JPH09331493A - Display controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress power consumption during the operation of a self-timer. SOLUTION: In the case that a self-timer is set to an ON state, when a release switch is operated, a signal corresponding to the operation is fed to a CPU 39, the CPU 39 starts a built-in timer (in the case that an LCD 6 is not directed to an object), and stops the display of the liquid crystal display device(LCD) 6. When the time of the timer reaches a preset value, the CPU 39 processes the image received by the CCD 20. Furthermore, every time of recording interval set in a timer setting menu, the CPU 39 processes the image received by the CCD 20 till the set recording number of times is arrived and when the image pickup for a set recording number of times is finished, the display of the LCD 6 is restarted.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a display control device, and more particularly, to a display control device which stops a display operation of a predetermined display section during a self-timer operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the progress of electronic circuits, electronic cameras that use a photoelectric conversion element to electrically process a captured image have become widespread.

Similar to a conventional camera, such an electronic camera has a finder (optical finder) for optically presenting a subject to a user, and also displays an image photographed by a photoelectric conversion element on a liquid crystal display to allow the user to see the image. Many are equipped with so-called electronic viewfinders.

Further, there is an electronic camera having an input device for inputting information other than images (a so-called touch tablet for inputting line drawing information).

[0005]

However, during the self-timer operation, the liquid crystal display can be used except for presenting a message such as the count of the timer to the user (which is also the subject when the self-timer is performed). Therefore, if the liquid crystal display is operated during this time, there is a problem that the battery power is wasted.

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and suppresses the waste of the power of the battery by stopping the operation of the liquid crystal display during the operation of the self-timer.

[0007]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display control device, comprising: a light collecting means for collecting light from a subject, and light received from the subject collected by the light collecting means to generate electricity. A photoelectric conversion means for converting into a signal, a processing means for processing the electric signal corresponding to the subject converted by the photoelectric conversion means to generate image data, and an operation for processing the electric signal corresponding to the subject with the processing means The operating means, the display means for displaying a predetermined image, the processing means, the operating means, and the control means for controlling the display means, and the control means has a predetermined time after the operating means is operated. After that, the light from the subject is converted into an electric signal, the electric signal is processed, and the display operation of the display means is stopped at a predetermined time.

In the display control device according to the first aspect, the control means is an operation means (for example, a release switch).
After a predetermined time has passed since the was operated, the light from the subject is converted into an electric signal, the electric signal is processed, and the display operation of the display means (for example, liquid crystal display) is stopped at the predetermined time. .

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 and 2 are perspective views showing the construction of an embodiment of the present invention. The electronic camera 1 of this embodiment includes a main body 1A and a head 1B rotatable with respect to the main body 1A. When photographing a subject, the surface of the main body 1A and the head 1B facing the subject is defined as a surface X1, and the surface facing the user side is defined as a surface X2. When the head 1B is rotated, the main body 1
The surface X2 of A may be turned toward the subject.

On the surface X1 of the head 1B, a finder 2 used for confirming the photographing range of a subject, a photographing lens 3 (condensing means) for capturing an optical image of the subject, and a strobe 4 for emitting light for illuminating the subject. Is provided.

On the other hand, a surface X2 facing the surface X1 of the head 1B
The finder 2 and the speaker 5 for outputting the sound recorded in the electronic camera 1 are provided at (the position corresponding to the finder 2, the operation lens 3, and the strobe 4 on the surface X1). A liquid crystal display (LC) is provided on the surface X2 of the main body 1A located vertically below the head 1B.
D) 6 (display means) and operation keys 7 are formed.
On the surface of the LCD 6, a so-called touch tablet 6A that outputs position data corresponding to the instructed position by a contact operation with a pen-type pointing member is arranged.

The touch tablet 6A is made of a transparent material such as glass, resin or the like.
LCD 6 formed inside touch tablet 6A
Can be observed through the touch tablet 6A.

The operation key 7 is a key operated when reproducing and displaying recorded data on the LCD 6, and detects an operation (input) by a user, and outputs a signal corresponding to the operation to the CPU 39 (FIG. 5) (control). Means).

The menu key 7A of the operation keys 7 is
These keys are operated when displaying a menu screen on the LCD 6. The execution key 7B is a key operated when reproducing the recording information selected by the user.

The clear key 7C is operated when deleting recorded information. Cancel key 7D
Are keys operated when the reproduction process of recorded information is interrupted. The scroll key 7E is a key operated to scroll the screen up and down when a list of recording information is displayed on the LCD 6.

On the surface Z of the head 1B, which is the upper surface of the electronic camera 1, a microphone 8 for collecting sound and an earphone jack 9 to which an earphone (not shown) is connected are provided.

On the left side surface (surface Y1) of the main body 1A, a release switch 10 which is operated when a subject is photographed.
(Operating means) and a power switch 11 are provided.

On the other hand, the surface Y facing the surface Y1 of the main body 1A
2 (on the right side), a recording switch 12 that is operated when recording voice, and a continuous shooting mode switch 13 that is operated when switching the continuous shooting mode at the time of shooting.
Is provided. The recording switch 12 is formed at substantially the same height as the release switch 10 on the surface Y1 of the main body 1A, and is configured so that it can be held with either the left or right hand.

The heights of the recording switch 12 and the release switch 10 are made different from each other so that when one switch is pushed, the side face on the opposite side is held by a finger to cancel the moment due to the pushing force. The switch provided on the opposite side surface may not be accidentally pressed.

The continuous shooting mode changeover switch 13 is used when the user presses the release switch 10 to take a picture of a subject, and to set whether to photograph one frame of the subject or a plurality of predetermined frames. For example, when the pointer of the continuous shooting mode changeover switch 13 is "S"
Has been switched to the printed position (ie, S
When the release switch 10 is pressed when the mode has been switched to), only one frame is photographed.

When the release switch 10 is pressed while the pointer of the continuous shooting mode changeover switch 13 is switched to the position where "L" is printed (ie, the mode is switched to the L mode), the release is performed. During the period in which the switch 10 is pressed, eight frames are shot per second (that is, the low-speed continuous shooting mode is set).

Further, a continuous shooting mode changeover switch 13
When the release switch 10 is pressed in a case where the pointer is switched to the position where “H” is printed (that is, the mode is switched to the H mode), during the period in which the release switch 10 is pressed, 30 frames are taken per second (that is, high-speed continuous shooting mode is set).

3 and 4 show the head 1B of the electronic camera 1.
The figure shows a state in which is rotated 180 degrees with respect to the main body 1A. Thus, the surface X1 of the head 1B having the taking lens 3 and the surface X of the main body having the LCD 6
By pointing 2 to the subject side, for example, when performing the self-timer operation, a predetermined message (timer countdown, etc.) can be displayed on the subject on the LCD 6.

The head 1B of the electronic camera 1 detects a rotation angle with respect to the main body 1A (see FIG. 5).
(Detection means). Then, the detection circuit 38
Outputs an electric signal corresponding to the detected angle to the CPU 39.

Next, the internal electrical configuration of the electronic camera 1 of this embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. The CCD 20 (photoelectric conversion means) having a plurality of pixels is
It is arranged in the latter stage of the taking lens 3 and photoelectrically converts an optical image formed on each pixel into an image signal (electrical signal). Digital signal processor (hereinafter DSP)
33 supplies the CCD horizontal drive pulse to the CCD 20, controls the CCD drive circuit (VDRV) 34, and supplies the CCD 20 with the CCD vertical drive pulse.

Correlated double sampling circuit (hereinafter referred to as CDS
31) (processing means) is controlled by the CPU 39,
The image signal photoelectrically converted by the CCD 20 is sampled at a predetermined timing, and the sampled signal is incorporated in an automatic gain controller.
Amplification to a predetermined level is made at 31A (hereinafter referred to as AGC). An analog / digital conversion circuit (hereinafter, referred to as an A / D conversion circuit) 32 digitizes the image signal sampled by the CDS 31 and DSP3.
3 is supplied.

Compression / expansion circuit and memory controller 3
5 controls a data bus connecting the DSP 33, the buffer memory 36, and the memory card 24 (storage means), and D
The image signal supplied to the SP 33 is temporarily stored in a data area (described later) of the buffer memory 36, and the buffer memory 3
After reading the image data stored in the data area 6 and compressing the image data, the compressed image data (hereinafter simply referred to as shot image data) is stored in a predetermined area (shot image) of the memory card 24. The recording area) is recorded.

The buffer memory 36 is divided into a data area and a frame memory area. Buffer memory 36
The data area of is used for temporarily holding the data in the middle of processing, and is used for alleviating the difference between the data input / output speed with respect to the memory card 24 and the processing speed in the CPU 39, the DSP 33, etc. The frame memory area of is used as a frame memory that holds the value of each pixel of the LCD 6.

Further, the compression / expansion circuit and memory controller 35 stores the image data supplied to the DSP 33 in the frame memory area of the buffer memory 36, displays the image data on the LCD 6 as an electronic viewfinder, and at the same time, captures the image from the memory card 24. Read the data,
After the captured image data is expanded, the expanded image data is stored in the frame memory area of the buffer memory 36 and displayed on the LCD 6.

In addition, the compression / expansion circuit and the memory controller 35 perform timing management of data input / output in recording on the memory card 24 and storing expanded image data in the buffer memory 36.

Further, the compression / expansion circuit and the memory controller 35 have a clock circuit and a backup battery (not shown) built therein, and the information of the shooting date and time is used as header information of the image data in the captured image recording area of the memory card 24. It is designed to be recorded. (That is, the photographed image data recorded in the photographed image recording area of the memory card 24 is accompanied by data of the photographing date and time).

The microphone 8 inputs voice information (collects voice) and outputs the voice information to a voice processing circuit (voice I).
C) 42. The voice processing circuit 42 digitizes the supplied voice information, and
39.

After compressing the digitized audio information, the CPU 39 temporarily stores the digitized and compressed audio data in the buffer memory 36 (data area), and then stores the data in a predetermined area of the memory card 24 ( It is designed to be recorded in a voice recording area). At this time,
In the audio recording area of the memory card 24, data of the recording date and time is recorded as header information of the audio data.

The audio processing circuit 42 is adapted to analogize the audio data supplied from the CPU 39 and output the analogized audio signal to the speaker 5.

When a predetermined position of the touch tablet 6A is pressed by the pen (pen type pointing member) 41 operated by the user, the CPU 39 causes the touch tablet 6A to operate.
The XY coordinates of the pressed position are read, and the coordinate data (line drawing information to be described later) is stored in the data area of the buffer memory 36. Also, CPU
The memory card 2 stores the line drawing information accumulated in the buffer memory 36 together with the header information of the line drawing information input date and time.
4 is recorded in the line drawing information recording area.

The CPU 39 controls the strobe drive circuit 37 to cause the strobe 4 to emit light as appropriate, and also controls the drive circuit 30 to move the taking lens 3 to perform an autofocus operation. Has been done.

The CPU 39 also receives signals from the operation switches 40 such as the power switch 11 and the recording switch 12 and processes them appropriately.

Next, various operations of the electronic camera 1 of this embodiment will be described. First, shooting of a subject by the present apparatus will be described.

First, the continuous shooting mode changeover switch 13 provided on the surface Y2 of the main body 1A is set to the S mode (1
A case in which the mode is switched to shooting only frames) will be described. First, the power switch 1 shown in FIG.
1 is switched to the side where “ON” is printed and the electronic camera 1 is powered on. When the subject is confirmed with the finder 2 and the release switch 10 provided on the surface Y1 of the main body 1A is pressed, the subject photographing process is started.

An optical image of a subject observed by the finder 2 is condensed by the taking lens 3 and is focused on the CCD 20 having a plurality of pixels. The optical image of the subject formed on the CCD 20 is photoelectrically converted into an image signal by each pixel, and the CDS 3
Sampled by one. The image signal sampled by the CDS 31 is supplied to an A / D conversion circuit 32, where it is digitized and output to a DSP 33.

The DSP 33 outputs the image data to the data area of the buffer memory 36. Then, the compression / expansion circuit and memory controller 35 reads the image data from the buffer memory 36 and combines the discrete cosine transform, the quantization, and the Huffman coding with the JPE.
It is compressed according to the G (Joint Photographic Experts Group) method and recorded in the photographed image recording area of the memory card 24. At this time, in the photographed image recording area of the memory card 24, data of the photographed date and time is recorded as header information of the photographed image data.

When the continuous shooting mode switch 13 is switched to the S mode, only one frame is shot, and even if the release switch 10 is continuously pressed, subsequent shots will not be taken. Not done Also,
When the release switch 10 is continuously pressed, LC
The captured image is displayed on D6 (electronic viewfinder display).

Second, a continuous shooting mode changeover switch 13
Is switched to the L mode (a mode in which 8 frames are continuously shot in one second). When the power switch 11 is switched to the side printed as “ON”, the electronic camera 1 is powered on, and the release switch 10 provided on the surface Y1 of the main body 1A is pressed, the photographing process of the subject is started. It

A light image of a subject observed by the finder 2 is condensed by the photographing lens 3 and forms an image on a CCD 20 having a plurality of pixels. The optical image of the subject formed on the CCD 20 is photoelectrically converted into an image signal by each pixel, and the CDS 3
Sampling is performed eight times a second by one.
At this time, the CDS 31 thins out three-quarters of pixels of the image electric signal of the entire image of the CCD 20.

That is, the CDS 31 divides the pixels of the CCD 20 arranged in a matrix into areas each having 2 × 2 pixels (four pixels) as shown in FIG. , The image signal of one pixel arranged at a predetermined position is sampled, and the remaining three pixels are thinned out.

For example, in the first sampling (first frame), the pixel a at the upper left of each area is sampled, and the other pixels b, c, d are thinned out. At the time of the second sampling (second frame), the pixel b at the upper right of each area is sampled, and the other pixels a,
c and d are thinned out. Hereinafter, at the time of the third and fourth samplings, the lower left pixel c and the lower right pixel d
Are sampled and other pixels are decimated. That is, each pixel is sampled every four frames.

The image signal sampled by the CDS 31 (the image signal of a quarter of all the pixels of the CCD 20) is supplied to the A / D conversion circuit 32, where it is digitized and output to the DSP 33.

The DSP 33 outputs the digitized image signal to the data area of the buffer memory 36, and the compression / expansion circuit and the memory controller 35 read the image signal and compress it according to the JPEG method, and then digitize and compress it. The captured image data thus obtained is recorded in the captured image recording area of the memory card 24. At this time, in the photographed image recording area of the memory card 24, data of the photographed date and time is recorded as header information of the photographed image data.

Third, a continuous shooting mode changeover switch 13
The case where is switched to the H mode (a mode for continuously shooting 30 frames per second) will be described. When the power switch 11 is switched to the side printed as “ON”, the electronic camera 1 is powered on, and the release switch 10 provided on the surface Y1 of the main body 1A is pressed, the photographing process of the subject is started. It

The light image of the subject observed through the finder 2 is condensed by the photographing lens 3 and forms an image on the CCD 20. An optical image of a subject formed on the CCD 20 having a plurality of pixels is photoelectrically converted by each pixel into an image signal.
1 is sampled at a rate of 30 times per second. At this time, the CDS 31 thins out 8/9 of the image electrical signals of all the pixels of the CCD 20.

That is, the CDS 31 divides the pixels of the CCD 20 arranged in a matrix into areas each having 3 × 3 pixels, as shown in FIG. 7, and places the pixels in predetermined areas at predetermined positions. The image electric signal of one pixel arranged is sampled at a rate of 30 times per second, and the remaining eight pixels are thinned out.

For example, at the time of the first sampling (first frame), the upper left pixel a of each area is sampled, and the other pixels b to i are thinned out. At the time of the second sampling (second frame), the pixel b disposed on the right side of the pixel a is sampled, and the other pixels a, c to i are thinned out. Hereinafter, at the time of the third and subsequent samplings, the pixels c, d,.
Are sampled and other pixels are decimated. That is, each pixel is sampled every nine frames.

The image signal sampled by the CDS 31 (the image signal of one-ninth of all the pixels of the CCD 20) is supplied to the A / D conversion circuit 32, where it is digitized and output to the DSP 33.

The DSP 33 outputs the digitized image signal to the data area of the buffer memory 36, and the compression / expansion circuit and the memory controller 35 read the image signal and compress it according to the JPEG method, and then digitize and compress it. The captured image data thus obtained is recorded in the captured image recording area of the memory card 24 together with the header information of the capturing date and time.

It should be noted that the strobe 4 may be operated to illuminate the subject, if necessary.

Further, in this embodiment, the self-timer operation can be performed. When performing self-timer operation, 2
Perform one of the street setup procedures.

In the first procedure, first, the menu key 7A of the operation keys 7 is pressed with, for example, the pen 41, and the operation shown in FIG.
The main menu screen shown in is displayed on the LCD 6. The main menu screen is the blue main menu background 61.
And a white menu item 62 displayed on it. In FIG. 8, a “record” 62 that is pressed when switching to a mode for recording images, sounds, etc.
A, "play" 62B pressed when switching to a mode for reproducing recorded images, sounds, etc. "continuous" pressed when switching to a mode for continuously reproducing a plurality of recorded images, sounds, etc. Four menu items 62 of "play" 62C and "setting" 62D that is pressed when switching to a mode for setting various operations are displayed.

When the self-timer operation is to be performed, among the menu items 62, "setting" 6
2D (white portion) is pressed with the pen 41 to display the setting menu screen on the LCD 6 as shown in FIG. In addition,
At this time, the CPU 39 receives the position (coordinate value) where the pen 41 is pressed from the touch tablet 6A, specifies the selected menu item 62 (in this case, “setting” 62D) from the coordinate value, and Operation corresponding to menu item 62 (in this case, the setting menu screen is L
The operation of displaying on CD6) is performed.

The setting menu screen displayed in this manner is composed of a green setting menu background 71 and a white menu item 72 displayed thereon. In the setting menu screen of FIG.
A, "Speedlight" 72B, "Image quality setting" 72C,
5 of "recording setting" 72D and "timer" 72E
One menu item 72 is displayed.

Of these menu items 72,
Press the "timer" 72E (white part) with the pen 41, and as shown in FIG.
Display on CD6. In the timer setting menu screen of FIG. 10, a red timer setting menu background 81 and an on button 82, an off button 83, a recording interval setting area 84, a recording number setting area 85, and a numerical value input button 86 are displayed on the background. Has been done.

When the self-timer operation is performed, the recording interval setting area 84 is pressed, and then the numerical value input button 86 is operated to record a plurality of images at a recording interval (second unit). ) (Standby time in self timer (time from operation of release switch 10 to recording of image)) is set. Then, after pressing the ON button 82 with the pen 41, the execution key 7B is pressed. To cancel the self-timer operation, the execution button 7B is pressed after pressing the off button 41.

The recording interval is set to 1 second by default, and correspondingly, "1" is displayed in the recording interval setting area 84. When the recording interval setting area 84 is pressed, the recording interval setting area 84 starts blinking. In that state, the recording interval is changed by operating the numerical value input button 86. At this time, when the button 86A of the numerical value input button 86 is pressed once, the recording interval is increased by 1 second, and when the button 86B is pressed once, the recording interval is increased by 10 seconds.
Increase by seconds. On the other hand, button 8 of the numerical input button 86
When 6C is pressed once, the recording interval decreases by 1 second,
When the button 86D is pressed once, the recording interval is reduced by 10 seconds.

Further, after pressing the recording number setting area 85, the numerical value input button 86 is operated to set the image recording number in the self-timer. The number of recordings is set to one as a default, and correspondingly, "1" is displayed in the recording number setting area 85. When the recording number setting area 85 is pressed, the recording number setting area 85 is pressed.
Starts blinking. In that state, by operating the numerical value input button 86 as in the case of setting the recording interval,
The number of recordings is changed.

After the self-timer operation is set as described above, the heading (“MENU”) of the main menu background 61 displayed at the upper left of the display screen (FIG. 10) is pressed to press the main menu (FIG. 8). Returning to, the menu item 62 "record" 62A is pressed to switch to the recording mode. When switching to the recording mode, as shown in FIG. 11, the electronic viewfinder display is performed on the LCD 6, and the image of the subject received by the CCD 20 via the taking lens 3 is displayed in the image display area 91 of the LCD 6. To be done.

At this time, a setting icon 93 for setting various functions of this embodiment and a display icon 94 for displaying the remaining amount of the battery 21 are displayed in the mode setting area 92 on the lower side of the LCD 6. By pressing these setting icons 93, various functions can be set.
Further, these icons 93 and 94 are designed to change their designs and the like depending on the state of the corresponding function. For example, when the self-timer is set to ON, the self-timer setting icon 93A blinks.

Of the setting icons 93, the icon 93B
Indicates the setting state of the recording mode, and is selected when changing the recording mode. The icon 93C represents the setting state of the flash mode of the strobe 4, and is selected when changing the flash mode. The icon 93D represents the image quality setting state of the image to be recorded, and is selected when changing the image quality setting. The icon 93E represents a shooting mode setting state at the time of shooting, and is displayed when the shooting mode is changed. The icon 93F is selected when setting whether to display the icons 93A to 93E and the icon 94.

By confirming these icons 93 and 94, the user can know the setting status of each function.

When the shooting mode is set to macro (close-up shooting), the macro setting icon 95 is displayed at a predetermined position on the electronic viewfinder screen.

After the self-timer operation is set as described above, the self-timer operation is performed by switching to the recording mode and operating the release switch 10.

Next, in the second procedure, first, the menu key 7A of the operation key 7 is pressed with the pen 41, and the operation shown in FIG.
The main menu screen shown in is displayed on the LCD 6. Next, the "record" 62A of the menu item 62 is pressed to switch to the recording mode, and the electronic viewfinder (FIG. 11) is displayed.

Then, the self-timer setting icon 93A of the setting icons 93 is pressed to display the timer setting menu (FIG. 10). In the timer setting menu, after setting the recording interval and the number of recordings as described above, the on button 82 is pressed and the execution key 7B is pressed.

Then, the heading "MENU" of the main menu background 61 displayed on the LCD 6 is pressed to display the main menu (FIG. 8), and the "record" 62A is pressed to switch to the recording mode, and the electronic mode is restarted. Display the viewfinder.

As described above, the self-timer operation is set, and after switching to the recording mode, the self-timer operation is performed by operating the release switch 10.

When performing the self-timer operation, since the electronic camera 1 is installed away from the user, the user rarely sees the display on the LCD 6 while the self-timer is operating. Therefore, in this embodiment, LC
The power of the battery 21 is saved by stopping the operation of D6. However, the CPU 39 uses the detection circuit 3
When it is determined from the electric signal supplied from 8 that the rotation angle of the head 1B is about 180 degrees (FIGS. 3 and 4),
Since there is a possibility that a message for the subject (user in this case) is displayed on the LCD 6, the display operation of the LCD 6 should not be stopped.

When photographing a subject, the CPU 39
When the signal corresponding to the operation by the user is received from the release switch 10, it is determined whether or not the self-timer is set and whether or not the rotation angle of the head 1B is 180 degrees, and the self-timer is set. When it is determined that the timer setting is ON and the rotation angle of the head 1B is not 180 degrees, the built-in timer is started and the LC
The display operation of D6 is stopped. Then, when the value of the timer reaches the time (recording interval) set in the recording interval setting area 84, the CPU 39 causes the CDS 31 to process the image received by the CCD 20.

Further, the CPU 39 causes the image received by the CCD 20 to be processed until the set number of recordings is reached at each time set as the recording interval in the timer setting menu (FIG. 10), and the photographing of the set number of recordings is completed. When I did
The display operation of the LCD 6 is restarted. That is, the CPU 39
Is displayed on the LCD 6 when the release switch 10 is operated.
The display operation of is stopped, and when the set number of recordings is completed, the display operation of the LCD 6 is restarted. Note that L
When the display of the CD 6 is stopped, the power supply to both the liquid crystal and the backlight is stopped. Alternatively, only the power supply to the backlight that consumes a large amount of power may be stopped.

By doing so, when the LCD 6 is not aimed at the subject (that is, when the rotation angle of the head 1B of the electronic camera 1 is not 180 degrees), the user can operate during the self-timer operation. Since the display of the LCD 6 is rarely seen, the power consumption can be suppressed by stopping the display operation of the LCD 6.

The image received by the CCD 20 after the release switch 10 is operated is the CDS 31, A /
The display operation of the LCD 6 may be stopped until it is processed by the D conversion circuit 32, the DSP 33, and the compression / expansion circuit and the memory controller 35, and is recorded in the memory card 24.

Next, the operation of inputting two-dimensional information (pen input information) from the touch tablet 6A will be described.

When the touch tablet 6A is pressed by the pen tip of the pen 41, the XY coordinates of the contacted portion are determined by the CPU.
39 is input. The XY coordinates are stored in the data area of the buffer memory 36. In addition, data can be written into the frame memory area of the buffer memory 36 at locations corresponding to the XY coordinates, and a line drawing corresponding to the touch of the pen 41 can be displayed on the XY coordinates on the LCD 6. .

As described above, the touch tablet 6A
Is composed of a transparent member,
The point displayed on the LCD 6 (the point at the position pressed by the pen tip of the pen 41) can be observed, as if the LCD
6 can be felt as if a pen input was made directly. When the pen 41 is moved on the touch tablet 6 </ b> A, a line accompanying the movement of the pen 41 is displayed on the LCD 6. Further, when the pen 41 is intermittently moved on the touch tablet 6A, a broken line accompanying the movement of the pen 41 is displayed on the LCD 6. As described above, the user inputs desired line drawing information such as characters and graphics to the touch tablet 6A (LCD 6).

Further, when line image information is input by the pen 41 when the captured image is displayed on the LCD 6, this line image information is combined with the captured image information in the frame memory area of the buffer memory 36, LC
Displayed simultaneously on D6.

The user can select a color of the line drawing displayed on the LCD 6 from black, white, red, blue, etc. by operating a color selection switch (not shown).

When the execution key 7B of the operation key 7 is pressed after the line drawing information is input to the touch tablet 6A by the pen 41, the line drawing information accumulated in the data area of the buffer memory 36 is input together with the header information of the input date and time. It is supplied to the memory card 24 and recorded in the line drawing information recording area of the memory card 24.

The line drawing information recorded in the memory card 24 is information that has been subjected to compression processing. Since the line drawing information input to the touch tablet 6A contains a lot of information having a high spatial frequency component, if the compression processing is performed by the JPEG method used for compressing the photographed image, the compression efficiency is low and the information amount is not reduced. The time required for compression and decompression increases. Furthermore, since the compression by the JPEG method is irreversible compression, it is not suitable for compression of line drawing information having a small amount of information. To get it).

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the line drawing information is compressed by the run length method used in fax or the like. The run-length method scans the line drawing screen in the horizontal direction, and the continuous length of information (dots) of each color such as black, white, red, and blue, and the continuous length of no information (the part where there is no pen input). This is a method of compressing line drawing information by encoding the line drawing information.

By using this run length method,
The line drawing information can be compressed to the minimum, and even when the compressed line drawing information is expanded, it is possible to suppress loss of information. The line drawing information may not be compressed when the information amount is relatively small.

Further, as described above, when the pen input is performed while the captured image is displayed on the LCD 6, the captured image data and the line drawing information of the pen input are combined in the frame memory area of the buffer memory 36, A composite image of the captured image and the line drawing is displayed on the LCD 6. On the other hand, in the memory card 24, the captured image data is
The line drawing information is recorded in the captured image recording area, and the line drawing information is recorded in the line drawing information recording area. As described above, since the two pieces of information are recorded in different areas, the user can select one of the images (for example, line drawing) from the composite image of the captured image and the line drawing.
Can be deleted, and each image information can be compressed by an individual compression method.

When data is recorded in the voice recording area, the photographed image recording area, or the line drawing information recording area of the memory card 24, a predetermined display is displayed on the LCD 6, as shown in FIG.

On the display screen of the LCD 6 shown in FIG. 12, the date when the information was recorded (record date) (in this case, August 25, 1995) is displayed at the lower end of the screen, The recording time of the information recorded on the recording date is displayed on the leftmost side of the screen.

A thumbnail image is displayed on the right side of the recording time. This thumbnail image is displayed on the memory card 2
It is created by thinning out (reducing) the bitmap data of each image data of the captured image data recorded in No. 4. The information with this display is information including captured image information. That is, "10:16" and "10:21"
The information recorded (input) includes the captured image information, such as “10:05”, “10:28”, and “10:28”.
Hour 54 ”and“ 13:10 ”
No image information is included.

The memo symbol "*" indicates that a predetermined memo is recorded as line drawing information.

On the right side of the display area of the thumbnail image, a voice information bar is displayed, and a bar (line) having a length corresponding to the length of the recording time is displayed (if voice information is not input, Do not show).

The user selects and specifies the information to be reproduced by pressing any part of the display line of the desired information on the LCD 6 shown in FIG. 12 with the pen tip of the pen 41, and presses the execution key 7B shown in FIG. By pressing with the pen tip of the pen 41,
Play the selected information.

For example, when the line indicating "10:05" shown in FIG. 12 is pressed by the pen 41, the CPU 39 causes the selected recording date and time (10:05).
Minute) from the memory card 24, and after expanding the sound data, the sound processing circuit 42
To supply. The audio processing circuit 42 converts the supplied audio data into an analog signal, and then reproduces the data via the speaker 5.

When reproducing the photographed image data recorded in the memory card 24, the user selects the desired thumbnail image by pressing the pen tip of the pen 41 to select the information, and presses the execution key 7B. To play.

The CPU 39 instructs the compression / expansion circuit and the memory controller 35 to read the photographed image data corresponding to the selected photographing date and time from the memory card 24. Compression / expansion circuit and memory controller 35
Expands the captured image data (compressed captured image data) read from the memory card 24, stores the captured image data as bitmap data in the frame memory area of the buffer memory 36, and causes the LCD 6 to display it. .

The image photographed in the S mode is displayed on the LCD 6 as a still image. This still image is CC
It goes without saying that the image signals of all the pixels of D20 are reproduced.

Images taken in the L mode are continuously displayed on the LCD 6 at a rate of 8 frames per second. At this time, the number of pixels displayed in each frame is CCD2
0 is a quarter of the total number of pixels.

Generally, the human eye is sensitive to the deterioration of the resolution of the still image, and therefore thinning out the pixels of the still image is perceived by the user as the deterioration of the image quality. However, when the continuous shooting speed at the time of shooting increases, eight frames are shot per second in the L mode, and when this image is reproduced at a speed of eight frames per second, the number of pixels of each frame becomes equal to the number of pixels of the CCD 20. Although this is a quarter of the number, since the human eye observes eight frames per second, the amount of information perceived by the human eye per second is twice as large as that of a still image.

That is, 1 of an image taken in S mode
Assuming that the number of pixels of a frame is 1, the number of pixels of one frame of an image captured in the L mode is １ ／. When an image (still image) captured in the S mode is displayed on the LCD 6, the amount of information perceived by the human eye in one second is 1 (= (number of pixels 1) × (number of frames 1)). On the other hand, when an image taken in the L mode is displayed on the LCD 6, the amount of information that human eyes can see in one second is 2 (= (number of pixels 1/4) × (number of frames 8)) (that is, Human eyes receive twice as much information as a still image). Therefore, even if the number of pixels in one frame is reduced to ４, the user can observe the reproduced image at the time of reproduction without much concern about deterioration in image quality.

Further, in the present embodiment, different pixels are sampled for each frame and the sampled pixels are displayed on the LCD 6, so that an afterimage effect occurs to the human eye and 4 minutes per frame. Even if three pixels are thinned out, the user can observe the image captured in the L mode displayed on the LCD 6 without having to worry about the deterioration of the image quality.

The image taken in the H mode is LC
It is continuously displayed at a rate of 30 frames per second on D6. At this time, the number of pixels displayed in each frame is C
Although the number of pixels of the CD 20 is one-ninth of the total number of pixels, for the same reason as in the case of the L mode, the user can copy an image captured in the H mode displayed on the LCD 6 without much concern about deterioration in image quality. Can be observed.

In the present embodiment, when the subject is imaged in the L mode and the H mode, the CDS 31 thins out the pixels of the CCD 20 to the extent that the deterioration of the image quality during reproduction is not noticed. The load on the compression / expansion circuit and the memory controller 35 can be reduced, and the DSP 33 and the compression / expansion circuit and memory controller 35 can be operated at low speed and low power. Further, by doing so, it is possible to reduce the cost and power consumption of the device.

By the way, in the present embodiment, as described above, various information (data) recorded in the memory card 24 is accompanied by data of the date and time when each information was input as header information. . The user can use the LCD
It is possible to select and reproduce desired information from the date and time data displayed on the screen 6 (FIG. 12).

When a plurality of pieces of information (photographed image, voice, line drawing) are input at the same time, each piece of information is separately recorded in a predetermined area of the recording card 24. Header information of the same date and time is attached.

For example, when the information A (photographed image), the information B (voice), and the information C (line drawing) are simultaneously input, each information A, B, C recorded in a predetermined area of the memory card 24.
Are provided with data of the same input date and time as header information. Further, the header information of the information A may be set as the data of the input date and time, and the header information of the information B and C may be set as the data indicating the information A.

By the above, the information inputted at the same time is reproduced at the time of reproduction.

Further, in this embodiment, after recording the first information (for example, photographed image), the second information (for example, line drawing) different from the first information is added to the first information. It can also be recorded in the form. As described above, when adding the second information in addition to the first information, the second information is input while the first information is reproduced.
Hereinafter, a detailed description of this case will be described.

For example, if the release switch 10 is pressed and the subject is photographed while the prerecorded audio information is being reproduced, the memory card 2
The photographed image data recorded in the photographed image recording area No. 4 is accompanied by header information of the date and time when the recording of the audio information was started.

In addition, for example, August 25, 1995, 10
During the playback of the audio information whose recording was started at 15:00,
When one minute has elapsed from the start of the reproduction (that is, when the reproduction data has become the data at 10:06 on August 25, 1995), when the photographing processing is performed, it is recorded in the photographed image recording area of the memory card 24. 199 image data
It is also possible to add header information at 10:06 on August 25, 5 (start time (10: 5)
May be used as header information, or one of them may be registered as a default (the selection is made by the user).

Similarly, when line drawing information is input in the case where prerecorded audio information is being reproduced,
In the line drawing information recording area of the memory card 24, the same header information as the header information of the recording date and time of the audio information is recorded together with the line drawing information.

When the line drawing information is input in the case where the voice information and the photographed image information which are simultaneously input are reproduced in advance, the line drawing information is recorded in the line drawing information recording area of the memory card 24 together with the voice information ( Alternatively, the same header information as the header information of the recording date and time of the (captured image information) is recorded.

When the photographed image information is inputted while the voice information and the line drawing information which have been inputted at the same time are reproduced in advance, the photographed image data is recorded in the photographed image recording area of the memory card 24 together with the voice information. The same header information as the recording date and time (or line drawing information) is recorded.

When audio information is input while a previously input captured image is being reproduced, the audio information recording area of the memory card 24, together with the audio data, includes header information of the recording date and time of the captured image. The same header information as is recorded.

When the line drawing information is input while the previously input photographed image is being reproduced, the line drawing information is recorded in the line drawing information recording area of the memory card 24 together with the header information of the recording date and time of the photographed image. The same header information as is recorded.

When the voice information is input while the captured image information and the line drawing information that have been input at the same time are reproduced in advance, the captured image information ( Alternatively, the same header information as the recording date and time of the line drawing information) is recorded.

When the photographed image information is input while the previously inputted line drawing information is being reproduced, the photographed image recording area of the memory card 24 stores the taken image data together with the recording date and time of the line drawing information. The same header information as the header information is recorded.

When the audio information is input while the previously input line drawing information is being reproduced, the audio data in the audio recording area of the memory card 24, together with the header information of the recording date and time of the line drawing information, is recorded. The same header information is recorded.

As described above, when the second information is input while the first information recorded in advance is being reproduced, the recording date and time of the first information is the header information of the second information. Will be (hereinafter referred to as normal mode). By doing so, even if information is added later, the relationship between the original information and the added information can be maintained.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, when the second information is added to the prerecorded first information, the second information is added.
In addition to recording the input time of the information as the header information of the second information, the header information of the first information may be rewritten with the header information of the second information (hereinafter,
Recording time change mode). In this case, the electronic camera 1 is further provided with a mode switch (not shown) for changing the recording date and time so that the recording date and time can be changed (switching between the normal mode and the recording date and time changing mode) by the user's selection. I do.

For example, if the user later selects a specific time,
If a specific subject is scheduled to be photographed, and a comment on the photographed image is recorded as line drawing information in advance (that is, the line drawing information is the first information), the mode switch for the recording date and time is set to the recording mode. The mode is switched to the date and time change mode, and the object is photographed while reproducing the recorded line drawing information (that is, the photographed image is the second information). Then, the input date and time of the captured image (second information) are attached as header information to both the line drawing information (first information) and the captured image (second information).

Also, prioritize the information to be input,
The header information of the input time may be added to each information in accordance with the priority.

For example, when the priority of the photographed image is the first priority, the priority of the audio information is the second priority, and the priority of the line drawing information is the third priority, the previously recorded line drawing information is reproduced. However, when voice information is input, both line drawing information and voice information recorded in the memory card 24 are
Header information including the input time of the audio information is appended (since the priority of the audio information is higher than the priority of the line drawing information). Further, when a captured image is input while reproducing the audio information and the line image information, the line information, the audio information, and the captured image recorded on the memory card 24 are accompanied by header information including the input time of the captured image. (Because the priority of a captured image is higher than the priority of other information). This priority may be set by the user.

Next, a case in which a voice is recorded while a subject is being photographed will be described.

First, the case where the continuous shooting mode switch 13 is switched to the S mode (single shooting mode) will be described. First, when the recording switch 12 is pressed, voice information is input, and in the voice information recording area of the memory card 24, the header information of the recording start date and time is recorded together with the voice data. When the release switch 10 is pressed during the input of the audio information (S mode),
One frame of the subject is photographed, and the photographed image data is recorded on the memory card 24. The photographed image data is accompanied by header information of the date and time when the release switch 10 is pressed (at the start of photographing).

On the other hand, when the release button 10 is first pressed, one frame of the subject is photographed. At this time, in the captured image data recorded on the memory card 24, the date and time when the image was captured is recorded as header information. Further, when the release button 10 is continuously pressed, the photographed image is displayed on the LCD 6. At this time, when the recording switch 12 is pressed, voice information is input. At this time, the date and time when the image was captured is attached to the audio data recorded in the audio information recording area of the memory card 24 as header information.

Next, the continuous shooting mode changeover switch 13
Is switched to L mode or H mode (continuous shooting mode). First, when the release switch 10 is pressed and then the recording switch 12 is pressed, and when the release switch 10 and the recording switch 12 are pressed simultaneously, the captured image and audio information are recorded as shown below. You.

When the continuous shooting mode changeover switch 13 is switched to the L mode, eight frames are photographed per second, and photographed image data of each frame recorded in the photographed image recording area of the memory card 24. Is attached with header information of the date and time when each image was captured. Therefore, the date and time at intervals of 0.125 seconds are recorded in the header of each frame. At this time, the audio information is recorded every 0.125 seconds (but continuously input), and the audio data recorded in the audio information recording area of the memory card 24 is also recorded at intervals of 0.125 seconds. Date and time header information is recorded.

Similarly, the continuous shooting mode changeover switch 13
Is switched to the H mode, 30 frames are photographed per second, and the photographed image data of each frame recorded in the photographed image recording area of the memory card 24 includes the date and time when each photographed. Is attached.
Therefore, the date and time at 1/30 second intervals are recorded in the header of each frame. At this time, the audio information is 1
/ Recorded every 30 seconds (but continuously entered)
Also in the audio data recorded in the audio information recording area of the memory card 24, header information of the date and time at 1/30 second intervals is recorded.

As described above, when a photographed image or sound is edited after recording, when an arbitrary photographed image is removed, audio information having the same header information as that of the photographed image can also be removed. it can.

On the other hand, the continuous shooting mode changeover switch 13
When the recording mode is switched to the L mode or the H mode (when the mode is switched to the continuous shooting mode), when the recording switch 12 is pressed first and then the release switch 10 is pressed, the data is recorded on the memory card 24. The information to be recorded includes the following header information.

That is, in this case, the audio data until the release switch 10 is pressed is recorded as one file in the audio information recording area of the memory card 24. After that, when the release switch 10 is pressed, the header information of the date and time corresponding to each frame of the captured image is recorded together with the audio data.

As described above, in this embodiment, images, voices, line drawing information, etc. are recorded. Then, the self-timer operation can be performed at the time of recording the image, and during the operation of the self-timer, the display operation of the LCD 6 is stopped (when the LCD 6 is not directed to the subject) to reduce the power consumption of the battery 21. The waste of money is suppressed.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be applied to other electronic cameras.

[0137]

As described above, according to the display control device of the first aspect, the light from the subject is converted into an electric signal after a predetermined time has elapsed since the operation means was operated,
Since the electric signal is processed and the display operation of the display means is stopped at a predetermined time,
During the operation of the self-timer, it is possible to stop the operation of the liquid crystal display and suppress the waste of battery power.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an electronic camera according to an embodiment of the present invention when viewed from the front.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration when viewed from the back of the electronic camera 1 shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a head 1B of the electronic camera 1 shown in FIG. 1 when viewed from the front when rotated by 180 degrees.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a configuration of the head 1B of the electronic camera 1 shown in FIG. 1 when viewed from the back when the head 1B is rotated 180 degrees.

5 is a block diagram showing an internal electrical configuration of the electronic camera shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating pixel thinning processing in the L mode.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating pixel thinning processing in the H mode.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a main menu screen.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting menu screen.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a timer setting menu screen.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of an electronic viewfinder display.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of the electronic camera shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Electronic Camera 1A Main Body 1B Head 2 Viewfinder 3 Photographing Lens 4 Strobe 5 Speaker 6 LCD 6A Touch Tablet 7 Operation Key 7A Menu Key 7B Enter Key 7C Clear Key 7D Cancel Key 7E Scroll Key 8 Microphone 9 Earphone Jack 10 Release Switch 11 Power switch 12 Recording switch 13 Continuous shooting mode switch 20 CCD 21 Battery 22 Capacitor 23 Circuit board 24 Memory card 31 Correlated double sampling circuit (CDS) 31A Automatic gain adjuster (AGC) 32 Analog / digital conversion circuit 33 Digital signal processor (DSP) 34 CCD drive circuit 35 Compression / expansion circuit and memory controller 36 Buffer memory 38 Detection circuit 39 CPU 41 Pen 4 Audio processing circuit

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A condensing unit that condenses light from a subject, a photoelectric conversion unit that receives the light from the subject condensed by the condensing unit, and converts the light into an electric signal, and the photoelectric conversion unit. A processing unit for processing the electric signal corresponding to the subject converted by the above to generate image data, an operation unit operated when the processing unit processes the electric signal corresponding to the subject, and a predetermined image A display means for displaying, and the processing means, the operation means, and a control means for controlling the display means, the control means, after a predetermined time has elapsed after the operation means is operated, A display control device, which converts light from a subject into an electric signal, processes the electric signal, and stops the display operation of the display means at the predetermined time. 2. The storage means for storing the image data generated by the processing means is further provided, and the control means is operable by the photoelectric conversion means after the predetermined time has elapsed since the operation means was operated. Light from the subject is converted into an electric signal, the image data is generated from the electric signal, and the display operation of the display unit is stopped until the image data is stored in the storage unit. The display control device according to claim 1. 3. The detecting means for detecting the arrangement of the display means with respect to the light condensing means is further provided, and the control means is arranged to display the display means only when the light condensing means and the display means are not arranged in parallel. The display control device according to claim 1, wherein the display operation is stopped.