JP7057099B2 - Electronic devices and their control methods, programs and storage media - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an electronic device, a control method thereof, a program, and a storage medium, and more particularly to an electronic device capable of detecting a touch operation on an operation surface and a pressing force thereof.

As an input device having a touch sensor, it has a detection unit that detects a load due to a pressed object that presses the touch sensor and a detection unit that detects the contact area between the pressed object and the touch sensor, and the pressing load reaches the damage threshold. It is known to notify a warning in the event of such a problem (see Patent Document 1). In Patent Document 1, first-stage input and second-stage input are possible according to the pressing load, different functions of the first-stage input and the second-stage input are set, and the pressing load reaches the damage threshold. Then, the configuration in which a warning notification is issued is described.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-43188

However, for example, when only one function is set for the touch operation on the touch sensor, the user may mistakenly think that the warning display is activated as the function set for the second stage input is activated. There is. In this case, the user presses the touch sensor more strongly, which increases the possibility of damaging the touch sensor.

An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device capable of suppressing a touch operation with an excessive pressing force.

The electronic device according to the present invention is detected by a touch detecting means for detecting a touch operation on an operation surface, a pressure detecting means for detecting a pressing force of the touch operation at a touch position with respect to the operating surface, and the pressure detecting means. When the pressing force exceeds a predetermined erasing threshold value, at least a part of the display target displayed on the display means displaying at that time is controlled to be hidden, and the above-mentioned control means. An execution means for executing the predetermined function in response to a touch on the operation surface where the position where the predetermined function is set exceeds the operation threshold value smaller than the erasure threshold value and is touched by a pressing force equal to or lower than the erasure threshold value. The control means controls to hide at least a part of the display target when a position on the operation surface where the predetermined function is not set is touched with a pressing force exceeding the erasing threshold value . When the position on the operation surface where the predetermined function is set is touched with a pressing force exceeding the erasing threshold value defined for the position where the predetermined function is not set, the operation is performed. It is characterized in that control for hiding at least a part of the display target is not performed .

According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the touch operation with an excessive pressing force.

It is a rear view which shows the schematic structure of the digital camera which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a circuit diagram of the digital camera of FIG. It is a flowchart of the process to execute when ICU detects a touch operation. It is a figure which shows an example of the information such as a pressing threshold value acquired by ICU in S304. It is a flowchart explaining the 1st Embodiment of the process of S306. It is a figure which shows the example of the GUI displayed on the display part. It is a figure which shows the example of the GUI displayed in the EVF. It is a flowchart explaining the 2nd Embodiment of the process of S306. It is a flowchart explaining the 3rd Embodiment of the process of S306. It is a flowchart of the display erasing process of S507, S810, S910. It is a figure explaining the display erasing example of S1004, S1005. It is a figure explaining the display erasing example in the 4th Embodiment of the process of S306. It is a flowchart explaining the 4th Embodiment of the process of S306.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, a digital camera will be taken as an example of the electronic device according to the present invention, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

FIG. 1 is a rear view showing a schematic configuration of a digital camera 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The main body 101 of the digital camera 100 is provided with a release button 102, an electronic viewfinder 103 (hereinafter referred to as “EVF 103”), and an eyepiece detection sensor 104. Further, the main body 101 is provided with a mode dial 105, a display unit 106, a display switching button 107, an image reproduction button 108, and an image enlargement button 109.

The release button 102 is an operating means for notifying the MPU 213 (details will be described later), which is a microprocessor for controlling the digital camera 100, of a shooting instruction. The switch SW1 is turned on by a stroke (half-pressed) by lightly pressing the release button 102, and the switch SW2 is turned on by a stroke (full-pressed) by strongly pressing the release button 102. The eyepiece detection sensor 104 detects whether or not the user is looking into the finder.

The mode dial 105 is a rotary operation member used for switching the shooting mode. The shooting mode includes a still image shooting mode and a moving image shooting mode. The still image shooting mode includes a fully automatic mode, an applied shooting mode (first operation mode) that allows the user to select various setting values for shooting, and shooting with settings that match the scene. There are multiple operation modes such as a simple shooting mode (second operation mode). For example, in the still image shooting mode, when the switch SW1 is turned on, AE (auto exposure), AF (auto focus), and the like are executed. When the switch SW2 is turned on, exposure to the image sensor 200 (details will be described later) and various processes for the electric signal (image signal) output from the image sensor 200 are performed. In the moving image shooting mode, the function is not set in the switch SW2, and when the switch SW1 is turned on, the moving image shooting is performed while executing the moving image AF operation. It should be noted that such a function setting for the switch SW1 and the switch SW2 is an example, and the present invention is not limited thereto. Further, in the digital camera 100, as will be described later, it is possible to perform the same operation as the operation of the release button 102 by the touch operation on the touch panel 209.

The display unit 106 is a liquid crystal display device, an organic EL display device, or the like provided on the back surface of the main body unit 101, and performs a live view (LV) display of a subject, a reproduction display of a captured image, and operations and settings. Display the GUI etc. for The EVF 103 is a display device provided in the finder, and displays image data and a GUI in the same manner as the display unit 106. The display switching button 107 is an operation means for switching the information display at the time of image reproduction. The image reproduction button 108 is an operation means for reproducing and displaying an image on the display unit 106. The image enlargement button 109 is an operation means for enlarging and displaying the image being reproduced and displayed on the display unit 106.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of the digital camera 100. Of the components shown in FIG. 2, the same components as those of the main body 101 described with reference to FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals in FIG. 2 and duplicated description will be omitted. The digital camera 100 has a main body portion 101 and a lens barrel portion 215. The lens barrel portion 215 may be integrally (non-detachable) with the main body portion 101, or may be removable.

The lens barrel portion 215 includes an LPU 214, various lenses such as a zoom lens group, a focus lens, and an image blur correction lens, an aperture, a shutter, and the like. The LPU 214 is a microprocessor for lens control, which performs focus control, aperture drive, image stabilization optical system control, etc. according to instructions from the MPU 213, and interlocks the operation of the lens barrel unit 215 with the shooting operation of the main body unit 101. Let me. Further, the LPU 214 notifies the MPU 213 of lens information such as the focal length of the lens. The light incident on the lens barrel portion 215 from the subject and passing through the lens barrel portion 215 is imaged as an optical image on the image pickup device 200.

The main body 101 has an MPU 213, an INFO switch 218, a PLAY switch 219, a MAG switch 220, a MODE switch 221 and an eyepiece detection sensor 104, a switch SW1 and a switch SW2. Further, the main body 101 has an ICU 212, an image sensor 200, a RAM 202, a memory card 204, a touch panel 209, a pressure sensor 210, an EVF 103, and a display unit 106.

The MPU 213 is a microprocessor that controls the operation of the main body 101. Here, the MPU 213 is a one-chip microcomputer including a processing unit (CPU), a ROM or flash memory, a non-volatile memory such as EEPROM, and a volatile memory such as RAM, and also incorporating various I / O circuits. In FIG. 2, the interface for connecting the MPU 213 and other circuits is not shown. For example, although the solid line is used in FIG. 2 for the connection between the MPU 213 and the ICU 212, a serial communication interface is actually used.

The INFO switch 218, the PLAY switch 219, and the MAG switch 220 are switches that are turned on when the display switching button 107, the image reproduction button 108, and the image enlargement button 109 are pressed, respectively. The MODE switch is a group of phase switches indicating the rotation position of the mode dial 105, and includes a number of switches corresponding to the number of identifiable modes, which is larger than the number shown in the figure.

The ICU 212 is a microprocessor that performs input / output control of digital image processing and GUI operation. The ICU 212 has a signal processing unit 201, an MMU 203, a driver 205, a controller 206, and a GUI generation unit 207. The ICU 212 further incorporates a plurality of processors (ROM, RAM), an image processing module, etc. (not shown).

The signal processing unit 201 is a signal processing circuit that performs sensor control and data transfer to acquire continuous image data from the image sensor 200. In the optical finder shooting mode, the signal processing unit 201 acquires an image once after the release button 102 is pressed, but in the live view (LV) shooting mode, the signal processing unit 201 acquires a continuous image and displays a continuous image on the display unit 106 ( Switch the control to display the image). The MMU 203 is a memory management device, and controls the writing and reading of image data to the RAM 202 by the signal processing unit 201.

The driver 205 controls to store coded moving image data, image-compressed still image data, and the like in the memory card 204. The GUI generation unit 207 generates bitmap data such as icons and marks to be superimposed and displayed on the developed image data, and outputs the bitmap data to the display unit 106. The ICU 212 detects a touch operation on the touch panel 209. The controller 206 controls and performs operations to transmit the information to the GUI generation unit 207 that transfers the display data to the display unit 106 in accordance with the development completion of the lens information and the image data acquired from the MPU 213.

The image pickup device 200 is a CMOS sensor or the like that generates an image signal by photoelectrically converting an optical image. The RAM 202 is a volatile memory managed by the MMU 203 and stores data. The memory card 204 is a flash memory or the like for storing image data (data files) of still images and moving images captured by the image pickup element 200, and is detachable from the main body 101.

The touch panel 209 is superposed on the display unit 106, and is an operating means for causing the digital camera 100 to perform a predetermined function through a touch operation on the surface of the display unit 106. In the following description, the surface of the display unit 106 provided with the touch panel 209, which is the target of the touch operation by the user's finger or the like (touch means such as the user's fingertip or the stylus), is referred to as an “operation surface”. The ICU 212 can detect operations such as touch-down, touch-on, touch-move, touch-up, and touch-off with respect to the operation surface via the touch panel 209. The position coordinates touched by a finger or the like on the operation surface are notified from the touch panel 209 to the ICU 212 through the internal bus, and the ICU 212 performs any operation on the operation surface based on the notified position coordinate information. Judge whether or not. In this way, the ICU 212 functions as a touch detecting means for detecting a touch operation by a finger or the like.

Any of various methods such as a resistance film method, a capacitance method, a surface acoustic wave method, an infrared ray method, an electromagnetic induction method, an image recognition method, and an optical sensor method may be used for the touch panel 209. Further, there are a method of detecting a touch when a finger or the like touches the touch panel 209 and a method of detecting a touch when a finger or the like approaches the touch panel 209, regardless of which method is used. good.

The pressure sensor 210 is a pressure detecting means provided on the display unit 106 for detecting the pressing force on the operation surface, and detects the strength of the touch operation (magnitude of the pressing force). The pressure sensor 210 can continuously detect the pressing force of the touch operation on the operation surface. An example of the pressure sensor 210 is one or a plurality of strain gauge sensors arranged in a portion distorted by the pressing force on the operating surface, and the pressing force on the operating surface can be detected by the output value from the strain gauge sensor. Another example of the pressure sensor 210 is a capacitance sensor provided in parallel with the display unit 106. In this case, the distance between the finger or the like on the operation surface and the capacitance sensor when the operation surface is distorted due to the pressing force on the operation surface is calculated from the capacitance value, and the pressure is calculated based on the calculated distance. Or the distance can be treated the same as the pressure.

The pressure sensor 210 may be of another type as long as it can detect the pressing force on the operation surface. For example, if the stylus is used to operate the operation surface, the sensor may be provided on the stylus so as to detect the pressure applied to the tip of the stylus, and the touch operation is performed based on the output from the sensor. The pressing force of the stylus may be detected. Further, the pressing force of the touch operation may be detected by a combination of a plurality of sensors (for example, a weighted average). The pressure sensor 210, the display unit 106, and the touch panel 209 may be configured such that any two or all of them are integrated.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a process executed when the ICU 212 detects a touch operation on the operation surface. Each process of the flowchart of FIG. 3 is realized by the ICU 212 expanding the program stored in the built-in ROM into the built-in RAM and controlling the operation of each part constituting the digital camera 100.

In S301, the ICU 212 determines whether or not a touch operation on the operation surface has been detected. The ICU 212 waits until the touch operation is detected (NO in S301), and when it is determined that the touch operation is detected (YES in S301), the process proceeds to S302. In S302, the ICU 212 detects the touch position on the operation surface. In S303, the ICU 212 detects the pressing force of the touch operation by the pressure sensor 210.

In S304, the ICU 212 acquires an appropriate pressing threshold value from the database based on the touch position information detected in S302 and various setting contents in the digital camera 100. The database in which the pressing threshold value is stored is stored in, for example, a ROM (not shown) built in the ICU 212. Specifically, in S304, the ICU 212 acquires two thresholds, an erase threshold (first threshold) and an operation threshold (second threshold), as pressing thresholds. The operation threshold is a threshold for distinguishing between the first operation, which is a touch operation with a small pressing force, and the second operation, which is a touch operation with a pressing force larger than the pressing force of the first operation. Is set to a value smaller than. The erasing threshold value is a threshold value for determining whether or not to turn off the display of the display unit 106 in order to avoid damage to the display unit 106 when a touch operation with a pressing force larger than that of the second operation is performed. .. The ICU 212 acquires information on the function corresponding to the first operation, the function corresponding to the second operation, and the content to be erased from the display unit 106 in association with these pressing threshold values.

Here, the information acquired by the ICU 212 in S304 will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of information such as a pressing threshold value acquired by the ICU 212 from the database in S304. FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating a function and a threshold value read when the simple shooting mode is set. In the simple shooting mode, the touch relays function is assigned to the touch operation (first operation) of the pressing force of the operation threshold value a or less, and the touch operation of the pressing force larger than the operation threshold value a and equal to or less than the erasing threshold value A (second operation). No function is assigned to (operation). Further, in the simple shooting mode, when the pressing force is larger than the erasing threshold value A, a part or all of the display target is erased according to other setting conditions of the digital camera 100. Specifically, the AF frame is erased, a part of the image is erased, or the entire image is erased.

FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating a function and a threshold value read when the applied shooting mode is set. In the applied shooting mode, the AF start operation is assigned to the touch operation (first operation) of the pressing force of the operation threshold value b or less, and the touch operation of the pressing force larger than the operation threshold value b and equal to or less than the erasing threshold value B (second operation). The operation) is assigned a function to accelerate AF followability. Further, in the applied shooting mode, when the pressing force is larger than the erasing threshold value B, a part or all of the display target is erased according to other setting conditions of the digital camera 100. Specifically, the AF frame is erased, a part of the image is erased, or the entire image is erased.

FIG. 4C is a diagram illustrating a threshold value and a function when a touch operation is performed on an area on the operation surface where a second operation is not set when the touch positions are different. "When the touch position is different" means that the touch position detected this time in S302 in the routines of S302 to S307 is different from the touch position detected last time. For example, FIG. 4C can be applied when the user moves the touch position by touch-moving a finger or the like, but when the user presses the operation surface again, the process ends in S307. Therefore, FIG. 4 (c) does not apply. When the touch position is different, the touch relays function is assigned to the touch operation (first operation) of the pressing pressure of the operation threshold c or less, and the touch operation of the pressing pressure larger than the operation threshold c and equal to or less than the erasing threshold C (the first operation). No function is set for (2 operations). Further, in the case of a touch operation with a pressing force larger than the erasing threshold value C, a part or all of the display target is erased according to other setting conditions of the digital camera 100. Specifically, the AF frame is erased, a part of the image is erased, or the entire image is erased.

FIG. 4D is a diagram illustrating a threshold value and a function when a touch operation is performed on an area on the operation surface where a second operation is set when the touch positions are the same. "When the touch position is the same" means that the touch position detected this time in S302 in the routines of S302 to S307 is the same as the touch position detected last time. For example, FIG. 4D can be applied when the user keeps pressing the same position without moving a finger or the like, but when the user presses the operation surface again, the process ends in S307. Therefore, FIG. 4 (d) does not apply. When the touch positions are the same, the AF start operation is assigned to the touch operation (first operation) of the pressing force of the operation threshold value d or less, and the touch operation of the pressing force larger than the operation threshold value d and equal to or less than the erasing threshold value D (the first operation). The function of expanding the AF area is assigned to the second operation). In the case of a touch operation with a pressing force larger than the erasing threshold value D, a part or all of the display target is erased according to other setting conditions of the digital camera 100. Specifically, the AF frame is erased, a part of the image is erased, or the entire image is erased.

As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4C, the operation threshold value is set depending on the operation mode of the digital camera 100 and the touch position on the operation surface, but the function of the second operation is set. It may not have been done. Even in such a case, the erasing threshold value is set in order to prevent damage to the display unit 106. Other setting conditions in the digital camera 100 to be considered when a pressing force exceeding the erasing threshold is detected include a shooting mode, a focusing point selection method in the set shooting mode, a photometric method, and an eyepiece detection sensor. The detection result of 104 and the setting in the GUI menu can be mentioned. Further, whether or not the digital camera 100 is connected to the monitor by the HDMI (registered trademark) terminal or the like, the current state of the digital camera 100, etc. are also taken into consideration when the pressing force exceeding the erasing threshold value is detected.

Returning to the explanation of the flowchart of FIG. In S305, the ICU 212 determines whether or not the digital camera 100 is in the power saving mode. This is because the digital camera 100 enters the power saving mode to save the battery if the operation is not performed for a certain period of time, and in the power saving mode, the display unit 106 is turned off (non-driving state) and accepts a touch operation. It is considered to disappear. It is possible to exit the power saving mode and return to the normal drive mode by operating the touch panel 209, but at that time, the display unit 106 and the EVF 103 are turned off. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the display process corresponding to the touch operation is performed in the normal mode in which the display unit 106 and the EVF 103 are in the lit state (display state), and the display process corresponding to the touch operation is not performed in the power saving mode. do.

When the ICU 212 determines that the power saving mode is set (YES in S305), the ICU 212 ends this process and waits for a process of exiting the power saving mode by, for example, pressing the release button 102 or the like. On the other hand, when the ICU 212 determines that the mode is not the power saving mode (NO in S305), the process proceeds to S306. In S306, the ICU 212 performs control (touch & pressing process) according to the touch position and the pressing force based on the information acquired up to S304. The details of the process (subroutine) of S306 will be described later with specific examples. In S307, the ICU 212 determines whether or not the touch operation is continuing. When it is determined that the touch operation is continuing (YES in S307), the ICU 212 returns the process to S302, and when it is determined that the touch operation is completed (NO in S307), the ICU 212 ends the process.

Next, an embodiment of the subroutine processing of S306 will be described. First, the first embodiment of the process of S306 will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a first embodiment of the process of S306. In S501, the ICU 212 determines whether or not the pressing force detected by the pressure sensor 210 is equal to or less than the elimination threshold value. When the ICU 212 determines that the pressing force is equal to or less than the erasing threshold value (YES in S501), the ICU 212 advances the process to S502. In S502, the ICU 212 determines whether or not the pressing force detected by the pressure sensor 210 is equal to or less than the operation threshold value. When the ICU 212 determines that the pressing force is equal to or less than the operation threshold value (YES in S502), the ICU 212 advances the process to S503.

In S503, the ICU 212 displays the GUI for the first operation in which the pressing force is set to the touch operation equal to or less than the operation threshold value on the display unit 106 or the EVF 103. For example, assuming that the ICU 212 has acquired the information of FIG. 4 (b) or FIG. 4 (d) in S304, the ICU 212 displays a GUI on the display unit 106 as shown in FIG. 6 (a). Alternatively, the GUI is displayed on the EVF 103 as shown in FIG. 7 (a). In FIG. 6A, as a GUI, an AF frame 601 for making the user visually recognize the target of AF, which is the first operation, and a notification mark 602 for notifying the user that the AF function is being executed are superimposed on the image. It is drawn with a bitmap. In FIG. 7A, the display unit 106 is in the image non-display state in view of the user mainly visually recognizing the EVF 103, but the function of the touch panel 209 is effective. Therefore, in FIG. 7A, the AF frame 701 is superimposed on the image and drawn as a bitmap at the position corresponding to the touch position with respect to the touch panel 209 in the EVF 103 as a GUI. In the digital camera 100, it is possible to select whether or not to display information such as the notification mark 602 on the display unit 106 or the EVF 103. In FIG. 7A, the notification mark is not displayed according to the setting of the digital camera 100.

In S504, the ICU 212 activates the function of the first operation. When the first operation is AF start, the ICU 212 issues an event on the control program that triggers from the ranging process for AF to the lens drive for the subject. The execution of S504 ends this process, and the ICU 212 proceeds to process to S307 of the main routine.

When the ICU 212 determines in S502 that the pressing force is compared with the operating threshold value that the pressing force is larger than the operating threshold value (NO in S502), the process proceeds to S505. In S505, the ICU 212 displays the GUI for the second operation, in which the pressing force is larger than the operation threshold value and is set to the touch operation equal to or less than the erasing threshold value, on the display unit 106 or the EVF 103. Again, assuming that the ICU 212 has acquired the information of FIG. 4 (b) (or FIG. 4 (d)) in S304, the ICU 212 displays the GUI on the display unit 106 as shown in FIG. 6 (b). Or display the GUI on the EVF 103 as shown in FIG. 7 (b). FIG. 6B shows the AF double frame 603 indicating that the function of accelerating the AF followability (or expanding the AF area), which is the second operation, is being executed, and the AF function is being executed. The notification mark 602 for notifying the user is superimposed on the image and drawn with a bitmap. In FIG. 7B, as in FIG. 7A, the function of the touch panel 209 is enabled when the display unit 106 is in the image non-display state, and the AF double frame 702 is superimposed on the image to display a bitmap. It is drawn, but the notification mark is not displayed.

In S506, the ICU 212 activates the function of the second operation. When the second operation is a function of accelerating the AF followability, the ICU 212 changes the followability parameter in the AF process for the subject. The execution of S506 ends this processing, and the ICU 212 proceeds to the main routine S307.

When the ICU 212 determines that the pressing force is larger than the erasing threshold value in the determination of S501 for determining whether or not the pressing force is equal to or less than the erasing threshold value (NO in S501), the ICU 212 advances the process to S507. In S507, the ICU 212 executes the display erasing process of the touch position in the display unit 106 and the EVF 103. That is, when a touch operation with too strong pressing is performed, a function that can be executed is set for the touch operation with a further pressing force by performing the display erasing process of the touch position on the display unit 106 or EVF 103. It is possible to visually notify the user that it has not been done. In addition, it is possible to alert the user not to perform the touch operation with a pressing force higher than that. The details (specific example) of the processing of S507 will be described later. Further, FIGS. 6 (c) and 7 (c) show one aspect of the display unit 106 and the EVF 103 by executing the process of S507, and details of these will be described later. The execution of S507 ends this process, and the ICU 212 proceeds to process to S307 of the main routine.

Next, a second embodiment of the process of S306 will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a second embodiment of the process of S306. In the second embodiment, a mode in which the processing is branched according to the difference in the information acquired by the ICU 212 in S304 depending on the shooting mode will be described. Here, the information shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B is used as a specific example of the information acquired by the ICU 212.

In S801, the ICU 212 determines whether or not the function of the second operation is set for the touch operation based on the information acquired from the database in S304. When the ICU 212 determines that the function of the second operation is present (YES in S801), the process proceeds to S802. In the present embodiment, the case where the process proceeds to S802 is the case where the applied shooting mode is set in the digital camera 100. In S802, the ICU 212 determines whether or not the pressing force detected by the pressure sensor 210 is equal to or less than the elimination threshold value B. When the ICU 212 determines that the pressing force is equal to or less than the erasing threshold value B (YES in S802), the ICU 212 advances the process to S803. In S803, the ICU 212 determines whether or not the pressing force detected by the pressure sensor 210 is equal to or less than the operation threshold value b. When the ICU 212 determines that the pressing force is equal to or less than the operation threshold value b (YES in S803), the ICU 212 advances the process to S804. In S804, the ICU 212 displays the GUI for the first operation in which the pressing force is set to the touch operation equal to or less than the operation threshold value on the display unit 106 or the EVF 103. In S805, the ICU 212 activates the function of the first operation. The execution of S805 ends this processing, and the ICU 212 proceeds to the main routine S307.

When the ICU 212 determines that the pressing force is larger than the operating threshold value b in the determination of S803 comparing the pressing force and the operating threshold value b (NO in S803), the ICU 212 advances the process to S806. In S806, the ICU 212 displays the GUI for the second operation in which the pressing force is set to the touch operation larger than the operation threshold value on the display unit 106 or the EVF 103. In S807, the ICU 212 activates the function of the second operation. The execution of S807 ends this processing, and the ICU 212 proceeds to the main routine S307.

When the ICU 212 determines that the second operation function is not set in the determination of S801 for determining whether or not the second operation function is set for the touch operation on the operation surface (NO in S801), the process is performed. Proceed to S808. In the present embodiment, the case where the process proceeds to S808 is a case where the simple shooting mode is detected in the digital camera 100 or a case where the function is not set for the touch operation. In S808, the ICU 212 determines whether or not the pressing force detected by the pressure sensor 210 is equal to or less than the elimination threshold value A. When the ICU 212 determines that the pressing force is equal to or less than the erasing threshold value A (YES in S808), the ICU 212 advances the process to S809. In S809, the ICU 212 determines whether or not the function of the first operation is set for the touch operation. When the ICU 212 determines that the function of the first operation is present (YES in S809), the process proceeds to S804, and then the above-mentioned processes of S804 and S805 are executed. On the other hand, when the ICU 212 determines that the function of the first operation does not exist (NO in S809), the ICU 212 does not have a function to execute, so this process is terminated and the process proceeds to S307 of the main routine.

When the ICU 212 determines that the pressing force is larger than the erasing threshold value A in S808 comparing the pressing force detected by the pressure sensor 210 with the erasing threshold value A (NO in S808), the ICU 212 advances the process to S810. Further, when the ICU 212 determines that the pressing force is larger than the erasing threshold value B in S802 comparing the pressing force detected by the pressure sensor 210 with the erasing threshold value B (NO in S802), the process proceeds to S810. In S810, the ICU 212 executes the display erasing process of the touch position in the display unit 106 and the EVF 103. The details of the processing of S810 will be described later. The execution of S810 ends this processing, and the ICU 212 proceeds to the main routine S307.

In the second embodiment described above, it is desirable to set the erasure threshold value B to a value larger than the erasure threshold value A. This is due to the following reasons. That is, when the pressing force up to the erasing threshold value B is divided and the first operation and the second operation are assigned, the function desired by the user among the functions of the first operation and the second operation is the pressing of a finger or the like. There may be a problem that it is not executed due to the wobbling of. As a method for solving this problem, it is conceivable to make the erasure threshold B as large as possible so that each of the range below the operation threshold and the range from the operation threshold to the erasure threshold has a certain width. However, if the erasing threshold value B is set to a large value, the durability of the touch panel 209 with respect to a touch operation (pressing operation) must be enhanced. Therefore, for the touch operation in which the function of the second operation is not set, the durability of the touch panel 209 can be enhanced by setting a smaller pressing force as the upper limit (erasing threshold value A).

Further, in the above-mentioned second embodiment, it is assumed that a certain width is secured in each of the range below the operation threshold value b and the range from the operation threshold value b to the elimination threshold value B, and the operation threshold value b and the deletion threshold value A are secured. It is also desirable to set to the same value. In this case, even though the second operation is not set, when the user increases the pressing force in the expectation that the function of the second operation is set, the function of the second operation is set. If it is set, the display erasing process is executed by the pressing force that functions. As a result, the user can recognize that the function of the second operation is not set without pressing the touch panel 209 more strongly.

Next, a third embodiment of the process of S306 will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a third embodiment of the process of S306. The third embodiment describes a process for dealing with a change in the information acquired by the ICU 212 in S304 based on the touch position detected in S302 while the loop process of S302 to S307 is repeated. Here, the information shown in FIGS. 4 (c) and 4 (d) is used as a specific example of the information acquired by the ICU 212.

In S901, the ICU 212 determines whether or not the function of the second operation is set at the touch position detected in S302. When the ICU 212 determines that the function of the second operation is present (YES in S901), the ICU 212 advances the process to S902. In the present embodiment, the case where the process proceeds to S902 is the case where the information in FIG. 4D is acquired in S304. Therefore, in S902, the ICU 212 determines whether or not the pressing force detected by the pressure sensor 210 is equal to or less than the erasing threshold value D. When the ICU 212 determines that the pressing force is equal to or less than the erasing threshold value D (YES in S902), the ICU 212 advances the process to S903.

In S903, the ICU 212 determines whether or not the pressing force detected by the pressure sensor 210 is equal to or less than the operation threshold value d. When the ICU 212 determines that the pressing force is equal to or less than the operation threshold value d (YES in S903), the ICU 212 advances the process to S904. Since the processing of S904 and the processing of S905 following it are the same as the processing of S804 and S805 described with reference to FIG. 8, the description thereof is omitted here. The execution of S905 ends this processing, and the ICU 212 proceeds to the main routine S307.

When the ICU 212 determines that the pressing force is larger than the operating threshold value d in the determination of S903 for comparing the pressing force and the operating threshold value b (NO in S903), the ICU 212 advances the process to S906. Since the processing of S906 and the processing of S907 that follows are the same as the processing of S806 and S807 described with reference to FIG. 8, the description thereof is omitted here. The execution of S907 ends this processing, and the ICU 212 proceeds to the main routine S307.

When the ICU 212 determines that the second operation function is not set in S901 for determining whether or not the second operation function is set for the touch operation (NO in S901), the ICU 212 advances the process to S908. In the present embodiment, the case where the process proceeds to S908 is the case where the information in FIG. 4C is acquired in S304 or the function is not set at the detected touch position. Therefore, in S908, the ICU 212 determines whether or not the pressing force detected by the pressure sensor 210 is equal to or less than the erasing threshold value C. When the ICU 212 determines that the pressing force is equal to or less than the erasing threshold value C (YES in S908), the ICU 212 advances the process to S909.

In S909, the ICU 212 determines whether or not the touch position has the function of the first operation. In this determination, for example, as an operation for moving the AF frame, it is possible to perform an operation of touching the displayed AF frame and then dragging the AF frame instead of touching the desired position on the operation surface. It is assumed that the AF frame is dragged to a position where one operation is not provided. When the ICU 212 determines that the function of the first operation is present (YES in S909), the process proceeds to S904, and when it is determined that the function of the first operation is not present (NO in S909), the main process is terminated. The process proceeds to S307 of the routine.

When the ICU 212 determines in S908 that the pressing force is compared with the erasing threshold value A that the pressing force is larger than the erasing threshold value C (NO in S908), the process proceeds to S910. Further, when the ICU 212 determines in S902 that the pressing force is compared with the erasing threshold value D that the pressing force is larger than the erasing threshold value D (NO in S902), the process proceeds to S910. In S910, the ICU 212 executes the display erasing process of the touch position in the display unit 106 and the EVF 103. The details of the processing of S910 will be described later. The execution of S910 ends this processing, and the ICU 212 proceeds to the main routine S307.

In the third embodiment described above, it is desirable to set the erasure threshold value D to be larger than the erasure threshold value C. The reason is the same as the reason that it is desirable to set the erasure threshold value B to a value larger than the erasure threshold value A in the second embodiment. It is also desirable to set the operation threshold value d and the erasure threshold value C to the same value. The reason is the same as the reason that it is desirable to set the operation threshold value b and the elimination threshold value A to the same value in the second embodiment.

Next, the display erasing process of the touch position common to the subroutine processes S507, S810, and S910 will be described. FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the display erasing process of the touch position. In S1001, the ICU 212 touches based on the information acquired in S304 (setting of the digital camera 100, type and connection form of the external device connected to the digital camera 100, information displayed superimposed on the display screen, etc.). Determine how to erase the display of the position. The ICU 212 selects the display erasing method to be executed from the first to fourth display erasing methods, and branches the process to S1002 to 1005.

When the ICU 212 determines in S1001 that "information is displayed", the process proceeds to S1002, and in S1002, the first display erasing method of hiding a part or all of the superimposed and displayed bitmap is executed. It is assumed that the digital camera 100 can set whether to hide a part of the bitmap or hide the entire bitmap. The superimposed display bitmap is, for example, the AF frame 601 displayed in FIG. 6A, the notification mark 602, and the AF double frame 603 displayed in FIG. 6B. The process of S1002 is executed for the situations of FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b) in which the notification mark 602 is displayed, and the display erase process is performed as shown in FIG. 6 (c). FIG. 6C shows an example of the first display erasing method, and shows an example of hiding the entire bitmap. A part of the bitmap may be hidden, and as an example in that case, the AF frame 601 and the AF double frame 603 may be hidden, but the information display of the notification mark 602 may be maintained. ..

When the ICU 212 determines in S1001 that "no information is displayed", the process proceeds to S1003, and in S1003, the second display erasing method of hiding the touch position and the image area in the vicinity thereof is executed. For example, although the AF frames 701 and AF double frames 702, which are bitmaps, are displayed in FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b), information display such as the notification mark 602 is not performed. The process of S1003 is executed for the situations shown in FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b) without such information display. FIG. 7C shows an example of the second display erasing method. In FIG. 7 (c), the image area 703 at the touch position and its vicinity is hidden. Since the touch position is hidden, the AF frame 701 and the AF double frame 702 are also hidden.

FIG. 11A is a diagram showing another example of the second display erasing method. A monitor 1101 is connected to the digital camera 100 by using, for example, an HDMI standard cable, image data is output from the digital camera 100 to the monitor 1101, and an image is displayed on the monitor 1101. At this time, the display unit 106 of the digital camera 100 hides the image in order to display the image on the monitor 1101, but the function of the touch panel 209 is effective.

Here, when viewing an image on the monitor 1101, there is a request that extra information is not displayed on the screen. Therefore, when the image data is output to the monitor 1101 and the image is displayed, a bitmap such as the AF frame 601 or the notification mark 602 or the AF double frame 603 is superimposed and displayed on the image by operating the display switching button 107. It is assumed that it is possible to select a mode that does not. In this case, since the GUI for notifying the user that the function corresponding to the touch operation on the touch panel 209 is operating does not appear on the monitor 1101, it is meaningless to take measures to hide the GUI in the first place. .. Therefore, it is necessary to notify the user by another display method that the pressing force on the touch panel 209 has exceeded the erasing threshold value. Therefore, when the image is displayed on the monitor 1101, the user needs to reduce the pressing force on the touch panel 209 by hiding the image area 1102 corresponding to the touch position with respect to the touch panel 209 on the screen of the monitor 1101. Notify to.

When the ICU 212 determines in S1001 that it is a "recording device output", the process proceeds to S1004, and in S1004, a third display erasing method of hiding the entire display area (full screen) of the display means is executed. FIG. 11B is a diagram showing an example of a third display erasing method. The recording device 1104 is connected to the digital camera 100 using, for example, an HDMI standard cable, and the monitor 1103 is further connected to the recording device 1104 using, for example, an HDMI standard cable. The recording device 1104 can output the video to the monitor 1103 and display it while recording the video output from the digital camera 100 as an input. At this time, the display unit 106 of the digital camera 100 hides the image in order to display the image on the monitor 1103, but the function of the touch panel 209 is effective.

A user observing an image on the monitor 1103 via the recording device 1104 hides the touch position and the surrounding area as described with reference to FIG. 11A, but the non-display is the recording device. It may be recognized as the result of the mask processing in 1104. Further, if a part of the video data is hidden during the recording of the video by the recording device 1104, the video in which the part of the video data is hidden will be recorded. Therefore, in the case of the configuration of FIG. 11B, the user is notified that it is necessary to reduce the pressing force on the touch panel 209 by hiding the entire screen of the monitor 1103 while continuing the recording on the recording device 1104. .. At that time, in order to more effectively call attention to the user, it is also desirable to add a process (silence process) to mute the sound accompanying the recording.

When the ICU 212 determines in S1001 that "no display output", the process proceeds to S1005, which is an exception process, and in S1005, the display erase process is not performed on the display means. The case where the process proceeds to S1005 is, for example, when the power of the monitor 1101 connected to the digital camera 100 is off, or because the digital camera 100 or the monitor 1101 is being initialized, before the initial screen is displayed. There are cases, etc. The ICU 212 terminates this subroutine process after the process of S1005, thereby ending the process of S306. As a result, the process proceeds to S307.

The ICU 212 advances the processing to S1006 after S1002 to S1004. In S1006, the ICU 212 updates the display on each display means by outputting the display data for which display control is performed in S1002 to S1004 to each display means. As a result, the display states shown in FIGS. 6 (c), 7 (c), and 11 are obtained. The ICU 212 terminates this subroutine process after the process of S1006, whereby the process of S306 ends. As a result, the process proceeds to S307.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the process of S306 will be described. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of display erasure in the fourth embodiment of the process of S306. FIG. 12A shows a display example of the shooting standby screen on the display unit 106 during live view (LV) shooting by the digital camera 100.

The touch buttons 1201, 1202, 1203, 1204 and the shooting setting information 1205 are displayed on the display unit 106 so as to be superimposed on the LV image 1200. The touch buttons 1201 to 1204 are button icons (display items) to which functions are assigned. Therefore, by touching and releasing any position of the touch buttons 1201 to 1204 (tap), the function assigned to the tapped touch button is executed.

Touch buttons 1201 to 1204 are touched with a pressing force of an operation threshold value of TH1 or less (hereinafter referred to as "weak touch") and a touch of a pressing force of an erasing threshold value of greater than the operation threshold value of TH1 and equal to or less than the erasing threshold value of TH2 (hereinafter referred to as "strong touch"). ) And different functions are assigned. Here, the relationship of TH2> TH1 is established between the operation threshold value TH1 and the erasure threshold value TH2, and the erasure threshold value TH2 is three times or more the operation threshold value TH1 (that is, the erasure threshold value TH2 is sufficiently larger than the operation threshold value TH1). Value).

When a weak touch is made, each of the touch buttons 1201 to 1204 has a button-down display display form indicating that the touch button is in a touched state, and the display form changes from that before the touch. Further, when the touch buttons 1201 to 1204 are strongly touched, in addition to the button down display, a button guide display explaining the function of the strongly touched touch button is performed. When the touch buttons 1201 to 1204 are touched with a pressing force larger than the erasing threshold value TH2, the function is invalidated and the touch buttons 1201 to 1204 are hidden in order to prevent the occurrence of a failure due to the pressing force. Hiding the touch buttons 1201 to 1204 in this way is a warning to the user.

Since the user can recognize that the strong touch has been accepted when the button guide is displayed by the strong touch, there is no great possibility that the user blindly increases the pressing force of the touch operation. Therefore, since the strong touch function is assigned to the touch buttons 1201 to 1204, the touch buttons 1201 to 1204 are assigned even when the pressing force exceeds the erasing threshold value TH2 regardless of the pressing force of the touch operation. May be configured not to be hidden.

The touch button 1201 is a touch button indicating a shooting mode, and when tapped, the screen transitions from the display screen of the LV image 1200 to the shooting mode change screen. The touch button 1202 is a FUNC menu touch button, and when tapped, the FUNC menu is displayed superimposed on the LV image 1200. In the FUNC menu, setting items related to shooting such as continuous shooting / single shooting switching menu items, self-timer setting menu items, recording pixel count setting items, etc. are displayed, and you can change the shooting settings by selecting the desired item. It is possible. The touch button 1203 is an information switching button, and when tapped, the amount of information (display / non-display) superimposed on the LV image 1200 is switched. For example, when the touch button 1203 is tapped to switch to the information display state in which the amount of information is small, the shooting setting information 1205 is hidden. The touch button 1204 is a setting menu touch button, and when tapped, the setting menu screen is displayed from the display screen of the LV image 1200. On the setting menu screen, various setting items related to the digital camera 100 such as the brightness setting of the display unit 106, the communication setting, and the initialization of the memory card are displayed.

Of the display area of the LV image 1200, the area where the touch buttons 1201 to 1204 and the shooting setting information 1205 are not displayed is an AF target selectable area (hereinafter referred to as “AF possible area”), and AF by touch operation is performed. Frame setting (touch AF) is possible. When the AF frame is set, the MPU 213 focuses on the subject in the AF frame. Note that the AF-enabled area is not assigned different functions for weak touch and strong touch.

FIG. 12B shows a display example when a weak touch touchdown is performed on the AF enable area. When the AF-capable area is weakly touched with the finger F, the AF frame is set at the touch position and the AF frame 1210 is displayed. When the AF frame is set, the AF operation based on the position of the AF frame 1210 is executed at that time. Further, even when there is a shooting instruction or a shooting preparation instruction, AF is performed based on the position of the AF frame 1210.

Here, since the touch buttons 1201 to 1204 are assigned the function for strong touch, the user considers that the function for strong touch is assigned even in the AF possible area after the AF frame 1210 is displayed, and presses the pressure. There is a possibility of increasing. However, since the function is not assigned to the strong touch, if the display does not change, the user may think that the strong touch function will not be activated due to the weak pressing pressure, and may press even harder. be. As a result, if the pressing force exceeds the erasing threshold value TH2, the display unit 106 may be damaged or the housing of the digital camera 100 may be distorted, resulting in failure of any part. .. In response to this problem, in the present embodiment, in the area to which the function corresponding to the strong touch is not assigned, when the pressing force of the touch operation exceeds the threshold value TH3, the target object of the weak touch or the display item displayed by the weak touch is displayed. To hide. Here, the relationship of TH1 ≦ TH3 ≦ TH2 is established for the operation threshold value TH1, the erasure threshold value TH2, and the threshold value TH3. This informs the user non-verbally and intuitively that no new function will be executed even if the pressing force is increased further.

FIG. 12C shows a display example when the pressing force exceeds the threshold value TH3 due to the user increasing the pressing force by the finger F from the state of FIG. 12B. The AF frame 1210 is hidden, so that the user can recognize that the function related to the setting of the AF frame 1210 is disabled. Therefore, the user is more likely to stop the operation of touching more strongly to weaken the pressing force or to move the finger F away from the operation surface. As a result, it is possible to prevent damage and failure of the digital camera 100 including the display unit 106.

FIG. 12D shows a display example when the touch button 1203 is touched down with a weak touch. It can be seen that the touch button 1203 is bordered by a white line, which is different from that before touching (see FIG. 12 (a)) and has changed to a display form different from that of the touch buttons 1201, 1202, 1204. As a result, the user can recognize that the touchdown to the touch button 1203 is accepted. When the user touches up the finger F in this state, the function of the touch button 1203 is executed and the information display is switched.

FIG. 12 (e) is a table when the pressing force exceeds the operation threshold value TH1 and becomes a strong touch state due to the user increasing the pressing force on the touch button 1203 by the finger F from the state of FIG. 12 (d). An example is shown. In the strong touch state, a button guide 1211 explaining the function of the touch button 1203 is displayed on the screen as a function assigned to the strong touch to the touch button 1203. When the user touches up the finger F in this state, the function of the touch button 1203 is executed and the information display is switched.

FIG. 12 (f) shows a display example when the pressing force exceeds the erasing threshold value TH2 due to the user increasing the pressing force on the touch button 1203 by the finger F from the state of FIG. 12 (e). Shows. If the pressing force of the finger F becomes larger than this, the display unit 106 may be damaged. Therefore, the touched touch button 1203 is hidden, and the user invalidates the function related to the touch button 1203. You can recognize that it has become. Therefore, as described above, the user stops the operation of touching more strongly to weaken the pressing force or increase the possibility that the finger F is separated from the operation surface, so that the digital camera 100 is caused by the excessive pressing force. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of damage and failure. When the finger F is touched up in the state of FIG. 12 (f), the function of the touch button 1203 is not executed, and therefore the information display is not switched.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a fourth embodiment in which the process of S306 is described with reference to FIG. When the digital camera 100 is activated in the LV shooting mode, the processing of S1301 is started. In S1301, the ICU 212 starts live view imaging and displays a shooting standby screen (see FIG. 12A) including an LV image on the display unit 106. In S1302, the ICU 212 determines whether or not there has been a touchdown to the display unit 106. When the ICU 212 determines that there is a touchdown (YES in S1302), the process proceeds to S1303. In S1303, the ICU 212 determines whether or not the touch position (the position where the touchdown is performed in the present embodiment) is the button icon area (the position of the display item or the position other than the display item). In the case of the example of FIG. 12, specifically, it is determined whether the touch position is touched by any of the displays of the touch buttons 1201 to 1204 or the other area. When the ICU 212 determines that the touch position is the button icon area (YES in S1303), the ICU 212 advances the process to S1304.

In S1304, the ICU 212 changes the display form of the touch button at the touch position to the button-down display. For example, the display transition from FIG. 12 (a) to FIG. 12 (d) described above is performed. As described above, the button-down display is a function corresponding to the weak touch assigned to each touch button. In S1305, the ICU 212 determines whether or not the pressing force detected by the pressure sensor 210 is larger than the operation threshold value TH1. When the ICU 212 determines that the pressing force does not exceed the operation threshold value TH1 (weak touch state) (NO in S1305), the ICU 212 advances the process to S1306. In S1306, the ICU 212 determines whether or not there was a touch-up. When the ICU 212 determines that the touch-up has not occurred (NO in S1306), the process returns to S1305, and when it is determined that the touch-up has occurred (YES in S1306), the process proceeds to S1310. As a result, the function of the touch button that has been touched is executed.

In S1307, the ICU 212 displays a button guide for the touch button being touched. For example, the display transition from FIG. 12 (d) to FIG. 12 (e) described above is performed. In the following S1308, the ICU 212 determines whether or not the pressing force detected by the pressure sensor 210 is larger than the elimination threshold TH2. When the ICU 212 determines that the pressing force does not exceed the erasing threshold TH2 (strong touch state) (NO in S1308), the process proceeds to S1309. In S1309, the ICU 212 determines whether or not there was a touch-up. When the ICU 212 determines that there is a touch-up (YES in S1309), the process proceeds to S1310.

In S1310, the ICU 212 executes the function of the touch button touched regardless of whether the process follows S1306 or the process following S1309. For example, when the touch button 1203 is touched, the function of the touch button 1203 is executed in response to the touch-up, and the information display is switched. The ICU 212 returns the process to S1302 after executing the process of S1310.

When the ICU 212 determines that the touch-up is not performed in S1309 (NO in S1309), the process proceeds to S1311. In S1311, the ICU 212 determines whether or not the pressing force detected by the pressure sensor 210 is less than the threshold value TH1'. Here, it is assumed that the relationship TH1 ≧ TH1 ′ is established between the operation threshold value TH1 and the threshold value TH1 ′. When the operation threshold value TH1 = threshold value TH1', the threshold value of the pressing force for transitioning from the weak touch state to the strong touch state is the same. When the operation threshold value TH1> the threshold value TH1'is set, a hysteresis is provided. In other words, once the transition from the weak touch state to the strong touch state is made, it will not return to the weak touch state even if the same pressing pressure is slightly applied, so it becomes easier to maintain the strong touch state, and the weak touch state and the strong touch state. It is possible to suppress the frequent switching of. When the ICU 212 determines that the pressing force is not less than the operation threshold value TH1'(NO in S1311), the process is returned to S1308, and when it is determined that the pressing force is less than the threshold value TH1'(YES in S1311). ), The process proceeds to S1312.

In S1312, the ICU 212 erases the display of the button guide displayed in S1307. As a result, the user can recognize that the state has changed from the strong touch state to the weak touch state. For example, when the pressing force of the touch operation is weakened from the state where the button guide 1211 is displayed as shown in FIG. 12E and the pressing force becomes less than the threshold value TH1', the button guide 1211 is hidden and the button guide 1211 is hidden. The display state of (d) is set. The ICU 212 returns the process to S1305 after executing the process of S1312.

When the ICU 212 determines in S1308 that the pressing force is larger than the erasing threshold value TH2 (YES in S1308), the ICU 212 advances the process to S1313. In S1313, the ICU 212 hides both the touch button itself and the button guide being touched, thereby warning the user that the touch operation is pressed too strongly. For example, the display transition from FIG. 12 (e) to FIG. 12 (f) described above is performed. This allows the user to intuitively recognize in a non-verbal manner that no new function is performed even if the pressing force is increased further. Therefore, it is expected that the user weakens the pressing force or separates the finger F from the operation surface, and it becomes possible to prevent the occurrence of damage or failure due to the excessive pressing force.

In S1314, the ICU 212 determines whether or not there was a touch-up. If the ICU 212 determines that the touch-up has not been performed (NO in S1314), the ICU 212 waits until the touch-up is detected. That is, if it is determined that there is a touch-up (YES in S1314), the process proceeds to S1315. That is, once the pressing force of the touch operation exceeds the erasing threshold value TH2 and the touch button touched is hidden, the touch button remains hidden even if the pressing force is weakened. In that case, once the pressing force is increased too much, the touch button that has been touched cannot be operated unless it is touched up once. Therefore, the user is expected to pay attention to the pressing force of the touch operation so as not to exceed the erasing threshold value TH2, which is the threshold value of the warning, in the subsequent touch operation, whereby the touch operation with an excessive pressing force is expected. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of damage or failure due to the work. When it is determined in S1314 that the touch-up has not been performed, it is determined whether or not the pressing force of the touch operation has fallen below the erasing threshold value TH2, and if it has fallen below, the touch button is redisplayed and processed to S1307. You may proceed to enable continuous touch operation.

When the ICU 212 determines that there is a touch-up in S1314 (YES in S1314), the process proceeds to S1315. In S1315, the ICU 212 displays the touch button erased in S1313 again because the reason for giving the warning by touch-up has been resolved. For example, if the touch-up is performed while the touch button 1203 is hidden as shown in FIG. 12 (f), the touch button 1203 is displayed again and the display state is changed to the display state of FIG. 12 (a). In this case, the function assigned to the touch button is not executed in response to the touch-up.

When the ICU 212 determines in S1303 that the touch position is not the button icon area (NO in S1303), the process proceeds to S1316. In S1316, the ICU 212 determines whether or not the touch position is in the AF-capable area. When the ICU 212 determines that the AF is possible area (YES in S1316), the process proceeds to S1317. In S1317, the ICU 212 displays the AF frame at the position corresponding to the touch position. As a result, so-called touch AF, in which the AF frame can be set by directly touching the position where the user wants to set the AF frame, is executed. For example, the display transition from FIG. 12 (a) to FIG. 12 (b) described above is performed. At this point, the AF operation may be performed based on the set AF frame, or the AF operation should not be performed until there is an AF execution instruction (shooting preparation instruction, shooting instruction) such as half-pressing the release button 102. It doesn't matter. Further, the AF frame to be set may be a tracking frame. In the case of a tracking frame, the subject at the set position is tracked based on the color, contrast, shape, etc., and when the position of the specified subject moves within the shooting range, the AF frame is moved accordingly. Is desirable. Further, it is possible to assign a so-called touch shutter function that executes a shooting operation by touch operation. In that case, after setting an AF frame, AF is performed based on the set AF frame, and then this book is performed. You can make it shoot.

In S1318, the ICU 212 determines whether or not the pressing force detected by the pressure sensor 210 is larger than the threshold value TH3. When the ICU 212 determines that the pressing force is equal to or less than the threshold value TH3 (NO in S1318), the process proceeds to S1319. In S1319, the ICU 212 determines whether or not there was a touch-up. The ICU 212 returns the process to S1302 when it is determined that there is a touch-up (YES in S1319), and returns the process to S1318 when it is determined that there is no touch-up (NO in S1319).

When the ICU 212 determines in S1318 that the pressing force is larger than the threshold value TH3 (YES in S1318), the process proceeds to S1320. In S1320, the ICU 212 hides (erases) the displayed AF frame. For example, when the pressing force of the touch operation becomes large and exceeds the threshold value TH3 while the AF frame 1210 is displayed as shown in FIG. 12 (b), the AF frame 1210 is hidden in the state of FIG. 12 (c). Transition. As a result, as described above with reference to FIG. 12 (c), the user can recognize that the function of the AF frame 1210 has been disabled and reduce the pressing force or move the finger F away from the operation surface. By increasing the property, it is possible to prevent damage and failure of the digital camera 100. When the threshold value TH3 is set to the same value as or close to the operation threshold value TH1, the AF frame 1210 (touched) is touched when the user performs a touch operation with an amount of force that is normally determined to be a strong touch. Display item) is hidden. As a result, the user can be made to recognize that the function corresponding to the strong touch is not assigned to the touch position.

In S1321, the ICU 212 determines whether or not there was a touch-up. When it is determined that the touch-up has not been performed (NO in S1321), the ICU 212 waits until the touch-up is detected, and when it is determined that the touch-up has occurred (YES in S1321), the process returns to S1302.

When the ICU 212 determines in S1302 that there is no touchdown (NO in S1302), the process proceeds to S1322. Further, when the ICU 212 determines in S1316 that the touch position is not in the AF enable area (NO in S1316), the ICU 212 advances the process to S1322. When proceeding from S1316 to S1322, the ICU 212 does not perform the process corresponding to the touchdown detected in S1302, or proceeds with the process to S1322 after performing other processes. In S1322, the ICU 212 determines whether or not there is a shooting instruction by operating the release button 102. When the ICU 212 determines that there is a shooting instruction (YES in S1322), the process proceeds to S1323.

In S1323, the ICU 212 performs AF based on the position of the set AF frame in response to the shooting instruction, and performs the main shooting. The main shooting is different from the shooting for acquiring an LV image, and is a series of processes from performing the main exposure to storing the shot image as an image file in the memory card 204. In the main shooting by operating the release button 102, first, AF and AE (automatic exposure control) are performed when the release button 102 is half-pressed, and then the main shooting is performed when the release button 102 is fully pressed. When the processing of S1323 is completed, the ICU 212 returns the processing to S1302.

When the ICU 212 determines in S1322 that there is no shooting instruction (NO in S1322), the process proceeds to S1324. In S1324, the ICU 212 determines whether or not there is an end event of the LV shooting process. The end event is, for example, a change to another operation mode such as an optical finder shooting mode or a reproduction mode, an operation of turning off the power of the digital camera 100, or the like. When it is determined that there is no end event (NO in S1324), the ICU 212 returns the process to S1302, and when it is determined that there is an end event (YES in S1324), the ICU 212 terminates this process.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the user from pushing the operation surface too strongly in anticipation of executing (controlling) different processes set according to the magnitude of the pressing force on the operation surface. can do. As a result, it is possible to prevent damage or failure of the device including the operation surface. Further, according to the present invention, when the pressing force on the operation surface is too large, the display item or the like displayed according to the touch position and its vicinity or the touch operation is hidden instead of the warning sound or the character string. Notify the user by the method. Therefore, the user can intuitively recognize that the function by the touch operation is not accepted. Further, by not using the character string, it is possible to avoid the problem that the warning is not transmitted to the user due to the mismatch between the display language and the language used by the user.

Although the present invention has been described in detail based on the preferred embodiments thereof, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments, and various embodiments within the range not deviating from the gist of the present invention are also included in the present invention. included. Further, each of the above-described embodiments is merely an embodiment of the present invention, and each embodiment can be appropriately combined. For example, a configuration has been described in which the first display erasing method in which a part or all of the bitmap is hidden is adopted for the processing when it is determined in S1001 that "there is information display". The second display erasing method may be adopted.

Further, for example, the above-mentioned various controls described as those performed by the ICU 212 may be performed by one hardware, or the entire device may be controlled by sharing the processing by a plurality of hardware. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the digital camera 100 has been described as an example, but the present invention can be applied to an electronic device having a display device provided with a touch panel and a pressure sensor. be. For example, it can be applied to personal computers, PDAs, mobile phone terminals and image viewers, printer devices, digital photo frames, music players, game machines, electronic book readers, tablet terminals, smartphones, projection devices, home appliances and in-vehicle devices. ..

The present invention supplies a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiment to a system or device via a network or storage medium, and one or more processors in the computer of the system or device reads and executes the program. It can also be realized by the processing to be performed. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

100 Digital camera 103 Electronic viewfinder 105 Mode dial 106 Display unit 209 Touch panel 210 Pressure sensor 212 ICU

Claims (12)

Touch detection means for detecting touch operations on the operation surface,
A pressure detecting means for detecting a pressing force at a touch position with respect to the operating surface of the touch operation, and a pressure detecting means.
When the pressing force detected by the pressure detecting means exceeds a predetermined erasing threshold value, at least a part of the display target displayed on the display means displaying at that time is hidden. Control means to control and
An execution means for executing the predetermined function in response to the position on the operation surface where the predetermined function is set exceeds the operation threshold value smaller than the erasure threshold value and is touched by a pressing force equal to or lower than the erasure threshold value . Equipped with
The control means controls to hide at least a part of the display target when the position on the operation surface where the predetermined function is not set is touched by a pressing force exceeding the erasing threshold value . When the position on the operation surface where the predetermined function is set is touched with a pressing force exceeding the erasing threshold value defined for the position where the predetermined function is not set, the display is displayed. An electronic device characterized by not performing control to hide at least a part of an object . The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the erasing threshold value at a position where the predetermined function is set is larger than the erasing threshold value at a position where the predetermined function is not set. The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the operation threshold value is the same as the erasure threshold value at a position where the predetermined function is set, and the erase threshold value is the same at a position where the predetermined function is not set. Touch detection means for detecting touch operations on the operation surface,
A pressure detecting means for detecting a pressing force at a touch position with respect to the operating surface of the touch operation, and a pressure detecting means.
When the pressing force detected by the pressure detecting means exceeds a predetermined erasing threshold value, at least a part of the display target displayed on the display means displaying at that time is hidden. Control means to control and
Even if a position other than the display item on the operation surface exceeds the operation threshold value smaller than the erasure threshold value and is touched with a pressing force equal to or less than the erasure threshold value, the function corresponding to the touch is not executed, and the display item is the operation threshold value. The control means includes an executing means for executing a predetermined function when touched with a pressing force exceeding the erasing threshold value and equal to or less than the erasing threshold value. Control is performed to hide at least a part of the display target when the threshold value is exceeded, and even if the pressing force when the display item is touched exceeds the erasure threshold value, at least a part of the display target is displayed. An electronic device characterized by not performing control to hide . The electronic device according to claim 4 , wherein the erasure threshold value at the position of the display item is larger than the erasure threshold value at a position other than the display item. The electronic device according to claim 4 , wherein the erasing threshold value at a position other than the display item is the same as the operation threshold value at the position of the display item. A drawing means for drawing a bitmap representing a function set for a pressing force equal to or lower than the erasing threshold value on the display means is provided.
One of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the control means hides a bitmap displayed on the display means when at least a part of the display target is hidden. The electronic device described in. A first aspect of the present invention, wherein the control means hides an image displayed in the vicinity of a touch position detected by the touch detecting means when at least a part of the display target is hidden. The electronic device according to any one of 7 . It is a control method for electronic devices.
A touch detection step that detects a touch operation on the operation surface,
A pressure detection step for detecting a pressing force at a touch position with respect to the operating surface of the touch operation, and a pressure detecting step.
When the pressing force detected in the pressure detection step exceeds a predetermined erasing threshold value, at least a part of the display target displayed on the display means displaying at that time is hidden. Control steps and
An execution step of executing the predetermined function in response to a touch on the operation surface where the position where the predetermined function is set exceeds the operation threshold value smaller than the erasure threshold value and is touched by a pressing force equal to or lower than the erasure threshold value. Have,
In the display control step, control is performed to hide at least a part of the display target when the position on the operation surface where the predetermined function is not set is touched by a pressing force exceeding the erasing threshold value. When the position on the operation surface where the predetermined function is set is touched with a pressing force exceeding the erasing threshold value defined for the position where the predetermined function is not set, the display target is displayed. A control method for an electronic device, characterized in that control for hiding at least a part of the device is not performed . It is a control method for electronic devices.
A touch detection step that detects a touch operation on the operation surface,
A pressure detection step for detecting a pressing force at a touch position with respect to the operating surface of the touch operation, and a pressure detecting step.
Display control that hides at least a part of the display target displayed on the display means displaying at that time when the pressing force detected in the pressure detection step exceeds a predetermined erasing threshold value. Steps and
Even if a position other than the display item on the operation surface exceeds the operation threshold value smaller than the erasure threshold value and is touched with a pressing force equal to or less than the erasure threshold value, the function corresponding to the touch is not executed, and the display item is the operation threshold value. Has an execution step, which executes a predetermined function when touched with a pressing force exceeding the erasing threshold value and equal to or lower than the erasing threshold value.
In the display control step, control is performed to hide at least a part of the display target when the pressing force when a position other than the display item is touched exceeds the erasure threshold value, and the display item is touched. A method for controlling an electronic device, characterized in that control for hiding at least a part of the display target is not performed even if the pressing force at the time of pressing exceeds the erasing threshold value. A program for making a computer function as each means of the electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 . A computer-readable storage medium containing a program for causing the computer to function as each means of the electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 .

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