JPH0756228A - Information display of camera and display method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To enable a user to grasp all the functions in a photographing preparation state at a glance and to discriminate a selected function mode and a non- selected function mode. CONSTITUTION: A switch part includes a power source switch for supplying power to the camera, and a function switch for selecting the function of the camera. An information display part consisting of the liquid crystal display panel of the camera includes a flash function display part 41, a photographing function display part 43, and a focusing and photographing function display part 42, which are respectively provided with plural function modes. When the power source switch or the function switch is operated, all the function modes are displayed. Simultaneously, specified 1st function modes 411, 421 and 431 are initialized, and inverted-displayed to be distinguished from other modes. When a user operates the function switch in such a state, the function mode is successively selected and the display is changed to be distinguished from others in accordance with the successive selection.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information display device for a camera and a control method thereof, and more particularly, when a function switch of a camera is operated, a general function display state of a function mode corresponding to the switch is displayed. Information about the camera that allows the user to easily recognize and select the function provided to the camera by, for example, highlighting it so that the display state when the function is selected can be distinguished. The present invention relates to a display device and a control method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recent cameras are becoming smaller and more multifunctional. In such multi-functionalization, for example, as flash photography functions, automatic flash function, red-eye reduction function, backlight compensation function, unconditional For example, there is a forced flash function that fires the flash. In addition, as a general shooting function, a continuous shooting function for enabling continuous shooting, and a step zoom (step zoom) in which the zooming of the lens system is divided into continuous sections for shooting
om) There is a shooting function, a portrait shooting function mainly for people, and the like. In a camera having such various functions, the functions are generally displayed to the user through an information display unit including a liquid crystal display panel.

Conventionally, when a user presses a function switch in order to set various function modes including various functions, the function corresponding to the function switch is sequentially displayed to the user through a liquid crystal display device. When the function switch is turned off when the desired function mode is selected,
The function mode is set, and shooting can be performed according to the function.

However, since the conventional information display device for a camera displays only the function selected by the user among the functions of the camera, it is not easy for the user to understand all the functions of the camera. On the other hand, when trying to select the operation function of the camera according to a special situation, it is necessary to confirm while pressing all the function switches or to search and read the manual, which is a disadvantage of missing an opportunity for shooting.

In order to solve the above-mentioned disadvantages, an invention in which all photographing functions or flash functions of a camera are sequentially displayed when a power switch of the camera is turned on is disclosed in Korean Patent Application No. 92. -2333
No. 2 (filed on Dec. 4, 1992) “Camera operating function display device and its realization method”.
However, the above technique requires time to sequentially display all the functions of the camera after the power switch is activated, and thus not only has the disadvantage of missing a momentary shooting opportunity, but also the function of each function. The disadvantage is that you have to check again to see each feature when using.

[0006]

Therefore, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the object of the present invention is to assign all the function modes of the camera or selected function switches to the information display section in the ready-to-shoot state. While displaying multiple function modes, it is possible to promptly inform the user by distinguishing the initially set predetermined function mode from other function modes so that the user can grasp the function of the product at a glance. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information display device of a camera and a control method thereof, which provides various functions and convenience of use.

[0007]

The structure of the present invention for achieving the above object is provided with a power switch including a function of supplying power to a camera, a function group of the camera, and a user's function selection. A switch unit including a plurality of function switches for outputting corresponding electrical signals, an information display unit installed at a predetermined position of the camera and displaying various functions of the camera as a plurality of function mode displays. When at least one of the switch units is operated, all the function modes provided in the information display unit are displayed, and the first selected first function mode is changed to another function. A control unit that outputs an information display signal so as to display the modes separately from each other and an information display signal output from the control unit are input to display information on the information display unit. An information display drive unit for outputting information display drive signals to, is to consist of.

In another structure of the present invention for achieving the above object, the control unit selects one of the function switches in order to select one mode from a function group corresponding to each switch. When a function switch actuation signal is input from the device, a signal is output in a predetermined function mode order, for example, to continue the function mode selection display by blinking display for a certain period. Select and display the same function mode as the function mode being selected before that, and control to return the display of the function mode previously selected to the same display as other non-selected function modes. Has become.

Another structure of the present invention for achieving the above object is to display a function of a camera and a power switch for initializing an internal circuit to start the camera after power is applied to the camera. Of at least one of the function switches, which includes a plurality of function switches of the above, and when any of the switches is operated, the function mode assigned to each of the function switches is determined. When the predetermined first function mode and the other function mode selected first are displayed separately from each other, and whether the function switch is activated or not is determined, and when the mode switch is not activated and the mode selection is completed. When the function mode display is terminated and the function switch is actuated, the function mode of the function switch actuated is changed each time the function switch is actuated. While selecting from one function mode in a predetermined order, the step of displaying the selected function mode and the function mode not selected so as to be distinguished from each other, and the mode selection without judging whether the function switch is activated or not Is completed, the step of terminating the function mode selection is completed.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the structure of the information display device of the camera according to the embodiment of the present invention is the power switch (SW).
O) and a plurality of function switches (SW1 to SWn), a switch unit (10), a control unit (20) including a microcontroller connected to the output end of the switch unit (10), and a control unit ( An information display drive unit (30) connected to the output terminal of 20) and an information display unit (40). The plurality of function switches (SW1 to SWn) are
It is provided for each function group, and includes a shooting function switch for a basic shooting mode, a flash function switch for a flash function, and a focus shooting function switch for focus control.

The information display section (40) is generally composed of a liquid crystal display panel, and various functions of the camera are prepared in advance as abbreviated characters and pictures. The information display unit (40) used in this embodiment is shown in FIG.
As shown in, a shooting function display section (43) having a plurality of shooting function modes (431-438) assigned to the shooting function switch, and a plurality of flash function modes (411-414) assigned to the flash function switch. And a flash function display section (41) having a plurality of focus shooting function modes (4) assigned to the focus shooting function switch.
21-424), and other function display section having a function of indicating the status of other cameras, such as the number of films, the focal length, and the remote control setting type status. (44).

The operation of the information display device for a camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention having the above structure will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

After power is applied to the camera, the control unit (2
0) initializes all the circuits (S110), and then determines the input state of the power switch (SWO) (S120). When the power switch (SWO) is turned on, the control unit (2
0) is a function (41, 4) of a camera that can be displayed on the information display unit (40) by turning on the power of a peripheral device (not shown) for performing a photographing operation and operating the information display drive unit (30).
2, 43, 44) are displayed as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, the flash function display section (41) has a plurality of flash function modes (411-414) selected according to a flash shooting switch (not shown) during flash shooting, and has a focus shooting function. The display section (42) comprises a plurality of function modes (421-424) selected according to the focus shooting function switch with respect to the focus of the subject to be shot, and the shooting function display section (43).
Is used for shooting multiple function modes (431-
438). This shooting function mode (431-43
8) is selected according to the operation of the photographing function switch. The display part (44) of other functions displays the functions that can be displayed by the other cameras when the power of the cameras is started.

When displaying at this stage (S130), the first function mode (41
1, 421, 431) is the other functional mode (41
2-414, 422-424, 432-438). Displayed in a distinctive way,
As the first function mode of this embodiment, which is initially selected, the function for controlling whether or not the flash is automatically emitted according to the brightness value of the subject is defined in the flash function display section (41). The function mode (411) is designated. In the focus imaging function display section (42), a function mode (421) is specified as the first function mode, which defines a function for automatically adjusting the distance to the subject in consideration of at least two points. There is. Further, in the photographing function display section (43), a function mode (431) defining a general photographing mode capable of photographing without special function selection is designated as the first function mode.

In the example shown in FIG. 3, the above-described method of displaying in a distinguishable manner is a predetermined first function mode (411, 4).
21, 431), the displayed mark (character portion) is white and the background is black, and in the other functional modes, the background is white and the mark is black. That is,
Although the display is completely reversed, the scope of the present invention is not limited to this. In short, the first that is preset and displayed
The functional mode, or the selected mode and other functional modes not selected may be displayed so as to be distinguished from each other.

In this embodiment, the power switch (SW
When (O) is turned on, all the function modes are displayed, and the first function modes (411, 412, 413) that are preset and displayed as described above are displayed separately. When one of the function switches (SW1 to SWn) is operated after the power switch (SWO) is turned on, all the function modes are displayed in the information display section (4).
It is also possible to distinguish and display the first function mode which is preset and displayed while being displayed in 0).

The user of the camera can take a picture with the function thus initialized displayed.

In this state, when the user intends to select and use another function mode among the displayed function modes, the user operates the corresponding function switch. The control unit (20) determines whether any of the function switches of the switch unit (10) has been operated (S14).
0).

In FIG. 4, the function modes of the flash function display section (41) and the photographing function display section (43) are initially set and are displayed so as to be distinguished from others. 431), the function mode shown in the focus photographing function display section (42) is changed from the first function mode (421) to the other function modes (422, 42).
3, 424) when the function switch is operated to change. When the function switch is operated in this manner, the function modes are selected in the order of the predetermined function mode each time the function switch is operated. Then, the selected function mode is displayed in the same manner as the previously selected function mode or the function mode which is set in advance and is displayed so as to be distinguished from the beginning. At the same time, the previously selected function mode is returned to the same display as the other non-selected function modes.

In this embodiment, when the focusing function switch is operated to select the function mode (422), the selected function mode (422) is displayed so as to be distinguished from others. Functional mode (421)
According to the same method as above, the functional mode mark is displayed in white, and the periphery and background are displayed in black. In addition, the functional mode (4
21) is the other function mode (423, 4) displayed.
According to the same method as 24), the mark or character is displayed in black and the background or frame is displayed in white. The mode selection for the other function display portions (41, 42) can be performed as described above, and thus the desired function mode can be selected.

After the above display, the control unit (20) determines whether or not the mode selection is completed, for example, from the elapsed time (S160), and when it is determined that the mode selection is completed, the function is performed. The mode selection is completed (S170)
If it is determined that the selection is not completed, it is further determined whether the function switch is activated (S140). When the function switch is operated, the above-described operation is executed again, and when the function switch is not operated, the display is ended (S170).

Next, the operation of the information display device for a camera according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

The steps from the beginning step (S100) to the switch actuation determination step (S140) are the same as in the first embodiment.

Function switch operation determination step (S140)
Then, when the function switch is operated, a plurality of function modes assigned to the operated function switch are sequentially operated for a predetermined time while blinking in the order set in advance.

For example, when the flash function switch is operated to select the flash photographing function in FIG. 3, the first function mode (4) is displayed in the flash function display section (41).
11) to (412) → (413) → (414) → (4
11) Moves for a certain time while blinking in the order of. At this time, if the function switch is actuated again during the duration of the movement, the function mode that was flashing at that time is selected.

By the time the blinking movement is completed, if the function switch is not actuated again, the previously selected function mode is restored, and if the function switch is not input for a predetermined time or more, the mode selection is performed. Will be terminated. In addition,
The first function mode may be selected when the function mode is not selected until the operation of moving while blinking is completed.

For example, the blinking operation described above is performed in the functional mode (4
Activating the flash function switch while in 13) will select this function mode (413), but to clarify this selection, the other function modes (411, 412, It is displayed so as to be distinguished from (414) (S150). In this case, it is possible to display as in the first embodiment. Further, it is possible to display only the frame of the selected function mode (413) so as to be distinguished from the frames of the other displayed function modes (411, 412, 414).

Further, the control unit (20) judges whether or not the selection is completed, for example, from the elapsed time (S160), and when it is judged that the mode selection is completed, the selection of the functional mode is ended (S170). . If it is determined that the selection has not been completed, it is determined again whether the function switch has been activated (S140). If the function switch has been activated, the selection operation described above is repeatedly executed and the function switch is not activated. In this case, the display operation ends (S17).
0).

In this embodiment, the blinking operation is (412-413).
-414-411) according to the arrangement order, but the arrangement is not limited to this, and it is easy to configure in an order different from the arrangement.

In the first and second embodiments, all the functions (41, 42, 4) are operated according to the operation of either the power switch (SWO) or the function switches (SWI to SWn).
3,44) full-function mode (411-414,421-
424, 431-438) are simultaneously displayed, but when any one of the function switches is operated, only the plurality of function modes corresponding to the operated function switch are displayed. You can also

[0033]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the switch of the camera switch section is input, all the function modes corresponding to the respective functions are simultaneously displayed, so that the camera can be read without reading the manual one by one. You can easily understand what kind of function it has. Further, by displaying the selected function and the function not selected separately, it is possible to grasp what the function selected by the user is and use the camera efficiently.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram of a camera information display device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an operation flowchart of a camera information display method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an information display unit in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a display state of an information display unit when a certain function mode is selected.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 ... Switch part 20 ... Control part 30 ... Information display drive part 40 ... Information display part

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A power switch including a function of supplying power to a camera, and a plurality of function switches provided for each function group of the camera and outputting a corresponding electrical signal according to a user's function selection. A switch unit, an information display unit installed at a predetermined position of the camera and displaying various functions of the camera as a plurality of function mode displays, and at least one switch of the switch units is operated. And all the function modes provided in the information display section are displayed, and the first selected first mode is selected.
A control unit that outputs an information display signal so that the function mode is displayed separately from other function modes, and an information display signal output from the control unit is input to display information on the information display unit. An information display device for a camera, comprising: an information display drive section that outputs an information display drive signal. 2. The control unit selects a mode in a function group corresponding to each switch so that a predetermined function mode is input when a function switch activation signal is input from one of the function switches. In order to output the signal to keep the function mode selection display for a certain period of time, and if there is a function switch selection signal, select the corresponding function mode and display it in the same way as the previously selected function mode. The information display device for a camera according to claim 1, wherein the display of the previously selected function mode is controlled so as to return to the same display as the other non-selected function modes. 3. The control unit displays only the function mode of a function group corresponding to the function switch actuated when each of the function switches is actuated, while the predetermined first function mode is changed to another function mode. The information display device for a camera according to claim 1, wherein the information display device is controlled so as to be displayed separately. 4. The control unit causes the information display unit to display a frame of a predetermined selected function mode and a frame of another function mode which is not selected in a distinguishable manner from each other. Camera information display device. 5. The control unit displays a mark of a predetermined selected function mode on the information display unit as one of two hues, and displays a mark of another unselected function mode as the remaining color. 2. The information display device for a camera according to claim 1, wherein the background of the non-selected function mode is displayed in the same color as the mark of the selected function mode. 6. The first function mode includes an automatic flash mode in which a flash is automatically operated according to the brightness of a subject, and a general shooting mode in which normal shooting is possible by automatic exposure. The information display device of the camera according to claim 1. 7. The information display device for a camera according to claim 1, wherein the function mode selection display is displayed by blinking the function mode. 8. A function switch unit including a power switch for initializing an internal circuit to activate the camera after power is applied to the camera, and a plurality of function switches for displaying a function of the camera. Of the plurality of function modes assigned to each of the function switches and determining which of the plurality of function modes is first selected when at least one switch in the plurality of function modes is activated. The step of displaying the other function modes separately from each other, and further, judging whether or not the function switch is operated, when the mode selection is completed without the function switch being operated, the function mode display is terminated and the function switch is operated. Sometimes the function mode of the activated function switch is selected from the first function mode in a predetermined order each time the function switch is activated, The step of displaying the function mode to be selected and the function mode not selected so as to be distinguished from each other, and further judging whether the function switch is operated or not and terminating the function mode selection when the mode selection is completed without the function switch being operated. A method for displaying information of a camera, which comprises: 9. After the power switch of the camera is activated,
9. The method of displaying information of a camera according to claim 8, wherein all the function modes provided in the camera are displayed only when any of the function switches is activated. 10. After the power switch of the camera is actuated, when one of the function switches is actuated, all the function modes assigned to the actuated function switch are displayed, and 9. The camera information display method according to claim 8, wherein the function modes are displayed so as to be distinguished. 11. A function switch unit including a power switch for initializing an internal circuit to activate the camera after power is applied to the camera, and a plurality of function switches for displaying a function of the camera. Of the plurality of function modes assigned to each of the function switches and determining which of the plurality of function modes is first selected when at least one switch in the plurality of function modes is activated. The step of displaying the other function modes separately from each other, and further, judging whether or not the function switch is operated, when the mode selection is completed without the function switch being operated, the function mode display is terminated and the function switch is operated. Occasionally, the function modes of the activated function switches are selected and displayed in a predetermined order from the first function mode for a predetermined time, and When the function switch is activated, the display operation is stopped, the function mode is selected, and the selected function mode and the function mode that is not selected are displayed separately, and it is judged whether the function switch is activated or not and the function switch If there is an operation, the above selection operation is repeated, and if all the selections are completed without the function switch being operated, the function mode selection is ended. 12. The previously selected function mode is selected when the function switch is not actuated after the selection display operation continues for a certain period of time.
Information display method of camera described in.