JP5510318B2 - Electronic camera - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic camera.

  A technique is known in which an image captured by an image sensor is displayed as a through image on a display panel, and a sub-image obtained by enlarging a part of the through image is displayed so as to overlap an image being displayed (Patent Document 1). reference).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2007-124521

  However, the above prior art does not mention the resolution at which the image before enlargement and the enlarged image are represented. In general, data reading for displaying a through image from an image sensor is read at a pixel density corresponding to the number of display pixels of the display panel. Therefore, when the number of display pixels on the display panel is smaller than the number of pixels of the image sensor, the resolution of the image displayed on the display panel is lower than the pixel density of the image sensor. In this case, even if a part of the through image is electronically enlarged, the resolution of the sub-image remains lower than the pixel density of the image sensor.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, an electronic camera is an image sensor that repeatedly captures images and sequentially outputs image data, a display unit that displays images, and a reproduced image based on the image data, A first image representing the first range at the first resolution; a second image included in the first range and representing a second range narrower than the first range of the image data at a second resolution finer than the first resolution; A mark indicating the position of the second image in the first image in an overlapping manner in the first image, and a still image representing the first range in common with the first image at the first resolution, and the mark on the first image And a display control unit for displaying a third image on the display unit together with the third image displayed by overlapping the mark at a position common to the position where the mark was displayed before the movement.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the electronic camera according to the first aspect further includes a data readout unit that performs time readout of data readout for the first image and data readout for the second image from the imaging device. Also good. In this case, the display control unit can also display a plurality of images on the display unit using the data of the first image and the second image read by the data reading unit.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, in the electronic camera according to the second aspect, the data reading unit has a thinning rate for reading the data for the second image from the imaging device, and a thinning rate for reading the data for the first image. It can also be lowered.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the electronic camera of the second or third aspect may further include a first operating member for instructing start or end of enlarged display. When a signal instructing the start of enlarged display is sent from the first operation member, the data reading unit starts time-division reading from the image sensor, and the display control unit displays a plurality of images together on the display unit. it can.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic camera according to the fourth aspect, when the signal for instructing the end of the enlarged display is sent from the first operation member, the data reading unit is used for the first image from the image sensor. Only the data can be read, and the display control unit can display the first image on the display unit.
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the electronic camera of the second aspect may further include a second operation member for instructing movement of the position of the second image. In response to a signal from the second operation member, the data reading unit can move the reading position of the data for the second image, and the display control unit can move the display position of the mark on the first image.
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, in the electronic camera according to the sixth aspect, when the signal is sent again from the second operation member, the display control unit further sets the first range common to the first image as the first range. A third image, which is a still image represented by resolution, and is displayed by overlapping the mark at a position common to the position where the mark is displayed on the first image when the previous signal is sent from the second operation member. In addition to the first image and the second image, both can be displayed on the display unit.
According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic camera according to the seventh aspect, the display control unit is further a still image representing the second range common to the second image at the first resolution, and the second operation member. In addition to the first image, the second image, and the third image, the second image obtained when the previous signal is transmitted from the first image can be displayed on the display unit.
According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the electronic camera according to the eighth aspect may further include a third operation member for instructing the return of the position displayed by the second image. In this case, the display control unit further reproduces the first image in accordance with the signal from the third operation member, the reproduced image based on the image data from the image sensor, and the first range corresponding to the third image. In addition to displaying the first image on the display unit, the second image is a reproduced image based on the image data from the image sensor, and the second range corresponding to the fourth image may be displayed on the display unit at the second resolution. it can.
According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic camera according to any one of the second to ninth aspects, the third image is stored as image data read by the data reading unit during live view display or stored. It may be generated based on the image data.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to check in real time a first image representing the first range with the first resolution and a second image representing the second range narrower than the first range with the fine second resolution.

It is a block diagram explaining the structural example of the electronic camera 1 by one embodiment of this invention. It is a rear view of an electronic camera. It is a figure which illustrates the display screen of a LCD monitor. It is a figure which illustrates the display screen of a LCD monitor. It is a figure which illustrates the display screen of a LCD monitor. It is a figure which illustrates the display screen of a LCD monitor. It is a figure which illustrates the display screen of a LCD monitor. It is a flowchart explaining the flow of a main process. It is a time chart explaining the imaging timing of a reduced through image and a high-definition through image. It is a figure which illustrates the display screen of a LCD monitor. It is a figure which illustrates the display screen of a LCD monitor. (a) is explanatory drawing at the time of reading through image 31. FIG. (b) is an explanatory diagram when reading a high-definition through image 131B.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an electronic camera 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, an electronic camera 1 includes a photographing optical system 11, an image sensor 12, an AFE (Analog front end) circuit 13, an image processing circuit 14, a speaker drive circuit 15, a speaker 16, and an LCD monitor 17. RAM 18, flash memory 19, CPU 20, memory card interface (I / F) 21, operation member 22, and timing generator (TG) 23.

  The CPU 20, RAM 18, flash memory 19, memory card interface 21, image processing circuit 14, speaker drive circuit 15, and LCD monitor 17 are each connected via a bus 24.

  The photographing optical system 11 includes a plurality of lens groups including a zoom lens and a focusing lens, and forms a subject image on the light receiving surface of the image sensor 12. In order to simplify FIG. 1, the photographing optical system 11 is shown as a single lens.

  The TG 23 generates a predetermined timing signal in response to an instruction sent from the CPU 20 and supplies the timing signal to the image sensor 12, the AFE circuit 13, and the image processing circuit 14. The image pickup device 12 and the like are driven and controlled by the timing signal, whereby the image pickup timing by the image pickup device 12 and the readout timing of the analog image signal from the image pickup device 12 are controlled.

  The imaging element 12 is configured by a CCD image sensor, a CMOS image sensor, or the like in which light receiving elements are two-dimensionally arranged on the light receiving surface. The image sensor 12 photoelectrically converts a subject image by a light beam that has passed through the photographing optical system 11 to generate an analog image signal. The analog image signal is input to the AFE circuit 13.

  The AFE circuit 13 performs analog processing such as correlated double sampling and gain adjustment on the analog image signal, and converts the image signal after the analog processing into digital image data. The digital image data is input to the image processing circuit 14. The image processing circuit 14 performs various types of image processing (color interpolation processing, gradation conversion processing, contour enhancement processing, white balance adjustment processing, image compression processing, image expansion processing, etc.) on the digital image data.

  The speaker drive circuit 15 generates a sound reproduction signal such as an operation sound, a caution sound, and a voice message based on the sound data sent from the CPU 20. The speaker 16 performs audio reproduction based on the audio reproduction signal.

  The LCD monitor 17 is composed of a liquid crystal panel, and displays an image, an operation menu screen, and the like according to an instruction from the CPU 20. The RAM 18 is used as a work memory for the CPU 20. The RAM 18 temporarily stores still image data, which will be described later, and digital image data in the pre-process and post-process of image processing by the image processing circuit 14. The flash memory 19 stores a program to be executed by the CPU 20.

  The CPU 20 comprehensively controls operations performed by the electronic camera 1 by executing a program stored in the flash memory 19. The CPU 20 also performs AF (autofocus) operation control and automatic exposure (AE) calculation. The AF operation uses, for example, a contrast detection method for obtaining a focus position of a focusing lens (not shown) based on contrast information of a through image. The through image refers to a monitor image that is repeatedly acquired by the image sensor 12 at a predetermined time interval (for example, 30 frames / second) before a shooting instruction. Also called live view image.

  The memory card interface 21 has a connector (not shown), and a storage medium 51 such as a memory card is connected to the connector. The memory card interface 21 writes data to the connected storage medium 51 and reads data from the storage medium 51. The storage medium 51 is configured by a memory card incorporating a semiconductor memory, a hard disk drive, or the like.

  The operation member 22 includes a release button 22a, a zoom switch 22b 22c, a cross switch 22g, a menu switch 22e, and the like which will be described later. The operation member 22 sends an operation signal corresponding to each operation, such as a function operation or a menu selection operation, to the CPU 20.

  FIG. 2 is a rear view of the electronic camera 1. On the back of the electronic camera 1, there are an LCD monitor 17, a zoom switch 22b (T), a zoom switch 22c (W), a function (F) switch 22d, a menu switch 22e, a deletion switch 22f, and a cross switch 22g. And an OK switch 22h.

  The CPU 20 of the electronic camera 1 displays the above-described through image (live view image) on the LCD monitor 17 in the shooting mode. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a display screen of the LCD monitor 17 that displays a through image. The LCD monitor 17 is controlled to display in the main display area 17a and the three sub display areas 17b to 17d. The three sub display areas are referred to as a first sub display area 17b, a second sub display area 17c, and a third sub display area 17d from the top. Note that the display form of the display screen is not limited to the form of FIG. 3 in which the main display area 17a and the sub display areas 17b to 17d are displayed with their display positions separated by display area. For example, the sub display areas 17b to 17d may be displayed on the main display area 17a so as to be displayed (superimposed display).

  As illustrated in FIG. 3, the CPU 20 usually displays the through image 31 in the main display area 17 a of the LCD monitor 17. When an enlargement operation for displaying a through image with high definition is performed, a through image 31B obtained by reducing the through image 31 displayed in the main display region 17a is displayed in the first sub display region 17b. In addition, a high-definition through image 131B having a higher resolution than the through image 31 is newly acquired and displayed in the main display area 17a for a predetermined range including the mark 32 in the through image 31 (FIG. 4). .

  Since the electronic camera 1 of the present embodiment is characterized by such display control of a through image, the following description will be described focusing on processing performed by the CPU 20 for displaying a through image. When a main switch (not shown) is turned on, the CPU 20 of the electronic camera 1 starts a program for performing main processing. FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of the main process. In step S101 of FIG. 8, the CPU 20 causes the image sensor 12 to start capturing a through image, displays a through image based on the acquired image data on the LCD monitor 17, and proceeds to step S102 (FIG. 3).

  The through image 31 illustrated in FIG. 3 has the number of display pixels in the main display area 17a of the LCD monitor 17 out of the pixel data read out from the image sensor 12 by the all-pixel reading method or the thinning-out reading method described later. Accordingly, the display is based on data subjected to pixel density conversion (described later). Therefore, when the number of display pixels in the main display region 17a is smaller than the number of pixels of the image sensor 12, the thinning rate at the time of data reading is set so as to lower the resolution of the through image 31. When the image sensor 12 repeats imaging at 30 frames / second, the through image 31 is displayed at 30 frames / second. Here, pixel density conversion processing will be described. When the number of read pixels of the image sensor is larger than the number of pixels defined in the scanning format of the LCD display screen, image information is generated with a higher pixel density than that defined in the scanning format. Therefore, the process of reducing the image information having a high pixel density to a pixel density that matches the scanning format of the display screen is called a pixel density conversion process.

  In step S102, the CPU 20 determines whether or not an operation for setting the position of the enlarged display area has been performed. For example, when a signal indicating a pressing operation of the function switch 22d is input from the operation member 22, the CPU 20 makes a positive determination in step S102 and proceeds to step S103. When the signal indicating the pressing operation of the function switch 22d is not input, the CPU 20 makes a negative determination in step S102 and proceeds to step S104.

  In step S103, the CPU 20 receives position information of the enlarged display area. Specifically, the mark 32 illustrated in FIG. 3 is displayed on the through image 31 so as to wait for an operation signal from the cross switch 22g. For example, when the CPU 20 receives a signal indicating the right direction operation of the cross switch 22g from the operation member 22, the CPU 20 moves the position of the mark 32 superimposed on the through image 31 in the right direction of the screen according to the operation signal. Let Similarly, when a signal indicating the downward operation of the cross switch 22g is received from the operation member 22, the position of the mark 32 displayed superimposed on the through image 31 is moved in the lower direction of the screen in accordance with the operation signal. The center of the mark 32 corresponds to the center position of the enlarged display area.

  In step S104, the CPU 20 determines whether an enlargement operation has been performed. When the signal indicating the pressing operation of the zoom switch (T) 22b is input from the operation member 22, the CPU 20 makes a positive determination in step S104 and proceeds to step S105. When the signal indicating the pressing operation of the zoom switch (T) 22b is not input, the CPU 20 makes a negative determination in step S104 and proceeds to step S110.

  In step S105, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the CPU 20 displays a high-definition through image 131B in a predetermined range including the mark 132B in the main display area 17a and also displays the reduced through image 31B subjected to the reduction process in the first sub-display. It is displayed in the area 17b.

  The high-definition through image 131B is newly acquired as high-definition image data with high resolution for a predetermined range including the mark 32 in the through image 31 (FIG. 3). In other words, data is read from all the pixels of the image sensor 12 in a predetermined range corresponding to the mark 32 (all-pixel reading method), and the pixel density is converted according to the number of display pixels in the main display area 17a of the LCD monitor 17. Is displayed. The resolution of the high-definition through image 131B is the highest when no thinning is performed (when all pixels are read out). As a modification, in order to read out the data for the high-definition through image 131B, the thinning-out reading method may be used instead of the all-pixel reading method. In this case, the thinning-out rate is determined when the image data for the through image 31 is read out. Keep it lower than the decimation rate.

  Note that if the number of pixels of the image sensor 12 in the predetermined range corresponding to the mark 32 matches the number of display pixels in the main display area 17a, the pixel density conversion process at the time of data reading is not performed. Thus, the range including the mark 132B is enlarged and displayed in the main display area 17a. A mark 132B displayed to be superimposed on the high-definition through image 131B corresponds to a mark 32B displayed to be superimposed on a reduced through image 31B described later.

  The reduced through image 31B reduces the number of data from the number of display pixels in the main display area 17a to the number of display pixels in the first sub display area 17b by reducing the data constituting the through image 31 (FIG. 3). Is reduced. A mark 32 </ b> B displayed in an overlapping manner on the reduced through image 31 </ b> B corresponds to the mark 32 displayed in an overlapping manner on the through image 31. Here, a reading method of the imaging element 12 when reading the reduced through image 31B and the high-definition through image 131B will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12A is an explanatory diagram when the through image 31 is read. Of the readout lines of the image sensor 12, readout is performed while thinning out 1/3 at a time (in the figure, the hatched portion is the readout line). On the other hand, when reading out the high-definition through image 131B, all the pixels in the enlarged area portion (the peripheral region including the mark 32) are read out (the hatched portion in FIG. 12B is the readout line).

  In step S106, the CPU 20 determines whether or not an enlargement end operation has been performed. When the signal indicating the pressing operation of the zoom switch (W) 22c is input from the operation member 22, the CPU 20 makes a positive determination in step S106 and proceeds to step S109. When the signal indicating the pressing operation of the zoom switch (W) 22c is not input, the CPU 20 makes a negative determination in step S106 and proceeds to step S107.

  In step S107, the CPU 20 determines whether or not an operation for displaying a still image in the second sub-region 17c has been performed. For example, when a signal indicating the pressing operation of the function switch 22d and an operation signal indicating the pressing operation of the OK switch 22h are input from the operation member 22, the CPU 20 makes a positive determination in step S107 and proceeds to step S108. When the operation signal is not input, the CPU 20 makes a negative determination in step S107 and returns to step S105. When returning to step S105, the display illustrated in FIG. 4 is continued.

  In step S108, in addition to the display illustrated in FIG. 4, the CPU 20 displays the reduced still image 31D in the second sub display area 17c and returns to step S105 (FIG. 5). The reduced still image 31D stores the data of the reduced through image 31B displayed in the first sub-display area 17b at the time of affirmative determination in step S107 in the flash memory 19, and displays based on this data. is there. Unlike the reduced through image 31B, which is updated and displayed based on the data read from the image sensor 12 at 30 frames / second, the reduced still image 31D continues to be displayed with the data stored in the flash memory 19. In addition to the image data of the reduced still image 31D, the stored data includes coordinate position information (X, Y position information) where the mark 132B was present in the image 31D. This coordinate position information will be described later.

  When returning to step S105 after step S108, the display illustrated in FIG. 5 is performed again. If an operation signal is input from the cross switch 22g, the CPU 20 moves the read position of high-definition image data, that is, the center position of the enlarged display area, according to the operation signal. For example, when a signal indicating the right direction operation is received from the cross switch 22g from the operation member 22, the position of the mark 32B displayed superimposed on the reduced through image 31B is moved in the right direction of the screen according to the operation signal. , The reduced through image 31C including the mark 32C is displayed in the first sub display area 17b (FIG. 6). At the same time, the CPU 20 displays a high-definition through image 131C in a predetermined range including the mark 132C in the main display area 17a (FIG. 6).

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a display screen by the LCD monitor 17. The high-definition through image 131C is displayed based on the data obtained by converting the pixel density according to the number of display pixels in the main display area 17a of the LCD monitor 17 among the data of the imaging device 12 in a predetermined range corresponding to the mark 32C. Is. The data for the high-definition through image 131C has been read from all pixels. Note that when the number of pixels of the image sensor 12 in the predetermined range corresponding to the mark 32C matches the number of display pixels in the main display area 17a, the pixel density conversion process is not performed. Thus, the range including the mark 132C is enlarged and displayed in the main display area 17a.

  Even after the user moves the center position of the enlarged display area, the user can use the reduced still image 31D (FIG. 6) displayed in the second sub area 17c to restore the original enlarged display area (before changing the enlarged area). You can know the center position. Thus, for example, when the position of the mark 32B displayed on the reduced through image 31C is aligned with the position of the mark displayed on the reduced still image 31D by operating the cross switch 22g, the center of the enlarged display area is displayed. The position can be moved to the original position, and it is easy to return to the same state as in FIG. 5 (FIG. 7).

  In step S109, which proceeds after making an affirmative determination in step S106, the CPU 20 ends the enlarged display, returns to the display screen of FIG. 3, and proceeds to step S110.

  In step S110, the CPU 20 determines whether or not a release operation has been performed. When the signal indicating the full pressing operation of the release button 22a is input, the CPU 20 makes a positive determination in step S110 and proceeds to step S111. When the signal indicating the full pressing operation of the release button 22a is not input, the CPU 20 makes a negative determination in step S110 and returns to step S101.

  In step S <b> 111, the CPU 20 causes the image sensor 12 to perform imaging processing for shooting, and proceeds to step S <b> 112. Unlike the case of the through image, the data of all the pixels included in the image sensor 12 is read out. The CPU 20 generates, for example, an Exif format image file including image data and shooting information based on the image data acquired by the imaging process. The Exif format image file is obtained by embedding data such as thumbnail images and shooting information in image data in the JPEG image format.

  In step S112, the CPU 20 records the image file on the storage medium 51, and ends the process of FIG.

  The timing when a through image is displayed on the LCD monitor 17 will be described. 9 shows a case where a reduced through image (full-screen through image) and a high-definition through image (enlarged image) are simultaneously displayed on the LCD monitor 17 as shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, 10, and 11. It is a time chart explaining the imaging timing of the reduced through image 31B and the high-definition through image 131B performed by the imaging device 12.

<If not enlarged>
When the screen illustrated in FIG. 3 is displayed on the LCD monitor 17, the CPU 20 causes the imaging element 12 to capture only the through image 31. As described above, the electronic camera 1 displays a through image at 30 frames / second. In the present embodiment, the through image 31 is captured and displayed in 1/60 seconds, and the next frame of the through image 31 is captured and displayed at an interval of 1/60 seconds while the display is continued. In seconds.

  That is, the data reading area for the image sensor 12 is set within 1/60 seconds, the image sensor 12 is made to capture a through image, and the through image based on the read image data is displayed on the main display area 17a of the LCD monitor 17. To display.

<Enlarged display>
When displaying the screens illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5, and 7 on the LCD monitor 17, the CPU 20 causes the image sensor 12 to alternately capture the reduced through image 31 </ b> B and the high-definition through image 131 </ b> B (FIG. 9). When the screen illustrated in FIG. 6 is displayed on the LCD monitor 17, the CPU 20 causes the imaging device 12 to alternately capture the reduced through image 31C and the high definition through image 131C, respectively (FIG. 9).

  In this case, the reduced through image 31B (or 31C) is captured and displayed in 1/60 second, and the reduced through image 31B (or 31C) is displayed on the first sub display area 17b of the LCD monitor 17 while the The fine through image 131B (or 131C) is captured and displayed in the next 1/60 second, and the high definition through image 131B (or 131C) is displayed in the main display area 17a of the LCD monitor 17.

  That is, imaging / data readout / through image display for the reduced through image 31B (or 31C) and imaging / data readout / through image display for the high-definition through image 131B (or 131C) are alternately performed in a time division manner. Thereby, a plurality of through image data having different definition levels can be acquired, and the through image 31 based on the acquired data can be displayed.

According to the embodiment described above, the following operational effects can be obtained.
(1) A reduced through image 31B and a high-definition through image (enlarged image) 131B representing a part of the reduced through image 31B at a higher resolution than the reduced through image 31B are displayed on the LCD monitor 17 together. . As a result, the predetermined range of the image can be confirmed with different resolutions.

(2) Data reading for the reduced through image 31B and data reading for the high-definition through image 131B are alternately performed in a time-sharing manner at a predetermined frame rate, and the through image based on the respective image data is displayed on the LCD monitor 17. Displayed side by side. Thereby, images with different resolutions can be confirmed in real time.

(3) Since the above (2) is performed when the enlarged display is instructed, the processing load is reduced as compared with the case where the image data having a plurality of resolutions are read out in a time division manner before the enlarged display is instructed. Can do.

(4) When the end of the enlargement process is instructed during the enlarged display, only the image data for the through image 31 is read out, so that the image data having a plurality of resolutions are provided even after the end of the enlarged display is instructed. Compared with the case of reading out in time division, the processing load can be reduced.

(5) The timing for reading out the image data for the through image 31 is the same for the case of reading only the image data for the through image 31 and the case of reading the image data of a plurality of resolutions in a time division manner. Compared with the case of differentiating, image data readout control can be simplified.

(6) Since the mark 32B indicating the position of the high-definition through image 131B is displayed so as to overlap the reduced through-image 31B, it is possible to easily show which area is displayed in high definition.

(7) Since the mark 132B is displayed so as to overlap the high-definition through image 131B, it is easy to compare with the mark 32B in the reduced through image 31B.

(8) Since the reduced still image 31D representing the same range as the reduced through image 31B at the same resolution is further displayed, even if the center position of the enlarged display area of the high definition through image 131B is moved, the movement is continued. The center position of the previous enlarged display area can be known from the reduced still image 31D.

(Modification 1)
In the above description, even after the user moves the center position of the enlarged display area, the center position of the original enlarged display area is displayed to the user by displaying the reduced still image 31D (FIG. 6) in the second sub area 17c. Since it is understood, it has been explained that the user can move the center position of the enlarged display area to the original position by operating the cross switch 22g. Instead, when a predetermined operation (for example, an operation combined with the function switch 22d and another switch operation) is performed, the center position of the enlarged display area is returned to the original position without operating the cross switch 22g. You may make it make it. For example, when a predetermined operation (function switch 22d and predetermined switch operation) is performed, the position of the mark 32C in the still image 31C (that is, the enlarged region) based on the coordinate position information of the mark described in step S108 described above. ) Automatically. That is, the center position of the enlarged display area is moved to the position (original position) corresponding to the mark in the reduced still image 31D. With this configuration, the center position of the enlarged display area (that is, the enlarged display area displayed in the area 17a) can be immediately returned to the original position without operating the cross switch 22g.

(Modification 2)
In FIG. 6, it has been described that the reduced still image 31D is generated based on the image data for the reduced through image 31C, that is, the image data read from the image sensor 12 for live view display. Instead, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the reduced still image 31E may be generated based on the image data included in the image file recorded in the storage medium 51. In this case, since the user can perceive framing information at the time of past shooting by the reduced still image 31E displayed in the second sub-region 17c, the framing operation can be performed by confirming the image 31E. It is possible to shoot with the same framing as in the above shooting.

  In Modification 2, data reading for the reduced through image 31F (FIG. 10) and data reading for the high-definition through image 131F (FIG. 10) are performed in a time-sharing manner at a predetermined frame rate and based on the respective image data. The point that the through image is displayed together on the LCD monitor 17, the point that the mark 32D (FIG. 10) indicating the position of the high-definition through image 131F (FIG. 10) is displayed on the reduced through image 31F (FIG. 10), and the high definition The point that the mark 132D (FIG. 10) is displayed on the through image 131F (FIG. 10) is the same as in the case of FIG.

(Modification 3)
Instead of displaying the reduced still image 31D (FIG. 6) in the second sub-region 17c, a reduced still image based on the high-definition through image displayed in the main display region 17a during the previous enlargement operation is displayed in the second sub-region 17c. You may display (FIG. 11). In this case, when an operation signal is input from the cross switch 22g while the display screen illustrated in FIG. 4 is displayed, the CPU 20 displays the reduced through image 31B displayed in the first sub display area 17b at this time. Data is stored in the flash memory 19, and a reduced still image 31H based on this data is reduced and displayed in the third sub-region 17d (FIG. 11).

  Further, the CPU 20 stores, in the flash memory 19, data obtained by reducing the data of the high-definition live view image 131B (FIG. 4) displayed in the main display area 17a when the operation signal from the cross switch 22g is input. The reduced still image 31G based on this data is reduced and displayed in the second sub display area 17b (FIG. 11). In FIG. 11, the mark 132B is superimposed and displayed on the reduced still image 31G. However, the mark may not be superimposed and displayed.

  Next, the CPU 20 moves the display position of the mark 32B superimposed on the reduced through image 31B (FIG. 4) in the right direction of the screen in accordance with the operation signal from the cross switch 22g, and moves the mark 32C after the movement. A reduced through image 31C including the image is displayed in the first sub display area 17b (FIG. 11). At the same time, the CPU 20 displays a predetermined range of the high-definition through image 131C including the mark 132C in the main display area 17a (FIG. 11).

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a display screen by the LCD monitor 17 in the case of the third modification. The high-definition through image 131C is displayed based on the data obtained by converting the pixel density according to the number of display pixels in the main display area 17a of the LCD monitor 17 among the data of the imaging device 12 in a predetermined range corresponding to the mark 32C. Is. The data for the high-definition through image 131C has been read from all pixels.

  Note that when the number of pixels of the image sensor 12 in the predetermined range corresponding to the mark 32C matches the number of display pixels in the main display area 17a, the pixel density conversion process is not performed. Thus, the range including the mark 132C is enlarged and displayed in the main display area 17a.

  According to the third modification, even after the user moves the center position of the enlarged display area, the user can zoom in on the high-definition through image that was previously enlarged and displayed by the reduced still image 31G (FIG. 11) displayed in the second sub-area 17c. You can get an overview of the image. Further, the center position of the previous enlarged display area can be known from the reduced still image 31H (FIG. 11) displayed in the third sub area 17d. As a result, for example, when the position of the mark 32C to be overlaid on the reduced through image 31C is aligned with the position of the mark overlaid on the reduced still image 31H by operating the cross switch 22g, the enlarged display area It is possible to move the center position to the position at the previous enlargement operation.

  Similarly to the first modification, when a predetermined operation (for example, operation of the function switch 22d and the predetermined switch) is performed, the center position of the enlarged display area is moved to a position corresponding to the mark in the reduced still image 31D. If configured to move, the center position of the enlarged display area can be immediately returned to the position at the previous enlargement operation without operating the cross switch 22g.

While various embodiments and modifications have been described in the above description, the present invention is not limited to these contents. Other embodiments conceivable within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention are also included in the scope of the present invention.
For example, in the above embodiment, the operation in the case where the enlargement operation is performed while the through image (live view image) is displayed on the LCD monitor 17 has been described. However, when the electronic camera in the present embodiment is an electronic camera that allows an enlargement operation to an image displayed on the LCD monitor 17 even during moving image shooting (moving image recording), the above-described implementation is performed even during the moving image shooting. You may make it apply the process of a form or a deformation | transformation form. A mode in which the above-described processing is performed during moving image shooting is also included in the scope of the present invention.
Furthermore, an aspect in which an area that is enlarged and displayed by one enlargement operation can be arbitrarily set and changed is also included in the scope of the present invention. For example, referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, in the above embodiment, after setting the position of the area to be enlarged (setting by moving the mark 32 in the screen), the enlargement operation is performed once (zoom). When the switch (T) 22b is pressed, the high-definition through image 131B in a predetermined area centered on the mark 32 is enlarged and displayed in the main display area 17a. In other words, in the above-described embodiment, the region that is enlarged by this one enlargement operation is set to a “predetermined (fixed) range” centered on the mark 32. However, there is no reason why this “predetermined range” must be fixed. Therefore, a mode in which the “predetermined range” can be set and changed to an arbitrary range in advance (by a menu screen or the like) by the user is also included in the scope of the present invention.

The disclosure of the following priority application is hereby incorporated by reference.
Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-155163 (filed on June 13, 2008)

Claims (10)

An image sensor that repeatedly captures images and sequentially outputs image data;
A display for displaying an image;
A reproduced image based on the image data, a first image representing a first range of the image data at a first resolution, and a second range included in the first range and narrower than the first range of the image data A second image representing the image at a second resolution that is finer than the first resolution, a mark indicating the position of the second image in the first image in an overlapping manner in the first image, and a common to the first image A still image representing a first range at the first resolution, wherein the mark is displayed on the first image so as to overlap the position where the mark is displayed before the mark is moved. An electronic camera comprising: a display control unit that displays an image together with the display unit. The electronic camera according to claim 1,
A data reading unit that performs time-sharing of data reading for the first image and data reading for the second image from the image sensor;
The display control unit is an electronic camera that causes the display unit to display a plurality of images using the data of the first image and the second image read by the data reading unit, respectively. The electronic camera according to claim 2,
The data reading unit is an electronic camera in which a thinning rate for reading data for the second image from the image sensor is lower than a thinning rate for reading data for the first image. The electronic camera according to claim 2 or 3,
A first operation member for instructing the start or end of the enlarged display;
When a signal instructing the start of the enlarged display is sent from the first operation member, the data reading unit starts reading the time division from the imaging element, and the display control unit displays the plurality of images. An electronic camera that displays on the display unit. The electronic camera according to claim 4,
When a signal instructing the end of the enlarged display is sent from the first operation member, the data reading unit reads only the data for the first image from the imaging element, and the display control unit is configured to transmit the first image. Is displayed on the display unit. The electronic camera according to claim 2 ,
A second operating member for instructing movement of the position of the second image;
In response to the signal from the second operation member, the data reading unit moves the reading position of the data for the second image, and the display control unit moves the display position of the mark on the first image. Electronic camera. The electronic camera according to claim 6.
When the signal is sent again from the second operation member, the display control unit is a still image representing the first range common to the first image at the first resolution, and The first image and the second image, the third image displaying the mark superimposed on the same position as the position where the mark was displayed on the first image when the previous signal was sent. In addition to the electronic camera displayed on the display unit together. The electronic camera according to claim 7,
The display control unit is further a still image that represents the second range common to the second image at the first resolution, and is obtained when the previous signal is transmitted from the second operation member. An electronic camera that displays two images as a fourth image together with the display unit in addition to the first image, the second image, and the third image. The electronic camera according to claim 8,
A third operation member for instructing the return of the position where the second image is displayed;
The display control unit is further configured to reproduce the first image based on image data from the imaging device in accordance with a signal from the third operation member, and to correspond to the first image. A range is displayed on the display unit at the first resolution, and the second image is a reproduced image based on image data from the imaging device, and the second range corresponding to the fourth image is the first range. An electronic camera displayed on the display unit at two resolutions. The electronic camera according to any one of claims 2 to 9,
The third image is an electronic camera that is generated based on image data read by the data reading unit during live view display or stored image data.

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