JP2010147892A - Display control method, display control device, and electronic camera equipped with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a display control method capable of achieving a display method that allows the functions of an electronic camera to be set rapidly and easily, and to provide a display control device and an electronic camera that is equipped with the same. <P>SOLUTION: By connecting a digital camera to a high-definition television via an HDMI cable to allow two-way communication of an image signal, a sound signal and a control signal, the display control device controls the display content of an image on a display screen 27 of the television by the operation of a television remote control so that a list of a plurality of menu screens 41-43, continuing from an upper hierarchy to a lower hierarchy wherein there is a correspondence relationship among menu items arranged by each of them out of a plurality of manu screens 41-43, forming a hierarchical structure where a plurality of manu items selected in setting a function of the digital camera are selectably arranged, is displayed on the display screen 27 of the television having a plurality of displayable information amount, relative to a monitor of the digital camera. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a display control method for displaying a menu screen for setting functions of an electronic camera on a display screen of a display device, a display control device, and an electronic camera including the device.

In general, in an electronic camera such as a digital still camera, a menu screen is displayed on a display unit provided on the back side of the electronic camera, and a desired item is selected from a plurality of menu items arranged on the menu screen. The user can set various functions by selecting and determining by key operation (for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2006-295562 A

  Recently, the functions of electronic cameras have been diversified, and menu items selected when setting functions can be displayed in a menu display system in which a plurality of menu screens are arranged in a hierarchical structure. It has become. That is, when the user selects and determines a desired item from a plurality of upper menu items arranged on the upper hierarchy menu screen in the display unit, a plurality of lower menus corresponding to the determined one upper menu item The display contents of the display unit are sequentially switched on a lower-level menu screen in which items are arranged.

  However, with this method of selecting menu items while switching and displaying menu screens one after another from the upper layer to the lower layer, it is difficult to grasp the relationship between menu items that are related across multiple layers. It was difficult to understand which level of the menu item is in the menu screen in the entire menu structure. For this reason, it takes time for the user to select and determine the menu item and set the function, and the user may miss a photo opportunity.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a display control method, a display control device, and the device capable of realizing a display method for quickly and easily setting functions in an electronic camera. It is to provide an electronic camera provided.

  In order to achieve the above object, the display control device of the present invention is an image displayed on the display screen with a display device having a display screen with a larger amount of information that can be displayed than the display unit of the electronic camera. Select when setting the function of the electronic camera on the display screen by communicating information about the image between the communication unit capable of communicating information about the image and the display device via the communication unit Among a plurality of menu screens having a hierarchical structure in which a plurality of menu items are arranged so as to be selectable, a menu screen of an upper hierarchy and a menu screen of a lower hierarchy that have a correspondence relationship between the menu items arranged in each And a control unit that controls the display content of the image on the display screen.

  The display control apparatus of the present invention further includes an operation unit operated to select a menu item on the menu screen displayed on the display screen, and the control unit is based on an operation of the operation unit. The display content of the image on the display screen is controlled such that, when a menu item is selected, an explanatory text of the selected menu item is displayed on the display screen.

  In the display control device of the present invention, when the menu item is selected based on the operation of the operation unit, the control unit captures an image by the electronic camera based on a function set by the selected menu item. The display content of the image on the display screen is controlled so that the image is displayed on the display screen.

Also, an electronic camera according to the present invention includes the display control device having the above-described configuration.
In addition, the display control method of the present invention communicates information related to an image displayed on the display screen with a display device having a display screen that has a larger amount of information that can be displayed than the display unit of the electronic camera. On the display screen, among the plurality of menu screens having a hierarchical structure in which a plurality of menu items selected when setting the function of the electronic camera are selectably arranged, the menu items arranged between each other The display content of the image on the display screen is controlled so that a higher-level menu screen and a lower-level menu screen having a corresponding relationship are displayed in a list.

  Further, in the display control method of the present invention, when a menu item is selected on the menu screen displayed on the display screen based on an operation of the operation unit, an explanatory text of the selected menu item is displayed on the display screen. The display content is controlled so as to be displayed on a screen.

  Further, the display control method of the present invention is configured such that the image captured by the electronic camera based on the function set by the menu item selected based on the operation of the operation unit is displayed on the display screen. Control the content.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a display method that enables quick and easy setting of functions in an electronic camera.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in a display control method and a display control device in a display system including a digital still camera (hereinafter referred to as a “digital camera”) which is a kind of electronic camera is shown in FIG. Description will be made with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the display system 11 in the present embodiment includes a digital camera 12, a television 13 as a display device, and a television remote controller 14 as an operation unit. The digital camera 12 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped camera body 15, and a release button 16 is provided on the upper surface of the camera body 15. Further, on the rear side of the camera body 15, a liquid crystal display monitor (hereinafter abbreviated as “monitor”) 17 serving as a rectangular display unit, switching of the screen displayed on the monitor 17, and the digital camera 12 A select button 18 that is operated by a user when changing various settings is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the digital camera 12 has an image pickup device 20 in the camera body 15 for picking up an image of subject light that has passed through the image pickup optical system 19 formed on the image space side of the image pickup optical system 19. is doing. The image pickup device 20 is composed of a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensor or the like, accumulates signal charges corresponding to a subject image formed on the image pickup surface, and outputs the accumulated signal charges as an analog signal called a pixel signal. It is supposed to be. An A / D conversion circuit 21 and a signal processing circuit 22 are connected in series on the output side of the image sensor 20, and a pixel signal composed of an analog signal output from the image sensor 20 is output from the A / D conversion circuit 21. After being converted into a digital signal, it is input to the signal processing circuit 22 and subjected to various image processing.

  An MPU (Micro Processing Unit) 23 for comprehensively controlling various operations in the digital camera 12 is provided in the camera body 15 of the digital camera 12, and image processing is performed from the MPU 23 to the signal processing circuit 22. Various control signals for the above are input. That is, the signal processing circuit 22 performs various kinds of image processing on the digitized pixel signal based on the control signal from the MPU 23 to generate a predetermined image signal. The image signal thus generated is temporarily stored in the image memory 24 that also functions as a buffer memory connected to the MPU 23, and is further detachable from the digital camera 12 via a card slot (not shown). It is recorded in the memory in a predetermined format. The MPU 23 is provided with a ROM (not shown) that is a non-volatile memory, in which a program for executing control processing of the digital camera 12, image information to be described later, and the like are stored.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in the camera body 15 of the digital camera 12, the MPU 23 has an HDMI (High Definition) in addition to the release button 16, the monitor 17, the select button 18, the signal processing circuit 22, and the image memory 24 described above. Multimedia Interface) interface 25 is connected. Then, one end of the HDMI cable 26 is connected to the HDMI interface 25 and the other end of the HDMI cable 26 is connected to an HDMI interface (not shown) provided on the television 13 side. Bidirectional communication of image signals, audio signals, and control signals is possible with the television 13. In this regard, the HDMI interface 25 functions as a communication unit that can communicate information about an image displayed on the display screen 27 between the digital camera 12 and the television 13. Further, the MPU 23 is provided with a wireless communication unit 50 as an interface that can be connected to a communication network N such as the Internet via a wireless LAN.

  On the other hand, the television 13 is a high-definition television having a liquid crystal display screen 27 having a larger screen size (display area) and a larger number of pixels than the monitor 17 of the digital camera 12, and is connected to the digital camera 12 via the HDMI cable 26. As a result, the image information stored in the image memory 24 of the digital camera 12 and the ROM (not shown) of the MPU 23 and the image corresponding to the image information processed by the MPU 23 can be displayed on the display screen 27. ing. Incidentally, the display screen 27 of the television 13 has a high pixel number (the number of pixels which can display an information amount of about seven times the number of pixels of the monitor 17 of the digital camera 12 (equivalent to about 640 × 480 pixels)). It is set to about 1920 × 1080 pixels). The display screen 27 of the television 13 is assumed to have a display area about 100 times wider than the monitor 17 of the digital camera 12. Therefore, it can be said that the amount of information that can be displayed on the display screen 27 of the television 13 is larger than the amount of information that can be displayed on the monitor 17 of the digital camera 12.

  The TV remote controller 14 is operated by the user when switching the display contents of the display screen 27 of the TV 13, and as shown in FIG. Is provided with a power button 28 which is operated when the main power of the television 13 is turned on / off. On the operation surface of the television remote controller 14, a volume adjustment button 29 of the television 13 is provided at a position on the left side of the power button 28, and an area on the rear end side of the power button 28 and the volume adjustment button 29. Are provided with 12 channel switching buttons 30 corresponding to the number of channels.

  Furthermore, an annular movement key 31 with arrows pointing in the up, down, left, and right directions is provided on the operation surface of the TV remote control 14 at the rear end side of the channel switching button 30, and the movement key is provided. A determination key 32 having a circular shape is provided at the center of 31. The movement key 31 is a key operated by the user when moving a predetermined image (for example, a frame image described later) among the image contents displayed on the display screen 27 of the television 13, and the determination key 32 is This is a key operated when realizing display contents reflecting a user's decision making (for example, a decision making for setting a function based on a menu item surrounded by a frame image to be described later).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a blue key 33 a, a red key 33 b, a green key 33 c, and a yellow key 33 d are arranged on the operation surface of the TV remote controller 14 at the rear end side of the movement key 31. Four coloring keys 33 are arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval from the left side to the right side. Each color key 33 (33a to 33d) is connected to the digital camera 12 on the display screen 27 of the television 13 whose display mode is changed to the digital camera mode when the digital camera 12 and the television 13 are connected via the HDMI cable 26. Is selectively operated when a predetermined function (for example, a setting function) is alternatively realized.

  Incidentally, in the television remote controller 14 of the present embodiment, as an example, when the blue key 33a is selected and operated, the display function of the television 13 is in the enlargement mode, and at least one of the image contents displayed on the display screen 27 is displayed. Can be enlarged and displayed based on the operation content of the TV remote controller 14. When the red key 33b is selected and operated, the display function of the television 13 is in the function setting mode, and a plurality of menu items to be selected when various functions in the digital camera 12 are set on the display screen 27 are displayed. The arranged menu screen will be displayed. In the case of this embodiment, when the red key 33b is pressed again while the display function of the television 13 is in the function setting mode based on the pressing operation of the red key 33b, the function setting mode is canceled. Thus, the television 13 returns to the original display mode.

  In addition, when the green key 33c is selected, when the green key 33c is selected from among a plurality of menu items arranged in the menu screen displayed based on the selection operation of the red key 33b. In this way, an explanatory text or the like related to the menu item partitioned and displayed by the frame image is displayed on the display screen 27. When the yellow key 33d is selected and operated, the latest information on the explanatory text displayed based on the selection operation of the green key 33c is accessed on the home page of the camera manufacturer where the information is recorded, and the display on the television 13 is displayed. It can be displayed on the screen 27.

Next, an outline of the function setting control processing routine executed by the MPU 23 of the digital camera 12 will be briefly described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
The MPU 23 starts the function setting control process routine of FIG. 9 when the red key 33b of the TV remote controller 14 is selected and operated while the digital camera 12 is powered on. In step S <b> 1, the MPU 23 reads the function setting menu image information from the ROM, and generates an image signal for displaying the first layer menu screen on the display screen 27 of the television 13. In this case, the image information of the first layer menu screen to be displayed as the initial screen in this case is that the top menu item among a plurality of menu items arranged on the menu screen is partitioned by a frame image. It is set as initial screen information in advance so as to be displayed. Then, the MPU 23 transmits the image signal generated based on such initial screen information to the television 13 side via the HDMI interface 25, and then proceeds to the next step S2.

  Then, in the next step S2, the MPU 23 determines which menu item is the menu item that the frame image is displayed on the menu screen displayed on the display screen 27 of the television 13 at that time. Thereafter, the process proceeds to the next step S3.

  Then, in the next step S3, the MPU 23 determines whether or not the determination key 32 has been pressed after the process of step S2. If the MPU 23 determines that the enter key 32 has been pressed (step S3 = Yes), the process proceeds to the next step S4. Then, in the next step S4, the MPU 23 determines whether or not the menu item that the frame image is section-displayed when the enter key 32 is pressed is not a menu item related to image processing. If the MPU 23 determines that the menu item is not a menu item related to image processing (step S4 = Yes), the process proceeds to the next step S5.

  Then, in the next step S5, the MPU 23 determines that the menu item selected by the pressing operation of the enter key 32 in a state where the frame image is partitioned and displayed is not the menu item of the lowest hierarchy (third hierarchy in the present embodiment). It is determined whether or not. If the MPU 23 determines that the menu item is not the lowest-level menu item (step S5 = Yes), the process proceeds to the next step S6. In the next step S6, the MPU 23 reads out the image information of the menu screen of the lower hierarchy (in this case, the second hierarchy) in which a plurality of lower menu items having a corresponding relationship with the determined menu item are arranged from the ROM, Based on the image information, an image signal for displaying the second-level menu screen is generated and transmitted to the television 13 side, and then the process proceeds to the next step S7.

  Then, in the next step S7, the MPU 23 determines whether or not to end this function setting control processing routine. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the red key 33b of the TV remote controller 14 is pressed in a state where the display mode of the TV 13 is the function setting mode. If the red key 33b is not pressed and the function setting control process routine is determined not to end (step S3 = No), the MPU 23 proceeds to step S2, and thereafter steps S2 to S7. Repeat the process.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S3 that the enter key 32 has not been pressed (step S3 = No), the MPU 23 shifts the process to step S8. In step S8, the MPU 23 determines whether or not the green key 33c has been pressed. If it is determined that the green key 33c has been pressed (step S8 = Yes), the MPU 23 proceeds to the next step S9.

  Then, in the next step S9, the MPU 23 reads item explanation information explaining the meaning contents of the menu item currently displayed in the frame image by using a character / graphic from the ROM, and adds the explanation text. Then, an image signal for display is generated and transmitted to the television 13 side. Then, after the transmission of the image signal for displaying the explanatory text to the television 13 side is completed, the MPU 23 shifts the process to step S7. If it is determined in step S8 that the green key 33c has not been pressed (step S8 = No), the MPU 23 proceeds to step S7 without going through step S9.

  If it is determined in step S4 that the menu item is related to image processing (step S4 = No), the MPU 23 proceeds to step S10. In step S10, the MPU 23 then displays the original image before the image processing based on the function setting indicated by the menu item displayed in the frame image by the frame image and the image based on the function setting indicated by the menu item. The processed image after the processing is read out from the ROM, and an image signal to which the original image and the processed image are added is generated and transmitted to the television 13 side. Then, after the transmission of the image signals of the original image and the processed image to the television 13 side is completed, the MPU 23 shifts the process to step S7.

  In step S7, when it is determined that the function setting control processing routine is ended based on the pressing operation of the red key 33b of the TV remote controller 14 (step S7 = Yes), the MPU 23 sets the function setting control processing routine. Exit.

  Then, next, regarding the operation of the display system 11 of the present embodiment configured as described above, a menu screen on which a plurality of menu items to be selected particularly when setting the function of the digital camera 12 is displayed on the TV remote controller 14. A description will be given below focusing on the operation when the operation is displayed on the display screen 27 of the television 13.

  As shown in FIG. 1, when the digital camera 12 and the television 13 are connected via the HDMI cable 26, HDMI-CEC (High Definition Multimedia Interface-Consumer Electronics Control), which is a link function for linking digital devices to each other. The TV remote controller 14 can operate both the digital camera 12 and the TV 13. In the state shown in FIG. 1, when the user selects and operates the red key 33b among the four colored keys 33 on the television remote controller 14, the display function of the television 13 is set to the function setting mode. On the other hand, the MPU 23 of the digital camera 12 generates an image signal of a menu screen to be displayed on the display screen 27 of the television 13 for function setting based on the menu image information stored in the ROM (not shown). The data is transmitted to the television 13 side via the HDMI interface 25 and the HDMI cable 26.

  That is, in the ROM of the MPU 23 in the digital camera 12, a plurality (three in the present embodiment) of menu screens each arranged with a plurality of menu items selected when setting the function of the digital camera 12 are arranged from the upper layer to the lower layer. Stored is menu image information of a display method that is linked in a hierarchical structure in which a predetermined relationship is established between predetermined menu items up to the hierarchy. When the function of the digital camera 12 is set by the user, a menu screen corresponding to the image signal generated based on the menu image information is displayed on the display screen 27 of the television 13 to select a menu item. Will be served.

  Note that the ROM of the MPU 23 further includes item explanation information that allows the explanation of the meaning contents of the menu items arranged on each menu screen to be displayed using characters, graphics, etc., and each menu in the digital camera 12. The comparison image information by the sample image which can display comparatively the captured image before and after the change to the function determined by selecting the menu item from the screen is stored. In addition to these pieces of information, the ROM of the MPU 23 stores an operation control program for the digital camera 12 and a display control program for the display system 11.

  The menu screen shown in FIG. 4 is the topmost menu screen 41 of the first hierarchy. When the red key 33b of the TV remote control 14 is selected and operated in the state shown in FIG. 1, the MPU 23 of the digital camera 12 An image signal is generated so that the one-level menu screen 41 can be displayed on the left side of the center portion of the upper half area on the display screen 27 of the television 13. Then, the MPU 23 transmits the image signal thus generated to the television 13 side via the HDMI interface 25 and the HDMI cable 26. Then, on the display screen 27 of the television 13, the menu screen 41 of the first layer shown in FIG. 4 is displayed in the left side portion of the upper half of the display area on the display screen 27.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of (seven in this embodiment) menu items are arranged on the menu screen 41 of the first hierarchy. When the menu screen 41 is displayed on the display screen 27, any one of the menu items is displayed in a partitioned manner by a rectangular frame image 41a. Incidentally, the frame image 41a is displayed at a position that divides a preset menu item (for example, the menu item in the top row) in the initial screen state in which the menu screen 41 of the first hierarchy is first displayed on the display screen 27. Is done.

  Then, in a state where the first-level menu screen 41 is displayed on the display screen 27 of the television 13, the user operates the movement key 31 on the TV remote control 14 to thereby display the first-level menu screen 41. It is possible to move the position of the frame image 41a to the position of another menu item. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the user has moved the frame image 41a to the position of the menu item “Picture Control” in the lowermost row by operating the movement key 31 of the TV remote controller 14. In this state, when the user presses the enter key 32 on the TV remote controller 14, the second hierarchy in which a plurality of lower menu items having a correspondence relationship with the menu items that are partitioned and displayed by the frame image 41a at that time are arranged. The menu screen 42 (see FIG. 5) is displayed on the display screen 27 side by side with the menu screen 41 of the first layer.

  Specifically, in this case, when the enter key 32 of the TV remote controller 14 is pressed, the MPU 23 of the digital camera 12 displays “" on the menu screen 41 of the first hierarchy based on the menu image information stored in the ROM. Image information of the second-level menu screen 42 in which a plurality of lower-level menu items corresponding to the menu item “picture control” are arranged is extracted. Then, the MPU 23 generates an image signal that enables the second-level menu screen 42 to be displayed in a side-by-side relationship with the first-level menu screen 41 and the upper-level and lower-level layers, and the image signal is displayed on the HDMI interface 25 and the HDMI. It transmits to the television 13 side via the cable 26. Then, on the display screen 27 of the television 13, the first-level menu screen 41 shown in FIG. 4 and the second-level menu screen 42 shown in FIG. 5 are displayed in the upper half of the display area on the display screen 27. It is displayed in the center part and the left side part.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 5, a plurality (four in this embodiment) of menu items are arranged on the menu screen 42 of the second hierarchy. Also on the second-level menu screen 42, the user can move the position of the frame image 42a to the position of another menu item by operating the movement key 31 on the television remote controller 14. FIG. 5 shows a state in which the user has moved the frame image 42 a to the menu item position “Vivid” in the second column from the bottom by operating the movement key 31 of the TV remote controller 14. In this state, when the user presses the enter key 32 on the TV remote controller 14, the third hierarchy in which a plurality of lower menu items having a correspondence relationship with the menu items displayed in a section by the frame image 42a at that time are arranged. Menu screen 43 (see FIG. 6) is displayed on the display screen 27 side by side with the menu screen 41 of the first layer and the menu screen 42 of the second layer.

  Specifically, in this case, when the enter key 32 of the TV remote controller 14 is pressed, the MPU 23 of the digital camera 12 displays ““ on the menu screen 42 in the second hierarchy based on the menu image information stored in the ROM. Image information of the third-level menu screen 43 in which a plurality of lower-level menu items corresponding to the menu item “Vivid” are arranged is extracted. Then, the MPU 23 generates an image signal that allows the third-tier menu screen 43 to be displayed in a side-by-side relationship between the first-tier menu screen 41 and the second-tier menu screen 42 and the upper-tier and lower-tier. The image signal is transmitted to the television 13 side via the HDMI interface 25 and the HDMI cable 26.

  Then, on the display screen 27 of the television 13, in addition to the first-level menu screen 41 shown in FIG. 4 and the second-level menu screen 42 shown in FIG. 5, the third-level menu screen 43 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, the images are displayed in the upper half of the display area on the display screen 27 in a horizontally arranged list display state. Therefore, according to the display content of the display screen 27 shown in FIG. 7, the user has a correspondence relationship in the menu screens 41, 42, and 43 of each layer from the first layer of the highest layer to the third layer of the lowest layer. The chain relationship of menu items becomes clear at a glance, and the entire menu structure can be grasped visually.

  As described above, the MPU 23 of the digital camera 12 according to the present embodiment communicates information (image signal) related to an image displayed on the display screen 27 with the television 13 via the HDMI interface 25 that functions as a communication unit. Thus, it functions as a control unit for controlling the display content on the display screen 27. In this embodiment, the HDMI interface 25 that functions as a communication unit and the MPU 23 that functions as a control unit constitute the display control device of the display system 11. In this respect, the HDMI interface 25 and the MPU 23 are connected to the camera. It can be said that the digital camera 12 having a configuration in the main body 15 includes the display control device.

  By the way, among the menu items selected when setting the functions of the digital camera 12, there may be menu items whose meaning is not understood by the user. For this reason, when there is a menu item whose meaning is unknown, the user usually refers to an instruction manual or the like of the digital camera 12, but such an instruction manual is not always present at the user's hand. Therefore, in such a case, the meaning of the menu items is not understood, and this hinders the operation for setting the functions of the digital camera 12.

  In this regard, in the display control apparatus provided in the display system 11 of the present embodiment, when menu items for function setting are selected on the menu screens 41, 42, and 43 of each layer, a frame image is displayed on the menu screen. When the meaning and contents of the menu items 41a, 42a, and 43a are displayed in sections, the meaning and contents can be known as follows.

  In other words, when there is a menu item whose meaning is unclear among a plurality of menu items arranged on the menu screen on which the menu item is currently selected, the user moves the frame image to the menu item. Then, the green key 33c is selected from the four colored keys 33 in the TV remote controller 14.

  Then, the MPU 23 of the digital camera 12 explains the meaning contents of the menu items displayed in the frame image at that time using characters / graphics based on the item explanation information stored in the ROM (not shown). An image signal that can display the explanatory text 44 is generated. Further, the MPU 23 is based on the comparison image information stored in the ROM (not shown), and the original image 45 that is a captured image when the function based on the menu item displayed in the frame image at that time is not set. Then, an image signal capable of displaying the processed image 46 which is a captured image when the function based on the menu item is set is generated. Then, the MPU 23 transmits each image signal generated in this way to the television 13 side via the HDMI interface 25 and the HDMI cable 26.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 8, in the lower half of the display area on the display screen 27 of the television 13, explanation is given to explain the meaning of the menu item (“Picture Control” in FIG. 8) whose meaning is unknown to the user. A sentence 44 and an original image 45 when a function based on the menu item (picture control) is not set and a processed image 46 when the function is set are displayed. Therefore, the user can easily set the function of the digital camera 12 by knowing the meaning of the menu item from the explanatory text 44 displayed as such. Furthermore, according to such a function setting, it is possible to visually confirm how the captured image changes.

According to this embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) Information that can be displayed from the monitor 17 of the digital camera 12 on a plurality of menu screens 41, 42, and 43 having a plurality of hierarchical structures in which menu items selected when setting the functions of the digital camera 12 are arranged. A list can be displayed on the display screen 27 of the television 13 having a large amount. That is, when setting functions on the monitor 17 of the digital camera 12, only one menu screen can be displayed on the monitor 17, and the menu screen must be switched and displayed one after another. It was difficult. On the other hand, since the television 13 has a larger screen size (display area) and a larger number of pixels than the monitor 17 of the digital camera 12, the number of displayable menu screens can be increased, so that the user can easily make the entire menu structure. I can understand. Therefore, it is possible to realize a display method that enables quick and easy setting of functions in the digital camera 12.

  (2) For a menu item whose meaning is unknown to the user among a plurality of menu items selected when setting the function of the digital camera 12, the meaning of the menu item is explained using characters, figures, etc. 44 can be displayed on the display screen 27 of the television 13 based on the operation of the television remote controller 14. Therefore, the user can set the function setting of the digital camera 12 so as to have a desired function after understanding the meaning contents of the menu items.

  (3) When setting the functions of the digital camera 12, the original image 45 and the processed image that relatively indicate the captured images in the case of the setting contents based on the menu item to be selected at that time and the case of not being set 46 can be displayed on the display screen 27 of the television 13 based on the operation of the television remote controller 14. Therefore, the user can set the function setting of the digital camera 12 so as to have a desired function after understanding the imaging content based on the selection result of the menu item.

The above embodiment may be changed to another embodiment as described below.
In the above embodiment, when the original image 45 and the processed image 46 are displayed relatively, the image information is not limited to the image information of the sample image stored in the ROM, but via the card slot (not shown). The original image 45 is generated based on the image information of the captured image stored in the card-type memory that can be attached to and detached from the original image 45, and the processed image 46 is generated by performing image processing on the original image 45. An image signal that is displayed with the post-processing image 46 added thereto may be generated. Alternatively, a sample image is stored in the ROM as the original image 45, an image obtained by performing image processing on the sample image is used as the processed image 46, and the original image 45 and the processed image 46 are added and displayed. An image signal may be generated.

  In the above embodiment, when displaying the explanatory text 44, the image information of the explanatory text is displayed by downloading the latest information from the homepage of the camera manufacturer of the digital camera 12 in addition to the item explanatory information stored in the ROM. You may do it. In this case, the MPU 23 of the digital camera 12 that functions as a control unit in the display control device of the display system 11 of the present embodiment is connected to the communication network N such as the Internet via the wireless communication unit 50.

  -In the said embodiment, the hierarchical structure of the menu screens 41, 42, and 43 is not limited to three, You may make several hierarchical structures other than three. Further, the number of menu items arranged in each menu screen 41, 42, 43 is not limited to the number of items in the embodiment.

  In the above embodiment, the size and shape of the frame images 41a, 42a, and 43a displayed by dividing the menu items on the menu screens 41, 42, and 43 are not limited to the rectangular ones in the embodiment, and are arbitrary. A size shape may be sufficient. In addition, a display effect similar to that of the frame images 41a, 42a, and 43a may be obtained by highlight display in which the background color is brightened and displayed regardless of the frame image.

  In the above embodiment, when the display function of the television 13 is set to the function setting mode by operating the television remote controller 14 with the digital camera 12 and the television 13 connected via the HDMI cable 26, other than the red key 33b. The key may be set to select and operate other color keys 33 (33a, 33c, 33d), for example.

  In the above-described embodiment, before the determination key 32 is pressed, each of the plurality of upper menu items arranged on the menu screen of the displayed upper hierarchy (for example, the first hierarchy) is pressed by the determination key 32 Menu screens of a plurality of lower layers (in this case, the second layer) in which a plurality of lower menu items to be displayed in association with each other when selected by an operation may be displayed in parallel. .

  In the above-described embodiment, the menu item displayed by the frame image is not necessarily displayed on the menu screen displayed as the initial screen on the display screen 27 of the television 13 when the function setting mode is entered based on the pressing operation of the red key 33b. It doesn't have to be the top menu item. That is, the MPU 23 stores the selection history information of the menu item in a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory, for example, and when the red key 33b is pressed, the menu item selected most recently on the menu screen. May be specified based on the selection history information, and a frame image may be superimposed on the specified menu item. Further, based on such selection history information, when the red key 33b is pressed, menu items selected on the menu screens of the upper hierarchy to the lower hierarchy at the time of the previous function setting can be displayed in a chained list. Display control may be performed.

  In the above embodiment, instead of the TV remote controller 14, the select button 18 provided on the back side of the digital camera 12 is used to move the frame images 41 a, 42 a, and 43 a, or menu items that are partitioned by the frame image May be used as an operation unit operated when determining the function setting item.

  In the above embodiment, a control unit including an HDMI interface that functions as a communication unit and an MPU that functions as a control unit is disposed between the digital camera 12 and the television 13 as a display control device. You may make it connect the digital camera 12 and the television 13 via the HDMI cable 26, respectively.

  In the above embodiment, the digital camera 12 and the television 13 may be capable of bidirectional communication of image signals, audio signals, and control signals through wireless connection instead of wired connection via the HDMI cable 26.

  In the above embodiment, the display device has a display screen whose screen size is smaller than that of the monitor 17 of the digital camera 12, for example, displays the image content based on the image signal on the small display screen, and the display It may be a projector that projects and displays the image content on the screen on a large screen or the like. If the number of pixels on the display screen of the display device (projector) is set to be high (that is, the amount of information that can be displayed increases), a clear enlarged image can be displayed on the screen. .

  The above embodiment is embodied in a display system that uses a digital still camera that is a kind of electronic camera together with a high-definition television, but a display system that uses a digital video camera that is also a kind of electronic camera together with a high-definition television. It may be embodied.

1 is an overall schematic diagram of a display system. The block diagram which shows the circuit structure of a digital camera. The top view which shows the operation surface of a television remote control. Explanatory drawing which shows the menu screen of a 1st hierarchy. Explanatory drawing which shows the menu screen of a 2nd hierarchy. Explanatory drawing which shows the menu screen of a 3rd hierarchy. Explanatory drawing which shows the display screen of the television which displayed the menu screen of each hierarchy as a list. Explanatory drawing which shows the display screen of the television which displayed the explanatory note, the original image, and the image after a process. The flowchart explaining the outline | summary of the function setting control processing routine which MPU of a digital camera performs.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Display system, 12 ... Digital camera (electronic camera), 13 ... Television (display apparatus), 14 ... Television remote control (operation part), 17 ... Monitor (display part), 18 ... Select button (operation part), 23 ... MPU (control unit) constituting the display control device, 25 ... HDMI interface (communication unit) constituting the display control device, 27 ... display screen, 41, 42, 43 ... menu screen, 44 ... explanatory text, 45 ... original image (Captured image), 46... Processed image (captured image).

Claims (7)

A communication unit capable of communicating information about an image displayed on the display screen with a display device having a display screen having a larger amount of information that can be displayed than a display unit included in the electronic camera;
By communicating information about the image with the display device via the communication unit, a plurality of menu items selected when setting the function of the electronic camera on the display screen can be selected. Among the plurality of menu screens having the arranged hierarchical structure, the display is performed so that the upper level menu screens and the lower level menu screens that have a corresponding relationship between the menu items arranged in a list are displayed as a list. A display control apparatus comprising: a control unit that controls display contents of the image on a screen. An operation unit operated to select a menu item on the menu screen displayed on the display screen;
The control unit is configured to display the image on the display screen such that when a menu item is selected based on an operation of the operation unit, an explanatory text of the selected menu item is displayed on the display screen. The display control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display content is controlled. When a menu item is selected based on an operation of the operation unit, the control unit displays an image captured by the electronic camera based on a function set by the selected menu item on the display screen. The display control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the display content of the image on the display screen is controlled as described above. An electronic camera comprising the display control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. Information regarding an image displayed on the display screen is communicated with a display device having a display screen having a larger amount of information that can be displayed than a display unit included in the electronic camera, and the electronic camera is displayed on the display screen. Menu items in a higher hierarchy that have a corresponding relationship between the menu items that are arranged among each of the menu screens that have a hierarchical structure in which a plurality of menu items that are selected when setting the function of the menu are selectable A display control method, comprising: controlling display contents of the image on the display screen so that the screen and a lower-level menu screen are displayed as a list. When a menu item is selected on the menu screen displayed on the display screen based on the operation of the operation unit, the description of the selected menu item is displayed on the display screen. The display control method according to claim 5, wherein the display content is controlled. The display content is controlled such that an image captured by the electronic camera based on a function set by a menu item selected based on an operation of the operation unit is displayed on the display screen. Item 7. The display control method according to Item 6.

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