JP4840488B2 - Imaging apparatus, screen display method, and user interface - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus, a screen display method, and a user interface in which a shooting mode and a playback mode exist simultaneously.

As a digital camera, a display device having a relatively large screen, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) is widely used. The LCD is used for setting the composition, the angle of view, and the like at the time of shooting, and is also used for reproducing recorded images and displaying reproduced images.

  In an electronic camera capable of taking a moving image and a still image, Patent Document 1 below describes that a moving image and a still image are displayed side by side on the same time axis in the shooting order for each shooting date. What is described in Patent Document 1 displays a photographed image and makes it possible to easily search for an image to be reproduced.

Japanese Patent No. 303324

  In the conventional digital camera, some operation of the input device is required to switch between the photographing mode and the reproduction mode. As a result, the shooting mode and the playback mode are separated, and for example, it is difficult to perform shooting while confirming the image shot immediately before. The user interface of the digital camera is preferably predictable and intuitive for a plurality of users. Such an interface can be said to be consistent with the user's conceptual model. The one described in Patent Document 1 is intended only for a photographed image, and no consideration is given to the image captured in the photographing mode, and mode switching is matched with the user's conceptual model. There is no mention of doing so.

  Further, when it is desired to delete the recorded image, an operation for deleting the recorded image is necessary after switching from the photographing mode to the reproduction mode, and the operability is not good.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus, a screen display method, and a user interface that can improve the operability by simultaneously having a shooting mode and a playback mode.

In order to solve the above-described problem, a first aspect of the present invention includes an imaging unit, a display unit that displays an image, an input unit that can accept an operation input specifying a one-dimensional direction by a user, When an operation input designating a one-dimensional direction is received by the input unit, a shooting mode in which a first image that is an image of a subject currently captured by the imaging unit is displayed at a predetermined position on the display unit, and a storage medium In the reproduction mode, only a plurality of second images that have been shot and stored in the display unit are displayed on a straight line along a time axis at a predetermined position on the display unit. By sending the first image and the second image in the direction corresponding to the direction of the one-dimensional operation input received by the input unit, a part of the first image is placed at a predetermined position on the display unit; Immediately before multiple second images At the same time a part of the captured second image is an image pickup apparatus and a control to the control unit such as through a display transition screen and do not overlap as displayed on the linear axis along the time axis.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a screen display method in an imaging apparatus including an imaging unit, a display unit that displays an image, and an input unit that can accept an operation input that specifies a one-dimensional direction by a user. When an operation input specifying a one-dimensional direction is received by the input unit, a shooting mode in which a first image that is an image of a subject currently captured by the imaging unit is displayed at a predetermined position on the display unit, and storage Transition from one to the other of the playback modes in which only a plurality of captured second images stored on the medium are displayed on a straight line along a time axis at a predetermined position of the display unit and at the time of transition The first image and the second image are sent in a direction corresponding to the direction of the one-dimensional operation input received by the input unit, so that a part of the first image is placed at a predetermined position on the display unit. Multiple second A screen display method in an imaging device via a display transition screen displayed on a linear axis along a time axis so that a part of a second image taken immediately before of two images does not overlap at the same time. is there.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the user interface of the imaging apparatus having an imaging unit, a display unit that displays an image, and an input unit that can accept an operation input that specifies a one-dimensional direction by the user, When an operation input designating a one-dimensional direction is received by the unit, a first image that is an image of a subject currently captured by the imaging unit is displayed at a predetermined position on the display unit, and a storage medium Transition from one to the other of the playback modes in which only a plurality of stored second images are displayed on a straight line at a predetermined position on the display unit along the time axis and input at the time of transition by the first image and the second image is sent in the direction corresponding to the direction of the one-dimensional operation input accepted by the Department, at a predetermined position of the display unit, and a portion of the first image, a plurality The first Some of the second image which was captured immediately before of the image and simultaneously, a user interface of an image pickup apparatus via a display transition screens displayed on the linear axis along the time axis so as not to overlap and.

  According to the present invention, the captured image and the recorded image captured immediately before are displayed at the same time, so it is possible to determine the subject, composition, etc. to be newly captured while viewing the recorded image. In the present invention, since the photographing mode and the reproduction mode exist at the same time, the modes can be switched seamlessly. Even during shooting, recorded images can be deleted without switching modes.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of one Embodiment of the imaging device by this invention. It is a basic diagram for demonstrating the arrangement | positioning on the time-axis of the image in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a basic diagram used for description of the display data hold | maintained on the internal recording medium in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a basic diagram which shows in order the transition of a display screen when a shutter button is pushed when wide LCD is used. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram sequentially illustrating transition of a display screen during a deletion operation when a delete button is pressed when a wide LCD is used. It is a basic diagram which shows in order the animation transition of the display screen at the time of mode switching at the time of using wide LCD. It is a basic diagram for demonstrating an example of the dial which can be used for this invention, and another example.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a portion surrounded by a broken line indicates a processing unit controlled by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 1.

  The processing unit 1 includes an internal recording medium 3 such as a RAM, an image processing unit 4, an external interface 5, an RGB processing unit 6, a signal processing unit 7, and a video output processing unit 8. An operation unit 9 is connected to the CPU 2, and a signal corresponding to an operation of a shutter or the like provided in the operation unit 9 is supplied to the CPU 2.

Furthermore, data obtained by compressing the image signal with JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) or the like is recorded on the external recording medium 11 via the media processing unit 10. The external recording medium 11 is a writable optical disc, a memory card, or the like.

  The signal processing unit 7 is supplied with an imaging signal from a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) 12 as an imaging device, and processes the imaging signal. Regardless of the presence or absence of input from the operation unit 9, the image signal captured by the CCD 12 is output from the signal processing unit 7 and stored in the internal recording medium 3. During shooting, the image on the internal recording medium 3 is constantly updated. Writing and reading of data on the internal recording medium 3 are controlled by the CPU 2.

An imaging signal from the internal recording medium 3 is supplied to the RGB processing unit 6 through the signal processing unit 7, and a display signal formed by the RGB processing unit 6 is supplied to an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 13 as a display device. . The LCD 13 is provided on the back surface of the camera body, for example.
The LCD 13 displays not only the image pickup signal but also an image signal captured from the external recording medium 11 via the media processing unit 10.

  When the shutter of the operation unit 9 is pressed, the image signal captured in the internal recording medium 3 is converted into an image file such as JPEG in the image processing unit 4. The image file is stored in the internal recording medium 3 as data different from the imaging signal. Then, the image file read from the internal recording medium 3 is stored in the external recording medium 11 via the media processing unit 10 under the control of the CPU 2.

The captured image is constantly updated and displayed on the LCD 13. OSD data such as reduced images of recorded image data and icons is superimposed on the captured image by the signal processing unit 7 and displayed on the LCD 13. OSD (On Screen Display) is a general term for a memory area and a mechanism for preparing data such as an icon to be displayed superimposed on a real-time image captured from a camera.

  When creating OSD data, the latest image data already recorded on the external recording medium 11 is acquired, converted into a size suitable for OSD display by the image processing unit 4, and then stored in the internal recording medium 3. Store in the OSD display area. However, it is not necessary to acquire data from the external recording medium 11 when an image having a size suitable for OSD display of the image taken immediately before exists on the internal recording medium 3. The image processing unit 4 is controlled by the CPU 2 so as to perform enlargement or reduction processing of an image to be displayed in response to an operation of a user key or the like in the operation unit 9.

  An analog color video signal is extracted from the video output processing unit 8 to a video output terminal (not shown). When the external monitor 14 is connected to the video output terminal, the image stored in the internal recording medium 3 or the external recording medium 11 can be displayed on the external monitor 14. Further, for example, a printer 15 is connected to the external interface 5 so that an image can be printed.

  The operation unit 9 includes a cross key. The cross key designates the moving direction of the cursor in one of up, down, left, and right directions by pressing each tip (referred to as a left button, right button, up button, and down button) of the cross-shaped operation unit. . In addition to the cross key, an input device such as a dial, a roller, a trackball, or a touch panel can be used as the direction key. Further, not limited to a mechanical configuration, a GUI (Graphical User Interface) for operating buttons on the display screen may be used.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an image displayed on the LCD 13 according to an embodiment. Reference numeral R is a captured image that is currently captured, and P is a reproduced image that has been captured and is played back in the playback mode. The reproduced image is read from the external recording medium 11 as necessary and stored in the internal recording medium 3. Reproduced images P1, P2, P3,... And reconstructed images are arranged on one axis in order of the time axis with the captured image R as the head. In FIG. 2, the right direction is the time axis direction from the past to the present, and the left direction is the time axis direction from the present to the past. The images arranged on one axis are arranged in a horizontal direction, a vertical direction, or an oblique direction on the display screen of the LCD 13. In one embodiment, a plurality of images are arranged in the horizontal direction.

  As the LCD 13, any one having an aspect ratio of 4 to 3 and a wide one such as 16 to 9 can be used. SC in FIG. 2 represents a display frame when a wide LCD is used. In this case, the captured image R and the reproduced images P1 and P2 are displayed at the same time. As will be described later, an image can be sent in the time axis direction by the cross key.

  In order to easily identify the captured image R and the reproduced image P, the captured image R has a larger size than the reproduced image P. Further, the captured image R and the reproduced image P may be identified by adding icons having different shapes to the image.

  FIG. 3 schematically shows display data held in the internal recording medium 3 in order to form a display on the LCD 13. The captured image R shown in FIG. 3A is held in the internal recording medium 3 and is continuously updated in a cycle of a frame or the like even in a state where the operation unit 9 is not operated in the capturing mode.

  FIG. 3B shows OSD data stored separately from the shooting data R of the internal recording medium 3. The OSD data is icon data to be displayed over the shooting data R. In one embodiment of the present invention, reproduced images P1 and P2 of a plurality of recent recorded images are arranged in the storage area MC of the internal recording medium 3 corresponding to the display frame SC as OSD data. The reproduced image data P 1 and P 2 are taken from the external recording medium 11, decoded and reduced in size by the image processing unit 4, and then stored in the internal recording medium 3. If the internal recording medium 3 has an image of a size suitable for the OSD display of the image taken immediately before, it is not necessary to acquire data from the external recording medium 11.

  The reproduced images P1 and P2 are smaller in size than the captured image R. The type of image can be determined based on the size of the image. The OSD data includes an icon 31 indicating a captured image and an icon 32 indicating a reproduced image. These icons 31 and 32 allow the user to easily determine the type of image. However, in the following description, illustration of the icons 31 and 32 is omitted. The OSD data may be configured as data of a plurality of layers. As shown in FIG. 3C, the captured image R and the OSD data are combined and displayed on the wide type LCD 13.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a wide LCD 13 having an aspect ratio (16: 9) or the like is provided on the back of the digital camera. Reference numeral 24 is a shutter button, reference numeral 25 is a menu button, reference numeral 26 is a delete button, and reference numeral 27 is a cross key.

  ST1 shows a normal display screen that is displayed when the power is turned on. The captured image R of the current subject captured through the lens and the reproduced image P1 captured and acquired immediately before the captured image R are displayed without overlapping each other. The overlapped portion does not make it difficult to see the captured image. The previous playback image P2 is positioned to the left of the playback image P1.

  The display screen ST1 on which the photographed image R and the reproduced images P1 and P2 are displayed at the same time is a mixed state of the photographing mode and the reproduction mode. That is, by pressing the shutter button 24, a new image can be recorded and a desired image can be displayed as a reproduced image. Therefore, the user can determine the composition of an image to be newly photographed while viewing the image photographed immediately before.

  When the shutter button 24 is pressed on the display screen ST1, the screen transitions to the display screen ST3 through the transition display screen ST2. On the transition display screen ST2, the captured image R gradually decreases in size and moves to the left. On the display screen ST3, the reproduced (recorded) image P0 derived from the photographed image R is located on the left side of the photographed image R ′ of the current subject, and the reproduced image P1 is located on the left side. The time for which the transition display screen ST2 is displayed is instantaneous. By the animation transition, the user can easily understand that the captured image R becomes the reproduced image P0. On the display screen ST3, any mode of shooting and reproduction is possible.

  FIG. 5 shows a screen transition when the delete button 26 is pressed in the state where the photographed image R and the reproduced images P1 and P2 are displayed at the same time and the photographing mode and the reproduction mode are mixed. When the delete button 26 is pressed on the display screen ST11, the display screen ST12 is generated.

  On the display screen ST12, a frame-like cursor C is displayed at a position corresponding to the reproduced image P1, indicating that the reproduced image P1 is selected. A delete dialog 28 is displayed at the position of the captured image R. The cursor C can select a playback image on the left side (before) by pressing the left button of the cross key 27. In the delete dialog 28, one of “delete” and “end” can be selected with the up and down buttons of the cross key 27, and the selected side is highlighted.

  As shown in the display screen ST12, when the cursor C is positioned on the reproduced image P1 and “Delete” in the delete dialog 28 is highlighted, the “Select” key is pressed to select it. The reproduced image P1 is deleted. The image to be deleted is selected by operating the left or right button of the cross key 27. The “OK” key is a mechanical key provided on the camera body, a GUI key, a key that is turned on by pressing the center of the cross key 27, or the like. In one embodiment, a desired reproduced image (photographed image) can be deleted without switching from the photographing mode to the reproduction mode.

  With reference to FIG. 6, the switching to the reproduction mode using the cross key 27 and the image selection operation in the reproduction mode will be described.

  In the display screen ST21 in FIG. 6, the recorded image R and the reproduced images P1 and P2 are displayed in a mixed manner on the display frame SC of the LCD 13. That is, the shooting mode and the playback mode are mixed. When the menu button 25 is pressed in this state, a menu related to shooting is displayed in the display frame 13.

  When the left button of the cross key 27 is pressed, a display screen ST22 in which the frame-like cursor C indicates the reproduced image P1 is displayed. The state in which the reproduction image P1 is selected is the reproduction mode. An arrow cursor indicating that selection is possible in the left direction is also displayed next to the cursor C. When the menu button 25 is pressed in the playback mode, a menu related to playback is displayed in the display frame SC. Here, by operating the enlargement button or the reduction button, it is possible to enlarge or reduce the selected reproduction image P1.

  Further, when the left button of the cross key 27 is pressed, the screen transits to the display screen ST24 through the transition display screen ST23 by animation. The time for which the transition display screen ST23 is displayed is instantaneous. On the display screen ST24, the captured image R is erased and the cursor C designates the reproduction image P2. Since the playback image can be switched in both directions, an arrow cursor is displayed on both sides.

  When the left button of the cross key 27 is further pressed, the screen transitions to the display screen ST26 via the transition display screen ST25. The time for which the transition display screen ST25 is displayed is instantaneous. On the display screen ST26, the cursor C designates the reproduced image P3. Since the playback image can be switched in both directions, an arrow cursor is displayed on both sides.

  In the above description, the display frame SC of the LCD 13 is a horizontally wide screen. The present invention is not limited to an LCD having a wide screen, and an LCD having a display frame SC with an aspect ratio of (4: 3) may be used.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7, a dial key that can be rotated in both directions may be used in addition to the cross key. FIG. 7A shows an example of a time axis operation dial. A time axis operation dial 22 a is provided so as to slightly protrude from the back and side surfaces of the camera body 21. In the example shown in FIG. 7B, a time axis operation dial 22 b is provided on the upper surface of the camera body 21.

  The time axis operation dials 22a and 22b have the same shape and feel as a film winding dial of a silver salt camera. That is, it can be rotated by a predetermined amount of rotation. Further, the time axis operation dials 22 a and 22 b are rotatable in the clockwise direction and the counterclockwise direction when viewed from the upper surface of the camera body 21.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, and various modifications and applications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, the present invention is not limited to a digital camera that records still images, but can also be applied to a shooting device that records moving images, and a shooting device that can record both still images and moving images. In the case of a moving image, for example, the top image of one shooting is displayed on an LCD or the like.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Processing part 2 ... CPU
3 ... Internal recording medium 9 ... Operation unit 11 ... External recording medium 12 ... CCD
13 ... LCD
25 ... delete button 27 ... cross key

Claims (7)

An imaging unit;
A display for displaying an image;
An input unit capable of receiving an operation input for designating a one-dimensional direction by a user;
When an operation input for specifying a one-dimensional direction is received by the input unit, a shooting mode in which a first image that is an image of a subject currently captured by the imaging unit is displayed at a predetermined position on the display unit; And a transition from one of the reproduction modes in which only a plurality of photographed second images stored in the storage medium are displayed on a straight line along the time axis at the predetermined position of the display unit, and At the time of transition, the first image and the second image are sent in a direction corresponding to the direction of the one-dimensional operation input received by the input unit, so that the predetermined position of the display unit is set. A part of the first image and a part of the second image taken immediately before the plurality of second images are simultaneously on a linear axis along the time axis so as not to overlap. display transition screen to be displayed on the A control unit for controlling to via,
An imaging apparatus comprising: In claim 1,
The imaging apparatus, wherein the input unit is a touch panel, and is controlled so that a direction of operation of the touch panel corresponds to a direction of the time axis. In claim 1,
An imaging apparatus in which the input unit is a dial that is rotatable in both directions, and is controlled so that the direction of operation of the dial corresponds to the direction of the time axis. In claim 1,
An imaging apparatus in which the input unit is a cross key and controlled so that the direction of operation of the cross key corresponds to the direction of the time axis. In claim 1,
An imaging apparatus in which the second image is sent in order along the time axis by operating the input unit in the playback mode. An imaging unit;
A display for displaying an image;
In a screen display method in an imaging apparatus having an input unit capable of receiving an operation input for designating a one-dimensional direction by a user,
When an operation input for specifying a one-dimensional direction is received by the input unit, a shooting mode in which a first image that is an image of a subject currently captured by the imaging unit is displayed at a predetermined position on the display unit; And a transition from one of the reproduction modes in which only a plurality of photographed second images stored in the storage medium are displayed on a straight line along the time axis at the predetermined position of the display unit, and At the time of transition, the first image and the second image are sent in a direction corresponding to the direction of the one-dimensional operation input received by the input unit, so that the predetermined position of the display unit is set. A part of the first image and a part of the second image taken immediately before the plurality of second images are simultaneously on a linear axis along the time axis so as not to overlap. display transition screen to be displayed on the Screen display method in an image pickup apparatus via. An imaging unit;
A display for displaying an image;
In a user interface of an imaging apparatus having an input unit capable of receiving an operation input for designating a one-dimensional direction by a user,
When an operation input for specifying a one-dimensional direction is received by the input unit, a shooting mode in which a first image that is an image of a subject currently captured by the imaging unit is displayed at a predetermined position on the display unit; And a transition from one of the reproduction modes in which only a plurality of photographed second images stored in the storage medium are displayed on a straight line along the time axis at the predetermined position of the display unit, and At the time of transition, the first image and the second image are sent in a direction corresponding to the direction of the one-dimensional operation input received by the input unit, so that the predetermined position of the display unit is set. A part of the first image and a part of the second image taken immediately before the plurality of second images are simultaneously on a linear axis along the time axis so as not to overlap. display transition screen to be displayed on the The user interface of the imaging apparatus via.

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