JP4701109B2 - Operation device, portable image reproducing apparatus, and control method thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an operation device, a portable image reproducing apparatus, and a control method thereof.

One of the pointing devices is a track ball. This track ball is like a mechanical mouse upside down, the ball is exposed on the operation surface side, and the cursor is moved by rotating the ball by hand (Patent Document 1). .
JP 2005-44025 A

Such a track ball is used not only for a pointing device of a personal computer but also for a cellular phone (Patent Document 2).
JP 2005-286977

  However, the track ball detects the direction of rotation of the ball and moves the cursor according to the direction of rotation, and the track ball is used to specify instructions other than instructions based on the direction of rotation. Often not.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to increase the contents of instructions specified using an operation device typified by a trackball.

  The operation device according to the first aspect of the invention detects a rotating body having a part of the surface exposed from the front and back surfaces of the operation device, a holding member that rotatably holds the rotating body, and a rotation direction of the rotating body. Whether the rotating body is rotated from the exposed part on the front side of the operation device or whether the rotating body is rotated from the exposed part on the back side of the operating device. An operation surface detection device that detects and outputs a signal representing the operation surface is provided.

  According to the first invention, a part of the surface of the rotating body is exposed from the front surface and the back surface of the operation device. The rotation direction of the rotating body is detected, and a signal indicating the rotation direction is output. A first instruction using the operation device (for example, an instruction to move the cursor) can be performed using the output signal indicating the rotation direction. It is detected whether the rotating body is rotated from the exposed portion on the front side of the operating device or the rotating body is rotated from the exposed portion on the back side of the operating device, and a signal representing the operating surface is output. A second instruction using the operation device using a signal representing the operation surface (for example, an instruction for changing the first instruction content using the rotation direction depending on whether the operation surface is the back side or the front side) It becomes possible. By providing a rotating body, it is possible to increase instructions using the operation device. The rotating body may be a spherical body such as a ball in a track ball or a cylindrical body.

  The operation surface detection device may include a first touch sensor provided on a front surface of the operation device and a second touch sensor provided on a back surface of the operation device. In this case, when the first touch sensor is touched, it is detected that the rotating body is rotated from the exposed portion on the back side of the operation device, and the second touch sensor When touched, it will be detected that the rotating body is rotated from the exposed portion on the front side of the operation device.

  The holding member may hold the rotating body so as to be movable in a front direction and a back direction of the operation device. In this case, a movement detecting device for detecting that the rotating body has moved in the front direction or the back direction will be further provided. By detecting the movement, the rotating body can serve as an enter key in the keyboard.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable image reproducing apparatus comprising: a spherical body having a part of the surface exposed from the front surface of the portable image reproducing apparatus; a holding member that rotatably holds the spherical body; An operation device including a rotation direction detection device that detects a rotation direction and outputs a signal indicating the rotation direction, a display device provided with a display screen on the back side of the portable image reproduction device, an image memory for storing image data, and the above When the size of the image represented by the image data stored in the image memory is larger than the size of the display screen of the display device, a part of the image is displayed on the display screen and included in the operation device. The display device is controlled so that a part of the image displayed on the display screen is changed according to the rotation direction detected by the rotation direction detection device. Characterized in that it comprises a 示制 control device.

  The second invention also provides a control method suitable for the portable image reproducing apparatus. That is, this method is a method for controlling a portable image reproducing device having a display device having a display screen on the back surface and an image memory for storing image data. The spherical body with the exposed part is rotatably held, the rotation direction of the spherical body is detected and a signal indicating the rotation direction is output, and is represented by the image data stored in the image memory. When the size of the image is larger than the size of the display screen of the display device, a part of the image is displayed on the display screen and displayed on the display screen according to the detected rotation direction. The display device is controlled so that a part of the display is changed.

  According to the second invention, a part of the surface of the spherical body is exposed from the front surface of the portable image reproducing apparatus. A display screen of the display device is formed on the back surface of the portable image playback device. When the size of the image represented by the image data stored in the portable image playback device is larger than the size of the display screen of the display device, a part of the image is displayed on the display screen. When the rotating body is rotated and the rotation direction is detected, a part of the image displayed on the display screen is changed according to the rotation direction. By rotating the spherical body, even a large image can be displayed with a part of the large image without being reduced.

  FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention and is a rear view of a digital still camera (portable image reproducing apparatus).

  A display screen 2 is provided almost entirely on the back of the digital still camera 1. A circular opening 10 is formed at the upper right of the display screen 2. A part of the surface of the ball 3 that is rotatable from the opening 10 is exposed to the outside of the digital still camera 1. A first touch sensor 4 is provided on the right side of the opening 10. Various buttons 5 are provided below the opening 10.

  FIG. 2 is a front view of the digital still camera 1.

  A circular opening 9 is formed in the upper left as viewed from the front. A part of the surface of the ball 3 is exposed from the opening 9 to the outside from the digital still camera 1. A second touch sensor 6 is provided on the left side of the opening 9. An imaging lens 7 is provided on the upper right when viewed from the front.

  3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG.

  As described above, the opening 9 formed on the front side and the opening 10 formed on the back side of the digital still camera 1 have the bent portions 9A and 10A bent inside. The ball 3 is rotatably held by the bent portions 9A and 10A (holding member). Needless to say, the bent portions 9A and 10A are provided with ball bearings if necessary.

  A support plate 13 is formed downward from the upper wall inside the digital still camera 1. The support plate 13 is positioned substantially perpendicular to the support plate 13 and is rotatably supported so that the shaft 12 constituting the rotary encoder is in contact with the upper portion of the ball 3. An impeller 11 is provided on a portion of the shaft 12 opposite to the portion in contact with the ball 3. A light emitting sensor and a light receiving sensor (both not shown) are provided so as to sandwich the impeller 11. The shaft 12, the impeller 11, the light emitting sensor, and the light receiving sensor constitute a first rotary encoder.

  Similarly, a support plate 23 is formed from the right wall inside the digital still camera 1 toward the left. The support plate 23 is positioned substantially perpendicular to the support plate 23 and is rotatably supported so that the shaft 22 constituting the rotary encoder is in contact with the right side portion of the ball 3. An impeller 21 is provided on a portion of the shaft 22 opposite to the portion in contact with the ball 3. A light emitting sensor and a light receiving sensor (both not shown) are provided so as to sandwich the impeller 21. The shaft 22, the impeller 21, the light emitting sensor, and the light receiving sensor constitute a second rotary encoder. The first rotary encoder and the second rotary encoder detect the rotation amount and the rotation direction of the ball 3.

  5 to 7 show how the ball 3 of the digital still camera 1 is operated.

  As described above, the opening 9 is formed in the front of the digital still camera 1 and the opening 10 is formed in the back. Since a part of the surface of the ball 3 is exposed from these openings 9 and 10, the ball 3 can be rotated from both the front side and the back side.

  5 and 6 show a state in which the ball 3 of the digital still camera 1 is operated from the front side. FIG. 5 is a top view, and a cross section is shown for easy understanding. FIG. 6 is a perspective view.

  When the user grasps the digital still camera 1 with the right hand 30, the thumb 32 of the right hand 30 is located on the back side, and the index finger 31 of the right hand 30 is located on the front side. The user rotates the ball 3 exposed from the front side using the index finger 31 so that the thumb 32 touches the first touch sensor 4 provided on the back side.

  The rotation amount and rotation direction of the ball 3 are detected by the first rotary encoder and the second rotary encoder as described above. Further, since the first touch sensor 4 is touched with the thumb 32, it is considered that the ball 3 is not rotated from the back side but is rotated from the front side.

  FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state in which the ball 3 of the digital still camera 1 is operated from the back side.

  The user holds the digital still camera 1 with the right hand 30 and rotates the ball 3 exposed from the opening 10 on the back side with the thumb 32. At this time, the index finger (or another finger) of the user's right hand 30 touches the second touch sensor 3 provided on the front side of the digital still camera 1.

  The rotation amount and rotation direction of the ball 3 are detected by the first rotary encoder and the second rotary encoder as described above. Further, since the second touch sensor 6 is touched with the index finger, it is considered that the ball 3 is not rotated from the front side but is rotated from the back side.

  Since it is possible to distinguish whether the ball 3 is rotated from the front side or from the back side, a command is given to the digital still camera 1 by distinguishing between the rotation from the front side and the rotation from the back side. Can be given. For example, when the ball 3 is rotated from the front side, a cursor movement command displayed on the display screen 2 is used. When the ball 3 is rotated from the back side, different commands such as brightness adjustment of the display screen 2 are used. Can be provided to the digital still camera 1. It goes without saying that the command given to the digital still camera 1 according to the rotation of the ball 3 is not limited to the cursor movement command and the brightness adjustment of the display screen 2.

  8 and 9 show another embodiment. 8 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 3, and FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. Both FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 are enlarged compared to FIG. 3 and FIG.

  8 and 9 are held so that the ball 43 not only rotates but also moves back and forth.

  A ball holder 70 is provided on the left side of the ball 43, and a ball holder 90 is provided on the right side of the ball 43. The ball 43 is held by these ball holders 70 and 90 so as to be movable back and forth and rotatable. A holding member 105 having an L-shaped cross section is formed so as to surround the ball 43 and the ball holders 70 and 90. As shown in FIG. 9, one end of the holding member 105 is fixed to the right side surface inside the digital still camera 1A, and the other end is fixed to the upper wall inside the digital still camera 1A. .

  One ball holder 70 includes a substantially rectangular support plate 75. On the upper surface of the support plate 75, springs 78A and 79A having one end fixed to the upper wall inside the digital still camera 1A are fixed, and on the lower surface of the support plate 75, one end is fixed to the holding member 105. 9, springs 77A and 83A having one end fixed to the inner wall on the back side of the digital still camera 1A on the front surface of the support plate 75 in FIG. A spring (not shown) having one end fixed to the inner wall on the front side of the digital still camera 1A is provided on the bottom surface (the left surface in FIGS. 8 and 9) on the back surface. Are attached with springs 80A each having one end fixed to the holding member 105.

  On the upper surface of the support plate 75 (the right side surface in FIGS. 8 and 9), so-called ball casters 71, 73, 81 and the like stand. There are four ball casters, but one of them is invisible behind the other ball casters. At the tip of these ball casters 71, 73, 81, etc., rotatable balls 72, 74, 82, etc. are provided. The surfaces of these balls 72, 74, 82, etc. are in contact with the surface of the ball 43.

  The ball casters 71 and 73 have the other ends of springs 78B and 79B fixed at one end to the upper wall inside the digital still camera 1A. The ball caster 78B is further fixed with the other end of a spring 76B having one end fixed to the inner wall on the front side of the digital still camera 1A. The ball caster 73 is further connected with a digital still. The other end of the spring 77B is fixed to the inner wall on the back side of the camera 1A. The ball caster 81 has one end fixed to the other surface of the spring 83B fixed to the inner wall on the back side of the digital still camera 1A, and one end fixed to the holding member 105. The other end of 84B is fixed. In this way, the four ball casters 71, 73, 81, etc. are also supported by the digital still camera 1A by the spring 76B.

  The other ball support 90 has the same configuration as the one ball support 70. The ball support 90 includes a support 95 supported on the inner wall of the digital still camera 1A by springs 95A, 96A, 97A, 98A, 99A, 100A and the like. The support 95 is provided with ball casters 91, 93, 93 provided with spheres 92, 94, 102 in contact with the surface of the ball 43 at the tip on the upper surface (the left side in FIGS. 8 and 9). 101 mag. These ball casters 91, 93, 100, etc. are also supported on the inner wall of the digital still camera 1A by springs 95B, 96B, 97B, 98B, 99B, 100B, etc.

  On the upper part of the ball 43, a shaft 52 having an impeller 51 formed at one end thereof is rotatably supported by a support plate 53 fixed to the upper wall inside the digital still camera 1A. A first rotary encoder is constituted by the shaft 52, the impeller 51, and a light emitting sensor and a light receiving sensor (all not shown) provided between the impeller 51. The other end of the shaft 52 is in contact with the surface of the ball 43.

  On the right side of the ball 43, a shaft 62 having an impeller 63 formed at one end is rotatably supported by a holding member 105 fixed by an inner right wall and an upper wall of the digital still camera 1A. ing. A second rotary encoder is constituted by the shaft 62, the impeller 61, and a light emitting sensor and a light receiving sensor (all not shown) provided across the impeller 61. The other end of the shaft 62 is also in contact with the surface of the ball 43.

  An opening 49 is formed on the front side of the digital still camera 1A, and the surface of the ball 43 is exposed to the outside of the digital still camera 1A from the opening 49. In FIG. 8, a touch sensor 46 is provided on the right side of the opening 49. Further, an opening 59 is formed on the back side of the digital still camera 1A, and the surface of the ball 43 is exposed from the opening 59 to the outside of the digital still camera 1A.

  In FIG. 8, a switch 107 is provided on the right side inside the opening 49. A leaf spring 92 is fixed between the switch 107 and the ball 43 inside the front surface of the digital still camera 1A.

  The balls 43 are held by the ball supports 70 and 90 so as to be movable back and forth and rotatable. When the ball 43 is pushed from the back, the ball 43 moves slightly to the front (front). Then, the ball 43 presses the leaf spring 108, and the switch 107 is turned on by the leaf spring 108. It is detected that the ball 43 has moved forward. Needless to say, it is detected that the ball 43 has moved to the back side by similarly providing the switch 107 and the like in the opening 50 on the back side of the digital still camera 1A. Since the ball 43 is held by the ball supports 70 and 90, the center of the ball 43 is positioned at the center between the front surface and the back surface of the digital still camera 1A. When no force is applied to the ball 43, the ball 43 does not press the leaf spring 108, and the switch 107 is in an OFF state. Since it can be detected that the ball 43 has moved back and forth, a new command can be given to the digital still camera 1A by detecting the movement. For example, the ball 43 can have a role such as a decision button provided in the digital still camera.

  The rotation amount and the rotation direction of the ball 43 are detected by the first rotary encoder and the second rotary encoder in the same manner as described above. Further, whether the ball 43 is operated from the back side or the front side by the touch sensors 44 and 46 can be detected in the same manner as described above.

  In the above-described embodiment, the rotation of the ball 43 or 3 is detected, but a similar command can be given to a cylindrical body instead of a spherical body such as a ball.

  10 to 13 show still another embodiment.

  FIG. 10 shows the relationship between the main image and the display screen area. FIG. 11 shows how to use the digital still camera according to this embodiment.

  Referring to FIG. 10, there are many large images (high resolution, large amount of data) that can withstand viewing. Usually, the size of the main image 110 is larger than the size of the display screen 2. When displaying one frame of the main image 110 on the display screen 2, reduction processing is performed so that the size of the main image 110 matches the size of the display screen 2, and the reduced main image 110 is displayed on the display screen 2. Is displayed.

  Thus, when the main image 110 and the area 111 of the display screen 2 are compared, the area 111 is smaller. In this embodiment, a part of the main image 110 is displayed on the display screen in the same size without reducing the main image 110.

  In this embodiment, as described above, the surface of the ball is exposed on the front side (in this embodiment, the surface of the ball does not necessarily have to be exposed from the back side), and the display screen is on the back side. As shown in FIG. 11, the installed digital still camera is placed on a table or the like so that the display screen 2 is on the upper side, and the digital still camera 1 is moved along the table or the like. To do. As the digital still camera 1 moves, the ball 3 exposed from the front of the digital still camera 1 rotates. The portion of the main image 110 displayed on the display screen 2 changes according to the rotation amount and rotation direction of the ball 3. In other words, a frame corresponding to the size of the display screen 2 is movably provided on a large photo, and a portion of the photo in the frame is displayed on the display screen 2.

  As shown in FIG. 10, when the display screen 2 of the digital still camera 1 is considered to be in the position of the area 111 with respect to the main image 110, the image portion 112 in the area 111 is displayed on the display screen 2. The If it is considered that the digital still camera 1 has moved and moved to the position of the region 113 with respect to the main image 110, the image portion 114 in the region 113 is displayed on the display screen 2 on the display screen 2. Similarly, when it is considered that the digital still camera 1 has moved to the position of the area 115, the image portion 116 in the area 115 is displayed on the display screen 2.

  In FIG. 11, the main image 110 is also shown for easy understanding of the relationship between the digital still camera 1 and the main image 110, but it goes without saying that the main image 110 is not displayed on a table or the like. Absent.

  FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the digital still camera 1.

  The overall operation of the digital still camera is controlled by the control circuit 120.

  As described above, the output signal from the first rotary encoder and the output signal from the second rotary encoder 124 are input to the rotation detection circuit 125. The rotation detection circuit 125 detects the amount and direction of rotation of the ball 3 described above. A signal indicating the detected rotation amount and rotation direction is input to the control circuit 120. In addition, output signals from the first touch sensor 4 and the second touch sensor 5 are also input to the control circuit 120. Based on these output signals, it is detected whether the ball 3 is operated from the front side or the back side. FIG. 12 also shows a movement detection sensor 128 for detecting that the ball 43 has moved forward as described above. An output signal from the movement detection sensor 128 is also input to the control circuit 120. Further, the digital still camera 1 is provided with buttons 122 such as a shutter release button, and an output signal from the buttons 122 is also input to the control circuit 120.

  When the imaging mode is set by a mode dial (not shown), the subject is imaged by the imaging device 121, and image data representing the subject image is obtained. The obtained image data is given to the display control circuit 129 via the control circuit 120. By controlling the display device 130 by the display control circuit 129, a subject image represented by image data obtained by imaging is displayed on the display screen of the display device 130. When the shutter release button is pressed, image data obtained by imaging is given to the memory card 132 via the memory card interface 131 and recorded.

  In the digital still camera according to this embodiment, there are a normal playback mode and a main image playback mode as playback modes that can be set.

  In the normal playback mode, the main image of one frame is reduced so that it can be displayed on the display screen of the display device 130. When the normal playback mode is set, the main image data recorded on the memory card 132 is read and input to the control circuit 120 via the memory card interface 131. The control circuit 120 performs a reduction process so that the size of the main image matches the size of the display screen. Image data representing the reduced main image is supplied to the display control circuit 129, so that an image smaller than the main image is displayed on the display screen of the display device 130.

  In the main image reproduction mode, as described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, the main image is reproduced in the same size without reducing the main image. When the size of the main image is larger than the size of the display screen, a part of the main image is displayed. The main image data recorded on the memory card 132 is read and input to the control circuit 120 via the memory card interface 131. The read main image data is supplied to the display control circuit 129 without performing a reduction process in which the size of the main image matches the size of the display screen in the control circuit 120. The main image data is temporarily stored in the memory in the control circuit 120. When the size of the main image is larger than the size of the display screen, image data representing a part of the main image is given to the display control circuit 129. . An image representing a part of the main image is displayed on the display screen of the display device 130. As described above, when the ball 3 rotates, the rotation amount and the rotation direction are detected by the rotation detection circuit 125. The image data of the main image portion corresponding to the rotation direction and the rotation amount is read from the memory in the control circuit 120 and given to the display control circuit 129 to be displayed on the display screen of the display device 130.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the main image reproduction mode.

  As described above, the main image data is read from the memory card. It is confirmed whether or not the size of the main image represented by the read main image data is larger than the size of the display screen (step 141).

  If the size of the main image is smaller than the size of the display screen (NO in step 141), the entire main image of one frame can be displayed on the display screen, so that the entire main image is displayed as it is on the display screen (step 142). If the playback mode of the main image is not off (NO in step 143).

  If the size of the main image is larger than the size of the display screen (YES in step 141), the entire main image cannot be displayed on the display screen. For this purpose, an initial display part (for example, the lower right part of the main image) which is a part of the main image is displayed on the display screen (step 144). When the ball is rotated as described above (YES in step 145), the amount and direction of rotation are detected. Other portions of the main image corresponding to the detected rotation amount and rotation direction are displayed on the display screen (step 146). When the ball rotates (YES in step 147), another portion of the main image corresponding to the amount and direction of rotation is displayed again on the display screen (step 146). If the ball is not rotated (NO in step 147) and the main image playback mode is turned off (YES in step 148), the main image playback mode ends.

  If the display instruction for the next frame is given when the main image playback mode is set, it goes without saying that the next frame is also displayed in the main image playback mode.

It is a rear view of a digital still camera. It is a front view of a digital still camera. It is sectional drawing which follows the III-III line of FIG. It is sectional drawing which follows the IV-IV line of FIG. It is an example of the operation method of a digital still camera. It is an example of the operation method of a digital still camera. It is an example of the operation method of a digital still camera. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 4. The relationship between the main image and the display screen area is shown. It is an example of the usage method of a digital still camera. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of a digital still camera. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of a digital still camera.

Explanation of symbols

1 Digital still camera (portable image playback device)
4,6 Touch sensor 9A, 10A Bending part (holding member)
70, 90 Ball holder (holding member)
107 switch (movement detector)
108 Leaf spring (movement detector)
123, 124 Rotary encoder
125 Rotation detection circuit

Claims (3)

A rotating body with a part of the surface exposed from the front and back of the operation device,
A holding member for rotatably holding the rotating body;
Rotation direction detection device that detects the rotation direction of the rotating body and outputs a signal indicating the rotation direction, and the rotating body is rotated from the exposed portion on the front side of the operation device, or the exposed portion on the back side of the operation device An operation device equipped with an operation surface detection device for detecting whether the rotating body is rotating from and outputting a signal representing the operation surface ,
The operation surface detection device includes a first touch sensor provided on a front surface of the operation device and a second touch sensor provided on a back surface of the operation device,
When the first touch sensor is touched, it is detected that the rotating body is rotated from the exposed portion on the back side of the operation device, and the second touch sensor is touched And detecting that the rotating body is rotated from the exposed portion on the front side of the operation device.
Operation device. The holding member holds the rotating body movably in a front direction and a back direction of the operation device,
A movement detecting device for detecting that the rotating body has moved in the front direction or the back direction;
The operation device according to claim 1, further comprising: The holding member is
A ball holder provided on the left and right sides of the rotating body,
Each of the above ball holders
A support plate with four ball casters standing on the top surface, with four sides fixed to the inner wall of the operation device by springs and a rotatable ball at the tip;
The surface of the ball / caster sphere is in contact with the surface of the rotating body,
The operation device according to claim 2.

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