JP2009260599A - Image display apparatus and electronic camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user to judge the quality of a picked-up image by informing the user of the type of an image pickup apparatus which has picked up the image corresponding to a thumbnail image in displaying the thumbnail image in an image pickup apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: A digital camera uses a radio LAN circuit 106 to receive and acquire image pickup information and feature information representing the feature of the image pickup apparatus by which the picked-up image has been acquired. Thumbnail images obtained by reducing the picked-up images acquired in this way are displayed on a monitor 104, and images or characters corresponding to the feature of the image pickup apparatus are displayed on the monitor 104 together with the thumbnail images. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image display device and an electronic camera.

  Conventionally, a digital camera that displays a thumbnail image obtained by reducing a recorded captured image is known (see Patent Document 1).

JP-A-8-195927

  In the digital camera disclosed in Patent Document 1, the user knows what kind of imaging device the captured image corresponding to the thumbnail image is captured just by looking at the displayed thumbnail image. I can't. Therefore, the quality of the captured image that varies depending on the imaging device cannot be determined from the thumbnail image.

An image display device according to the present invention displays a thumbnail image obtained by reducing a captured image acquired by the image acquisition unit, an image acquisition unit that acquires a captured image and information representing the characteristics of the imaging device that acquired the captured image, Display means for displaying an image or a character according to the characteristics of the imaging device together with the thumbnail image based on the information.
An electronic camera according to the present invention is acquired by an imaging unit that captures a subject and acquires a through image, an image acquisition unit that acquires a captured image and information representing characteristics of the imaging device that acquired the captured image, and an imaging unit. Display means for displaying a through image of the subject and displaying a thumbnail image obtained by reducing the captured image acquired by the image acquisition means and an image or a character according to the characteristics of the imaging device based on the information superimposed on the through image With.

  According to the present invention, when displaying a thumbnail image, it is possible to notify the user of what kind of imaging device the captured image corresponding to the thumbnail image is captured, and to determine the quality of the captured image.

-First embodiment-
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a camera system including a digital camera 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The camera system shown in FIG. 1 includes a digital camera 1, an access point 2, a server device 3, a digital camera 4, and a mobile terminal 5. The access point 2, the server device 3, and the mobile terminal 5 are connected to each other via the Internet.

  The digital camera 1 is an electronic camera that shoots a subject in accordance with a user instruction and records a captured image obtained. The digital camera 1 has a wireless communication function for performing wireless communication with the access point 2. With this wireless communication, the digital camera 1 and the server device 3 are connected via the access point 2 and the Internet, and a captured image is transmitted from the digital camera 1 to the server device 3 and a captured image transmitted from the server device 3 is transmitted. It is received by the digital camera 1.

  Similarly, the digital camera 4 is connected to the server device 3 via the access point 2 and the Internet by performing wireless communication with the access point 2. Then, the captured image acquired by the digital camera 4 is transmitted from the digital camera 4 to the server device 3, and the captured image transmitted from the server device 3 is received by the digital camera 4. Here, the digital camera 1 is a so-called compact camera integrated with a photographic lens, and the digital camera 4 is a so-called single-lens reflex camera in which the photographic lens can be replaced. Although the two digital cameras 1 and 4 are included in the camera system in FIG. 1, the number of digital cameras constituting the camera system is not limited to this.

  The portable terminal 5 is a portable information communication terminal having a camera function, such as a cellular phone, and is connected to the server device 3 via the Internet. At this time, the mobile terminal 5 connects to the Internet using a mobile phone network or the like. Then, the captured image acquired by the mobile terminal 5 is transmitted from the mobile terminal 5 to the server device 3, and the captured image transmitted from the server device 3 is received by the mobile terminal 5.

  The access point 2 is a device that enables various devices including the digital cameras 1 and 4 having a wireless communication function to communicate using a network such as the Internet. When the digital camera 1 or 4 and the access point 2 perform wireless communication, the digital camera 1 or 4 and the server device 3 are connected as described above.

  The server device 3 stores a captured image database. In the captured image database, captured images acquired by the digital cameras 1 and 4 or the portable terminal 5 and transmitted to the server device 3 as described above are recorded. At this time, information representing the characteristics of the imaging device that acquired the captured image is transmitted from the digital cameras 1, 4 or the portable terminal 5 together with the captured image, and is recorded in association with the captured image. This information is hereinafter referred to as feature information.

  For example, information indicating what kind of imaging apparatus is used can be used as the feature information. That is, when a captured image is transmitted from the digital camera 1, feature information indicating that the captured image is acquired by the compact camera is transmitted from the digital camera 1 and recorded together with the captured image in the server device 3. . Similarly, when a captured image is transmitted from the digital camera 4, feature information indicating that the captured image is acquired by a single-lens reflex camera is transmitted from the digital camera 4 and recorded together with the captured image in the server device 3. Is done. When transmitting a captured image from the mobile terminal 5, feature information indicating that the captured image is acquired by a mobile terminal with a camera function is transmitted from the mobile terminal 5, and the server device 3 captures the captured image. Recorded with.

  Note that the type of imaging device represented by the feature information is not limited to the above. For example, a video camera, a surveillance camera, a webcam, etc. may be included. The captured image may be a still image, a moving image, or sound. Furthermore, as long as the information represents the characteristics of the imaging device, information other than the type of the imaging device may be used as the feature information. For example, the manufacturer and model of the imaging device, the type of shooting lens attached to the imaging device, the presence or absence of the camera shake correction function, the type and number of flashes used during shooting, the presence or absence of the use of a tripod, and the captured image acquired by the imaging device The aspect ratio may be expressed in the feature information.

  Next, the configuration of the digital camera 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of the digital camera 1. 2, the digital camera 1 includes a shutter button 11, a power button 12, a zoom button 13, a playback button 14, a menu button 15, a delete button 16, a jog dial 17, a determination button 18, and a LAN (Local Area Network) access. LED (Light Emitting Diode) 19, strobe charging LED 20, AF (Auto Focus) LED 21, memory access LED 22, power LED 23, and monitor 104.

  The shutter button 11 is an operation button for the user to give a shooting instruction to the digital camera 1 and has a two-stage switch of half-press and full-press. When the shutter button 11 is pressed halfway, the focus of the taking lens of the digital camera 1 is adjusted according to the subject. When the shutter button 11 is fully pressed, the subject is captured by the digital camera 1 and the acquired captured image is recorded. The power button 12 is an operation button for the user to switch the main power source of the digital camera 1 from on to off or from off to on. The zoom button 13 is an operation button used when the user changes the focal length of the photographing lens of the digital camera 1.

  The playback button 14 is an operation button for the user to instruct the digital camera 1 to play back image data. The menu button 15 is an operation button for the user to instruct the digital camera 1 to call a menu screen. The delete button 16 is an operation button used when the user deletes image data from the memory card loaded in the digital camera 1.

  The jog dial 17 is a rotatable operation member for a user to give an instruction to move the cursor on the screen. The determination button 18 is an operation button for the user to determine setting contents on the menu screen.

  The LAN access LED 19 is a display device that lights up when the digital camera 1 is performing wireless communication with the access point 2. When the LED 19 for LAN access is turned on, the user can be notified that the digital camera 1 is communicating. The strobe charging LED 20 is a display device that is lit while the strobe is being charged. When the strobe charging LED 20 is turned on before photographing, the user can be informed that the strobe is being charged and preparation for photographing is not completed.

  The AF LED 21 is a display device for informing the user of the AF in-focus state. The memory access LED 22 is a display device that lights up in a memory access state, that is, when data is being written to a memory card loaded in the digital camera 1 and when data is being read from the memory card. The power LED 23 is a display device that lights up when the digital camera 1 is in a power-on state.

  The monitor 104 is a color display device using an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like, and displays various images. For example, when the monitor 104 displays a through image, the monitor 104 is used as a viewfinder at the time of shooting. Note that a through image (through image) is a captured image of a subject displayed on the monitor 104 in real time when a shooting mode described later is set in the digital camera 1. In addition, the monitor 104 can perform playback display of a captured image acquired in the past, display of a menu screen, and the like. Furthermore, the browsing mode described later is set in the digital camera 1, whereby the captured image recorded in the captured image database of the server device 3 can be displayed on the monitor 104.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the digital camera 1. As shown in this block diagram, the digital camera 1 includes a CPU 101, compression / expansion circuit 102, display driver 103, monitor 104, key input unit 105, wireless LAN circuit 106, capacitor 109, battery 110, strobe 111, CCD (Charge A coupled device) driver 112, CCD 113 and memory 114; A memory card 115 as a recording medium is loaded in a card slot (not shown).

  The CPU 101 is a circuit for executing various processes and controls, and is configured using a microcomputer or the like. The compression / decompression circuit 102 is a circuit that compresses / decompresses captured image data. The display driver 103 is a drive circuit that controls an image displayed on the monitor 104. The key input unit 105 is a circuit that detects operations of buttons, switches, dials, and the like provided in the digital camera 1.

  The wireless LAN circuit 106 is a communication circuit for communicating with an external device wirelessly. By performing wireless communication with the access point 2 by the wireless LAN circuit 106, the digital camera 1 is connected to the server device 3 through the access point 2 and the Internet.

  The capacitor 109 is charged by receiving electric power from the battery 110 and is used for light emission of the strobe 111. It is also used to drive the camera as a backup power source in case of emergency. The battery 110 is a power source such as a lithium ion rechargeable battery that supplies power necessary for operating the digital camera 1.

  The strobe 111 enables photographing even in a dark environment by irradiating the subject with auxiliary light. The CCD driver 112 is a circuit for driving the CCD 113. The CCD 113 is an image sensor for capturing a subject image via a photographing lens. When a subject image is picked up by the CCD 113, an image pickup signal is output from the CCD 113 to the CCD driver 112. The imaging signal is converted into captured image data by the CCD driver 112 and then output to the CPU 101.

  The memory 114 is a nonvolatile semiconductor memory, and stores programs, data, and the like for use in control executed by the CPU 101. The memory card 115 records a captured image acquired by the digital camera 1 under the control of the CPU 101.

  Next, the operation of the digital camera 1 will be described. The digital camera 1 has various operation modes including a shooting mode for capturing an image of a subject and acquiring a captured image, and a browsing mode for browsing a captured image recorded in the captured image database of the server device 3. It can be set according to the user's operation.

  When the shooting mode is set, the digital camera 1 acquires a through image as described above based on the image of the subject imaged by the CCD 113 and displays it on the monitor 104 before imaging the subject. . When a shooting instruction is performed by the user operating the shutter button 11, the digital camera 1 captures a subject and acquires a captured image in accordance with the shooting instruction, and records the acquired captured image in the memory card 115. .

  The captured image recorded in the memory card 115 is transmitted from the digital camera 1 to the server device 3 by the wireless LAN circuit 106 in accordance with a user operation. At this time, the digital camera 1 transmits the characteristic information as described above together with the captured image. The contents of the feature information are recorded in the memory 114 in advance. Or when acquiring a picked-up image, the kind of photographing lens, the presence or absence of use of a tripod, etc. may be detected, and the content of the feature information may be determined based on the detection result.

  The server device 3 receives the captured image and the feature information transmitted from the digital camera 1 and associates them with each other and records them in the captured image database. Similarly, the captured image and the feature information respectively transmitted from the digital camera 4 and the portable terminal 5 are recorded in the captured image database. Thereby, the captured image acquired by various imaging devices is recorded on the captured image database of the server apparatus 3 with the feature information.

  On the other hand, when the viewing mode is set, the digital camera 1 makes a transmission request for the captured image to the server device 3. In response to this transmission request, the captured image recorded in the captured image database and the feature information recorded in association with the captured image are transmitted from the server apparatus 3 to the digital camera 1 via the Internet and the access point 2. Is done. Then, the digital camera 1 receives the captured image and feature information transmitted from the server device 3 by the wireless LAN circuit 106. As the captured image of the digital camera 1, an image recorded on the memory card 115 without being received from the server device 3 may be used.

  The digital camera 1 that has received the captured image and the feature information transmitted from the server device 3 as described above controls the monitor 104 by the display driver 103, and displays the received captured image list screen on the monitor 104. In this list screen, thumbnail images obtained by reducing the received captured images are displayed, and icons representing the characteristics of the imaging device that acquired each captured image are displayed superimposed on the thumbnail images. When any one of the thumbnail images is selected by the user, a captured image corresponding to the selected thumbnail image is displayed on the monitor 104.

  FIG. 4 is an example of a list screen of captured images displayed on the monitor 104 when the browsing mode is set. In this list screen, nine thumbnail images 31 to 39 obtained by reducing different captured images are displayed. In addition, icons 41 to 49 designed according to the characteristics of the imaging device that acquired the captured image, that is, the type of the imaging device, are displayed on the thumbnail images 31 to 39, respectively.

  Of the icons 41 to 49, the icons 41, 45, and 46 are obtained by designing the shape of a single-lens reflex camera. Thus, it can be seen that the captured images corresponding to the thumbnail images 31, 35, and 36 are those acquired by the digital camera 4 that is a single-lens reflex camera. Icons 42, 44, and 47 are the shapes of mobile phones. Thereby, it can be seen that the captured images respectively corresponding to the thumbnail images 32, 34 and 37 are acquired by the mobile terminal 5. Icons 43, 48, and 49 are designed shapes of the compact camera. Thereby, it can be seen that the captured images corresponding to the thumbnail images 33, 38, and 39 are obtained by the digital camera 1 which is a compact camera.

  The digital camera 1 executes the processing described above in the browsing mode and displays a list screen of captured images. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing at this time. This flowchart is executed by the CPU 101 when the viewing mode is selected. Hereinafter, the flowchart of FIG. 5 will be described.

  In step S <b> 10, a request for transmitting a captured image is sent to the server device 3. This transmission request is issued from the wireless LAN circuit 106 and transmitted to the server device 3 via the access point 2 and the Internet.

  In step S20, the captured image and the feature information transmitted from the server device 3 are acquired in response to the captured image transmission request performed in step S10. At this time, the wireless LAN circuit 106 receives the captured image and feature information transmitted from the server device 3 via the Internet and the access point 2, whereby the captured image and feature information are acquired by the digital camera 1.

  In step S30, a thumbnail image obtained by reducing the captured image acquired in step S20 is displayed on the monitor 104. Thereby, the thumbnail images 31 to 39 in FIG. 4 are displayed. In the next step S40, the icon designed according to the feature of the imaging device based on the feature information acquired in step S20 is displayed on the monitor 104 so as to overlap the thumbnail image displayed in step S30. Accordingly, the icons 41 to 49 in FIG. 4 are displayed so as to overlap the thumbnail images 31 to 39. By executing the processing of steps S30 and S40 in this way, a list screen of captured images as shown in FIG.

  In step S50, it is determined whether any of the thumbnail images displayed in step S30 has been selected by the user. If any thumbnail image is selected, the process proceeds to step S60. In step S60, the captured image corresponding to the thumbnail image selected in step S50 is displayed on the monitor 104. If step S60 is performed, it will progress to step S70. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S50 that no thumbnail image has been selected, the process proceeds to step S70 without executing step S60.

  In step S70, it is determined whether or not to end the browsing mode. When the user performs an operation to switch from the browsing mode to a different operation mode, it is determined that the browsing mode is to be ended, and the flowchart of FIG. 5 is ended. Thereafter, an operation according to the user's instruction is performed. On the other hand, if the viewing mode is not terminated, the process returns to step S50, and the display of the captured image list screen is continued to wait for any thumbnail image to be selected.

  In the above description, the icon designed according to the characteristics of the imaging device is displayed in step S40. However, other than the icons may be displayed to represent the characteristics of the imaging device. For example, a frame designed according to the characteristics of the imaging device is displayed around the thumbnail image, characters representing the characteristics of the imaging device are displayed over the thumbnail image, and designed according to the characteristics of the imaging device. Even when a thumbnail image is displayed over the displayed stereoscopic image, the characteristics of the imaging device can be expressed in the same manner as when icons are displayed.

  FIG. 6 is an example of a list screen of captured images when a frame corresponding to the characteristics of the imaging device is displayed around the thumbnail image. On this list screen, frames 51 to 56 designed according to the characteristics (types) of the imaging apparatus are displayed on the thumbnail images 31 to 36, respectively. That is, the frames 51, 55, and 56 are designed shapes of a single-lens reflex camera, the frames 52 and 54 are designed shapes of a mobile phone, and the frame 53 is the shape of a compact camera. It is a design.

  FIG. 7 is an example of a captured image list screen when characters corresponding to the characteristics of the imaging device are displayed superimposed on thumbnail images. In this list screen, characters 61 to 69 representing the characteristics (types) of the imaging device are displayed on the thumbnail images 31 to 39, respectively. That is, characters 61, 65 and 66 of “single-lens reflex camera”, characters 62, 64 and 67 of “mobile phone”, and characters 63, 68 and 69 of “compact camera” are displayed.

  FIG. 8 is an example of a list screen of captured images when thumbnail images are displayed superimposed on a stereoscopic image designed according to the characteristics of the imaging device. In this list screen, thumbnail images 31 to 36 are displayed so as to be superimposed on the three-dimensional images 71 to 76 designed according to the characteristics (types) of the imaging apparatus. That is, the thumbnail images 31, 35, and 36 are respectively displayed superimposed on the three-dimensional images 71, 75, and 76 in which the shape of the single-lens reflex camera is designed, and the thumbnail images 32 and 34 are three-dimensional images in which the shape of the mobile phone is designed. The thumbnail images 33 are displayed so as to be superimposed on the images 72 and 74, respectively, and the thumbnail image 33 is displayed so as to be superimposed on the stereoscopic image 73 in which the shape of the compact camera is designed.

According to 1st Embodiment described above, there exists the following effect.
(1) The digital camera 1 receives and acquires the captured image and the characteristic information indicating the characteristics of the imaging apparatus that acquired the captured image by the wireless LAN circuit 106 (step S20). A thumbnail image obtained by reducing the captured image thus acquired is displayed on the monitor 104 (step S30), and an image or a character corresponding to the feature of the imaging device is displayed on the monitor 104 together with the thumbnail image based on the acquired feature information (step S30). Step S40). Since it did in this way, when displaying a thumbnail image, it can notify a user what kind of imaging device the captured image corresponding to the thumbnail image was imaged, and can judge the quality of a captured image.

(2) In step S40, the icons 41 to 49 designed according to the characteristics of the imaging device are displayed on the monitor 104 so as to overlap the thumbnail images 31 to 39. Alternatively, the frames 51 to 56 designed according to the characteristics of the imaging device are displayed around the thumbnail images 31 to 36. Alternatively, the characters 61 to 69 representing the characteristics of the imaging device are displayed so as to overlap the thumbnail images 31 to 39. In addition, the thumbnail images 31 to 36 are displayed in a superimposed manner on the stereoscopic images 71 to 76 designed according to the characteristics of the imaging device. Since it did in this way, the feature of an imaging device can be conveyed to a user in an easy-to-understand manner.

(3) The feature of the imaging device represented by the feature information acquired in step S20 includes the type of the imaging device. That is, in the feature information, the characteristics of the imaging device can be represented by the type of the imaging device such as a compact camera, a single-lens reflex camera, or a mobile phone. Since it did in this way, the characteristic of an imaging device can be expressed easily and reliably in characteristic information.

(4) The digital camera 1 performs wireless communication with the external server device 3 through the wireless LAN circuit 106. A captured image is acquired from the server device 3 through wireless communication performed by the wireless LAN circuit 106. Since it did in this way, the various captured images imaged with other imaging devices other than the digital camera 1 can be acquired and displayed.

-Second Embodiment-
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The digital camera according to the present embodiment (hereinafter described as the digital camera 1A) is a thumbnail image of a captured image corresponding to the orientation of the camera among the captured images recorded in the captured image database of the server device 3 in the shooting mode. Is displayed on the through image. Thus, a thumbnail image corresponding to the camera direction is provided to the photographer as information useful for photographing. The configuration of the camera system having the digital camera 1A is the same as that in FIG. The appearance of the digital camera 1A is the same as that in FIG.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the digital camera 1A. As shown in this block diagram, the digital camera 1A includes a GPS (Global Positioning System) sensor 107 and a motion sensor 108 in addition to the components of the digital camera 1 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. .

  The GPS sensor 107 receives a GPS signal transmitted from a GPS satellite and outputs it to the CPU 101. Based on this GPS signal, the CPU 101 detects the position of the digital camera 1A (ie, the position of the CCD 113). The motion sensor 108 detects the posture change of the digital camera 1A in each direction of pitch, yaw, and roll. In the digital camera 1A, when the optical axis is directed horizontally, the change in posture in the pitch direction represents a change in posture around an axis that is orthogonal to the optical axis, that is, a change in elevation angle, and a change in posture in the yaw direction. Represents a change in posture around an axis perpendicular to the optical axis, that is, a change in azimuth. Also, the posture change in the roll direction represents a change in posture around the optical axis, that is, a change in tilt of the digital camera 1A.

  When a shooting instruction is performed by the user operating the shutter button 11, the digital camera 1 </ b> A captures a subject by acquiring a captured image in accordance with the shooting instruction, and stores information on the acquired captured image in the memory card 115. Record. At that time, the digital camera 1A records the position information and orientation information of the digital camera 1A at the time of shooting on the memory card 115 together with the captured image as meta information to be added to the captured image. Note that the position of the digital camera 1A is detected using the GPS sensor 107 as described above. In addition, the orientation of the digital camera 1A is detected by obtaining the azimuth angle indicating the horizontal direction of the digital camera 1A and the elevation angle indicating the vertical direction of the digital camera 1 by the motion sensor 108.

  The captured image and the meta information recorded in the memory card 115 are transmitted from the digital camera 1A to the server device 3 according to the user's operation together with the feature information representing the feature of the captured image described in the first embodiment. The data is recorded in the captured image database in the server device 3. Similarly, the captured image acquired by the digital camera 4 and the captured image acquired by the portable terminal 5 also include the feature information indicating the characteristics of the imaging device and the meta information indicating the position and orientation at the time of imaging, as well as the server device. 3 and is recorded in the captured image database. In this manner, the captured images acquired by various imaging devices are recorded in the captured image database of the server device 3 in association with the position and direction detected at the time of shooting.

  When the through image is displayed on the monitor 104 in the shooting mode, the digital camera 1A selects the current position (camera position) and direction of the digital camera 1 from the captured images recorded in the captured image database of the server device 3. A captured image corresponding to (camera direction) is searched. The thumbnail image of the captured image searched in this way is displayed on the monitor 104 so as to be superimposed on the through image and presented to the user.

  As for the camera direction, only the horizontal direction, that is, the azimuth angle may be used for retrieval of the captured image. That is, in the vertical direction, the entire space range can be searched. Alternatively, in addition to the horizontal direction, the captured image may be searched using the vertical direction, that is, the elevation angle.

  When retrieving a captured image from the captured image database of the server apparatus 3, information on the camera position and the camera direction detected by the digital camera 1A is transmitted to the server apparatus 3 via the access point 2 and the Internet. The captured image extracted from the database of the server device 3 is transmitted to the digital camera 1A via the Internet and the access point 2 together with the feature information.

  FIG. 10 is an example of a screen displayed on the monitor 104 when the shooting mode is set in the digital camera 1A. When the shutter button 11 is not pressed in the shooting mode, such a screen is displayed. In the screen of FIG. 10, thumbnail images 31, 32, and 33 of captured images corresponding to the camera position and camera direction detected by the digital camera 1A are displayed so as to be superimposed on the through image. Note that the display positions of the thumbnail images 31 to 33 in the screen are respectively determined according to the imaging position and the imaging direction when the captured image is acquired. Further, in the screen of FIG. 10, similarly to the list screen shown in FIG. 4, based on the feature information transmitted together with the captured image, icons 41, 42, and 43 designed according to the type of the imaging device are displayed as thumbnail images. The images are displayed so as to overlap with 31, 32 and 33, respectively.

  As shown in FIG. 10, by displaying the thumbnail images 31 to 33 so as to overlap the through images, the user can know what captured images can be acquired when shooting in the direction before shooting. it can. Further, by displaying the icons 41 to 43 so as to overlap the thumbnail images 31 to 33, the user can know by which imaging device the captured images corresponding to the thumbnail images 31 to 33 are respectively acquired. .

  The digital camera 1A searches the captured image corresponding to the camera position and the camera direction from the captured images recorded in the captured image database of the server device 3 by executing the processing described above in the capturing mode. To do. Then, by displaying the thumbnail image of the retrieved captured image together with an icon representing the characteristics of the imaging device on the through image, information useful for photographing is provided to the user. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing at this time. This flowchart is executed by the CPU 101. Hereinafter, the flowchart of FIG. 11 will be described.

  In step S100, captured image data based on the imaging signal from the CCD 113 is received from the CCD driver 112, and a through image of the subject is acquired. In step S110, the through image acquired in step S100 is displayed on the monitor 104.

  In step S120, the camera position is detected. Here, the camera position is detected by detecting the current position of the digital camera 1 </ b> A based on the GPS signal received by the GPS sensor 107. In step S130, the camera direction is detected. Here, the camera direction is detected by detecting the direction in which the digital camera 1A is facing based on the posture change of the digital camera 1A detected by the motion sensor 108.

  In step S140, the captured image is searched from the captured image database of the server device 3 based on the camera position detected in step S120 and the camera direction detected in step S130. The captured image searched in this way is transmitted from the server device 3 via the Internet and the access point 2 together with the feature information. In step S150, the wireless LAN circuit 106 receives and acquires the captured image and the feature information retrieved in step S140 and transmitted from the server device 3.

  In step S160, a thumbnail image obtained by reducing the captured image acquired in step S150 is displayed on the monitor 104. Here, a thumbnail image is displayed so as to be superimposed on the through image displayed in step S110. In step S170, based on the feature information acquired in step S150, the icon designed according to the feature of the imaging device is displayed on the monitor 104 so as to overlap the thumbnail image displayed in step S160. By executing the processing of steps S160 and S170 in this way, a screen as shown in FIG.

  In step S180, it is determined whether or not the shutter button 11 has been pressed halfway by the user. If the half-press operation has not been performed, the process returns to step S100 and the above-described processing is repeated. On the other hand, when the shutter button 11 is pressed halfway, the flowchart of FIG. After that, the digital camera 1A adjusts the focus of the taking lens according to the subject, and enables the CCD 113 to take an image. In this state, when the user fully presses the shutter button 11, shooting is performed, and a captured image is acquired and recorded in the memory card 115.

  Note that the digital camera 1A according to the second embodiment described above also displays features other than icons to represent the characteristics of the imaging device, as in the digital camera 1 according to the first embodiment described above. May be. That is, a frame as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed around the thumbnail image displayed overlaid on the through image, a thumbnail image and a character as shown in FIG. 7 are displayed over the through image, or a thumbnail image is displayed on the through image. And a stereoscopic image as shown in FIG. 8 may be displayed in an overlapping manner, and the characteristics of the imaging device may be expressed in the same manner as when icons are displayed.

According to the second embodiment described above, in addition to the functions and effects described in the first embodiment, the following functions and effects are further exhibited.
(1) The digital camera 1A captures a subject by using the CCD 113 to acquire a through image (step S100), and at the same time, captures the captured image and feature information representing the characteristics of the image capturing apparatus that has acquired the captured image. Received and acquired by 106 (step S150). Then, the through image of the subject acquired in step S100 is displayed on the display monitor 104 (step S110), a thumbnail image obtained by reducing the captured image acquired in step S150, and an image corresponding to the characteristics of the imaging device based on the feature information or Characters are superimposed on the through image and displayed on the monitor 104 (steps S160 and S170). Since it did in this way, when displaying a thumbnail image superimposed on a through image, the user is informed of what kind of imaging device the captured image corresponding to the thumbnail image was captured, and the quality of the captured image is improved. Judgment can be made.

  In each of the embodiments described above, the digital cameras 1 and 1A, which are electronic cameras, have been described as examples. However, the present invention may be applied to apparatuses other than the electronic camera. For example, the present invention can be applied to electronic devices such as personal computers and mobile phones, digital binoculars, field scopes, and the like. That is, the present invention can be applied to various image display devices having an image display function.

  The embodiment and various modifications described above are merely examples. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to these contents as long as the characteristics of the present invention are not impaired.

It is a block diagram of the camera system by one embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the external appearance of the digital camera by one embodiment of this invention. 1 is a block diagram of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the screen displayed when browsing mode is set in the digital camera by 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart of the process performed in the digital camera by 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the modification of the screen displayed when browsing mode is set in the digital camera by 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows another modification of the screen displayed when browsing mode is set in the digital camera by 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows another modification of the screen displayed when browsing mode is set in the digital camera by 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram of the digital camera by the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the screen displayed when imaging | photography mode is set in the digital camera by 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart of the process performed in the digital camera by 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1, 4: Digital camera 2: Access point 3: Server device 5: Mobile terminal 101: CPU
104: Monitor 106: Wireless LAN circuit 113: CCD
115: Memory card

Claims (8)

Image acquisition means for acquiring a captured image and information representing the characteristics of the imaging device that acquired the captured image;
Display means for displaying a thumbnail image obtained by reducing the captured image acquired by the image acquisition unit, and displaying an image or a character according to the characteristics of the imaging device together with the thumbnail image based on the information. A characteristic image display device. The image display device according to claim 1,
The image display device, wherein the display means displays an icon designed according to the characteristics of the imaging device so as to overlap the thumbnail image. The image display device according to claim 1,
The image display device, wherein the display means displays a frame designed according to the characteristics of the imaging device around the thumbnail image. The image display device according to claim 1,
The image display device, wherein the display means displays characters representing the characteristics of the imaging device so as to overlap the thumbnail image. The image display device according to claim 1,
The image display device, wherein the display unit displays the thumbnail image so as to overlap a stereoscopic image designed according to the characteristics of the imaging device. In the image display device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The image display device characterized in that the characteristics of the imaging device represented by the information include a type of the imaging device. In the image display device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
A wireless communication means for performing wireless communication with an external device;
The image display device, wherein the image acquisition unit acquires the captured image from the external device via wireless communication performed by the wireless communication unit. Imaging means for imaging a subject and obtaining a through image;
Image acquisition means for acquiring a captured image and information representing the characteristics of the imaging device that acquired the captured image;
A through image of the subject acquired by the imaging unit is displayed, a thumbnail image obtained by reducing the captured image acquired by the image acquisition unit, and an image or a character according to the characteristics of the imaging device based on the information. An electronic camera comprising: display means for displaying the image superimposed on the through image.

Images