JP2010020072A - Display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a display device which enables a user desiring to carry out manual setting to immediately set luminance desired to use, and consequently provides a short setting time and a simple setting method. <P>SOLUTION: The display device includes a display member (monitor 102) that adjusts the brightness of display, and a luminance detection means (photometric sensor 112) which detects the circumferential luminance of the display member. The display device also includes an automatic setting mode for automatically adjusting the display luminance of the display member and a manual setting mode for manually setting the display luminance of the display member based on the detection information of the luminance detection means. The display device also includes a substitution means (comprehensive control CPU 201) which substitutes the last set value of the display luminance having been set in the automatic adjusting mode as the first manual set value of the display luminance to be set in the manual setting mode when changing to the manual setting mode from the automatic adjusting mode. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a display device, and more specifically, a display device that detects the amount of external light, automatically adjusts brightness and contrast based on the information, and allows a user to manually adjust brightness. About.

  In recent years, display devices have been used for various devices. Portable devices are also equipped with small and thin display devices such as liquid crystal displays and EL displays, and are also used outdoors. As described above, the usage environments of the display devices mounted on various devices are wide ranging from a dark room to the outdoors in fine weather.

  For example, a display device for confirming a photographed image of a digital camera can be properly viewed even when the environment changes greatly in a short time, such as photographing a candle service at a reception hall after photographing in an outdoor chapel. You must do so.

  Therefore, in a conventional display device, a system for measuring the amount of light in the external environment where the display device is placed and adjusting the backlight luminance of the display device with the corresponding luminance is provided (for example, Patent Document 1).

  In addition, the degree of visual recognition varies depending on the change in temperature, the direction of external light irradiation, and the confirmation position of the user (operator). An apparatus has also been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

  The automatic adjustment function in the conventional display device, which has a narrow viewing angle of display (strong directivity) and is affected by temperature and the condition of external light, automatically compensates for the aesthetic shift during automatic adjustment. It was a function to adjust the adjustment table of the adjustment mode itself.

  Recent display devices have a wider viewing angle, and the dependence on temperature and the influence of the incident angle of external light have been reduced, but they still want to handle the display device with fixed brightness in manual mode. There are many users.

  For example, the auto-exposure function installed as a standard function in single-lens reflex digital cameras, etc., is to capture three photos with different exposure amounts at the time of one shooting, and to obtain an optimal photo. .

  In this case, it is difficult to compare if the brightness of the display device is changed during display confirmation. Therefore, the user who uses such a function needs to use the display mode in the manual mode.

  Also, there are some users who are not affected by changes in the characteristics of the display device due to the darkness of the display device by checking the backlight brightness to be bright even in the dark.

As described above, although the capability of the display device is improved, the display luminance is used for various purposes depending on the intention of the user.
JP-A-3-235985 Japanese Patent No. 3606920

  However, in the brightness adjustment, in the display device having the automatic mode and the manual mode, the setting screen is as shown in FIG. 12, and the default value must be passed through when switching from the automatic mode to the manual mode. It was.

  An example will be described in which a user who has taken a picture in a dark environment such as a candle service tries to switch to the manual mode.

  In the automatic adjustment mode, it is detected that the outside is dark and the display device is darkly displayed. Therefore, when the user who wants to make a fine adjustment switches to the manual mode, the system having the setting screen as shown in FIG. 12 passes through the brightest mode.

  In this case, not only does the setting take time, but there is also a problem that since bright light temporarily enters the human eye, it is impossible to compare with the brightness displayed earlier. When the manual setting is used, the display device starting from the intermediate luminance has a similar problem.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a display device that allows a user who wants to perform manual setting to immediately set the luminance to be used, thereby shortening the setting time and simplifying the setting method.

  In order to achieve the above object, a display device according to claim 1 is a display member capable of adjusting display brightness, a luminance detection means for detecting ambient brightness of the display member, and detection information of the luminance detection means. On the basis of the automatic adjustment mode for automatically adjusting the display brightness of the display member, the manual setting mode for manually setting the display brightness of the display member, and when changing from the automatic adjustment mode to the manual setting mode, Substitution means for substituting the last set value of the display brightness set in the automatic adjustment mode as the first manual set value of the display brightness set in the manual setting mode is provided.

  According to the display device of the present invention, a user who wants to perform manual setting can immediately set the luminance he wants to use, and the setting time can be shortened and the setting method can be simplified.

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

  FIG. 1 is a rear view of a digital camera equipped with a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, the camera body 101 includes the following elements.

  The monitor 102 displays a captured image for confirmation, and can display various settings, and is configured by a color liquid crystal element. Various settings are performed by rotating the dial 103.

  The monitor 102 functions as a display member whose display brightness can be adjusted.

  A menu button 104 performs menu settings. The brightness setting button 105 calls a setting menu related to the brightness of the monitor 102. The INFO button 106 makes a decision when confirming detailed information of an image. The image display button 107 displays an image. The delete button 108 deletes an unnecessary image.

  The enlarge button 109 enlarges the reproduced image. A reduction button 110 reduces the reproduced image. The ON / OFF switch 111 turns on / off the power of the camera body 101. The photometric sensor 112 measures external light.

  The photometric sensor 112 functions as a luminance detection unit that detects the ambient luminance of the monitor 102 as a display member.

  The camera body 101 also includes a set button 113, and further includes various other operation buttons that are not shown in this figure.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the digital camera of FIG.

  In FIG. 2, a camera body 101 includes a general control CPU 201 that controls the overall digital camera, a release switch 202, a photometric sensor 112 that measures the brightness around the monitor 102, various aperture settings, shutter speeds, illumination settings, and the like. A switch 203 is provided.

  The camera body 101 also includes a power supply 204 that supplies various voltages required in the digital camera, a photographing (imaging) unit 205 including a lens, a diaphragm, an image sensor, an AD converter, and the like.

  In addition, the camera body 101 includes a memory unit 206 for temporarily storing image data and temporarily storing calculation results of the overall control CPU 201.

  The camera body 101 also includes an internal nonvolatile memory 207 such as a flash ROM that temporarily holds data, and a removable recording medium 208 such as a semiconductor memory for recording or reading image data.

  The monitor (display member) 102 is composed of a TFT or the like, and displays a confirmation of a captured image, a menu screen, and the like.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of monitor display processing executed by the digital camera of FIG.

  This process is executed under the control of the overall control CPU 201.

  In FIG. 3, first, when the ON / OFF switch 111 is turned on, the power source 204 is turned on to the camera (camera body 101).

  Then, what is stored as the display mode (luminance modulation mode) of the monitor 102 is confirmed (step S101).

  The past setting mode is stored in the internal nonvolatile memory 207. The overall control CPU 201 reads this.

  If the display mode stored in the past is “display brightness automatic adjustment mode (automatic adjustment mode)”, the process proceeds to step S102, and if it is “display brightness manual setting mode (manual setting mode)”, the process proceeds to step S102. The process proceeds to S103.

  Here, the automatic adjustment mode automatically adjusts the display brightness of the monitor 102 as the display member based on the detection information of the photometric sensor 112 as the brightness detection means.

  First, the case of the “display brightness automatic adjustment mode” will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the display brightness automatic adjustment mode executed in step S102 of FIG.

  In FIG. 4, first, in step S201, the timer that defines the display time is reset.

  This is a timer for preventing the monitor 102 from being continuously lit, and is used for performing lighting control within the time T1 described later. When the user sets to turn on infinitely, an infinite numerical value is substituted for T1.

  Next, in step S202, the photometric sensor 112 is turned on. The photometric sensor 112 measures the brightness around the monitor 102 and transmits the value as E to the overall control CPU 201 (step S203).

  The overall control CPU 201 substitutes the photometric value E into the table of FIG. 6A to calculate the display brightness of the monitor 102.

  In the table of FIG. 6A, it is ideal that the luminance value KA is proportional to E with respect to E, but in reality, it has such a stepped shape or has a saturation point.

  For example, in a very bright state where sunlight under fine weather directly enters the monitor 102, it is not possible to increase the brightness to be easy to see.

  It is normal to bring the monitor 102 to the opposite side of the sun and check the image on the shadow side. Therefore, this table also measures the surrounding brightness up to Esat, and even if it is brighter than that, the KA value does not increase to 7 or more.

  In addition, the KA value does not become 1 or less when the situation is darker than Edark which performs candle service or the like. This is a measure taken to prevent the user from knowing whether or not the monitor 102 is lit when the display becomes darker than this.

  It should be noted that taking such discrete values and providing a saturation point in the operation are design specifications different from the essence of the present invention, and do not limit the scope of the invention.

  For example, it is assumed that the photometric value when the camera is used in a situation where the user performs a candle service or the like is Edark in FIG. Then, the table reference value KA becomes 2 (step S204).

  In response to this, the backlight of the monitor 102 is turned on with a luminance of 2 (step S205).

  In this situation, when the luminance setting button 105 is pressed (step S206), the process proceeds to step S220. The process of step S220 will be described later.

  In step S207, when other interrupt buttons such as the menu button 104, the enlarge button 109, and the reduce button 110 are pressed to go to another operation mode, the timer is reset in step S222, which is different from the present invention. Enter processing. If no other button is pressed in step S207, the process proceeds to step S208.

  If the image display button 107 is pressed in step S208, the process proceeds to step S210. If not, the process proceeds to step S209, and the current time is calculated. If the timer is equal to or less than T1, the monitor 102 continues to be lit and the process proceeds to step S211.

  In step S211, the timer is incremented by one, and the process returns to step S203.

  If the image display button 107 is pressed in step S208 or if the timer has exceeded T1 in step S209, the backlight of the monitor 102 is turned off to stop the display operation (step S210), and this process ends. .

  In step S206, when the brightness setting button 105 is pressed and the process moves to step S220, a display as shown in FIG. The display is focused on the frame labeled "Automatic". When the set button 113 is pressed in this state, the mode selection is automatically performed in step S221, and the display returns to the “display brightness automatic adjustment mode” again (to step S207).

  When the dial 103 is operated in the display of FIG. 7A and this focus is moved to “manual”, a display as shown in FIG. 7B is obtained. When the set button 113 is pressed in this state, the process moves to step S330, and the control flow of “display luminance manual setting mode” is entered.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the display brightness manual setting (adjustment) mode executed in step S103 of FIG.

  If manual is selected in the flow of FIG. 3, the flow of FIG. 5 starts from step S301. If “manual” is selected in the flow of FIG. 4, the flow of FIG. 5 starts from step S330. .

  If manual is selected in the flow of FIG. 3, first, the timer is cleared in step S301 as in the “display brightness automatic adjustment mode”.

  The internal non-volatile memory 207 stores a manually set value before the power is turned off. In step S302, the stored display brightness KM is acquired.

  Since step S303 and subsequent steps are the same as the following case, steps from step S330 will be described.

  If “manual” is selected in the flow of FIG. 4, the process starts from step S330.

  In step S331, the display brightness KA calculated in the “display brightness automatic adjustment mode” is substituted into the KM used during manual display. That is, in the “display brightness automatic adjustment mode”, since KA = 2, 2 is entered in KM.

  In step S331, when the automatic adjustment mode is changed to the manual setting mode, the last setting value of the display brightness set in the automatic adjustment mode is substituted as the first manual setting value of the display brightness set in the manual setting mode. Functions as an assignment means.

  Subsequently, in step S303, a “display brightness setting menu” is displayed. At this time, the screen appearing on the monitor 102 is shown in FIG. The setting value of 2 is in focus, indicating that the current KM value is 2.

  Step S303 functions as a setting menu display means for displaying the last set value of the display luminance assigned by the assigning means.

  In step S304, the backlight is turned on at the luminance KM. Next, in step S304, focus display is performed on the frame corresponding to the display brightness setting menu, and the process proceeds to step S306.

  For example, when the dial 103 is turned in the up direction, the process proceeds to step S321, 1 is added to the KM value, and the process returns to step S304. Since KM was 2 earlier, 1 is added this time, and KM is changed to 3 (FIG. 8B).

  For this reason, in step S304, the backlight is turned on at a luminance corresponding to KM = 3 (FIG. 6C).

  If the dial 103 is turned in the down direction in step S307, the process proceeds to step S322, 1 is subtracted from the KM value, and the process returns to step S304.

  Steps S306 and S307 function as changing means for changing the last setting value displayed on the setting menu display means to a manual setting value.

  If the set button 113 is pressed in step S308 within the time, the process proceeds to the display mode for step S400.

  Step S308 functions as a determination unit that determines the manual setting value in the manual setting mode.

  If the set button 113 is not pressed in step S308 and the timer exceeds T1 in step S309, the backlight of the monitor 102 is turned off to stop the display operation (step S310), and this process ends.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the display mode process executed in step S400 of FIG.

  In FIG. 9, in step S401, the backlight is turned on at the designated luminance KM, and information such as an image that is originally necessary is displayed.

  When the image display button 107 is pressed in step S402, the process jumps to step S404, the monitor 102 is turned off, and the process ends.

  Even if the image display button 107 is not pressed, when the timer exceeds T1 in step S403, the monitor 102 is turned off. If the timer is equal to or less than T1 in step S403, the timer is incremented by one in step S405, and the process returns to step S401.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a first example of the monitor setting screen in FIG.

  The value of the photometric sensor 112 is displayed in the vicinity (left side) of the manually set value as an index as it is. The user can determine the manually set value based on the indicator displayed on the left. If the external brightness changes during setting, it is easy to handle.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a second example of the monitor setting screen in FIG.

  In (a), the value of the photometric sensor 112 is displayed as an index as it is. In addition, a manually set value is displayed in (b).

It is a rear view of the digital camera carrying the display apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the digital camera of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the display process of the monitor performed with the digital camera of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the process of the display brightness automatic adjustment mode performed by step S102 of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the process of the display brightness manual setting (adjustment) mode performed by step S103 of FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display luminance calculation table in the digital camera of FIG. 2. It is a figure which shows whether the brightness | luminance adjustment displayed on the monitor in FIG. 1 is automatic or manual. It is a figure which shows the brightness | luminance for a display displayed on the monitor in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the process of the display mode performed by step S400 of FIG. It is a figure which shows the 1st example of the setting screen of the monitor in FIG. It is a figure which shows the 2nd example of the setting screen of the monitor in FIG. It is a figure which shows the brightness | luminance setting screen of the display apparatus which concerns on a prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

102 Monitor 112 Photometric Sensor 201 Overall Control CPU
205 Shooting unit

Claims (4)

A display member capable of adjusting display brightness;
Brightness detecting means for detecting the ambient brightness of the display member;
Based on the detection information of the brightness detection means, an automatic adjustment mode for automatically adjusting the display brightness of the display member, and a manual setting mode for manually setting the display brightness of the display member,
When changing from the automatic adjustment mode to the manual setting mode, as the first manual setting value of the display luminance set in the manual setting mode, the last setting value of the display luminance set in the automatic adjustment mode Substitution means for substituting
A display device comprising: Setting menu display means for displaying the last set value assigned by the assigning means;
Changing means for changing the last setting value displayed on the setting menu display means to the manual setting value;
The display device according to claim 1, further comprising:   The display device according to claim 2, further comprising a confirmation unit configured to confirm the manual setting value in the manual setting mode.   The display device according to claim 3, wherein the display member displays the current ambient brightness in the vicinity of the manual setting value in the manual setting mode.