Digital Camera Patent Abstract
A digital camera includes an LCD to display a photographic image.
If an operator manipulates a menu button during displaying a memory-reproduced
photographic image on the LCD, a menu icon is displayed by superposition
on the photographic image being displayed. Simultaneously, the photographic
image is reduced in luminance. If the operator operates an image
switching button, the photographic image being displayed is renewed
by a desired photographic image. During renewal, the icon is suspended
of display and the photographic image is increased in luminance.
When the renewal is completed, the photographic image is reduced
in luminance again and the icon is redisplayed. Digital Camera Patent Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A digital camera comprising: an image monitor; a displayer which
displays a photographic image on said image monitor; an inputer
which inputs a character display command; a superposer which superposes
a character image on the photographic image in response to the character
display command; a first luminance reducer which reduces a luminance
of the photographic image in response to the character display command;
a renewer which renews the photographic image; a first luminance
increaser which increases for a predetermined time period from a
start of renewal the luminance reduced by said first luminance reducer;
and a second luminance reducer which reduces the luminance after
a lapse of the predetermined time period, wherein the predetermined
time period is a time period required for the renewal and recognition
of the photographic image.
2. A digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the photograph
image is a still image reproduced from a memory.
3. A digital camera according to claim 2, wherein said memory is
stored with compressed image data configured by the photographic
image compressed by a predetermined method, and said renewer includes
a decompressor to decompress the compressed image data by the predetermined
method.
4. A digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising a
display suspender which suspends display of the character image
and the photographic image prior to the renewal.
5. A digital camera according to claim 4, further comprising a
character redisplayer which redisplays the character image after
the lapse of the predetermined period.
6. A digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined
time period is a time period required for the renewal.
7. A digital camera according to claim 2, further comprising an
eraser which erases the photographic image recorded on said memory,
and a first enabler which enables said renewer when the photographic
image is erased by said eraser.
8. A digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising an
instructor which instructs to switch the photographic image displayed
on said image monitor, and a second enabler which enables said renewer
depending upon an output of said instructor.
9. A digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the photographic
image displayed on said image monitor is a motion image photographed
in real time.
10. A digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising a
canceller which cancels display of he character image, and a second
luminance increaser which increases the luminance depending upon
an output of said canceller.
11. A digital camera which displays a photographic image based
on photographic image data reproduced from a memory on an image
monitor at a low luminance level and superposes a character image
on the photographic image comprising: a renewer for renewing the
photographic image; a canceller for canceling display of the character
image prior to the renewal by said renewer; a luminance increaser
for increasing a luminance level of the photographic image for a
predetermined time period from a start of the renewal by said renewer;
a luminance reducer for reducing the luminance level of the photographic
image after a lapse of the predetermined time period; and a redisplayer
for redisplaying the character image after the lapse of the predetermined
time period, wherein the predetermined time period is a time period
required for the renewal and recognition of the photographic image.
12. A digital camera which displays a photographic image based
on photographic image data reproduced from a memory on an image
monitor at a low luminance level and superposes a character image
on the photographic image comprising: a renewer for renewing the
photographic image; a luminance increaser for increasing a luminance
level of the photographic image for a predetermined time period
from a start of the renewal by said renewer; and a luminance reducer
for reducing the luminance level of the photographic image after
a lapse of the predetermined time period, wherein the photographic
image data is still image data, and the predetermined time period
is a time period required for the renewal and recognition of the
photographic image.
13. A digital camera for displaying on an image monitor with a
low luminance a photographed still image based on photographed still
image data reproduced from a memory and superposing a character
on the photographed still image comprising: an adjuster for adjusting
a luminance level of the photographed still image data; a renewer
for renewing the photographed still image displayed on said image
monitor; a first instructor for instructing said adjuster to increase
the luminance level at a time of said renewer starting renewing
process; a second instructor for instructing said adjuster to decrease
the luminance level at a time of said renewer finishing the renewing
process.
14. A digital camera according to claim 13, wherein the photographed
still image data is recorded on said memory in a compressed state.
15. A digital camera according to claim 13, further comprising
an eraser for erasing the photographed still image data corresponding
to the photographed image being displayed on said image monitor,
wherein said renewer is enabled when the photographed still image
data is erased by said eraser.
16. A digital camera according to claim 13, further comprising
an instructor for instructing to switch the photographed still image
displayed on said image monitor, wherein said renewer is enabled
depending upon an output of said instructor.
Digital Camera Patent Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to digital cameras and, more particularly,
to a digital camera which is adapted to superpose character images
on a photographic image being displayed, for example, on an LCD,
according to a character display command.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the conventional digital cameras of this kind, where character
images such as icons are superposed on a photographic image displayed
on an LCD, the character and photographic image are displayed at
a same luminance level.
This, however, makes the character image and the photographic image
difficult to distinguish therebetween, thus raising a problem of
encountering difficulty in recognizing the character images.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, it is a primary object of this invention to provide
a novel digital camera.
It is another object of this invention to provide a digital camera
which is easy to recognize a character image superposed on a photographic
image.
According to the present invention, a digital camera comprising:
an image monitor; a display means which displays a photographic
image on said image monitor; an input means which inputs a character
display command; a superposing means which superposes a character
image on the photographic image in response to the character display
command; and a first luminance reducing means which reduces a luminance
of the photographic image in response to the character display command.
If a character display command is inputted during displaying a
photographic image on the image monitor, the superposing means superposes
a character image on the photographic image in response to the character
display command. Also, the first luminance reducing means lowers
the luminance of the photographic image in response to the character
display command.
In one aspect of the present invention, the photographic image
is a still image reproduced from a memory. The luminance of the
photographic image lowered by the first luminance reducing means
is increased by the first luminance increasing means for a predetermined
time period from a start of renewing the photographic image by the
renewing means.
In one embodiment of the present invention, image data of the photographic
image compressed by a predetermined method is stored in a memory.
This compressed image data is decompressed by the predetermined
method by a decompressing means during renewal.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a display suspending
means suspends display of the character and the photographic image
prior to renewal. The character suspended of display is redisplayed
by the character redisplay means after a lapse of a predetermined
time period. Incidentally, the predetermined time period is a time
period requiring the renewal.
In another embodiment of the present invention, if an erasing means
erases the photographic image recorded in the memory, the first
enabling means enables the enabling means. When an instructing means
instructs to switch the photographic image being displayed on the
image monitor, the second enabling means enables the renewing means.
In another aspect of the present invention, if the canceling means
cancels the display of the character image, the second luminance
increasing means increases the luminance of the photographic image.
According to the present invention, since the photographic image
displayed on the image monitor is reduced according to the character
display command, the character image is easy to recognize.
The above described objects and other objects, features, aspects
and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent
from the following detailed description of the present invention
when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an illustrative view showing one embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 2(A) is an illustrative view showing a main switch, while
FIG. 2(B) is a view illustrating a menu button;
FIG. 3 is an illustrative view showing part of a camera mode operation
in the FIG. 1 embodiment;
FIG. 4 is an illustrative view showing part of a reproduce mode
operation in the FIG. 1 embodiment;
FIG. 5 is an illustrative view showing part of an erase mode operation
in the FIG. 1 embodiment;
FIG. 6 is an illustrative view showing part of erase and protect
mode operations in the FIG. 1 embodiment;
FIG. 7 is an illustrative view showing part of the protect mode
operation in the FIG. 1 embodiment;
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the FIG. 1 embodiment;
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing part of the camera mode operation
in the FIG. 1 embodiment;
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing part of the reproduce mode operation
in the FIG. 1 embodiment;
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing another part of the reproduce mode
operation in the FIG. 1 embodiment;
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing another part of the reproduce mode
operation in the FIG. 1 embodiment; and
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing still another part of the reproduce
mode operation in the FIG. 1 embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring first to FIG. 1, a digital camera 10 of this embodiment
includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) 14 provided in a back surface
of a main body 12 to display photographic images. An image switching
button 16 is arranged at a location of upper right with respect
to the LCD 14. In a reproduce mode, if this image switching button
16 is operated while a desired photographic image (still image)
is being reproduced from a memory card 70 shown in FIG. 8, renewal
is made for the photographic image being displayed on the LCD 14.
That is, if a + button 16a is depressed once, a photographic image
next to the current photographic image is reproduced from the memory
card 70. If a - button 16b is depressed once, a photographic image
preceding to the current photographic image is reproduced from the
memory card 70. In a camera mode, on the other hand, photographic
images (motion images) are displayed in real time on the LCD. Further,
when a shutter button 22 provided on a top surface of the main body
12 is operated, a photographic image taken is recorded on the memory
card 70. Note that the term "photographic image" means
a still image to be reproduced from the memory card 70 in the reproduce
mode, besides real-time motion images taken in the camera mode.
A main switch 18 is arranged on a right face of the main body 12.
This main switch 18 is configured as shown in FIG. 2(A), wherein
if "OFF" is aligned to a mark provided on the side face,
power supply is turned off. If "PLAY" is aligned to the
mark 20, a reproduce mode is established, while a camera mode is
established when "REC" is positioned to the mark 20.
A menu button 24 of a dial type, as shown in FIG. 2(B), is also
provided on the side face of the main body 12. When this menu button
24 is depressed once in a direction toward the main body 12, an
icon indicative of a menu is superposed and displayed on the LCD
14. In this state, if the menu button 24 is rotated leftward, a
cursor moves in a direction from right to left or from bottom to
top. If the menu button 24 is rotated rightward, the cursor moves
from left to right or from top to bottom. If the menu button 24
is depressed when the cursor is pointing at a desired icon, the
icon designated by the cursor is selected.
The operation upon manipulating the menu button 24 will be explained
in detail. In the camera mode, an icon as shown in FIG. 3 is displayed.
When the menu button 24 is depressed once, icons for selecting a
resolution and flash mode are displayed as shown in FIG. 3(A). At
this time, the cursor will first point the resolution icon. If the
menu button 24 is rotated rightward, the cursor then points at the
flash mode icon as shown in FIG. 3(B). In this state, if the menu
button 24 is depressed, then a flash mode is established. In this
mode, a flash is fired by depressing the shutter button 22. When
the menu button 24 is rotated leftward, the cursor returns to a
position as shown in FIG. 3(A). At this time, if the menu button
24 is depressed, a plurality of icons indicative of different resolutions
are displayed as shown in FIG. 3(C). In this manner, a desired resolution
is set by rotating the menu button 24 and depressing it when the
cursor points at a desired icon.
In the camera mode, menu is displayed in this way. The photographic
image (motion image) on the LCD 14 is reduced in luminance during
displaying the menu. That is, the luminance of the photographic
image is at a normal level before performing superposition of a
menu on the LCD 14 in accordance with operation of the menu button
24. However, once the menu button 24 is depressed, icons are displayed
as shown in FIG. 3(A) and at the same time the luminance level of
the photographic image is lowered. If a cancel button 26 provided
lower left of the LCD 14, shown in FIG. 1, is depressed, the menu
display is cancelled and the luminance of the photographic image
returns to the normal level.
In this manner, the luminance level of a photographic image is
lowered during displaying character images, such as icons or letters.
Accordingly, the character and photographic images are clearly distinguished
from each other facilitating recognition of the character image.
In the reproduce mode, if the menu button 24 is depressed when
a photographic image (still image) of a human figure is being displayed
on the LCD 14 as shown in FIG. 4(A), "dust box" and "key"
icons are displayed at upper left on the LCD 14. In also the reproduce
mode, the luminance of the photographic image is reduced simultaneously
with display of such a menu. The rotation of the menu button 24
causes the cursor to shift between the two icons. If the menu button
24 is depressed while the cursor is pointing at the "dust box"
icon, an erase mode is established. On the other hand, when the
menu button 24 is depressed when the cursor is pointing at the "key"
icon, a protect mode is established.
If an erase mode is selected, display is made for letters inquiring
whether to erase the current reproduced image as well as letters
representative of a date of photographing on the LCD 14, as shown
in FIG. 5(A). Incidentally, the luminance level of the photographic
image is left low. If the menu button 24 is rotated to move the
cursor to a "NO" side and the menu button is depressed,
the state of display returns to a state shown in FIG. 4(A) without
causing erasure of the photographic image. On the other hand, if
the menu button 24 is depressed in a state that the cursor is pointing
at "YES", letters indicative of being erased are displayed
on the LCD 14 as shown in FIG. 5(C). Thereafter, a renewed image
and a menu are displayed in the procedure shown in FIG. 6.
That is, the display of FIG. 5(C) is maintained until the erasure
for the image data is completed. When the erasure is completed,
the letters and the currently reproduced image are suspended of
display. On the LCD 14 is displayed a black image. Thereafter, rendering
is started for a next photographic image as shown in FIG. 6(A).
The memory card 70 is recorded with image data compressed according
to a JPEG method. Because it takes significant time to decompress
this image data, the next photographic image is put into display
little by little from the above. At this time, the luminance of
the photographic image is increased up to the normal level. When
the update is completed, the display is changed from a state of
FIG. 6(B) to that of FIG. 6(C). That is, the luminance of the photographic
image is reduced again and "dust box" and "key"
icons are displayed at the upper left on the LCD 14.
Incidentally, where protection is made on the reproduced image,
a key mark is displayed at the upper right on the LCD 14 as shown
in FIGS. 5(A) and (B). In this state, the image data will not be
erased even if the menu button 24 is depressed. In a state of FIG.
4(A) or (B) or FIG. 5(A) or (B), if the image switching button 16
is manipulated, the photographic image to be displayed on the LCD
14 is switched over. In this case, image renewal is also made in
the procedure shown in FIG. 6.
When the menu button 24 is depressed in the state of FIG. 4(B),
a protect mode is selected. On the LCD 14 are displayed letters
inquiring whether to perform protection as well as letters indicative
of a date of photographing the image being displayed, as shown in
FIG. 7(A). When the cursor is aligned to "YES" and the
menu button 24 is depressed, protection is made on the photographic
image being displayed and a key mark representative of a protect
state is displayed at the upper right on the LCD 14, as shown in
FIG. 7(C). In the state that this key mark is on display, if the
cursor is aligned to "NO" as shown in FIG. 7(B) and the
menu button 24 is depressed, the protection is cancelled and the
key mark disappears from the display.
If the image switching button 16 is operated after completing a
protection setting, image renewal is made in the procedure as shown
in FIG. 6. That is, a black image is first displayed on the LCD
14 and then a renewal image with a normal luminance level is rendered
little by little from the above. Then, the luminance level is lowered
upon completion of the rendering, and "dust box" and "key"
icons are put into display. Note that image switching i possible
also in a display state of FIG. 4(A) or (B) or FIG. 7(A) or (B).
In also the reproduce mode, the luminance of the photographic image
is reduced during displaying the character image, facilitating recognition
of the character.
The digital camera 10 is structured in detail as shown in FIG.
8. That is, a subject optical image is taken by a CCD imager 34
through a lens 30 and a complementary filter 32 of a mosaic type.
In the camera mode, the CCD imager 34 performs a well-known pixel-mixing
readout to provide a pixel signal to a CDS/AGC circuit 36. The CDS/AGC
circuit 36 subjects the input pixel signal to well-known noise removal
and level adjustment. The pixel signal processed by this CDS/AGC
circuit 36 is converted by an A/D converter 38 into digital data
or pixel data. This pixel data is processed of color separation
and YUV conversion by a first signal processing circuit 40.
In the camera mode, a system controller 66 causes a selector 44
to select an input terminal 44a. Consequently, the YUV data obtained
in the first signal processing circuit 40 is written into a memory
area 48a of a DRAM 48 through buses 42 and 74. The CCD imager 34
adopts a progressive scan method, while an LCD 14 utilizes an interlace
scan method. Due to this, the YUV data is temporarily written into
the memory area 48a in order to convert the scanning process. The
YUV data stored in the memory area 48a is read out by the interlace
scan method and outputted to a second signal processing circuit
52 through the bus 50. The second signal processing circuit 52 creates
C data and Y data from the YUV data thus inputted, and supplies
the C data to a D/A converter 58 and the Y data to a luminance adjusting
circuit 54. The luminance adjusting circuit 54 is controlled by
a CPU 46 to thereby deliver a desired luminance level of the Y data
to a D/A converter 60 through a switch SW1.
On the other hand, a character generator 56 outputs icons as shown
in FIGS. 3 and 4, a key mark as shown in FIG. 7, key marks as shown
in FIGS. 5 and 7, and character data such as of letters as shown
in FIGS. 5 and 7. The switch SW1 is supplied also with this character
data. The switch SW1 selects either one of the Y data or the character
data under the control of the CPU 28. The C data outputted from
the D/A converter 58 and the Y data or character data outputted
from the D/A converter 60 are added together by an adder 64 so that
an output of the adder is given to a terminal 62 and inputted as
a motion image to the LCD 14. Consequently, only a photographic
image is displayed on the LCD 14 before depressing the menu button
24. After depressing the menu button 24, the photographic image
is superposed thereupon with character images such as icons or letters.
If a shutter button 22 is depressed by an operator, the system
controller 66 controls the CCD imager 34 to carry out so-called
all-pixel readout. This causes the CCD imager 34 to output pixel
signals line by line. The CDS/AGC circuit 36 performs noise removal
and level adjustment on the pixel signal in a manner similar to
the above. The A/D converter 38, in turn, converts the pixel signal
from the CDS/AGC circuit 36 into digital data, or pixel data. The
CCD imager 34 is disabled after outputting 1 frame of the pixel
signals. The 1-frame pixel data, i.e. photographic image data of
a still image, is supplied directly onto the bus 42 without being
processed by the first signal processing circuit 40. The selector
44 at this time has a selected terminal 44a so that the photographic
image data is written into the memory area 48a. The CPU 46 performs
YUV-conversion on the photographic image data in the memory area
48a with using a work area 48b, and compresses the converted YUV
data, or the photographic image data, according to a JPEG format.
The compressed image data is recorded onto a memory card 70 through
the buses 72 and 68.
If a reproduce mode is established by the main switch 18, the selector
44 selects the terminal 44b. Due to this, the CPU 46 reads out desired
compressed image data, and decompresses the compressed image data
with using the work area 48b. The decompressed photographic image
data (YUV data) is stored in the memory area 48a, and thereafter
read out therefrom. The second signal processing circuit 52 and
subsequent operate in the above stated manner, to thereby display
a desired photographic image (reproduced image) and desired character
images on the LCD 14.
The CPU 46 in the camera mode processes a flowchart shown in FIG.
9. First, at a step S1 a subject motion image, for example as shown
in FIG. 3, is displayed at a normal luminance level. Then, at a
step S3 it is determined whether the menu button 24 is depressed
or not. If "NO", this luminance state is maintained, while
if "YES", the luminance adjusting circuit 54 is controlled
at a step S5 to reduce the luminance level. Then, at a step S7 a
menu shown in FIG. 3(A) is displayed on the LCD 14. At the step
S7, the switch SW1 is connected to the side of the character generator
56 only when the icon is to be displayed, i.e., only when outputting
icon character data representative of a resolution or icon character
data representative of a flash mode from the character generator
56. Due to this, icons and a subject image are displayed with a
reduced luminance level on the LCD 14 as shown in FIG. 3(A).
The CPU 46 subsequently determines at a step S9 whether a flash
mode or a desired resolution mode is selected or not. If "YES",
the mode is set at a step S11 and the process proceeds to a step
S15. At the step S15 the display of the menu is suspended, and the
luminance level is increased at a step S17, and the process returns
to the step S3. Specifically, the CPU 46 causes at the step S15
the switch SW1 to be connected at all times to the luminance adjusting
circuit 54 side, and controls the luminance adjusting circuit 54
at a step S17 to bring the luminance level back to the normal level.
Meanwhile, if "NO" at the step S9, it is determined at
a step S13 whether the cancel button 26 has been depressed or not.
If "NO" here, the process returns to the step S9, while
if "YES", the process advances to the step S15.
Therefore, if a desired mode is established or the cancel button
26 is depressed when the image shown in FIG. 3(A) is being displayed,
the icons disappear from the display and the motion picture only
is displayed with an increased luminance level.
The CPU 46 in the reproduce mode processes flowchart shown in FIGS.
10 through 13. That is, at a step S21 a still reproduced image,
for example as shown in FIG. 4, is displayed at a normal luminance
level. Then, it is determined at a step S23 whether the menu button
24 is depressed or not. If "NO" here, it is determined
at a step S25 whether the image switching button 16 is operated
or not. If "NO", the process returns to the step S23.
However, if "YES" at the step S25, a renewed image is
displayed on the LCD 14 at the step S27, and the process returns
to the step S23.
If "YES" at the step S23, the reproduced image is reduced
in luminance level at a step S29, and icons of "dust box"
and "key" are displayed at the upper left on the LCD 14
at a step S31. Accordingly, an image as shown in FIG. 4(A) is displayed
on the LCD 14. Specifically, the switch SW1 is connected to a character
generator 56 side only when the character data for these two icons
is outputted from the character generator 56.
At a step S33 the CPU 46 determines whether the erase mode has
been selected or not. If "YES" here, the CPU 46 at a step
S35 outputs letter data shown in FIG. 5(A), and determines whether
"NO" displayed on the LCD 14 has been selected at a step
S37. If "YES" is determined, the process returns to the
step S31, thereby displaying an image as shown in FIG. 4(A) on the
LCD 14. On the other hand, if "NO" is determined at the
step S37, the process proceeds to a step S39. At the step S39 it
is determined whether "YES" displayed on the LCD 14 has
been selected or not. At the subsequent step S41 it is determined
whether the current reproduced image is under protection or not.
If "YES" is determined at the step S39 and further "NO"
is determined at the step S41, letter data as shown in FIG. 5(C)
is displayed at a step S45, and compressed image data corresponding
to the current reproduced image is erased from the memory card 70.
At a step S47 it is determined whether the erasure of the image
data has been completed or not. If "YES", the reproduced
image is renewed. That is, the renewal process by a step S49 and
the subsequent is enabled depending upon the determination "YES"
at the step S47.
During renewal, a black image is first displayed on the LCD 14
at a step S49. At the step S49, the CPU 16 writes the data of the
black image over the memory area 48a, and reads out this black image
data. Also, the CPU 46 connects the switch SW1 at all times to a
side of the luminance adjusting circuit 54. As a result, the current
reproduced image and character images are halted of display.
Thereafter, the luminance adjusting circuit 54 is controlled at
a step S51 to increase the luminance level up to the normal level.
At a step S53 next photographic image data is decompressed to start
display of the decompressed photographic image. As stated before,
the memory card 70 is recorded with image data decompressed according
to the JPEG method. This image data takes time to decompress. Due
to this, the next photographic image is displayed little by little
from an upper portion on the LCD 14. It is determined at a step
S55 whether photographic image display, or photographic image renewal,
has been completed or not. If "NO", the same determination
is repeated, while if "YES", this photographic image is
reduced in luminance level at a step S57, and the process returns
to the step S31. These processes of the steps S49-S57 and S31 enable
the next reproduced image with icons in a procedure as shown in
FIGS. 6(A)-(C).
If "NO" is determined at the step S39 or otherwise "YES"
is determined at the step S41, the CPU 46 at the step S43 determines
whether the image switching button 16 is operated or not. If "NO"
here, the process returns to the step S37, while if "YES",
the reproduce image is renewed. The determination "YES"
at the step S43 enables a renewal process by a step S79 and the
subsequent of FIG. 13, similarly to the process stated before. The
CPU 46 first displays a black image on the LCD 14 at the step S79,
and then brings the luminance level of the reproduced image back
to the normal level at a next step S81. Then desired image display,
i.e., renewal, is started at a step S83. If the display has been
completed is determined at a step S85, the luminance level is lowered
at a step S87 and the process returns to the step S31. That is,
if the image switching button 16 is operated in a state as shown
in FIG. 5(A) or 5(B), a desired reproduced image with icons are
displayed in a procedure as shown in FIGS. 6(A)-6(C).
Referring back to FIG. 10, if "NO" is determined at the
step S33, the CPU 46 determines at a step S59 whether a protect
mode has been selected or not. If "YES" here, that is,
if the menu button 24 is depressed in a state shown in FIG. 4(B),
the CPU at a step S67 outputs letter data as shown in FIG. 7(A).
Subsequently, it is determined at a step S69 whether "YES"
displayed on the LCD 14 is selected or not. If the determination
here is "YES", a key mark is displayed, at a step S71,
at an upper right on the LCD 14 as shown in FIG. 7(C) and protection
is applied to the current reproduced image. Then, the process returns
to the step S31. On the other hand, if "NO" is determined
at the step S69, it is determined at a step S73 whether "NO"
displayed on the LCD 14 has been selected or not. If "YES"
is determined here, the key mark is suspended of display and the
protection for the current reproduced image is cancelled. Thereafter,
the process returns to the step S31. If "NO" is determined
at the step S73, it is determined at a step S77 whether the image
switching button 16 is operated or not. If "NO", the process
returns to the step S69. However, if "YES", the process
advances to a step S79. By the processes of the step S79 and the
subsequent, an image is displayed on the LCD 14 in a procedure as
shown in FIGS. 6(A)-(C).
If the determination at the step S59 is "NO", the CPU
46 determines at a step S61 whether the cancel button 26 is depressed
or not. If "NO" here, the CPU 46 returns the process to
the step S33. However, "YES", the menu display is suspended
at the step S63 and the luminance level is increased to the normal
level at the step S65, returning the process to the step S23. Accordingly,
if the cancel button 26 is depressed, a human figure image shown
in FIG. 5 only is displayed at the normal luminance level.
Incidentally, the digital camera according to this invention is
applicable not only to so-called digital still cameras for recording
only still images but also to so-called video movies for recording
motion images. Where this invention is applied to a video movie,
it can be considered that reproduced images be reduced in luminance
in response to menu operations during motion image reproduction.
Also, in this embodiment the switch SW1 was used to combine the
character data with the image Y data. Alternatively, an adder may
be employed in place of the switch SW1.
Although the present invention has been described and illustrated
in detail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration
and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the
spirit and scope of the present invention being limited only by
the terms of the appended claims.
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