JP2003319213A - Image pickup device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image pickup device whose operability can be improved by properly controlling a help display. <P>SOLUTION: A digital camera (image pickup device) is provided with a liquid crystal display (LCD) 10 and an electronic viewfinder (EVF) having a function of detecting the contact of an eye. When the contact of an eye is detected in a help mode state in which help information H1 and a help menu H2 are displayed on the LCD 10, the help display is inhibited, and the EVF 20 performs an image display LG and an information display IG such as a camera mode. Since the help mode is released when a photographing preparation mode is detected in this way, it is possible to prevent a time for the click of the shutter from being missed to improve the operability of the digital camera. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image pickup device having display means.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a digital camera (imaging device),
As the number of functions increases, the adverse effects of not being able to use all the functions or having to read the manual thoroughly to use them are increasing.

As a method of eliminating this adverse effect, a digital camera provided with a help function has been proposed. For example,
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-66684 discloses a digital camera that displays help information about an operation button by pressing the operation button and the help button at the same time.
4947 discloses a digital camera in which an instruction manual for the camera is displayed on the display unit.

[0004]

However, in the above digital camera, once the help mode for displaying the help information is entered, a predetermined operation is required to release the help mode. Therefore, the help mode is quickly released. Is difficult. As a result, in the help mode, the photo opportunity may be missed, and the operability is not always good.

Further, after the user obtains the help information in the help mode, it is preferable from the viewpoint of improving the operability that the mode is quickly changed to another mode such as the photographing mode.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image pickup apparatus capable of improving operability by appropriately controlling help display.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an invention according to claim 1 is an image pickup apparatus having a display means, and (a) relates to the image pickup apparatus when a predetermined condition is satisfied. (B) display control means for displaying help information on the display means; and (c) while the help information is being displayed, the determination means determines the shooting preparation state. In this case, a prohibition unit that prohibits the display of the help information is provided.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in the image pickup apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention, the display means includes an electronic viewfinder having an eyepiece detection means for detecting an eyepiece, and the predetermined condition is: This is eyepiece detection by the eyepiece detection means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image pickup apparatus having display means, wherein (a) the operating state in which the image pickup apparatus is substantially operating and the non-operating state in which the image pickup apparatus is not substantially operating. Switching means for switching between, and (b) display control means for displaying help information on the display means, and (c) switching to the non-operating state while displaying the help information, and then switching to the operating state. In this case, a prohibition unit that prohibits the display of the help information is provided.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in the image pickup apparatus according to the third aspect of the invention, the non-operating state includes a power saving control state of the image pickup apparatus.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image pickup apparatus according to the third or fourth aspect of the present invention, the non-operating state includes a power-off state of the image pickup apparatus.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS <First Embodiment><Structure of Main Parts of Digital Camera> FIGS. 1, 2 and 3
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a main part configuration of a digital camera 1A according to the first embodiment of the present invention, where FIG. 1 corresponds to a front view, FIG. 2 corresponds to a top view, and FIG. 3 corresponds to a rear view. These figures do not necessarily follow the trigonometric projection, and the digital camera 1A
The main purpose is to conceptually exemplify the configuration of the main part.

As shown in FIG. 2, the digital camera 1A
Is a lens group with macro function (hereinafter,
An image pickup unit 3 including a (also simply referred to as “lens”) 30 is provided. Further, the digital camera 1A has a zoom function, and the photographing magnification can be changed by rotating the zoom ring 33 or the like. Further, the digital camera 1A includes a macro switching lever 34, and can switch between macro shooting and normal shooting. A shutter button 9 is provided on the upper surface of the digital camera 1A.

On the upper surface of the digital camera 1A,
A mode switching dial 14 is provided for switching between "power off" and camera mode, that is, "shooting mode", "playback mode", "setting mode" and "communication mode". When the power-off is selected by the mode switching dial 14, the power supply to each part of the digital camera 1A is turned off, and when each camera mode is selected, the mode is switched to each mode. The shooting mode is a mode for taking a picture, and the playback mode is for shooting image data recorded in the memory card 8 on a rear LCD (Liquid Crystal Dielectric).
splay) 10 is a mode for reproduction and display. The setting mode is a mode for setting the digital camera 1A, and the communication mode is a mode for transferring data to an external personal computer 225 or the like via a USB terminal 226 provided on the side surface of the digital camera 1A. Further, the data panel 36 is provided on the upper surface of the digital camera 1A.
Is further provided, and the data panel 36 displays the setting status of the camera and the like.

Furthermore, on the upper surface of the digital camera 1A,
A dial 17 is provided for changing various settings.

A function dial 15 and a function button 16 for setting and changing shooting conditions and shooting methods are provided above the side surface of the digital camera 1A. In the shooting mode, the function dial 15 is rotated. By selecting an item and pressing the function button 16, the shooting condition or shooting method of the selected item is set.

As shown in FIG. 3, on the left rear side of the digital camera 1A, a rear LCD 10 which is a liquid crystal display for performing live view display of photographed images and reproduction display of recorded images, and an electronic viewfinder (EVF). ) 2
0 and are provided. This rear LCD 10 and EV
In F20, image display is performed in color. Also, EV
The F20 has a display screen smaller than that of the rear LCD 10, and includes an eye sensor 201 for eyepiece detection (detailed later).

A control button 35 including cursor buttons (cross keys) U, D, L, R and an execution button 32 is provided on the right side of the rear surface of the digital camera 1A. Can be operated.

A menu button 37 is provided on the back surface of the digital camera 1A. This menu button 37
When is pressed, various menus are displayed on the rear LCD.
It is displayed on 10. By operating the control button 35 on the displayed menu screen,
Similar to the case of selecting the setting mode with the mode switching dial 14, various settings for the digital camera 1A are possible.

A quick view button 38 is provided on the back surface of the digital camera 1A. When the quick view button 38 is pressed after shooting in the shooting mode, the latest shooting result (still image) is displayed on the rear surface LC.
Displayed on D10 or EVF20 (quick view display). Further, from that state, the control button 35
The selected image can be deleted by the operation of and the pressing of the quick view button 38.

On the rear surface of the digital camera 1A, a display switching button (hereinafter also referred to as "i button") 39,
An annular display switching lever 31 arranged to surround the display switching button 39 and a video output terminal 222 are provided. The display switching button 39 serves as both an information display button for displaying predetermined information and a help button for displaying help information. The display of information and the display of help information can be selectively switched. The display switching lever 31 is
It is a lever for switching the display of the rear LCD 10 and the display of the EVF 20, and the like. The video output terminal 222 is a terminal for connecting to the external monitor 223 via a communication line.

A memory slot 81 into which the memory card 8 can be inserted and installed is provided on the side surface of the digital camera 1A.

<Functional Block of Digital Camera 1A> FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the digital camera 1A. In the figure, the CCD 303 has 1280 × 960 pixels, and the optical image of the subject formed by the lens group 30 is
Image signals of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) color components (signals composed of a signal sequence of pixel signals received by each pixel) are photoelectrically converted and output. Timing generator 314
Are for generating various timing pulses for controlling the driving of the CCD 303.

The exposure control in the image pickup unit 3 is performed by the lens drive unit 306, the aperture of the lens group 30, and the exposure amount of the CCD 303, that is, the CCD 3 corresponding to the shutter speed.
This is performed by adjusting the charge storage time of 03. Here, if an appropriate shutter speed cannot be set when the subject brightness is low, an inappropriate 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, exposure control is performed by combining the aperture, the shutter speed, and the gain adjustment of the signal processing circuit 313.

The timing generator 314 controls the CCD 3 based on the reference clock transmitted from the overall controller 211.
03 drive control signal. The timing generator 314 generates a clock signal such as a timing signal of start / end of integration (start / end of exposure) and a read control signal (horizontal synchronizing signal, vertical synchronizing signal, transfer signal, etc.) of a light receiving signal of each pixel. , To the CCD 303.

The signal processing circuit 313 subjects the image signal (analog signal) output from the CCD 303 to predetermined analog signal processing. This signal processing circuit 313
Has a CDS (correlated double sampling) circuit and an AGC (auto gain control) circuit. The CDS circuit performs noise reduction processing on the image signal, and the AGC circuit adjusts the gain to adjust the level of the image signal. To do.

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 the A / D conversion clock input from the timing generation circuit.

The WB (white balance) circuit 207 is
The level of pixel data of each color component of R, G, B is converted. The WB circuit 207 is provided in the overall control unit 21.
R, G, B using the level conversion table stored in 1.
The level of the pixel data of each color component is converted. The parameters (gradient of characteristics) of each color component of the level conversion table are set automatically or manually for each captured image by the overall control unit 211. The γ correction circuit 208 is
The gradation of pixel data is corrected.

The color conversion / color correction circuit 231 applies, for example, YC to the image data input from the γ correction circuit 208.
The color space is converted to the rCb system to perform color correction to improve color reproducibility.

The resolution conversion unit 232 generates image data (320 × 240 pixels) obtained by thinning out the image data acquired by the CCD 303 to ¼ during live view shooting.

The AF evaluation value calculation unit 233 performs an evaluation value calculation operation for performing contrast AF when the shutter button 9 is half pressed (S1).
Here, with respect to the data corresponding to the AF area in the captured image data, an evaluation value that is the sum of absolute values of differences between adjacent pixels is calculated. And the lens group 30
Is driven, and the lens position having the highest evaluation value is set as the in-focus position. As a result, the lens group 3 with respect to the AF area
Since 0 is driven for focusing, it is possible to focus on the main subject.

In the photometric calculation unit 234, the resolution conversion unit 23
The image data output from 2 is, for example, 300 (20 × 1
5) It is possible to perform multi-division photometry by dividing into blocks and calculating photometry data for each block.

The image memory 209 is a memory for temporarily storing the image data (still image) acquired by the CCD 303 and subjected to the above image processing. Image memory 20
9 has a storage capacity of at least several frames. That is, the image memory 209 has at least a storage capacity of 1280 × 960 pixels of pixel data corresponding to the number of pixels of CCD 303, and each pixel data is stored in a corresponding pixel position.

The EVF / LCD switching unit 235 sets the display switching lever 31 or the eye contact detecting unit 202.
Based on the eyepiece detection by the rear LCD 10 and EVF2
The display is switched to 0.

When the digital camera 1A is in the photographing standby state,
Each pixel signal of the image captured by the CCD 303 every 1/30 (second) is converted from the A / D converter 205 to the resolution converter 23.
After the predetermined signal processing is performed by 2, the overall control unit 21
1 is transferred to the EVF / LCD switching unit 235 via 1 and displayed on the rear LCD 10 or the EVF 20 (live view display). As a result, the user can visually recognize the subject image captured by the CCD 303. Further, in the reproduction mode, after the image read from the memory card 8 is subjected to predetermined signal processing by the overall control unit 211, the EVF
It is transferred to the / LCD switching unit 235 and the rear LCD 10 or E
It is reproduced and displayed on the VF 20.

The card I / F 212 has a memory slot 8
1 is an interface for reading and writing image data and audio data to and from the memory card 8 attached to the memory card 1. In reading / writing image data from / to the memory card 8, a still image is compressed / expanded by the compression / expansion unit 236 by, for example, the JPEG method.

The USB I / F 224 is a U for enabling communication with an external personal computer 225.
It is a communication interface conforming to the SB standard. The control program recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM set in the memory card 8 or the personal computer 225 via the card I / F 212 and the USB I / F 224 is stored in the ROM 21 of the overall control unit 211.
It can be captured in 1b.

The eyepiece detection unit 202 has the above-mentioned eye sensor 201, and the user looks into the EVF 20 and looks at the EVF.
This is a part for detecting whether the eyepiece 20 is approached (approached). The eyepiece detection will be described below.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining eyepiece detection.

The eye sensor 201 has a pair of light emitting element and light receiving element. Then, the output light LS emitted from the light emitting element is reflected by the eyes of the user, and the reflected light LR
When is detected by the light receiving element, the eyepiece is detected.

Returning to FIG. 4, the description will be continued.

The operation section 250 is a section for receiving an operation input from the user, and is the shutter button 9, the display switching lever 31, and the function dial 1 described above.
5, various buttons such as the function button 16, the dial 17, the control button 35, and the quick view button 38, and the lever.

The shutter button 9 is pressed halfway (S
It is a two-step switch that can detect 1) and the pressed state (S2). When the shutter button 9 is set to the S1 state in the standby state, the lens drive for AF is started,
While the AF evaluation value calculation unit 233 evaluates the contrast of the image, the lens is driven and stopped so that the contrast becomes the highest. On the other hand, press the shutter button 9 to S2.
In this state, the image data acquired by the CCD 303 and subjected to the image processing is compressed by the compression / expansion unit 236, and the thumbnail image is generated by the overall control unit 211. Then, the generated image data and the thumbnail image data are stored in the image memory 209 and then converted into an image file and recorded in the memory card 8 via the card I / F 212.

The external monitor I / F 221 is an EVF / LC.
If the image data transferred from the D switching unit 235 is, for example, N
An interface that converts signals into the TSC system,
The image signal is transmitted to the external monitor 223 via the video output terminal 222.

The overall control unit 211 includes a CPU acting as a microcomputer, a RAM 211a and a ROM 21.
1b, and organically controls the driving of each member of the above-mentioned camera to integrally control the operation of the digital camera 1A.

Further, the ROM 211b of the overall control unit 211
The help information to be described later is stored in. Based on this help information, in response to the user's operation on the display switching button 39, help display on the rear LCD 10 or the like becomes possible.

<Operation of Digital Camera 1A> FIG. 6 is a state transition diagram for explaining the basic operation of the digital camera 1A. This operation is executed by the control unit 211.

In the state ST1, the rear LCD 10 is on, that is, the display state, and the EVF 20 is off, that is, the non-display state. In this case, on the rear LCD 10, a display corresponding to the camera mode, for example, the mode switching dial 1
If the shooting mode is set in 4, image display such as live view display is performed. Here, the eyepiece detection unit 202
When the eyepiece is detected at, the state shifts to state ST2, and when the display switching button (i button) 39 is pressed, the state shifts to state ST3.

In the state ST2, the rear LCD 10 is off, that is, the non-display state, and the EVF 20 is on, that is, the display state. In this case, in the EVF 20, the state ST
Similar to the rear LCD 10 of No. 1, only the image corresponding to the camera mode is displayed. Here, when the eyepiece detection unit 202 does not detect the eyepiece, the state shifts to state ST1, and when the i button 39 is pressed, the state shifts to state ST4.

In the state ST3, the rear LCD 10 is on, that is, the display state, and the EVF 20 is off, that is, the non-display state. In this case, on the rear LCD 10, a display corresponding to the camera mode, for example, the mode switching dial 1
If the shooting mode is set in 4, the information display IG such as the display IGa indicating the selected camera mode and the display IGb indicating the number of shootable images is displayed together with the live view image LG as shown in FIG. 7A. Is done. Note that FIG.
In (a), the rear surface of the digital camera 1A is conceptually shown. Here, when the eyepiece detection unit 202 detects an eyepiece, the state shifts to state ST4, and when the i button 39 is pressed, the state shifts to state ST5.

In the state ST4, the rear LCD 10 is off, that is, the non-display state, and the EVF 20 is on, that is, the display state. In this case, in the EVF 20, if the display according to the camera mode, for example, the shooting mode is set by the mode switching dial 14, the information display IG is performed together with the live view image LG as shown in FIG. 7B. Here, when the eyepiece detection unit 202 does not detect the eyepiece, the state shifts to state ST3, and when the i button 39 is pressed, the state shifts to state ST2.

In the state ST5, the rear LCD 10 is on, that is, the display state, and the EVF 20 is off, that is, the non-display state. In this case, on the rear LCD 10,
The help mode is displayed, that is, the explanation about the last operation performed by the user (excluding the operation on the i button 39) is displayed. For example, when the i button 39 is pressed immediately after the operation of selecting the portrait mode in the shooting mode, help information H1 for explaining the portrait mode is displayed on the rear LCD 10 as shown in FIG. 7C. To be done. Here, the last operation content (the latest operation input information)
Is stored in the RAM 211a of the overall control unit 211, and the help information regarding the immediately preceding operation can be displayed by reading this.

When the i button 39 is pressed in the state ST5, the state shifts to the state ST6, and when the eyepiece detection unit 202 detects the eyepiece, in other words, the photographing preparation operation is detected, the back surface LC is detected.
Turn off D10 and cancel the help display
Move to T4. That is, it is determined that the camera is ready for shooting in accordance with the eyepiece detection, and the help information display is canceled. When the shutter button 9 is half-pressed (S1) by the user, the AF operation is performed and the CCD 3
The image data acquired in 03 is subjected to image processing such as AWB, and a transition is made to a shooting mode state ST1 in which live view display is performed.

In the state ST6, the rear LCD 10 is on, that is, the display state, and the EVF 20 is off, that is, the non-display state. In this case, in the rear LCD 10, the second
The help mode is displayed, that is, the help menu H2 (see FIG. 7D) such as the instruction manual of the digital camera 1A is displayed. This help menu H2 has a larger amount of information than the help information H1 in the state ST5, and the display switching button 39
By pressing, the amount of help information will increase step by step.

In the state ST6, when the eyepiece detection unit 202 detects an eyepiece, the rear LCD 10 is turned off and the help display is canceled to shift to the state ST4. When the i button 39 is pressed, the state shifts to the state ST1. To do. When the user presses the shutter button 9 halfway (S1), the help display is canceled and the state transitions to the shooting mode state ST1. That is, when the eyepiece is detected and the shutter button 9 is operated, it is determined that the camera is ready for shooting, and the display of help information is prohibited.

By the above operation of the digital camera 1A,
When the eyepiece is detected in the help mode or when the shutter button is operated, the help mode is canceled and the state immediately shifts to a state in which shooting is possible, so that the operability of the digital camera 1A is improved.

<Second Embodiment> The configuration of a digital camera 1B according to the second embodiment of the present invention is the same as that of the first embodiment.
(See FIGS. 1 to 4), but with the overall control unit 211
Are different.

That is, the overall control unit 211 of the digital camera 1B has a program for executing the operations described below stored in the ROM 211b.

<Operation of Digital Camera 1B> FIG. 8 is a state transition diagram for explaining the basic operation of the digital camera 1B. This operation is executed by the control unit 211.

States ST11 to ST14 are operating states similar to states ST1 to ST4 shown in the state transition diagram of FIG.

In the state ST15, the state ST5 shown in FIG.
Similarly, the rear LCD 10 is on, the EVF 20 is off, and the first help mode shown in FIG. 7C is set.
Here, when the i button 39 is pressed, the state shifts to the state ST17. When the eyepiece detection unit 202 detects the eyepiece, the help display is canceled and the state ST16 is displayed in which the information of shooting such as the live view image is displayed. Transition. That is, in the case of eyepiece detection, it is determined that the camera is ready for shooting, and the display of help information is prohibited. When the user half-presses the shutter button 9 (S1), the state transitions to the state ST11.

In the state ST16, the rear LCD 10 is off and the EVF 20 is on. In this case, EVF
At 20, as in the state ST2 shown in FIG. 6, only the image corresponding to the camera mode is displayed. Here, when the eyepiece detection unit 202 brings the eyepiece into a non-detection state, the state ST15
If the i button 39 is pressed after shifting to state ST18
Move to.

In the state ST17, the state ST6 shown in FIG.
Similarly, the rear LCD 10 is on, the EVF 20 is off, and the second help mode shown in FIG. 7D is set.
Here, when the eyepiece detection unit 202 detects an eyepiece, the help display is canceled and the state shifts to a state ST18 in which shooting information such as a live view image is displayed. When the i button 39 is pressed, the state ST11 is set. Transition. When the user presses the shutter button 9 halfway (S1), the help display is canceled and the state transits to the state ST11. That is, when the eyepiece is detected and the shutter button 9 is operated, it is determined that the camera is ready for shooting, and the display of help information is prohibited.

In state ST18, rear LCD 10 is off and EVF 20 is on. In this case, EVF
In 20, the display according to the camera mode is performed as in the state ST4 shown in FIG. Here, the eyepiece detection unit 202
When the eyepiece becomes a non-detection state in, transition to state ST17,
When the i button 39 is pressed, the state shifts to state ST16.

By the above operation of the digital camera 1B,
Similar to the first embodiment, when the eyepiece is detected in the help mode or when the shutter button is operated, the help mode is released, so that the operability of the digital camera 1B is improved.

<Third Embodiment> The configuration of a digital camera 1C according to the third embodiment of the present invention is the same as that of the first embodiment.
(See FIGS. 1 to 4), but with the overall control unit 211
Are different.

The overall control unit 211 issues a command to start the power saving control in the digital camera 1C when the operation input to the operation unit 250 by the user is not performed for 3 minutes.
In this power saving control state, control for partially stopping the power supply to the digital camera 1C, specifically, the overall control unit 2
Control for turning off the power supply to the parts other than the CPU 11 and reducing the clock of the CPU to reduce the operating speed of the CPU is performed. Further, the overall control unit 211 performs control for canceling the power saving state when there is an operation input from the user within one minute after shifting to the power saving state, and shifts to the power saving state again. If no operation input is made for a minute, power off control is performed to turn off power to the entire digital camera 1C. That is, the overall control unit 211 operates in the operating state in which each unit of the digital camera 1C is supplied with power and the digital camera 1C is substantially operating, and the non-operating state in which the digital camera 1C is not substantially operating, that is, the power saving control state and the power It will function as a switching means for switching between the off state.

Further, the overall control unit 2 of the digital camera 1C
11, the program for executing the operation described below is stored in the ROM 211b.

<Operation of Digital Camera 1C> FIG. 9 is a state transition diagram for explaining the basic operation of the digital camera 1C. This operation is executed by the control unit 211.

In the state ST21, the rear LCD 10 is on and the EVF 20 is off. In this case, the back L
On the CD 10, display according to the camera mode, for example, image display such as live view display is performed when the shooting mode is set by the mode switching dial 14. Here, when the eyepiece detection unit 202 detects an eyepiece, the state ST
22 and the i button 39 is pressed, the state ST
Move to 23. When the user's operation (action) including eyepiece detection by the eyepiece detector 202 is not performed for 3 minutes, the state transitions to state ST27, and when the power-off is selected by the mode switching dial 14, the state is changed. Transition to ST28.

In the state ST22, the rear LCD 10 is off and the EVF 20 is on. In this case, EVF
In 20, the display of only the image corresponding to the camera mode is performed as in the rear LCD 10 in the state ST21. Here, when the eyepiece detection unit 202 makes the eyepiece non-detection state, the state shifts to state ST21, and when the i button 39 is pressed, the state shifts to state ST24. Also, the mode switching dial 1
When the power-off is selected in 4, the state transits to the state ST28.

In the state ST23, the rear LCD 10 is on and the EVF 20 is off. In this case, the back L
In the CD 10, a display according to the camera mode, for example, if the shooting mode is set by the mode switching dial 14, the information display IG is performed together with the live view image LG as shown in FIG. 7A. Here, the eyepiece detection unit 202
When the eyepiece is detected in step ST24, the state moves to state ST24, and when the i button 39 is pressed, the state shifts to state ST25. When the user's operation including the eyepiece detection in the eyepiece detector 202 is not performed for 3 minutes, the state is changed to ST27, and when the mode switching dial 14 is selected to turn off the power, the state is changed to ST28. To do.

In the state ST24, the rear LCD 10 is off and the EVF 20 is on. In this case, EVF
In 20, the display according to the camera mode, for example, if the shooting mode is set by the mode switching dial 14, the information display IG is performed together with the live view image LG as shown in FIG. 7B. Here, when the eyepiece detection unit 202 brings the eyepiece into the non-detection state, the state shifts to state ST23, and when the i button 39 is pressed, the state shifts to state ST22. Further, when power off is selected by the mode switching dial 14, the state transits to the state ST28.

In the state ST25, the rear LCD 10 is on and the EVF 20 is off. In this case, the back L
On the CD 10, the first help mode is displayed, that is, the explanation about the last operation performed by the user (excluding the operation on the i button 39) is displayed. For example, when the display switching button 39 is pressed immediately after the operation of selecting the portrait mode in the shooting mode, the help information H1 for explaining the portrait mode is displayed as shown in FIG. 7C.
Is displayed on the rear LCD 10.

When the eyepiece detection unit 202 detects the eyepiece in state ST25, the help display is canceled and the state is changed to state ST24.
When the i button 39 is pressed after shifting to state ST26
Move to. When the user's operation including the eyepiece detection in the eyepiece detector 202 is not performed for 3 minutes, the state is changed to ST27, and when the mode switching dial 14 is selected to turn off the power, the state is changed to ST28. To do.

In the state ST26, the rear LCD 10 is on and the EVF 20 is off. In this case, the back L
The CD 10 displays the second help mode, that is, the help menu H2 such as the instruction manual of the digital camera 1A.
(See FIG. 7D) is displayed. Here, the eyepiece detection unit 20
When the eyepiece is detected in 2, the help display is canceled and the state shifts to state ST24. When the i button 39 is pressed, the state shifts to state ST21. When the user's operation including the eyepiece detection by the eyepiece detector 202 is not performed for 3 minutes, the state transitions to ST27 and the mode switching dial 1
When the power-off is selected in 4, the state transits to the state ST28.

In the state ST27, the rear LCD 10 and the EVF 20 are turned off, and the above-mentioned power saving control state is set. Here, when the user's operation including the eyepiece detection in the eyepiece detection unit 202 is not performed for another minute, the process shifts to the state ST28, and when the user operates the operation unit 202, the state ST23 is entered. Transition. That is, even if the help display is performed in the states ST25 and ST26, if there is any operation after shifting to the non-operating state ST27, the original help mode (states ST25, ST26) is returned. Instead, the state shifts to the state ST23 in which the help display is prohibited. Accordingly, the help display, which is unnecessary for the user who has acquired the help information before shifting to the non-operating state, is not performed immediately after returning to the operating state, so that the operability is improved.

In the state ST28, the rear LCD 10 and the EVF 20 are turned off and the power is turned off, that is, the power supply to each part of the digital camera 1C is stopped. Here, when a power-on operation, specifically, a mode other than power-off is selected by the mode switching dial 14,
Transition to state ST21. That is, even if the help display is performed in the states ST25 and ST26, if the power-on operation is performed after the transition to the non-operating state ST28, the original help mode (states ST25, S
Instead of returning to T26), the state shifts to the state ST21 in which the help display is prohibited. Accordingly, the help display, which is unnecessary for the user who has acquired the help information before shifting to the non-operating state, is not performed immediately after returning to the operating state, so that the operability is improved.

By the above operation of the digital camera 1C,
After the help mode is changed to the power saving control state or the power off state, the help display is prohibited when the digital camera 1C is in the operating state, so that the help mode can be released at an appropriate timing and the operability is improved. To do.

<Modifications> ◎ In each of the above embodiments, it is not essential to use a digital camera, and it may be applied to an image pickup device such as a personal computer to which a CCD is connected so that data can be transmitted.

The conditions for canceling the help mode in the above first and second embodiments are not limited to the operation of the shutter button and the eyepiece detection, but the operation of the zoom ring, the grip of a pressure sensor, etc. Conditions are also acceptable.

The specific embodiments described above include inventions having the following configurations.

(1) The display means further has a liquid crystal display, the display control means has means for displaying help information on the liquid crystal display, and the image pickup device is provided when the eyepiece is detected by the eyepiece detection means. Is an image pickup apparatus comprising means for disabling the liquid crystal display.

As a result, the help information can be displayed on the liquid crystal display which is easy to visually recognize, and the liquid crystal display which does not need the display of the help information is turned off at the time of detecting the eye contact, so that power saving can be achieved.

(2) An image pickup apparatus comprising means for disabling the display control means when the eyepiece detection means detects the eyepiece.

As a result, unnecessary help information is not displayed when there is an intention of photographing, so that operability is improved.

(3) An imaging apparatus characterized by disabling the display control means and displaying the information relating to photographing on the display means when the eyepiece detection means detects the eyepiece.

As a result, unnecessary help information is not displayed when there is an intention of photographing, so that operability is improved.

(4) An image pickup apparatus characterized in that the predetermined condition is operation of a shutter button.

As a result, it is possible to prevent missing a photo opportunity and improve operability.

(5) An image pickup apparatus comprising means for prohibiting display of the help information and shifting to a photographing mode when the shutter button is operated while the help information is being displayed.

As a result, it is possible to prevent missing a photo opportunity and improve operability.

[0093]

As described above, according to the first and second aspects of the present invention, the display of help information is prohibited when it is determined that the camera is ready for shooting while the help information is being displayed. The operability of the imaging device can be improved.

In particular, in the second aspect of the invention, since the predetermined condition is the eyepiece detection by the eyepiece detection means provided in the electronic viewfinder, it is possible to appropriately prevent the shutter chance from being missed, and the operability is further improved. To do.

Further, according to the inventions of claims 3 to 5, it is switched to the non-operating state while the help information is displayed,
After that, when switching to the operating state, the display of help information is prohibited, so that the operability of the image pickup apparatus can be improved.

In particular, in the invention of claim 4, since the non-operation state includes the state of the power saving control of the image pickup apparatus, the help display can be canceled at an appropriate timing, and the operability is further improved.

Further, in the fifth aspect of the invention, since the non-operation state includes the power-off state of the image pickup apparatus, the help display can be canceled at an appropriate timing, and the operability is further improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a digital camera 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
It is a front view which shows the principal part structure of A.

FIG. 2 is a top view showing a main configuration of a digital camera 1A.

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

FIG. 4 is a digital camera 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
It is a functional block diagram of A.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining eyepiece detection.

FIG. 6 is a state transition diagram for explaining a basic operation of the digital camera 1A.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the digital camera 1A.

FIG. 8 is a digital camera 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
It is a state transition diagram for demonstrating the basic operation | movement of B.

FIG. 9 is a digital camera 1 according to a third embodiment of the invention.
It is a state transition diagram for demonstrating the basic operation | movement of C.

[Explanation of symbols]

1A, 1B, 1C digital camera 9 Shutter button 10 Rear LCD 14 Mode switching dial 20 Electronic viewfinder (EVF) 39 Display switching button (i button) 201 eye sensor 202 Eyepiece detector 211 Overall control unit H1 help information H2 help menu

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G03B 17/20 G03B 17/20 // H04N 101: 00 H04N 101: 00 F term (reference) 2H002 GA65 2H018 AA32 2H100 DD15 2H102 BA06 BA27 CA34 5C022 AA13 AB40 AB67 AC03 AC08 AC11 AC13 AC32 AC42

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image pickup apparatus having display means, comprising: (a) a determination means for determining a shooting ready state of the image pickup apparatus when a predetermined condition is satisfied; and (b) help information for displaying the display information. Display control means for displaying the help information, and (c) a prohibition means for prohibiting the display of the help information when the determination means determines that the photographing preparation state is present during the display of the help information. An imaging device characterized by. 2. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit includes an electronic viewfinder having an eyepiece detection unit that detects an eyepiece, and the predetermined condition is eyepiece detection by the eyepiece detection unit. An imaging device characterized in that there is. 3. An imaging device having display means, comprising: (a) an operating state in which the imaging device is substantially operating;
Switching means for switching to a non-operating state that is not substantially operating, (b) display control means for displaying help information on the display means, and (c) switching to the non-operating state while displaying the help information And an inhibiting unit that inhibits the display of the help information when the operating state is subsequently switched to. 4. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the non-operation state includes a power saving control state of the image pickup apparatus. 5. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the non-operation state includes a power-off state of the image pickup apparatus.