JP2006343956A - Electronic apparatus and its control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To actualize an electronic apparatus having a help mode which is excellent in usability capable of quickly acquiring information on the operating status of the apparatus, an operation to be performed next or the option thereof, and proceeding with a necessary operation while acquiring the information. <P>SOLUTION: The electronic apparatus, having the help mode for displaying the operating status or operation descriptions of the apparatus, is provided with an input means for issuing an operation instruction to the apparatus, a judging means for judging the operating status of the apparatus in response to an operation instruction from the input means during an operation in the help mode, a display means relating to the operating status of the apparatus judged by the judging means and a display means for displaying display relating to an operation which can be accepted next in the judged operating status of the apparatus. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device such as a digital camera or a mobile phone, and more particularly to an electronic device having a help mode in which the device itself provides instructions for handling the device and a control method thereof.

  While electronic devices such as digital cameras and mobile phones are becoming more and more functional year by year, in order to make operations easier to understand, operation methods to select items one after another from the menu and arrive at the desired function have become common. ing. Further, in general digital single-lens reflex cameras, although many switches are arranged in order to obtain instant photographing properties, an operation system that obtains a desired function with a small number of operations is used in combination. In electronic devices having such an operation system, it is not necessary to follow the menu hierarchically, so that it is possible to obtain a desired function with few operations, but it is denied that many switches make the user feel difficult. Can not.

  In recent years, there is also a device equipped with a help mode in which an instruction manual is converted into electronic data and the instruction manual is displayed on the display of the device itself. An electronic device having such an electronic instruction manual is convenient because it is not necessary to carry the instruction manual of the booklet.

  FIG. 8 is an external view of a digital single-lens reflex camera as an electronic apparatus of Conventional Example 1, and FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation in the help mode by the camera of FIG.

  8 and 9, when the power is turned on, the camera 301 performs a predetermined display on the liquid crystal display unit 303a on the back. Thereafter, assuming that the operation has been appropriately advanced, when the user depresses the help mode switch 302e requiring an electronic instruction manual (S301), the electronic instruction manual is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 303a (S302). When the user searches for and designates a location he / she wants to see using the index or table of contents of the electronic instruction manual, the corresponding location is displayed and the user can obtain necessary information (S303, S304). Thereafter, when the help mode switch 302e is pressed again, the liquid crystal display unit 303a returns to the normal display.

  Conventional Example 2 is a device that improves the usability of an electronic instruction manual of an electronic device (see Patent Document 1), and FIG. 10 is an external view of a digital single-lens reflex camera as an electronic device of Conventional Example 2. 11 is a flowchart showing the operation in the help mode by the camera of FIG.

10 and 11, when the power is turned on, the camera 401 performs a predetermined display on the liquid crystal display unit 403a on the back. Thereafter, assuming that the operation has been appropriately advanced, the user depresses the help mode switch 402e requiring an electronic instruction manual (S401), and when any switch other than the help mode switch 402e is operated, the switch operation is performed. At the same time (S402), information related to the switch operation (help data) is read from the storage medium or the like (S403), and a description of the operated switch of the electronic instruction manual is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 403a (S404). . For example, when the distance measuring point selection switch 402k is operated after the help mode switch 402e is pressed, the function and description of the distance measuring point selection switch 402k are displayed, and the user can obtain information on the distance measuring point selection switch 402k. it can. Thereafter, when the help mode switch 402e is pressed again, the liquid crystal display unit 403a returns to the normal display.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-200808

  However, in the above conventional example 1, since the user needs to search for and specify a desired part of the electronic instruction manual, there is an inconvenience that it takes time and effort to obtain necessary information.

  In addition, in the above-mentioned conventional example 2, since only the description of the switch function can be obtained, information on what operation state the device is in, what operation should be performed next, and what operation options are available Cannot be obtained.

  Further, in any of the above conventional examples, the necessary operation cannot be advanced while displaying the electronic instruction manual. Therefore, it is necessary to repeat the display of the electronic instruction manual and the actual operation alternately.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its purpose is to be able to quickly acquire information on the operation state of the device, the next operation to be performed, and its options, and perform necessary operations while acquiring these information. An electronic device having an easy-to-use help mode that can be advanced is realized so that a multifunctional electronic device can be used easily.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, an electronic device of the present invention is an electronic device having a help mode for displaying an operation state and an operation description of the device, and an input unit that gives an operation instruction to the device; During operation in the help mode, a determination unit that determines an operation state of the device according to an operation instruction from the input unit, and a display of the device that is determined to be a display related to the operation state of the device determined by the determination unit. Display means for displaying a display relating to an operation that can be accepted next in the operating state.

  The electronic device control method of the present invention is a control method of an electronic device having a help mode for displaying the operation state and operation description of the device, and includes an input step for giving an operation instruction to the device, and an operation in the help mode. A determination step of determining the operation state of the device in response to an operation instruction from the input means, a display regarding the operation state of the device determined in the determination step, and a display regarding the next acceptable operation. A display step of displaying.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to quickly acquire information on the operation state of the device, the next operation to be performed, and options thereof, and it is excellent in usability so that necessary operations can be performed while acquiring such information. The electronic device having the help mode can be realized, and the multifunctional electronic device can be used easily.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  The embodiment described below is an example as means for realizing the present invention, and should be appropriately modified or changed according to the configuration and various conditions of the apparatus to which the present invention is applied. It is not limited to the embodiment.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital camera to which the electronic device of the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is an external view of the digital camera to which the electronic device of the present invention is applied, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the camera of the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a display example in the help mode of the camera of the first embodiment.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes a digital single lens reflex camera (hereinafter referred to as “camera”) as an electronic apparatus. Reference numeral 10 denotes a photographing lens, 12 denotes a shutter having a diaphragm function, 14 denotes an image sensor that converts an optical image into an electric signal, and 16 denotes an A / D converter that converts an analog signal output from the image sensor 14 into a digital signal.

  A timing generation circuit 18 supplies a clock signal and a control signal to the image sensor 14, the A / D converter 16, and the D / A converter 26, and is controlled by the memory control circuit 22 and the system control circuit 50.

  An image processing circuit 20 performs predetermined pixel interpolation processing and color conversion processing on the data from the A / D converter 16 or the data from the memory control circuit 22.

  The image processing circuit 20 performs predetermined calculation processing using the captured image data, and the system control circuit 50 controls the exposure control unit 40 and the distance measurement control unit 42 based on the obtained calculation result. TTL (through-the-lens) AF (autofocus) processing, AE (automatic exposure) processing, and EF (strobe pre-flash) processing are performed. Further, the image processing circuit 20 performs predetermined arithmetic processing using captured image data, and also performs TTL AWB (auto white balance) processing based on the obtained arithmetic result.

  A memory control circuit 22 controls the A / D converter 16, the timing generation circuit 18, the image processing circuit 20, the image display memory 24, the D / A converter 26, the memory 30, and the compression / decompression circuit 32.

  The data of the A / D converter 16 is written into the image display memory 24 or the memory 30 via the image processing circuit 20 and the memory control circuit 22 or the data of the A / D converter 16 is directly passed through the memory control circuit 22. It is.

  Reference numeral 24 denotes an image display memory, 26 denotes a D / A converter, and 28 denotes an image display unit. Display image data written in the image display memory 24 is sent to the image display unit 28 via the D / A converter 26. Is displayed. An EVF (Electronic Viewfinder) function can be realized by sequentially displaying image data captured using the image display unit 28.

  Further, the image display unit 28 can arbitrarily turn on / off the display according to an instruction from the system control circuit 50. When the display is turned off, the power consumption of the camera 101 can be significantly reduced.

  Reference numeral 30 denotes a memory for storing captured still images and moving images, and has a sufficient storage capacity to store a predetermined number of still images and a predetermined time of moving images. This enables high-speed and large-capacity image writing in memory for continuous shooting and panoramic shooting that continuously shoot multiple still images, and when recording still images at any time during moving image shooting. 30 can be performed. The memory 30 can also be used as a work area for the system control circuit 50.

  A compression / decompression circuit 32 compresses and decompresses image data by adaptive discrete cosine transform (ADCT) or the like, reads an image stored in the memory 30, performs compression processing or decompression processing, and stores the processed data in the memory 30. Write to.

  Reference numeral 40 denotes an exposure control unit that controls the shutter 12 having a diaphragm function, and has a flash light control function in cooperation with the flash 48.

  Reference numeral 42 denotes a distance measurement control unit that controls focusing of the photographing lens 10, reference numeral 44 denotes a zoom control unit that controls zooming of the photographing lens 10, and reference numeral 46 denotes a barrier control unit that controls the operation of the protection means 9 serving as a barrier.

  A strobe 48 has an AF auxiliary light projecting function and a strobe dimming function.

  The exposure control unit 40 and the distance measurement control unit 42 are controlled using the TTL method. Based on the calculation result obtained by calculating the captured image data by the image processing circuit 20, the system control circuit 50 performs the exposure control unit 40 and the distance measurement. The controller 42 is controlled.

  Reference numeral 50 denotes a system control circuit that controls the entire camera 101, and 52 denotes a memory that stores constants, variables, programs, and the like for operation of the system control circuit 50.

  Reference numeral 103 denotes a display unit including a liquid crystal panel, a speaker, and the like that display an operation state and a help display message described later using characters, images, sounds, and the like according to execution of a program in the system control circuit 50. It is installed at a position where it can be easily seen, such as the back surface of 101, and has a main display portion and a sub display portion as will be described later.

  Among the display contents of the display unit 103, what is displayed on the LCD or the like includes the usage status display of the image data buffer during moving image shooting, operation mode display, single shot / continuous shooting display, self-timer display, compression rate display. , Number of recorded pixels, Number of recorded images, Number of remaining shots displayed, Shutter speed display, Aperture value display, Exposure compensation display, Strobe display, Red-eye reduction display, Macro shooting display, Buzzer setting display, Clock battery level display, There are a battery remaining amount display, an error display, an information display by a multi-digit number, an attachment / detachment state display of the recording media 130 and 140, a communication I / F operation display, a date / time display, and the like.

  Reference numeral 56 denotes an electrically erasable / recordable nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM.

  Reference numeral 102 denotes an operation unit for inputting various operation instructions of the system control circuit 50, as will be described later. As will be described later, a switch or a dial, a touch panel, pointing by line-of-sight detection, a voice recognition device, or the like Consists of multiple combinations.

  A power control unit 80 includes a power detection circuit, a DC-DC converter, a switch circuit that switches a block to be energized, and the like, whether or not an external power source is connected, whether or not a battery is installed, the type of battery, and the remaining battery level. Is detected, the DC-DC converter is controlled based on the detection result and the instruction of the system control circuit 50, and a necessary voltage is supplied to each part including the recording medium for a necessary period.

  Reference numeral 82 denotes a connector, 84 denotes a connector, 86 denotes a primary battery such as an alkaline battery or lithium battery, a secondary battery such as a NiCd battery, NiMH battery, or Li battery, an AC adapter, or an external battery.

  90 and 94 are interfaces with a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk, 92 and 96 are connectors for connecting to a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk, and 98 is a recording medium 130 or 140 attached to the connector 92 or 96. It is a recording medium attachment / detachment detection unit that detects whether or not the recording medium is present.

  When the interfaces 90 and 94 and the connectors 92 and 96 are configured using a PCMCIA card or a CF (Compact Flash (registered trademark)) card or the like, a LAN card, a modem card, a USB card, an IEEE 1394 card, By connecting various communication cards such as P1284 card, SCSI card, PHS and other communication cards, image data and management information attached to the image data are transferred to and from peripheral devices such as other computers and printers. be able to.

  A communication unit 110 has various communication functions such as RS232C, USB, IEEE1394, P1284, SCSI, modem, LAN, and wireless communication.

  Reference numeral 112 denotes a connector for connecting the camera 101 to another device by the communication unit 110 or an antenna in the case of wireless communication.

  Reference numeral 130 denotes a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk.

  The recording medium 130 includes a recording unit 132 composed of a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, or the like, an interface 134 with the camera 101, and a connector 136 for connecting with the camera 101.

  Reference numeral 140 denotes a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk.

  The recording medium 140 includes a recording unit 142 composed of a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, or the like, an interface 144 with the camera 101, and a connector 146 for connecting with the camera 101.

  As shown in the appearance of the camera 101 in FIG. 2, in the camera 101, a power switch 102a is used to turn the camera on and off by rotating the lever. Reference numeral 102b denotes a mode dial switch, which can select a camera operation mode by rotating operation, for example, full auto, shutter priority, aperture priority, manual mode, night view / sport / portrait mode, and the like. A release switch 102c performs a shutter release operation for capturing an optical image of a subject when pressed. Reference numeral 102d denotes a self-timer / remote control mode switch. When the release switch is pressed, the self-timer / remote control mode is set. When the release switch is pressed, a release operation is performed by the self-timer. The release operation is performed later. Reference numeral 102e denotes a help mode switch, which switches to the help mode when pressed. This help mode will be described later.

  The camera 101 is provided with other operation switches as shown in the figure, but the description is omitted because it is not directly related to the present invention. Reference numeral 103a denotes a TFT liquid crystal display device (hereinafter referred to as “main display unit”), which can reproduce a captured image and display an operation state of the camera. Reference numeral 103b denotes a TN liquid crystal display device (hereinafter referred to as a “sub display unit”) that displays an operation state of the camera and the like. An optical viewfinder 104 can confirm the composition by observing an optical image of a subject formed on a not-shown focusing plate.

  Next, the operation of the camera 101 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 3, when the power switch 102a of the camera 101 is turned on by the user (S101), the system control circuit 50 determines the state of the camera when the power was previously turned off (S102). Accordingly, the operation and display in the normal mode are performed (S103). Thereafter, it is determined whether the help mode switch 102e has been pressed. If the help mode switch 102e is not operated (NO in S104), the system control circuit 50 continues the operation and display in the normal mode in accordance with the user's switch operation. . On the other hand, if the help mode switch 102e is operated (YES in S104), the system control circuit 50 discriminates the operation state at that time (S105) and displays help according to the discrimination result (S106). After the help display, when the help switch 102e is turned off and the help mode is canceled (YES in S107), the operation is returned to the normal mode for operation and display (S103). On the other hand, when the help mode is continued (NO in S107), when the user operates any switch of the camera 101, the system control circuit 50 executes an operation according to the switch operation while maintaining the help mode. Since the operation state determined in (5) is updated (S108), the state after the operation is determined again (S105), and a new help display based on the new determination result is performed (S106).

  Next, the help mode will be described.

  The help mode is executed when the user depresses the help mode switch 102e when the user does not know how to operate the camera 101, and the help data (electronic manual) stored in the recording medium 130 or 140 of the camera 101. Is used to assist the operation by displaying information such as an operation description on the main display unit 103a.

  The operation when the camera 101 is used in the full auto mode will be exemplarily described below.

  First, a general operation procedure will be described. The user turns on the power using the power switch 102a of the camera 101, rotates the mode dial switch 102b, selects an icon indicating the full auto mode, and looks through the optical viewfinder 104 to compose the image. Confirm and press the release switch 102c.

  The release switch 102c gives an instruction to start operations such as AF processing, AE processing, AWB processing, and EF processing when pressed halfway. The release switch 102c is fully pressed to perform exposure processing for writing image data into the memory 30 via the A / D converter 16 and the memory control circuit 22 through the A / D converter 16, and the image processing circuit 20 and the memory control circuit 22. The development processing using the calculation in the above, the image data is read from the memory 30, compressed by the compression / decompression circuit 32, and the start of a series of processing operations such as recording processing for writing the image data to the recording media 130 and 140 is instructed.

  Next, the switch operation and the operation of the camera 101 when the user uses the help mode will be described.

  When the subsequent operation is lost after the power switch 102a is turned on, the help mode is executed when the user presses the help mode switch 102e. In this case, after the power switch 102a is turned on, an image and a message for prompting the user to select the operation mode by rotating the mode dial switch 102b are displayed on the main display portion 103a as shown in FIG. When the mode dial switch 102b is rotated in accordance with the help display, a description of each photographing operation mode is displayed on the main display portion 103a for each rotational position of the mode dial switch 102b. That is, when the user operates the mode dial switch 102b to select a shooting operation mode, a description of the selected shooting operation mode is displayed on the main display unit 103a.

  FIG. 4B shows a display example when the full auto mode is selected with the mode dial switch 102b. The main display section 103a displays a description of the full auto mode, and displays guidance for items to be operated next. In FIG. 4B, guidance is provided that there are “self / remote control button” and “shutter button” as the next operations. When the release switch 102c is pressed according to the guidance displayed, the camera 101 performs the above-described release operation. Thus, as a result, the user can correctly proceed with the shooting in the full auto mode. On the other hand, when the user intends to perform self-timer shooting, the self-timer / remote control mode switch 102d is operated according to the guidance display of FIG. 4B, and then the release switch 102c is operated. By doing so, the user can correctly proceed with self-timer shooting in the full auto mode as a result.

  The feature described above is that the operation by the switch operation is accepted even when the camera is in the help mode. As a result, the operation can proceed without repeating the execution / cancellation of the help mode.

  Another feature is that when the camera is operated in the help mode, the content of the help display is changed in accordance with the operation state of the camera which is changed by the operation. Thereby, help display corresponding to the current operation state of the camera can be performed.

  Yet another feature is that the next operation or next operation option is displayed in the help display. As a result, the next operation becomes clear and the camera can be handled more easily.

  As described above, a camera having an easy-to-use help function (electronic instruction manual) is realized, and a multifunctional camera can be easily used.

[Second Embodiment]
5 is an external view of a digital camera to which the electronic apparatus of the present invention is applied, FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the camera of the second embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a display example in the help mode of the camera of the second embodiment. is there.

  First, the configuration of the camera of the second embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the camera 201 is a digital single-lens reflex camera (hereinafter referred to as “camera”), and the main configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. Further, the display unit and the switches having the same functions as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals and symbols at the end as the reference numerals of the 200 series, and description thereof is omitted.

  A dial switch 202f is rotated to select and set a desired shutter speed and the like. A sub dial switch 202g is rotated to select and set a desired exposure correction value. When the exposure correction switch 202h is pressed, the exposure correction mode is set, and the sub dial switch 202g is rotated to set the degree of exposure correction. A drive mode selection switch 202i switches the operation at the time of release to single shooting / continuous shooting / self-timer / remote control / single shooting / continuous shooting. A cross key 202j is mainly used to select and scroll a menu displayed on the main display unit 203a. The camera 201 is provided with other operation switches as shown in the figure, but a description thereof is omitted here. 203a is a main display unit, 203b is a sub-display unit, and 204 is an optical viewfinder having the same functions as those in the first embodiment.

  Hereinafter, an operation when the user performs continuous shooting with a shutter speed of 1/1000 in the shutter speed priority mode and +1 step exposure correction will be described.

  The user operates the power switch 202a of the camera 201 to turn on the power, rotates the mode dial switch 202b to select an icon indicating the shutter speed priority mode, and rotates the dial switch 202f while viewing the sub display unit 203b. Select a shutter speed of 1/1000. Next, the exposure correction switch 202h is pressed to enter the exposure correction mode, and the sub dial switch 202g is rotated while viewing the sub display unit 203b to enter the +1 step exposure correction state, and the exposure correction switch 202h is pressed again to perform exposure. Cancel the correction mode. Thereafter, the user presses the drive mode switch 202i to select continuous shooting, looks into the finder 204 to determine the composition, and presses the release switch 202c.

  Similarly to the first embodiment, the release switch 202c instructs to start operations such as AF processing, AE processing, AWB processing, and EF processing by half-pressing. The release switch 102c is fully pressed to perform exposure processing for writing image data into the memory 30 via the A / D converter 16 and the memory control circuit 22 through the A / D converter 16, and the image processing circuit 20 and the memory control circuit 22. The development processing using the calculation in the above, the image data is read from the memory 30, compressed by the compression / decompression circuit 32, and the start of a series of processing operations such as recording processing for writing the image data to the recording media 130 and 140 is instructed. Further, while the release switch 202c is pressed, the image capturing operation is repeated.

  Next, the operation of the camera will be described with reference to FIG. Note that steps S201 to S204 in FIG. 6 are the same as steps S101 to S104 in FIG.

  In FIG. 6, the difference from the first embodiment is that if the switch is operated in the help mode (S208), it is determined whether the operation is appropriate (S209).

  That is, if the switch operation is appropriate (YES in S209), the system control circuit 50 performs the operation according to the operation while maintaining the help mode and updates the camera state (S210). Thereafter, the camera state is determined again (S205), and a new help display is performed based on the new camera state (S206). On the other hand, if the operation is inappropriate (NO in S209), an operation corresponding to the switch operation is not executed and a warning is displayed (S211).

  Next, the switch operation and the operation of the camera 201 when the user uses the help mode during the exposure compensation setting will be described. Note that operations of the camera 201 other than in the help mode are omitted.

  Now, after the user selects the shutter speed with the dial switch 202f, the help mode is executed when the user presses the help mode switch 202e. Since the state of the camera 201 at this time is a state in which the shutter speed 1/1000 is selected, the main display unit 203a displays the shutter speed display and the next operation option as shown in FIG. 7A. The

  Unlike the full auto mode of the first embodiment, since there are a wide variety of operation options in the shutter speed priority mode, a message indicating that operation options that cannot be displayed are displayed by scrolling the screen with the cross key 202j. Is also displayed. Here, when the user depresses the exposure correction switch 202h, the camera 201 enters the exposure correction mode, and at the same time, the display on the main display unit 203a is operated by operating the sub dial switch 202g as shown in FIG. The guidance display prompts At this time, the operation options are either to operate the sub dial switch 202g to set the exposure compensation value, or to operate the exposure compensation switch 202h to stop the exposure compensation, and to end the exposure compensation mode. It cannot be operated. At this time, if the user performs an operation other than setting the exposure correction value and ending the exposure correction mode, an image indicating that the operation is not currently accepted is displayed on the main display unit 203a as shown in FIG. Guidance display of a message and options for the next selectable operation or operable item are displayed. After the user performs exposure correction, the exposure correction switch 202h is pressed to end the exposure correction mode, and when the help mode switch 202e is further pressed, the help mode ends. Thereafter, as described above, the continuous shooting drive mode is selected to perform shooting.

  The feature of the present embodiment is that only the shutter speed display and the next option display are visually distinguished from other displays in the display of FIG. 7A. Accordingly, the user can easily grasp the current operation state of the camera 201 and the next operation option to be performed.

  Another feature is that even if the user operates an operation other than the next selectable operation, for example, the dial switch 202e in the exposure correction mode, the camera 201 does not accept the operation and displays a warning for a predetermined time. . Thereby, it can be easily grasped that the user himself has made an erroneous operation and the correct operation to be performed next.

  The operation in the case where the help mode is used when setting the exposure correction in the case where continuous shooting is performed with the shutter speed of 1/1000 in the shutter speed priority mode and the exposure correction of +1 step has been described. Needless to say, appropriate display corresponding to each operation mode and setting change is performed. Moreover, you may use a sound, a vibration, etc. together regarding a warning.

[Other Embodiments]
The embodiment according to the present invention has been described in detail using specific examples. However, the present invention can take an embodiment as a system, apparatus, method, program, storage medium (recording medium), or the like. Specifically, the present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices, or may be applied to an apparatus composed of a single device.

  In the present invention, a software program (in the embodiment, a program corresponding to each flowchart shown in the drawings) for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiment is directly or remotely supplied to the system or apparatus, and the computer of the system or apparatus is provided. Is also achieved by reading and executing the supplied program code.

  Accordingly, since the functions of the present invention are implemented by computer, the program code installed in the computer also implements the present invention. In other words, the present invention includes a computer program itself for realizing the functional processing of the present invention.

  In that case, as long as it has the function of a program, it may be in the form of object code, a program executed by an interpreter, script data supplied to the OS, or the like.

  As a recording medium (storage medium) for supplying the program, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, MO, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, magnetic tape, non-volatile Memory cards, ROM, DVD (DVD-ROM, DVD-R), and the like.

  As another program supply method, a client computer browser is used to connect to an Internet homepage, and the computer program of the present invention itself or a compressed file including an automatic installation function is downloaded from the homepage to a recording medium such as a hard disk. Can also be supplied. It can also be realized by dividing the program code constituting the program of the present invention into a plurality of files and downloading each file from a different homepage. That is, a WWW server that allows a plurality of users to download a program file for realizing the functional processing of the present invention on a computer is also included in the present invention.

  In addition, the program of the present invention is encrypted, stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, distributed to users, and key information for decryption is downloaded from a homepage via the Internet to users who have cleared predetermined conditions. It is also possible to execute the encrypted program by using the key information and install the program on a computer.

  In addition to the functions of the above-described embodiments being realized by the computer executing the read program, the OS running on the computer based on the instruction of the program is a part of the actual processing. Alternatively, the functions of the above-described embodiment can be realized by performing all of them and performing the processing.

  Furthermore, after the program read from the recording medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion board or The CPU or the like provided in the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

1 is a block diagram of a digital camera to which an electronic apparatus of the present invention is applied. 1 is an external view of a digital camera to which an electronic apparatus of the present invention is applied. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the camera of 1st Embodiment. It is a display example in the help mode of the camera of 1st Embodiment. 1 is an external view of a digital camera to which an electronic apparatus of the present invention is applied. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the camera of 2nd Embodiment. It is an example of a display in the help mode of the camera of 2nd Embodiment. It is an external view of the digital single-lens reflex camera as an electronic device of the prior art example 1. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement at the time of the help mode by the camera of FIG. It is an external view of the digital single-lens reflex camera as an electronic device of the prior art example 2. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement at the time of the help mode by the camera of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Shooting lens 12 Shutter 14 Image pick-up element 16 A / D converter 18 Timing generation circuit 20 Image processing circuit 22 Memory control circuit 24 Image display memory 26 D / A converter 28 Image display part 30 Memory 32 Image compression / expansion circuit 40 Exposure Control unit 42 Distance control unit 44 Zoom control unit 46 Barrier control unit 48 Strobe 50 System control unit 52 Memory 54 Display unit 56 Non-volatile memory 80 Power source control unit 102 Operation unit 101, 201 Digital single-lens reflex camera 102a, 202a Power switch 102b , 202b Mode dial switch 102c, 202c Release switch 102d, 202d Self-timer / remote control switch 102e, 202e Help mode switch 202f Dial switch 202g Sub-dial switch 202h Exposure compensation switch Pitch 202i drive mode switch 202j cross key 202k distance measuring point selection switch 103a, 203a main display unit 103b, 203b sub-display unit 104 or 204 optical viewfinder

Claims (8)

An electronic device having a help mode for displaying an operation state of the device and an operation explanation,
Input means for instructing the device to operate;
During operation in the help mode, a determination unit that determines an operation state of the device according to an operation instruction from the input unit;
An electronic device comprising: a display unit configured to display a display related to the operation state of the device determined by the determination unit and a display related to an operation that can be accepted next in the determined operation state of the device.   The display means displays a part of a display relating to an operation state of the device and a part of a display relating to an operation that can be accepted next in a display form visually different from other displays. Item 2. The electronic device according to Item 1.   When an operation different from the next acceptable operation displayed by the display means is instructed by the input means, the determination means rejects the execution of the operation, and the display means The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein a warning indicating that the operation is rejected is displayed. A method for controlling an electronic device having a help mode for displaying an operation state of the device and an operation explanation,
An input process for instructing the device to operate;
During the operation in the help mode, a determination step of determining an operation state of the device according to an operation instruction from the input unit;
An electronic device control method comprising: a display step of displaying a display related to the operation state of the device determined in the determination step and a display related to an operation that can be accepted next.   The display step displays a part of a display related to an operation state of the device and a part of a guidance display related to an operation that can be accepted next so as to be visually different from other displays. Item 5. The method according to Item 4.   When an operation different from the next acceptable operation displayed in the display step is instructed in the input step, the determination step rejects execution of the operation, and the display step includes at least 6. The method according to claim 4, wherein a warning indicating that the operation is rejected is displayed.   The program for making a computer perform the control method of any one of Claims 4 thru | or 6.   A computer-readable recording medium storing the program according to claim 7.

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