JP4892388B2 - Digital camera - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention includes a display screen, and when a number of operation items that can be executed by the display device are displayed on the display screen and one of the operation items is selected by an operation, the selected operation item is selected. The present invention relates to a display device that performs a corresponding operation.

  Recently, the penetration rate of mobile phones with cameras and digital cameras with a thin structure, which are portable devices, has increased, and everyone is carrying such portable devices. For example, many portable devices such as a camera-equipped cellular phone are provided with additional functions such as a photographing function and an image receiving function for receiving and displaying a television broadcast as well as the function of the cellular phone. For this reason, a menu button is provided so that the user can easily select one of a number of functions of the portable device on the display screen by utilizing the fact that a recent portable device has a display screen. In many cases, a large number of functions such as the above photographing function and image receiving function are displayed on the display screen at a time in the form of menus depending on the operation. Furthermore, in recent mobile devices, additional functions added to the main function are displayed in the form of new menus in response to further operations when the main function menu is displayed. There is also.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of a digital camera 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 1A shows a view of the digital camera as seen from the front, and FIG. 1B shows a view of the digital camera as seen from the back.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, a photographing lens 1101 is provided on the right side of the center of the body, and a light emission window 190A is provided obliquely above and right of the photographing lens 1101. Furthermore, a release button 10a and the like are provided on the upper surface of the body 1a. Further, as shown in FIG. 1B, a liquid crystal monitor 125A is provided on the back of the body 1a, and next to the liquid crystal monitor 125A, a menu / menu operated when a menu is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 125A. The cross key 10c that is operated when selecting any item in the menu on the OK button 10b or the liquid crystal monitor 125A, or the liquid crystal monitor 125A is hidden or displayed, or is operated when the menu is exited. Operating buttons such as a playback button 10e and a zoom switch 10f that are operated when a captured image is reproduced and displayed on the DISP / BACK button 10d and the liquid crystal monitor 125A are provided. Hereinafter, these operators may be collectively referred to as an operator group 10.

  Here, a menu displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 125A when the menu button 10b of FIG. 1B is pressed to enter the setting mode will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a menu displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 125A, and FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating another example of a menu displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 125A.

  FIG. 2A shows a state in which the menu is displayed by switching the image on the liquid crystal monitor 125A when the menu button 10b is pressed, and FIG. 2B and FIG. (C) shows a state after the display screen is switched according to the operation of the cross key 10c when the menu of FIG. 2 (a) is displayed.

  First, when the menu button 10b is pressed, a menu composed of six items ABCD, EFGHIJ, KLM, NOPQ, OFF, and STELLEN is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 125A as shown in FIG. 2A. At this time, a selection cursor (indicated by a dotted line in the figure) is displayed over the uppermost character “ABCD” and a symbol “>” is displayed at the right end of the character “ABCD”. When the right key of the cross key 10c is operated in the display state of FIG. 2A, the display is switched to the display of FIG. 2B and OFF, ABCD, EFG are displayed beside “ABCD” display. A menu of three items is displayed. At this time, since “ABCD” is selected in the main menu of FIG. 2A, the selection cursor is displayed over “ABCD” in the three items. When the right key of the cross key 10c is further operated after the content of FIG. 2B is displayed, the display is switched to the display of FIG. At this time, the selection cursor (shown by dotted line hatching in the figure) on the character “ABCD” is changed to a confirmation cursor (shown by solid line hatching in the figure), and the display above the liquid crystal monitor 125A is displayed. Is switched from the mode of “Aiueo” to the mode of “Iroha nihongo”, it is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 125A that “ABCD” where the confirmation cursor is placed is executed. In this way, the user can easily make a desired setting while looking at the menu on the liquid crystal monitor 125A. Furthermore, some portable devices that display such a menu are operated for a predetermined time or longer in the display state of FIG. 2B or FIG. 2C in consideration of operability. When there is not, for example, there is one that can automatically switch the display to the standard screen using the menu of the first display screen of FIG.

  However, many people who handle portable devices are beginners, and some beginners do not know what to operate in the display state of FIG. 2 (a) or FIG. 2 (b). Time may elapse. In that case, it is expected that if the screen is unexpectedly switched to the standard screen, it will be more confusing.

  Patent Documents 3 and 4 propose a technique for displaying guidance for operation for beginners when it is determined whether the user is a beginner from the operation state. However, even if the techniques of Patent Documents 3 and 4 are applied to a mobile device and guidance is displayed with a menu as shown in FIG. 3, many beginners still do not know what to do, In addition, since it is not known how to close the menu, even if the power is turned on, there is no choice but to turn off the power.

  Further, in Patent Documents 5 and 6 and the like, a menu is displayed according to a predetermined operation without setting the menu display / non-display operation element and the menu display operation is not performed, and the setting is started after the setting is completed. A technique has been proposed in which a menu is automatically deleted after a predetermined elapsed time has elapsed since then.

However, in the technique of Patent Document 5, once the setting mode is entered and the menu is displayed, the setting mode cannot be exited unless a predetermined time has elapsed. In addition, since beginners take time to operate, it is expected that the display screen suddenly disappears even if a predetermined time has passed without any context during operation. Furthermore, in the technique of Patent Document 6, a menu is displayed when a user approaches a manipulator to operate the manipulator, and the menu disappears after a while after the setting is completed and the finger is removed from the manipulator. Therefore, it is expected that it will be difficult to handle and confusing for beginners.
JP 2000-283650 A JP 2000-276657 A JP 05-35432 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-44520 JP-A-7-322164 JP 2004-127097 A

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide a display device that can be operated with confidence without being confused by a novice user.

A first display device of the present invention that achieves the above object includes a display screen for displaying an image and an operator group capable of a plurality of operations, and the display screen according to a predetermined menu display operation of the operator group. A menu is displayed on the screen, and various settings are made while updating the display of the menu on the display screen by further operation of the control group. In a display device having a setting mode for erasing the display,
A timer that operates in the setting mode and is reset every time a valid operation is performed on the menu currently displayed on the display screen;
A setting mode forcibly ending means for deleting the menu from the display screen and exiting the setting mode when the timer measures a predetermined time-up time is provided.

  According to the first display device of the present invention, since the timer is reset every time an effective operation is performed even if the operation is performed slowly by a beginner, the time until the menu is hidden is extended. This prevents the menu from disappearing during the operation. In addition, when only invalid operations are performed, the menu can be deleted and the user can be alerted by including the meaning of notifying that the invalid operations are being performed.

  In the setting mode, it is preferable that display control means for displaying a menu on the display screen and displaying guidance representing an operable operator is provided.

  Then, the display control means can display the guidance on the display screen together with the menu and notify the user of the operation method, thereby enabling the user to perform an effective operation.

Here, in the setting mode, the display control means for changing the color of at least a part of the image to be displayed on the display screen as the time measured by the timer approaches the time-up time,
In the setting mode, the display control means may sequentially change at least a part of colors of the image displayed on the display screen as the time measured by the timer approaches the time-up time.

  Then, even if the user is a beginner, the user visually recognizes the passage of time and recognizes that the menu disappears soon by looking at some color changes on the display screen.

Further, in the setting mode, it is preferable to include display control means for changing at least part of an image to be displayed on the display screen from lighting to blinking as the time measured by the timer approaches the time-up time,
In the setting mode, the display control means changes at least part of an image to be displayed on the display screen from lighting to blinking as the time measured by the timer approaches the time-up time, and further changes the blinking cycle. It may be a thing.

In the setting mode, it is preferable to provide display control means for changing the color and changing from lighting to blinking for at least a part of the image displayed on the display screen as the time measured by the timer approaches the time-up time. ,
In the setting mode, the display control means sequentially changes the color of at least a part of the image displayed on the display screen as the time measured by the timer approaches the time-up time and changes from lighting to blinking. It may change the blinking cycle.

  Further, even when the counter is used instead of the timer, the same operation and effect as those using the timer can be obtained.

The second display device of the present invention that achieves the above object includes a display screen for displaying an image and an operator group capable of performing a plurality of operations, and the display device according to a predetermined menu display operation of the operator group. A menu is displayed on the screen, and various settings are made while updating the menu display on the display screen by further operation of the control group, and the menu is displayed from the display screen according to the predetermined menu end operation of the control group In a display device having a setting mode for deleting
A counter that operates in the setting mode, counts the number of invalid operations for the menu currently displayed on the display screen, and is reset every time an effective operation is performed;
And a setting mode forcible ending means for deleting the menu from the display screen and exiting the setting mode when the counter counts a predetermined count-up count value.

  Here, in the setting mode, it is preferable that a display control means for displaying a guidance representing an operator operable with a menu on the display screen is preferable.

Further, in the setting mode, it is preferable to include display control means for changing the color of at least a part of the image displayed on the display screen according to the count-up count value in the counting by the counter,
In the setting mode, the display control unit may sequentially change at least a part of colors of an image displayed on the display screen according to the count-up count value.

Further, in the setting mode, it is preferable to include display control means for changing at least a part of an image to be displayed on the display screen from lighting to blinking as the count value by the counter approaches the count-up count value.
In the setting mode, the display control means changes at least a part of the image to be displayed on the display screen from lighting to blinking and further changes the blinking cycle as the count value by the counter approaches the count-up count value. It may be made to do.

Furthermore, in the setting mode, display control means is provided for changing the color and changing from lighting to blinking for at least a part of the image displayed on the display screen as the count value by the counter approaches the count-up count value. And well,
In the setting mode, the display control means sequentially changes the color and changes from lighting to blinking for at least a part of the image displayed on the display screen as the count value by the counter approaches the count-up count value. Further, the blinking cycle may be changed.

  As described above, a display device that can be operated with confidence without being confused by a novice user is realized.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the digital camera according to the embodiment of the present invention. 4 is assumed to have the same appearance as the digital camera shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the operation of the digital camera 1 of the present embodiment is comprehensively controlled by the CPU 100, and a main memory in which programs are stored in the CPU 100 via an address bus 104A and a data bus 104D. 100B is connected. In the digital camera 1 of the present embodiment, when the CPU 100 is turned on, the main memory 100B is accessed via the memory control 100A, and the operation of the digital camera 1 is controlled according to the procedure of the internal program. Start.

  Here, the configuration of the digital camera 1 will be described in order along the flow of image data.

  Since the image data representing the subject captured by the photographic lens 1101 shown on the left side of FIG. 4 is recorded on the right recording medium 128, the components on the left side of FIG.

  A subject captured by the photographic lens 1101 in the photographic optical system on the left side of FIG. At this time, it is necessary to focus the subject light whose focus and exposure are adjusted on the image sensor 120, so that the CPU 100 controls the aperture driving unit 102 based on the integration result of the integration unit 129, which will be described later. The diameter of the aperture 1102 is changed to adjust exposure, and the CPU 100 controls the lens driving unit 101 to adjust the focus position of the focus lens in the photographic lens 1101 to perform focus adjustment.

  In the present embodiment, an optical low-pass filter 1104 is inserted into a photographic optical system including the photographic lens 1101 to suppress the occurrence of aliasing or the like, or infrared rays from the image sensor 120 (CCD solid-state image sensor in this example). Since the side sensitivity is high, an infrared filter 1103 is inserted to prevent the adverse effects of infrared rays.

  In this way, the subject in the direction in which the photographing lens 1101 is directed is imaged on the image sensor 120, and image data representing the subject is generated by the image sensor 120, and the image data representing the subject from the image sensor 120 to the analog signal processing unit 121. Is output.

  In the digital camera as shown in FIG. 1, the liquid crystal monitor 125A on the back side is used instead of the viewfinder. Therefore, when the power is turned on, the CPU 100 displays an image sensor driving unit to display a moving image on the liquid crystal monitor 125A. 103 is instructed to cause the image sensor 120 to generate images at predetermined intervals, and image data is output to the analog signal processing unit 121. In response to the image data output from the image sensor 120, the analog signal processing unit 121 performs noise reduction processing or the like, and the image data subjected to the noise reduction processing is converted into digital signal image data by the A / D unit 122 in the subsequent stage. And the image data is guided onto the data bus 104D.

  All of the image data introduced onto the data bus 104D is first transferred to the frame memory in the digital signal processing circuit 123. In the digital signal processing circuit 123, processing such as conversion from RGB signals to YC signals is performed, and image data converted into YC signals is displayed in a display buffer memory (not shown) in the display control unit 124 under the control of the CPU 100. Forwarded to Although details will be described later, the display control unit 124 has a built-in character generator that generates characters in response to a code signal, a recording unit that records registered objects, and the like. It also includes an adjustment circuit that changes the brightness of the LCD and changes the color of the image on the LCD monitor.

  Then, under the control of the display control unit 124, an image based on the image data is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 125A provided in the display unit 125. As described above, the CPU 100 instructs the image sensor driving unit 104 to cause the image sensor 120 to generate and output images at predetermined intervals, so that the content of the image buffer memory in the display control unit 124 is predetermined. The images on the liquid crystal monitor 125A included in the display unit 125 are switched one after another by being rewritten at intervals, and a subject image (hereinafter referred to as a through image) captured by the photographing lens 1101 is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 125A. The

  Here, when the release button 10a is pressed at a photo opportunity while viewing the through image on the liquid crystal monitor, the CPU 100 first performs metering and distance measurement by the integrating unit 129 when the release button 10a is half-pressed. The result and the distance measurement result are received and instructed to the aperture driving unit 102 to adjust the diameter of the aperture, and instructed to the lens driving unit 101 to move the focus lens to the in-focus position to perform focus adjustment.

  Subsequently, when fully pressed, the CPU 100 instructs the image sensor driving unit 103 to expose the image sensor 120 at the shutter speed calculated in advance when the shutter button is half-pressed based on the result accumulated by the accumulator 129. After the exposure, the image data representing the subject is output to the analog signal processing unit 121. At this time, if the CPU 100 determines that the field brightness is dark, the light emitting unit 190 emits light and photographing is performed. In this example, a light emitting unit 190 with a dimming function is provided, and an example is shown. The light emitted from the light emitting unit 1901 provided in the light emitting unit 190 is received by the light receiving unit 1902 and the amount of light received is predetermined. When the amount of light is reached, the light emission of the light emitting unit 1901 is stopped.

  When the image data output from the image sensor 120 is supplied to the analog signal processing unit 121, the analog signal processing unit 121 performs noise reduction processing and the like, and the image data converted into a digital signal by the A / D unit 122. Is guided onto the bus 104D, and all of the image data guided to the bus is guided into the frame memory in the digital signal processing circuit 123.

  In the digital signal processing circuit 123, signal processing such as YC conversion processing is performed. After the signal processing is performed in the digital signal processing circuit 123, this time, compression is performed based on the address designation of the address bus 104A via the data bus 104D. Image data is transferred to the decompression processing unit 126, and the compression / decompression processing unit 126 compresses the image data. Further, the compressed image data is similarly transferred to the external memory control unit 127 and recorded on the recording medium 128 under the control of the external memory control unit 127.

  The digital camera 1 of the present embodiment has the above configuration.

  Here, an outline of the menu display process will be described by extracting the configuration related to the menu display process displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 125A when the MENU / OK button 10b is pressed to enter the setting mode.

  Menu display control is performed in cooperation with the CPU 100 and the display control unit 124.

  In this example, the CPU 100 receives an operation of the operator group 10 (MENU / OK button 10b) and instructs the display control unit 124 to display a menu on the liquid crystal monitor 125A included in the display unit 125, or on the liquid crystal monitor 125A. The menu is updated.

  In order to make the description easier to understand, the procedure of the menu display process executed by the CPU 100 with the cooperation of the display control unit 124 will be described with reference to a flowchart.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of display processing performed by the CPU 100 when the setting mode is entered.

  In step S501, it is determined whether the menu button 10b has been pressed. If it is determined that the button is not pressed, the process of step S501 is repeatedly executed.

  If it is determined in step S501 that the menu button 10b has been pressed, the display control unit 124 is instructed to display a menu on the liquid crystal monitor 125A included in the display unit 125, and the timer in the CPU 100 is reset to start timing. .

  In the next step S503, the display controller 124 is instructed to display the time counted by the timer on the liquid crystal monitor 125A, and the process proceeds to the next step S504. In step S504, it is determined whether an operation for turning off the menu display, for example, an operation such as whether the DISP / BACK button 10d is operated or the playback button 10e is pressed.

  If it is determined that the DISP / BACK button 10d or the playback button 10e has been operated, the process proceeds to Yes, the menu is cleared in step S508, the timer is cleared, and the timer value is also cleared in step S509. Exit.

  If it is determined in step S504 that the DISP / BACK button 10d, the playback button 10e, or the like is not operated, the process proceeds to No and a key operation effective as an operation when the menu is displayed is performed in step S505. Determine whether or not. If it is determined in step S505 that the key operation is valid, the process proceeds to step S506, the timer is reset, the process returns to step S504, and the processes from step S504 to step S506 are repeated. If it is determined in step S505 that an invalid key operation has been performed without a valid key operation, the process proceeds to the Yes side, and in step S507, it is determined whether or not a specified time has elapsed with reference to the current timer value. If it is determined in step S507 that the timer value is not equal to or longer than the specified time, the process returns to step S504 to repeat the processing from step S504 to step S507.

  If it is determined in step S507 that the timer value is equal to or longer than the specified time, the process proceeds to step S508, the menu is cleared in step S508, the timer is cleared, and the timer value display is also cleared in step S509. Get out of it.

  When the CPU 100 executes the processing of the flow of FIG. 5, the menu display time on the liquid crystal monitor 125A can be extended as long as an effective operation is performed, so that a beginner can perform the setting operation as before. The rate of disappearing suddenly without any forehead while doing is reduced.

  That is, a display device is realized that can be operated with peace of mind without feeling uneasy that a beginner has broken.

  In the present embodiment, an example of the setting mode forced termination unit according to the present invention is configured by the CPU 100, and an example of the display control unit according to the present invention is configured by the CPU 100 and the display control unit 124.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the second embodiment, and is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when the CPU 100 performs a display process using a counting process by a counter instead of a timing process by a timer.

  The process in FIG. 6 is almost the same as the process in FIG. 5 except that the timer process is changed to a counter process. In the figure, the process indicated by the symbol A added after the number indicating the step is changed from the timer process to the counter process. Further, in this embodiment, in order to count the number of invalid key operations by the counter, processing step S5051 is added in addition to the processing in FIG. 5, and the processing for displaying the count value is not performed, so the processing in step S503 in FIG. 5 is omitted. Thus, the process of deleting the timer value display on the liquid crystal monitor in step S509 is changed to the process of initializing the menu in step S509A.

  Thus, even if a counter is used instead of using a timer, the same operation and effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

  Next, a third embodiment will be described.

  In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the CPU 100, which constitutes the setting mode forced termination means according to the present invention and constitutes a part of the display control means according to the present invention, performs menu display / non-display on the liquid crystal monitor 125A. Although only the display control is performed, the CPU 100 uses the character generator and the object in the display control unit 124 that constitutes a part of the display control means according to the present invention together with the CPU 100 to provide operation guidance along with the menu on the liquid crystal monitor 125A. If it is configured to display on the screen, the display device becomes easier to handle.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the third embodiment.

  The digital camera of the third embodiment is assumed to have the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, and the CPU 100 shown in FIG. 7 executes the processing of the flow of FIG.

  Although the processing is almost the same as the processing in FIG. 5, the processing in step S <b> 503 in FIG. 5 is changed to display processing step S <b> 503 </ b> B for guidance for operation to be performed by the display control unit 124. In addition to the processing in FIG. 5, the processing from step S5071 to S5076 is added. If it is determined in step S507 that the timer value has not reached the specified time, the timer value is 50% or more of the specified value in step S5071. It is determined in step S5073 whether the timer value is 60% or more of the specified value, or in step S5075, the timer value is 80% or more of the specified value. Then, in the processes of step S5072, step S5074, and step S5076, the process of changing the guidance color to green, yellow, and red is performed.

  That is, at least a part of colors of an image displayed on the display screen as the time measured by the timer approaches the time-up time in the setting mode by the CPU 100 and the display control unit 124 that constitute an example of the display control unit according to the present invention. It will be something that changes.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an image on the liquid crystal monitor when the CPU 100 executes the process of FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, when the guidance is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 125A and the user is notified of the time until the menu disappears after the color of the guidance changes, the beginner is performing a useless operation. You will notice. Such a configuration may be adopted.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the fourth embodiment.

  The digital camera of the fourth embodiment is assumed to have the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, and the CPU 100 in FIG. 4 executes the processing of the flow in FIG.

  Although the timer in the CPU 100 is used in the third embodiment, the counter in the CPU 100 is used in this embodiment.

  The process of FIG. 9 is almost the same as the process of FIG. 6, but the guidance display process of step S503B is added. Further, in addition to the processing of FIG. 6, the processing from step S5071A to S5076 is added, and if it is determined in step S507A that the specified number of times has not been reached, the count value becomes 1/2 or more of the specified number of times in step S5071A. It is determined whether the count value is 2/3 or more of the specified value in step S5073A, or whether the count value is 5/6 or more of the specified value in step S5075A. If determined, the display control unit 124 is instructed to perform a process of changing the guidance color to green, yellow, and red in steps S5072, S5074, and S5076, respectively.

  That is, in the setting mode, the CPU 100 and the display control unit 124 that constitute an example of the display control unit according to the present invention at least part of an image displayed on the display screen as the count value by the counter approaches the count-up count value. It means that the color is changed sequentially. This is fine.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the fifth embodiment.

  The digital camera of the fifth embodiment is assumed to have the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, and the CPU 100 in FIG. 4 executes the processing of the flow in FIG.

  Although substantially the same as the process of FIG. 7, the processes of steps S5072, 5074, and S5076 of the process of FIG. 7 are changed to the processes of steps S5072A, 5074A, and S5076A. If it is determined in step S507 in FIG. 7 that the timer value has not reached the specified time, the timer value is 50% or more of the specified value in step S5071, or the timer value is 60% of the specified value in step S5073. It is determined whether the timer value is 80% or more in step S5075, and if it is determined Yes in each step, the display control unit is instructed to perform steps S5072A, S5074A, In each step S5076A, the guidance is changed from lighting to blinking, and the guidance is blinked at different periods of 2 Hz, 1 Hz, and 0.5 Hz.

  That is, the CPU 100 and the display control unit 124 that constitute an example of the display control unit according to the present invention, in the setting mode, start lighting at least a part of the image displayed on the display screen as the time measured by the timer approaches the time-up time. This means that the blinking cycle is changed and the blinking cycle is further changed. Such a configuration may be adopted.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the sixth embodiment.

  The digital camera of the sixth embodiment is assumed to have the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, and the CPU 100 shown in FIG. 4 executes the processing of the flow of FIG.

  9 is substantially the same as the process of FIG. 9, but the processes of steps S5072, S5074, and S5076 of FIG. If it is determined that the count value is not less than 1/2 of the specified number in step S5071A, the count value is not less than 2/3 of the specified number in step S5073A, or the count value is determined in step S5075A. Is determined to be 5/6 or more, the indication control unit 124 is instructed to change the guidance from lighting to blinking in each of steps S5072A, S5074A, and S5076A, and further 2 Hz, 1 Hz, and 0.5 Hz. Each with a different period of And to perform the processing to blink for guidance.

  That is, the CPU 100 and the display control unit 124 that constitute an example of the display control unit according to the present invention, in the setting mode, start lighting at least a part of the image displayed on the display screen as the time measured by the timer approaches the time-up time. This means that the blinking cycle is changed and the blinking cycle is further changed. Such a configuration may be adopted.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the seventh embodiment.

  It is assumed that the digital camera of the seventh embodiment also has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, and the CPU 100 shown in FIG. 4 executes the processing of the flow of FIG.

  In the previous embodiments, the display control unit was instructed to change the color of the guidance portion or the blinking period as the time approached. However, the seventh embodiment In this case, the display control unit is instructed to change the color of the guidance portion, blink, and further change the blinking cycle.

  The processing in FIG. 12 performed by the digital camera of the seventh embodiment is almost the same as the processing in FIG. 9, but the processing in step S5072A, step S5074A, and step S5076A in FIG. 9 is changed to step S5072B, step S5074B, and step S5076B. Has been. Whether the timer value is 50% or more of the specified value in step S5071, whether the timer value is 60% or more of the specified value in step S5073, or whether the timer value is 80% or more of the specified value in step S5075 In step S5072B, step S5074B, and step S5076B, the display control unit 124 is instructed to change the color of the guidance portion to green, yellow, and red, and the blinking cycle is determined. The process of changing to 2 Hz, 1 Hz, and 0.5 Hz is performed.

  That is, in the setting mode, the CPU 100 and the display control unit 124 constituting an example of the display control means according to the present invention change the color of at least a part of the image displayed on the display screen as the time measured by the timer approaches the time-up time. In other words, it is changed sequentially and changed from lighting to blinking, and further, the blinking cycle is changed.

  Such a configuration may be adopted.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the eighth embodiment.

  Assume that the digital camera of the eighth embodiment has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, and the CPU 100 shown in FIG. 4 executes the processing of the flow of FIG.

  The eighth embodiment is the same as the seventh embodiment except that the timer is changed to a counter in the seventh embodiment, and the processing of FIG. 12 executed by the CPU 100 of the digital camera of the eighth embodiment is the same as FIG. The processing of step S5072A, step S5074A, and step S5076A in FIG. 10 is changed to step S5072B, step S5074B, and step S5076B. In step S5071A, the count value is ½ or more of the specified value, in step S5073A, the count value is 2/3 or more of the specified value, or in step S5075A, the count value is 5/6 or more of the specified value. If it is determined that each step is Yes, the display control unit 124 is instructed in steps S5072B, S5074B, and S5076B to change the guidance colors to green, yellow, and red, respectively. Processing for changing the blinking cycle to 2 Hz, 1 Hz, and 0.5 Hz is performed. Such a configuration may be adopted.

  As described above, a display device that can be operated with confidence without being confused by a novice user is realized.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the back surface of a digital camera. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the menu displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 125A. It is a figure which shows another example of the display of the menu displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 125A. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the digital camera of this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the display process which CPU100 performs. It is a figure which shows 2nd Embodiment and is a flowchart which shows the process sequence in case CPU100 performs a display process using a counter instead of a timer. It is a figure explaining 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the image on a liquid crystal monitor when CPU100 performs the process of FIG. It is a figure explaining 4th Embodiment. It is a figure explaining 5th Embodiment. It is a figure explaining 6th Embodiment. It is a figure explaining 7th Embodiment. It is a figure explaining 8th Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Digital camera 10 Control group 10a Release button 10b MENU / OK button 10c Cross key 10d DISP / BACK button 10e Playback button 10f Zoom switch 100 CPU
100A Memory control unit 100B Main memory (program memory)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Lens drive part 102 Aperture drive part 103 Image pick-up element drive part 1101 Shooting lens 1102 Aperture 1103 Infrared filter 1104 Optical low-pass filter 120 Image pick-up element 121 Analog signal processing part 122 A / D part 123 Digital signal processing part 124 Display control part 125 Display part 126 Compression / Expansion Processing Unit 127 External Memory Control Unit 128 Recording Medium 129 Integration Unit

Claims (8)

  An image sensor that generates image data representing a subject, a display screen that displays an image of the image data generated by the image sensor, and an operator group capable of a plurality of operations, and a predetermined menu of the operator group Depending on the display operation, a menu is displayed on the display screen, and various settings are made while updating the display of the menu on the display screen by further operation of the operator group, and a predetermined menu of the operator group is set. In a digital camera having a setting mode for erasing the menu display from the display screen in response to an end operation,
  A counter that operates in the setting mode and counts the number of invalid operations for the menu currently displayed on the display screen and is reset each time an effective operation is performed;
  A digital camera, comprising: a setting mode forcibly ending means for deleting the menu from the display screen and exiting the setting mode when the counter counts a predetermined count-up count value.   2. The digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising display control means for displaying a menu on the display screen and displaying a guidance representing an operable operator in the setting mode.   2. The display control means for changing at least a part of colors of an image displayed on the display screen as the count value by the counter approaches the count-up count value in the setting mode. The digital camera described.   The display control means is characterized in that, in the setting mode, a count value by the counter sequentially changes at least a part of colors of an image displayed on the display screen according to the count-up count value. Item 4. The digital camera according to Item 3.   In the setting mode, there is provided display control means for changing at least a part of an image to be displayed on the display screen from lighting to blinking as the count value by the counter approaches the count-up count value. Item 1. A digital camera according to Item 1.   In the setting mode, the display control means changes at least a part of an image to be displayed on the display screen from lighting to blinking and further changes the blinking cycle as the count value by the counter approaches the count-up count value. 6. The digital camera according to claim 5, further comprising display control means for causing the display control means to operate.   In the setting mode, there is provided display control means for changing the color and changing from lighting to blinking for at least a part of the image displayed on the display screen as the count value by the counter approaches the count-up count value. The digital camera according to claim 1.   In the setting mode, the display control means sequentially changes the color and changes from lighting to blinking for at least a part of an image to be displayed on the display screen as the count value by the counter approaches the count-up count value. The digital camera according to claim 7, wherein the blinking cycle is further changed.

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