JP2003110907A - Electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide electronic equipment, in which the display of a photographed image can be instructed as needed and a display time therefor can be freely set. SOLUTION: A CPU 11 monitors a pressing state at all the time concerning whether or not a post-view SW 21a is pressed in post-view display processing and when the post-view SW 21a is pressed from pressing of a release SW 21b of the second stage through shuttering to the end of recording of the photographed image in a memory 9 for recording, image data stored in a memory 6 are displayed on an image display part 8. When the post-view SW 21a is pressed from the end of recording of the photographed image in the memory 9 for recording to the start of photographing of the next image, the image data recorded in the memory 9 for recording are displayed on the image display part 8 while the press signal of the post-view SW 21a is inputted.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to electronic equipment,
More specifically, the present invention relates to display control for displaying a captured image after capturing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, digital cameras are known to have a display screen such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) on the back of the camera and have a post-view function for displaying a photographed image for a certain period of time immediately after the photographing. Has been.
This post-view function allows the user to immediately check the captured image and select whether to record or delete it. Conventionally, in such a post view function,
The image taken immediately after shooting was automatically displayed, and the post-view display was terminated when a predetermined time had elapsed.

[0003]

However, according to the conventional post-view display method as described above, the user can visually recognize the post-view display when a predetermined time elapses after the shooting while the user is performing any operation. Post-view display will be terminated before you do so, and you cannot immediately check the captured image. Also, depending on the user, it may be better that the display time of the post view is shorter, and even if the display time is inappropriate for the user, the user cannot select the display time of the post view, which is inconvenient. .

An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device which can instruct to display a photographed image as necessary and can set the display time freely.

[0005]

The invention according to claim 1 is
Image pickup means for picking up an optical image of a subject and converting it into an electric signal, storage means for temporarily storing image information based on the electric signal, recording means for recording image information based on the electric signal, and the electric In an electronic device comprising: a display unit that displays an image based on image information based on a signal,
Of the image based on the image information based on the electric signal, an instruction unit for instructing to display the captured final image on the display unit, and the image information stored in the storage unit according to the instruction of the instruction unit. Or display control means for displaying the image information recorded in the recording means on the display means.

The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1, or 2.
In the electronic device described above, the display control means causes the display means to display the image information while an instruction is input by the instruction means.

According to the invention described in claims 1 and 3,
The final image taken can be displayed when the user wants to confirm it, and the display time of the image can be freely set.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, an image pickup means for picking up an optical image of a subject and converting it into an electric signal, a storage means for temporarily storing image information based on the electric signal, and an electric signal based on the electric signal. An electronic device comprising: a recording unit that records image information; and a display unit that displays an image based on the image information based on the electric signal, wherein an imaged final image among the images based on the image information based on the electric signal. An instruction means for instructing to display on the display means,
A discriminating unit for discriminating whether or not the image information instructed to be displayed according to the instruction of the instructing unit is stored in the storage unit; and the image information is stored in the storage unit by the discriminating unit. If determined, the image information stored in the storage means is displayed on the display means,
Display control means for displaying the image information recorded in the recording means on the display means when it is determined that the image information is not stored in the storage means.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the final imaged image can be displayed when the user wants to confirm it, and the image information is automatically stored regardless of whether the image information is stored in the storage means or the recording means. Can be displayed as desired.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. First, the configuration will be described. 1A and 1B are external views showing an embodiment of a digital camera 100 to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 1A is a front perspective view of the digital camera 100, and FIG. It is a rear perspective view.

In FIG. 1A, the digital camera 10
0 is provided with an image pickup unit 24 for picking up an image of a subject, a fill light emitting unit 22 for emitting fill light to the subject, a finder 25 for determining a shooting range, and the like. In FIG. An image display unit 8 for displaying photographed images and the like, a display unit 26 for displaying photographing setting status and the like, an operation SW (switch) 21 for operating setting and switching of various functions, and the like are provided on the back of the digital camera. 1
Release SW2 on the top of 00 to release the shutter
1b and the like. The detailed description of each component will be given together with the description of the functional configuration described later.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the digital camera 100. In FIG. 2, the digital camera 100 includes a lens unit 1, a diaphragm 2, an image pickup unit 24 including a CCD 3, an image pickup circuit 4, an A / D conversion circuit 5, a memory 6, a D / A conversion circuit 7, an image display unit 8, and a recording unit. Memory 9, compression / expansion circuit 10, CPU 11, TG 12, AE
AF processing circuit 13, CCD driver 14, first M (motor) 15, first motor drive circuit 16, second M (motor) 17, second motor drive circuit 18, battery 19, EEP
It is composed of a ROM 20, an operation SW 21, an auxiliary light emitting section 22, and a switching circuit 23.

The image pickup section 24 comprises a lens unit 1 including a focus lens group for taking in an optical image of a subject, a diaphragm 2 for adjusting the light amount of a light flux transmitted through the lens unit 1 and an exposure adjustment, and light of the lens unit 1. CCD for photoelectrically converting an optical image of a subject formed on the road
(Charge Coupled Device) 3 and outputs a photoelectrically converted image signal (analog signal) to the image pickup circuit 4.

The image pickup circuit 4 synchronizes with a timing signal input from the TG 12 and performs various image processing such as sensitivity correction on the image signal input from the CCD 3 to generate a predetermined image signal and A / D-converts it. Output to the circuit 5. The A / D conversion circuit 5 converts the input image signal from an analog signal into a digital signal, and outputs the digitally converted image data to the memory 6 or the AE / AF processing circuit 13 according to an instruction from the CPU 11.

The memory 6 is composed of a buffer memory or the like, and temporarily stores the image data input from the A / D conversion circuit 5. When the memory 6 receives an image display instruction from the CPU 11, the memory 6 outputs the image data instructed to display the image to the D / A conversion circuit 7, and the D / A conversion circuit 7 converts the input image data into analog data. At the same time, processing is performed so as to adapt to output display, and the result is output to the image display unit 8. On the other hand, when the memory 6 receives the image recording instruction from the CPU 11, the memory 6 outputs the image data instructed to record the image to the compression / expansion circuit 10, and the compression / expansion circuit 10 performs compression processing on the input image data. Output to the recording memory 9.

The image display unit 8 is an LCD (Liquid Crystal).
Display) and the like, and outputs and displays the image signal input from the D / A conversion circuit 7. The display is not limited to an image, and may be a text screen such as a menu screen for selecting a function.

The recording memory 9 is a recording memory such as a semiconductor memory, and is a recording medium having an image data recording area for recording the image data input from the compression / expansion circuit 10. The recording memory 9 may be, for example, a built-in memory such as a flash memory, a removable memory card or a memory stick,
It may be a magnetic recording medium such as a hard disk or a floppy (registered trademark) disk.

Upon receiving an image reading instruction from the CPU 11, the recording memory 9 reads out the image data instructed to be read by the compression / expansion circuit 10 from the image recording data area and outputs the image data, and the compression / expansion circuit 10 receives the image data. The expanded image data is decompressed and output to the memory 6.

The compression / expansion circuit 10 is a compression circuit for compressing the image data input from the memory 6 by a predetermined encoding method, and the input from the recording memory 9 for displaying the read-instructed image data on the screen. A decompression circuit for decoding and decompressing image data.

CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11
Reads out various application programs related to imaging stored in the EEPROM 20 to a work area (not shown), executes various processing such as shooting processing and post-view display processing according to the programs, and displays the processing result in the image display unit 8 or It is displayed on the display unit 26.

Further, in the post view display processing, the CPU 11 constantly monitors whether or not the post view SW 21a has been pressed, and checks whether or not the post view SW 21a has been pressed.
If the postview SW 21a is pressed between the time when b is pressed and the shutter is released and the recording of the image captured in the recording memory 9 is completed, the captured image data is read from the memory 6. The image is displayed on the image display unit 8. After the recording of the captured image in the recording memory 9 is completed and before the next image is captured, the post view S
When W21a is pressed, the captured image data is read from the image data recording area of the recording memory 9 and displayed on the image display unit 8. CPU11 is post view S
While the pressing signal of W21a is being input, the image display unit 8
To continue the display, and when the input of the press signal is stopped, the display is ended.

A TG (Timing Generator) 12 generates a predetermined timing signal to generate an image pickup circuit 4, CPU 11 and C.
Output to the CD driver 14.

AE (Auto Exposure)
The AF (Auto Focus) processing circuit 13
An AE processing circuit that executes E processing (appropriate exposure detection processing) and an AF processing circuit that executes AF processing (appropriate focus detection processing) are provided. Each process is executed by inputting image data from the A / D conversion circuit 5 according to an instruction from the CPU 11.

In the AE processing, the AE processing circuit performs arithmetic processing at the time of cumulative addition on the luminance value of the input image data for one screen, and calculates an appropriate AE condition at the time of actual exposure from the processing result. And outputs it to the CPU 11. on the other hand,
The AF processing circuit uses the lens unit 1 in the AF processing.
At each lens position, the AF evaluation value is calculated, and the AF evaluation value at each position is compared to detect an appropriate focus position and output it to the CPU 11. The AF evaluation value is obtained by extracting a high-frequency component of image data for one input screen or a predetermined portion in the screen through a high-pass filter or the like (not shown), and performing calculation such as cumulative addition on the extracted high-frequency component. It is calculated by performing.

The CCD driver 14 drives and controls the CCD 3 in synchronization with a timing signal input from the TG 12 according to an instruction from the CPU 11. Specifically, the charge storage time of the CCD 3 according to the exposure adjustment instruction is controlled.

The first motor drive circuit 16 controls the drive of the first motor according to an instruction from the CPU 11, and the first motor drives the diaphragm 2. In addition, the second motor drive circuit 18
Controls the drive of the second motor according to an instruction from the CPU 11, and the second motor drives the lens unit 1.

The battery 19 is a power source for supplying power to each component of the digital camera 100, and for example, a lithium battery or an alkaline dry battery is applied.

EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Pr)
The ogrammable read-only memory) 20 stores various application programs, processing programs, and the like related to image capturing of the digital camera 100.

The operation SW (switch) 21 comprises various operation switches such as a postview SW 21a, a release SW 21b, a mode SW for switching functions, a menu SW for selecting settings, and the like. When each switch is pressed, a pressing signal is generated and output to the CPU 11. The release SW 21b is composed of a two-stage switch including a first-stage release SW that starts the AE and AF operations prior to the shooting operation and a second-stage release SW that starts the actual exposure process. .

The post view SW 21a is a switch for instructing the post view display, and the digital camera 100
It is provided in a position where the user can easily operate it, and when pressed, the pressing signal is output to the CPU 11. Also,
The post view display is continued while the post view SW 21a is being pressed, and when the press is stopped, the post view display is ended.

The auxiliary light emitting section 22 is an emitting section for emitting strobe light to the subject when the brightness of the surrounding environment detected at the time of photographing is insufficient, and the switching circuit 23 controls the light emitting timing and the light emitting amount. To be done.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a photographing process executed by the digital camera 100 to which the present invention is applied.

First, in FIG. 3, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the focus lens of the lens unit 1 is at the initial position (step S1), and when it is not at the initial position, sets it to the initial position (step S2). The detection method is not limited as long as the initial position can be detected.

Next, the CPU 11 causes the release SW 21
It is determined whether or not the pressing signal of the first-stage release SW 21b is pressed (step S3). If the pressing signal of the first-stage release SW 21b is not input, the process returns to step S1 and the first When the depression signal of the step release SW 21b is input, the focus lens of the lens unit 1 is moved to a predetermined position (step S
4). The predetermined position is preferably a position at infinity or a hyperfocal position.

Next, the CPU 11 causes the AE / AF processing circuit 13 to execute the AE processing (step S5), obtains appropriate exposure conditions, and then executes the AF processing (step S6) to obtain the proper exposure condition. When the focus is detected, the focus lens of the lens unit 1 is moved to the detected focus position (step S7), the release SW 21b is pressed, and it is determined whether or not the pressing signal of the first-stage release SW 21b is input ( Step S8).

When the depression signal of the first-stage release SW 21b is not input, the procedure returns to step 1, and when the depression signal of the first-stage release SW 21b is input, the release SW 21b is depressed again to release the second-stage release. SW21
It is determined whether or not the pressing signal of b is input (step S9). If the pressing signal for the second-stage release SW 21b has not been input, the process returns to step S8. If the pressing signal for the second-stage release SW 21b has been input, step S5
The exposure process according to the proper exposure condition acquired by the AE process is executed (step S10).

Next, the CPU 11 executes the exposure process and temporarily stores the image signal photoelectrically converted by the CCD 3 in the memory 6 as image data through each component.
When the predetermined time has elapsed, the process of recording the image data stored in the memory 6 in the recording memory 9 is started (step S11). When the recording in the recording memory 9 is completed (step S12), the photographing process is completed.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the post-view display processing executed in the digital camera 100 to which the present invention is applied. Referring to FIG. 4, first, a part of the above-described shooting process will be described. The CPU 11 is
Release SW 21b is pressed to release second-stage release SW2
When the pressing signal of 1b is input (step S9; YE
S), the exposure process is executed (step S10). Subsequently, when a predetermined time has elapsed, a process of recording the image data temporarily stored in the memory 6 in the image data recording area of the recording memory 9 is started (step S11), and when the recording is completed (step S12). , The next shooting process is started.

Next, the post-view display processing executed in parallel with the series of photographing processing described above will be described. First, C
The PU 11 presses whether or not the post view SW 21a for instructing the start of the post view display has been pressed between the time when the second step release SW 21b is pressed and the time when the second step release SW 21b is pressed in the next shooting process. The state is monitored (step S101).

During monitoring, from the depression of the second-stage release SW 21b to the end of the recording of the image data in the recording memory 9 (step S9; YES to step S9).
If the post view SW 21a is pressed (up to 12) (step S102), the image data stored in the memory 6 is read (step S103). On the other hand, after the recording in the recording memory 9 is completed, the second photographing processing is performed.
Until the step release SW 21b is pressed (step S12 to step S9 in the next photographing process; YES)
If the postview SW 21a is pressed (step S104), the image data recorded in the image data recording area of the recording memory 9 is read (step S104).
105).

Next, the CPU 11 outputs the read image data to the image display section 8 for post-view display (step S106). The post-view display may be, for example, a display screen with only an image as shown in FIG. 5A, or a display screen with a message confirming deletion of an image inserted as shown in FIG. 5B. But it's okay. If the user inputs an instruction to delete while the confirmation message is displayed, the image displayed in the post view is deleted. Further, this post view display continues to be displayed while the user presses the post view SW 21a. In other words, the user can
The display is performed while pressing a, and the display ends when the pressing is stopped.

As described above, the post view SW 21a for instructing the post view display is provided, and when the photographed image is pressed before being recorded in the recording memory 9, the image data is read from the memory 6. If it is pressed after recording in the recording memory 9, the image data is read from the recording memory 9, the read image data is output and displayed on the image display unit 8, and the post-view SW 21
Since the display is continued while a is pressed down, the user can display the post view as needed and can set the display time freely.

The description contents in this embodiment are as follows.
This is an example of a suitable post-view display process according to the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in the post view display, the display is continued while the user presses the post view SW 21a. However, the first stage post view SW is pressed to instruct the start of the post view display, and then the display is being performed. Again, Postview SW21
The post view display may be ended by pressing a.

Further, by providing a post view SW 21a,
Although it was instructed to display the post view display, other function switches that do not affect shooting, such as the decision switch in the function menu, may be used as a substitute, or may be incorporated into the function menu to display the post view display from the menu. It may be selected.

[0045]

According to the invention described in claims 1 and 3, when the image information of the captured image is processed and stored in the storage means, and the instruction means displays the image captured, The final image stored in the storage means or the final image recorded in the recording means is displayed, and the display is continued as long as the instruction is input. Therefore, the final image taken is displayed when the user wants to confirm it. In addition, the display time of the image can be freely set.

According to the second aspect of the invention, when the image information of the picked-up image is processed and stored in the storage means, and the instruction means displays the image, the image information is stored in the storage means. It is determined whether or not the image information is stored in the storage unit. If it is determined that the image information is stored in the storage unit, the image information stored in the storage unit is stored. If it is determined that the image information is not stored in the storage unit, the recording unit is stored. Since the image information recorded in is displayed, it is possible to display the final image taken when the user wants to confirm it, and it is possible to automatically display whether the image information is stored in the storage means or the recording means. Can be displayed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view showing a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the digital camera 100 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a photographing process executed by a CPU 11 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a postview display process executed by the CPU 11 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is an example of a display screen displayed in post view by the CPU 11 of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 lens unit 2 aperture 3 CCD 4 Imaging circuit 5 A / D conversion circuit 6 memory 7 D / A conversion circuit 8 Image display section 9 Recording memory 10 compression / expansion circuit 11 CPU 12 TG 13 AE / AF processing circuit 14 CCD driver 15 First motor 16 First motor drive circuit section 17 Second motor 18 Second motor drive circuit section 19 batteries 20 EEPROM 21 Operation SW 21a Postview SW 21b Release SW 22 Auxiliary light emitting section 23 Switching circuit 24 Imaging unit 25 viewfinder 26 Display 100 digital camera

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image pickup unit for picking up an optical image of a subject and converting it into an electric signal, a storage unit for temporarily storing image information based on the electric signal, and a recording unit for recording image information based on the electric signal. An electronic device comprising: a display unit configured to display an image based on image information based on the electrical signal, wherein a final imaged image of the images based on the image information based on the electrical signal is displayed on the display unit. Instruction means for instructing to do so, and display control means for displaying on the display means the image information stored in the storage means or the image information recorded in the recording means in response to the instruction of the instruction means. An electronic device further comprising: 2. An image pickup means for picking up an optical image of a subject and converting it into an electric signal, a storage means for temporarily storing image information based on the electric signal, and a record for recording image information based on the electric signal. An electronic device comprising: a display unit configured to display an image based on image information based on the electrical signal, wherein a final imaged image of the images based on the image information based on the electrical signal is displayed on the display unit. Instruction means for instructing to do so, determination means for determining whether or not the image information instructed to be displayed according to the instruction of the instruction means is stored in the storage means, and the image information is determined by the determination means. When it is determined that the image information is stored in the storage unit, the image information stored in the storage unit is displayed on the display unit, and the image information is stored in the storage unit. If you are not to have been determined, the electronic device characterized by comprising a display control means for displaying the image information recorded in the recording means on the display means. 3. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display control means displays the image information on the display means while the instruction is input by the instruction means.