JP4631927B2 - Electronic device and control method thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device including a display panel and an operation unit such as a camcorder, a digital camera, a mobile phone, and a PDA, and a control method thereof.

  Electronic devices such as camcorders (generally called camcorder (camera and recorder), generally called video cameras + recorders) are becoming smaller, and the number of hard keys (hereinafter simply referred to as keys) attached to the main body tends to decrease. There is. As a result, functions that cannot be assigned to the keys are operated from the menu, and there is a possibility that the functions are lacking in immediacy, and the functions are less likely to be actually seen, which makes the operation troublesome.

  On the other hand, even if a large number of keys can be provided, the usage of the camcorder differs depending on the user, so that the functions assigned in advance to the keys are not necessarily functions that all users want to provide with the keys.

  With respect to the commander keys of the remote control device for operating the television receiver, only one function desired by the user can be assigned to one key. Is described in Patent Document 1 below.

JP 2002-10380 A

  As described in Patent Document 1, the method of assigning a plurality of functions provided sequentially to one key is limited in the functions that can be assigned even if the number of keys can be reduced. It was difficult to memorize the setting contents and it was difficult to say that the operability was improved. Also, functions are not assigned to a plurality of keys, and it is difficult to say that the function assignment method has good operability.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device and a method for controlling the same, in which operability is improved by assigning a key a function for immediately displaying a setting screen relating to an item provided as a menu or other items. There is.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention includes a plurality of keys for performing operation input,
Control means for assigning a desired function to a plurality of keys,
When the user performs an operation of assigning the first function to one of the plurality of keys, the control means acts on the other operation keys of the plurality of keys in reverse to the first function. an electronic device to be displayed on the display unit a message prompting the allocation of second functions.

The present invention also includes a plurality of keys for performing operation input,
Control means for assigning a desired function to a plurality of keys,
When the user performs an operation of assigning the first function to one of the plurality of keys, the control means acts on the other operation keys of the plurality of keys in reverse to the first function. This is an electronic device that automatically assigns the second function to be performed.

This invention performs operation input with a plurality of keys,
Assign desired functions to multiple keys,
When an operation for assigning the first function to one of the plurality of keys is performed by the user, the second function that acts oppositely to the first function on the other operation keys of the plurality of keys. This is a method of controlling an electronic device that causes a display means to display a message prompting for function assignment.

Further, the present invention performs operation input with a plurality of keys,
Assign desired functions to multiple keys,
When an operation for assigning the first function to one of the plurality of keys is performed by the user, the second function that acts oppositely to the first function on the other operation keys of the plurality of keys. This is a control method for an electronic device that automatically assigns functions.

  In the present invention, a menu is opened for a plurality of keys, an item is selected, and a setting screen for the selected item is displayed. The screen can be displayed, a shortcut function can be realized, and the number of operation steps until the setting is completed can be reduced. In addition, it is possible to assign a function for displaying a setting screen for unique items other than the items selected by opening the menu. The setting screen can be displayed immediately, and the setting can be changed instantly.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an external configuration of a camcorder to which the present invention can be applied. Reference numeral 1 denotes a lens housing portion, and subject light is incident on an image sensor such as a CCD through the lens. Reference numeral 2 is a zoom ring. Reference numeral 3 is a stereo microphone, and reference numeral 4 is an electronic viewfinder.

  Reference numeral 5 is, for example, a 2.5-inch liquid crystal monitor. The liquid crystal monitor 5 can be stored in the storage recess 6 on the side surface of the main body. In FIG. 1, for example, a DV (Digital Video) standard tape cassette housing portion is provided on the opposite side surface of the omitted main body. The video signal of the subject photographed by the camera unit is signal-processed and recorded on the magnetic tape of the tape cassette by the rotating head.

  The camcorder shown in FIG. 1 is provided with a plurality of operation keys. Related to the present invention are an assign key 7, a menu button 8, and a selection / push determination dial 9. As shown in FIG. 2, the assign key 7 includes a plurality of, for example, three assign keys (each assign key will be referred to as assign key 1, 2, 3 as appropriate). The assign key 7 is provided at a position where it can be easily operated, for example, in the vicinity of the zoom ring 2 and separately from other operation keys. As will be described later, the user can assign a desired function to each key of the assign key 7. For example, by pressing the assign key 7, it is possible to perform desired processing such as recording start, tape fast forward, rewind, and lens captured image processing. The key such as the assign key 7 is not limited to a hard key such as a push button type key, a slide type key, or a pressure sensitive switch, and a touch panel configuration that is superimposed on the liquid crystal panel 5 and pressed by a fingertip or the like may be used. it can.

  FIG. 3 shows an outline of the signal processing configuration of the camcorder. In FIG. 3, a solid line indicates a video / audio signal path, a stream path, and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) bus constituting the controller, and a dotted line indicates a CPU control signal path. Subject light is incident on an imager 12 composed of an element such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) via a lens 11. An output signal of the imager 12 is supplied to the camera signal processing unit 13 and various camera signal processing such as color separation and digitization processing is performed.

  The lens capture video signal from the camera signal processing unit 13 is supplied to the baseband processing unit 14. The baseband processing unit 14 is supplied with a display signal such as a menu display from an OSD (On Screen Display) unit 15. The OSD unit 15 generates display signals for menu display, various settings, and the like according to commands from the controller 16 configured by a CPU. The display signal from the OSD unit 15 is combined with the lens capture video signal in the baseband signal processing unit 14.

  A nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM (Electrical Erasable Programmable ROM) is connected to the controller 16 via a CPU bus. Although not shown, a removable memory card can be used as the nonvolatile memory. The CPU bus of the controller 16 is connected to the baseband signal processing unit 14.

  The video signal from the baseband processing unit 14 is compressed using a DCT (Discrete Cosine Transform) or the like in the compression encoder 18 and supplied to the multiplexer 19. The multiplexer 19 multiplexes the compression-coded audio data, system data, etc., and generates recording data. The recording data is supplied to the recording processing unit 20.

  The recording processing unit 20 performs processing such as error correction encoder and channel coding. A recording signal (recording stream data) from the recording processing unit 20 is supplied to the rotary head of the tape head unit 21, and the recording signal is recorded on the magnetic tape as an oblique track by the rotary head.

  A reproduction signal (reproduction stream data) reproduced from the magnetic tape by the rotary head of the tape head unit 21 is supplied to the reproduction processing unit 22. The reproduction processing unit 22 performs processing such as channel coding decoding and error correction.

  Reproduction data from the reproduction processing unit 22 is supplied to the demultiplexer 23, and video data, audio data, and system data are separated. The video data is compressed and decoded by the decompression decoder 24. The video signal from the expansion decoder 24 is supplied to the baseband signal processing unit 14.

  An electronic viewfinder 4 and a liquid crystal panel 5 are connected to the baseband signal processing unit 14. These display devices display a lens-captured image, a tape reproduction image, various menus, and the like. Further, the controller 16 and the key device 25 are coupled. The key device 25 includes keys such as an assign key 7, a menu button 8, and a selection / push determination dial 9. The selection / push determination dial 9 is an input device that can change a selection item on the screen of the liquid crystal panel 5 by rotating the dial, and determines the selection by pressing the dial.

  With reference to FIG. 4, a GUI menu for performing various settings of the camcorder and a method for assigning shortcuts to desired menu items therein will be described. The processing is executed by the CPU of the controller 16 according to a program. Normally, when setting the camcorder, the menu button 8 is pressed to display the menu screen on the liquid crystal panel 5, and, as shown by the screen 31a shown in FIG. Select / press the selection dial 9 to select. The selected item is distinguished from other items by highlighting or the like.

  Menu items are displayed with icons arranged at the left edge of the screen. In addition to “camera settings”, menu items such as “audio settings”, “memory settings”, and “others” are prepared. Although the camcorder is in a recording paused state (recording standby), a menu screen is displayed, and although not shown, the liquid crystal panel 5 displays an image being shot as a background.

  Menus are defined in a hierarchical structure. For example, in the “camera setting”, setting items of “camera shake correction”, “wide setting”, “progressive recording”, “sharpness”, and “gain level” are defined as lower layers. A screen 31b shown in FIG. 4B shows a state in which the item “camera setting” → “camera shake correction” is selected by the selection / push determination dial 9. The screen 31b also displays the current setting of “camera shake correction”, for example, “ON”. The selection / push determination dial 9 is an input device that selects one of a plurality of items by rotating the dial and determines the selection by pressing the dial.

  When the item “camera shake correction” is determined, a “camera shake correction” setting screen 31c is displayed as shown in FIG. 4C. A desired setting can be performed by the selection / push determination dial 9. For example, “ON / OFF” of “IS” can be set. Similarly, for other menu items, a menu item is selected, a setting screen relating to the selected menu item is displayed, and desired settings are performed on the setting screen.

  By assigning the above-mentioned menu item, for example, “camera shake correction” to the assign key 1 in the assign key 7, for example, as shown in FIG. It can be displayed on the panel 5. That is, the assign key 1 has a function as a shortcut key for “camera shake correction”. Since it is possible to instantly display a menu item setting screen assigned in advance, desired settings can be made immediately even during shooting.

  The process of assigning a function to the assign key is executed by the CPU of the controller 16 according to a program. Specifically, it can be executed by selecting the assign key setting menu and operating the selection / push determination dial 9 while viewing the display on the liquid crystal panel 5. That is, the operation is performed by rotating the dial to select an assign key to which a function is to be assigned from among a plurality of assign keys, and then selecting a function to be assigned from the menu items and pressing the dial.

  Menu items other than the items that can be set by displaying the menu and operating the selection / push-decision dial 9 to the assign key described above can be assigned. For example, an item for setting whether or not to display a color bar on the screen of the liquid crystal panel 5 is assigned to the assign key.

  In one embodiment, when one of two paired functions is assigned to one key of a plurality of assign keys, a message prompting to assign the other of the two functions to the assign key is presented. Like to do. The function assignment process for the assign key will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 5 and the display screen of the liquid crystal panel 5 of FIG.

  In step ST1, the menu button 8 is pressed. A menu is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 5. A plurality of menu items are displayed on the menu screen. In step ST2, “user setting switching” is selected from the menu items. Since the assign key 7 has three assign keys, the assign key to which the selected function is to be assigned is selected in the key selection step ST3.

  FIG. 6A shows a screen 41a when the menu item “other” is selected on the menu display screen displayed when the menu button 8 is pressed. Menu items “user setting switching”, “recording mode”, and “recording format” are prepared as menu items under the “other” menu item. When “user setting switching” is selected, a screen 41b shown in FIG. 6B is displayed. When the selection of “user setting switching” is determined, a key selection screen 41c shown in FIG. 6C is displayed. The “user setting switching” menu is a menu for assigning menu items to the assign key 7.

  In the key selection screen 41c, “user setting 1” indicates a menu item assigned to the assignment key 1, and “user setting 2” and “user setting 3” correspond to the assignment key 2 and the assignment key 3. Indicates the assigned menu item. The key selection screen 41c in FIG. 6C shows a state where all user settings are “blank”, that is, a function having no execution function is assigned. By making it possible to assign a blank, it is possible to deal with a user who does not need the function of the assign key, and it is possible to avoid an erroneous operation caused by erroneously pressing the assign key. The same function can be assigned to a plurality of assign keys.

  In the function selection step ST4, the function to be assigned is selected by rotating the selection / push determination dial 9. In step ST5, the selected function is assigned to the assign key selected by pressing the selection / push determination dial 9. Functions that can be assigned to the assign key are assigned not only to functions that can be set by opening the menu, that is, by operating the menu button 8 and the selection / push-decision dial 9, but only for the assign key. It may be possible. When one of the functions that can be set by operating the menu button 8 and the selection / push determination dial 9 is assigned to the assign key, the assign key has a function of a shortcut key.

  For example, when “user setting 1” is selected on the key selection screen 41c, the display is switched, and a function selection screen 41d shown in FIG. 6D is displayed. For example, “blank”, “edit search +”, “edit search-”, and “index entry” are prepared as selectable menu items. “Edit search +” is a function for reproducing the screen in the forward direction in the tape pause state, and “Edit search-” is a function for reproducing the screen in the reverse direction in the tape pause state. Both are examples of two functions in a paired relationship. In addition, “Tele / Wide”, “Focus ±”, and the like are related functions.

  After the function assignment step ST4, a setting result notification screen is displayed (step ST5). In FIG. 6D, for example, when “edit search +” is set as “user setting 1”, a setting result notification screen 41e shown in FIG. 6E is displayed. In addition to displaying that the setting has been completed and that the function “edit search +” has been assigned to the assign key 1, the screen 41e displays the other function of the paired functions, that is, A message prompting assignment of “edit search-” is displayed. Instead of presenting a menu for prompting assignment, another function having a pair relationship may be automatically assigned to another assign key.

  A predetermined waiting time, for example, 5 seconds is set after the setting result notification screen 41e is displayed. When the waiting time elapses, as shown in FIG. 6F, a key selection screen 41f showing the result of assignment to each of the assign keys 7 is displayed. In contrast to the key selection screen 41c, the latest allocation state is displayed on the key selection screen 41f.

  In step ST6, the latest assign key information is stored in the nonvolatile memory (EEPROM 17). Then, in step ST7, it is determined whether or not to perform the function assignment process for other assign keys. In the case of continuing the assignment process, the process returns to the key selection step ST3 (selecting an assign key to which a function is assigned). If the assignment process is to be terminated, the menu button 8 is pressed and the menu is closed (step ST8).

  The function assigned to the assign key 7 can be deleted. Furthermore, the function assigned to each of two keys in a plurality of key units can be exchanged. FIG. 7 illustrates this replacement process.

  FIG. 7A shows a screen 51a when the menu item “others” is selected on the menu display screen displayed when the menu button 8 is pressed. “User setting change” is prepared as a lower menu item. When “change user setting” is selected, a screen 51b shown in FIG. 7B is displayed. When the selection of “change user setting” is determined, a key selection screen 51c shown in FIG. 7C is displayed.

  The key selection screen 51c shows the current key assignment. As an example, an “edit search +” function is assigned to the assign key 1, an “index input” function is assigned to the assign key 2, and an “edit search-” function is assigned to the assign key 3. Assigned.

  When user setting 1 (assign key 1) is selected on the key selection screen 51c and the selection is determined, a replacement destination selection screen 51d shown in FIG. 7D is displayed. User setting 1 (assign key 2) is selected on the replacement destination selection screen 51d. When the determination is made, a process for switching the functions of the user setting 1 and the user setting 2 is performed. Then, as shown in FIG. 7E, it is indicated that the function assigned to the user setting 1 is “index input” and the function assigned to the user setting 2 is “edit search +”. The exchanged result is written to the nonvolatile memory.

  In one embodiment, a series of operations performed by the user can be stored, and the stored operations can be assigned to any of a plurality of assign keys. For example, the menu item “Start a series of camcorder operation storage operations” is prepared. After enabling the storage operation start, press one of the blank assignment keys to start the storage operation. To do. The operation procedure of the camcorder performed from this point in time until the assigned key is pressed again is stored in the nonvolatile memory. When the assign key is pressed after the storage is completed, the operation when the same operation as the stored operation procedure is performed is performed.

  By storing a series of operation procedures, an operation corresponding to the operation procedure can be executed simply by pressing an assign key. Therefore, it is possible to execute a sequence accompanied by an operation frequently used by a user by simply pressing the assign key, and it is possible to easily cope with an emergency or the like.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been specifically described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications based on the technical idea of the present invention are possible. For example, in the processing order, either the key selection step or the function assignment step may be performed first. The present invention can be widely applied to electronic devices having a display panel other than a camcorder and capable of menu display.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the camcorder of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a basic diagram which shows an example of an assign key. It is a block diagram which shows roughly the structure of the signal processing of a camcorder. It is a basic diagram which shows the display of the liquid crystal panel at the time of menu setting. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of an assignment process of an assignment key. It is an approximate line figure showing a display of a liquid crystal panel in an example of assignment processing of an assignment key. It is an approximate line figure showing a display of a liquid crystal panel in other examples of assignment processing of an assignment key.

Explanation of symbols

5 LCD panel 7 Assign key 8 Menu button 9 Selection / push decision dial 12 Imager 15 OSD section 16 Controller 17 EEPROM

Claims (12)

Multiple keys for performing operation input,
Control means for assigning a desired function to the plurality of keys,
When the user performs an operation of assigning the first function to one of the plurality of keys, the control means performs the first function on the other operation keys of the plurality of keys. An electronic device that causes a display means to display a message prompting the assignment of the second function that acts in reverse to the above . In setting replacement menu by specifying the two keys of the plurality of keys, among the two keys, electronic device according to claim 1 to replace the function assigned to each. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an image being captured is displayed as a background on the display unit when the result of the key assignment is displayed on the display unit. Multiple keys for performing operation input,
Control means for assigning a desired function to the plurality of keys,
When the user performs an operation of assigning the first function to one of the plurality of keys, the control means performs the first function on the other operation keys of the plurality of keys. Electronic equipment that automatically assigns a second function that acts in reverse to the above . In setting replacement menu by specifying the two keys of the plurality of keys, among the two keys, the electronic device according to claim 4, replacing the function assigned to each. The electronic device according to claim 4, wherein an image being captured is displayed as a background on the display unit when the result of the key assignment is displayed on the display unit. Perform operation input with multiple keys,
Assign desired functions to the above keys,
When the user performs an operation of assigning the first function to one of the plurality of keys, it acts on the other operation keys of the plurality of keys in reverse to the first function. A control method of an electronic device for causing a display means to display a message for prompting assignment of a second function. In setting replacement menu by specifying the two keys of the plurality of keys, among the two keys, the control method for an electronic apparatus according to claim 7 to replace the function assigned to each. The method of controlling an electronic device according to claim 7, wherein an image being captured is displayed as a background when the result of the key assignment is displayed. Perform operation input with multiple keys,
Assign desired functions to the above keys,
When the user performs an operation of assigning the first function to one of the plurality of keys, it acts on the other operation keys of the plurality of keys in reverse to the first function. An electronic device control method for automatically assigning a second function. In setting replacement menu by specifying the two keys of the plurality of keys, among the two keys, the control method for an electronic apparatus according to claim 10 to replace the function assigned to each. The method of controlling an electronic device according to claim 10, wherein an image being shot is displayed as a background when the key assignment result is displayed.

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