JP2002152559A - Electronic camera device and picture processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic camera device capable of efficiently and accurately selecting and confirming a picture to be processing in erasure or print reservation using an index display function. SOLUTION: In this electronic camera having an index display function, an erasure control unit 35 enlarges and displays a picture to be erased which is selected on an index display picture. The erasure control unit 35 displays a message to prompt the judgment of whether of not the erasure processing to the selected picture should be executed on the enlargement display picture. The erasure control unit 35 erases the selected picture recorded on a recording medium 9 according to the decision input of the message.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic camera apparatus having an index screen display function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, electronic cameras (also referred to as digital cameras), which convert a subject into image data by an electronic imaging function and record the image data on a recording medium, have become widespread. An electronic camera is generally configured to use a detachable recording medium such as a memory card to record photographed image data on the recording medium. Further, the electronic camera is provided with a liquid crystal display panel (LCD panel) on the back of the camera body or the like. This LCD panel is used not only as a monitor screen at the time of shooting, but also as a display screen when playing back an image recorded on a recording medium.

Some electronic cameras have an index display function for displaying a plurality of reproduced images on an LCD panel at one time. The index display function is a function of dividing one display screen into a plurality of display areas and displaying a plurality of different images in each of the divided display areas. By using such an index display function, an operation of selecting a desired image from a plurality of image groups recorded on a recording medium becomes easy. For this reason, the index display function is effective because the operation of selecting an image is necessary particularly for the erasing process for erasing the selected image from the recording medium and the print reservation process for reserving the image to be printed by the printer. is there.

[0004]

The index display function is an effective display function for a recording image erasing process and a print reservation process. On the other hand, each display image on the display screen is small and it is difficult to confirm the image. is there. In the erasing process, an operation of accurately selecting and confirming an image to be erased is indispensable. In the print reservation process, in order to reserve a large number of images, efficient operability is important as well as confirmation of the selected images. In short, it is desirable to have a function capable of securely and efficiently confirming the selected image, together with an image selecting operation that effectively utilizes the index display function.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to efficiently perform an operation of accurately selecting an image to be processed and an operation of confirming the same in an erasing process or a print reservation process using an index display function. An electronic camera device is provided.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided an electronic camera device having a so-called index display function, having a function of enlarging and displaying an image selected from a plurality of images displayed on an index display screen. The present invention relates to an electronic camera device. Further, the electronic camera device has a function of displaying, on the enlarged display screen, a message to confirm as a selected image such as an erasing process or a print reservation process.

More specifically, the present apparatus comprises a recording means for recording an image on a recording medium, a display device for displaying the image recorded on the recording medium, and a plurality of display screens of the display device. Split display processing for generating a split display screen in which each of a plurality of images recorded on a recording medium is associated with each of the split display areas when the display is divided into the split display areas, and displaying the split display screen on a display device Means, selecting means for selecting an image from the divided display screen, and displaying the image selected by the selecting means on a display device in a manner larger than each divided display image on the divided display screen. Enlarged display processing means for executing a display to confirm that the selected image has been selected, and a confirmation input for confirming execution of a predetermined process on the image enlarged and displayed by the enlarged display processing means Stage and is obtained by a process execution means for executing the determined predetermined processing by confirmation input means.

With such a configuration, when a desired image is selected from a display screen on which a plurality of images are displayed at a time by the divided display processing means as an index display function, the selected image is enlarged and confirmed. Can be displayed. Therefore, the user can surely and easily check the selected image on the screen that is enlarged and relatively easy to see. In particular, when the erasing process is performed on the selected image, the selected image can be accurately confirmed without being mistaken, so that it is possible to prevent a situation in which an image that needs to be stored is accidentally erased. Further, when a large number of images are reserved for printing, each image can be selected accurately and easily, and as a result, efficient print reservation processing can be executed. Further, since the execution of the process on the selected image can be confirmed, a final decision on the execution of the process can be made.

[0009]

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

(Configuration of Electronic Camera) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part of an electronic camera according to the first embodiment. The electronic camera is assumed to be an electronic still camera (digital camera), but can be applied to a digital video camera having a still image photographing function. As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic camera roughly includes a photographing system 1 and a control / operation system.

The photographing system 1 includes an optical lens unit (including a zoom lens, a diaphragm, an autofocus lens, and the like).
10, an imaging element 11, an imaging circuit 12, and an A / D converter 13. The imaging element 11 usually has a CCD (charge coupled device) of several million pixels, and photoelectrically converts a subject image incident through the optical lens unit 10. The imaging circuit 12 has an imaging process unit, and controls the exposure, the element shutter, the gain adjustment (ISO setting), the power supply, and the like to the imaging device 11 by the imaging process unit. Further, the imaging element 11 outputs an image signal according to a timing signal from the timing generation circuit 15.

The image pickup circuit 12 receives an image pickup signal from the image pickup device 11 and performs AGC (automatic gain adjustment) processing and C
Various signal processing such as DS (correlated double sampling) processing is performed. The A / D converter 13 converts an imaging signal (an analog signal corresponding to the number of pixels) obtained from the imaging circuit 12 into a digital signal (image data) and outputs the digital signal to the data bus 2.

The control / operation system has a main control unit 3, an operation control unit 4, a memory 5, and an operation input unit 6. The main control unit 3 and the operation control unit 4 each have a first microprocessor (CPU) and a second CPU as main components. The main control unit 3 is an element that controls the entire camera, and includes an image processing unit 30, a compression / decompression processing unit 31, a display control unit 32, an AE / AF processing unit 33, an index display processing unit 34, an erasure control unit 35, and the like. (Actually realized by a CPU and a program).

The image processing section 30 has a white balance (W
B) Various image processing such as processing, color processing, gamma correction processing, and sharpness adjustment processing are performed. Compression / decompression processing unit 3
1 executes, for example, JPEG image compression and image decompression processes on image data obtained by a shooting operation.

The display control unit 32 includes an LCD (liquid cryst).
al display) The LCD driver of the panel 7 is controlled to execute processing for displaying a reproduced image on the panel 7. Note that, in addition to the LCD panel 7, an external output terminal for outputting a display image to an external monitor (an external device such as a television device) is provided in the camera body as a display / output system. The AE / AF processing unit 33 includes the lens driver 1
4 and the timing generation circuit 15 to control the AE
(Automatic exposure) processing and AF (automatic focus adjustment) processing are executed.

The index display processing section 34 realizes an index display function for generating an index display screen for displaying a plurality of images (recorded images) on the same display screen at one time. Note that the index display processing unit 34 may be configured to be included in the display control unit 32. The erasure control unit 35
The processing for erasing the image recorded on the recording medium 9 is controlled. An erasing control unit 35 of the embodiment enables an image to be erased to be specified on the index screen generated by the index display processing unit 34, and an enlarged display function for enlarging and displaying the specified display image. Having.
The enlarged display function is to display a frame image designated to be deleted on the index screen (reducedly displayed in the divided display area) as L
This is a function for enlarging and displaying an image in the maximum display area of the CD panel 7, for example.

The main control unit 3 controls the operation of storing an image in the memory 5 and reading the image from the memory 5 via the memory controller 50 in addition to the above functions. The memory 5 temporarily stores the image data obtained by the A / D converter 13 after being compressed by the compression / expansion processing unit 31 or uses a work area used for various control processes of the main control unit 3. 51A. Further, the memory 5 has an image area 51B for temporarily storing a reproduced image (an image after decompression processing) read from the recording medium 9.
Having.

Further, the main controller 3 records, reproduces (reads), and deletes an image on a recording medium (here, a memory card) 9 inserted in the memory slot 90 via a recording / reproducing interface 91. Is controlled. The recording medium 9 may be an ultra-small hard disk drive or a magneto-optical disk (MO) other than the memory card.

The operation control section 4 receives various operation inputs from the operation input section 6 and notifies the main control section 3 of the operation inputs, and various kinds of information (for example, photographing operation) related to the photographing operation and the reproducing operation. Control panel (LC)
D panel 8). The operation input unit 6 includes a release button (also used as an erase button) 6
0, a mode setting dial 61, an enter button 62, and other operation buttons required for various operation inputs.

(Erase Operation Related to First Embodiment) The erase operation of the first embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. 1 and the flowchart of FIG. 2 and FIG.

Here, it is assumed that a plurality of images photographed by the photographing system 1 are recorded on the recording medium 9. When the image playback mode is set by operating the mode setting dial 61 of the operation input unit 6, the main control unit 3
Reads the recorded image from the recording medium 9 and prepares for a reproducing operation for displaying it on the LCD panel 7 (step S1). Here, when the index display mode is selected from the image reproduction modes displayed on the control panel 8, the index display processing unit 34 of the main control unit 3
An index display screen including a plurality of images recorded on the recording medium 9 is generated (YES in step S2).
The display controller 32 causes the LCD panel 7 to display the generated index display screen. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3A, the LCD panel 7 displays an index display screen composed of divided display areas displaying a plurality of images on the same screen.

Next, when the release button (also used as an erase button) 60 of the operation input section 6 is operated, the main control section 3 is operated.
The erase control unit 35 starts up and prepares for an erase operation for each frame (YES in step S3). Here, the frame image to be erased is selected from the index display screen on the LCD panel 7 (step S4). Specifically, a frame image to be deleted is selected from the index display screen by operating the cross button of the operation input unit 6 or the like. On the index display screen 30, as shown in FIG. 3A, a display frame 31 showing the selected frame image is displayed.

Next, when the enter button 62 of the operation input unit 6 is operated, the enlarged display function of the erasure control unit 35 is activated,
The frame image to be deleted (the image specified in the display frame 31) selected on the index display screen is enlarged and displayed (YES in step S5, S6). Specifically, FIG.
As shown in (5), the frame image to be erased is enlarged and displayed in the maximum display area on the LCD panel 7. At this time, the enlarged display function of the erasure control unit 35 includes the enlarged display screen 32
A function for displaying a message 33 confirming that the selected frame image is to be erased and prompting the user to make a final decision on erasure confirmation (erasure) or erasure cancellation (no erasure) is included.

When the deletion confirmation is selected by operating the cross button or the like of the operation input unit 6, the deletion control unit 35 executes a process of deleting the selected image recorded on the recording medium 9 (step S7). YES, S8). When the cancel cancel is selected, the erase control unit 35 cancels the erase process, and usually returns to the original index display screen (NO in step S7, S9). In either case,
The processing from step S4 is repeated until the mode is shifted to another mode or the power is turned off. It should be noted that when all the images recorded on the recording medium 9 have been erased, the erasing operation ends.

As described above, with the erasing operation of the embodiment, an image to be erased can be selected from a plurality of images displayed on the index display screen. That is, compared to the method of displaying an image for each frame, an image to be deleted can be selected from the screen displayed at a time, so that operability can be improved. However, since each display image on the index display screen has a limited display area, it is difficult to confirm. Therefore, the enlarged display function of the embodiment allows the image selected as a deletion target on the index display screen to be enlarged and displayed, thereby facilitating confirmation. Further, the enlarged display function of the embodiment includes a confirmation function for displaying a message urging the final determination of the erasing process. Therefore, the user can use the enlarged display screen
It is possible to confirm the image to be erased and to carefully judge whether it is appropriate to erase the image again.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a main part of an electronic camera according to a second embodiment.
In the electronic camera, the main control section 3 has a print reservation processing section 36. The print reservation processing unit 36 is a function processing unit that executes print reservation processing for an image selected from the index display screen. Specifically, the print reservation processing unit 36 executes a process of generating a print reservation file on the recording medium 9 and recording the selected image in the file so as to make a print reservation.

With such a print reservation function, the recording medium 9 storing the print reservation file is mounted on a printer or a personal computer (in a state where the printer is connected) having a slot for the recording medium, and
By instructing the print operation, the image reserved in the print reservation file can be printed from the printer.

Further, the print reservation processing unit 36 includes an enlarged display function of an image selected on the index display screen and a confirmation function for prompting a final decision as in the first embodiment. The other configuration is the same as that shown in FIG. 1 described above, and thus the description is omitted.

(Print Reservation Operation Related to Second Embodiment) The print reservation operation of the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 together with FIG.

First, when the image reproduction mode is set by operating the mode setting dial 61 of the operation input unit 6, the main control unit 3 reads out the recorded image from the recording medium 9 and
A reproduction operation for displaying on the LCD panel 7 is prepared (step S11). Here, when the index display mode is selected from the image playback modes displayed on the control panel 8, the index display processing unit 34 of the main control unit 3 displays an index display screen including a plurality of images recorded on the recording medium 9. Generate (Step S
12 YES). The display controller 32 causes the LCD panel 7 to display the generated index display screen. As a result, the LCD panel 7 has, as shown in FIG.
An index display screen composed of divided display areas displaying a plurality of images on the same screen is displayed.

Next, when the print reservation button 63 (which may also be used as another button) of the operation input section 6 is operated, the print reservation processing section 36 of the main control section 3 is activated to prepare for the print reservation operation. Perform (YE in step S13)
S). Here, the print reservation target image is selected from the index display screen on the LCD panel 7 (step S14). Specifically, an image to be reserved for printing is selected from the index display screen by operating the cross button or the like of the operation input unit 6. Index display screen 60
Above, as shown in FIG. 6A, a display frame 61 showing the selected frame image is displayed.

Next, when the enter button 62 of the operation input section 6 is operated, the enlarged display function of the print reservation processing section 36 is activated, and the image selected on the index display screen (instructed by the display frame 61). (Step S15, YES, S16). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6B, the print reservation target image is enlarged and displayed in the maximum display area on the LCD panel 7. At this time, as the enlarged display function of the print reservation processing unit 36, a message 63 for confirming the print reservation of the selected image is displayed on the enlarged display screen 62, and the reservation is confirmed (reserved).
Alternatively, a function for prompting one final decision of reservation cancellation (not reservation) is included.

When the reservation confirmation is selected by operating the cross button or the like of the operation input unit 6, the print reservation processing unit 36
Executes the print reservation process of recording the selected image in the print reservation file on the recording medium 9 as described above (YES in step S17, S19). Also, when the reservation cancel is selected, the print reservation processing unit 36
Cancels the print reservation processing (N in step S17).
O, S18). Here, normally, the display returns to the original index display screen, and the processing from step S14 is repeated until the mode is switched to another mode or the power is turned off (step S20).

As described above, in the print reservation operation of the embodiment, an image to be reserved for print can be selected from a plurality of images displayed on the index display screen. That is, compared to the method of displaying an image for each frame, an image to be reserved for printing can be selected from the screen displayed at a time, so that operability can be improved. However, since each display image on the index display screen has a limited display area, it is difficult to confirm. Accordingly, the image selected as a print reservation target on the index display screen can be displayed in an enlarged manner by the enlarged display function of the embodiment, so that it is easy to confirm the image. Further, the enlarged display function of the embodiment includes a confirmation function for displaying a message urging the final determination of the print reservation processing. Therefore, the user can check the print reservation target image on the enlarged display screen, and can carefully determine whether it is appropriate to print the image again.

Although the image erasing operation and the print reservation operation have been described as an embodiment of the present invention, the present invention is not limited to this, and the operation of selecting an image to be processed from a plurality of images and executing a predetermined process is performed. If it is a mode, the present invention can be applied. Further, the embodiment of the present invention has been described as a configuration provided in the main control unit 3 of the electronic camera. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an image management apparatus or an image processing apparatus that manages or processes digital images. Can also be applied. Specifically, the device is, for example, an electronic album device for managing images captured by an electronic camera.

[0036]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, in a processing mode such as an erasing process or a print reservation process using the index display function, an image to be processed can be confirmed on an easily magnified screen, and the process can be performed. Is appropriate or not. Therefore, as a result, it is possible to select a processing target image and efficiently perform a processing mode operation for executing a predetermined processing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part of an electronic camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary flowchart for explaining an erasing operation according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary view showing an example of a display screen according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a main part of an electronic camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a print reservation operation according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of a display screen according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Photographing system 2 ... Data bus 3 ... Main control part 4 ... Operation control part 5 ... Memory 6 ... Operation input part 7 ... LCD panel 8 ... Control panel 9 ... Recording medium 10 ... Optical lens unit 11 ... Image sensor (CCD) DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Imaging circuit 13 ... A / D converter 14 ... Lens driver 15 ... Timing generation circuit 32 ... Display control part 34 ... Index display processing part 35 ... Erasure control part

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 5/262 H04N 5/76 B 5C076 5/76 101: 00 5C082 5/91 G09G 5/36 520F // H04N 101: 00 H04N 5/91 J F term (reference) 5B050 AA09 BA15 EA18 FA12 FA13 GA08 5C022 AA13 AC03 AC13 AC69 5C023 AA02 AA37 CA02 DA04 DA08 5C052 AA17 AB04 AC08 CC06 DD02 EE02 EE03 EE08 5C053 FA04 FA08 FA27 AA03 AA16 AA19 AA21 AA36 BA06 CA02 5C082 AA24 AA27 BA20 BB46 BD02 CA18 CA33 CA53 CB05 MM02 MM09 MM10

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An electronic camera device provided with an electronic imaging device, wherein: a recording device for recording an image obtained by the electronic imaging device on a recording medium; and an image recorded on the recording medium. A display device for dividing the display screen of the display device into a plurality of divided display regions, wherein each of the plurality of images recorded on the recording medium is associated with each of the divided display regions. Generating a divided display screen on the display device, a selecting unit for selecting an image from the divided display screen, and displaying the image selected by the selecting unit on the divided display screen. An enlarged display processing means for displaying on the display device an image larger than each of the above divided display images and executing a display for confirming that the enlarged image has been selected. A determination input unit for determining execution of a predetermined process on the image enlarged and displayed by the enlargement display processing unit; and a process execution unit for executing the predetermined process determined by the determination input unit. An electronic camera device comprising: 2. An electronic camera apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said processing executing means is an image erasing means for erasing an image selected by said selecting means from said recording medium. 3. An electronic camera apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said processing executing means is means for making a print reservation for the image selected by said selecting means. 4. The electronic camera device according to claim 1, wherein said enlarged display processing means is activated in response to an instruction input to said processing execution means and a selection operation by said selection means. 5. The enlarged display processing means displays, as a display for confirming that the enlarged-displayed image has been selected, a display for confirming execution of the predetermined process on the selected image. The electronic camera device according to claim 1, wherein 6. A display device for displaying an image recorded on a recording medium, and a plurality of recording devices recorded on the recording medium when a display screen of the display device is divided into a plurality of divided display areas. A divided display processing unit that generates a divided display screen in which each of the images is associated with each divided display area, and causes the display device to display the divided display screen; and a selection unit that selects an image from the divided display screen. And displaying the image selected by the selection means on the display device in an enlarged manner than each of the divided display images on the divided display screen, and confirming that the enlarged displayed image has been selected. Enlargement display processing means for executing display, confirmation input means for confirming execution of predetermined processing on the image enlarged and displayed by the enlargement display processing means, The image processing apparatus being characterized in that comprising a process execution means for executing the determined predetermined processing, the.