed and displayed while a subject is displayed.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 release button 2 set button 3 cancel button 4 liquid crystal panel 7 zoom switch 9 liquid crystal display 10 liquid crystal ON / OFF switch 11 power switch 101 image sensor 102 A / D conversion circuit 103 signal processing circuit 104 reproduction circuit 105 frame buffer 106 display unit 107 Memory buffer 1 108 Control circuit 109 Memory controller 110 Compression / expansion circuit 111 Rotation angle measuring means 112 Overlay control circuit 113 Operation unit 114 Removable recording unit 115 Internal memory 117 Sound processing circuit 118 Speaker

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 5/225 H04N 5/225 Z

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An electronic still camera capable of providing one panoramic image by photographing a plurality of images so as to be continuous spatially and stereoscopically and combining them, wherein an immediately preceding photographing trigger is provided. A rotation angle measuring unit that measures the rotation angle of the camera body from the time when the signal is transmitted to the present time, and compares the measured rotation angle with a preset trigger rotation angle and automatically shoots if equal. Automatic photographing means, and photographing timing notifying means for comparing the measured rotation angle with the trigger rotation angle to notify the user if they are equal by displaying them on a live viewer via an indicator; and An electronic still camera having trigger rotation angle setting means for manually setting a rotation angle value. 2. The electronic still camera according to claim 1, further comprising a measurement rotation angle display unit for displaying the measurement rotation angle on a live viewer of a camera body. 3. The electronic still camera according to claim 1, further comprising an automatic photographing setting unit that sets whether or not to automatically perform photographing based on a coincidence between the measured rotation angle and the trigger rotation angle. 4. The electronic still camera according to claim 1, further comprising a user notification setting unit configured to set whether or not to notify a user based on the coincidence between the measured rotation angle and the trigger rotation angle. . 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sound notifying unit that compares the measured rotation angle and the trigger rotation angle, and notifies the user if the values are equal to each other by sound.
An electronic still camera as described. 6. A panning warning means for notifying a user to change a panning speed of a camera body in accordance with a time interval until a next image can be photographed at the time of panoramic image photographing. Electronic still camera. 7. An electronic still camera capable of providing one panoramic image by photographing a plurality of images so as to be continuous spatially and three-dimensionally and combining them, wherein a previous photographing trigger is provided. A rotation angle measuring unit that measures the rotation angle of the camera body from the time when the signal is transmitted to the present time, and compares the measured rotation angle with a preset trigger rotation angle and automatically shoots if equal. Automatic photographing means, and photographing timing notifying means for comparing the measured rotation angle with the trigger rotation angle to notify the user if they are equal by displaying them on a live viewer via an indicator; and Trigger rotation angle setting means for manually setting a rotation angle value; and a camera for photographing and recording an image recorded for the purpose of obtaining a panoramic image by the electronic still camera. Displayed on the live viewer of the main body, and the captured image according to the measured rotation angle,
An electronic still camera, comprising an overlay display unit for displaying an image currently captured by an image sensor in a margin portion of a live viewer generated by shifting and displaying the image. 8. An electronic still camera capable of providing one panoramic image by photographing a plurality of images so as to be continuous spatially and three-dimensionally and combining them, wherein a previous photographing trigger is provided. A rotation angle measuring unit that measures the rotation angle of the camera body from the time when the signal is transmitted to the present time, and compares the measured rotation angle with a preset trigger rotation angle and automatically shoots if equal. Automatic photographing means, and photographing timing notifying means for comparing the measured rotation angle with the trigger rotation angle to notify the user if they are equal by displaying them on a live viewer via an indicator; and Trigger rotation angle setting means for manually setting the rotation angle value, and panning the camera body during panorama image shooting when panning the camera body If a rotation angle component other than the current direction is detected, and the rotation angle in that direction is larger than a preset warning rotation angle, the user is notified by displaying an indicator on the live viewer. An electronic still camera having a tilt rotation angle warning unit. 9. When panning the camera body during panoramic image capturing, if a rotation angle component other than the panning direction is detected, the rotation angle in that direction is set to a warning rotation that is set in advance. 9. The electronic still camera according to claim 8, further comprising a vibration warning unit for notifying the user by vibrating the camera body held by the user with a vibrator when the angle becomes larger than the angle. 10. The electronic still camera according to claim 8, further comprising warning tilt rotation angle setting means for manually setting the warning rotation angle.