JP2005229145A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus for reducing the occurrence of misoperation before operating a zoom operating means in zoom operations during photographing recording. <P>SOLUTION: The imaging apparatus displays a shape nearly the same as that of a zoom operation button and in matching with its zooming direction and a character pattern in a changing directions on a screen of a display apparatus at the start of recording and during recording to display the operating direction and the zoom direction. Since a user can visually and intuitively recognize the operating direction of a zoom operation lever and the changing direction of a zoom function before the operation of the zoom operation means, the occurrence of misoperation can be reduced. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique of an imaging apparatus having a zoom function.

  In an imaging apparatus such as a video camera, a zoom function is essential, and the zoom magnification of the zoom function is displayed on a display means.

  However, just by displaying the zoom magnification on the display means as in the above prior art, the operator must confirm that the zoom function is progressing in the telephoto direction after the actual angle of view changes after the zoom operation. I don't know if it's moving in the wide-angle direction.

  Therefore, there is a problem that it takes time for the operator to recognize that the zoom operation is operated in the wrong direction.

  As a conventional technique considering such a problem, there is a technique for displaying whether the zoom function is moving in the telephoto direction or in the wide-angle direction during zoom operation, or displaying the traveling direction on the display means (for example, patents). Reference 1).

JP-A-5-153456

  By the way, recent video cameras have a function of changing the zoom magnification at a high speed depending on how the zoom operation means is operated, and the angle of view is greatly changed in a short time after the zoom operation. Yes.

  Further, as the video camera body is downsized, for example, there is a camera with zoom operation means on the side surface of the video camera body. Since the operation direction of the zoom operation means and the change direction of the zoom means based on the operation direction are different, video cameras that cannot be discriminated intuitively by an operator have appeared.

  At the time of imaging and recording, since the operator views the captured image on the viewfinder or the display screen, the operator cannot see the zoom operation means, and there is a high possibility that the operation in the changing direction of the zoom means is wrong.

  Here, when the operator mistakenly operates the zoom means in the reverse direction, the operator performs the zoom operation in the reverse direction again. However, if the zoom operation is changed in the wrong direction during image recording, there is a problem that an image unintended by the operator is recorded.

  Furthermore, there is a possibility that an operator may miss an important scene after a long time has passed while the zoom means is operated again in the reverse direction.

  In the prior art described in Patent Document 1, since the change direction of the zoom unit is displayed on the display unit when the zoom operation unit is operated, the change direction of the zoom unit is not known before the operation of the zoom operation unit. There is a possibility that it cannot be prevented.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus that reduces the erroneous operation before operating the zoom operation means.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention displays the shape of the zoom operation means and the change direction of the zoom means on the display means.

  According to the present invention, erroneous operation of the zoom operation means can be reduced.

  An embodiment of a video camera according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a video camera having an embodiment of the present invention from the diagonally left rear. In FIG. 1, 1 is a video camera body, 2 is a zoom operation lever for performing a zoom operation, 3 is a power button of the video camera body 1, 4 is a display device capable of displaying captured images, reproduced images, and various information, and 5 is a display. A screen, 6 is a recording start button for starting and stopping recording when a recording means (not shown) records an image when the operation mode of the video camera body 1 is the recording mode, and 7 is a reproduction. An operation button unit used for editing, 8 is a finder for displaying captured images, reproduced images, and various information, 9 is a menu button, and 10 is a character display ON / OFF button.

  The power button 3 controls the power supplied to all of the video camera body 1. The display device 4 is a device including a housing portion that supports the display screen 5 and the display screen 5, and is configured to be openable and closable with the video camera body 1, and displays an image captured when opened. . In addition, when the camera is closed, an image captured by the finder 8 is displayed. Various information necessary for recording is displayed on the display screen 5 of the display device 4 as characters so that the operator can easily determine the information. When the display device 4 is closed, the same character is displayed on the finder 8. The character can be selected by the character display ON / OFF button 10 or not.

  Here, when the operator presses the power button 3 to set the video camera body 1 to the recording mode and then presses the recording start button 6 while looking at the display screen 5 and / or the finder 8, a camera (not shown) The recording means (not shown) starts recording the captured image, and the display screen 5 and / or the viewfinder 8 indicate the shape of the zoom operation lever 2 and the change direction of the zoom function (including optical zoom and / or digital zoom). indicate. That is, the operation method of the zoom operation means is displayed. Thus, by displaying the shape of the zoom operation lever 2 and the change direction of the zoom function on the display screen 5 and / or the viewfinder 8, the operator can visually and intuitively determine the operation direction of the zoom operation lever 2. Therefore, erroneous operation of the zoom operation lever 2 can be prevented. The display of the shape of the zoom operation lever 2 and the change direction of the zoom function is displayed while the recording start button 6 is pressed and recording is being performed, and the recording start button 6 is pressed again to record. The display may be turned off by a stop or a display prohibiting operation by the character display ON / OFF button 10.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing characters as various information displayed on the display screen 5 and / or the finder 8 of the display device 4 in the video camera having the embodiment of the present invention. It is the character pattern which showed the change direction of a shape and a zoom function. Thus, by displaying the character pattern in accordance with the actual shape of the zoom operation lever 2 and the change direction of the zoom function (arrow and W, T), the operator operates the zoom operation lever 2 to the right. It is possible to visually and intuitively determine that the T direction, that is, the zoom function becomes the wide-angle direction, and conversely, if the zoom operation lever 2 is operated to the left, the W direction, that is, the zoom function becomes the telephoto direction. Can be prevented. Further, in order to prevent the background image from being hidden by the display of the character pattern 11 indicating the shape of the zoom operation lever 2 and the change direction of the zoom function, the background image is displayed in a translucent character state where the background image can be seen through. . Thereby, the operator can recognize the background image even if the character pattern 11 is displayed on the display screen 5.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing processing for displaying a character pattern indicating the shape and change direction of the zoom operation lever on the display screen 5 and / or the finder 8 of the display device 4 in the video camera having the embodiment of the present invention. . Reference numeral 12 denotes a video signal output processing unit, 13 denotes a character pattern generator, and 14 denotes a video signal superimposing processing unit. In order to display the imaged video signal on the display device 4 and the finder 8, the video signal is output from the video signal output processing unit 12. The video signal output from the character pattern generation device 13 that generates the character pattern of the zoom operation lever is superimposed on the output signal by the video signal superimposing processing unit 14 to the display device 4 and the finder 8. indicate. Further, when displaying a translucent character through which the background image can be seen, the character pattern generator 13 outputs a character pattern in which the luminance of the video signal is lowered.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for determining to display a character pattern indicating the shape and change direction of the zoom operation lever on the display screen 5 and / or the viewfinder 8 of the display device 4 in the video camera having the embodiment of the present invention.

  A video camera control unit (not shown) inside the video camera 1 displays a character pattern indicating the shape of the zoom operation lever 2 and the direction of change of the zoom function (hereinafter referred to as zoom operation lever shape character display in this paragraph). 11 is started according to the zoom operation lever shape character display determination process of the flowchart in FIG. First, in S2, it is determined whether or not the state of the video camera body 1 is recording start or recording. When the video camera body 1 is in a state other than recording start or recording, the process proceeds to S6 of the zoom operation lever shape character display off process. If the video camera body 1 is in the recording start or recording state, the character display permission state is determined in S3. The character display permission is determined by the character display ON / OFF button 10. If the character display permission state is set to prohibit character display, the process proceeds to S6 of the zoom operation lever shape character display off process, and the zoom operation lever shape character display is not performed. If the character display permission state is the character display permission setting, the zoom operation lever shape display permission determination is performed in S4.

  In the zoom operation lever shape character display, ON / OFF display can be selected as one function of a menu item for selecting and setting various functions of the video camera body 1. When the menu button 9 is pressed and the menu is displayed on the display screen 5 and / or the finder 8, after the zoom lever shape display item in the menu item is selected and set to OFF, the display screen 5 of the display device 4 and Alternatively, the zoom operation lever shape character display is not displayed on the finder 8. When the zoom lever shape display item in the menu item is set to ON, the zoom operation lever shape character display is in a displayable state. If the zoom operation lever shape display is prohibited by the menu operation, the process proceeds to the zoom operation lever shape character display off process S6. If the zoom operation lever shape display is permitted, the process proceeds to the zoom operation lever shape character display ON process S5, and the character pattern 11 indicating the zoom operation lever shape and the change direction of the zoom function is displayed as shown in FIG. Thereby, the display can be turned off when the change direction display and the shape display of the zoom operation means are unnecessary.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described above. In the present embodiment, the character pattern 11 indicating the zoom operation lever shape and the change direction of the zoom function displays the shape of the zoom operation lever and the change direction of the zoom function, but displays only the change direction of the zoom function. Also good. That is, only the display in the T and W directions may be used.

  In this embodiment, the display contents when the zoom operation lever is operated in the left-right direction have been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the shape and direction of the character displaying the zoom operation means, the change direction of the zoom function, As long as it corresponds. For example, when the zoom operation means has two configurations, the shape of the two arrangement directions and the change direction of the zoom function may be displayed. Further, the operation direction may be any direction such as front and rear, diagonal, and vertical direction.

  In this embodiment, the video camera has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any device having a zoom function and display means may be used. That is, a digital still camera, a mobile phone, or a portable information terminal may be used.

  In the present embodiment, the display of the character pattern 11 indicating the zoom operation lever shape and the change direction of the zoom function has been described as being at the start of recording or during recording, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, when the power of the video camera is turned on, the character pattern 11 indicating the shape of the zoom operation lever and the change direction of the zoom function may be displayed, or may be arbitrarily displayed by operating the character display button 10. You may do it.

  In the present embodiment, it has been described that the zoom operation lever shape display can be prohibited by the character display button 10 or the menu button 9, but the display may be prohibited by other operations. Furthermore, setting of prohibition of zoom operation lever shape display may be unnecessary.

The perspective view which showed the video camera which has embodiment of this invention from diagonally left back The figure which showed the character which is the various information displayed on the display screen and / or finder of the display apparatus in the video camera which has embodiment of this invention The figure which showed the process which displays the character pattern which showed the shape and change direction of the zoom operation lever on the display screen and / or finder of the display apparatus in the video camera which has embodiment of this invention. The figure which showed the flowchart which performs the determination which displays the character pattern which showed the shape and change direction of the zoom operation lever on the display screen and / or finder of the display apparatus in the video camera which has embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Video camera main body, 2 ... Zoom operation lever which performs zoom operation, 3 ... Power button, 4 ... Display apparatus, 5 ... Display screen, 6 ... Recording start button, 7 ... Operation button part for playback / editing, 8 ... Finder, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 9 ... Menu button, 10 ... Character display ON / OFF button, 11 ... Character pattern which showed the shape of a zoom operation lever, and the change direction of a zoom function, 12 ... Video signal output process part, 13 ... Character pattern generator, 14 ... Video signal superimposition processor

Claims (9)

In the imaging device,
Zoom means;
Zoom operation means for operating the zoom means;
Display means for displaying an image captured by the imaging device and various menus of the imaging device;
And having
An image pickup apparatus that displays the shape of the zoom operation means and the change direction of the zoom means on the display means. The imaging device according to claim 1,
Recording means for recording an image captured by the imaging device;
Recording start instruction means for instructing recording start by the recording means;
And having
An image pickup apparatus characterized by displaying the shape of the zoom operation means and the change direction of the zoom means on the display means by operating the recording start instruction means. In the imaging device according to claim 1 or 2,
An image pickup apparatus, wherein when displaying the shape of the zoom operation means and the change direction of the zoom means on the display means, the image picked up by the image pickup apparatus is displayed in a transparent state.   4. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display-off unit capable of erasing display of the shape of the zoom operation unit and the change direction of the zoom unit. In the imaging device,
Zoom means;
Zoom operation means for operating the zoom means;
Display means for displaying an image captured by the imaging device and various menus of the imaging device;
And having
An image pickup apparatus that displays an operation direction of the zoom operation unit and a change direction of the zoom unit based on the operation of the zoom operation unit on the display unit. The imaging apparatus according to claim 5,
Recording means for recording an image captured by the imaging device;
Recording start instruction means for instructing recording start by the recording means;
And having
An image pickup apparatus, comprising: an operation direction of the zoom operation unit and a change direction of the zoom unit based on the operation of the zoom operation unit are displayed on the display unit by operating the recording start instruction unit. The imaging device according to claim 5, wherein
When displaying the operation direction of the zoom operation unit and the change direction of the zoom unit based on the operation of the zoom operation unit on the display unit, display in a state where an image captured by the imaging device can be seen through. An imaging apparatus characterized by the above.   8. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a display-off unit capable of erasing display of an operation direction of the zoom operation unit and a change direction of the zoom unit based on the operation of the zoom operation unit. Imaging device. In the imaging device,
Zoom means;
Display means for displaying an image captured by the imaging device and various menus of the imaging device;
And having
An image pickup apparatus that displays an operation method of the zoom means on the display means.

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