IMAGE CAPTURE DEVICE AND IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE

• US 20080266421A1
• Filed: 01/24/2008
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamada, Akira, Takahata, Junji
• Granted Patent: US 8,264,571 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/231.5
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal

Abstract

An image capture device includes: an imager for imaging an object and generating image data; an image file generator for generating an image file by adding, to the image data generated by the imager, a header portion which stores at least one type of information concerning shooting circumstances; a timer for outputting information indicating a current time; and a manipulation section which is used to set period information specifying a period. The image file generator changes the type of information to be stored in the header portion depending on whether a time of imaging as indicated by the information which is output from the timer at the time of the imaging falls within the period specified by the period information.

Claims

1. An image capture device comprising:

an imager for imaging an object and generating image data;

an image file generator for generating an image file by adding, to the image data generated by the imager, a header portion which stores at least one type of information concerning shooting circumstances;

a timer for outputting information indicating a current time; and

a manipulation section which is used to set period information specifying a period,

wherein the image file generator changes the type of information to be stored in the header portion depending on whether a time of imaging as indicated by the information which is output from the timer at the time of the imaging falls within the period specified by the period information.

2. The image capture device of claim 1, wherein information indicating a start time of the period is set as the period information, and

wherein the image file generator is operable to,

if the time of imaging is before the start time specified by the period information, store in the header portion first time information indicating a point in time at which the object is imaged, and

if the time of imaging is equal to or later than the start time specified by the period information, store in the header portion the first time information and second time information indicating an elapsed time from the start time to the time of imaging.

3. The image capture device of claim 2, wherein information specifying an end time of the period is further set as the period information, and

wherein the image file generator is operable to, if the time of imaging is after the end time specified by the period information, store the first time information to the header portion and not store the second time information to the header portion.

4. The image capture device of claim 2, wherein,

the timer outputs information of a current time of a first location;

the manipulation section is used to set a time difference information specifying a time difference between the first location and a second location; and

based on the information which is output from the timer at the time of the imaging and the time difference information, the image file generator calculates third time information indicating a point in time of the second location at the time of the imaging, and stores the third time information to the header portion as the first time information.

5. The image capture device of claim 4, wherein, if the point in time of the second location as indicated by the third time information is equal to or later than the start time specified by the period information, the image file generator stores the third time information to the header portion as the first time information, and stores fourth time information to the header portion as the second time information, the fourth time information indicating an elapsed time from the start time to the point in time of the second location as indicated by the third time information.

6. An image processing device comprising:

an image acquisition section for acquiring an image file containing image data and time information, the time information specifying a point in time at which the image data is generated;

an image file generator for generating an image file by adding, to the image data acquired by the image acquisition section, a header portion which stores at least one type of information concerning shooting circumstances; and

a manipulation section which is used to set period information specifying a period,

wherein the image file generator changes the type of information to be stored in the header portion depending on whether the point in time at which the image data is generated, as specified by the time information, falls within the period which has been set with the manipulation section.

7. An image processing device comprising:

an image acquisition section for acquiring an image file containing image data and time information, the time information specifying a point in time at which the image data is generated;

a processor for performing a process for outputting an image based on the image data;

an output section for outputting the image; and

a manipulation section which is used to set period information specifying a period,

wherein the image processing device changes the type of information to be output from the output section together with the image depending on whether the point in time at which the image data is generated, as specified by the time information, falls within the period which has been set with the manipulation section.

8. A storage medium having a computer program recorded thereon to be executed by an image capture device,

the image capture device including:

an imager for imaging an object and generating image data;

an image file generator for generating an image file based on the image data generated by the imager;

a timer for outputting information indicating a current time; and

a manipulation section which is used to set period information specifying a period,

wherein the computer program causes the image file generator to execute;

a process of determining whether a time of imaging as indicated by the information which is output from the timer at the time of the imaging falls within the period specified by the period information;

a process of generating a header portion which stores at least one type of information concerning shooting circumstances, where the type of information to be stored is changed depending on a result of the determination; and

a process of generating an image file by adding the header portion to the image data.

9. A storage medium having a computer program recorded thereon to be executed by an image processing device,

the image processing device including:

an image acquisition section for acquiring an image file containing image data and time information, the time information specifying a point in time at which the image data is generated;

an image file generator for generating an image file based on the image data acquired by the image acquisition section; and

a manipulation section which is used to set period information specifying a period,

wherein the computer program causes the image file generator to execute;

a process of determining whether the point in time at which the image data is generated, as specified by the time information, falls within the period which has been set with the manipulation section;

a process of generating a header portion which stores at least one type of information concerning shooting circumstances, where the type of information to be stored is changed depending on a result of the determination; and

a process of generating an image file by adding the header portion to the image data.

10. A storage medium having a computer program recorded thereon to be executed by an image processing device,

the image processing device including:

an image acquisition section for acquiring an image file containing image data and time information, the time information specifying a point in time at which the image data is generated;

a processor for performing a process for outputting an image based on the image data;

an output section for outputting the image; and

a manipulation section which is used to set period information specifying a period,

wherein the computer program causes the processor to execute;

a process of determining whether the point in time at which the image data is generated, as specified by the time information, falls within the period which has been set with the manipulation section; and

a process of changing, depending on a result of the determination, the type of information to be output from the output section together with the image.