JP2011114801A - Display device, photographing apparatus, and, display method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a display device, which enables users to finely view a quickly-moving subject shown in a live-view display. <P>SOLUTION: The display device includes: an imaging part (40) capable of capturing and outputting time-sequential image data; a display part (50) capable of performing live-view display of the time-sequential image data; a memory (16) for temporarily storing the time-sequential image data; a signal output part (21) for outputting a start signal; and a control part (14). When no start signal is detected, the control part (14) allows the display part (50) to execute first live-view display for displaying the time-sequential image data in real time and when the start signal is detected, the control part (14) allows the display part (50) to execute second live-view display for displaying the time-sequential image data, for a predetermined time, stored in the memory (16) while enlarging the time base. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a display device capable of live view display and a photographing device including the display device. The present invention also relates to a display method for live view display.

  The conventional camera enlarges a part of the shooting area in conjunction with the manual focus adjustment operation (AF operation) in live view display, or enlarges the vicinity of the AF area after the AF operation ends (patented) Reference 1).

JP 2001-36796 A

  The user can observe a fast-moving subject by performing slow motion playback of moving image data (video movie data) with a playback device after shooting. In addition, the user can observe the subject in detail by using the enlarged display in the live view display during shooting of a moving image or in preparation for shooting a still image or a moving image. However, it is impossible to observe a fast-moving subject in detail unless the moving image data recorded after shooting is played back in slow motion, and the fast movement that appears during live view display during movie shooting or shooting preparation. The subject cannot be observed in detail.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a display device that can observe in detail a fast-moving subject that appears during live view display.

  A display device according to an aspect of the present invention includes an imaging unit capable of acquiring and outputting time-series image data, a display unit capable of performing live view display of the time-series image data, and the time-series image data. A memory for temporarily storing, a signal output unit for outputting a start signal, and a first live view display for displaying the time-series image data in real time when the start signal is not detected on the display unit. When the start signal is detected, the display unit executes a second live view display that displays the time-series image data for a predetermined time stored in the memory with the time axis expanded. A control unit.

  The display method according to another aspect of the present invention includes a step of acquiring time-series image data, a step of temporarily storing the time-series image data in a memory, a step of outputting a start signal, and the start A first live view display for displaying the time-series image data in real time when no signal is detected; and a predetermined time stored in the memory when the start signal is detected Executing a second live view display for displaying the time-series image data with the time axis enlarged.

  The user of the display device can observe or confirm the fast-moving subject that appears during live view display in detail.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the electronic camera carrying a display apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the live view operation | movement of a display apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the display apparatus which concerns on 1st embodiment. It is a time chart which shows operation | movement of the display apparatus which concerns on 1st embodiment. It is a time chart which shows another operation | movement of the display apparatus of 1st embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the display apparatus which concerns on 2nd embodiment. It is a time chart which shows operation | movement of the display apparatus which concerns on 2nd embodiment.

[First embodiment]
Hereinafter, an embodiment in which a display device is applied to an electronic camera (digital camera) as an imaging device will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the electronic camera 10. The electronic camera 10 includes the camera body 20 and the interchangeable lens 30 as a lens unit, but may have a configuration in which the lens unit and the camera body are integrated. The camera body 20 accommodates an image sensor 12, a system controller 14, a display element 22, various memories, and the like. The interchangeable lens 30 houses the optical system 11, the lens controller 31, and the like.

  The camera (imaging device) 10 has an optical system 11 composed of one or more lens elements. The optical system 11 forms an image on the image sensor 12 with light taken from outside the camera. The image sensor 12 converts an optical image formed on the image sensor 12 by the optical system 11 into an electrical signal by photoelectric conversion. The image sensor 12 is, for example, a CCD (charge coupled device) sensor or a CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) sensor. The image sensor IF (interface) circuit 13 includes a circuit that generates a drive signal for the image sensor 12, an AD converter circuit (ADC) that performs AD conversion on the output of the image sensor 12, and the like. The electrical signal of the optical image is AD converted by the image sensor IF circuit 13 and input to the system controller 14. The optical system 11, the image sensor 12, and the image sensor IF (interface) circuit 13 constitute an image capturing unit 40.

  Image data from the image sensor IF circuit 13 is captured by the system controller 14 (control unit), subjected to compression processing (for example, JPEG compression) by the compression / decompression circuit, and stored in the recording medium (memory card) 15. The recording medium 15 includes a nonvolatile memory, a small HDD, and the like, and is detachable from the camera 10. The recording medium 15 records a captured still image file (JPEG), a moving image file (MotioJPEG, MPEG), and the like.

  The system controller 14 includes a recording medium 15, an SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory) 16, a FlashRom (Flash Read Only Memory) 17, a display driving circuit 18, a shutter driving circuit 19, an operation unit 21, and a lens. Electrically interconnected with the controller 31.

  The SDRAM 16 is a volatile memory for temporarily storing data necessary for the operation of the camera 10. The work memory 16a allocated on the SDRAM 16 is used for temporarily storing data when executing image processing, for example. The buffer memory 16b allocated on the SDRAM 16 is a memory for storing image data necessary for time axis enlarged display and time axis reduced display executed during live view display described later. The Flash Rom 17 is a non-volatile memory that stores program codes executed by the CPU of the system controller 14 and control parameters related to camera control.

  The system controller 14 has a central processing unit (CPU) 60 (FIG. 2). The system controller 14 further includes an AF (Auto Focus) control circuit controlled by the CPU 60, an AE (Auto Exposure) control circuit, a compression / decompression circuit, an image processing circuit 61 described later, and memory control. A circuit 62 and the like are included (FIG. 2).

  In the interchangeable lens 30, the camera 10 adjusts the focus adjustment mechanism 32 that adjusts the focal position (focus position) of the optical system 11 by operating the lens elements of the optical system 11 and the aperture of the diaphragm of the optical system 11. An aperture drive mechanism 33 is provided. The system controller 14 controls the focus adjustment mechanism 32 via the lens controller 31 and an AF control circuit (not shown). Further, the system controller 14 controls the aperture driving mechanism 33 via the lens controller 31 and an AE control circuit (not shown). The lens controller 31 stores a program for controlling the focus adjustment mechanism 32 and the diaphragm drive mechanism 33 in accordance with a signal from the system controller 14 and control parameters necessary for the control in the Flash Rom.

  The display unit 50 includes the display drive circuit 18 and the display element 22. The display drive circuit 18 drives the display element 22 based on the image data from the system controller 14. The display element 22 is, for example, an LCD display element, an organic EL display element, or a plasma display element. The display unit 50 performs live view display, playback display of a captured image, operation mode setting display of the electronic camera, and the like based on the image data.

  In the live view display, the system controller 14 displays the image data of the subject acquired from the imaging unit 40 on the display unit 50 at a predetermined frame rate (for example, 10, 30 fps (frame / second)), thereby having the same function as the optical viewfinder. Is realized. The live view display is also referred to as a through image display, a monitor display, a moving image display, or the like.

  The operation unit 21 (signal output unit) includes a switch group necessary for operating the electronic camera 10 and outputs a signal from the switch group. For example, the operation unit 21 sets a power switch for turning on / off the power of the electronic camera 10, a release switch for operating the shutter, a mode setting switch for setting the operation mode of the electronic camera 10, and a display operation of the display unit 50. Equipped with a slow / display switch.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram in which functions related to the live view operation are extracted from the block diagram of FIG.

  The blocks (CPU 60, image processing circuit 61, memory control circuit 62, IO circuit 63, selection circuit 64) surrounded by broken lines are circuits that constitute the system controller 14. In this block diagram, these circuits are arranged inside the system controller 14. However, the circuits other than the CPU 60 are not necessarily arranged inside the system controller 14 and may be circuits electrically connected to the outside of the system controller 14.

  When performing live view display, the CPU 60 controls the image sensor IF circuit 13 to acquire image data of the subject at a predetermined frame rate. This image data is converted into display data by the image processing circuit 61 and output to the selection circuit 64 and the buffer memory 16b. The buffer memory 16b has a capacity capable of backing up display image data for a predetermined time (a predetermined number). If the image data exceeds this capacity, the oldest image data in the buffer memory 16b is discarded and new data is stored. The memory control circuit 62 controls the buffer memory 16b.

  The image data output from the image processing circuit 61 and the image data output from the buffer memory 16 b are input to the selection circuit 64. The selection circuit 64 selects any one of these image data based on a command from the CPU 60 and outputs the selected image data to the display drive circuit 18. When performing real-time display in the live view display operation, the CPU 60 controls the selection circuit 64 so that the image data from the image processing circuit 61 is selected and input to the display drive circuit 18. When performing time-axis enlarged display (or time-axis reduced display) in the live view display operation, the CPU 60 controls the selection circuit 64 so that the output from the buffer memory 16 b is selected and input to the display drive circuit 18.

  Next, real time display (first live view display), time axis enlarged display (second live view display), and time axis reduced display (third live view display) in the live view display operation will be described.

  The real time display is an image display form or image display method executed by a conventional electronic camera, and is a live view display in real time. Here, the moving image (that is, time-series image data) of the subject image acquired using the image sensor 12 spends the same time (period) as the time (period) required for the acquisition, and the display element 22. Displayed up. Simultaneously with the start of moving image acquisition, display of the moving image on the display element 22 is started. That is, in the real time display, the moving image acquisition time and the display time are the same, and the start timing of the moving image acquisition and the start timing of the moving image display are the same. Note that there is a delay in image processing, a delay in the circuit, and the like until a moving image is acquired by the imaging element 12 and an image is displayed on the display element 22 of the display unit 50. However, these delays are considered negligible in real time display.

  In the time-axis enlarged display (time-axis enlarged live view display), the moving image of the subject image acquired using the image sensor 12 (that is, time-series image data) has a longer time than the time required for the acquisition. It spends and is displayed on the display element 22 of the display part 50. FIG. That is, in the time axis enlarged display, the moving image is displayed with the time axis enlarged. Therefore, slow motion display is performed in which the movement of the subject image displayed on the display element 22 is slower than the actual movement.

  In the time-axis reduced display (time-axis reduced live view display), the moving image of the subject image acquired using the image sensor 12 spends a time (period) shorter than the time (period) required for the acquisition, It is displayed on the display element 22 of the display unit 50. That is, in the time axis reduced display, the moving image is displayed with the time axis reduced. Accordingly, quick display is performed in which the movement of the subject image displayed on the display element 22 is faster than the actual movement.

  The CPU 60 detects the state of the operation unit 21 of the electronic camera 10 via the IO circuit 63. The operation unit 21 includes a slow / display switch as an operation member for instructing execution of the time axis enlarged live view display during the live view display.

  Control executed by the system controller 14 in the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 3 and the time chart of FIG.

  In FIG. 4, it is assumed that the image data for live view display is acquired at 10 fps (in reality, 30 fps, 60 fps, 90 fps), etc. Many). The display update rate of the display image data supplied to the display element 22 is also 10 fps.

  The upper part of FIG. 4 is a row of numbered boxes and shows time-series image data output from the image processing circuit 61. The middle part of FIG. 4 is a row of numbered boxes and shows time-series image data stored in the buffer memory 16b. The lower part of FIG. 4 is a row of numbered boxes and shows time-series image data for display sent from the selection circuit 64 to the display drive circuit 18. The display drive circuit 18 drives the display element 22 so as to display time-series image data for display. Those having the same number are the same image data, and image data having a larger number is image data that is new in time.

  When a power switch that is one of the operation members of the operation unit 21 is operated and turned on, the electronic camera 10 starts operating. That is, the system controller 14 (CPU 60) starts control of the flowchart of FIG. 3 based on the program code of the FlashRom 17.

  In step S100, a system startup process is executed. Initial setting of the internal circuit of the system controller 14, initialization of peripheral circuits of the system controller 14, and the like are executed.

  In step S102, processing for starting the live view operation in the form of real time display is executed. The image sensor IF circuit 13 is controlled to acquire image data at a predetermined frame rate (10 fps in the present embodiment), and display data for live view is generated from the image processing circuit 61. The live view display data is supplied to the display drive circuit 18 via the selection circuit 64. In the real time display, the time series image data is displayed on the display unit 50 over the same time as the time required to acquire a series of time series image data. Therefore, if the delay in the circuit is ignored, image data is acquired and an image is displayed on the display element 22 of the display unit 50 at the same time.

  In step S104, the memory control circuit 62 is controlled to secure an area for storing the live view image data for a predetermined time in the SDRAM 16 as the buffer memory 16b. Then, the image data storing operation (buffering) is started.

  In step S106, it is periodically determined whether or not a mode setting switch, which is one of the operation members, is set for setting display conditions. If a switch operation is detected, the process proceeds to step S107, and if a switch operation is not detected, the process proceeds to step S108.

  In step S107, display conditions for moving image data are set according to the operation of the mode setting switch. The display condition is a condition related to time axis enlarged display (time axis enlarged live view display). This condition is a predetermined time Tx in the real-time display in which moving image data is enlarged and displayed on the time axis, and a time axis enlargement ratio Mx. The predetermined time Tx is a real time period in which moving image data acquired during that time is displayed in an enlarged manner on the time axis.

  As an example, 1 sec (data for 10 images at 10 fps) is set as the value of the predetermined time Tx so as to correspond to the “enlarged region” of the time-series image data of FIG. 2) “2” is set as the value of the enlargement factor Mx so as to correspond to “”. These setting conditions are stored as control parameters of FlashRom 17. Further, when the setting in S104 does not match the setting of Tx and Mx, the setting condition (buffer memory capacity) is corrected.

  In step S <b> 108, it is periodically detected whether or not a slow / display switch that is one of the operation members of the operation unit 21 is operated as a time-axis enlarged display operation. If the operation of the slow / display switch is detected, the process proceeds to S110. If the switch operation is not detected, the process proceeds to S130. The detection of the operation of the slow / display switch corresponds to the generation of “start signal (enlargement start)” in FIG. As described above, the slow / display switch of the operation unit 21 outputs a start signal that instructs the system controller 14 to start expanding the time axis by the operation.

  In step S110, a read condition for display image data from the buffer memory 16b is set in the memory control circuit 62.

  Here, the display update rate of the display element 22 is fixed. In this embodiment, the display update rate is 10 fps. In order to display time-series image data by doubling the time axis (time-axis enlarged display corresponding to Mx = 2), the same image data is buffered twice continuously at a reading rate of 10 fps. It is supplied from the memory 16b to the selection circuit 64. The CPU 60 controls the memory control circuit 62 so that the image data is supplied in this way. If the time axis is displayed N times (Mx = N), the same image data is output N times continuously from the buffer memory 16b to the selection circuit 64 at a reading rate of 10 fps. Here, N is a natural number of 2 or more.

  In the present embodiment, since it is assumed that the display update rate of the display element 22 cannot be changed, it is necessary to devise output control of image data from the buffer memory 16b. However, when the display update rate of the display element 22 can be changed, if the display update rate of the display element 22 and the reading rate of the buffer memory 16b are changed from 10 fps to 5 fps, the time axis of the live view display is doubled and displayed. Is possible.

  In step S112, the selection circuit 64 is controlled, and the image data output from the buffer memory 16b is supplied to the display drive circuit 18. In accordance with this processing, the live view display changes (transitions) from the real time display to the time axis enlarged display.

  In step S114, the system waits for a specified time. This specified time is a time (Tx × Mx) obtained by multiplying the value of Tx by the value of Mx. In FIG. 4, since the specified time is 2 seconds, it waits for 2 seconds. It should be noted that the time axis enlarged display operation may be controlled to stop when all the image data has been read up to the end of the address on the Bach memory 16b corresponding to the predetermined time Tx (the tenth in FIG. 4). .

  In step S116, the supply operation of the display image data from the buffer memory 16b to the selection circuit 64 by the memory control circuit 62 is stopped.

  In step S 118, the selection circuit 64 is controlled to supply the image data output from the image processing circuit 61 to the display driving circuit 18. In accordance with this processing, the live view display changes (transitions) from the time axis enlarged display to the real time display.

  In step S130, it is periodically detected whether or not a release switch, which is one of the operation members, is operated as an operation for starting shooting. If the operation of the release switch is detected, the process proceeds to S132, and if the operation of the release switch is not detected, the process proceeds to S134.

  In step S132, when the still image shooting mode is set, the live view display is temporarily stopped and image data for still images is acquired from the image sensor 12. Then, the image processing circuit 61 generates a predetermined image file (for example, JPEG format) and records it on the recording medium 15.

  When the movie shooting mode is set, a moving image is acquired at a predetermined frame rate while performing live view display, and the image processing circuit 61 generates a predetermined moving image file (for example, Motion JPEG format) as moving image data. To record on the recording medium 15. The video recording operation continues until a stop operation is performed. An example of the stop operation is to turn on the release switch again.

  In the switch S134, it is periodically detected whether or not a power switch, which is one of the operation members, is operated as a system stop operation. If the power switch is turned off, the process proceeds to S136. If the power switch is turned on, the process proceeds to S106.

  In the switch S136, a system stop process is performed. That is, the stop process of the internal circuit of the system controller 14 and the stop process of the peripheral circuits of the system controller 14 are executed. Then, the electronic camera 10 stops operating.

In the present embodiment, the imaging unit 40 acquires and outputs time-series image data. The display unit 50 can display time-series image data in a live view. The memory 16 temporarily stores time-series image data. The signal output unit (operation unit) 21 outputs a start signal for ending the first live view display (real time display) and starting the second live view display (time axis enlarged display). When the start signal is not detected, the control unit (system controller) 14 causes the display unit 50 to execute a first live view display that displays time-series image data in real time. When the control unit 14 detects the start signal, the control unit 14 causes the display unit 50 to execute a second live view display in which the time series of the time-series image data stored in the memory 16 is enlarged and displayed. .

  The imaging unit 40 acquires time-series image data for a predetermined time by taking the predetermined time, but the control unit 14 takes a time longer than the predetermined time in the second live view display. The time-series image data for the predetermined time is displayed on the display unit.

  For this reason, according to the start signal from the signal output unit (operation unit) 21, the display unit 50 can display time-series image data for a predetermined time in slow motion. Thereby, the user can observe in detail the fast-moving subject that appears during live view display.

  The control unit 14 causes the display unit 50 to execute the first live view display again after the second live view display ends. Thereby, after the user observes the moving image data to be displayed in slow motion, the display can be returned to the real time display, which is convenient.

[Modification of First Embodiment]
In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the real-time live view display changes (transitions) to the time-axis expanded live view display without causing a response delay in accordance with the operation of the slow / display switch. Note that image processing delays, circuit delays, and the like occur before an image is acquired by the image pickup device 12 and displayed by the display unit 50. These delays are considered to be substantially negligible.

  However, there is a delay between the user's intention to switch the display during the real-time live view display and the display switching by operating the slow / display switch. Due to this delay, the user cannot start the time-axis enlarged live view display from the intended time point.

  FIG. 5 shows a control method in consideration of this delay. It is desirable that the predetermined delay time td in FIG. 5 indicates this delay and can be set according to the user's operation. This operation can be added to the process of S107 of the first embodiment described above. The predetermined delay time td is changed according to the operation of the mode setting switch, and is stored as a control parameter of the FlashRom 17. The predetermined delay time td is 0.2 sec in the example of FIG.

  Further, an address for reading image data from the buffer memory is offset according to td. That is, an address corresponding to a past time corresponding to td from an address at which image data at the time when the slow / display switch is operated (step S108) is recorded is set as a read start address. This setting can be added to the process of S110 described above. This modification can also be applied to the second embodiment described below.

In the second live view display, the action and effect control unit reads and displays time-series image data for a predetermined time from the memory 16 with reference to image data acquired by a predetermined delay time from the start signal. Displayed on the unit 50.

  Thereby, the time-axis enlarged live view display can be started from the time point intended by the user.

[Second Embodiment]
The second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 6 and the time chart of FIG.

  In the first embodiment, the time for performing the time axis enlarged display is assigned to a part of the time for performing the real time display. For this reason, a part of image data which should be displayed originally cannot be displayed. The image data in the area shown as the blank area in FIG. 4 is not displayed. Accordingly, discontinuous points of the image are generated when the time axis enlarged display is switched to the real time display. Due to the discontinuous points, the user may feel uncomfortable when observing the subject.

  This sense of incongruity is great when observing a moving subject and observing the subject while changing the direction of the camera (changing the composition). In the second embodiment, a transition display (third live view display) for reducing this uncomfortable feeling is provided between the time axis enlarged display and the real time display. Specifically, the discomfort is reduced by executing time axis reduction display as the transition display.

  Hereinafter, a different part from 1st embodiment in the flowchart of FIG. 6 is demonstrated. In the processing steps to which the same numbers as in FIG. 4 are assigned, the same processing as in the first embodiment is performed.

  In step S106, when an operation of a mode setting switch that is one of the operation members of the operation unit 21 is detected, the process proceeds to step S1071.

  In step S1071, display condition parameters are set according to the operation of the mode setting switch. The condition for the operation of the time axis enlarged display is determined by the display condition parameter. These parameters are a predetermined time Tx in the real time display displayed in the time axis enlarged display, a time axis enlargement ratio Mx in the time axis enlarged display, and an execution time Ty of the time axis reduced display. As an example, 1 sec (data for 10 images of 10 fps) is set as the value of Tx to correspond to the “enlarged area” shown in FIG. In order to correspond to the “time axis enlarged display”, the value of Mx is set to double. In order to correspond to “time-axis reduced display”, 1 sec is set as the value of Ty. These setting conditions are stored as control parameters of FlashRom 17. Furthermore, when the setting in S104 does not match the settings of Tx, Ty, and Mx, the setting condition (capacity of the buffer memory) is corrected.

  In the process of step S114, the time axis is enlarged and displayed for the first specified time (Tx × Mx). Thereafter, the process of step S1161 is executed.

  In step S1161, the supply operation of the display image data from the buffer memory 16b to the selection circuit 64 by the memory control circuit 62 is stopped. Next, the CPU 60 instructs the memory control circuit 62 to change the reading condition of the display image data from the buffer memory 16b. This change of the reading condition is necessary to display the reduced area of FIG. At this time, the time axis reduction rate My is required, but since the time axis reduction display time Ty is set, the reduction rate My can be determined by obtaining the time Tz of the area to be reduced.

Tz can be calculated by the following equation (1).
Tz = Tx · (Mx−1) + Ty (1)
Therefore, My can be calculated by the following equation (2).
My = Ty / Tz = Ty / (Tx · (Mx−1) + Ty) (2)
In the example shown in FIG. 7, the value of Tx is 1 sec, the value of Mx is twice, and Ty is 1 sec. Therefore, the value of Tz is 2 sec from the equation (1), and the value of My is 1/2 times from the equation (2).

  When considering the delay time td, Tz and My can be calculated by the following equations (3) and (4), respectively.

Tz = Tx · (Mx−1) + td + Ty (3)
My = Ty / Tz = Ty / (Tx · (Mx−1) + td + Ty) (4)

  The display update rate is fixed at 10 fps. Therefore, in order to display the image with the time axis halved, it is necessary to thin out the image data from the buffer memory 16b at a reading speed of 10 fps and supply it to the selection circuit 64. The CPU 60 controls the memory control circuit 62 so that the image data is output in this way. That is, if the time axis is 1 / N times and displayed (My = N), the image data may be thinned out to 1 / N at 10 fps from the buffer memory 16b and output. Here, N is a natural number of 2 or more. When N calculated by Equation (2) generates a fraction (decimal point), it is necessary to round it appropriately. Or you may change a display condition parameter suitably so that a fraction may not arise in N.

  In this embodiment, since it is assumed that the display update rate of the display element cannot be changed, it is necessary to thin out the image data from the buffer memory 16b and output it. However, if the read rate of the buffer memory 16b and the display update rate of the display element 22 can be changed, changing each rate from 10 fps to 20 fps can reduce the time axis of the live view display by a factor of 1/2. It is possible to display.

  After the time axis reduced display is started in step S1161, the process proceeds to step S1181.

  In step S1181, the process waits for the second specified time Ty. In FIG. 7, Ty is 1 sec. The operation of time axis reduction display may be controlled to stop when image data is read out to the end of the address on the Bach memory corresponding to the time Tz of the non-reduction area (30th in FIG. 7).

  Next, in step S120, the display image data supply operation from the buffer memory 16b to the selection circuit 64 by the memory control circuit 62 is stopped.

  Next, in step S122, the selection circuit 64 is controlled to directly supply the image data output from the image processing circuit 61 to the display driving circuit 18 without passing through the buffer memory 16b. In accordance with this processing, the live view display changes (transitions) from the time axis reduced display to the real time display.

After the second live view display, the action effect control unit 14 performs the third live view display (transition display) to compensate for the display deviation between the second live view display and the first live view display. The display unit 50 is caused to execute. In the third live view display, the control unit 14 causes the display unit 50 to display time-series image data by reducing the time axis. In the third live view display, the control unit 14 causes the display unit 50 to display a part of the time-series image data over a time shorter than the time required for the imaging unit 40 to acquire.

  Thereby, the discontinuity point of the image when the time axis enlarged display is switched to the real time display can be eliminated, and the user's uncomfortable feeling can be reduced.

  In each of the embodiments described above, the time-axis enlarged live view display is executed according to the operation of the slow / display switch provided in the electronic camera. However, the time axis enlarged live view display may be executed in conjunction with the operation of the existing switch without providing a new slow / display switch. For example, a release switch is a switch that can normally detect a half-pressed state and a fully-pressed state. In general, a focus adjustment operation, a photometric operation, or the like is performed according to the half-press operation of the release switch, and a photographing operation is performed according to the full-press operation of the release switch. The time axis enlarged live view display may be executed in response to this half-press operation. Further, the time-axis enlarged live view display may be automatically executed as necessary without depending on the operation of a specific switch. For example, when a fast-moving subject is detected in the live view display image, the time axis enlarged live view display may be executed.

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the technical idea.

14 Control unit (system controller)
16 memory (SDRAM)
21 Signal output unit (operation unit)
40 Imaging unit 50 Display unit 60 CPU
62 memory control circuit 64 selection circuit

Claims (8)

An imaging unit capable of acquiring and outputting time-series image data;
A display unit capable of live view display of the time-series image data;
A memory for temporarily storing the time-series image data;
A signal output unit for outputting a start signal;
When the start signal is not detected, the display unit executes a first live view display that displays the time-series image data in real time,
A control unit that, when detecting the start signal, causes the display unit to execute a second live view display that displays the time-series image data for a predetermined time stored in the memory with a time axis expanded; ,
A display device comprising:   The display device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit causes the display unit to execute the first live view display again after the second live view display.   The control unit displays the third live view display to compensate for a display shift between the second live view display and the first live view display after the second live view display ends. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display device is executed by a display unit.   4. The control unit according to claim 3, wherein a part of the time-series image data stored in the memory is displayed on the display unit with a reduced time axis in the third live view display. The display device described in 1.   In the second live view display, the control unit reads time-series image data for the predetermined time from the memory with reference to image data acquired a predetermined delay time before the start signal. 4. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays the image on the display unit. The imaging unit acquires the time-series image data for the predetermined time by taking the predetermined time,
The control unit causes the display unit to display time-series image data for the predetermined time over the predetermined time in the second live view display. The display device according to any one of 5. An imaging device including the display device according to claim 1. Acquiring time-series image data; and
Temporarily storing the time-series image data in a memory;
Outputting a start signal;
Executing the first live view display for displaying the time-series image data in real time when the start signal is not detected;
Performing a second live view display for displaying the time-series image data for a predetermined time stored in the memory with the time axis enlarged when the start signal is detected. Characteristic display method.

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