JP2002290784A - Imaging equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To easily perform photographing with a desired function with a simple configuration. SOLUTION: In the case of A in which a symbol imitating a film is displayed at the upper center of the on-screen display, simply select (MOVIE) with a mode dial (right side in the drawing),
It becomes possible to shoot moving images by MPEG. If (SET UP) is selected on the mode dial,
The on-screen display (left side in the drawing) is as shown in B. Here, a menu of “moving image selection” is selected according to an operation of a setting key (not shown), and “MPEG movie” and “clip motion” are further selected. Then, when “Clip Motion” is selected, the on-screen display is as shown in C. Then, when (MOVIE) is selected by the mode dial from this state, the character "CLIP" is displayed at the upper center of the on-screen display as shown in D, and it becomes possible to capture a moving image by GIF animation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photographing apparatus suitable for use in, for example, a digital still camera. More specifically, for example, one of a plurality of functions is automatically set by selecting a shooting mode, so that shooting can be easily performed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, some digital still cameras are capable of shooting moving images in a prescribed format in addition to shooting still images. For example, a moving image used in a digital still camera is a so-called MPEG (Motion) format.
The format of a moving image such as n Picture Expert Group and the format of a continuous still image such as a GIF animation are known.

For example, a digital still camera is provided with a function of a moving image (MPEG movie) based on the above-described MPEG and a moving image (clip motion) based on a GIF animation so that a moving image can be photographed by these functions. Is what it is. However, in order to execute capturing of moving images in these formats, for example, in a conventional apparatus, switches are provided for each of these formats, and a format is selected by operating these switches.

However, if switches are provided for each format, the number of switches increases, which hinders downsizing and weight reduction of the device, and also increases the manufacturing cost. On the other hand, a format is selected by a so-called menu selection using display means, but if the menu screen is opened each time the format is selected, the selection cannot be easily performed. For example, there is a fear that a photographer may miss a photo opportunity.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and the problem to be solved is that, in a conventional device, for example, a switch is provided for each format. It is an obstacle to miniaturization and weight reduction of the device, and it is not possible to easily select the format by selecting the format by menu selection, and it is possible to eliminate the possibility of missing a shooting opportunity immediately. It was not.

[0006]

Therefore, in the present invention, there is provided a selecting means for selecting a photographing mode, and a setting means for setting one of a plurality of functions for the photographing mode selected by the selecting means. According to this, the function of the preset photographing mode can be executed only by operating the selecting means, and the photographing with the desired function can be easily performed with a simple configuration. It can be carried out.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the present invention, there is provided a photographing apparatus having a plurality of photographing modes, each of which has a plurality of functions. Setting means for setting one of a plurality of functions for the photographing mode selected by the means.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a digital still camera to which a photographing device according to the present invention is applied.

In FIG. 1, image light from a subject (not shown) passes through a lens block 1 and is applied to a semiconductor imaging device (CCD) 2 that converts the image light into an electric signal.
The electric signal from the semiconductor image pickup device 2 is supplied to the camera signal block 3, and the luminance signal (Y) and the color difference signal (C
b, Cr). Then, the converted signal passes through the signal processing block 4 as it is and is supplied to the decoder 5, where it is converted into three primary color (R, G, B) signals, and an image is projected on the display panel (LCD) 6.

An operation signal from an operation switch section 7 such as various operation means and external keys is supplied to a controller 8 comprising a microcomputer or the like. When, for example, a shutter key (not shown) of the operation switch unit 7 is pressed, a control signal from the controller 8 is supplied to the signal processing block 4 via the bus 9, and the image data for one screen is output from the signal processing block 4. Is taken into a random access memory (RAM) 10 through a bus 9.

That is, the operation of taking in and the control of the whole system are controlled by the controller 8 through the bus 9. In the configuration of this embodiment, the signal processing block 4, the controller 8, the random access memory 10, and the media drive 11 described later
Are connected through the bus 9, the controller 8 controls the signal processing block 4 and the media drive 11 through the bus 9, and the image data is also transferred through the bus 9.

Further, the image data fetched into the random access memory 10 is once fetched into the controller 8 and JPEG (Joint Photographic).
The data is compressed according to a format such as “Expert Group” and stored in another address of the random access memory 10 again. Then, a file header and the like are added to the compressed image data by the controller 8, and the JP
It is formed into a data stream as an EG file.

The file is transferred to the media drive 11 by the controller 8 and can be written from the media drive 11 to a recording medium 12 such as a memory card. In this embodiment, the recording medium 1
2, a semiconductor memory such as a memory card is shown, but a magnetic disk such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a CD-R, a CD-RW, a DVD-R, and a DVD
The present invention can also be applied to a device having a built-in removable recording medium such as an optical disk such as -RW.

When reproducing the image file written on the recording medium 12 on the display panel 6, first, the image file written on the recording medium 12 is stored in the random access memory 10 through the media drive 11 by the controller 8. Will be transferred. The image data is extracted from the transferred image file, and the compressed file is expanded while the image data is taken into the controller 8, and the result is stored again in another address of the random access memory 10.

When the decompression operation is completed, the image data stored at another address of the random access memory 10 is read out via the signal processing block 4. Then, the read image data is supplied to the decoder 5, and the decoder 5 converts the image data into three primary colors (R, G,
B) The image is converted into a signal and displayed on the display panel 6. The compressed file is decompressed from the image file written on the recording medium 12 and displayed on the display panel 6.

In this apparatus, the controller 8
Is connected to an on-screen display controller (OSDC) 14 via a serial communication line 13. A signal generated by the on-screen display controller 14 is supplied to the decoder 5, and the image data from the signal processing block 4 and the Mixed. As a result, a symbol or a character designated by the controller 8 can be placed at an arbitrary position on the display panel 6.
A menu screen, icons, and the like composed of figures and the like are displayed.

That is, on the display panel 6, for example, settings inside the controller 8 are supplied as control signals for icons to the on-screen display controller 14, and the icons are displayed at arbitrary positions on the display panel 6. Thus, the user can easily confirm the current setting contents by looking at the display panel 6, and can smoothly perform photographing. The display on the display panel 6 can be turned on and off by operating means (not shown) of the operation switch unit 7.

At the same time, when an operation signal from a setting key (not shown) of the operation switch section 7 is supplied to the controller 8, an arbitrary menu screen is created in the controller 8 in accordance with the operation content. The displayed menu screen is displayed on the display panel 6 via the on-screen display controller 14. Further, a new menu screen is sequentially created by the controller 8 in accordance with the operation of the operation switch unit 7, and the setting according to the operation is changed inside the controller 8.

In this apparatus, the operation switch section 7 is provided with a selection means (mode dial) for selecting a photographing mode as shown on the right side of FIG. 2, for example. MANUA
L), shutter speed priority mode (S), aperture priority mode (A), scene selection mode (SS), automatic shooting mode (AUTO), playback mode (PB),
Moving image shooting mode (MOVIE), setting change mode (S
ET UP) is provided.

On the display panel 6, an on-screen display (OSD), for example, as shown on the left side of FIG. 2, is performed. That is, this display is displayed, for example, in a manner superimposed on a captured image (not shown). Then, use the mode dial on the right to select the moving image shooting mode (MOVI
When E) is selected, for example, in the on-screen display of FIG. 2A, a symbol imitating a film indicating a moving image (MPEG movie) by, for example, MPEG is displayed at the upper center.

Accordingly, in the case of FIG. 2A,
Just by selecting the moving image shooting mode (MOVIE) with the mode dial, for example, a moving image (MPEG
Movie).

On the other hand, for example, when the setting change mode (SET UP) is selected by the mode dial, the on-screen display is as shown in FIG. 2B, for example. Here, for example, in response to the operation of a setting key (not shown) of the operation switch section 7, the menu of "movie selection" is selected, and the above-mentioned MPEG movie and clip motion are selected. Then, for example, when the clip motion is selected, the on-screen display becomes, for example, as shown in FIG. 2C.

When the moving image photographing mode (MOVIE) is selected by the mode dial from the state of FIG. 2C, for example, in the on-screen display of FIG. The character "CLIP" indicating that the clip motion is a clip motion is displayed. That is, in this case, it is possible to shoot a moving image (clip motion) by, for example, GIF animation simply by selecting the moving image shooting mode (MOVIE) with the mode dial.

Thus, according to this embodiment, only by selecting a moving image shooting mode (MOVIE) with the mode dial, a moving image (M
PEG movie) or moving image (clip motion) by GIF animation,
These moving images can be taken extremely easily.

It should be noted that the MPEG movie and the clip motion have different resolutions of moving images to be photographed and data formats, and are used for different purposes.
Since the use of general users is limited, it can be set in advance. The mode dial is conventionally provided in the photographing apparatus, and the menu selection using the on-screen display is also used for other functions, and is specially provided for this embodiment. Not something.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the functions set in advance are not limited to the above-described moving image shooting mode. For example, in the scene selection mode (SS) selected by the mode dial, “night view”, “landscape” Settings such as “portrait” can also be made. Such a setting,
For example, by selecting the “Scene Selection” menu in the menu display of B and C in FIG. 2 described above, the setting can be performed in the same manner as the setting of the moving image shooting mode described above.

Therefore, in this embodiment, a selection means for selecting a shooting mode and a setting means for setting one of a plurality of functions for the shooting mode selected by the selection means are provided. The function of the preset photographing mode can be executed only by the operation of the selecting means, and the photographing with the desired function can be easily performed satisfactorily with a simple configuration.

Thus, in the conventional device, for example, if a switch is provided for each format, it becomes an obstacle to miniaturization and weight reduction of the device, and the format can be easily selected by selecting the format by menu selection. However, according to the present invention, these problems can be easily solved. For example, the present invention has not been able to eliminate the fear of missing a photo opportunity.

According to the photographing apparatus described above, the photographing apparatus is provided with a plurality of photographing modes, and each photographing mode is provided with a plurality of functions. Setting means for setting one of a plurality of functions for the shooting mode selected in the step, the function of the preset shooting mode can be executed simply by operating the selecting means. With such a simple configuration, it is possible to easily perform good imaging with a desired function.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0031]

Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a selecting means for selecting a photographing mode and a setting means for setting one of a plurality of functions for the photographing mode selected by the selecting means. With the provision, the function of the preset photographing mode can be executed only by operating the selecting means, and the photographing with the desired function can be easily performed well with a simple configuration.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display means for displaying a setting state of the setting means,
The settings of the above functions can be made by so-called menu selection.

Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, the setting of the above-described function of setting one of a plurality of functions for the photographing mode using the display of the setting state of the display means can be performed very easily. Can be done.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the photographing mode selected by the selecting means includes a moving image photographing mode, and the setting means sets an arbitrary format for photographing a moving image. It is possible to easily capture a moving image when desired.

Thus, in the conventional apparatus, if a switch is provided for each format, for example, it becomes an obstacle to downsizing and weight reduction of the apparatus, and the format can be easily selected by menu selection. However, according to the present invention, these problems can be easily solved. For example, the problem that the user cannot miss the opportunity to take a picture immediately can not be solved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a digital still camera to which a photographing device according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

1. Lens block 2. Semiconductor imaging device (CCD),
3: Camera signal block, 4: Signal processing block, 5:
Decoder, 6 display panel (LCD), 7 operation switch section, 8 controller, 9 bus, 10 random access memory (RAM), 11 media drive, 1
2 ... recording media, 13 ... serial communication line, 14 ...
On-screen display controller (OSDC)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A photographing apparatus having a plurality of photographing modes, wherein each of said photographing modes is provided with a plurality of functions, wherein said selecting means selects said photographing mode, and is selected by said selecting means. Setting means for setting one of the plurality of functions for the shooting mode. 2. The photographing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit for displaying a setting state of said setting unit. 3. The photographing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein one of the plurality of functions is set for the photographing mode by using the display of the setting state of the display unit. apparatus. 4. The photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photographing mode selected by the selecting unit includes a moving image photographing mode, and the setting unit sets an arbitrary format for performing the moving image photographing. An imaging device characterized by the above-mentioned.