JP2010097584A - Image pickup apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem wherein it is troublesome to input characters located apart from each other by operating a dial operation part of an image pick up apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: When a display mode switching means sets a character input screen display mode, a display control means displays a part of first or second character sequence composed of a plurality of input character candidates arranged in matrix, on a character sequence display field 31 of a liquid crystal monitor 5. When a rotary dial 6 is operated, the character candidates arranged in a row direction are shifted in the right or left direction corresponding to the direction A or B. When a cursor-up button 11 or a cursor-down button 12 is operated, the character candidate to be selected is shifted in a vertical row direction, which is different from the horizontal row direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention provides a display means for displaying a photographed image, a rotation operation means for selecting a desired item in accordance with the rotation operation, and a plurality of buttons or a plurality of directions to which a predetermined function is given in advance. The present invention relates to a photographing apparatus having a direction operation means.

  Conventionally, as such an imaging device, for example, it is disclosed in Patent Document 1 in which a desired character can be selected from a character group of input character candidates displayed on an image display device by a rotating operation of a rotary dial. There is an electronic camera. In this electronic camera, according to the rotation operation of the rotary dial, characters that are input candidates are sequentially selected from characters displayed in a circular pattern on the peripheral portion of the image display device. When the determination button is operated in a state where a desired character is selected by the rotation operation of the rotary dial, the selected character is input. Characters input in this way are displayed at the center of the screen of the image display device.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 discloses an imaging device having an annular jog dial and a cross key. In this photographing apparatus, an input target character displayed on the display means is changed from a capital letter (A, B, C,...) To a small letter (a, b, c,. 2, 3,... → symbol (−, +, @,...) →. Further, each time the selection type key or the up / down operation unit of the cross key is operated, the first character (A, a, 1,-) of various uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols is sequentially switched and displayed. . In this way, by using a jog dial and a selection type key together, a desired character is efficiently selected from characters belonging to various types such as alphabets and numbers and displayed on the display means, and then a character is input. It can be carried out.
JP 2001-186398 A (paragraphs [0014] to [0016]) JP 2007-82135 A (paragraphs [0024] to [0033])

  However, in the conventional electronic camera disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example, when the character “a” is selected in a state where the character “A” is selected, the position is separated on the image display device. When a desired character is input, it is necessary to continue to rotate the rotary dial to some extent. Depending on the combination of characters to be input and the number of characters, it takes time to input characters.

  In addition, the conventional photographing apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2 uses a jog dial, a selection type key, and the like in combination with a character input using only the jog dial as in the electronic camera of Patent Document 1. Thus, it is possible to reduce the trouble of inputting characters. However, when only characters of the same type such as uppercase letters of the alphabet are input, the selection type key or the like cannot be used. In this case, it is necessary to perform an operation using only the jog dial. For this reason, for example, when the upper case letter “A” of the alphabet is selected and the upper case letter “M” of the alphabet is desired to be input, when desired characters of the same type that are arranged apart from each other are continuously input. In this case, the jog dial must be continuously rotated to some extent, and as with the electronic camera disclosed in Patent Document 1, it takes time to input characters.

The present invention has been made to solve such problems,
Display means for displaying captured images;
A rotation operation means for selecting a desired item according to the rotation operation from a plurality of preset items relating to shooting or captured image display;
In a photographing apparatus configured to include a plurality of buttons previously provided with a predetermined function relating to photographing or photographed image display,
Display mode switching means for switching to a captured image display mode for displaying a captured image on a display means or a character input screen display mode for displaying a character input screen;
When the display mode switching means is switched to the character input screen display mode, the display control means performs control to display a part of the character arrangement in which a plurality of input character candidates are arranged in a matrix on the display means,
When the rotation operation means is rotated while the character arrangement is displayed on the display means, a plurality of input character candidates arranged in a predetermined direction in the character arrangement are moved in a direction corresponding to the rotation operation direction. Has a function to send,
The plurality of buttons have a function of moving the input character candidate to be selected by moving in a direction different from the predetermined direction in the character array when operated when the character array is displayed on the display means. Features.

  According to this configuration, when the display mode switching unit switches to the character input screen display mode, a part of the character arrangement in which a plurality of input character candidates are arranged in a matrix is displayed on the display unit by the display control unit. . At this time, when the rotation operation means is rotated, a plurality of input character candidates arranged in a predetermined direction in the character array are sent in a direction corresponding to the rotation operation direction. When a plurality of buttons are operated, the input character candidate to be selected is sent in a direction different from the predetermined direction in the character arrangement. For this reason, by using the rotation operation means and the plurality of buttons when the character input screen is displayed, the character is fed in a predetermined direction and a direction different from the predetermined direction, and the character arrangement arranged in a matrix is performed. It becomes possible to quickly select a desired input character candidate from among them, and even when selecting an input character candidate arranged at a distant position in the character arrangement, it takes time and effort as in a conventional photographing apparatus. There is no end to it. Further, since only a part of the character arrangement is displayed on the display means, it is possible to prevent the display area of the display means from being occupied by input character candidates. For this reason, even in an imaging device having a display means with a narrow display area, it becomes possible to input characters using a character arrangement made up of a large number of input character candidates.

  The present invention also provides a first movement button having a function in which a plurality of buttons move the input character candidate in one direction in a direction different from the predetermined direction, and the input character candidate is opposite to the one direction. A second movement button having a function of moving in the other direction and feeding characters, a character type switching button having a function of switching the type of characters constituting the character arrangement, a rotation operation means, a first movement button, and a second An input character determination button having a function of determining an input character candidate selected by moving at least one of the movement buttons and selected as an input character, and an input determined as an input character by the input character determination button An input character deletion button having a function of deleting character candidates is included.

  According to this configuration, when the first movement button or the second movement button is operated while the character arrangement is displayed on the display means by the display control means, the input character candidate to be selected is the rotation operation means. Move in one direction or the other direction different from the predetermined direction. Further, when the character type switching button is operated, the character types constituting the character array displayed on the display unit are switched by the display control unit. In addition, when the input character determination button is operated, the input character candidate selected by being sent by using at least one of the rotation operation means, the first movement button, and the second movement button is selected as the input character. As determined. When the input character deletion button is operated, the input character candidate determined as the input character by the operation of the input character determination button is deleted. For this reason, by using these buttons together with the rotation operation means, it is possible to easily and quickly perform character editing operations such as selection, input and deletion of desired input character candidates.

  In the present invention, the rotation operation means and at least the first movement button and the second movement button of the plurality of buttons are provided on the right side of the display means and the other is provided on the left side of the display means. It is characterized by being.

  According to this configuration, when the imaging device is held with both hands while the display means is visually recognized, the first movement button and the second movement are operated with the other hand while operating the rotation operation means with one hand. The button can be operated. For this reason, it becomes possible to efficiently select a desired input character candidate using both hands.

  In addition, the present invention is characterized by comprising a number-of-feeds setting means for setting the number of characters to be moved by the first movement button or the second movement button to an arbitrary number of characters.

  According to this configuration, when the first movement button or the second movement button is operated, the number of characters of the input character candidate to be moved in one direction or the other direction is set to an arbitrary number of characters by the character number setting means. Can be set. For this reason, by setting the number of characters to be moved by the operation of the first movement button or the second movement button according to the number of input character candidates constituting the character arrangement, the first movement button or It becomes possible to adjust the work efficiency when selecting an input character candidate using the second movement button.

The present invention also provides:
Display means for displaying captured images;
A rotation operation means for selecting a desired item according to the rotation operation from a plurality of preset items relating to shooting or captured image display;
Direction operation means provided concentrically with this rotation operation means and having directionality of operation in a plurality of directions radiating from the center of the concentric circles;
Display mode switching means for switching to a captured image display mode for displaying a captured image on a display means or a character input screen display mode for displaying a character input screen;
When the display mode switching means is switched to the character input screen display mode, the display control means performs control to display a part of the character arrangement in which a plurality of input character candidates are arranged in a matrix on the display means,
When the rotation operation means is rotated while the character arrangement is displayed on the display means, a plurality of input character candidates arranged in a predetermined direction in the character arrangement are moved in a direction corresponding to the rotation operation direction. Has a function to send,
When the character arrangement is operated in the first direction while the character arrangement is displayed on the display means, the input character candidate to be selected is moved in a direction different from the predetermined direction in the character arrangement to feed the character. Has function,
An input character determination button having a function of determining, as an input character, an input character candidate selected by being rotated using the rotation operation means or the direction operation means is provided concentrically with the rotation operation means and the direction operation means. It is characterized by that.

  According to this configuration, when the display mode switching unit switches to the character input screen display mode, a part of the character arrangement in which a plurality of input character candidates are arranged in a matrix is displayed on the display unit by the display control unit. . At this time, when the rotation operation means is rotated, a plurality of input character candidates arranged in a predetermined direction in the character array are sent in a direction corresponding to the rotation operation direction. When the direction operation means is operated in the first direction, the input character candidate to be selected is sent in a direction different from the predetermined direction in the character arrangement. When the input character determination button is operated, the input character candidate selected by the rotation operation on the rotation operation means or the operation in the first direction on the direction operation means is determined as the input character. For this reason, by using the rotation operation means and the direction operation means when the character input screen is displayed, the character is fed in a direction different from the predetermined direction and the predetermined direction, and the character arrangement arranged in a matrix is performed. It becomes possible to quickly select a desired input character candidate from among them, and even when selecting an input character candidate arranged at a distant position in the character arrangement, it takes time and effort as in a conventional photographing apparatus. There is no end to it. Also in this configuration, since only a part of the character arrangement is displayed on the display means, it is possible to prevent the display area of the display means from being occupied by input character candidates. For this reason, even in an imaging device having a display means with a narrow display area, it becomes possible to input characters using a character arrangement made up of a large number of input character candidates.

  In addition, the present invention is characterized by comprising a number-of-feeds setting unit for setting the number of characters to be moved by the direction operation unit to an arbitrary number of characters.

  According to this configuration, the number of characters of the input character candidate to be moved when the direction operation unit is operated can be set to an arbitrary number of characters by the character number setting unit. For this reason, when selecting the input character candidate using the direction operation means by setting the number of characters to be fed by the operation of the direction operation means in accordance with the number of input character candidates constituting the character array. It becomes possible to adjust work efficiency.

The present invention also provides:
The display control means displays the input character determined by operating the input character determination button at the cursor position in the input character display area on the character input screen,
When the direction operation means is operated in a second direction different from the first direction when an input character is displayed in the input character display area, it is displayed in the input character display area according to the operation direction. Has the function to select the editing position by moving the cursor position,
When the edit position is selected by the direction operation means when the input character determination button is selected, the input character candidate selected by the rotation operation means or the direction operation means is selected as the edit character at the edit position. It has the function to perform.

  According to this configuration, when the input character determined by operating the input character determination button is displayed at the cursor position in the input character display area by the display control unit, the direction operation unit is operated in the second direction. Then, the cursor position in the input character display area moves according to the operation direction, and the edit position is selected. When an input character candidate is selected by the rotation operation on the rotation operation means or the operation in the first direction on the direction operation means with the edit position selected, the input at the edit position is performed when the input character determination button is operated. The character is edited based on the selected input character candidate. For this reason, an operation for moving the input character candidate to be selected from the character array and an editing operation for the input character displayed at a desired position in the input character display area are arranged in a concentric manner. The operation means and the input character determination button can be operated, and the character input operation and the character edit operation can be performed easily and smoothly with one hand.

The present invention also provides:
The display control means displays the input character determined by operating the input character determination button at the cursor position in the input character display area of the display means,
When the direction operation means is operated in a second direction different from the first direction when an input character is displayed in the input character display area, it is displayed in the input character display area according to the operation direction. Has the function to select the editing position by moving the cursor position,
The input character determination button has a function to delete the input character at the edit position when the edit position is selected by the direction operation means and is operated with a different operation time than when the input character is determined. It is characterized by.

  According to this configuration, when the input character determined by operating the input character determination button is displayed at the cursor position in the input character display area by the display control unit, the direction operation unit is operated in the second direction. Then, the cursor position in the input character display area moves according to the operation direction, and the edit position is selected. If the input character determination button is operated with the operation time different from that when the input character is determined while the edit position is selected, the input character at the edit position is deleted. Therefore, a rotation operation means provided concentrically for performing an operation of feeding an input character candidate to be selected from the character array and an operation of deleting an input character displayed at a desired position in the input character display area, It becomes possible to perform operations by operating the direction operation means and the input character determination button, and the character input operation and the character deletion operation can be easily and smoothly performed with one hand.

  Further, the present invention provides a first character that circulates and feeds input character candidates in a predetermined range of the character type to be input in a predetermined direction in the character arrangement in a direction corresponding to the rotation operation direction of the rotation operation means. Second character feed in which the input character candidates in the entire range of the feed mode or the type of characters to be inputted are circulated in a predetermined direction in the character arrangement in a direction corresponding to the rotation operation direction of the rotation operation means. Characteristic feed mode switching means for switching to a mode is provided.

  According to this configuration, when the rotation operation means is rotated when the character advance mode switching means is switched to the first character advance mode, the input character candidates in the predetermined range of the character type to be input are In a predetermined direction in the character arrangement, the characters are circulated and fed in a direction corresponding to the rotation operation direction of the rotation operation means. Further, when the rotation operation means is rotated when the character advance mode switching means is switched to the second character advance mode, the input character candidates in the entire range of the type of characters to be input are determined in the character arrangement. In the direction, the character is circulated in the direction corresponding to the rotation operation direction of the rotation operation means.

  Further, according to the present invention, the display control means predetermines a predetermined number of input character candidates for each array to be displayed side by side in a direction parallel to a predetermined direction in a character array arranged in a matrix to be displayed on the display means. Control is performed by shifting the display in order.

  According to this configuration, the input character candidates of each array displayed side by side in the direction parallel to the predetermined direction in the character array are displayed in a state of being sequentially shifted in the predetermined direction by the predetermined number of characters by the display control means. For this reason, compared with the case where the input character candidates are displayed without being shifted, the input character candidates in a wider range are simultaneously displayed on the display means. Therefore, a desired input character candidate placed at a distant position in the character array is fed by an operation on a button for feeding a character in a direction different from a predetermined direction, and is circulated by an operation on a rotation operation means. You can select quickly without having to.

  According to the photographing apparatus of the present invention, as described above, by using the rotation operation means and the plurality of buttons or the direction operation means, the character is fed in a predetermined direction and a direction different from the predetermined direction, and arranged in a matrix form. Thus, it is possible to quickly select a desired input character candidate from the arranged character arrangement, and even when selecting an input character candidate arranged at a distant position in the character arrangement, It will not take time and effort. In addition, since only a part of the character arrangement is displayed on the display means, it is possible to input characters using a character arrangement composed of a large number of input character candidates even in an imaging apparatus having a display means with a narrow display area. become.

  Next, the best mode for carrying out the photographing apparatus according to the present invention will be described when the present invention is applied to a digital camera.

  FIG. 1 is a rear view showing an appearance of the digital camera 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  An optical viewfinder 2 for visually recognizing a subject to be photographed is provided at the upper center of the back of the main body of the digital camera 1. A hot shoe 3 for attaching a flash device is provided in the penta 1A above the optical finder 2. A command dial 4 is provided on the right side of the optical viewfinder 2 for setting a shooting mode and an exposure mode. A liquid crystal monitor 5 is provided below the optical viewfinder 2. The liquid crystal monitor 5 constitutes display means for displaying various information relating to photographing and photographed images.

  A rotation dial 6 formed in an annular shape is provided on the right side of the liquid crystal monitor 5, and a determination that is operated when a predetermined item selected by a rotation operation of the rotation dial 6 or the like is determined on the inner side thereof. A button 7 is provided. Also, below the rotary dial 6, a delete button 8 that is operated when the photographed image data is deleted is provided. The rotary dial 6 constitutes a rotary operation means for selecting a desired item in accordance with a user's rotary operation from a plurality of preset items related to shooting or captured image display, for example, various setting items on the menu screen. ing. In the present embodiment, when the rotary dial 6 is rotated while the character arrangement is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 5 in a character input mode to be described later, a plurality of dials arranged in a predetermined direction (left-right direction) in the character arrangement. It has a function of moving the input character candidate by moving it in the direction corresponding to the rotation operation direction.

  Further, on the left side of the liquid crystal monitor 5, the menu button 9 that is operated when displaying the menu screen for performing various settings of the digital camera 1 and the shooting information are displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 5 in order from the top. An information display button 10, a reduction / thumbnail button 11 that is operated when the captured image to be displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 5 is reduced or displayed, and an enlargement button 12 that is operated when the captured image is enlarged. It has been.

  Each of the above buttons 7 to 12 constitutes a plurality of buttons to which a predetermined function relating to shooting or captured image display is given in advance.

  In the present embodiment, the buttons 7 to 12 function as the following buttons when operated when a character arrangement is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 5 in a character input mode described later. That is, the menu button 9 functions as the character input mode end button 9 for ending the character input mode. Further, the information display button 10 functions as a character type switching button 10 for switching the type of characters constituting the character arrangement displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 5. The reduction / thumbnail button 11 and the enlargement button 12 have a function of moving the input character candidate to be selected by moving it in a direction (vertical direction) different from a predetermined direction (horizontal direction) in the character arrangement. That is, the reduction / thumbnail button 11 becomes a cursor up button 11, and the input character candidate is moved in one direction (upward direction) in a direction (vertical direction) different from a predetermined direction (left-right direction) in the character arrangement. Functions as a first movement button. The enlarge button 12 is a cursor down button 12 and functions as a second movement button for moving the input character candidate in the other direction (downward) opposite to the one direction. The enter button 7 is an input character that determines an input character candidate selected by feeding at least one of the rotary dial 6, the cursor up button 11 and the cursor down button 12 as an input character. It functions as the decision button 7. The delete button 8 functions as the input character deletion button 8 for deleting the input character candidate determined as the input character by the input character determination button 7.

  As shown in the figure, the rotary dial 6, the cursor up button 11 and the cursor down button 12 are provided with one rotary dial 6 on the right side of the liquid crystal monitor 5 and the other cursor up button 11. The cursor down button 12 is provided on the left side of the liquid crystal monitor.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of the internal configuration of the digital camera 1.

  The non-volatile memory 13 stores a control program when a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 14 performs various processes. The CPU 14 uses the buffer memory 15 as a temporary storage work area and performs various programs according to the control program. Take control.

  The light guided through the optical lens 16 provided in front of the digital camera 1 projects a subject image on the light receiving surface 17 a of the image sensor 17. When a shutter button (not shown) is pressed halfway, the CPU 14 activates the autofocus function, moves the position of the optical lens 16 in the direction indicated by the arrow in the figure, and is projected onto the light receiving surface 17 a of the image sensor 17. Automatically adjust the focus of the subject image. The image sensor 17 is composed of a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor), or the like. The subject image formed on the light receiving surface 17 a of the image sensor 17 is converted into an analog image signal, and this image signal is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 18. The image processing unit 19 captures an imaging signal converted into a digital signal via the bus 20 and performs image processing such as white balance processing, gamma correction, and compression processing to generate image data of the captured image.

  The image data generated by the image processing unit 19 is temporarily stored in the buffer memory 15 via the bus 20 by the CPU 14 and is also detachably attached to a card slot (not shown) via the recording / reproducing unit 21. Recorded on the card 22. The recording / playback unit 21 records the image data on the memory card 22 and reads the image data recorded on the memory card 22 based on the control of the CPU 14. The CPU 14 reproduces and displays the captured image on the liquid crystal monitor 5 based on the image data read from the memory card 22 by the recording / reproducing unit 21. The operation unit 23 includes the dials 4 and 6 and various buttons 7 to 12 described above, and is connected to the bus 20.

  The CPU 14 follows the control program stored in the non-volatile memory 13 and, according to the menu item selection operation on the menu screen, the captured image display mode for displaying the captured image on the liquid crystal monitor 5 or the character input for displaying the character input screen. Display mode switching means for switching to the screen display mode is configured. Further, when the CPU 14 is switched to the character input screen display mode by the display mode switching means, the CPU 14 controls the liquid crystal monitor 5 to display a part of the character arrangement in which a plurality of input character candidates are arranged in a matrix of rows and columns. The display control means which performs is comprised. The CPU 14 constitutes a character feed number setting means for setting the number of characters to be fed in the column direction by the cursor up button 11 or the cursor down button 12 to an arbitrary number of characters. In addition, the CPU 14 selects input character candidates in a predetermined range of the type of characters to be input, for example, “A line” to “Wa line” in the hiragana sequence of hiragana characters in the line direction in the character arrangement. The first character feed mode in which the character is circulated in the left or right direction according to the rotation operation direction of the rotary dial 6 or the entire range of the type of characters to be input, for example, hiragana A character feed mode switching means for switching to a second character feed mode in which the input character candidates in the entire range are circulated in the left or right direction according to the rotation operation direction of the rotary dial 6 in the row direction in the character arrangement. It is composed.

  FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged rear view showing the character input screen displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 5 when the display mode switching means switches to the character input screen display mode. In the figure, the same parts as those in FIG.

  In the character input screen display mode, a character arrangement display field 31 is displayed at the lower right part of the character input screen, and an input determination character display field 33 and a selected character display field 34 are displayed at the upper left part.

  In the character arrangement display column 31, a part of the character arrangement in which a plurality of input character candidates are arranged in a matrix is displayed by the display control means. Further, the character determined as the input character by the input character determination button 7 is displayed in the input determined character display field 33. In the selected character display field 34, the input character candidate being selected which is not determined as the input character and is represented by the character advance cursor 32 of the character arrangement display field 31 is displayed. Below the characters displayed in the selected character display field 34, a selected character cursor 35 indicating that the selected input character candidate is displayed. In the character input screen shown in the figure, hiragana “shi”, “n”, “sa” are displayed as input characters already determined in the input determination character display field 33, and hiragana “ku” is being selected. Is displayed in the selected character display field 34 as a character.

  The selected character cursor 35 can be moved to the left-side input decision character display field 33 by operating the rotary dial 6 while operating the cursor up button 11 or the cursor down button 12. By operating the input character deletion button 7 in a state where the selected character cursor 35 is moved to the input determined character display field 33, the input character candidate already determined as the input character is deleted.

  In the present embodiment, the character arrangement displayed in the character arrangement display column 31 is composed of uppercase letters (AZ) and lowercase letters (az), numerals (0-9), and symbols (# etc.) in FIG. The first character arrangement shown in (a) and (b) and the second character arrangement shown in FIGS. 4 (c), (d) and (e) made up of hiragana are prepared in advance. Are switched by the operation of the character type switching button 10 described above and displayed in the character array display column 31. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the character arrangement display column 31 shown in FIG.

  The first character arrangement is as shown in Fig. 2 (a) and (b). The uppercase alphabet is on the first line, the lowercase alphabet is on the second line, the number is on the third line, and the symbol is on the fourth line. In the character arrangement display field 31, a total of 20 characters of 4 rows and 5 columns are displayed simultaneously.

  The second character arrangement is the same when the number of characters in the column direction by the character number setting means is set to five characters corresponding to one line each of “A line” to “Wa line”. As shown in FIGS. 3C and 3D, the first row to the tenth row of the character array are arranged so that each row of “A” to “W” corresponds to one row. In addition, when the number of characters for the character feed in the column direction by the character feed number setting means is set to 10 characters corresponding to two lines "A line" to "Wa line", it is shown in FIG. Thus, “A line” and “Ka line” in the first line, “Sa line” and “Ta line” in the second line, “Na line” and “Ha line” in the third line, “ “Ma line” and “Ya line”, and “La line” and “Wa line” are arranged corresponding to two lines on the fifth line. The character arrangement display field 31 displays a total of nine characters in three rows and three columns at the same time, regardless of the number of characters to be fed by the character feed number setting means. Note that “ya line” consists of three characters “ya”, “yu” and “yo”, and “wa line” consists of three characters “wa”, “wo” and “n”.

  Further, the examples shown in FIGS. 7C to 7E show a state where the first character feeding mode is switched by the character feeding mode switching means, and the character feeding by the rotation operation of the rotary dial 6 In the row direction of the array, it circulates in the input character candidates in the range of one line from “A” to “W” (FIGS. (B) and (c)) or the range of two rows ((E) in FIG.). Done. For example, when the rotary dial 6 continues to be rotated in the direction A shown in FIG. 3 in the second character arrangement shown in FIGS. In the second line “ka line”, the character continues to be circulated and “kakikukukakokukeko…” continues to be circulated. Note that only the hiragana of the line selected by the character advance cursor 32 described later may be continuously circulated.

  Further, in a state (not shown) that is switched to the second character feeding mode by the character feeding mode switching means, the character feeding by the rotation operation of the rotary dial 6 is performed for all hiragana characters in the 50-sound in the row direction of the second character arrangement. Is carried out in a cycle. Note that the character feed by the rotation operation of the rotary dial 6 for the first character arrangement is circulated among the input character candidates in the entire range of alphabets, numbers, and symbols regardless of switching of the character feed mode switching means. Done.

  A rectangular character feed cursor 32 surrounding the character is displayed around the character selected by the operation of the rotary dial 6, the cursor up button 11 or the cursor down button 12. The character advance cursor 32 moves in the row direction or the column direction on the character array in accordance with the operation of the rotary dial 6, the cursor up feed button 11 or the cursor down feed button 12, and one input character currently selected. Indicates a candidate.

  In the present embodiment, the rotary dial 6 is turned clockwise (A shown in FIG. 3) even when either the first character array or the second character array is displayed in the character array display field 31. Direction) or counterclockwise (direction B shown in the figure), when the character is rotated by one character, the character advance cursor 32 is in a state indicating the input character candidate positioned right or left by one character. The arrangement moves in the right or left line direction, and the character advance cursor 32 itself does not move at the center position in the line direction of the character arrangement display column 31. In the first character arrangement, the alphabetic characters in the first and second lines move in the left and right line directions as a set, and the numbers in the third line and the symbols in the fourth line are independently in the left and right line directions. To move to.

  Further, when the first character arrangement is displayed in the character arrangement display column 31, when the cursor up button 11 or the cursor down button 12 is operated once, the character cursor 32 itself is moved up or down. Moves by one line in the column direction, and the first character array itself does not move. On the other hand, when the second character arrangement is displayed in the character arrangement display field 31, when the cursor up button 11 or the cursor down button 12 is operated once, the character cursor 32 is moved up by one line. Alternatively, the second character array moves in the upper or lower column direction so that the input character candidate positioned below is displayed, and the character advance cursor 32 itself is the center of the character array display column 31 in the column direction. Does not move in position.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 5A, the first character arrangement is displayed in the character arrangement display column 31 and the upper case cursor button 11 is operated once from the state where the lowercase letter “d” of the alphabet is selected. Then, the character advance cursor 32 moves upward by one line, and then, when the rotary dial 6 is rotated by three characters in the A direction, the first character arrangement of the first and second alphabets is changed. Move three characters to the left in the set. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6B, the character advance cursor 32 is in a state indicating the capital letter “G”, and the capital letter “G” is selected as a new input character candidate. Further, as shown in FIG. 5C, when the second character arrangement is displayed in the character arrangement display column 31 and the hiragana “ku” is selected, the cursor down button 12 is operated three times. When the second character array is moved upward by three lines, and then the rotary dial 6 is rotated by two characters in the B direction, the second character array is moved by two columns in the right direction. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6D, the character advance cursor 32 is in a state of “NA”, and “NA” is selected as a new input character candidate.

  As described above, when the first character array is displayed in the character array display column 31, the character advance cursor 32 is only in the upper and lower column directions at the center in the left and right row directions in the character array display column 31. Moving. On the other hand, when the second character arrangement is displayed in the character arrangement display column 31, the character advance cursor 32 is always located at the center in the left and right row directions and the upper and lower column directions, and only the second character arrangement is displayed. Move.

  According to the digital camera 1 according to the present embodiment, as described above, when the display mode switching unit switches to the character input screen display mode, the first character in which a plurality of input character candidates are arranged in a matrix. A part of the arrangement or the second character arrangement is displayed in the character arrangement display column 31 of the liquid crystal monitor 5 by the display control means. At this time, when the rotary dial 6 is rotated, a plurality of input character candidates arranged in the line direction in the character array are moved in the right or left line direction according to the rotation operation direction (A direction or B direction). Is done. When the cursor up button 11 or the cursor down button 12 is operated, the input character candidate to be selected is sent in a direction different from the left and right line directions in the character arrangement, that is, the up or down column direction. . For this reason, by using the rotary dial 6 and the buttons 10 and 11 when the character input screen is displayed, the character is fed in the left and right row directions and the upper and lower column directions to form a matrix of rows and columns. It is possible to quickly select a desired input character candidate from the arranged character arrangement, and even when selecting an input character candidate arranged at a distant position in the character arrangement, the conventional photographing apparatus It does not take time and effort. Further, the LCD monitor 5 has only a part of the character arrangement such as 20 characters (see FIGS. 4A and 4B) or 9 characters (see FIGS. 4C, 4D, and 4E) as characters. Since it is displayed in the array display column 31, it is possible to prevent the display area of the liquid crystal monitor 5 from being occupied by input character candidates. For this reason, even in a photographing apparatus equipped with the liquid crystal monitor 5 with a narrow display area, it becomes possible to input characters using a character arrangement composed of a large number of input character candidates.

  In the present embodiment, when the cursor up button 11 or the cursor down button 12 is operated while the character arrangement is displayed in the character arrangement display column 31 of the liquid crystal monitor 5 by the display control means, the selection is made. The input character candidate moves in the upper or lower column direction, which is different from the left and right row directions fed by the rotary dial 6. When the character type switching button 10 is operated, the character types constituting the character arrangement displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 5 are switched by the display control means. When the enter button 7 is operated, the input character candidate selected by moving at least one of the rotary dial 6, the cursor up button 11 and the cursor down button 12 is selected as an input character. It is determined. When the input character deletion button 7 is operated, the input character candidates determined as input characters by the operation of the determination button 7 are deleted. For this reason, by using these buttons 7 to 12 together with the rotary dial 6, it is possible to easily and quickly perform character editing operations such as selection, input and deletion of desired input character candidates.

  In this embodiment, when holding the digital camera 1 with both hands while the liquid crystal monitor 5 is visible, the cursor up button 11 and the cursor down button 12 are operated with the left hand while operating the rotary dial 6 with the right hand. Can be operated. For this reason, it becomes possible to efficiently select a desired input character candidate using both hands.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the number of characters of the input character candidate to be moved up or down when the cursor up button 11 or the cursor down button 12 is operated is arbitrarily set by the character number setting means. The number of characters, for example, 5 characters or 10 characters can be set. Therefore, by setting the number of characters to be moved by operating the cursor up button 11 or the cursor down button 12 according to the number of input character candidates constituting the character arrangement, the cursor up button 11 or It becomes possible to adjust the work efficiency when selecting an input character candidate using the cursor down button 12.

  In the present embodiment, when the rotary dial 6 is rotated when the character advance mode switching means is switched to the first character advance mode, the input character candidates in the predetermined range of the hiragana character sequence are In the row direction in the array, the characters are circulated and fed in a direction corresponding to the rotational operation direction (A or B) of the rotary dial 6. Further, when the rotary dial 6 is rotated when the character advance mode switching means is switched to the second character advance mode, the input character candidates in the entire range of the hiragana character arrangement in the line direction in the character arrangement are The characters are circulated and fed in a direction corresponding to the rotational operation direction of the rotary dial 6.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  The hardware configuration of the imaging system in the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment except that the configuration of the operation unit 23 provided on the right side of the liquid crystal monitor 5 and the functions assigned to the reduction / thumbnail button 11 and the enlargement button 12 are different. It has the same configuration as the form.

  FIG. 5 is a rear view showing the appearance of the digital camera 41 according to the present embodiment. In the figure, the same or corresponding parts as in FIG.

  On the right side of the liquid crystal monitor 5 on the back of the main body of the digital camera 41 according to the present embodiment, a rotary dial 42 having a plurality of protrusions 42a on the surface and formed in an annular shape is provided. Inside the rotary dial 42, a four-direction operation portion 43 formed in an annular shape that is operated in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction is provided concentrically with the rotary dial 42. Further, inside the four-direction operation unit 43, it is operated when determining items to be displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 5 which are selected by the rotation operation of the rotary dial 42 or the four-way operation unit 43 in the vertical and horizontal directions. The determination button 7 is provided concentrically with the rotary dial 42 and the four-direction operation unit 43.

  In this embodiment, the reduction / thumbnail button 11 and the enlargement button 12 provided on the left side of the liquid crystal monitor 5 are different from the first embodiment in that the input character candidate to be selected is selected in a predetermined direction (left-right direction) in the character arrangement. ) Does not have the above-described function of moving in a different direction (vertical direction). The reduction / thumbnail button 11 has only a reduction function and thumbnail display function of a captured image displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 5, and the enlargement button 12 has only an expansion display function of the captured image.

  6 is a partially enlarged rear view showing the character input screen displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 5 when the character input screen display mode is switched by the display mode switching means of the digital camera 41 shown in FIG. In the figure, the same or corresponding parts as those in FIGS. 3 and 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  Also in the present embodiment, when the display mode switching means switches to the character input screen display mode, the first character array or a part of the second character array in which a plurality of input character candidates are arranged in a matrix form is displayed. It is displayed in the character arrangement display column 31 of the liquid crystal monitor 5 by means. At this time, when the rotary dial 42 is rotated, a plurality of input character candidates arranged in the line direction in the character array are moved in the right or left line direction according to the rotation operation direction (A direction or B direction). Is done. Further, when the four-direction operation unit 43 is operated in the up / down direction which is the first direction, the input character candidate to be selected is a character in a direction different from the left / right row direction in the character arrangement, that is, in the upper or lower column direction. Sent. When the determination button 7 is operated, the input character candidate selected by the rotation operation on the rotary dial 42 or the vertical operation on the four-direction operation unit 43 is determined as the input character.

  Also by such character input, input character candidates are selected as shown in FIG. 4 as in the first embodiment. For example, when the character type switching button 10 is operated and the first character arrangement shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B is displayed in the character arrangement display field 31, the character advance cursor 32 is moved to the rotary dial 42. Is moved in the row direction by the rotation operation for the four-way operation unit 43, and moved in the column direction by the operation in the up-and-down direction with respect to the four-direction operation unit 43, and the character input is performed. Selected. When the character type switching button 10 is operated and the second character arrangement shown in FIGS. 5C and 5D is displayed in the character arrangement display column 31, the character advance cursor 32 is moved to the rotary dial 42. The character is moved one line at a time in the row direction by the rotation operation, and five characters are moved in the column direction by the operation in the vertical direction on the four-direction operation unit 43, and the character is fed. Input character candidates are selected. Further, as shown in FIG. 5E, when the number of characters for character feed in the column direction is set to ten characters, the character feed cursor 32 is moved one character at a time in the row direction by the rotation operation on the rotary dial 42. In addition to moving, 10 characters are moved in the column direction by an operation in the vertical direction on the four-direction operation unit 43 to perform character feed, and a desired input character candidate is selected from hiragana of 50 sounds.

  In the present embodiment, the selected character cursor 35 is moved between the input determined character display column 33 and the selected character display column 34 by operating the four-direction operation unit 43 in the left-right direction as the second direction. It can be moved to a position. The input confirmed character displayed in the input determined character display field 33 is edited while the four-direction operation unit 43 is operated in the left-right direction and the selected character cursor 35 is moved to a desired editing position.

  For example, when a character is inserted or overwritten in the middle of the input confirmed character displayed in the input determined character display field 33, first, the selected character cursor 35 is selected by operating the direction operation unit 43 in the left-right direction. Move to the editing position. In this state, when the rotary dial 42 is rotated in the A direction or the B direction, or the direction operation unit 43 is operated in the up and down direction, the character cursor 32 in the character arrangement display field 31 is moved, and a new character at the editing position is moved. An input character candidate is selected. When the enter button 7 is operated in a state where a new input character candidate is selected, in the insertion mode, on the left side of the input confirmed character at the edit position of the input determined character display field 33 where the selected character cursor 35 is located. The selected new input character candidate is inserted. In the overwrite mode, the input confirmed character at the edit position in the input determined character display field 33 where the selected character cursor 35 is positioned is replaced with the selected new input character candidate.

  When deleting the input confirmation character displayed in the input determination character display field 33, first, the direction operation unit 43 is operated in the left-right direction to move the selected character cursor 35 to the position of the input confirmation character to be deleted. Move. In this state, when the delete button 8 is operated or when the enter button 7 is pressed for a long time, the input confirmed character at the edit position in the input determined character display field 33 where the selected character cursor 35 is located is deleted. .

  As with the first embodiment, the rotary dial 42 constitutes a rotary operation means for selecting a desired item from a plurality of preset items related to shooting or captured image display according to the rotary operation. When a rotation operation is performed while the arrangement display column 31 is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 5, a plurality of input character candidates arranged in a predetermined direction, that is, in the left-right direction in the character arrangement of the character arrangement display column 31 are displayed in accordance with the rotation operation direction. It has the function of moving in the selected direction and feeding characters. The four-direction operation unit 43 constitutes direction operation means having operation directions in four directions, up, down, left, and right radiating from the center of the concentric circles, and when the character arrangement display column 31 is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 5, When operated in the direction, the input character candidate to be selected is moved in the vertical direction different from the predetermined direction in the character arrangement of the character arrangement display field 31 and is fed. The decision button 7 constitutes an input character decision button having a function of deciding an input character candidate that is selected by being sent by using the rotary dial 42 or the four-direction operation unit 43 as an input character.

  In this embodiment, the CPU 14 constituting the display control means converts the input character determined by the operation of the determination button 7 into the input character display area on the character input screen, that is, the input determined character display field 33 or the selected character display field 34. Is displayed at the position of the selected character cursor 35. In addition, when the input character is displayed in the input determined character display field 33 and the four-direction operation unit 43 is operated in the left-right direction, the input determined character display field 33 or the selected character display is displayed according to the operation direction. It has a function of selecting the editing position by moving the position of the selected character cursor 35 displayed in the column 34. In addition, when the edit position is selected by the four-direction operation unit 43, the enter button 7 is used to select the input character candidate that is selected by sending the character using the rotary dial 42 or the four-direction operation unit 43. When the editing position is selected by the four-direction operation unit 43 and the input position is determined and the operation time is different from that when the input character is determined, the editing position of the editing position is determined. It has a function to delete input characters.

  According to the digital camera 1 according to the second embodiment, as described above, the character arrangement display field 31 is obtained by using the rotary dial 42 and the four-direction operation unit 43 when the character input screen is displayed. In the character arrangement, the character is fed in the left and right row directions and the upper and lower column directions, and it becomes possible to quickly select a desired input character candidate from the character arrangement arranged in a matrix of rows and columns. Even when the input character candidate arranged at a distant position in the character arrangement is selected, it does not take time and effort as in the conventional photographing apparatus. Also in the present embodiment, the LCD monitor 5 has a character arrangement such as 20 characters (see FIGS. 4A and 4B) or 9 characters (see FIGS. 4C, 4D, and 4E). Is displayed in the character arrangement display field 31, it is possible to prevent the display area of the liquid crystal monitor 5 from being occupied by input character candidates. For this reason, even in the digital camera 41 having the liquid crystal monitor 5 with a narrow display area, it becomes possible to input characters using a character arrangement composed of a large number of input character candidates.

  Also in this embodiment, when the four-direction operation unit 43 is operated, the number of characters of the input character candidate to be moved up or down is set to an arbitrary number of characters, for example, five characters by the number-of-feeds setting unit. Or 10 characters. For this reason, by setting the number of characters to be moved by the operation of the four-direction operation unit 43 according to the number of input character candidates constituting the character array, the input character candidates are selected using the four-direction operation unit 43. It becomes possible to adjust the work efficiency at the time of selection.

  Further, in the present embodiment, when the input character determined by the operation of the determination button 7 is displayed at the position of the selected character cursor 35 in the input determined character display field 33 or the selected character display field 34 by the display control means, When the four-direction operation unit 43 is operated in the left-right direction, the position of the selected character cursor 35 moves according to the operation direction, and the editing position is selected. When an input character candidate is selected by a rotation operation on the rotary dial 42 or an up / down operation on the four-direction operation unit 43 in a state where the edit position is selected, and an operation on the enter button 7 is performed, On the other hand, editing such as overwriting or insertion of characters based on the selected input character candidate is performed. For this reason, the operation for moving the input character candidate to be selected from the character array and the editing operation for the input character displayed at the desired position in the input determined character display field 33 or the selected character display field 34 are concentrically formed. It is possible to perform operations by operating the rotary dial 42, the four-direction operation unit 43, and the determination button 7 provided, and character input work and character edit work can be performed easily and smoothly with one hand.

  Further, in the present embodiment, when the input character determined by the operation of the determination button 7 is displayed at the position of the selected character cursor 35 in the input determined character display field 33 or the selected character display field 34 by the display control means, When the four-direction operation unit 43 is operated in the left-right direction, the position of the selected character cursor 35 moves according to the operation direction, and the editing position is selected. When the decision button 7 is operated for a long time with the operation time being different from that when the input character is decided with the edit position selected, the input character at the edit position is deleted. For this reason, the operation of moving the input character candidate selected from the character array and the operation of deleting the input character displayed at the desired position in the input determined character display field 33 or the selected character display field 34 are concentric. It is possible to perform operations by operating the rotary dial 42, the four-direction operation unit 43, and the enter button 7 provided on the screen, and the character input operation and the character deletion operation can be performed easily and smoothly with one hand.

  In each of the above embodiments, the display control means displays the input character candidates of each array to be displayed side by side in the direction parallel to the line direction in the second character array, each of “A line” to “Wa line”. A case has been described in which control is performed with a row (refer to FIGS. 4C and 4D) or two rows (refer to FIG. 4E) in which the rows are aligned in the column direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the display control means displays the input character candidates of each array that are displayed side by side in the direction parallel to the row direction in the second character array by a predetermined number of characters. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which display is performed by sequentially shifting in the row direction. For example, in the first line of the second character array, all hiragana characters of the Japanese syllabary starting from “A line” are arranged, and in the second and subsequent lines, the beginning is shifted by 10 characters of two lines. All hiragana characters that begin with “row”, all hiragana characters that begin with “na line”, all hiragana characters that begin with “ma line”, and 50 characters that begin with “ra line” You may display so that all the hiragana of a sound may be arrange | positioned.

  According to said structure, the input character candidate of each arrangement | sequence of the 1st line-the 5th line displayed along with the direction parallel to a line direction in a 2nd character arrangement | sequence is shifted | deviated by 10 characters by a display control means. Will be displayed. For this reason, compared to the case where the input character candidates are displayed without being shifted as in the above-described embodiments, a wider range of input character candidates are displayed simultaneously in the character arrangement display field 31. Accordingly, desired input character candidates arranged at positions distant from each other in the second character arrangement, for example, “U” and “Nu” that are not simultaneously displayed in the character arrangement display column 31 in each embodiment described above. The input character candidate is moved by moving the cursor forward button 11 and the cursor downward button 12 for moving the character in the column direction different from the row direction, or by operating the four-direction operation unit 43, thereby enabling the rotary dial 6, It becomes possible to select quickly without causing the character to be circulated by the rotation operation on 42.

  Moreover, although each said embodiment demonstrated the case where a part of 2nd character arrangement | sequence was displayed on the character arrangement | sequence display column 31 in 3 rows by 3 rows (refer FIG.4 (c)-(e)), The range of the character arrangement displayed in the character arrangement display column 31 can be changed as appropriate.

  FIGS. 7A to 7C show a state in which a total of 15 characters in 3 rows and 5 columns are simultaneously displayed as part of the second character array in the character array display column 31. FIG. In the figure, the same or corresponding parts as in FIG.

  The second character arrangement shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B is similar to that shown in FIGS. 4C and 4D. Each row is arranged corresponding to one row. Further, the second character arrangement shown in FIG. 4C is similar to FIG. 4E, in the first to fifth lines, “A line” and “Ka line”, “Sa line” and “ “Line”, “na line” and “ha line”, “ma line” and “ya line”, and “ra line” and “wa line” are arranged in correspondence with each other. When the character is fed by the rotary dials 6 and 42 and the respective buttons 11 and 12 or the four-direction operation unit 43, the character feeding cursor 32 is shown in FIG. 4C in the mode shown in FIGS. As in (e), the second character arrangement is always in the center in the row direction and the column direction, and the second character arrangement is in the row direction so that the character advance cursor 32 indicates the newly selected input character candidate. And move in the column direction. Further, in the mode shown in FIG. 5B, the character advance cursor 32 is always located at the center in the column direction, but moves in the row direction, and the newly selected input character is selected. The second character array moves only in the upper and lower column directions so as to indicate a candidate.

  As described above, even when the number of characters in the character array displayed in the character array display field 31 is changed, the same effects as those in the above embodiments can be obtained.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the case has been described in which the number of characters fed by the number-of-feeds setting unit is set to 5 characters or 10 characters (see FIGS. 4C to 4E). The number of characters fed by the setting means can be changed as appropriate, such as 15 characters or 20 characters.

  In each of the above embodiments, the case where the rotary dials 6 and 42 are used as the rotation operation means has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the command dial 4 can be used as the rotation operation means. Further, the rotation operation means may be any means that can detect the rotation operation by the operator. For example, a touch panel type operation means that detects the rotation of the finger of the operator who is in contact can be used.

  In the first embodiment, the case where the rotary dial 6 is arranged on the right side of the liquid crystal monitor 5 and the cursor up button 11 and the cursor down button 12 are arranged on the left side of the liquid crystal monitor 5 has been described. This arrangement may be reversed.

  In each of the above embodiments, the case where the character arrangement display field 31 is displayed at the lower right part of the character input screen and the input determination character display field 33 and the selected character display field 34 are displayed at the upper left part has been described. The display positions of the display columns 31, 33, and 34 can be changed as appropriate.

  In each of the above embodiments, when the character type switching button 10 is operated, the first character array composed of alphabets, numbers, and symbols and the second character array composed of hiragana can be switched. However, the present invention is not limited to this. A character arrangement of various other types of characters such as French and German may be prepared in advance, and the character arrangement switching button 10 may be used to switch to these different types of character arrangement. Also, when inputting kanji as an input character, a desired hiragana based on the kanji dictionary is entered by inputting a hiragana character as a reading using the second character arrangement and operating a button having a kanji conversion function. It is good also as a structure converted into Kanji.

  In the second embodiment, the case in which the direction operation means includes the four-direction operation unit 43 having operation directions in the four directions of up, down, left, and right has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. The direction operation means only needs to have operation directions in a plurality of directions such as 8 directions and 16 directions radiating from the center of the concentric circles, and the number of operation directions can be changed as appropriate.

  In the second embodiment, the case where the four-direction operation unit 43 is provided inside the rotary dial 42 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the four-direction operation unit 43 may be provided outside the rotary dial 42. In addition to the sensor for detecting the rotation operation of the rotary dial 42, a sensor for detecting a pressing operation in each direction of the rotary dial 42 is provided, and the function of the four-direction operation unit 43 is assigned to the rotary dial 42 itself. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the means and the direction operation means are integrated.

  In the second embodiment, a case has been described in which the delete button 8 provided below the rotary dial 42 has a function of deleting the input confirmation character displayed at the edit position. The invention is not limited to this. The delete button 8 may not have a function of deleting the input confirmation character displayed at the editing position, and the input confirmation character may be deleted only by a long press operation of the determination button 7. In the case of this configuration in which the input confirmed character is deleted only by the long press operation of the enter button 7, the delete button 8 may not be provided below the rotary dial 42.

  In the second embodiment, the four-direction operation unit 43 is operated in the horizontal direction to move the selected character cursor 35 to a desired position between the input determination character display field 33 and the selected character display field 34. In the above description, the configuration for editing or deleting the input confirmation character has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. A function of a character editing button for starting character editing is added to the reduction / thumbnail button 11 provided on the left side of the liquid crystal monitor 5, and this character editing button is operated so that an input confirmed character can be edited. In this case, it is also possible to enable the movement of the selected character cursor 35 to the editing position by the operation of the four-direction operation unit 43.

  In each of the above embodiments, the case where the photographing apparatus according to the present invention is applied to a digital camera has been described. However, a display unit that displays a captured image, a rotation operation unit that selects a desired item according to a rotation operation, and a predetermined unit Various functions such as a digital video camera for shooting moving images and still images, a camera-equipped mobile phone, and the like provided with a plurality of buttons previously provided with the above functions or direction operation means having operation direction in a plurality of directions The present invention can also be applied to a photographing apparatus. Even when the present invention is applied to such a photographing apparatus, the same operational effects as those of the above embodiments can be obtained.

It is a rear view which shows the external appearance of the digital camera by the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the outline of the internal structure of the digital camera shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged rear view showing a character input screen displayed on the liquid crystal monitor when the character input screen display mode is switched by the display mode switching means of the digital camera shown in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows the character arrangement display column shown in FIG. It is a rear view which shows the external appearance of the digital camera by the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged rear view showing a character input screen displayed on the liquid crystal monitor when the character input screen display mode is switched by the display mode switching means of the digital camera shown in FIG. 5. It is a figure which shows the character arrangement display column of the digital camera by the modification of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,41 ... Digital camera 5 ... LCD monitor 6, 42 ... Rotation dial 7 ... Input character decision button (decision button)
8 ... Input character deletion button (Delete button)
9. Character input mode end button (menu button)
10 ... Character type switching button (information display button)
11 ... Cursor up button (shrink / thumbnail button)
12 ... Cursor down feed button (enlarge button)
14 ... CPU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 ... Recording / reproducing part 31 ... Character arrangement display field 32 ... Character feed cursor 33 ... Input decision character display field 34 ... Selected character display field 35 ... Selected character cursor 43 ... 4-way operation part

Claims (10)

Display means for displaying captured images;
A rotation operation means for selecting a desired item according to the rotation operation from a plurality of preset items relating to shooting or captured image display;
In a photographing apparatus configured to include a plurality of buttons previously provided with a predetermined function relating to photographing or photographed image display,
Display mode switching means for switching to a captured image display mode for displaying a captured image on the display means or a character input screen display mode for displaying a character input screen;
When the display mode switching unit switches to the character input screen display mode, the display unit includes a display control unit configured to control the display unit to display a part of a character arrangement in which a plurality of input character candidates are arranged in a matrix. ,
When the rotation operation means is rotated while the character arrangement is displayed on the display means, a plurality of input character candidates arranged in a predetermined direction in the character arrangement are arranged in a direction corresponding to the rotation operation direction. It has a function to move and move,
When the plurality of buttons are operated when the character arrangement is displayed on the display unit, the input character candidates to be selected are moved in a direction different from the predetermined direction in the character arrangement to feed the characters. An imaging device having a function.   The plurality of buttons are a first movement button having a function of moving an input character candidate in one direction in a direction different from the predetermined direction and feeding the input character candidate in another direction opposite to the one direction. A second movement button having a function of moving and feeding characters, a character type switching button having a function of switching types of characters constituting the character arrangement, the rotation operation means, the first movement button, and the second An input character determination button having a function of determining, as an input character, an input character candidate selected by moving at least one of the movement buttons of the input character, and determined as an input character by the input character determination button The photographing apparatus according to claim 1, comprising an input character deletion button having a function of deleting an input character candidate.   One of the rotation operation means and at least the first movement button and the second movement button of the plurality of buttons is provided on the right side of the display means, and the other is provided on the left side of the display means. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the imaging apparatus is configured.   4. The photographing according to claim 2, further comprising a character feed number setting means for setting a character feed number by the first movement button or the second movement button to an arbitrary number of characters. apparatus. Display means for displaying captured images;
A rotation operation means for selecting a desired item according to the rotation operation from a plurality of preset items relating to shooting or captured image display;
Direction operation means provided concentrically with this rotation operation means and having directionality of operation in a plurality of directions radiating from the center of the concentric circles;
Display mode switching means for switching to a captured image display mode for displaying a captured image on the display means or a character input screen display mode for displaying a character input screen;
When the display mode switching unit switches to the character input screen display mode, the display unit includes a display control unit configured to control the display unit to display a part of a character arrangement in which a plurality of input character candidates are arranged in a matrix. ,
When the rotation operation means is rotated while the character arrangement is displayed on the display means, a plurality of input character candidates arranged in a predetermined direction in the character arrangement are arranged in a direction corresponding to the rotation operation direction. It has a function to move and move,
When the character arrangement is operated in the first direction while the character arrangement is displayed on the display means, the input character candidate to be selected is moved in a direction different from the predetermined direction in the character arrangement. Have the ability to feed and
An input character determination button having a function of determining, as an input character, an input character candidate that is selected by being fed by using the rotation operation unit or the direction operation unit, is concentric with the rotation operation unit and the direction operation unit. An imaging apparatus characterized by comprising:   6. The photographing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a character feed number setting means for setting a character feed number by the direction operation means to an arbitrary character number. The display control means displays the input character determined by operating the input character determination button at the cursor position of the input character display area on the character input screen,
When the input character is displayed in the input character display area, the direction operation means is operated in a second direction different from the first direction, and the input character display area according to the operation direction. Has a function to select the editing position by moving the cursor position displayed in
The input character determination button is a button for selecting an input character candidate selected by being sent by using the rotation operation unit or the direction operation unit when the editing position is selected by the direction operation unit. The photographing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the photographing apparatus has a function of determining an edited character at a position. The display control means displays the input character determined by operating the input character determination button at the cursor position in the input character display area of the display means,
When the input character is displayed in the input character display area, the direction operation means is operated in a second direction different from the first direction, and the input character display area according to the operation direction. Has a function to select the editing position by moving the cursor position displayed in
The input character determination button deletes the input character at the edit position when the edit position is selected by the direction operation means and is operated with a different operation time than when the input character is determined. 7. The photographing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the photographing apparatus has a function.   A first character feed mode in which input character candidates in a predetermined range of the type of characters to be inputted are circulated in the predetermined direction in the character arrangement in a direction corresponding to the rotation operation direction of the rotation operation means; Alternatively, the second character feeding is performed by circulating the input character candidates in the entire range of the type of characters to be inputted in the predetermined direction in the character arrangement in the direction corresponding to the rotation operation direction of the rotation operation means. The photographing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising a character feed mode switching unit that switches to a mode.   The display control means displays the input character candidates of each array to be displayed side by side in a direction parallel to the predetermined direction in the character array arranged in a matrix to be displayed on the display means by the predetermined number of characters. The imaging apparatus according to claim 9, wherein control is performed to shift the display in order.

Images