JP2010124240A - Camera, display method thereof, and program for image display - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable even users unfamiliar with operation of cameras to change to desired mode display states without any confusion and with satisfactory operability. <P>SOLUTION: A camera includes: an operation detection section 11b for detecting operation instructions to an image displayed on a display section 24; a display image creation section 21 for creating an image for display for a prescribed range to be displayed on the display section 24 in an entire image composed by connecting a live view image outputted from an imaging section 15 and an information image indicating information on operation; and a display image control section 11a for controlling the display image creation section 21 so that an image for display is created from the entire image in an embodiment according to operation instructions detected by the operation detection section 11b. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a camera, a camera display method, and an image display program.

  Disassembling a series of operations relating to the camera includes about four operations of shooting condition setting → shooting → playback condition setting → playback. Therefore, the camera is usually set to be operated in these operation modes.

  First, camera operation modes are roughly classified into two modes: a shooting mode and a playback mode. The shooting mode is a shooting condition in which a live view image is actually displayed on the display screen and shooting is performed, and a shooting menu for setting shooting conditions for setting shooting conditions is displayed on the display screen. Divided into setting mode. Similarly, the playback mode includes a playback execution mode for viewing images recorded on the recording medium, and a playback condition setting playback menu for setting playback execution mode conditions such as setting slideshow conditions. It is divided into the playback condition setting mode displayed on the display screen.

  In such usage of the camera, there are various proposal examples regarding the shooting menu. As an example, there is a proposed example of an imaging device that displays menu information large (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Also, the shooting condition setting screen is usually displayed separately from the live view screen, but for movie shooting, it is necessary to change the shooting conditions even during shooting. Has also been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

JP 2007-34175 A JP 2006-94145 A

  By the way, when the user switches between the modes, for example, when switching from the playback condition setting mode screen to the shooting execution mode screen, the mode switching dial or the mode switching button arranged on the back or top surface of the camera is switched. There is a need to. As described above, since the current camera is configured by the mode, a mode switching operation is indispensable in order to use such a camera. However, it is surprisingly not easy for a user who is unfamiliar with camera operation to immediately switch to a desired mode. This is because the button space on the back and top of the camera is not large enough and buttons other than those for mode switching are also required, so the mode switching dial or mode switching button should be ideally arranged and sized. This is due to restrictions that cannot be made. In order to return to the original mode, it is necessary to switch the mode switching dial or the mode switching button again.

  In this regard, in recent years, a camera equipped with a touch panel on a liquid crystal monitor and capable of giving an input instruction by touch operation on the liquid crystal monitor is commercially available, but even in this case, in addition to each mode setting icon on the touch panel, Since icons for other purposes must also be arranged, the situation is that it is not surprisingly easy to set the desired mode.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and a camera, a camera display method, and a camera capable of changing to a desired mode display state with good operability without hesitation even if a user is unfamiliar with camera operation. An object is to provide an image display program.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, a camera according to the present invention includes an imaging unit that captures a subject image, a display unit that displays an image, and an operation instruction for the image displayed on the display unit. A predetermined range for displaying on the display unit from the entire image configured by combining the operation detection unit for detecting the image, the live view image output from the imaging unit and the information image representing the information related to the operation A display image creating unit that creates a display image for the display image, and the display image creating unit configured to create the display image from the entire image in a mode according to an operation instruction detected by the operation detection unit. A display image control unit that controls the display.

  Further, in the camera according to the present invention as set forth in the invention described above, the display image creating unit reproduces a shooting menu image representing shooting menu information for setting shooting conditions and a playback menu information for setting playback conditions as the information image. An image combined with a menu image is used.

  The camera according to the present invention may further include an image storage unit that stores a captured image captured by the imaging unit, and the display image creating unit further includes the live view image, the information image, and the information image. The display image is created from the whole image configured by combining the reproduced image based on the captured image stored in the image storage unit.

  In the camera according to the present invention as set forth in the invention described above, the display image creation unit represents the reproduced image as a thumbnail image.

  In the camera according to the present invention as set forth in the invention described above, the operation detection unit detects an enlargement / reduction instruction as one of the operation instructions, and the display image creation unit includes the thumbnail image and the information image for the display. In the case where the thumbnail image occupies most of the display image included in the image and the enlargement / reduction instruction is detected by the operation detection unit, the display size of the information image is maintained, A display image in which the display size of the thumbnail image is changed according to the enlargement / reduction instruction is created.

  In the camera according to the present invention, in the above invention, the operation detection unit detects a scroll instruction as one of the operation instructions, and the display image creation unit includes the thumbnail image and the information image as the display image. And the thumbnail image occupies most of the display image, and when the scroll instruction is detected by the operation detection unit, the thumbnail image is maintained while maintaining the display state of the information image. A display image in which an image is changed according to the scroll instruction is created.

  In the camera according to the present invention as set forth in the invention described above, the display image creation unit may detect the entire image according to the display range change instruction when the operation detection unit detects the display range change instruction. The display image is created so that a part thereof continuously moves on the screen of the display unit.

  The camera according to the present invention further includes a touch panel disposed on the display unit in the above invention, and the operation detection unit detects an instruction by a user operation on the touch panel as one of the operation instructions. The display image creation unit continuously moves the display image in response to an instruction to the touch panel.

  In the camera according to the present invention as set forth in the invention described above, when the specific instruction is detected by the operation detection unit, the display image creating unit only displays the live view image or the information image according to the specific instruction. The display image to be displayed is created.

  In the camera according to the present invention, in the above invention, the display image creating unit creates the display image in which only the live view image is displayed when a shooting instruction is detected as the specific instruction. It is characterized by.

  The camera display method according to the present invention is a camera display method including an imaging unit that captures a subject image and a display unit that displays an image, and an operation instruction for the image displayed on the display unit An operation instruction detected by the operation detection step from an entire image configured by combining an operation detection step of detecting an image and a live view image output from the imaging unit and an information image representing information related to the operation A display image creating step for creating a display image for a predetermined range, and a display step for displaying the display image created by the display image creating step on the screen of the display unit. , Including.

  The image display program according to the present invention detects an operation instruction for the image displayed on the display unit in a computer of a camera including an imaging unit that captures a subject image and a display unit that displays the image. Display about a predetermined range to be displayed on the display unit from the entire image configured by combining the operation detection function, the live view image output from the imaging unit, and the information image representing the information related to the operation A display image creation function for creating a display image, and a control unit that controls the display image creation function to create the display image from the entire image in a manner corresponding to an operation instruction detected by the operation detection function. And a display image control function.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a camera, a camera display method, and an image display program that can be changed to a desired mode display state with good operability without hesitation even if the user is unfamiliar with camera operation. it can.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a rear view showing a schematic configuration example of a digital camera which is a camera of the present invention. The digital camera 1 according to the present embodiment includes various operation buttons such as a release operation unit 12a, a zoom operation unit 12b, a display mode setting operation unit 12c, a mode setting operation unit 12d, and a direction operation unit 12e. The release operation unit 12a is a button that is provided on the upper surface of the camera body and is used to instruct operation of shooting timing. The zoom operation unit 12b is a button that is disposed on the back of the camera body and is used to instruct enlargement / reduction. The display mode setting operation unit 12c is a button provided on the back of the camera body to instruct operation to select either the normal display mode or the multi-screen display mode that is characteristic of the present embodiment. . The mode setting operation unit 12d is a dial provided on the back of the camera body for selecting and setting one of a shooting execution mode, a playback execution mode, a shooting condition setting mode, and a playback condition setting mode. The mode setting operation unit 12d is enabled when the display mode setting operation unit 12c is set to the normal display mode. The direction operation unit 12e is a button that is provided on the back surface of the camera body and instructs the up, down, left, and right directions. The release operation unit 12a, zoom operation unit 12b, display mode setting operation unit 12c, mode setting operation unit 12d, direction operation unit 12e, and the like constitute the operation unit 12 (see FIG. 2).

  The digital camera 1 also includes a display unit 24 that occupies most of the area on the back of the camera body. The display unit 24 is for displaying a display image including various setting information in addition to a reproduced image and a live view image, and is realized by a thin display device such as an LCD or an ELD. Although not particularly shown, the digital camera 1 includes an imaging optical system such as a photographing lens on the front side of the camera body, and is configured to be able to form a subject image on an imaging element built in the camera body.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a system configuration example of the digital camera 1 according to the present embodiment. The digital camera 1 according to the present embodiment includes a control unit 11 including a CPU that performs instructions, data transfer, and the like to each unit configuring the digital camera 1 and comprehensively controls the operation of the digital camera 1. The digital camera 1 also includes an imaging unit 15, a RAM 16, an image processing unit 17, a compression / decompression unit 18, a recording / playback unit 19, a display image creation unit 21, a display driving unit 23, and an external IF unit 25. These units are connected to the control unit 11 by a bus line 30.

  The imaging unit 15 includes a camera unit and an imaging processing unit. The camera unit is for the digital camera 1 to capture a subject image, and includes a photographic lens, an image sensor, an aperture, a shutter, an AF mechanism, an AF drive circuit, a zoom mechanism, a zoom drive mechanism, and the like. Here, the image pickup device is formed of a two-dimensional solid-state image pickup device such as a CCD or a CMOS sensor, and photoelectrically converts a subject image incident through a photographing optical system including a photographing lens and outputs it as an analog electric signal. In addition to including an image sensor driving circuit, the image processing unit performs analog signal processing such as AGC and CDS on the analog electric signal output from the image sensor, and then converts it to a digital electric signal using an A / D converter. For output.

  The RAM 16 is made of, for example, SDRAM, and is a memory used as a temporary storage memory or a working area. The RAM 16 temporarily stores a digital electric signal output from the imaging unit 15, image data being processed by the image processing unit 17, and the like. To do.

  The image processing unit 17 performs various types of image processing such as pixel interpolation processing, color correction processing, and gamma processing on the digital electrical signal output from the imaging unit 15, and image data suitable for recording and display. Process to convert to. That is, at the time of recording (shooting), the image processing unit 17 performs image processing for recording on the recorded image, and performs simple image processing for display on the live view image for display. . The image processing unit 17 also performs an electronic zoom process when an electronic zoom is instructed.

  The compression / decompression unit 18 records image data based on a well-known JPEG method or the like when recording image data of a captured image in the image storage unit 20 or when displaying image data recorded in the image storage unit 20. Perform compression processing and decompression processing.

  The recording / reproducing unit 19 is used for writing image data to the image storage unit 20 and reading image data from the image storage unit 20, and a unit corresponding to the type of the image storage unit 20 is used. Here, the image storage unit 20 is a recording medium detachably attached to the camera body such as an xD-Picture Card (registered trademark) or a Compact Flash (registered trademark) card, or an HDD.

  The display drive unit 23 is a driver that includes an encoder, a D / A converter, and the like, and displays various information on the display unit 24. The external IF unit 25 is an interface for connecting the digital camera 1 to an external device such as a personal computer, a printer, or a mobile phone according to a standard such as USB, and includes a USB terminal.

  The display image creating unit 21 creates a display image for a predetermined range to be displayed on the screen of the display unit 24 from the entire image as will be described later, and the created display image is displayed on the display unit 24. It is for displaying. The whole image is an image configured by combining a live view image output from the imaging unit 15, an information image representing information related to the operation, and a reproduced image based on the captured image stored in the image storage unit 20. . For this purpose, the display image creation unit 21 captures the shooting conditions stored in the menu data storage unit 22 together with the live view image output from the imaging unit 15 and the reproduced image based on the captured image stored in the image storage unit 20. A shooting menu image representing shooting menu information for setting and a playback menu image representing playback menu information for setting playback conditions are used.

  Further, a program data storage unit 14 is connected to the control unit 11. The program data storage unit 14 is an electrically rewritable nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory. The program data storage unit 14 operates the digital camera 1 and uses a program for the CPU (for example, an image display program) for realizing various functions provided in the digital camera 1 or during execution of the program. For example, data such as icons and characters to be displayed in a display image to be described later is stored in advance.

  In addition, the control unit 11 according to the present embodiment includes functional units of a display image control unit 11a and an operation detection unit 11b as functions executed by the image display program. The operation detection unit 11b is a function for detecting a user's direct operation instruction for the display image displayed on the screen of the display unit 24 and a user's indirect operation instruction for the display image through the operation unit 12. Part. Here, in the present embodiment, the touch panel 13 is provided so as to overlap the screen of the display unit 24 that displays the display image. Accordingly, in the present embodiment, the operation detection unit 11b detects the user's operation instruction on the touch panel 13 as one of the operation instructions, thereby detecting the user's direct operation instruction on the display image. Execute. In addition, the display image control unit 11a creates a display image so as to create a display image in a predetermined range corresponding to the screen from the entire image described later, in a mode according to the operation instruction detected by the operation detection unit 11b. This is a functional unit for controlling the unit 21.

  Next, when the multi-screen display mode is set by the operation of the display mode setting operation unit 12c, an outline of the display image creation of the display image creation unit 21 that is executed under the control of the display image control unit 11a. explain. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating a configuration example of an entire image serving as a basis for creating a display image.

  When the multi-screen display mode is set, the display image creation unit 21 prepares a whole image Vt that is a basis for creating a display image Vd to be displayed on the screen 24a. The whole image Vt is configured by integrally combining the live view image Va, the information image Vm, and the reproduced image Vb so as not to overlap in the same plane. The live view image Va is an image obtained from the imaging unit 15, and has a size corresponding to the screen 24a of the display unit 24. The information image Vm is an image representing information related to the operation of the digital camera 1, and is set to be coupled to the lower side of the position corresponding to the bottom of the rectangular shape of the live view image Va, for example.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the information image Vm is combined with the live view image Va so that the shooting menu image Vr and the reproduction menu image Vp are arranged in two vertical columns. The shooting menu image Vr is an image representing shooting menu information Mr for setting shooting conditions together with the title image of “shooting menu”. The reproduction menu image Vp is an image representing reproduction menu information Mp for setting reproduction conditions together with the title image of “reproduction menu”. Here, the shooting menu information Mr includes items relating to shooting condition settings such as “image quality”, “reset”, “camera menu”, “setting”, “panorama”, “SCN (scene select menu)”, and “silence mode” as character information. ing. The playback menu information Mp includes playback of “SS (slide show)”, “edit”, “print reservation”, “easy correction”, “display menu”, “setting”, “PKR (pocket photo registration)”, “erase”, “silence mode”, etc. Items related to condition setting are prepared as character information. The shooting menu image Vr and the playback menu image Vp are images that can be created by the display image creation unit 21 by referring to the menu data relating to the shooting conditions and the playback conditions stored in the menu data storage unit 22. Further, the shooting menu image Vr and the reproduction menu image Vp are set to a size that allows the character information representing the shooting menu information Mr and the reproduction menu information Mp to be read.

  The reproduced image Vb is an image based on the photographed image photographed by the imaging unit 15 and stored in the image storage unit 20, and is prepared for easily browsing the photographed image. In the present embodiment, the reproduced image Vb is expressed as an aggregate of a plurality of thumbnail images Vs arranged in three vertical columns, for example. Such a reproduced image Vb is set so that a part thereof is coupled to the lower side of the position corresponding to the bottom of the rectangular shape of the live view image Va and is coupled adjacent to the left side of the information image Vm. ing. For each thumbnail image Vs, the actual image display is not shown, and for example, it is distinguished by an image number such as 1 to 26 (in the case of 26 images).

  Such a whole image Vt is defined as a virtual image in the present embodiment, but may be actually created and stored in a memory such as the RAM 16. In the present embodiment, as shown by the arrows in FIG. 3, U (upward direction), D (downward direction), L (leftward direction), and R (rightward direction) of the entire entire image Vt. The image is appropriately scrolled in each of the directions, and it is possible to instruct to change the display range of the display image Vd on the screen 24a of the display unit 24 with a limited display range. Corresponding to this, when the instruction for changing the display range is detected by the operation detecting unit 11b, the display image creating unit 21 causes a part of the entire image Vt to be displayed on the display unit 24 in response to the instruction to change the display range. Display images Vd are sequentially created so as to continuously move on the screen 24a.

  Hereinafter, an image example of the display image Vd created by the display image creating unit 21 in accordance with the relationship between the entire image Vt and the screen 24a will be described. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the display image Vd displayed on the screen 24a of the display unit 24 at the start of the multi-screen display mode. Here, a state in which the live view image Va photographed by the imaging unit 15 is displayed on the screen 24a as the display image Vd as it is is shown. Therefore, the information image Vm and the reproduced image Vb (thumbnail image Vs) in the virtual entire image Vt are located outside the screen 24a and are not displayed. In addition, the cross arrow which shows the moving direction of U, D, L, R shown in the screen 24a of FIG. 4 is for description for showing a direction, and is not displayed on the screen 24a.

  In such a screen display at the time of start, the user can instruct to change the display range on the screen 24a by touching the fingertip on the touch panel 13 (screen 24a) and instructing to scroll the entire image Vt. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the display image Vd displayed on the screen 24a when a scroll instruction for moving in the U direction is given from the start screen. When the operation detection unit 11b detects a scroll instruction (display range change instruction) to move the display image creation unit 21 in the U direction, a part of the entire image Vt is displayed on the display unit 24 in response to the scroll instruction. Display images Vd are sequentially created so as to continuously move on the screen 24a. Therefore, in the example shown in FIG. 5, the display image creation unit 21 is for display composed of a part on the lower side of the live view image Va, an upper part of the information image Vm, and a part of the reproduction image Vb (thumbnail image Vs). An image Vd is created and displayed on the screen 24a.

  Note that the display image creation unit 21 displays the image in the display image Vd when the live view image Va is hardly displayed on the screen 24a (when the live view image Va is hardly included in the display image Vd, for example, 20% or less). A live icon Li is displayed in a part (lower right of the screen 24a). FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the display image Vd displayed on the screen 24a when a scroll instruction for moving in the U direction is given on the touch panel 13 (screen 24a). In the example shown in FIG. 6, the display image creation unit 21 creates the display image Vd including the live view image Va and the upper part of the information image Vm and a part of the reproduction image Vb (thumbnail image Vs). It is displayed on the screen 24a.

  7 shows an example of the display image Vd displayed on the screen 24a when a touch operation is performed on the live icon Li as a specific instruction on the touch panel 13 (screen 24a) in the display state shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing shown. When the operation detection unit 11b detects a specific instruction by touching the live icon Li, the display image creation unit 21 creates only the live view image Va as the display image Vd and displays it on the screen 24a. In this way, regardless of the current display state as illustrated in FIG. 6, the one-touch operation of the live icon Li jumps at a stretch to the display of the live view image Va as illustrated in FIG. 7.

  FIG. 8A is an explanatory diagram showing a display example in the case of the same display image Vd as in FIG. In this display example, when an image scroll instruction for moving the entire image Vt to the left side by touching the fingertip on the touch panel 13 (screen 24a) is performed, the display image creating unit 21, as shown in FIG. The reproduced image Vb (thumbnail image Vs) disappears, and a display image Vd consisting only of the information image Vm is created and displayed on the screen 24a. In the display state shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the menu content of the touched portion can be selected by touching the desired menu information Mr or Mp portion. When the desired menu content is selected, the display image creation unit 21 creates the lower layer menu information as a part of the display image Vd and displays it together with the screen 24a.

  Here, FIG. 8B shows a lower layer related to the “camera menu” when the “camera menu” indicated by the thick frame in the shooting menu information Mr prepared as the first layer is selected and operated. The shooting menu information Mr2 is displayed. The lower-layer shooting menu information Mr2 for "camera menu" relates to setting of shooting conditions such as "WB (white balance)", "ISO sensitivity", "drive", "F zoom", "D zoom", "AF method", and "exposure". The item is prepared as character information. Such lower-layer shooting menu information Mr2 is also an image that can be created by the display image creation unit 21 by referring to menu data relating to shooting conditions and the like stored in the menu data storage unit 22. Further, the character information representing the shooting menu information Mr2 in the lower hierarchy is also set to a size that can be read. FIG. 8B shows a case where “WB” indicated by a thick frame is selected.

  FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example in the case of the display image Vd only of the reproduction image Vb (thumbnail image Vs). This display example is a case where, for example, in the display example of FIG. 6, an image scroll instruction for moving the entire image Vt to the right side by touching the fingertip on the touch panel 13 (screen 24 a) is performed. When such a scroll instruction is detected, the display image creating unit 21 creates a display image Vd consisting only of the reproduced image Vb (thumbnail image Vs) and displays it on the screen 24a as shown in FIG.

  Note that the display image creation unit 21 displays one of the display images Vd when the information image Vm is hardly displayed on the screen 24a (when the information image Vm is hardly included in the display image Vd, for example, 20% or less). The menu icon Mi is displayed together with the live icon Li in the section (lower right of the screen 24a). When it is detected that the menu icon Mi is touched in the display state shown in FIG. 9, the display image creating unit 21 switches the display image Vd to the state of FIG. 6 at a stroke as a specific instruction. When it is detected that the live icon Li is touched in the display state shown in FIG. 9, the display image creation unit 21 switches the display image Vd to the state of FIG.

  Next, a display example when an enlargement / reduction instruction is given as one of the operation instructions by the zoom operation unit 12b in FIG. 10 will be described. FIG. 10A is an explanatory diagram showing a display example in the case of the same display image Vd as in FIG. In this display example, when the operation detection unit 11b detects that an enlargement instruction has been given by the zoom operation unit 12b, the display image creation unit 21 displays the entire display image Vd as shown in FIG. The image is enlarged according to the specified magnification and displayed on the screen 24a. The same applies to the reduction instruction. The same applies to the case of only the live view image Va.

  On the other hand, in FIG. 11A, the display image Vd includes the reproduction image Vb (thumbnail image Vs) and the information image Vm, and the reproduction image Vb (thumbnail image Vs) is the majority (60%) of the display image Vd. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a display when occupying the above or 80% or more. In the display example in such a state, when the operation detection unit 11b detects that an enlargement instruction has been given by the zoom operation unit 12b, the display image creation unit 21 displays information as shown in FIG. Without changing the display size of the image Vm, the display image Vd obtained by enlarging the display size of the thumbnail image Vs according to the instructed magnification is displayed on the screen 24a. Similarly, when the operation detection unit 11b detects that a reduction instruction has been given by the zoom operation unit 12b, the display image creation unit 21 changes the display size of the information image Vm as shown in FIG. Without being maintained, the display image Vd obtained by reducing the display size of the thumbnail image Vs according to the designated reduction ratio is displayed on the screen 24a.

  In addition, a display example when a scroll instruction is given as one of operation instructions by the touch panel 13 in FIG. 12 will be described. In FIG. 12A, the display image Vd includes the reproduction image Vb (thumbnail image Vs) and the information image Vm, and the reproduction image Vb (thumbnail image Vs) is the majority of the display image Vd (60% or more, Or it is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a display in the case of occupying 80% or more. In the display example in such a state, when the operation detection unit 11b detects that a scroll instruction has been given by a touch operation on the touch panel 13, the display image creation unit 21 displays the display image as illustrated in FIG. Then, while maintaining the display state (display position) of the information image Vm, a display image Vd for sequentially changing the thumbnail images Vs according to the scroll instruction is created and displayed on the screen 24a. That is, the display mode is such that only the thumbnail images Vs are sequentially scroll-displayed.

  Next, an example of operation control by the control unit 11 and the display image creation unit 21 for realizing the display control as described above with reference to FIG. 13 will be described. FIG. 13 is a main flowchart illustrating an example of operation control of image display executed by the control unit 11. First, the control unit 11 determines whether or not the display mode setting operation unit 12c is set to the instruction state of the multi-screen display mode through the operation detection unit 11b (Step S10). If the multi-screen display mode is not set (step S10; No), the normal display mode and the mode set by the mode setting operation unit 12d are determined through the operation detection unit 11b (step S11). As a result of the determination, if it is the shooting execution mode, the live view image is displayed on the screen 24a (step S12). In the reproduction execution mode, the reproduced image is displayed on the screen 24a (step S13). In the shooting condition setting mode, the shooting menu is displayed on the screen 24a (step S14). If it is the reproduction condition setting mode, the reproduction menu is displayed on the screen 24a (step S15).

  On the other hand, if the multi-screen display mode is set (step S10; Yes), the display image control unit 11a causes the display image creation unit 21 to create a default image as the display image Vd and displays it on the screen 24a ( Step S20). As the default image, for example, a live view image Va as shown in FIG. 4 is created.

  In such a display state, the display image control unit 11a determines whether there has been a moving operation indicating an instruction to change the display range by monitoring the detection output of the operation detection unit 11b (step S21). When there is a movement operation (step S21; Yes), the display image control unit 11a performs control to cause the display image creation unit 21 to create the display image Vd and display it on the screen 24a (step S22). If there is no movement operation (step S21; No), the process of step S22 is jumped.

  Further, the display image control unit 11a determines whether or not there has been a menu selection operation regarding the shooting menu or the reproduction menu by monitoring the detection output of the operation detection unit 11b (step S23). If there is a menu selection operation (step S23; Yes), menu setting processing is performed (step S24). If there is no menu selection operation (step S23; No), the process of step S24 is jumped.

  Further, the display image control unit 11a determines whether or not the release operation of the release operation unit 12a has been performed by monitoring the detection output of the operation detection unit 11b (step S25). This is because shooting by the release operation of the release operation unit 12a is always set to be interruptible regardless of the screen display state. When there is a shooting instruction as a specific instruction by the release operation (step S25; Yes), the display image control unit 11a causes the display image creation unit 21 to create the live view image Va as the display image Vd, and the screen 24a. Is controlled (step S26), and the actual photographing process is executed (step S27). If there is no release operation (step S25; No), the processing of steps S26 and S27 is jumped.

  Thereafter, the display image control unit 11a determines whether or not the display mode setting operation unit 12c has been switched to the normal display mode by monitoring the detection output of the operation detection unit 11b (step S28). When switched (step S28; Yes), the process proceeds to step S11. On the other hand, if not switched (step S28; No), it is determined whether or not a stop operation such as turning off a power switch (not shown) has been performed (step S29). If the stop operation has been performed (step S29; Yes), the series of processes is terminated. On the other hand, if the stop operation has not been performed (step S29; No), the processing after step S21 is repeated in the same manner.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of screen creation processing in step S22. First, the display image control unit 11a determines whether or not the live icon Li is touched by monitoring the detection output of the operation detection unit 11b (step S41). When the live icon Li is touched (step S41; Yes), the display image control unit 11a causes the display image creation unit 21 to create only the live view image Va as the display image Vd and display it on the screen 24a. Control is performed (step S42). For example, in the display state as shown in FIG. 6, the case where the live icon Li is touch-operated to shift to the display state shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, when the live icon Li is not touch-operated (step S41; No), the display image control unit 11a monitors the detection output of the operation detection unit 11b to determine whether the menu icon Mi is touch-operated. Is determined (step S43). When the menu icon Mi is touched (Step S43; Yes), the display image control unit 11a causes the display image creation unit 21 to create only the information image Vm as the display image Vd and display it on the screen 24a. (Step S44). For example, in the display state as shown in FIG. 9, the case where the menu icon Mi is touch-operated to shift to the display state shown in FIG.

  When the menu icon Mi is not touch-operated (step S43; No), the display image control unit 11a monitors the detection output of the operation detection unit 11b, and zooms in by the zoom operation by the zoom operation unit 12b. It is determined whether or not a reduction instruction has been given (step S45). When the zoom operation is performed (step S45; Yes), the display image control unit 11a determines whether or not the display image Vd displayed on the screen 24a mainly includes the thumbnail image Vs (step S46). ). For example, if the thumbnail image Vs occupies 80% or more on the screen 24a, it may be determined that the thumbnail image Vs mainly includes the thumbnail image Vs. The occupation ratio may be 60% or more. When the display image control unit 11a mainly includes the thumbnail image Vs (step S46; Yes), the display image control unit 11a performs display for enlargement / reduction of only the thumbnail image Vs as a mode corresponding to the enlargement / reduction instruction. Control is performed to create the image Vd and display it on the screen 24a (step S47). The display example shown in FIG. 11B or FIG.

  When it is not mainly the thumbnail image Vs (step S46; No), the display image control unit 11a determines whether or not the display image Vd displayed on the screen 24a mainly includes the live view image Va. (Step S48). For example, if the live view image Va occupies 80% or more on the screen 24a, it may be determined that the live view image Va is mainly composed. When the image is mainly composed of the live view image Va (step S48; Yes), the display image control unit 11a enlarges / reduces only the live view image Va in the display image creation unit 21 as an aspect corresponding to the enlargement / reduction instruction. Control is performed to create the display image Vd and display it on the screen 24a (step S49). On the other hand, when the image is not mainly the live view image Va (step S48; No), the display image control unit 11a displays the display image creation unit 21 with the entire screen enlarged or reduced as an aspect corresponding to the enlargement / reduction instruction. Control for creating the image Vd and displaying it on the screen 24a is performed (step S50). The display example shown in FIG.

  Further, when the zoom operation is not performed (step S45; No), the display image control unit 11a monitors the detection output of the operation detection unit 11b to determine whether or not the vertical scroll operation has been performed by the scroll operation on the touch panel 13. Determination is made (step S51). When the vertical scroll operation is performed (step S51; Yes), the display image control unit 11a determines whether or not the display image Vd displayed on the screen 24a mainly includes the thumbnail image Vs (step S51). S52). When the display image control unit 11a mainly includes the thumbnail image Vs (step S52; Yes), the display image control unit 11a performs display scrolling in which only the thumbnail image Vs is vertically scrolled as a mode corresponding to the vertical scroll instruction. Control is performed to create the image Vd and display it on the screen 24a (step S53). The display example shown in FIG. On the other hand, when the image is not mainly the thumbnail image Vs (step S52; No), the display image control unit 11a performs display scrolling by causing the display image creating unit 21 to vertically scroll the entire screen as an aspect corresponding to the vertical scroll instruction. Control is performed to create the image Vd and display it on the screen 24a (step S54).

  If it is not the vertical scroll operation (step S51; No), the display image control unit 11a determines whether or not the live view image Va is present on the screen 24a being displayed (step S55). When there is the live view image Va (step S55; No), the display image control unit 11a determines whether or not the live icon Li is displayed (step S56). When the live icon Li is displayed (step S56; Yes), a process for deleting the live icon Li is performed (step S57). If there is no display of the live icon Li (step S56; No), the process of step S57 is jumped. When there is no live view image Va (step S55; Yes), the display image control unit 11a performs control to cause the display image creation unit 21 to create a display image Vd with the live icon Li added thereto and display it on the screen 24a. This is performed (step S58). The display example shown in FIG.

  Further, the display image control unit 11a determines whether or not the currently displayed screen 24a is only the thumbnail image Vs (step S59). When not only the thumbnail image Vs but also the information image Vm is included (step S59; No), the display image control unit 11a determines whether or not the menu icon Mi is displayed (step S60). If the menu icon Mi is displayed (step S60; Yes), a process of deleting the menu icon Mi is performed (step S61). If the menu icon Mi is not displayed (step S60; No), the process of step S61 is jumped. In the case of only the thumbnail image Vs (step S59; Yes), the display image control unit 11a performs control to cause the display image creation unit 21 to create the display image Vd with the menu icon Mi added and display it on the screen 24a. (Step S62). The display example shown in FIG.

  After that, the display image control unit 11a performs control to cause the display image creation unit 21 to create the display image Vd in a manner corresponding to the operation instruction and display it on the screen 24a in accordance with other operations (for example, horizontal scroll operation). This is performed (step S63).

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of the menu setting process in step S24. First, the display image control unit 11a determines whether or not there is an instruction to display a lower hierarchy (step S71). When the lower layer menu is instructed by touch selection of the upper layer menu information (step S71; Yes), the display image control unit 11a causes the display image creation unit 21 to display the lower layer menu. The display image Vd including the image is created and controlled to be displayed on the screen 24a (step S72). The display example shown in FIG. If there is no instruction to display a lower hierarchy (step S71; No), the process of step S72 jumps. Then, it is determined whether or not a menu selection operation has been performed on the screen 24a (step S73). If there has been a menu selection operation (step S73; Yes), shooting condition or reproduction condition condition setting is performed according to the menu selection operation. Processing is executed (step S74).

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the screen corresponding to the operation instruction is selected from the entire image Vt formed by combining the live view image Va and the information image Vm representing the operation-related information. Since the display image Vd created for the predetermined range is displayed on the display unit 24, the user can simply switch the mode with the mode switching button by instructing the displayed image to change the display range. It is possible to change to a desired mode display state without performing an operation. Therefore, there is no need to perform the mode switching operation using the mode switching button as in the prior art, and if a sensuous operation instruction is given to change the display range with an image that changes the display portion by moving the entire image Vt. Well, even a user who is unfamiliar with camera operation can respond with good operability without hesitation.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the information image Vm combines the shooting menu image Vr representing the shooting menu information Mr for shooting condition setting and the playback menu image Vp representing the playback menu information Mp for setting playback conditions. Therefore, the transition of the display state between the shooting menu image Vr and the reproduction menu image Vp is not particularly required to perform the mode switching operation using the mode switching button as in the prior art, and the sense of operating instructions for changing the display range. Can be dealt with by a typical operation.

  Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the reproduced image Vb based on the already-captured captured image stored in the image storage unit 20 is also included in the constituent image of the entire image Vt. Since the image Vd is created, there is no need to perform the mode switching operation using the mode switching button as in the prior art for the transition of the mode display state among the live view image Va, the information image Vm, and the reproduced image Vb. This can be handled by a sensory operation such as an operation instruction for changing the display range. In particular, according to the present embodiment, the reproduced image Vb is expressed as the thumbnail image Vs, so that even the display unit 24 with a limited display range can display a large number of images at the same time. A photographed image can be easily browsed.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, when the thumbnail image occupies most of the screen, when the user gives an enlargement / reduction instruction, the enlargement / reduction instruction is almost always given for the thumbnail image as an instruction target. Therefore, by changing only the display size of the thumbnail image according to the enlargement / reduction instruction while maintaining the display size of the information image, it is possible to perform display control in accordance with the user's intention.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, when the thumbnail image occupies most of the screen, when the user issues a scroll instruction, the scroll instruction is almost always made with the thumbnail image as an instruction target. By changing only the display size of the thumbnail image according to the scroll instruction while maintaining the display state of the information image, display control in accordance with the user's intention can be performed.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, since the touch panel 13 disposed so as to overlap the display unit 24 is provided, an operation instruction for changing the display range is performed on the screen 24a of the display unit 24 with respect to the displayed image. This makes it easier to sensuously give operational instructions to change the display range.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, when a specific instruction is detected, the display image Vd for displaying only the live view image Va or the information image Vm is created according to the specific instruction. It is also possible to display a specific image at a stretch by an operation similar to the switching by the button, and thus it is possible to expand the operation mode by properly using depending on the scene.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, when a shooting instruction is detected by operating the release operation unit 12a as a specific instruction, the display image Vd that displays only the live view image Va according to the specific instruction. Therefore, the shooting execution mode is prioritized, and the user only has to operate the release operation unit 12a when desired regardless of the current display state, so that a photo opportunity is not missed.

  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, and they are not excluded from the scope of the present invention. That is, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. In addition, various inventions can be configured by appropriately combining a plurality of components disclosed in the above-described embodiments. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Further, different components may be added and combined as appropriate.

  For example, in the present embodiment, switching between the normal display mode and the multi-screen display mode is performed between the normal display mode and the multi-screen display mode by switch setting on the software, regardless of the display mode setting operation unit 12c. Switching may be performed. Alternatively, the normal display mode may be omitted together with the mode setting operation unit 12d, and only the multi-screen display mode may be used.

  Further, in the present embodiment, a display range change instruction including a scroll instruction is issued by a direction instruction on the touch panel 13, but in the case of a model that does not include the touch panel 13, the direction by the direction operation unit 12e. You may make it perform by instruction | indication operation. In this case, menu selection or the like is also performed by operating the direction operation unit 12e. However, the screen scroll movement and the menu selection cursor are different depending on how the direction operation unit 12e is pressed (for example, half pressing and long pressing). What is necessary is just to switch between movement.

  In the present embodiment, the example of still image data as an image has been described. However, the present invention can be similarly applied to the case of moving image data. Further, although the example of the digital camera 1 has been described as the camera, the camera may be applied to a camera unit of a mobile phone, a camera unit attached to a personal computer, or the like.

  Further, the display image creation has been described as being processed by the hardware by the display image creation unit 21 and the control thereof by the software by the control unit 11 including the display image control unit 11a, but a specific example of the configuration is described here. It is not limited. It is a design matter to perform these processes in any one of hardware processing and software processing or in an appropriate combination.

  When all or part of the present embodiment is executed by software processing, the control unit 11 reads and executes the image display program stored in the program data storage unit 14, Since such software processing is realized, an image display program relating to such software processing is also the present invention. A recording medium on which such an image display program is recorded is also the present invention. The recording medium for storing the program is not limited to the flash memory, but an optical recording medium such as a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM, a magnetic recording medium such as an MD, a tape medium, or a semiconductor memory such as an IC card. It may be. Furthermore, the image display program naturally includes a program obtained from an external recording medium via a network, for example, a program downloaded from a home page. In such a case, a WWW server, an ftp server, and the like that are downloaded by the user are also included in the scope of the present invention.

It is a rear view which shows the example of schematic structure of the digital camera of embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the system configuration example of the digital camera of this Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically the structural example of the whole image used as the foundation which produces the image for a display. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the image for a display displayed at the time of the start of multiscreen display mode. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the image for a display displayed when the scroll instruction | indication is carried out to the U direction from the screen at the time of a start. Furthermore, it is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the image for a display displayed when scroll instruction | indication is carried out to a U direction. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a display image displayed when a live icon is touched in the display state illustrated in FIG. 6. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a display of the lower hierarchy menu regarding an information image. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a display in the case of the image for a display only of a thumbnail image. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a normal expansion / contraction display. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of an enlarged / reduced display mainly in the case of a thumbnail image. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a vertical scroll display mainly in the case of a thumbnail image. It is a main flowchart which shows the example of operation control of the image display performed by the control part. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the screen creation process of step S22. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the menu setting process of step S24.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Digital camera 11a Display image control part 11b Operation detection part 13 Touch panel 15 Imaging part 20 Image memory | storage part 21 Display image creation part 24 Display part 24a Screen Vt Whole image Vd Display image Va Live view image Vm Information image Vr Shooting menu image Vp Playback menu image Vb Playback image Vs Thumbnail image Mr Shooting menu information Mp Playback menu information

Claims (12)

An imaging unit for capturing a subject image;
A display for displaying an image;
An operation detection unit for detecting an operation instruction for the image displayed on the display unit;
A display image for a predetermined range to be displayed on the display unit is created from an entire image configured by combining a live view image output from the imaging unit and an information image representing information related to operation. A display image creation unit;
A display image control unit that controls the display image creation unit so as to create the display image from the whole image in a mode according to the operation instruction detected by the operation detection unit;
A camera comprising:   The display image creation unit uses, as the information image, an image obtained by combining a shooting menu image representing shooting menu information for setting shooting conditions and a playback menu image representing playback menu information for setting playback conditions. The camera according to claim 1. An image storage unit that stores a captured image captured by the imaging unit;
The display image creation unit is configured to display the display image from the whole image configured by combining the live view image, the information image, and a reproduction image based on the captured image stored in the image storage unit. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the camera is created.   The camera according to claim 3, wherein the display image creation unit represents the reproduced image as a thumbnail image. The operation detection unit detects an enlargement / reduction instruction as one of the operation instructions,
The display image creation unit is configured to perform the enlargement / reduction by the operation detection unit when the thumbnail image and the information image are included in the display image and the thumbnail image occupies most of the display image. 5. The display image according to claim 4, wherein when an instruction is detected, a display image is created by changing the display size of the thumbnail image in accordance with the enlargement / reduction instruction while maintaining the display size of the information image. Camera. The operation detection unit detects a scroll instruction as one of operation instructions,
The display image creation unit includes the scroll instruction by the operation detection unit when the thumbnail image and the information image are included in the display image and the thumbnail image occupies most of the display image. 5. The camera according to claim 4, wherein a display image is generated by changing the thumbnail image according to the scroll instruction while maintaining the display state of the information image.   When the operation detection unit detects a display range change instruction, the display image creation unit continuously moves a part of the entire image on the display unit screen in response to the display range change instruction. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the display image is created. A touch panel disposed on the display unit;
The operation detection unit detects an instruction by a user operation on the touch panel as one of operation instructions,
The camera according to claim 7, wherein the display image creation unit continuously moves the display image in response to an instruction to the touch panel.   The display image creating unit creates the display image in which only the live view image or the information image is displayed according to the specific instruction when the operation detecting unit detects the specific instruction. The camera according to claim 1.   The camera according to claim 9, wherein the display image creation unit creates the display image on which only the live view image is displayed when a shooting instruction is detected as the specific instruction. A display method of a camera comprising an imaging unit that captures a subject image and a display unit that displays an image,
An operation detection step of detecting an operation instruction for the image displayed on the display unit;
In a mode according to the operation instruction detected by the operation detection step, a predetermined image is selected from a whole image configured by combining a live view image output from the imaging unit and an information image representing information related to the operation. A display image creation step for creating a display image for the range;
A display step of displaying the display image created by the display image creation step on the screen of the display unit;
A display method for a camera, comprising: A camera computer including an imaging unit that captures a subject image and a display unit that displays the image,
An operation detection function for detecting an operation instruction for the image displayed on the display unit;
A display image for a predetermined range to be displayed on the display unit is created from an entire image configured by combining a live view image output from the imaging unit and an information image representing information related to operation. Display image creation function,
A display image control function for controlling the display image creation function so as to create the display image from the whole image in a mode according to the operation instruction detected by the operation detection function;
The program for image display characterized by performing this.

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