JP2000324372A - Digital camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve operability by successively displaying corresponding symbols at a display part according to the operation contents of an operating means, and storing the order of the operation contents. SOLUTION: When an operating part 112 is operated by a user, a controller 111 reads an icon corresponding to operation contents from an icon table, and displays the icon corresponding to the operation contents on the display screen of a liquid crystal display part 113. In this case, the operation contents are displayed in the order of the operations. Then, the controller 111 stores the operation contents in an operation procedure register. At that time, the operation contents are successively stored according to the order of the operations in the operation procedure register. Also, when a repetition key is not selected, the controller 111 executes transition to a prescribed step, and when the repetition key is selected, the controller 111 repeatedly executes the corresponding operations in the order of the icons displayed at the liquid crystal display part 113.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a digital camera, and more particularly, to a digital camera that sequentially displays an operation order on a display unit in accordance with an operation content.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, digital cameras have become more sophisticated, and models equipped with an OS have been commercialized.
Some of them have a function of processing a photographed image or communicating. With such advanced functions, the number of operation keys and the number of key operations on the liquid crystal panel are increased, and users may complain that it is difficult to operate, or may not use the functions prepared.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above, and has as its object to provide a digital camera with improved operability.

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital camera for capturing an image of a subject and acquiring image data. And control means for controlling display contents on a display unit, wherein the control means sequentially displays corresponding symbols on the display unit in accordance with the operation contents of the operation means, and stores the order of the operation contents. Things.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the control means executes an operation in the order of the stored operation contents in accordance with an instruction of an operator.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, when the operator designates a start symbol among the symbols displayed on the display section, The operations subsequent to the operation corresponding to the symbol whose start is designated are sequentially executed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, when the operator designates an end symbol among the symbols displayed on the display section, The operations up to the operation corresponding to the symbol whose end is specified are sequentially executed.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the control means is provided when the operator designates a start symbol and an end symbol among the symbols displayed on the display section. The operations corresponding to the symbols whose start and end are designated are sequentially executed.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the invention, the order of the recorded operation contents can be changed.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the control means includes a special symbol which is a group of symbols displayed on the display unit in a series of operations in accordance with an instruction of an operator. Is generated and displayed, and by the operator,
When the special symbol is designated, operations corresponding to the symbol group are collectively executed.

[0011]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a digital camera according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes a digital camera. This digital camera 100 has a mechanical mechanism 10 including a lens, an AF / aperture / filter mechanism.
1, CCD 102, CDS circuit 103, A / D converter 1
04, IPP 105, DCT 106, coder 107,
MCC 108, memory card 109, LCD 110, controller 111, operation unit 112, liquid crystal display unit 113,
Remote control 114, microphone 115, ADPCM 116, A
audio-out117, VideoS-out11
8 and a battery 119 and the like.

A CCD (Charge Coupled Device) 102 converts a subject image input via the mechanical mechanism 101 into an electric signal (analog image data). The CDS (correlated double sampling) circuit 103 is a circuit for reducing noise in the CCD type image pickup device.

The A / D converter 104 includes a CDS circuit 103
To convert the analog image data input from the CCD 102 into digital image data. That is, CCD
The output signal of 102 is sent through the CDS circuit 103 and
The digital signal is converted by the / D converter 104 at an optimal sampling frequency (for example, an integer multiple of the subcarrier frequency of the NTSC signal).

The digital signal processor IPP
(Image Pre-Processor) 105 is an A / D converter 104
Color difference (C) for digital image data input from
b, Cr) and luminance (Y), and perform various processing, correction, and data processing for image compression / decompression. DCT (Di
screte Cosine Transform) 106 and coder (Huff
A man Encoder / Decoder 107 performs, for example, JPEG-compliant image compression / decompression.

Further, an MCC (Memory Card Controlle)
An r) 108 temporarily stores the compressed image and records the image on the memory card 109 or reads the image from the memory card 109.

The controller 111 includes a CPU, a ROM,
The CPU controls the entire operation inside the digital camera according to an instruction from the operation unit 112 or an external operation instruction from the remote controller 113 or the like, using the RAM as a work area according to a program stored in the ROM. I do.

The controller 111 is provided with the operation unit 11.
An icon table used when displaying an icon (symbol) corresponding to the operation content of 2 on the liquid crystal display unit 113 is provided. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the icon table. The icon table stores icons corresponding to each operation content. The controller 111
When the operation of the operation unit 112 is performed, an icon corresponding to the operation content is read out with reference to the icon table and displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 113.

The controller 111 is provided with the operation unit 11.
2 is provided with an operation procedure register R for recording the operation order. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation procedure register R. The operation unit 112 includes the operation unit 112.
Are sequentially stored in the order of operation. FIG. 4 shows an example of data storage when the operation unit 112 performs an operation of reproduction → image processing → recording → frame advance. The controller 111 refers to the contents of the operation procedure register R and performs operations in the operation order specified by the icons on the liquid crystal display unit 113.

The operation unit 112 is for giving an operation instruction to the controller 111, and includes a release key,
Various operation keys such as a mode selection key are provided. The liquid crystal display unit 113 is, for example, as shown in FIG.
Icons corresponding to the contents of the operation 2 are displayed, and various selection keys (a repetition key 201, a start designation key 202,
End designation key 203, partial repeat key 204, change key 205, registration key 206, special icon generation key 20
7), an operation instruction can be given to the controller 111 by selecting a selection key.

The camera power is supplied to the inside of the digital camera from a battery 119, for example, a NiCd, nickel metal hydride, lithium battery, or the like. The display unit 110
It is implemented by an LCD, LED, EL, or the like, and displays captured image data and decompressed recorded image data.

On the other hand, the audio is converted into an electric signal by an audio-electric signal conversion element such as a microphone 115 to be audio data, and is compressed and encoded by the ADPCM 116. The digital camera 100 includes a monitoring mode in which image data obtained by imaging the subject is directly displayed on the display unit 110, a recording mode in which image data obtained by imaging the subject is recorded on the memory card 109,
A reproduction mode for displaying images recorded on the memory card 109, a PC mode for transferring images recorded on the memory card 109 to a PC (personal computer), and the like are provided.

Next, the icon display operation of the digital camera will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the icon display operation of the digital camera. 4 and 6 show examples of icon display on the screen of the liquid crystal display unit 113. FIG.

In FIG. 5, first, the controller 111
When the user operates the operation unit 112 (step S100), an icon corresponding to the operation content is read from the icon table (see FIG. 2) (step S101), and the icon corresponding to the operation content is displayed on a liquid crystal display. It is displayed on the display screen of the unit 113 (step S102).
Here, the operation contents are displayed on the screen in the order of operation. Then, the controller 112 stores the operation content in the operation procedure register R (see FIG. 3) (step S103). Here, the operation procedure register R sequentially stores the operation contents according to the operation order.

For example, FIG. 4 shows a reproduction mode in which reproduction (corresponding to an icon) → image processing (corresponding to an icon) → <
Mode selection> → Recording (corresponding to the icon) → Frame advance (corresponding to the icon) is shown as an example of a screen display when an operation is performed. FIG.
An example of data stored in the operation procedure register R when → record → frame advance operation is performed is shown.

The controller 111 determines whether or not the repeat key 201 (see FIG. 4) of the liquid crystal display unit 113 has been selected (step S104). If the repeat key 201 has not been selected, the controller 111 proceeds to step S106.
On the other hand, when the repeat key 201 is selected, the controller 111 repeatedly executes the corresponding operation in the order of the icons displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 113 (step S105). For example, in the example shown in FIG. 4, when the repetition key 201 is selected, the operation of reproduction (icon) → image processing (icon) → <mode selection> → recording (icon) → frame advance (icon) is performed.

In step S106, the controller 11
1 determines whether or not the start designation key 202 (see FIG. 4) of the liquid crystal display unit 113 has been selected.
If is not selected, the process proceeds to step S109, and if the start designation key 202 is selected and the icon to be started is designated (step S107), the controller 111 proceeds from the icon designated to start to the last icon. The operation corresponding to the icon is repeatedly performed (step S1
08). For example, in the example shown in FIG.
When the icon 2 is selected and the icon is designated, an operation of image processing (icon) → <mode selection> → recording (icon) → frame advance (icon) is performed.

In step S109, the controller 11
1 determines whether or not the end designation key 203 of the liquid crystal display 113 has been selected. If the end designation key 203 has not been selected, the process proceeds to step S112, while the end designation key 203 is selected. When the end icon is specified, the controller 111 repeatedly performs the operation corresponding to the icon whose end is specified from the first displayed icon (step S108). For example, FIG.
In the example shown in (2), when the end designation key 203 is selected and the icon is designated, the operation of reproduction (icon) → image processing (icon) → <mode selection> → recording (icon) is performed.

In step S112, the controller 11
1 determines whether or not the partial repetition key 204 of the liquid crystal display unit 113 is selected. If the partial repetition key 204 is not selected, the process proceeds to step S115, while the partial repetition key 204 is When the icon is selected and the start icon and the end icon are designated (step S11)
3), the controller 111 repeatedly performs operations between operations corresponding to the start icon and the end icon (step S114). For example, in the example shown in FIG. 4, the partially repeated key 204 is selected. When the start icon is designated and the end icon is designated, the operation of image processing (icon) → <mode selection> → recording (icon) is performed.

In step S115, the controller 11
1 determines whether the change key 205 of the liquid crystal display unit 113 has been selected. If the change key 205 has not been selected, the process proceeds to step S118, while the change key 2
05 is selected and the icon rearrangement order is specified (step S116), the display of the icons on the screen is changed in the specified rearrangement order, and the operation procedure register R
The contents of (see FIG. 3) are changed in the specified rearrangement order. This makes it possible to repeat the operation in the changed order (steps S104 and S105), partially repeat (steps S112 to S114), and the like.

In step S118, the controller 11
1 determines whether or not the registration key 206 of the liquid crystal display unit 113 has been selected. If the registration key 206 has not been selected, the process proceeds to step S120, while if the registration key 206 has been selected, the operation procedure The operation procedure stored in the register R is registered in a nonvolatile memory or the like (step S1).
19). The registered operation procedure can be read out later according to a user's instruction. This makes it possible to use the operation procedure used last time the next time.

In step S120, the controller 11
1. It is determined whether or not the special icon generation key 207 of the liquid crystal display unit 113 has been selected.
If No. 7 has not been selected, the process proceeds to step S122. On the other hand, if the special icon generation key 207 has been selected, a special icon combining the icons displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 113 is generated and displayed. At the same time, the special icon is stored in the icon table (see FIG. 2).
By designating this special icon, it is possible to collectively execute the operations of the icon group previously displayed on the screen. For example, in FIG. 4, when the special icon generation key 207 is selected, a special icon as shown in FIG. 6 is generated and displayed. By selecting this special icon, the operation of reproduction (icon) → image processing (icon) → <mode selection> → recording (icon) → frame advance (icon) is performed. Further, this special icon can be read out later according to a user's instruction. As a result, the special icon created last time can be used next time.

In step S121, the controller 11
1 determines whether or not the mode clear key of the operation unit 112 has been pressed. If the mode clear key has been pressed, the flow is terminated. Returning to S100, the processing of steps S100 to S121 is repeated.

As described above, in the above-described embodiment, the icons corresponding to the operation contents are sequentially displayed on the screen, and the order of the operation contents is registered (stored). Can be recognized, and the operability of the operator can be improved.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the operation contents are executed in the order of registration in accordance with the instruction of the operator (repetition key 201), so that the recorded operation is repeated in that order. Can be run,
The operability of the operator can be further improved.

In the above-described embodiment, the operation can be executed from the middle by selecting the start designation key 202 and designating the start icon.
The operability of the operator can be further improved.

In the above-described embodiment, the operation can be performed halfway by selecting the end designation key 203 and designating the end icon.
The operability of the operator can be further improved.

In the above-described embodiment, the operation corresponding to the start and end icons can be executed by selecting the partially repeated key 204 and designating the start and end icons. Thus, the operability of the operator can be further improved.

In the above-described embodiment, the operation order can be changed by selecting the change key 205 and designating the order in which the icons are rearranged, thereby further improving the operability of the operator. Can be.

In the above-described embodiment, the special icon generation key 207 is selected to generate and display a special icon in which a group of icons displayed on the screen are integrated by a series of operations. By designating, the operation corresponding to the icon group previously displayed on the screen can be collectively executed, and the operability of the operator can be further improved.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be carried out with appropriate modifications without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0042]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the corresponding symbols are sequentially displayed on the display unit in accordance with the operation contents of the operation means, and the order of the operation contents is stored. The progress can be recognized, and the operability of the operator can be improved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the operations are executed in the order of the stored operation contents in accordance with the instruction of the operator. And the operability of the operator can be further improved.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, when the operator designates a start symbol among the symbols displayed on the display section, the symbol whose start is designated is designated. Since the following operations are executed in order, the operations can be executed from the middle, and the operability of the operator can be further improved.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, when an end symbol is designated by the operator among the symbols displayed on the display section, the symbol designated as the end is designated. Since the operations up to the operation corresponding to are performed in order, the operation can be executed halfway, and the operability of the operator can be further improved.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, when the operator designates the start and end symbols among the symbols displayed on the display unit, the start and end are determined. Since the operations corresponding to the designated symbols are sequentially executed, the operations corresponding to the start and end symbols can be executed, and the operability of the operator can be further improved. .

According to the invention of claim 6, in the invention of claim 2, the order of the recorded operation contents can be changed, so that the operation order can be changed, and the operation of the operator can be further improved. It is possible to improve the performance.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, a special symbol is created by combining a group of symbols displayed on the display unit by a series of operations in accordance with an instruction of the operator, and is displayed. Further, when the operator designates the special symbol, the operations corresponding to the symbol group are collectively executed, so that the operations corresponding to the icon group previously displayed on the screen are collectively performed. And the operability of the operator can be further improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a digital camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an icon table.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation procedure register.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a liquid crystal display unit.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining an icon display operation of the digital camera.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a liquid crystal display unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 100 digital camera 101 mechanical mechanism 102 CCD 103 CDS circuit 104 A / D converter 105 IPP 106 DCT 107 coder 108 MCC 109 memory card 110 LCD 111 controller 112 operation unit 113 liquid crystal display unit 114 remote control 115 microphone 116 ADPCM 117 Audio-out 118 VideoS-out 119 Battery

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A digital camera for capturing an image of a subject and acquiring image data, comprising: an operation unit for an operator to give an operation instruction; and a control unit for controlling display contents on a display unit, wherein the control unit Is a digital camera, wherein symbols corresponding to the operation contents of the operation means are sequentially displayed on the display unit, and the order of the operation contents is stored. 2. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said control means executes an operation in the order of the stored operation contents in accordance with an instruction of an operator. 3. The digital camera according to claim 2, wherein when the operator designates a start symbol among symbols displayed on the display unit, the control unit designates the start. A digital camera that sequentially executes operations subsequent to the operation corresponding to the symbol. 4. The digital camera according to claim 2, wherein when the operator designates an end symbol among the symbols displayed on the display unit, the control unit designates the end. A digital camera for sequentially executing operations up to an operation corresponding to the symbol. 5. The digital camera according to claim 2, wherein when the operator designates a start symbol and an end symbol among symbols displayed on the display unit, the control unit determines the start and end symbols. A digital camera which sequentially executes operations corresponding to symbols whose end is designated. 6. The digital camera according to claim 2, wherein the order of the recorded operation contents can be changed. 7. The digital camera according to claim 2, wherein the control unit generates a special symbol in which a group of symbols displayed on the display unit is integrated by a series of operations according to an instruction of an operator. A digital camera for displaying and, when an operator designates the special symbol, collectively executing an operation corresponding to the symbol group.