JP2000298467A - Method and device for image display and storage medium where program actualizing image synchronous display is recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the image display method which enables detailed comparative observation by specifying reference points of multiple display images and relating the display images to one another, and thus making synchronous display. SOLUTION: This method has a 1st display step (S1) for displaying a 1st image in a 1st screen area on a monitor screen and a 2nd image in a 2nd screen area, specification steps (S2, S3) for making a user to specify a reference point on the 1st image and a reference point on the 2nd image according to the display made in the 1st display step (S1), and a 2nd display step (S5) for adjusting the display position of the image in one of the 1st and 2nd screen areas and redisplaying it so that the coordinates of the reference point in the 1st screen area and the coordinates of the reference point in the 2nd screen area are relatively equal to each other.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image display method suitable for comparative observation of a plurality of images depicting the same or different subjects, an information processing apparatus having means for realizing the image display, and an information processing apparatus having the same. The present invention relates to a recording medium on which a program for realizing image display is recorded.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, image data of images taken by an electronic camera (also referred to as a "digital still camera"), which has been rapidly spreading, is transferred to an information processing apparatus such as a so-called personal computer (PC). Display,
Various image processing such as photo retouching can be easily realized. The utility value of a system combining an electronic camera and a general-purpose device such as a dedicated device or an information processing device as well as the electronic camera alone is increasing day by day.

An example of an image comparison apparatus for displaying a plurality of images taken by an electronic camera side by side on a monitor screen for comparative observation is described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-6807. According to the device described in the publication, by providing partial images that have not been subjected to the reduction processing to comparison display, image comparison can be performed by a simple operation without lowering the resolution.

[0004] In the case of not relying on a special mechanism such as the image comparison device, conventionally, for example, two images are simply displayed in parallel, and the observer compares the relative positional relationship of the subject between the two images in mind. Or, an observer observes by using an editing function generally provided in the information processing apparatus. For example, when comparing and observing an image of the same subject before and after the enlargement or reduction processing is performed, the image display is performed by making full use of editing functions such as “Undo; Undo” and “Redo; Redo” using temporary storage (buffer). Was switched to perform complicated comparative observations.

[0005] These conventional image display mechanisms for comparative observation are common in that the display position of the subject in the display area is independent and independent of that in the other display areas, and a fine image is displayed. There is a problem that it is difficult to make a comparison.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and specifies a reference point for each of a plurality of display images to associate the display images with each other, thereby performing synchronous display. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image display method which enables fine comparative observation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus having means for realizing the above-mentioned image display, and a recording medium on which a program for realizing the image display is recorded.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, the present invention is configured as follows.

[1] According to the image display method of the present invention, a first image is displayed in a first screen area of a monitor screen to which an image is applied, and a second image is displayed.
A first display step of displaying a second image in a screen area; and a first image in the first screen and a second image in the second screen are respectively arbitrarily determined by an operator based on the display by the first display step. A reference point recognizing step of recognizing the position set as the reference points on the first image and the second image, the coordinates of the reference point in the first screen area, and the coordinates of the reference point in the second screen area. A second display step of adjusting the display position of the image in one of the first and second screen areas so that the coordinates of the reference point are relatively equal to each other and redisplaying the image.

[2] The image display method according to the present invention is the method according to the above [1], wherein an instruction to instruct scrolling of the image in one of the first and second screen areas is provided. And a step of scrolling the image in one of the other screen areas in synchronization with the image for which the scroll instruction has been given.

[3] The image display method according to the present invention is the method according to any one of the above [1] and [2], wherein the image is displayed in one of the first and second screen areas. Instructing to change the display magnification of the image, and, in response to the instruction to change the display magnification, changing the image in the other screen area to the same display magnification as the image for which the instruction to change the display magnification is issued Step to change to
Is further provided.

[4] An image display method according to the present invention is the method according to any one of [1] to [3] above, and further includes a step of instructing the superimposition of the first and second images. Displaying a superimposed image of the display image of the first screen area and the display image of the second screen area in a third display area in response to the superimposition instruction. I do.

[5] An information processing apparatus according to the present invention, wherein the first and second images are input and displayed side by side on a monitor screen.
First display control means for displaying an image and displaying the second image in a second screen area; and a first image in the first screen and a second image in the second screen based on the display by the first display control means. A reference point recognizing means for recognizing a position arbitrarily set by the operator with respect to the second image as each reference point on the first image and the second image, and a reference point in the first screen area. The display position of the image in one of the first and second screen areas is adjusted so that the coordinates are relatively equal to the coordinates of the reference point in the second screen area, and the image is displayed again. And second display control means.

[6] The recording medium of the present invention displays the first image in the first screen area of the monitor screen to which the applied image is applied, and displays the second image in the second screen area, Recognizing, as reference points on the first image and the second image, the positions arbitrarily set by the operator for the first image in the first screen and the second image in the second screen. And so that the coordinates of the reference point in the first screen area and the coordinates of the reference point in the second screen area are relatively equal to each other in one of the first and second screen areas. Adjusting the display position of the image in the image and redisplaying the image. The program for executing the image display method is recorded on the recording medium.

(Operation) One of the first and second screens so that the coordinates of the reference point in the first screen area are relatively equal to the coordinates of the reference point in the second screen area. According to the present invention in which the display position of the image in the region is adjusted and the image is displayed again, a fine image comparison of a plurality of images can be easily performed. The displayed images in the first and second screen areas that have undergone the above redisplay do not shift in the still (invariant) portion of the same subject even if they are superimposed as they are.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS "Configuration" FIG. 1 is an external view showing a hardware configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the embodiment. As shown in the figure, in the present embodiment, an electronic camera 2 is communicably connected to a personal computer 1 via a connection cord 35, and a plurality of images taken by the electronic camera 2 are transmitted to the personal computer 1. In this configuration, the data is transferred via the connection code 35.

As shown in FIG. 2, the personal computer 1 has a CPU 11, a memory unit 12, a display control unit 13, a display unit 14, a drive unit 15, a disk medium 16, a keyboard unit 17, and an interface (I / F) 18.
It consists of.

The CPU 11 is a means for controlling the entire apparatus to realize the image display function according to the present invention. The memory unit 12 provides a working memory space that can be used by the CPU 11. The display device 14 includes the display control unit 13
And a CRT monitor or a liquid crystal display for visually displaying various information and images. The disk medium 16 is a recording medium including a hard disk, a floppy disk, a magneto-optical disk, or the like, and is a recording medium for recording a program for realizing the above-described image display function or recording various other information. The disk medium 16 is mounted on a drive device 15, and information is read or written by the drive device 15. Note that the disk medium 16 may be replaced by a semiconductor memory such as a small memory card.
The keyboard unit 17 allows the user to operate the personal computer 1.
Is a means for inputting various information with respect to. The interface (I / F) 18 is an interface for communicating with the electronic camera 2 as an external device via a connection cable 35 connected to the connection terminal 19.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a GUI (graphical user interface) screen for realizing image comparison display according to the present embodiment. The GUI screen shown in the figure is displayed on the image display device 14 via the CPU 11 and the display control unit 13. In the figure, 41 is a reference point button, 42 is a synchronous display button, 43 is an overlay button,
44 is an enlargement / reduction button, 45 is a display magnification change pull-down list, W1 is a first window, W2 is a second window, 46 is a reference point on the first window W1, 47 is a reference point on the second window W2, Reference numerals 48 to 51 indicate scroll bars. The reference point button 41 and the synchronous display button 42 are toggle buttons. In the display magnification change pull-down list 45, for example, by operating the mouse 17a or the like, “25%”, “50%”, “75%”, “100%”
Thus, any of the display magnification options can be selected from among several display magnification candidates. The above 41, 42, 4
The operations by 3, 44 and 45 may be replaced by menu selection means (not shown).

First window W1 and second window W
2 can display the same image, or
Different images can be displayed. In addition, the first window W1 and the second window W2 are preferably displayed on the monitor screen 14 in a horizontal (horizontal) manner as in the present embodiment, but are arranged vertically (vertically) or diagonally. The present invention can also obtain the effect of the present invention even when the display is performed or when both windows are partially overlapped and displayed.

The reference point 46 is a point that can be designated by the user at an arbitrary position on the image displayed in the first window W1, and is displayed, for example, as a cross cursor (cross cursor). The reference point 47 is related to the second window W2 and is a point displayed as a cross cursor similarly to the reference point 46, and is a point that can be specified by the user at an arbitrary position on the display image of the window.

The scroll bar 48 is the first window W1.
The scroll bar 50 is a means for scrolling the display image in the vertical direction, and the scroll bar 50 is a means for scrolling the display image in the horizontal direction. Similarly, the scroll bar 49 is means for vertically scrolling the display image in the second window W2, and the scroll bar 51 is means for horizontally scrolling the display image in the second window W2. These scroll bars can be operated by the mouse 17a or the like, and can independently scroll the display images of the first window W1 and the second window W2.

[Operation] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of image comparison display on the GUI screen.

[Step S1] An image file name is specified in a predetermined menu (not shown), or an image displayed in another window is dragged and dropped into a window of the GUI screen, thereby performing comparative observation. Are displayed in the first window W
1. Open (open) in each of the second window W2. FIG. 5A shows a display state of each image immediately after being opened.

In the state immediately after the display, the reference point 46 of the display image in the first window W1 and the reference point 47 of the display image in the second window W2 are respectively set as defaults at the left corner of the image.

[Step S2] When the user presses the reference point button 41 in a state where two images to be compared are displayed, the process shifts to the reference point processing in step S3 (see FIG. 5B). .

[Step S3 (reference point processing)] FIG.
As shown in (b), based on the image display in the first window W1, the user specifies the reference point 46, for example, at the top of a mountain, which is the displayed subject. Then, based on the image display in the second window W2, the reference point 47 is specified at the same point (the top of the mountain) in the same subject.
The reference point may be specified first from the second window W2, and the specification order is arbitrary. Specified reference point 4
The display image of the first window W1 and the display image of the second window W2 are associated with each other with respect to 6 and 47.

[Step S4] When the synchronous display button 42 is pressed by the user in a state where two images to be compared are displayed and a reference point is specified for each of these images, the synchronization in step S3 is performed. Display processing (FIG. 5)
(C)).

[Step S5 (synchronous display processing)] FIG.
As shown in (c), the coordinates of the reference point 46 in the first window W1 and the reference point 47 in the second window W2.
Here, the display position of the image in the second window W2 is adjusted and the image is displayed again so that the coordinates are relatively equal.

Before the synchronous display, the angles of view of the two images are shifted, but after the synchronous display, the shift is eliminated by the display position adjustment based on the reference point as described above. As is clear from the figure, the display positions of the mountains and the lake surface, which are the subjects of the display image in the first window W1, and the second
The display positions of mountains and lakes, which are subjects of the display image in the window W2, are relatively consistent. This makes it easier to compare the images in detail between both windows.

[Step S6] When the overlay button 43 is pressed while the synchronous display is being performed, the process proceeds to the overlay process in step S7 (see FIG. 6).

[Step S7 (overlay processing)] First
The display image of the window W1 and the display image of the second window W2 are overlapped after each image is made translucent (for example, the luminance value of the pixel is halved).

FIG. 6A shows one image to be superimposed (the image displayed in the first window W1), and FIG. 6B shows the other image to be superimposed (the image displayed in the second window W2). , (C) shows the image after superposition. This superimposed image is displayed in a third window (not shown) other than the first window W1 and the second window W2.

During the synchronous display, the first window W
1. Even if the display images of the second window W2 are superimposed as they are, no shift occurs in the invariable part of the same subject between the two images. As a result, the subject “moon” is set to the first
When the image is displayed at the coordinates (x1, y1) in the window W1 and is displayed at the coordinates (x2, y2) in the second window W2, according to the superimposed image shown in FIG. Regardless of the angle, it becomes possible to accurately grasp the movement of the "moon" based on "mountains".

[Step S8] In the state where the synchronous display is not executed or the state where the synchronous display is executed,
Reduction button 44, display magnification change pull-down list 4
5 or one of the scroll bars 48 to 51 is pressed, the process proceeds to the scrolling or enlargement / reduction processing in step S7 (see FIG. 5D).

"Step S9 (scroll or enlargement / reduction processing)" When the enlargement button "+" of the enlargement / reduction button 44 is pressed, an image is generated by enlarging the image by a predetermined magnification, and the enlarged image is generated. Redisplay in the same window. On the other hand, when the reduction button "-" is pressed, an image is generated by reducing the image by a predetermined magnification, and the reduced image is displayed again in the same window. When the display magnification change pull-down list 45 is pressed, an image with the selected display magnification is generated and displayed again as described above.

When the synchronous display is not executed, only the image of the selected window is enlarged or enlarged independently.
It is displayed in reduced size. Thus, before executing the synchronous display, the display magnification of only one image can be changed and the approximate angle of view can be adjusted to the other image.

On the other hand, when the synchronous display is being executed, the display image of the first window W1 and the image of the second window W2 relating to the synchronous display are simultaneously displayed with reference to the reference point designated for each image. In addition, the display is enlarged and reduced at the same display magnification.

When the scroll bars 48 to 51 are pressed, the display image of the window area is scrolled horizontally or vertically. Thereby, a non-display image area can be displayed in the window.

When the synchronous display is not executed, only the image of the window corresponding to the operated scroll bar scrolls alone.

On the other hand, in the state where the synchronous display is being executed, as shown in FIG. 5D, not only the image of the corresponding window of the operated scroll bar but also the images of other windows related to the synchronous display are displayed. Scrolls synchronously (linked).

As described above, the coordinate of the reference point 46 in the first window W1 and the second
The display position of the image in one of the first window W1 and the second window W2 is adjusted so that the coordinates of the reference point 47 in the window W2 are relatively equal, and the image is displayed again. According to the present embodiment, image comparison between both windows can be easily performed. In addition, since the image superposition, scrolling, or enlargement / reduction processing after the execution of the synchronous display is performed with reference to the designated reference point, the details of the subject, such as deviations in the details and differences in the size, are varied. Detailed comparative observation can be easily performed. The present embodiment is combined with a system for remotely controlling the sequence of an electronic camera, and is suitable for comparative observation (for example, astronomical observation, microscopic observation, and the like) of images taken periodically or intermittently.

(Features of Embodiment) [1] The image display method according to the embodiment displays the first image in the first screen area (W1) of the applied monitor screen (14), A first display step (S1) for displaying a second image in the two-screen area (W2), and a first image in the first screen (W1) and the first image on the basis of the display in the first display step (S1). A reference point recognition step (S3) for recognizing positions arbitrarily set by the operator for the second image in the two screens as respective reference points (46, 47) on the first image and the second image;
And the coordinates of the reference point (46) in the first screen area (W1) are relatively equal to the coordinates of the reference point (47) in the second screen area (W2). A second display step (S5) of adjusting the display position of the image in one of the first and second screen areas and redisplaying the image.

[2] The image display method according to the embodiment is the method according to the above [1], wherein
An instruction step (S8) of instructing scrolling of the image in the second one of the screen areas; and scrolling the image in the one of the other screen areas in synchronization with the image for which the scroll instruction is made. Step to do
(S9).

[3] The image display method described in the embodiment is the method according to any one of the above [1] and [2], and is one of the first and second screen areas. Instructing to change the display magnification of the image within
(S8) and changing the image in the one of the other screen areas to the same display magnification as the image for which the display magnification change instruction has been issued in response to the display magnification change instruction (S9). And further comprising:

[4] The image display method described in the embodiment is the method according to any one of the above [1] to [3], and instructs the superimposition of the first and second images. (6) and displaying the superimposed image of the display image of the first screen area and the display image of the second screen area on the third display area in response to the superimposition instruction (S7). And further comprising:

[5] The information processing apparatus shown in the embodiment is an information processing apparatus (1) for inputting and displaying first and second images side by side on a monitor screen (14).
The first display control means (1) displays the first image in the first screen area (W1) and displays the second image in the second screen area (W2).
1) and a reference point (4) on the first image in the first screen area (W1) based on the display by the first display control means.
7) and let the user specify the second screen area (W2)
Means for designating a reference point (47) on the second image, coordinates of the reference point (46) in the first screen area (W1) and a reference in the second screen area In the sixth embodiment, the display position of the image in one of the first and second screen areas is adjusted so that the coordinates of the point (47) are relatively equal, and the image is displayed again. (S1) displaying the first image in the first screen area (W1) of the applied monitor screen (14) and displaying the second image in the second screen area (W2), Based on the display in the step (S1), the positions arbitrarily set by the operator for the first image in the first screen (W1) and the second image in the second screen are determined by the first image. And each reference point (46, 4
7) and the first screen area (W
Either the first or the second so that the coordinates of the reference point (46) in 1) and the coordinates of the reference point (47) in the second screen area (W2) are relatively equal. Adjusting the display position of the image in the screen area and re-displaying (S5),
Is a recording medium on which a program for executing the image display method having the above is recorded.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be implemented with various modifications. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the case of comparing and observing two images has been described. However, in the case of comparing and observing three or more images, the reference point is designated and synchronously displayed for the third and subsequent images. Can be compared.

[0049]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By providing a reference point for each of a plurality of display images and associating the display images with each other, and performing synchronous display by this, it is possible to provide an image display method that enables fine comparative observation.
Further, it is possible to provide an information processing apparatus having means for realizing the image display, and a recording medium on which a program for realizing the image display is recorded.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view showing a hardware configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating G for realizing an image comparison display according to the embodiment.
Diagram showing UI (Graphical User Interface) screen

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of an image comparison display on the GUI screen.

FIG. 5 is a view for explaining synchronous display and scroll or enlargement / reduction display according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining superimposed display according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Personal computer (information processing apparatus) 11 ... CPU 12 ... Memory part 13 ... Display control part 14 ... Display device 15 ... Drive device 16 ... Disk medium 17 ... Keyboard part 18 ... Interface (I / F) 19 ... Connection terminal 2 ... Electronic camera 21 ... Capturing lens system 22 ... Imaging system 23 ... A / D conversion circuit 24 ... Built-in memory 25 ... Display control unit 26 ... LCD 27 ... Compression / decompression circuit 28 ... Removable memory 29 ... System controller 30 ... Operation unit 31 ... Strobe 32 ... External interface (I / F) 33 ... Connection terminal 35 ... Connection cable 41 ... Reference point button 42 ... Synchronization display button 43 ... Superimposition button 44 ... Enlarge / reduce button 45 ... Display magnification change list boxes 46, 47 … Reference points 48-51… Scroll buttons

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 5/262 G09G 5/36 520G 520M (72) Inventor Hiroto Nishiyama 1-35 Hatsudai, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo No. 6 F-term in Olympus Systems, Inc. (reference) 5C023 AA02 AA14 AA27 AA31 AA37 AA38 BA11 CA01 DA04 DA08 5C082 AA01 AA24 AA27 BA20 BA34 BA35 BA42 BB15 CA02 CA56 CA64 CA72 CB01 DA53 DA87 MM09 MM10

Claims (6)

[Claims] A first display step of displaying a first image in a first screen area of the applied monitor screen and a second image in a second screen area; and a display in the first display step. Reference points for recognizing, as respective reference points on the first image and the second image, the positions arbitrarily set by the operator for the first image in the first screen and the second image in the second screen. One of the first and second screens so that the coordinates of the reference point in the first screen area are relatively equal to the coordinates of the reference point in the second screen area. A second display step of adjusting the display position of the image in the region and re-displaying the image. 2. An instruction step of instructing scrolling of the image in one of the first and second screen areas, and the scroll instruction of the image in one of the other screen areas is provided. 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: scrolling in synchronization with the image. 3. A step of instructing a change in a display magnification of the image in one of the first and second screen areas, and the other screen area in response to the instruction of a change in the display magnification 3. The image display according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: changing the image within the image to the same display magnification as the image for which the instruction to change the display magnification has been issued. Method. 4. A step of instructing superposition of the first and second images, and superimposing a display image of the first screen area and a display image of the second screen area in response to the superimposition instruction. 4. The image display method according to claim 1, further comprising: displaying the combined image in a third display area. 5. An information processing apparatus for inputting first and second images and displaying them side by side on a monitor screen, wherein the first image is displayed in a first screen area of the monitor screen, and the second image is displayed in a second screen area. First display control means for displaying an image, and a first image in the first screen and a second image in the second screen are arbitrarily set by an operator based on the display by the first display control means. Reference point recognizing means for recognizing the position as a reference point on the first image and the second image; and coordinates of the reference point in the first screen area and the reference point in the second screen area. Second display control means for adjusting the display position of the image in one of the first and second screen areas so that the coordinates become relatively equal, and redisplaying the image. Characteristic information processing device. 6. A step of displaying a first image in a first screen area of the applied monitor screen and displaying a second image in a second screen area, based on the display in the step, Recognizing a position arbitrarily set by the operator for the first image and the second image in the second screen as each reference point on the first image and the second image; The display position of the image in one of the first and second screen areas so that the coordinates of the reference point in the second screen area are relatively equal to the coordinates of the reference point in the second screen area. Adjusting the image and redisplaying the image, and a program for executing the image display method.