JP6976707B2 - Electronic devices and their control methods - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an electronic device and a control method thereof, and particularly to a technique of inputting a position in response to a touch operation.

In recent years, there is a method of moving the AF frame by touch operation. Patent Document 1 describes that when the touch position is moved while looking through the finder, the AF target frame is moved according to the amount of movement of the touch position. Further, there is a method of detecting the direction of the finger performing the touch operation on the touch panel. Patent Document 2 discloses that the size of the operating finger performing a touch operation on the touch panel and the direction of the operating finger are detected, and the coordinate position is corrected in the direction of the operating finger.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-203143 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-92988

In the method of Patent Document 1, since it is difficult to see the finger performing the touch operation while looking through the finder, when the touch position moves in a direction not intended by the user, the AF target frame is displayed at the unintended position. Therefore, even if the touch position is corrected to the direction of the operating finger as in Patent Document 2, if the touch position moves in a direction not intended by the user, the AF target frame moves according to the amount of movement. Therefore, the AF target frame moves in an unintended direction. Therefore, there is a possibility that the position where a predetermined process such as the display of the AF target frame is performed cannot be moved in the direction in line with the user's intention.

In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to enable the user to move the input position in a direction more in line with the intention.

In order to achieve the above object, the electronic device of the present invention includes a touch detecting means for detecting a touch operation on the touch panel and a second touch detecting means also in the first axial direction from the first position on the touch panel. When it is detected that the touch position has been moved to the second position, which is also the position moved in the axial direction of the above, the touch touch panel detected while touching the first position is touched. Alternatively, the first angle, which is the angle of the long axis of the adjacent region, and the second angle, which is the angle of the long axis of the region that touches or is close to the touch panel, which is detected while touching the second position. When the difference from the angle of is larger than a predetermined angle, the second axis is also in the first axial direction by the amount corresponding to the movement from the first position to the second position. The position to be input is also moved in the direction, and when the difference between the first angle and the second angle is smaller than the predetermined angle, the position is changed from the first position to the second position. of movement, minute movement component of the first axis direction; a first axis direction, characterized in that a control means for controlling to move the position to be input.

According to the present invention, it is possible to move the input position in a direction more in line with the user's intention.

(A), (b) External view of a digital camera as an example of an apparatus to which the configuration of the present embodiment can be applied. A block diagram showing a configuration example of a digital camera as an example of a device to which the configuration of the present embodiment can be applied. A diagram showing the state of a finger when performing a touch operation A flowchart showing the AF frame movement process in the present embodiment. The figure which shows the state of the touch operation in this embodiment, and the display example of an AF frame.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1A and 1B show external views of a digital camera as an embodiment of an image pickup control device to which the present invention can be applied. 1 (a) is a front perspective view of the digital camera 100, and FIG. 1 (b) is a rear perspective view of the digital camera 100. In FIGS. 1A and 1B, the display unit 28 is a display unit that displays images and various information. The shutter button 61 is an operation unit for giving a shooting instruction. The mode changeover switch 60 is an operation unit for switching various modes. The main electronic dial 71 is a rotation operation member, and by turning the main electronic dial 71, setting values such as a shutter speed and an aperture can be changed. The power switch 72 is an operating member that switches the power of the digital camera 100 on and off. The sub-electronic dial 73 is a rotation operation member that moves a selection frame, feeds an image, and the like. The cross key 74 is a four-way key that can be pushed up, down, left, and right. The operation according to the pressed portion of the cross key 74 is possible. The SET button 75 is a push button mainly used for determining a selection item or the like. The shutter button 61, the main electronic dial 71, the power switch 72, the sub electronic dial 73, the cross key 74, and the SET button 75 are included in the operation unit 70. The quick return mirror 12 is instructed by the system control unit 50 and is moved up and down by an actuator (not shown). The communication terminal 10 is a communication terminal for the digital camera 100 to communicate with the lens side (detachable). The finder 16 is a peep-type finder for confirming the focus and composition of the optical image of the subject obtained through the lens unit 150 by observing the focusing screen 13 described later. Further, the display unit 76 in the finder can be visually recognized via the finder 16, and the object can be approached to the finder 16 by the eyepiece detection sensor 77. The grip portion 90 is a holding portion having a shape that makes it easy for the user to hold the digital camera 100 with his / her right hand.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the digital camera 100 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 2, the lens unit 150 is a lens unit equipped with an interchangeable photographing lens.

The lens 103 is usually composed of a plurality of lenses, but here, only one lens is shown for brevity. The lens unit 150 communicates with the system control unit 50 via the communication terminal, controls the aperture 102 via the aperture drive circuit 2 by the internal lens system control circuit 4, and controls the aperture 102 via the AF drive circuit 3. Focus by shifting the position of.

The AE sensor 17 measures the brightness of the subject imaged on the focusing screen 13 through the lens unit 150 and the quick return mirror 12.

The focus detection unit 11 (AF sensor) is a phase difference detection type AF sensor that captures an image incident through the quick return mirror 12 and the sub mirror 120 and outputs defocus amount information to the system control unit 50. The system control unit 50 controls the lens unit 150 based on the defocus amount information, and performs phase difference AF.

The quick return mirror 12 (hereinafter referred to as the mirror 12) is instructed by the system control unit 50 at the time of exposure, live view shooting, and moving image shooting, and is moved up and down by an actuator (not shown). The mirror 12 is a mirror for switching the luminous flux incident from the lens 103 between the finder 16 side and the image pickup unit 22 side. Normally, the mirror 12 is arranged so as to guide the light flux to the finder 16, but when shooting is performed or in the case of live view display, the mirror 12 is upward so as to guide the light flux to the image pickup unit 22. Escape from the jumping luminous flux (mirror lockup). Further, the mirror 12 is a half mirror so that the central portion thereof can transmit a part of the light, and a part of the light flux is transmitted so as to be incident on the focus detection unit 11 for performing the focus detection. The AF method does not have to be phase-difference AF, and may be contrast AF. Further, the movement difference AF may be performed based on the defocus amount detected on the image pickup surface of the image pickup unit 22 without using the focus detection unit 11 (imaging surface phase difference AF).

By observing the image formed on the focusing screen 13 via the pentaprism 14 and the finder 16, the photographer can confirm the focal state and composition of the optical image of the subject obtained through the lens unit 150. .. The display unit 76 in the finder is a display unit that can be visually recognized via the finder 16, and can visually recognize items, AF frames, and set values related to shooting by superimposing the optical image of the subject on the focusing screen 13. The finder 16 may be an electronic viewfinder instead of an optical viewfinder, and in the case of the electronic viewfinder, the live view image can be visually recognized in the same manner as the display unit 28.

The shutter 101 is for controlling the exposure time of the imaging unit 22 under the control of the system control unit 50.

The image pickup unit 22 is an image pickup device composed of a CCD, a CMOS element, or the like that converts an optical image into an electric signal. The A / D converter 23 converts an analog signal into a digital signal. The A / D converter 23 is used to convert an analog signal output from the image pickup unit 22 into a digital signal.

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. Further, in the image processing unit 24, a predetermined calculation process is performed using the captured image data, and the system control unit 50 performs exposure control and distance measurement control based on the obtained calculation result. As a result, TTL (through-the-lens) AF (autofocus) processing, AE (automatic exposure) processing, and EF (flash pre-flash) processing are performed. Further, the image processing unit 24 performs a predetermined calculation process using the captured image data, and also performs a TTL method AWB (auto white balance) process based on the obtained calculation result.

The A / D converter 23 converts an analog signal converted into an electric signal by the image sensor 20 into a digital signal. The output data from the A / D converter 23 is written directly to 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 image pickup 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, moving images for a predetermined time, and audio.

The display unit 28 is a rear monitor for displaying an image, and is provided on the back surface of the digital camera 100 as shown in FIG. 1 (b). The display as long as it displays an image is not limited to the liquid crystal display, and may be another display such as an organic EL.

The non-volatile memory 56 is a memory that can be electrically erased and recorded by the system control unit 50, and for example, EEPROM or the like is used. The non-volatile memory 56 stores constants, programs, and the like for the operation of the system control unit 50. The program referred to here is a program for executing various flowcharts described later in this embodiment.

The system control unit 50 incorporates at least one processor and 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 described later is realized. The system memory 52 expands constants, variables, programs read from the non-volatile memory 56, and the like for the operation of the system control unit 50, and the RAM is used. The system control unit 50 also controls the display by controlling the memory 32, the D / A converter 19, the display unit 28, the display unit 76 in the finder, and the like. Further, the eyepiece detection sensor 77 can detect the approach of an object to the finder, for example, detecting that the user approaches the finder 16 in an attempt to look into the finder, that is, whether or not the user is looking into the finder 16. Can be done. Further, even if the eyepiece detection sensor 77 is not provided (in addition to the determination of the eyepiece detection sensor 77), the user may manually switch the display destination.

The mode changeover switch 60, the shutter button 61, and the operation unit 70 are operation means for inputting various operation instructions to the system control unit 50. The mode changeover switch 60 switches the operation mode of the system control unit 50 to any one of a still image recording mode, a moving image shooting mode, a playback mode, and the like.

The first shutter switch 62 is turned on by a so-called half-pressing (shooting preparation instruction) during the operation of the shutter button 61 provided on the digital camera 100, and the first shutter switch signal SW1 is generated. The first shutter switch signal SW1 starts operations such as AF (autofocus) processing, AE (autoexposure) processing, AWB (auto white balance) processing, and EF (flash pre-flash) processing. The second shutter switch 64 is turned on when the operation of the shutter button 61 is completed, that is, when the shutter button 61 is fully pressed (shooting instruction), and the second shutter switch signal SW2 is generated. The system control unit 50 starts a series of shooting processes from reading the signal from the image pickup unit 22 to writing the image data to the recording medium 200 by the second shutter switch signal SW2.

Each operation member of the operation unit 70 is assigned a function as appropriate for each scene by selecting and operating various function icons displayed on the display unit 28, and acts as various function buttons. Examples of the function button include an end button, a back button, an image feed button, a jump button, a narrowing down button, an attribute change button, and the like. For example, when the menu button is pressed, various configurable menu screens are displayed on the display unit 28. The user can intuitively make various settings by using the menu screen displayed on the display unit 28 and the up / down / left / right four-direction buttons and the SET button.

The power supply control unit 80 includes a battery detection circuit, a DC-DC converter, a switch circuit for switching 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 supply control unit 80 controls the DC-DC converter based on the detection result and the instruction of the system control unit 50, and supplies a necessary voltage to each unit including the recording medium 200 for a necessary period. The power switch 72 switches between turning on and off the power of the digital camera 100.

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 / F18 is an interface with a 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 is composed of a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, or the like.

As one of the operation units 70, there is a touch panel 70a capable of detecting contact with the display unit 28 (touch detection). The touch panel 70a and the display unit 28 can be integrally configured. For example, the touch panel 70a is configured so that the light transmittance does not interfere with the display of the display unit 28, and is attached to the upper layer of the display surface of the display unit 28. Then, the input coordinates on the touch panel and the display coordinates on the display unit 28 are associated with each other. This makes it possible to configure a GUI (graphical user interface) as if the user can directly operate the screen displayed on the display unit 28. The system control unit 50 can detect the following operations or states on the touch panel 70a.

-A finger or pen that was not touching the touch panel has newly touched the touch panel. That is, the start of touch (hereinafter referred to as touch-down).
-The touch panel is in a state of being touched with a finger or a pen (hereinafter referred to as touch-on).
-Move while touching the touch panel with a finger or pen (hereinafter referred to as Touch-Move).
-You have released your finger or pen that was touching the touch panel. That is, the end of the touch (hereinafter referred to as touch-up (Touch-Up)).
-A state in which nothing is touched on the touch panel (hereinafter referred to as touch-off).

When touchdown is detected, it is also detected that it is touch-on. After touchdown, touch-on usually continues to be detected unless touch-up is detected. Touch move is also detected when touch on is detected. Even if the touch-on is detected, the touch move is not detected unless the touch position is moved. After it is detected that all the fingers and pens that have been touched are touched up, the touch is turned off.

These operations / states and the position coordinates that the finger or pen is touching on the touch panel are notified to the system control unit 50 through the internal bus, and the system control unit 50 what kind of information is on the touch panel based on the notified information. Determine if the operation was performed. Regarding the touch move, the moving direction of the finger or pen moving on the touch panel can also be determined for each vertical component and horizontal component on the touch panel based on the change in the position coordinates. It is also assumed that a stroke is drawn when the touch panel is touched up from a touchdown through a certain touch move. The operation of drawing a stroke quickly is called flicking. Flicking is an operation in which a finger is quickly moved on the touch panel by a certain distance while being touched, and then released as it is. In other words, it is an operation in which the touch panel is swiftly traced as if the finger is flicked. It can be determined that the flick has been performed when it is detected that the touch move is performed at a predetermined speed or more over a predetermined distance and the touch-up is detected as it is. In addition, if it is detected that the touch move is performed at a speed equal to or longer than a predetermined distance, it is determined that the drag has been performed. As the touch panel, any of various touch panels such as a resistance film method, a capacitance method, a surface acoustic wave method, an infrared method, an electromagnetic induction method, an image recognition method, and an optical sensor method may be used. .. Depending on the method, there are a method of detecting that there is a touch due to contact with the touch panel and a method of detecting that there is a touch due to the approach of a finger or a pen to the touch panel, but any method may be used.

Further, the touch panel 70a can also detect the proximity of the finger and the touched region (contact and proximity region) when the touch operation is performed. In other words, by detecting the area where the change in capacitance is equal to or greater than the threshold value (including the touched point) even if the finger is not actually touched, which finger is touching the touch panel 70a? You can see if it is inserted from the direction. For example, since the region of the touch panel 70a of an object within a predetermined distance such as within 3 cm or 5 cm in the vertical direction of the touch panel 70a plane is detected, the shape of the finger can be known. 3A and 3B are diagrams for explaining the input angle of the finger touched on the touch panel 70a (the angle of the long axis of the proximity region with respect to the Y-axis direction of the touch panel 70a). In FIGS. 3A and 3B, the origin is the upper left of the touch panel 70a. As shown in FIG. 3A, it is assumed that the user is actually touching the touch panel 70a (Xn, Yn), and at this time, a finger is inputting to the touch panel 70a from the lower right of the touch panel 70a. Let α be the angle with respect to the touch surface vertical axis 301 (Y axis).

FIG. 3B shows an example of how to move the touch position when the user tries to move the touch position in parallel with the X axis. Finger input at the start of touch when the touch position is moved from the position where the touch started (X0, Y0) to the position (X (n + 1), Y (n + 1)) while holding the digital camera 100. The angle is α0, and the input angle of the finger after movement is α (n + 1). Even if the user intends to move the touch position in parallel with the X-axis direction, since the touch operation is actually performed while holding the grip portion 90, there is a high possibility that the touch position will move slightly in the Y-axis direction. For example, in order to start the touch with the finger extended at the start position and move the touch position in the positive direction of the X axis while holding the grip portion 90, the touch point must gradually bend the finger. be. Since the touch operation is performed while holding the grip portion 90, the position of the base position 302 of the finger to perform the touch operation does not move significantly, so the position close to the base position 302 must be touched by bending the finger. This is because it does not become. In particular, when the user is operating while looking into the finder 16, the operation is performed without looking at the finger, so move the touch position parallel to the X axis and bend the finger little by little to operate. There is a high possibility that the amount of bending is not enough and the finger is actually moving in the Y-axis direction. That is, in reality, as shown in FIG. 3C, even if the touch position cannot be moved in parallel with the X-axis unless the finger is initially extended, the finger is gradually bent, and the finger is raised with respect to the touch panel 70a. There is a high possibility that you will only have to bend your finger a little as shown in FIG. 3 (b). In addition, since the operation is performed while looking into the finder 16, the space between the looking face and the touch panel 70a is narrow, and there is a possibility that there is no space for raising a finger or bending it greatly so as to approach the touch panel 70a vertically. expensive. FIG. 3D is a side view of the touch panel 70a on the upper surface side of the digital camera 100, and shows a state in which the user is performing a touch operation while looking into the finder 16. Since the user is trying to move the standing position in parallel with the X-axis direction, it is highly possible that the user is moving the touch position without significantly changing the input angle of the finger. For example, when trying to move the touch position smoothly, it is highly possible that the touch position is changed while changing the input angle, so that the input angle is likely to change significantly. That is, even if the touch position moves slightly in the Y-axis direction in FIG. 3B, if the finger input angles α0 and αn + 1 are within a predetermined range, the user touches in the X-axis direction. I tried to move the position, but it is highly possible that it also moved in the Y-axis direction.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the movement process of the AF frame in the present embodiment. This process is realized by expanding the program recorded in the non-volatile memory 56 to the system memory 52 and executing the program by the system control unit 50. This process starts when the digital camera 100 is turned on and can be displayed on the display unit 28 and the display unit 76 in the finder.

In S401, the system control unit 50 displays a live view image (LV image) on the display unit 28 outside the finder 16.

In S402, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the eyepiece detection sensor 77 has detected the approach of the object to the finder 16. If it is determined that the eyepiece detection sensor 77 has detected the approach of an object to the finder 16 (that is, whether or not the user is looking into the finder 16), the process proceeds to S403, and if not, the process proceeds to S415.

In S403, the system control unit 50 hides the display of the display unit 28 and displays it on the display unit 76 in the finder in the finder 16. When the finder 16 is an optical finder, the mirror 12 is raised and the captured image acquired by the image pickup unit 22 is displayed on the display unit 28. Make it visible through. When the finder 16 is an electronic view finder, the display destination of the live view image is switched from the display unit 28 to the display unit 76 in the finder. In S403, the AF frame may be displayed at an initial position such as the center or the position of the subject. In the present embodiment, the AF frame can be moved by performing a touch operation on the touch panel 70a outside the finder 16 while looking into the finder 16. Further, the AF frame can be moved to the touch position by directly operating the touch panel 70a while looking at the LV image displayed on the display unit 28 without looking into the finder 16.

In S404, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not a touch operation to the touch panel 70a is detected. If it is determined that the touch operation to the touch panel 70a is detected, the process proceeds to S405, and if not, the process proceeds to S421.

In S405, the system control unit 50 acquires the touch position (coordinates of the touch start position) when the start of the touch operation is detected in S404. The coordinates of the touch start position are recorded in the system memory 52 as (X0, Y0).

In S406, the system control unit 50 acquires the input angle of the finger when the start of the touch operation is detected in S404 from the touch panel 70a. The input angle of the finger at the start of touch is recorded in the system memory 52 as α0.

In S407, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the movement of the touch position is detected (whether or not the touch move is performed). If it is determined that the movement of the touch position is detected, the process proceeds to S408, and if not, the process proceeds to S414.

In S408, the system control unit 50 acquires the touch position after being determined to be Yes in S407 and moved. When it is detected in S404 that the touch operation has moved from the started position, the coordinates of the touch position are set to (Xn, Yn). Further, when the touch operation is started, the movement is performed, and then the movement is further performed, the coordinates of the touch position are set to (X (n + 1), Y (n + 1)), and the coordinates of the touch position before the determination of S407 are set. It is recorded in the system memory 52 as (Xn, Yn).

In S409, the system control unit 50 acquires the input angle of the finger at the touch position after moving. When it is detected in S404 that the finger has moved from the position where the touch operation is started, the input angle of the finger is set to αn. Further, when the finger is moved further after the touch operation is started, the input angle of the finger is set to α (n + 1), and the input angle of the finger before the determination of S407 is set to αn in the system memory 52. Record.

In S410, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the moving distance of the touch position is equal to or longer than a predetermined distance. The predetermined distance is, for example, a short length such as 1/10 or 1/15 of the total length of the touch panel 70a in the X-axis direction. If it is determined that the moving distance of the touch position is equal to or longer than a predetermined distance, the process proceeds to S411, and if not, the process proceeds to S413.

In S411, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the difference (α (n + 1) − α0) between the input angles of the fingers after the movement of the touch position and the start position of the touch operation is smaller than the predetermined angle. That is, it is determined whether or not the input angle of the finger after the movement of the touch position changes only within a range smaller than the predetermined angle in view of the input angle of the finger at the start position of the touch operation. If it is determined that the difference between the input angles of the fingers is smaller than the predetermined angle, the process proceeds to S412, and if not, the process proceeds to S413. The predetermined angle is, for example, 5 degrees or 10 degrees. In addition to the determination based on the input angle, the determination of S411 may be determined based on whether or not the difference in length between the major axis and the minor axis in the proximity region of the touch panel 70a is shortened. That is, as described later with reference to FIGS. 5 (c) and 5 (d), the finger touched in response to the movement in the X-axis direction gradually bends in the direction perpendicular to the touch panel 70a (sleeping state). Become standing from). Therefore, the detected proximity region changes from a long state to the long axis at the start of the touch operation (a state in which the finger is extended and sleeping). Since the proximity region after the touch is moved with the finger raised, the region detected as the proximity region becomes smaller, the relationship between the major axis and the minor axis changes, and the length of the major axis with respect to the minor axis also becomes smaller. If the difference between the value of the long axis with respect to the short axis at the start of the touch operation and the value of the long axis with respect to the short axis after touch movement is larger than the predetermined value (the length of the long axis becomes shorter than the specified value). Since the finger is in a standing state from a sleeping state), S411 is determined to be Yes.

In S412, the system control unit 50 moves the AF frame by the movement component (X (n + 1) -Xn) in the X-axis direction. FIGS. 5A to 5E show an example of the movement of the touch position on the touch panel 70a and the movement of the corresponding AF frame. FIG. 5A shows a case where Yes is determined in S411, that is, the moving distance of the touch position is equal to or more than a predetermined angle, and the difference in the input angle of the finger is smaller than the predetermined angle. FIG. 5B shows how the AF frame moves when the finger to be touched is moved as shown in FIG. 5A. In FIG. 5B, when the AF frame before the movement of the touch position is at the position 501, the distance corresponding to (X (n + 1) -Xn), the distance p in the display unit 76 in the finder, originally. The AF frame moves from the displayed position to the position 502. That is, the AF position moves according to the movement of the touch position, and the focus is on a different position.

In S413, the system control unit 50 moves the AF frame in both the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction by the amount corresponding to the movement of the touch position, that is, when the touch position moves in both the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. do. FIG. 5C shows a case where Yes is determined in S411, that is, the moving distance of the touch position is equal to or greater than a predetermined angle, and the difference in the input angle of the finger is larger than the predetermined angle. FIG. 5D shows how the AF frame moves when the finger to be touched is moved as shown in FIG. 5C. In FIG. 5B, when the position of the AF frame before moving the touch position is 503, the distance corresponding to (X (n + 1) -Xn, Y (n + 1) -Yn), the display unit 76 in the finder. The AF frame moves from the originally displayed position to the position 504 by the distance (q, r) in.

In S414, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the touch is released from the touch panel 70a. If it is determined that the touch is released (touch-up), the process proceeds to S402, and if not, the process proceeds to S407.

In S415, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not a touch operation to the touch panel 70a is detected, as in S404. If it is determined that the touch operation to the touch panel 70a is detected, the process proceeds to S416, and if not, the process proceeds to S421.

In S416, the system control unit 50 acquires the touch position (coordinates of the touch start position) when the start of the touch operation is detected in S415, similarly to S405. The coordinates of the touch start position are recorded in the system memory 52 as (X0, Y0).

In S417, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the movement of the touch position is detected (whether or not the touch move is performed). If it is determined that the movement of the touch position is detected, the process proceeds to S418, and if not, the process proceeds to S419.

In S418, the system control unit 50 acquires the touch position after it is determined to be Yes in S417 and moves, and records it in the system memory 52, as in S408.

In S419, the system control unit 50 displays the AF frame on the coordinates of the touch position acquired in S418 in the display unit 28, or the coordinates of the start position of the touch operation acquired in S416 when the touch position has not moved. do. In FIG. 5 (e), when the display unit user is not looking into the finder 16, the user is operating the touch panel 70a while looking at the display (LV image) of the display unit 28, so that the touch panel is in the touch position. Make the AF frame displayed.

In S420, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not the touch is released from the touch panel 70a. If it is determined that the touch has been released (touch-up), the process proceeds to S402, and if not, the process proceeds to S415.

In S421, the system control unit 50 determines whether or not a shooting instruction has been given. The shooting instruction can be given by pressing the shutter button 61. Alternatively, the shooting instruction may be accepted by touch operation. If it is determined that the shooting instruction has been given, the process proceeds to S422, and if not, the process proceeds to S423.

In S422, the system control unit 50 shoots at the AF position set in S412, S413, and S419. The AF process may be executed according to the movement of the AF frame of S412, S413, and S419, or may be performed at the time of shooting (in response to a shooting preparation instruction such as half-pressing the shutter button 61).

According to the above-described embodiment, when the touch position is moved to give an instruction, the user can input more intentionally. When the touch operation is performed while looking into the finder 16, it is determined whether the user is trying to move the finger in parallel or diagonally by observing the change in the input angle of the user's touch. This reduces the possibility that the AF frame will move diagonally even though the user intends to operate straight in the X-axis direction.

It should be noted that the determination as to whether or not the touch position has moved may be performed at predetermined time intervals, or may be performed according to the fact that the touch position has stopped moving for a predetermined time or longer after the touch position has moved. Further, when the touch-up is performed, it may be determined whether or not the touch position has moved from the touch start position.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, it has been described that only the component in the X-axis direction is used for the AF frame movement among the moving directions of the touch position, but the present invention is not limited to this, and is applied in the Y-axis direction and other predetermined directions. You may.

Further, when the input angle of the finger is smaller than the predetermined angle, only the movement component having the larger movement amount in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction may be used for the movement of the AF frame.

There are relative coordinate input and absolute coordinate input as a method of instructing the position by touch operation to the touch panel 70a. The method of designating the position corresponding to the touch position on the touch panel 70a (same as S419) regardless of the position specified immediately before is called absolute coordinate input. Further, the method of designating the moved position by the amount corresponding to the movement amount of the touch position on the touch panel 70a from the position designated immediately before (S412, S413) is called relative coordinate input. In the relative coordinate input, if the moving direction of the touch position is different from the direction intended by the user, the instructed position also moves in the direction different from the direction intended by the user. Therefore, regardless of whether the user is looking into the finder 16, if the input angle of the finger is smaller than the predetermined angle, the designated position may be moved to only one axial direction. On the other hand, when the absolute coordinates are input and the touch panel 70a superimposed on the display unit 28 is touched, the operation is performed while looking at the finger operated by the user and, for example, the AF frame, so that the intention is It is unlikely that the AF frame will move in the wrong direction. Although it is an absolute coordinate input, when the user is performing a touch operation while looking into the finder 16, the designated position may be controlled by the input angle of the finger.

In addition, even in the case of absolute coordinate input, it can be applied to the case of switching between moving in only one direction of the X-axis and Y-axis and moving in both directions when moving the enlarged display area. Is. If the change in the finger input angle is small, for example, the enlarged display area is moved only in the X-axis direction, and if the change in the finger input angle is large, the enlarged display area is moved in both the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. To move.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the display position of the AF frame has been described as an example, but the description is not limited to this, and it is applied in the selection of the position for AE (automatic exposure) processing, the selection of the enlarged position, and the selection of the setting value of the setting item. You may. That is, it can be applied not only to the movement of the display of items and characters, but also to the movement of the position (change of the setting) such as the movement of the set value and the display area. That is, the above-described embodiment can be applied as long as the input position is moved.

Further, it has a detection unit (not shown) for detecting that the user is holding the grip portion 90, and when it is determined that the user is holding the grip, the finger at the start of touch and after the movement of the touch position is performed. Processing may be performed according to a change in the input angle.

When detecting the input angle of the finger, the angle of the region close to the touch panel 70a near the point in contact with the touch panel 70a may be detected (or controlled according to the angle). As a result, the user can perform the operation intended by the user more accurately without being controlled according to the angle detected by the face close to the touch panel 70a while looking into the finder 16.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, it has been described that the AF frame moves in the X-axis direction only by the amount corresponding to the movement amount in the X-axis direction (or the Y-axis direction) out of the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. The AF frame may be moved according to the actual amount of movement. That is, if the input angle of the finger does not change between the start and the end of the touch operation when moving in the a and Y-axis directions in the X-axis direction, the touch is not performed in the X-axis direction. It may be moved in the X-axis direction (longer than a) by the amount of movement of the position. Further, although it has been explained that the touch input angle is the angle in the major axis direction of the region close to the touch with respect to the Y axis of the touch panel 70a, the angle of the major axis with respect to the X axis may be used, or the angle of the minor axis with respect to the Y axis. However, it suffices to know the change in the insertion angle of the finger performing the touch operation.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned various controls described as those performed by the system control unit 50 may be performed by one hardware, or the entire device may be controlled by sharing the processing by a plurality of hardware. ..

Further, although the present invention has been described in detail based on the preferred embodiment thereof, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments, and various embodiments within the range not deviating from the gist of the present invention are also included in the present invention. included. Further, each of the above-described embodiments is merely an embodiment of the present invention, and each embodiment can be appropriately combined.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the digital camera 100 has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this example, and the position is specified or the display position of the item is controlled by a touch operation. It is applicable to any electronic device that can be used. That is, the present invention can be applied to a mobile phone terminal, a portable image viewer, a printer device equipped with a finder, a digital photo frame, a music player, a game machine, an electronic book reader, and the like.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention is also realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment is supplied to the system or device via a network or various recording media, and the computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or device reads the program code. This is the process to be executed. In this case, the program and the recording medium in which the program is stored constitutes the present invention.

Claims (15)

Touch detection means to detect touch operation on the touch panel,
When the touch detecting means detects that the touch position has been moved to a second position, which is a position moved from the first position on the touch panel in both the first axial direction and the second axial direction. To,
When the first angle, which is the angle of the long axis of the region in contact with or close to the touch panel detected when touching the first position, and the second position are touched. When the difference from the second angle, which is the angle of the long axis of the region in contact with or close to the detected touch panel, is larger than a predetermined angle, the first position is changed to the second position. The position to be input is moved in both the first axial direction and the second axial direction by the amount corresponding to the movement of.
When the difference between the first angle and the second angle is smaller than the predetermined angle, the first axis of the movement from the first position to the second position. minute movement component in a direction, the a first axis direction, electronic apparatus, characterized in that a control means for controlling to move the position to be input. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the angle of the long axis of the region in contact with or close to the touch panel is an angle with respect to the second axial direction in the region in contact with or close to the touch panel. Claim 1 is characterized in that the area in contact with or in close proximity to the touch panel is an area within a predetermined distance in the vertical direction from the plane of the touch panel among the operating means performing a touch operation on the touch panel. Or the electronic device according to 2. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the control means is controlled so as to display an item indicating an input position in response to the touch operation. When the item is displayed on the first display unit provided integrally with the touch panel, the control means has a difference between the first angle and the second angle smaller than the predetermined angle. The electronic device according to claim 4 , wherein the electronic device is controlled so as to move an input position in both the first axial direction and the second axial direction even if it is an angle. When the item is displayed on a second display unit different from the touch panel, the control means has a difference between the first angle and the second angle larger than the predetermined angle. In some cases, the input position is moved in both the first axial direction and the second axial direction by the amount corresponding to the movement from the first position to the second position.
When the difference between the first angle and the second angle is smaller than the predetermined angle, the first axis of the movement from the first position to the second position. in a square direction, the electronic device according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that moving the position to be input. The electronic device according to claim 6 , wherein the second display unit is a display unit in the finder that can be visually recognized via the finder. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 , wherein the position input in response to the touch operation is a position where AF processing is performed. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 , wherein the touch operation to the touch panel can be operated by a hand holding the grip portion of the electronic device. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 9 , wherein the first axial direction is the X-axis direction, and the second axial direction is the Y-axis direction. Touch detection means to detect touch operation on the touch panel,
When the touch detecting means detects that the touch position has been moved to a second position, which is a position moved from the first position on the touch panel in both the first axial direction and the second axial direction. To,
At the first value indicating the length of the long axis with respect to the length of the short axis of the region in contact with or close to the touch panel detected while touching the first position, and at the second position. When the difference from the second value indicating the length of the long axis with respect to the length of the short axis of the area in contact with or close to the touch panel detected during touching is not larger than a predetermined value. The position to be input is moved in both the first axial direction and the second axial direction by the amount corresponding to the movement from the first position to the second position.
When the difference between the first value and the second value is larger than the predetermined value, the first of the movements from the first position to the second position. An electronic device comprising a control means for controlling to move an input position in either one of the axial direction and the second axial direction. A touch detection step that detects a touch operation on the touch panel,
When it is detected that the touch position has been moved to the second position, which is the position moved from the first position on the touch panel in the first axial direction and the second axial direction in the touch detection step. To,
When the first angle, which is the angle of the long axis of the region in contact with or close to the touch panel detected when touching the first position, and the second position are touched. When the difference from the second angle, which is the angle of the long axis of the region in contact with or close to the detected touch panel, is larger than a predetermined angle, the first position is changed to the second position. The position to be input is moved in both the first axial direction and the second axial direction by the amount corresponding to the movement of.
When the difference between the first angle and the second angle is smaller than the predetermined angle, the first axis of the movement from the first position to the second position. minute movement component in a direction, the a first axis direction, control method of an electronic device, characterized by a control step for controlling to move the position to be input. A touch detection step that detects a touch operation on the touch panel,
When it is detected that the touch position has been moved to the second position, which is the position moved from the first position on the touch panel in the first axial direction and the second axial direction in the touch detection step. To,
At the first value indicating the length of the long axis with respect to the length of the short axis of the region in contact with or close to the touch panel detected while touching the first position, and at the second position. When the difference from the second value indicating the length of the long axis with respect to the length of the short axis of the area in contact with or close to the touch panel detected during touching is not larger than a predetermined value. The position to be input is moved in both the first axial direction and the second axial direction by the amount corresponding to the movement from the first position to the second position.
When the difference between the first value and the second value is larger than the predetermined value, the first of the movements from the first position to the second position. A method for controlling an electronic device, which comprises a control step for controlling to move an input position in either one of the axial direction and the second axial direction. A program for making a computer function as each means of the electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 11. A computer-readable recording medium containing a program for causing the computer to function as each means of the electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

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