JP2001257911A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera equipped with a function capable of easily matching the angle of view even from the front side of the camera at the time of photographing with a self-timer or the like and of making a little child or the like turn his glance to the camera when photographing the child. SOLUTION: A display part (front side display part) 21 for image display is provided on the front side of the main body of camera, where an image pickup part is located, and a display part (back side display part) 28 for image display is located on the back side of the main body of camera as well. The animation interesting for an object, image of his parents or image of his pet is displayed on the front side display part 21 and a photographer can confirm the angle of photographing view on the back side display part 28 on the other hand. The file of a memory card 86 can be utilized as an image attractive for the object and when preserving the photographed image, the file of the photographed image is recorded on the memory card 86 in relation to the file of the image displayed on the front side display part 21.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera, and more particularly, to a camera having a function of converting light information into an electric signal using an image sensor and displaying an image on a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD). About the camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, most digital cameras have a display device such as a liquid crystal monitor mounted on the back side of a camera body as a means for adjusting an angle of view and confirming a reproduced image. However, in a conventional digital camera, the screen of the display device is provided on the back of the camera, so that the photographer cannot see the screen from the front side of the camera during self-photographing or the like, and it is difficult to adjust the angle of view. Was.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-204015 discloses a camera having a continuous self-timer shooting mode capable of performing self-timer shooting of a plurality of frames at a desired angle of view. In this camera, a screen frame is displayed using a liquid crystal in a viewfinder screen, and the shooting field angle at the time of self-timer shooting can be set using the screen frame. However, even in this publication, there is no description about the structure of a finder on which a screen frame is displayed.

[0004] In this respect, the video camera disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-298110 has a display unit such as an LCD and a viewfinder, and the display screen of the rotatable display unit is positioned on the subject side. By aiming, the person as the subject can check the shooting screen. Furthermore, the video camera disclosed in the publication is
A dialogue or action instruction message can be displayed on the screen of the display unit facing the subject and presented to the subject.

[0005]

However, the cameras proposed in the prior art are those who can understand the contents of the text message displayed on the screen of the display unit and can take appropriate actions (children or adults over a certain age). However, it is not always effective for photographing newborn babies or infants who do not fully understand characters.

[0006] In particular, in the case of a young child, it is not easy to point the camera at the camera, but no means for attracting the child's attention is considered. It should be noted that
Japanese Patent No. 40945 proposes a method of attaching a camouflage prop to a camera when photographing a child who is afraid of the camera.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and when shooting with a self-timer or the like, the angle of view can be easily adjusted from the front side of the camera.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a camera having a function of directing a child's gaze to the camera when photographing an infant or the like.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a camera, comprising: an imaging unit including an imaging element for converting an optical image into an electric signal; and a signal processing unit for processing a signal output from the imaging unit. A first display unit capable of controlling display contents, a first display unit capable of visually recognizing display contents from a subject side to which the image pickup unit is directed, and acquiring through the image pickup unit. A second display unit capable of displaying an image to be displayed, the second display unit being capable of visually recognizing display contents with a photographer holding the camera facing the subject with the imaging unit facing the subject; An image storage unit in which an image to be displayed on the display unit is stored; instruction means for giving an instruction to display the image read from the image storage unit on the first display unit; The image read from the image storage unit is A control unit for controlling the display on the first display unit and displaying an image obtained via the imaging unit on the second display unit, and a recording start instruction given from the recording start instruction unit Recording means for recording an image captured by the imaging unit on a recording medium based on
It is characterized by having.

According to the present invention, at least one image is registered in the image storage unit in advance. For example, suppose you ’re shooting a child,
It is assumed that children's favorite TV anime characters and images of pets kept at home are registered. The image to be registered may be a still image or a moving image.

When an instruction is given from the instruction means, necessary image information is read from the image storage unit, and the image is displayed on the first display unit. When the photographer points the camera at the subject, the display screen of the first display unit is pointed at the subject, so that the subject (child in this case) is interested in the image displayed on the first display unit. Hold it and point at the camera.

The light information of the subject is converted into an electric signal by the image pickup device of the image pickup unit, and the image of the subject is displayed on the second display unit. The photographer can check the photographing angle of view on the second display unit, and gives a recording start instruction from a recording start instruction unit (a release button, a recording button, or the like) at a desired timing. In response to this instruction, a recording photographing operation is performed, and the photographed image is converted into a predetermined signal form via a signal processing unit and recorded on a recording medium.

[0012] According to the camera of the present invention, an image which is likely to be of interest to the subject is displayed on the first display unit directed to the subject, and the photographer can use the second display unit to set the shooting angle of view. Can be checked, so that the line of sight of the subject can be directed toward the camera.

According to one aspect of the present invention, according to the camera of the second aspect, it is possible to display an image obtained via the imaging unit on the first display unit, Switching means for switching between a state in which an image stored in the image storage unit is displayed on the first display unit and a state in which an image obtained from the imaging unit is displayed on the first display unit. The control unit controls the display content of the first display unit based on a switching instruction of the switching unit. The switching means may be provided separately from the instructing means, or may be shared.

For example, it is assumed that the first display unit is provided on the front side of the camera body and the second display unit is provided on the back side of the camera body. Here, the front side of the camera body means the side on which the taking lens is provided. When the image captured by the image capturing unit is displayed on the first display unit, the angle of view can be easily adjusted in a case of self-photographing in which the photographer himself becomes a subject. At this time, the display of the second display unit may be turned off.

[0015] Further, a mode is also possible in which the recording medium is also used as the image storage section.
As the recording medium, various forms such as an internal memory of the camera, a built-in hard disk, an external recording device, or a removable recording medium (removable medium) can be applied, and these may be combined.

The image displayed on the first display unit and the image captured by the imaging unit may be recorded on one recording medium,
There is also a mode in which a removable medium or the like is used, the medium is replaced as needed, and a common recording medium read / write interface is used.

As described in claim 4, when a plurality of images are registered in the image storage unit, the camera
The image processing apparatus further includes a selection unit for selecting one or a plurality of images to be displayed on the first display unit.

When a plurality of images are selected, it is preferable to add a function of automatically switching and displaying these images at predetermined time intervals (automatic reproduction function).

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the camera having the above-mentioned structure, a voice storage unit storing voice information, and voice output means for outputting voice based on the voice information read from the voice storage unit. There is also a mode in which the control unit controls the sound output unit to output sound when displaying the image in the image storage unit on the first display unit.

The image storage unit and the audio storage unit can be realized by substantially one storage unit. For example,
It is conceivable that an image to be displayed on the first display unit and audio information to be output during the display of the image are stored as one file.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, when the image stored in the image storage unit is displayed on the first display unit, the camera performs recording shooting, and the image obtained by the shooting is executed. Is stored in the recording medium, the image displayed on the first display unit and the captured image are recorded in association with each other.

As a method of associating, for example, the storage destination of the captured image is set to the same directory as the display image of the first display unit, and the file name of the captured image is added to the display image of the first display unit. And a mode in which additional information for specifying a display image on the first display unit is added to a file of a captured image.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the camera according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 3 are a front view, a plan view, and a rear view showing the appearance of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a photographing lens 12, a finder window 14, a strobe light emitting unit 16, a strobe light control sensor 18, a self-timer lamp 20, and a liquid crystal monitor (corresponding to a first display unit,
Hereinafter, it is referred to as a front display unit. ) 21 are provided.

The photographing lens 12 is composed of one or a plurality of lenses, and may be a lens having a single focal length (fixed focus), or a focal length such as a zoom lens or a telephoto / wide-angle bifocal switchable lens. It may be variable. Shooting lens 1
A CCD image sensor (not shown in FIG. 1, described as 52 in FIG. 4, hereinafter, referred to as CCD) is provided behind the camera 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, on the upper surface of the digital camera 10, a release button 22 and a power switch 24 are provided. The release button 22 is configured in a two-stage manner,
Automatic focusing (AF) and automatic exposure control (A) in the "half-pressed" state where the release button 22 is lightly pressed to stop
E) is activated to lock the AF and AE, and the shooting for recording is executed in the state of "full press" from "half press". In the case of the moving image recording mode, the release button 22 is also used as a recording button.

As shown in FIG. 3, on the back of the digital camera 10, a character display liquid crystal panel 26 and a liquid crystal monitor (corresponding to a second display, hereinafter referred to as a rear display) 2 are provided.
8, a mode dial 30, a cross button (up / down / left / right keys) 32, a finder 34 and the like are provided.

The character display liquid crystal panel 26 displays information on the state of the camera, the shooting mode, and the like.
For example, information such as a battery check display, a display of the number of recordable frames and a reproduction frame number, presence / absence of strobe light emission, a macro mode display, a recording quality (quality) display, and a pixel number display are displayed.

A flash button 36 and a macro button 38 are provided beside the liquid crystal display panel 26 for displaying characters.
The strobe button 36 is a means for setting a strobe mode. Each time the strobe button 36 is pressed once, a "low-brightness automatic flash mode" → "red-eye reduction mode" → "forced flash mode" → "flash off mode" is performed. The mode is switched to a cyclic mode. Macro button 38
This is a means for setting a short distance (macro) shooting mode. In the macro mode, the AF scan range is shifted to a short distance side.

The front display unit 21 and the back display unit 28
Displays an image photographed via a CCD, a reproduced image read from a memory card (denoted by reference numeral 86 in FIG. 4) mounted on the camera, and the like. Normally, the rear display unit 28 is used as a monitor unit for confirming the angle of view, and the front display unit 21 displays an image that draws the attention of a child at the time of taking a picture of an infant or the like at the time of self-photographing, as described later. Used for checking the angle of view.

The mode dial 30 and the cross button 3
Reference numeral 2 denotes a central button member and a ring member disposed on the outer periphery thereof. The outer peripheral mode dial 30 is rotatable in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions.

The mode dial 30 changes the function (mode) of the camera. By rotating the mode dial 30, for example, a setup mode for setting the camera, a self-timer mode, a photographing mode for photographing In addition, the user can select a mode such as a reproduction mode for reproducing a captured image and performing various settings. Symbol 39
Is an index indicating the stop position of the mode dial 30.

The cross button 32 allows the cross button 32 to be tilted by pressing one of the upper, lower, left, and right edges, and to input an instruction in the corresponding four directions (up, down, right, left). Used as an operation button for selecting various setting items in setting of, mode, etc., and for instructing change of setting contents, and for instructing electronic zoom magnification adjustment, zoom center movement instruction, and playback frame return / return. Used as

A shift button 40 and a display button 42 are provided above the rear display unit 28, and a cancel button 44 and a menu / execute button 46 are provided on the left side of the mode dial 30.

The shift button 40 is a push switch for extending the functions of the cross button 32 and other operation switches. By pressing the shift button 40 as necessary,
The function of the switch operated in combination with this is changed.

The display button 42 is a switch for switching ON / OFF the display of the rear display unit 28 in the photographing mode. In the playback mode, the display button 42
Each time is pressed, the cycle is cyclically changed from "on-screen display (OSD) display for one-frame playback" to "no OSD display for one-frame playback" to "multi-play (with OSD display for three seconds)". However, while the menu is displayed, the display switches from “single-frame playback” to “multi-play”.

In the photographing mode, when the display button 42 is pressed down, the display on the back side display unit 28 can be turned on / off, and a power saving photographing mode in which the angle of view is adjusted by looking through the viewfinder 34 can be set. However, in the macro mode, the rear display unit 28 cannot be turned off.

A shift button 40 and a display button 42
ON / O of the display of the front display unit 21 by simultaneous operation of
FF can be performed, and the display function of the front display unit 21 can be switched.

The menu / execute button 46 is used to make a transition from the normal screen in each mode to the menu screen, or in the menu screen in each mode, to enable the selection items and to display the normal screen (when there are multiple menu layers). Is used to transition to the previous screen).
Specifically, menu display in shooting mode and playback mode, confirmation of selection items, selection confirmation of deletion items and execution of deletion,
When performing selection and execution of protection items, selection and execution of print designation items, selection of menu items, selection of date and time settings, return to the shooting menu, setting of display functions of the front display unit 21, etc. used.

The cancel button 44 is used, for example, to cancel (cancel) an item selected from the menu or to return to the previous operation state (undo).

Although not shown in the figure, the digital camera 1
A media slot for mounting the memory card 86 is provided on one side of the device 0, and a video output terminal (VIDEO OUT), a serial communication terminal, a power input terminal, and the like are provided.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the digital camera 10 of this embodiment. The photographing optical system 50 is a block including the photographing lens 12, an aperture, and a shutter. Light incident through the photographing optical system 50 is imaged on the light receiving surface of the CCD 52. The CCD 52 has a structure in which light receiving sensors corresponding to photosensitive pixels are two-dimensionally arranged, and has a predetermined color filter arrangement structure such as a G stripe or Bayer arrangement.

The CCD 52 is provided with a shutter drain via a shutter gate. By driving the shutter gate with a shutter gate pulse, accumulated signal charges can be discharged to the shutter drain. That is, the CCD 52 has a so-called electronic shutter function of controlling the accumulation time (shutter speed) of the electric charge accumulated in each sensor by the shutter gate pulse.

The subject image formed on the light receiving surface of the CCD 52 is converted into signal charges of an amount corresponding to the amount of incident light by each light receiving sensor. The signal charge accumulated in this way is CC
It is read out by a CCD drive pulse applied from a D drive circuit (driver) 54 and is sequentially output from the CCD 52 as a voltage signal (analog image signal) corresponding to the signal charge.

The signal read from the CCD 52 is applied to an analog processing section 56. The analog processing unit 56 includes a sampling hold circuit and a gain adjustment circuit,
The image signal output from D52 is subjected to correlated double sampling (CDS) processing and R,
Each of the G and B color signals is subjected to color separation processing, and the signal level of each color signal is adjusted (pre-white balance processing).

The signal output from the analog processing section 56 is converted into R, G, B digital signals by an A / D converter 58 and then sent to a digital signal processing section 60. The timing generator 62 includes a CCD driving circuit 54 and an analog processing unit 5 in accordance with a command from the control unit 64.
6 and the A / D converter 58, a timing signal is provided, and the timing signals synchronize the circuits.

The signal processing section 60 is an image processing means constituted by a digital signal processor (DSP) including a gamma correction circuit, a sharpness correction circuit, a contrast correction circuit, a luminance / color difference signal generation circuit, a white balance correction circuit, and the like. The imaging signal is processed according to a command from the control unit 64.

The R, G, B image data input to the signal processing unit 60 includes a luminance signal (Y signal) and a color difference signal (Cr, C signal).
b signal) and subjected to predetermined processing such as gamma correction, and then stored in the memory 66.

The luminance / color difference signal (abbreviated as YC signal) stored in the memory 66 is read out according to a command from the control unit 64 and supplied to the VRAM 68 or 70 or both. The data stored in the VRAM 68 is converted into a signal of a predetermined system for display (for example, a color composite video signal of the NTSC system) by the encoder 72, and then output to the front display unit 21. Similarly, VRAM
The data stored in 70 is output to the rear display unit 28 via the encoder 74. Although not shown in the drawing, the outputs of the encoders 72 and 74 can be output to the outside from a video output terminal or the like.

A bus 76 connected to the control unit 64 is connected to a character generator 78, a compression / expansion circuit 80, a card interface 82, an EEPROM 84, and the like, in addition to the memory 66, the VRAMs 68 and 70.

The character data generated by the character generator 78 is added to the image data as necessary,
AM 68 or 70 or both. As a result, an image in which character information and the like are combined can be displayed on each of the front display unit 21 and the rear display unit 28.

The image data is periodically rewritten by the image pickup signal output from the CCD 52, and the video signal generated from the image data is supplied to the front display unit 21 or the rear display unit 28 or both display units. Accordingly, the image captured by the CCD 52 is displayed in real time as a moving image (live image) or as a substantially continuous image, but not in real time, on the front display unit 21 or the rear display unit 28 or both display units. You. The real-time image displayed in this manner is called a “through image”.

The front display unit 21 and the rear display unit 28 can be used as an electronic finder for confirming the angle of view of the photographing, and the photographer can display the image displayed on the front display unit 21 or the rear display unit 28. The photographing angle of view can be confirmed while watching or using the viewfinder 34.

By pressing the release button 22, a recording start instruction signal is issued, and in response to the reception of the instruction signal, capture of image data for recording is started. At this time, the control unit 64 operates the strobe light emitting device 85 as necessary.
The light emission is started, and the light emission is stopped when it is determined that the light amount of the subject becomes an appropriate light amount by the light emission. In the case of the moving image recording mode, the release button 22 functions as a recording button. Recording of a moving image is started by pressing the release button 22 once, and the recording operation (recording) is stopped by pressing the button again.

When the mode for compressing and recording the image data is selected, the control unit 64 sends a command to the compression / expansion circuit 80, and the compression / expansion circuit 80
6 is compressed according to JPEG or another predetermined format. The compressed image data is recorded on the memory card 86 via the card interface 82. The compression / expansion circuit 80 is used for both still image recording and moving image recording. Still images are recorded as JPEG files, and moving images are recorded as motion JPEG files. Of course, MPE
G, MPEG2, or other recording methods may be employed.

When the mode for recording uncompressed image data (non-compression mode) is selected, the compression processing by the compression / expansion circuit 80 is not performed, and the image data is stored in the memory card 86 without compression. Will be recorded.

In the digital camera 10 of this embodiment, a memory card 86 is used as a means for storing image data. Specifically, for example, SmartMedia (registered trademark)
(Solid-State Floppy Disk Card) is applied. The form of the recording medium is not limited to the above, but may be a PC card, a compact flash, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a memory stick, or the like.
Various media that can be read and written according to a magnetic or optical method or a combination thereof can be used. Signal processing means and interfaces corresponding to the medium used are applied. A configuration may be adopted in which a plurality of media can be mounted irrespective of different types or the same type of recording media.

In the reproduction mode, the image data read from the memory card 86 is expanded by the compression / expansion circuit 80, and the VRAMs 68, 70 and the encoders 72, 7
The data is output to the front display unit 21 and / or the rear display unit 28 via the display unit 4.

The control unit 64 is a central processing unit (CPU)
, And generally controls each circuit of the digital camera 10. The control unit 64 includes storage means such as a ROM 88 and a RAM 89. ROM88
Stores programs to be processed by the CPU and various data necessary for control. The RAM 89 is used as a work area when the CPU performs various arithmetic processing and the like.

The control unit 64 controls the operation of the corresponding circuit based on an input signal received from the release button 22 and other operation units 90, and also controls the front display unit 21, the rear display unit 28 and the character display liquid crystal panel. The display control at 26 is also performed. Further, the control unit 64 controls the photographing optical system 50.
The control of the zooming operation and the focus adjustment (AF) operation, the control of the automatic exposure adjustment (AE), and the like are performed.

That is, the control unit 64 performs various calculations such as focus evaluation calculation and AE calculation based on the image pickup signal output from the CCD 52, and based on the calculation results, the drive unit 92 including a focus motor and an iris motor. To move the lens to the in-focus position, set an appropriate aperture, and control the charge accumulation time of the CCD 52.
Note that AE and AF are controlled by a method based on an image pickup signal acquired from the CCD 52, as well as a known photometric sensor and AF.
A distance measuring sensor including a light emitting / receiving sensor may be used.

The operation unit 90 includes a release button 22, a selection unit 94 for selecting an image to be displayed on the front display unit 21, and ON / OF of the display of the front display unit 21.
F and display switching means 9 for switching display functions
6 and various input means 98 such as the mode dial 30 and the cross button 32.

The form of the operation unit 90 is not limited to a form such as a push button switch, a dial, a lever switch, or a slide knob, and the setting displayed on the screen of the front display unit 21 or the rear display unit 28 is not limited. There is also a mode in which a desired item is selected from a menu or a selection item using a cursor, a pointer, a touch panel, or the like. The operation unit 90 may be provided in the camera body, or a configuration in which part or all of the operation unit 90 is separated from the camera body as a remote control transmitter.

As the selection means 94, in the digital camera 10 of this embodiment, the cross button 32 and the menu / execute button 46
Corresponds to this. That is, an image displayed on the front display unit 21 to draw the attention of the subject (an image presented to the subject for such a purpose, and an image different from the through image is collectively referred to as a “character image” in this specification). Is selected, a list of image candidates is displayed on the back side display unit 28, and one or more desired images are selected with the cross button 32 on the screen, and the menu /
The decision is made with the execution button 46.

An image displayed on the front display unit 21 to attract the attention of the subject (an image presented to the subject for such a purpose, which is different from a through image, is collectively referred to as an EEPROM 84 in this specification). At least one character image is stored. When an image to be actually displayed on the front display unit 21 is selected from the registered character images, the display on the back side is performed. A list of image candidates is displayed on the unit 28, and one or more desired images are selected with the cross button 32 on the screen,
The menu / execute button 46 is used to confirm.

The character image data is EEPRO
The file may be registered in advance in a non-volatile storage unit such as M84 or a flash ROM, or the file itself stored in the memory card 86 may be used. The registration of the character image can be added, deleted, or updated, and the image data can be downloaded from the memory card 86 or can be input from the outside via the communication interface.

When the photographer operates the display switching means 96, the front display unit 21 and the rear display unit 28 are operated.
The display section for displaying an image is configured to be freely set by operating the operation section 90. When the mode dial 30 is set to the self-timer mode, the control unit 64 automatically controls the front display unit 2.
1 may be programmed to turn on the display.

As an embodiment of the display switching means 96, a mode in which a dedicated operation button for setting a mode for displaying a character image on the front display unit 21 is preferably provided. For example, a dedicated operation button named “baby button” may be provided on the camera body, and the display image on the front display unit 21 may be switched every time the “baby button” is pressed.

The digital camera 10 of this embodiment includes a microphone 100 and a speaker 102. After an audio signal input through the microphone 100 is converted into a digital signal through an A / D converter 104, the digital signal is stored in a memory. 66. The audio data thus captured can be recorded on the memory card 86. When recording a moving image with sound, the recorded sound data and image data are recorded on the memory card 86 as one file.

When reproducing the audio data recorded on the memory card 86, the audio data is read from the memory card 86, converted into an analog audio signal by the D / A converter 106, and The signal is amplified and supplied to the speaker 102. Thus, the sound is output from the speaker 102.

The digital camera 10 configured as described above
According to the present invention, the display units (21, 28) for displaying images are provided on the front side and the back side of the camera, respectively, so that the angle of view adjustment (view angle confirmation) when photographing oneself by a self-timer function or the like can be performed. It becomes easy and you can shoot easily.

Further, the digital camera 10 of this embodiment can display a through image being photographed on both the front and rear display units (21, 28). Since the image of the child is displayed on the front display unit 21, the child is expected to be interested in the image and turn to the camera. Therefore, the photographer can photograph the child's adorable expression while confirming the angle of view on the rear display unit 28.

In particular, as a characteristic mode of use of the digital camera 10 according to the present embodiment, the rear display unit 28 displays a through image for the photographer to check the angle of view, while the front display unit 21 has a mode in which an animation or other image (character image) that a young child is likely to be interested in is displayed.

The images to be displayed on the front side display section 21 include a father's image, a mother's image, an image of a child (the person), a character in a TV anime (a popular character),
There are aspects such as an image of a pet kept at home.

When there are a plurality of image candidates to be displayed on the front display unit 21, one or a plurality of images can be selected by the selection means 94, and the selected image is displayed on the front display unit 21. Is done. When a plurality of images are selected, the selected images are displayed while automatically switching at predetermined time intervals. The user can set the time interval setting, the image display order, the wipe pattern at the time of screen switching, and the like in the automatic reproduction function from a predetermined setting screen.

For example, when a father's image and a mother's image are selected, these images are displayed alternately.
At this time, a father's voice or a mother's voice may be output from the speaker 102 in association with the image content.

In a mode in which the memory card 86 storing the character image is shared as a recording medium for the photographed image, the photographing for recording is executed when the character image is displayed on the front display unit 21 and the photographing is performed. When saving the image acquired by to the memory card 86,
The control unit 64 performs recording in association with the character image file displayed on the front display unit 21.

For example, there is a mode in which a file of a photographed image is automatically saved in the same directory as a file of a character image. Further, there is a mode in which a symbol string capable of specifying a character image file is automatically added to the file name of a captured image, and a mode in which additional information for specifying a character image file is added to a file of a captured image.

As a further modified example of the present embodiment, the image content displayed on the front display unit 21 (the screen on the subject side) is sub-displayed on the screen on the rear display unit 28 (the screen on the photographer side). There is a mode of displaying. For example, the sub-display screen is interrupted to the through image screen on the rear display unit 28 to display a two-screen display, or the title or file name of the image file (character image) being displayed on the front display unit 21 is displayed on the rear display. There is a mode in which the image is superimposed on the through image screen in the unit 28.

There is a mode in which the title or file name of the character image is displayed on the character display liquid crystal panel 26 instead of or in addition to the sub display. By presenting information related to the character image displayed on the front display unit 21 also on the display screen of the photographer, the photographer can confirm which image is presently being presented to the subject. .

As an additional function in photographing a still image of the camera according to the embodiment of the present invention, a voice (voice, sound or music, or a combination of these, Hereafter, there is a mode of outputting a "calling voice". The information of the calling voice may be registered in advance similarly to the character image, or the file itself stored in the memory card 86 may be used. Of course, the voice recorded from the microphone 100 can be used as the calling voice. Registration of voice information can be added, deleted, or updated, and voice data can be downloaded from the memory card 86 or input from outside via a communication interface.

By adding a means for generating a sound (calling sound) for calling attention to the subject during the image capturing operation (shutter release) for recording, the scene at the moment when the subject turns around in response to the sound is added. You can shoot. In this case, during the confirmation of the angle of view before the release button 22 is pressed, the photographer's screen (the rear display unit 28
And at least one of the display portions of the character display liquid crystal panel 26) is preferably provided with a function of displaying information such as the title and file name of “calling voice”. By presenting information such as a title and a file name of an interrogation sound output at the time of shutter release to the photographer in advance, the photographer can confirm what kind of sound is emitted to the subject at the time of photographing.

In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the present invention is applied to a digital camera having both functions of still image recording and moving image recording. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to this.
The present invention can also be applied to a camera dedicated to recording moving images and a camera dedicated to recording still images.

[0084]

As described above, according to the camera of the present invention, while the image that the subject is likely to be interested is displayed on the first display unit directed to the subject, the photographer can display the image. Since the photographing angle of view can be confirmed on the display unit 2, the line of sight of the subject can be directed toward the camera.

Further, by making it possible to display the image obtained via the image pickup unit on the first display unit, it becomes easy to adjust the angle of view in the case of self-photographing in which the photographer himself becomes a subject. The angle of view can be confirmed by both the photographer holding the camera and photographing and the person who is the subject.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the digital camera according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the digital camera according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a digital camera according to the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 digital camera (camera), 12 photographing lens,
14 finder window, 21 front display unit (first display unit), 22 release button (recording start instruction unit), 2
Reference numeral 8: rear display unit (second display unit), 50: photographing optical system (imaging unit), 52: CCD (imaging element, imaging unit), 60
... signal processing unit, 64 control unit, 82 card interface (recording unit), 84 EEPROM (image storage unit), 86 memory card (recording medium, image storage unit, audio storage unit), 94 selection unit, 96: display switching means (instruction means, switching means), 102: speaker (sound output means)

Claims (6)

[Claims] An imaging unit including an imaging element for converting an optical image into an electric signal; a signal processing unit for processing a signal output from the imaging unit; and a first display unit capable of controlling display contents. A first object that allows the user to visually recognize the display content from the object side to which the imaging unit is directed.
And a second display unit capable of displaying an image acquired via the imaging unit, wherein a photographer holding the camera looks at the display content with the imaging unit facing the subject. Possible second
A display unit, an image storage unit storing an image to be displayed on the first display unit, and an instruction unit for giving an instruction to display an image read from the image storage unit on the first display unit Controlling the first display unit to display the image read from the image storage unit in accordance with the instruction of the instruction unit, and displaying the image acquired via the imaging unit on the second display unit And a recording unit that records an image captured by the imaging unit on a recording medium based on a recording start instruction given from a recording start instruction unit. 2. An image obtained via the imaging unit can be displayed on the first display unit, and the camera displays an image stored in the image storage unit on the first display unit. And a switching unit for switching between a state of displaying on the display unit and a state of displaying an image obtained from the imaging unit on the first display unit, wherein the control unit is configured to switch the state based on a switching instruction of the switching unit. 2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the display content of the first display unit is controlled by the controller. 3. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium is also used as the image storage unit. 4. A plurality of images are registered in the image storage unit, and the camera includes a selection unit for selecting one or a plurality of images to be displayed on the first display unit. The camera according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein 5. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the camera has an audio storage unit in which audio information is stored, and an audio output unit that outputs audio based on the audio information read from the audio storage unit. Output means, and wherein the control unit controls the audio output means to also output audio when displaying the image stored in the image storage unit on the first display unit. Camera. 6. An image for recording is executed when an image stored in the image storage unit is displayed on the first display unit, and an image obtained by the imaging is stored in the recording medium. 6. The camera according to claim 1, wherein an image displayed on the first display unit and the photographed image are recorded in association with each other.