JP2007159038A - Imaging apparatus and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform a cursor operation on a GUI, for example, without providing any special pointing device as conventional. <P>SOLUTION: A motion detection circuit 208 detects a motion vector from image data outputted from an imaging device and on the basis of the detected motion vector and an arbitrary reference position within a display image, a system controller 211 calculates a display position of a cursor within the display image. Based on the calculated display position of the cursor, a plotting processing circuit 216 displays the cursor within the display image on an EVF 105. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus capable of operating a cursor on a display image such as a GUI, and a control method thereof.

  For example, when menu items are selected on a GUI screen in a conventional imaging apparatus, for example, a cursor with the selected item color-reversed is displayed, and the cursor is sequentially moved to a target selection item by a key operation. The method was adopted.

  However, according to the conventional item selection method, the selectable items have to be moved one after another until the cursor reaches the item to be selected, which is inefficient as input means. A pointing device such as a mouse or pen tablet is suitable for realizing cursor input that directly points to a target item. However, since these pointing devices require a special input member and increase in scale when mounted as a function of the apparatus, the conventional imaging apparatus has not been mounted as an interface.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to enable a cursor operation on, for example, a GUI without providing a special pointing device as in the prior art.

The imaging apparatus of the present invention includes an imaging unit, a motion vector detection unit that detects a motion vector from image data output from the imaging unit, a motion vector detected by the motion vector detection unit, and an arbitrary one in a display image. Based on a reference position, a cursor display position calculating unit that calculates a display position of the cursor in the display image, and on the display unit based on the display position of the cursor calculated by the cursor display position calculating unit And display control means for displaying the cursor in a display image.
An image pickup apparatus control method according to the present invention is an image pickup apparatus control method having an image pickup means, comprising: a motion vector detection step for detecting a motion vector from image data output from the image pickup means; A cursor display position calculating step for calculating a display position of the cursor in the display image based on the detected motion vector and an arbitrary reference position in the display image, and the cursor calculated by the cursor display position calculating step And a display control step of displaying the cursor in the display image on the display means based on the display position.
A program according to the present invention causes a computer to execute the control method of the imaging apparatus.
The computer-readable recording medium of the present invention is characterized in that the program is recorded.

  In the present invention, the motion vector is detected from the image data output from the imaging means, the cursor display position is calculated based on the motion vector and an arbitrary reference position in the display image, and the cursor is displayed. It is composed. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to perform a cursor operation on a GUI, for example, without providing a special pointing device as in the prior art.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an external configuration of an imaging apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, an imaging apparatus 100 converts an image of a landscape 102 incident through a lens 106 into an electrical signal by an imaging element 104 and performs predetermined signal processing, and an electronic viewfinder (hereinafter referred to as EVF) 105. It can be displayed above. The EVF 105 can also display a GUI (Graphical User Interface) 103. In the GUI 103, for example, a cursor 101 for selecting a menu item is displayed.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the imaging apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 201 denotes an imaging optical system having a zoom function. Reference numeral 104 denotes an image sensor that converts an image formed on the imaging surface into an electric signal by photoelectric conversion. Reference numeral 203 denotes an AD converter that converts an electrical signal from the image sensor 104 into a digital signal. A signal processing circuit 204 converts the output of the AD converter 203 into a video signal. A memory 205 stores a video signal from the signal processing circuit 204. Reference numeral 206 denotes an AE circuit. Reference numeral 207 denotes an AF circuit. A motion vector detection circuit 208 detects a motion vector from the video signal from the signal processing circuit 204. A DA converter 209 converts the video signal stored in the memory 205 into an analog signal. Reference numeral 105 denotes an EVF that displays the output of the DA converter 209 as a video. A system controller 211 controls the entire system. Reference numeral 212 denotes a release SW. Reference numeral 213 denotes a mode change SW for switching the GUI display ON / OFF by the EVF 105. Reference numeral 214 denotes a focus control unit that performs focus control of the optical system. A zoom control unit 215 performs zoom control of the optical system. A drawing processing circuit 216 draws a GUI screen on the EVF 105.

  In the above configuration, an image formed on the imaging surface of the image sensor 104 by the imaging optical system 201 is output as an electrical signal, converted into a digital signal by the AD converter 203, and then processed by the signal processing circuit 204. Accumulated in the memory 205. The video signal stored in the memory 205 is converted into an analog signal output by the DA converter 209 and displayed on the EVF 105.

  FIG. 3 is a screen in the imaging thumbnail display mode displayed on the EVF 105 in the first embodiment of the present invention. For example, as shown in FIG. 3A, in the present embodiment, thumbnail icons 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 310, and 311 of imaging data are arranged in an array on the EVF 105. The cursor 101 is moved using the cursor operation means in the present embodiment, an arbitrary thumbnail icon on the GUI screen is selected, and imaging data associated with the thumbnail icons 303 to 311 is displayed on the EVF 105 in full screen.

  Next, the operation of the imaging apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the imaging apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  First, in FIG. 4A, the mode change SW 213 is pressed, and the EVF 105 display is switched to the imaging thumbnail display mode (step S401). At this time, the system controller 211 instructs the zoom control unit 215 to set the zoom to the Wide end side so that the motion vector detected from the received video does not become too large, and the optical imaging system 201 is set. Drive (step S402). In addition, the system controller 211 controls the AE circuit 206 and adjusts the AE so that the amount of light of the received image is appropriate (step S403).

  Next, the drawing processing circuit 216 receives a GUI drawing instruction from the system controller 211 and draws a GUI screen on the EVF 105. Here, the imaging thumbnail display screen shown in FIG. 3A is drawn (step S404). Further, the system controller 211 sets the initial value of the cursor coordinate 301 in FIG. 3A at the center of the screen (step S405), and the drawing processing circuit 216 sets the cursor coordinate 301 (FIG. 3A) as the tip. The cursor 101 to be drawn is drawn (step S406).

  Subsequently, the system controller 211 confirms whether the motion vector detection circuit 208 has detected a motion vector from the video signal from the signal processing circuit 204 (step S407). If a motion vector is detected, the coordinates of the cursor 101 are recalculated from the motion vector and the current cursor coordinates 301 (step S408), and then the cursor 101 is once deleted (step S409). Next, the drawing processing circuit 216 redraws the cursor 101 based on the recalculated cursor coordinates 301 as shown in FIG. 3B (step S406).

  On the other hand, if no motion vector is detected in step S407, the process X shown in detail in FIG. 4B is executed (step S410). In FIG. 4B, the system controller 211 confirms whether or not the release SW 212 has been pressed (step S411). If the release SW 212 has not been pressed, the process X ends. If it is pressed, the cursor coordinates 301 at that time are detected (step S412). Further, the system controller 211 checks whether or not the cursor 101 is at a position overlapping any of the thumbnail icons 303 to 311 (S413). Here, for explanation, it is assumed here that the cursor 101 overlaps the thumbnail icon 311 as shown in FIG. When it is detected that the cursor 101 overlaps the thumbnail icon 311, the drawing processing circuit 216 highlights and draws the selection display frame 312 around the thumbnail icon 311, and notifies the operator that the thumbnail icon 311 has been selected. Teach (step S414). Thereafter, the drawing processing circuit 216 displays the captured image data associated with the thumbnail icon 311 on the EVF 105 in full screen (step S415).

  Note that if the cursor 101 does not overlap any of the thumbnail icons 303 to 311 in step S413, the process X ends.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a GUI display example in the EVF 105 of the imaging apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Note that the external configuration and internal configuration of the imaging apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment are the same as the configurations shown in FIGS.

  The GUI according to the present embodiment has a loupe function capable of enlarging and displaying an arbitrary portion of imaging designated by a cursor. In this embodiment, the cursor has two pointers: a pointer 503 (FIG. 5B) that indicates coordinates, or a loupe 504 (FIG. 5C) that magnifies and displays a predetermined image area including a designated location at a specific magnification. Has a display state.

  Next, the operation of the imaging apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the imaging apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  First, as shown in FIG. 5A, in the state where an arbitrary image 502 is displayed on the EVF 105, the mode change SW 213 is pressed to turn on the loupe function (step S601). At this time, the system controller 211 initializes the parameter W to 0 (step S602). The parameter W indicates that the cursor is in the display state of the pointer 503 (FIG. 5B) when W = 0, and the cursor is in the display state of the loupe 504 (FIG. 5C) when W = 1. It is a variable indicating that.

  Thereafter, the system controller 211 initializes the cursor coordinates 501 as the coordinates of the center of the image (FIG. 5A, step S603). The pointer 503 is displayed at the center of the image (step S604). Next, the system controller 211 checks whether the release SW 212 is pressed (step S605).

  If the release SW 212 is in the pressed state and W = 0, the system controller 211 changes to W = 1 (step S606) and then executes cursor drawing (A) described later (step S608). Next, the system controller 211 checks whether or not a motion vector is detected by the motion vector detection circuit 208 (step S609).

  If the release SW 212 is not pressed and W = 1, the system controller 211 changes to W = 0 (step S607), and then executes cursor drawing (A) (step S608). Next, the system controller 211 checks whether or not a motion vector is detected by the motion vector detection circuit 208 (step S609).

  If the release SW 212 is pressed and W = 1, or if the release SW 212 is not pressed and W = 0, the system controller 211 confirms whether or not the motion vector detection circuit 208 has detected a motion vector (step S609). .

  In step S609, if the motion vector detection / detection circuit 208 detects a motion vector of the video, the system controller 211 calculates the next cursor coordinate based on the current value of the cursor coordinate 501 and the motion vector (step S609). S610). Subsequently, the system controller 211 executes cursor drawing (A) on the coordinates (S611).

  When the cursor drawing (A) is completed, the process returns to the confirmation of the release SW 212 pressed state (step S605). If no motion vector is detected in step S609, the process returns to the confirmation of the release SW 212 pressed state (step S605).

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the cursor drawing (A) process in step S608 or S611. First, the system controller 211 checks the state of the parameter W (step S612). If the value of W is 1, it scans pixel information around the cursor coordinates and generates enlarged image information based on the pixel information. (Step S613). Next, the drawing processing circuit 216 changes the currently displayed pointer 503 to the non-display state (step S614), then sets the display state of the loupe 504, and displays the above-described enlarged image information in the display frame ( Step S615). On the other hand, if the value of W is 0 in step S612, the drawing processing circuit 216 hides the loupe 504 (step S616) and displays the pointer 503 (step S617).

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing when the loupe mode OFF interrupt notification is detected by pressing the mode change SW 213 in the above-described series of processing. After the system controller 211 detects the loupe mode OFF (step S618), the drawing processing circuit 216 hides the pointer 503 or the loupe 504 (step S619), and ends the loupe mode (step S620).

  As described above, in the above-described embodiment, it is possible to realize a cursor operation capable of controlling the movement amount and the movement direction with a higher degree of freedom than the related art with respect to the GUI operation of the imaging apparatus 100. In addition, since the cursor operation is realized by using a part of the imaging function (image data motion vector detection function) of the imaging apparatus 100, a special input member is not required for operation input. . Therefore, it is not necessary to enlarge the mounting scale of the main body of the image pickup apparatus 100 or to connect an input device to the image pickup apparatus, and a cursor position input unit similar to a conventional pointing device such as a mouse is provided on the GUI of the image pickup apparatus 100. Can be realized.

  Another object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and a computer such as the system reads and executes the program codes from the storage medium. Is also achieved.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the program code itself and the storage medium storing the program code constitute the present invention.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

  In addition, the case where the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized by performing part or all of the actual processing by an OS or the like running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code read by the computer. It is.

  Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the CPU or the like performs actual processing based on the instruction of the program code, and the above-described processing is performed. The case where the functions of the embodiment are realized is also included.

It is a figure which shows the external appearance structure of the imaging device which concerns on the 1st and 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the internal structure of the imaging device which concerns on the 1st and 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the screen of the imaging thumbnail display mode displayed by EVF in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the imaging apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a GUI display in EVF of the imaging device which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the imaging device which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the cursor drawing (A) process of step S608 or step S611 of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows a process when the interruption notification of loupe mode OFF by mode change SW pressing is detected.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Imaging device 101 Cursor 102 Scenery 103 GUI
104 Image sensor 105 EVF
106 Lens 201 Optical Imaging System 203 AD Converter 204 Signal Processing Circuit 205 Memory 206 AE Circuit 207 AF Circuit 208 Motion Vector Detection Circuit 209 DA Converter 211 System Controller 212 Release SW 212
213 Mode change SW 213
214 Focus control unit 215 Zoom control unit 216 Drawing processing unit

Claims (7)

Imaging means;
Motion vector detection means for detecting a motion vector from image data output from the imaging means;
Cursor display position calculating means for calculating the display position of the cursor in the display image based on the motion vector detected by the motion vector detecting means and an arbitrary reference position in the display image;
An imaging apparatus comprising: display control means for displaying the cursor in the display image on the display means based on the display position of the cursor calculated by the cursor display position calculation means.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the arbitrary reference position is a position where the cursor is displayed in the display image when a motion vector is detected by the motion vector detection unit. .   The display control means displays a plurality of thumbnail icons on the display means, and highlights a display frame of a thumbnail icon at a position where the cursor is superimposed as compared with other thumbnail icons. The imaging apparatus according to 1 or 2.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit enlarges and displays a predetermined image area including a display position of the cursor in the display image. A method for controlling an imaging apparatus having imaging means,
A motion vector detection step of detecting a motion vector from the image data output from the imaging means;
A cursor display position calculating step for calculating a display position of the cursor in the display image based on the motion vector detected by the motion vector detection step and an arbitrary reference position in the display image;
And a display control step for displaying the cursor in the display image on a display unit based on the display position of the cursor calculated in the cursor display position calculating step.   A program for causing a computer to execute the control method for an imaging apparatus according to claim 5. A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to claim 6 is recorded.

Images