JP2002209125A - Digital camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital camera the operability of which can be improved. SOLUTION: The digital camera 1A is provided with a liquid crystal display(LCD) 10 capable of displaying a photographic picture and an electronic view finder(EVF) 20. Then, when a menu key 34 is pressed in a state where a picture 20s is displayed at the EVF 20, a menu picture is displayed on the LCD 10 of a large screen. Thus, the menu picture becomes easy to watch, thereby the operability of the digital camera is improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a digital camera, and more particularly to a digital camera for displaying an image on a plurality of monitors, for example, an electronic viewfinder and a liquid crystal display.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Some digital cameras have both an electronic viewfinder (EVF) and a liquid crystal display (LCD) provided on the back of the digital camera. In such a digital camera, framing is usually performed by EVF, and the framing is performed while viewing the subject image displayed on the rear LCD when shooting at a low angle or a high angle.

Here, since there is no necessity to display both at the same time, only one of the EVF and the LCD is selectively turned on, ie, the display state.

In such a digital camera, the function setting of the digital camera is performed by a photographer's operation input on a menu screen for setting various functions.

[0005]

However, in the above digital camera, when the menu setting is performed with only the EVF turned on, the menu screen is displayed on the EVF, so that various settings can be made while looking through the small EVF on the display screen. Must be performed, and the operability is poor.

In this case, the display of the menu screen may be switched from the EVF to the LCD by manual operation so as to facilitate the visual recognition of the menu screen, and the function setting may be performed.
The operation for switching to must be further performed, and the operability is poor.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a digital camera capable of improving operability.

[0008]

[Definition of terms] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention employs the following means.
“Appearance surface” is defined as a place that can be visually recognized from the outside, such as a side surface or a back surface.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital camera, comprising:
The first type capable of electronically displaying a captured image via an eyepiece
Display means; (b) a second display means having a larger display screen than the first display means and provided on an external surface of the digital camera and capable of electronically displaying a captured image; and (c) the first display means. Display switching means for selectively activating the means and the second display means; and (d) setting means for performing setting by operation input with respect to a menu relating to the function of the digital camera;
(e) means for forcibly activating the second display means and displaying the menu when the setting means is activated.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the digital camera according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the second display is activated, the first display is disabled.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital camera, comprising: (a) an eyepiece detecting means for detecting an eyepiece; and a first display means capable of electronically displaying a photographed image via an eyepiece. (B) a second display means provided on the external surface of the digital camera and having a display screen larger than the first display means and capable of electronically displaying a captured image; and (c) detecting the eyepiece. In this case, a display for activating the first display means and disabling the second display means, and disabling the first display means and activating the second display means when the eyepiece is not detected. Switching control means, (d)
Setting means for performing setting by operation input with respect to a menu relating to the function of the digital camera, and (e) when the setting means is activated, the second display means is forcibly activated to display the menu. Means to perform.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital camera, comprising: (a) an eyepiece detecting means for detecting an eyepiece; and a first display means capable of electronically displaying a photographed image through an eyepiece. (B) a second display means provided on the external surface of the digital camera and having a display screen larger than the first display means and capable of electronically displaying a captured image; and (c) detecting the eyepiece. In this case, the display switching is performed by activating the first display means and disabling the second display means, and disabling both the first display means and the second display means when the eyepiece is not detected. Control means, (d) setting means for performing setting by operation input with respect to a menu relating to the function of the digital camera, and (e) forcibly setting the second display means when the setting means is activated. Means for activating and displaying said menu. Obtain.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital camera capable of displaying a photographed image on an external display device, wherein (a)
Display means capable of electronically displaying a captured image via an eyepiece, (b) transmission means for transmitting data to the external display device, and (c) selecting the display means and the image output means Display switching means for automatically activating, (d) setting means for performing setting by operation input with respect to a menu related to the function of the digital camera, and (e) the transmission means when the setting means is activated. Means for forcibly activating the menu and displaying the menu on the external display device.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the digital camera according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the transmission means is activated, the display means is disabled.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the digital camera according to the fifth or sixth aspect, the digital camera can transmit data to the external display device via a cable. (F) means for activating the transmission means when the cable is connected to the transmission means.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS <First Embodiment><Structure of Main Parts of Digital Camera> FIGS. 1 to 3 are diagrams showing the structure of main parts of a digital camera 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a plan view, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view as viewed from the II-II position in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a rear view. These figures do not always conform to the triangular projection, and the main purpose is to conceptually illustrate the configuration of the main part of the digital camera 1A.

As shown in these figures, the digital camera 1A has a structure roughly divided into a substantially rectangular parallelepiped camera body 2 and an imaging section 3.

The image pickup section 3 is provided with an image pickup circuit 302 having a CCD color area sensor 303 at an appropriate position behind the lens group 30 having a macro function as a photographing lens. The lens group 30 includes a zoom lens 300 and a focusing lens 301.

On the other hand, inside the camera body 2, a zoom motor M1 for changing the zoom ratio of the zoom lens 300 and moving the lens between the accommodation position and the photographing position, and the focusing lens 301 are driven and focused. Motor M2 for performing scoring
Are provided.

A grip G is provided on the front of the camera body 2.
And a built-in flash 5 of a pop-up type is provided at an appropriate position on the upper end of the camera body 2. The flash 5 can be manually popped up or stored. A shutter button 9 is provided on the upper surface of the camera body 2.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
A liquid crystal display (LCD) 10 capable of electronically displaying a live view display of a shot image and a recorded image is provided on the back of the camera.
And an electronic viewfinder (EVF) 20. The EVF 20 is capable of electronically displaying a captured image via an eyepiece,
Can electronically display a captured image on a display screen larger than the EVF 20. An eye cup 46 is provided around the EVF 20, and the eye cup 46 is
An eyepiece sensor 406 including D and a photocoupler is provided. The eyepiece sensor 406 detects whether the eye EY of the photographer is in eye contact with the eyecup 46.

On the back of the camera body 2, a photographing / reproduction mode setting switch 14 for switching between a "photographing mode" and a "reproduction mode" is provided. The shooting mode is
This is a mode in which photography is performed, and the reproduction mode is a mode in which a captured image recorded in the memory card 8 is reproduced and displayed on the LCD 10.

On the right side of the back of the digital camera 1A, a four-way switch 35 is provided. By pressing the buttons L and R, the zoom motor M1 is driven to perform zooming. In addition, the buttons U, D, and L , R to perform various operations.

On the back of the camera body 2, a display changeover switch 31, a decision button 32, a cancel button 33, and a menu button 34 are provided. The display changeover switch 31 is a three-contact switch that functions as a display changeover means, and is called “EVF”.
, "Automatic" and "LCD" can be selected.
When the display changeover switch 31 is set at the “EVF” position, an image is displayed only on the EVF 20 without being displayed on the LCD 10, and when set at the “LCD” position,
An image is displayed only on the LCD 10 without being displayed on the EVF 20. When set to the “automatic” position, the LCD 10 and the EV are controlled according to the result of eye detection by the eye sensor 406.
F20 will be selectively activated.

When the menu button 34 is pressed by the photographer, a menu screen (see FIG. 9) is displayed, and menu settings relating to the functions of the digital camera 1A can be performed by the photographer's operation input using the quad switch 35 or the like.

An external monitor terminal 222 is provided on a side surface of the camera body 2. The external monitor terminal 222 is connected to the external monitor 223 from the digital camera 1A.
Is a terminal for transmitting image data and the like.

As shown in FIG. 1, the digital camera 1A has a memory card 8 inserted therein. Also,
The digital camera 1A includes four AA batteries E1 to E4.
Are connected in series as a drive source.

<Functional Block of Digital Camera 1A> FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the digital camera 1A. In the figure, a CCD 303 converts a light image of a subject formed by a lens group 30 into R (red), G (green), and B (blue).
The image signal is photoelectrically converted into an image signal of a color component (a signal composed of a signal sequence of pixel signals received by each pixel) and output. The timing generator 314 generates various timing pulses for controlling driving of the CCD 303.

Exposure control in the image pickup section 3 is performed by controlling the aperture of the lens group 30 by the aperture control driver 306 and the CCD 30
3, ie, C corresponding to the shutter speed.
This is performed by adjusting the charge accumulation time of the CD 303. If an appropriate shutter speed cannot be set when the subject brightness is low, the improper exposure due to insufficient exposure is corrected by adjusting the level of the image signal output from the CCD 303. That is, when the luminance is low, the exposure control is performed by combining the shutter speed and the gain adjustment. The level adjustment of the image signal is performed in the gain adjustment of the AGC circuit in the signal processing circuit 313.

The timing generator 314 generates a drive control signal for the CCD 303 based on the reference clock transmitted from the timing control circuit 202. The timing generator 314 generates clock signals such as integration start / end (exposure start / end) timing signals and readout control signals (horizontal synchronization signal, vertical synchronization signal, transfer signal, etc.) of the light receiving signal of each pixel, and the like. Output to the CCD 303.

The signal processing circuit 313 performs predetermined analog signal processing on an image signal (analog signal) output from the CCD 303. The signal processing circuit 313
It has a DS (correlated double sampling) circuit and an AGC (auto gain control) circuit. The CDS circuit reduces the noise of the image signal, and the level of the image signal is adjusted by adjusting the gain of the AGC circuit.

The light control circuit 304 controls the amount of light emitted from the built-in flash 5 during flash photography to a predetermined amount of light set by the overall control unit 211. In flash photography, the reflected light of flash light from the subject is received by the light control sensor 305 at the same time as the start of exposure, and when the amount of received light reaches a predetermined light emission amount, the light control circuit 3
A light emission stop signal is output from 04, and the light emission of the built-in flash 5 is forcibly stopped in response to the light emission stop signal, whereby the light emission amount of the built-in flash 5 is controlled to a predetermined light emission amount.

The A / D converter 205 converts each pixel signal of the image signal into a 12-bit digital signal. The A / D converter 205 converts each pixel signal (analog signal) into a 12-bit digital signal based on an A / D conversion clock input from the timing generation circuit.

A timing control circuit 202 for generating a clock for the timing generator 314 and the A / D converter 205 is provided. Timing control circuit 20
2 is controlled by a reference clock in the overall control unit 211.

The black level correction circuit 206 corrects the black level of the A / D converted pixel signal to a reference black level. Also, a WB (white balance) circuit 207
Performs level conversion of pixel data of each of the R, G, and B color components. The WB circuit 207 includes the overall control unit 21
Using the level conversion table input from R, G,
The level of the pixel data of each color component of B is converted. In addition,
The parameters (slope of the characteristic) of each color component of the level conversion table are automatically or manually set by the overall control unit 211 for each captured image.

The gamma correction circuit 208 corrects the gradation of pixel data. The image memory 209 is a memory that stores the pixel data output from the gamma correction circuit 208. The image memory 209 has a storage capacity for one frame. That is, the image memory 209 stores the CCD 30
It has a storage capacity of 1600 × 1200 pixels of pixel data corresponding to the number of three pixels, and each pixel data is stored at a corresponding pixel position.

The LCD VRAM 210 is a buffer memory for image data displayed on the LCD 10. LCDV
The RAM 210 has a storage capacity of image data corresponding to 400 × 300 pixels of the LCD 10.

The EVFVRAM 220 is a buffer memory for image data displayed on the EVF 20. EVFV
The RAM 220 has a storage capacity of image data corresponding to the number of pixels 640 × 480 of the EVF 20.

In the photographing standby state, the imaging unit 3
After subjecting each pixel data of an image captured every 1/30 (second) to predetermined signal processing by the A / D converters 205 to γ correction circuit 208, the pixel data is temporarily stored in the image memory 209, LCDVR via the overall control unit 211
AM 210, transferred to EVF VRAM 220, LCD
10 or the EVF 20 (live view display).

Thus, the user can visually recognize the subject image. In the reproduction mode, the image read from the memory card 8 is subjected to predetermined signal processing by the overall control unit 211, transferred to the VRAM 210, and reproduced and displayed on the LCD 10. A similar display is performed on the EVF 20.

The card I / F 212 is an interface for writing image data to the memory card 8 and reading image data. Also, communication I / F2
Reference numeral 24 denotes an interface conforming to, for example, the USB standard for externally connecting the personal computer 225 so that communication is possible. This card I / F 212, communication I
/ F224 via the memory card 8 or the CD-ROM 2
The control program recorded on a recording medium such as 26
It can be taken into the ROM of the overall control unit 211.

The RTC 219 is a clock circuit for managing the shooting date and time. It is driven by another power source (not shown).

The operation unit 250 includes the above-described shutter button 9, display changeover switch 31, and confirm button 32.
It consists of various switches and buttons.

The shutter button 9 is a two-stage switch capable of detecting a half-pressed state (S1) and a depressed state (S2) as employed in a silver halide camera.
When the shutter button 9 is set to the S1 state in the standby state, A
The lens driving for F is started, and while the contrast of the image in the image memory 209 is evaluated by the overall control unit 211, the lens is driven and stopped by the motors M1 and M2 so that the contrast becomes highest. S
The shutter speed (SS) and the aperture value are determined by determining the level of the image data in the image memory in one state. Further, a white balance correction value is determined.

The NTSC converter 221 has a VRAM 220
Is converted into an NTSC format signal and transferred to the EVF 20 and the external monitor 223 via the external monitor terminal 222.

The overall control section 211 is composed of a microcomputer, and controls the driving of each member of the camera described above in an organic manner to control the photographing operation of the digital camera 1A.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing internal functions realized by the entire CPU and memory in the overall control unit 211. The overall control unit 211 includes a luminance determination unit 211a and an exposure amount setting unit 211b for setting an exposure control value (shutter speed (SS) and aperture value).

Further, the overall control unit 211 includes a filter unit 211f for performing a filtering process and a recorded image generation unit 211g for generating a thumbnail image and a compressed image in order to perform the recording process of the photographed image.
In addition, the overall control unit 211 includes a reproduction image generation unit 211h that generates a reproduction image to reproduce the image recorded on the memory card 8 on the LCD 10 or the EVF 20,
Display control unit 21 for controlling the display state of the 0 and the EVF 20
1i.

The filter section 211f corrects high-frequency components of an image to be recorded by a digital filter, thereby correcting image quality related to contours.

The recording image generation unit 211g is provided in the image memory 2
The pixel data is read from 09 and a thumbnail image and a compressed image to be recorded on the memory card 8 are generated. The recording image generation unit 211g reads pixel data from the image memory 209 every eight pixels in both the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, and sequentially transfers the pixel data to the memory card 8, thereby generating a thumbnail image to the memory card 8. Record.

The recording image generation unit 211h reads out all pixel data from the image memory 209 and converts these pixel data into JPE data such as two-dimensional DCT transform and Huffman coding.
A predetermined compression process according to the G method is performed to generate image data of a compressed image, and the compressed image data is recorded in the main image area of the memory card 8.

The display control section 211j turns on / off the display of the LCD 10 based on the setting of the display changeover switch 31 and the detection result of the eyepiece sensor 406,
On / off of the display of the VF 20 is controlled.

In the photographing mode, when photographing is instructed by the shutter button 9 in the photographing mode, the overall control section 211 compresses the image taken in the image memory 209 after the photographing instruction according to the JPEG method according to the set compression ratio and the thumbnail image. Tag information (frame number, exposure value, shutter speed, compression ratio,
Both images are stored in the memory card 8 together with information such as a shooting date, flash ON / OFF data at the time of shooting, scene information, an image determination result, and the like.

Each frame of the image recorded by the digital camera 1A has a tag portion, high-resolution image data ((1600 × 1200) pixels) compressed in JPEG format, and image data (80 × 60) for thumbnail display. Pixel) is recorded.

When the photographing / reproduction mode setting switch 14 is set to the reproduction mode, the image data having the largest frame number in the memory card 8 is read out, and the data is expanded by the reproduction image generation section 211h.
0, 220, the LCD 10 or EV
In F20, the image with the largest frame number, that is, the most recently captured image is displayed. By operating the button U, an image with a large frame number is displayed, and by pressing the button D, an image with a small frame number is displayed.

As shown in FIG. 6, the memory card 8 stores an image stored by the digital camera 1A at a compression rate of 1
/ 20 can store 230 frames of images. Each frame includes a tag information portion, a high-resolution image signal (640 × 480 pixels) compressed in the JPEG format, and an image signal for thumbnail display (80 × 80 pixels). 60 pixels).
For example, each frame can be handled as an image file in the EXIF format.

<Operation of Digital Camera 1A>
Among the operations of the digital camera 1A, the LCD 10 and the E
The display operation in the VF 20 will be described. This display operation is automatically executed by the overall control unit 211A. Except for this display operation, a general operation of the digital camera is performed.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state of transition of a display state on the LCD 10 and the EVF 20.

In the state S1, the display on the EVF 20 is on and the display on the LCD 10 is off. In this state S1, the display changeover switch 31 is used to select "EVF".
Is selected, and an image is displayed only on the EVF 20. Here, when the menu button 34 is pressed, the state shifts to the state S2, and the display changeover switch 31 is set to “L”.
When "CD" is set, the state shifts to state S3. Also,
When the display changeover switch 31 is set to “automatic”, the process shifts to the state S4.

In the state S2, the display on the EVF 20 is off and the display on the LCD 10 is on. The state S2 is shifted from the state S1 in which the image 20s is displayed only on the EVF 20 as shown in FIG. 8A by pressing the menu button 34, and as shown in FIG.
While the VF 20 is disabled, the LCD 10 is forcibly activated and the menu MN is displayed. On the menu MN screen, for example, many items such as "flash" and "shooting" relating to the digital camera 1A as shown in FIG. 9 are displayed, and setting of each item can be performed by operating the quad switch 35 and the like. This makes it easier for the photographer to visually recognize the menu screen, so that the setting can be appropriately input.

Here, when the menu setting is completed, the process returns to the state S2.

In the state S3, the display on the EVF 20 is off and the display on the LCD 10 is on. In this state S1, the display changeover switch 31 is used to select "LCD".
Is selected, and an image is displayed only on the LCD 10. Here, even if the menu button 34 is pressed,
A menu screen will be displayed on the LCD 10,
The display state of the LCD 10 and the EVF 20 does not change.
Here, when the display changeover switch 31 is set to “EVF”, the process shifts to the state S1, and when the display changeover switch 31 is set to “automatic”, the process shifts to step S4.

In step S4, it is determined whether the automatic mode of the EVF 20 is set to automatic ON or automatic switching. The setting of the automatic ON and the automatic switching is previously set by operating the four-way switch 35 on the setting screen displayed on the LCD 10 shown in FIG.

Here, when the automatic switching is set, the process goes to a state S5, and when the automatic switching is set, the process goes to a state S7.

In the state S5, the display on the EVF 20 is off and the display on the LCD 10 is on. In this state S5, since the eyepiece is not detected by the eyepiece sensor 406 of the EVF 20, only the LCD 10 is displayed. Here, even if the menu button 34 is pressed, the menu screen is displayed on the LCD 10, but the display state of the LCD 10 and the EVF 20 does not change. Here, when the eyepiece of the photographer is detected, the flow shifts to the state S6. When the display changeover switch 31 is set to “EVF”, the state shifts to the state S1, and the display changeover switch 3
When 1 is set to "LCD", the state shifts to state S3.

In the state S6, the display on the EVF 20 is on and the display on the LCD 10 is off. In this state S6, since the eyepiece is detected by the eyepiece sensor 406 of the EVF 20, only the EVF 20 is displayed. That is, when an eyepiece is detected by the eyepiece sensor 406 from the state S5 in which an image is displayed only on the LCD 10, the EVF 20
Is activated, and the LCD 10 is disabled. Here, when the eyepiece is no longer detected, the state S5 is reached.
When the menu button 34 is depressed, the process shifts to the state S5. When the display changeover switch 31 is set to "EVF", the state shifts to state S1, and when the display changeover switch 31 is set to "LCD", the state shifts to state S3.

In the state S7, the display on the EVF 20 is off and the display on the LCD 10 is off. In this state S7, since the eyepiece is not detected by the eyepiece sensor 406 of the EVF 20, the LCD 10 and the EVF 20 are not displayed. Here, when the eyepiece is detected, the flow shifts to state S8, and when the menu button 34 is pressed, the flow shifts to state S9. When the display changeover switch 31 is set to “EV
When the display change switch 31 is set to "LCD", the state shifts to the state S3.

In the state S8, the display on the EVF 20 is on and the display on the LCD 10 is off. In this state S8, since the eyepiece is detected by the eyepiece sensor 406 of the EVF 20, the EVF 20 is displayed. That is,
When an eyepiece is detected by the eyepiece sensor 406 from a state S7 in which no image is displayed on the LCD 10 and the EVF 20,
Only the EVF 20 will be activated. Here, when the eyepiece is no longer detected, the process proceeds to state S7,
When the menu button 34 is pressed, the flow shifts to the state S9. When the display changeover switch 31 is set to “EVF”
When the display switch 31 is set to "LCD", the state S1 is set.
3 will be performed.

In the state S9, the display on the EVF 20 is off and the display on the LCD 10 is on. Here, the menu button 34 is pressed from the state S7 or the state S8, and the menu screen MN is displayed on the LCD 10 having a large display screen. This makes it easier for the photographer to visually recognize the menu screen, so that the setting can be appropriately input.

Here, when the menu setting is completed, the display returns to the original display states S7 and S8.

Further, by the operation of the digital camera 1A, when setting the menu, the menu screen is forcibly displayed on the LCD having a larger display screen than the EVF so that the visual recognition becomes easy, and the operability is improved. .

<Second Embodiment><Main Configuration of Display System> FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a main configuration of a display system 100 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The display system 100 includes the digital camera 1
B and an external monitor 223. The external monitor 223 can display image data and the like transmitted from the digital camera 1B via the cable Cb on a screen 233m having a larger display screen than the EVF 20.

The digital camera 1B has a configuration similar to that of the digital camera 1A of the first embodiment, but differs in the overall control unit.

FIG. 12 is a partial block diagram of the digital camera 1B.

The display control unit 211 k of the overall control unit 211 B according to the second embodiment includes a display changeover switch 31.
Based on the setting in and the detection result of the eyepiece sensor 406, ON / OFF of display of the EVF 20 and ON / OFF of display of the screen 233m of the external monitor 233 are controlled.

The display controller 211k monitors whether or not the cable Cb and the external monitor 223 are connected to the external monitor terminal 222, and whether or not the external monitor terminal 222 is electrically open. By doing so, it can be detected. When the cable Cb is connected to the external monitor terminal 222, control for displaying an image preferentially on the external monitor 223 instead of the LCD 10 is performed.

<Operation of Display System 100> The operation of the display system 100 is the same as that of the digital camera 1A of the first embodiment.
Operation is similar. That is, in the state transition diagram shown in FIG.
The operation can be represented by replacing with 23m. Then, similarly to the digital camera 1A of the first embodiment, if the menu button 34 is pressed by the photographer in a state where only the EVF 20 is displayed, the EVF 20 is disabled and the external monitor terminal 222 is forcibly set. When turned on, a menu screen is displayed on the screen 223m of the external monitor 223 as shown in FIG. This makes it easier for the photographer to visually recognize the menu screen. When the display is performed on the external monitor 223, the EVF 20
Is turned off.

With the above operation of the display system 100,
At the time of menu setting, the menu screen is forcibly displayed on an external monitor having a large screen to facilitate visual recognition, thereby improving operability.

The display system 1 of the second embodiment
00, when the cable Cb is connected to the external monitor terminal 222, the image is preferentially displayed on the external monitor 223 instead of the LCD 10.
Alternatively, the display may be performed on both the external monitor 223 and the external monitor 223.

<Modification> The present invention can be applied not only to a digital camera that mainly captures still images as in the above embodiment, but also to a digital camera that can capture moving images.

[0082]

As described above, according to the first and fourth aspects of the present invention, the menu related to the functions of the digital camera is activated when the setting means for performing the setting by the operation input is activated. The display screen is larger than the first display means, the second display means provided on the external surface of the digital camera is forcibly activated, and the menu is displayed. As a result, the operability of the digital camera can be improved.

In particular, according to the second aspect of the invention, when the second display means is activated, the first display means is disabled, thereby contributing to power saving.

According to the invention of claims 5 to 7, regarding a menu related to the function of the digital camera, when the setting means for making the setting by the operation input is activated, the data is transmitted to the external display device. The transmission means for transmission is forcibly activated, and a menu is displayed on an external display device.
As a result, the operability of the digital camera can be improved.

In particular, according to the invention of claim 6, when the transmission means is activated, the display means is disabled, thereby contributing to power saving.

According to the invention of claim 7, when the cable is connected to the transmission means, the transmission means is activated, so that the operability of the digital camera can be further improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a digital camera 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
It is a top view of A.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view as viewed from a position II-II in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the digital camera 1A.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the digital camera 1A.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration in an overall control unit 211A.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining image storage of a memory card 8;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state of transition of a display state on the LCD 10 and the EVF 20.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a state of transition of a display state on the LCD 10 and the EVF 20.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a menu screen.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an EVF automatic mode setting screen.

FIG. 11 is a display system 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
It is a figure which shows the principal part structure of 00.

FIG. 12 is a partial block diagram of the digital camera 1B.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1A, 1B Digital camera 10 LCD 20 EVF 31 Display changeover switch 32 Enter button 34 Menu button 35 Quadruple switch 100 Display system 222 External monitor terminal 223 External monitor MN menu

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G03B 17/20 G03B 17/20 19/02 19/02 // H04N 101: 00 H04N 101: 00 F term ( Reference) 2H018 AA00 AA32 BE00 BE02 2H054 AA01 BB11 CD03 2H102 AA41 AA51 AA52 AA56 AA57 AA66 AA71 AB02 AB35 BA01 BA06 BA12 BA22 BA27 BB01 BB22 CA01 CA06 CA11 CA34 5C022 AA13 AB15 AB22 AC66

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A digital camera, comprising: (a) first display means capable of electronically displaying a captured image via an eyepiece; and (b) a display screen larger than the first display means, Second display means provided on an external surface of the camera and capable of electronically displaying a captured image; (c) display switching means for selectively activating the first display means and the second display means; (d) Regarding the menu related to the function of the digital camera,
Setting means for setting by an operation input; and (e) means for forcibly activating the second display means and displaying the menu when the setting means is activated. Digital camera. 2. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein when activating said second display means, said first display means is disabled. 3. A digital camera, comprising: (a) first display means having eyepiece detection means for detecting an eyepiece, and capable of electronically displaying a photographed image via an eyepiece lens; A second display means provided on the outer surface of the digital camera and capable of electronically displaying a photographed image; and (c) the first display means when the eyepiece is detected. Display switching control means for activating the means and disabling the second display means, and disabling the first display means and activating the second display means when the eyepiece is not detected; (d) ) Regarding the menu related to the function of the digital camera,
Setting means for performing setting by operation input; and (e) means for forcibly activating the second display means and displaying the menu when the setting means is activated, Digital camera. 4. A digital camera, comprising: (a) first display means having eyepiece detection means for detecting an eyepiece, and capable of electronically displaying a photographed image via an eyepiece lens; A second display means provided on the outer surface of the digital camera and capable of electronically displaying a photographed image; and (c) the first display means when the eyepiece is detected. Display switching control means for activating the means, disabling the second display means, and disabling both the first display means and the second display means when the eyepiece is not detected; (d) Regarding the menu related to the function of the digital camera,
Setting means for performing setting by operation input; and (e) means for forcibly activating the second display means and displaying the menu when the setting means is activated. Digital camera. 5. A digital camera capable of displaying a captured image on an external display device, comprising: (a) display means capable of electronically displaying the captured image via an eyepiece; and (b) the external display. To the device, transmission means for transmitting data, (c) display switching means for selectively activating the display means and the image output means, and (d) a menu related to the function of the digital camera,
Setting means for performing setting by an operation input; and (e) means for forcibly activating the transmission means when the setting means is activated, and displaying the menu on the external display device. A digital camera. 6. The digital camera according to claim 5, wherein when activating said transmission means, said display means is disabled. 7. The digital camera according to claim 5, wherein the digital camera is capable of transmitting data to the external display device via a cable, and (f) the cable is Means for activating the transmission means when connected to the transmission means.