JP2007058193A - Image display apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image display apparatus capable of switching images at good timing by effectively utilizing thumbnail images in view of a time taken to decompress an actual image. <P>SOLUTION: When decompression time of actual image data is not longer than a switching interval of a slide show, the actual image data are decompressed and the image based on the decompressed actual image data is displayed on the display screen 41 of a liquid crystal panel 40a. When the decompression time of the actual image data is longer than the switching interval of the slide show, thumbnail image data are decompressed and an image based on the decompressed thumbnail image data is displayed on the display screen 41 of the liquid crystal panel 40a. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image display device.

  Conventionally, as this type of image display device, for example, a screen saver for an electronic still camera described in Patent Document 1 has been proposed. In a slide show executed in the screen saver screen save mode, for example, two different screen save images are alternately switched at a switching timing every 5 seconds and displayed on the display.

JP-A-11-313229

  By the way, in the screen saver, an actual image or a thumbnail image corresponding to the actual image is displayed as a screen save image in a slide show.

  However, since the actual image is not a reduced image like a thumbnail image, it takes time to decompress the actual image when the number of pixels is large, the display switching timing of the image is delayed, and the viewer feels uncomfortable. Invite the problem of giving.

  Therefore, in order to deal with the above, the present invention, for example, considers the decompression time of an actual image in a slide show so that thumbnail images can be used effectively and image display switching can be performed with good timing. An object of the present invention is to provide an image display device as described above.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, an image display device according to claim 1 of the present invention is an object for switching a plurality of images at a set time interval and sequentially displaying them on a display screen, in particular, actual image data and thumbnail images. An image storage unit that stores data in association with each other, and a first state in which an image based on the actual image data is displayed on the display screen based on information on the actual image data stored in the image storage unit And display control means for switching to a second state in which an image based on the thumbnail image data is displayed on the display screen.

  As a result, the first state in which an image based on the actual image data is displayed on the display screen and the second state in which an image based on the thumbnail image data is displayed on the display screen are switched based on the information related to the actual image data. Thus, in a slide show, thumbnail images that are slightly inferior in quality to actual images can be used effectively, and images can be switched at a good timing without a sense of incongruity.

  Further, in the image display device according to claim 2, the display control unit is configured to change the first state based on a processing time correspondence amount corresponding to a time required for the display processing of the real image as information on the real image data. Switching to the second state is characterized.

  As a result, among the information related to the real image data, the first state and the second state are switched based on the processing time correspondence amount corresponding to the time required for the display processing of the real image, so that the high-definition real image is displayed. Is displayed as much as possible, and when a real image cannot be displayed at a set time interval, a thumbnail image is displayed. Therefore, in the slide show, the image switching timing can be maintained substantially constant while maintaining the display quality as much as possible, and the image can be visually recognized without a sense of incongruity.

  Further, in the image display device according to claim 3, when the display control unit is in the first state when the processing time correspondence amount is equal to or less than the set correspondence amount, and the processing time correspondence amount is larger than the set correspondence amount In the second state, the second state is set.

  As a result, the thumbnail image is displayed on the display screen only when the processing time correspondence amount is larger than the set correspondence amount arbitrarily set, so that the switching timing of the image can be maintained almost constant, and the image can be displayed without a sense of incongruity. Needless to say, it is possible to reduce the display of thumbnail images with slightly inferior image quality as much as possible.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image display device comprising a processing time corresponding amount changing unit capable of changing the processing time corresponding amount.

  Accordingly, the user operates the processing time correspondence amount changing unit to display a first state in which an image based on actual image data is displayed on the display screen, and a second state in which an image based on thumbnail image data is displayed on the display screen. Since the ratio with the state can be changed freely, the image switching timing can be maintained almost constant, and the slide show that allows the user to view the image without discomfort is set to a slide show that suits the user's preference. be able to.

  The image display device according to claim 5 is characterized in that the display control means switches between the first state and the second state based on the number of pixels of the actual image data as the processing time correspondence amount. And

  As a result, the number of pixels of the actual image data is simply calculated based on the information read from the tag data, whereby the first state in which the image based on the actual image data is displayed on the display screen and the image based on the thumbnail image data are displayed. Switching to the second state displayed on the display screen can be easily performed.

  The image display device according to claim 6 is compressed image data obtained by compressing the actual image data, and the display control means uses the decompression time of the compressed image data as the processing time corresponding amount. Switching between the first state and the second state is characterized.

  Accordingly, the decompression time of the compressed image data is simply calculated based on the information read from the tag data, so that the image based on the first state in which the image based on the actual image data is displayed on the display screen and the image based on the thumbnail image data are displayed. The switching between the second state displayed on the display screen can be easily performed, and the switching determination is performed based on the thawing time itself, so that the switching determination between the first state and the second state is accurately performed. As a result, more high-definition real images can be displayed on the display screen.

  Furthermore, an image display device according to a seventh aspect is characterized in that it includes a set time changing means capable of changing the set time.

  As a result, the user can freely change the slideshow switching timing according to his / her preference by operating the set time changing means, and based on the changed timing, the image based on the actual image data is displayed. The ratio between the first state displayed on the display screen and the second state where the image based on the thumbnail image data is displayed on the display screen is changed. However, even in such a case, it is possible to maintain the switching timing of the images substantially constant, and there is an effect that the images can be visually recognized without a sense of incongruity.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view of a multifunction peripheral (corresponding to an image display apparatus) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The MFP is entirely covered by a housing H, and includes an operation panel 10 in front of the upper portion of the housing H. In addition, at the upper part of the housing H and behind the operation panel 10, a reading unit 20 that reads an image and a tray 30 for supplying a reading document to the reading unit 20 are provided.

  The operation panel 10 includes a display unit 40 at the center thereof, and a plurality of push button type operation switches 11 on both sides thereof.

  The display unit 40 includes a VRAM (not shown) that stores image data to be displayed on the display screen 41, a drive circuit (not shown) that displays the image data stored in the VRAM on the display screen 41, and a display screen. The image data stored in the VRAM is displayed on the display screen 41 of the liquid crystal panel 40a by the drive circuit.

  On the other hand, the multifunction device includes a control unit 50 that controls the entire multifunction device inside the housing H. FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of the multifunction machine. In FIG. 2, a control unit 50 includes a ROM 51 that stores a program for controlling the multifunction device, a CPU 52 that controls the multifunction device using the program stored in the ROM 51, and a RAM 53 that stores various data (in an image storage unit). Equivalent), an interface (hereinafter referred to as I / F) 54 for inputting data stored in an external storage medium (not shown), and an I / F 55 for transmitting a signal to the display unit 40 , And a timer 56 for starting the timing in accordance with the transmission of the signal to the display unit 40 by the I / F 55. The ROM 51, CPU 52, RAM 53, I / F 54, I / F 55 and timer 56 are electrically connected to each other by a bus 57. Connected. The data recorded on the external storage medium includes a plurality of image data, and each image data includes header information, tag data, thumbnail image data, actual image data as conceptually shown in FIG. Etc. The thumbnail image data and the actual image data are image data compressed in the JPEG format and need to be decompressed in order to be displayed on the display unit 40. Each tag data has an image height and an image width (for example, each represented by the number of pixels), a resolution in the height direction and the width direction, and a pixel depth which is the number of bits constituting one pixel of data. Data representing (the number of bits of image data for one pixel) and the type of compression are included.

  Here, the operation of the multifunction machine will be described. The multi-function peripheral has a reading function for reading an image recorded on a read document as image data, a recording function for recording image data on paper, a display function for displaying image data on the display screen 41 of the display unit 40, and the like. It has.

  In the case of operating the reading function, first, after an operator inserts a read document from the lower side of the tray 30 in the left direction in the figure, and operates the push button type operation switch 11 to select the reading function, The multifunction peripheral starts reading the read original while conveying the read original using the reading unit 20. When the reading unit 20 finishes reading the document, the document is discharged from the upper side of the tray 30 in the right direction in the drawing.

  On the other hand, when the recording function operates, first, the MFP stores the data stored in the external storage medium in the RAM 53 via the I / F 54, and the data stored in the RAM 53 is stored in the housing H. Is recorded on a sheet by a recording unit (not shown) disposed in the sheet, and the recorded sheet is discharged forward from a discharge outlet (not shown) formed on the lower side of the operation panel 10.

  Hereinafter, the processing of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4 and the advantages thereof will be described.

  Here, it is assumed that a storage medium storing a plurality of image data as described above, for example, a memory card is inserted into a predetermined insertion slot of the multi-function peripheral.

  Note that the image data stored in the memory card may be stored in the RAM 53 from the beginning.

  In accordance with the above program, an initial value is set in step (hereinafter referred to as S) 100. Here, T0 = 5 seconds is set as the image switching time (setting correspondence amount) of the slide show.

  Next, the first image data among the plurality of image data stored in the memory card is stored in the RAM 53 via the I / F 54 and the bus 57 (S110).

  Then, based on the tag data of the first image data stored in the RAM 53, the decompression time of the first actual image data is calculated (S120).

  The thawing time is obtained by the following formula.

Decompression time = k × image height × image width × image depth (S)
(K: constant)
Next, it is determined whether or not to change the initial value (image switching time in the slide show: T0 = 5 seconds) set in S100 (S130). Specifically, the change of the initial value is executed by the user operating the push button type operation switch 11, and is not executed unless the user operates the push button operation switch 11.

  That is, when the push button type operation switch 11 is operated by the user (S130: Yes), the initial value is changed (S140), and when the push button type operation switch 11 is not operated by the user. (S130: No), the initial value is not changed, and T0 = 5 seconds remains.

  Then, it is determined whether or not the decompression time calculated in S120 is longer than the currently set value of T0 (S150). Here, if it is determined that the decompression time is longer than the currently set value of T0 (S150: Yes), a process of decompressing the thumbnail image data is performed (S160). That is, processing for decompressing thumbnail image data corresponding to the first image stored in the RAM 53 is performed (corresponding to the second state).

  On the other hand, when the decompression time is not longer than the currently set value of T0 (S150: No), a process of decompressing the actual image data is performed (S170). That is, processing for decompressing actual image data corresponding to the first image stored in the RAM 53 is performed (corresponding to the first state).

  Then, it is determined whether or not the decompression of the actual image data or the thumbnail image data is completed (S180), and the decompression process is executed until the decompression of the image data is completed (S180: No).

  When the decompression of the image data is completed (S180: Yes), decompressed image data display processing is performed (S190). Specifically, the decompressed actual image data or thumbnail image data is displayed on the display screen 41 of the liquid crystal panel 40a.

  Next, it is determined whether or not a slide show image switching time T0 (for example, 5 seconds) has elapsed (S200). If the T0 time has not elapsed (S200: No), the display screen 41 is displayed until then. The displayed image data is displayed on the display screen 41 until the time T0 elapses. When the time T0 elapses (S200: Yes), the next image data among the plurality of image data stored in the memory card is displayed. Is stored in the RAM 53 via the I / F 54 and the bus 57 (S210).

  Then, based on the tag data of the next image data stored in the RAM 53, the decompression time of the actual image data is calculated (S220), and the process returns to S130.

  As described above, when the decompression time of the actual image data is longer than the value of T0, an image based on the thumbnail image data is displayed on the display screen 41 of the liquid crystal panel 40a, and the decompression time of the actual image data is T0. If it is not longer than the value, an image based on the actual image data is displayed on the display screen 41 of the liquid crystal panel 40a.

  Therefore, since the actual image is displayed as much as possible and the thumbnail image is displayed instead of the actual image for large actual image data that takes time to decompress, the user is delayed in the switching timing of the image. The image can be visually recognized without a sense of incongruity.

  Also, by simply calculating the decompression time of the compressed image data based on the information read from the tag data, a state in which an image based on the actual image data is displayed on the display screen and an image based on the thumbnail image data are displayed on the display screen. The display state can be easily switched, and the switching determination is performed based on the decompression time itself, so that the switching determination can be performed accurately, and moreover, a high-definition actual image can be more accurately displayed. The effect of being able to display many on the display screen can be expected.

  Next, processing of another embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 5 and these advantages will be described.

  The description of the same contents as those in the first embodiment is omitted.

  First, according to the program, an initial value is set in S300. Here, T0 = 5 seconds is set as the image switching time of the slide show, and S = S0 (for example, 50,000 pixels) is set as the setting value (setting correspondence amount) of the number of pixels.

  Here, the set value is, for example, a value corresponding to the number of pixels to the extent that the image data decompression process is completed within the time T0 when decompressing the image data.

  Next, the first image data among the plurality of image data stored in the memory card is stored in the RAM 53 via the I / F 54 and the bus 57 (S310).

  Then, the number of pixels of the first actual image data is calculated based on the tag data of the first image data stored in the RAM 53 (S320).

  Note that the number of pixels is obtained by the following equation.

Number of pixels = Image height × Image width Next, it is determined whether or not to change the initial value (set value: S0) set in S300 (S330). The change of the initial value is executed by the user operating the push button type operation switch 11 as in the first embodiment, and is not executed unless the user operates the push button operation switch 11.

  That is, when the push button type operation switch 11 is operated by the user (S330: Yes), the initial value is changed (S340), and when the push button type operation switch 11 is not operated by the user. (S330: No), the initial value is not changed and remains S0.

  Then, it is determined whether or not the number of pixels calculated in S320 is larger than the currently set value of S0 (S350). Here, when it is determined that the number of pixels is larger than the currently set value of S0 (S350: Yes), processing for decompressing thumbnail image data is performed (S360). That is, processing for decompressing thumbnail image data corresponding to the first image stored in the RAM 53 is performed.

  On the other hand, when the number of pixels is not larger than the currently set value of S0 (S350: No), a process of decompressing the actual image data is performed (S370). That is, processing for decompressing actual image data corresponding to the first image stored in the RAM 53 is performed.

  Then, it is determined whether or not the decompression of the actual image data or the thumbnail image data is completed (S380), and the decompression process is executed until the decompression of the image data is completed (S380: No).

  When the decompression of the image data is completed (S380: Yes), decompressed image data display processing is performed (S390). Specifically, the decompressed actual image data or thumbnail image data is displayed on the display screen 41 of the liquid crystal panel 40a.

  Next, it is determined whether or not a slide show image switching time T0 (for example, 5 seconds) has elapsed (S400). If the T0 time has not elapsed (S400: No), the display screen 41 is displayed until then. The displayed image data is displayed on the display screen 41 until the time T0 elapses. When the time T0 elapses (S400: Yes), the next image data among the plurality of image data stored in the memory card is displayed. Is stored in the RAM 53 via the I / F 54 and the bus 57 (S410).

  Then, based on the tag data of the next image data stored in the RAM 53, the number of pixels of the actual image data is calculated (S420), and the process returns to S330.

  As described above, when the number of pixels of the real image data is larger than the value of S0, an image based on the thumbnail image data is displayed on the display screen 41 of the liquid crystal panel 40a, and the number of pixels of the real image data is the value of S0. If not, the image based on the actual image data is displayed on the display screen 41 of the liquid crystal panel 40a.

  Therefore, since the actual image is displayed as much as possible and the thumbnail image is displayed instead of the actual image in the case of actual image data having a large number of pixels, the user feels uncomfortable due to the delay of the image switching timing. The image can be visually recognized without any problem.

  In addition, by simply calculating the number of pixels of the actual image data based on the information read from the tag data, a state in which an image based on the actual image data is displayed on the display screen and an image based on the thumbnail image data are displayed on the display screen. Switching to a display state can be easily performed.

  In the above embodiment, the processing of S150 to S170 and the processing of S350 to S370 function as display control means of the present invention.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, the process of the pushbutton type operation switch 11 and S130-S140 functions as a setting time change means of this invention.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the processing of the push button type operation switch 11 and S130 to S140 or the processing of the push button type operation switch 11 and S330 to S340 functions as the processing time corresponding amount changing means of the present invention.

  In carrying out the present invention, the following various modifications can be given without being limited to the above embodiment.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the image based on the actual image data and the image based on the thumbnail data are switched and displayed on the display screen based on the decompression time of the compressed image or the number of pixels of the actual image data. Of these, switching may be performed based on the information on the image height, the image width, the image resolution, or the image depth, and information obtained by combining these information or information calculated from the above information may be used. You may make it switch based on. That is, if switching is performed based on the processing time correspondence amount corresponding to the time required for the display processing of the real image, a high-definition real image is displayed as much as possible, and the real image cannot be displayed at the set time interval. Thumbnail images can be displayed, and in a slide show, the image switching timing can be maintained almost constant while maintaining the display quality as much as possible, and the images can be viewed without a sense of incongruity. .

  On the other hand, when the tag data is displayed on the display screen by switching between the image based on the actual image data and the image based on the thumbnail data based on the information about the actual image data including the type of compression, By effectively utilizing thumbnail images that are slightly inferior in quality to images, it is possible to switch images at a good timing without a sense of incongruity.

It is a top view which shows one Embodiment of the image display apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a circuit block diagram in the embodiment. It is a figure which shows notionally the structure of the image data in the said embodiment. It is a flowchart in the said embodiment. It is a flowchart in another embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  40 ... display unit, 40a ... liquid crystal panel, 41 ... display screen, 50 ... control unit, 53 ... RAM.

Claims (7)

In an image display device that switches a plurality of images at set time intervals and sequentially displays them on a display screen,
An image storage unit for storing actual image data and thumbnail image data in association with each other;
A first state in which an image based on the actual image data is displayed on the display screen based on information on the actual image data stored in the image storage unit, and an image based on the thumbnail image data is displayed on the display screen. An image display device comprising display control means for switching to the second state.   The display control means switches between the first state and the second state as information on the actual image data based on a processing time corresponding amount corresponding to a time required for the display processing of the actual image. The image display device according to claim 1.   The display control means is set to the first state when the processing time corresponding amount is equal to or smaller than a set corresponding amount, and is set to the second state when the processing time corresponding amount is larger than the set corresponding amount. The image display device according to claim 2.   The image display device according to claim 2, further comprising a processing time corresponding amount changing unit capable of changing the processing time corresponding amount.   5. The display control unit according to claim 2, wherein the display control unit switches between the first state and the second state based on the number of pixels of the actual image data as the processing time correspondence amount. Image display device. The actual image data is compressed compressed image data,
5. The display control unit according to claim 2, wherein the display control unit switches between the first state and the second state based on a decompression time of the compressed image data as the processing time corresponding amount. Image display device.   The image display device according to claim 1, further comprising setting time changing means capable of changing the setting time.

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