JP2004128580A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera which more simply realizes an indication mode meeting functions required by a plurality of users than the conventional. <P>SOLUTION: The camera comprises a touch panel for indicating operation elements and detecting the operation of an indicated operation element, a controller for controlling according to the operation of the operation element upon receipt of the operation of the indicated operation element on the touch panel, and an operation element indication mode switch for switching over the indication modes of the operation elements on the touch panel according to the operation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a camera that performs photographing by capturing subject light incident via a photographing optical system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Traditionally, camera manufacturers have designed products that are full of functions that target users from young people to middle-aged and older users, and are equipped with functions that are easy to use for children and elderly people who fall outside this layer, that is, the minimum functions required for shooting. If it is, there are not many cameras that are easy to use for a sufficient number of users.
[0003]
In view of this, there has been proposed a camera capable of displaying parameters and the like corresponding to functions mounted on the camera on the touch panel and changing the display mode of the parameters and the like according to the user's preference (for example, Patent Document 1). reference.).
[0004]
According to the proposed camera, for example, from user groups who want to take full advantage of the functions of the camera to user groups that simply want to shoot, A corresponding display mode is possible.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-197340 A (page 4-5)
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the proposed camera, for example, when this camera is shared by a plurality of user layers, a program is created for each user layer so that the display mode according to the function required by each user layer is obtained. Must be stored in memory.
[0007]
However, this program creation is very troublesome for users who do not have programming knowledge.
[0008]
In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a camera that can easily realize a display mode corresponding to each of a plurality of user layers as compared with the conventional case.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the camera of the present invention comprises:
In a camera that shoots by capturing subject light incident via the photographic optical system,
A touch panel for displaying an operator and detecting operation of the displayed operator;
A control unit that receives an operation of the operator displayed on the touch panel and performs control according to the operation of the operator;
An operating element display mode switching unit that switches a display mode of the operating element on the touch panel according to an operation is provided.
[0010]
In the camera of the present invention, a user who wants to make full use of the functions installed in the camera and a user who simply needs to take a picture are divided into a plurality of groups. And displayed on the touch panel in response to an operation on the operator display mode switching unit.
[0011]
Therefore, according to the camera of the present invention, the display mode set for each of the plurality of user layers can be realized by a simple method of operating the operation element display mode switching unit.
[0012]
Here, it is preferable that the operation element display mode switching unit is configured to switch and display at least one of the type of the operation element, the number of operation elements, and the size of the operation element on the touch panel. It is.
[0013]
In this way, it becomes easier to use for each user layer.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the camera of the present invention will be described.
[0015]
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an embodiment of the camera of the present invention from obliquely above.
[0016]
On the front surface of the digital camera 1 shown in FIG. 1, a lens barrel 11 containing a zoom lens 111 is located near the center, a flash light emission window 13 is on the upper left (right side in FIG. 1), and a flash light control window 12 is a lens mirror. It is provided on the upper side of the trunk 11.
[0017]
On the top surface of the digital camera shown in FIG. 1, a release button 14 is provided at the right end (left side in FIG. 1).
[0018]
FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the digital camera according to the present embodiment viewed obliquely from the rear.
[0019]
In FIG. 2, a liquid crystal panel 16 on which information such as a through image and the number of remaining films is displayed, and parameters corresponding to functions mounted on the camera are displayed, and functions corresponding to pressing the display portion are displayed. Shown are a touch panel 17 that can be operated and a mode switching lever 15 that is operated on the touch panel 17 to display different modes of parameters.
[0020]
The mode switching lever 15 is operated when selecting one of three modes to be described later, and the mode switching lever 15 is printed on a portion of the rear surface of the digital camera corresponding to the position directly above the switching lever. The parameter display in a mode corresponding to the operation is performed by moving right below any one of the numbers “1”, “2”, and “3”.
[0021]
FIG. 3 is an internal block diagram of the digital camera of the present embodiment.
[0022]
In FIG. 3, the CPU 19 that controls the entire digital camera 1, and a charge coupled device (CCD) image pickup device 20 that forms a subject image in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 19, the subject image is displayed from the CCD image pickup device 20. A timing generator 21 for outputting an image signal, a CDSAMP 22 for amplifying the output image signal, and an A / D conversion circuit 23 for converting the image signal amplified by the CDSAMP 22 into digital image data are shown. Yes.
[0023]
3 shows an SDRAM 34 as a memory, an image input controller 24 for storing digital image data in the SDRAM 34, an image signal processing circuit 25 for processing the digital image data stored in the SDRAM 34 so as to be compressible, and a compressibility. The compression processing circuit 26 that compresses the processed digital image data, the media controller 32 that records the compressed digital image data converted into the file format by the CPU 19 on the recording medium 31, and the uncompressed digital image data transferred from the SDRAM 34 The VRAM 33 for storing the video signal, the video encoder 27 for adding a synchronization signal to the digital image data before compression stored in the VRAM 33 to create a video signal, and the video signal created by the video encoder 27 from the digital signal to analog Are also shown the image display controller 28 that amplifies and converts the items. An image is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 16 under the control of the image display control device 28.
[0024]
Further, FIG. 3 shows an AF detection circuit 36 for detecting the contrast of an image based on the image signal output from the CCD image sensor 20, and luminance information from the image based on the image signal output from the CCD image sensor 20. In addition to the AE detection circuit 35 for detecting the I / O, an I / O controller 37 for detecting operations on the mode switching lever 15, the touch panel 17, and the two-stage shutter button 14 and controlling image display on the touch panel is also shown. . In FIG. 3, illustration of the AE sensor, the focus lens, the focusing mechanism, the zooming mechanism, the flash mechanism, and the like is omitted to avoid complexity.
[0025]
Hereinafter, an operation on the mode switching lever 15 in the digital camera 1 of the present embodiment and a change in the display mode of the parameter due to the operation will be described with reference to FIG.
[0026]
First, the case where the mode switching lever 15 is moved directly below the number “1” after the power switch (not shown) is turned on will be described. The mode selected by the number “1” is a mode for a user layer who wants to take a picture by making full use of the functions installed in the camera.
[0027]
The SDRAM 34 shown in FIG. 3 stores image data of an image to be displayed on the touch panel according to the mode, and is referenced to specify an operation to be executed based on the selected mode and an operation on the touch panel. This operation on the mode switching lever 15 is detected by the I / O controller 37 and is represented by image data stored in advance in the SDAM 34 corresponding to the selected number “1”. Is displayed on the touch panel 17. Note that a through image is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 16 by default.
[0028]
FIG. 4 is a diagram of the digital camera viewed from the back when the mode switching lever is moved directly below the number “1” in the digital camera of the present embodiment.
[0029]
The liquid crystal panel 16 shown in FIG. 4 shows a through image within the current shooting angle of view. On the touch panel 17, this number “1” is a user who wants to make full use of the functions installed in this camera. Because it is a mode prepared for, parameters corresponding to many functions are displayed.
[0030]
In the upper part of the touch panel 17, the six functions provided in the digital camera 1 are indicated by alphabets or symbols. The auto mode is “A” and the manual mode is “M” in clockwise order from the left end. ”Indicates that the video mode is a video camera, and the continuous shooting mode is a black mark that indicates the recording mode is a microphone, and the playback mode is blacked out by a mark that is superimposed with the front view of the camera slightly shifted. Shown with triangles.
[0031]
In the middle of the touch panel, a symbol indicating flash light preparation is shown on the left, and the display of the image represented by the recorded image data when the above-mentioned playback mode is selected is displayed in the forward or reverse direction. The symbols that are manipulated when displayed in are shown on the right.
[0032]
In the lower part of the touch panel, a triangle smaller than the other triangle indicating zoom-down is shown on the left side, and a triangle larger than the left side indicating zoom-up is shown on the right side.
[0033]
The I / O controller 37 shown in FIG. 3 outputs to the CPU 19 signals indicating the detected operation on the touch panel 17 and the mode currently selected by the mode selection lever, and the operation specified by these signals. The determination is made with reference to a table stored in the SDRAM. Thereby, execution of the specified operation is instructed by the CPU 19.
[0034]
Next, a case where the mode switching lever 15 is moved directly below the number “2” will be described. The mode based on the selection of the number “2” is a mode prepared for children, for example, which only has knowledge about shooting by releasing the shutter.
[0035]
The above operation on the mode switching lever 15 is detected by the I / O controller 37, and an image represented by image data stored in advance in the SDAM 34 corresponding to the selected number “2” is displayed on the touch panel. .
[0036]
FIG. 5 is a diagram of the digital camera viewed from the back when the mode switching lever is moved directly below the number “2” in the digital camera of the present embodiment.
[0037]
The liquid crystal panel 16 shown in FIG. 5 shows a through image within the current shooting angle of view, and the touch panel 17 indicates that this number “2” is a mode prepared for children, for example. Thus, only “O”, which means that the parameter indicates pressing of the shutter button, and “See”, which means reproduction, are displayed. In this mode, the operation on the shutter button 14 provided on the upper surface of the camera is disabled.
[0038]
Finally, a case where the mode switching lever 38 is moved directly below the numeral “3” will be described. The mode selected by the number “3” is an intermediate mode between the number “1” and the number “2”.
The above operation on the mode switching lever 15 is detected by the I / O controller, and an image represented by image data stored in advance in the SDAM 34 corresponding to the selected number “3” is displayed on the touch panel.
[0039]
FIG. 6 is a diagram of the digital camera viewed from the back when the mode switching lever is moved directly below the number “3” in the digital camera of the present embodiment.
[0040]
The liquid crystal panel 16 shown in FIG. 6 shows a through image within the current shooting angle of view, and the touch panel 17 simply has “shooting recording” and “playback” among the functions installed in this camera. The parameters prepared for a user who wants to utilize only "for example, elderly people" are shown.
[0041]
In order from the top row, the touch panel is operated to “playback” when the currently selected “recording / recording” mode is set to “playback” mode. When this digital camera is in “playback” mode, this mode In the “shooting and recording mode” and “shooting and recording” mode, which are operated when the camera is set to the “shooting and recording” mode, the shutter button is operated by operating instead of the shutter button 14 which is invalid in this mode. A “shutter” is displayed that performs the same function as.
[0042]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the operation of the digital camera of this embodiment.
[0043]
FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of a routine that is started when a power switch (not shown) is turned on in the digital camera 1. In step S1, the numbers “1”, “2”, “ It is detected which one of “3” is selected.
[0044]
In step S2, an image corresponding to the mode selected by the mode selection lever is displayed on the touch panel. Thereafter, in step S3, it is determined whether or not the selected mode is “1”.
[0045]
If it is determined in step S3 that “1” is selected, the process proceeds to step S4, and it is determined whether or not the shutter button 14 is half-pressed.
[0046]
If it is determined in step S4 that the shutter button is half-pressed, the process proceeds to step S5 where exposure and focusing are performed. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S6, and it is determined whether or not the shutter button 14 is fully pressed.
[0047]
If it is determined in step S6 that the shutter button is fully pressed, the process proceeds to step S7, and shooting and recording are performed. Then, it returns to step S1.
[0048]
If it is determined in step S6 that the shutter button has not been fully pressed, the process returns to step S4.
[0049]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S4 that the shutter button is not half-pressed, the process proceeds to step S8, and it is determined whether or not there is an operation on the touch panel 17.
[0050]
If it is determined in step S8 that there is an operation on the touch panel 17, the process proceeds to step S9 to specify what operation is required for this operation on the touch panel. This specification is performed by referring to a reference table stored in the SDRAM 34 based on the currently selected mode and the coordinate position on the touch panel where the operation is performed. Then, it progresses to step S10 and the operation | movement specified in step S9 is performed. Then, it returns to step S1.
[0051]
If it is determined in step S8 that there is no operation on the touch panel 17, the process returns to step S1.
[0052]
If it is determined in step S3 that “1” is not selected, the process proceeds to step S11, where the shutter button 14 is disabled. This is because when the mode selected in the digital camera of the present embodiment is “2” or “3”, the function of focus lock is hardly used by half-pressing. Here, only the function of fully pressing the shutter button 14 is transferred onto the touch panel. Then, it progresses to step S12 and it is determined whether there exists operation with respect to a touchscreen.
[0053]
If it is determined in step S12 that there is an operation on the touch panel, the process proceeds to step S13, where the requested action is specified based on the currently selected mode and the coordinates on the touch panel on which the operation has been performed. Done in the same way. Then, it progresses to step S14 and the operation | movement specified in step S13 is performed. Then, it returns to step S1.
[0054]
If it is determined in step S12 that there is no operation on the touch panel, the process returns to step S1.
[0055]
As described above, in the digital camera 1 according to the present embodiment, a method according to the user's own level is selected, in which the function is narrowed down differently and only the parameters related to the narrowed function are displayed on the touch panel. can do. Thereby, each user of each layer can use the one camera as a camera according to his / her use mode only by selecting a mode suitable for the user.
[0056]
In the present embodiment, the digital camera has been described as an example. However, the camera of the present invention is a roll as long as it has a touch panel that displays an operation element and detects an operation of the displayed operation element. The film may be photographed.
[0057]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the camera of the present invention, the display mode corresponding to the function required by each of the plurality of user layers can be realized more easily than in the past.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an embodiment of a camera of the present invention as viewed obliquely from above.
FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the digital camera according to the present embodiment viewed obliquely from the rear.
FIG. 3 is an internal block diagram of the digital camera of the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a diagram when the digital camera is viewed from the back when the mode switching lever is moved directly below the number “1” in the digital camera of the present embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a diagram of the digital camera as viewed from the back when the mode switching lever is moved directly below the number “2” in the digital camera of the present embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a diagram of the digital camera when the mode switching lever is moved directly below the number “3” when viewed from the back in the digital camera of the present embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the operation of the digital camera of the present embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Digital camera 11 Lens barrel 111 Shooting lens 12 Flash light control window 13 Flash light emission window 14 Shutter button 15 Mode switch lever 16 Liquid crystal panel 17 Touch panel 20 CCD image sensor 21 Timing generator 22 CDSAMP
23 A / D conversion circuit 24 Image input controller 25 Image signal processing circuit 26 Compression processing circuit 27 Video encoder 28 Image display control device 31 Recording medium 32 Media controller 33 VRAM
34 SDRAM
35 AF detection circuit 36 AE detection circuit 37 I / O controller

Claims (2)

In a camera that shoots by capturing subject light incident via the photographic optical system,
A touch panel for displaying an operator and detecting operation of the displayed operator;
A control unit that receives an operation of the operator displayed on the touch panel and performs control according to the operation of the operator;
A camera comprising: an operator display mode switching unit that switches a display mode of the operator on the touch panel according to an operation. The operation element display mode switching unit is configured to switch and display at least one of an operation element type, the number of operation elements, and dimensions of the operation element on the touch panel. The camera according to 1.

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