JP2001157088A - Electronic camera and battery remainder displaying method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic camera for realizing the proper display of a battery remainder respectively at the photographing of an image and at reproducing of the image. SOLUTION: When a photographing mode switch 33 is turned to an on state, a system controller 28 detects the voltage value of power supplied from a battery pack 50, calculates the battery remainder from this detected voltage value and further calculates a photographable number of sheets from this calculated battery remainder to display it on a monochrome liquid crystal display (information LCD) 27 as battery remainder information. When a reproducing mode switch 34 becomes an on state, the controller 28 detects the voltage value of power supplied from the pack 50, calculates the battery remainder from this detected voltage value, and further calculates a reproducible time from this calculated battery remainder to display it on the display (information LCD) 27 as the battery remainder information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic camera which can be driven by a battery, and a method for displaying the remaining battery power. The present invention relates to a method for displaying a remaining battery level.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a subject image is formed on a solid-state image sensor, for example, a CCD two-dimensional image sensor by an image pickup optical system and converted into an electric signal. A so-called electronic camera that records data on a recording medium such as a disk has been widely used.

[0003] An electronic camera of this type is configured to be driven by electric power from a battery pack that is detachably mounted.

[0004]

In this type of electronic camera, the number of images that can be shot is presented to the user. The number of images that can be shot is determined by the memory device for recording image data. It is calculated by dividing the remaining amount by the capacity per image data. However, with the recent increase in the capacity of the memory device, it has been required to calculate the number of shootable images from the remaining amount of the battery in addition to calculating the number of shootable images from the remaining amount of the memory device. Therefore, the number of images that can be photographed has been calculated by dividing the remaining amount of the battery by the amount of power consumed in one photographing operation.

On the other hand, this type of electronic camera is not necessarily used only for photographing an image, but is also used, for example, as a monitor for viewing a photographed image on the spot. Therefore, during use as a monitor, it is preferable to present to the user, for example, how many minutes can be reproduced in place of the number of recordable images.

However, in the conventional electronic camera, the number of images that can be taken is presented regardless of whether the image is being taken or the image is being played back, and the remaining battery level is displayed in accordance with the use situation. I couldn't say.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides an electronic camera and a battery remaining amount display method for realizing appropriate battery remaining amount display at the time of image capturing and image reproduction, respectively. The purpose is to:

[0008]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an electronic camera according to the present invention presents, to a user, battery remaining amount information relating to image shooting, such as the number of shootable images, when performing image shooting. On the other hand, when performing image reproduction, battery remaining amount information related to image reproduction such as, for example, a reproducible time is presented to a user. Display means for displaying an image, an operation mode instructing means for instructing which of an image photographing operation and an image reproducing operation is to be performed, and displaying an image on the display means when image photographing is instructed by the operation mode instructing means. Displaying battery remaining amount information related to shooting, and when an image reproduction is instructed by the operation mode instructing means,
Battery remaining amount display means for displaying remaining battery amount information relating to image reproduction on the display means.

In the electronic camera according to the present invention, an appropriate display of the remaining battery level in accordance with the use situation, such as the number of images that can be taken during image capturing and the reproducible time during image playback, is realized.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an external view of an electronic camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, this electronic camera is roughly divided into a camera body 1 and a lens barrel 2. In addition to the optical viewfinder 3, the camera body 1 is provided with a release button 4, various setting buttons 5, a shooting mode button 6, and a playback mode button 7 as operation units, and a color liquid crystal display (back LCD) as a display unit. ) 23 and a monochrome liquid crystal display (information LCD) 27. Further, a battery pack 50 described later is detachably attached to the electronic camera from the bottom surface.

Next, a detailed configuration inside the electronic camera according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 2, after the subject light passes through an imaging lens 11 provided in the lens barrel 2, the amount of light is controlled by an aperture 12. The imaging lens 11 is an AF motor 13
The aperture 12 is driven by an aperture motor 14. The subject light that has passed through the imaging lens 11 and the aperture 12 is guided into the camera body 1 and is a CCD two-dimensional color image sensor (hereinafter simply referred to as C), which is a color solid-state imaging device.
CD 15). Thereby, CCD1
A subject image is formed on the imaging surface 5.

The CCD 15 forms an image pickup surface by arranging a plurality of pixels for performing photoelectric conversion in a two-dimensional matrix.
Furthermore, a color filter is arranged on the imaging surface,
By being driven and controlled by the CCD driver 16, signal charges corresponding to the subject image formed on the imaging surface are accumulated. The signal charges accumulated on the imaging surface are read out from the CCD 15 as electric signals called pixel signals.

The pixel signal read from the CCD 15 is
After being subjected to CDS (correlated double sampling) and other processing and converted into digital signals by an A / D converter 17, an AE (auto exposure) processing section 18, an AF (auto focus adjustment) processing section 19, and an image processing Input to the unit 20.

The AE processing unit 18 receives the digitized pixel signal output from the A / D converter 17 and performs an arithmetic processing mainly on the cumulative addition of the pixel signals from each pixel. A according to the brightness of the subject based on
Find the E evaluation value.

The AF processing unit 19 receives the digitized pixel signal output from the A / D converter 17 and extracts, for example, a high-frequency component of the pixel signal for one screen by a high-pass filter, and accumulates the extracted high-frequency component. By performing arithmetic processing such as addition, an AF evaluation value corresponding to the contour component amount on the high frequency side is calculated.

The image processing unit 20 generates a color image signal of a predetermined format by performing auto white balance, luminance / color signal generation, gamma processing, and the like on the pixel signal.

The color image signal generated by the image processing section 20 is temporarily stored in a buffer memory 21 composed of, for example, a DRAM. The color image signal read from the buffer memory 21 is guided to the display processing unit 22,
Here, after being converted into a form suitable for display output, it is supplied to a color liquid crystal display (rear LCD) 23 such as a TFT system and displayed as an image.

A compression / decompression processing unit 24 is further connected to the buffer memory 21, and a recording / reproduction processing unit 25 is connected to the compression / decompression processing unit 24. The recording / reproduction processing unit 25 performs processing for recording image data on the recording medium 26 and reproducing image data from the recording medium 26. As the recording medium 26, a memory card constituted by a semiconductor memory such as a card-type flash memory is generally used, but is not limited to a memory card. For example, a magnetic recording medium such as a hard disk or a floppy disk is used. And various forms can be used.

The compression / expansion processing section 24 reads out the image signal stored in the buffer memory 21 and compresses (encodes) the image signal.
By performing the processing, a compression processing unit for forming a form suitable for recording on the recording medium 26 and a decompression processing unit for reading out image data recorded on the recording medium 26 and performing decompression (decoding) processing Become. As a method of this compression processing, for example, a JPEG method is used, but it is not limited to this. At the time of reproduction, the decompressed image signal is temporarily stored in the buffer memory 21 and the display processing unit 2
2, the color liquid crystal display (back LCD) 23
Is displayed as appropriate.

Monochrome liquid crystal display (information LC
D) 27 firstly displays battery remaining amount information related to image shooting such as the number of images that can be shot as shown in FIG. 3 (a), and secondly, plays back as shown in FIG. 3 (b). This is for displaying remaining battery information relating to image reproduction such as time, and displays numerical values of a predetermined layout in response to a control signal supplied from the system controller 28.
The electronic camera according to the present invention provides the monochrome liquid crystal display (information LCD) 27 with battery remaining amount information related to image shooting or a battery related to image playback depending on the use condition, that is, whether the image is being shot or being played back. It is characterized in that one of the remaining amount information is exclusively displayed.

The system controller 28 controls each unit based on the processing results of the AE processing unit 18 and the AF processing unit 19 and commands from the operation unit 30, and is configured using a CPU. Specifically, the system controller 28 includes an image processing unit 20, a buffer memory 21, a display processing unit 22, a compression / decompression processing unit 24, and a recording / reproduction processing unit 2.
5. Monochrome liquid crystal display (information LCD) 2
7. Control the motor drivers 41 and 42 that drive the AF motor 13 and the aperture motor 14.

That is, the system controller 28
The motor driver 42 is controlled based on the AE evaluation value obtained by the AE processing unit 18, and the aperture 1 is controlled via the aperture motor 14.
2 to control the amount of light, and even CCD
An automatic exposure (AE) process is performed by controlling the charge accumulation time of the CCD 15 via the driver 16. Further, the system controller 28 controls the motor driver 41 based on the AF evaluation value obtained by the AF processing unit 19, moves the imaging lens 11 in the optical axis direction via the AF motor 13, and performs automatic focus adjustment (AF ) Perform processing.

The operation unit 30 generates a command signal for performing various operations based on a user's operation and transmits the command signal to the system controller 28. Specifically, the operation unit 30 includes a release switch 31 for instructing photographing, various setting switches 32 for instructing various settings, a photographing mode switch 33 for instructing switching of the operation mode to the photographing mode, and an operation mode. A reproduction mode switch 34 is provided for instructing switching to the reproduction mode. 1, the release switch 31 is pressed by the release button 4, the various setting switches 32 are pressed by the various setting buttons 5, the shooting mode switch 33 is pressed by the shooting mode button 6, and the reproduction mode switch 34 is pressed. Is pressed by pressing the playback mode button 7.
These switches are turned on.

Further, in addition to these various controls, the system controller 28 displays the remaining battery information of the battery pack 50 which is detachably mounted in accordance with the use status, as described above. Has a function of performing battery remaining amount display control peculiar to. Hereinafter, the battery remaining amount display control will be described in detail.

As described above, in this electronic camera, the battery pack 50 is detachably mounted from the bottom surface.
When the shooting mode switch 33 is turned on, that is, when the shooting mode button 6 is pressed, the system controller 28 detects the voltage value of the power supplied from the attached battery pack 50 and The battery level of the battery pack 50 is calculated from the detected voltage value and the battery characteristic information given in advance, and the battery level information relating to image shooting is obtained from the calculated battery level to obtain a monochrome liquid crystal display (information LCD). ) 27. When the reproduction mode switch 34 is turned on, that is, when the reproduction mode button 7 is pressed, the voltage value of the power supplied from the attached battery pack 50 is detected, and the detected voltage The remaining battery level of the battery pack 50 is calculated from the value and the battery characteristic information given in advance, and the remaining battery level information related to image reproduction is obtained from the calculated remaining battery level and displayed on the monochrome liquid crystal display (information LCD) 27. .

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation procedure of the remaining battery level display control in the electronic camera of this embodiment. The control of these operations is performed by the system controller 28.

When the photographing mode switch 33 is turned on, that is, when the photographing mode button 6 is pressed, the system controller 28 first detects the voltage value of the power supplied from the attached battery pack 50 (step A).
1). Next, the system controller 28 calculates the remaining battery level of the battery pack 50 from the detected voltage value and the battery characteristic information given in advance (step A).
2) Further, the number of shootable images is calculated from the calculated remaining battery amount and the amount of power consumed in one predetermined shooting operation (step A3). Is displayed on a monochrome liquid crystal display (information LCD) 27 (step A4).

On the other hand, when the reproduction mode switch 34 is turned on, that is, when the reproduction mode button 7 is pressed, the system controller 28 first detects the voltage value of the electric power supplied from the attached battery pack 50 (step). B1). Next, the system controller 28 calculates the remaining battery level of the battery pack 50 from the detected voltage value and the predetermined battery characteristic information (step B2), and further calculates the calculated remaining battery level and the predetermined remaining battery level. A reproducible time is calculated from the amount of power consumed in the replay for a predetermined time (step B3), and the calculated reproducible time is displayed on the monochrome liquid crystal display (information LCD) 27 as remaining battery information (step B).
4).

As described above, in this electronic camera, an appropriate display of the remaining battery level is realized at the time of capturing an image and at the time of reproducing an image.

The display form in FIG. 3 may be a bar display or a yammeter display. Further, FIG. 4 shows the case where the shooting mode button is turned on and the reproduction mode button is turned on. However, a single instruction member may be used so that either the shooting mode or the reproduction mode can be selected. . Further, when either the shooting mode or the playback mode is set when the power of the camera is turned on, it is possible to determine that each mode has been instructed at that time. The processing in FIG. 4 may be performed based on this.

[0033]

As described in detail above, according to the electronic camera of the present invention, when photographing an image, the user is presented with remaining battery information relating to image photographing, for example, the number of images that can be photographed. When the reproduction is performed, the remaining battery information related to the image reproduction, such as the reproducible time, is presented to the user, so that the appropriate remaining battery level display according to the use situation is realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of an electronic camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of the electronic camera according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary view showing a display example of a monochrome liquid crystal display (information LCD) of the electronic camera of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary flowchart for explaining the operation procedure of battery remaining amount display control in the electronic camera of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Camera body 2 ... Lens barrel 3 ... Optical finder 4 ... Release button 5 ... Various setting buttons 6 ... Shooting mode button 7 ... Reproduction mode button 11 ... Imaging lens 12 ... Aperture 13 ... AF motor 14 ... Aperture motor 15 ... CCD (Solid-state imaging device) 16: CCD driver 17: A / D converter 18: Automatic exposure processing unit 19: Automatic focus adjustment processing unit 20: Image processing unit 21: Buffer memory 22: Display processing unit 23: Color liquid crystal display (back side) LCD) 24 compression / decompression processing unit 25 recording / reproduction processing unit 26 recording medium 27 monochrome liquid crystal display (information LCD) 28 system controller 30 operation unit 31 release switch 32 various setting switches 33 photographing mode Switch 34: Reproduction mode switch 41, 42: Motor driver 50 ... Battery pack

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A battery-operable electronic camera having a display unit, wherein when displaying an image, the display unit displays remaining battery amount information related to image capturing, and when reproducing an image, the remaining battery unit relates to image reproducing on the display unit. An electronic camera, comprising: means for displaying information. 2. An electronic camera capable of being driven by a battery, a display unit for displaying remaining battery information, an operation mode instruction unit for instructing which of an image photographing operation and an image reproduction operation is to be performed, and the operation mode. When the image capturing is instructed by the instructing means, the battery level information relating to the image capturing is displayed on the display means, and when the image reproducing is instructed by the operation mode instructing means, the image reproducing is performed on the display means. An electronic camera comprising: a battery remaining amount display unit for displaying related battery remaining amount information. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the battery remaining amount information related to the image shooting is a number of shootable images calculated from a battery remaining amount and a predetermined amount of power consumed in one image shooting. The electronic camera according to claim 1. 4. The battery remaining amount information related to the image reproduction is a reproducible time calculated from a battery remaining amount and an amount of power consumed in image reproduction for a predetermined period of time. The electronic camera according to claim 1. 5. A method for displaying a remaining battery level of an electronic camera capable of being driven by a battery, comprising a display unit for displaying remaining battery level information, the step of instructing which of an image capturing operation and an image reproducing operation is to be performed. When the image shooting is instructed, the remaining battery information related to the image shooting is displayed on the display means, and when the image playing is instructed, the remaining battery information related to the image playing is displayed on the display means. And displaying a remaining battery level. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the battery remaining amount information related to the image shooting is a number of shootable images calculated from a battery remaining amount and a predetermined amount of power consumed in one image shooting. The battery remaining amount display method according to claim 5. 7. The battery remaining amount information related to the image reproduction is a reproducible time calculated from a battery remaining amount and an amount of power consumed in image reproduction for a predetermined period of time. The battery remaining amount display method according to claim 5.