KR20090129742A - Digital camera with zooming function using touch screen and photographing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A digital camera with a zooming function using a touch screen and a photographing method are provided to display a symbol for guiding one selection among enlargement magnifications, thereby changing a zoom lens into a desired enlargement magnification by once manipulation. CONSTITUTION: A zoom lens unit(10) has one among a plurality of enlargement magnifications. A photographing element(20) changes image light into an electric signal. A touch screen(30) generates a signal corresponding to a location in which touch is detected. A controller(40) operates the zoom lens unit at the selected enlargement magnification.

Description

Digital camera with zooming function using touch screen and photographing method}

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital camera having a touch screen and an imaging method, and more particularly, to a digital camera capable of accurately and conveniently executing a zoom function using a touch screen and easily predicting an area to be enlarged. And an imaging method.

The zoom function of the camera refers to a function of zooming in on a distant object and displaying the enlarged image by optically adjusting the zoom lens, or reducing and displaying the enlarged image again. A camera equipped with a zoom function is provided with operation means such as a button or a dial for executing such a zoom function.

Recently, in order to increase the convenience of the user's camera operation, a touch screen is mounted on the camera. The user may check an image to be captured by the camera through the touch screen, and select / execute an operation menu of the camera by touching the touch screen with a hand or a touch pen.

In a camera equipped with a touch screen, a zoom function menu may be implemented on the touch screen instead of installing a separate button for executing the zoom function. Conventionally, a zoom function menu implemented in a touch screen includes a zoom-in button for displaying an enlarged image by zooming in on an object and a zoom-out for reducing and displaying the enlarged image again. A button is provided.

In such a conventional camera, the magnification of the zoom lens is gradually changed whenever the user touches the zoom-in button or the zoom-out button on the touch screen. Therefore, in order to change the zoom lens from the initial position (wide) to the position of the largest magnification, there is an inconvenience of repeatedly pressing the button on the touch screen. In other words, even if the user wants to operate the zoom lens at a high level of magnification beyond the low level of magnification level without changing the magnification of the zoom lens step by step, there is a problem that a button on the touch screen has to be operated several times. .

In addition, the user could not predict in advance how much the image currently displayed on the screen will be enlarged when he presses the zoom function manipulation button on the touch screen. That is, the user may not know which part of the currently displayed image is to be enlarged and displayed on the entire screen, and thus may feel inconvenient in using the zoom function.

An object of the present invention is to provide a digital camera and an imaging method capable of executing a zoom function using a touch screen.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a digital camera and an imaging method of which the operability of a zoom function using a touch screen is improved since the zoom lens can be changed to a desired magnification through one operation.

Still another object of the present invention is to allow a user to predict a portion to be enlarged in an image to be photographed according to an enlarged magnification of a zoom lens, and to change the zoom lens to a desired magnification, so that it is easy to use and has improved accuracy. An imaging method is provided.

The present invention provides a digital camera and an image capturing method having a zoom function using a touch screen which displays a symbol guiding the user to select an enlargement ratio when the zoom function is executed, and allows the user to select the symbols to execute the zoom function. To provide.

A digital camera according to the present invention includes a zoom lens unit driven to have any one of a plurality of magnifications, an image pickup device for converting image light formed by the zoom lens unit into an electrical signal, and an image to be picked up by the image pickup device. A touch screen that displays and detects a touch on the surface to generate a signal corresponding to the detected position, and displays a symbol on the touch screen along with an image to guide the user to select one of the magnifications and drives the zoom lens unit at the selected magnification. It is provided with a control unit.

In the present invention, the magnifications of the zoom lens unit are divided into multiple stages, and a plurality of symbols are displayed on the touch screen so as to correspond to the magnification magnifications respectively. Can be driven at an enlarged magnification.

In the present invention, symbols may be disposed at edges of areas to be enlarged and displayed on the entire screen of the touch screen corresponding to the respective magnifications.

In the present invention, when the drag touch moving along the surface of the touch screen is detected, the controller may determine the magnification to drive the zoom lens unit in proportion to the distance moved along the surface of the touch screen.

In the present invention, the symbol includes a figure surrounding at least a portion of the edge of the area to be enlarged and displayed on the entire screen of the touch screen in correspondence with the respective magnifications, and the controller moves along the surface of the touch screen and touches. When the drag touch is detected, the size of the symbol may be changed as the touched position of the surface of the touch screen is changed.

The imaging method according to the present invention comprises the steps of: displaying an image of a subject to be imaged by a zoom lens unit on an imaging surface of an imaging device on a touch screen, determining whether to select a zoom function, and zooming when a zoom function is selected Displaying a symbol on the touch screen along with an image to guide the user to select one of the magnifications for the function, detecting that the symbol is selected by touching the surface of the touch screen, and when the symbol is selected, a zoom lens Driving the unit to display the enlarged image on the touch screen.

In the present invention, the zoom lens unit is driven by a plurality of magnifications divided into multiple stages, and a symbol may be disposed at an edge of each area to be enlarged and displayed on the entire screen of the touch screen in response to the magnifications.

As described above, the digital camera having the zoom function using the touch screen of the present invention and the image capturing method include a symbol for guiding selection of one of a plurality of magnifications of the zoom lens unit on the touch screen, and thus through a single operation. You can change the zoom lens to the desired magnification. As a result, the operability of the zoom function using the touch screen may be improved.

In addition, since the user can predict the portion to be enlarged in the image to be photographed according to the magnification of the zoom lens and change the zoom lens to a desired magnification based on this, convenience and accuracy in using the zoom function are improved.

Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of a digital camera having a zoom function using a touch screen according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram of a digital camera having a zoom function using a touch screen according to an embodiment of the present invention. The digital camera shown in FIG. 1 may include various types of digital imaging devices such as digital still cameras and digital camcorders.

In the digital camera having a zoom function using the touch screen according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the zoom lens unit 10 having the plurality of lenses 12 and the image formed by the zoom lens unit 10 are electrically connected. A control unit which receives the signal of the touch screen 30 and receives the signal of the touch screen 30, and an image pickup device 20 for converting to 40.

The zoom lens unit 10 includes a plurality of lenses 12 to perform the function of imaging external image light on the imaging surface of the imaging device 20. The lenses 12 are arranged to be variable in distance from each other. If the distance between the lenses 12 is changed, the magnification by the zoom lens unit 10 is changed.

The lenses 12 are driven by the zoom driver 11 having a driving means such as a zoom motor, so that the positions of the lenses 12 may vary. The zoom driver 11 is operated by receiving a control signal from the driving circuit unit 42 of the controller 40. Accordingly, the zoom driver 11 may drive the zoom lens unit 10 such that the zoom lens unit 10 has any one of a plurality of magnifications.

The imaging device 20 may include a photoelectric conversion device such as a charge coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS), and electrically converts image light incident through the zoom lens unit 10. Convert to a signal. The process of converting image light into an electrical signal may include detailed steps such as first converting an analog signal and converting an analog signal into a digital signal.

The touch screen 30 performs a function of displaying an image captured by the imaging device 20 and a function of sensing a touch on a surface and generating a signal corresponding to the detected position.

The touch screen 30 is an input device that replaces a keyboard and a mouse. Since the touch screen 30 can be directly touched with a hand or a pen to perform a desired task, an intuitive work can be performed under a graphical user interface (GUI) environment. It is a device that lets you.

The touch screen 30 may include a display unit 31 for displaying an image and a detector 32 for detecting a touch of a surface. As the display unit 31, a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic light emitting diode (OLED) may be used. The sensing unit 32 may be installed on the surface of the display unit 31 to sense a touch of the surface. The sensing unit 32 may use various types of technologies such as resistive sensing means, capacitive sensing means, surface acoustic wave use sensing means, infrared (IR) use sensing means, and optical use sensing means.

The controller 40 is electrically connected to the image pickup device 20, the zoom driver 11, and the touch screen 30, and transmits and receives a control signal with these components to control the operation of each component, or Performs functions such as processing. The control unit 40 includes an image processing unit 41, a driving circuit unit 42, a touch screen control unit 43, a memory control unit 44, and the like. The controller 40 may be implemented as a microchip or a circuit board including the microchip, and each component included in the controller 40 may be implemented by software or circuits included in the controller 40. .

FIG. 2 is an operation state diagram showing a touch screen of the digital camera according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an operation showing a state of selecting a magnification of the zoom lens unit in the touch screen of the digital camera shown in FIG. 4 is an operational state diagram illustrating a state in which an image enlarged by a zoom lens unit is displayed in the digital camera of FIG. 1.

When the user operates the zoom menu 61 displayed on the touch screen 30 using the touch pen 60 or a finger, an operation signal is input to the touch screen controller 43 of the controller 40. The driving circuit unit 42 and the touch screen control unit 43 of the control unit 40 transmit a control signal to each of the zoom driving unit 11 and the touch screen 30 based on the input operation signal.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the digital camera displays an image of a subject to be captured, the user may touch the zoom menu 61 displayed together with the image on the touch screen 30 to use the zoom function. However, the present invention is not limited to the method of operating the zoom menu 61 displayed on the touch screen 30 to use the zoom function in the digital camera. The zoom function of the digital camera can be executed, for example, by operating the function button 51 or the operation dial 52 arranged next to the touch screen 30.

When the user operates the zoom menu 61 of the touch screen 30, a plurality of symbols 62 are displayed on the touch screen 30 to guide the selection of the magnification of the zoom lens unit 10. The symbols 62 overlap with the image to be imaged by the image pickup device 20 and are displayed on the touch screen 30.

Magnification magnifications in which the zoom lens unit 10 can be driven are divided into multiple levels, and symbols 62 are displayed to correspond to respective magnification magnifications. When any one of the symbols 62 is selected, the controller 40 drives the zoom lens unit 10 at an enlargement magnification corresponding to the selected symbol 62. The symbols 62 are displayed in a rectangle surrounding the edge of the area to be enlarged and displayed on the entire screen of the touch screen 30 in response to the magnifications of the zoom lens unit 10.

When the user touches any one of the symbols 62 and selects an enlargement magnification, the sensing unit 32 of the touch screen 30 detects this and a signal is input to the touch screen controller 43. The driving circuit 42 applies a control signal for driving the zoom lens unit 10 to the zoom driver 11 based on the signal input to the touch screen controller 43.

When the zoom lens unit 10 is driven by the zoom driver 11, the magnification by the zoom lens unit 10 is changed. The image enlarged by the zoom lens unit 10 is displayed on the touch screen 30 as shown in FIG. 4. In this state, the user may press the shutter button 70 to capture the current enlarged image. When the shutter button 70 is pressed, the image picked up by the image pickup device 20 is converted into image data through the image processing unit 41, and the converted image data is stored in the memory 50 by the memory control unit 44. Can be.

When the user operates the zoom menu 61 again in the state of FIG. 4, the symbols corresponding to the magnifications of the zoom lens unit 10 that can be changed in the current state are displayed again to enlarge the magnification of the zoom lens unit 10. You can also change

In this way, the user can change the zoom lens unit 10 to the desired magnification by one simple operation of selecting the symbols 62 displayed on the touch screen 30 when using the zoom function of the digital camera. It has the advantage of very convenient operation.

In addition, when the zoom function is used, the symbols 62 guide the edges of the area to be enlarged and displayed on the entire screen of the touch screen 30 in response to the plurality of magnifications that the zoom lens unit 10 may have. Since the user can accurately predict the portion of the image to be enlarged, the use of the zoom function is convenient and accurate.

5 is an operation state diagram of a touch screen of a digital camera according to another embodiment of the present invention.

In the digital camera according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the symbols 162 displayed on the touch screen 30 have been modified from the symbols of FIGS. 2 to 4.

When the user touches the zoom menu 61 displayed on the touch screen 30 using the touch pen 60 or a finger, a plurality of symbols for guiding the selection of the magnification of the zoom lens unit 10 of FIG. 162 is displayed on the touch screen 30. The symbols 162 overlap with the image to be imaged by the image pickup device 20 of FIG. 1 and are displayed on the touch screen 30.

The selection of the magnification of the zoom lens unit 10 by the symbols 62 displayed on the touch screen 30 is made by drag touch. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the magnification is selected by touching one symbol. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the zoom lens is proportional to the distance moved along the surface of the touch screen 30. Selection of the magnification of the unit 10 is made.

Drag touch refers to a touch method for moving a predetermined distance along the surface of the touch screen 30. The touch screen 30 detects a moving distance of the touch pen 60 or a finger moved across the symbols 162 and transmits a signal to the controller 40. The controller 40 determines an enlargement magnification for driving the zoom lens unit 10 in proportion to the distance moved along the surface of the touch screen 30, and drives the zoom lens unit 10 at the determined magnification.

6 is an operation state diagram of a touch screen of a digital camera according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Even in the digital camera according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, when the user touches the zoom menu 61 of the touch screen 30 using the touch pen 60 or a finger, the magnification of the zoom lens unit on the touch screen 30 may be changed. Symbols 261, 262 and 263 are displayed to guide the selection of one. The symbols 261, 262, and 263 overlap the image to be captured by the image pickup device 20 of FIG. 1 and are displayed on the touch screen 30.

The symbols 261, 262 and 263 displayed on the touch screen 30 include a drag sensing symbol 261 and magnification guide symbols 262 and 263.

The drag sensing symbol 261 performs the same function as the symbol 162 for sensing a touch moving along the surface of the touch screen 30 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5. Accordingly, the touch screen 30 detects a moving distance of the touch moved across the drag sensing symbol 261 and changes the magnification of the zoom lens unit in proportion to the moving distance.

The magnification guide symbols 262 and 263 are symbols disposed at the edge of the area to be enlarged and displayed on the entire screen of the touch screen 30 in response to the magnification of the zoom lens unit.

The magnification guide symbols 262 and 263 are touch pens 60 when the user performs a drag touch to move along the surface of the touch screen 30 across the drag sensing symbol 261 of the touch screen 30. Is displayed to indicate the current magnification. That is, when the touch pen 60 is at the position 261a of the large magnification, the symbol 262 located at the corresponding edge is displayed on the touch screen 30, and when the touch pen 60 is at the position 261b of the small magnification. The touch screen 30 displays a symbol 263 positioned at an edge thereof.

Although not shown in FIG. 6, while the touch pen 60 is moved between the position of the small magnification 261b and the position of the large magnification 261a, the touch pen 60 is disposed at an edge of a rectangle having a size corresponding to each magnification. The symbols to be displayed may be displayed continuously changing. When the drag touch is detected, the size of the magnification guide symbols 262 and 263 indicating the area of the image to be enlarged is changed by the magnification of the zoom lens unit as the touched position on the touch screen 30 is changed. It is easy to predict the area to be.

The magnification of the zoom lens unit is selected as the magnification when the touch pen 60, which has been in contact with the touch screen 30, is spaced apart from the surface of the touch screen 30 and the detection of the drag touch is finished.

7 is an operation state diagram of a touch screen of a digital camera according to another embodiment of the present invention.

In the digital camera according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the shapes of the symbols 361 displayed on the touch screen 30 are modified. The symbols 361 are edges 371 of the area to be enlarged and displayed on the entire screen of the touch screen 30 in response to the magnification of the zoom lens unit to perform a function of selecting a magnification of the zoom lens unit. Are placed on each. The symbols 361 of FIG. 7 are formed in a circle arranged at a vertex of the edge 371 of the area to be enlarged and displayed.

As such, the symbols 361 are disposed in some areas of the edge 371, so that the user can conveniently and accurately select the magnification to be enlarged, and the interference between the images of the subject to be imaged and the symbols 361 is minimized. Is reduced.

8 is an operation state diagram of a touch screen of a digital camera according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Also in the digital camera according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, when the user selects the zoom menu of the touch screen 30 using the touch pen 60 or a finger, one of the magnifications of the zoom lens unit is selected on the touch screen 30. Symbols 461 and 463 are shown to guide the user. The symbols 461 and 463 are displayed on the touch screen 30 by being superimposed with the image to be imaged by the image pickup device 20 of FIG. 1.

The symbols 461 and 463 displayed on the touch screen 30 include a magnification selection symbol 461 and a magnification guide symbol 463.

The magnification selection symbols 461 are edges of the area to be enlarged and displayed on the entire screen of the touch screen 30 in response to the magnification of the zoom lens unit to perform a function of selecting a magnification of the zoom lens unit. Each of which is disposed at 471. The magnification selection symbols 461 are formed of a cross-shaped figure disposed at a vertex of the edge 471 of the area to be enlarged and displayed.

When the user touches one of the magnification selection symbols 461 using the touch pen 60 or a finger, the selected symbol is transformed into an emphasis symbol 462 having a different size and color. When the selected symbol is transformed into the highlighted symbol 462, the magnification guide symbol 263 is displayed at the edge 471 where the touch magnification selection symbol 461 is located.

Therefore, the user can conveniently and accurately select the magnification of the zoom lens unit by selecting any one of the magnification selection symbols 461 corresponding to each magnification, and at the moment of selecting any one of the magnification selection symbols 461. Since the selected symbol is changed to the highlighted symbol 462 and the magnification selection symbol 461 is displayed in the corresponding selection area, the area to be enlarged can be accurately predicted and the convenience of the touch screen 30 is improved.

9 is a flowchart illustrating a photographing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The photographing method shown in FIG. 9 includes displaying an image of a subject to be captured (S100), determining whether to select a zoom function (S110), and displaying a symbol for guiding a region to be enlarged on a touch screen. (S120), detecting the selection of a symbol on the touch screen (S130), and driving the zoom lens unit (S140) to display the enlarged image on the touch screen (S150).

Displaying an image to be captured (S100) corresponds to a preview function of a digital camera that displays an image of a subject to be captured on a touch screen. In the step S100 of displaying an image to be photographed, an image of a subject to be photographed by forming an image on an image pickup surface of an image pickup device by a zoom lens unit is displayed on a touch screen.

The determining of whether to select the zoom function (S110) is a step of determining whether the user selects the zoom function by operating the zoom menu of the touch screen or the zoom function button provided in the digital camera. If shooting is performed by directly operating the shutter button without selecting the zoom function, step S160 of performing shooting is performed to take a picture by the image pickup device.

If it is detected that the zoom function is selected, a step (S120) of displaying a symbol on the touch screen to guide the touch screen to select one of the magnifications for the zoom function is performed. The symbol guiding to select one of the magnifications may be displayed on the touch screen in superimposition with the image to be captured. The zoom lens unit may be driven to have any one of a plurality of magnifications divided into multiple levels, and a symbol for guiding selection of one of the magnifications may be enlarged and displayed on the entire screen of the touch screen in response to the magnifications. May be disposed at each of the edges of the regions.

When the user touches a symbol displayed on the touch screen, the touch screen senses the user's touch to detect the position of the displayed symbols (S120). When the symbol is selected, an enlargement magnification of the zoom lens unit is determined correspondingly, and thus, driving the zoom lens unit to have the determined enlargement magnification (S140) is performed.

When the zoom lens unit is driven, since the zoom lens unit has an enlargement magnification corresponding to the selected symbol, the image light of the enlarged image is formed in the image pickup device. Therefore, the touch screen displays the enlarged image (S150).

The user checks the enlarged image, determines the composition, and performs shooting by operating the shutter button (S160). In operation S160, the image light incident on the image pickup device may be converted into an electrical signal, processed into image data, and then stored in a memory or displayed on a touch screen.

As described above, the photographing method according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention enables the enlargement magnification of the zoom lens unit to be selected by one operation, thereby improving operability of the zoom function using the touch screen, and increasing the magnification of the zoom lens unit. Therefore, the user can predict in advance the image to be taken is convenient.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the above-described embodiments, these are merely exemplary, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and equivalent other embodiments are possible. Therefore, the true technical protection scope of the present invention will be defined by the appended claims.

1 is a block diagram of a digital camera having a zoom function using a touch screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an operating state of the touch screen of the digital camera according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

3 is an operating state diagram illustrating a state in which an enlargement magnification of a zoom lens unit is selected on a touch screen of the digital camera illustrated in FIG. 2.

4 is an operating state diagram illustrating a state in which an image enlarged by a zoom lens unit is displayed in the digital camera of FIG. 1.

5 is an operation state diagram of a touch screen of a digital camera according to another embodiment of the present invention.

6 is an operation state diagram of a touch screen of a digital camera according to another embodiment of the present invention.

7 is an operation state diagram of a touch screen of a digital camera according to another embodiment of the present invention.

8 is an operation state diagram of a touch screen of a digital camera according to another embodiment of the present invention.

9 is a flowchart illustrating a photographing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

10: zoom lens unit 51: function button

11: zoom drive 52: operation dial

12: lenses 60: touch pen

20: image pickup device 61: zoom menu

30: touch screen 70: shutter button

31: display unit 261: detection symbol

32: detection unit 261: drag detection symbol

40: control unit 461: magnification selection symbol

41: image processing unit 462: emphasis symbol

42: drive circuit section 62, 162, 361: symbols

43: touch screen controller 371, 471: edge

44: memory control unit 262, 263, 463: magnification guide symbol

50: memory

Claims (7)

A zoom lens unit driven to have any one of a plurality of magnifications; An imaging device for converting the image light formed by the zoom lens unit into an electrical signal; A touch screen for displaying an image to be picked up by the image pickup device and detecting a touch on a surface to generate a signal corresponding to the detected position; And And a control unit which displays a symbol for guiding selection of one of the magnification magnifications on the touch screen together with the image, and drives the zoom lens unit at the selected magnification magnification. The method of claim 1, The enlarged magnifications of the zoom lens unit are divided into a plurality of stages, and a plurality of symbols are displayed on the touch screen so as to correspond to the enlarged magnifications, and when any one of the symbols is selected, the controller selects the zoom lens unit. A digital camera, driven at the magnification corresponding to the preference. The method of claim 2, And the symbols are respectively disposed at an edge of an area to be enlarged and displayed on the entire screen of the touch screen corresponding to each of the magnifications. The method of claim 1, The control unit determines the magnification to drive the zoom lens unit in proportion to the distance moved along the surface of the touch screen when a drag touch moving along the surface of the touch screen is detected. The method of claim 1, The symbol includes a figure surrounding at least a part of an edge of an area to be enlarged and displayed on the entire screen of the touch screen in response to each of the magnifications, and the controller moves along the surface of the touch screen and touches the touch screen. When the drag touch is detected to change the size of the sign as the touched position of the surface of the touch screen changes, the digital camera. Displaying an image of a subject to be imaged on an image pickup surface of the image pickup device by a zoom lens unit on a touch screen; Determining whether a zoom function is selected; If a zoom function is selected, displaying a symbol along with the image on the touch screen to guide the user to select one of the magnifications for the zoom function; Detecting that the symbol is selected by touching the surface of the touch screen; And And driving the zoom lens unit to display an enlarged image on the touch screen when the symbol is selected. The method of claim 6, And the zoom lens unit is driven at a plurality of magnifications divided into multiple stages, and the symbol is disposed at an edge of each region to be enlarged and displayed on the entire screen of the touch screen in response to the magnifications.

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