JP2007180638A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus capable of confirming the content of a scene by improving visibility without sacrificing operability. <P>SOLUTION: The imaging apparatus has a recording medium that can be accessed randomly, and a graphic circuit capable of displaying a navigation image in which the list of thumbnail images is arranged. The graphic circuit has a function for overlapping a moving picture to the navigation image to perform the pop-up display of the moving picture of the scene of a selected thumbnail image on the navigation screen as an enlarged image. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus.

  As a background art in this technical field, for example, there is JP-A-2003-319295. In this publication, as a problem, “when a desired file is searched using a thumbnail image among a plurality of files recorded on a hard disk recorder or the like, it is easy to search for the thumbnail image and improve usability”. There is a description, and as a solution, “The function of selecting an image as a still image thumbnail is provided, and the contents of the file can be confirmed by displaying the selected image as a moving image and displaying the unselected image as a still image thumbnail as it is. In addition, the implementation of this function realizes a thumbnail function with a small increase in circuit scale by using a multi-screen display function used in a normal wide television or the like. "

  As background art in this technical field, for example, there is JP-A-2003-196318. The purpose of this publication is that “still images can be organized and viewed in an electronic album, and still images can be searched roughly and in detail.” A list of reduced images 601 is displayed in the film display area 600, and the reduced images 601 are sequentially switched and displayed according to a user's request. When creating an electronic album, the user selects a default size album from the reduced image 601 selected by the user. The image 561 is converted into an image 561 and placed at the position designated by the user or the default position on the page screen 560. When viewing, the album image 561 is displayed on the page screen 560 based on the album management information 43, and in response to a user request The page screen 560 is switched to turn the page, and the album image 561 selected by the user is converted into an enlarged image 581. In the enlarged image display area 580, another enlarged image 581 is sequentially displayed in response to a request from the user. When the enlarged image 581 is edited, it is converted back to the reverse album image 561 and displayed on the page screen 560. . "

JP 2003-319295 A JP 2003-196318 A

  The present invention provides a random access memory medium such as a semiconductor memory, an optical drive, and a hard disk, a navigation function capable of selecting scenes recorded on a screen displaying thumbnail images as a list (hereinafter referred to as a navigation screen), The present invention relates to a function for easily grasping an outline of recorded scene contents in an imaging apparatus having a small liquid crystal panel for displaying a navigation screen and a reproduction screen.

  Conventionally, as a method of confirming the content of a scene where recorded images are recorded, a desired thumbnail image is selected and executed from a navigation screen for scene selection in which thumbnail images obtained by reducing still images at the start of recording are displayed as a list. Thus, the contents of the shooting scene are confirmed by playing the scene.

  However, there are cases where it is difficult to understand the contents of a thumbnail image of a still image, and there has been a demand for a method that can confirm the contents of a scene without reproducing the scene when the navigation screen is displayed. As a conventional technique for responding to such a request, there is a technique for displaying a thumbnail image of a scene selected on a navigation screen as a moving image. Furthermore, there is a technique in which the moving image of the selected scene is displayed as an enlarged image larger than the thumbnail image so that it is easy to see the content confirmation of the scene being played back. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

As another conventional technique, there is a technique for popping up an enlarged image of a still image of a selected scene on a navigation screen. (For example, see Patent Document 2)
However, the conventional technique described in Patent Document 1 has a configuration in which thumbnail images are arranged around an enlarged image for displaying a moving image, and the number of thumbnail images that can be displayed on one screen is reduced. For this reason, in the case of an imaging device in which the number of shooting scenes increases due to frequent start / stop of recording, it takes time to find a target scene if the number of thumbnail images that can be arranged on one screen is small. There was a problem.

  Further, the conventional technique described in Patent Document 2 has a problem in that a playback image cannot be displayed as a pop-up display because the enlarged image to be pop-up displayed is a still image and is not considered a moving image. In addition, since the position where the enlarged image is displayed in a pop-up is not taken into consideration, if the pop-up is displayed in the center of the navigation screen, the next selectable thumbnail image will be hidden, and the next pop-up display must be terminated. There was a problem that the thumbnail image of was lost.

  An object of the present invention is to display a moving image of a selected scene in a popup on the navigation screen as an enlarged image, and further display an enlarged image at a position that does not overlap with the thumbnail images around the thumbnail image of the selected scene. It is an object of the present invention to provide an imaging device capable of improving visibility and confirming the contents of a scene without impairing the above.

  In short, the present invention aims to improve the usability of the imaging apparatus.

  The above object can be achieved by the invention described in the claims.

  According to the present invention, usability of the imaging apparatus can be improved.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  The configuration and operation of the video camera according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 shows a basic block diagram of a video camera according to the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 1, 1 is a lens / CCD (Charge Coupled Devices), 2 is a camera DSP (Digital Signal Processor), 3 is a navigation start button, 4 is a liquid crystal panel, 5 is an external output terminal, 6 is a drive device, 7 is a recording / recording device. A reproduction circuit, 8 is a graphic circuit, 9 is a microcomputer, 10 is a recording medium, and 11 is a cursor movement button.

  At the time of recording operation, an image pickup signal taken from the lens / CCD 1 is input to the recording / reproducing circuit 7 via the camera DSP 2, and after performing various signal processing such as encoding, image data is transferred to the recording medium 10 by the drive device 6. To be recorded. At the same time, a thumbnail image at the start of recording is generated by the microcomputer 9, and this thumbnail image and scene management information such as recording time, date, and recording mode are recorded on the recording medium 10. On the other hand, the unencoded image signal input to the recording / reproducing circuit 7 is transferred to the liquid crystal panel 4 and the external output terminal 5 via the graphic circuit 8 and displayed.

  During the reproducing operation, image data is read from the recording medium 10 via the drive device 6 and input to the recording / reproducing circuit 7. The image signal that has been subjected to various processes such as decoding by the recording / reproducing circuit 7 enters the graphic circuit 8, and is then passed to the liquid crystal panel 4 and the external output terminal 5 for display. Here, during normal recording and reproduction operations, the graphic circuit 8 superimposes the character information signal. These operation controls are all controlled by the microcomputer 9.

  Next, the navigation screen display time will be described. When the navigation screen is displayed by operating the navigation start button 3, first, a background image of the navigation screen is created by the graphic circuit 8. The background image includes a thumbnail display area for displaying a thumbnail image, a title display area for displaying the title of the selected thumbnail image, and an operation guide display area for displaying an operation guide. Next, the microcomputer 9 obtains scene management information from the recording medium 10 via the recording / reproducing circuit 7. From this scene management information, the microcomputer 9 acquires attributes such as video / still image / recording mode of each scene, display order, editing information, etc., and displays the acquired scene attributes, display order, editing information, etc. on the navigation screen. Created as management information for one screen, and based on the management information for one screen, a predetermined number (for example, 12) of thumbnail images for one screen is read from the thumbnail image information in the scene management information and displayed simultaneously. The information is input to the graphic circuit 8 together with information such as a title. The graphic circuit 8 superimposes a predetermined number of thumbnail images read out on the previously created background image on the thumbnail display area and creates a navigation image by superimposing characters on the title display area from information such as the title. The navigation image is displayed as a navigation screen on a display device connected to the liquid crystal panel 4 or the external output terminal 5.

  Here, an operation in a case where an enlarged image of the moving image of the selected thumbnail image according to the present embodiment is displayed in a pop-up manner will be described. On the navigation screen described above, the cursor is moved by operating the cursor movement button 11 to select the desired thumbnail image. When the selected thumbnail image is not operated for a certain period of time (for example, 3 seconds), the microcomputer 9 starts playback of the scene corresponding to the selected thumbnail image and issues a pop-up display request. Issued to the graphic circuit 8. In the graphic circuit 8, the thumbnail image selected from the selected thumbnail image and the position information of the plurality of thumbnail images that can be selected next by the cursor movement button 11 by the cursor movement button 11 from the selected thumbnail image, and the next selectable image. A pop-up display area is set so that an enlarged image can be displayed at a position excluding a portion where a plurality of thumbnail images are displayed, and a reproduced image obtained from the recording medium 10 via the recording / reproducing circuit 7 is reproduced. The image is superimposed on the previous pop-up display area and displayed on the liquid crystal panel 4 or the like.

  Furthermore, the operation of each unit during pop-up display will be described in detail. The microcomputer 9 acquires recording mode, editing information, position information recorded on the recording medium, and the like from the management information and scene management information of one screen corresponding to the selected thumbnail image, and records / records it together with this information. A reproduction start command is issued to the reproduction circuit 7. The recording / reproducing circuit 7 reads the image data via the drive device 6 from the position where the image data on the designated recording medium 10 is recorded. The recording / reproducing circuit 7 performs various processes based on the editing information obtained from decoding and management information, and the generated image signal is input to the graphic circuit 8. The microcomputer 9 issues a playback start command to the recording / playback circuit 7 and, at the same time, issues a position and size for pop-up display of the playback image on the navigation image to the graphic circuit 8. Here, the designated pop-up display location and size are the currently selected thumbnail image and a plurality of thumbnail images that can be selected next by the cursor movement button 11 by the cursor movement button 11 from the selected thumbnail image. Set from the position information of the thumbnail display area excluding the part where is displayed. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the pop-up display from overlapping an area displaying character information such as a title display area and a guide display area. The graphic circuit 8 superimposes the reproduced image on the navigation image in accordance with the display position and size information from the microcomputer 9, and superimposes the enlarged image of the reproduced image on the navigation screen as a pop-up display on the navigation screen. Output the selected image.

  Here, when another scene is selected after the pop-up is displayed, the cursor movement button 11 is operated. When the microcomputer 9 detects that the cursor movement button 11 has been operated, playback of the scene is stopped and a pop-up display release request is issued to the graphic circuit 8 to move the cursor on the navigation screen. Thereafter, when the cursor is not moved for a certain period of time, the microcomputer 9 automatically detects that the no-operation state has continued for a certain period of time and automatically starts playback of the selected scene and displays a pop-up. Further, when the cursor movement button 11 is operated in the pop-up display state, the pop-up display is canceled, the reproduction operation is stopped, and the cursor is moved.

  It should be noted that the fixed time for detecting the no-operation state needs to be set so as not to impair operability. For example, when the cursor movement button 11 is kept pressed, the cursor needs to be moved immediately, so pop-up display is not performed. If no operation is performed for 3 seconds on the thumbnail image where the movement of the cursor has finally stopped, a playback start request and a pop-up display request for the selected scene are issued. For example, if the desired thumbnail image is not at the top, bottom, left, or right position of the currently selected thumbnail image, and you have to go through several thumbnail images to select the desired thumbnail image, If a playback image is displayed immediately by pop-up display every time it is moved, several unnecessary pop-up displays will occur before moving to the desired thumbnail image, which may hinder smooth cursor movement. Become. In this embodiment, as an example, in order to move the cursor smoothly, the time for determining that the cursor stays on the thumbnail image is 3 seconds, and when the cursor stays on one thumbnail image for 3 seconds or more, a pop-up is displayed. The operation that causes the

  A flow of the above-described operation processing will be described with reference to an operation flowchart of pop-up display by operating the cursor movement button 11 in FIG. FIG. 3 shows a flowchart for determining whether to display a pop-up screen according to this embodiment.

  When the navigation screen is displayed by the operation of the navigation activation button 3, it is first determined in step 31 whether the cursor movement button 11 is pressed. If it is pressed, it is determined in step 37 whether the pop-up is being displayed. If the pop-up is being displayed, a pop-up display cancel request and a playback operation stop request are issued in step 32, and cursor movement processing is performed in step 33. Then, the cursor movement button 11 operation process is terminated. When the pop-up display is not being performed in step 37, the cursor movement process is performed in step 33, and the cursor movement button 11 operation process is terminated. Thereafter, the process returns to step 31 at a predetermined cycle and waits for the operation of the cursor movement button 11.

  If the cursor movement button 11 is not pressed in step 31, the process changes depending on whether or not a pop-up is currently displayed on the screen in step 34. Since it is not necessary to set the pop-up display process start request in step 36 in the state during the pop-up display, the cursor movement button 11 operation process is immediately terminated. At this time, the pop-up display continues to display the moving image. If the pop-up is not being displayed at step 34, the time of no operation is confirmed at step 35. If the result of determination in step 35 is that the specified time has passed, playback start setting and pop-up display setting for the thumbnail image scene selected in step 36 are performed. If the result of determination in step 35 is that the specified time has not elapsed, the cursor movement button 11 operation process is immediately terminated.

  Here, the operation of step 36 will be further described. In step 36, a pop-up display area is set for the graphic circuit 8, the recording medium 10 is activated, reproduction data is read, and a reproduction image is superimposed on the pop-up display area. The graphic circuit 8 also displays a currently selected thumbnail image and a plurality of thumbnail images that can be selected next from the currently selected thumbnail image by up / down / left / right cursor operations using the cursor movement buttons 11. A pop-up display area is set in the thumbnail display area excluding, and processing is performed so that the pop-up display does not overlap with a thumbnail image to be selected and a plurality of next selectable thumbnail images.

  Next, display examples of the screen according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 4 to 6. FIG. 2 shows a navigation screen for performing scene selection according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the navigation screen indicates a navigation screen 20 in which a plurality of thumbnail images are arranged on one screen. Here, the selected thumbnail image A23 is surrounded by a thick frame 24 so as to be distinguished from other unselected thumbnail images. The title display area 21 at the top of the screen displays the title of the selected thumbnail image A23. FIG. 2 shows an example in which the date is set as the title. The operability is improved by displaying an operation guide or the like in the operation guide display area 22 at the bottom of the screen, and the title image such as the date is displayed in the title display area 21 at the top of the screen. Makes it easy to distinguish the recorded contents. Here, when the user performs an operation with the cursor movement button 11 and selects another thumbnail image, the thick frame 24 and the title display area 21 are switched to display in accordance with the selected thumbnail image.

  Further, a screen display example when the arrangement position and size of the pop-up display are controlled by the microcomputer 9 so that the pop-up display does not overlap the thumbnail image so that the contents of the selected thumbnail image can be recognized will be described. 4 shows a navigation screen example 1 when pop-up display is performed according to the present embodiment, FIG. 5 shows a navigation screen example 2 when pop-up display is performed according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 6 shows a navigation screen example 3 when pop-up display is performed according to the present embodiment. Indicates.

  FIG. 4 shows a screen in a state where the thumbnail image A23 at the upper left corner of the screen is selected. By arranging the pop-up display A41 at the position shown in the figure, the cursor right movement direction 42 and the cursor downward movement direction 43 are shown. It becomes possible to recognize the next thumbnail image. In this way, the currently selected thumbnail image A23 and a plurality of thumbnail images B44 and E45 that can be selected next from the currently selected thumbnail image by the cursor up / down / left / right cursor operations are displayed. By displaying the pop-up display A41 in the thumbnail display area excluding the portion, the next selectable thumbnail image can be recognized.

  FIG. 5 shows a screen in a state in which the thumbnail image D53 at the upper right corner of the screen is selected. In this case, the pop-up display D51 is arranged at the position shown in the figure to move the cursor downward movement direction 43 and the cursor left. It becomes possible to recognize the next thumbnail image in the moving direction 54.

  Even when the thumbnail image F63 that can be selected from the top, bottom, left, and right is selected as shown in FIG. 6, the pop-up display F61 is arranged at the position shown in the figure to move the cursor upward direction 62 and the cursor downward, left, and right movement directions. It becomes possible to recognize the next thumbnail image of 43, 54, and 42.

  Next, a method for setting the position and size for displaying the pop-up display will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 shows a pop-up display position according to this embodiment, and FIG. 8 shows a coordinate management table according to this embodiment.

  When the pop-up display is set in step 36 in FIG. 3, the display position of the pop-up display is derived and set for the graphic circuit 8. First, a thumbnail management number is assigned to each thumbnail image, and the thumbnail management number of the upper left thumbnail image A23 of the navigation screen 20 is set to 0, and one screen is managed as 1, 2, and 3 each time going to the right. As shown in FIG. 7, the position information of the pop-up display A41 is managed as an X coordinate position A71 in the horizontal direction and a Y coordinate position B72 in the vertical direction. The reference positions 73 and 74 for the X coordinate and Y coordinate are the upper left of the navigation screen 20. When pop-up display of each thumbnail image is performed, the optimum positions are stored as an X coordinate position A71 and a Y coordinate position B72 in the microcomputer 9 as table data as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, the table data also stores a size setting value for setting how many times the size of the pop-up display is made larger than the thumbnail image for each thumbnail management number. The microcomputer 9 obtains a thumbnail management number from the selected thumbnail image, and reads the pop-up display X coordinate position A71 and Y coordinate position B72 and the size setting value paired with the thumbnail management number from the table data of FIG. The read X coordinate position A71, Y coordinate position B72, and size setting value are notified together when a pop-up display instruction is given to the graphic circuit 8. Upon receiving the instruction, the graphic circuit 8 superimposes the pop-up display A41 at the positions and sizes of the X coordinate position A71 and the Y coordinate position B72 specified from the reference positions 73 and 74 on the navigation screen 20.

  From the above, in the navigation screen displaying a plurality of thumbnail images on a small liquid crystal panel, the moving image of the selected thumbnail image is displayed in a large pop-up without reducing the number of thumbnail images displayed on one screen, Visibility is improved without impairing operability, and scene contents can be easily identified. Further, since the reproduction is automatically started and the reproduced image is enlarged and displayed, the operability can be improved. When the next thumbnail image is selected by moving the cursor, the enlarged image is displayed in a pop-up display at a position and size that does not hide the thumbnail image in the range where the cursor can be moved. Operability can be improved.

  According to the present embodiment, the moving image of the selected scene is popped up on the navigation screen as an enlarged image, and further, the enlarged image is displayed at a position that does not overlap the thumbnail image around the thumbnail image of the selected scene. Visibility can be improved and the contents of the scene can be confirmed.

Block diagram of a video camera according to this embodiment Navigation screen for scene selection according to this embodiment Flowchart for determining display of pop-up screen according to this embodiment Navigation screen example 1 when a pop-up screen is displayed according to this embodiment Example 2 of navigation screen when pop-up screen is displayed according to this embodiment Example 3 of navigation screen when pop-up screen is displayed according to this embodiment Pop-up display position according to this embodiment Coordinate management table according to this embodiment

Explanation of symbols

1: lens / CCD, 2: camera DSP, 3: navigation start button, 4: liquid crystal panel, 5: external output terminal, 6: drive device, 7: recording / reproducing circuit, 8: graphic circuit, 9: microcomputer, 10: Recording medium, 11: Cursor move button, 20: Navigation screen, 21: Title display area, 22: Operation guide display area, 23: Thumbnail image A, 24 thick frame, 41: Pop-up display A, 42: Move cursor right Direction: 43: Direction of cursor movement, 44: Thumbnail image B, 45: Thumbnail image E, 51: Pop-up image D, 53: Thumbnail image D, 54: Direction of cursor left movement, 62: Direction of cursor upward movement, 63: Thumbnail Image F, 71: X coordinate position A, 72: Y coordinate position B, 73: X reference position, 74: Y reference position

Claims (7)

An imaging device capable of mounting a randomly accessible recording medium,
An imaging unit for acquiring a moving image;
A recording unit for recording the moving image acquired by the imaging unit on the recording medium;
A playback unit for playing back the moving image recorded by the recording unit;
A display unit for displaying a moving image reproduced by the reproduction unit;
A control unit for controlling the display unit to display a list of reduced images of the moving images recorded by the recording unit;
A selection unit for selecting a reduced image displayed on the display unit;
Have
The control unit enlarges and displays the reduced image selected by the selection unit on a list display screen and reproduces the corresponding moving image;
Imaging device. The control unit controls the reduced image selected by the selection unit to be enlarged and displayed on the list display screen and the position where the corresponding moving image is reproduced is a position that does not hinder the next selection by the selection unit. ,
The imaging device according to claim 1. A playback method for mounting and playing a randomly accessible recording medium,
Get a video,
Recording the acquired moving image on the recording medium;
Control to display a list of reduced images of the recorded moving images on the display means;
Select the displayed reduced image,
The selected reduced image is enlarged and displayed on the list display screen and the corresponding moving image is reproduced.
Playback method. The selected reduced image is enlarged and displayed on the list display screen, and the position for reproducing the corresponding moving image is controlled so as not to prevent the selection of the next reduced image.
The reproduction method according to claim 3. A random access memory, and a graphic circuit capable of displaying a navigation image in which thumbnail images are arranged in order to select a scene recorded on the recording medium. In the imaging device that performs a selection operation on the navigation screen displayed on the display means,
The graphic circuit has a function of superimposing a moving image on the navigation image, and pops up a moving image of a selected thumbnail image scene as an enlarged image on the navigation screen.   6. The imaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the moving image is a reproduction image, and when a thumbnail image of an arbitrary scene is selected, reproduction of the scene of the selected thumbnail image is started and popped up as the enlarged image. An imaging apparatus characterized by that. 7. The imaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the enlarged image is displayed at a position where the currently selected thumbnail image and the thumbnail image around the selected thumbnail image do not overlap with the enlarged image. apparatus.

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