Imaging system, electronic camera, computer system for controlling said electronic camera, and methods of controlling same

What is claimed is:

1. An imaging system comprising:

an electronic camera, which has electronic image pick-up processing means for photographing a subject and producing image data representing a frame of an image of the photographed subject; and

a computer system equipped with a display unit and an input unit, said computer system gerating a preview command and being connected to said electronic camera by a communication line,

said electronic camera comprising

an image memory for storing the image data produced by said electronic image pick-up processing means,

reducing means, coupled to said image memory, for reducing the amount of stored image data representing a frame of the photographed subject by a predetermined amount, and

first response means, operative when the preview command is received from said computer system, for instructing said reducing means to reduce the stored image data by the predetermined amount and for transmitting the reduced image data to said computer system,

said computer system comprising

first command means for transmitting the preview command to said electronic camera when a preview input is applied through said input unit, and

first display control means, operative when the reduced image data transmitted from said first response means of said electronic camera in response to the preview command has been received, for displaying a reduced preview image, which is represented by the reduced image data, on said display unit.

2. The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein said first command means of said computer system transmits a photographic command to said electronic camera before the preview command,

said electronic camera further comprising photography control means for performing control in such a manner that said electronic image pick-up processing means starts photography of the subject in response to the photographic command.

3. The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein said input unit of said computer system comprises:

means for applying the preview input;

means for designating an area to be cut as an area of a main image of the reduced preview image displayed on said display unit;

means for designating a magnification of the main image; and

means for applying a get input for accepting the main image.

4. The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein said computer system generates a get command and wherein said electronic camera further comprises:

second response means operative when the get command, containing data designating magnification of a main image and an area to be cut from the reduced preview image as an area of the main image, has been applied from said computer system, for creating main-image data and for transmitting the main-image data to said computer system, wherein the main-image data comprises the image data of the designated area having the designated magnification, and

said computer system further comprises

second command means, operative when the magnification of the main image, the designation of the area of the main image and a get input indicative of acceptance of the main image have been applied through said input unit, for transmitting the get command, which contains the data indicative of the designated magnification and area, to said electronic camera; and

second display control means, operative when the main-image data transmitted from said second response means of said electronic camera in response to the get command has been received, for displaying the main image represented by the main-image data on said display unit.

5. The imaging system according to claim 4, wherein when the designated magnification is less than 1, said second response means instructs said reducing means to reduce the image data, which has been stored in said image memory, by the designated magnification.

6. The imaging system according to claim 4, wherein said electronic camera further comprises a zoom mechanism for enlarging and forming an image of the subject and means for sensing enlargement magnification performed by said zoom mechanism,

a magnification which exceeds 1 being designated using said input unit of said computer system when the image of the subject is enlarged by said zoom mechanism.

7. The imaging system according to claim 4, wherein the reduced preview image and the main image are displayed in separate display areas on said display unit of said computer system.

8. The image system according to claim 4, wherein said computer system further comprises an internal main memory and an external storage device,

said input unit further comprising selecting means for selecting one of said internal main memory or said external storage device, and

said computer system further comprising memory storage control means for storing the received main-image data in one of said internal main memory or said external storage device in dependence upon selection performed by said selecting means.

9. The imaging system according to claim 8, wherein said computer system further comprises means for performing control in such a manner that a remaining capacity of said internal main memory and a volume of the received main-image data are calculated and displayed on said display unit.

10. The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein said computer system further comprises control-parameter command means for setting control parameters, which are for photography of the subject by said electronic image pick-up processing means of said electronic camera and which are input via said input unit, and for transmitting the set control parameters to said electronic camera,

said electronic image pick-up processing means of said electronic camera executing image pick-up processing in conformity with the set control parameters transmitted by said control-parameter command means.

11. The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein said electronic camera is provided with a monitor display unit for displaying the image of the subject imaged by said electronic image pick-up processing means.

12. The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein said computer system is provided with a monitor display unit for displaying the image of the subject imaged by said electronic image pick-up processing means of said electronic camera.

13. An electronic camera connectable to and communicating with a computer system, said computer system generating a preview command, the electronic camera comprising:

electronic image pick-up processing means for photographing a subject and producing image data representing an image of the photographed subject;

an image memory for storing the image data produced by said electronic image pick-up processing means;

reducing means, coupled to said imaqe memory, for reducing the amount of stored image data representing a frame of the photographed subject by a predetermined amount; and

first response means, operative when the preview command has been applied thereto from said computer system, for directing said reducing means to reduce the stored image data by the predetermined amount and for transmitting the reduced image data to said computer system.

14. The electronic camera according to claim 13, wherein said computer system generates a photographic command, the electronic camera further comprising:

photography control means for performing control in such a manner that said electronic image pick-up processing means starts photography of the subject in response to receipt of the photographic command from said computer system.

15. The electronic camera according to claim 13, wherein said computer system displays a reduced preview image representing the reduced image data and generates a get command, the electronic camera further comprising:

second response means operative when the get command containing data designating magnification of a main image and an area to be cut from the reduced preview image as an area of the main image, is received from said computer system, for creating main-image data and for transmitting the main-image data to said computer system, wherein the main-image data comprises the image data of the designated area having the designated magnification.

16. A computer system connectable to and communicating with an electronic camera, said electronic camera producing image data representing an image of a photographed subject, the computer system comprising:

an input unit for applying a preview input;

first command means for transmitting a preview command to said electronic camera when the preview input has been applied through said input unit, the preview command directing said electronic camera to reduce the amount of image data representing a frame of the photographed subject by a predetermined amount and to transmit the reduced image data to the computer system; and

first display control means, operative when the reduced image data produced and transmitted by said electronic camera in response to the preview command has been received by the computer system, for displaying a reduced preview image, which is represented by the reduced image data, on a display unit.

17. The computer system according to claim 16, wherein said first command means transmits a photographic command to said electronic camera before the preview command.

18. The computer system according to claim 16, wherein said input unit comprises:

means for designating an area to be cut from the reduced preview image displayed on said display unit as an area of a main image;

means for designating magnification of the main image; and

means for applying a get input for accepting the main image.

19. The computer system according to claim 18, further comprising:

second command means, operative when the magnification of the main image, the designation of the area to be cut as the area of the main image and the get input indicative of acceptance of the main image have been applied through said input unit, for transmitting a get command, which contains data indicative of the designated magnification and area, to said electronic camera; and

second display control means, operative when main-image data transmitted from said electronic camera in response to the get command has been received, for displaying the main image represented by the main-image data on said display unit.

20. The computer system according to claim 19, further comprising an internal main memory and an external storage device,

said input unit further comprising selecting means for selecting one of said internal main memory or said external storage device,

the received main-image data being stored in one of said internal main memory or said external storage device in dependence upon selection performed by said selecting means.

21. The computer system according to claim 16, further comprising control-parameter command means for setting control parameters, which are for photography of the subject by said electronic camera and which are input via said input unit, and for transmitting the set control parameters to said electronic camera.

22. A method of controlling an electronic camera connectable to and communicating with a computer system, comprising:

photographing a subject in response to receipt of a photographic command applied from the computer system;

producing image data representative of an image of the photographed subject;

storing the image data;

reducing the amount of stored image data representing a frame of the photographed subject by a predetermined amount in response to receipt of a preview command applied from the computer system; and

transferring the reduced image data to the computer system.

23. The method of controlling an electronic camera according to claim 22, further comprising starting photography of the subject in response to receipt of a photographic command applied from the computer system.

24. The method of controlling an electronic camera according to claim 22, wherein the computer system displays a reduced preview image representing the reduced image data, the method further comprising:

creating main-image data representing a designated area and having a designated magnification from the stored image data and transferring the main-image data to the computer system upon receipt of a get command from the computer system, the get command containing data designating magnification of a main image and data desiqnating an area to be cut from the reduced preview image as an area of the main image.

25. A method of controlling a computer system connectable to and communicating with an electronic camera, comprising:

transferring a photographic command to the electronic camera in response to application of a photographic input to the computer system, the photographic command directing the electronic camera to begin photography of a subject to produce image data of the photographed subject;

transferring a preview command to the electronic camera in response to application of a preview input to the computer system, the preview command directing the electronic camera to reduce the amount of image data representing a frame of the photographed image and to transfer the reduced image data to the computer system; and

displaying a reduced preview image, which is represented by the reduced image data, upon receipt of the reduced image data from the electronic camera.

26. The method of controlling a computer system according to claim 25, further comprising:

transferring a get command, which contains data designating a magnification and an area of the reduced preview image as a main imaqe of the imaqe data of the photographed subject, to the electronic camera in response to application of a magnification input and an area input to the computer system,

the electronic camera transferring main-image data representing the designated area having the designated magnification to the computer system in response to receipt of the get command from the computer system; and

displaying the main image represented by the main-image data.

27. The method of controlling a computer system according to claim 25, further comprising storing the main-image data in an internal main memory of the computer system or in an external storage device in response to application of a selection input to the computer system indicative of a storaqe mode.

28. The method of controlling a computer system according to claim 25, further comprising setting control parameters, which are for photography of the subject by the electronic camera and transferring the set control parameters to the electronic camera in response to application of parameter control inputs to the computer system.

29. The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein said electronic camera is connectable to a monitor display unit for displaying the image of the subject imaged by said electronic image pick-up processing means.

30. The image system according to claim 1, wherein said computer system is connectable to a monitor display unit for displaying the image of the subject imaged by said electronic image pick-up processing means of said electronic camera.

31. A method of imaging a subject with an electronic camera under control of a computer system coupled to the electronic camera, the method comprising the steps of:

generating a preview command and a photograph command in response to respective application of a preview input and a photograph input to the computer system;

transmitting the preview command and the photograph command to the electronic camera,

the electronic camera photographing the subject to produce image data of the photographed subject and storing the image data in response to receipt of the photograph command from the computer system,

the electronic camera reducing the amount of stored image data representing a frame of the photographed subject by a predetermined amount and transmitting the reduced image data to the computer system in response to receipt of the preview command; and

displaying a reduced preview image in accordance with the reduced image data transmitted from the electronic camera.

32. The method of imaging of claim 31, further comprising:

generating a get command designating an area to be cut from the reduced preview image as an area of a main image and a magnification of the main image in response to application of an area input and a magnification input to the computer system;

transmitting the get command to the electronic camera,

the electronic camera creating main-image data from the stored image data in accordance with the designated area and the designated magnification and transmitting the main-image data to the computer system in response to receipt of the get command; and

displaying the main image in accordance with the main-image data transmitted from the electronic camera.

33. The method of imaging of claim 32, further comprising:

storing the main-image data transmitted from the electronic camera in an internal main memory of the computer system or an external storage device of the computer system in accordance with a selection input applied to the computer system indicative of a desired storage mode.

34. The method of imaging of claim 31, further comprising:

setting control parameters for photography of the subject by the electronic camera in response to application of control parameter inputs to the computer system; and

transmitting the set control parameters to the electronic camera,

the electronic camera executing photography in conformity with the set control parameters transmitted from the computer system.

35. The method of imaging of claim 34, wherein at least one of the control parameters is set automatically by the computer system.

36. The method of imaging of claim 34, wherein said step of setting control parameters comprises setting at least one of the control parameters in accordance with selection of previously determined stored control parameter values.

Description Submit all comments and votes

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an imaging system, an electronic camera, a computer system for controlling the electronic camera, and a method of controlling these systems as well as the electronic camera.

2. Description of the Related Art

Electronic cameras for photographing a subject and outputting an analog video signal or digital image signal which represents the image of the photographed subject include video cameras, still-video cameras (electronic still-video cameras), digital still-video cameras (digital electronic still-video cameras), etc.

Without exception, these electronic cameras are such that shutter release, as a matter of course, and the setting (with the exception of cases in which automatic setting is performed) of so-called camera control parameters for image pick-up and image processing, such as amount of exposure (f-stop and shutter speed) and white balance, are carried out on the side of the electronic camera using switches, buttons, etc., provided on the electronic camera.

Electronic cameras, especially digital-type electronic cameras in which digital image data is obtained, have recently become the focus of much attention since they make possible the development of applications that can be used in tandem with a computer system. For example, new media can be created by preserving image data, which represents the image of the subject obtained from the electronic camera, on a recording medium such as an optical disk or magnetic disk provided in a computer system, and editing the image data. This new media can be utilized in the presentation of official reports, advertisements and data, as well as in the provision of information, using visual images.

In order to create such new media, the image data obtained by photography using the electronic camera must be transmitted to the computer system. Since the image data generally is of great volume, transmission requires a long period of time.

Before the image data representing the image of the subject photographed by the electronic camera is stored on the recording medium, determining whether the subject has been photographed properly is important. If photography is improper, it is required that photography, inclusive of resetting of the camera control parameters, be performed again.

In order to visually determine whether the subject has been photographed properly, it is required that the image of the subject represented by the digital image data obtained from the electronic camera be displayed on a display unit. When it is attempted to display the image of the subject on the screen of a display unit provided in the computer system, it is necessary for all of the image data to be transmitted from the electronic camera to the computer system. As a result, the transmission time is prolonged, as mentioned above, and efficiency declines.

The setting of the camera control parameters for photography is carried out in the electronic camera, as mentioned above. Whenever the photographic conditions are changed, the operator of the computer system is compelled to go to the location of the electronic camera to make the necessary adjustments. This is a troublesome task.

Furthermore, it is not necessarily desirable for the entirety of the image of the subject photographed by the electronic camera to be always stored on the recording medium. There are cases in which only part of the photographed image of the subject is required. If only the necessary image data is cut out and stored on the recording medium, the volume of data is reduced. In addition, the image stored on the recording medium is required to be enlarged or reduced as needed.

In an imaging system configured by linking an electronic camera and a computer system in view of the foregoing points, it is preferred that the imaging system be so arranged that such operations as the operation for performing photography, the operation for communicating the image data and the operation for storing the image data on the recording medium all be implementable on the side of the computer system.

A solid-state electronic image sensing device such as a CCD has the advantage of being small in size and therefore is utilized in electronic still-video cameras and the like. However, a solid-state electronic image sensing device may produce an output of a spurious signal indicative of smear or the like, and flicker may occur owing to a difference in the magnitude of dark current caused by a difference in field read-out time. Consequently, in a case where the solid-state electronic image sensing device is utilized in an electronic still-video camera, it is necessary to prevent output of the spurious signal and to perform photographic processing through which the dark currents are made to coincide every field.

Conventional photographic processing operations for sweeping out smear charge and making the magnitudes of dark current coincide are controlled separately by an imaging processor contained in the electronic still-video camera. Consequently, a problem which arises is that there is an increase in the number of control lines in the electronic still-video camera, which are provided in addition to those for recording. It is vital that this problem be solved, especially in an electronic still-video camera having a separable camera head.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The principal object of the invention is to make it possible to rapidly transmit image data from an electronic camera to a computer system in order to verify a photographed image and store the image on a recording medium.

Another object of the invention is to arrange it so that image data treated so as to be suited for storage on a recording medium can be obtained from an electronic camera.

Still another object of the invention is to arranged it so that photography by an electronic camera as well as the setting of conditions for photography can be performed in a computer system.

A further object of the invention is to arranged it so that the set ting of camera control parameters such as amount of exposure and various balances in an imaging system composed of a combination of an electronic camera and computer system can be performed on the side of the computer system.

A further object of the invention is to arrange it so that the number of control lines for recording a subject can be reduced in an electronic still-video camera which picks up the image of the subject using a solid-state electronic image sensing device.

An imaging system according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises an electronic camera, which has electronic image pick-up processing means for photographing a subject and producing image data representing an image of the photographed subject, and a computer system equipped with a display unit and an input unit and connected to the electronic camera by a communication line.

The electronic camera includes an image memory for storing the image data produced by the electronic image pick-up processing means, image reducing means for reducing, at a given magnification, the image data stored in the image memory, and first response means, operative when a preview command is applied thereto from the computer system, for causing the image reducing means to reduce the image data at the given magnification and transmitting the reduced image data to the computer system.

The computer system includes first command means for transmitting the preview command to the electronic camera when a preview input is applied through the input unit, and first display control means, operative when the reduced image data transmitted from the first response means of the electronic camera in response to the preview command is received, for displaying a reduced preview image represented by the reduced image data, on the display unit.

The present invention further provides a method of controlling the above-mentioned imaging system, the electronic camera and computer system which construct the imaging system, and methods of controlling the electronic camera and computer system.

In accordance with the invention, the image data representing the image of the subject picked up in the electronic camera is reduced, transmitted to the computer and displayed on the display unit when the preview command is applied to the electronic camera from the computer system. Since the amount of image data is small, transmission time can be shortened. Whether or not an acceptable image has been obtained can be judged by observing the preview image displayed.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the electronic camera further comprises second response means operative when a get command containing data designating magnification of a main image as well as an area to be cut from the main image is applied to the computer system, for creating main-image data and transmitting it to the computer system, wherein the main-image data has the magnification designated with regard to the image data of the designated area.

In this preferred embodiment, the computer system includes second command means, operative when the magnification of the main image, the designation of the area to be cut from the main image and a get input of the main image are applied through the input unit, for transmitting the get command, which contains the data designating the applied magnification and area, to the electronic camera, and second display control means, operative when the main-image data transmitted from the second response means of the electronic camera in response to the get command is received, for displaying the main image represented by this main-image data on the display unit.

Thus, the area to be cut from the main image on the reduced preview image displayed and the magnification of the main image can be designated in the computer system. Main-image data having the designated magnification of the designated area is transmitted from the electronic camera in conformity with the designations of area and magnification and the get command. As a result, the main-image data can be displayed on the display unit and stored on a recording medium.

Further, the main-image data transmitted from the electronic camera to the computer system is solely that within the designated area. Accordingly, the amount of data generally is small in comparison with the image data in the entire area. This is useful also in curtailing transmission time.

In another embodiment of the invention, the computer system transmits a photographic command to the electronic camera prior to the preview command. The electronic camera causes the electronic image pick-up processing means to start photography of the subject in response to the photographic command.

Thus, the shutter release of the electronic camera can be carried out in the computer system.

According to still another embodiment of the invention, the computer system further includes control-parameter command means for setting control parameters, which are for photography of the subject by the electronic image pick-up processing means of the electronic camera, in the input unit and transmitting the set control parameters to the electronic camera. The electronic image pick-up processing means of the electronic camera executes image pick-up processing in conformity with the control parameters applied by the control-parameter command means.

Since control parameters which represent the photographic conditions of the electronic camera can be set in the computer system, all of the photographic operations in the electronic camera can be carried out by the computer system.

An imaging system according to a second aspect of the invention comprises an electronic camera, which has electronic image pick-up processing means for photographing a subject and producing image data representing an image of the photographed subject, and a computer system provided separately of the electronic camera and connected thereto by a communication line.

The computer system includes control-parameter setting means for setting control parameters for photography of the subject by the electronic image pick-up processing means of the electronic camera, photographic-command input means for starting photography of the subject by the electronic image pick-up processing means of the electronic camera, transmission-command input means for commanding that the image data produced by the electronic image pick-up processing means of the electronic camera is to be transmitted, and means for transmitting, to the electronic camera, the control parameters set by the control-parameter setting means, the photographic command inputted by the photographic-command input means and the transmission command inputted by the transmission-command input means.

The electronic camera includes means for adjusting operating conditions of image pick-up processing performed by the electronic image pick-up processing means, photography-start control means for performing control in such a manner that the electronic image pick-up processing means starts image pick-up processing of the image of the subject in response to the photographic command that has been transmitted from the computer system, and means for transmitting the image data, which has been produced by the electronic image pick-up processing means, to the computer system in response to the transmission command transmitted from the computer system.

The present invention according to the second aspect thereof further provides a method of controlling the above-mentioned imaging system, the electronic camera and computer system which construct the imaging system, and methods of controlling the electronic camera and computer system.

The electronic camera lacks a shutter release switch and control-parameter setting unit operated by a human being.

In accordance with the invention, control parameters are set in the computer system and the set control parameters are transmitted to the electronic camera. The operating conditions conforming to the control parameters are adjusted in the electronic camera. When the photographic command is inputted in the computer system, the inputted photographic command is transmitted to the electronic camera, where photographic processing is executed. The image data representing the image of the subject photographed is transmitted to the computer system.

Thus, the control parameters which represent the photographic conditions of the electronic camera can be set in the computer system. As a result, all of the photographic operations in the electronic camera can be performed by the computer system.

An imaging system according to a third aspect of the invention comprises an electronic camera, which has electronic image pick-up processing means for photographing a subject and producing image data representing an image of the photographed subject, and a computer system capable of communicating with the electronic camera.

The electronic image pick-up processing means of the electronic camera includes means for detecting a present controlled variable for photographic processing, means for controlling feedback in such a manner that the detected controlled variable will agree with a given target value, automatic control means for deciding a target value, which is based upon information obtained from the subject or set information, in an automatic control mode, and applying the decided target value to the feedback control means, and control means for starting the automatic control means when an automatic control command has been applied from the computer system, and transmitting the present controlled variable detected by the detecting means to the computer system, and thereafter applying the target value, which will be transmitted from the computer system, to the feedback control means, when a manual control command has been applied.

The computer system includes means for setting one of the automatic control mode and manual control mode, means for issuing, and transmitting to the electronic camera, the automatic control command when the automatic control mode has been set and the manual control command when the manual control mode has been set, means for displaying the present controlled variable transmitted from the electronic camera in response to the manual control command when the manual control command has been issued, means for setting a target value in the manual control mode, and means for transmitting the set target value to the electronic camera.

The present invention according to the third aspect thereof further provides a method of controlling the above-mentioned imaging system, the electronic camera and computer system which construct the imaging system, and methods of controlling the electronic camera and computer system.

The amount of exposure, white balance, black balance, focusing and amount of zoom can be cited as camera control parameters subjected to feedback control by the automatic control means.

In control of amount of exposure, for instance, the brightness of the subject is measured. The value of f-stop and the shutter speed (which correspond to target values) are decided based upon the photometric value obtained by above-mentioned measurement. The presently prevailing f-stop value (which corresponds to the present controlled variable) is detected, and feedback control is performed in the electronic camera in such a manner that the f-stop value will attain the target f-stop value. In the manual control mode, the f-stop value detected by the electronic camera is transmitted to the computer system, where the value is displayed. The user observes this display and is capable of setting the f-stop value, which serves as the target, in the computer system. The target f-stop value set in the computer system is transmitted to the electronic camera, where the above-mentioned feedback control is executed.

An automatic mode and a remote mode in a preferred embodiment of the invention, described below, correspond to the automatic control mode and manual control mode, respectively, of the invention.

In accordance with the present invention, a manual control command is transmitte