Digital camera

• US 20060044444A1
• Filed: 08/25/2005
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PENTAX RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD.
• Original Assignee: Pentax Corporation (Hoya Corporation)
• Inventors: Okamoto, Teppei, Tatamiya, Hisashi
• Granted Patent: US 7,508,438 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/333.50
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/743 Bracketing, i.e. taking a series of images with varying exposure conditions

Abstract

A digital camera generates a plurality of photograph image as a bracket image of an object. The digital camera comprises a setting processor that sets a plurality of steps for first and second parameters, a first bracket processor that obtains a plurality of intermediate images of the object based on each the step of the first parameter, and a second bracket processor that obtains a plurality of photograph images from each of the intermediate images based on each step of the second parameter.

Claims

1. A digital camera, generating a plurality of photograph images as bracket images, of an object, comprising:

a setting processor that sets a plurality of steps for first and second parameters,

a first bracket processor that obtains a plurality of intermediate images of said object based on each said step of said first parameter, and

a second bracket processor that obtains a plurality of photograph images from each image of said intermediate images based on each said step of said second parameter.

2. A digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said digital camera further comprises:

a monitor, and

a first display processor that displays a display image on said monitor, said display image containing two or more than two of said photograph images.

3. A digital camera according to claim 2, wherein said first display processor displays said display image containing all said plurality of photograph images which are obtained by said second bracket processor.

4. A digital camera according to claim 2, wherein said first display processor divides a display field of said display image into vertical columns based on the number of said steps of one parameter of said first and second parameters, and horizontal rows based on the number of said steps of another parameter of said first and second parameters so as to generate a plurality of divided unit fields, each said photograph image being displayed in each said divided unit field.

5. A digital camera according to claim 4, wherein said first display processor arranges said photograph images, generated based on a single step of one parameter of said first and second parameters, in a vertical direction.

6. A digital camera according to claim 5, wherein said first display processor arranges said photograph images, generated based on a single step of another parameter of said first and second parameters, in a horizontal direction.

7. A digital camera according to claim 6, wherein the number of said steps of said first parameter is the same as the number of said steps of said second parameter.

8. A digital camera according to claim 6, wherein said first display processor rearranges said photograph images, generated based on said single step of said one parameter, in a horizontal direction, and said photograph images generated based on said single step of said another parameter, in a vertical direction, on said display field.

9. A digital camera according to claim 8, wherein said first image display processor rearranges said photograph images according to a switch operation.

10. A digital camera according to claim 2, wherein said digital camera further comprises:

a distinction processor that distinguishes at least one of said photograph images from other said photograph images.

11. A digital camera according to claim 10, wherein said digital camera further comprises:

a deletion processor that deletes said images which are distinguished by said distinction processor.

12. A digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said digital camera comprises a third bracket processor,

said setting processor setting a plurality of steps for a third parameter,

said first bracket processor obtaining a plurality of first intermediate images of said object based on each said step of said first parameter,

said second bracket processor obtaining a plurality of second intermediate images from each said first intermediate image based on each said step of said second parameter, and

said third bracket processor obtaining a plurality of photograph images from each said second intermediate image based on each said step of said third parameter.

13. A digital camera according to claim 12, wherein said digital camera further comprises:

a monitor, and

a second display processor that displays a display image on said monitor, said display image containing photograph images which are generated based on a single step of a specific parameter of said first, second, and third parameters.

14. A digital camera according to claim 13, wherein said specific parameter is changed according to a switch operating.

15. A digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said first and second parameters are selected from a plurality of selectable parameters.

16. A digital camera according to claim 15, wherein said plurality of selectable parameters include an exposure value, a white balance value, a sharpness value, a saturation value, and a contrast value.

17. A digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said first bracket processor is a photograph processor, and said second bracket processor is an image processor, and

said photograph processor continuously generates a plurality of frames of original image signals of substantially the same object image according to each said step of said one parameter, and

said image processor converts said frames of said original image signals to a plurality of said photograph images according to each said step of said another parameter.

18. A digital camera according to claim 1, comprising a photograph processor and an image processor, and both said first and second bracket processors being image processors,

wherein said photograph processor generates a frame of an original image signals from an object, and

said image processor converts said frame of said original image signals to said intermediate images based on each said step of first parameter, and further converts each said intermediate image to said plurality of photograph images based on each said step of said second parameter.

19. A digital camera, generating a plurality of photograph images as bracket images of an object, comprising:

a setting processor that sets a plurality of steps for first and second parameters, and

a bracketing processor that generates said plurality of photograph images of said object, based on each first multi-parameter of a plurality of said first multi-parameters;

wherein each said first multi-parameter is a combination of each said step of said first parameter and each said step of said second parameter.

20. A digital camera according to claim 19, wherein said setting processor sets a plurality of steps for a third parameter, and

said bracketing processor converts said object image to a plurality of photograph images as bracket images, based on each second multi-parameter of a plurality of second multi-parameters;

wherein each said second multi-parameter is a combination of each said first multi-parameter and each step of said third parameter.

21. A bracket-image generating device, which obtains a plurality of photograph images of an object, comprising:

a first bracket processor that obtains a plurality of intermediate images of said object based on a first parameter, said first parameter having a plurality of steps, said each intermediate image being obtained based on each step of said plurality of steps of said first parameter,

a second bracket processor that obtains a plurality of photograph images from each said intermediate image, based on a second parameter, said second parameter having a plurality of steps, said each photograph image being obtained based on each step of said plurality of steps of said second parameter,

a monitor, and

a display processor that displays a display image on said monitor, said display image being divided into vertical columns and horizontal rows so as to generate a plurality of divided unit fields;

wherein said display processor displays each image of said photograph images in each said divided unit field.

22. A device according to claim 21, wherein said display processor arranges said photograph images, generated based on a single step of one parameter of said first and second parameters, in a vertical direction, and said photograph images, generated based on a single step of another parameter of said first and second parameters, in a horizontal direction.

23. A device according to claim 22, wherein said first display processor rearranges said photograph images, generated based on said single step of said one parameter, in a horizontal direction, and said photograph images generated based on said single step of said another parameter, in a vertical direction, on said display field.

24. A device according to claim 21, wherein said digital camera comprises a third bracket processor,

said first bracket processor obtaining a plurality of first intermediate images of said object based on said first parameter, said first parameter having a plurality of steps, said each first intermediate image being obtained based on each step of said plurality of steps of said first parameter,

said second bracket processor obtaining a plurality of second intermediate images from each said first intermediate image, based on said second parameter, said second parameter having a plurality of steps, said each second intermediate image being obtained based on each step of said plurality of steps of said second parameter,

said third bracket processor obtaining a plurality of photograph images from each said second intermediate image, based on a third parameter, said third parameter having a plurality of steps, said photograph image being obtained based on each step of said plurality of steps of said third parameter.

25. A device according to claim 24, wherein said display image contains photograph images which are generated based on a single step of a specific parameter of said first, second, and third parameters.

26. A digital camera according to claim 25, wherein said specific parameter is changed according to a switch operating.