JP2020043498A - Electronic device and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

To perform an allocation operation more easily in a case where a user can allocate a plurality of different values for a specific function for each of a plurality of stages of an operation amount to an operation member.SOLUTION: An electronic device includes allocation means capable of allocating different values of a specific function on the basis of a user operation for each of a plurality of stages of an operation amount in a first direction with respect to an operation member. The allocation means can allocate a value on the basis of at least one preset pattern to each of the plurality of stages. The at least one preset pattern includes a preset pattern for allocating a first value of the specific function to the maximum stage being a stage including a detectable maximum operation amount in the first direction and allocating the same value less than the first value to each of the detectable plurality of stages in the first direction, excluding the maximum stage and the non-operated state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device, a control method thereof, a program, and a recording medium.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, electronic devices that allow a user to change and register a function executed in response to an operation on an operation member in order to realize a suitable operation feeling corresponding to the purpose and preference of each user who operates the operation member have been known. ing.

  Patent Literature 1 proposes an electronic device in which a user can register a function to be executed for each angle (degree of rotation, which is an operation amount) rotated based on an initial position by operating a rotatable rotating member. Have been. Patent Literature 2 proposes that a user can customize and register a touch button to be arranged at each of a plurality of displayable positions of a touch button on a touch panel. It has also been proposed that the arrangement pattern of touch buttons for a plurality of displayable positions can be set from a preset pattern.

JP 2010-056972 A JP 2011-159180 A

  If the user can assign and register a plurality of different setting values for a specific function for each operation amount of the operation member, a setting operation according to the user's preference for the specific function can be performed. However, the operation of assigning a set value to each of a plurality of operation amounts requires additional operation steps and is complicated. In addition, it is not easy for the user to find out what kind of set value allocation pattern should be used for a plurality of operation amounts to obtain an easy-to-use allocation pattern. On the other hand, Patent Documents 1 and 2 do not consider allowing a user to assign and register a plurality of different setting values for a specific function item for each operation amount of an operation member.

  Therefore, the present invention provides an electronic device that allows a user to more easily perform an assignment operation in a case where a user can assign a plurality of different values for a specific function to a plurality of stages of an operation amount to an operation member. The purpose is to provide.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an electronic device of the present invention includes:
Detecting means for detecting an operation amount of the operation member in at least a first direction;
Allocating means for allocating different values of a specific function based on a user operation to each of the plurality of stages of the operation amount in the first direction,
The assigning means may assign a value based on at least one preset pattern stored in advance to each of the plurality of stages,
The first value of the specific function is assigned to the at least one preset pattern at a maximum stage which is a stage including a maximum operation amount in the first direction that can be detected by the detection unit, and And a preset pattern that assigns the same value smaller than the first value to each of a plurality of steps in the first direction that can be detected by the detection means, excluding an unoperated state. It is characterized by the following.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to more easily perform an assignment operation when a user can assign a plurality of different values for a specific function to a plurality of stages of an operation amount to an operation member.

FIG. 1 is an external view of a digital camera 100. FIG. 2 is a configuration block diagram of the digital camera 100. It is a flowchart of a photography mode process. 6 is a display example of a menu screen, a user setting confirmation screen, and a user setting editing screen on the display unit 28. It is a flowchart of zoom speed setting detailed display processing. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of display transition of an index and a speed bar according to pressing of a zoom key 104. It is a flowchart of a zoom process. It is a flowchart of a user setting editing process. It is a flowchart of a zoom speed setting simple display process. (A1) to (a3) are display examples of the speed bar by the zoom speed setting detailed display processing. (B1) to (b3) are display examples of the speed bar by the zoom speed setting simple display process. This is a correspondence relationship between the variable b and the number of stages determined by {V (i) -V (i-1)}. 13 is another display example in response to pressing of the zoom key 104. It is a display example according to pressing of an assign button.

  Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an external view of a digital camera 100 (digital video camera) as an example of an electronic apparatus (display control device) of the present invention. FIG. 1A is a diagram of the digital camera 100 viewed from one side, and FIG. 1B is a diagram of the digital camera 100 viewed from the other side. The digital camera 100 has a barrier 101 and a photographing lens 102 on the front side. The digital camera 100 has a viewfinder as the display unit 28 on the back side. Further, the digital camera 100 includes a seesaw type zoom key 104 (grip zoom key) as an operation device on a side of the main body. Assign buttons 1 (1001), 2 (1002), 3 (1003), and 4 (1004) are customization keys that allow the user to assign any one of a plurality of functions to each button.

  FIG. 1C is an enlarged view of the zoom key 104. The zoom key 104 is operated by a pushing operation by the user. The digital camera 100 is assigned a zoom speed (function) corresponding to the amount of depression (operation amount, depression amount) when the zoom key 104 is pressed from the reference position. The zoom key 104 has a first operation part 105a and a second operation part 105b. The first operation portion 105a is a portion operated when the user performs an instruction operation for zooming to the telephoto side (tele side). The second operation portion 105b is a portion operated when the user performs an instruction operation for zooming to a wide angle side (wide side). When the user presses the first operation portion 105a, the user zooms in at the zoom speed assigned to the pressing amount. On the other hand, when the user depresses the second operation portion 105b, the user zooms out at the zoom speed assigned to the depressed amount. The zoom key 104 is configured to return to the reference position (initial position) when the user releases the pressing of the first operation portion 105a or the second operation portion 105b.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the digital camera 100.

  The taking lens 102 is a lens group including a zoom lens and a focus lens. The zoom lens changes the zoom magnification by changing the focal length. The zoom lens is controlled by the zoom control unit 201. The focus lens is a lens for focusing. The focus lens is controlled by the distance measurement control unit 202.

  The imaging unit 203 is an imaging sensor including a CCD, a CMOS element, or the like that converts an optical image into an electric signal. The A / D converter 204 converts an analog signal output from the imaging unit 203 into a digital signal. The barrier 101 covers the imaging system including the photographing lens 102 of the digital camera 100 to prevent the imaging system from being stained or damaged.

  The image processing unit 205 performs resizing processing and color conversion processing such as predetermined pixel interpolation and reduction on the image data from the A / D converter 204 or the image data from the memory control unit 206. Further, the image processing unit 205 performs a predetermined calculation process using the captured image data, and the system control unit 50 performs exposure control and distance measurement control based on the obtained calculation result. Thus, AF (auto focus) processing, AE (auto exposure) processing, and EF (flash pre-emission) processing of the TTL (through the lens) method are performed. Further, the image processing unit 205 performs predetermined arithmetic processing using the captured image data, and also performs TTL AWB (auto white balance) processing based on the obtained arithmetic result.

  Image data from the A / D converter 204 is written directly to the memory 207 via the image processing unit 205 and the memory control unit 206 or via the memory control unit 206. The memory 207 stores image data obtained by the imaging unit 203 and converted to digital data by the A / D converter 204 and image data to be displayed on the display unit 28. The memory 207 has a sufficient storage capacity for storing a predetermined number of still images, moving images and audio for a predetermined time. Further, the memory 207 also serves as an image display memory (video memory) for displaying image data and OSD (On Screen Display) data read from the recording medium 200 on the display unit 28.

  The D / A converter 209 converts the image display image data stored in the memory 207 into an analog signal and supplies the analog signal to the display unit 28. Therefore, the display image data written in the memory 207 is displayed by the display unit 28 via the D / A converter 209. The display unit 28 performs display according to an analog signal from the D / A converter 209 on a display such as an LCD. A digital signal once A / D-converted by the A / D converter 204 and stored in the memory 207 is converted into an analog signal by the D / A converter 209 and sequentially transferred to the display unit 28 for display. Functions and displays live view images. The display unit 28 of the present embodiment is a liquid crystal display, but may be another type of display such as an organic EL (Organic Electroluminescence) display. Further, the display unit 28 of the present embodiment is an electronic viewfinder, but may be a small (for example, 3.5 inch) liquid crystal monitor or an external output such as HDMI (registered trademark) or SDI. Good. Further, the display unit 28 may include a plurality of these display output systems.

  The nonvolatile memory 56 is a memory as a recording medium that can be electrically erased and recorded, and for example, an EEPROM or the like is used. The non-volatile memory 56 stores constants, programs, and the like for the operation of the system control unit 50. This program is a program for executing various flowcharts described later of the present embodiment.

  The system control unit 50 is at least one processor and / or at least one circuit that controls the entire digital camera 100. The system control unit 50 executes the programs stored in the non-volatile memory 56, thereby realizing each process described later in the present embodiment. The system control unit 50 also performs display control by controlling the memory 207, the D / A converter 209, the display unit 28, and the like.

  As the system memory 52, for example, a RAM is used. The system memory 52 stores constants and variables for operation of the system control unit 50, programs read from the nonvolatile memory 56, and the like. The system timer 212 is a time measuring unit that measures the time used for various controls and the time of a built-in clock.

  The operation unit 70 is an operation unit for inputting various operation instructions to the system control unit 50. The operation unit 70 has a menu button, a cancel button, a cross key (up key, down key, left key, right key), a SET button, and an AF / MF switching button. Also, assign buttons 1 (1001), 2 (1002), 3 (1003), and 4 (1004) to which functions can be assigned by menu setting are included. For example, when a menu button is pressed, a menu screen on which various settings can be made is displayed on the display unit 28. The user can intuitively perform various settings using the menu screen displayed on the display unit 28, the cross key, and the SET button.

  The mode switch 214 switches the operation mode of the system control unit 50 to one of a moving image recording mode, a reproduction mode, and the like.

  The power switch 215 is a push button for switching between power on and power off.

  The zoom key 104 is included in the operation unit 70, is a seesaw-type operation member, and is operated by being pressed. The system controller 50 detects the amount of depression of the first operation portion 105a or the second operation portion 105b of the zoom key 104, and controls the zoom controller 201 so that the zoom speed assigned to the amount of depression corresponds to the photographing lens 102. Change the position of. In the zoom key 104 of the present embodiment, the larger the amount of depression, the larger the amount of voltage change. Therefore, the system control unit 50 detects the pressing amount by detecting the voltage output from the zoom key 104.

  The power control unit 216 includes a battery detection circuit, a DC-DC converter, a switch circuit for switching a block to be energized, and the like, and detects whether or not a battery is installed, the type of the battery, and the remaining battery level. The power control unit 216 controls the DC-DC converter based on the detection result and the instruction of the system control unit 50, and supplies a necessary voltage to each unit including the recording medium 200 for a necessary period.

  The power supply unit 217 includes a primary battery such as an alkaline battery and a lithium battery, a secondary battery such as a NiCd battery, a NiMH battery, and a Li battery, and an AC adapter. The recording medium I / F 218 is an interface with the recording medium 200 such as a memory card or a hard disk. The recording medium 200 is a recording medium for recording an image file of a captured image, and includes a semiconductor memory such as a memory card, a magnetic disk, and the like.

  The zoom speed is an important factor as a moving picture image expression method. For example, if you zoom in at a fast zoom speed, you can quickly enlarge a distant subject and give the viewer of the movie a sense of speed, but on the other hand, the impression that it is a calm and messy camera work Could give. Zooming in at a very low zoom speed can reduce the boring impression on the viewer, even when shooting subjects with little movement (such as actors) that are just talking. More attention can be given to the subject in the center. However, a distant subject cannot be enlarged to a sufficient size in a short time. Further, a zoom operation such as performing zooming at a fixed zoom speed, or zooming slowly at first, and then zooming at a high speed may be required. As described above, what kind of zoom speed is preferable depends on the situation of zooming and the intention of the video creator. Therefore, it is required that the zoom speed as intended by the photographer can be properly used with good operability.

  In the digital camera 100 of the present embodiment, various zoom speeds can be selectively used with good operability in the zoom performed by operating the zoom key 104. The digital camera 100 can select and set at least one of three types of zoom, fixed speed zoom, variable speed zoom, and user setting, as the type of zoom according to the operation on the zoom key 104. The contents of each type will be described later. Also, at least three types of preset patterns of the zoom speed for each pressing level of the zoom key 104 can be used. Further, based on the preset pattern, the user can change the zoom speed for each pressing level and register and use a customized pattern. That is, from the state where the preset pattern is assigned, the zoom speed assigned to each of the plurality of pressing levels can be adjusted based on the user operation. Hereinafter, the zoom control according to the operation on the zoom key 104 will be mainly described.

  In the present embodiment, the system control unit 50 converts the voltage detected when the zoom key 104 is pressed to obtain a numerical value in the range of -127 to +127 indicating the pressed amount (pressed amount). If the zoom key 104 has not been pressed, a numerical value 0 is obtained. When the first operation portion 105a is pressed (when pressed in the clockwise direction around the fulcrum of the zoom key 104), numerical values of 1 to 127 are obtained, and the zoom operation to the tele side (telephoto side) is performed. Show that When the second operation portion 105b is pressed (when pressed in a counterclockwise direction around the fulcrum of the zoom key 104), numerical values of -1 to -127 are acquired, and zooming to the wide side (closest side) is performed. Indicates that an operation is taking place. In each case, the larger absolute value indicates that the button has been pressed strongly (the button has been pressed deeper), and positive and negative signs indicate the zoom direction. In the digital camera 100, numerical values obtained by 1 to 127 and -1 to -127 are divided (classified) into five levels, and a zoom speed is assigned to each level and managed. That is, the zoom speed is assigned and managed for each of the five operation amounts. In this embodiment, an example in which the operation amount is divided into five stages will be described, but the number of stages may be two or more or three or more. In the five stages of the present embodiment, for example, when the system control unit 50 acquires any numerical value from 1 to 25, the system control unit 50 sets the pressing level to the tele side 1 and sets the telephoto at the zoom speed associated with the pressing level 1. Control to zoom to the side. Further, when any numerical value from 26 to 50 is acquired, the telephoto side press level 2 is set, and control is performed so as to perform zooming to the tele side at the zoom speed associated with the press level 2. Similarly, 51 to 75, 76 to 100, and 101 to 127 are the pressing levels 3, 4, and 5, respectively. That is, the numerical range of each of the press levels 1 to 4 is 25, and the numerical range of the press level 5 which is the maximum press level is 27. At the pressing levels 1 to 4, a higher pressing level can be obtained by increasing the pressing force, but the pressing level is not higher than the pressing level 5. That is, except for the pressing level 5, a proportional relationship is established in which the pressing level increases by one every time the pressing amount is increased by 25. Further, when any numerical value of −25 to −1 is obtained, the pressing level 1 to the wide side (or pressing level −1) is set, and the zoom speed associated with the pressing level 1 to the wide side is set. Control to perform zooming to the wide side. Further, when any numerical value from -50 to -26 is acquired, the pressing level 2 to the wide side (or pressing level -2) is set, and the zoom speed associated with the pressing level 2 to the wide side is set. Control to perform zooming to the wide side. In the present embodiment, if the absolute value of the pressing level is the same (for example, pressing level 1 and −1), the absolute value of the zoom speed is the same on both the tele side and the wide side, but the zoom speeds of different absolute values are different. May be assigned. The correspondence between the voltage, the numerical value, and the pressing level is stored in advance in association with the nonvolatile memory 56. It can also be customized by the user. Note that the relationship between the pressing amount and the pressing level in the five stages on one side is not limited to the above-described numerical range, and the numerical range width of each level may be uniform or weighted according to the stage. The case of weighting by stages means, for example, that the range of numerical values corresponding to the pressing levels 1 and 5 is wider than other pressing levels. With such a numerical range, it is possible to easily use the minimum pressing level (the lowest zoom speed) and the maximum pressing level (the highest zoom speed). Although the example in which the pressing level has five steps on one side has been described, the pressing level is not limited to this, and the pressing level may be divided into more steps or fewer steps.

  In the digital camera 100 of the present embodiment, one of 17 levels of zoom speeds (control values and set values of the zoom function) of 0 to 16 is assigned to each of the above-described pressing levels of the zoom key 104. Note that the zoom speed assigned to each pressing level may be other than 17 levels, and may be an expression such as “slow, normal, fast” different from the numerical value. For example, when the zoom speed 3 is assigned to the pressing level 1 and the user presses the zoom key 104 at the pressing level 1 (one of the pressing amounts 1 to 25), the zoom position is the tele end (tele end). If the distance has not been reached, the camera is zoomed to the telephoto side at a zoom speed of 3.

  The digital camera of the present embodiment can set the overall zoom speed to one of high, middle, and low, in addition to the user setting (user customization) of the zoom speed described later. That is, the zoom speed of “0 to 16” set for each pressing level is changed according to the setting of high, middle, and low.

  FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of a shooting mode process in the digital camera 100. Note that the processing of each flowchart described below including FIG. 3 is realized by expanding a program recorded in the nonvolatile memory 56 into the system memory 52 and executing the program by the system control unit 50. When the digital camera 100 is started in the shooting mode, the processing in FIG. 3 starts.

  In step S301, the system control unit 50 starts capturing an LV image by the imaging unit 203, and displays a shooting standby screen including the LV image.

  In S302, the system control unit 50 performs a zoom speed setting simple display process. The zoom speed setting simple display processing will be described later with reference to FIG. By this processing, when the type of the zoom speed is set to the user setting (user customization), the zoom speed bar indicating the relative relationship of the zoom speed for each pressing level of the zoom key 104 customized by the user is displayed on the LV image. It is superimposed and displayed.

  In S303, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not a menu button included in the operation unit 70 has been pressed (whether or not there has been a menu display instruction). If the menu button has been pressed, the process proceeds to S311; otherwise, the process proceeds to S304.

  In S304, the system control unit 50 determines whether the zoom key 104 has been pressed. If the zoom key 104 has been pressed, the process advances to step S305; otherwise, the process advances to step S306. In step S305, zoom processing is performed at a zoom speed according to the amount of depression of the zoom key. The zoom processing will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In S306, the system control unit 50 determines whether the REC button (photographing instruction key) included in the operation unit 70 has been pressed. If the REC button has been pressed, the process proceeds to S307; otherwise, the process proceeds to S310. In S307, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not a moving image is being recorded. If the moving image is being recorded, the process proceeds to S309; otherwise (the recording is stopped or the recording is waiting), the process proceeds to S308. In S308, a recording process (main photographing process, REC) of recording the moving image captured by the imaging unit 203 as a moving image file on the recording medium 200 is started. In step S309, the system control unit 50 stops the moving image being recorded, and performs a closing process on the recorded moving image file. As a result, recording is in a standby state. That is, the system control unit 50 starts REC when the REC button is pressed during standby for moving image recording (during stop, STBY), and stops recording of a moving image when the REC button is pressed during REC.

  In S310, the system control unit 50 determines whether an end event of the shooting mode process has occurred. The end event includes, for example, power-off due to depression of the power switch 215, power-off due to a decrease in power supply voltage, transition to a reproduction mode, and the like. When the end event occurs, the photographing mode process ends, and if not, the process returns to S303 to repeat the process.

  In S311, the system control unit 50 displays a menu screen on the display unit 28. The menu screen is a screen that displays a menu including a plurality of menu items for performing various settings related to the digital camera 100. The menu screen can display some menu items among a plurality of menu items that do not fit on one screen by scrolling or switching tabs.

  FIG. 4A shows a display example of the menu screen. FIG. 4A is a display example showing a portion including a menu item 403 for setting a type of zoom speed and a menu item 404 for selecting a user setting number for zoom speed customization, among menus related to camera settings. is there. The menu screen is displayed so as to be superimposed on the shooting standby screen in which the recordable time 401a, the recording state 401b, and the recordable time 401c are superimposed on the LV image 400. A menu item 403 (“grip zoom speed”) is an item for setting a zoom speed assignment pattern based on which zoom drive is performed when the zoom key 104 is operated. As options, there are “user” (user setting, user customizing), variable speed zoom, and fixed speed zoom, and any of them can be set. The “user” (user setting, user customizing) is a type in which a zoom speed set by a user for each pressing amount (pressing amount, pressing degree, pressure, pressing amount) of the zoom key 104 or a preset zoom speed is used. is there. The user can set different zoom speeds for each depression amount, and can also set to perform zoom driving at the same zoom speed regardless of the depression amount. The variable speed zoom is a type in which zoom driving is performed at a different zoom speed for each pressing amount, which is assigned in advance to the pressing amount of the zoom key 104. The fixed speed zoom is a type in which the zoom drive is performed at a constant zoom speed when the zoom key 104 is pressed, regardless of the pressing amount of the zoom key 104. In other words, the fixed-speed zoom is a type in which the same zoom speed is assigned in advance to any of the pressed amounts with respect to the pressed amount of the zoom key 104, and the zoom drive is performed at the same zoom speed for any of the pressed amounts. A menu item 404 (“user setting”) indicates which of a plurality of setting patterns (a pattern set by the user or a preset pattern) when the zoom speed type is “user”. It is an item to be set. In the present embodiment, it can be set to any one of three options (user setting numbers 1 to 3) of user 1, user 2, and user 3. That is, in the present embodiment, the user can register three patterns of the zoom speed for each amount of pressing the zoom key. Menu item 404 can be selected when “user” is set in menu item 403. In other cases (when variable speed zoom or fixed speed zoom is set), it is grayed out and cannot be selected.

  In S312, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not an instruction to change the type of zoom speed has been issued. As described above, the type of the zoom speed can be determined by selecting the menu item 403. Specifically, it can be changed by pressing a right key or a left key (hereinafter collectively referred to as a left / right key) included in the operation unit 70 with the selection cursor being pointed at the menu item 403. If there is an instruction to change the type of zoom speed, the process proceeds to S313; otherwise, the process proceeds to S314. In S313, the system control unit 50 sets one of “user” (user setting, user customization), variable speed zoom, and fixed speed zoom based on the zoom speed type change instruction.

  In S314, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the current zoom speed type is set to user setting (“user”). If the user setting is set, the process proceeds to S315; otherwise, the process proceeds to S316. In S315, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the set button included in the operation unit 70 has been pressed in a state where the “user setting” item (menu item 404) is selected (a state in which the selection cursor is touched). judge. If the user presses the set button while the user setting item is selected, the process advances to step S319; otherwise, the process advances to step S316.

  In S316, the system control unit 50 determines whether another operation has been performed. Other operations include an operation of moving a selection cursor for selecting a menu item (up / down key operation included in the operation unit 70) and a setting operation in a state where other menu items are selected. In S317, the system control unit 50 performs a process according to another operation. For example, the selection cursor is moved so as to select the next lower menu item in response to one operation of the down key.

  In S318, the system control unit 50 determines whether there is an instruction to end the menu screen (menu clear operation). If there is an instruction to end the menu screen, the menu screen is hidden and the process returns to S301 to display the shooting waterfall screen. If there is no instruction to end the menu screen, the process returns to S312 to repeat the processing.

  In step S <b> 319, the system control unit 50 registers, from the nonvolatile memory 56, the set value (registered) of the zoom speed for each depression amount (for each depression level) of the zoom key 104 at the user setting number currently set in the menu item 404. (Setting pattern).

  In S320, the system control unit 50 performs zoom speed setting detailed display processing. The zoom speed setting detailed display process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In S321, the system control unit 50 displays a user setting confirmation screen on the display unit 28. 4 (c1), 4 (d1), and 4 (e1) show display examples of the user setting confirmation screen. FIGS. 4 (c1), 4 (d1), and 4 (e1) show, for each pressing level of the zoom key 104 registered in “user setting 1”, “user setting 2”, and “user setting 3”, respectively. It is a display example of a confirmation screen of a setting pattern of a zoom speed. In FIG. 4 (c1), FIG. 4 (d1), and FIG. 4 (e1), a user setting number 405 is a user setting number which is an identification number of a setting pattern currently displayed. An OK button 406 is a display item that is an option for changing the setting to the currently displayed setting pattern and terminating the confirmation screen. An edit button 407 is a display item that is an option for transitioning to a screen for editing the currently displayed setting pattern (a screen for changing the setting of the zoom speed for each pressing level). The user can select one of the user setting number 405, the OK button 406, and the edit button 407 by moving the selection cursor. Also, the LV image 400, the recordable time 401a, the recording state 401b, and the recordable time 401c are displayed on the background. Further, a zoom bar 408 indicating the current zoom position is displayed in response to the start of operation of the zoom key 104, and is displayed until a predetermined time elapses after the operation is completed. The left end of the zoom bar 408 corresponds to the wide end and the right end corresponds to the tele end, and the position of the vertically long index indicates the current zoom position. When the optical zoom is performed by operating the zoom key 104, the position of the index moves according to the zoom position.

  4 (c1), FIG. 4 (d1), and FIG. 4 (e1), the zoom speed bar display area 410 displays the set value of the zoom speed when the zoom key 104 is pressed at each pressing level in the form of a bar. A zoom speed bar, which is a display element indicated by the height of the rectangle, is displayed. Each of the "zoom speed bar" is one of the display elements (display items), and the "zoom speed bar" may be hereinafter simply referred to as "speed bar". The dotted line in the figure showing the zoom speed bar display area 410 is shown for the sake of convenience, and is not displayed on the display unit 28. Hereinafter, the case where the zoom key 104 is pressed to the wide side at the pressing levels 1 to 5 is also referred to as pressing levels 1 to -5, respectively. The pressing levels 1 to -5 correspond to the same absolute values of the pressing amounts (pressure, pressing degree, operation degree) as the pressing levels 1 to 5 when the zoom key 104 is pressed to the tele side. Then, the instruction direction of the zoom drive is on the wide side opposite to the tele side (the pressed position is not the first operation portion 105a but the second operation portion 105b).

  4 (c1), FIG. 4 (d1), and FIG. 4 (e1), in the zoom speed numerical value display area 430, the set value of the zoom speed when the zoom key 104 is pressed at each pressing level is a numerical value (0 to 16). 17 step). Each numerical value displayed in the zoom speed numerical value display area 430 is displayed below each zoom speed bar in association with each zoom speed bar displayed in the zoom speed bar display area 410. The dotted line in the figure showing the zoom speed numerical value display area 430 is shown for convenience and is not displayed on the display unit 28.

  With such a user setting confirmation screen, the user can confirm how much the zoom key 104 is pressed and how fast the zoom is performed. Details of each display element in the zoom speed bar display area 410 and the zoom speed numerical value display area 430 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  At the time of shipment from the factory, the digital camera 100 stores three preset patterns in the nonvolatile memory 56 in association with user setting numbers 1 to 3. The preset pattern can be called by setting each user setting number before editing the setting pattern of each user setting number, or by performing a reset operation in editing each user setting number. Therefore, if no editing (customization) operation has been performed, or if each user setting number has been reset, a preset pattern stored in advance for each user setting number is displayed on the user setting confirmation screen. . When edited, the setting pattern registered in the target user setting number is changed and is no longer a preset pattern, but the storage of the preset pattern in the nonvolatile memory 56 is retained, and the preset pattern is registered again by resetting. be able to.

  In S322, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not a user setting number switching instruction has been issued. The instruction to switch the user setting number can be performed by pressing the left and right keys while the user setting number 405 is selected by the selection cursor. If a user setting number switching operation has been performed, the process advances to step S323; otherwise, the process advances to step S324. In S323, the system control unit 50 switches the user setting number according to the switching operation performed in S322. For example, when the user setting 1 is set, when the switching operation is performed by the left key, the setting is switched to the user setting 3, and when the switching operation is performed by the right key, the switching is performed to the user setting 2. When the user setting number is switched, the process proceeds to S319, where the setting pattern registered in the switched user setting number is read, and the processes of S320 and S321 are performed based on the read setting pattern, and the user setting confirmation screen is updated.

  In S324, the system control unit 50 determines whether there is an instruction to edit the setting pattern. An editing instruction can be performed by an operation of pressing a set button included in the operation unit 70 with the editing button 407 selected with a selection cursor. If there is an editing instruction, the process proceeds to S325; otherwise, the process proceeds to S326. In S325, the system control unit 50 performs a user setting editing process (customizing process) based on the currently displayed setting pattern. The user setting editing process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In S326, the system control unit 50 determines whether the zoom key 104 has been pressed. If the zoom key 104 has been pressed, the process proceeds to S327; otherwise, the process proceeds to S328. In S327, zoom processing is performed at a zoom speed according to the amount of pressing of the zoom key 104. The zoom processing will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In S328, it is determined whether or not an instruction operation of the OK button 406 (an operation of pressing a set button included in the operation unit 70 in a state selected by the selection cursor) has been performed. If the OK button 406 has been instructed, the process proceeds to S329; otherwise, the process returns to S322 to repeat the process. In S329, the system control unit 50 determines the last user setting number displayed on the user setting confirmation screen as the current setting, and records it in the nonvolatile memory 56. Subsequently, the user setting confirmation screen is hidden and the display returns to the menu screen (proceed to S311). Although not shown in FIG. 3, in the user setting confirmation screen, the system control unit 50 operates the user setting number 405, the OK button 406, and the edit button in response to the operation of the up key or the down key included in the operation unit 70. The selection cursor is moved to any one of 407. Further, a still image may be captured.

  Each preset pattern shown in FIG. 4 (c1), FIG. 4 (d1), and FIG. 4 (e1) will be described in detail.

  The preset pattern (preset pattern 1) shown in FIG. 4 (c1) is a pattern in which zoom speeds “1”, “5”, “9”, “13”, and “16” are assigned to press levels 1 to 5, respectively. It is. Press levels -1 to -5 are patterns for performing zooming in the opposite direction at the same zoom speed as press levels 1 to 5. The lowest speed (1) at which zoom drive is possible is assigned to the lowest value of the press level (press level 1), and the highest speed (16) at which zoom drive is possible with respect to the maximum value of the press level (press level 5). ) Is assigned. The other press levels are set so that the increase amount of the press level and the increase amount of the zoom speed have a substantially proportional relationship (the speed difference between adjacent levels is 4 or 3, and the same numerical value is preferably used). And). According to such a preset pattern 1, when the zoom key 104 is lightly pressed, the zoom is performed at a low speed, when the zoom key 104 is pressed strongly, the zoom is performed at a high speed, and when the zoom key 104 is pressed with a medium force, the zoom is performed at a medium speed. Since the amount of change in the zoom speed is substantially proportional to the pressing force, the user can easily understand the relationship between the zoom speed and the pressing force. Therefore, the preset pattern is easy to use for a user who wants to frequently switch and use the zoom speed from a low speed to a high speed according to a scene.

  The preset pattern (preset pattern 2) shown in FIG. 4 (d1) is a pattern in which zoom speeds of “3”, “3”, “3”, “3”, and “16” are assigned to press levels 1 to 5, respectively. It is. Press levels -1 to -5 are patterns for performing zooming in the opposite direction at the same zoom speed as press levels 1 to 5. The same zoom speed of a relatively low speed (3) is assigned to the press levels 1 to 4, and the maximum zoom drive speed (16) is assigned to the maximum value of the press level (press level 5). According to such a preset pattern 2, when the zoom key 104 is depressed until it is completely depressed, the zoom is performed at the highest speed. When the zoom key 104 is depressed at a depressing level 4 or less without depressing, the relatively low speed constant Zoomed in speed. By pressing the button without pushing it all the way to the end, it is possible to easily perform zooming at a relatively low speed and constant speed, so that it is possible to prevent the zoom speed from frequently changing and making it difficult to view the image. . Also, only when you want to zoom quickly, you can also perform high-speed zooming by pressing the zoom key 104 to the end, so you basically want to zoom at a constant speed, but you need to zoom quickly according to the situation This is a suitable preset pattern. For example, during shooting of a moving image (during recording), zooming is performed at a constant speed in order to maintain the quality of the moving image to be recorded, and quickly during recording of the moving image is stopped (during shooting standby) to prepare for the next shooting. It is suitable for such usage. In addition, although 3 is described as an example of the relatively low speed, another value may be used as long as it is equal to or less than half (8) of the settable maximum value (16).

  The preset pattern (preset pattern 3) shown in FIG. 4 (e1) is a pattern in which zoom speeds “3”, “7”, “7”, “7”, and “16” are assigned to press levels 1 to 5, respectively. It is. Press levels -1 to -5 are patterns in which zooming is performed in the opposite direction at the same zoom speed as press levels 1 to 5. At the lowest pressing level 1, a relatively low zoom speed (3) is assigned. The same zoom speed (7) of the medium speed is assigned to the pressing levels 2 to 4. The maximum speed (16) at which zoom driving is possible is assigned to the maximum stage of the pressing level (pressing level 5). According to such a preset pattern 3, zooming is performed at the highest speed when the zoom key 104 is depressed until it is fully depressed, and zooming is performed at a relatively low speed when the zoom key is depressed very lightly. When the button is pressed in one of the wide ranges of the intermediate pressing level, the zoom speed does not change, so that it is easy to perform the constant speed zoom. Basically, such a preset pattern 3 is preferably used in the same scene as the preset pattern 2, but when it is desired to selectively use a low speed (3) and a slightly higher zoom speed (7). It is particularly suitable for The zoom speed that is slightly faster than the low speed is less than half of the maximum assignable zoom speed of 16 and is such that the moving image is not difficult to see even if the low speed and the slightly higher speed are properly used during recording of the moving image. Speed. In addition, "3, 7, 7, 7, 16" is given as an example of the preset pattern 3, but "1, 5, 5, 5, 16, 16" or "0, 7, 7, 7, 16" may be used. And In the case of “1, 7, 7, 7, 16”, when the pressing amount is the minimum, the operation is performed at the minimum speed (the minimum speed) that is not zero, and in the case of “0, 7, 7, 7, 16, 16” , Does not operate when the pressing amount is the minimum. By preparing settings such as “0, 7, 7, 7, 16”, the first press (pressing amount 1 to 25) can be treated as a dead zone, and careless touching the zoom key 104 lightly Zooming can be prevented.

  The user setting confirmation screen is not limited to the examples shown in FIGS. 4 (c1), 4 (d1) and 4 (e1), and three user settings are displayed on the same screen. Such a display may be used. The user 1 to 3 are displayed on the same screen with a zoom speed bar indicating the setting status, and one of the user settings is selected by moving the left triangle cursor up and down. Then, by pressing a set button included in the operation unit 70, an editing screen of the selected user setting is displayed.

  FIG. 5 shows a detailed flowchart of the zoom speed setting detail display process in S320 of FIG. This process is a process of displaying each display element in the zoom speed bar display area 410 and the zoom speed numerical value display area 430 described above.

  In step S501, the system control unit 50 refers to the setting information stored in the nonvolatile memory 56, and determines whether the type of the zoom speed is set to the user setting (“user”). If the type of the zoom speed is the user setting, the process proceeds to S502; otherwise, the process ends. That is, the zoom speed bar display area 410 and the zoom speed numerical value display area 430 are not displayed when the zoom speed type is not set to the user setting.

  In S502, a variable i used as a counter for each pressing level is initialized to 1.

  In S503, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the speed V (i) assigned to the pressing level i is 0. If V (i) is 0, the process proceeds to S504; otherwise, the process proceeds to S506.

  In S504, the system control unit 50 displays a speed value 0 at a position corresponding to the pressed level i and the pressed level −i in the zoom speed numerical value display area 430.

  In S505, the system control unit 50 displays a bar-shaped rectangle (speed bar) having a height of H0 at a position corresponding to the pressed level i and the pressed level −i in the zoom speed bar display area 410. H0 is, for example, 7 pixels.

  In S506, the system control unit 50 displays the numerical value of V (i) at a position corresponding to the press level i and the press level -i in the zoom speed numerical value display area 430.

  In S507, the system control unit 50 displays a bar-shaped rectangle with a height of V (i) * H2 at a position corresponding to the pressed level i and the pressed level −i in the zoom speed bar display area 410. I do. H2 is larger than H0 described above, and is, for example, 20 pixels. For example, when the zoom speed V (i) assigned to the pressing level i is 3, a bar-shaped rectangle having a height of 3 * 20 = 60 pixels is displayed.

  In S508, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the variable i has reached 5, which is the maximum value of the pressing level. If it has not reached 5, the variable i is incremented by 1 in S509, and the processing from S503 is repeated. If the variable i has reached 5, the speed numerical values and the speed bars of all the pressing levels are displayed, and the process ends. Thus, each speed bar of the zoom speed bar display area 410 and each speed numerical value of the zoom speed numerical value display area 430 are displayed as shown in FIGS. 4 (c1), 4 (d1), and 4 (e1).

  With reference to FIGS. 6A to 6E, transition of display of an index indicating the amount of depression of the zoom key 104 and display of the speed bar according to the depression of the zoom key 104 will be described. Each of FIGS. 6A to 6E shows only the zoom speed bar display area 410 and the zoom speed numerical value display area 430 described with reference to FIG. Are not shown. The icon 416 is a guide display indicating that the speed bars 411 to 415 and the numerical value areas 431 to 435 on the right side correspond to the operation on the tele side. The icon 426 is a guide display indicating that the speed bars 421 to 425 on the left side and the numerical value areas 441 to 445 correspond to the operation toward the wide side. The speed bars 411 to 415 correspond to pressing levels 1 to 5 on the tele side, respectively. The speed bars 421 to 425 correspond to pressing levels -1 to -5, which are pressing to the wide side, respectively. Numerical value areas 431 to 435 correspond to pressing levels 1 to 5 on the tele side, respectively. Numerical value areas 441 to 445 correspond to press levels -1 to -5, respectively, which are presses toward the wide side. The index 420 indicates the amount of pressing of the zoom key 104 at that point in a unit finer than the pressing level, depending on the position in the left-right direction.

  FIGS. 6A and 6B show examples in which zoom speeds 2, 4, 6, 12, and 16 are assigned to press levels 1 to 5, respectively. In such an allocation situation, when the zoom key 104 is pressed with the amount of pressing down to the tele side at the pressing level 2 (when the first operation portion 105a is pressed), the display is as shown in FIG. 6A. In FIG. 6A, the indicator 420 is displayed inside the speed bar 412 corresponding to the pressing level 2, and is also displayed on the left side of the center in the speed bar 412. This indicates that the current depression amount is the depression level 2 and the depression amount is weaker than the depression level 2 (weaker than the median value at the depression level 2). As a result, if the amount of pressing is further reduced, the zoom speed changes to the pressing level 1 and the zoom speed becomes slow. Conversely, even if the pressing amount is slightly increased, there is still room to the pressing level 3 so that the zoom speed can be easily maintained. . Further, since the display form of the speed bar 412 corresponding to the pressing level 2 is emphasized and displayed unlike other speed bars, the user recognizes that the control is currently being performed at the zoom speed corresponding to the speed bar 412. It is possible. For example, the speed bar 412 is displayed in orange as a highlight, and the other speed bars are displayed in white as a normal display.

  When the zoom key 104 is pressed down to the wide side by a pressing amount of the pressing level -5 (when the second operation portion 105b is pressed), the display is as shown in FIG. 6B. The indicator 420 is displayed inside the speed bar 425 corresponding to the press level -5, and is displayed on the right side of the center among the speed bars 425. This indicates that the current depression amount is the depression level -5, and that the depression amount is weaker than the depression level -5 (weaker than the median at the depression level -5). As a result, if the pressing amount is further reduced, it changes to the pressing level 4 and the zoom speed is reduced. In addition, since the display form of the speed bar 425 corresponding to the press level -5 is emphasized and displayed unlike other speed bars, the user is informed that control is currently being performed at the zoom speed corresponding to the speed bar 425. Can be recognized.

  FIG. 6C is an example in which zoom speeds 2, 6, 6, 12, and 16 are assigned to the pressing levels 1 to 5, respectively. That is, the same zoom speed is assigned to the pressing level 2 and the pressing level 3. When the zoom key 104 is depressed to the tele side with a depressing amount of the depressing level 2 in such an allocation situation, the display is as shown in FIG. 6C. In FIG. 6C, the indicator 420 is displayed inside the speed bar 412 corresponding to the pressing level 2, and is displayed on the right side of the center among the speed bars 412. This indicates that the current depression amount is the depression level 2 and that the depression amount is stronger than the depression level 2 (greater than the median value at the depression level 2). Also, the display form of the speed bar 412 corresponding to the pressing level 2 is emphasized and displayed unlike other speed bars. Further, the display form of the speed bar 413 corresponding to the press level 3 to which the same zoom speed as the press level 2 is assigned is the same as the display form of the speed bar 412, and is emphasized and displayed unlike other speed bars. . As described above, not only the pressing level corresponding to the current pressing amount, but also the speed bar corresponding to another pressing level to which the same zoom speed is assigned is highlighted. Such a display allows the user to recognize which pressing level corresponds to the current pressing amount, and other pressing levels to which the same zoom speed is assigned. As in the present embodiment, when the zoom speeds are arranged in ascending order from the lower pressing level to the higher pressing level (that is, in the order of the operation amount), the range (pressing speed) having the same set value (zoom speed) Level 2 to 3) can be easily confirmed. Further, it is possible to easily identify the changing points (points where the pressing level changes from 1 to 2 and pressing levels 3 to 4) having different setting values. If it is found that there are a plurality of pressing levels corresponding to the current pressing amount as shown in FIG. 6C, the pressing amount slightly fluctuates when zooming at a constant speed while maintaining the current zoom speed. It can be recognized that there is no problem. For example, in the situation shown in FIG. 6C, it can be recognized that the zoom speed does not change even if the pressing amount is increased to the next pressing level, so that it is not necessary to operate the zoom speed very carefully when it is desired to maintain the zoom speed. I understand. More specifically, if you want to keep the zoom speed, there is no problem even if you slightly increase the press amount and reach the next press level, so it is only necessary to hold the press amount with care not to reduce the press amount It is easy to perform an operation that maintains the zoom speed. Conversely, it can be seen that if it is desired to increase the zoom speed, the amount of depression must be increased by two steps from the current depression level. As shown in FIG. 6A, when it is found that the pressing level corresponding to the current pressing amount is one, if the zoom at a constant speed while maintaining the current zoom speed is performed, the pressing amount is determined. Need to be carefully maintained at the current level.

  FIG. 6D shows an example in which zoom speeds 0, 0, 6, 12, and 16 are assigned to the press levels 1 to 5, respectively. That is, the same zoom speed “0” is assigned to the pressing level 1 and the pressing level 2. In such an allocation situation, when the zoom key 104 is depressed to the tele side with the depressing amount of the depressing level 1, the display is as shown in FIG. 6D. In FIG. 6D, the indicator 420 is displayed inside the speed bar 411 corresponding to the pressing level 1. This indicates that the current pressing amount is the pressing level 1, and that the operation of pressing the zoom key 104 is not correctly performed by the digital camera 100 although the zoom drive is not performed. However, the display form of the speed bar 411 corresponding to the press level 1 is the same as the other speed bars, and is not highlighted. Further, the display form of the speed bar 413 corresponding to the pressing level 2 to which the same zoom speed as the pressing level 1 is assigned is not highlighted. This is because the assigned zoom speed is 0 and the zoom key 104 is pressed, but no zoom drive is performed. If the speed bar 411 is highlighted in this case, the user should perform zoom driving at a speed corresponding to the height of the speed bar 411. However, since the zoom driving is not performed, the digital camera 100 is in an abnormal state such as a failure. May be erroneously recognized as However, since the speed bar is not highlighted, it is possible to recognize that the occurrence of the zoom drive is not an abnormality but a normal response. Also, the speed bars corresponding to the pressing levels 1 and 2 to which the speed 0 is assigned also prevent the corresponding positions of the pressing levels 1 and 2 from being blank by not setting the display height to 0. , The corresponding positions of the pressing levels 1 and 2 can be clearly shown. Further, since the display position of the indicator 420 changes according to the amount of pressing, the user can recognize that the pressing itself is normally detected by the apparatus.

  FIG. 6E is a display example when the zoom key 104 is not pressed in the same assignment status as in FIG. 6D. Since the index 420 is displayed at the left and right center position, which is not inside any of the speed bars, it can be understood that the pressing of the zoom key 104 is not detected at present (the pressing amount is 0).

  FIG. 7 shows a detailed flowchart of the zoom processing performed in S305 and S327 in FIG. 3 described above and S803 in FIG. 8 described later. In this process, when the zoom key 104 is pressed, zoom driving is performed at a zoom speed corresponding to the pressed amount, and the detected pressed amount and the corresponding pressed level are displayed on the display unit 28. This is the process of responding to. By this processing, the display described in FIGS. 6A to 6E is realized. In the zoom processing by pressing the zoom key 104 at the timing of S305, the display relating to the speed bar and the index described later is performed with respect to the simplified display of the zoom speed bar described later. In the zoom process by pressing the zoom key 104 at S327, the timing of S803 in FIG. 8 described later, the display related to the speed bar and the index described later is performed with respect to the detailed display described above, and FIG. 6 (e). A display example corresponding to each step in FIG. 7 described below is a corresponding example at the time of detailed display. The process in FIG. 7 is performed regardless of whether the moving image is being recorded or stopped (waiting).

  In step S701, the system control unit 50 sets the index indicating the current pressing amount (degree of pressing) at the right and left positions corresponding to the detected pressing amount of the zoom key 104 at the same height as the speed bar corresponding to the pressing amount. (Indicator) is displayed. Thus, the indicator 420 is displayed as described with reference to FIGS. 6A to 6D described above.

  In S702, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the set speed V (N) assigned to the pressing level N corresponding to the detected pressing amount of the zoom key 104 is 0. If V (N) is 0, the process proceeds to S711 without performing the zoom drive even if the press on the zoom key 104 is detected, and without performing the speed bar highlight display (identification display). If V (N) is not 0, the process proceeds to S703.

  In step S703, the system control unit 50 controls the zoom control unit 201 to perform zoom driving at the zoom speed V (N). If the pressing level N corresponding to the detected pressing amount is +, the zoom direction is the telephoto side (zoom in), and if the pressing level N is −, the zoom side is the wide side (zoom out). Note that, when the zoom position has already reached the telephoto end (telephoto end), even if the operation of the zoom key 104 to the telephoto side is detected, the zoom drive is not performed. If the zoom end reaches the telephoto end (telephoto end) during zoom driving in response to the operation of the zoom key 104 to the telephoto side, the zoom is stopped there. Further, if the zoom position has already reached the wide end (wide angle end) and the operation of the zoom key 104 to the wide side is detected, the zoom drive is not performed. When the zoom key 104 reaches the wide end (wide angle end) during zoom driving according to the operation of the zoom key 104 to the wide side, the zoom is stopped there.

  In S704, the system control unit 50 initializes a variable i used as a counter for each pressing level to -5.

  In step S705, the system control unit 50 allocates the zoom speed V (i) assigned to the pressing level i (the i-th operation amount) to the currently detected pressing level N (the N-th operation amount). It is determined whether the zoom speed is the same as the zoom speed V (N). Whether or not the speeds are the same is determined in consideration of the sign of the speed. That is, if the absolute values are the same but the zoom directions are different on the wide side and the tele side, respectively, it is not determined in S705 that the zoom speed is the same. If V (i) and V (N) are the same, the process proceeds to S706; otherwise, the process proceeds to S707.

  In S706, the system control unit 50 identifies (highlights) the speed bar at the pressing level i. The identification display is, for example, a process of displaying a different color, orange, when a speed bar for which no identification is displayed is displayed in white. Further, the present invention is not limited to the color change, and may be displayed with a thick frame (thick frame line), changed the shape, or indicated by an arrow. The identification display is performed regardless of whether the pressing level i is the same pressing level as the currently detected pressing level N or a different pressing level. As a result, identification displays such as the speed bar 412 in FIG. 6A, the speed bar 425 in FIG. 6B, and the speed bars 412 and 413 in FIG. 6C are performed.

  In S707, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the variable i has reached −1. If i = −1 (when the confirmation has been completed for all the pressing levels on the wide side), the process proceeds to S 708, where 1 is set to the variable i (that is, confirmation of the pressing level on the tele side by skipping 0). The processing from S705 is repeated. In S709, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the variable i has reached 5. If the variable i is not 5, the process proceeds to S710, where the variable i is incremented by one, and the processing from S705 is repeated. If the variable i has reached 5 (if confirmation has been completed for all pressing levels on the tele side following the wide side), the flow proceeds to S711.

  In S711, it is determined whether or not the pressing of the zoom key 104 has been released (the pressing amount has become 0). If the depression of the zoom key 104 has not been released, the process advances to step S701 to repeat the process at a predetermined cycle. This is because the amount of pressing of the zoom key 104 may change while the pressing of the zoom key 104 continues. That is, the zoom drive and the display by the processes of S701 to S710 dynamically change following the change in the amount of depression of the zoom key 104. When the pressing of the zoom key 104 is released, the process proceeds to S712.

  In S712, the system control unit 50 stops the zoom drive. If the zoom end has already been reached after reaching the telephoto end or the wide end, nothing is performed.

  In S713, the system control unit 50 returns each display state to the state where the zoom key 104 is not pressed. Specifically, the display position of the index is displayed at the center position between the wide speed bar and the tele speed bar to indicate that the zoom key 104 is not pressed. In addition, the identification display of the speed bar performed in S706 is canceled. Thus, the display as shown in FIG. 6E is performed.

  FIG. 8 shows a detailed flowchart of the user setting editing process performed in S325 of FIG. 3 described above. This processing is for customizing the zoom speed assigned to each pressing level based on the operation of the user. This processing is realized by expanding a program recorded in the non-volatile memory 56 into the system memory 52 and executing the program by the system control unit 50.

  In step S801, an editing screen (user setting editing screen) is displayed on the display unit 28. The edit screen is displayed based on the zoom speed assignment pattern for each pressing level shown on the user setting confirmation screen displayed immediately before the transition to the user setting edit processing. That is, when the above-described FIG. 4 (c1) is displayed as the user setting confirmation screen, FIG. 4 (c2) is displayed as the editing screen. When the above-described FIG. 4 (d1) is displayed as the user setting confirmation screen, FIG. 4 (d2) is displayed as the editing screen. When FIG. 4 (e1) is displayed as the user setting confirmation screen, FIG. 4 (e2) is displayed as the editing screen. In each editing screen, a zoom speed bar display area 410 including a speed bar corresponding to the wide side and a speed bar corresponding to the tele side is displayed. The dotted frame indicating the zoom speed bar display area 410 is shown for convenience, and is not displayed. In the numerical value area of the zoom speed corresponding to each pressing level, only the telephoto side (for the pressing levels 1 to 5) is displayed. The reason why the wide side is not displayed is that, in this embodiment, when the tele side is set, the zoom level of the same absolute value is automatically set for the same speed level with the opposite sign and the same absolute value so that the wide side also becomes a target relationship. The sign, that is, the zoom direction is reversed) is set. Numerical value areas 451 to 455 correspond to press levels 1 to 5, respectively. The reset button 450 is a display item that accepts an instruction to clear the user's customization and return the zoom speed assigned to all the pressed levels to the preset corresponding to the user setting number among the presets 1 to 3 described above. The SET icon 456 is a display item that accepts an instruction to confirm and end the user setting editing process. In addition, the same components as those described in the other display examples are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

  Any one of the reset button 450, the numerical areas 451 to 455, and the SET icon 456 can be selected by moving the cursor according to the operation of the left and right keys. 4C2, FIG. 4D2, and FIG. 4E2 each show a state in which the numerical value area 451 is selected. By pressing an up / down key included in the operation unit 70 in a state where any of the numerical value areas 451 to 455 is selected, the zoom speed assigned to the corresponding pressing level can be increased or decreased and changed.

  In step S802, the system control unit 50 determines whether the zoom key 104 has been pressed. If it is determined that the zoom key 104 has been pressed, the flow advances to step S803 to perform the zoom processing described above with reference to FIG. That is, when the zoom key 104 is pressed even in the editing screen, zoom driving according to the pressed amount, display of an index indicating the detected pressed amount, and corresponding zoom speed as described with reference to FIGS. The speed bar at the pressing level to which is assigned is identified. This processing is performed at the zoom speed of the numerical value currently displayed in the numerical value areas 451 to 455 even before the editing processing is determined. This allows the user to customize the zoom speed while checking what kind of zoom processing is performed in the customization state during editing.

  In step S804, the system control unit 50 determines whether the right and left keys included in the operation unit 70 have been pressed (that is, an instruction to move a cursor and an instruction to change a selection item). If the right and left keys have been pressed, the process proceeds to S805; otherwise, the process proceeds to S806. In step S805, the system control unit 50 moves the cursor according to the left / right key operation, and sets any one of the reset button 450, the numerical value areas 451 to 455, and the SET icon 456 to the selected state.

  In S806, the system control unit 50 determines whether the up key or the down key included in the operation unit 70 has been pressed (that is, an instruction to change the assigned speed). If the up / down key has been pressed, the process proceeds to S807; otherwise, the process proceeds to S808.

  In step S807, the numerical value of the numerical area in the currently selected state (where the cursor is currently located) is increased or decreased according to the operation of the up key or the down key. In the present embodiment, it can be set to any one of 0 to 16. As a result, the zoom speed assigned to the pressing level corresponding to the currently selected numerical value area is changed. This process is not performed when the numerical value area is not in the selected state (when the reset button 450 or the SET icon 456 is selected).

  The system control unit 50 controls the zoom speed assigned to each of the pressing levels on the tele side so as to be equal to or more than the value of the immediately lower pressing level and equal to or less than the value of the immediately higher pressing level. For example, the system control unit 50 controls the zoom speed assigned to the pressing level 4 so as not to be lower than the zoom speed assigned to the pressing level 3. More specifically, suppose that an operation has been performed to reduce the zoom speed assigned to press level 4 from 9 to 8 while the zoom speed assigned to press level 3 is 7. In response to this operation, the zoom speed assigned to press level 4 is changed to 8 without changing the zoom speed assigned to press level 3. Further, in response to an operation of changing the zoom speed of the press level 4 from 7 to 6 (less than the zoom speed assigned to the press level 3), the zoom speed assigned to the press level 4 is changed to 6. The zoom speed assigned to the pressing level 3 is also changed to 6, which is the same as the zoom speed assigned to the pressing level 4.

  The timing at which the zoom speed of the pressing level 3 is changed in accordance with the pressing level 4 may be linked to the increase / decrease operation of the zoom speed of the pressing level 4, but is assumed to be the timing at which the zoom speed of the pressing level 4 can be assumed to be determined. More preferred. For example, the process described below may be performed at a timing when the cursor is moved from the press level 4 to another position according to the left and right keys. If the zoom speed assigned to the press level 4 is lower than the zoom speed assigned to the press level 3, the zoom speed of the press level 3 is changed to the same zoom speed as the zoom speed assigned to the press level 4. At the same time, if the zoom speed of the pressed level 3 after the change is lower than the zoom speed of the pressed level 2, the zoom speed assigned to the pressed level 2 is also changed to the same zoom speed as the zoom speed of the pressed levels 3 and 4. Similarly, the zoom speed of the pressing level 1 is adjusted as necessary so as not to exceed the zoom speed of the pressing level 2. Conversely, if the zoom speed of the press level 4 exceeds the zoom speed assigned to the press level 5, the zoom speed assigned to the press level 5 is changed to the same zoom speed as the zoom speed assigned to the press level 4. I do.

  It should be noted that, instead of performing the above, during the adjustment of the assigned zoom speed, a limitation is made so that the zoom speed of the next lower pressing level is not lower than that of the next lower pressing level. May be. For example, in a state where the zoom speed assigned to the pressing level 3 is 7, when the operation of decreasing the zoom speed assigned to the pressing level 4 (down key press) is performed, the zoom speed of the pressing level 4 is set to less than 7 Is restricted so that it cannot be changed.

  In this way, the setting is made such that the relationship that the zoom speed assigned to the high pressing level is equal to or higher than the zoom speed assigned to the low pressing level is established. That is, the zoom speed is not reduced when the force for pressing the zoom key 104 is increased.

  In S808, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the set button included in the operation unit 70 has been pressed (that is, there has been a reset instruction) with the reset button 450 selected. If there is a reset instruction, the process proceeds to S809; otherwise, the process proceeds to S810.

  In step S809, the system control unit 50 clears all zoom speeds of each press level customized for the user, and resets the zoom pattern to a preset pattern corresponding to the user setting number currently being edited. The preset pattern is stored in the nonvolatile memory 56. That is, if the user setting number 1 is being edited, the preset pattern 1 is set, if the user setting number 2 is being edited, the preset pattern 2 is set, and if the user setting number 3 is being edited, the preset pattern 3 is set.

  In S810, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the set button included in the operation unit 70 has been pressed (that is, there has been a confirmation instruction) in a state where the SET icon 456 has been selected. If there is a confirmation instruction, the process ends and returns to the user setting confirmation screen, otherwise returns to S802 and repeats the process.

  FIG. 9 shows a detailed flowchart of the zoom speed setting simple display process described above in S302 of FIG. This processing is realized by expanding the program recorded in the nonvolatile memory 56 into the system memory 52 and executing the program by the system control unit 50. In the shooting standby screen, a moving image is shot while checking the subject. If each speed bar is superimposed on the LV image and displayed large as in the user setting confirmation screen and the user setting editing screen, it may hinder the view of the subject. turn into. Therefore, in the zoom speed setting simplified display processing, the display area of each speed bar is displayed smaller than in the zoom speed setting detailed display processing described with reference to FIG. 5 at least in the same setting situation. Further, the total area of all the speed bars is also smaller than the zoom speed setting detailed display processing. However, if the speed bar group described in the user setting confirmation screen and the user setting editing screen is simply reduced and displayed, each speed bar is small and visibility is deteriorated. More specifically, since the difference in height between the speed bars is reduced, it is difficult to determine the speed difference from the height of the speed bars. Therefore, in this embodiment, based on the number of pressing levels having a difference between the pressing level on one side and the assigned zoom speed, a relative speed difference between the speed bars can be easily identified based on the number of pressing levels. Display.

  In step S901, the system control unit 50 determines whether the type of zoom speed is user setting (“user”). If it is a user setting, the process advances to step S902; otherwise, the process ends. That is, in the present embodiment, when the type of the zoom speed is not the user setting, the simple display of the zoom speed setting is not performed in the first place. However, it may be displayed regardless of the type of zoom speed.

  In step S <b> 902, the system control unit 50 stores, from the non-volatile memory 56, a set value of the zoom speed for each pressing amount (for each pressing level) of the zoom key 104 registered in the currently set user setting number (assigned to each pressing level). The read zoom speed setting pattern) is read out.

  In step S <b> 903, the system control unit 50 sets a variable used as a counter that counts the number of the pressing levels having a difference between the zoom speed assigned to the pressing level adjacent to one side and the zoom speed assigned to the pressing level. b is initialized to 0. Also, a variable i used as a counter for each pressing level is initialized to 1.

  In S904, the system control unit 50 determines a difference between the speed V (i) assigned to the pressing level i and the speed V (i + 1) assigned to the pressing level (i + 1), which is the next pressing level. It is determined whether or not there is. More specifically, it is determined whether or not the speed V (i) −the speed V (i + 1) is zero. If the speed V (i) −the speed V (i + 1) is not zero (if there is a difference), the process proceeds to S905, where 1 is added to the variable b, and the process proceeds to S906. In this case, the pressing level i is set to a zoom speed at which the pressing level is different from the pressing level immediately adjacent to the upper side. When the speed V (i) −the speed V (i + 1) is zero (when there is no difference), the process proceeds to S906 without adding the variable b. In this case, the same zoom speed is set to the pressing level i as the pressing level of the pressing level one immediately above the pressing level.

  In S906, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the variable i has reached 4 which is one smaller than the maximum value of the pressing level (the maximum value of the pressing level in which the next upper pressing level exists). If the number has not reached 4, the variable i is incremented by 1 in S907, and the processing from S904 is repeated. By repeating the processes of S904 to S907, the value of b is determined, and the number of different installation values among the set values of the zoom speeds assigned to each press level (different from the zoom speed assigned to the press level adjacent to one side) (The number of pressing levels to which the zoom speed is assigned). If the variable i has reached 4, all the checks have been completed as to whether there is a difference between the set pressing speed and the next pressing level, and the process proceeds to S908.

  In S908, the system control unit 50 initializes a variable i used as a counter of each press level to 1.

  In S909, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the speed V (i) assigned to the pressing level i is zero. If it is zero, the process proceeds to S910; otherwise, the process proceeds to S911.

  In S910, the system control unit 50 displays a gray bar-shaped rectangle having a height h0 (for example, 7 pixels) as the speed bar at the pressing level i, −i. h0 is a numerical value equal to or smaller than H0 described in S505. Thus, even in the simple display, the speed bar corresponding to the pressing level to which the speed 0 is assigned is displayed at the height of h0 without setting the display height to 0, so that the speed 0 is assigned. The corresponding position of the pressed level can be shown without being blank. Further, since the display is displayed in gray, it is possible to make the user recognize that the zooming is not performed (the zoom speed is assigned to 0) at an invalid state, that is, at this pressing level.

  In S911, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the variable i is 1. If the variable i is 1, that is, if the process is for the pressing level 1, the process proceeds to S912; otherwise, the process proceeds to S913.

  In step S <b> 912, the system control unit 50 determines that the speed bar at the press level i or −i (here, the speed bar at the press level 1 or −1) has a height h1 (> h0, for example, 14 pixels) in white (normal display). ) Is displayed. h1 is a numerical value larger than h0 described in S910 described above, and is a numerical value smaller than H2 described above. As described above, the zoom speed assigned to the high press level is equal to or higher than the zoom speed assigned to the low press level. In other words, the lowest pressing level, pressing level 1, is assigned the lowest zoom speed among the other pressing levels. In addition, since the determination is No in S909, the assigned zoom speed is greater than zero. In the zoom speed setting simple display process, if the zoom speed assigned to the press level 1 is greater than 0, the speed bar at the press level 1 is displayed at the height of the fixed value h1, regardless of the magnitude. Then, the speed bar of the pressing level higher than the pressing level 1 is displayed so that the relative magnitude relationship with the speed bar of the pressing level 1 can be understood. In this way, even when the zoom speed assigned to each pressing level is generally high, the display area (height) of the speed bar can be kept small, and the visibility of the background LV can be reduced. can do.

  In step S <b> 913, the system control unit 50 sets the speed bar of the pressing level (i−1) as the speed bar of the pressing level i or −i (the speed bar of the pressing level 2 or higher and lower than the pressing level −2). A rectangle higher by (k * h2) than the height of the next lower speed bar is displayed. Here, h2 is a predetermined value, for example, 4 pixels. Here, the magnitude relationship satisfies h2 <h1 <H2. k is the difference between the variable b counted in the processing of S904 to S907 described above and the zoom speed assigned to the currently processed pressing level and the next lower pressing level, ΔV (i) −. V (i-1)}. FIG. 11 illustrates a table showing the correspondence between the variable b and the number of stages determined by {V (i) -V (i-1)}. The relationship shown in FIG. 11 is recorded in the nonvolatile memory 56 in advance, and the system control unit 50 determines the variable b, {V (i) -V (i-1)}, and the relationship shown in FIG. The number k of stages is obtained based on information indicating the relationship as described above. For example, when the zoom speeds assigned to the press levels 1 to 5 are all different, b = 4. If i = 3 in S913, the zoom speed assigned to the pressing level 3 is 9, and the zoom speed assigned to the pressing level 2 is 6, ΔV (i) −V (i−1). ｝ = {9−6} = 3. Therefore, k = 1 is obtained from FIG. In this case, the height of the speed bar at the pressing level 3 is determined to be higher than the height of the speed bar at the pressing level 2 by (k * h2) = h2, and the speed bar at the pressing level 3 is displayed. . Also, for example, when the zoom speeds assigned to the press levels 1 to 5 are 1, 2, 2, 2, and 16 respectively (the case illustrated in FIG. 10B2), and when i = 2, the variable b = 2, {V (i) -V (i-1)} = 1. Therefore, k = 1 is obtained from FIG. In this case, the height of the speed bar at the pressing level 2 is (k *) rather than the height of the speed bar at the pressing level 1 (this height is h1, that is, 14 pixels because V (1) = 1). h2) = h2 pixels greater height. That is, the height of the speed bar at the speed level 2 is h1 + h2 = 14 + 4 = 18 pixels. In the process of i = 3 in the same assignment situation, the variable b = 2 and {V (i) −V (i−1)} = 0. Accordingly, k = 0 is obtained from FIG. In this case, the height is determined to be (k * h2) = 0 pixels larger than the speed bar at the pressing level 2. That is, the height of the speed bar at the speed level 3 is 18 pixels, which is the same as the speed bar at the speed level 2. Further, in the process of i = 5 under the same assignment situation, the variable b = 2 and {V (i) −V (i−1)} = 14. Therefore, k = 3 is obtained from FIG. In this case, since the height of the speed bar at the pressing level 2 is the height of the speed bar at the pressing level 4 (V (4) = V (2)), 18 pixels having the same height as the speed bar at the pressing level 2 ) Is determined to be (k * h2) = 12 pixels higher. That is, the height of the speed bar at the speed level 5 is 18 + 12 = 30 pixels. Because of the simplified display, the height of the speed bar at each pressing level does not uniquely correspond to the zoom speed assigned to each, so that the exact speed assigned can be known from the height of the speed bar alone. It is not possible. However, by looking at the speed bar displayed in this way, the user can find that the difference between the zoom speeds of the speed levels 4 and 5 (= 14) is larger than the difference between the zoom speeds of the speed levels 1 and 2 (= 1). Is quite large.

  In S914, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the variable i has reached 5. If the variable i has not reached 5, the process proceeds to S915 to perform the display processing of the speed bar at the next pressed level, the variable i is incremented by 1, and the process proceeds to S909. When the variable i has reached 5, the display processing of all the speed bars has been completed, and the process proceeds to S916.

  In S916, the system control unit 50 displays other display elements (for example, icons 476 and 486 described later) to be displayed in the zoom speed setting simple display process, and ends the process. In the zoom speed setting simple display process of the present embodiment, the zoom speed numerical value display area is not displayed (the numerical value of the zoom speed assigned to each speed level is not displayed), but may be displayed.

  10 (a1) to 10 (a3) and FIGS. 10 (b1) to 10 (b3), zoom speed setting detailed display processing (the processing described above with reference to FIG. 5) and zoom speed setting simple display for three allocation patterns. A display example in the case of displaying each of the processing (the processing described in FIG. 9) will be described. FIGS. 10 (a1) to (a3) are display examples in the case of displaying by the zoom speed setting detailed display process (the process described above with reference to FIG. 5). FIGS. 10 (b1) to (b3) are display examples when displayed in the zoom speed setting simple display process (the process described with reference to FIG. 9). FIGS. 10A1 and 10B1 are display examples in the same setting pattern (the zoom speeds assigned to the pressing levels 1 to 5 are 1, 5, 9, 12, and 16, respectively). FIGS. 10A2 and 10B2 are display examples in the same setting pattern (the zoom speeds assigned to the pressing levels 1 to 5 are 1, 2, 2, 2, and 16, respectively). FIGS. 10A3 and 10B3 are display examples in the same setting pattern (the zoom speeds assigned to the pressing levels 1 to 5 are 0, 5, 9, 12, and 16 respectively). The same reference numerals are given to the same display elements as those described above with reference to FIG. The speed bars 471 to 475 in FIGS. 10B1 to 10B3 are speed bars corresponding to pressing levels 1 to 5 on the tele side, respectively. The icon 476 is a guide display indicating that the speed bars 471 to 475 on the right side correspond to the operation toward the tele side. The speed bars 481 to 485 are speed bars corresponding to pressing levels -1 to -5, which are pressing to the wide side, respectively. The icon 486 is a guide display indicating that the speed bars 481 to 485 on the left correspond to operations on the tele side. The display item 1010 is an audio level meter that indicates the recording level of the sound recorded in the moving image, and is a display item that is not displayed on the user setting confirmation screen or the user setting editing screen where the detailed zoom speed setting display processing is performed. Like the display item 1010, on the shooting standby screen, it is necessary to display a display element related to shooting other than a display element related to zoom speed. Since it is necessary to secure such display space, the speed bar, which is information related to the zoom speed, is displayed on the shooting standby screen, compared to the user setting confirmation screen and the user setting edit screen where detailed zoom speed setting display processing is performed. There is little available display space. In this sense, it is necessary to set the zoom speed setting to a simple display on the shooting standby screen.

  In the zoom speed setting detailed display processing, as shown in FIGS. 10A1 to 10A3, unique zoom speeds 0 to 16 that can be assigned to each of five (M, M stages) press levels are provided. Are displayed at a height of 17 steps (L steps larger than n) corresponding to. On the other hand, in the zoom speed setting simple display process, as shown in FIGS. 10B1 to 10B3, the zoom speeds 0 to 16 that can be assigned to each of the five (M) pressing levels are respectively set. Each speed bar is displayed at a height of five steps (n steps smaller than L) that do not uniquely correspond. This is because the maximum height of the speed bar is kept lower than that in the detailed display, and the height bar is displayed so that the difference in height in one step can be recognized with certainty. If the height difference in one step is made too small (for example, 1 pixel), the user cannot recognize the difference in the height of the speed bar, and there is a difference in the zoom speed assigned to the different pressing levels. There is a possibility of misidentifying that there is no difference. In order to suppress such erroneous recognition, a one-step height difference is secured to some extent (in the present embodiment, the above-described h2 = 4 pixels is secured). Therefore, instead of simply reducing the speed bar of the detailed display, the height of the maximum value is reduced, and the total number of steps is reduced from 17 steps (N steps) to 5 steps (n steps).

  Although the number of stages is reduced, the set values of the zoom speeds 0 to 3 are the first stage, 4 to 6 are the second stage, 7 to 9 are the third stage, 10 to 12 are the fourth stage, and 13 to 13. It is not simply a rounded expression, such as associating 16 with the fifth level. If the display is simply rounded in this way, when the zoom speed 1 is assigned to the pressing level 1 and the zoom speed 2 is assigned to the pressing level 2, the height of the speed bar becomes the same, and It is difficult to recognize that there is a speed difference between the pressing levels 1 and 2. In order to prevent such a situation, as described above with reference to FIG. 9, the height of each speed bar is determined according to the zoom speed assigned to the adjacent press level on one side and the number of press levels having a difference (variable b described above). Have decided. That is, the height of each speed bar is determined not only by the speed corresponding to each speed bar but also in consideration of the speeds corresponding to the other speed bars. More specifically, the height of each speed bar is determined based on the variable b, but as described with reference to FIG. 9, the variable b is determined based on the number of non-zero values of V (i) -V (i + 1). That is, the variable b is a numerical value in consideration of V (i) -V (i + 1) for i = 1 to 5. In other words, the height of each speed bar (the stage represented) differs depending on the zoom speed of a plurality of pressing levels other than the zoom speed corresponding to the speed bar among the plurality of pressing levels. For example, when the zoom speeds assigned to the pressing levels 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 are 1, 5, 9, 12, and 16, respectively (in the case of FIG. 10B1), the speed bar height of the pressing level 3 Is the aforementioned 22 pixels. On the other hand, when the zoom speeds assigned to the pressing levels 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 are 1, 2, 9, 9, and 9, respectively, b = 2, and “9” is similarly assigned to the pressing level 3. However, the height of the speed bar at the press level 3 is 26 pixels. When the zoom speeds assigned to the press levels 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 are 1, 1, 9, 9, and 9, respectively, b = 1, and “9” is similarly assigned to the press level 3. However, the height of the speed bar at the press level 3 is 26 pixels. Further, the reduction width is not determined based on only the maximum value and the minimum value among the plurality of speed bars, but is determined in consideration of a value other than the maximum value and a value other than the minimum value. By doing so, the user can recognize the difference in height between the speed bar 471 and the speed bar 472, for example, as shown in (b2) of FIG. 10, and there is a difference in the zoom speed assigned to each pressing level. So that you can recognize it. As described above, according to the zoom speed setting simplified display process of the present embodiment, the zoom assigned to each pressing level with the number of steps (5) smaller than the number of steps (17) of the settable zoom speed set value. It is possible to make the user recognize the difference in speed more accurately.

  When a simple speed bar is displayed as shown in FIGS. 10 (b1) to (b3), if the user performs an instruction operation to switch to a detailed speed bar display, the speed bar shown in FIG. ) To (a3), the display may be switched to a detailed 17-level speed bar display.

  Further, as a simple determining factor of the height of the speed bar, each speed bar is determined according to the number of pressing levels having a difference from the zooming speed assigned to the pressing level adjacent to one side in ascending or descending order (variable b described above). Although the example of determining the height of the object has been described, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the same effect as described above can be obtained even if the height of each speed bar is determined based on the number (variable c) of groups to which the same zoom speed is assigned among the press levels 1 to 5. For example, the same zoom speed is assigned to the setting patterns of FIG. 10A1 and FIG. 10B1 (the zoom speeds assigned to the pressing levels 1 to 5 are 1, 5, 9, 12, and 16, respectively). The number of groups is c = 5. The setting patterns (the zoom speeds assigned to the pressing levels 1 to 5 are 1, 2, 2, 2, and 16 respectively) of the setting patterns of FIG. 10A2 and FIG. The number of 1 group, 2 groups, 16 groups) is c = 3. The possible values of the variable c at the five pressing levels are 1 to 5. The same display result can be obtained even if the variables 0 to 5 in FIG. 11 described above are replaced with the variables 1 to 5 respectively.

  As described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10 (b1) to (b3), for a plurality of values (the values of the pressing levels 1 to 5 in the above example), the multi-step numerical value (17-step zoom speed) is reduced. The method of simplifying and displaying the images in five stages (five stages) is applicable regardless of the zoom speed. For example, when displaying the remaining capacity of a plurality of recording media such as the main body memory / memory card A / memory card B, or when displaying the remaining battery levels of a plurality of batteries, the output volume of a plurality of audio output devices is displayed. In this case, the present invention is applicable when displaying output volumes of a plurality of channels. Also, as an example of displaying a stage, an example in which the height is represented by each distance bar has been described. The corresponding stage may be displayed depending on the situation.

  According to the present embodiment described above, a zoom operation can be performed with higher operability using an operation member that can be operated with a plurality of operation amounts (pressing levels).

  In the above-described embodiment, the processing described for the operation on the zoom key 104 is not limited to the zoom key 104, and can be applied to an operation on an operation member that can be operated with a plurality of operation amounts. For example, a push button that can detect the pressing amount in multiple stages, a pressure-sensitive operation device (such as a pressure-sensitive touch panel), a rotating operation member that can detect the rotating amount in multiple stages, a joystick that can detect a tilt angle in multiple stages, etc. Is also applicable.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the example of the zoom speed is described as the setting value (processing content) registered in each operation level (pressing level) as the setting value. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the setting of other setting items It can also be applied to values. This is not limited to camera functions. For example, the present invention is also applicable to a case where an output level (volume) of a sound such as a notification sound or a moving image sound is registered as each operation level (pressing level) of an operation member.

  The display of the pressing level corresponding to the pressing amount of the zoom key 104 described with reference to FIGS. 6A to 6E is performed at the speed for each pressing level as described with reference to FIGS. The display does not have to be a bar. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, in a display in which each pressing level and the assigned zoom speed are represented by a character string, the pressing level corresponding to the pressing amount of the zoom key 104 may be displayed. In FIG. 12, an index 1201 corresponds to the index 420 described in FIGS. 6A to 6E, and the display position moves to a vertical position corresponding to the pressing amount of the zoom key 104. Underlines 1202 and 1203 correspond to the highlighting described in FIGS. 6A to 6E. In such a display as well, as in the example described with reference to FIG. 6C, the user can determine which pressing level corresponds to the current pressing amount and other pressing levels to which the same zoom speed is assigned. Can be recognized. In the example of FIG. 12, the pressing level corresponding to the current pressing amount is the pressing amount 4 (that is, pressing level 4), and the pressing amount 3 (pressing level 3) is another pressing level to which the same zoom speed is assigned. Understand.

  FIG. 6C illustrates an example in which a pressing level corresponding to a current pressing amount of a specific operation member (zoom key 104) and another speed level to which the same zoom speed is assigned are highlighted. However, the present invention is not limited to the display of the assignment set value (zoom speed) for each operation amount (press level) for the same operation member, and is applicable. For example, when different setting values or functions can be assigned to a plurality of operation members, it is also suitable for indicating to a user that the same setting value or function is assigned to a plurality of operation members.

  FIG. 13 shows a display example on the display unit 28 of the setting confirmation screen 1351 showing a setting status in which the user has assigned a desired function to each of the assign button 1 (1001) to the assign button 4 (1004). Each of the assign button 1 (1001) to assign button 4 (1004) can be assigned a function selected by the user among a plurality of functions. When each assign button is pressed, the assigned function is executed. In FIG. 13, numerals 1352 to 1355 (1 to 4) indicate the numbers of the assign buttons. In the function names 1356 to 1359, the function names assigned to the respective assign buttons are displayed in association with the numbers 1352 to 1355. In the illustrated example, WB change (change of white balance) is assigned to the assign button 1 (1001), and AF / MF switching is assigned to the assign button 2 (1002). Also, a function of opening a menu is assigned to the assign button 3 (1003), and WB change is assigned to the assign button 4 (1004). When one of the assign buttons 1 (1001) to 4 (1004) is pressed, the number of the assigned button among the numerals 1352 to 1355 (1 to 4) is highlighted (for example, displayed in thick black characters). , And the numbers of the other assign buttons are grayed out. Thereby, the user can recognize what the pressed assign button is and what the function assigned to the pressed assign button is. In the illustrated example, the assign button 4 (1004) is pressed, the numeral 1355 (4) is highlighted, and the other numerals are grayed out. Also, the function assigned to the pressed assign button is underlined, and the function name is highlighted. Further, the function names of the other assign buttons to which the same functions as those assigned to the pressed assign button are assigned are underlined, and the function names are highlighted. In the illustrated example, an underline 1361 is displayed for the function name “WB change” corresponding to the pressed assign button 4 and the function name “WB change” corresponding to the assign button 1 different from the pressed assign button is displayed. Also, an underline 1360 is displayed. This allows the user to recognize that if the user wants to execute the function “WB change”, the user can press the assign button 1 instead of the assign button 4 that is currently pressed. Therefore, when the user dares assigns the same function to the two assign buttons, it can be recognized that the setting is correctly performed as intended. In addition, even when the same function is accidentally assigned to two assign buttons, the fact can be recognized, and a modification such that another function is assigned to one assign button can be made as needed. Similarly, the present invention can be applied to an operation member to which different functions can be assigned to a plurality of operation positions or operation directions, such as a cross key or a joystick. That is, when such an operation member is operated, the operated position or operation direction or the processing content assigned thereto is identified and displayed, and another operation position or operation to which the same processing content is allocated is displayed. The direction may be identified and displayed. Generally speaking, the processing contents can be set for a plurality of operation methods, and when operated by any one of the operation methods, the operated operation method or the processing contents assigned to the operation method are identified and displayed. At the same time, another operation method capable of indicating the same processing content as the processing content assigned to the operated operation method or the processing content assigned to another operation method is identified and displayed. The difference and the operation method to which different processing contents are assigned are displayed so as to be identifiable.

  Note that the above-described various controls described as being performed by the system control unit 50 may be performed by one piece of hardware, or a plurality of pieces of hardware (for example, a plurality of processors or circuits) may share the processing. Overall control may be performed.

  Although the present invention has been described in detail based on the preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments, and various forms that do not depart from the gist of the present invention are also included in the present invention. included. Furthermore, each of the above-described embodiments is merely an embodiment of the present invention, and the embodiments can be appropriately combined.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the digital camera 100 which is an imaging device has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this example. The present invention is applicable to any electronic device capable of assigning a set value or a function to an operation member according to a user operation, or any electronic device capable of controlling with different parameters for each operation amount of the operation member. That is, the present invention is applicable to a personal computer, a PDA, a mobile phone terminal, a portable image viewer, a printer device having a display, a digital photo frame, a music player, a game machine, an electronic book reader, a home appliance, an in-vehicle device, and the like. .

(Other embodiments)
The present invention is also realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU or MPU or the like) of the system or apparatus reads out the program code and This is the process to be performed. In this case, the program and a storage medium storing the program constitute the present invention.

Claims (25)

Detecting means for detecting an operation amount of the operation member in at least a first direction;
Allocating means for allocating different values of a specific function based on a user operation to each of the plurality of stages of the operation amount in the first direction,
The assigning means may assign a value based on at least one preset pattern stored in advance to each of the plurality of stages,
The first value of the specific function is assigned to the at least one preset pattern at a maximum stage which is a stage including a maximum operation amount in the first direction that can be detected by the detection unit, and And a preset pattern that assigns the same value smaller than the first value to each of a plurality of steps in the first direction that can be detected by the detection means, excluding an unoperated state. Electronic equipment characterized by the above.   The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the first value is a maximum value that can be set for the specific function. The at least one preset pattern further includes a first preset pattern,
The first preset pattern is a pattern in which different values are respectively assigned to a plurality of stages of the operation amount in the first direction, and a larger value is assigned to a stage having a larger operation amount. The electronic device according to claim 1.   4. The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the first preset pattern is a pattern in which a maximum value that can be set for the specific function is assigned to the maximum stage.   The first preset pattern is related to the specific function in a minimum stage which is a stage including a minimum operation amount in the first direction that can be detected by the detection unit among operation amounts indicating that the operation is performed. The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the pattern is a pattern to which a settable minimum value larger than zero is assigned.   The first preset pattern is a pattern in which an operation amount corresponding to each of a plurality of stages of the operation amount in the first direction and a magnitude of a value to be assigned have a substantially proportional relationship. The electronic device according to claim 3. The at least one preset pattern includes a second preset pattern,
The second preset pattern is:
The first value at the maximum stage;
It is a preset pattern in which a second value smaller than the first value is assigned to all of the plurality of stages other than the maximum stage among the plurality of stages corresponding to the operation amount indicating that the operation is performed. The electronic device according to claim 1.   The electronic device according to claim 7, wherein the second value is equal to or less than half of a maximum value that can be set for the specific function.   9. The electronic device according to claim 8, wherein the second value is larger than a minimum value that can be set for the specific function. The at least one preset pattern includes a third preset pattern,
The third preset pattern is
The first value at the maximum stage;
A third value smaller than the first value is set to a minimum stage, which is a stage including a minimum operation amount in the first direction that can be detected by the detection unit among the operation amounts indicating that the operation is performed. ,
A fourth smaller than the first value and larger than the second value in all of the plurality of stages corresponding to the operation amount indicating that the operation is performed, except for the maximum stage and the minimum stage. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a preset pattern to which a value is assigned.   The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein the third value is a settable minimum value larger than zero for the specific function.   The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein the third value is zero.   13. The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein the fourth value is equal to or less than half of a maximum value that can be set for the specific function.   14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the assigning unit is capable of adjusting values assigned to each of the plurality of stages based on a user operation from a state in which the at least one preset pattern is assigned. An electronic device according to claim 1.   15. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the specific function is zoom, and the allocating unit allocates a zoom speed to each of the plurality of stages.   Control means for controlling to perform zoom driving at a zoom speed assigned by the assigning means at a stage corresponding to the operation amount detected by the sensing means in accordance with an operation on the operating member. The electronic device according to claim 15.   17. The electronic apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the zoom is an optical zoom.   The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the value of the specific function is a sound volume.   19. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is an imaging device having an image sensor.   20. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the operation amount is a pressing amount when an operation portion of the operation member is pressed from a reference position by a user operation.   21. The electronic apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the operation member is a seesaw-type operation member having a first operation portion and a second operation portion that can be pushed.   The operation member may be any one of a push button capable of detecting a plurality of stages of depression, a pressure-sensitive operation device, a rotation operation member capable of detecting a plurality of stages of rotation, and an operation device capable of detecting a plurality of angles of inclination. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein: A detection step of detecting an operation amount of the operation member in at least a first direction;
An assignment step of assigning different values of a specific function to each of the plurality of stages of the operation amount in the first direction based on a user operation,
The assigning step may assign a value based on at least one preset pattern stored in advance to each of the plurality of stages,
Assigning a first value of the specific function to a maximum stage, which is a stage including a maximum operation amount in the first direction that can be detected in the detection step, to the at least one preset pattern; And a preset pattern that assigns the same value smaller than the first value to each of a plurality of steps in the first direction that can be detected in the detection step, excluding an unoperated state. A method for controlling an electronic device, comprising:   A program for causing a computer to function as each unit of the electronic device according to claim 1.   A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to function as each unit of the electronic device according to claim 1.

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