JP2004023632A - Digital camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make the zoom scale factor visible by eyes in the time of a digital zoom or reproduction zoom, and easily determine where the zoom center position locates. <P>SOLUTION: Zoom up/down buttons 44, 46 and a cross cursor button 32 are pressed to display an expanded digital zoom area P1, together with an expanded frame L1 on an LCD 28. The frame L1 shows the relative position of the digital zoom area P1, when assuming the display screen of the LCD 28 as a full pixel area P. A photographer compares an image on the display screen of the LCD 28 with the frame L1 to visibly know the expansion ratio (zoom scale factor) of the digital zoom area P1 to the full-pixel area P taken by a CCD 52 and easily determines also an expansion position (zoom center position). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a digital camera, and more particularly to a digital camera that can visually grasp a zoom magnification and a zoom center position during digital zoom.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A general digital camera is provided with a liquid crystal monitor (LCD) for displaying an image, and an image captured by an image sensor (CCD) is displayed on the LCD in real time (hereinafter referred to as a through video). The LCD can be used as an electronic viewfinder. The photographer can determine the shooting angle of view from the through video displayed on the LCD, and can record (shoot) an image of the shooting angle of view on a recording medium by pressing the shutter button (same size shooting). ).
[0003]
In addition, an area that can be captured by the CCD, that is, an area smaller than the entire pixel area is acquired as a digital zoom area and displayed on the LCD in an enlarged manner. When the shutter button is pressed by the photographer at this time, an image in the digital zoom area is displayed. A digital camera for recording on a recording medium is also known (digital zoom function).
[0004]
Further, an area smaller than the entire pixel area of the image read from the recording medium is acquired as a digital zoom area and is enlarged and displayed on the LCD (reproduction zoom function). When the shutter button is pressed by the photographer, the image in the digital zoom area is displayed. There is also known a digital camera that newly records the image on a recording medium.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the digital zoom function and playback zoom function, when an enlarged image is displayed on the LCD, the size of the image of the entire pixel area captured by the CCD (or the image of the entire area read from the recording medium) ( There is a drawback that the zoom magnification) and the position (zoom center position) are unclear. In other words, when an enlarged image is displayed on the LCD by the zoom function, there is a problem that it is impossible to know how much and how much of the portion of the image before enlargement has been enlarged.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a digital camera that makes it possible to visually recognize the zoom magnification at the time of digital zoom or playback zoom and easily determine where the zoom center position is. And
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is a digital zoom function in which an area smaller than an entire pixel area in which an image can be captured in an image sensor is a digital zoom area, and an image in the digital zoom area is enlarged and displayed. And a digital zoom area corresponding to the digital zoom magnification is cut out from all the pixel areas of the image sensor based on the digital zoom magnification instructed by the zoom magnification instruction means. An image capturing means for capturing an image of the digital zoom area, a display means for enlarging and displaying the image of the digital zoom area captured by the image capturing means, and a digital zoom magnification instructed by the zoom magnification instruction means, All pixel areas of the image sensor Characterized in that the enlargement frame indicating the size and position of the digital zoom region and a frame display means for displaying on the display means with respect.
[0008]
According to the present invention, the photographer displays the enlargement frame indicating the size and position of the digital zoom area at the time of photographing on the display means, so that the photographer can set the zoom magnification for the image of the entire pixel area captured by the image sensor (CCD). It can be grasped visually, and the zoom center position can be easily determined.
[0009]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital camera having a reproduction zoom function for enlarging and displaying an image in the reproduction zoom area, with an area smaller than the entire area of the image recorded on the recording medium as a reproduction zoom area. The zoom ratio instruction means for instructing the reproduction zoom magnification, and the reproduction zoom magnification corresponding to the reproduction zoom magnification from the entire area of the image recorded on the recording medium based on the reproduction zoom magnification designated by the zoom magnification instruction means. Instructed by the image capture means for cutting out the playback zoom area and capturing the image of the playback zoom area, the display means for enlarging and displaying the image of the playback zoom area captured by the image capture means, and the zoom magnification instruction means Based on the playback zoom magnification, the size of the playback zoom area relative to the entire area of the image recorded on the recording medium is adjusted. A frame display means for displaying the enlargement frame indicating the fine position on the display means, characterized by comprising a.
[0010]
According to the second aspect of the invention, by displaying an enlarged frame indicating the size and position of the reproduction zoom area during reproduction on the display means, the photographer can reproduce the zoom of the entire area image recorded on the recording medium. The magnification can be grasped visually and the zoom center position can be easily determined.
[0011]
Furthermore, the invention described in claim 3 is a digital camera having a reproduction zoom function for displaying an image in the reproduction zoom area in an enlarged manner, with an area smaller than the entire area of the image recorded on the recording medium as a reproduction zoom area. The zoom magnification instruction means for instructing the reproduction zoom magnification, the zoom center position instruction means for instructing the zoom center position of the reproduction zoom, the reproduction zoom magnification designated by the zoom magnification instruction means and the zoom center position instruction means, and Image capturing means for extracting a playback zoom area corresponding to the playback zoom magnification and the zoom center position from all areas of the image recorded on the recording medium based on the zoom center position, and capturing an image of the playback zoom area; Display means for enlarging and displaying the image in the reproduction zoom area captured by the image capture means; Enlargement indicating the size and position of the reproduction zoom area with respect to the entire area of the image recorded on the recording medium based on the reproduction zoom magnification and the zoom center position designated by the zoom magnification instruction means and the zoom center position instruction means Frame display means for displaying a frame on the display means.
[0012]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, in the digital camera provided with the zoom center position indicating means for indicating the zoom center position, an enlarged frame indicating the size and position of the reproduction zoom area is displayed on the display means during reproduction. Thus, the photographer can visually grasp the reproduction zoom magnification for the image of the entire area of the image recorded on the recording medium, and can easily determine the zoom center position.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a digital camera according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0014]
1 to 3 are a front view, a plan view, and a rear view showing an appearance of a digital camera to which the present invention is applied. As shown in FIG. 1, a photographing lens 12, a finder window 14, a strobe 16, a strobe light control sensor 18, and the like are provided in front of the digital camera 10, and the photographing lens 12 is connected inside the digital camera 10. A CCD (imaging device) 52 (not shown in FIG. 1) is disposed at the image position.
[0015]
As shown in FIG. 2, a shutter button 22 and a power switch 24 are provided on the upper surface of the digital camera 10. The shutter button 22 is configured in a two-stage manner, and the automatic focusing (AF) and automatic exposure control (AE) are activated in a “half-pressed” state in which the shutter button 22 is lightly pressed and stopped to lock AF and AE. Shooting, which will be described later, is performed by further pressing from “half-press” to “full press”.
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 3, on the back of the digital camera 10, a character display liquid crystal panel 26, a liquid crystal monitor (LCD) 28 constituting display means, a mode switch 30, a cross cursor button 32 constituting zoom center position indicating means, A finder 34, zoom enlargement / reduction buttons 44, 46 constituting zoom magnification instruction means, and the like are provided.
[0017]
The character display liquid crystal panel 26 displays information on the camera status, shooting mode, etc. (so-called shooting status). For example, the battery remaining amount check display, the number of frames that can be shot, Display whether or not strobe light is emitted. A flash button 36 for setting the presence or absence of flash emission and a macro button 38 for setting macro photography are provided beside the character display liquid crystal panel 26.
[0018]
The LCD 28 mainly displays an image. As will be described later, the LCD 28 displays an image (through moving image) photographed by the photographing lens 12 so that the photographed image can be confirmed before photographing. The recorded image is read from the loaded memory card 64 (see FIG. 4) and displayed. Note that a display button 42 is arranged on the upper portion of the LCD 28, and the presence / absence of the display on the LCD 28 can be switched on / off.
[0019]
The mode switch 30 is composed of a ring member disposed on the outer periphery of the cross cursor button 32, and is rotatable in both the clockwise direction and the counterclockwise direction. The mode switch 30 changes the mode of the camera. By rotating the mode switch 30, various setting modes such as a shooting mode for shooting and a playback mode for playing back the shot image are displayed. Can be selected.
[0020]
The cross cursor button 32 is tilted by pressing one of the upper, lower, left and right edges (up / down / left / right key), and the corresponding four directions (up, down, right, left) This instruction is used as an operation button for instructing selection of various setting items in the above-described setting mode, change of setting contents, and advance / return of playback frames. In addition to this, the cross cursor button 32 is used as an operation unit in a zoom center position means to be described later, and the zoom center position corresponds to the four directions (up, down, right, left) pressed by the cross cursor button 32. Can be moved to an arbitrary position (position desired by the photographer).
[0021]
The zoom enlargement button 44 and the zoom reduction button 46 are provided so as to be close to the cross cursor button 32, and these are used as operation units in a zoom magnification instruction means described later. The digital zoom area (reproduction zoom area) can be changed by the zoom enlargement / reduction buttons 44 and 46 to change to an arbitrary size (photographer's desired zoom magnification).
[0022]
Although not shown in FIG. 3, the digital camera 10 is provided with a memory slot for mounting a memory card 64 as a recording medium. A captured image is recorded and stored as image data in the memory card 64 by a card reader / writer device (see FIG. 4) 63 built in the digital camera 10, and recorded images are stored from the memory card 64. It is also possible to read. In the present embodiment, for example, smart media is used as the memory card 64, but a PC card, flash memory card, IC card, floppy disk, magneto-optical disk (MO), or the like may be used as the recording medium. Good.
[0023]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the digital camera 10. The digital camera 10 mainly includes an operation board 70, a central processing unit (CPU) 50, a CCD 52, an analog signal processing unit 54, a frame display unit, and an image capturing unit that constitute a zoom magnification instruction unit and a zoom center position instruction unit. The signal processing unit 58, the display memory 66 constituting the display means, the LCD 28, the card reader / writer device 63, the memory card 64, and the like are included.
[0024]
The operation board 70 is circuit-connected to each of the various operation members shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, and the operation board 70 is connected to the CPU 50 based on operations of these operation members by the photographer (for example, rotation operation of the mode switch 30). An instruction signal is output. In particular, the operation board 70 is connected to the zoom enlargement / reduction buttons 44 and 46 and the cross cursor button 32, and when the zoom enlargement button 44 is pressed, a zoom magnification instruction signal is output from the operation board 70 to the CPU 50. As will be described later, an instruction signal corresponding to each button is output from the operation board 70 to the CPU 50. In FIG. 4, these zoom enlarge button 44, zoom reduce button 46, and cross cursor button 32 are shown as examples, and the description of other operation members is omitted.
[0025]
The CPU 50 outputs a control signal to the digital signal processing unit 58 based on the input of the instruction signal from the operation board 70, and controls each circuit overall.
[0026]
The CCD (imaging device) 52 converts the subject light captured and imaged from the photographing lens 12 into a signal charge having an amount corresponding to the amount of incident light. The signal charges are sequentially read from the CCD 52 as voltage signals (image signals) and added to the analog signal processing unit 54. Note that the image sensor is not limited to this CCD, and a CMOS image sensor described later may be used.
[0027]
The analog signal processing unit 54 performs necessary analog processing such as sampling and white balance adjustment on the image signal applied from the CCD 52. The analog processed image signal is converted into image data (digital data) by the A / D converter 56 and output to the digital signal processing unit 58. The CCD 52, the analog signal processing unit 54, and the A / D converter 56 are operated in synchronization with a timing signal from the timing generator 57.
[0028]
The digital signal processing unit 58 performs digital processing such as gamma correction on the image data (image data of all the pixel areas of the CCD 52) input from the analog signal processing unit 54 (A / D converter 56) as necessary. The image data is output to the display memory 66 (memory 60). Further, a control signal for controlling the zoom center position and zoom magnification is input from the CPU 50 to the digital signal processing unit 58, so that in addition to the digital processing such as gamma correction described above, the zoom center position is centered on the image data. A digital zoom process is performed in which the image data of the zoom magnification is cut out to generate an image for one screen, and this image is captured as an image in the digital zoom area. Further, the digital signal processing unit 58 constituting the frame display means adds the image data of the enlarged frame to the image data subjected to the digital zoom process. This enlargement frame is a digital zoom area (the photographer operates the cross cursor button 32 and zoom enlarge / reduce buttons 44 and 46 for the entire pixel area (or the entire area of the image recorded on the recording medium) imaged by the CCD 52). The size and position of the digital zoom area are shown relative to the entire pixel area (or the entire area). The image data with the enlarged frame added is output to the display memory 66.
[0029]
The memory card 64 records and saves image data. When the mode switch 30 (see FIG. 3) is set to the photographing mode and a recording instruction is input by pressing the shutter button 22 (see FIG. 2), a control signal is output from the CPU 50 to the digital signal processing unit 58, and one frame is output from the CCD 52. Image data is read and the digital signal processing unit 58 performs the above-described digital processing or digital zoom processing, and then the image data is written into the memory 60. Note that an enlargement frame is not added to the image data written in the memory 60. The image data written in the memory 60 is compressed by the compression / decompression circuit 62 and is recorded and stored in the memory card 64 by the card reader / writer device 63.
[0030]
The LCD 28 displays the image (through moving image) written in the display memory 66. When the mode switch 30 is set to the shooting mode and the display of the through moving image is turned on by the display button 42 (see FIG. 3), the digital signal processing unit 58 continuously reads image data from the CCD 52 and the digital signal processing unit 58 After digital processing or the like (digital zoom processing or enlargement frame addition) is continuously performed on the image data, the image data is written into the display memory 66. The image data in the display memory 66 is rewritten sequentially with the newly read image data, whereby a through moving image is displayed on the LCD 28. The LCD 28 can also display an image recorded and stored in the memory card 64. When the mode switch 30 is set to the reproduction mode and reproduction of any image data recorded on the memory card 64 is designated by a predetermined operation, the image data is read from the memory card 64 by the card reader / writer device 63 and compressed. After the expansion processing by the expansion circuit 62, digital processing or the like is performed by the digital signal processing unit 58 and displayed on the LCD 28 via the display memory 66. Since the LCD 28 only needs to be able to grasp the angle of view by the photographer, an LCD 28 having a smaller number of pixels (lower resolution) than a liquid crystal monitor generally used in a personal computer or the like may be used. Accordingly, the image data written from the digital signal processing unit 58 to the display memory 66 can also be used with low resolution obtained by thinning out the number of image data.
[0031]
With the digital camera 10 having such a configuration, image data that has been subjected to digital processing or the like in the digital signal processing unit 58 is displayed on the LCD 28, and the photographer can check the image of the entire pixel area of the CCD on the LCD 28 ( (Same size shooting). When the photographer presses the cross cursor button 32 or the zoom enlarge / reduce buttons 44 and 46, the digital signal processing unit 58 performs digital zoom processing, and image data with an enlarged frame is displayed on the LCD 28. Then, the photographer can confirm the zoom magnification and the zoom center position on the LCD 28 (digital zoom function). Further, the digital signal processing unit 58 performs digital processing on the image data recorded and stored in the memory card 64, and the photographer can check the image data recorded and stored in the memory card 64 on the LCD 28 (etc.). Double playback). At this time, when the photographer presses the cross cursor button 32 or the zoom enlargement / reduction buttons 44 and 46, digital zoom processing is performed, and image data with an enlargement frame added is displayed on the LCD 28 (playback). Zoom function).
[0032]
Next, the operation of the digital camera 10 having such a configuration will be described.
[0033]
First, a case where the same magnification shooting is performed will be described. In FIG. 3, shooting is performed with the mode switch 30 of the digital camera 10 in the shooting mode. At this time, if the display button 42 turns on the display of the LCD 28 (the LCD 28 can be selected to be displayed or not displayed each time the display button 42 is pressed), and if a through moving image is displayed on the LCD 28, the LCD 28 is used as a viewfinder. Can be used.
[0034]
Shooting is performed by pressing the shutter button 22 in this state. When the photographer “half-presses” the shutter button 22 in FIG. 2, automatic focusing is performed by the photographing lens 12, and photographing is performed by “full-pressing”. Note that the description of automatic focusing is omitted. The digital signal processing unit 58 outputs image data of the digitally processed image to the memory 60, and the image data is written and stored in the memory card 64 by the card reader / writer device 63.
[0035]
Next, a case where zoom shooting is performed with the digital zoom function will be described. As described above, in a conventional digital camera, when an image enlarged by a digital zoom function (or a playback zoom function described later) is displayed on an LCD, it is possible to shoot which part of the image before enlargement and how much is enlarged. Could not grasp. Even in such a case, the present invention can grasp the size (zoom magnification) visually and can easily determine the position (zoom center position). Several embodiments will be described below with reference to FIGS.
[0036]
FIG. 5 shows the entire pixel area P of the CCD 52 displayed by the LCD 28 (that is, the image of the LCD 28 at the time of the normal magnification shooting). First, the digital zoom region desired by the photographer is assumed to be a digital zoom region P1 indicated by a one-dot broken line. Note that the broken lines in the digital zoom area P1 (P2) in FIG. 5 are assumed areas used in this description and are not displayed on the LCD 28.
[0037]
First, the zoom magnification button 44 (see FIG. 3) is pressed and the zoom magnification is changed to make the image on the LCD 28 substantially equal to the digital zoom region P1 in FIG. When the zoom enlargement button 44 is pressed only once, an instruction signal is output from the operation board 70 in FIG. 4 to the CPU 50, and a control signal is output from the CPU 50 to the digital signal processing unit 58. A digital zoom process for capturing an image of a predetermined digital zoom area is performed on the data. In addition to this, the digital signal processing unit 58 adds an enlarged frame to the image data. The image data in which the image of the enlargement frame is added to the captured image of the digital zoom area is output to the display memory 66 and is enlarged and displayed on the LCD 28 as much as possible.
[0038]
By continuously pressing the zoom enlargement button 44 or repeatedly pressing the zoom enlargement button 44, the above-described digital processing and the like are continuously performed, and an image displayed on the LCD 28 is displayed in the digital zoom area P1 in FIG. (See FIG. 6). By pressing the zoom reduction button 46, the digital signal processing unit 58 captures an image wider than the digitally processed image data by a predetermined zoom magnification from all pixel regions as an image of the digital zoom region. Can be finely adjusted.
[0039]
As shown in FIG. 6, the LCD 28 displays an enlargement frame L1 together with an image of the digital zoom area. The enlargement frame L1 indicates the relative position of the digital zoom region when the display screen of the LCD 28 is assumed to be the entire pixel region of the CCD 52. That is, by comparing the enlarged frame L1 and the image displayed on the display screen of the LCD 28, the photographer can read the relative position of the digital zoom area with respect to the entire pixel area P (see FIG. 5) captured by the CCD. Thus, the enlargement ratio (zoom magnification) can be grasped visually, and the enlargement position (zoom center position) can be easily determined.
[0040]
After the image shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the LCD 28, zoom photography is performed by pressing the shutter button 22 in this state. The digital signal processing unit 58 outputs the image data of the image subjected to the digital zoom process to the memory 60 (the image data is not added with an enlarged frame), and the image data is stored in the memory card 64 by the card reader / writer device 63. Is written and recorded.
[0041]
Next, in FIG. 5, a case where the digital zoom region desired by the photographer is a digital zoom region P2 indicated by a two-dot broken line will be described.
[0042]
First, as described above, the zoom enlargement button 44 (zoom reduction button 46 if necessary) is pressed to make it substantially equal to the zoom magnification of the digital zoom region P2 in FIG.
[0043]
Next, the zoom center position is moved. By pressing the cross cursor button 32 (see FIG. 3), the zoom center position of the image displayed on the LCD 28 is moved to a position corresponding to the reference numeral 82 in FIG. That is, when the up / down / left / right key of the cross cursor button 32 is pressed, an instruction signal is output from the operation board 70 in FIG. 4 to the CPU 50, whereby a control signal is sent from the CPU 50 to the digital signal processing unit 58. As a result, the zoom center position can be moved in the corresponding four directions (up, down, right, left). Thus, the photographer's desired position (that is, the position of reference numeral 82) can be designated as the zoom center position, and an image centered on reference numeral 82 is displayed on the LCD 28. In addition, after moving the zoom center position in this way, the zoom magnification button 44 (or the zoom reduction button 46) can be pressed again to finely adjust the zoom magnification. In the digital signal processing unit 58, digital processing or the like is performed on the image data, and this image data is output to the display memory 66, and the image with the enlargement frame L2 is enlarged to fill the LCD 28 as shown in FIG. Is displayed.
[0044]
As shown in the figure, by comparing the enlargement frame L2 and the image displayed on the display screen of the LCD 28, the photographer can visually grasp the zoom magnification for all the pixel regions P captured by the CCD, The zoom center position can also be easily determined.
[0045]
On the other hand, with the zoom reproduction function, reproduction zoom can be performed on an image that has already been shot and recorded on the memory card 64. When the mode switch 30 is set to the reproduction mode and reproduction of any image data recorded on the memory card 64 is designated by a predetermined operation, the image data is read from the memory card 64 and the image is displayed on the LCD 28 ( 1x playback).
[0046]
Here, the reproduction zoom function will be described with an image read from the memory card 64 as an image (entire area) P shown in FIG. 5 and a photographer's desired reproduction zoom area as P1.
[0047]
First, the zoom magnification button 44 (see FIG. 3) is pressed to change the reproduction zoom magnification, and the image on the LCD 28 is made substantially equal to the reproduction zoom area P1 in FIG. When the zoom enlargement button 44 is pressed, the digital signal processing unit 58 in FIG. 4 performs a reproduction zoom process for capturing an image of a predetermined reproduction zoom area for the image data, and an enlargement frame is included in the image data. Added. The image data in which the image of the enlargement frame is added to the captured image of the reproduction zoom area is output to the display memory 66, and is enlarged and displayed on the LCD 28. Note that by pressing the zoom reduction button 46 in conjunction with the zoom enlargement button 44, the playback zoom magnification can be finely adjusted.
[0048]
As shown in FIG. 6, an enlarged frame L1 is displayed on the LCD 28 together with the image of the reproduction zoom area, and the photographer can read the relative position of the reproduction zoom area P1 with respect to the entire area P of the image recorded on the recording medium. Thereby, the zoom magnification can be grasped visually even during playback zoom, and the zoom center position can be easily determined.
[0049]
In this state, the playback zoom area is stored by pressing the shutter button 22 (or an image storage button (not shown) provided separately). The digital signal processing unit 58 outputs the image data of the image subjected to the reproduction zoom process to the memory 60 (the image frame is not added with an enlargement frame), and the image data is stored in the memory card by the card reader / writer device 63. 64 is newly written and recorded. This eliminates the need for image data processing using a separate personal computer.
[0050]
Next, in FIG. 5, a case where a desired reproduction zoom area by the photographer is a reproduction zoom area P2 indicated by a two-dot broken line will be described.
[0051]
First, as described above, the zoom enlargement button 44 (zoom reduction button 46 if necessary) is pressed to make it substantially equal to the zoom magnification of the reproduction zoom area P2 in FIG.
[0052]
Next, the zoom center position of the reproduction zoom is pressed by pressing the cross cursor button 32 (see FIG. 3), and the zoom center position of the image displayed on the LCD 28 is moved to a position corresponding to the reference numeral 82 in FIG. Let Digital processing or the like is performed on the image data in the digital signal processing unit 58, and the image to which the enlarged frame L2 is added is enlarged and displayed as shown in FIG. As a result, the photographer's desired position can be designated as the zoom center position, and an image centered on the reference numeral 82 is displayed on the LCD 28.
[0053]
As described above, also in the reproduction zoom function, the photographer looks at the zoom magnification with respect to the image of the entire pixel area read from the memory card 64 by comparing the enlargement frame L2 and the image displayed on the display screen of the LCD 28. The zoom center position can be easily determined.
[0054]
By pressing the shutter button 22 (or an image saving button (not shown) in this state, the reproduction zoom area is also saved, so that it is not necessary to separately process the image data using a personal computer or the like.
[0055]
Here, the aspect ratio (that is, the aspect ratio) of the display screen of the LCD 28 and the aspect ratio of the enlargement frame L1 (L2) are the same in the present embodiment. The zoom area P1 (P2) is set to a desired aspect ratio of the photographer by separately providing buttons (for example, by inputting instructions in four directions similarly to the cross cursor button 32 and changing the aspect ratio by the photographer's operation). It may be possible to change it.
[0056]
In the embodiment described above, the zoom magnification (reproduction zoom magnification) is designated using the zoom enlargement / reduction buttons 44 and 46, and then the zoom center position (reproduction zoom center position) is designated using the cross cursor button 32. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the zoom center position may be designated after the zoom magnification is designated, and the order is not limited. At this time, the portion other than the entire pixel region P in the LCD 28 does not have image digital data and is excluded from the display target. Therefore, a background color such as black or blue is applied to this portion.
[0057]
Further, in the image displayed on the LCD 28 shown in FIG. 6 or FIG. 7, even after the shutter button 22 (or an image saving button (not shown)) is pressed and this image is saved in the memory card 64, the zoom is enlarged again. The zoom magnification and the zoom center position can be designated again by operating the / reduction buttons 44 and 46 and the cross cursor button 32.
[0058]
Note that the configuration of the digital camera described in the above embodiment is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the image on the LCD 28 shown in FIG. 6 (FIG. 7) is preferably switched between the entire pixel area P (all areas during reproduction zoom) P shown in FIG. 5 and a predetermined operation button. As an example, when a special operation button for switching the display is provided, an image of the zoom area (reproduction zoom area during reproduction zoom) P1 (FIG. 6) is displayed only while this operation button is pressed, and the operation button is released. You may make it become all the pixel areas P (FIG. 5). Further, every time this operation button is pressed, the image of all the pixel regions P, the image of the zoom region P1, and the image of the zoom region P2 (FIG. 7) may be switched. Further, instead of providing a special operation button, the entire pixel area P is displayed when the shutter button 22 is not pressed, and the image of the zoom area P1 is switched when the shutter button 22 is pressed halfway. Good. Further, when the display button 42 (see FIG. 3) described above is used and the display button 42 is pressed once, the non-display of the LCD 28 is switched to the all pixel region P, and when the button is pressed again, the image is switched to the image of the zoom region P1. Alternatively, the image may be switched to the image in the zoom area P2 when pressed again and switched to non-display on the LCD 28 when pressed further.
[0059]
In the present embodiment, the angle of view is determined by the LCD 28 before shooting at the time of shooting zoom. However, the present invention is not limited to this. After the shutter button 22 is “fully pressed” to capture an image, the image is captured. If the digital zoom area is designated by the photographer by displaying on the LCD 28 before recording on the memory card 64, only the image may be recorded on the memory card 64.
[0060]
Further, when image data is recorded on the memory card 64, the image size of the image may be recorded on the memory card 64 as information.
[0061]
In the case where a CMOS image sensor is used instead of the CCD 52 as the image pickup element, an area to be converted into signal charges can be specified in the pixel area of the CMOS image sensor, so there is no need to capture the entire pixel area. The amount of power used for capturing images can be saved.
[0062]
In the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a digital camera has been described. However, since the present invention can be applied to all digital cameras that acquire an image with an electric signal using an image sensor, lens replacement is possible. It can also be applied to reflex digital cameras (single-lens reflex digital cameras) as digital cameras.
[0063]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the digital camera according to the present invention described above, the photographer can display all the frames captured by the image sensor (CCD) by displaying on the display means an enlarged frame indicating the size and position of the digital zoom area at the time of shooting. The zoom magnification for the image in the pixel area can be grasped visually, and the zoom center position can also be easily determined.
In addition, by displaying an enlarged frame indicating the size and position of the playback zoom area during playback on the display means, the photographer can visually grasp the playback zoom magnification for the entire area image recorded on the recording medium, and zoom The center position can also be easily determined.
[0064]
Further, in the digital camera provided with the zoom center position instruction means for instructing the zoom center position, the photographer can display the enlarged frame indicating the size and position of the reproduction zoom area at the time of reproduction on the display means. It is possible to visually grasp the reproduction zoom magnification with respect to the image of the entire area of the recorded image, and to easily determine the zoom center position.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view showing an appearance of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the appearance of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a rear view showing the appearance of the digital camera according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the digital camera according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing one mode of operation using the liquid crystal monitor (during normal magnification shooting) of the digital camera according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing one mode of operation using a liquid crystal monitor (during digital zoom or playback zoom) of the digital camera according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a view showing another form of operation using the liquid crystal monitor (during digital zoom or playback zoom) of the digital camera according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Digital camera, 28 ... Liquid crystal monitor (display means), 44 ... Zoom expansion button (zoom magnification instruction means), 46 ... Zoom reduction button (zoom magnification instruction means), 52 ... CCD (imaging device), 58 ... Digital signal Processing unit (image capturing means), 64... Memory card (recording medium), 66... Display memory (display means), L 1, L 2, enlarged frame, P ... all pixel area, P 1, P 2 ... digital zoom area (playback zoom area)

Claims (3)

In a digital camera having a digital zoom function that enlarges and displays an image in the digital zoom area, an area smaller than an entire pixel area capable of capturing an image in the image sensor is set as a digital zoom area.
Zoom magnification instruction means for instructing a digital zoom magnification;
Image capturing means for cutting out a digital zoom area corresponding to the digital zoom magnification from all pixel areas of the image sensor based on the digital zoom magnification instructed by the zoom magnification instruction means, and capturing an image of the digital zoom area;
Display means for enlarging and displaying the image of the digital zoom area captured by the image capture means;
Frame display means for causing the display means to display an enlarged frame indicating the size and position of the digital zoom area with respect to all the pixel areas of the image sensor based on the digital zoom magnification instructed by the zoom magnification instruction means. A digital camera characterized by that. In a digital camera having a playback zoom function that enlarges and displays an image in the playback zoom area, an area smaller than the entire area of the image recorded on the recording medium is set as a playback zoom area.
Zoom magnification instruction means for instructing the playback zoom magnification;
Based on the reproduction zoom magnification instructed by the zoom magnification instruction means, a reproduction zoom area corresponding to the reproduction zoom magnification is cut out from the entire area of the image recorded on the recording medium, and an image in the reproduction zoom area is captured. Image capture means;
Display means for enlarging and displaying an image of the reproduction zoom area captured by the image capture means;
A frame display for displaying on the display means an enlarged frame indicating the size and position of the reproduction zoom area with respect to the entire area of the image recorded on the recording medium based on the reproduction zoom magnification designated by the zoom magnification instruction means. And a digital camera. In a digital camera having a playback zoom function that enlarges and displays an image in the playback zoom area, an area smaller than the entire area of the image recorded on the recording medium is set as a playback zoom area.
Zoom magnification instruction means for instructing the playback zoom magnification;
Zoom center position indicating means for indicating the zoom center position of the playback zoom;
Corresponding to the reproduction zoom magnification and the zoom center position from the entire area of the image recorded on the recording medium based on the reproduction zoom magnification and the zoom center position designated by the zoom magnification instruction means and the zoom center position instruction means Image capture means for cutting out the playback zoom area and capturing an image of the playback zoom area;
Display means for enlarging and displaying an image of the reproduction zoom area captured by the image capture means;
Based on the reproduction zoom magnification and the zoom center position designated by the zoom magnification instruction means and the zoom center position instruction means, the size and position of the reproduction zoom area with respect to the entire area of the image recorded on the recording medium are indicated. A digital camera comprising frame display means for displaying an enlarged frame on the display means.

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