JP2011228801A - Image display device,imaging device and image display program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform preferable display when a plurality of images are displayed on the same screen.SOLUTION: An image display device comprises: a feature region setting section for setting the feature region inside of the images; and a display control section for displaying a plurality of the images without overlapping the feature regions which is set by the feature region setting section when a plurality of the images are displayed on the display device.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image display device, an imaging device, and an image display program.

  There has been proposed an image reproduction apparatus that reproduces and displays images in order based on the display effect of each image determined based on the result of individually analyzing image information (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2006-129453 A

  However, in the conventional image reproducing apparatus, since the display effect is determined for each image, if a plurality of images are displayed on the same screen, the expected display effect may not be obtained.

  The image display device according to claim 1 is characterized in that a feature region setting unit that sets a feature region in an image and a feature region set by the feature region setting unit overlap when displaying a plurality of images on the display device. And a display control unit for displaying the plurality of images so as not to be lost.

  An imaging apparatus according to a tenth aspect includes an imaging unit that captures an image of a subject and generates an image, and the image display apparatus according to any one of the first to ninth aspects.

  The image display program according to claim 11 includes: a feature region setting step for setting a feature region in an image; and the feature region set by the feature region setting step is overlapped when displaying a plurality of images on a display device. The display control step for displaying the plurality of images is executed by a computer so as not to occur.

  According to the present invention, a preferable display can be performed when a plurality of images are displayed on the same screen.

Block diagram illustrating the configuration of the image display device 1 The figure which shows an example of the file structure inside the recording medium 10 The figure which shows an example of the image currently recorded on the folder 1 The flowchart which shows an example of the process of the image display of the image display apparatus 1 The flowchart which shows the 1st example of the subroutine of the characteristic area selection process shown in FIG. The flowchart which shows the 2nd example of the subroutine of the characteristic area selection process shown in FIG. The flowchart which shows the 3rd example of the subroutine of the characteristic area selection process shown in FIG. The figure explaining the first example of a slide show display The figure explaining the 2nd example of a slide show display The figure explaining the 3rd example of a slide show display The block diagram explaining the structure of the electronic camera 50

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The “slide show” described in the present embodiment has a plurality of display forms, for example, a display form in which a plurality of still images taken by an electronic camera are displayed in order on the same screen of a display monitor ( Details will be described later).

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the image display device 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the image display device 1 includes a recording medium interface (hereinafter referred to as “recording medium I / F”) 2, a memory 3, a display monitor 4, and a communication interface (hereinafter referred to as “communication I / F”). ) 5, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 6, an operation unit 7, and a data bus 8.

  The recording medium I / F 2 reads image data from the recording medium 10 in which images taken by the electronic camera are stored. The read image data is temporarily recorded in the memory 3. Note that the image data is, for example, image data in an Exif (Exchangeable Image File Format) format, and shooting information such as shooting date and time is written in a predetermined header file of the image data at the time of shooting. Yes.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a file configuration inside the recording medium 10. In the recording medium 10, a folder 1, a folder 2, and a folder 3 are created, and an image is recorded for each folder.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image recorded in the folder 1. In the folder 1, for example, images taken on the same day at an athletic meet are recorded. These images are taken in the order of image 1-1, image 1-2, and image 1-3. Here, in FIG. 3, for convenience of explanation, face frames W <b> 1 to W <b> 3 indicating feature areas described later are shown. However, these face frames W1 to W3 are not displayed on the display monitor 4 in the actual slide show.

  The memory 3 temporarily records the image data read from the recording medium 10 by the recording medium I / F 2. The memory 3 has a database 3a. In the database 3a, a reference image indicating a characteristic part of a subject is registered in advance. Specifically, images of people, buildings, vehicles, and the like are classified and registered in the database 3a. In addition, the image recorded on the recording medium 10 can also be registered in the database 3a. This registration operation is performed under the control of the CPU 6 after the operation unit 7 receives an instruction input for registering an image. The display monitor 4 is a liquid crystal monitor, for example, and displays an image. The communication I / F 5 provides a communication interface when communicating with an external device.

  The CPU 6 is a processor that controls the image display apparatus 1 and has a function as a computer. The CPU 6 also functions as a feature region setting unit 6a, a display order setting unit 6b, and a display control unit 6c by executing the program of the present embodiment.

  The feature area setting unit 6a sets a feature area in the image. For example, the feature region setting unit 6a analyzes an image obtained by capturing a subject image, extracts a feature portion of the subject from the image, and specifies a feature region candidate in the image based on the extracted feature portion. Then, the feature region setting unit 6a selects a feature region corresponding to the main subject from the feature regions. Thereby, the feature region setting unit 6a can set the feature region from the image.

  Specifically, the feature region setting unit 6a analyzes the image and extracts a human face (feature portion) as a subject from the image. The feature area setting unit 6a acquires the position coordinates and size (range) of the face area based on the image data, and sets the face area as the feature area.

  For example, the feature area setting unit 6a authenticates the face of the main subject by matching a reference image registered in the database 3a with a captured image. Note that face extraction processing and matching processing can be realized by a known technique. For example, the feature area setting unit 6a authenticates the face of the same person already stored in the database 3a as the main subject, and sets the face area as the feature area. In addition, when only one face is detected in one image, the feature area setting unit 6a sets the face area as the feature area of the main subject. Note that the feature area setting unit 6a may set the area having the largest face area in the image as the feature area of the main subject. In the present embodiment, authentication of the main subject may be performed by user input (see Modification 2 described later).

  The display order setting unit 6b refers to the header file of the image data, and sets the display order of images to be displayed on the display monitor 4 based on the shooting date and shooting time. In this case, the display order setting unit 6b sets the display order so that, for example, images are displayed in order from the oldest shooting date and time.

  When displaying a plurality of images on the display monitor 4, the display control unit 6 c superimposes each image so that the characteristic areas of the main subject do not overlap and displays the images on the display monitor 4. At this time, the display control unit 6c enlarges or reduces the image on the display monitor 4 as necessary.

  The operation unit 7 is a touch panel that receives operations such as image display or stop, power on / off, and the like. Note that the touch panel of the operation unit 7 is a transparent touch panel and is disposed on the display screen of the display monitor 4. The touch panel of the operation unit 7 detects the position of a fingertip or the like that is in contact with the surface. And the operation part 7 receives operation from a user by outputting the detected positional information to CPU6.

  Next, an operation example of the image display apparatus in the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of image display processing by the image display apparatus 1. 5 to 7 are flowcharts showing first to third examples of the subroutine for the feature area setting process shown in FIG.

  Here, when the power of the image display device 1 is turned on, the image data recorded on the recording medium 10 is read out via the recording I / F 2 under the control of the CPU 6. The read image data is temporarily recorded in the memory 3. In this state, when the CPU 6 receives an instruction input for a slide show from the operation unit (touch panel) 7, the CPU 6 starts this flowchart. The CPU 6 sets a slideshow display form in response to a user input from the operation unit 7. Further, the CPU 6 changes the setting as to whether or not to refer to the database 3 a in accordance with a user input from the operation unit 7.

  Further, the image processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment can set the feature region of the main subject by a plurality of methods. In the following description, as an example, a case will be described in which the image to be displayed is checked for each sheet and the characteristic area of the main subject is set (subroutine in FIG. 5). In addition, regarding the setting of the feature area of the main subject, examples of other methods will be described in the first and second modifications.

  Step S101: The CPU 6 accepts a selection input for setting the feature area of the main subject. In this case, the CPU 6 proceeds to a feature area setting process subroutine shown in FIG.

  Step S201: The feature area setting unit 6a of the CPU 6 performs analysis processing of the first (n = 1) -th image recorded in the folder 1. Thereby, the feature area setting unit 6a performs the process of extracting the face of the subject as a feature portion in the image.

  Step S202: The CPU 6 determines whether or not a face has been extracted from the image by the process of step S201. When the face has not been extracted (step S202: No), the CPU 6 proceeds to the process of step S206 described later. On the other hand, when the face is extracted (step S202: Yes), the CPU 6 proceeds to the process of step S203.

  Step S203: The CPU 6 determines whether or not a plurality of faces have been extracted from the image in the process of step S201. When there is one extracted face (step S203: No), the feature area setting unit 6a sets the extracted face as the feature area of the main subject, and proceeds to the process of step S205 described later. On the other hand, when a plurality of faces are extracted (step S203: Yes), the process proceeds to step S204.

  Step S204: The feature area setting unit 6a selects a main subject when a plurality of faces are extracted. As an example, the feature area setting unit 6a performs the following processing in the case of setting referring to the database 3a. The feature area setting unit 6a refers to the database 3a and performs authentication for each face by matching with the reference image. Then, the feature region setting unit 6a selects a main subject based on the authentication result, and further sets a feature region corresponding to the main subject. For example, taking the image 1-1 in FIG. 3A as an example, the feature region setting unit 6a refers to the database 3a, and the faces of the persons P1 and P2 match any of the reference images registered in the database. Determine whether. Here, when the face of the person P1 matches the registered reference image and the face of the person P2 does not match any of the registered reference images, the feature region setting unit 6a sets the face of the person P1 as the main face. It selects as a to-be-photographed object and sets the characteristic area corresponding to the person P1 about the image 1-1.

  On the other hand, when the setting is made such that the database is not referred to, the feature area setting unit 6a selects both the faces of the person P1 and the person P2 as main subjects in the example of FIG. In this case, the feature region setting unit 6a sets two feature regions respectively corresponding to the persons P1 and P2 for the image 1-1. In FIG. 3A, for the sake of simplicity, the inside of the face frames W1 and W2 surrounding each face area is used as a feature area.

  Step S205: The feature region setting unit 6a designates the feature region of the main subject selected for each image as a superposition prohibition region that is not displayed overlaid on another image.

  Step S206: The CPU 6 determines whether or not all the images in the folder 1 have been checked. When all the images are not checked (step S206: No), n = n + 1 is set (step S207), the process returns to the process of step S201, and the feature area setting unit 6a performs an analysis process of the next image.

  On the other hand, if all the images have been checked (step S206: Yes), the CPU 6 ends the subroutine and returns to the process of step S102 shown in FIG.

  Step S102: The display order setting unit 6b of the CPU 6 refers to the header file of the image data in which the main subject is selected in the image in the folder 1, and displays it on the display monitor 4 based on the shooting date and shooting time. Set the display order of images to be displayed. In this case, for example, the display order setting unit 6b sets the display order so that images are displayed in order from images taken on the old photographing date and time. Taking FIG. 3 as an example, the display order setting unit 6b sets the display order in the order of image 1-1, image 1-2, and image 1-3.

  Step S103: The display control unit 6c of the CPU 6 superimposes each image including the main subject so as to display the slide show on the display monitor 4 so that the superimposition prohibition areas designated for each image do not overlap. For convenience of explanation, the feature region setting unit 6a uses the faces of the persons P1, P2, and P3 shown in FIG. 3 as main subjects.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a first example of the slide show display. First, the display control unit 6c displays the image 1-1 on the display monitor 4 (FIG. 8A). In this case, the display control unit 6c does not display the image 1-1 on the display monitor 4 in full screen, but displays a reduced image of the image 1-1 on the upper right when the display monitor 4 is viewed from the front.

  Next, the display control unit 6c displays the image 1-1 and the image 1-2 in a superimposed manner after a predetermined time has elapsed (for example, after one second) (FIG. 8B). At this time, the face areas of the persons P1 and P2 in the image 1-2 (in the face frames W1 and W2 shown in FIG. 3B) are the face areas of the persons P1 and P2 in the image 1-1 (FIG. 3A The face frames W1 and W2 shown in FIG. In addition, the display control unit 6c causes the display monitor 4 to display the image 1-2 having the latest photographing time with a size larger than that of the image 1-1. Note that the vertical relationship of overlapping images is not particularly limited as long as the face areas of the main subject do not overlap.

  Next, after a predetermined time has elapsed (for example, after 1 second), the display control unit 6c further displays the image 1-3 in a superimposed manner (FIG. 8C). At this time, the areas of the faces of the persons P1 to P3 in the image 1-3 (in the face frames W1, W2, and W3 shown in FIG. 3C) are the images 1-2 and the persons P1 and P2 of the image 1-1. Arranged so as not to overlap the face area (within the face frames W1 and W2 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B). Then, the CPU 6 ends the flow shown in FIG.

  Note that the image display device 1 may transfer the data of the image (FIG. 8C) displayed on the display monitor 4 to the printer via the communication I / F 5 and perform output processing. Alternatively, the image display device 1 connects the data of the image (FIG. 8C) displayed on the display monitor 4 to a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) or a wired LAN via the communication I / F 5, and externally It may be recorded in the memory.

Further, in the present embodiment, the database 3a is built in, but a database provided outside may be referred to via the communication I / F 5.
(Modification 1)
Next, as a second example of the method for setting the feature area of the main subject, a case where the main subject is set after checking all the images to be displayed (subroutine in FIG. 6) will be described.

  Step S301: The feature area setting unit 6a performs an analysis process on the first (n = 1) -th image recorded in, for example, the folder 2 shown in FIG.

  Step S302: The CPU 6 determines whether or not a face has been extracted from the image by the process of step S201. When the face has not been extracted (step S302: No), the CPU 6 proceeds to the process of step S304 described later. On the other hand, when the face is extracted (step S302: Yes), the CPU 6 proceeds to the process of step S303.

  Step S303: The feature area setting unit 6a counts the number of appearances for each face of the main subject across a plurality of images to be displayed. As an example, the feature area setting unit 6a performs the following processing in the case of setting referring to the database 3a. The feature area setting unit 6a refers to the database 3a and performs authentication for each face by matching with the reference image. Then, the feature region setting unit 6a counts the number of appearances for each face based on the authentication result. This count number is overwritten in the memory 3.

  Step S304: The CPU 6 determines whether or not all the images in the folder 2 have been checked. When all the images are not checked (step S304: No), n = n + 1 is set (step S307), and the process returns to the process of step S301, and the feature area setting unit 6a performs the analysis process of the next image. On the other hand, when all the images are checked (step S304: Yes), the CPU 6 proceeds to the process of step S305.

  Step S305: The feature area setting unit 6a refers to the number of appearances for each face counted in the process of step S303, and sets, for example, the face with the highest number of appearances as the feature area of the main subject.

Step S306: The feature region setting unit 6a designates the feature region (face region) of the main subject set by the processing in step S305 as a superposition prohibition region that is not displayed superimposed on another image. Then, the CPU 6 ends the subroutine and returns to the process of step S102 shown in FIG. In the first modification described above, the face with the highest number of appearances can be set as the main subject in the plurality of images to be displayed.
(Modification 2)
Next, as a third example of the method for setting the feature area of the main subject, a case where the main subject is set by a user input (subroutine in FIG. 7) will be described.

  Step S401: The display controller 6c of the CPU 6 displays a list of reduced images on the display monitor 4 in order to allow the user to set a main subject for each image. For example, the display control unit 6 c displays a list of reduced images corresponding to the images recorded in the memory 3 on the display monitor 4 and accepts designation of an image from the user via the operation unit 7.

  Step S402: The CPU 6 causes the user to designate a main subject (feature area) from the image selected in the process of step S401. Here, the user can select a main subject for each image, for example, in accordance with a user input from the operation unit (touch panel) 7. Specifically, when the user touches a specific area in the image with a finger, for example, the characteristic area setting unit 6a sets the area designated with the finger as the characteristic area. Then, the feature area setting unit 6 a records the position coordinates of the feature area in the image in the memory 3. The feature region setting unit 6a sequentially records the position coordinates of the feature region selected by the user in the memory 3 for each image, for example.

  Step S403: The feature region setting unit 6a designates the feature region selected by the user's input for each image as a superimposition prohibition region that is not displayed superimposed on another image. Then, the CPU 6 ends the subroutine and returns to the process of step S102 shown in FIG. In the second modification, the feature region can be set by user input.

  As described above, according to the image display device 1 of the present embodiment, when displaying a plurality of images on the same screen, for example, a preferable display can be performed without hiding the characteristic portions of the main subject overlapping. For example, in the image display device 1, images are superimposed and displayed from the oldest shooting time, so that the state of time passage can be understood. At this time, the face area of the main subject is not hidden by overlapping images. Furthermore, the image display apparatus 1 displays an image on the display monitor 4 as an example as the shooting time becomes new. Therefore, in the image display device 1, a display effect different from that of a slide show that simply displays still images in order can be obtained. In the above-described example, the scene of the athlete race on the same day has been described for the athletic meet. However, for example, the display control unit 6c may display the oldest based on the image of the athletic meet photographed for each year.

As a slide show display form, when the number of images is large, the image display apparatus 1 may repeat the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 by reading image data every predetermined number of images. Further, the display control unit 6c is not limited to the shooting date and time, and may display a plurality of images in a predetermined order. The display control unit 6c may display a plurality of images on the display monitor 4 at the same time.
<Supplementary items of the first embodiment>
(1) In the first embodiment, the feature area setting unit 6a extracts a human face and sets the face area as a feature area. However, the feature region setting unit 6a may further extract the contour of the subject and set a region formed by the contour as the feature region. Hereinafter, a specific example will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a second example of the slide show display. Here, it is assumed that the images 2-1 to 2-5 displayed in FIG. 9 are stored in the folder 2 of the recording medium 10 shown in FIG. The shooting times are in the order of images 2-1 to 2-5. Note that the folder 2 stores an image mainly of the person P4.

  Here, in association with the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, in the process of step S201, the feature region setting unit 6a also extracts the contour of the subject included in the image. Then, the feature region setting unit 6a designates a region (contour shape of the subject) formed by the contour of the subject as a matching target.

  Next, the feature region setting unit 6a in the process of step S201 matches the contour shape of the subject with the contour shape of each reference image in the database 3a. When the two match, the feature region setting unit 6a sets the contour shape of the subject as the feature region of the main subject.

  As an example, in the image 2-5 illustrated in FIG. 9A, when the contour shape (F1) of the subject matches the reference image of the ferris wheel in the database 3a, the feature region setting unit 6a displays the image 2-5. The characteristic portion is estimated and extracted as a ferris wheel indicated by F1 (step S201). In the image 2-5, it is assumed that no subject other than the ferris wheel (F1) exists. In this case, the CPU 6 determines that the feature portion in the image has been extracted (step S202: Yes).

  Subsequently, the CPU 6 determines that a plurality of feature portions do not exist in the image 2-5 (step S203: No). Then, the feature area setting unit 6a designates the outline area of the Ferris wheel F1 as an overlap prohibition area in the image 2-5 (step S205). Thereafter, the CPU 6 checks all images (step S206: Yes), and then the display order setting unit 6b sets the display order (step S102). When displaying the image 2-5, the display control unit 6c displays the image on the display monitor 4 so that the area of the Ferris wheel F1 is not hidden by other images (step S103). Thereby, the display control unit 6c can display a main subject other than a person so as not to be hidden by other images.

  The feature area setting unit 6a selects a feature area of the main subject, and then there is another person's face (a face smaller than the face of the main subject) around the main subject (within a preset distance range). When doing so, the face of another person described above may also be selected as the feature region of the main subject. Specifically, in the example of the image 2-1 in FIG. 9A, the feature area setting unit 6a first selects the face of the person P4 as the feature area of the main subject, and then the face of the person P5 is also a feature of the main subject. Select as region. According to the above processing, for example, in the image obtained by photographing the parent and child, it is possible to set the parent and child faces as feature regions, respectively.

  The display order setting unit 6b sets the image display order in descending order of the proportion of the face of the person P4 in the image when the feature area setting unit 6a sets the feature area of the main subject as the face of the person P4. Also good. In this case, the display control unit 6c causes the display monitor 4 to finally display the image 2-5 (ferris wheel F1) that does not include the person P4. Further, for example, for an image showing a person and a building, the display control unit 6c may preferentially set the person as the main subject.

  Further, the display control unit 6c may change the position of the image displayed on the display monitor 4 in accordance with a user instruction. As an example, the display control unit 6c switches the images so that the designated image is displayed in the largest size among the plurality of images. In FIG. 9A, for example, when the user designates the face area of the person P6 in the image 2-3 with the fingertip on the touch panel surface, the display control unit 6c displays the display monitor as shown in FIG. 9B. 4 may be displayed by enlarging the image 2-3 and reducing the image 2-1 to replace the arrangement. At this time, the display control unit 6c displays so that a part of the person P6 in the image 2-3 is not hidden by the image 2-5. That is, the display control unit 6c displays the face area of the person P6, which is the feature area of the image 2-3, and the outline of the Ferris wheel F1, which is the feature area of the image 2-5, so as not to overlap.

  (2) In the first embodiment, the face of a person is used as the feature area of the main subject. Here, in a plurality of images, when the main subject is estimated to be a car by matching with a reference image in the database 3a, the display control unit 6c, for example, in a slide show display, does not overlap the car contour areas. A plurality of images may be displayed by moving in a direction corresponding to the direction of the car. Hereinafter, a specific example will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a third example of the slide show display. Here, it is assumed that the images 3-1 and 3-2 displayed in FIG. 10 are stored in the folder 3 of the recording medium 10 shown in FIG. Although a lot of car images are stored in the folder 3, an example of displaying two images (3-1, 3-2) will be described in the example of FIG. An image 3-1 is an image obtained by photographing the car C1 from the right side surface, and an image 3-2 is an image obtained by photographing the car C2 from the left side surface.

  Here, as another display form of the slide show, for example, the display control unit 6c may display two images in time series (or simultaneously) and move the images. At this time, the display control unit 6c estimates a desirable traveling direction from the shape of the contour of the car. Then, as an example, the display control unit 6c moves the image 3-1 to the right and the image 3-2 to the left on the display monitor 4 (FIG. 10A). Thereafter, the display control unit 6c stops the movement of both images immediately before the cars C1 and C2 of the images (3-1 and 3-2) overlap (FIG. 10B). In the above display example, when the slide show is performed, the image of the car does not have to move backward, so that a display effect without a sense of incongruity can be obtained. The feature area setting unit 6a extracts a part of the outline of the car (for example, a front part of the car) as a feature part, and the display control unit 6c displays an image so that the part of the areas do not overlap. It is also possible to stop at a predetermined position by controlling the moving direction.

Further, although FIG. 10 illustrates the case of a car, the same control may be performed for other subjects. As an example, when the main subject is a person, the CPU 6 analyzes the image to detect the face direction of the face and the face direction, and the display control unit 6c determines the direction of the person's line of sight, The moving direction of the image may be controlled.
(3) In the image display device 1 of the first embodiment, the example in which the recording medium I / F 2 is provided to capture image data has been described. For example, another interface such as a USB interface for capturing image data from a device connected via a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable may be provided.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the same components are assigned the same names and the description thereof is omitted. The second embodiment is an electronic camera equipped with the same function as the image display device of the first embodiment.

  FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the electronic camera 50. As shown in FIG. 11, the electronic camera 50 includes a photographing lens 51 including a zoom lens and a focus lens, an imaging unit 52, a memory 53, a display monitor 54, a communication I / F 55, a recording medium I / F 56, A recording medium 57, a release button 58, an operation unit 59, a CPU 60, and a data bus 61 are provided.

  The imaging unit 52 includes a lens driving mechanism, a diaphragm, a shutter mechanism, an imaging element, an AFE (analog front end), and the like. The imaging unit 52 generates image data of a subject image formed by the photographing lens 51. The imaging unit 52 generates image data of a recording still image when capturing a still image.

  Image data output by the imaging unit 52 is temporarily recorded in the memory 53. This memory 53 also functions as a frame memory. The memory 53 includes a database 53a similar to that in the first embodiment.

  The display monitor 54 displays a still image, a through image for composition confirmation, an operation menu of the electronic camera 50, and the like. As the display monitor 54, a liquid crystal monitor or the like can be appropriately selected and used. The communication I / F 55, the recording medium I / F 56, and the recording medium 57 have the same configuration as in the first embodiment.

  The release button 58 accepts an instruction input for a half-press operation (imaging preparation operation) and an instruction input for a full-press operation (imaging operation start).

  The operation unit 59 includes, for example, a command dial for command selection, a power button, and the like. Then, the operation unit 59 receives an instruction input for operating the electronic camera 50.

  The CPU 60 is a microprocessor that performs overall control of the electronic camera 50 and has a function as a computer. Further, the CPU 60 has an image processing function, reads image data recorded in the memory 53, and performs various image processing (gradation conversion processing, contour enhancement processing, white balance processing, etc.). Further, the CPU 60 also functions as a feature region setting unit 6a, a display order setting unit 60b, and a display control unit 60c, as in the first embodiment.

  Next, an example of a slide show operation of the electronic camera 50 in the second embodiment will be described. The difference between the image display device 1 and the electronic camera 50 in the first embodiment is that the electronic camera 50 has a photographing function and the photographed image is recorded on the recording medium 57.

  Here, the slide show operation of the electronic camera 50 basically performs the same processing as the flowchart of FIG. 4 in comparison with the slide show operation of the image display device 1 in the first embodiment.

  As described above, according to the electronic camera 50 of the second embodiment, similar to the image display device 1 of the first embodiment, when a plurality of images are displayed on the same screen, the characteristic portions of the main subject overlap. A favorable display can be performed without being hidden.

  The image display device 1 described above can also be applied to a mobile phone, a portable music player having an image display function, an electronic album, a digital photo frame, or a personal computer (including a case where a display monitor is externally attached). .

  The images handled in the first and second embodiments described above are not limited to images captured by an electronic camera. For example, the image of this embodiment described above may be an image read from an optical scanner device, or may be an image drawn with application software for image drawing.

3, 53 ... Memory, 3a, 53a ... Database, 4, 54 ... Display monitor, 6a, 60a ... Feature region setting unit, 6b, 60b ... Display order setting unit, 6c, 60c ... Display control unit, 52 ... Imaging unit

Claims (11)

A feature region setting unit for setting a feature region in the image;
An image display device comprising: a display control unit configured to display the plurality of images so that the feature regions set by the feature region setting unit do not overlap when displaying a plurality of images on a display device. The image display device according to claim 1,
The feature region setting unit sets the feature region of the image by analyzing the image. The image display device according to claim 1 or 2,
The image display device, wherein the feature region setting unit extracts a subject in the image by analyzing the image, and sets a region formed by a contour of the subject as the feature region. The image display device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The feature region setting unit sets the feature region of the image based on feature region information regarding a feature region registered in advance. The image display device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
An image display device, further comprising: a display order setting unit that sets a display order for displaying the plurality of images on the display device. The image display device according to claim 5,
The image display device, wherein the display order setting unit sets the display order based on the shooting date and time of each of the plurality of images. The image display device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The display control unit displays the plurality of images so that the feature regions do not overlap with each other. The image display device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The display control unit moves and displays at least one of the plurality of images so that the feature regions do not overlap. The image display device according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
The feature region setting unit sets the feature region individually for a plurality of images to be displayed on the display device. An imaging unit that images a subject and generates an image;
An image pickup apparatus comprising: the image display apparatus according to claim 1. A feature region setting step for setting a feature region in the image;
When displaying a plurality of images on a display device, the computer executes a display control step for displaying the plurality of images so that the feature regions set in the feature region setting step do not overlap. Display program.

Images