JPH06303466A - Digital still camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To display various types of information in a easy operation by using a character generator circuit to display those information at a prescribed position of an electric viewfinder. CONSTITUTION:A character generator circuit 17 synthesizes the output of an analog signal processing part 16 with the output of a character generator. The output of the circuit 17 is supplied to an electric viewfinder EVF 18. A main CPU 20 receives the display information from a sub-CPU 28 and gives the corresponding character code to the circuit 17. Then the circuit 17 outputs a character pattern corresponding to the input character code and synthesizes this pattern with the analog image information to display them on the EVF 18. Thus any type of characters and symbols can be displayed as long as the relevant pattern can be acquired from the character generator.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital still camera, and more specifically to a date / time setting method in a digital still camera capable of recording the date and time and having a so-called auto date function, and a conventional silver salt film. Display of compression mode and memory remaining
Regarding improvement of display of card attribute information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional single-lens reflex camera or the like is often displayed on a liquid crystal display portion outside the camera. A multifunctional camera has a larger liquid crystal panel and a larger control circuit such as a CPU, resulting in cost reduction. Tends to be higher.

For example, a digital still camera having an auto date function is generally composed of an optical finder and has an EVF (electric view finder).
There are few that have a read image, not a transmission image, so that the read image is processed and displayed on a TV screen), and the date and time are set by a combination of a liquid crystal display and a switch.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a setting display example of the date. The figure shows a liquid crystal panel. In this panel, patterns necessary for display are embedded in advance in the form of segments, and only the necessary patterns are extracted from those patterns as necessary and displayed in black. In this liquid crystal panel, 1 is a time information display section,
It is displayed as 3 5 28. The liquid crystal panel is further composed of a number display section 2, a battery remaining quantity display section 3 and the like.

As shown in the figure, the year digit is blinked in order to prompt setting in the order of year / month / day. The user determines that the year is set because of the apostrophe, and the year 1993
Think of it as May 28, 2012. The user operates the up / down switch (not shown) to increase / decrease the digit of the year, and then the switch of the digit shift (not shown) starts blinking the digit of the month, and the user sets the month.

When the setting of the day is completed, the time information display section 1 changes to the hour / minute setting display as shown in FIG. 7, and the hour digit blinks. The user thinks that there is a colon to set the hour and minute. After that, when the setting of the minute digit is completed, it means that "year / month / day / hour / minute" can be set.

Further, as shown in the conventional liquid crystal display example of FIG. 8, a card picture or the like is required to indicate whether or not the memory card can be used depending on the type of the memory card used in the digital still camera. In the figure, from the left, three types of cards that are usable, protected, and unusable are selectively lit. When the remaining amount of the lithium battery in the card is insufficient, the round battery mark in the figure lights up.

Digital still cameras generally have an image compression function, and the compression rate is often variable. In this case, if the compression rate is changed, the number of remaining frames indicating how many more pictures can be taken changes. This also requires a display unit ("16" display in the figure) as shown in FIG.

[0009]

In the above-mentioned conventional liquid crystal panel display system, the number of liquid crystal display segments is large, and not only the liquid crystal is large, but also the number of segments such as a CPU to be driven is increased, resulting in an increase in cost. There was a problem. In addition, there is a problem that switch operation and display become complicated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a digital still camera capable of displaying various information by a simple operation.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention which solves the above-mentioned problems is, in a digital still camera having a built-in clock function and having an EVF as a finder capable of displaying the output of a character generator, an image read by a CCD and a character generator. It is characterized in that a character generator circuit for synthesizing the display by is provided so that various information can be displayed at a predetermined position of the EVF.

[0012]

In the digital still camera equipped with the EVF,
The output of the character generator can be combined and displayed at a predetermined position of the EVF. With such a configuration, a panel such as a liquid crystal display unit is not necessary, and the output of the character generator can be displayed. Therefore, the display information that has been insufficient in the past can be displayed in a complicated display such as alphabets and kanji. Therefore, various information can be displayed by a simple operation.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 10 is a lens, 11 is a lens drive unit that drives the lens 10, 12 is a diaphragm, and 13 is a diaphragm drive unit that drives the diaphragm 12. 14 is the aperture 1
C for converting optical image information input from 2 into an electric signal
It's a CD. Reference numeral 15 is a CCD drive circuit for driving the CCD 14 in addition to adjusting the shutter speed of the CCD 14.

Reference numeral 16 is an analog signal processing unit for receiving a picture information signal output from the CCD 14 and performing a predetermined signal processing. Reference numeral 17 is a character for synthesizing the output of the analog signal processing unit 16 and the output of the character generator for output. It is a generator circuit. 18 is an EVF (electric view finder). The output of the character generator circuit 17 is input to the EVF 18.

Reference numeral 19 is a timing generation circuit for generating various timing signals, and 20 is a main CPU for controlling the operation of the entire camera system. Reference numeral 21 is an A / D converter that converts the output of the analog signal processing unit 16 into digital data, and 22 is a compression circuit that receives the output of the A / D converter 21 and performs image compression processing. 23 is the compression circuit 2
An IC card interface for receiving the output 2 and a memory card 24 for storing the compressed image information.

Reference numeral 25 is a decompression circuit that receives the output of the IC card interface 23 and decompresses the compressed image information to restore the original image information signal. Reference numeral 26 is a frame memory that receives and stores the output of the decompression circuit 25. Reference numeral 27 is a frame memory. The frame memory 26
Is a D / A converter that receives the output of the above and converts it into an analog image signal. The output of the D / A converter 27 is input to an external television, printer or the like for display or printing, and is also input to the EVF 18.

The main CPU 20 has a lens driving section 1
1, diaphragm drive unit 13, character generator circuit 1
7, timing generation circuit 19, A / D converter, compression circuit 22, and IC card interface 23, and controls the operation of these components. The timing generation circuit 19 receives the control signal from the main CPU 20, generates various timing signals, and gives the timing signals to the CCD drive circuit 15 and the character generator circuit 17. Further, the memory card 24 gives a detection signal indicating that the card is inserted into the main CPU 20.

Reference numeral 28 is a sub CPU connected to the main CPU 20, and 29 is a switch input section connected to the sub CPU 28 for inputting various setting information. Reference numeral 30 denotes an LED display section driven by the control of the sub CPU 28, 31
Is a liquid crystal display section which is also driven by the control of the sub CPU 28. The operation of the apparatus configured as described above will be described below. (Image Storage Operation) Optical image information that enters through the lens 10 and the diaphragm 12 is incident on the CCD 14 and converted into an electrical signal. At this time, the speed of the CCD shutter is determined by the timing signal supplied from the timing generation circuit 19. At this time, the lens 10 is driven by the lens drive unit 11 controlled by the main CPU 20.
The drive of the diaphragm 12 is controlled by the diaphragm drive unit 13 controlled by the main CPU 20.

The analog image information signal taken in by the CCD 14 is subjected to necessary image processing (for example, amplitude adjustment) in the subsequent analog signal processing section 16. The output of the analog signal processing unit 16 is the character generator circuit 17
Is displayed on the EVF 18 via. On the other hand, the output of the analog signal processing unit 16 enters the subsequent A / D converter 21 and is converted into digital image information.

The image information converted into digital data can be subjected to image processing. The output of the A / D converter 21 enters the compression circuit 22. The compression circuit 22 compresses the output data of the A / D converter 21. The image data compressed by the compression circuit 22 is stored in the IC card interface 23.
Is written to and stored in the memory card 24 via.
In such a series of image storing operations, the main CPU
Reference numeral 20 controls the operations of the A / D converter 21, the compression circuit 22, and the IC card interface 23. Main CPU2
Since the detection signal indicating that the memory card 24 is inserted is input to 0, it is known that the memory card 24 is inserted, and the image data is written to the memory card 24. (Setting various information) Since the digital still camera shown in the figure has a clock function, it also has an automatic date function. In addition, the shutter speed and the like can be set. Such setting of various information is performed by input from the switch input unit 29. Sub CPU
Reference numeral 28 determines the content of the information input from the switch input unit 29, and displays it on the LED display unit 30 or the liquid crystal display unit 31. The contents not displayed on these display units are notified to the main CPU 20 and displayed on the EVF 18.

When the main CPU 20 receives the display information from the sub CPU 28, the character generator circuit 1
The character code corresponding to 7 is given. The character generator circuit 17 outputs a character pattern corresponding to the input character code, synthesizes it with analog image information,
It is displayed on the EVF 18. This device can display any character or symbol as long as it is a pattern that can be output by the character generator.

A display example of various information will be described below. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a display example of the EVF finder according to the present invention. Figure (a) is a display example of aperture priority, aperture F
2.8 is highlighted and the aperture is the switch input section 2
It is shown that selection is possible by operating the up switch and the down switch of No. 9. FIG. 6B shows the display when the shutter is prioritized, and 1/250 of the shutter value is displayed in reverse video, indicating that the shutter value can be selected at the same time.

FIG. 6C shows the aperture in the program mode.
Instead of selecting both shutters, the main CPU 20
Indicates that it cannot be selected because it is calculated and determined. Figures (d) and (e) show the display at the time of manual operation. In the manual operation, both aperture and shutter can be used, but in general, there is only one set of up / down switch for selection. Whether it can be selected is displayed in reverse characters. However, if it is not possible to distinguish between the aperture priority and the shutter priority, it is possible to further blink the reverse character to emphasize the manual mode.

As described above, in the digital still camera using the EVF 18 as a finder, since the EVF has a large display portion, the following operation can be further performed.

First, the setting of "year / month / day / hour / minute" will be described. When the user presses the date change switch of the switch input unit 29, as shown in FIG.
“Year / month / day / hour / minute” is displayed in item 8. Then, first, the digit of the year blinks as shown in FIG. 9A, prompting the user to change. When the year is adjusted by the up / down switch of the switch input unit 29, the shift switch of the switch input unit 29 is pressed. Then, the blinking shifts to the month digit, and the month digit is changed in the same manner. In this way, when the change of the minute digit is completed as shown in FIG. 7B, the shift switch is pressed again to end the date change. Then, after a few seconds, the main CPU 20 displays "year / year" in the EVF finder.
"Month / day / hour / minute" is erased and the original state is restored as shown in FIG.

Next, the display of the attribute information of the memory card that the user wants to know when a new memory card 24 is connected will be described. The memory card 24 includes an SRAM (static RAM) and an EEPROM (electrically rewritable PR).
In addition to the types such as OM), there are various information such as the presence / absence of write protection, the memory capacity, the remaining memory capacity, and the remaining capacity of the internal battery. It is impossible to display all this kind of information on the liquid crystal display unit 31 because the liquid crystal becomes large.

Therefore, when the memory card 24 is inserted,
If the above information can be displayed in the EVF finder, the above problem can be solved.
In particular, many character generators can display Hiragana, Katakana, etc. in addition to alphabetic characters and Chinese characters such as the above-mentioned "year / month / day / hour / minute". .

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of EVF display when a new memory card 24 is inserted. FIG. 7A shows an example in which a Kanji code is registered as ROM data in the character generator. Since Kanji characters are included, Kanji characters can be displayed as shown in the figure. In other words, if you input a kanji code from the main CPU 20,
The character generator circuit 17 outputs a kanji character corresponding to the input kanji code, and the EVF 18
To display.

The contents displayed are, from top to bottom, the card type, memory capacity, remaining memory, protect, number of remaining cards,
The battery capacity. The figure (b) has shown the case where it does not use Chinese characters but displays it in Katakana. The contents are the same as in FIG. These displays should be displayed only for a few seconds after the memory card 24 is inserted. The display shown in FIG. 4 disappears after a predetermined time has elapsed.

Based on these data, the user inserts a card with a memory capacity of 2 MB SRAM and a remaining capacity of 1 MB.
Since it is not protected, it is possible to know that the remaining 8 images can be recorded and the capacity of the lithium battery built in the card is sufficient. Displaying these contents on a liquid crystal as in the conventional case is quite difficult.

Next, the display operation of the remaining number of shootable images when changing the compression mode will be described. A digital still camera generally has a plurality of compression modes, and selects and uses a compression rate according to the application. For example, for images such as landscapes that place importance on image quality or important images, the compression rate is reduced so that the image quality is less deteriorated. On the other hand, increase the compression rate for images that are not important, such as memos, so that many images can be recorded.

The problem here is that when the compression rate is changed, the number of remaining shots at that compression rate changes. Therefore, it is necessary to inform the user of the remaining number of sheets used. However, in the conventional liquid crystal display, since the display space is limited, the remaining number is not shared by the user by sharing the remaining number with the segment of the exposure correction display as shown in FIG. Therefore, if the number of remaining frames is displayed together with the selected compression rate in the EVF 18 for several seconds when the compression rate is changed, the user can know the remaining number of shots and the selected compression mode in the viewfinder display. It is convenient.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display example of the compression mode and the remaining number of sheets. Figure (a) is a display example when the compression rate is small (fine mode with good image quality), and Figure (b) is a display example when the compression rate is large (economy mode with poor image quality).
In this case, each is displayed according to the operation of the compression rate selection switch in the switch input unit 29. That is, the main CPU 20 calculates the number of remaining frames according to the content of the compression ratio selection switch, and the result is calculated by the character generator circuit 1.
It will be displayed on the EVF 18 via 7. And
Such a display is performed only for a few seconds after changing the compression rate. After the specified display time has passed, the main CP
U20 erases the compression mode and the remaining frame number display shown in FIG. (Playback Operation of Recorded Image) When the memory card 24 is inserted into the camera, a detection signal enters the main CPU 20, and the main CPU 20 can know that the memory card 24 has been inserted. Next, when the user presses the reproduction switch from the switch input unit 29, this signal is notified to the main CPU 20 via the sub CPU 28. Main CPU 20
When receiving this reproduction start signal, the IC card gives an image data take-in signal to the IC card interface 23.

As a result, digital image data is read from the memory card 24. As it is, since it is compressed data, the decompression circuit 25 restores the original image signal. The image signal thus restored enters the frame memory 26. The content of the frame memory 26 is D
Converted to an analog signal by the A / A converter 27,
Given to 18. Therefore, the contents of the memory card 24 are reproduced and displayed on the EVF 18. Alternatively, it can be displayed on a television or the like, or can be printed by a printer, if necessary.

[0035]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, an EVF is used as a finder, and a digital still camera having a character generator for displaying a shutter value, an aperture, etc. is used for the date and time. In order to set the date and display the shooting information on the EVF, a large liquid crystal display unit and complicated operation were conventionally required to set the date and time. Information can be displayed with only the character generator circuit and a few switches.
In addition, the information on the display, which was insufficient with liquid crystal alone,
Since characters are displayed in F in alphabets, kana, kanji, etc., the user can obtain information necessary for shooting while looking through the viewfinder during shooting.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a digital still camera capable of displaying various information by a simple operation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a display example of an EVF finder according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display example of an EVF finder according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display example of memory card information.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display example of a compression mode and a remaining number.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a setting display example of year / month / day.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of setting display of hours and minutes.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a conventional liquid crystal display example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Lens 11 Lens Driving Section 12 Aperture 13 Aperture Driving Section 14 CCD 15 CCD Driving Circuit 16 Analog Signal Processing Section 17 Character Generator Circuit 18 EVF 19 Timing Generation Circuit 20 Main CPU 21 A / D Converter 22 Compression Circuit 23 IC Card Interface 24 Memory card 25 Expansion circuit 26 Frame memory 27 D / A converter 28 Sub CPU 29 Switch input section 30 LED display section 31 Liquid crystal display section

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. In a digital still camera having a built-in clock function and having an EVF as a finder capable of displaying the output of a character generator, a character generator circuit for synthesizing an image read by a CCD and a display by the character generator is provided, and various information is provided. A digital still camera characterized in that it can be displayed at a predetermined position on the EVF. 2. When a new memory card is inserted,
2. The digital still camera according to claim 1, wherein the contents of the memory card are read and the attribute information of the card is displayed on the EVF for a few seconds using the display by the character generator. 3. When the compression mode of the image to be stored in the memory card is changed, the type of the compression mode and the remaining amount of the memory are displayed by a character generator.
The digital still camera according to claim 1, wherein the digital still camera is adapted to display on a VF.