JP5344604B2 - Imaging apparatus and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a maneuverable user interface for switching a display from a quick review display to an image pickup standby state display in an image pickup device having an image display part of a touch panel type. <P>SOLUTION: When an image pickup is performed by a press-input to a touch panel, a press-input range for switching a display to an image pickup standby state is displayed in addition to a quick review display, and a display is switched to the image pickup standby state by the press-input to the press-input range for switching a display to the image pickup standby state. Also, when an image pickup is performed by an image pickup instruction input to a shutter button, the press-input range for switching a display to the image pickup standby state is not displayed, and the display is switched from the quick review display to the image pickup standby state by the input to the shutter button. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus and a control method thereof, and more particularly to an imaging apparatus that includes a touch panel image display unit and can detect the attitude of the apparatus and a control method thereof.

  Recent imaging devices such as digital cameras have an image display unit such as a liquid crystal panel and can display information on the subject captured by the image sensor, so the photographer can view the image display unit without looking through the viewfinder. Imaging while viewing is possible. In addition, when taking an image using the imaging device, the photographer can take an image with a desired composition by tilting the imaging device to an arbitrary posture.

  However, depending on the attitude of the imaging device and the method of grasping the imaging device of the photographer, there is a problem that it is difficult to press the shutter button for inputting an imaging request. Patent Document 1 uses a posture detection sensor such as an acceleration sensor to grasp the posture of the imaging device, and when the posture of the imaging device is within a preset posture range, the shutter button's imaging request function is changed to another button. A technique for facilitating an imaging operation by substituting for is disclosed.

  On the other hand, the display area of the image display unit provided in recent imaging devices has a tendency to expand as the resolution of the captured image increases, and there are many imaging devices in which the operation buttons provided in the imaging device are reduced. Some imaging devices include a touch panel image display unit, and input to the imaging device can be performed by an operation on the touch panel. In such an imaging apparatus, it is possible to input an imaging instruction by press input to the touch panel.

JP 2007-58208 A

  On the other hand, there is an imaging apparatus having a quick review function that presents a captured image captured by an imaging apparatus to a photographer for a certain period of time immediately after imaging. In such an imaging apparatus, when it is desired to shift to the next imaging immediately after imaging, it is possible to forcibly shift from the quick review screen display state to the imaging standby state by generally pressing the shutter button.

  However, even when imaging is performed by pressing input to the touch panel, it is necessary to press the shutter button in order to shift from the quick review screen display state to the imaging standby state. For example, the photographer needs to move the imaging apparatus and press the shutter button in order to shift from the quick review screen table state to the imaging standby state after imaging by pressing input to the touch panel.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems of the prior art. The present invention makes it possible to provide a user interface that is easy for a photographer to operate in an imaging apparatus having a touch panel image display unit and means for detecting the attitude of the imaging apparatus and a control method thereof.

In order to achieve the above object, an imaging apparatus of the present invention has the following configuration.
An imaging unit that captures an image of a subject and outputs a captured image, a shutter button that receives an instruction to execute imaging by the imaging unit, a display unit that displays a captured image, a display control unit that controls display of the display unit, and a display unit anda touch detection means for detecting a touch input to the display control means, when the execution instruction for photographing is made by the touch input, after photographing by the photographing means is performed, taking the display of the display means When the display unit displays a touch input area for inputting an instruction to switch from the image to the shooting standby state display, and an instruction to perform shooting is input to the shutter button, after shooting by the shooting unit is performed , Control is performed such that a touch input area for inputting an instruction to switch is not displayed on the display means .

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a user interface that is easy for a photographer to operate in an imaging apparatus having a touch panel image display unit and a means for detecting the attitude of the imaging apparatus and a control method thereof.

1 is a block diagram showing an example functional configuration of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. The flowchart of the display control process at the time of imaging of a digital camera. An example of an input interface displayed on an image display unit of a digital camera.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of an imaging device of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the embodiment described below, an example in which the present invention is applied to a digital camera as an example of an imaging apparatus having a touch panel type image display unit will be described. Further, in this embodiment, a posture in which the upward direction of the apparatus in which the digital camera is normally defined is set to the left or right with respect to the subject will be described as a vertical position.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of a digital camera 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The shutter button 111 is an input interface for inputting an imaging instruction from the photographer to the digital camera 100, and the control unit 108 performs an imaging process when an instruction for an imaging operation is input from the photographer to the shutter button 111. Start. The control unit 108 may be a CPU, for example, and develops an operation program for each block stored in the nonvolatile memory 109 in the RAM 110 to control the operation of each block of the digital camera 100. The control unit 108 also controls display contents displayed on the image display unit 106 described later. The non-volatile memory 109 stores and manages various settings of the digital camera 100, information on a default GUI displayed on the image display unit 106, which will be described later, and the like, in addition to the operation program of each block of the digital camera 100 described above. For various settings of the digital camera 100, for example, information necessary for the operation of each block, such as the resolution (number of pixels) of the image to be captured and the recording format, is managed. The default GUI information displayed on the image display unit 106 includes, for example, a menu screen display for changing the setting of the digital camera 100, an icon for simply displaying the digital camera setting on the image display unit 106, and the like. It is.

  The imaging unit 102 is an imaging element such as a CCD or a CMOS, for example, and applies photoelectric conversion processing to information on a subject that enters through the imaging lens 101 and outputs the obtained analog image data to the A / D conversion unit 103. To do. The A / D conversion unit 103 applies A / D conversion processing to the input analog image data, and outputs the obtained digital image data to the image processing unit 104. The image processing unit 104 applies, to the input digital image data, for example, resolution conversion processing for enlarging / reducing the resolution of the input image data and various image processing such as color tone correction. Image data to which image processing is applied by the image processing unit 104 is output to a compression / decompression unit 105 and an image display unit 106 described later. The compression / decompression unit 105 applies image compression processing to the input image data in accordance with, for example, information on the recording format of the image data stored in the nonvolatile memory 109, and outputs the recording image data to the recording medium 113. To do. The recording medium 113 may be a detachable recording medium such as a memory card or HDD used by being connected to the digital camera 100, a recording medium such as a memory area built in the digital camera 100, and the input recording Record image data for use.

  The image display unit 106 is a display device such as an LCD, for example, and displays captured image data output from the image processing unit 104 and image data recorded on the recording medium 113. When the digital camera 100 is activated and enters an imaging standby state, the control unit 108 photoelectrically converts the imaging unit 102 to the image display unit 106, undergoes A / D conversion by the A / D conversion unit 103, and the image processing unit 104. The display (through display) of image data to which image processing is applied is started. In the through display state, an image captured by the imaging unit 102 and converted in the display area of the image display unit 106 is output in real time, and is sequentially displayed at a refresh rate of, for example, 30 fps. The photographer can determine the composition of the image to be captured while confirming the through display on the image display unit 106, and can input an imaging instruction to the digital camera 100 using, for example, the shutter button 111. The image display unit 106 according to the present embodiment is a touch panel display device, and a press input to the image display unit 106 is detected by the press detection unit 107 and the press input is transmitted to the control unit 108. It is assumed that the press detection unit 107 of the present embodiment outputs the position of the press input as coordinate information on the display area of the image display unit 106 to the control unit 108 in addition to the information on the presence or absence of the press input. The posture detection unit 112 is a sensor that detects the posture of the digital camera 100 such as an acceleration sensor, and outputs information on the detected posture to the control unit 108.

A display control process at the time of imaging of the digital camera of the present embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
When the digital camera 100 is activated and enters an imaging standby state in which imaging can be performed by an imaging instruction input by a photographer, the control unit 108 determines that the attitude of the digital camera 100 is a vertical position based on attitude information obtained from the attitude detection unit 112. Is determined (S201). For example, the control unit 108 determines whether or not the posture information obtained from the posture detection unit 112 is included in the range of the posture determined in advance in the nonvolatile memory 109 as the vertical position.

  When it is determined in S201 that the posture of the digital camera 100 is the vertical position, the control unit 108 displays a vertical position imaging button for imaging in addition to the captured image data displayed on the image display unit 106. Is displayed (S202). The vertical position imaging button is an area drawn on the image display unit 106 that allows an imaging instruction to be input to the digital camera 100, and the press input detected by the press detection unit 107 is located within the vertical position imaging button area. The control unit 108 starts the imaging process. Reference numeral 301 in FIG. 3A is an example of the display of the vertical position imaging button. The vertical position imaging button may be displayed at a fixed position regardless of the vertical direction of the vertical position, or may be a fluidly changing position displayed according to the vertical direction of the vertical position. Good. When it is determined in S201 that the posture of the digital camera 100 is not the vertical position, the control unit 108 hides the vertical position imaging button when the vertical position imaging button is displayed on the image display unit 106 (S203). .

  In step S204, the control unit 108 determines whether an imaging instruction is input. Specifically, when the posture of the digital camera 100 is the vertical position, the control unit 108 inputs an imaging instruction by the photographer to the shutter button 111 or moves to the vertical position imaging button displayed on the image display unit 106. It is determined whether there has been an imaging instruction input by pressing input. When the posture of the digital camera 100 is not the vertical position, the control unit 108 determines whether or not an imaging instruction is input by the photographer to the shutter button 111. When there is an imaging instruction input, the control unit 108 moves the process to S205, and when there is no imaging instruction input, the control unit 108 moves the process to S201, and whether the posture of the digital camera 100 is the vertical position again. Judging.

  In step S205, the control unit 108 performs imaging processing according to the imaging instruction input. Specifically, the control unit 108 applies the compression / expansion processing in the compression / decompression unit 105 to the image data applied with the processing in the imaging unit 102, the A / D conversion unit 103, and the image processing unit 104, The obtained image data for recording is recorded on the recording medium 113. Further, the image data (image data captured by the imaging instruction) to which the processing is applied by the image processing unit 104 is displayed as a quick review display during, for example, a quick review display time stored in the nonvolatile memory 109. It is displayed on the part 106 (S206). It is assumed that the display elapsed time of the quick review display is managed by a timer (not shown) built in the digital camera 100, and the timer transmits information on the display elapsed time of the quick review display to the control unit 108.

  In S207, it is determined whether or not the imaging instruction input in S204 is an imaging instruction input by the photographer to the shutter button 111.

  When it is determined that the input imaging instruction is an imaging instruction input by pressing the vertical position imaging button displayed on the image display unit 106, the control unit 108 advances the processing to S208. In S208, the control unit 108 displays a switch button for switching to the imaging standby state in addition to the captured image data displayed as the quick review display on the image display unit 106. The switching button is an area drawn on the image display unit 106 that allows the quick review display on the image display unit 106 to be forcibly terminated and an instruction to switch to the shooting standby state can be input. 302 in FIG. 3B is an example of a display of a switching button. The switching button may be displayed at a certain position regardless of the vertical direction of the vertical position, as in the case of the vertical position imaging button, or the position displayed according to the vertical direction of the vertical position is fluidly changed. It may be a thing. Further, the display positions of the vertical position imaging button and the switching button are different in FIG. 3, but they may be the same. In step S209, if the press input detected by the press detection unit 107 is located within the area of the switching button within the quick review display time, or if there is an input from the photographer to the shutter button 111, the control is performed. The unit 108 moves the process to S211.

If it is determined in S207 that the imaging instruction input in S204 is an imaging instruction input by the photographer to the shutter button 111, the control unit 108 advances the processing to S210. In S209, if there is an input by the photographer to the shutter button 111 within the quick review display time, the control unit 108 moves the process to S211.
In S211, the control unit 108 forcibly ends the timer managing the display elapsed time of the quick review display, and moves the process to S212.

  Control when the quick review display has passed the display time set in advance as the quick review display time or when the timer managing the display time of the quick review display is forcibly terminated in S211 The unit 108 processes as follows. The control unit 108 ends the quick review display on the image display unit 106 and switches to the through display in the shooting standby state (S212).

  For example, if the setting of the digital camera 100 stored in the non-volatile memory 109 is set so that quick review display is not performed, the control unit 108 does not perform the process of S206 and the imaging process of S205 ends. It is assumed that the image pickup standby state is returned to when the image is received.

  In the present embodiment, when imaging in the vertical position, the control unit 108 causes the image display unit 106 to display a vertical position imaging button that allows an imaging instruction to be input, so that an imaging instruction by pressing input to the image display unit 106 is displayed. Was described as being inputable. However, if the present invention is a digital camera that can input an imaging instruction by both the input to the shutter button 111 and the press input to the image display unit 106, the quick review display described in the present embodiment is changed to the imaging standby state. Switching control is possible. Specifically, when an imaging instruction is input by a photographer's pressing input to the image display unit 106, a switching button is displayed together with a quick review display, and the imaging operator's imaging instruction is input to the shutter button 111. In case of failure, only the quick review display is performed. Furthermore, when forcibly switching from the quick review display to the imaging standby state, the input means necessary for switching is changed by the input means on which the imaging instruction is input. Specifically, in the case where imaging is performed by the photographer's imaging instruction input to the shutter button 111, the control unit 108 performs the quick operation when the photographer inputs to the shutter button 111 within the quick review display time. The review display is forcibly switched to the imaging standby state. In addition, when an imaging instruction is input by pressing input to the image display unit 106 by the photographer and imaging is performed, the following processing is performed. When there is an input to the shutter button 111 within the quick review display time or a pressing input to the switching button displayed on the image display unit 106 together with the quick review display within the quick review display time, the control unit 108 is forced from the quick review display. Switch to the imaging standby state.

  As described above, when switching the display from the quick review display after imaging to the imaging standby state, the digital camera 100 described in the present embodiment uses the same input means as that used for the imaging instruction from the photographer. be able to. Specifically, when imaging is performed with a press input to the image display unit 106, a press input area for switching to the imaging standby state is displayed on the image display unit 106, and a press input to the press input area for switching to the imaging standby state is performed. Thus, it is possible to switch to the imaging standby state. In addition, when imaging is performed according to an imaging instruction from the photographer to the shutter button 111, the image display unit 106 does not display a press input area for switching to the imaging standby state, and receives an input to the shutter button 111 to perform imaging. Switch to standby mode.

Claims (7)

Photographing means for photographing a subject and outputting a photographed image ;
A shutter button for receiving an instruction to execute a shooting by the shooting means,
Display means for displaying the captured image;
Display control means for controlling display of the display means;
Anda touch detection means for detecting a touch input to said display means,
The display control means includes
When said execution instruction of photographing is made by the touch input, after said by photographing is performed taking means, a touch input for inputting an instruction for switching the display of said display means to display the shooting standby state from the captured image to display area on the display means,
When said execution instruction of photographing is made by the input to the shutter button, after photographing by the photographing means is performed, not before Symbol touch input area for inputting a command toggle its is displayed on the display means An image pickup apparatus that is controlled as described above. The display control means includes
When the shooting execution instruction is made by the touch input , after the shooting by the shooting unit is performed , the touch input to the touch input area for inputting the switching instruction , or the input to the shutter button, Switch the display means to display the shooting standby state,
If the execution instruction of the photographing is made by the input to the shutter button, after photographing by the photographing means is performed by the input to the shutter button, to switch the display means to display the shooting standby state The imaging apparatus according to claim 1. 3. The display control unit according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit switches the display unit to display of the imaging standby state when a predetermined time has elapsed since the imaging by the imaging unit was performed. The imaging device described. It further has posture detection means for detecting the posture of the imaging device,
Wherein the display control unit, the posture of the detected by the posture detection means and the image pickup device, if included in the scope of a predetermined orientation, a touch input for inputting an instruction to execute the imaging with the touch input the imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein Rukoto to display area on the display means. Wherein the display control unit, when the posture of the imaging device detected by the posture detecting means is a position corresponding to the vertical position, the touch input area for inputting an instruction to execute the imaging with the touch input the imaging apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in Rukoto displayed on the display unit. The display in the shooting standby state is a display that sequentially displays images sequentially taken by the shooting means,
Wherein the display control unit, when the posture of the detected by said posture detecting means and the imaging device is a position corresponding to the vertical position, successively with the display of the sequentially captured images, the touch an execution instruction of the photographing the imaging apparatus according to the touch input area for inputting the input to claim 4 or 5, characterized in Rukoto is displayed on the display means. Touch detecting and imaging means for outputting a photographed image by photographing a subject, a shutter button for receiving an instruction to execute a shooting by the shooting unit, and a display means for displaying the captured image, a touch input to said display means A method for controlling the imaging apparatus, comprising:
Display control means of the imaging device,
When the shooting execution instruction is made by touch input , touch input for inputting an instruction to switch the display on the display unit from the captured image to the shooting standby display after shooting by the shooting unit is performed. to display area on the display means,
If the execution instruction of the photographing is made by the input to the shutter button, after photographing by the photographing means has been performed, the touch input area for inputting the switching instruction so as not to appear on the display means A control method for an imaging apparatus, comprising: a display control step for controlling.

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