JPH11164175A - Operation unit for equipment provided with screen display part - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an operational unit, easily operable by any one, for equipment provided with a screen display part and to perform miniaturization of a camera and enlargement of a display part by applying it to a digital camera. SOLUTION: A touch panel 12 is provided on the front surface of a display part 10 formed on a digital camera 1, a place (pressurizing position) of touching the display part 10 at the time of holding the camera is discriminated, the pressurizing position is turned to a reference and operation buttons such as a shutter button 30, a zoom-up button (TELE button) 32 and a zoom-down button (WIDE button) 34, etc., are overlapped on photographing images and displayed (overlay-displayed) around it.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for operating a device having a screen display unit, and more particularly to a device which is applied to a digital camera or the like and performs a desired operation via a touch panel provided on the display unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional digital camera has an operation section such as a release button and a zoom lever in a housing, and the camera can be operated by operating this operation section. In addition, a display unit such as a liquid crystal display is provided on the back of the camera or the like, and a display unit that can display a captured image is widely known. As described above, in the conventional digital camera, the operation unit and the display unit are separated. However, the configuration of the operation unit has been a problem in reducing the size of the camera and the size of the display unit.

On the other hand, in the field of television cameras, there has been proposed a system in which a touch panel is provided in front of a monitor screen for displaying a camera image, and the television camera is controlled by touching the touch panel (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-12).
No. 1219). In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-212857, a transmissive panel input device (corresponding to a touch panel) is arranged on the front of a display unit of an image display device for displaying an image captured by a camera of a door phone with a camera, and is displayed on a screen. A display operation device of a home control system that controls a device by touching an operation key is disclosed.

[0004] In addition, there is also a method in which operation items of the video camera are superimposed and displayed on a display device for displaying an image taken by the video camera, a touch panel is provided on an image display section, and the operation items are operated with a finger. It has been proposed (JP-A-9-116792).

[0005]

However, even if the technology described in each of the above publications is diverted to provide a touch panel on the display unit of the digital camera to realize camera operation by touching the screen, the following digital camera is used. There is a specific problem, and there is a problem that the technology described in each of the above publications cannot be simply applied to a digital camera.

That is, there is a disadvantage that displaying an operation section (operation items) on the display section necessarily results in a small image of the subject being displayed. In a digital camera, a photographer must hold a display unit (screen) in order to grasp a body of the camera. Therefore, it is difficult to provide operation keys and operation items in the grip portion, and it is necessary to devise how to avoid the grip portion.
In particular, it is difficult to provide a touch-type operation panel that is easy for all persons to operate, because the method of gripping the camera varies from person to person and the size of the hands.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an operation device that can be easily operated by all persons in a device having a screen display unit. It is an object to provide a digital camera capable of increasing the size of a section.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a screen display for displaying at least character or image information, a touch panel provided in front of the screen display, and the touch panel. Detecting means for detecting the pressed position of the button, and, based on the pressed position detected by the detecting means, displaying a predetermined operation button around the pressed position on the screen display unit so as to overlap the character or image information. An operation button display processing unit to be operated, and a control unit that, when an operation button displayed on the screen display unit is pressed by the operation button display processing unit via a touch panel, performs operation control according to the pressed operation button. And, it is characterized by having.

According to the present invention, when the user touches the screen display,
The touched position (pressed position) is detected via the touch panel and the detecting means. Then, based on the detected pressed position, predetermined operation buttons are superimposed and displayed on the screen along with characters and image information on the periphery thereof. When the displayed operation button is pressed through the touch panel,
The operation defined for the pressed operation button is executed.

Thus, the operation buttons can be displayed near the position where the operator has arbitrarily touched the screen display section,
The operation is easy for all operators. Also,
Since the operation buttons are displayed so as to be superimposed on information such as characters and images, the information such as characters and images are not displayed in a small size, and the necessary information such as images and the operation buttons are both easily visible on the screen. Is displayed at the same time.

In displaying predetermined operation buttons based on the position (pressed position) at which the screen display unit is pressed, the display area on the screen where the operation buttons can be displayed according to the pressed position is limited. Focusing on the fact that the touch panel region is divided into a plurality of areas in advance, the arrangement of operation buttons is predetermined for each area, and the pressed position detected by the detection unit is An area discriminating unit for discriminating to which of the plurality of areas the device belongs, and an arrangement mode changing unit for displaying operation buttons in an operation button arrangement mode corresponding to the area determined by the area discriminating unit; It is characterized by that.

According to this configuration, the display screen of the screen display section is divided into a plurality of areas, and a button arrangement pattern (arrangement form) for displaying operation buttons is determined for each area. Then, when the screen display unit is pressed, the area to which the pressed position belongs is determined by the area determining means, and the layout is changed to an arrangement form according to the area to which the screen display unit belongs. Thus, no matter where the display screen of the screen display unit is pressed, the operation buttons are appropriately arranged according to the pressed position.

However, if the arrangement of the operation buttons is frequently changed by the arrangement mode changing means when the screen display section is touched again, it may be difficult to operate the operation buttons. The display-unchanged area is set in advance at the boundary between the areas, and after the operation buttons are displayed in the first layout form corresponding to the first area determined by the area determination means, Second area determining means for determining whether the second pressing position detected by the detecting means belongs to a display non-change area set at a boundary portion of the first area, and the second pressing position Is determined by the second area determining means to be outside the first area and to belong to a display non-change area set at a boundary portion of the first area. Change hands In without changing the arrangement of the operation buttons, is characterized by comprising a display unchanged means for maintaining said first arrangement form.

According to the aspect of the present invention, if the touched position (the second pressed position) is within the display non-change area, the arrangement of the operation buttons is not changed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent frequent changes in the arrangement of the operation buttons due to a slight change in the pressed position due to retouching, thereby improving operability. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the above-described invention is applied to a digital camera, and an image pickup unit having at least an image pickup optical system and an image pickup device, and a signal processing for processing a video signal read from the image pickup unit Unit, a recording unit that records image data processed by the signal processing unit, a screen display unit that displays an image captured via the imaging unit,
A touch panel provided on the front surface of the screen display unit, and a detecting unit for detecting a pressed position of the touch panel,
Operation button display processing means for arranging a predetermined operation button around the pressed position detected by the detection means as a reference and superimposing the operation button on the image and displaying the image on the screen display unit, and the operation button display processing When an operation button displayed on the screen display unit is pressed by a means via a touch panel, a control unit that performs operation control according to the pressed operation button is provided.

According to the present invention, when the user touches the screen display unit while holding the digital camera, the touched position (pressed position) is detected via the touch panel and the detecting means.
Then, based on the detected pressed position, predetermined operation buttons are displayed on the screen so as to be superimposed on the image on the periphery thereof. Thereafter, when the operation button is pressed through the touch panel, various operations of the camera defined by the pressed operation button are executed.

Thus, the operation buttons can be displayed near the position where the photographer has arbitrarily touched the screen display section,
Camera operation becomes easy for all photographers.
In addition, the screen display unit and the operation unit of the camera can be integrated, and the size of the camera can be reduced.

[0017]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a preferred embodiment of an apparatus for operating a device having a screen display unit according to the present invention. 1 and 2 are external views of a digital camera to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 1 is a front view, and FIG. 2 is a rear view. As shown in these drawings, an imaging unit 2 is provided at the upper left corner of the front of the digital camera 1, and the left front part of the camera including the imaging unit 2 is:
Grip unit 4 so that the photographer can easily hold the camera with his right hand
Are formed. The imaging unit 2 has a photographing lens (photographing optical system), and a CCD (image pickup device) (not shown) is arranged behind the photographing lens. Although the configuration of the taking lens is not shown, for example, a rear focus type zoom lens including a zooming group and a correction group is used.

An auxiliary light emitting portion 6 is provided at the upper right corner of the front of the camera, and a power switch 8 is provided at the upper surface of the camera. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a single display unit (screen display unit) 10 is provided on substantially the entire back surface of the camera. The display unit 10 is configured by, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD), and a light-transmissive touch panel 12 is provided on the front surface of the display unit 10.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the digital camera 1. The digital camera 1 mainly includes an imaging unit 2, a signal processing unit 14, an internal memory (or an external memory) 16, an output memory 18, a D / A converter 20, a display unit 10, a touch panel 12, and a central processing unit (CP).
U) 22 etc. C via the photographing lens of the imaging unit 2
The subject image formed on the light receiving surface of the CD is photoelectrically converted by the CCD and sequentially read as a video signal. Although the detailed configuration of the signal processing unit 14 is not shown, the signal processing unit 14 includes, as is well known, an analog processing circuit such as a CDS clamp circuit and a gain adjustment circuit, an A / D converter, and
It includes a luminance signal generation circuit, a color difference signal generation circuit, and a digital image processing circuit such as a gamma correction path. The imaging unit 2
The video signal read out from the video processor is appropriately signal-processed in the signal processing unit 14, and is recorded in a recording unit such as a built-in memory 16 (for example, a flash memory built in a camera) or an external memory card.

The video signal read from the photographing unit 2 and the video signal read from the built-in memory (or external memory card) 16 are processed by the signal processing unit 14 and then output to the output memory 18. Is done. Then, the video signal is guided to the display unit 10 via the D / A converter 20, and the captured image is displayed on the display unit 10. The display unit 10 can display not only a still image photographed by the shutter release operation but also a video (moving image or intermittent image) before the shutter release operation.

The CPU 22 controls and controls each circuit of the camera. The CPU 22 determines a pressed position (touched position) of the touch panel 12 based on an input signal from the touch panel 12 (operation unit), and performs zooming, focusing, and the like. The control of the imaging unit 2 for photographing the image, the display control of the display unit 10, the control of writing / reading of image data to / from the internal memory 16, and the like are performed.

As shown in FIG. 4, when trying to hold the digital camera 1 with the right hand 26, the thumb 27 normally touches the display unit 10. Since the way of gripping the camera and the size of the hand vary from person to person, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, a place where the display unit 10 is touched is determined, and a shutter button 30 is provided around the place. ,
Operation buttons such as a zoom-up button (TELE button) 32 and a zoom-down button (WIDE button) 34 are superimposed on the captured image (overlay display).

Next, an example of a display form of the operation buttons will be described. FIG. 6 shows the display unit 1 when the user grips the camera.
9 is a chart showing a correspondence relationship between a region touching 0 and an arrangement mode of operation buttons. As shown in the figure, the screen of the display unit 10 is divided into four areas, and the layout of the operation buttons is determined corresponding to each area. That is, the display unit 1
When touching the area 10A of the place 1 on the right side of the center of 0,
The area determined to be pressed first (touch determination area) 36
A S1 button 30A for instructing the start of focusing and photometry, and an S2 button (shutter release button) 30B for instructing execution of photographing are arranged inside the S1 button on the left side of the reference. Then, the zoom-up button 32 is arranged above the touch determination area 36, and the zoom-down button 34 is arranged below the touch determination area 36 (first column in FIG. 6).

If the user touches the edge of the screen display section 10 such as above or below, the zoom-up button 32 and the zoom-down button 34 may not be displayed separately in the upper and lower directions. As shown in FIG.
When the user touches the area 10B of the place 2 on the upper side, the S1 and S2 buttons 30A and 30B are arranged on the left side of the touch judgment area 36, and the zoom-up button 32 is positioned below the touch judgment area 36. The zoom down button 34 is arranged side by side.

As shown in the third column of FIG. 3, when the user touches the area 10C of the place 3 below the display unit 10, the S1 and S2 buttons 30A are located on the left side of the touch judgment area 36 as a reference. , 30B, and a zoom-up button 32 and a zoom-down button 34 are arranged side by side above the touch determination area 36. Usually, it is considered that the above three forms are sufficient. However, if the left end of the screen display unit 10 is touched, the S1 and S2 buttons 30A and 30B may not be arranged on the left side of the touch determination area 36. When the user touches the area 10D of the place 4 on the left side of the display unit 10 as shown in the fourth column of FIG. 4, the S1 and S2 buttons 30A and 30B are arranged on the right side of the touch determination area 36 as a reference. Alternatively, the zoom-up button 32 may be arranged above the touch determination area 36, and the zoom-down button 34 may be arranged below the touch determination area 36.

Although the arrangement of the operation buttons shown in FIG. 6 is based on the assumption that the grip portion 4 of the camera is gripped by the right hand, a usage mode of gripping and operating with the left hand is also conceivable, and operation with the left hand is easy. Such a button arrangement may be set. In addition, a means for detecting whether the user has been gripped with the right hand or the left hand is provided so that the user can operate with either the right hand or the left hand, and the button arrangement is switched to a button arrangement mode that is easy to operate with the hand on the gripped side. It is also possible.

Further, as described with reference to FIG. 6, if the arrangement of the operation buttons is frequently changed when the camera is grasped again (when the camera is touched again), it may be difficult to operate the camera. Each area 10A, 10B, 10
A display non-change area may be set at the boundary between C and 10D. For example, as shown in FIG.
7 for the area 10A of the place 1 on the right side of the center of FIG.
As shown in (b), a display non-change area 40 having a predetermined width is provided around the area 10A of the place 1.

In this case, even if the area near the area first touched (for example, location 1) is touched again, if the touched position is within the display non-change area 40, the layout of the operation buttons is changed. do not do. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the display form from frequently changing due to the retouching, thereby preventing the operation from being confused. Next, a processing procedure of the CPU relating to the operation button display and the operation determination of the digital camera configured as described above will be described.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of the processing of the CPU 22. When the power switch 8 is turned on, first, the information of the previous pressed position of the touch panel 12 (previous storage position) that has been recorded in the internal memory of the CPU 22 in the previous operation is erased and the memory is initialized. (Step 101). Next, the touch panel 12
It is determined whether or not has been pressed (step 102). The process of step 102 is repeated until the touch panel 12 is pressed, and when it is confirmed in step 102 that the touch panel 12 has been pressed, the position where the touch panel 12 is pressed (the pressed position) is grasped based on the input signal from the touch panel 12. At the same time, it is confirmed whether or not the memory of the previous pressing position (previous position) exists in the memory (step 104).

If the previous position is not stored in the memory, it is determined which area 10A to 10D the current pressed position belongs to on the entire display surface of the display unit 10 (step 1).
06), the display mode of the operation button is determined according to the determination result. That is, when it is determined in step 106 that the current pressed position belongs to the area 10A of the place 1 described in FIG. 6, each operation is performed in the display form (switch display 1) shown in the first column of FIG. Buttons (30A, 30B,
32, 34) are arranged and displayed on the screen (step 108).

On the other hand, when it is determined that the pressed position belongs to the area 10B of the place 2 described with reference to FIG. 6, each of the operation buttons is displayed in the display form (switch display 2) shown in the second column of FIG. Placed and displayed on the screen (step 10
9). When it is determined that the pressed position belongs to the area 10C of the place 3 described in FIG. 6, the operation buttons are arranged in the display form (switch display 3) shown in the third column of FIG. It is displayed on the screen (step 110).
Then, the pressed position is the area 10 of the place 4 described in FIG.
If it is determined that the button belongs to D, the operation buttons are arranged in the display form (switch display 4) shown in the fourth column of FIG. 6 and displayed on the screen (step 111).

As described above, after each operation button is displayed according to the pressed position (steps 108, 109, 110, 1).
11), the process proceeds to step 116, and the current pressed position (the position where the touch panel 12 is pressed) is stored in the internal memory. Next, it is determined whether or not the place where the touch panel 12 is pressed has moved (step 118). The process of step 118 is repeated until the pressed position of the touch panel 12 moves, and after confirming that the pressed position of the touch panel 12 has moved, subsequently, it is determined whether or not an operation button (switch) exists at the pressed position. A determination is made (step 120).

If the user touches a place where no operation button exists, the process returns to step 118. On the other hand, if it is determined in step 120 that the user touches the place where the operation button exists, the process defined for the operation button is executed (step 122).
For example, when the S1 button 30A is pressed, focusing and photometry are started, and when the zoom-up button 32 is used, the zoom is moved to the tele side. When actually photographing a still image, it is necessary to move the thumb from the first touch position, touch the S1 button 30A first, and then press the S2 button 30B substantially at the same position as the S1 button again. Become.

After the processing of step 122, it is determined whether or not the touch panel 12 is still being pressed (step 124). If the touch on the touch panel 12 is continued, the process returns to step 118 and repeats steps 118 to 124 described above. On the other hand, Step 1
At 24, if the touch on the touch panel 12 has been released, the process returns to step 102. Thereafter, when it is confirmed in step 102 that the touch panel 12 has been pressed again, in the subsequent processing in step 104, it is determined that the previous position has been stored since the previous pressed position has already been stored in step 116. Will be.

In this case, subsequently, the current pressing position is shown in FIG.
It is determined whether or not it belongs to the display non-change area 40 described in (5) (step 105). Each operation button (30A, 30B, 32, 34) is displayed on the screen in the same display mode (switch display) (step 114). This prevents frequent changes in the display mode due to retouching.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 105 that the current pressed position belongs to an area other than the display-unchanged area 40, the process proceeds to step 106, and as described above, the area 10A to 10D to which the pressed position belongs. (Steps 108, 10)
9, 110, 111). Thus, after each operation button is displayed (steps 114, 108, 109, 110, 1).
11), the process proceeds to step 116, where the information on the stored position is rewritten and updated with the information on the current pressed position. After that, the process returns to step 102 through the processes of steps 118 to 124 as described above, and a series of processes is repeated.

Next, some specific examples of means (overlay circuit) for displaying the operation buttons superimposed on the screen of the display unit 10 will be described. FIG. 9 shows a first example of the overlay circuit. In the overlay circuit shown in FIG. 3, a changeover switch 52 is provided between a luminance signal (Y signal) bus sent from the signal processing unit 14 described in FIG. 3 and a memory 50 for recording the luminance signal. A changeover switch 56 between a color signal (C signal) bus sent from the processing unit 14 and a memory 54 for recording the color signal;
Is provided. These changeover switches 52, 5
The sixth contact is configured to be switched by a control signal from the CPU 22.

In the figure, the Y signal and the C signal are shown by one line, but each signal is a bus in which video signals are bundled. It is possible to switch to the inverted output of the most significant bit.
Switching to a signal corresponding to the ground (GND) level of the video signal is possible.

The CPU 22 compares the address of the video signal sent from the signal processing section 14 with the address of the overlay image 58 stored in the internal memory. Control is performed to lower the pieces 52A and 56A downward. This allows
In the image on the display unit 10, white or black overlay display is possible only in the overlay portion.

When the video signals sent to the memories 50 and 52 are not Y / C signals, that is, when the video signals are RGB signals, as shown in FIG. By synthesizing the Y signal and the C signal from the RGB signals using the signal synthesizing circuit 62, the same processing as the example described in FIG. 9 can be performed. In FIG. 10, the same or similar members as those in the example shown in FIG.
The description is omitted.

In the examples shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the case where the Y / C signal is handled as the display memory is described.
It is also possible to directly handle RGB signals. In this case, the circuit configuration is as shown in FIG. Reference numeral 6 in FIG.
0 'is a Y signal synthesizing circuit, 62 is an R signal recording memory, 6
3 is a G signal recording memory, 64 is a B signal recording memory,
Reference numerals 66, 67, and 68 are changeover switches whose contact points are controlled by the CPU 22.

In this case, an accurate Y signal (0.3R + 0.59G + 0.11B) may be synthesized in the Y signal synthesizing circuit 60 ', but the synthesizing ratio is set to 0.25R + 0.5G + 0.25B or 0.33R +
The processing can be simplified to 0.33G + 0.33B or the like. Furthermore, you may synthesize | combine using only the upper 2 bits of each color (RGB). This is because only the most significant bit of the combined signal is used, and it is sufficient to not generate an accurate Y signal.

In addition to displaying the operation buttons in white or black on the screen, the operation buttons can be displayed with shading on the screen. FIG. 12 shows an example of an overlay circuit for displaying operation buttons with shading on the screen. At the time of video output, the contacts of the changeover switches 52 and 56 are switched by a control signal from the CPU 22 to switch the memories 50 and 5.
4 is similar to the example shown in FIGS. 9 to 11.

In the circuit shown in FIG. 12, the entire Y signal is data-shifted by the data shift circuit 70 instead of the configuration in which the inverted output of the most significant bit of the Y signal is applied to all bits. The MSB (most significa
When the shift is made to the nt bit) side, the overlay portion is displayed bright, and when the shift is made to the LSB (least significant bit) side, the overlay portion is displayed dark. Adopting such a circuit has an advantage that the subject displayed on the display unit 10 is not damaged, as compared with a form in which a diagram representing the operation buttons is overlaid (FIGS. 9 to 11).

In the circuit configuration shown in FIG. 12, the color signal of the overlay portion is set so that only that portion is not colored. However, as shown in FIG. The circuit 70 'itself is connected to the CPU 2
2, the data shift itself of the Y signal may be controlled. Note that a structure may also be adopted in which the color signals are also data shifted.

FIGS. 14A and 14B show a configuration example of the data shift circuit 70 'of FIG. FIG.
In the case of adopting the structure of (a), the CPU 22 compares the address of the video signal sent from the signal processing unit 14 with the address of the overlay image 58 stored in the internal memory. The control of (a) is performed in which each switch contact piece is tilted upward or downward. The Y signal shifts up when the switch contact piece is tilted upward, and shifts down when the switch contact piece is tilted downward.

When the structure shown in FIG. 14B is employed, the CPU 22 compares the address of the video signal sent from the signal processing section 14 with the address of the overlay image 58 stored in the internal memory, and the two match. In this case, the switch of FIG. 14B is controlled to tilt downward to shift down the Y signal. Furthermore, for example, when overlaying quadrilateral operation buttons, the buttons can be displayed three-dimensionally. That is, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, two overlay images (white side) 58A and 58B (black side) are provided, and the data shift circuit 70 'can shift up and down as shown in FIG. Is adopted. For each of the overlay images 58A and 58B, a rectangular shape is formed as a three-dimensional one, and each overlay image having a shape simulating a state in which light is shining from the upper left side is created.

The CPU 22 compares the address of the video signal (data) sent from the signal processing unit 14 with the address of the overlay images 58A and 58B.
When the address matches the address of the overlay image 58A on the white side, the Y signal is shifted so as to increase, and when the address matches the address of the overlay image 58B on the black side, the Y signal is shifted so as to decrease. At other times, the data shift section does not work (the switch contact is kept horizontal in FIG. 14), and the video signal is directly guided to the memories 50 and 54 (through).

Thus, a display (shaded display) in which a rectangular button is three-dimensionally raised in a part of the video signal as shown in FIG. 16 can be realized. FIG. 17 shows another configuration of the overlay circuit. If you have two types of overlay images, white side and black side,
It is also possible to display an overlay with a black frame around the white shape so that it is easy to see even on a white or black screen. That is, as shown in FIG. 17, a white overlay image 58C depicting a square operation button with a white line and a black overlay image 58D with a black border around the white square are provided. Changeover switches 72, 7
The switching of the contact No. 4 is controlled by the CPU 22.

The CPU 22 compares the address of the video signal (data) sent from the signal processing unit 14 with the address of the overlay image 58C, 58D. When the address matches the address of the overlay image 58C on the white side, the changeover switch 72, The contact piece 74 is moved upward, and when the address coincides with the address of the overlay image 58D on the black side, the contact pieces of the changeover switches 72 and 74 are moved downward. In other cases, the contact pieces of the changeover switches 72 and 74 are kept horizontal in FIG.
It is led to 4.

Thus, even when a white square (operation button) is displayed on a white screen, a black frame is provided, and the operation button can be clearly distinguished from the surrounding white screen. In the above embodiment, the case where the operation device of the device having the screen display unit according to the present invention is applied to a digital camera is described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to the digital camera, and information such as an address book and a schedule is provided. Personal digital assistants (PDAs) with the function of recording / displaying, PDAs with digital cameras, video mobile phones, video phones, etc.
It can be applied to various devices.

In the above embodiment, the case where the touch panel 12 is touched with a finger (hand) has been described.
2 may be pressed.

[0053]

As described above, according to the operation device for a device having a screen display unit according to the present invention, a touch panel is provided on the screen display unit, a position where the screen display unit is pressed is detected, and the pressed position is detected. Since the operation buttons are displayed around the periphery, the operator can smoothly perform a desired operation from the position where the operation button is first pressed, and the operation becomes easy. Also,
Since the operation buttons are displayed so as to be superimposed on information such as characters and images, the information such as characters and images are not displayed in a small size, and the necessary information such as images and the operation buttons are both easily visible on the screen. Are displayed simultaneously.

Further, when the present invention is applied to a digital camera, the operation buttons can be displayed near the position where the photographer grips the camera and arbitrarily touches the screen display section. Operation becomes easy. In addition, the screen display unit and the operation unit of the camera can be integrated, and the size of the camera can be reduced. Furthermore, in such a digital camera, the camera can be operated by moving the finger from the place where the photographer first touches the screen display unit while holding the camera, so that if the user gets used to it, he does not need to look at the screen display. There is also an advantage that a desired operation can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front external view of a digital camera to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the digital camera shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the digital camera.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which a digital camera is gripped.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display example of operation buttons.

FIG. 6 is a table showing a relationship between an area touched by a finger when the digital camera is gripped and an arrangement of operation buttons;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a setting example of a display non-change area.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a CPU of the digital camera.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram showing a first example of an overlay circuit.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram showing a second example of the overlay circuit.

FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram showing a third example of an overlay circuit.

FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram showing a fourth example of an overlay circuit.

FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram showing a fifth example of the overlay circuit.

FIG. 14 is a circuit diagram illustrating a configuration example of a data shift circuit;

FIG. 15 is a configuration diagram showing a sixth example of the overlay circuit.

16 is a diagram showing a display example of operation buttons by the overlay circuit of FIG.

FIG. 17 is a configuration diagram showing a seventh example of an overlay circuit.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a display example of operation buttons by the overlay circuit of FIG. 17;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Digital camera (equipment) 2 ... Imaging part 10 ... Display part (screen display part) 12 ... Touch panel 14 ... Signal processing part 16 ... Built-in memory 22 ... Central processing unit (CPU) 30A ... S1 button (operation button) 30B ... S2 button (operation button) 32 ... zoom up button (operation button) 34 ... zoom down button (operation button) 36 ... touch judgment area (pressed position)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A screen display unit for displaying at least character or image information, a touch panel provided on a front surface of the screen display unit, a detection unit for detecting a pressed position of the touch panel, and the detection unit On the basis of the detected pressing position, an operation button display processing means for displaying a predetermined operation button on the screen display unit superimposed on the character or image information around the pressing position, and the operation button display processing means A control unit that, when an operation button displayed on the screen display unit is pressed through the touch panel, performs an operation control in accordance with the pressed operation button, a device having a screen display unit Operating device. 2. An area of the touch panel is divided into a plurality of areas in advance, and an arrangement form of operation buttons is determined in advance for each area, and a pressing position detected by the detection unit is selected from among the plurality of areas. An area discriminating unit for discriminating to which area it belongs to; and an arrangement mode changing unit for displaying operation buttons in an arrangement mode of operation buttons corresponding to the area determined by the area discriminating unit. An operation device for a device having the screen display unit according to claim 1. 3. A display-unchanged area is set in advance at a boundary portion of each of the areas, and after an operation button is displayed in a first layout form corresponding to the first area determined by the area determining means. A second area determination unit configured to determine whether a second pressed position detected by the detection unit belongs to a display non-change area set at a boundary portion of the first area; and When the second area discriminating means determines that the pressed position is outside the first area and belongs to the display non-change area set at the boundary of the first area. 3. An apparatus having a screen display unit according to claim 2, further comprising: a display non-change means for maintaining the first arrangement form without changing the arrangement form of the operation buttons by the arrangement form changing means. Operating device. 4. An image pickup unit having at least an image pickup optical system and an image pickup element, a signal processing unit for processing a video signal read from the image pickup unit, and recording image data processed by the signal processing unit. A recording unit; a screen display unit that displays an image captured via the imaging unit; a touch panel provided on the front surface of the screen display unit; a detection unit that detects a pressed position of the touch panel; On the basis of the pressed position detected by the means, a predetermined operation button is arranged around the pressed position, and the button is overlapped with the image and displayed on the screen display unit. When an operation button displayed on the screen display unit is pressed through a touch panel, a control unit that performs operation control according to the pressed operation button is provided. Digital camera according to claim.