JP2001160937A - Digital still camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital still camera that can save the trouble of having to operate for album selection of still image photographed or about to be photographed with the digital still camera. SOLUTION: This camera adopts the initial menu of the digital still camera 1 immediately after application of power thereto as an album selection menu, so that a user can naturally confirm to which album a still image about to be photographed is to be entered. Furthermore, the initial position of the cursor of the selection menu is stored in an album, selected immediately before power is interrupted. Thus, the trouble of selecting an album through the movement of the cursor can be saved on each occasion, when power is frequently interrupted during photographing of images for one album.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital still camera, and more particularly to a digital still camera in which image data is stored separately for each classification item, thereby improving usability as a product.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an image input device to a computer,
Recently, digital still cameras have been widely used. These digital still cameras are expected to increase their share in the future, and the usage rate in ordinary households will also increase significantly. Recently, digital still cameras have
Some models are equipped with an electronic album selection function for organizing and appreciating the still images that have been shot.However, this function is required for models that have a high-capacity storage device and can shoot many images. Photos can be easily searched and displayed.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional digital still camera, when selecting an album of photographed image data, the button operation for selecting the album is troublesome, so that the album selecting process tends to be neglected. . For this reason, there is a problem that if the user does not select the album at the time of photographing, the photographed still image cannot be recorded in which album.

Also, when editing photographed image data, editing cannot be performed unless a personal computer is used. Therefore, there is a problem that image data cannot be edited if a personal computer such as a travel destination is not available or cannot be used. Was.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a digital still camera which can be used for photographing with a digital still camera or simplifying an album arrangement of photographed image data. It is intended for.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital still camera comprising: an image data storage unit for storing a captured image as image data; A classification information storage unit for storing the plurality of classification items and a plurality of album titles corresponding to each of the classification items, and a classification information storage unit for each of the image data or the plurality of classification items and each of the classification items; A display unit for displaying a plurality of corresponding album titles, an image display control circuit for controlling the display unit,
In the digital still camera, the image display control circuit displays, after power-on, a selection menu screen including a plurality of classification items for classifying the image data and a plurality of album titles corresponding to each of the classification items. Are displayed on the display unit.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the digital still camera according to the first aspect, wherein the image data storage means includes a classification item designated by a user from the plurality of classification items. And an album title designated by the user from a plurality of album titles corresponding to the classification item.
It is characterized by the following.

A digital still camera according to a third aspect of the present invention is the digital still camera according to the first or second aspect, wherein the album title selected by the user immediately before the power is turned off is turned on. Immediately after,
Selection screen storage means for outputting to the image display control circuit.

A digital still camera according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the digital still camera according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the image display control circuit comprises: Displaying, on the display unit, a classification item specified by the user from the plurality of classification items and an album title specified by the user from the plurality of album titles corresponding to the classification item. Features.

A digital still camera according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the digital still camera according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the image display control circuit is configured to output the desired image data. Is retrieved from the image data storage means, and the retrieved image data and an album title designated by the user among a plurality of album titles corresponding to the classification item selected by the user are displayed on the display unit. The editing operation of the image data is performed.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. (Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining a configuration of a digital still camera according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In the figure, a digital still camera body 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes a display unit 2 for displaying an image obtained by shooting or a selection menu screen, and image data and menus for displaying on the display unit 2. An image display control circuit 3 for outputting a group, an image data storage unit 4 for storing images obtained by shooting, a classification item of the image data, and a plurality of album titles corresponding to each classification item. A selection information storage unit 15 for storing a classification item selected by the user immediately after turning on the power, and an album title selected by the user corresponding to the classification item; And a classification information setting means 17 for selecting and setting one item from the selected menu group.

The operation of the digital still camera according to the first embodiment configured as described above will be described. Immediately after the digital still camera 1 is turned on, the classification items of the image data stored in the classification information storage unit 15 and a plurality of album titles corresponding to the classification items are output to the image display control circuit 3 and displayed. An album selection screen is displayed in the section 2. The selection screen storage unit 16 also displays the classification item and the album title selected by the user when the power is turned off.

When the user selects an album title desired to store image data to be photographed from the group of album titles 6 displayed on the album selection screen by the classification information setting means 17, the selected album title becomes an image. The digital still camera 1 is input to the display control circuit 3 and the display on the display unit 2 changes from the album selection screen to the photographing screen, and the digital still camera 1 is ready for photographing.

When the user takes a picture in a state in which the picture can be taken, the image display control circuit 3 adds the classification item selected by the user and the album title to the image data of the taken image by using index information. As
The index information is stored in the image data storage unit 4 and the selection screen storage unit 16 is stored.

When the power of the digital still camera 1 is turned off, the image display control circuit 3 stores the classification item and the album title designated by the user immediately before the power is turned off, and turns on the power again. In the album selection screen at this time, the stored classification items and album titles are displayed as initial setting items, and the initial setting classification items and the corresponding album titles are displayed as images of the photograph to be taken. Add it to the data.

Hereinafter, Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described.
An example of a series of operations up to photographing a certain landscape will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is an album selection screen when an item “event” displayed on the display unit 2 is selected in the digital still camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a first embodiment of the present invention. Selection screen when the item “leader” displayed on the display unit 2 is selected in the digital still camera according to FIG.
Is a preview screen of the digital still camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a still image display screen of the digital still camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Are the classification items "Event", "Leader", "Date", "Protect", "New",
A menu group consisting of six items of “preparation”, 6 indicates an album title group for an event which is one of the classification item menu groups, “travel”, “birthday”, and “athletic meet”, and 7 indicates a cursor. Buttons for movement are shown, 8 is a decision button, 9 is a button for switching between a shooting mode and an editing mode, 10
Is the shutter button, 11 is the "event" name of the currently displayed still image, 12 is the "leading" name of the currently displayed still image, and 13 is the "event" name of the currently displayed still image. The button 14 is a button for changing the name of the “main character” of the currently displayed still image, and the numeral 20 is a designated album title.

Immediately after the power is turned on, an album selection screen when an item "event" displayed on the display unit 2 of FIG. 2 is selected as an initial screen is displayed on the liquid crystal. On the display screen, the menu group 5 includes “event”, “leading role”, “date”, “protection”, “new”, and “preparation”. Here, the user selects the item “event”. It is assumed that “Travel”, “birthday”, and “athletic meet” are present in the album title group 6 belonging to the item “event”, and the user has already selected one of them before power-off. This is the album title. Here, it is assumed that “travel” has been selected. In FIG. 2, the album title “Travel” 20 selected by the user immediately after power-on and immediately before power-off is shaded and selected, but if it is desired to change it to “birthday” or “athletic meeting” , Press the cursor movement button 7 and select "Birthday"
When the user presses the enter button 8 after moving the cursor to the "athletic meet", the preview screen of FIG. 4 is displayed, and the shutter button 10 is pressed there to take a picture. Immediately after turning on the power, if you want to shoot without changing the classification item or album title in the menu group already selected,
Simply by pressing the enter button 8, the photographing becomes possible. To change the album title of a still image after shooting, the mode switch button 9 is pressed to switch from the shooting mode to the edit mode, the still image display screen shown in FIG. Each time is pressed, the display of the “event” name 11 changes to “travel”, “birthday”, “athletic meet”, “travel”, and can be changed to the desired “event” name. When the “leader” name change button 14 is pressed, the display of the “leader” name 12 changes to “I”, “Dad”, “Mother”, and “I”, and the desired “leader” name can be changed. .

As described above, according to the digital still camera of Embodiment 1 of the present invention, the classification item selected by the user and the album title are added as index information to the image data of the shot image, Since the data is stored in the data storage unit 4 and the selection of the classification item menu for storing the image data is performed before the image is shot and immediately after the power is turned on, the image data obtained by the shooting is Usability is improved as compared with the conventional technology in which it is not known whether or not the album title is stored.

[0019] Also, a default function of displaying an album selection screen immediately after power-on and storing the category item and album title selected immediately before power-off is provided, so that the album title is not changed at power-on. Since the operation until the shutter button is pressed only needs to be pressed once, the usability is improved as compared with the related art.

Further, classification information for classifying the photographed image data is displayed on the screen of the digital still camera,
Since editing is possible, even when a personal computer such as a travel destination is not available or cannot be used, it is possible to edit image data shot by a digital still camera.

[0021]

As described above, in the digital still camera according to the first aspect of the present invention, the image data storing means for storing the captured image as image data, and the image data storing means for classifying a plurality of image data. Classification information storage means for storing a plurality of classification items and a plurality of album titles corresponding to each of the classification items; and the image data or the plurality of classification items and a plurality of album titles corresponding to each of the classification items And a display unit for displaying the image display control circuit for controlling the display unit, in a digital still camera, the image display control circuit, after power-on,
A plurality of classification items for classifying the image data, and a menu group including a plurality of album titles corresponding to each of the classification items is displayed on the display unit, and a selection of a classification item menu for saving image data is performed. Since the image is taken immediately before the image is taken and immediately after the power is turned on, the usability is improved as compared with the related art in which it is not known which album title the image data obtained by taking is stored.

In the digital still camera according to a second aspect of the present invention, in the digital still camera according to the first aspect, the image data storage means stores a classification item designated by a user from the plurality of classification items. Since a default function of storing the album title designated by the user from among a plurality of album titles corresponding to the classification item is provided, if there is no change in the album title when the power is turned on, press the shutter button. Since the user only has to press the button once to perform the operation, the usability is improved as compared with the related art.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the digital still camera according to the first aspect, the album title selected by the user immediately before the power is turned off is output to the image display control circuit. And a selection screen storage unit that performs the index setting immediately after turning on the power to clarify the storage location of the image data at the time of shooting, so that the image data obtained by shooting is stored in any album title Usability is improved as compared with the related art in which it is difficult to determine whether the operation has been performed.

[0024] In the digital still camera according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the digital still camera according to the first aspect, after the power is turned on, the user designates from among the plurality of classification items after the power is turned on. And the album title designated by the user from among the plurality of album titles corresponding to the category item are displayed on the display unit. Usability is improved as compared with the conventional technology in which the user does not know whether or not the title is stored.

In the digital still camera according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the digital still camera according to the first aspect, the image display control circuit retrieves desired image data from the image data storage means. Then, the searched image data and the album title specified by the user among the plurality of album titles corresponding to the classification item selected by the user are displayed on the display unit, and the editing operation of the image data is performed. Therefore, even if you do not have a personal computer such as a travel destination or cannot use it,
There is an effect that image data shot on a digital still camera can be edited.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining a configuration of a digital still camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an album selection screen when an item “event” is selected in the digital still camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an album selection screen when an item “leading role” is selected in the digital still camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a preview screen of the digital still camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a still image display screen of the digital still camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Digital still camera 2 Display part 3 Image display control circuit 4 Image data storage part 5 Menu group 6 Album title group 7 Cursor movement button 8 Enter button 9 Switching button of photography mode and edit mode 10 Shutter button 11 Event name 12 Main role name 13 Event name change button 14 Lead role name change button 15 Classification information storage section 16 Selection screen storage means 17 Classification information setting means 20 Specified album title

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image data storage means for storing a photographed image as image data, a plurality of classification items for classifying a plurality of image data, and a plurality of album titles corresponding to each of the classification items. Classification information storage means, a display unit for displaying the image data or the plurality of classification items and a plurality of album titles corresponding to each of the classification items, and an image display control circuit for controlling the display unit. In addition, in the digital still camera, the image display control circuit displays a selection menu screen including a plurality of classification items for classifying the image data and a plurality of album titles corresponding to each of the classification items after power-on. A digital still camera, which is displayed on a unit. 2. The digital still camera according to claim 1, wherein the image data storage means stores a classification item designated by a user from the plurality of classification items and a plurality of album titles corresponding to the classification item. A digital still camera for storing an album title designated by a user from among them. 3. The digital still camera according to claim 1, wherein the album title selected by the user immediately before power-off is output to the image display control circuit immediately after power-on. A digital still camera, comprising: storage means. 4. The digital still camera according to claim 1, wherein the image display control circuit, after power-on, a classification item designated by a user from the plurality of classification items. And an album title designated by a user from among a plurality of album titles corresponding to the classification item, on the display unit. 5. The digital still camera according to claim 1, wherein the image display control circuit retrieves the desired image data from the image data storage means, and Displaying the searched image data and an album title specified by the user among a plurality of album titles corresponding to the classification item selected by the user on a display unit, and performing an editing operation of the image data. A digital still camera.