JP2009038635A - Camera, and image display method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera capable of providing an image to a plurality of display devices having resolutions different from one another with a simple and inexpensive structure, and of reducing a time without displaying an image in changing over image output. <P>SOLUTION: This camera 1 is provided with: an image processing part 6 capable of generating a first digital image signal and a second digital image signal having resolutions different from each other from imaged image data; a built-in display device 20 displaying an imaged image by inputting the first digital image signal; and a signal conversion part 21 converting the second digital image signal to a signal for output to an external display device 17 by inputting the second digital image signal thereto. The camera is characterized in that a transmission path 16 for outputting the first digital image signal to the built-in display device 20 from the image processing part 6 is used in common with a transmission path 16 for outputting the second digital image signal to the signal conversion part 21 from the image processing part 6. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a camera and an image display method that include a built-in display device that displays a captured image and that can display the captured image on an external display device.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a digital camera includes a camera that includes a built-in display device such as a rear liquid crystal and an external output unit, and can be connected to the external display device via the external output unit. There are also cameras that are provided with a plurality of external output units and can be connected to a plurality of different external display devices. Thus, when displaying a picked-up image on a different display apparatus, the image data of a different resolution and a different format is needed. Also, when creating a recorded image to be recorded in a camera memory or the like, image data of a different resolution or different format from the display image of the internal display device or the external display device may be required. For this reason, for example, a technique is known in which an image is usually observed on an external display device such as a TV monitor by performing so-called pixel shift, and a high-definition image on a high-resolution external display device is obtained as necessary. (See Patent Document 1). In addition, there is a technique that uses reduced image data generated simultaneously when creating a recorded image for finder display (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
JP 2001-128055 A JP 2003-125331 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide a camera that can provide an image with a simple and inexpensive configuration to a plurality of display devices having different resolutions. A further problem is to reduce the image non-display time when the image output is switched between a plurality of display devices having different resolutions.

  The present invention solves the above problems by the following means. In addition, in order to make an understanding easy, although the code | symbol corresponding to embodiment of this invention is attached | subjected and demonstrated, it is not limited to this.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, an image processing unit (6) capable of generating a first digital image signal and a second digital image signal having different resolutions from captured image data, and the first digital image signal are input. A built-in display device (20) for displaying a captured image, and a signal converter (21) for inputting the second digital image signal and converting the second digital image signal for output to an external display device (17). A transmission path (16) for outputting the first digital image signal from the image processing unit (6) to the built-in display device (20), and the image processing unit (6). The camera (1) is characterized in that the transmission path (16) for outputting the second digital image signal to the signal converter (21) is shared.
The invention according to claim 2 is the camera (1) according to claim 1, wherein the signal conversion unit (21) displays the external display device (21) during display of a captured image on the built-in display device (20). When the connection of 17) is detected, the image processing unit (6) continues to output the first digital image signal to the built-in display device (20) via the transmission path (16). The generation of the digital image signal is started, and the built-in display device (20) continues to display the captured image based on the first digital image signal during the generation of the second digital image signal in the image processing unit (6). (1).
A third aspect of the present invention is the camera (1) according to the second aspect, wherein the built-in display device (20) after the generation of the second digital image signal in the image processing unit (6) is completed. Stops displaying the captured image, and the image processing unit (6) stops outputting the first digital image signal via the transmission path (16) and starts outputting the second digital image signal, The signal conversion unit (21) is a camera (1) that starts input of the second digital image signal.
The invention according to claim 4 is the camera (1) according to claim 3, wherein the signal conversion unit (21) inputs the second digital image signal into at least one frame, and then the external display device. The camera (1) is characterized in that output to (17) is started.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, an image processing unit (6) capable of generating different first digital image signals and second digital image signals from the captured image data, and the first digital image signal are input and captured. A built-in display device (20) for displaying an image, a signal converter (21) for inputting the second digital image signal and converting the second digital image signal for output to an external display device (17); A transmission path (16) for outputting the first digital image signal from the image processing unit (6) to the built-in display device (20) and a signal conversion from the image processing unit (6). Sharing the transmission path (16) for outputting the second digital image signal to the unit (21), and the signal conversion unit (21) is configured to display the captured image on the built-in display device (20). (17) When the connection is detected, the image processing unit (6) starts generating the second digital image signal while continuing to output the first digital image signal via the transmission path (16), and the image processing During the generation of the second digital image signal in the unit (6), the built-in display device (20) continues to display the captured image based on the first digital image signal, and after the generation of the second digital image signal, The built-in display device (20) stops displaying the photographed image, and the image processing unit (6) stops outputting the first digital image signal via the transmission path (16) and the second digital image. The image display method is characterized in that signal output is started, and the signal converter (21) inputs the second digital image signal.
Note that the configuration described with reference numerals may be modified as appropriate, and at least a part of the configuration may be replaced with another component.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide images corresponding to a plurality of display devices having different resolutions with a simple and inexpensive configuration. Furthermore, according to the second and fifth aspects of the present invention, it is possible to shorten an image non-display time when switching image output between a plurality of display devices having different display resolutions.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the camera 1 of the present embodiment. In this embodiment, the camera 1 is a digital camera 1, and includes a photographing lens 2, an image sensor 3, an A / D converter (ADC) 4 that performs A / D conversion on an image captured by the image sensor 3, and a timing generator. (TG) 5 and an image processing MCU 6 (micro-controller unit) connected to the ADC 4 and the TG 5.

  The photographic lens 2 is a lens that forms a subject image on the image sensor 3 and is composed of a plurality of lens groups. In this embodiment, the photographic lens 2 is detachable from the camera 1. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the photographing lens 2 may be built in the camera 1. The imaging element 3 is, for example, a known CCD or CMOS, and receives subject light that has passed through the photographing lens 2 and outputs an image signal. The ADC 4 performs processing such as gain adjustment on the analog image signal as the accumulated charge output from the image sensor 3, and then converts the analog image signal into a digital signal. The TG 5 outputs a timing signal for driving the image sensor 3 and a timing signal for driving the ADC 4.

  The image processing MCU 6 performs image processing such as white balance adjustment, contour compensation, and gamma correction on the original image data of the digital signal output from the ADC 4, and outputs an image signal to a later-described built-in LCD unit 20 and transmitter 21. . The image processing MCU 6 is connected to a built-in memory 7, and the image processing MCU 6 outputs image data of a digital signal output from the ADC 4 to the built-in memory 7. Further, the image processing MCU 6 performs a compression process, a size change process, and the like for compressing in a predetermined format after processing the original image data. Further, the image processing MCU 6 is connected to a card slot 9 to which an external memory such as a memory card 8 can be attached and removed, and the image data after the compression processing can be output to the memory card 8 from the card slot 9.

  The image processing MCU 6 is further connected to a sub MCU 10 that controls the photographing operation of the camera 1 such as shutter drive, mirror control, and AF sensor drive. A release button 11 and various operation members 12 are connected to the sub MCU 10.

  A video output unit 13 is connected to the image processing MCU 6. The image processing MCU 6 converts the digital signal into an analog image signal of NTSC (National Television System Committee) system, and outputs it to the video output unit 13. By connecting a cable 14 a to the video output unit 13 and an external analog monitor 14 such as a TV monitor, a photographed image can be displayed on the external analog monitor 14.

  Further, a built-in LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) unit 20 and a high-resolution output transmitter 21 are connected to the image processing MCU 6. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing in detail the connection between the image processing MCU 6 and the built-in LCD unit 20 and the transmitter 21. As shown in the figure, the image processing MCU 6 is provided with a control communication unit 22 and a digital output unit 23 connected to the built-in LCD unit 20 and the transmitter 21.

  The control communication unit 22 and the transmitter 21 and the built-in LCD unit 20 are connected by a common bus 15 for control communication such as I2C. The digital output unit 23 and the transmitter 21 and the built-in LCD unit 20 are connected by a common bus 16 for sending parallel image data such as YCbCr and RGB data.

  The image processing MCU 6 generates a relatively low-resolution first digital image signal for the built-in LCD unit 20 and a high-resolution second digital image signal for the external digital monitor 17 from the digital signal image data input from the ADC 4. Is generated. The digital output unit 23 outputs the first digital image signal and the second digital image signal having different resolutions to the built-in LCD unit 20 and the transmitter 21 via the common bus 16. The control communication unit 22 communicates control information between the image processing MCU 6 and the built-in LCD unit 20 and the transmitter 21 via the common bus 15.

  The built-in LCD unit 20 is, for example, a liquid crystal monitor provided on the back surface of the camera 1 and displays a low-resolution first digital image input from the digital output unit 23 of the image processing MCU 6.

  Based on the high-resolution second digital image signal input from the digital output unit 23 of the image processing MCU 6 via the bus 16 and the control signal input from the control communication unit 22 via the bus 15, the transmitter 21 An HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) or DVI (Digital Visual Interface) external output signal for the digital monitor 17 is generated. The transmitter 21 is provided with a connector 21a, and a photographed image can be displayed on the external digital monitor 17 by connecting the connector 21a and the external digital monitor 17 with a cable 17a.

  Next, the operation of the camera 1 of this embodiment will be described. First, when the release button 11 shown in FIG. 1 is pressed by the photographer, a subject image is photographed by the photographing lens 2. The captured image is converted into an image signal by the image sensor 3. The image signal is converted to digital image original image data by the ADC 4 and input to the image processing MCU 6. The image processing MCU 6 performs image processing such as white balance (WB) adjustment, contour compensation, and gamma correction on the original image data, and the original image data is output to the built-in memory 7 and compressed in a predetermined format. Image data is stored in the memory card 8 by the photographer's selection.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a captured image display operation in the camera 1. First, when a captured image is displayed on the built-in LCD unit 20, image data stored in the built-in memory 7 or the memory card 8 is called up by the image processing MCU 6 via the sub MCU 10 based on a signal input from the operation member 12. It is. The image processing MCU 6 creates a low-resolution first digital image signal for the built-in LCD unit 20 from the image data. The built-in LCD unit 20 displays a captured image based on the first digital image signal (step 1, hereinafter, step is represented by S).

  When the external digital monitor 17 is connected to the connector 21a of the transmitter 21 via the cable 17a while the captured image is displayed on the built-in LCD unit 20, the connection information is held as status information on the register of the transmitter 21. Alternatively, the connection detection signal is notified to the image processing MCU 6 from the control communication unit 22 via the control communication bus 15 as an interrupt signal. When the image processing MCU 6 reads the connection information from the transmitter 21 side or detects the connection detection signal from the interrupt signal (S2), the image processing MCU 6 instructs the transmitter 21 via the bus 15 for initialization setting. In response to this initialization setting instruction, the transmitter 21 transmits data (EDID: Extended Display Identification External) that includes the frequency, resolution, and the like supported by the external digital monitor 17 according to VESA (Video Electronics Standards Association) in HDMI connection or DVI connection. Initialization is performed to determine the frequency and resolution when reading and outputting from the digital monitor 17 side (S3). When the output frequency and resolution are determined, the image processing MCU 6 starts to generate a high-resolution second digital image signal based on the information (S4).

  Here, as described above, a common image communication bus 16 is provided between the digital output unit 23 of the image processing MCU 6 and the built-in LCD unit 20 and between the digital output unit 23 of the image processing MCU 6 and the transmitter 21. Connected with. Therefore, even during initialization of the transmitter 21 and creation of the high-resolution second digital image signal in the image processing MCU 6, the first digital image signal is created in the MCU 6 in parallel with it and the bus for image communication is used. The generated low-resolution first digital image signal 16 flows. In this case, when the low-resolution first digital image signal is output to the high-resolution external digital monitor 17 through the transmitter 21, the external digital monitor 17 does not have a corresponding resolution. Cannot display. Therefore, during initialization at the transmitter 21, output to the external digital monitor 17 in the transmitter 21 is stopped, and the low-resolution first digital signal flowing through the bus 16 is not displayed on the external digital monitor 17. (S3, S4).

  Further, the digital output unit 23 of the image processing MCU 6 and the built-in LCD unit 20 and the digital output unit 23 of the image processing MCU 6 and the transmitter 21 are connected by a common image communication bus 16. The output of the low-resolution first digital image signal for the built-in LCD unit 20 and the output of the high-resolution second digital image signal for the external digital monitor 17 cannot be performed simultaneously. Therefore, it is necessary to exclusively switch the output of these digital image signals. For this reason, after the creation of the high-resolution second digital image signal in the image processing MCU 6 is completed, the built-in LCD unit 20 first receives a display stop instruction from the image processing MCU 6 via the bus 15 and stops displaying the captured image. (S5). At the same time, the output of the low-resolution first digital image signal from the image processing MCU 6 to the bus 16 is stopped, and the output of the high-resolution second digital image signal is started (S6).

  In the transmitter 21, even if the output of the high-resolution second digital image signal is started from the image processing MCU 6, the output to the external digital monitor 17 is stopped until several frames of the second digital image signal are transmitted (S7). . This is because the output of the second digital image signal sent from the image processing MCU 6 may not be stable in the first few frames. After the second digital image signal is transmitted from the image processing MCU 6 for several frames, the transmitter 21 starts outputting to the external digital monitor 17 (S8), and the high-resolution digital image is displayed on the external digital monitor 17 (S9). ). The “several frames” is the number of frames until one or more outputs are stabilized, and is a number that varies depending on the characteristics of the image processing MCU 6.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, after the transmitter 21 detects the external digital monitor 17 (S2), the transmitter 21 is initialized (S3), and the image processing MCU 6 generates a high-resolution second digital image signal. While (S4) is being performed, the built-in LCD unit 20 continues to display images. After the high-resolution second digital image signal is created, the built-in LCD unit 20 stops displaying images (S5). That is, in FIG. 3, the time during which no image is displayed on both the built-in LCD unit 20 and the external digital monitor 17 is the period from S5 to S8.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a captured image display operation in the camera of the comparative example of the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, in the comparative example, when the connection of the external digital monitor 17 is detected while an image is displayed on the built-in LCD unit (S11) (S12), the display on the built-in LCD unit is immediately turned off (S13). ) Thereafter, initialization is performed in the transmitter (S14), and a high-resolution second digital image signal is created in the image processing MCU (S15). When the second digital image signal is generated, output of the second digital image signal to the transmitter is started (S16). The transmitter continues to stop the output of the transmitter to the external digital monitor while the second digital image signal is transmitted for several frames (S17). After the second digital image signal is transmitted for several frames, the transmitter starts outputting to the external digital monitor (S18), and the high-resolution digital image is displayed on the external digital monitor (S19).

  As described above, in the comparative example, when the transmitter detects the external digital monitor (S12), the image display of the built-in LCD unit is immediately turned off (S13). During initialization (S14) in the transmitter and generation of high-resolution digital image data in the image processing MCU (S15), no image is displayed on either the built-in LCD unit or the external digital monitor. That is, the non-display time of the image is between S13 and S18, and there is a demerit that the non-display time becomes longer than that shown in the present embodiment (FIG. 3).

As described above, this embodiment has the following effects.
(1) In the present embodiment, the control communication unit 22, the transmitter 21, and the built-in LCD unit 20 are connected by a common bus 15 for control communication. Further, the digital output unit 23 is connected to the transmitter 21 and the built-in LCD unit 20 through a common bus 16 for image communication. Since the buses 15 and 16 are thus shared to reduce the number of buses, it is possible to reduce the number of pins between the substrates and in the image processing MPU 6, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost and further reducing the size of the camera 1. Is also possible.
(2) In this embodiment, while the transmitter 21 detects the external digital monitor 17, initialization is performed by the transmitter 21, and the high-resolution second digital image signal is generated in the image processing MCU 6, the built-in LCD unit 20 continues to display the captured image. On the other hand, in the comparative example, as soon as the connection of the external digital monitor is detected, the display of the built-in LCD unit is turned off. Thereafter, initialization is performed in the transmitter, and the high-resolution second digital image signal is output in the image processing MCU. Created. Therefore, in this embodiment, compared with the comparative example, the period in which the captured image is not displayed on either the built-in LCD unit 20 or the external digital monitor 17 is short, and the period in which the user cannot see the image is shortened. be able to.
(3) In this embodiment, the output of the second digital image data from the image processing MCU 6 to the transmitter 21 is started and the second digital image signal until the output from the image processing MCU 6 is stabilized is transmitted for several frames. During this time, output from the transmitter 21 to the external digital monitor 17 is continuously stopped, and after the output of the image processing MCU 6 is stabilized, the transmitter 21 starts output to the external digital monitor 17. In this way, by waiting for the output to the external digital monitor 17 until the output of the second digital image signal from the image processing MCU 6 becomes stable, unstable image display on the external digital monitor 17 can be prevented.

(Deformation)
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and changes as described below are possible, and these are also within the scope of the present invention.
(1) In this embodiment, the display stop of the built-in LCD unit 20, the stop of the output of the first digital image signal with the low resolution and the start of the output of the second digital image signal with the high resolution are performed almost simultaneously. Is not limited to this. For example, the display stop of the built-in LCD unit 20, the stop of the output of the low-resolution first digital image signal, and the start of the output of the high-resolution second digital image signal may be performed with a slight time difference in this order. Good.
(2) In this embodiment, after the output of the high-resolution second digital image signal is started, output of the transmitter 21 to the external digital monitor 17 is continuously stopped while the second digital image signal is transmitted for several frames. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the output of the second digital image signal in the image processing MCU is stable from the beginning, the output of the second digital image signal from the image processing MCU 6 is started to the external digital monitor 17 in the transmitter 21 without waiting for several frames. The output may be started.
In addition, although this embodiment and modification can also be used in combination as appropriate, detailed description is abbreviate | omitted. Further, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the camera of embodiment. It is the figure which showed in detail the connection part of image processing MCU, a built-in LCD unit, and a transmitter. It is the flowchart which showed the display operation of the picked-up image in a camera. It is the flowchart which showed the display operation of the picked-up image in the camera of the comparative example of this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  1: Camera, 6: Image processing MCU, 16: Bus, 17: External digital monitor, 20: Built-in LCD unit, 21: Transmitter

Claims (5)

An image processing unit capable of generating a first digital image signal and a second digital image signal having different resolutions from captured image data;
A built-in display device for inputting the first digital image signal and displaying a captured image;
A signal conversion unit that inputs the second digital image signal and converts the second digital image signal for output to an external display device,
A transmission path for outputting the first digital image signal from the image processing unit to the built-in display device and a transmission path for outputting the second digital image signal from the image processing unit to the signal conversion unit are shared. A camera characterized by that. The camera according to claim 1,
When the signal conversion unit detects connection of the external display device during display of a captured image on the built-in display device, the image processing unit sends the first digital image signal to the built-in display device via the transmission path. Generation of the second digital image signal is started, while the second digital image signal is generated in the image processing unit, the built-in display device displays a captured image based on the first digital image signal. A camera characterized by continuing. The camera according to claim 2,
After the generation of the second digital image signal in the image processing unit,
The built-in display device stops displaying captured images,
The image processing unit stops outputting the first digital image signal via the transmission path and starts outputting the second digital image signal;
The camera according to claim 1, wherein the signal conversion unit starts input of the second digital image signal. The camera according to claim 3,
The signal conversion unit starts output to the external display device after inputting at least one frame of the second digital image signal. An image processing unit capable of generating a first digital image signal and a second digital image signal that are different from each other from the captured image data, a built-in display device that displays the captured image by inputting the first digital image signal, and the second In a camera comprising: a signal conversion unit that inputs a digital image signal and converts the second digital image signal for output to an external display device;
Sharing a transmission path for outputting the first digital image signal from the image processing unit to the built-in display device and a transmission path for outputting the second digital image signal from the image processing unit to the signal conversion unit;
When the signal conversion unit detects connection of the external display device during display of a captured image on the built-in display device, the image processing unit sends the first digital image signal to the transmission path to the built-in display device. Start generating the second digital image signal while continuing output,
During the generation of the second digital image signal in the image processing unit, the built-in display device continues to display the captured image based on the first digital image signal,
After completing the generation of the second digital image signal,
The built-in display device stops displaying captured images,
The image processing unit stops outputting the first digital image signal via the transmission path and starts outputting the second digital image signal;
The image conversion method, wherein the signal conversion unit inputs the second digital image signal.

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