JP2001008151A - Digital camera with sound reproducing function and its controlling method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a digital still camera capable of controlling the volume of reproduced music. SOLUTION: The digital still camera has a mode setting dial and up/down/ right/left buttons. Compressed digital music data recorded in a memory card are reproduced by the camera. When an image pickup mode is set up by the dial (YES in step 63), the zooming quantity of the camera is controlled by depressing the up/down part of the up/down/right/left buttons (steps 64, 66). The volume of reproduced music is controlled by depressing the right/left part (step 69, 71). When an image reproducing mode is set up by the dial (YES in step 73), images (frames) to be displayed on an LCD are scrolled forward or backward by depressing the right/left part of the buttons (steps 74, 76). The volume of reproduced music is controlled by depressing the up/down part (steps 79, 81).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital camera with a sound reproducing function capable of reproducing sound data and a control method therefor.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A digital camera images a subject,
It is used to obtain image data representing a subject image and record or reproduce the obtained image data. In a digital camera with a removable memory card, image data is recorded on the inserted memory card.

[0003] A memory card can record not only image data but also sound (music) data. By providing a circuit or the like for reproducing sound data in the digital camera, the sound data recorded on the memory card can be reproduced by the digital camera and the reproduced sound can be output.

[0004] A reproducing device for reproducing sound data is generally provided with buttons, dials, switches and the like for volume control. However, digital cameras are already provided with switches for capturing images and reproducing images. Since digital cameras are required to be miniaturized, it is not preferable to increase the number of switches.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a digital camera with a sound reproducing function capable of adjusting the volume without newly providing a special operation member, and a control method thereof.

A digital camera with a sound reproduction function according to the first invention can set an image pickup mode and an image reproduction mode. When the image pickup mode is set, an image of a subject is taken and an image of the subject is displayed. Imaging means for obtaining image data, image reproduction means for reproducing the image data when the image reproduction mode is set, and displaying the reproduced image on a display device, and sound for reproducing the sound data and outputting the reproduced sound Data reproducing means is provided. A digital camera with a sound reproducing function according to a first aspect of the present invention provides an imaging command switch for giving a command relating to imaging, and a process relating to imaging according to a command given from the imaging command switch when the above-described imaging mode is set. Imaging control means for controlling the imaging means so that the sound data reproduction means reproduces the sound reproduced by the sound data reproduction means in response to a command given from the imaging command switch when the image reproduction mode is set. It is characterized by having a sound volume adjusting means for adjusting the sound volume.

In the control method of a digital camera with a sound reproduction function according to the first invention, an image pickup mode and an image reproduction mode can be set, and an object is imaged when the image pickup mode is set. Imaging means for obtaining image data representing an image, image reproduction means for reproducing the image data when the image reproduction mode is set, displaying the reproduced image on a display device, and reproducing sound data, and reproducing reproduced sound. This is a method for controlling a digital camera with a sound reproducing function having sound data reproducing means for outputting, and performs a process according to an imaging command given from an imaging command switch when the imaging mode is set. The image pickup means is controlled as described above, and when the image reproduction mode is set, the sound data is output in accordance with a command given from the image pickup command switch. And adjusting the volume of sound reproduced by the data reproducing means.

[0008] Examples of imaging command switches for giving a command relating to imaging to the digital camera include a zoom switch for adjusting the magnitude of the zoom amount and an exposure adjustment switch for adjusting the exposure. A zoom switch, an exposure amount adjustment switch, and the like are used when capturing a subject image, and are not used when reproducing image data and displaying a reproduced image on a display device. The imaging command switch is used in the conventional imaging mode and is not used in the conventional image reproduction mode. The first invention utilizes such an imaging command switch in an image reproduction mode.

According to the first aspect, when the imaging mode is set, the imaging control means is controlled so as to perform processing relating to imaging in accordance with a command given from the imaging command switch. On the other hand, when the image reproduction mode is set, the volume control means is controlled so as to adjust the volume of the sound reproduced by the sound data reproduction means in response to a command from the imaging command switch. It is not necessary to separately provide a switch or the like for adjusting the volume of the sound reproduced when the image reproduction mode is set. A digital camera capable of adjusting the volume while satisfying the demand for miniaturization can be realized.

When the imaging command switch is a zoom switch, the zoom amount of the zoom lens is controlled in accordance with a zoom command given from the zoom switch as a process relating to imaging. When the imaging command switch is the exposure adjustment switch,
The exposure amount is controlled according to a command given from the exposure amount adjustment switch.

A digital camera with a sound reproducing function according to a second aspect of the present invention is capable of setting an imaging mode and an image reproducing mode. When the imaging mode is set, an image of an object is taken and an image of the object is displayed. Imaging means for obtaining image data, image reproduction means for reproducing the image data when the image reproduction mode is set, and displaying the reproduced image on a display device, and sound for reproducing the sound data and outputting the reproduced sound Data reproducing means is provided. A digital camera with a sound reproduction function according to a second aspect of the present invention is an image reproduction command switch for giving a command relating to image reproduction, and responds to a command given from the image reproduction command switch when the image reproduction mode is set. Image reproduction control means for controlling the image reproduction means so as to perform processing relating to the image reproduction, and according to a command given from the image reproduction command switch when the imaging mode is set,
The sound data reproducing means includes a sound volume adjusting means for adjusting a sound volume of the sound reproduced by the sound data reproducing means.

In the control method of a digital camera with a sound reproducing function according to a second aspect of the present invention, an image pickup mode and an image reproduction mode can be set. Imaging means for obtaining image data representing an image, image reproduction means for reproducing the image data when the image reproduction mode is set, displaying the reproduced image on a display device, and reproducing sound data, and reproducing reproduced sound. A method for controlling a digital camera having a sound reproducing function provided with sound data reproducing means for outputting, the method relates to image reproduction according to a command given from an image reproducing command switch when the image reproducing mode is set. Controlling the image reproducing means so as to perform the processing, and when the imaging mode is set, the image reproducing means responds to a command given from the image reproducing command switch. Flip it, and adjusting the volume of sound reproduced by the sound data reproducing means.

The image reproduction command switch of the digital camera includes a frame designation switch for designating a frame to be reproduced and a brightness adjustment switch for adjusting the brightness of an image reproduced and displayed on a display device. A frame designation switch, a brightness adjustment switch, and the like are used when reproducing image data and displaying a reproduced image on a display device. It is not used when capturing a subject image. The reproduction image command switch is used in the conventional image reproduction mode, and is not used in the conventional imaging mode. The second invention uses such an image reproduction command switch in the imaging mode.

According to the second aspect, when the image reproducing mode is set, the image reproducing means is controlled so as to perform the processing relating to the image reproducing according to the command given from the image reproducing command switch. On the other hand, when the imaging mode is set, the volume control means is controlled so as to adjust the volume of the sound reproduced by the sound data reproduction means in response to a command from the image reproduction command switch. It is not necessary to separately provide a switch or the like for adjusting the volume of the sound reproduced when the imaging mode is set. A digital camera capable of adjusting the volume while satisfying the demand for miniaturization can be realized.

When the reproduced image command switch is a frame designating switch, a process of displaying the image of the designated frame on the display device is performed as a process related to image reproduction in accordance with the reproduced frame designating command given from the frame designating switch. . When the playback image command switch is a brightness adjustment switch,
As a process related to image reproduction, the brightness of an image displayed on the display device is controlled according to a command given from the brightness adjustment switch.

In one embodiment of the digital camera according to the first invention or the digital camera according to the second invention, a determination means for determining whether or not the sound data is being reproduced by the sound data reproducing means is further provided. When the sound data is being reproduced by the judgment means, the sound volume is adjusted by the sound volume adjusting means. If no sound data is being reproduced, no volume adjustment is performed. Since the sound volume is adjusted by the sound volume adjusting means during the reproduction of the sound data, it is possible to prevent an erroneous operation of the sound volume adjustment (for example, the maximum sound volume due to the erroneous operation when the sound data is not reproduced).

A digital camera having both features of the digital camera according to the first invention and the digital camera according to the second invention can be constructed. That is, the digital camera has an imaging command switch for giving a command relating to imaging, and an imaging means for performing processing relating to imaging according to the command given from the imaging command switch when the imaging mode is set. Control means for controlling the volume of the sound reproduced by the sound data reproducing means in response to a command given from the image capturing command switch when the image reproduction mode is set. An image reproduction command switch for giving a command relating to image reproduction, and the image reproducing means for performing processing relating to image reproduction in accordance with a command given from the image reproduction command switch when the image reproduction mode is set. Image playback control means for controlling the image playback mode, and the image playback command switch when the imaging mode is set. In response to a command given from the second volume control means for adjusting the volume of sound reproduced by the sound data reproducing means is provided.

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGS. 1 and 2 show the appearance of a digital still camera.

An optical view finder 3 is provided at the upper right of the front of the digital still camera 1. An imaging lens 13 is provided below the optical view finder 3.

At the upper left of the front of the digital still camera 1, a strobe 12 is provided.

On the upper surface of the digital still camera 1, a shutter release button 2 is provided on the left side when viewed from the front. An operation display LCD 20 is provided on the right side of the shutter release button 2.

Referring to FIG. 1, a memory card insertion slot 17 is formed on the right side of the digital still camera 1 when viewed from the front. The memory card 11 is inserted into the memory card insertion slot 17. The memory card insertion slot 17 can be covered by a lid 18 formed on the side of the digital still camera 1 so as to be openable and closable.

On the side where the memory card slot 17 is formed, A
A C input terminal 14, an audio output terminal 15, and a video signal output terminal 16 are provided. The plug part of the connection cord connected to the power supply is inserted into the AC input terminal 14. A plug portion of an audio cord connected to a headphone 19 or the like is inserted into the audio output terminal 15. A plug portion of a connection cord connected to a display or the like is inserted into the video signal output terminal 16.

FIG. 3 shows the back of the digital camera.

On the back of the digital still camera 1, a mode setting dial 4 is provided in the upper right part thereof. The mode setting dial 4 is rotatable. An index 6 is formed on the left side of the mode setting dial 4. By positioning the symbol of the desired mode among the symbols indicating the various modes displayed on the mode setting dial 4 on the index 6, the mode indicated by the symbol is set.

The modes of the digital still camera 1 include an imaging mode and an image reproduction mode. In a case where an image of a subject is captured and one frame of digital image data obtained by the imaging is recorded on the memory card 11, an imaging mode is set. Of the digital image data recorded on the memory card 11,
When reproducing digital image data for frames, an image reproduction mode is set.

Up, down, left and right buttons 5 are provided inside the mode setting dial 4. The up, down, left, and right buttons 5 indicate an up arrow, a down arrow, a left arrow, and a right arrow. The up, down, left, and right buttons 5 can press these arrows.

An image display LCD 9 is provided below the back of the digital still camera 1. A subject image obtained by imaging is displayed on the image display LCD 9.

On the display screen of the image display LCD 9,
A power switch 8 is provided.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the digital still camera 1.

When the power switch 8 of the digital still camera 1 is turned on, power is supplied from the power circuit 53 to each circuit.

The entire operation of the digital still camera 1 is controlled by the main CPU 30.

The main CPU 30 is mutually connected to a photometry / distance measurement CPU 40 by a communication line. The photometry / distance measurement CPU 40 includes an optical unit 41, a charge / light emission control circuit 42 for controlling charging and light emission of the strobe 12, and a CCD.
(Charge Coupled Device) 31, an imaging circuit 32, and a clock generator (Clock Generator: CG) 34 for controlling an analog / digital conversion circuit 33 are connected.

The optical unit 41 includes a zoom lens for zooming, a focus lens for focusing, and a diaphragm for adjusting brightness. The digital still camera 1 detects a movement amount of a zoom lens, a focus lens, and an aperture, a distance sensor that detects a distance from the digital still camera 1 to a subject, and detects a light amount from the subject. A photometric sensor (the sensor is not shown) is provided. An output signal from each sensor is provided to the photometry / distance measurement CPU 40. In the photometry / distance measurement CPU 40, the focus amount of the focus lens and the aperture value of the aperture, the subject distance and the light amount (luminance value, etc.) are calculated, and the focus lens and the aperture are adjusted so that the focus amount and the aperture value become desired values. Feedback controlled.

When imaging a subject, the mode setting dial 4 is set to the imaging mode. The subject image captured by the optical unit 41 is formed on the light receiving surface of the CCD 31. In the digital still camera 1 in which the imaging mode is set, the up arrow and the down arrow of the up / down / left / right buttons 5 are used to adjust the zoom amount. The zoom lens moves along the optical axis of the digital still camera 1, whereby the magnification of the subject image formed on the light receiving surface of the CCD 31 changes. When the up arrow portion of the up / down / left / right button 5 is pressed, a signal indicating that the up arrow portion is pressed is given to the optical unit 41 via the main CPU 30 and the photometry / distance measurement CPU 40, and the zoom lens moves to the telephoto side. I do.
The magnification of the subject image increases. When the down arrow of the up / down / left / right button 5 is pressed, the zoom lens moves to the wide angle side. The magnification of the subject image decreases.

The subject image formed on the light receiving surface of the CCD 31 passes through the imaging circuit 32 and passes through an analog / digital circuit.
The analog / digital circuit 33 converts the digital image data into digital image data. The digital image data is input to a YC processing circuit 36 via a buffer memory 35,
The processing circuit 36 generates luminance (Y) data and color (C) data. The luminance (Y) data and the color (C) data are returned from the YC processing circuit 36 to the buffer memory 35, and are stored in the buffer memory 35.
The data is input from the memory 35 to the YC / RGB conversion circuit 49. YC
In the / RGB conversion circuit 49, the YC data is converted into RGB data.

The RGB data representing the subject image is represented by YC / R
LC for image display from GB conversion circuit 49 via driver 51
D9. An image representing the subject image captured by the CCD 31 is displayed on the image display LCD 9.

When the shutter release button 2 is pressed, a signal indicating that the shutter release button 2 is pressed is input to the main CPU 30. A signal indicating the depression is sent from the main CPU 30 to the light metering / ranging CPU 40, and then to a clock generator (CG) 34.
And the charge / emission control circuit 42. A clock pulse is generated from the clock generator 34, and in response to the clock pulse, an image signal for one frame representing a subject image is output from the CCD 31 and input to the imaging circuit 32. The image signal is subjected to white balance adjustment, γ correction, and the like, and output. The charge / emission control circuit 42 causes the strobe 12 to emit light in synchronization with the imaging operation.

The image signal output from the image pickup circuit 32 is supplied to an analog / digital conversion circuit 33, a buffer memory 35,
The data is temporarily stored in the buffer memory 35 via the YC processing circuit 36. Digital image data representing the subject image temporarily stored in the buffer memory 35 is compressed by the compression / expansion circuit 37 and recorded on the memory card 11 mounted on the card I / F 38.

When the mode setting dial 4 is set to the reproduction mode, the compressed digital image data recorded on the memory card 11 is read out and input to the compression / expansion circuit 37 via the card I / F 38, and the compression / expansion is performed. Expanded in circuit 37. The expanded digital image data is temporarily stored in the buffer memory 35, and applied to the image display LCD 9 via the YC / RGB conversion circuit 49 and the driver 51. On the image display LCD 9, an image represented by digital image data recorded on the memory card 11 is displayed.

When a plurality of frames of compressed digital image data are recorded on the memory card 11, for example, an image represented by the last compressed digital image data of the plurality of frames recorded on the memory card 11 is displayed on an image. Is displayed on the display screen of the LCD 9. LCD 9 for image display
The right arrow and left arrow of the up, down, left and right buttons 5 are used to designate the pieces displayed on the display screen. When the right arrow of the up / down / left / right button 5 is pressed, the compressed digital image data of the next frame is read out and displayed on the display screen instead of the image previously displayed on the display screen (frame advance). When the left arrow portion of the up / down / left / right button 5 is pressed, the image represented by the compressed digital image data of the immediately preceding frame is displayed on the display screen instead of the image previously displayed on the display screen (frame Back).

The digital still camera 1 can also reproduce compressed digital music data recorded on the memory card 11. For this purpose, the digital still camera 1 includes a music data expansion processing circuit 45, a digital / analog conversion circuit 48, and an amplification circuit 50. The amplification factor of the amplification circuit 50 is controlled by the main CPU 30.

When the compressed digital music data is recorded on the memory card 11, regardless of the set mode, the memory is transferred to the digital still camera 1 which is turned on or when the power is turned on. The compressed digital music data is read from the memory card 11 according to the insertion of the card 11. The compressed digital music data read from the memory card 11 is input to the music data expansion processing circuit 45 via the card I / F 38. In the music data expansion processing circuit 45, the compressed digital music data is expanded. The expanded digital music data is input to the digital / analog conversion circuit 48. In the digital / analog conversion circuit 48, the digital music data is converted into an analog music signal. The music signal output from the digital / analog conversion circuit 48 is input to the amplifier circuit 50.

The amplifier circuit 50 amplifies the input signal and outputs the amplified signal. The music signal amplified by the amplifier circuit 50 is supplied to the audio output terminal 15. When a plug of a headphone or the like is inserted into the audio output terminal 15, music reproduced based on the compressed digital music data can be heard through the headphone.

The amplification factor of the input music signal in the amplifier circuit 50 is changed by operating the up, down, left and right buttons 5. When the amplification factor of the amplifier circuit 50 is increased, the volume of the music being played is increased. When the amplification factor is reduced, the volume of the music being played back is reduced. Details of the operation of the amplification factor (operation of the volume of the reproduced music) using the up, down, left, and right buttons 5 will be described later.

The compressed digital music data recorded on the memory card 11 includes copyright information data (data indicating music composers and performers, record companies, etc., data indicating that the data is copied, etc.). May be added. Copyright information recording memory (EEPROM: Electronically Era
The sable programmable read only memory (52) stores copyright information data read from the memory card 11. The copyright information data can be used to determine whether the compressed digital music data read from the memory card 11 is legitimate data or illegal data (for example, data copied illegally). it can.
If the music data read from the memory card 11 is incorrect data, the copyright information data could be used to prevent music from being reproduced.

Further, the digital still camera 1 includes:
Characters and the like represented based on the text data recorded on the memory card 11 are displayed on the image display LCD 9 in synchronization with the reproduction of the music based on the compressed digital music data recorded on the memory card 11. be able to. For this reason, the digital still camera 1 reproduces music based on the timing data recorded on the memory card 11 and the character generator 46 that generates character data representing characters and the like to be displayed on the image display LCD 9. And a timing signal generation circuit 47 for generating a timing signal for outputting a character in synchronization with the timing signal.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the data arrangement structure of the memory card.

The memory card 11 has a management area and a user recording area.

In the management area, management data for managing all data recorded on the memory card 11 is recorded.

In the user recording area, compressed digital image data (compressed digital image data 1,
2... Are recorded, and a plurality of sets of compressed digital music data, text data and timing data (compressed digital music data + text data + timing data 1, 2, 3,...)
・) Is recorded.

Characters based on the text data in the data of the set of the compressed digital music data, text data and timing data are displayed on the image display LCD 9 in synchronization with the reproduced music. Data representing characters (including hiragana, katakana, English characters, numbers, symbols, and the like) based on the text data recorded on the memory card 11 is generated by the character generator 46. charactor·
The character represented by the data representing the character generated by the generator 46 is transmitted by the timing signal output from the timing signal generation circuit 47 based on the timing data recorded on the memory card 11 to generate an image display LC.
The display on D9 is timing-controlled. As the music progresses, characters (for example, lyrics) are displayed on the image display LCD 9.
Will be displayed.

The compressed digital music data recorded on the memory card 11 or the data of the set of the compressed digital music data, the text data and the timing data is
Generally, these data are downloaded from a server stored in a database or the like via a communication line (such as the Internet). A personal computer or the like is used for downloading data. Compressed digital music data or a set of compressed digital music data, text data and timing data downloaded using a personal computer or the like can be stored on a memory card using a personal computer or the like.
Recorded at 11. In this case, a personal computer or the like will be provided with a device (drive) for writing / reading data to / from the memory card 11.

FIG. 6 shows a digital still camera based on an operation using the up, down, left, and right buttons 5 of the digital still camera 1.
3 shows a flow of the operation of the still camera 1.

The up, down, left, and right buttons 5 are used for zoom operation (telephoto (telephoto) / wide (wide angle)) when capturing an image of a subject.
When the image data read from the memory card 11 is reproduced, the operation of designating the frame of the image to be reproduced on the image display LCD 9 (one frame forward / one frame back) and reading from the memory card 11 are performed. Used for volume control (volume up / volume down) of music played and played.

When the power of the digital still camera 1 is turned on using the power switch 8, the operation described below is performed.

A memory card is inserted into the memory card slot 17.
It is determined whether 11 is inserted (step 6
1). Memory in which compressed digital music data is recorded
When the card 11 is inserted into the memory card slot 17 (or the memory card 11 on which the compressed digital music data is recorded is inserted into the card slot 17 of the digital still camera 1 whose power is turned on). ), The compressed digital music data is read out from the memory card 11 and reproduced irrespective of the set mode (step
YES at 61, step 62). If no compressed digital music data is recorded on the memory card 11, step 62
Is skipped (NO in step 61).

When the mode setting dial 4 is set to the imaging mode (YES in step 63), the up arrow and down arrow portions of the up, down, left and right buttons 5 are used to operate the zoom amount. When the up arrow portion of the up / down / left / right button 5 is pressed (YES in step 64), the zoom lens moves to the telephoto side (zoom / tele side movement; step 65). The zoomed subject image is captured and displayed on the image display LCD 9. When the down arrow portion of the up / down / left / right button 5 is pressed (YES in step 66), the zoom lens moves to the wide angle side (zoom / wide side movement; step 67). A wide-angle subject image is captured and displayed on the image display LCD 9.

When the mode setting dial 4 is set to the imaging mode (YES in step 63), and music based on the compressed digital music data recorded on the memory card 11 is being reproduced (YES in step 68). In (), the left and right arrow portions of the up, down, left and right buttons 5 function as volume control switches for the reproduced music. When the left arrow of the up / down / left / right button 5 is pressed (in step 69)
YES), a signal indicating that the left arrow is pressed is input to the main CPU 30. A signal for increasing the amplification factor of the amplifier circuit 50 is provided from the main CPU 30 to the amplifier circuit 50. The amplification factor of the amplifier circuit 50 is increased, and the volume of the music being reproduced is increased (step 70). When the right arrow portion of the up / down / left / right button 5 is pressed (YES in step 71), the amplification factor of the amplifier circuit 50 is reduced, and the volume of the music being reproduced is reduced (step 72).

When the mode setting dial 4 is set to the image reproduction mode (YES in step 73), the left and right arrows of the up, down, left and right buttons 5 are displayed on the memory card.
It is used to designate a frame of an image to be displayed on the image display LCD 9 based on the compressed digital image data recorded in 11. When the left arrow of the up / down / left / right button 5 is pressed (YES in step 74), the compressed digital image data recorded immediately before in the memory card 11 is read out and displayed on the image display LCD 9. It is displayed instead of the image (step 75; frame return). When the right arrow of the up / down / left / right button 5 is pressed (YES in step 76)
), The image of the next frame is displayed on the image display LCD 9 (step 77; frame feed).

When the mode setting dial 4 is set to the image reproduction mode (YES in step 73),
If music based on the compressed digital music data recorded on the memory card 11 is being reproduced (YES in step 78), the up arrow and down arrow of the up / down / left / right buttons 5 indicate the volume of the reproduced music. Functions as an adjustment switch. When the up arrow portion of the up / down / left / right button 5 is pressed (YES in step 79), the amplification factor of the amplifier circuit 50 is increased, and the volume of the music being reproduced is increased (step 80). When the down arrow of the up / down / left / right button 5 is pressed (step 81)
YES), the amplification factor of the amplifier circuit 50 is reduced, and the volume of the music being played back is reduced (step 82).

As described above, the up, down, left, and right buttons 5 of the digital still camera 1 are used when the mode setting dial 4 is used to set the digital still camera 1 to the imaging mode. The left and right arrows are used to adjust the volume of the reproduced music. When the image playback mode is set, the upper and lower arrows are used to adjust the volume of the playback music, and the left and right arrows are used to specify the frame of the playback image. The volume of the reproduced sound (music) can be adjusted without separately providing an operation member used only for adjusting the volume.

In the digital still camera of the above-described embodiment, a switch for zooming when the image playback mode is set, and a switch for designating frames when the imaging mode is set, respectively. It is used to control the volume of played music. Of course, it goes without saying that another switch conventionally provided in the digital still camera may be used for adjusting the volume of the reproduced music. A switch used in the imaging mode and not used in the image playback mode can be used as a volume control switch in the image playback mode. A switch used in the image reproduction mode and not used in the imaging mode can be used as a volume control switch in the imaging mode.

For example, the exposure adjustment switch for adjusting the exposure is used at the time of imaging (at the time of setting the imaging mode), and is not used at the time of image reproduction (at the time of setting the image reproduction mode).
A brightness adjustment switch for adjusting the brightness of a reproduced image displayed on the display screen of the image display LCD 9 is used at the time of reproducing an image, and is not used at the time of imaging. The exposure control switch can be used in the image playback mode, and the brightness adjustment switch can be used in the imaging mode to adjust the volume of the playback music.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a digital still camera.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a digital still camera.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the digital still camera.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the digital still camera.

FIG. 5 shows a data arrangement structure of a memory card.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation mode of the digital still camera based on an operation using the up, down, left, and right buttons.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Digital still camera 2 Shutter release button 4 Mode setting dial 5 Up / Down / Left / Right buttons 11 Memory card 50 Amplifier circuit

Claims (7)

[Claims] An image pickup unit that can set an image pickup mode and an image reproduction mode, and that picks up an object when the image pickup mode is set, and obtains image data representing an object image; A digital playback device with a sound playback function, comprising: an image playback device that plays back image data when the setting is made and displays the playback image on a display device; and a sound data playback device that plays back the sound data and outputs the played sound.
An imaging command switch for giving a command relating to imaging in the camera, and an imaging device for controlling the imaging means so as to perform processing relating to imaging in accordance with the command given from the imaging command switch when the imaging mode is set. Control means, and volume adjusting means for adjusting the volume of the sound reproduced by the sound data reproducing means in accordance with a command given from the imaging command switch when the image reproducing mode is set. Digital camera with sound reproduction function. 2. The image capturing means includes a zoom lens capable of zooming, the image capturing command switch is a zoom switch for giving a zoom command, and the image capturing control means responds to a zoom command given from the zoom switch. 2. The digital camera with a sound reproducing function according to claim 1, wherein said digital camera controls a zoom amount of said zoom lens. 3. An image pickup means capable of setting an image pickup mode and an image reproduction mode, imaging an object when the image pickup mode is set, and obtaining image data representing the object image. A digital playback device with a sound playback function, comprising: an image playback device that plays back image data when the setting is made and displays the playback image on a display device; and a sound data playback device that plays back the sound data and outputs the played sound.
An image reproduction command switch for giving a command relating to image reproduction in the camera; and an image reproduction process for performing an image reproduction process in accordance with a command given from the image reproduction command switch when the image reproduction mode is set. Image reproduction control means for controlling the reproduction means, and adjusting the volume of the sound reproduced by the sound data reproduction means in accordance with a command given from the image reproduction command switch when the imaging mode is set. Digital camera with sound reproduction function, equipped with volume control means. 4. The image reproducing command switch is a frame specifying switch for specifying a frame to be reproduced. The image reproducing means displays an image of the specified frame in response to a reproducing frame specifying command given from the frame specifying switch. The digital camera with a sound reproducing function according to claim 3, which is displayed on a device. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a determination unit configured to determine whether or not the sound data is being reproduced by the sound data reproduction unit, wherein the volume control unit determines that the sound data is being reproduced by the determination unit. 4. The digital camera with a sound reproduction function according to claim 1, wherein the digital camera controls a sound volume. 6. An image pickup means capable of setting an image pickup mode and an image reproduction mode, taking an image of a subject when the image pickup mode is set, and obtaining image data representing a subject image. A digital playback device with a sound playback function, comprising: an image playback device that plays back image data when the setting is made and displays the playback image on a display device; and a sound data playback device that plays back the sound data and outputs the played sound.
A camera control method, wherein when the imaging mode is set, the imaging unit is controlled so as to perform processing according to an imaging command given from an imaging command switch, and the image reproduction mode is set. Adjusting the volume of the sound reproduced by the sound data reproducing means in accordance with a command given from the imaging command switch.
Control method of digital camera with sound reproduction function. 7. An image pickup means which can set an image pickup mode and an image reproduction mode, picks up an object when the image pickup mode is set, and obtains image data representing the image of the object. A digital playback device with a sound playback function, comprising: an image playback device that plays back image data when the setting is made and displays the playback image on a display device; and a sound data playback device that plays back the sound data and outputs the played sound.
A camera control method, wherein when the image playback mode is set, the image playback means is controlled to perform processing related to image playback in accordance with a command given from an image playback command switch, and A method for controlling a digital camera with a sound reproducing function, wherein the sound volume reproduced by the sound data reproducing means is adjusted in accordance with a command given from the image reproducing command switch when is set.