JP5875388B2 - Electronic device, control method of electronic device, program, and storage medium - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device having an imaging unit, a control method for the electronic device, a program, and a storage medium.

  In recent years, the function of automatically discriminating a shooting scene at the time of shooting has evolved in digital cameras. In a digital camera having such a function, camera shooting conditions are automatically set in accordance with the determined shooting scene, and the user can perform appropriate shooting without setting shooting conditions. On the other hand, there is also an image pickup apparatus that displays help according to the operation state of the image pickup apparatus so that the usage of the image pickup apparatus can be understood without a manual.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 describes that the detail of help display related to an operation member is changed depending on whether or not it is a shooting mode that a user skilled in operation of an imaging apparatus will use. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-151858 describes that a shooting scene is determined from the characteristics of a captured image and the like, and exposure, shutter speed, strobe emission amount, and the like are controlled according to the determined scene.

JP 2007-142848 A JP 2007-121654 A

  As in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-260260, there is a help in an operation mode in which many shooting settings are automatically performed using a result of determining a shooting scene and an operation mode in which there are many shooting settings manually performed by a user such as manual shooting. What the user wants to explain is different in the display. For example, in an operation mode in which many shooting settings are manually performed by a user, such as manual shooting, it is useful to display an explanation for an operation member for setting shooting as help. On the other hand, it is not very useful for the user to display the description of the operation member for performing the shooting setting in the operation mode in which many shooting settings are automatically performed using the result of determining the shooting scene. On the other hand, Patent Document 1 describes changing the detail of the help displayed when the same operation is performed according to the shooting mode, but it is also considered until the explanation of what is displayed is changed. Not.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to enable appropriate help display depending on whether or not the operation mode uses scene discrimination.

In order to achieve the above object, an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes the following arrangement. That is,
Imaging means;
An operation means for receiving an instruction from the user;
Discriminating means for discriminating a shooting scene based on an image captured by the imaging means;
A receiving means for receiving a help instruction for displaying a help screen;
When the operation mode when the help instruction is received by the reception unit is an operation mode using the determination result of the determination unit, the description related to the shooting scene determined by the determination unit is displayed as the help screen, Display control means for controlling to display an explanation related to the operation means as the help screen when the operation mode when the help instruction is received is an operation mode that does not use the determination result.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to display an explanation regarding a suitable matter depending on whether or not the operation mode when performing an operation for displaying help uses scene discrimination.

1 is an external view of a digital camera as an example of an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment. The block diagram which shows the structure of the digital camera by embodiment. The flowchart of the whole operation | movement of a digital camera. The flowchart of the still image shooting mode of a digital camera. The flowchart of the scene discrimination | determination process of a digital camera. The flowchart of the help process according to the photography mode of a digital camera. The flowchart of the operation member help display of a digital camera. The flowchart of the scene help display of a digital camera. The flowchart of the scene help display of a digital camera. The flowchart of the scene change confirmation process of a digital camera. The figure of the example of a screen of the scene help display of a digital camera. The figure of the example of a screen of the operation member help display of a digital camera. The figure which shows the example of the help display at the time of execution of scene discrimination | determination.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the embodiments described below, a case where the apparatus and method according to the present invention are applied to an imaging apparatus which is a digital camera capable of capturing still images and moving images will be described as an example.

First Embodiment [Configuration of Digital Camera]
FIG. 1 shows an external view of a digital camera 100 as an example of the imaging apparatus of the present embodiment. The display unit 28 includes a liquid crystal panel and displays images and various information. The shutter button 61 is an operation unit for a user to give a shooting instruction. The connector 112 is a connector between the connection cable and the digital camera 100. The operation unit 70 includes operation members such as various switches, buttons, and a touch panel that receive various operations from the user.

  The help button 73 is an operation button for calling the help mode, and the user gives a help instruction by operating the help button 73. In the present embodiment, when the help button 73 is pressed in a state where the shooting scene is not determined (hereinafter referred to as scene determination), the function and arrangement of each operation unit according to the operation state at that time are displayed. 28. On the other hand, when the help button 73 is pressed while the scene is being discriminated, an explanation regarding the scene being shot is displayed on the display unit 28. The help button 73 is preprinted or engraved with a character “?” So that the user can recognize that the help information can be displayed by pressing the help button 73 regardless of the display state of the display unit 28. . Although the help button 73 is illustrated as an operation means for instructing help, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, other operation members may be used together, or a touch panel provided on the display unit 28 is used. Form may be sufficient. Reference numeral 72 denotes a power switch that switches the power of the digital camera 100 on and off. The recording medium 200 is a memory card or a hard disk. The recording medium slot 201 is a slot for storing the recording medium 200. The recording medium 200 stored in the recording medium slot 201 can communicate with the digital camera 100. A lid 202 is a lid of the recording medium slot 201.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the digital camera 100 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 2, a photographing lens 103 is a lens group including a zoom lens and a focus lens. The shutter 101 is a shutter having an aperture function. The imaging unit 22 has an imaging device composed of a CCD, a CMOS device, or the like that converts an optical image into an electrical signal. The A / D converter 23 converts the analog signal output from the imaging unit 22 into a digital signal. The barrier 102 covers the photographing lens 103 of the digital camera 100, thereby preventing the imaging system including the photographing lens 103, the shutter 101, and the imaging unit 22 from becoming dirty or damaged.

  The image processing unit 24 performs resizing processing such as predetermined pixel interpolation and reduction and color conversion processing on the data from the A / D converter 23 or the data from the memory control unit 15. The image processing unit 24 performs predetermined calculation processing using the captured image data, and the system control unit 50 performs exposure control and distance measurement control based on the obtained calculation result. Thereby, AF (autofocus) processing, AE (automatic exposure) processing, and EF (flash pre-emission) processing of the TTL (through-the-lens) method are performed. The image processing unit 24 further performs predetermined calculation processing using the captured image data, and also performs TTL AWB (auto white balance) processing based on the obtained calculation result.

  Output data from the A / D converter 23 is directly written into the memory 32 via the image processing unit 24 and the memory control unit 15 or via the memory control unit 15. The memory 32 stores image data obtained by the imaging unit 22 and converted into digital data by the A / D converter 23 and image data to be displayed on the display unit 28. The memory 32 has a storage capacity sufficient to store a predetermined number of still images, a moving image and sound for a predetermined time.

  The memory 32 also serves as an image display memory (video memory). The D / A converter 13 converts the image display data stored in the memory 32 into an analog signal and supplies the analog signal to the display unit 28. Thus, the display image data written in the memory 32 is displayed on the display unit 28 via the D / A converter 13. The display unit 28 performs display according to the analog signal from the D / A converter 13 on a display such as an LCD. A digital signal once A / D converted by the A / D converter 23 and stored in the memory 32 is converted into an analog signal by the D / A converter 13 and sequentially transferred to the display unit 28 for display as an electronic viewfinder. Through image display for functioning can be performed.

  The nonvolatile memory 56 is an electrically erasable / recordable memory, and for example, an EEPROM or the like is used. The nonvolatile memory 56 stores constants, programs, and the like for operating the system control unit 50. Here, the program is a program for executing various flowcharts described later in the present embodiment.

  The system control unit 50 controls the entire digital camera 100. By executing the program recorded in the non-volatile memory 56 described above, each process of the present embodiment to be described later is realized. A system memory 52 is a RAM. In the system memory 52, constants and variables for operating the system control unit 50, programs read from the nonvolatile memory 56, and the like are expanded. The system control unit 50 also performs display control by controlling the memory 32, the D / A converter 13, the display unit 28, and the like. The system timer 53 is a time measuring unit that measures the time used for various controls and the time of a built-in clock.

  The first shutter switch 62, the second shutter switch 64, and the operation unit 70 included in the shutter button 61 provide an operation environment for inputting various operation instructions to the system control unit 50. A mode switch 60 included in the operation unit 70 switches the operation mode of the system control unit 50 to any one of a still image shooting mode, a moving image shooting mode, a reproduction mode, and the like. Modes included in the still image shooting mode include an auto shooting mode, an auto scene discrimination mode, a manual mode, various scene modes for shooting settings for each shooting scene, a program AE mode, a custom mode, and the like. The mode changeover switch 60 can switch to any of these modes included in the still image shooting mode. Alternatively, after switching to the still image shooting mode once with the mode switch 60, the mode may be switched to any one of these modes included in the still image shooting mode using another operation member. Similarly, the moving image shooting mode may include a plurality of modes.

  The first shutter switch 62 is turned on when the shutter button 61 provided in the digital camera 100 is being operated, so-called half-press (shooting preparation instruction), and generates a first shutter switch signal SW1. The first shutter switch signal SW1 starts operations such as AF (autofocus) processing, AE (automatic exposure) processing, AWB (auto white balance) processing, and EF (flash pre-emission) processing. The second shutter switch 64 is turned ON when the operation of the shutter button 61 is completed, that is, when it is fully pressed (shooting instruction), and generates a second shutter switch signal SW2. In response to the second shutter switch signal SW2, the system control unit 50 starts a series of shooting processing operations from reading a signal from the imaging unit 22 to writing image data into the recording medium 200.

  Each operation member of the operation unit 70 is appropriately assigned a function for each scene by selecting and operating various function icons displayed on the display unit 28, and functions as various function buttons. Examples of the function buttons include an end button, a return button, an image advance button, a jump button, a narrowing button, and an attribute change button. For example, when a menu button is pressed, various setting menu screens are displayed on the display unit 28. The user can make various settings intuitively using the menu screen displayed on the display unit 28, and the four-way button and the SET button. The operation unit 70 also includes the help button 73 described above.

  The power control unit 80 includes a battery detection circuit, a DC-DC converter, a switch circuit that switches a block to be energized, and the like, and detects whether or not a battery is installed, the type of battery, and the remaining battery level. Further, the power control unit 80 controls the DC-DC converter based on the detection result and an instruction from the system control unit 50, and supplies a necessary voltage to each unit including the recording medium 200 for a necessary period.

  The power supply unit 30 includes a primary battery such as an alkaline battery or a lithium battery, a secondary battery such as a NiCd battery, a NiMH battery, or a Li battery, an AC adapter, or the like. The recording medium I / F 18 is an interface with the recording medium 200 such as a memory card or a hard disk. The recording medium 200 is a recording medium such as a memory card for recording a captured image, and includes a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, or the like.

[Overall operation of digital camera]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the overall operation of the digital camera 100 of the present embodiment. Each process in the flowchart is realized by the system control unit 50 expanding and executing a program stored in the nonvolatile memory 56 or the like in the system memory 52.

  When the power switch 72 is operated to turn on the power, the system control unit 50 initializes flags, control variables, and the like in S301. Subsequently, in S <b> 302, the system control unit 50 starts management processing relating to the file recorded on the recording medium 200.

  Next, in S303, S305, and S307, the system control unit 50 determines the current operation mode set by the mode switch 60. If the current operation mode is set to the still image shooting mode, the process proceeds from S303 to S304, and the system control unit 50 executes still image shooting mode processing. Details of the still image shooting mode processing in S304 will be described later with reference to FIG. If the current operation mode is set to the moving image shooting mode, the process proceeds to S306 through S303 and S305, and the system control unit 50 executes the moving image shooting mode process. Further, if the current operation mode is set to the playback mode, the process proceeds to S308 through S303, S305, and S307, and the system control unit 50 executes the playback mode process.

If another mode has been set, the process proceeds to S309, and the system control unit 50 executes a process according to the selected mode. Other modes include, for example, a transmission mode process for transmitting a file stored in the recording medium 200 and a reception mode process for receiving a file from an external device and storing it in the recording medium 200. After executing the process corresponding to the mode set by the mode switch 60 among S304, S306, S308, and S309, the process proceeds to S310. In S310, the system control unit 50 determines the setting of the power switch 72. If the power switch 72 is set to power on, the process returns to S303. On the other hand, if the power switch 72 is set to power off, the process proceeds from S310 to S311 and the system control unit 50 performs a termination process. For example, in this termination process,
Changing the display on the display unit 28 to the end state and closing the barrier 102 to protect the imaging unit 22;
-Record parameters, setting values, and setting modes including flags and control variables in the nonvolatile memory 56, and shut off the power to parts that do not require power supply.
Etc. are included. When the termination process of S311 is completed, this process is terminated and the power supply is shifted to the OFF state.

[Still image shooting mode processing]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing still image shooting mode processing, and shows details of the processing in S304 of FIG. 3 described above. Each process in the still image shooting mode process is realized by the system control unit 50 expanding and executing a program stored in the nonvolatile memory 56 or the like in the system memory 52. Note that the still image shooting mode process shown in FIG. 4 is terminated by an interrupt process or the like when the mode switch 60 is switched to another mode or when the power switch 72 is set to OFF. Shall.

  When starting the still image shooting mode, the system control unit 50 determines the shooting mode in S400. The shooting mode is determined by acquiring the shooting mode at the end of the previous still image shooting mode from the nonvolatile memory 56 and storing it in the system memory 52. The shooting mode here is a shooting mode for shooting a still image. The digital camera 100 of the present embodiment has the following shooting modes, for example.

Auto shooting mode: A mode in which various parameters of the camera are automatically determined by a program incorporated in the digital camera 100 based on the measured exposure value.
-Auto scene discrimination mode: The camera analyzes each information such as "person", "distance", "brightness", "color", and "movement" from the image and various sensor outputs, and discriminates the shooting scene each time. This mode automatically sets various shooting settings according to the determined shooting scene.
• Manual mode: A mode in which the user can freely change various camera parameters.
Scene mode: Shooting settings such as a combination of shutter speed, aperture value, strobe lighting, and sensitivity settings suitable for the shooting scene are automatically set.

The scene mode further includes the following modes.
・ Portrait mode: A mode that specializes in portrait photography by blurring the background and making people stand out.
・ Night scene mode: A mode specialized in night scenes that records a background with a slow shutter speed by applying flashlight to a person.
・ Landscape mode: A mode specialized for wide scenery scenes.
・ Night & Snap Mode: A mode suitable for taking beautiful night views and people without a tripod.
・ Kids & Pet Mode: A mode that allows you to take pictures of kids and pets that move around without missing a photo opportunity.
-Fresh green & autumnal leaves mode: Mode suitable for shooting trees and leaves of fresh greens vividly.
-Party mode: A mode that shoots in a color faithful to the subject while suppressing camera shake under fluorescent light bulbs.
・ Snow mode: A mode in which a person does not darken even when the snow scene is in the background, and no blueness is left.
-Beach mode: A mode that allows people to shoot without darkening even on the surface of the sea or sand where the sunlight is strongly reflected.
・ Fireworks mode: A mode for shooting fireworks with the best exposure.
・ Aquarium mode: A mode to set sensitivity, white balance, and color suitable for shooting fish in an indoor aquarium.
・ Underwater mode: A mode in which the white balance is set to be optimal for underwater, and the image is shot with a tint of blue.
・ Monochrome mode: A mode in which black and white / Sepia / Blue / Purple / Green, etc. are selected for shooting.
-Extreme color mode: A mode that captures vivid colors with increased saturation.
・ Through image mode: A shooting mode that allows you to create a picture by selecting brightness / hue / brightness in easy-to-understand words.

  When the shooting mode is confirmed, in subsequent S401, the system control unit 50 performs through display in which the image data from the imaging unit 22 is displayed on the display unit 28. The through display is a method in which an image captured by the image capturing unit 22 is displayed on the display unit 28 as a substantially real-time moving image without being recorded on the recording medium 200. Can be timed.

  In step S <b> 402, the system control unit 50 determines whether the remaining capacity of the power supply unit 30 configured by a battery or the like using the power supply control unit 80, the presence / absence of the recording medium 200, and the remaining capacity are problematic in the operation of the digital camera 100. Determine whether. If it is determined that there is a problem, the process proceeds to S403, and the system control unit 50 performs a predetermined warning display with an image or sound using the display unit 28, and returns the process to S400. If it is determined that there is no problem in the state of the power supply unit 30 or the recording medium 200, the process proceeds to S404.

  In S404, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not there is an operation from the user on the operation unit 70 for changing various shooting settings. If there is a shooting setting change operation, the process proceeds to S405, and if not, the process proceeds to S406. Examples of shooting settings that can be changed include strobe ON / OFF, continuous / single shooting switching, self-timer setting, image size (number of pixels), aspect ratio, and compression rate. In the manual mode, there are more shooting settings that can be set by the user than in other shooting modes, and the aperture value, shutter speed, and the like can also be set. In step S405, shooting parameters are set according to a shooting setting change operation from the user (setting change is performed).

  On the other hand, in S406, the system control unit 50 performs face detection for detecting whether or not a human face exists in the through-displayed image signal. When a human face is detected in the face detection process, the system control unit 50 uses the position coordinates, size (width, height), number of detections, reliability coefficient, etc. detected in the image signal as face information. Store in the memory 52. When a face is not detected in the face detection process, 0 is set in areas such as position coordinates, size (width, height), detected number, reliability coefficient, etc. in the system memory 52.

  In step S407, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the current shooting mode is a shooting mode in which auto scene determination is performed (a shooting scene is automatically determined), that is, an auto scene determination mode. In the present embodiment, it is determined that the auto scene determination mode is true, and the other shooting modes are determined to be false. It may be determined to be true if the shooting mode uses discrimination. If it is a shooting mode for auto scene discrimination, the process proceeds to S408; otherwise, the process proceeds to S409.

  In step S408, the system control unit 50 performs a scene determination process. Details of the scene discrimination processing will be described later with reference to FIG. In step S409, the system control unit 50 performs help display processing. Details of the help display process will be described later with reference to FIG. Subsequently, in S410, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the first shutter switch signal SW1 is ON (photographing preparation instruction reception). If the first shutter switch signal SW1 is OFF, the process returns to S404. On the other hand, if the first shutter switch signal SW1 is ON, the process proceeds to S411.

  In S411, a shooting preparation operation is performed. The system control unit 50 performs a distance measurement process to focus the photographing lens 103 on the subject (autofocus process), and performs a photometry process to determine an aperture value and a shutter speed (exposure determination process). In the photometric process, a flash is set if necessary. At this time, if a face is detected in S406, it is possible to perform face AF for performing distance measurement in the detected face range. In the auto scene discrimination mode, the shooting preparation operation is performed in accordance with the current shooting scene determined in the auto scene determination process of S408.

  Next, in S412, S413, ON / OFF states of the first shutter switch signal SW1 and the second shutter switch signal SW2 are determined. If the second shutter switch signal SW2 is turned on while the first shutter switch signal SW1 is turned on, the process proceeds from S412 to S414. When the first shutter switch signal SW1 is turned off (when the second shutter switch signal SW2 is not turned on and the first shutter switch signal SW1 is also released), the process returns from S413 to S404. Further, while the first shutter switch signal SW1 is ON and the second shutter switch signal SW2 is OFF, the processes of S412 and S413 are repeated.

  When the second shutter switch signal SW2 is turned on, in S414, the system control unit 50 sets the display state of the display unit 28 from the through display to the fixed color display state (for example, black display). In step S415, the system control unit 50 executes photographing processing including exposure processing and development processing. In the exposure process, the image data obtained through the image pickup unit 22 and the A / D converter 23 is sent from the image processing unit 24 and the memory control unit 15 or directly from the A / D converter 23 to the memory control unit. 15 to the memory 32. In the development process, the system control unit 50 uses the memory control unit 15 and, if necessary, the image processing unit 24 to read the image data written in the memory 32 and perform various processes.

  Next, the system control unit 50 performs a quick review display of the image data obtained by the photographing process on the display unit 28 in S416. The quick review display is a process of displaying the image data on the display unit 28 for a predetermined time (review time) immediately after shooting of the subject in order to check the shot image. In step S417, the system control unit 50 executes a recording process in which the image data obtained by the imaging process is written as an image file on the recording medium 200.

  In S418, the system control unit 50 determines the ON / OFF state of the second shutter switch signal SW2. If the second shutter switch signal SW2 is ON, the determination in S418 is repeated, and the process waits for the second shutter switch signal SW2 to be OFF. During this time, the quick review display is continued. That is, when the recording process of S417 is completed, the quick review display on the display unit 28 is continued until the second shutter switch signal SW2 is released. With this configuration, the user can carefully check the captured image data using the quick review display by continuing to fully press the shutter button 61. If it is determined in S418 that the second shutter switch signal SW2 is OFF, that is, if the user releases the shutter button 61 to release the fully pressed state, the process proceeds to S419.

  In S419, the system control unit 50 determines whether a predetermined review time for quick review display has elapsed. If the review time has not elapsed, the process waits for the review time to elapse. If the review time has elapsed, the process proceeds to S420. In S420, the system control unit 50 returns the display state of the display unit 28 from the quick review display to the through display state. With this processing, after the quick review display for confirming the photographed image data is performed, the display state of the display unit 28 is automatically changed to a through display state in which the image data from the image pickup unit 22 is sequentially displayed for the next photographing. It will be switched.

  In step S421, the system control unit 50 determines whether the first shutter switch signal SW1 is ON / OFF. If the first shutter switch signal SW1 is ON, the process returns to S412. If the first shutter switch signal SW1 is OFF, the process returns to S404. That is, when the shutter button 61 is half-pressed (the first shutter switch signal SW1 is ON), the system control unit 50 prepares for the next shooting (S412). On the other hand, if the shutter button 61 has been released (the first shutter switch signal SW1 is OFF), the system control unit 50 ends the series of shooting operations and returns to the shooting standby state (S405).

[About scene discrimination processing]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the scene determination process, which is the details of the process of S408 in FIG. 4 described above. This process is realized by, for example, developing a program recorded in the nonvolatile memory 56 in the system memory 52 and executing it by the system control unit 50. FIG. 5 shows an example of discriminating seven types of shooting scenes: normal shooting, landscape, macro, portrait, sport, night scene handheld shooting, night scene tripod shooting, but is not limited thereto. .

  When the scene determination process is started, the system control unit 50 acquires subject luminance (subject luminance value) from the image captured by the imaging unit 22 (S501). That is, in the digital camera 100, the system control unit 50 performs brightness detection for detecting the brightness value of the subject in S501. Next, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the acquired subject brightness is equal to or less than a predetermined value set in advance in a memory or the like (S502). Here, as the subject brightness, brightness information acquired in the past in the photometric process may be used.

  If the subject brightness is larger than the predetermined value in S502, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the zoom button of the operation unit 70 is being operated, that is, whether or not the view angle adjustment instruction is being received from the user. Is determined (S503). If it is determined that the zoom button is not being operated, the system control unit 50 performs face detection / motion vector detection processing to acquire subject shake information (motion detection result indicating subject motion) (S504). On the other hand, if it is determined that the zoom button is being operated, the system control unit 50 advances the process to S505 without acquiring subject blur information.

  The motion vector is detected from, for example, difference information obtained by comparing two frame images arranged in time series. More specifically, the system control unit 50 matches a block composed of a plurality of pixels with a peripheral block in the image of the next frame, and outputs the positional relationship with the matched block as a motion vector. Of the motion vectors at a certain time in one image, a relatively small motion and a uniform direction can be identified as a background image, and a large motion and a non-uniform direction can be identified as a moving subject. it can. Then, the system control unit 50 subtracts the amount of camera shake obtained by the camera shake detection / anti-vibration control process from the motion vector of the subject, thereby obtaining the motion of the subject and using it as subject shake information.

  In S502, it is determined whether or not the zoom button is being operated. However, it may be determined whether or not the zoom button is within a certain time after the zoom button is operated. As described above, an algorithm that does not acquire subject blur information may be continuously used while the operation of the zoom button is received or until a predetermined period elapses after the reception of the operation of the zoom button is completed. By performing such processing, the digital camera 100 can suppress the influence on the subject blur information due to the change in the angle of view caused by the operation of the zoom button, and can avoid erroneous detection of the scene. When an algorithm that does not acquire subject blur information is used, subsequent scene discrimination is performed using subject blur information acquired in the past, or it is determined that there is no subject blur.

  The system control unit 50 determines whether or not there is a subject blur from the acquired subject blur information (S505). If there is a subject blur, the scene discrimination result is set as a sport (S521), and the scene discrimination process is terminated. If there is no subject shake in S505, the system control unit 50 performs face detection processing by face detection / motion vector detection processing (S506).

  Next, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the size of the face detected in S506 is greater than or equal to a predetermined value (S507). If a face is detected and the size of the detected face is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the system control unit 50 sets the scene discrimination result as a portrait (S508) and ends the scene discrimination process.

  If a face larger than the predetermined value is not detected in S507, the system control unit 50 performs distance measurement processing for acquiring subject distance information indicating the distance between the main subject and the digital camera 100 (S509). Specifically, in the distance measurement process, acquisition of subject distance information is performed by a hill-climbing method (contrast method) using an image captured by the imaging unit 22 or a phase difference sensor. Next, the system control unit 50 determines the distance to the main subject from the acquired subject distance information (S510). Here, subject distance information acquired by past distance measurement processing may be used.

  If the distance from the main subject is equal to or smaller than the predetermined value in S510, the system control unit 50 sets the scene determination result as a macro (S515) and ends the scene determination process. If the distance from the main subject is infinite in S510, the system control unit 50 acquires color information from the captured image (S511), and the subject includes sky based on the acquired color information. It is determined whether or not there is (S512). If it is determined in S512 that the sky is included, the system control unit 50 sets the scene determination result as a landscape (S514), and ends the scene determination process. On the other hand, if no sky is included in S512, the system control unit 50 sets the scene determination result to normal (S513), and ends the scene determination process. In S510, when the distance to the main subject is infinite or not less than the predetermined value, but other values, the system control unit 50 sets the scene determination result to normal (S513) and ends the scene determination process.

  When the scene determination result is determined to be a sport, the system control unit 50 sets the exposure time at the time of imaging shorter than when the scene is determined to be a normal scene, thereby making the subject image less likely to blur. . In addition, when the scene determination result is determined to be a portrait, the system control unit 50 sets the aperture diameter of the aperture at the time of imaging larger than when it is determined to be a normal scene, and the human skin during development The image processing unit 24 is caused to perform color processing so that the color of the image approaches the ideal skin color. Further, when the scene determination result is determined to be macro, the system control unit 50 sets the aperture diameter of the aperture smaller than a range that can be set when it is determined to be a normal scene. In addition, when the scene determination result is determined to be a landscape, the system control unit 50 sets the aperture diameter of the diaphragm at the time of imaging smaller than when it is determined to be a normal scene, and the color of the image data during development. The image processing unit 24 performs color processing so as to increase the degree. Thus, the system control unit 50 changes the control parameters in the exposure process and the development process according to the scene discrimination result.

  If the subject brightness is equal to or lower than the predetermined value in S502, the system control unit 50 determines whether the first shutter switch 62 and the operation unit 70 are being operated. That is, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the first shutter switch 62 or the operation unit 70 is being operated and the operation of the SW1 or the operation unit 70 is being accepted (S516). Note that in S516, it may be determined whether or not a predetermined period has elapsed after the acceptance of the operation of the SW1 or the operation unit 70 is completed. Further, the system control unit 50 is not limited to the first shutter switch 62 and the operation unit 70, and may determine whether or not the operation unit 70 zoom button is operated.

  If the first shutter switch 62 and the operation unit 70 are not being operated in S516, the system control unit 50 acquires camera shake information from the camera shake detection unit (S517). On the other hand, if the first shutter switch 62 or the operation unit 70 is being operated, the system control unit 50 proceeds to the next process (S518) without acquiring camera shake information. By performing such processing, the digital camera 100 can suppress the influence on the camera shake information due to the operation of the first shutter switch 62 and the operation unit 70, and avoid the erroneous detection of the scene. When an algorithm that does not acquire camera shake information is used, subsequent scene discrimination is performed using camera shake information acquired in the past, or it is determined that there is no camera shake.

  Next, the system control unit 50 determines the presence or absence of camera shake from the acquired camera shake information (S518). If it is determined in S518 that there is no camera shake, the system control unit 50 sets the night scene tripod image as the scene discrimination result (S520), and ends the scene discrimination process. If it is determined in S518 that there is camera shake, the system control unit 50 sets the scene determination result as night scene handheld imaging (S519), and ends the scene determination process.

  When the scene determination result is determined to be night scene tripod imaging, the system control unit 50 sets the sensitivity of the imaging unit 22 to the minimum value and performs long exposure. Further, when the scene determination result is determined to be night scene hand-held imaging, the system control unit 50 sets the exposure time to an upper limit, and performs exposure with the sensitivity of the imaging unit 22 corresponding to the shortage.

  As described above, the algorithm that does not use the camera shake information is continuously used while the operation of the first shutter switch 62 and the operation unit 70 is received or until a predetermined period elapses after the reception is completed. It is done. As a result, an algorithm that does not use camera shake information is continuously used in a state where the reliability of the camera shake information is reduced by the operation of the first shutter switch 62 or the operation unit 70. For this reason, the digital camera 100 can avoid erroneous scene detection. Of course, when not only the operation of the first shutter switch 62 and the operation unit 70 but also the zoom operation is performed, the scene determination process may be similarly performed using an algorithm that does not use camera shake information.

  Heretofore, the scene discrimination processing in the present embodiment has been described. Here, the description has been given by taking the operation to the first shutter switch 62, the zoom operation, and the like as conditions for not acquiring the camera shake information and the subject shake information, but the operation to the other operation members is used as the above conditions. Needless to say. Further, not only the operation of the members provided in the digital camera 100 but also the configuration having a user interface that activates a function by adding a motion to the main body of the digital camera 100 does not acquire the above-mentioned user's operation that adds a motion to the main body. It is good also as conditions. That is, when the user activates the above-described user interface function by adding a motion to the digital camera 100, the camera shake information and the subject shake information may not be used for scene determination when the motion is detected.

[About help display processing]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the help display process, which is the details of the process of S409 of FIG. 4 described above. This process is realized by developing a program recorded in the nonvolatile memory 56 in the system memory 52 and executing it by the system control unit 50.

  In step S601, the system control unit 50 determines whether the help button 73 has been pressed. If the help button 73 has been pressed, the process proceeds to S702. If not, the help display process is terminated and the process proceeds to S410 in FIG.

  In step S602, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the current shooting mode is a shooting mode in which auto scene determination is performed (a shooting scene is automatically determined). In the present embodiment, it is determined to be true if the auto scene determination mode is set, and is determined to be false if the shooting mode is other, but the auto scene determination is performed even in other shooting modes. It may be determined to be true if there are shooting modes that may be performed. If it is a shooting mode for auto scene discrimination, the process proceeds to S604; otherwise, the process proceeds to S603.

  In step S <b> 603, the system control unit 50 performs an operation member help display process and displays a description related to the operation member. The operation member help display process is a process for guiding the function of each operation unit 70 in the current operation mode. When the current operation mode is a shooting mode other than the auto scene determination mode, it can be assumed that the user determines the current shooting scene by himself, decides the shooting setting by himself, and is shooting. Therefore, a display for explaining the function of the operation unit 70 that is necessary when the user himself changes the shooting setting is performed to assist the user's operation. Details of the operation member help display processing will be described later with reference to FIG. When the process of S603 is completed, the help display process is exited and the process proceeds to S410 of FIG.

  In step S604, the system control unit 50 performs scene help display. In the scene help display, an explanation relating to the shooting scene currently determined by the auto scene determination is displayed. For example, what kind of shooting scene the identified shooting scene is, what kind of shooting (shooting settings) is performed according to the determined shooting scene, and points to note when shooting for the determined shooting scene Or advice is displayed. If the current shooting mode is the auto scene discrimination mode or the shooting mode that performs auto scene discrimination even if it is another shooting mode, the user does not discriminate the current shooting scene and shooting settings, but leaves it to the camera. You can assume that you are trying. Therefore, there is a high possibility that the description of the function of the operation unit 70 for changing the shooting setting by the user himself is unnecessary. Rather, it is designed to give the user a sense of security by allowing the user to recognize what kind of shooting is performed when automatic shooting is performed by the camera. In addition, since it can be assumed that a user who takes a picture with the camera is likely to be a beginner, it is possible to assist the user so that appropriate photography can be performed by displaying advice on how to hold the camera. Details of the scene help display will be described later with reference to FIG. When the process of S604 is completed, the help display process is exited and the process proceeds to S410 of FIG.

In the process of FIG. 6 described above, when it is determined in S601 that the help button 73 has been pressed, the scene help is displayed regardless of the display state on the previous display unit 28. That is, even when the through image is not displayed on the display unit 28 or when the display is OFF, the operation member help or the scene help is displayed on the display unit 28 in response to pressing of the help button 73. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and even if it is determined in S601 that the help button 73 has been pressed, if the through image is not displayed on the display unit 28 or if the display is OFF, any of S602 to S604 is performed. The help display process may be exited without proceeding. When the through image is not displayed on the display unit 28 or when the display is OFF, it is assumed that the image is taken without paying attention to the display unit 28, such as shooting through the viewfinder. It is. That is, when no through image is displayed on the display unit 28 or when the display unit 28 is OFF, the help may not be displayed even if the help button 73 is pressed. When the help button 73 is pressed when the through image is not displayed on the display unit 28 or when the display is OFF,
-Warning that help is not displayed because the through image is not displayed, or
-You may make it display the guidance that a help will be displayed if it changes a setting to display a through image.

[Operation member help display processing]
The operation member help display process in S603 of FIG. 6 will be described. First, FIGS. 11A to 11C show screen display examples displayed on the display unit 28 in the operation member help process.

  FIG. 11A is a screen example of an initial display in the operation member help display. In the initial display of the operation member help display, the display unit 28 displays an operation member display 1101, an explanation item list 1102, a selection operation member mark 1103, and an item selection frame 1104. The operation member display 1101 illustrates a portion of the appearance of the digital camera 100 where the operation unit 70 is concentrated. The explanation item list 1102 displays a list of explanation items of the operation members. The selection operation member mark 1103 indicates an operation member corresponding to the item currently selected on the explanation item list 1102. An item selection frame 1104 indicates an item currently selected on the explanation item list 1302.

  FIG. 11B is an operation member help display screen example when an item different from that in FIG. 11A is selected from the explanation item list 1102. A selection item can be changed from the explanation item list 1102 by operating the up and down buttons included in the operation unit 70. When the selection item is changed, the item selection frame 1104 is displayed for the changed selection item, and the selection operation member mark 1103 is displayed for the operation member corresponding to the changed selection item in the operation member display 1101. Is displayed.

  FIG. 11C shows an example in which a detailed explanation of the function indicated by the item selected in the explanation item list 1102 is displayed. By pressing the right button included in the operation unit 70 from the state in which the description item list 1102 is displayed, a more detailed description of the function indicated by the item selected in the description item list 1102 can be displayed. At this time, the operation member display 1101 and the selection operation member mark 1103 remain displayed, so that the detailed description displayed can be understood as to which operation member is operated to operate the function. ing. For example, when the right button is pressed in the state of FIG. 11B, the display is switched to the display of FIG. By pressing the left button or the help button 73 included in the operation unit 70 in the state of FIG. 11C, it is possible to return to the original display state of FIG.

  By performing the display of FIGS. 11A to 11C as described above, it is possible to make the user recognize what shooting setting can be performed by operating which operation member. Next, the details of the operation member help display process for performing the display as shown in FIGS.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation member help display process, which is the details of the process of S603 in FIG. 6 described above. This process is realized by, for example, developing a program recorded in the nonvolatile memory 56 in the system memory 52 and executing it by the system control unit 50.

  In step S <b> 701, the system control unit 50 acquires, from the nonvolatile memory 56, an operation member list that is effective in the current shooting mode among the operation units 70. In step S <b> 702, the system control unit 50 displays image data showing a portion of the appearance of the digital camera 100 where the operation unit 70 is concentrated, such as the operation member display 1101 in FIG. indicate.

  In step S <b> 703, the system control unit 50 displays the explanation item list 1102 on the display unit 28 based on the list acquired in step S <b> 701. In step S <b> 704, the system control unit 50 displays an item selection frame 1104 for the selected item (current item) in the explanation item list 1102 described above. In addition, a selection operation member mark 1103 is displayed for the operation member corresponding to the selected item in the operation member display 1101. A display example of this result is FIG. 11A described above.

  In step S <b> 705, the system control unit 50 determines whether the help button 73 has been pressed. If the help button 73 is pressed, the help display process is terminated. If the help button 73 is not pressed, the process proceeds to S706. In step S <b> 706, the system control unit 50 determines whether an up button or a down button (hereinafter referred to as an up / down button) included in the operation unit 70 has been pressed. If any one of the up and down buttons is pressed, the process proceeds to S707, and if not, the process proceeds to S708.

  In step S <b> 707, the system control unit 50 changes the item (current item) selected in the explanation item list 1102 in accordance with the above-described operation of the up / down button, and moves the item selection frame 1104 to the current item. For example, when the up button is pressed, one item above the currently selected item is selected from the explanation item list 1102 described above, and when the down button is pressed, the current item in the explanation item list 1102 is selected. The item below the selected item is selected. If there is no item immediately ahead of the currently selected item, the current item may remain, or the first item on the opposite side may be selected. Further, the system control unit 50 changes the display position of the selection operation member mark 1103 in accordance with the change of the selected item, and performs a selection operation on the operation member corresponding to the selected item in the operation member display 1101. The member mark 1103 is displayed. For example, FIG. 11B is a display example when the down button is pressed five times in the state of FIG.

  In step S <b> 708, the system control unit 50 determines whether the right button included in the operation unit 70 has been pressed. If the right button has been pressed, the process proceeds to S709; otherwise, the process returns to S705. In step S <b> 709, the system control unit 50 displays a detailed explanation screen for the function indicated by the item selected in the explanation item list 1102. For example, when the right button is pressed when FIG. 11B is displayed, the system control unit 50 displays the above-described FIG. 11C on the display unit 28. As a result, it is possible to see the explanation about the operation member selected by the user's intention.

  In step S <b> 710, the system control unit 50 determines whether the left button or the help button 73 included in the operation unit 70 has been pressed. If it has been pressed, the process proceeds to S713, and if not, the process proceeds to S711. In step S711, the system control unit 50 determines whether the up / down button has been pressed. If the button has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S712. If not, the process returns to step S710.

  In step S <b> 712, the system control unit 50 performs a scroll process on the displayed explanatory text. However, if the explanatory text is within the screen, this scrolling process need not be performed. In step S713, the system control unit 50 hides the explanatory text of the item as illustrated in FIG. 11C, and returns the process to step S703. This process ends the explanatory text display state, and the display returns to the state shown in FIG.

  In this way, the operation member display help process is performed in which the user selects an operation member desired to know in detail and the explanation is displayed.

[About scene help display]
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the scene help display process, which is the details of the process of S604 in FIG. This scene help display processing is realized, for example, by the system control unit 50 expanding and executing a program stored in the nonvolatile memory 56 or the like in the system memory 52 and performing display control of the display unit 28 or the like. .

  In step S <b> 801, the system control unit 50 acquires a determination result obtained by scene determination described with reference to FIG. 5 from the nonvolatile memory 56. In step S802, the system control unit 50 stops the scene determination process. The reason why the scene discrimination processing is stopped here is to make it easy to read the explanation of the scene and the shooting advice when the scene help is displayed. When reading a description of a scene, it is often the case that the description is read with the camera facing the ground rather than keeping the camera facing the subject. Even if the scene is determined when the camera is not pointed at the subject, a scene that is different from the shooting scene that the user is trying to shoot is determined, so the result of the scene determination when the camera is not pointed at the subject There is no point in displaying the help. Also, if you do not stop the scene discrimination, the situation of the subject will change while you are reading the explanation, the scene discrimination result will change, and the explanation you read may change to another scene in the middle This makes the explanation difficult to read. In this embodiment, in order to solve such a problem, the scene discrimination is stopped while the scene help is displayed. It should be noted that the contents of the scene help may be prevented from being changed even if the scene discrimination result changes while the scene help is displayed. Therefore, the scene determination can be realized by a method in which the changed scene contents are not stored in the non-volatile memory 56 without stopping, or a method in which the setting is not read when the scene help is displayed even if the contents are stored in the non-volatile memory 56.

  In step S <b> 803, the system control unit 50 acquires a scene description display corresponding to the detected scene from the nonvolatile memory 56 and displays it on the display unit 28. For example, a description of the contents of the shooting setting automatically made according to the discrimination result of the scene discrimination is displayed. In the present embodiment, a correspondence table example of the detected scene and the explanatory text is described with reference to the table of FIG. The nonvolatile memory 56 holds a table as shown in FIG. 13, and the system control unit 50 obtains text to be displayed on the help screen from this table. Hereinafter, an example of the display screen will be described with reference to FIG.

  12A to 12C are display examples of the shooting standby screen displayed on the display unit 28 before the scene help is displayed in the scene determination mode. In each case, a through image and a scene icon 1200 indicating what the scene is determined at that time are displayed. FIG. 12A shows an example of a standby screen when the scene determination result is normal. A scene icon 1200 indicating a normal state is displayed on the display unit 28 so as to be superimposed on the through image. FIG. 12B is an example of a shooting standby screen display when the scene determination result is a person. FIG. 12C is an example of a shooting standby screen display when the scene determination result is macro.

  12D to 12F show respective display examples when the help button 73 is pressed from the states of FIGS. 12A to 12C. 12D to 12F are display screen examples displayed by the process of S903. FIG. 12D is a display example of scene: normal, FIG. 12E is a display example of scene: person, and FIG. 12D is a display example of scene: macro.

  A screen configuration will be described with reference to FIG. A scene icon 1201 larger than the scene icon 1200 displayed before the scene help is displayed is displayed. Further, the through image 1202 is displayed in a semi-transparent manner. Also, an explanation display 1203 is displayed for explaining the name and outline of the scene (scene represented by the scene icon 1201) that was determined immediately before the scene help is displayed. By displaying the through image 1202 translucently, the visibility of the scene icon 1201 and the explanation display 1203 can be improved. Further, the through image 1202 allows the user to determine whether the scene represented by the scene icon 1201 and determined immediately before displaying the scene help matches the currently captured situation. Therefore, the user can know what scene is shot and how the auto scene is discriminated. In addition, the user can determine whether the content of the currently displayed scene help is suitable for the current shooting situation. Thus, the visibility of help can be improved and the current scene can be confirmed.

  In step S804, the system control unit 50 starts a display timer to control the display time of the scene explanation display. In step S805, it is determined that the specified time has elapsed. The scene description display continues until the timer is completed. However, when a user operation indicating the end of the scene help display is detected while waiting for completion of the timer (in this embodiment, the pressing operation of the help button 73), the scene help display process ends (S806).

  In step S <b> 807, the system control unit 50 acquires an advice display corresponding to the detected scene from the nonvolatile memory 56 and displays it on the display unit 28. The table in FIG. 13 shows a correspondence example between the detected scene and the advice sentence. In addition, FIG. 12G and FIG. 12H show screen display examples in S807. FIG. 12G is a display example of scene: person, and FIG. 12H is a display example of scene: macro.

  The display layout is the same as the scene description display, and only the advice display portion 1204 is changed. Further, the advice display can be omitted for a scene that does not require advice as in the case of “scene: normal”. In this case, for example, only the scene description may be displayed without switching between the scene description and the advice.

  In step S808, the system control unit 50 starts a display timer to control the display time for advice display. In step S809, it is determined whether a specified time has elapsed. The advice display continues until the timer is completed. However, when a user operation indicating the end of the scene help display is detected while waiting for completion of the timer (in this embodiment, a pressing operation of the help button 73), the scene help display process ends (S810).

  In step S <b> 811, the system control unit 50 counts the number of times the explanatory text and the advice are displayed, and stores the count value in the nonvolatile memory 56. Next, in S812, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the count value indicating the number of times of display is 3 or less, and if it is 3 or less, the process returns to S803 to repeat the above-described scene explanation display and advice display. . On the other hand, if the count value exceeds 3, the advice display continues to be displayed until a user operation indicating the end of the scene help display is detected (until the help button 73 is detected in this embodiment). (S813). By the above steps S803 to S812, the explanatory text and the advice are automatically and alternately displayed, so that the user can check the explanatory text and the advice according to the scene determination.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, when an operation for calling up the help is performed, it is possible to see an explanation regarding a more appropriate matter depending on whether or not the scene determination is performed. In the scene help display, once an explanation about a shooting scene is displayed, the shooting scene to be displayed for help display is fixed regardless of the subsequent determination result of the shooting scene. That is, in the scene help display, the help display related to the shooting scene immediately before entering the screen is fixed. For this reason, even if a scene changes during explanation display, the user can read the explanation being displayed firmly.

Second Embodiment [About scene help display]
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the scene help display process according to the second embodiment, which is the details of the process of S604 in FIG. Each process in the scene help display is realized, for example, by the system control unit 50 expanding and executing a program stored in the nonvolatile memory 56 or the like in the system memory 52.

  In step S <b> 901, the system control unit 50 acquires the scene determination processing result described with reference to FIG. 5 from the nonvolatile memory 56. In step S <b> 902, the system control unit 50 acquires a scene explanation display corresponding to the detected scene from the nonvolatile memory 56 and displays it on the display unit 28. The scene explanation display is the same as in the first embodiment.

  In step S904, the system control unit 50 starts a display timer to control the display time of the scene explanation display. In step S905, the system control unit 50 determines whether the display timer is completed. The scene description display is continued until the display timer is completed. However, if a user operation indicating the end of the scene help display is detected while waiting for the display timer to be completed (in this embodiment, the pressing operation of the help button 73), the scene help display process ends (S905). If the system control unit 50 detects that the help display change flag is ON while waiting for the completion of the display timer, the system control unit 50 advances the process to S916 to switch to the help display corresponding to the changed scene. The help display change flag is a flag indicating that the user intends to change the help display in accordance with a change in the scene determination result, and is set in a process described later with reference to FIG. In S916, the system control unit 50 sets the help display change flag to OFF, and returns the process to S901 to execute the help display corresponding to the new scene.

  When the display timer is completed, the process proceeds from S904 to S907. In step S <b> 907, the system control unit 50 acquires an advice display corresponding to the detected scene from the nonvolatile memory 56 and displays it on the display unit 28. The advice display is the same as in the first embodiment.

  In step S908, the system control unit 50 starts a display timer to control the display time of advice display. In step S909, the system control unit 50 determines that the display timer has passed the specified time. The advice display continues until the display timer is completed. However, when a user operation indicating the end of the scene help display is detected while waiting for the completion of the display timer (in this embodiment, the pressing operation of the help button 73), the scene help display process ends (S910). If the system control unit 50 detects that the help display change flag (described later with reference to FIG. 10) is ON while waiting for completion of the display timer, the system control unit 50 advances the process to S916 to switch to the help display corresponding to the changed scene. These processes are the same as the processes while waiting for the completion of the display timer in S904.

When the display timer is completed, the process proceeds from S909 to S912. In step S <b> 912, the system control unit 50 counts the number of times the explanatory text and the advice are displayed, and stores the count value in the nonvolatile memory 56. Next, in S913, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the count value is three times or less. If the count value is 3 times or less, the process returns to S902, and the above-described scene explanation display and advice display are repeated. On the other hand, if the count value exceeds 3,
-Until a user operation indicating the intention to end the scene help display is detected (in this embodiment, until pressing of the help button 73 is detected), or
-Until it is detected that the user intends to change the help display according to the change of the scene discrimination result (until the help display change flag is detected ON),
The advice display continues to be displayed (S914, S915).

[About scene change confirmation processing]
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the scene change confirmation process. Each process in the scene change confirmation process is realized, for example, by the system control unit 50 expanding and executing a program stored in the nonvolatile memory 56 or the like in the system memory 52. 9 and 10 are executed in parallel, for example, by multitask processing. That is, while the scene help display process of FIG. 9 is being executed, the scene change confirmation process shown in FIG. 10 is executed in parallel.

  In step S1001, the system control unit 50 acquires the scene determination processing result described with reference to FIG. 5 from the nonvolatile memory 56 and compares it with the previous scene determination content to determine whether the scene has changed. While there is no change in the scene, the process of S1001 is repeated. If there is a change in the scene, the process proceeds to S1002.

  In step S <b> 1002, the system control unit 50 displays a scene description or advice on the display unit 28 that is displaying a change. An example of the display is shown in FIG. FIG. 12 (i) is a display example when the discrimination result of scene discrimination changes in the display state of FIG. 12 (h). The scene change display 1205 is displayed to notify the user of the scene change. Also, by displaying the left and right arrow icons, it is displayed that the scene to be explained or advised can be changed by operating the left and right buttons.

  In step S1003, the system control unit 50 determines whether any of the left and right buttons of the operation unit 70 has been operated. If it is determined that no button operation has been performed, the user operation is continuously monitored. If it is determined that the left / right button is pressed, the process proceeds to S1004.

  In S1004, the system control unit 50 changes the help display change flag to ON, and returns the process to S1101. In this way, it is possible to always notify the user of a scene change. In addition, since the help display change flag is turned on triggered by a user operation such as a left / right button, it is possible to check the description and advice of the scene after the change by the processing of S906, S911, and S915 described above.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, when an operation for calling up help is performed, an explanation regarding more suitable matters is seen depending on whether or not scene discrimination is performed. be able to. Further, since the scene help display is fixed to the description about the scene immediately before entering the screen, even if the scene changes during the description display, the user can read the displayed description firmly. In the second embodiment, scene discrimination is also performed during scene help display, and when the scene changes, the user is inquired whether to change the scene help display (scene change display 1205 in FIG. 12). . When the user gives an instruction to change the scene help display, the scene help display is updated according to the latest scene discrimination result. Therefore, according to the second embodiment, since the help display is not switched without permission, it is possible to read the explanation of the help firmly and to read the latest scene discrimination result.

  In the above embodiment, the history of scene changes determined by scene determination is stored, one scene is selected from the stored scene history by operating the left and right keys, and the selected scene is described. Sentence and advice display may be performed. Further, in each of the above embodiments, the display of the explanation related to the operation unit and the explanation related to the scene discrimination result is automatically switched depending on the operation mode (whether or not to use the scene discrimination) when the help button 73 is operated. However, it is not limited to this. For example, dedicated operation means for displaying an explanation related to the scene discrimination result may be provided.

  Note that the control by the system control unit 50 described above may be performed by a single piece of hardware, or the entire apparatus may be controlled by a plurality of pieces of hardware sharing the processing.

  Although the present invention has been described in detail based on the preferred embodiments thereof, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments, and various forms without departing from the gist of the present invention are also included in the present invention. included. Furthermore, each embodiment mentioned above shows only one embodiment of this invention, and it is also possible to combine each embodiment suitably.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a digital camera has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and can be applied to any electronic device having an imaging unit. That is, the present invention can be applied to a digital video camera, a digital camera, or a personal computer, a PDA, a mobile phone terminal, a music player, a game machine, or the like equipped with a digital video camera.

  The present invention is also realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus reads the program code. It is a process to be executed. In this case, the program and the storage medium storing the program constitute the present invention.

Claims (17)

An electronic device including an imaging unit ,
An operation means for receiving an instruction from the user;
Discriminating means for discriminating a shooting scene based on an image captured by the imaging unit ;
A receiving means for receiving a help instruction for displaying a help screen;
When the operation mode when the help instruction is received by the reception unit is an operation mode using the determination result of the determination unit, the description related to the shooting scene determined by the determination unit is displayed as the help screen, Display control means for controlling to display an explanation related to the operation means as the help screen when the operation mode when the help instruction is received is an operation mode that does not use the determination result; Features electronic equipment.   The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit includes an operation member for performing shooting setting.   The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a setting unit configured to automatically perform shooting setting based on the determined shooting scene.   The electronic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the display control unit displays a description of the content of the shooting setting performed by the setting unit as the description related to the determined shooting scene.   The display control means displays an explanation of the details of the shooting setting performed by the setting means, and displays advice on how to hold the camera according to the determined shooting scene when a predetermined time has elapsed. The electronic device according to claim 4.   The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the description related to the determined shooting scene includes advice on how to hold the camera. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the reception unit receives the help instruction only while performing through display of an image captured by the imaging unit .   The apparatus further comprises means for displaying a warning that the through display is not performed or an advice for starting the through display when the help instruction is generated while the through display is not performed. The electronic device according to claim 7. The display control means, when displaying an explanation related to the determined shooting scene, sets the through display of the image captured by the imaging unit to a translucent state, and superimposes the through display and the help screen. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is displayed.   The display control unit fixes the shooting scene to be displayed for help display after displaying the description related to the determined shooting scene regardless of the determination result of the shooting scene by the determining unit. The electronic device of any one of Claims 1 thru | or 9.   The display control means changes the shooting scene when the determination result by the determination means changes while displaying the explanation related to the determined shooting scene, and the user instructs to update the help screen. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the help screen is switched to display related explanation.   The said display control means is further equipped with a notification means to notify a user that the determination result by the said determination means changed during the display of the description regarding the said imaging | photography scene. Electronics.   Among a plurality of shooting modes including at least a first shooting mode in which shooting settings are automatically set based on a determination result of the determination unit and a second shooting mode in which shooting settings are set based on a user operation It further has shooting mode setting means for setting to either
  The operation mode using the discrimination result of the discrimination means includes the first shooting mode,
  The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the operation mode that does not use the determination result includes the second shooting mode.   The display control means is included in the operation means as an explanation related to the operation means displayed on the help screen when the operation mode when the help instruction is received is an operation mode that does not use the determination result. The arrangement of each operation member and the function assigned to each operation member in the operation mode when the help screen is displayed are displayed. Electronics. An electronic device control method comprising an imaging means and an operation means for receiving an instruction from a user,
A step of determining a shooting scene based on an image captured by the imaging unit;
A step of accepting a help instruction for displaying a help screen;
In the case where the operation mode when the display control means accepts the help instruction in the accepting step is an operation mode that uses the discrimination result of the discriminating step, an explanation relating to the shooting scene discriminated in the discriminating step is given. Displaying the help screen, and controlling to display an explanation related to the operation means as the help screen when the operation mode when receiving the help instruction is an operation mode that does not use the determination result; And a method for controlling an electronic device. A program for a computer to function as each means of the electronic apparatus according to according to any one of claims 1 to 14. Computer, computer-readable storage medium which stores a program to function as the means of the electronic apparatus according to according to any one of claims 1 to 14.