JP2001257917A - Digital camera and control method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable operation both with a right hand and with a left hand while preventing the increase of costs. SOLUTION: When a left-handed user is to use the digital camera, left-handed operation is set on a menu image (step 53). When a photographing mode is set and the menu/execute button of the camera is pressed for the first time, the photometry of an object and the measurement of a distance to the object are performed (step 56). When the menu/execute button is pressed for the second time (step 57), image data expressing a subject are recorded on a memory card (step 58). A shutter release command can be applied while using any button except for a shutter release button.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital camera having a shutter release button and a command button for giving a command to execute a predetermined function, and a control method therefor.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In general, there are many right-handed people,
Camera users are often right-handed. For this, the camera
It is designed to be easy for right-handed users to handle.
For example, the shutter release button is often located at the right end of the top surface of the camera so that it can be pressed with the right index finger.

[0003] Cameras are often designed to be easy for a right-handed user to handle, so that operation with the left hand is not easy. It is difficult for left-handed users and users with right-hand injuries to operate the camera.

If a shutter release button or the like for the left hand is newly provided in order to be easily operated with the left hand, the cost of the camera is increased.

[0005]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to make it possible to operate the camera relatively easily with the left hand while preventing an increase in cost of the camera.

A digital camera according to the present invention includes a shutter release button, a command button for giving a command to execute a predetermined function, operation setting means for setting right-hand operation or left-hand operation, and a right-hand operation by the operation setting means. When the operation is set, the shutter release operation is performed in response to the depression of the shutter release button, and the shutter release operation is performed in response to the depression of the command button by setting the left hand operation by the operation setting means.
It is characterized by comprising control means for performing a release operation.

[0007] The present invention also provides a control method suitable for the digital camera. In other words, this method enables a right-hand operation or a left-hand operation to be set in a digital camera having a shutter release button and a command button for giving a command to execute a predetermined function. When the shutter release button is depressed, the shutter release operation is performed according to the depression of the shutter release button, and when the left hand operation is set, the shutter release operation is performed according to the depression of the command button.

According to the present invention, the digital camera is provided with the command button in addition to the shutter release button. In addition to the shutter release button, the digital camera has the above-mentioned command for executing a predetermined function (mode setting function, and, if a display device is provided, a function of turning on and off the display device). Buttons (buttons except shutter release button)
Is provided. The present invention thus makes use of the command buttons already present on the digital camera.

When the right hand operation is set, the shutter
A shutter release operation is performed in response to the depression of the release button. When the left hand operation is set, a shutter release operation is performed in response to the depression of the command button.

The shutter release button is provided at a position where a right-handed user can easily handle the shutter release button. Therefore, a right-handed user can easily handle the shutter release button as before. The command button is provided at a position different from the position of the shutter release button. A left-handed user can perform shutter release by pressing the command button. Shutter release can be performed relatively easily.

As the command button, a button which is already present in the digital camera is used, but preferably, a button provided at a position which is easy to operate with the left hand will be used as the command button. Of course, if necessary, the camera may be rotated by a predetermined angle so that the command button can be pressed easily. When the camera is held at a predetermined angle, the digital
When a display device is provided in the camera, the display direction of an image on the display device can be changed according to the rotation.

Since the command button already exists in the camera, there is no need to provide a new button.
An increase in the cost of the camera can be prevented.

The setting by the operation setting means may be reset by receiving a reset command. In this case, it is preferable to reset the setting to the right-hand operation by giving a reset command.

Camera users are often right-handed. If the user is right-handed, it is not necessary to set the right hand operation or the left hand operation again.

Some digital cameras are provided with a preprocessing circuit for performing at least one of automatic exposure adjustment and automatic focus adjustment. In such a digital camera, the shutter release button can be pressed down in two steps. In this case, when the right hand operation is set, the processing in the preprocessing circuit is performed in response to the depression of the shutter release button in the first stage, and the shutter is responded in response to the depression of the second stage. -Release the shutter. Further, when the left-hand operation is set, the processing in the preprocessing circuit is performed in response to the first depression of the command button, and the shutter release operation is performed in response to the second depression. It becomes relatively easy to give commands for automatic exposure adjustment and automatic focus adjustment with the left hand.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A digital still camera according to this embodiment is relatively easy to use with a right hand finger.
The shutter release operation can be performed relatively easily even with the finger of the left hand.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show digital still
This figure shows the appearance of the camera and shows the case where the shutter release operation is performed with the right hand. In these figures, the right hand Rh holding the digital still camera 1 is shown by a chain line.

FIG. 1 is a front view of the digital still camera 1.

An optical view finder 3 is provided at the upper right of the front of the digital still camera 1. An imaging lens 9 is provided at the lower left of the optical view finder 3. A flash 8 is provided at the upper left of the front of the digital still camera 1.

On the upper surface of the digital still camera 1, a shutter release button 2 is provided on the left side when viewed from the front.
Are formed.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the digital still camera 1.

On the upper right side of the back surface of the digital still camera 1, a mode setting dial 4 is formed rotatably. An index 6 is formed on the left side of the mode setting dial 4. The mode setting dial 4 is turned by the user so that a desired mode is positioned on the index 6. The modes include a shooting mode for shooting a subject, a playback mode for playing back an image recorded on a memory card, and a setup mode for setting various setup items of a camera.

Inside the mode setting dial 4, up, down, left and right keys 5 are provided. The up, down, left, and right keys 5 are formed so that an up arrow, a down arrow, a right arrow, and a left arrow can be pressed.

A display screen 7 for displaying a photographed image and a reproduced image is formed in the lower left portion of the back of the digital still camera 1.

On the display screen 7, display buttons 12, which are pressed by the user when displaying an image on the display screen 7,
A power button 12 for controlling power on / off and a menu / execute button 14 for displaying a menu image and giving an execution command are formed.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG.
When operating the still camera 1 with the right hand, the right hand Rh
Of the digital still camera 1 with the palm of the hand. When the index finger is extended, the belly of the index finger Ff is positioned just above the shutter release button 2. The shutter release button 2 can be easily pressed with the right index finger Ff. The thumb Th1 of the right hand is just over the menu / execute button 14. The menu / execute button 14 is pressed by the thumb Th1 of the right hand Rh.
Can be pressed easily.

FIG. 3 and FIG.
This figure shows the appearance of the camera, and shows the case where the shutter release operation is performed with the left hand. In these figures, the left hand Lh holding the digital still camera 1 is shown by a chain line.

When the shutter release is performed with the left hand, the menu / execute button 14 replaces the shutter release button 2. By pressing the menu / execute button 14, a shutter release operation is performed. The details will become clear from the following description.

When the shutter release is performed with the left hand, the digital still camera 1 is rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the front, compared to when the shutter release is performed with the right hand. Rotate 90 degrees, left hand Lh
Wraps around the left half of the digital still camera 1 (lower half when not rotated).

When the left half of the digital still camera 1 is wrapped with the left hand Lh, the thumb Th of the left hand Lh
2 is just positioned on the menu / execute button 14. The menu / execute button 14 can be easily pressed with the left thumb Th2.

It is preferable to display on the display screen 9 whether the setting is made for the right hand operation or the left hand operation. Incorrect operation of the right hand operation and the left hand operation can be prevented beforehand.

FIG. 5 shows that in the setup mode,
5 is an example of a menu image displayed on the display screen 7.

The menu image includes an area 16 for displaying a setup item and an area 17 for displaying the contents set in the setup item.

The setup items displayed in the area 16 include the following.

Quality: An item for setting a recording compression ratio. There are "fine", "normal" and "basic". “Fine” indicates a low compression ratio, “Normal” indicates a medium compression ratio, and “Basic” indicates
It shows a high compression ratio.

Pixel: An item for setting the number of pixels to be recorded. 1800 pixels in the horizontal direction, 1200 pixels in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction
There are 640 pixels and 480 pixels in the vertical direction.

Sharpness: An item for setting the sharpness, which can be set in four stages of A, B, C and D.
The setting A is set when the image is recorded most clearly. The setting B is set when the next clear image is recorded.
This is set for large-size printing with a printer or the like, and output for a video projector. Setting C is
Next, it is set when a clear image is recorded, and is set in normal photographing. Setting D has the lowest definition and is suitable for processing by a personal computer.

Auto power off: Auto power off
This sets whether to use the off function. Enable and disable can be set. When the auto power off function is used, “valid” is set. When the auto power off function is not used, “invalid” is set.

LCD: for setting whether the display screen 9 is automatically turned on or off when the photographing mode is set.

Operation: This is for setting whether the shutter release is operated with the right hand or the left hand. Left hand or right hand settings are possible. By setting the left hand, the shutter release operation is performed in response to the depression of the menu / execute button 14. By setting the right hand, the shutter release operation is performed in response to the depression of the shutter release button 2.

Beep: This sets the volume when the digital still camera is operated. It can be set to three levels, large, medium and small.

Date and time: Set the date and time.

Reset: Resets setup items.

In the digital still camera 1 according to this embodiment, the right hand operation and the left hand operation can be set as described above. When right-hand operation is set,
When the menu / execute button 14 is pressed, the setting of the item is confirmed for the item that is inverted between black and white. When the left hand operation is set, the shutter release button 2 functions as the menu / execute button 14 in the right hand operation. Therefore, the shutter release button 2
By pressing, the settings for the inverted item are determined.

When the menu / execute button 14 is pressed, the settings for the highlighted item are determined. By pressing the up arrow once among the up, down, left, and right keys 5, the item above the currently inverted item is inverted, and the setting for the item can be performed. Pressing the down arrow once among the up / down / left / right keys 5 causes the item below the currently inverted item to be inverted. By pressing the left arrow or the right arrow of the up, down, left, and right keys 5, the content of the currently inverted item is changed (for example, in the case of an operation item, the operation is changed to right hand operation and left hand operation).

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the digital still camera 1. As shown in FIG.

The overall operation of the digital still camera 1 is controlled by the CPU 20.

The above-described shutter release button 2
Is a two-stroke type, in which a first output signal is input to the CPU 20 in response to a first-stage depression, and a second output signal is input to the CPU 20 in response to a second-stage depression. Output signals from the power button 13 and the menu / execute button 14 are also input to the CPU 20.

When the digital still camera 1 according to this embodiment is operated with the right hand, the photometry of the subject and the distance to the subject are measured in accordance with the depression of the shutter release button 2 in the first stage, and the second Image data representing the subject image is recorded on the memory card in accordance with the step-down. When operating with the left hand, the photometry of the subject and the distance to the subject are measured according to the first depression of the menu / execute button 14, and the image data representing the subject image is stored in the memory according to the second depression.・ Recorded on the card.

Although the display button 12, the mode setting dial 4 and the up / down / left / right keys 5 are not shown in FIG. 2, signals output from these buttons and the like are also input to the CPU 20. Absent.

The digital still camera 1 includes a photometric circuit 21 for measuring the brightness of the subject and a distance measuring circuit 22 for measuring the distance to the subject. The signals output from these circuits 21 and 22 are also input to the CPU 20. Of course, the automatic exposure adjustment and the automatic focus adjustment may be performed based on image data obtained by imaging the subject, as described later, without providing the photometry circuit 21 and the distance measurement circuit 22.

The digital still camera 1 includes a drive motor 23 for driving the position of the imaging lens 9. Based on the distance to the subject obtained by the distance measuring circuit 22, the drive motor 23 is controlled so that the subject image is formed on the light receiving surface of the CCD 26.

The CCD 26 includes a timing generator 24
Driven by A video signal representing a subject image is output from the CCD 26. The video signal output from the CCD 26 is
The signal is input to the analog signal processing circuit 27, and predetermined analog signal processing such as gamma correction and white balance adjustment is performed. The video signal output from the analog signal processing circuit 27 is input to an analog / digital conversion circuit 28. In the analog / digital conversion circuit 28, the analog video signal is converted into digital image data. The converted digital image data is provided to the digital signal processing circuit 29.

In the digital signal processing circuit 29, predetermined digital signal processing such as generation processing of luminance data and color data is performed.

The image data output from the digital signal processing circuit 29 is converted again into an analog video signal in the digital / analog conversion circuit 31. By providing the converted analog video signal to the display device 32, a subject image is displayed on the display screen 9.

In the digital still camera 1 according to this embodiment, when the shutter release button 2 is depressed in the second stage when operated with the right hand, the digital still camera 1 is output from the digital signal processing circuit 29 as described above. The compressed image data is provided to the compression circuit 30. In the compression circuit 30, the image data representing the subject image is data-compressed and recorded on the memory card. When operating with your left hand,
When the menu / execute button 14 is depressed for the second time, the image data is similarly compressed and recorded on the memory card.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when operating the digital still camera 1 with the right hand.

First, the power of the digital still camera 1 is turned on by the power button 13 (step 41). The user turns the mode setting dial 4 to select a shooting mode (step 42). Then, the subject is imaged, and the subject image is displayed on the display screen 9 of the display device 32.

In the digital still camera 1, in the initial state, the operation mode is set for the right hand. Therefore, when the shutter release button 2 is depressed in the first stage (YES in step 43), the brightness of the subject image is measured by the photometry circuit 21, and the distance to the subject is measured by the distance measurement circuit 22. Is performed (step 44). The exposure time of the CCD 26 is determined based on the brightness of the subject.
Further, the driving amount of the imaging lens 9 is controlled based on the distance to the subject.

When the shutter release button 2 is depressed in the second stage (YES in step 45), the image data representing the subject image is compressed and recorded on the memory card.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when operating the digital still camera 1 with the left hand.

[0062] The digital still
The power of the camera 1 is turned on (step 51). The setup mode is selected by the mode setting dial 4 (step 52). In the setup mode, the operation is set to "left hand" (step 53). of course,
When the operation is already set to "left hand", it goes without saying that the processing of steps 52 and 53 is skipped.

The mode setting dial 4 is turned to select a photographing mode (step 54). As described above, when operating with the left hand, the camera 1 is rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise as compared with when operating with the right hand. For this reason, if the display direction of the subject image displayed on the display screen 7 is the same between the right hand operation and the left hand operation, it becomes difficult to see. Preferably, the display device 32 is controlled such that the display direction of the subject image on the display screen 7 is also changed by the camera according to the rotation direction.

When the menu / execute button 14 is pressed for the first time (YES in step 55), the photometry circuit 21 performs photometry of the subject and measurement of the distance to the subject (step 56).

When the menu / execute button 14 is depressed for the second time (YES in step 57), the image data compressed as described above is recorded on the memory card (step 58).

When the left hand operation is set as described above,
By operating the menu / execute button 14, photometry of the subject, measurement of the distance to the subject, and recording of image data are performed. The operation is relatively simple even for left-handed users.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the reset processing for canceling the setting of the left hand operation.

When canceling the setting of the left hand operation, the user turns on the power button 13 while pressing the menu / execute button 14 (step 61). Then, the setting of the left hand operation returns to the right hand operation (step 62).

This is convenient when one digital still camera 1 is shared by a right-handed user and a left-handed user. It goes without saying that when a left-handed user uses it, the left-handed operation is set again.

In the above-described embodiment, the camera is rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise during left-hand operation as compared with right-hand operation. It is also possible to press the release button 2 and press the menu / execute button 14 with the left hand finger during left hand operation.

In the case of a left-hand operation, the respective processes of photometry, distance measurement, and recording of image data are executed in response to the depression of the menu / execute button 14, but buttons other than the menu / execute button 14 may be used. Needless to say, this may be done. Further, it may be possible to select which button has the shutter release function when the left hand operation is selected. A shutter release function can be given to a button that is easy for the user to use.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows how a digital still camera is operated with a right hand.

FIG. 2 shows how a digital still camera is operated with a right hand.

FIG. 3 shows how a digital still camera is operated with a left hand.

FIG. 4 shows how a digital still camera is operated with a left hand.

FIG. 5 shows a menu image.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the digital still camera.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a right hand operation.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a left hand operation.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a reset processing procedure.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Digital Still Camera 2 Shutter Release Button 4 Mode Setting Dial 5 Up / Down / Left / Right Key 13 Power Button 14 Menu / Execute Button 20 CPU 21 Photometry Circuit 22 Distance Measurement Circuit

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A shutter release button, a command button for giving a command to execute a predetermined function, operation setting means for setting right-hand operation or left-hand operation, and when a right-hand operation is set by the operation setting means Control means for performing a shutter release operation in response to the depression of the shutter release button, and performing a shutter release operation in response to the depression of the command button when the left hand operation is set by the operation setting means; Digital camera with. 2. The digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising reset means for resetting the setting by said operation setting means when a reset command is given. 3. The digital camera according to claim 2, wherein said reset means is reset to a right-handed operation setting when a reset command is given. 4. A pre-processing circuit for performing at least one of automatic exposure adjustment and automatic focus adjustment, wherein the shutter release button can be depressed in two stages, and the control means controls the operation by When the right hand operation is set by the setting means, the processing in the preprocessing circuit is performed in response to the depression of the shutter release button in the first stage, and the shutter release is performed in response to the depression in the second stage. When the left hand operation is set by the operation setting means, the pre-processing circuit performs processing in response to the first depression of the command button, and performs the shutter in response to the second depression. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the digital camera performs a release operation. 5. A digital camera provided with a shutter release button and a command button for giving a command to execute a predetermined function, wherein right-hand operation or left-hand operation can be set, and when right-hand operation is set. And a shutter release operation in response to depression of the shutter release button, and a shutter release operation in response to depression of the command button when left hand operation is set.