JP2003134470A - Video reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image reproducing device which reproduces and displays a plurality of images recorded with a digital camera or the like with impressive visual representation and in which a desired image is easily retrieved from many images. SOLUTION: A digital camera with the image reproducing device mounted is provided with a function that arranges a plurality of images stored in the camera in the order of time series (recorded order) on a liquid crystal display 16 along a spiral curve, and displays the images in such a display form where order images are shown smaller and darker by degrees. When a jog dial 24 is turned around, the individual images are moved along the spiral curve in a feeding or returning direction in accordance with the turning operation. When a decision button 20 is pressed down with a desired image displayed at a main display position 92, the image is displayed alone to the full on the display.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image reproducing apparatus, and more particularly to an image reproducing apparatus suitable as a means for reproducing and displaying a plurality of images recorded by a digital camera or the like with an attractive effect.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the widespread use of digital cameras and video cameras has increased opportunities to record and enjoy various images. Most digital cameras have a liquid crystal display and have a function of reproducing recorded images. As a display form when playing back and displaying recorded images,
There is known a method of dividing a display screen into a matrix and displaying a list of image contents by so-called multi-screen split display.

[0003]

However, in the conventional display form, the images are simply arranged in order from the upper left of the display screen, and no visual effect has been devised. The inventor of the present application has focused on a request to collect images along a certain common theme and browse these related image groups in a recording order under an attractive effect. For example, by handing a specific object to a person who is the subject and photographing it together with the object, the reaction of each person to the transferred object can be recorded, and a large number of collected images can be compared and enjoyed. I wanted to realize the means that can be done.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and reproduces and displays a plurality of images recorded by a digital camera or the like with an impressive visual effect and displays a desired image from a large number of images. An object of the present invention is to provide an image reproducing device that can be easily searched.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a signal processing means for generating a display signal from input image data, and a display signal generated by the signal processing means. And an image display unit for displaying image contents based on the above, wherein the device arranges the respective image contents indicated by the plurality of input image data in chronological order along a spiral curve. The feature is that the older the image is, the smaller the display area becomes.

According to the present invention, the plurality of images to be displayed are preset in temporal order such as recording order. When data relating to the plurality of images is input to the image display device, the signal processing means processes the image signal in accordance with a predetermined program and generates a signal to be displayed and output to the image display means. That is, the contents of each image are arranged in chronological order along a spiral curve to realize a display form in which the older the image, the smaller the display area. According to this spiral display, it is possible to easily associate the temporal connection of the images on the display screen. In addition, the display area of the new image is relatively larger than the display area of the old image, and the old images in the past are gradually displayed smaller, which is an advantage that the main display target (new image) can be easily grasped visually. There is. In addition, the older the image is, the darker it is displayed, so that the main display object can be made relatively more prominent.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the image display means has a circular display screen, and the image contents arranged in a spiral are displayed as circular small screen images. . By displaying each image in a circular frame in accordance with the circular shape of the display screen and arranging these in a spiral shape, it is possible to give an impression of a sense of unity between the display screen and each small screen image. Further, it is preferable that a dial operation member for performing an image feeding / returning operation is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the circular image display means. With such a mode, a user interface is realized in which the operation direction of the dial and the movement of the image in response to the operation (movement in the feed direction or the return direction along the spiral) are sensuously matched, and the operability of the image search is realized. Can be increased.

An image display device according to another aspect of the present invention is
In addition to the above configuration, an instruction input unit for inputting an instruction from the operator is provided, and among a plurality of images arranged along the spiral curve, a predetermined display position (called a main display position) where the display area is the largest. When a selection instruction is input from the instruction input means with respect to the image displayed in (.), The image content displayed at the main display position is independently enlarged and displayed on the display screen of the image display means. It has a feature.

A desired image can be selected from the spiral display and can be viewed in full screen. Instruction input means may be provided for returning from the state of single display to the state of spiral display, and control for automatically returning to the state of spiral display after performing single display for a preset fixed time. You can go.

As still another aspect of the present invention, a mode in which information indicating the relative relationship between the total amount of images and the order position of the image currently displayed at the main display position is displayed on the display screen of the image display means. Is also preferable. When a large number of images are accumulated, it is possible to easily grasp the order in which the current display target is among all the images, and it can be used as a guide for image retrieval.

There is a mode in which the image reproducing apparatus of the present invention is mounted on an electronic camera, and the images recorded by the electronic camera are arranged and arranged in the recording order to be reproduced and displayed. The term "electronic camera" is used as a general term for image pickup devices such as digital still cameras and video cameras that record electronic image data regardless of whether still image recording or moving image recording is performed. When performing a spiral display for a moving image, the image content of a still image recorded in association with the moving image may be displayed, or a specific frame (for example, the first frame) of the recorded moving image data may be extracted. This may be used as a representative image for spiral display.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of an image reproducing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a digital camera to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a rear view, and FIG. 3 is a top view. As shown in these drawings, the camera 10 has a substantially disc shape, and the photographing lens 12 and the strobe light emitting unit 1 are provided on the front surface of the main body.
4, a liquid crystal display 16, a power button 18, an enter button 20, and a cancel button 22 are provided on the rear surface of the main body.
Also, a jog dial 24 is provided. The liquid crystal display 16 has a circular display screen, and a jog dial 24 is rotatably arranged on the outer peripheral portion of the liquid crystal display 16.

FIG. 4 is an external view of the camera cover 30 that houses the camera 10. The camera cover 30 is made of a cloth material having a cushioning property, and has a shape in which belt portions 34A to 34E are extended in five directions in a radial manner from a circular portion (corresponding to the bottom portion) 32 in the center. Have A circular lid portion 36 is formed on one strip portion 34A.
Is a binding pin 3 for bundling the other belt portions 34B to 34E.
8 are provided. In addition, holes 39 that engage with the binding pins 38 are formed at the tip ends of the band portions 34B to 34E.

As is apparent from FIG. 4, the camera cover 3
0 has an abstract shape reminiscent of a doll. That is, the circular portion 32 is the body, the lid portion 36 is the face, the belt portion 34B,
34E is impressed as a part corresponding to the hand, and the belt parts 34C and 34D are impressed as parts corresponding to the foot. Although the color of the camera cover 30 is not particularly limited, in this example, the front side is colored orange, the back side is colored yellow green, and the binding pins 38 are colored white.

The camera cover 30 having such a characteristic is handed to a person as a subject, and the reaction of the person is taken by the camera 10.
To shoot. A speaker (not shown in FIG. 4, described as reference numeral 74 in FIG. 8) is built in the camera cover 30, and a countdown sound is output from the speaker 74 during shooting.

5 to 7 show the procedure for storing the camera 10. First, as shown in FIG. 5, the camera 10 is placed in the center of the camera cover 30, and the lid 36 is folded up on the camera 10 as shown in FIG. After that, each belt portion 34B to 34E
Is folded up, the holes 39 are hooked on the binding pins 38, and the camera 10 is wrapped and stored as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5, a power switch terminal 40 is provided on the lid portion 36 of the camera cover 30, and the power of the camera cover 30 is turned off when the terminal 40 is in contact with the camera body. And power switch terminal 4
When 0 is separated from the camera body, the camera cover 30 is powered on. Instead of the power switch terminal 40, a manually operated power switch may be provided.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the camera 10 and the camera cover 30. The amount of light passing through the taking lens 12 is adjusted by the diaphragm 44, and then C
It is incident on a CD image sensor (hereinafter referred to as CCD) 46. A CMOS or other imaging device may be used instead of the CCD 46. On the light receiving surface of the CCD 46, a color filter and a photo sensor having a predetermined arrangement structure are arranged in a plane, and the CCD is arranged via the taking lens 12.
The subject image formed on the light receiving surface of 46 is converted by each photosensor into a signal charge of an amount corresponding to the amount of incident light.
The CCD 46 has a so-called electronic shutter function of controlling the charge storage time (shutter speed) of each photo sensor according to the timing of the shutter gate pulse.

The signal charge accumulated in each photosensor is
The voltage signals (image signals) corresponding to the signal charges are sequentially read out based on the pulses given from the CCD driver (not shown), and the image signals are sent to the analog processing section 48. The analog processing unit 48 includes a signal processing circuit such as a sampling and holding circuit, a color separation circuit, and a gain adjustment circuit. In the analog processing unit 48, a correlated double sampling (CDS) process and R, G, B color signals are performed. Color separation processing is performed, and the signal level of each color signal is adjusted (pre-white balance processing).

The image signal output from the analog processing unit 48 is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 50 and then sent to the digital signal processing unit 52. The digital signal processing unit 52 includes a luminance / color difference signal generation circuit, a gamma correction circuit, a sharpness correction circuit, a white balance correction circuit, a size conversion circuit for converting the image size, an extraction circuit for cutting out a part of the image, an image recognition processing circuit. It is an image processing means including the above, and processes an image signal in accordance with an instruction from a central processing unit (CPU) 54.

The image data input to the digital signal processing section 52 includes luminance signals (Y signals) and color difference signals (Cr, Cb).
Signal) and subjected to a predetermined process such as gamma correction, and then via a bus 56, a RAM (Random Acc
ess Memory) 58. The RAM 58 is used not only as an image memory for storing image data, but also as a working memory used for calculation of the CPU 54 and a VRAM (video RAM) for storing display data.

When the image being picked up is displayed on the liquid crystal display 16 on the monitor, the image data is read from the RAM 58, and in order to display the image on the circular screen, a process of cutting out an image portion necessary for display is performed. After that, the image data is transferred to the display control circuit 60. The image data sent to the display control circuit 60 is converted into a video signal of a predetermined system for display and output to the liquid crystal display 16.
RAM 58 according to the image signal output from CCD 46
By periodically rewriting the image data in the image data and supplying the video signal generated from the image data to the liquid crystal display 16, the image being captured is displayed on the liquid crystal display 16 as a moving image in real time.

Image recognition processing is performed in parallel with this display processing. By analyzing the image data, it is determined whether or not the camera cover 30 is reflected within the shooting angle of view. When the presence of the camera cover 30 is detected, moving image recording is automatically started. Then, after recording a moving image for a predetermined time (for example, 15 seconds), a still image is recorded. This camera 1
In the case of 0, the image recording operation is executed based on the judgment of the image recognition, and therefore the operation means such as the shutter button and the recording start / stop button are omitted.

During recording of a moving image, a countdown signal is generated in the countdown signal generation circuit 62, and the countdown signal is converted into a wireless communication system signal (radio wave or optical signal) by the communication interface section 64 and transmitted.

A communication interface unit 66 and a decoding circuit 68 for receiving the countdown signal are provided in the camera cover 30, and the countdown signal decoded by the decoding circuit 68 is an analog signal by the D / A converter 70. After being converted into, the sound is output to the speaker 74 via the amplifier (amplifier) 72. The countdown sound output from the speaker 74 allows the person who is the subject and the photographer to know the progress of recording and the timing of still image recording. A mode in which a speaker is provided on the camera body side and a countdown sound is output from the camera body is also possible.

When the captured image is recorded, the RAM 5
The image data fetched in 8 is compressed by the compression / expansion circuit 76. The recording image size and compression format are not particularly limited, and various sizes and compression formats can be applied. In this example, the size of the recorded image is 800 x 6
The number of pixels is 00, and moving image recording is compressed by a compression algorithm called cine pack.

The compressed image data is stored in the recording device 78 as an electronic file together with date information and other attached information. As the recording device 78, a readable / writable large-capacity nonvolatile storage means is preferable. Camera 10 of this example
Uses a built-in recording device 78 in order to realize a function of accumulating a large amount of image data in the camera and browsing these images as an album. However, the present invention is not limited to this when implementing the present invention. You may use removable media, such as a memory card, as a means to record an image.

At the time of reproduction, the image data is read out from the recording device 78, expanded by the compression / expansion circuit 76, and then the liquid crystal display 1 is passed through the display control circuit 60.
6 is output.

The CPU 54 is a control device that controls the present camera system, and operates the camera 10 in accordance with a predetermined control program and various setting data stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 80. The operation unit 82 is
The block includes the power button 18, the determination button 20, the cancel button 22, and the jog dial 24 described in FIG. 2. When the operation unit 82 is operated, a signal corresponding to the operation is input to the CPU 54. The CPU 54 controls the operation of the circuit corresponding to the received instruction signal, the display control of the liquid crystal display 16, the control of the imaging system including the CCD 46, the image recognition determination control, the read / write control of the recording device 78, and the recording device 78. File management etc. In addition,
Although not shown in FIG. 8, the camera 10 and the camera cover 30 are each provided with a battery for power supply.

Next, the operation of the camera 10 configured as described above will be described. As described above, the camera 1 of this example
0 hands the camera cover 30 to the person who is the subject,
It can be used as a means for recording the reaction of a person who holds the camera cover 30 as a moving image and a still image. When the camera body is taken out from the camera cover 30, the camera cover 30
The power of is automatically turned on, and the countdown signal reception standby state is set. The camera body is turned on by pressing the power button 18.

9 to 11 are flowcharts showing the control procedure of the camera 10. The power of the camera body is ON
Then, the reading process of the image data stored in the recording device 78 is performed (step S112) (step S112). Then, necessary reproduction processing is performed on each read image data, and a plurality of images are displayed on the liquid crystal display 16 in a spiral arrangement (step S114). The screen change of the liquid crystal display 16 during this period is the power button 1
By pressing 8, the dark screen gradually becomes white like the fade-in technique, and the contents of the saved image are displayed in the display form (spiral display) as shown in FIG.

According to the screen example of FIG. 12, a plurality of circular small screen windows 90 are arranged along the spiral curve in order to display the contents of each saved image (still image), and the small screen becomes closer to the center of the spiral. The display form is such that the diameter of the window 90 is gradually smaller and the image becomes darker. Older images toward the center of the spiral (oldest to oldest)
Therefore, a newer image is displayed on the small screen window 90 having a larger diameter. In other words, it is a display effect showing that past images are accumulated in a spiral that gives an image of a temporal flow.

The outer peripheral frame 91 of the small screen window 90 is displayed in a gradation similar to the color of the jog dial 24,
At the bottom of the small screen window 90, a frame number indicating the image recording order is displayed. The display position indicated by reference numeral 92 in FIG. 12, that is, the display position at the top of the display screen (hereinafter referred to as the main display position) is the place where the image currently selected is displayed. In the spiral display immediately after turning on the camera power, the image related to the latest recording (the last recorded image)
Is displayed at the main display position 92.

A blank frame 9 is provided on the further right side of the main display position 92.
Part 4 is displayed. This blank frame 94 means a small screen window that implies that a new image will be acquired in the next shooting, and is equivalent to a “future small screen window”.

Jog dial 2 in a spiral display
When 4 is turned, the image in each small screen window 90 moves in an image that the image moves in the same rotation direction as the rotation direction. When playing an old image taken in the past, the jog dial 24 is operated in the clockwise direction in FIG. 12 (hereinafter, referred to as “return (−) direction”), and when playing a new image, the counterclockwise direction is displayed. Operate in the rotating direction (hereinafter referred to as the "feed (+) direction").

In the spiral display state shown in FIG. 12, the CPU 54 of the camera 10 receives an operation input from the photographer (operator). That is, after the spiral display is performed in step S114 shown in FIG.
Proceeding to 116, the CPU 54 determines whether or not the enter button 20 has been pressed.

When the enter button 20 is pressed (at the time of YES determination), a process of displaying the image displayed at the main display position 92 alone on the entire screen of the liquid crystal display 16 (full screen display process) is performed. . At this time,
Information about the recording date and time is displayed at the bottom of the screen instead of or in addition to the display of the frame number.

Subsequently, the CPU 54 monitors whether or not the enter button 20 has been pressed (step S120). When the decision button 20 is pressed again in the full-screen display state, the moving image data associated with the still image (moving image data recorded for 15 seconds immediately before recording the still image) is reproduced (step S122). ), The content of the moving image is displayed on the liquid crystal display 16.

Whether or not the cancel button 22 is pressed during the reproduction of the moving image is monitored (step S124). If the cancel button 22 is pressed during the reproduction, the reproduction process is stopped (return to step S118. On the other hand, step S12).
If the cancel button 22 is not pressed in step 4, it is determined whether or not the moving image data has been reproduced to the end (step S128), and if reproduction is in progress, step S1.
Returning to step 22, the video reproduction is continued. When the reproduction of the moving image data ends in step S128, step S11
Return to the still image full screen display state of 8.

In step S120, the enter button 20
If is not pressed, the process proceeds to step S130, and it is determined whether or not the cancel button 22 is pressed. Step S
If the cancel button 22 is not pressed in 130, the process returns to step S120 and the still image full screen display state is maintained. When the pressing of the cancel button 22 is detected in step S130, step S11
Returning to step 4, the spiral display state described with reference to FIG. 12 is set.

When the pressing of the decision button 20 is not detected in the following step S116 in the state where the spiral display is performed in step S114 of FIG. 9 (at the time of NO determination).
Proceeds to step S140. In step S140, the CPU 54 determines whether or not the jog dial 24 is operated. If the jog dial 24 is not operated (N
(When O is determined), the process returns to step S114, and the spiral display state is maintained.

On the other hand, when the jog dial 24 is operated in the spiral display state, Y is displayed in step S140.
The ES determination is made, and the process proceeds to step S142. Step S
At 142, the operation direction of the jog dial 24 is determined. When the jog dial 24 is operated in the return (-) direction, a process of changing the image displayed at the main display position 92 of the spiral display is performed (step S144), and the image is moved in a direction going up to the old image. Thus, step S1
Returning to step 14, the spiral display is displayed with the display content changed.
In addition, in the state of FIG. 12, the jog dial 24 returns (-).
When operated in the direction, each image moves in the clockwise direction one by one, and the blank frame 94 is pushed out from the display screen.

When the jog dial 24 is operated in the feed (+) direction, the process proceeds to step S146 in accordance with the direction determination determination shown in step S142 of FIG. Step S
At 146, it is determined whether the image displayed at the main display position 92 is the final image (image related to the latest recording). If the image displayed at the main display position 92 is not the final image, a newer image is recorded, and the process advances to step S148 to change the image displayed at the main display position 92 to a new image. Perform (step S144).

With the final image displayed at the main display position 92 (the state shown in FIG. 12), the jog dial 24
Is operated in the feed (+) direction, step S1 in FIG.
A YES determination is made at 46, and step S2 of FIG.
Go to 10. That is, the camera 10 is switched to the shooting mode by operating the jog dial 24. CPU5
Reference numeral 4 denotes the CCD for making various settings necessary for photographing and not controlling the power supply to the image pickup system (step S212).
Activate 46. In parallel with the shooting preparation process, the display on the liquid crystal display 16 is also changed, the blank frame 94 is moved to the main display position 92 (step S214), and then the blank area is expanded to the entire screen (step S216), and eventually the CCD 46 is moved. Real-time image captured by (through image)
The display changes to (step S218).

FIG. 13 shows how the screen changes. FIG.
When the blank frame 94 (future small screen window) is moved to the main display position 92 as shown in (a), the blank area gradually expands, and the entire screen becomes blank as shown in FIG. 13 (b). After that, a through image is displayed as shown in FIG.

In parallel with the display processing of this through image, the CP
U54 analyzes the captured image (step S220 in FIG. 10) and determines whether or not the camera cover 30 is within the shooting angle of view based on the analysis result (step S222). Information relating to the shape and color of the camera cover 30 is registered in the camera 10 in advance, and it is detected by the image recognition technique whether or not the camera cover 30 is present in the screen. As shown in FIG. 14, it is uncertain how the camera cover 30 exists within the shooting angle of view 98 in an actual shooting scene.
The camera cover 30 can be detected by appropriately setting the identification condition in image recognition.

If it is determined in step S222 of FIG. 10 that the camera cover 30 does not exist in the screen, the process advances to step S224 to determine whether or not the cancel button 22 is pressed. Step S224
If the cancel button 22 is not pressed in
Returning to step S218, the display of the through image and the image analysis processing (step S220) are continued. Step S2
When the cancel button 22 is pressed in 24, the photographing mode is canceled, and the process returns to step S112 shown in FIG. 9 to enter the spiral display state.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S222 of FIG. 10 that the camera cover 30 is present in the screen, a process of transmitting a countdown signal is performed (step S230) to automatically display the moving image. Recording is executed (step S232).

During this time, the camera cover 30 receives the countdown signal and outputs the countdown sound based on the signal. Image analysis processing is also performed during movie shooting (step S234), and it is determined whether or not the camera cover 30 is shown in the screen (step S23).
6). When NO determination is made in step S236 (determination that the camera cover 30 is not visible), the moving image recording process is stopped (step S238). With this,
Transmission of the countdown signal is stopped (step S24
0), data being recorded is also erased (step S24).
2). After that, the process returns to the live view display state of step S218.

If the recording of the moving image is stopped, a warning may be output to inform the user. Examples of the warning means include a mode in which a message is displayed on the liquid crystal display 16 and a mode in which a warning sound signal is output instead of the countdown signal and the message is sound-output from the speaker 74 of the camera cover 30.

If YES is determined in step S236 (determination that the camera cover 30 is shown in the screen), the process proceeds to step S250. In step S250, it is determined whether or not the moving image has been recorded for a predetermined time (15 seconds in this example). If the result of this determination is NO, the process returns to step S230 and movie recording is continued. After recording the moving image for a predetermined time, in step S250, YE
When the S determination is obtained, the process proceeds to step S310 shown in FIG.

That is, the transmission of the countdown signal is stopped (step S310), and the still image is automatically recorded (step S312). The shooting conditions at the time of moving image recording and the shooting conditions at the time of still image recording do not have to be the same, and the automatic exposure (AE) process may be redone before recording a still image. The recorded still image is recorded in the recording device 78 in association with the moving image relating to the recording immediately before. In this example, as a means for associating, a common number (a number indicating the recording order) is given to a moving image file and a still image file when a file is created, and a file name including this number is automatically given. Alternatively or in combination with this, the association information may be recorded in the tag of the file.

When the still image recording process (step S312) is executed, the recorded still image is displayed on the liquid crystal display 16 in full screen (step S31).
4) Immediately after that, the screen becomes smaller and fits in the main display position 92 of the spiral display as the latest image (step S31).
6). The state of screen transition during this period is shown in (d) and (e) of FIG.

Thus, when the recording of the still image is completed and the display returns to the spiral display state, the image pickup system is turned on as shown in FIG.
FF is performed (step S318). A step of voice-outputting a message notifying the end of shooting from the speaker 74 of the camera cover 30 at the end of the still image may be added. Then, the process returns to step S116 described with reference to FIG. When it is desired to take a picture again, the jog dial 24 may be turned to a future small screen window (blank frame 94).

According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the camera cover 30 is automatically recognized, and if the camera cover 30 is not within the shooting angle of view, the camera is programmed so that shooting is not possible. The state of the person who is handed the cover 30 can be recorded together with the camera cover 30. In response to the common object (camera cover 30 in this example), the individuality of the person who is the subject inevitably appears, so it is possible to unintentionally take impressive photographs and videos. it can. Further, in the camera 10 of this example, since the camera body functions as a digital album, it is possible to compare the reactions of various people and enjoy after accumulating the images. By always shooting with the same "thing" (camera cover 30), it is possible to create a strange connection between the images.

<Modification of the Embodiment> FIG. 15 shows another example of the display form relating to the spiral display.
15, those parts which are the same as or similar to those in FIG. 12 are designated by the same reference numerals, and a description thereof will be omitted. According to the figure, the small screen windows 90 arranged according to the spiral curve are displayed in a three-dimensional manner so that the new image can be seen more easily. Further, the frame number is displayed only in the image at the main display position 92, so that it is possible to more clearly recognize that it is the selection target.

Information indicated by reference numeral 151 at the bottom of the screen is information of the whole display, and includes the number of all images stored in the camera 10 and the time-series position (frame number) of the image currently selected. Equivalent to) is a symbolic representation.
The length of the spiral winding 152 from "P" to "N" implies the total number of images, and the position of the frame number of the image displayed at the main display position 92 is represented by a black circle (reference numeral 153). . As the number of recorded images increases, the spiral winding 152 extends left and right. That is, the state shown in FIG. 16 is initially obtained, and finally the state shown in FIG. 17 is obtained. The length of the whole display 151 suggests a used area (conversely, an empty area) of the recording device 78 for storing the image.

Now, the change of the display screen shown in FIG. 15 will be described.

When the power of the camera 10 is turned on, as shown in FIG. 18, the respective images appear spirally from the center of the screen. Thus, the spiral display state described with reference to FIG. 15 is obtained. When searching for an image in this spiral display, the jog tire 24 is turned to select the desired image. The jog dial 24 is used for fast forward / reverse operation.
Turn halfway (keep the dial stopped in front of hitting the rotation restriction stopper).

When the decision button 20 is pressed with the desired image displayed at the main display position 92, the image related to the selection is enlarged to the screen size. After that, enter button 20
When is pressed, a moving image from 15 seconds before the still image recording to the still image recording can be reproduced.

On the other hand, if the enter button 20 is pressed and held while the desired image is displayed at the main display position 92, the past of the person registered as the same person as the subject of the image related to the selection is pasted. Image comes out. 19 to 21 show display examples thereof.

When the enter button 20 is pressed and held, the image at the main display position 92 moves to the bottom of the screen (FIG. 19), and the images accumulated in the past (the spiral display arranged in time series are displayed. The image of the corresponding person moves from the storage position in the front of the screen (FIG. 20). Finally, as shown in FIG. 21, the image of the same person is lined up in a ring shape with the image A relating to the selection as the foremost side. The search from this state is performed by operating the jog dial 24 as described above. The person registration information may be recorded as attached information of the image file or may be recorded as a separate file for file management. By adding appropriate information input means such as character input means and voice input means to the camera 10, it is possible to input the registration information of the person using the information input means.

In the embodiment of the invention described above, the still image is recorded after recording the moving image for 15 seconds, but the length of the recording time of the moving image recording is not particularly limited, and a camera that records only the moving image or only the still image is recorded. The present invention can also be applied. Also, the order of moving image recording / still image recording and the number of repetitions can be changed as appropriate, and an appropriate time interval may be provided when switching the recording method.

In the above embodiment, the fact that the camera cover 30 is contained in the screen is detected by utilizing the image processing, but the means for detecting a specific "thing" is not limited to this. For example, there is a mode in which a wireless transmitter and receiver using radio waves or light are used. Attach the transmitter to one of the camera and the specific "mono" and the receiver to the other. By properly designing the directivity of the transmitter and the receiver, it is possible to detect a specific "thing" existing within the shooting angle of view.

Although the operation system is simplified in the above embodiment, an operation button for displaying a menu screen for changing various settings and functions of the camera 10 is added, or a desired item can be selected from the menu screen. It is also possible to add an operation means for instructing the cursor movement for selection. The jog dial 24 may also be used as an operation means for moving the cursor, or a touch panel may be provided on the liquid crystal display 16.

Further, as a means for transferring the image data stored in the camera 10 to an external device such as a personal computer, US
A mode in which a bidirectional digital communication interface unit such as B or Bluetooth is added to the camera 10 is also possible, and a mode in which a video signal output terminal for displaying a reproduced image on an external display device such as a television monitor is added to the camera 10. Is also possible.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the camera cover 30 is handed to the person who is the subject and the reaction is photographed is shown as an example, but the "thing" to be photographed is not limited to the camera cover 30. Any "thing" can be targeted. The technique of the invention of the present application, which detects that a predetermined specific object is within the shooting angle of view and automatically controls the execution / non-execution of shooting based on the detection result, is a technique of the surveillance camera or It can also be applied to inspection cameras for industrial products.

[0069]

As described above, according to the image reproducing apparatus of the present invention, a plurality of images are arranged in chronological order along the spiral curve, and the display area becomes smaller as the older the image becomes. Since it is displayed by, it is possible to realize an impressive image reproduction reminiscent of a time series of an image group having a temporal order. Further, since the display area of the new image is displayed relatively larger than the display area of the old image, it is easy to grasp the main display target (new image).

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a digital camera to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the camera shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the camera shown in FIG.

[Figure 4] External view of the camera cover

FIG. 5 is a perspective view used to explain a storing procedure of the camera.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view used to explain a storing procedure of the camera.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view used to explain a storing procedure of the camera.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing internal structures of a camera and a camera cover of this example.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of the camera according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of the camera according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of the camera of this embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a display example on a liquid crystal display.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram used to explain how the display screen changes.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a shooting scene.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing another display example on the liquid crystal display.

16 is an explanatory diagram used for explaining the movement of the entire display shown in FIG.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram used to explain the movement of the entire display shown in FIG.

18 is an explanatory diagram showing the movement of an image until the spiral display shown in FIG. 15 is completed.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing the movement of the screen when the enter button is pressed and held in the spiral display of FIG.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing the movement of the screen when the enter button is pressed and held in the spiral display of FIG.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram showing the movement of the screen when the enter button is pressed and held in the spiral display of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Camera, 12 ... Shooting lens, 16 ... Liquid crystal display, 20 ... Enter button, 22 ... Cancel button, 2
4 ... Jog dial, 30 ... Camera cover, 40 ... Power switch terminal, 46 ... CCD, 52 ... Digital signal processing section, 54 ... CPU, 62 ... Countdown signal generation circuit, 64, 66 ... Communication interface section, 74 ... Speaker, 90 ... Small screen window, 92 ... Main display position, 151 ...
The entire display

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Hiroki Asakawa             2-1723 Harusui, Hachioji City, Tokyo             Ma Art University Product Design Laboratory (72) Inventor Mio Akita             2-1723 Harusui, Hachioji City, Tokyo             Ma Art University Product Design Laboratory F-term (reference) 5C022 AA13 AC01 AC21 AC42 AC61                 5C023 AA02 AA14 AA21 AA31 AA34                       AA37 AA38 BA13 CA03 CA04                 5C052 AC01 AC08 DD02 DD04 EE03                 5C053 FA08 HA21 JA21 LA01 LA06

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A signal processing means for generating a display signal from input image data, and an image display means for displaying image contents based on the display signal generated by the signal processing means. An image reproducing apparatus, wherein the apparatus arranges the image contents indicated by a plurality of input image data in chronological order along a spiral curve and displays the older images so that the display area becomes smaller gradually. An image reproducing device characterized by. 2. The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in addition to a mode in which the display area is reduced, an older image is displayed so that it becomes darker. 3. The image display means has a circular display screen, and each image content arranged in the spiral shape is displayed as a circular small screen image.
The image reproducing device according to. 4. A dial operation member for performing an operation of sending / returning an image displayed on the image display means is provided on an outer peripheral portion of the image display means. Image playback device. 5. An instruction input means for inputting an instruction of an operator is provided, and among the plurality of images arranged along the spiral curve,
When an instruction for selection is input from the instruction input means for an image displayed at a predetermined display position (referred to as a main display position) having the largest display area, the content of the image displayed at the main display position becomes independent. 5. The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image is enlarged and displayed on the display screen of the image display means. 6. When a predetermined display position having the largest display area among a plurality of images arranged along the spiral curve is defined as a “main display position”, the image display unit displays the image. 6. The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein information indicating a relative relationship between the total amount and the order position of the image currently displayed at the main display position is displayed. 7. The image reproducing apparatus is mounted on an electronic camera, and is used as means for arranging and reproducing and displaying images recorded by the electronic camera in a recording order. 2. The image reproducing device according to item 1.