JP2009017423A - Imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging device which displays information corresponding to actual user learning level, adequately provides functions of the device without requiring users to read operation manuals, and efficiently improves user learning level. <P>SOLUTION: In the imaging device, such as a video camera or an electronic still camera which are provided with a display part (70) having a liquid crystal panel or the like, photographing conditions used when a user photographed objects are stored in a non-volatile memory (130) as past photographing information. When the user turns on the power (starts the camera), the imaging device searches functions unused by the user based on the past photographing information stored in the memory, and displays tips (i.e., know-how, skill or technique) related to the functions on a display part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus that processes and records an image pickup signal output from an image pickup device, and particularly relates to a technique that is effective when used in an image pickup apparatus including a display unit capable of displaying captured images and various types of information. .

  In general, an imaging apparatus such as a video camera or an electronic still camera is provided with a display unit including a color liquid crystal panel for displaying an image to be captured and a captured image. Many are configured to display information such as a menu screen and photographing conditions (for example, Patent Document 1).

Further, an invention relating to an electronic camera in which guidance information such as a camera operation method is displayed on a liquid crystal display unit provided in the camera and a specific operation is prohibited when the guidance information is displayed has been proposed. (For example, patent document 2). Furthermore, an invention related to an electronic camera in which guidance information is displayed on a liquid crystal display unit when a help key provided on the operation unit of the camera is pressed has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 3).
JP 2004-274135 A JP 2002-341426 A JP 2004-128820 A

  Patent Document 1 relates to each menu item in a liquid crystal panel and a first menu screen for displaying a general menu on the liquid crystal panel or a menu display for beginners in an electronic camera that captures a subject image with a semiconductor imaging device. A menu display control unit capable of selecting a second menu screen to be displayed together with an explanatory note, and a switching member for switching between the first menu screen and the second menu screen to be displayed on the menu display control unit. The provided invention is disclosed.

  According to the present invention, when a plurality of items for setting the operation of the camera body are displayed in the menu, even a user who is not familiar with the handling of the camera by displaying the explanatory text regarding the plurality of items. It is possible to easily understand the camera functions, and it is possible to easily switch between menu display for general users and menu display for beginners by switching operation of one operation member. Therefore, there is an advantage that even a beginner can easily perform operation input.

  Further, in the inventions disclosed in Patent Documents 2 and 3, since guidance information such as a camera operation method is displayed, an advantage that the functions of the camera can be understood relatively easily. There is.

  However, any of the inventions of Patent Documents 1 to 3 only display information in a predetermined information or in a predetermined order, and do not display guidance information according to the actual user's learning level. Therefore, appropriate information display cannot be performed, and it is difficult to make full use of all the functions possessed by the camera. Further, since it takes a lot of operations and time to display all information related to the functions possessed by the camera, there is a problem that it is difficult for the user to know all the information.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above-mentioned problems, and the purpose of the present invention is to display information according to the actual user's proficiency level, and the device can hold it without reading the operation manual. It is an object of the present invention to provide an imaging apparatus that can fully exhibit the functions that are performed and can efficiently improve the learning level of the user.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a non-volatile memory in which an imaging device such as a video camera or an electronic still camera having a display unit including a liquid crystal panel is used as past shooting information in a nonvolatile memory. When the power is turned on (when the camera starts up), the functions not used by the user are checked based on the past shooting information stored in the memory, and tips (such as tips and tricks) about such functions are stored. Technique, technique) is displayed on the display unit.

  More specifically, an image sensor, an image processing circuit that processes pixel signals input from the image sensor to obtain image data, storage means for storing tips information about the functions of the device, and shooting and display An image pickup apparatus comprising: control means for performing control for displaying; and display means capable of displaying an image taken by the image pickup device or the tip information. The implemented shooting conditions are stored in the storage unit as past shooting information, and at the time of subsequent activation, the function not used by the user is examined based on the past shooting information stored in the storage unit, Tips information about the function can be displayed on the display means.

  Here, preferably, it comprises an operation means for giving a command for setting the mode from the outside to the control means, the control means in the mode for setting up the apparatus according to the input from the operation means, Configure to determine whether to display tips information about features not used by the user at startup. As a result, it is possible to avoid the annoyance that the tips display is performed every time when starting up.

  Preferably, when the control means determines to execute the display of the tips information, the control means selects the tips information to be displayed based on the past photographing information stored in the storage means. The tip information that is the same as the tip information displayed at the time of starting is not selected continuously. Thereby, it is possible to avoid displaying the same tips information over and over again.

  According to the present invention, in an imaging device having a display unit capable of displaying captured images and various types of information, the device has information without depending on the actual user's proficiency level and reading the operation manual. Thus, there is an effect that it is possible to realize an imaging apparatus that can fully perform the function that is performed and can efficiently improve the learning level of the user.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a video camera as an image pickup apparatus suitable for application of the present invention.

  The video camera shown in FIG. 1 includes an image sensor 10 (image sensor) such as a CCD, an analog front end unit 20, an image processing unit 30 that performs digital image processing, and a CPU 110 that controls the entire apparatus. 100, a lens driving unit 40 for focus control, an operation unit 50 having various key switches for giving commands such as mode switching and shooting start to the CPU 110, and the like.

  The analog front end unit 20 is a correlated double sampling (CDS) circuit 21 that samples a pixel signal input from the image sensor 10 while removing noise, and a variable that amplifies the sampled pixel signal to a predetermined level. Gain amplifier circuit (programmable gain amplifier) 22, A / D converter circuit 23 for converting the amplified analog pixel signal into a digital signal, a clock signal supplied from CPU 110, and a signal for timing control such as an electronic shutter pulse The timing generation circuit 24 and the like are generated.

  The gain of the variable gain amplifier circuit 22 is controlled based on a control signal supplied from the CPU 110. In addition to the electronic shutter pulse, the timing generation circuit 24 generates a CCD transfer pulse and a readout pulse for the image sensor 10 and a timing control signal to be supplied to the CDS circuit 21 and the A / D conversion circuit 23.

  The image processing unit 30 includes a digital gain control amplification unit that amplifies the digital pixel signal from the analog front end unit 20, a color signal processing unit that generates digital image data, a luminance processing unit, and the like. The image processing unit 30 includes a multiplier, an adder, and a divider capable of multiply-add operations, a register that holds calculation results, a sequencer that operates these calculators in a predetermined order, and outputs a desired calculation result. An arithmetic circuit such as a DSP (digital signal processor) can be configured. The image processing unit 30 generates a luminance level detection signal from the digital pixel signal and supplies it to the CPU 110 to perform automatic exposure processing, automatic white balance adjustment, flicker detection, and the like.

  In addition, the image processing unit 30 has a digital I / F (interface) for outputting digital image data (including JPEG compressed data) and a synchronization signal to the outside of the chip, and the generated digital image signal is a television standard. In some cases, an NTSC conversion circuit including a D / A conversion circuit that converts and outputs video signals (color signals and luminance signals) of the NTSC (National Television System Committee) standard may be provided.

  Furthermore, the image processing unit 30 includes a function for JPEG encoding (compression) and decoding (decompression) of an image signal, an electronic zoom function, a function for correcting pixel defects, resolution conversion, color correction, chroma control, Functions such as contrast control may be provided.

  In addition to the CPU 110, the system control unit 100 includes a RAM (random access memory) 120 as a volatile memory that provides a work area for the CPU 110, and a flash memory 130 as a nonvolatile memory that stores operation programs, various setting values, and the like of the CPU 110. Etc. The CPU 110 has a display composed of a non-volatile semiconductor memory such as a flash memory for storing photographed image data, a storage means 60 for reading and writing to a storage medium such as a magnetic tape, a DVD disk, and a hard disk, a liquid crystal panel, and the like. The unit 70 and the like are connected.

  Based on the signal from the image processing unit 30, the CPU 110 also performs arithmetic processing and control related to auxiliary functions such as white balance adjustment, flicker detection / cancellation processing, autofocus control, optical zoom control, and camera shake correction. Further, the CPU 110 controls the entire apparatus according to a program to be executed, or performs a setup process for designating imaging conditions and the like.

  FIG. 2 shows a display example of a tips screen displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal panel provided on the side surface of the video camera body of the present embodiment.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of a procedure for displaying tips on the liquid crystal panel in the video camera of this embodiment. Although not particularly limited, the video camera according to the present embodiment is configured to be able to select whether or not to display tips in a mode such as the setup mode using a setting screen or the like. .

  When the power of the video camera is turned on and the apparatus is activated and the shooting mode is selected, information on shooting conditions at the time of past shooting (hereinafter referred to as shooting information) is read from the flash memory 130 (step S11). ). First, it is determined whether or not the mode for displaying the tips is set. If the tips mode is not set, the processing is terminated as it is (step S12).

  On the other hand, if the tips mode is set, it is determined based on the past shooting information read in step S11 whether or not only the full automatic mode has been shot (step S13). In the case of “Yes”, one is randomly selected from the descriptions of the plurality of scene modes of the camera, and it is determined whether or not the same content is displayed at the previous activation in step S14. In the case of "", the process proceeds to step S15, and the description of the selected scene mode is displayed on the liquid crystal panel (70).

  On the other hand, if the determination in step S14 is “Yes” (same content is displayed when activated last time), the process proceeds to step S16, where the shutter speed is “based on the shooting information read in step S11. It is determined whether or not only "Auto" shooting has been performed. If “Yes”, the description of the shutter mode is selected. In step S17, it is determined whether the same content is displayed at the previous activation. If “No”, the process proceeds to step S18 and the above selection is made. The explanation of the selected shutter mode is displayed on the liquid crystal panel.

  If the determination in step S17 is “Yes” (the same content is displayed at the time of previous activation), the process proceeds to step S19, and the recording of the beautiful skin mode shooting is performed based on the shooting information read in step S11. It is determined whether or not there is any. If “Yes” (no recording), the description of the skin-beautifying mode is selected, and it is determined whether or not the same content is displayed when activated last time in step S20. If “No”, the process proceeds to step S21. The description of the selected skin beautification mode is displayed on the liquid crystal panel.

  Furthermore, if “Yes” is determined in the determination in step S20 (the same content is displayed at the previous activation), the process proceeds to step S22, and the same recording is always performed based on the shooting information read in step S11. It is determined whether or not shooting is in mode. If “Yes”, the description of the recording mode is selected, and it is determined whether or not the same content is displayed at the previous activation in Step S23. If “No”, the process proceeds to Step S24 and the above selection is made. The recorded recording mode is displayed on the liquid crystal panel. On the other hand, if the determination in step S23 is “Yes” (same content is displayed when activated last time), the process proceeds to step S25, where tips information is extracted at random and displayed on the liquid crystal panel.

  By properly displaying the various tips as described above based on the shooting conditions when the user shot in the past, shooting techniques and tricks that are expected to be unused because the user does not know, more The display section (liquid crystal panel) can be used to teach the user tips and tricks for shooting realistic images, which effectively improves the user's ability to operate the equipment, The functions possessed can be fully exhibited.

  In addition, recording of shooting information, which is the basis of the judgment when performing the tips display processing according to the above procedure, prepares a plurality of items relating to shooting conditions, and calculates the number of items executed for each item. It is desirable to use a recording method. By adopting such a recording method, it is possible to reduce the amount of shooting information to be stored in the nonvolatile memory and to accumulate past shooting information efficiently.

  Although the invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the embodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, in the above-described embodiment, tips are displayed when the camera is activated, but a mode such as a help mode in which the user asks for an explanation of the operation of the device is provided, and when this mode is selected, the memory is displayed. It may be configured such that tips relating to functions that are not frequently used are preferentially displayed with reference to information relating to past shooting conditions stored therein.

  Further, in the embodiment, it is determined whether or not to display predetermined tips in a predetermined order, and the tips are displayed while determining that they are not the same as the previous display. It is also possible to analyze the shooting conditions and display the tips related to the least used function preferentially, or to display the tips related to the function randomly selected from the unused functions. .

  Further, in the embodiment, the description of the function of the device (video camera) displayed on the display unit as tips is stored in the same FROM 130 as the past shooting information, but the shooting information is stored in the FROM 130 and the function of the device. The explanation about the above may be stored in a read-only memory such as a mask ROM. In the above embodiment, the tips and the photographed image are displayed on the same liquid crystal panel. However, two display portions are provided and displayed separately in parallel, or a window is provided on a part of the screen. One may be displayed on the main screen and the other displayed in a window.

  In the embodiment, the example in which the present invention is mainly applied to a video camera that captures a moving image has been described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and is also applied to an electronic still camera that captures a still image. be able to.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a video camera as an image pickup apparatus that is suitable for application of the present invention. It is a display explanatory drawing which shows the example of a display of the tips screen displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal panel provided in the side surface of the video camera main body of embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the procedure of the display process of the tips on the liquid crystal panel in the video camera of the embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

10 Image sensor (image sensor)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 Analog front end part 21 Correlated double sampling (CDS) circuit 22 Variable gain amplifier circuit 23 A / D conversion circuit 24 Timing generation circuit 30 Image processing part 40 Lens drive part 50 Operation part 60 Storage means 70 Display part 100 System control part 110 CPU
120 RAM (random access memory)
130 Nonvolatile memory (flash memory)

Claims (4)

An image sensor;
An image processing circuit that processes pixel signals input from the image sensor to obtain image data;
Storage means for storing tips information about the function of the device;
Control means for performing control for photographing and display;
Display means capable of displaying an image taken by the image sensor or the tips information;
An imaging device comprising:
The control means causes the storage means to store the shooting conditions performed when shooting is performed as past shooting information, and based on the past shooting information stored in the storage means at the subsequent startup. The imaging apparatus is configured to check functions that are not used by a user and to display tips information on the functions on the display means. Operation means for giving a command for setting the mode from the outside to the control means,
The control means is configured to determine whether or not to display tips information regarding functions not used by the user at the time of activation in accordance with an input from the operation means in a mode for setting up an apparatus. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:   When the control means has decided to execute the display of the tips information, the control means displayed at the time of the previous activation when selecting the tips information to be displayed based on the past photographing information stored in the storage means. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the imaging apparatus is configured not to continuously select the same tips information as the tips information. An image sensor;
An image processing circuit that processes pixel signals input from the image sensor to obtain image data;
Storage means for storing tips information about the function of the device;
Control means for performing control for photographing and display;
Display means capable of displaying an image taken by the image sensor or the tips information;
An operation unit for giving a command for setting a mode from the outside to the control unit, and an imaging device comprising:
The control means includes
When the shooting is performed, the conditions of the shooting performed are stored in the storage unit as past shooting information, and the user uses it based on the past shooting information stored in the storage unit at the subsequent startup. Can check the function that is not, and can display tips information on the function on the display means,
In the mode for setting up the device, in accordance with the input from the operation means, it is determined whether or not to display the tips information on the functions not used by the user at the time of activation,
When it is determined to display the tips information, the same tips information displayed at the previous activation is selected when selecting the tips information to be displayed based on the past photographing information stored in the storage means. An image pickup apparatus configured not to continuously select tips information.

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