JPH10173962A - Image pickup device and image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent misphotography by displaying photographic state information on the image pickup device outside a display area for a reduced subject image, and then distinctively transmitting current state information on a camera and grasping a photographed image. SOLUTION: A camera information generation part 14 generates a signal for displaying various camera information (zoom power, exposure correction value, etc.) over a photographed image. An image reducing process part 18 performs a reducing process by thinning out an image signal from an adder 15 so as to reduce and display an image at a display part 21 at its center part under the command of a CPU 16. A photographic information generation part 17 generates a signal for displaying photographic information in a picture frame outside the image display area of the display part 21 when the image signal is reduced. An adder 19 adds the image signal reduced by the image reducing process part 18 and the photographic information signal generated by the photographic information generation part 17 together and displays them at the display part 21. An image reducing means serves even as an electronic zooming means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus provided with display means such as a monitor or a finder, and a video recorder.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image pickup apparatus such as a video camera, a method of photographing an image by confirming the photographed image using a display means such as a finder or a monitor is generally known.

Further, a video camera having a superimpose function for displaying a photographing state of a camera by superimposing it on an image displayed on a display means has already been commercialized.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a screen of a display unit having such a superimpose function. In the figure, character information indicating a temporary recording stop state of the camera is displayed so as to be superimposed on the photographed image, and the user visually recognizes the operation state of the camera.

[0005]

However, when the photographing state of the camera is displayed at the center of the screen as shown in FIG.
It is difficult to confirm the imaging screen, it is impossible to completely grasp the captured image, and there is a possibility that the imaging timing may be missed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to clearly transmit current camera state information, to perform proper photographing by completely grasping photographed images, and to prevent photographing errors from occurring. It is intended to provide a device.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, an image pickup apparatus provided with a display means for confirming a photographed image captures an object. Image display means for reducing the size of the captured image on the display means in accordance with a shooting state of the image capturing apparatus, and a display area of the image reduced by the image reduced display means. And a photographing information display means for displaying information on the photographing state of the image pickup apparatus in accordance with the photographing state of the image pickup apparatus.

[0008] According to the second aspect of the present invention,
The recording device according to claim 1, further comprising a recording unit that records an image captured by the imaging unit.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, the image reduction display means reduces the image to the display means when no image is recorded by the recording means. It is characterized in that it is configured to display.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect, when the image is not recorded by the recording unit, the photographing information display unit is reduced by the image reduction display unit. The information on the shooting state of the imaging device is displayed outside the display area of the image according to the shooting state of the imaging device.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, the image reduction display means is configured not to operate when an image is being recorded by the recording means. It is characterized by.

[0012] According to the invention according to claim 6, in claim 1, the image reduced by the image reduction display means is configured to be displayed at a display center of the display means. It is characterized by the following.

[0013] Further, according to the invention according to claim 7, 2. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: electronic zoom means for electronically enlarging / reducing an image picked up by the image pickup means, wherein the image reduction display means is configured to be able to also serve as the zoom means. .

Further, according to the invention according to claim 8, recording means for recording an input image, display means for displaying the input image, image reduction display means for reducing a display range of the image on the display means, Control means for operating the image reduction display means to reduce the display range of the image in response to setting the recording operation of the recording means to a standby state.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the ninth aspect, the information display means for displaying predetermined control information in a non-display area of an image formed by further reducing the display range is provided. It is characterized by having.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, taking as an example the case where the embodiment of the present invention is applied to a camera-integrated video recorder.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image pickup apparatus according to the present embodiment.

In FIG. 7, a system controller 16 by a CPU controls the entire image pickup apparatus according to the present embodiment. The key switch 20 is a power switch 20
a, an operation unit for operating a predetermined function of the camera such as a trigger switch 20b for controlling ON / OFF of recording;

An image pickup section 10 functioning as an image pickup means comprises an optical system unit such as a focus lens, a zoom lens, and an aperture, and an image pickup device such as a CCD.
In response to a command from the controller 6, the object photographed is converted into an electric signal. The image processing unit 22 generates a luminance signal and a chrominance signal from the imaging signal imaged and output by the imaging unit, performs predetermined signal processing such as gamma correction and blanking processing, and performs standardized image signal processing such as NTSC. Convert to

The recording information generating section 11 includes a character or the like for displaying calendar information (current year / month / day), time information, and the like superimposed on a photographed image based on information obtained by a time measuring device (not shown). Which generates a signal,
The signal generated by the recording information generator 11 is added to the adder 1
2 is added to the image signal and superimposed and displayed.

Recorder section 13 functioning as recording means
Records an image signal, to which the recording information output by the recording information generating unit 11 is added by the adder 12, on a recording medium such as a tape or an optical disk based on a command from the CPU 16.

The display generation unit 14 provides various camera information (zoom magnification, exposure correction value, ON / OFF of backlight correction, remaining battery capacity, remaining storage capacity of a recording medium, etc.) to the user based on a command from the CPU 16. The camera information signal is generated to be superimposed on the photographed image and displayed on the display unit 21 described later, and the signal from the adder 12 is further added to the adder 15.
This camera information signal is added. That is, these camera information signals are not supplied to the recorder unit and are not recorded on the recording medium.

Image reduction processing unit 18 as image reduction means
Performs a reduction process by thinning out the image signal from the adder 15 in order to reduce and display the image display on the display unit 21 at the center in response to a command from the CPU 16. further,
When the image signal is reduced by the image reduction processing unit 18, the imaging information generation unit 17 that functions as the imaging information display unit or the information display unit in accordance with the instruction of the CPU 16
A signal for displaying photographing information is generated in an image frame outside the display area based on the reduced image signal on the display unit 21.

The adder 19 adds the image signal processed by the image reduction processing section 18 and the photographing information signal generated by the photographing information generating section 17, and displays the result on the display section 21.

The display section 21 functions as an image monitor,
It is configured by an LCD or the like, and generates an image signal and a photographing information signal that have been subjected to the above-described processing.

The ROM 23 is a storage medium for storing programs for performing various processes of the image pickup apparatus including the above-described various processes. The CPU 16 downloads these programs to the RAM 24 and executes the programs as necessary. Is read and control is performed for each unit of the imaging apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a display flowchart for performing a process of displaying an image on the display unit 21 of the imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment.

At s1, power is first turned on.

Then, in s2, the CPU 16 causes each unit to perform a processing operation so as to be in a recording standby state. For example, the CPU 16 causes the imaging unit 10 to perform exposure adjustment (AE) and automatic focus adjustment (AF). , The image processing unit 22 executes the white balance adjustment.

Further, in the recording standby state, the display unit 2
The display on the screen 1 can be easily confirmed as the recording standby state, and the display control as shown in FIG. 4 is executed so as not to miss the recording timing. At this time, the CPU 16 as control means
Is operated to reduce the display range on the display unit 21 by the image reduction display means, and is further displayed in the non-display area of the image by the imaging information generation unit 17 as information display means for displaying control information (imaging information). You. That is, in order to accurately grasp the recording start timing, the entire subject image is displayed without displaying the character information such as the shooting mode on the screen. However, an area for displaying current mode information and various necessary control information is formed around the screen. Further, the display area of the subject image is reduced by the image reduction processing unit 18, and a display area of information is generated around the area.

In s3, when the trigger switch 20b is pressed, the recorder section 13 causes the image processing section 22
The recording of a signal obtained by adding the image signal processed by the above and the recording information signal generated by the recording information generating unit 11 is started. This allows the operator to check the entire captured image and display various types of control information around the image, so that the screen is organized and the operability is very effective.

In s4, in the recording state, the display on the display screen is displayed on the display unit 21 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, character information indicating that recording is in progress is superimposed on the captured image at the corner of the screen and displayed.

In s5, when the trigger button 20b is pressed again, that is, in the recording state, the trigger button 2b is pressed.
If 0b is pressed, the process returns to s2 if the power switch is not turned off in s6, enters the recording standby state again, the recording operation of the recorder unit is interrupted, and the image in FIG. Will be displayed.

In s6, when the power switch is turned off, the operation of the imaging device ends. Next, FIG.
16 shows a flowchart of a display process on the display unit 21 by the display unit 16.

In s11, the CPU 16 determines whether or not the trigger switch 20b is turned on.
The image signal to which the recording information signal or the camera information signal is added as necessary is directly supplied to the display unit 21 and
Is displayed as follows. At this time, the image reduction processing unit 18
The image signal is passed through without operation. Also, the photographing information generating unit 17 is not operated (however, FIG.
In the case where character information indicating that recording is being performed is displayed at the corner of the screen as in (1), the photographing information generating unit 17 is operated to generate a signal to that effect).

In step s11, when the CPU 16 determines that the trigger switch 20b is OFF and the apparatus is in the recording standby state, the adder 12 or the adder 15 adds the recording information signal or the camera information signal as necessary. The signal is subjected to processing for reducing the display of the image on the display unit 21 at the center.

At s13, an adder 19 adds a photographing information signal for displaying photographing information in an empty display area other than the reduced image display to the reduced image signal.

In s14, the display unit 21 displays the screen shown in FIG. 4 on the basis of the image signal added by the adder 14.

As described above, on the screen of the display unit 21 during the recording standby, the photographed image is reduced to some extent as shown in FIG. Are displayed together. For this reason, the shooting information can be clearly displayed separately from the image display area, and the shooting timing can be prevented because the shot image can be clearly checked. In addition, in the recording state, the image is displayed on the entire screen of the display unit so that accurate shooting can be executed.

(Second Embodiment) In recent years, a video camera has an image pickup device having a function of electrically enlarging an image by digital image processing called electronic zoom, or an image area which is displayed on an LCD or the like in advance. An image pickup apparatus having an electronic image stabilizing function of electrically correcting a shake by imaging a portion of the image and detecting a blur of the image to change a position where the image is displayed has been commercialized.

In the present embodiment, the image reduction processing is performed by sharing the image reduction processing performed in the first embodiment with the digital image processing section that performs digital image processing by the above-described electronic zoom or the like. Things.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 9, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. In FIG. 9, the digital image processing unit 18
Is located immediately after the image processing unit 22 because an image to be displayed on the display unit 21 is determined, and executes an enlargement process for electronic zoom or electronic image stabilization as electronic zoom means.
It is executed by 16 commands.

After the power switch is turned on, when the trigger switch 20b is determined to be off by the CPU 16, it is determined that the recording standby state is set, and the digital image processing unit 25 applies a predetermined process to the image signal so as to reduce the image. Is applied.

When the digital image processing unit 18 is executing the enlargement process of the electronic zoom or the electronic image stabilization, if the image signal processed by the original enlargement magnification is further reduced, the display unit 21 can display the image signal. As shown in FIG. 4, a display during standby for recording can be obtained.

As described above, by using the digital image processing section for executing the image reduction processing also as the processing section for electronically enlarging an image such as an electronic zoom, the circuit is simplified and the size of the apparatus is reduced. You.

In the above-described embodiment, in the recording standby state, a clear mode information display area is secured.
In addition, the entire captured image is slightly processed so as not to block the subject image. Even during recording, the image may be reduced as shown in FIG. 6 and imaging information indicating that recording is in progress may be displayed in an area outside the displayed image. Also, the reduced image need not be displayed at the center of the display unit 21, and the shooting information may be displayed in an empty space other than the display area by being brought to a corner of the screen.

[0047]

As described above, according to the first, third, and sixth aspects of the present invention, the entire photographed image can be displayed without being interrupted by the display of the photographing state information. Reliable shooting can be performed while recognizing the state information. In addition, since the image and the information are displayed separately, erroneous recognition and the like can be prevented, and the screen can be easily viewed, and as a result, operability is improved.

According to the second aspect, the display of the photographing state information displayed on the display means is not recorded, and an image which has not been reduced can be recorded.

Further, according to the present invention, the image is reduced and displayed during the recording standby, and information on the photographing state indicating that the recording is standby is displayed in an area outside the displayed image. Therefore, the photographing state can be grasped, and the photographed image is not obstructed by the display of the photographing state information. Therefore, it is possible to provide an excellent image pickup apparatus without delaying the photographing and recording timing.

According to the fifth aspect, during recording, a normal image is displayed without reducing the image, so that accurate photographing can be performed.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the circuit is simplified by also using the processing section for electronically enlarging an image such as an electronic zoom, thereby realizing the miniaturization of the apparatus.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a display screen of a display unit during recording according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a display screen of a display unit during recording according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a conventional display screen during recording standby.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display screen during recording standby according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a flowchart of display processing in display according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display screen during recording standby according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an imaging device according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an image display flowchart of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an imaging device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 imaging unit 13 recorder unit 16 CPU 17 shooting information generation unit 18 image reduction processing unit 21 display unit

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An image pickup apparatus comprising a display unit for confirming a photographed image, comprising: an image pickup unit for photographing a subject; and reducing the photographed image to the display unit according to a photographing state of the image pickup device. Image reduction display means for displaying, and imaging information display for displaying information on the imaging state of the imaging device outside the display area of the image reduced by the image reduction display means according to the imaging state of the imaging device An imaging apparatus comprising: 2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a recording unit that records an image captured by the imaging unit. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the reduced image display means is configured to display the reduced image on the display means when no image is recorded by the recording means. Characteristic imaging device. 4. The image capturing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image capturing information display unit captures the image of the image capturing apparatus outside a display area of the image reduced by the image reduction display unit when no image is recorded by the recording unit. An imaging apparatus characterized in that information on a state is displayed according to a shooting state of the imaging apparatus. 5. An imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said image reduction display means and said photographing information display means are not operated when an image is being recorded by said recording means. . 6. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reduced by the image reduction display means is displayed at a display center of the display means. 7. An electronic zooming device according to claim 1, further comprising: electronic zooming means for electronically enlarging / reducing an image picked up by said image pickup means, wherein said image reduction display means can be used also as said electronic zooming means. An imaging device, comprising: 8. A recording unit for recording an input image, a display unit for displaying the input image, an image reduction display unit for reducing a display range of an image on the display unit, and a standby state for a recording operation of the recording unit Control means for operating the image reduction display means to reduce the display range of the image. 9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising information display means for displaying predetermined control information in a non-display area of an image formed by reducing the display range. apparatus.