JPH11331647A - Electronic image pickup device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance the snapshot performance by improving the operability of menu display or the like. SOLUTION: A display section 26 is provided to a left side rear face of a camera main body 21. A menu key 30, a cross key 28 and an enter key 29 are placed closely to the display section 26. The menu key 30 is operated to display a menu of a hierarchical structure. L, R keys of the cross key 28 are used to designate host hierarchical layers laid out in the horizontal direction of the display section 26 and an UP key and a DOWN key are used to designate subordinate hierarchical layers laid out in the vertical direction. Thus, the user operates the menu intuitionally to facilitate menu items thereby enhancing the snapshot performance.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic imaging apparatus capable of recording and reproducing a captured image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, electronic still cameras and the like which convert a subject image into an electric signal by a photoelectric conversion element such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) and perform predetermined digital signal processing and then record it on a recording medium such as a memory card. Electronic imaging devices have become widespread. In a conventional electronic imaging apparatus, in addition to a viewfinder for observing a subject, a thin film transistor (TFT) is used for displaying a reproduced image and displaying photographing information and the like.
or) Some have a monitor using a liquid crystal panel (LCD). The shooting information includes sensitivity, shutter speed, quality, white balance, and the like.

A subject image that has passed through an optical system during photographing is converted into an electric signal by a CCD serving as an image pickup device. By subjecting the electric signal to a predetermined signal processing, a recording signal of a captured image is created. This recording signal is recorded on a recording medium such as a memory card.

In a conventional electronic image pickup apparatus, not only printing is performed based on a recording signal recorded on a recording medium, but also the recording signal is read out and reproduced.
The photographed image can be viewed on the monitor screen. In this case, some devices are shared between the recording mode and the reproduction mode. For this reason, an operation button (hereinafter, referred to as a mode button) for switching between a recording mode and a reproduction mode is provided on the surface of the camera body.

The user can operate the mode button to specify the recording mode to shoot a subject image. By operating the mode button to specify the playback mode, the recorded image can be displayed on the monitor. Becomes possible. After the camera is turned on, the system controller automatically detects the state of the mode button,
The recording mode or the reproduction mode is set.

[0006] High-end class cameras are multifunctional and have a playback mode in addition to the recording mode as described above, so that there are extremely many types of operations for designating functions. If one operation button is assigned to each operation, the number of operation buttons becomes enormous and handling becomes extremely difficult.

Therefore, an apparatus has been developed which displays an item on a screen and selects an item on the screen by key operation to realize a function. For example, there is known a large information device that displays a tree having a hierarchical structure on a screen and can easily select necessary information by operating a mouse or a keyboard. However, since such a device becomes large, it cannot be applied to a small electronic imaging device.

On the other hand, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 6-44318, file information of image information recorded with a directory structure is displayed by using a relatively narrow display unit by a display method utilizing the advantages of a tree display. There has been proposed an electronic imaging device that performs this operation.

According to this proposal, a large number of image files can be classified and selected without impairing the portability of the device. However, in this proposal, since the data that can be displayed on the display unit is limited, the operation is difficult for an unskilled person. In particular, in an electronic imaging apparatus used by an unspecified number of people regardless of age and gender, it is extremely important to make the display easy to see and to simplify the operation.

Therefore, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-207343 proposes a device in which operability is improved by hierarchically displaying various information on a display device. In this proposal, a main menu is first displayed by operating a menu key. This main menu is for selecting and displaying a sub-menu. The sub-menu is selectively displayed by a selection ring or an up / down key.
Further, a desired mode is selected from the sub-menu. The operability is improved by sequentially selecting and displaying the hierarchically structured menu using the enter key. In recent years, display devices have become more compact and high-definition display has become possible. Hierarchical display according to this proposal is extremely effective.

[0011]

However, in the conventional electronic imaging apparatus, the key operation for selecting a specific item in the hierarchical display and the key operation for confirming the selected menu are relatively complicated. . For this reason, when such an operation is required immediately before photographing, there is a problem that the photographer may take a long time to operate the keys and miss a photo opportunity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide an electronic imaging apparatus capable of enabling quick photographing by improving the operability of a selection operation. And

[0013]

According to the present invention, there is provided an electronic image pickup apparatus for photographing a subject, recording an image obtained by the photographing on a recording medium, and displaying at least various information. A display unit, an operation key for moving an index displayed on the display unit, and a plurality of items based on the various information are arranged in an operation direction of the operation key and displayed on the display unit; Display control means for moving the indicator in the operation direction of the operation key in response to an operation to specify a predetermined item of the plurality of items.

In the present invention, a plurality of items based on various kinds of information are arranged and displayed in the operation direction of the operation keys on the display unit by the display control means. When the operation key is operated, the display control means moves the index in the operation direction and selects each item.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of an electronic imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
(B) is seen from the left side. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a cross key and an enter key in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the cross key and the enter key portion taken along line AA in FIG. FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of the cross key and the enter key. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the electronic imaging apparatus of FIG.
Is a flowchart for explaining the operation. 13 and 14 are explanatory diagrams for explaining menu display, and FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing frame number display.

In FIG. 1, a camera body 21 of an electronic image pickup apparatus 20 has a protruding portion 22 in which a cylindrical photographing optical system such as a photographing lens is provided from the front left side. This photographing optical system is provided at the left rear end of the camera body 21 with a viewfinder 23 for observation.
It has. A grip portion 24 for supporting the camera body 21 with the right hand of the photographer is formed at the right end of the camera body 21.

The grip portion 24 has a concave portion 25 formed on the rear right side of the camera body 21, and the concave portion 25 is shaped so as to easily engage with the base of the right thumb of the photographer. The photographer can place the middle finger, ring finger and little finger of the right hand mainly on the right front side of the camera main body 21 and support the camera main body 21 by grasping these fingers and the thumb engaged with the recess 25. It has become. In general, the photographer supports the left side of the camera body 21 with the left hand from below to improve the stability of the camera body 21.

Viewfinder 2 on the rear left side of camera body 21
A display unit 26 of a liquid crystal monitor is provided near 3. The liquid crystal monitor is constituted by, for example, a TFT-LCD. In the present embodiment, the space between the display section 26 on the back surface of the camera body 21 and the concave section 25 is formed in a flat shape, and the cross key 28
The menu key 3 is located above the cross key 28.
0 is provided. An enter key 29 is provided at the center of the cross key 28. These cross keys 28, the enter key 29, and the menu key 30 can be operated on the tip end of the thumb when the photographer holds the grip portion 24. ing.

A shutter button 31 is arranged on the right side of the upper surface of the camera body 21 at a position where the photographer can operate with the index finger while holding the grip portion 24, and a zoom button near the shutter button 31. Button 32 is also provided. A control panel 33, various buttons 34, and the like are also provided on the upper surface of the camera body 21, and a power switch 35 is provided on the left side.

In FIG. 2, the cross key 28 has an up (UP) key 41, a down (DOWN) key 42, a left (L) key 43, and a right (R) key 44. Each of the keys 41 to 44 has the same shape as each other, and its front shape is a shape excluding a circular arc portion at the center of a sector having a central angle of 90 degrees. As a whole, the front shape is configured to be a circular shape excluding the concentric circle on the center side.

At a portion surrounded by the cross key 28, a decision key 29 whose front shape is concentric with the cross key 28 is provided. FIG. 3 shows these keys 43, 29, and 44 cut along the line AA in FIG.

In FIG. 3, the reinforcing plate 51 is provided facing an opening provided in the planar portion 27 on the back surface of the camera body 21. A lower electrode sheet 53 and an upper electrode sheet 54 are provided on the reinforcing plate 51 with a contact spacer 52 interposed therebetween. A cross key 28 and a confirmation key 29 supported by a frame 55 on the upper electrode sheet 54 are provided.

The contact spacer 52 is opened at a position corresponding to each of the keys 29, 41 to 44, and these openings are respectively connected to the lower electrode sheet 53 or the upper electrode sheet 5 respectively.
4 are provided with contact portions 56 and 57 which are electrically connected. Click plates 58a and 58b are provided on the upper electrode sheet 54 at positions corresponding to these contact portions 57 between the lower portions of the respective keys 29, 41 to 44. A click plate 58a is provided corresponding to the key 29,
A click plate 58b is provided corresponding to the keys 41 to 44.

The lower portion of each key 29, 41 to 44 has a projection 60 which engages with a projection 59 provided on the frame 55. Each key 29, 41 to 44 has an engagement between the projections 59 and 60. By doing so, the upward movement is suppressed, and a predetermined pressing force is applied to the click plates 58a and 58b. The click plates 58a and 58b have a predetermined elastic force,
By moving the lower part of each key 29, 41 to 44 downward by a predetermined amount or more, the upper electrode sheet 54 is bent downward, the contact part 57 is moved downward, and the contact part 5 is moved.
7, 56 are brought into contact with each other.

When the photographer depresses the key top of each key 29, 41 to 44, the lower part of each key 29, 41 to 44 moves in the direction of the click plates 58a, 58b. The click plates 58a and 58b do not bend the upper electrode sheet 54 until the amount of downward movement of the lower part of each of the keys 29, 41 to 44 exceeds a predetermined value. When the amount of downward movement of the lower portion of each of the keys 29, 41 to 44 exceeds a predetermined value, the click plates 58a, 58b push down the upper electrode sheet 54, and at this time, the click plate 58
The repulsive force of the keys a, 58b against the keys 29, 41 to 44 changes. This change in the repulsive force is transmitted as a click feeling to the finger of the photographer pressing the key top of each of the keys 29, 41 to 44.

By changing the size, material, and the like of the click plates 58a and 58b, the change in the repulsive force from the click plate 58a to the key 29 is greater than the change in the repulsive force from the click plate 58b to the keys 41 to 44. Set to be larger. In addition, contact portions 56 and 57
Is set such that the load on the key required to contact the key (hereinafter, referred to as an operating force) is larger in the key 29 than in the keys 41 to 44. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the average height of the keys 29 is made lower than the average height of the other keys 41 to 44.

FIG. 4 shows the electrical configuration of the cross key 28 and the enter key 29. A power supply voltage Vcc is supplied to one of the lower electrode sheet 53 and the upper electrode sheet 54,
The other is connected to a system control unit (not shown) via an interface 65. The lower electrode sheet 53 and the upper electrode sheet 54 are connected in accordance with the operation of the keys 29, 41 to 44, and connect the power supply voltage Vcc to the interface 6.
5 The interface 65 is connected to the power supply voltage Vcc.
Is converted into a predetermined signal and supplied to the system control unit.

FIG. 5 shows a circuit configuration including such a system control unit.

In FIG. 5, the photographing lens 1 forms a subject image on an image pickup surface of a CCD 2 which is an image pickup device. The CCD 2 converts an optical image formed on the imaging surface into an electric signal and outputs the electric signal to the imaging unit 3 as an image signal. The imaging unit 3 performs processing such as gamma correction processing, color separation processing, and white balance processing on the image signal from the CCD 2 to obtain an image signal in a predetermined color space. The image signal from the imaging unit 3 is supplied to the recording unit 4 and also to the electronic zoom circuit 8 via the switch 7.

The recording section 4 compresses the image signal from the imaging section 3 and supplies it to the card access section 5. The card access unit 5 writes and stores the compressed image signal in the memory card 6, reads out the image signal stored in the memory card 6, and outputs it to the reproducing unit 9.

The reproducing section 9 expands the image signal from the card access section 5 and supplies it to the switch 7. Switch 7
Is configured to select one of the image signal from the imaging unit 3 and the image signal from the reproduction unit 9 and output the selected signal to the electronic zoom circuit 8.

The electronic zoom circuit 8 can perform a zoom process on an input image signal. The image signal from the electronic zoom circuit 8 is transmitted to the OSD circuit 10
Supplied to The OSD circuit 10 superimposes a signal for superimposing and displaying a predetermined character on the captured image on an image signal and supplies the signal to the monitor 11. The LCD monitor 11 has a display unit 26
, A display based on the input image signal is projected.

The flash charging / light emission control circuit 15 has a main capacitor (not shown), and is supplied with a charging current to charge the main capacitor and to supply a charged charge to the flash light emitting unit 16. . The strobe light emitting section 16 is controlled by the strobe charging / light emission control circuit 15 to emit strobe light.

The power supply 17 is supplied with a power supply voltage from a battery 18. The power supply device 17 generates a power supply voltage used in the device and supplies the power supply voltage to the system control unit 12, and supplies the power supply voltage to each unit in the device via a switch 19.

The lens control circuit 14 realizes focus, zoom, aperture and shutter functions by controlling the state of the taking lens 1. At the time of auto focus, the lens control circuit 4 first resets the lens to the initial position.

The imaging section 3, recording section 4, card access section 5, switches 7, 19, electronic zoom circuit 8, reproduction section 9, OSD circuit 10, lens control circuit 14, and strobe charging / emission control circuit 15 are composed of a system. It is controlled by the control unit 12. System control unit 12
Is supplied with a power supply voltage from a power supply device 17 and controls each unit according to the state of each switch of the switch group 13. The switch group 13 includes the configuration shown in FIG.

Each switch of the switch group 13 is
The state changes in response to the operation of various operation buttons and the like provided on the surface of the device. That is, it responds to key operations of the keys 41 to 44 of the cross key 28, the enter key 29, the menu key 30, and the like. For example, as each switch of the switch group 13, a power switch (power SW) for controlling on / off of a power supply, a shutter switch for performing a release, and a zoom switch for changing a focal length of a lens are provided. , Flash-up switch to enable use of strobe, strobe mode switch to use strobe, self-timer switch to perform timer shooting, play switch to instruct playback, continuous playback to instruct continuous playback There are a switch, a multi-reproduction switch for instructing multi-reproduction for simultaneously displaying a plurality of images, and a power focus switch (PFSW) for power focus.

The menu switch is the menu key 3
0, which is for displaying a menu display for controlling the recording state and the reproduction state, and the like. A switch corresponding to each of the keys 41 to 44 of the cross key 28 is for selecting a menu, and a switch corresponding to the enter key 29 is used for confirming the selection.
It is for execution and the like.

Each of these switches is mainly a toggle switch, which detects a switch state based on a predetermined switch scan routine and changes the state of the apparatus.

When power-on is instructed by the power SW, the system control unit 12 performs various initial settings and turns on the switch 19 to supply a power supply voltage from the power supply device 17 to each unit. . When the power is turned on, the system control unit 12 first sets the recording mode regardless of the mode at the time of system termination.

In the recording mode, a recording mode process similar to the conventional one is performed. In addition, the system control unit 12
When the power is turned on, the lens control circuit 14 is controlled to move the taking lens to the reset position, and the flash charging / light emission control circuit 15 is controlled to start charging the flash.

The system control section 12 sets the recording mode when an operation relating to the recording mode is performed or when an operation indicating that the reproduction mode is not required is performed. I have. For example, shutter S
When an operation of turning on the W, the zoom SW, and the flash-up SW, an operation of instructing the reproduction SW to stop reproduction, and the like are performed, the recording mode is set. System control unit 12
Is to set the playback mode by performing an operation related to the playback mode. For example, when a reproduction instruction operation is performed by the play SW, the continuous reproduction SW, and the multi reproduction SW, the reproduction mode is set.

Further, the system control unit 12 also instructs the initialization of the lens and the start of strobe charging even when the menu display is instructed at the start of the reproduction mode and during the recording mode and the reproduction mode. I have.

The system control unit 12 can display different menu displays in the recording mode and the reproduction mode as the menu display. In the present embodiment,
The system control unit 12 hierarchizes the menu display, and displays at least the first and second layer menus on the display unit 26 at the same time. That is, the system control unit 12 expresses the menu display hierarchy in two dimensions, displays information (display items) of a higher hierarchy in a horizontal direction, for example, and displays information (display items) of a lower hierarchy, for example. Display vertically.

Then, the system control unit 12 selects the display items of the upper hierarchy arranged in the horizontal direction in response to the operation of the L key 43 and the R key 44 of the cross key 28, and
In response to the P key 41 and the DOWN key 42, display items of lower layers arranged in the vertical direction are selected. When the display items of the upper hierarchy are arranged vertically and the display items of the lower hierarchy are arranged horizontally, the system control unit 12 responds to the operation of the L key 43 and the R key 44. The display item of the lower hierarchy is selected, and the display item of the upper hierarchy is selected in response to the UP key 41 and the DOWN key 42. That is, the system control unit 1
Reference numeral 2 indicates that the arrangement direction of information matches the operation direction of the operation key.

Further, in the present embodiment, the system control unit 12 controls the card access unit 5 to divide the memory card 6 into a plurality of areas (pages), (Serial number) is added for recording. At the time of reproduction, the system control unit 12 specifies a photographed image by specifying a page number and a frame number. For such a reproduction instruction, the system control unit 12 can also display a frame number display for displaying a page and a frame number.

Next, the operation of the embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 6 to 12 and the explanatory diagrams of FIGS. 6 to 10 show the connection of the processing by the encircled alphabetic characters.

The system controller 12 is supplied with a power supply voltage from a power supply 17. Here, it is assumed that the user operates the power switch 35 to turn on the power. Then, a signal based on this operation is supplied from the power SW of the switch group 13 to the system control unit 12, and initialization is performed in step S1 of FIG. In the next step S2, the system control unit 12 turns on the switch 19 and supplies a power supply voltage to each unit.

In step S3, the system controller 12 determines whether or not the mode has been set when the power was turned off.
The mode is set to the recording mode. As a result, immediately after the power is turned on, a release operation can be performed by operating the shutter button without selecting a mode.

Further, in the next step S4, the system control section 12 moves the taking lens 1 to the reset position and starts charging the strobe. That is, the system control unit 12 controls the lens control circuit 14 to move the photographing lens 1 to the reset position. Further, the flash charging / light emission control circuit 15 starts charging the main capacitor.

As a result, auto-focusing and strobe light emission become possible after a relatively short time from power-on, and the release time lag immediately after power-on can be reduced.

The subsequent steps S5, S6 and S10 are processing for detecting a user operation, and these detection processings are repeatedly performed at predetermined intervals in any mode.

In step S5, the system controller 12 determines whether a switch such as a shutter switch (trigger switch), zoom switch, or flash-up switch has been turned on. If the trigger SW has not been turned on, it is determined in the next step S6 whether or not the play SW has been turned on.

Now, it is assumed that the user operates the play SW to instruct reproduction. Then, the process proceeds to step S31 in FIG. The system control unit 12 determines whether or not the reproduction mode is already set in step S31. In this case, since the reproduction mode is not set, the reproduction mode processing is performed in step S34.

In the reproduction mode, the system controller 12
Causes the switch 7 to select the output of the reproduction unit 9. The card access unit 5 reads out image data stored in the memory card 6 and outputs the image data to the reproduction unit 9. The image data is expanded by the reproducing unit 9 and supplied to the electronic zoom circuit 8 via the switch 7. The electronic zoom circuit 8 performs a zoom process on the input image signal based on a user's instruction and outputs the image signal to the OSD circuit 10.

On the other hand, not only the image data but also various information at the time of recording is output from the card access unit 5, and the OSD circuit 10 is controlled by the system control unit 12 to display the various information at the time of recording as characters. Generates a signal. The OSD circuit 10 monitors only an image signal based on a recorded image according to a user's instruction.
Or a signal based on various information at the time of recording is superimposed on this image signal and supplied to the monitor 11.

In the reproduction mode, it is possible to superimpose the photographing information display based on various information such as the recording conditions at the time of recording on the recorded image. The instruction to display the photographing information is made by operating the enter key 29.
That is, when the reproduction mode is detected in step S13 in FIG. 6, it is determined in step S51 in FIG. 10 whether or not the enter key 29 is turned on. The enter key 29 is a toggle switch, and the operation of the enter key 29 is an instruction to display the imaging information display or an instruction to delete the imaging information display.

In step S52, it is determined whether or not the photographing information has already been displayed. If the photographing information is not displayed, the photographing information is displayed on the display unit 26 of the monitor 11 in step S53. That is, the monitor 11
The recorded image is displayed together with the information at the time of recording on the display section 26.

On the other hand, when the photographing information display is already displayed and the user operates the enter key 29,
The process proceeds from step S52 to step S54, where the display of the photographing information is deleted and only the photographed image is displayed.

It is clear that the same processing as the processing after step S6 is performed even when the continuous reproduction switch and the multi reproduction switch are operated. When the continuous reproduction switch is operated, the system control unit 12 continuously reads out image data from the card access unit 5.
When multi-play is instructed, the image is reduced under the control of the system control unit 12, and a plurality of reduced images are displayed simultaneously.

In step S35, at the time of transition from the recording mode to the reproduction mode, the lens is initialized and the charging of the strobe is started.

Now, in such a reproduction mode,
It is assumed that the user determines that it is a photo opportunity. In this case, the user may operate the shutter button without performing the mode switching operation. Then, the processing from step S5 to step S21 in FIG.
And the mode is forcibly changed to the recording mode.
In step S35 in FIG. 8, since the lens initialization and the charging of the strobe have been started, the photographing is performed after a very short release time lag from the operation of the shutter button by the user.

More specifically, first, in step S22, the system control unit 12
Turn off the light. Thereby, power consumption is suppressed. Next, in step S23, the system control unit 12 controls the lens control circuit 14 and the like to perform AE (automatic exposure control) processing and AF (autofocus control) processing. AF
At the time of processing, the lens is shifted in the optical axis direction from the reset position to determine the optimal lens position.Because the lens has been moved to the reset position before the shutter button is operated, it is necessary to perform auto focus processing. The time required is short.

Next, an exposure process is performed in step S24. Even when the strobe light is emitted in the exposure processing, the time required for the exposure processing is short because the strobe is charged in the reproduction mode. Eventually, the image processing and recording in step S25 are performed relatively shortly after the operation of the shutter button.

That is, the subject image incident via the photographing lens 1 forms an image on the imaging surface of the CCD 2, and an image signal based on the subject image is supplied to the imaging unit 3. The imaging unit 3 performs predetermined signal processing on the input image signal and supplies the signal to the recording unit 4. The recording unit 4 compresses the input image signal and supplies the compressed image data to the card access unit 5. The card access unit 5 writes image data in a predetermined area of the memory card 6.

As described above, even in the reproduction mode, by operating only the shutter button, it is possible to shoot and record after a very short release time lag.
Excellent quick shooting.

The play SW is a toggle switch, and the operation of the play SW by the user may be instructing reproduction or stopping reproduction. When the play switch is operated in the playback mode, the playback is not only stopped, but also the recording mode processing is performed in step S32. As described above, the mode shifts to the recording mode even when the reproduction is stopped, and the user does not need to perform the mode shifting operation, and the operation is simplified. In addition, since the recording mode is set except during reproduction, quick shooting is possible, and the user rarely misses a photo opportunity.

The user does not need to be aware of the current mode, and is excellent in operability.

At the start of the playback mode, the lens is initialized and the strobe is charged, and the lens position does not change during the playback mode. There is no need to perform lens initialization and strobe charging start processing.

In step S33 following the recording mode processing in step S32, the TFT is turned off and the processing returns to step S5.

If neither the trigger switch nor the play switch has been operated, it is determined in step S7 whether or not the reproducing mode has been set. Assuming that the recording mode is set, the process proceeds to step S9 to charge the strobe. That is, the charge amount of the strobe is monitored and charging is appropriately performed.

In the case of the reproduction mode,
In step S8, a predetermined reproduction mode process is performed.
Next, a flash charging process in step S9 is performed. Therefore, the strobe is charged regardless of the mode, and the strobe can always emit light. Therefore, the photographing is performed after a very short release time lag from the operation of the shutter button.

By the way, as described above, the system control section 12 can display predetermined information on the display section 26 in a manner superimposed on the photographed image or independently. As the predetermined display, there is a display of photographing information such as recording conditions in the above-described reproduction mode. Further, in the reproduction mode, a frame number display for selecting an image to be displayed and a menu display for displaying and selecting printout conditions and the like can be performed. On the other hand, even in the recording mode, menu display for displaying and selecting recording conditions and the like can be performed.

These menus are displayed by the menu key 30
Is performed in response to the operation. Now, it is assumed that the photographer sets and confirms photographing conditions when photographing a subject. Even in this case, the photographer holds the camera body 21 with at least the right hand so as not to miss a photo opportunity. That is, the photographer places the middle finger, the ring finger and the little finger mainly on the front side of the grip portion 24 and puts the thumb on the concave portion 25 of the grip portion 24 to hold the camera body 21.

In this state, the photographer can set photographing conditions. That is, the photographer operates the menu key 30 by extending the thumb above the planar portion 27. This operation is detected in step S10 of FIG.
The process proceeds to step S41 in FIG. In step S41, it is determined whether the menu is already displayed. If the menu is already displayed, the operation of the menu key 30 is for deleting the menu display, and the menu display is turned off from the screen in step S44.

Since the menu key 30 is operated when the menu is not displayed, the lens initialization and the flash charging are started (step S
42) In step S43, the menu display is turned on. Thereby, the menu display at the time of recording shown in FIG. 13 is displayed on the display unit 26. Even when the photographer operates the shutter button 31 from the menu display state, the release time lag can be reduced because the lens is initialized and the strobe is charged before the shutter button 31 is operated.

FIG. 13 shows an example of a menu display in the recording mode for setting the photographing conditions. This menu display has first and second levels as shown in FIG. The first layer is information (menus) arranged in the horizontal direction of the screen, and the second layer is values (display items) for each menu of the first layer. Each item of the first and second layers is
8 is selected.

In FIG. 13, menus such as a shutter speed TV, an aperture AV, an image quality Q, a white balance WB, and a recording page PAGE can be designated as a menu display during recording. In the menu of the shutter speed TV, 1 indicating the exposure time as a value (display item)
/ 1000, 1/500, 1/250, 1/125, A
UTO (automatic) can be specified. Similarly, in the aperture AV menu, F2.
8, F4.0, F5.6, F8, and AUTO can be specified. In the image quality Q menu, SQ (normal image quality), HQ (high quality), and SHQ (super high quality) are specified as values. In the white balance WB menu, the AU value from the bottom of FIG.
TO, outdoor shooting, and indoor lighting shooting can be specified. In the menu of the recording page PAGE, 1 to 99 pages can be specified as a value.

The current setting value is indicated by surrounding the display of each value in the menu display with a square (current setting display). The menu to be set (the menu being selected) is represented by a square surrounding the entire menu, and the selection of a value (display item) is performed by a filled triangle cursor.

In FIG. 13, the current shutter speed is １ ／
50, the aperture is F8, the image quality is high quality, the white balance is auto, and the number of recorded pages is three. Further, it is shown that the menu of the shutter speed can be changed at present and the cursor is located at the position where 1/500 is specified.

In this menu display, the process shifts from step S11 to step S12 until a menu key 30 for turning off the menu display is operated, and a menu setting process is performed. The subroutine of FIG. 11 shows this menu setting process. If the menu is not being displayed, the process proceeds to step S13 without performing the menu setting process.

In FIG. 11, steps S61 to S65 are processing for detecting the operation of the cross key 28 and the decision key 29. Now, in the state of FIG. 13, the photographer changes the image quality to super high quality. In this case, the photographer moves the tip of the thumb of the right hand to the R key 44 of the cross key 28 and presses it twice.

The menus of the first hierarchy are arranged in the horizontal direction of the display unit 26, and the L and R keys 43 and 44 for selecting these menus are also arranged in the horizontal direction. The selection operation can be performed intuitively.

The keys 41 to 44 are the confirmation keys 2
9, the photographer can operate the key 44 without mistakenly pressing the enter key 29. The processing is performed by the first key operation in steps S61 through S61 in FIG.
The process proceeds to step S63 via 62, and in step S73, it is determined whether the cursor is at the right end. Since the cursor is on the leftmost menu, the process moves to step S74, and moves the cursor one step to the right. The square mark surrounding the entire menu also moves. Similarly,
By the second key operation, the cursor is further moved to the right by one step, and moves to the menu of the image quality Q.

If the cursor is located on the rightmost menu in step S73, the process proceeds to step S75 to move the cursor to the leftmost menu. Steps S69, S72, and S78 are similar processes. If the cursor is located at the end in the operation direction in steps S67, S70, and S76, respectively, the cursor is moved to the opposite end.

Next, the photographer operates the UP and DOWN keys 41 and 42 of the cross key 28 to select an item of the second hierarchy.
Operate. In this case, the display unit 2 of the item of the second hierarchy
6, the arrangement direction and the operation direction match, and the photographer can perform an intuitive operation.

That is, the photographer places the tip of the thumb on the UP key 4
Move to 1 and push once. As a result, the process shifts from step S61 to S67, and in step S68, the cursor is moved up by one step. This causes the cursor to move to S
Move to the display item of HQ.

In this state, the photographer presses the enter key 29. The enter key 29 is provided at the center of the other keys 41 to 44 for indicating the direction.
Since the actuation force is greater than when the other keys 41 to 44 are operated and the click feeling is greater than the other keys, the photographer does not mistakenly press the enter key 29. You can easily recognize the wrong push by the sense of.

When the photographer operates the enter key 29, the processing shifts from step S65 to step S66, where the item S
Move the current setting display on the HQ. By these operations, the system control unit 12 controls the imaging unit 3, the recording unit 4, and the card access unit 5 to set so as to perform shooting with the highest image quality.

In a series of these operations, the photographer can always hold the grip portion 24 with the right hand and press the shutter button 31 with the right forefinger at any time. The display unit 26 is provided near the viewfinder 23, and the menu key 30, the cross key 28, and the enter key 29 are provided between the grip unit 24 and the display unit 26. A reliable key operation can be performed while visually confirming in the unit 26,
In addition, the photographer can confirm the key operation and the menu display only by taking a short time away from the viewfinder 23.

Therefore, even when the menu is displayed, the photographer can quickly perform a photographing operation, and can prevent a photo opportunity from being missed.

Further, the menu display is displayed with a hierarchical structure, so that the entire configuration of the menu can be easily grasped.
Also, the first layer is indicated by the L and R keys 43 and 4 of the cross key 28.
4 and the second layer is UP, DOWN key 4
1, 42, and the arrangement direction of the menu display items matches the operation direction of the cross key 28, so that the menu selection operation is easy and the operability is extremely high. Thereby, the quick shooting property is excellent.

FIG. 14 shows a menu display for printing out in the reproduction mode. In FIG. 14, the reproduced image is a mountain image. A menu of the first hierarchy of zoom ZOOM, brightness, color tone R, color tone G, and color tone B and display items of the second hierarchy assigned to these menus are arranged so as to be superimposed on this image.

In FIG. 14, similarly to FIG. 13, a square (current setting display) is displayed around the display of each value in the menu display.
The current setting value is indicated by enclosing it. The menu that is being selected is represented by a square surrounding the entire menu, and the selection of a value (display item) is performed by a filled triangle cursor. In the example of FIG.
It is shown that 0.5-times zoom, brightness is set to -0.3, and color tones R, G, and B are set to +1, +1, and 0, respectively.

By the way, in the reproduction mode, reproduction in which a page and a frame number are designated is possible. FIG. 12 shows a reproduction mode processing routine in step S8 of FIG. 6 and step S34 of FIG. FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram for explaining frame number display based on page and frame numbers.

At the time of recording, the card access unit 5
Is controlled by the system control unit 12 so that the memory card 6
The image data is recorded with a series of frame numbers attached to the designated page. Therefore, at the time of reproduction, a desired image can be displayed by designating a page number and a frame number.

Note that, on the memory card 6, image data is stored as files in a hierarchical directory structure, for example, by employing a disk management method of a personal computer. For example, the image data of the fourth frame of the third page is file {XXX} PAGE
03 @ PIC0004. It is stored as JPG. In this hierarchical directory structure, the lowest hierarchy is “PI
A file name is represented by a frame number following "C", and a page is represented by a page number following "PAGE" in the second lower hierarchy.

As shown in FIG. 15, the system control unit 12 displays a frame number display indicating the page number and frame number of the currently displayed image together with the image at the upper right of the display unit 26. ing. The frame number display also has a hierarchical structure, with the upper layer specifying a page and the lower layer specifying a number. And
The system control unit 12, like other menu displays,
The upper layer page is designated by the L and R keys 43 and 44, and the frame number of the lower layer is designated by the UP and DOWN keys 41 and 44.

For example, it is assumed that a frame number indicating the first frame of the first page is currently displayed together with the image. Here, for example, it is assumed that the image of the fourth frame of the third page is displayed. In FIG. 12, steps S81 to S84 are processing for detecting an operation of the cross key 28. The photographer moves the tip of the thumb of the right hand to the R key 44 of the cross key 28 and presses it twice.

With the first key operation, the processing shifts to step S83 through steps S81 to S82 in FIG. 12, and in step S93, it is determined whether or not the cursor designates page 99. Since the current page is the first page, the process proceeds to step S94, and the page is incremented by one. Similarly, the page is further incremented by the second key operation, and as a result, the third page is displayed.

In step S93, page 99
If it indicates a page, the process proceeds to step S95 to set the page as one page. Steps S89, S92, S
98 is a similar process, and includes steps S87, S90, and S96, respectively.
In the case where the page or frame number is the minimum value or the maximum value, the maximum or minimum value is set.

Next, the photographer holds the UP key 4
Move to 1 and push in 3 times. Accordingly, the process proceeds from step S81 to S87, and the frame number is incremented three times in step S88. As a result, the frame number indicates the fourth frame.

In this state, when the processing of step S86 is executed, the image data of the designated page and frame number is read from the memory card 6 and supplied to the reproducing section 9.
In this way, as shown in FIG. 15, the image of the fourth frame of the third page specified by the user is displayed on the display unit 26, and the frame number display is simultaneously displayed at the upper right. In addition,
It is also possible not to display the frame number display.

In this way, the page and frame number can be specified by the hierarchical display, and the specification of the reproduced image is extremely easy.

Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the system control unit 12 can perform a predetermined process on the displayed image in response to the operation of the photographer. In FIG. 12, enlargement / reduction processing, luminance processing, and color tone processing are performed, but other processing is also possible. For example, an erase (delete) processing, a write protection processing, It is possible to perform print processing, gradation conversion processing, and the like.

For example, when an erase process is instructed, the system control unit 12 controls the recording unit 4 to delete the data of the displayed image from the memory card 6.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the information is divided into the first and second layers and displayed in a hierarchical manner.
The key for the upper layer and the key for the lower layer are provided independently, and the arrangement direction of the items of each layer and the operation direction of the operation keys are matched, so that the information selection operation is extremely easy, Moreover, the operation details can be visually checked,
Operability is remarkably high. Thereby, the quick shooting performance is improved.

The display form of the hierarchical display is not limited to FIGS.

[0109]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to improve the operability, thereby enabling quick photographing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an electronic imaging apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary front view showing a cross key 28 and an enter key 29 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view cut along line AA of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing a circuit configuration of a cross key 28 and a decision key 29;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the electronic imaging device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an embodiment.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an embodiment.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 ... Electronic imaging device, 21 ... Camera body, 23 ... Finder, 24 ... Grip part, 26 ... Display part, 28 ... Cross key, 29 ... Confirm key, 30 ... Menu key, 31 ... Shutter button

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A photographing / recording means for photographing a subject and recording an image obtained by the photographing on a recording medium, a display unit for displaying at least various information, and moving an index displayed on the display unit And an operation key for arranging a plurality of items based on the various kinds of information in the operation direction of the operation key, displaying the index on the display unit, and responding to the operation of the operation key to display the index in the operation direction of the operation key. And a display control means for moving the display to specify a predetermined item among the plurality of items. 2. The operation key includes: a cross key for designating an operation direction; and a confirmation key provided at a center of the cross key for confirming the item selected by the operation of the cross key. The electronic imaging device according to claim 1, wherein: