JP2001117542A - Image pickup device, starting method thereof, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image pickup device capable of starting an electronic finder in a display state according to a user's desire. SOLUTION: It is possible to start a digital camera 100 in the same state as the latest image was displayed on an image display part 28, at the time of replacing batteries and changing over a mode dial 60 to a photographing mode from power source OFF, by changing a display flag stored in non-volatile memory 56 in display change-over processing (step S107) and starting the image display part 28 in a state presented by a display flag stored in the non-volatile memory 56 in a display start processing (step S104).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus for photographing and recording a still image or a moving image, a method for starting the same, and a storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a large number of imaging devices such as electronic cameras for recording and reproducing still images and moving images using a memory card having a solid-state memory element as a recording medium have already been commercially available. Also, electronic cameras equipped with an electronic finder such as a color liquid crystal panel are on the market.

In such an electronic camera, a user can determine a composition by continuously displaying images before photographing. When the user uses the electronic finder to determine the composition of the subject, and the remaining capacity (remaining energy) of the battery, which is the power supply, becomes smaller than a predetermined value, the electronic finder having a large power consumption is used. By forcibly erasing, much photographing and recording can be performed.

[0004]

However, in a conventional electronic camera, the electronic finder is always activated in a fixed display state of a lighting state or an extinguishing state at the time of activation.

For this reason, when the electronic finder is turned on at the end of the previous time, the electronic camera is started with the electronic finder turned on, or when the electronic finder is turned off at the previous end, the electronic finder is turned off. There is a problem that the user cannot always use the electronic camera in the same display state as the display state at the time of the previous end, such as starting the camera.

Further, when the electronic viewfinder is always turned on and started, the power consumption is large in a color liquid crystal panel or the like, so that there is a problem that the camera does not start even if there is a sufficient power supply capacity for performing a photographing operation. there were.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an imaging device capable of starting an electronic finder in a display state according to a user's request, a method of starting the electronic finder, and a storage medium.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an image pickup apparatus which can be started in a display state of an electronic finder in consideration of a power supply capacity, a method of starting the same, and a storage medium.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an imaging apparatus for photographing an image on an electronic finder so that the image can be displayed on the electronic finder. Selection means for selecting the electronic finder, display state storage means for storing the selected display state of the electronic finder at the end, and activation means for activating the display state of the electronic finder with the stored display state. It is characterized by having.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the imaging apparatus according to the first aspect, a remaining capacity detecting unit for detecting a remaining capacity of the power supply, and the detected remaining capacity indicates the electronic finder. When the electronic finder is not more than a predetermined value in the state, the display means of the electronic finder is turned off to enable a shooting operation. The electronic finder is activated in a state where the electronic finder is turned off.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the imaging apparatus according to the second aspect, further comprising a power supply replacement detecting unit for detecting that the power supply has been replaced, and detecting that the power supply has been replaced. The starting means starts the display state of the electronic finder in a display state before the power supply becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the imaging apparatus of the second aspect, there is provided a power supply type determining means for determining a type of a power supply, and the determined type of the power supply is connected to a commercial power supply for use. In the case of a possible AC coupler, the activation means activates the state of the electronic finder in a display state before the power supply falls below a predetermined value.

[0013] In the image pickup apparatus according to the fifth aspect, the first aspect is provided.
In the imaging device according to the above, the selection means can select a display state of the electronic finder to any one of a light-off state, an image display state, an image and an information display state.

[0014] In the image pickup apparatus according to the sixth aspect, the third aspect is provided.
Wherein the replaceable power supply is a primary battery such as an alkaline battery or a lithium battery.

[0015] In the image pickup apparatus according to the seventh aspect, the third aspect is provided.
In the imaging device according to item 1, the replaceable power source is Ni.
It is a secondary battery such as a Cd battery, a NiMH battery, and a Li battery.

In the image pickup apparatus according to the eighth aspect, the third aspect is provided.
The interchangeable power supply is an AC coupler that can be used by being connected to a commercial power supply.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for activating an image pickup apparatus.
A method for activating an image pickup apparatus for photographing an image on an electronic finder so that the image can be displayed freely, a step of selecting a display state of the electronic finder, a step of storing the selected display state of the electronic finder at the end, Setting the display state to the stored display state and activating the display state.

A storage medium according to claim 10 is a storage medium for storing a program executed by a computer for controlling an image pickup apparatus for photographing an image on an electronic finder so that the image can be displayed on the electronic finder. A state selecting step, a step of storing the selected display state of the electronic finder at the end, and a step of setting the display state of the electronic finder to the stored display state and starting up. I do.

[0019]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image pickup apparatus according to the present invention; The imaging device according to the present embodiment is applied to an electronic camera.

[First Embodiment] [Explanation of Overall Structure] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a structure of an electronic camera according to a first embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 100 denotes an electronic camera. Reference numeral 10 denotes a photographing lens. Reference numeral 12 denotes a shutter having an aperture function. An image sensor 14 converts an optical image into an electric signal. An A / D 16 converts an analog signal output from the image sensor 14 into a digital signal.
It is a converter.

Reference numeral 18 denotes an image pickup device 14, an A / D converter 16,
This is a timing generation circuit that supplies a clock signal and a control signal to the D / A converter 26, and is controlled by the memory control circuit 22 and the system control circuit 50.

Reference numeral 20 denotes an image processing circuit which performs predetermined pixel interpolation processing and color conversion processing on data from the A / D converter 16 or data from the memory control circuit 22.
Further, the image processing circuit 20 performs a predetermined calculation process using the captured image data, and the system control circuit 50 controls the exposure control unit 40 and the distance measurement control unit 42 based on the obtained calculation result. TTL (through-the-lens) AF (auto focus) processing, AE (auto exposure) processing, and EF (flash pre-emission) processing. Further, the image processing circuit 20 performs a predetermined calculation process using the captured image data, and based on the obtained calculation result, a TTL AWB (auto white balance).
Processing is also performed.

Reference numeral 22 denotes a memory control circuit, which includes an A / D converter 16, a timing generation circuit 18, an image processing circuit 20,
Image display memory 24, D / A converter 26, memory 30,
The compression / decompression circuit 32 is controlled. The data of the A / D converter 16 is written into the image display memory 24 or the memory 30 via the image processing circuit 20 and the memory control circuit 22 or the data of the A / D converter 16 is directly written via the memory control circuit 22. It is.

Reference numeral 24 denotes an image display memory. 26 is D /
A converter. Reference numeral 28 denotes an image display unit composed of a TFT type LCD or the like. The display image data written in the image display memory 24 is displayed by the image display unit 28 via the D / A converter 26. By sequentially displaying image data captured using the image display unit 28, an electronic finder function can be realized. Further, the image display unit 28 can arbitrarily turn on / off the display according to an instruction from the system control circuit 50,
When the display is turned off, the power consumption of the image processing apparatus 100 can be significantly reduced.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a memory for storing photographed still images and moving images, which has a sufficient storage capacity for storing a predetermined number of still images and moving images for a predetermined time. In the case of continuous shooting or panoramic shooting in which a plurality of still images are continuously shot, high-speed and large-volume image writing is performed in the memory 30.
Can be performed for The memory 30 can also be used as a work area for the system control circuit 50.

32 is an adaptive discrete cosine transform (ADCT)
A compression / decompression circuit for compressing / decompressing image data by, for example, reading an image stored in the memory 30 and performing compression or decompression processing, and writing the processed data to the memory 30. Reference numeral 40 denotes a shutter 12 having an aperture function.
, And also has a flash dimming function in cooperation with the flash 48.

Reference numeral 42 denotes a distance measurement control unit that controls focusing of the photographing lens 10. A zoom control unit 44 controls zooming of the photographing lens 10. Reference numeral 46 denotes a barrier control unit that controls the operation of the protection unit 102 that is a barrier.

Reference numeral 48 denotes a flash, which has a function of projecting AF auxiliary light and a function of controlling flash light. The exposure control unit 40 and the distance measurement control unit 42 are controlled by the TTL method. The system control circuit 50 controls the exposure control unit 40 and the distance measurement control unit 42 based on the calculation result obtained by calculating the captured image data by the image processing circuit 20.

Reference numeral 50 denotes a system control circuit for controlling the entire electronic camera 100. The system control circuit 50 is a CPU
And executes a program stored in the memory 52. 5
Reference numeral 2 denotes a memory for storing constants, variables, programs, and the like for operation of the system control circuit 50. Reference numeral 54 denotes a display unit having a display for displaying operating conditions, messages, and the like in characters and images in accordance with the execution of the program by the system control circuit 50, and a speaker for notifying by voice.
The display unit 54 is provided singly or plurally at an easily visible position near the operation unit of the electronic camera 100. In the present embodiment, the display unit 54 is configured by combining an LCD, an LED, a sound generating element, and the like. Also, the optical finder 104
Some of the functions of the display unit 54 are also provided therein.

Among the display contents of the display unit 54, those displayed on the LCD or the like include a single shot / continuous shooting display, a self-timer display, a compression ratio display, a recording pixel number display, a recording number display, and a remaining photographing possible. Number display, shutter speed display, aperture value display, exposure compensation display, flash display, red-eye reduction display, macro shooting display, buzzer setting display,
Clock battery level display, battery level display, error display, information display using multiple digits, recording media 200 and 210
Display, communication I / F operation display, date / time display, and the like.

Of the display contents of the display section 54, those displayed in the optical viewfinder 104 include a focus display, a camera shake warning display, a flash charge display, a shutter speed display, an aperture value display, an exposure correction display, and the like. There is.

Reference numeral 56 denotes an electrically erasable / recordable nonvolatile memory, which is, for example, an EEPROM.

[Description of Switches] 60, 62, 64, 6
Reference numerals 6, 68, and 70 denote operation units for inputting various operation instructions to the system control circuit 50. The operation unit includes a single switch or a combination of switches, dials, touch panels, pointing by gaze detection, and voice recognition devices. Is done.

Each operation section will be described specifically. 60
Is the mode dial, power off, automatic shooting mode,
Each function mode such as a shooting mode, a panoramic shooting mode, a playback mode, a multi-screen playback / erase mode, and a PC connection mode can be switched and set.

Reference numeral 62 denotes a shutter switch SW1, which is turned on during the operation of a shutter button (not shown).
F (auto focus) processing, AE (auto exposure) processing,
An instruction is issued to start operations such as AWB (auto white balance) processing and EF (flash pre-emission) processing.

Reference numeral 64 denotes a shutter switch SW2, which is turned on when the operation of a shutter button (not shown) is completed. The A / D converter 16 converts the signal read from the image sensor 12 into an analog-to-digital signal. Exposure processing of writing image data to the memory 30 via the CPU, development processing by calculation in the image processing circuit 20 and the memory control circuit 22, reading of image data from the memory 30, compression by the compression / decompression circuit 32, and An instruction to start an operation of a series of processing called recording processing for writing image data is given to 210.

Reference numeral 66 denotes an image display ON / OFF switch, which can set ON / OFF of the image display unit 28. With this function, when photographing is performed using the optical viewfinder 104, power can be saved by cutting off the current supply to the image display unit 28 including a TFT LCD or the like.

Reference numeral 68 denotes a quick review ON / OFF switch for setting a quick review function for automatically reproducing image data immediately after photographing. Note that the present embodiment has a function of setting the quick review function to ON especially when the image display unit 28 is turned OFF.

Reference numeral 70 denotes an operation unit including various buttons, a touch panel, etc., a menu button, a set button, a macro button, a multi-screen playback page break button, a flash setting button, a single-shot / continuous-shot / self-timer switching button, and a menu shift. + (Plus) button, menu move-
It has a (minus) button, a play image move + (plus) button, a play image-(minus) button, a shooting image quality selection button, an exposure correction button, a date / time setting button, and the like.

Reference numeral 80 denotes a power supply control unit, which includes a battery detection circuit,
It comprises a DC-DC converter, a switch circuit for switching blocks to be energized (both are not shown), and the like, and detects the presence or absence of a battery, the type of the battery, the remaining amount of the battery, a detection result, and a system control circuit. The DC-DC converter is controlled based on the instruction of 50, and a required voltage is supplied to each unit including a recording medium for a required period.

Reference numerals 82 and 84 denote detachable connectors. 86 is a primary battery such as an alkaline battery or a lithium battery,
Secondary batteries such as NiCd batteries, NiMH batteries, and Li batteries;
It is a power supply composed of an AC adapter (AC coupler) and the like.

Reference numeral 87 denotes a battery lid switch (open / close detector) for detecting whether or not the lid containing the power supply 86 has been opened. The battery cover switch can detect that the power supply 86 is about to be replaced.

Reference numerals 90 and 94 denote interfaces with recording media such as a memory card and a hard disk. Reference numerals 92 and 96 denote connectors for connecting to a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk. 98 is a connector 92,
A recording medium attachment / detachment detecting unit that detects whether or not the recording media 200 and 210 are mounted on the recording medium 96, respectively.

In this embodiment, two systems of interfaces and connectors for attaching a recording medium are provided. The interface and the connector for attaching the recording medium may be constituted by one or a plurality of systems. Also, interfaces and connectors of different standards may be combined.

Further, the interface and the connector may be configured by using ones conforming to standards such as a PCMCIA card and a CF (Compact Flash) card.

Further, when the interfaces 90 and 94 and the connectors 92 and 96 are formed by using a standard such as a PCMCIA card or a CF (Compact Flash) card, a LAN card, a modem card, a US
By connecting various communication cards such as a B card, an IEEE 1394 card, a P1284 card, a SCSI card, a PHS, and other communication cards, image data and management attached to the image data between other computers and peripheral devices such as a printer. Can transfer information.

Reference numeral 102 denotes a barrier (protection unit) that covers the imaging unit including the lens 10 of the electronic camera 100 to prevent the imaging unit from being stained or damaged. Reference numeral 104 denotes an optical finder, which can shoot using only the optical finder without using the electronic finder function of the image display unit 28. In the optical viewfinder 104, some functions of the display unit 54, for example, a focus display, a camera shake warning display, a flash charge display, a shutter speed display, an aperture value display, an exposure correction display, and the like are provided.

Reference numeral 110 denotes a communication unit, and RS232C, U
It has various communication functions such as SB, IEEE1394, P1284, SCSI, modem, LAN, and wireless communication. 1
Reference numeral 12 denotes a connector for connecting the electronic camera 100 to another device by the communication unit 110, or an antenna for wireless communication.

Reference numeral 200 denotes a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk. The recording medium 200 includes a recording unit 202 including a semiconductor memory or a magnetic disk, an interface 204 with the electronic camera 100, and a connector 206.
Is provided. Reference numeral 210 denotes a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk, like the recording medium 200. Recording medium 21
Reference numeral 0 denotes a recording unit 212 composed of a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, or the like, and an interface 21 with the image processing apparatus 100.
4 and a connector 216.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the photographing operation. This processing program is stored in the memory 52 and is executed by the CPU in the system control circuit 50. When the power is turned on due to battery replacement or the like, the system control circuit 50 initializes flags, control variables, and the like (step S101). At this time, the nonvolatile memory 5
The flag indicating the display state stored in 6 is also read.

The system control circuit 50 determines the set position of the mode dial 60 (step S102). If the mode dial 60 has been set to the power OFF state, the display of each display unit is changed to the end state, and the protection unit is changed. The barrier 102 is closed to protect the imaging unit, necessary parameters including flags and control variables, setting values, and setting modes are recorded in the non-volatile memory 56, and the image display unit 28 is controlled by the power control unit 80.
After performing a predetermined end process such as shutting off unnecessary power supply to each part of the electronic camera 100 including (step S10)
3), the process returns to step S102.

On the other hand, when the mode dial 60 has been set to the photographing mode, the system control circuit 50 performs display activation processing of the image display unit 28 (step S104). Details of the display activation process in step S104 will be described later.

The system control circuit 50 controls the image display unit 28
Is activated, the state of the mode dial 60 is checked (step S105). If the mode dial 60 is set to power off, the display of each display unit is changed to the end state, and the protection unit 102 is turned off as described above. The barrier is closed to protect the imaging section, necessary parameters including flags and control variables, setting values, and setting modes are recorded in the non-volatile memory 56, and the power control section 80 controls the electronic camera 100 including the image display section 28. After performing a predetermined end process such as shutting off unnecessary power supply (step S103), step S10 is performed.
It returns to the process of 2.

On the other hand, if the mode dial 60 has been set to the photographing mode in step S105, the system control circuit 50 determines whether or not the image display ON / OFF switch 66 has been pressed (step S106). Image display O
When the N / OFF switch 66 is pressed, the image display unit 2
A display switching process for switching the display state of No. 8 is performed (step S107). The details of the image display switching process in step S107 will be described later. On the other hand, step S106
If the image display ON / OFF switch 66 is not pressed, the process proceeds to step S108 without doing anything.

After checking the state of the image display ON / OFF switch 66, the system control circuit 50 checks the state of the shutter switches 62 and 64 (step S108). If the shutter switches 62 and 64 are depressed, the photographing / recording process is performed (Step S109), and then Step S1 is performed.
It returns to the process of 05. If the shutter switches 62 and 64 have not been pressed, the process returns to step S105 without doing anything. Since the photographing / recording process is already well known, the description is omitted.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the display start processing procedure in step S104. The system control circuit 50 checks the display flag stored in the nonvolatile memory 56 (Step S201). Here, the state identified by the display flag is OVF / EVF / INFO.
Here, it is assumed that when the value of the display flag is “1”, it indicates OVF, when it is “2”, EVF, and when it is “3”, it indicates INFO. The value of the display flag may be any value as long as there are three types of values that can be identified. Also, the OVF is used when the image is displayed on the image display unit 28.
Nothing is displayed on the screen, and the image is photographed by the optical viewfinder. EVF indicates a state in which shooting is performed by an electronic finder that sequentially displays image data shot on the image display unit 28 during shooting. INFO has an electronic finder function,
This represents a state in which information such as shooting conditions is also displayed.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a screen displaying the size of an image to be shot as an example of information display. In the figure,
Reference numeral 1101 denotes a through image. 1102 is shooting information. The shooting information 1102 includes 1600 pixels × 12
This indicates that an image of 00 pixels is recorded. The shooting information includes a single shot / continuous shooting display, a self-timer display, a compression ratio display, a white balance display, a recordable number display, a remaining recordable number display, a shutter speed display, an aperture value display, an exposure correction value display, and a flash. Display, red-eye reduction display, macro shooting display, buzzer setting display, battery remaining battery display, battery remaining display, error display, information display using a plurality of digits, display of detached state of recording media 200 and 210, communication I / O F operation display, date
Time display or the like may be displayed.

The system control circuit 50 determines in step S20
If the display flag is OVF in step 1, nothing is displayed and the process ends. When using other than the OVF, that is, when using the electronic finder, the power of the image display unit 28 is turned on (step S202), and the through display state in which the captured image data is sequentially displayed is set (step S203). And
The state of the display flag is checked (step S204), and if it is INFO for displaying information, information necessary for display is acquired and displayed on the image display unit 28 (step S205).
On the other hand, if the display flag is EVF, the process ends.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the image display switching process in step S107. In this process, when the image display ON / OFF switch 66 is pressed,
The system control circuit 50 switches the display state of the image display unit 28. First, the display flag stored in the non-volatile memory 56 is determined (step S301). If the display flag is OVF, the display on the image display unit 28 is displayed on the EVF.
Perform the process of setting the status. That is, the power of the image display unit 28 is turned on, the captured image data is sequentially displayed (Step S302), and the display flag stored in the nonvolatile memory 56 is rewritten to a value 2 meaning EVF (Step S303). When the display flag is EVF, a process of setting the display of the image display unit 28 to the INFO state is performed. That is, information necessary for display is acquired and displayed (step S304), and the display flag is rewritten to a value 3 meaning INFO (step S305). Further, when the display flag is INFO, a process of setting the display of the image display unit 28 to the OVF state is performed. That is, after the power of the image display unit 28 is turned off and the process of sequentially displaying the captured images is stopped (step S306), the display flag is rewritten to a value 1 meaning OVF (step S30).
7). The rewritten display flag is stored in the nonvolatile memory 56.
And the value is held even when the power of the electronic camera 100 is turned off.

As described above, in the first embodiment,
In the display switching process of step S107, the non-volatile memory 56
Is changed in step S10.
By starting the screen display unit 28 in the state indicated by the display flag stored in the non-volatile memory 56 in the display start-up processing in step 4, the battery is replaced, and the mode dial 60 is changed from the power OFF to the shooting mode. Then, the electronic camera 100 can be started in the same state as the state last displayed on the image display unit 28.

[Second Embodiment] The configuration of an electronic camera according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, and therefore description thereof will be omitted, and imaging operations different from those of the first embodiment will be described. Just explain.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure of an image pickup operation according to the second embodiment. This processing program is stored in the memory 52, and the system control circuit 5
It is executed by the CPU in 0.

The same step processes as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. In the second embodiment, a display activation process similar to step S104 is performed (step S104A). Step S
If the image display ON / OFF switch 66 has not been switched at 106 or the image display ON / OFF switch 66 has been switched and the display switching process has been performed (step S107A), then the remaining power (remaining energy) of the power supply is reduced. It is determined whether or not it is sufficient (step S107B), and the process proceeds to step S108.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the display start processing procedure in step S104A. The same step processes as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. In the second embodiment, when the display flag determined in step S201 is other than the OVF for which the power of the screen display unit 28 needs to be turned on, the system control circuit 50 stores the display flag in the nonvolatile memory 56. The value of the Low Battery flag is determined (step S201A). If the Low Battery flag has the value 1, the process ends without displaying anything.
That is, the power of the image display unit 28 is not turned on, and the electronic finder is not displayed. The display state is the same as OVF.

On the other hand, in step S201A, Low Ba
If the ttery flag has the value 0, it is determined whether the remaining power of the power supply is sufficient to display the image display unit 28 (step S201B). If the remaining capacity of the power supply is sufficient, the process proceeds to step S202.

On the other hand, when the remaining capacity of the power supply is insufficient,
The Low Battery flag is rewritten to a value of 1 (step S201C), and the process ends. If the remaining capacity of the power supply is insufficient, the Low Bat
As in the case where the try flag has the value 1, the image display unit 2
8 is not turned on and the electronic finder is not displayed.

The Low Battery flag is a value stored in the nonvolatile memory 56 and is a flag indicating that the remaining power of the power supply is insufficient to display the electronic finder. Here, the Low Battery flag is represented by a value 0 when the remaining capacity of the power supply is sufficient, and a value 1 when the remaining capacity is insufficient. Also, Low Bat
Clearing the tery flag is equivalent to Low Batt.
erry flag is set to “0”.
Turning on the Battery flag is Low.
This means that the value of the Battery flag is set to “1”. Note that the value of the LowBattery flag may be any value as long as it is two identifiable values.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the display switching processing procedure in step S107A. The same step processes as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. In the second embodiment, the system control circuit 50 determines the LowBattery flag (step S301A), indicates that the remaining power of the power supply is insufficient (insufficient energy) in the past, and that the image display unit 2
Lo indicating that 8 is not displayed and OVF status
If the w Battery flag is ON, it is determined whether or not the remaining power of the power supply is sufficient to display the electronic finder on the image display unit 28 (step S301B).

If the remaining capacity of the power supply is insufficient, a warning sound is sounded for a few seconds to warn the user (step S).
301C), the Low Battery flag is turned ON (step S301D), and the process ends without performing display switching.

On the other hand, if the remaining power of the power supply is sufficient in step S301B, the power of the image display unit 28 is turned on, and the image data picked up is sequentially displayed on the image display unit 28 (step S302). The display flag 56 is rewritten to a value 2 meaning EVF (step S3).
03). Further, the Low Bat of the nonvolatile memory 56
The term flag is cleared by rewriting the value to 0 (step S303A).

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the procedure for checking the remaining power (remaining energy) of the power supply in step S107B. The system control circuit 50 outputs the Low B
Attachment flag is determined (step S501), and L
If the ow Battery flag is ON, the process proceeds to step S506 without checking the remaining power of the power supply.

On the other hand, if the Low Battery flag is
If it is FF, the display flag is determined (step S50).
2) If the display flag is other than OVF, it is checked whether or not the remaining power of the power supply is sufficient for displaying on the image display unit 28 (step S503). The process proceeds to S506.

On the other hand, if the remaining capacity is insufficient, the power of the image display device 28 is turned off and the process of sequentially displaying the captured images is stopped (step S504). And
Low Bat indicating that the remaining capacity of the power supply is insufficient
The termy flag is turned on (step S505). Thereafter, it is determined whether or not there is sufficient power remaining in the power supply for photographing (step S506). If the remaining power is sufficient, the process ends. The process proceeds to step S103 to perform an end process.

As described above, in the second embodiment,
The remaining power of the power supply is checked. If the remaining power of the power supply is not sufficient, the power supply of the image display unit 28 is turned off in step S504.
F and the Low stored in the non-volatile memory 56
Turn on the Battery flag. In this state, if the power of the mode dial 60 is turned off in order to end the shooting, and the mode dial 60 is set to the shooting mode in step S105 in order to perform shooting, a low battery
Since the ry flag is ON, the display is started in the OVF mode which consumes less power in the display start process.

[Third Embodiment] The electronic camera according to the third embodiment has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment. Therefore, the description thereof is omitted, and the electronic camera according to the third embodiment is different from the first and second embodiments. Only different photographing operations will be described.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure of an image pickup operation according to the third embodiment. This processing program is stored in the memory 52 and is executed by the CPU in the system control circuit 50.

The same step processes as those in the first and second embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. In the third embodiment, after performing the remaining capacity check processing of the power supply (step S107B), it is determined whether or not the battery cover switch (SW) 87 is detected (step S107).
107C). When the battery cover SW87 is detected, it is determined that the battery is removed and the battery is replaced, and the low battery is detected.
The y flag is cleared (step S107D), and the end processing of step S103 is performed.

The display start-up process (step S104A), the display switching process (step S107A), and the remaining power check process (step S107B) are described in the second section.
This is the same as the embodiment.

In the third embodiment, when the battery cover is opened, the Low Battery flag is cleared, so that the next time the power is turned on, the initialization (step S10) is performed.
1) After performing the mode dial determination (step S102), display start processing (step S104A) is performed.

That is, in the power remaining capacity check processing in step S107B, since the power remaining capacity is not sufficient, the power of the image display unit 28 is automatically turned off (step S504), and the battery is replaced. , The battery cover switch 87 detects that the battery is replaced (step S1).
07C), Low B stored in the non-volatile memory
clear the attery flag (step S107)
D). When the power is turned on in a state where the Low Battery flag is cleared, an initialization process (step S101) and a mode dial determination process (step S10)
After performing 2), display activation processing (step S104A)
To start the screen display unit 28 in the state indicated by the display flag stored in the nonvolatile memory 56.

That is, the image processing apparatus is started in a state immediately before the remaining power of the power supply becomes insufficient. For this reason, when shooting using the electronic viewfinder, even if the electronic viewfinder is automatically turned off due to a decrease in the remaining power of the power supply,
When the power supply is replaced with a power supply having a sufficient remaining capacity, the electronic finder is automatically started with the power supply turned on.

The replaceable power source 86 includes primary batteries such as alkaline batteries and lithium batteries, NiCd batteries, N
Secondary batteries such as iMH batteries and Li batteries, and AC couplers (AC adapters) that can be used by being connected to a commercial power supply.

[Fourth Embodiment] The electronic camera according to the fourth embodiment has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment. Therefore, the description thereof will be omitted, and a photographing operation different from that of the second embodiment will be described. Will be described only.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a display start processing procedure in the fourth embodiment. This processing program is stored in the memory 52 and is executed by the CPU in the system control circuit 50.

The same step processes as those in the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. In the fourth embodiment, first, the type of the power supply 86 is determined (step S200A), and if the power supply 86 is an AC coupler, the Low Battery flag is turned off (step S200B). On the other hand, if the power supply 86 is not an AC coupler, the process proceeds to step S201.

A method of determining whether or not the power supply 86 is an AC coupler is well known, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.
For example, an AC coupler has a ground contact,
As a result of examining the state of the contact, if it is determined that the contact is ground, a method of determining that the contact is an AC coupler may be employed.

The display switching process (step S107A)
And power remaining capacity check processing (step S107)
B) is the same as in the second embodiment.

In the fourth embodiment, the type of power supply is determined at the time of startup, and when the power supply is an AC coupler, the Low Battery flag stored in the nonvolatile memory 56 is cleared. The screen display unit 28 is started up in the state indicated by the display flag stored in the nonvolatile memory 56. That is, the electronic camera starts up immediately before the power supply becomes insufficient.

For this reason, even when the electronic finder is automatically turned off due to a decrease in the remaining power of the electronic finder during photographing using the electronic finder, once the mode dial 60 is turned off, Mode dial 6 again
When the shooting mode is set to 0, when the AC coupler is used as the power supply 86, the electronic finder is automatically started with the power on.

The present invention may be applied to a system constituted by a plurality of devices, or may be applied to an apparatus constituted by a single device. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus. In this case, by reading out a storage medium storing a program represented by software for achieving the present invention into a system or an apparatus, the system or the apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a memory map of the memory 52 as a storage medium. The memory 52 includes an imaging operation processing program module illustrated in the flowchart of FIG. 2, a display activation processing program module illustrated in the flowchart of FIG. 3, a display switching processing program module illustrated in the flowchart of FIG. 4, and an imaging operation processing illustrated in the flowchart of FIG. 11, a display activation processing program module shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7, a display switching processing program module of FIG. 8, a power supply remaining energy check processing program module of FIG. 9, an imaging operation processing program module shown in a flowchart of FIG. And the like, are stored.

The storage medium for supplying the program module is, for example, a memory such as a ROM, a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a DVD, a magnetic tape, and a nonvolatile memory card. Etc. can be used.

[0093]

According to the present invention, it is possible to meet the user's desire to always use the electronic finder as a finder. Similarly, it is possible to meet a user's request to always use an optical finder that consumes less power as a finder.

When the power supply capacity decreases during use of the electronic finder, more power can be taken by automatically turning off the power of the electronic finder which consumes a large amount of power.

Further, when a power supply having a reduced power supply capacity is used, the electronic finder which consumes a large amount of power is not started at the time of startup, so that the electronic camera can be started up and the photographing operation can be performed reliably. .

Also, when the user who always uses the electronic finder replaces the power supply with a sufficient power supply capacity when the power supply capacity is reduced, the power supply of the electronic finder can be automatically turned on. It is possible to meet a user's request to use the finder as a finder.

Further, when a user who always uses the electronic finder uses an AC coupler which can obtain stable power as a power supply, the electronic finder is automatically turned on at the time of startup, so that the electronic finder is always turned on. Can be used as a finder.

As described above, the electronic finder can be activated in a display state according to the user's request. Further, the electronic finder can be started up in a display state of the electronic finder in consideration of the power supply capacity.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an electronic camera according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a shooting operation processing procedure;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a display activation processing procedure in step S104.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an image display switching processing procedure in step S107.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a screen displaying a size of an image to be shot as an example of information display.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an imaging operation processing procedure according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a display activation processing procedure in step S104A.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a display switching processing procedure in step S107A.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a remaining power (remaining energy) check process performed in step S107B.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an imaging operation processing procedure according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a display activation processing procedure according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a memory map of a memory 52 as a storage medium.

[Explanation of symbols]

 28 Image display unit 50 System control circuit 52 Memory 60 Mode dial 62 Shutter switch SW1 64 Shutter switch SW2 66 Image display ON / OFF switch 68 Quick review ON / OFF switch 70 Operation unit 80 Power control unit 86 Power supply 87 Power supply lid switch 104 Optical finder

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An imaging apparatus for photographing an image on an electronic finder so that the image can be displayed freely, a selecting means for selecting a display state of the electronic finder, and a display state storage for storing the selected display state of the electronic finder at the end. And an activation unit that activates the electronic finder by setting the display state of the electronic finder to the stored display state. 2. A remaining capacity detecting means for detecting a remaining capacity of a power supply, wherein when the detected remaining capacity is not more than a predetermined value while the electronic finder is displayed, the display state of the electronic finder is turned off. And a light-off means for enabling a photographing operation when the electronic viewfinder is turned off, wherein the start-up means starts the electronic viewfinder in the light-off state at the next start-up when the electronic viewfinder ends in the light-off state. An imaging device according to any one of the preceding claims. 3. A power supply replacement detecting means for detecting that the power supply has been replaced, and when it is detected that the power supply has been replaced, the starting means sets the display state of the electronic finder to a predetermined value by the power supply. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the apparatus is started in a display state before the value becomes equal to or less than the value. 4. A power supply type discriminating means for discriminating a type of a power supply, wherein when the discriminated power supply type is an AC coupler that can be used by being connected to a commercial power supply, the activation means includes a power supply of the electronic finder. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the state is started in a display state before the power supply becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said selection means is capable of selecting a display state of said electronic viewfinder from any of an unlit state, an image display state, and an image and information display state. Imaging device. 6. The replaceable power source is an alkaline battery,
The imaging device according to claim 3, wherein the imaging device is a primary battery such as a lithium battery. 7. The replaceable power source comprises a NiCd battery,
The imaging device according to claim 3, wherein the imaging device is a secondary battery such as a NiMH battery or a Li battery. 8. The imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the replaceable power supply is an AC coupler that can be used by being connected to a commercial power supply. 9. A method for activating an image pickup apparatus for photographing an image on an electronic finder so that the image can be displayed on the electronic finder, wherein: a step of selecting a display state of the electronic finder; and a step of storing the selected display state of the electronic finder at the end. And activating the electronic finder by setting the display state of the electronic finder to the stored display state. 10. A storage medium storing a program to be executed by a computer that controls an image pickup apparatus that freely captures an image on an electronic finder, the program comprising: a procedure for selecting a display state of the electronic finder; A storage medium comprising: a step of storing a selected display state of the electronic finder at the end of the operation; and a step of starting the electronic finder by setting the display state to the stored display state.