JP2000350134A - Digital camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a still picture to be easily displayed and erased. SOLUTION: A user uses a monitor 4 with a touch panel, which displays an index menu. The user can select a still picture by directly touching the index menu with its finger. Furthermore, the user applies processing such as display and deletion to the selected still picture by directly touching various operation keys displayed on the monitor 4 with the touch panel with its finger.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital camera for capturing a still image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A digital camera converts light that has passed through a lens by imaging a subject into a digital image signal by an imaging unit to generate a still image, and converts the image signal to a recording medium such as a floppy disk. It can be recorded. Still further, the digital camera can reproduce a still image recorded on the recording medium.

Many digital cameras have a monitor capable of displaying a captured still image. The monitor serves as a finder and can select and display a specific one of still images recorded on a recording medium so that a still image obtained by imaging can be confirmed. be able to.

[0004] When a still image is selected as described above, the index image created together with the still image is displayed on a monitor and used. The index image is used as a table of contents indicating a still image recorded on a recording medium. For example, a so-called thumbnail image which is a reduced image of the still image is used.

The advantage of using the index image is that the contents of the still image recorded on the recording medium can be easily confirmed, and a plurality of index images are displayed on one monitor and the index image is selected. As a result, a specific still image can be selected, and display processing and erasing processing can be performed.

By using an index image in this way, a still image to be displayed or a still image to be deleted can be easily processed.

[0007]

By the way, when a still image is selected as described above, the cursor displayed on the monitor is moved to the target index image by operating the pointing device to determine the still image. Was doing that. In addition, a pointing device has been used when performing the above-described processing such as display processing and erasing processing on the selected still image.

However, when the above pointing device is used, an operation error occurs because the position indicated by the pointing device is unclear or the position indicated by the pointing device is instantaneously shifted. It was easy. Further, the movement of the pointing device may be deteriorated due to a failure or the like.

The present invention has been proposed in view of such a conventional situation. The present invention has been proposed to simplify the operation on the screen of a digital camera and reduce the possibility of troubles such as operation mistakes. The purpose is to provide an easy digital camera.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a digital camera according to the present invention is obtained by taking an image of a subject and generating an image signal, and an image taken by the image taking means. Image generating means for generating an image signal of a still image from an image signal, and recording the image signal of the still image generated by the image generating means on a recording medium, and reproducing the image signal of the still image recorded on the recording medium Recording and reproducing means for displaying an image signal for operation input on a monitor, display input means for receiving an operation input when the monitor is touched, and displaying the image signal on a monitor of the display input means. And controls the image generating means, the recording / reproducing means, and the display input means according to the operation input received by the display input means. And a control means, said control means,
An image signal for operation input including an index image indicating a still image recorded on the recording medium is generated and displayed on the monitor of the display input means, and the index image displayed on the monitor is touched. The control is performed on the still image selected by (1).

The digital camera according to the present invention configured as described above selects a still image by directly touching the index image. Further, by directly touching various operation keys displayed on the monitor, each processing of display, deletion, prevention of erroneous deletion, and printout for the selected still image is performed.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram showing an internal configuration of a digital camera to which the present invention is applied.

A digital camera 1 to which the present invention is applied includes an imaging unit 2, an image processing unit 3, and a monitor 4 with a touch panel.
And a human interface controller (hereafter,
A HI controller) 5 and a memory control unit 6, and a recording medium 7 can be further mounted.

The imaging unit 2 converts the light reflected by the subject into a digital signal to generate an image signal, and transmits the image signal to the image processing unit 2.

The image processing section 3 displays an image signal obtained by the image pickup section 2 on a monitor 4 with a touch panel.
Further, the image processing unit 3 generates an image signal of a still image from the image signal obtained by the imaging unit 2 by pressing the shutter, and displays the image signal on the monitor 4 with a touch panel. Furthermore,
The image processing unit 3 extracts a still image recorded on the recording medium 7 via the memory control unit 6 and displays the still image on the monitor 4 with a touch panel. In addition, the image processing unit 3
Generating and recording index images 8a-8f;
And displaying the index images 8 a to 8 f on the monitor 4 with a touch panel via the memory control unit 6.

The index images 8a to 8f are used as a table of contents indicating still images recorded on a recording medium. For example, so-called thumbnail images, which are reduced images of the still images, are used.

The monitor 4 with a touch panel displays image signals such as moving images, still images, various operation keys, and index images. The monitor 4 with a touch panel is
Operation input is received by directly touching the monitor.

Using an index image, for example,
By displaying a plurality of index images on the monitor 4 with a touch panel, the contents of the still images recorded on the recording medium can be easily checked. Further, by directly touching the index images 8a to 8f displayed on the monitor 4 with a touch panel, a still image recorded on the recording medium 7 can be selected, and a process to be performed on the selected still image is input. Then, it can be transmitted to the HI controller 5.

The HI controller 5 controls the processing performed by the image processing unit 3 and the writing control on the recording medium 7 performed by the memory control unit 6 in response to the operation input received by the monitor 4 with a touch panel. Do. The information to be written is control information of a still image, and specifically, is protect information, printout information, and erasure reservation information.

Here, the protection information refers to information for preventing erroneous erasure of a selected still image. The printout information refers to information on which the selected still image is printed out. The erase reservation information is information to be erased when the selected screen is touched with the execution key on the erase screen.

The memory control section 6 reproduces information recorded on the recording medium 7 under the control of the HI controller 5 and transmits the information to the image processing section 3 and the HI controller 5. Further, the memory control unit 6 changes information recorded on the recording medium 7 under the control of the HI controller 5.

The recording medium 7 is for recording a still image and control information relating to the still image. Examples of the recording medium 7 include a floppy disk and a compact disk, but are not limited as long as a digital signal can be recorded.

In the digital camera 1 as described above, an image signal is generated when an object is imaged by the imaging unit 2. This image signal is displayed on the monitor 4 with a touch panel through the image processing unit 3. When the shutter is pressed, the digital camera 1 generates a still image signal from the image signal by the image processing unit 3 and displays the still image signal on the monitor 4 with a touch panel.

The information input to the monitor 4 with a touch panel is transmitted to the HI controller 5. The HI controller 5 controls the image processing unit 3 or the memory control unit 6 accordingly. The digital camera 1 determines an image to be displayed on the monitor 4 with a touch panel based on the information transmitted to the image processing unit 3. Further, the digital camera 1 rewrites and reproduces information recorded on the recording medium 7 based on the information transmitted to the memory control unit 6.

FIG. 2 shows the details of the monitor 4 with a touch panel in a state where the main screen is displayed by the HI controller 5. On this main screen,
Index images 8a to 8f, protect key 9,
A print mark key 10, an erase key 11, and page feed keys 12a and 12b are displayed.

When the protect key 9 is touched, the recording medium 7
Is displayed on the monitor 4 with a touch panel for recording the protection information of the still image recorded in the monitor 4 on the recording medium 7.

When the print mark key 10 is touched, a print mark screen for recording printout information of a still image recorded on the recording medium 7 on the recording medium 7 is displayed.
It is displayed on the monitor 4 with a touch panel.

When the erase key 11 is touched, an erase screen for recording the erase information of the still image recorded on the recording medium 7 on the recording medium 7 is displayed on the monitor 4 with a touch panel.

When the page feed key 12a is touched, the page is turned in the reverse direction of the main screen. When the page feed key 12b is touched, the page is turned in the forward direction of the main screen.

On the main screen, a protect mark 13 and a print mark 14 are displayed. The protection mark is displayed on the index image corresponding to the still image on which the protection information is recorded.
The print mark is displayed on an index image corresponding to a still image on which printout information is recorded.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the HI controller 5 when the main screen is displayed on the monitor 4 with a touch panel.

First, in step S1, the HI controller 5 displays a main screen on the monitor 4 with a touch panel. Next, in step S2, the HI controller 5 determines whether or not the monitor 4 with a touch panel is touched.

If it is determined that the monitor 4 with a touch panel has been touched, the process proceeds to any of steps S3 to S7, and the HI controller 5
2a and 12b are touched (S3), the index images 8a to 8f are touched (S4), the protect key is touched 9 (S5), the print mark key 10 is touched (S6), and the erase key 11 is touched. Is determined (S7).

In step S3, when the HI controller 5 determines that either of the page feed keys 12a and 12b has been touched, the process proceeds to step S8. In step S8, the HI controller 5 displays the index images 8a to 8f corresponding to the still images recorded before or after the still images corresponding to the index images 8a to 8f currently displayed on the main screen on the monitor 4 with the touch panel. And send the page. Thereby, the index image corresponding to the still image recorded before or after the still image corresponding to the currently displayed index image 8a to 8f is displayed on the monitor 4 with the touch panel.

In step S4, when the HI controller 5 determines that any of the index images 8a to 8f has been touched, the process proceeds to step S9. Step S
At 9, the HI controller 5 reproduces the still image selected by touching the corresponding index image 8 a to 8 f from the recording medium 7 and transmits the still image to the image generating unit 3. Thereafter, the HI controller 5 transmits the image signal generated by the image generation unit 3 to the monitor 4 with a touch panel, and displays the selected still image on the monitor 4 with a touch panel.

In step S5, when the HI controller 5 determines that the protect key 9 has been touched,
Proceed to step S10. In step S10, HI
The controller 5 transmits a digital signal for displaying the protection screen to the image generation unit 3. Thereafter, the HI controller 5 transmits the image signal generated by the image generation unit 3 to the monitor 4 with a touch panel, and displays a protection screen on the monitor 4 with a touch panel.

In step S6, when the HI controller 5 determines that the print mark key 10 has been touched, the process proceeds to step S11. In step S11, the HI controller 5 transmits a digital signal for displaying a print mark screen to the image generation unit 3. Thereafter, the HI controller 5 transmits the image signal generated by the image generation unit 3 to the monitor 4 with a touch panel, and displays a print mark screen on the monitor 4 with a touch panel.

In step S7, when the HI controller 5 determines that the erase key 11 has been touched, the process proceeds to step S12. In step S12, the HI controller 5 transmits a digital signal for displaying an erasure screen to the image generation unit 3. Thereafter, the HI controller 5 transmits the image signal generated by the image generation unit 3 to the monitor 4 with a touch panel, and displays an erasure screen on the monitor 4 with a touch panel.

By performing the above processing, the HI controller 5 can enlarge and display the still images corresponding to the index images 8a to 8f on the monitor 4 with the touch panel by directly touching the index images 8a to 8f. it can. Therefore, in the digital camera 1 to which the present invention is applied, the operation of selecting a still image and displaying it on the monitor 4 with a touch panel can be easily performed.

FIG. 4 shows details of the monitor 4 with a touch panel in a state where the selected still image is displayed by the HI controller 5. The monitor 4 with the touch panel on which the still image is displayed displays the selected and displayed still image 13 and the index key 14. When the index key 14 is touched, the same main screen as that displayed immediately before the still image is displayed is displayed on the monitor 4 with the touch panel.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the HI controller 5 when the monitor 4 with the touch panel displays a still image.

First, in step S13, the HI controller 5 displays the selected still image on the monitor 4 with a touch panel. Next, in step S14, the HI controller 5
It is determined whether or not has been touched. When the HI controller 5 determines that the monitor 4 with a touch panel has been touched, the process proceeds to step S15.

When the HI controller 5 determines in step S15 that the index key 14 has been touched, the process proceeds to step S16. In step S16, the HI controller 5 transmits a digital signal for displaying the same main screen as that displayed immediately before the still image is displayed to the image generating unit 3. Thereafter, the HI controller 5 transmits the image signal generated by the image generation unit 3 to the monitor 4 with a touch panel, and displays a main screen similar to that displayed immediately before a still image is displayed on the monitor 4 with a touch panel. I do.

FIG. 6 shows the details of the monitor 4 with the touch panel in a state where the HI controller 5 displays the protection screen. The protect screen includes the index images 8a to 8f and the page feed key 1
2a to 12b and a return key 15 are displayed. When the back key 15 is touched, a main screen similar to that displayed immediately before the protection screen is displayed is displayed on the monitor 4 with the touch panel.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the HI controller 5 when the monitor 4 with the touch panel is displaying the protection screen.

First, in step S17, the HI controller 5 displays a protection screen on the monitor 4 with a touch panel. Next, in step S18,
The HI controller 5 determines whether the monitor 4 with a touch panel is touched.

If it is determined that the monitor 4 with a touch panel has been touched, the process proceeds to any of steps S19 to S20, and the HI controller 5 determines whether the page feed keys 12a and 12b have been touched (S19), and determines whether the index image 8a has been touched. 8b is touched (S20) and whether the return key 17 is touched (S21).

If the HI controller 5 determines in step S19 that one of the page feed keys 12a and 12b has been touched, the process proceeds to step S22. In step S22, the HI controller 5 displays the index images 8a to 8f corresponding to the still images recorded before or after the still images corresponding to the index images 8a to 8f currently displayed on the main screen on the monitor 4 with the touch panel. And send the page. The index images 8a to 8f currently displayed by the page feed.
The index image corresponding to the still image recorded before or after the still image corresponding to is displayed on the monitor 4 with the touch panel.

When the HI controller 5 determines in step S20 that the index images 8a to 8f have been touched, the process proceeds to step S23. In step S23, the HI controller 5 sets the index image 8a
It is determined whether or not protect information is recorded in the still image selected by touching .about.8f.

If no protection information is recorded, the HI controller 5 determines in step S24
The protection information of the selected still image is recorded on the recording medium 7. Further, a protection mark 13 is added to the index images 8a to 8f corresponding to the selected still image. If the protection information has been recorded, in step S25, the HI controller 5 erases the protection information. Further, the protection mark 13 is deleted from the index images 8a to 8f corresponding to the selected still image.

When the HI controller 5 determines in step S21 that the return key 15 has been touched, the process proceeds to step S26. In step S26, the HI controller 5 transmits a digital signal for displaying the same main screen as that displayed immediately before the protection screen to the image generation unit 3. Thereafter, the image signal generated by the image generation unit 3 is transmitted to the monitor 4 with a touch panel,
The same main screen as that displayed just before the protect screen is displayed.

By performing the above processing, the HI controller 5 directly touches the index images 8a to 8f displayed on the monitor 4 with the touch panel.
Index image 8a selected by being touched
It can be easily determined whether or not the protection information of the still image corresponding to .about.8f is recorded. Further, in the digital camera 1 to which the present invention is applied, it is possible to easily record the protect information when the protect information is not recorded, and to record the protect information when the protect information is recorded.

FIG. 8 shows details of the monitor 4 with a touch panel in a state where the print mark screen is displayed by the HI controller 5. On the print mark screen, index images 8a to 8f, page feed keys 12a to 12b, and a return key 15 are displayed.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the HI controller 5 when the monitor 4 with the touch panel displays the print mark screen.

First, in step S27, the HI controller 5 displays a print mark screen on the monitor 4 with a touch panel. In step S28,
The HI controller 5 determines whether or not the monitor 4 with a touch panel is touched.

If it is determined that the monitor 4 with a touch panel has been touched, the process proceeds from step S29 to step S30.
The HI controller 5 determines whether the page feed keys 12a and 12b have been touched (S29), whether the index images 8a to 8f have been touched (S30), and whether the return key has been touched (S31). .

If the HI controller 5 determines in step S29 that one of the page feed keys 12a and 12b has been touched, the process proceeds to step S32. In step S32, the HI controller 5 displays the index images 8a to 8f corresponding to the still images recorded before or after the still images corresponding to the index images 8a to 8f currently displayed on the main screen on the monitor 4 with the touch panel. And send the page. Thereby,
The index image corresponding to the still image recorded before or after the still image corresponding to the currently displayed index image 8a to 8f is displayed on the monitor 4 with the touch panel.
Will be displayed.

If it is determined in step S30 that any of the index images 8a to 8f has been touched,
Proceed to step S33. In step S33, HI
The controller 5 determines whether printout information of the still image selected by touching the index images 8a to 8f is recorded.

If the printout information has not been recorded, the HI controller 5 determines in step S34.
Records the printout information for the selected still image on the recording medium 7. Further, a print mark 1 is added to the index images 8a to 8f corresponding to the selected still image.
Add 3. If the printout information has been recorded, the printout information recorded in the selected still image is erased from the recording medium 7 in step S35. Further, the print marks of the index images 8a to 8f corresponding to the selected still image are deleted.

If it is determined in step S31 that the return key 15 has been touched, the flow advances to step S36. In step S36, the HI controller 5 transmits a digital signal for displaying a main screen similar to that displayed immediately before the print mark screen to the image generation unit 3. Thereafter, the image signal generated by the image generation unit 3 is transmitted to the monitor 4 with the touch panel, and the same main screen as displayed immediately before the print mark screen is displayed.

By performing the above processing, the HI controller 5 directly touches the index images 8a to 8f displayed on the monitor 4 with the touch panel.
Index image 8a selected by being touched
It is now possible to easily determine whether or not the printout information of the still image corresponding to .about.8f is recorded.
Further, it is possible to easily record the printout information when the printout information is not recorded and to erase the printout information when the printout information is recorded.

FIG. 10 shows details of the monitor 4 with a touch panel in a state where the erasing screen is displayed by the HI controller 5. On the erasure screen, there are index images 8a to 8f and page feed keys 12a to 1b.
, A return key 15 and an execution key 16 are displayed. When the execution key 16 is touched, all the still images reserved for deletion are deleted.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the HI controller 5 when the monitor 4 with a touch panel is displaying an erasing screen.

First, in step S37, the HI controller 5 displays an erasure screen on the monitor 4 with a touch panel. Next, in step S38, the HI controller 5 determines whether the monitor 4 with a touch panel has been touched.

If the HI controller 5 determines that the monitor 4 with a touch panel has been touched, the process proceeds to step S
Proceeding to any one of steps S39 to S42, the HI controller 5 determines whether the page feed keys 12a and 12b have been touched (S39), whether the index images 8a to 8b have been touched (S40), and whether the return key 17 has been touched ( S4
1) It is determined whether the erase execution key 18 has been touched (S42).

If the HI controller 5 determines in step S39 that one of the page feed keys 12a and 12b has been touched, the process proceeds to step S43. In step S43, the HI controller 5 displays the index images 8a to 8f corresponding to the still images recorded before or after the still images corresponding to the index images 8a to 8f currently displayed on the main screen on the monitor 4 with the touch panel. And send the page. Thereby,
The index image corresponding to the still image recorded before or after the still image corresponding to the currently displayed index image 8a to 8f is displayed on the monitor 4 with the touch panel.
Will be displayed.

In step S40, when the HI controller 5 determines that any one of the index images 8a to 8f has been touched, the process proceeds to step S44. In step S44, the HI controller 5 determines whether or not the protection information of the still image selected by touching is recorded on the recording medium 7.

If the protection information is recorded, in step S45, the HI controller 5
A warning is displayed on the monitor 4 with a touch panel. If the protection information has not been recorded, the HI controller 5 determines whether or not the erasure reservation information has been recorded on the recording medium 7 in step S46. When the erasure reservation information is recorded, in step S47,
The recording of the erase reservation is erased from the recording medium 7. If there is no erasure reservation, the erasure reservation information is recorded on the recording medium 7 in step S48.

If it is determined in step S41 that the HI controller 5 has touched the return key 15,
Proceed to step S49. In step S49, HI
The controller 5 transmits a digital signal for displaying the same main screen as that displayed immediately before the protection screen to the image generation unit 3. Thereafter, the image signal generated by the image generation unit 3 is transmitted to the monitor 4 with a touch panel, and the same main screen as displayed immediately before the protection screen is displayed on the monitor 4 with a touch panel.

If it is determined in step S42 that the HI controller 5 has touched the erase execution key 16, the process proceeds to step S50. In step S50, the HI controller 5 deletes all the still images reserved for deletion. In step S51, the HI controller 5 causes the monitor 4 with a touch panel to display a main screen excluding the index images 8a to 8f corresponding to the deleted still images.

Although the still image is erased after the erasure reservation information is recorded on the recording medium 7, the erasure reservation information need not be recorded on the recording medium 7. For example, by recording this erasure reservation information in an internal memory in the HI controller 5, it is possible to erase a still image without recording the erasure information on the recording medium 7.

By performing the above processing, the HI controller 5 directly touches the index images 8a to 8f displayed on the monitor 4 with the touch panel.
Index image 8a selected by being touched
It can be easily determined whether or not the protect information is recorded for still images corresponding to .about.8f. Furthermore,
In the digital camera 1 to which the present invention is applied, when the protection information is not recorded, it is determined whether or not the erasure reservation is recorded as it is. When the erasure reservation is not recorded, the erasure reservation can be easily performed. When the recording and the erasure reservation are recorded, the erasure reservation can be easily erased.

As is apparent from the above description, the digital camera 1 to which the present invention is applied directly touches the index images 8a to 8f and various operation keys on the monitor 4 with a touch panel without using a pointing device. Thus, each process can be performed on the selected still image.

The present invention can be applied to a digital camera capable of recording still images and recording and reproducing moving images.

[0076]

As is clear from the above description, the digital camera according to the present invention can perform various processing on the selected image by directly touching the index image and various operation keys on the monitor of the display input means. It can be performed. For this reason, it becomes possible to easily perform processing on an image, and it is possible to provide a digital camera with few operation errors.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram showing a schematic configuration of a digital camera to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a monitor with a touch panel when a main screen is displayed in the digital camera.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart when the monitor with a touch panel 4 displays the main screen.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a monitor with a touch panel when a still image is displayed in the digital camera.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart when the monitor with a touch panel displays the still image.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a monitor with a touch panel when a protection screen is displayed in the digital camera.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart when the monitor with the touch panel is displaying the protection screen.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a monitor with a touch panel when a print mark screen is displayed in the digital camera.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart when the monitor with a touch panel is displaying the print mark screen.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a monitor with a touch panel when an erasing screen is displayed in the digital camera.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart when the monitor with a touch panel is displaying the deletion screen.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 digital camera, 2 imaging unit, 3 image processing unit, 4
Monitor with touch panel, 5 HI controller,
6 memory controller, 7 recording medium, 8a-8f index image, 9 protect key, 10 print mark key, 11 erase key, 12a-12b page feed key, 13 protect mark, 14 print mark, 15 index key, 16 enlarged display Image, 1
7 Return key, 18 Execution key

Claims (5)

[Claims] An imaging unit configured to image a subject to generate an image signal; an image generation unit configured to generate an image signal of a still image from an image signal obtained by imaging by the imaging unit; Recording and reproducing means for recording the generated image signal of the still image on a recording medium and reproducing the image signal of the still image recorded on the recording medium, and displaying an image signal for operation input on a monitor,
Display input means for receiving an operation input when the monitor is touched, control for displaying an image signal on the monitor of the display input means, and image generation means in response to the operation input received by the display input means And control means for controlling the recording / reproducing means and the display input means, wherein the control means generates an image signal for operation input including an index image indicating a still image recorded on the recording medium. A digital camera which displays on the monitor of the display input means and controls a still image selected by touching the index image displayed on the monitor. 2. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the control means displays a still image selected by touching the index image on a monitor of the display input means. 3. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the control unit records information on erasure of a still image selected by touching the index image on the recording medium. 4. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the control unit records information on printout of a still image selected by touching the index image on the recording medium. 5. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the control unit deletes a still image selected from the recording medium by touching the index image.