JP5300934B2 - Image processing apparatus and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To give a comfortable operation feeling as necessary while keeping an appreciation property. <P>SOLUTION: A system control circuit 50 applies a first effect processing when an image displayed on display means is switched over if the switching-over of the image displayed on the display means is done according to a lapse of predetermined time, and applies a second effect processing different from the first effect processing when an image displayed on the display means is switched over if the switching-over is done according to switching operations. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2012,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for performing effect processing on an image selected by an operation means such as an operation button.

  Conventionally, image processing apparatuses such as electronic cameras for recording and reproducing still images and moving images using a memory card having a solid-state memory element as a recording medium are already on the market, and electronic cameras equipped with an electronic viewfinder such as a color liquid crystal panel are also sold. Has been.

  According to these electronic cameras, it is possible to continuously display images before photographing and to determine the composition by the user of the electronic camera, or to reproduce and display the photographed images for confirmation. In addition, there are models that apply an effect at the time of switching images during playback. The effect is to accentuate monotonous reproduction and enhance appreciation.

JP 2004-228731 A

  However, if the effect is constantly executed, there is a possibility that a comfortable operation feeling may be impaired, and the image effect used for image feeding improves appreciation, but there is a concern that the response to the operation is poor.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to provide a comfortable operational feeling as needed while maintaining appreciability.

An image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes: a receiving unit that receives a switching operation for switching an image displayed on a display unit to another image; and a predetermined time elapses after the image is displayed on the display unit, Control means for controlling to switch the image displayed on the display means to another image when the accepting means accepts the switching operation before the predetermined time has elapsed since the image was displayed; and the display means When the image displayed on the screen is switched as the predetermined time elapses, a first switching effect process is performed when the image displayed on the display means is switched, and the image is displayed in response to the switching operation. if is performed and an image processing means for controlling to perform a different second transition effect processing from said first transition effect processing when switching of the image displayed on the display means And wherein the door.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a comfortable operation feeling while keeping the Kan prize property.

It is a figure which shows the internal structure of the electronic camera which concerns on the 1st thru | or 4th embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the operation member of the electronic camera which concerns on the 1st thru | or 4th embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the electronic camera which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the electronic camera which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the electronic camera which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the setting screen of an effect process. It is a figure which shows an example of an image feed effect. It is a figure which shows an example of an image feed effect. It is a figure which shows an example of an image feed effect. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the electronic camera which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the setting screen of an effect process. It is a figure which shows an example of a slide show effect.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments to which the invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

-First embodiment-
First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of the electronic camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes an image processing apparatus. Reference numeral 10 denotes a photographing lens, 12 denotes a shutter having a diaphragm function, 14 denotes an image sensor that converts an optical image into an electrical signal, and 16 denotes an A / D converter that converts an analog signal output from the image sensor 14 into a digital signal.

  A timing generation circuit 18 supplies a clock signal and a control signal to the image sensor 14, the A / D converter 16, and the D / A converter 26, and is controlled by the memory control circuit 22 and the system control circuit 50.

  An image processing circuit 20 performs predetermined pixel interpolation processing and color conversion processing on the data from the A / D converter 16 or the data from the memory control circuit 22.

  Further, the image processing circuit 20 performs predetermined calculation processing using the captured image data, and the system control circuit 50 controls the exposure control means 40 and the distance measurement control means 42 based on the obtained calculation result. TTL (through-the-lens) AF (autofocus) processing, AE (automatic exposure) processing, and EF (flash pre-emission) processing are performed. Further, the image processing circuit 20 performs predetermined arithmetic processing using captured image data, and also performs TTL AWB (auto white balance) processing based on the obtained arithmetic result.

  A memory control circuit 22 controls the A / D converter 16, the timing generation circuit 18, the image processing circuit 20, the image display memory 24, the D / A converter 26, the memory 30, and the compression / decompression circuit 32.

  The data of the A / D converter 16 is written into the image display memory 24 or the memory 30 via the image processing circuit 20 and the memory control circuit 22 or the data of the A / D converter 16 is directly passed through the memory control circuit 22. It is.

  Reference numeral 24 denotes an image display memory, 26 denotes a D / A converter, 28 denotes an image display unit including a TFT LCD, and the image data for display written in the image display memory 24 passes through the D / A converter 26. Displayed by the image display unit 28.

  If the image data captured using the image display unit 28 is sequentially displayed, the electronic viewfinder function can be realized.

  The image display unit 28 can arbitrarily turn on / off the display according to an instruction from the system control circuit 50. When the display is turned off, the power consumption of the image processing apparatus 100 can be greatly reduced. I can do it.

  Reference numeral 30 denotes a memory for storing captured still images and moving images, and has a sufficient storage capacity to store a predetermined number of still images and a predetermined time of moving images. Thereby, even in the case of continuous shooting or panoramic shooting in which a plurality of still images are continuously shot, it is possible to write a large amount of images to the memory 30 at high speed.

  The memory 30 can also be used as a work area for the system control circuit 50. Reference numeral 32 denotes a compression / decompression circuit that compresses and decompresses image data by adaptive discrete cosine transform (ADCT) or the like, reads an image stored in the memory 30, performs compression processing or decompression processing, and stores the processed data in the memory 30. Write to.

  Reference numeral 40 denotes an exposure control means for controlling the shutter 12 having an aperture function, and has a flash light control function in cooperation with the flash 48. Reference numeral 42 denotes a distance measuring control means for controlling the focusing of the photographing lens 10, reference numeral 44 denotes a zoom control means for controlling zooming of the photographing lens 10, and reference numeral 46 denotes a barrier control means for controlling the operation of the protection means 102 as a barrier.

  A flash 48 has an AF auxiliary light projecting function and a flash light control function. The exposure control means 40 and the distance measurement control means 42 are controlled using the TTL method. Based on the calculation result obtained by calculating the captured image data by the image processing circuit 20, the system control circuit 50 performs the exposure control means 40 and the distance measurement. Control is performed on the control means 42.

  Reference numeral 50 denotes a system control circuit that controls the entire image processing apparatus 100, and reference numeral 52 denotes a memory that stores constants, variables, programs, and the like for operation of the system control circuit 50.

  Reference numeral 54 denotes a display unit such as a liquid crystal display device or a speaker that displays an operation state or a message using characters, images, sounds, or the like in accordance with execution of a program in the system control circuit 50. One or a plurality of places are provided near the portion where they are easily visible, and are configured by a combination of, for example, an LCD, an LED, a sound generation element, and the like.

  The display unit 54 has a part of its function installed in the optical viewfinder 104. Among the display contents of the display unit 54, what is displayed on the LCD or the like includes single shot / continuous shooting display, self-timer display, compression rate display, recording pixel number display, recording number display, remaining image number display, shutter Speed display, Aperture value display, Exposure compensation display, Flash display, Red-eye reduction display, Macro shooting display, Buzzer setting display, Clock battery level display, Battery level display, Error display, Multi-digit number information display and recording There are a display state of the media 200 and 210, a communication I / F operation display, a date / time display, and the like.

  Among the display contents of the display unit 54, what is displayed in the optical viewfinder 104 includes in-focus display, camera shake warning display, flash charge display, shutter speed display, aperture value display, exposure correction display, and the like.

  Reference numeral 56 denotes an electrically erasable / recordable nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM. In the present embodiment, information on the image feed effect selected from the display screen shown in FIG. 6 is recorded.

  Reference numerals 60, 62, 64, 66, 68 and 70 are operation means for inputting various operation instructions of the system control circuit 50, and may be a single unit such as a switch, a dial, a touch panel, pointing by line-of-sight detection, a voice recognition device, or the like. Consists of multiple combinations.

  Here, a specific description of these operating means will be given. Reference numeral 60 denotes a mode dial switch, which can switch and set various function modes such as power-off, automatic shooting mode, shooting mode, panoramic shooting mode, playback mode, multi-screen playback / erase mode, and PC connection mode.

  Reference numeral 62 denotes a shutter switch SW1, which is turned ON during operation of a shutter button (not shown), and performs AF (auto focus) processing, AE (automatic exposure) processing, AWB (auto white balance) processing, EF (flash pre-flash) processing, and the like. Instruct to start operation.

  Reference numeral 64 denotes a shutter switch SW2, which is turned on when the operation of a shutter button (not shown) is completed, and an exposure process for writing image data to the memory 30 via the A / D converter 16 and the memory control circuit 22 from the signal read from the image sensor 12. Development processing using operations in the image processing circuit 20 and the memory control circuit 22, recording processing for reading image data from the memory 30, compression in the compression / decompression circuit 32, and writing the image data to the recording medium 200 or 210. Instructs the start of a series of processing operations.

  Reference numeral 66 denotes an image display ON / OFF switch that can set ON / OFF of the image display unit 28. With this function, when photographing using the optical viewfinder 104, it is possible to save power by cutting off the current supply to the image display unit including a TFT LCD or the like.

  Reference numeral 68 denotes a quick review ON / OFF switch, which sets a quick review function for automatically reproducing image data taken immediately after photographing. In the present embodiment, in particular, a function for setting a quick review function when the image display unit 28 is turned off is provided.

  Reference numeral 70 denotes an operation unit composed of various buttons, a touch panel, etc., a menu button, a set button, a macro button, a multi-screen playback page break button, a flash setting button, a single shooting / continuous shooting / self-timer switching button, menu movement + (plus) Button, menu shift- (minus) button, playback image shift + (plus) button, playback image- (minus) button, shooting image quality selection button, exposure correction button, date / time setting button, and the like.

  Reference numeral 80 denotes a power supply control means, which includes a battery detection circuit, a DC-DC converter, a switch circuit for switching a block to be energized, etc., and detects the presence / absence of a battery, the type of battery, the remaining battery level, and the detection result In addition, the DC-DC converter is controlled based on an instruction from the system control circuit 50, and a necessary voltage is supplied to each unit including the recording medium for a necessary period.

  82 is a connector, 84 is a connector, and 86 is a primary battery such as an alkaline battery or a lithium battery, a secondary battery such as a NiCd battery, NiMH battery or Li battery, an AC adapter, or the like.

  90 and 94 are interfaces with a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk, 92 and 96 are connectors for connecting to a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk, and 98 is a recording medium 200 or 210 attached to the connector 92 or 96. Recording medium attachment / detachment detecting means for detecting whether or not the recording medium is present.

  In the present embodiment, it is assumed that there are two interfaces and connectors for attaching the recording medium. Of course, the interface and the connector for attaching the recording medium may have a single or a plurality of systems, any number of systems. Moreover, it is good also as a structure provided with combining the interface and connector of a different standard.

  The interface and the connector may be configured using a PCMCIA card, a CF (Compact Flash (registered trademark)) card, or the like based on a standard.

  In addition, when the interfaces 90 and 94 and the connectors 92 and 96 are configured using a PCMCIA card, a CF (Compact Flash (registered trademark)) card, or the like, a LAN card, a modem card, a USB card, IEEE1394. Image data and management information attached to image data are transferred to and from peripheral devices such as other computers and printers by connecting various communication cards such as cards, P1284 cards, SCSI cards, and PHS communication cards. I can meet each other.

  Reference numeral 102 denotes protection means that is a barrier that prevents the imaging unit from being soiled or damaged by covering the imaging unit including the lens 10 of the image processing apparatus 100.

  Reference numeral 104 denotes an optical viewfinder, which can take an image using only the optical viewfinder without using the electronic viewfinder function of the image display unit 28. In the optical viewfinder 104, some functions of the display unit 54, for example, a focus display, a camera shake warning display, a flash charge display, a shutter speed display, an aperture value display, an exposure correction display, and the like are installed.

  A communication unit 110 has various communication functions such as RS232C, USB, IEEE1394, P1284, SCSI, modem, LAN, and wireless communication.

  Reference numeral 112 denotes a connector for connecting the image processing apparatus 100 to another device by the communication unit 110 or an antenna in the case of wireless communication. Reference numeral 200 denotes a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk.

  The recording medium 200 includes a recording unit 202 composed of a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, or the like, an interface 204 with the image processing apparatus 100, and a connector 206 for connecting to the image processing apparatus 100. Reference numeral 210 denotes a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk.

  The recording medium 210 includes a recording unit 212 composed of a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, and the like, an interface 214 with the image processing apparatus 100, and a connector 216 that connects to the image processing apparatus 100.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an operation member of the electronic camera according to the present embodiment. A power button 201 is used to start and end the electronic camera. A menu button 202 is used to enter a menu for changing shooting conditions, setting a date, protecting or deleting an image. Also used to end various setting modes. A decision button 203 is used to decide a selection item. A display button 204 switches display / non-display of shooting information regarding an image or display / non-display of the electronic viewfinder.

  The left button 205 is used for moving the selection item to the left or for image forwarding. The right button 206 is used for moving the selection item to the right or for image forwarding. In this embodiment, the right button 206 and the left button 205 are used as image feed buttons.

  The up button 207 is used to move the selection item up. The down button 208 is used to move the selection item downward. The shutter button 209 is a button used when shooting in the shooting mode. The zoom button 210 is a button for driving the zoom lens, and can change the angle of view of the object to be photographed by swinging left and right. A mode switch 211 switches between a recording mode and a playback mode. The liquid crystal screen 212 is used when photographing while confirming an image. The liquid crystal screen 212 is also used for confirming the captured image. The rotation input member 213 can detect the clockwise / counterclockwise direction and the amount of movement. The input value can be used for changing the shooting parameters and the like, sending the image for reproduction, and the like.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the electronic camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention. First, the presence / absence of input is checked (step S301). If there is no input, wait until input. If there is an input, it is checked whether it is a feed button (step S302). If it is not a forward button, the process proceeds to the process appropriate for each button (step S303).

  In the case of the advance button, it is checked whether or not the effect process is being executed for the image that is currently current by operating the advance button (step S304). If the effect process is being executed, the effect process is interrupted (step S305).

  Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the next image after the current image has been read into the buffer by a prefetching process in step S309 described later (step S306). If the next image has already been read into the buffer, it is determined whether the input is a repeat (step S307). If the input is not a repeat, the next button is operated for the next current image. The effect process is performed and displayed (step S308). On the other hand, when the input is repeated, that is, when the feed button is continuously input with the feed button being pressed for a long time, the effect processing is performed on the next current image by operating the feed button. (Step S311). After step S308 and step S311, in preparation for the next forward button operation, prefetch processing is performed to read the images before and after the image that has become current by the current forward button operation into the buffer (step S309).

  If it is determined in step S306 that the prefetch process for the next image after the current current image has not been completed, the next image of the current current image that has not yet been read is read (step S306). S310). As described above, when the prefetching process is not normally performed, the operability is emphasized, and the effect process for the next current image is not performed by the operation of the current feed button, and is displayed (step S311). ).

  In the present embodiment, different effects are executed when the next image display is instructed by the right button and when the previous image is displayed by the left button. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9B, when the right button is pressed, the next image is gradually displayed from the right of the screen, and when the left button is pressed, FIG. ), The previous image is gradually displayed from the left of the screen.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining another effect process applied to this embodiment. When the feed button is pressed while an image is displayed as indicated by reference numeral 701 in FIG. 7, effect processing is started as indicated by reference numeral 702. In this example, the effect of the next image appearing little by little is given as an example. When the input is repeat, the image is directly transferred from the image 701 to the image 703 without going through the state 702, and the image is displayed without executing the effect process.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the period during which the repeat input is received is configured not to execute the image feed effect process for the image selected during the period, so the user can quickly display the target image by the repeat input. It becomes possible to search and to enjoy a comfortable operation feeling. On the other hand, appreciation is maintained because image feed effect processing is executed by a selection operation other than repeat input.

-Second Embodiment-
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Since the internal configuration of the electronic camera and the configuration of the operation member according to the present embodiment are the same as those shown in FIGS.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the electronic camera according to the second embodiment of the present invention. First, the presence / absence of input is checked (step S401). If there is no input, wait until input. If there is an input, it is checked whether it is a feed button (step S402). In the case of the feed button, it is checked whether the effect process is being executed (step S403). If the effect process is being executed, the effect process is interrupted (step S404). Thereafter, it is checked whether or not an image for displaying a frame indicating the current image has already been displayed, that is, whether or not a plurality of images including an image for displaying a frame indicating the current image are being displayed (step S405). ) If there is no display state of multiple images, display of multiple images is performed (step S406). Then, a frame indicating the current image is displayed with respect to the image that becomes current by the current operation among the plurality of images (step S407).

  On the other hand, if the input is not a feed button, it is checked whether the feed button has been released (step S408). Here, it is detected whether or not the feed button is released from the pressed state. If the button is left released, it is not determined that the feed button here has been released. When the image advance button is released, an effect process is executed (step S410). In the case of other buttons, the process proceeds to each button (step S409).

  FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining image feed effect processing applied to the second embodiment of the present invention. When the feed button is pressed in a state where a plurality of images are displayed (801), the enlargement effect (802) is canceled and the focus is moved to the next image (803). If the feed button is kept pressed, the focus is further moved to the next image (804). When the button is released, the enlargement effect is executed (805).

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the image feed effect processing is executed on the image selected at that time by the cancel button operation input, the feed button is operated. In the meantime, it becomes possible to quickly search for a target image, and the user can enjoy a comfortable operation feeling. On the other hand, the image feed effect process is executed for the image selected by the input canceling operation of the feed button, so that appreciation is maintained.

-Third embodiment-
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. Since the internal configuration of the electronic camera and the configuration of the operation member according to the present embodiment are the same as those shown in FIGS.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the third embodiment of the present invention. First, the presence / absence of input is checked (step S501). If there is no input, wait until input. If there is an input, it is checked whether it is a feed button (step S502). If it is not a feed button, the process proceeds to the process appropriate for each button (step S503). If the input is a feed button, it is checked whether the effect process is being executed (step S504). If the effect process is being executed, the effect is interrupted (step S505). Thereafter, it is checked whether or not an image for displaying a frame indicating the current image has already been displayed, that is, whether or not a plurality of images including an image for displaying a frame indicating the current image are being displayed (step S506). ) If not in the display state of a plurality of images, a plurality of images are displayed (step S507). Then, a frame indicating the current image is displayed with respect to the image that becomes the current by operating the current feed button among the plurality of images (step S508). Then set the timer. If there is no input, it is checked whether the timer has elapsed N seconds from the last timer set in step S509 (step S510). If N seconds have not elapsed, the process returns to an input waiting state, and if N seconds have elapsed, effect processing is executed (step S511). In this way, in the present embodiment, in the case where an image that once becomes current by the operation of the feed button and the frame is displayed does not accept any input until N seconds have elapsed from the frame display, 802 and 805 in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, effect processing such as enlarged display is performed.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the effect processing setting screen 601 used in the present embodiment. The effect display area 602 schematically shows the currently set effect. In the image feed effect setting item 603, settings relating to image feed can be made, and the image feed effect processing pattern can be selected and set by moving the effect selection frame 604 on the left and right. The set information is recorded in the nonvolatile memory 56 of FIG. As the image feed effect, as shown in FIG. 7, the effect of the next image appearing little by little, the effect of gradually displaying the next image from the right or left side of the screen as shown in FIG. An effect processing pattern can be set.

  In the second embodiment, when the execution of the effect process is started after the feed button is released, the method of starting the execution of the effect process after a predetermined time has been given as the third embodiment. These may be used properly depending on the difference of the operation members on one electronic camera. For example, when the operation member 213 is used, the effect processing is started after a predetermined time has elapsed, and when the left and right buttons 205/206 are used, the effect processing is started after these buttons are released. May be.

  In the above-described embodiment, when the electronic camera is activated and when the mode is switched from the shooting mode to the playback mode, it is not executed even when the image feed effect is set by the user. This is to speed up the activation and playback processing of the electronic camera.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, after an image is selected once, when no operation input is accepted for a certain period, the image feed effect process is executed for the image. During a period during which some operation input is performed, a comfortable operation feeling can be enjoyed without feeling a delay in response to the operation due to an image feed effect, such as quickly searching for a target image. On the other hand, when the operation is not performed for a certain period, the image feed effect process is executed, so that appreciation is maintained.

-Fourth Embodiment-
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. Since the internal configuration of the electronic camera and the configuration of the operation member according to the present embodiment are the same as the configurations shown in FIGS.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the electronic camera according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In step S1001, it is checked whether there is an input from the user during the execution of a slide show effect process described later. If it is determined in step S1001 that there is no input from the user, it is checked in step S1002 if N seconds have elapsed since the last timer clear in step S1009. N may be set arbitrarily or may be a fixed value. If N seconds have not elapsed, the process returns to the input waiting state.

  In step S1003, it is checked whether or not the input by the user is input by the feed button. If it is determined in step S1003 that the input is not a feed button, the process proceeds to another button process in step S1004.

  If it is determined in step S1003 that the input is a feed button, it is checked in step S1005 whether the currently displayed image is the last image in the slide show effect process. If it is determined in step S1005 that it is the last image, the process returns to the input waiting state, and the subsequent image feed effect processing is not executed. If it is the last image in the slide show effect process, the process may be terminated, but in the present embodiment, the process is performed so that it cannot be terminated with the advance button.

  If it is determined in step S1005 that the image is not the last image, the effect is set to an image feed effect in step S1006. The information set here is information set for the image feed effect using the setting screen of FIG. 11 described later. In step S1007, it is checked whether the slide show effect process is being executed. If the slide show effect process is being executed, the slide show effect is interrupted in step S1008.

  In step S1009, the timer is cleared and elapsed time counting is started again. In the subsequent step S1010, an image to be displayed next is read by operating the feed button, and preparation for displaying the image on the screen as one image is made (step S1011). In step S1012, the image feed effect process set in step S1006 is executed for the image prepared for display in step S1011. During the execution of the effect process, the process returns to the input waiting state in step S1001.

  In this way, if there is an input from the feed button during the slide show effect processing, the slide show effect is canceled and the simple effect set as the image feed effect is executed, thereby enhancing appreciation and comfort. It is possible to realize a comfortable operation feeling. Since the slide show effect processing is performed with preset contents and is an effect that focuses on appreciation, the appreciation can be enjoyed when the user views a plurality of images. However, for users who do not place much emphasis on appreciation and want to quickly search for a desired image, it is possible to ensure operability by switching from the slide show effect to the image feed effect in this way. While the feed button is not operated, a slide show effect that is relatively more appreciable than the image feed effect is performed, and high appreciability can be maintained.

  If it is determined in step S1002 that nothing has been input since the timer clear in step S1009 and N seconds have elapsed, it is checked in step S1013 if the image is the last image in the slide show effect processing. If it is the last image of the slide show effect process, the effect is set to the slide show effect in step S1014. The information set here is information set for the slide show effect using the setting screen of FIG. 11 described later.

  In the subsequent step S1015, the slide show effect set in step S1014 is executed (step S1015). This slide show effect process is executed until the feed button is operated as described above or until the slide show effect process ends (step S1013 / YES).

  FIG. 11 is a view showing an example of the effect setting screen 1101. The effect display area 1102 schematically shows the currently set effect. As an effect process that can be selected, a normal image feed effect 1103 and a slide show effect 1104 can be set, and an effect pattern is selected by moving the focus frame 1105 with the up and down buttons and moving the effect selection frame 1106 with the left and right. be able to. In the present embodiment, the effect processing patterns for image feed and slide show are prepared separately, and the same pattern cannot be set.

  As shown in FIG. 7, when the feed button is pressed while the image 701 is displayed, the next image appears little by little as shown in 702 to 703, as shown in FIG. The effect is executed. As another example of the image feed effect, as shown in FIG. 9, the next image is gradually displayed from the right side or the left side of the screen.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a slide show effect applied in the present embodiment. This slide show effect is an effect process in which a plurality of images are automatically displayed sequentially. The slide show effect starts when the set time has elapsed. Specifically, the cross-shaped visible image area gradually spreads from a part of the image to the whole (1201), and when the visible image area reaches the entire image (1202), the visible image area gradually decreases (1203). In the end, the image disappears. As described above, when the image displayed this time becomes invisible, the visible image region is gradually expanded from a part of the image to the entire image in the same manner for the next image (1205).

  Also, if the shooting date of the next image differs from the currently displayed image when the displayed image is switched, the shooting date of the next image will be changed when switching from the current image to the next image. Is displayed (1204).

  In this embodiment, when the feed button is pressed during execution of the slide show effect, the slide show effect is interrupted and the feed effect is executed. However, the image at the time when the feed button is operated when the slide show effect is interrupted is displayed. The entire image may be displayed once without any effect, and then the next image may be displayed. For example, when the feed button is operated in a state where the visible image area does not extend over the entire image range and the image is not yet completely visible as indicated by 1201 in FIG. After switching from the state to the state where the entire image 1202 is displayed and displaying the entire image, the image feed effect as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9 is started from that image.

  Further, in the present embodiment, different effect processing patterns are provided for image forwarding and slideshow, and it has been described that the same effect processing pattern cannot be set for image forwarding and slideshow effect. As an embodiment, the same effect processing pattern may be set for the image feed and the slide show effect.

  The image feed effect shown in FIGS. 7 to 9 can be applied to all the first to fourth embodiments. Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the effect processing can be performed on all the selected images is illustrated depending on the operation method of the feed button. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It is also possible to set the image to be excluded from the target. In this case, even if the feed button is selected, the image feed effect processing is not executed for the defective image, and the defect image is more comfortable than appreciation. It can also be configured to perform processing that focuses on the operational feeling.

  The recording media 200 and 210 are not only memory cards such as PCMCIA cards and compact flash (registered trademark), hard disks, but also micro DAT, magneto-optical disks, optical disks such as CD-R and CD-WR, DVDs, and the like. Of course, there is no problem even if it is composed of a phase change type optical disk or the like.

  Of course, there is no problem even if the recording media 200 and 210 are composite media in which a memory card and a hard disk are integrated. Further, there is no problem even if a part of the composite medium is detachable.

  In the description of the embodiments, the recording media 200 and 210 are described as being separated from the image processing apparatus 100 and arbitrarily connectable. However, any or all of the recording media are connected to the image processing apparatus 100. Of course, there is no problem even if it remains fixed.

  Further, the recording medium 200 or 210 may be connected to the image processing apparatus 100 in any number of single or plural. In the above description, the recording media 200 and 210 are mounted on the image processing apparatus 100. However, the recording medium may have any combination of a single or a plurality of recording media.

  Another object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus stores the storage medium. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the program code itself and the storage medium storing the program code constitute the present invention.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (basic system or operating system) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. Needless to say, a case where the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included.

  Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function is determined based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the CPU or the like provided in the expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

  201 Power button, 202 Menu button, 203 Enter button, 204 Display button, 205 Left button (Feed button), 206 Right button (Feed button), 207 Up button, 208 Down button, 209 Shutter button, 210 Zoom button, 211 mode Switch button, 212 LCD screen

Claims (11)

Receiving means for accepting a switching operation for switching the image displayed on the display means to another image;
When a predetermined time elapses after the image is displayed on the display means or when the accepting means accepts the switching operation before the predetermined time elapses after the image is displayed on the display means, the display means Control means for controlling to switch the displayed image to another image;
When switching of the image displayed on the display means is performed as the predetermined time elapses, a first switching effect process is performed when the image displayed on the display means is switched, and the switching operation is performed. And an image processing unit that controls to perform a second switching effect process different from the first switching effect process when the image displayed on the display unit is switched. An image processing apparatus. The first switching effect processing is set according to the user's selection from among a plurality of switching effect processing prepared as switching effect processing for image switching performed according to the elapse of the predetermined time. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising one setting unit. A second switching effect process that sets the second switching effect process according to a user's selection from among a plurality of switching effect processes prepared as a switching effect process for switching images performed in response to the switching operation. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a setting unit. When the image processing means accepts the switching operation while performing the first switching effect processing and switching the images, the image processing means stops the first switching effect processing and performs the second switching effect processing. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein control is performed so as to perform switching of the image by performing a switching effect process. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing unit does not perform the first switching effect processing or the second switching effect processing on a defective image. 6. Image processing device. In the first switching effect process, the cross-shaped visible image area gradually spreads from the part of the image before switching to the whole, and when the visible image area reaches the entire image, the visible image area gradually decreases, and finally The image becomes invisible, then the cross-shaped visible image area gradually spreads from the part of the image after switching to the whole, and when the visible image area reaches the entire image, the visible image area gradually becomes smaller, The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing is performed so that the image is finally invisible. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second switching effect process is a switching effect process in which a next image appears little by little. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second switching effect process is a switching effect process in which a next image is gradually displayed from the right side or the left side of the screen. . An accepting step for accepting a switching operation for switching the image displayed on the display means to another image;
When a predetermined time elapses after the image is displayed on the display means, or when the switching operation is accepted in the accepting step before the predetermined time elapses after the image is displayed on the display means, the display means A control step for controlling to switch the displayed image to another image;
When switching of the image displayed on the display means is performed as the predetermined time elapses, a first switching effect process is performed when the image displayed on the display means is switched, and the switching operation is performed. An image processing step for controlling to perform a second switching effect process different from the first switching effect process when switching the image displayed on the display means. A method for controlling an image processing apparatus. A program that causes a computer to function as each unit of the image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8 . A computer-readable storage medium storing a program that causes a computer to function as each unit of the image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8 .

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