Digital Camera Patent Abstract
A digital camera of the invention has an LCD and an EVF. In a third
display mode, a whole image is displayed on the LCD, a frame is
displayed in the central area, and an image in the central area
(within the frame) is enlargedly displayed on the EVF. An enlarged
display icon is displayed on the LCD to thereby notify the user
of the enlarged display on the EVF. The image capturing range can
be confirmed on the LCD, and automatic focusing is performed on
the basis of the image in the central area, so that focus can be
also confirmed on the EVF. Consequently, according to the invention,
both the image capturing range and the focus can be confirmed in
the digital camera and an image can be efficiently captured. Digital Camera Patent Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An electronic camera comprising: a first display capable of
displaying a captured image; a second display capable of displaying
said captured image, having a display size smaller than that of
said first display; a first display controller for displaying an
image of a first area within said captured image on said first display;
and a second display controller for displaying an image of a second
area, narrower than said first area, within said captured image
onto said second display.
2. The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein said first
area corresponds to a whole area of said captured image, and said
second area corresponds to a central area within said captured image.
3. The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein said second
display enlargedly displays said image of said second area.
4. The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein said second
display comprises an optical system.
5. The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein said electronic
camera adjusts focus of an image pickup lens on the basis of image
data in said second area.
6. The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein said electronic
camera controls exposure on the basis of image data in said second
area.
7. The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein said electronic
camera controls white balance on the basis of image data in said
second area.
8. The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the size
of said second area is variable.
9. The electronic camera according to claim 8, further comprising
a setting member for setting display magnification of said second
display relative to said first display, wherein the size of said
second area is changed on the basis of a set value obtained by said
setting member.
10. The electronic camera according to claim 1, further comprising
a memory for storing information related to said second area, wherein
said second display controller displays an image of said second
area based on said information stored in said memory onto said second
display when power is turned on.
11. The electronic camera according to claim 10, wherein said information
stored in said memory is display magnification of said second display.
12. The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein said first
display controller further displays a frame corresponding to said
second area on said first display.
13. The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein said electronic
camera displays an indicator indicating that said second area is
displayed on said second display on at least one of said first and
second displays.
14. The electronic camera according to claim 1, further comprising
an operating member for turning off an image displayed on said first
display, wherein when said first display is turned off by said operating
member, said second display controller displays a whole captured
image on said second display.
15. The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein said captured
image of said first area and said captured image of said second
area are concurrently displayed.
16. A display control method of an electronic camera having a first
display capable of displaying a captured image and a second display
capable of displaying a captured image having a display size smaller
than that of said first display, comprising the steps of: capturing
an image of a subject; displaying an image of a first area within
a captured image on said first display; and displaying an image
of a second area narrower than said first area within said captured
image on said second display.
17. The display control method according to claim 16, wherein said
first area corresponds to a whole area of said captured image, and
said second area corresponds to a central area of said captured
image.
18. The display control method according to claim 16, further comprising
a step of executing a predetermined process for image capturing
on the basis of image data in said second area.
19. A display system having an electronic camera and an external
display device capable of displaying an image captured by said electronic
camera in a state where said display device is connected to said
electronic camera, said system comprising: a first display capable
of displaying a captured image; a second display capable of displaying
said captured image; a first display controller for displaying an
image of a first area in said captured image onto said first display;
and a second display controller for enlargedly displaying an image
of a second area, narrower than said first area, within said captured
image onto said second display.
20. The display system according to claim 19, wherein said first
display is provided for said display device, and said second display
is provided for said electronic camera.
21. A recording medium in which a program to be executed by an
electronic camera having a first display capable of displaying a
captured image and a second display capable of displaying a captured
image having a display size smaller than that of said first display
is recorded and which can be read by a computer, said program having
the steps of: capturing an image of a subject; displaying an image
of a first area in said captured image onto said first display;
and displaying an image of a second area, narrower than said first
area, within said captured image onto said second display.
Digital Camera Patent Description
This application is based on application No. 11-355901 filed in
Japan, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic camera having a
first display and a second display, and a display system having
an electronic camera including displays and a display device capable
of displaying an image captured by the electronic camera in a state
where the display device is connected to the electronic camera for
communications.
2. Description of the Background Art
In an electronic camera, to respond the demand for higher picture
quality, the number of pixels is increasing. On the other hand,
the size of the display (display means) of an electronic camera
is limited due to the limitation of the size of the camera. The
number of pixels for display is accordingly limited.
Under such circumstances, it is becoming difficult to confirm focus
in the display device. Even in the case of an auto-focus camera,
it is indispensable to confirm focus to obtain an image as intended.
Although there is a technique of facilitating confirmation of focus
by enlargedly displaying an image on a display, such a technique
has a problem that the image capturing range cannot be confirmed
at the time of confirming focus.
On the other hand, an electronic camera which displays an image
by switching two kinds of displays of an EVF (Electronic View Finder)
and an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) is being practically used.
In an electronic camera having the EVF and the LCD, however, when
one of the displays is used, the other display is in an OFF state.
It is difficult to say that sufficient consideration has been given
to proper use of the displays. Although there are a plurality of
displays, the confirmation of focus and the confirmation of the
image capturing range cannot be concurrently made, so that an image
cannot be efficiently captured.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to provide an electronic camera.
The electronic camera includes: a first display capable of displaying
a captured image; a second display capable of displaying the captured
image, having a display size smaller than that of the first display;
a first display controller for displaying an image in a first area
in the captured image on the first display; and a second display
controller for displaying an image in a second area narrower than
the first area in the captured image onto the second display.
According to an aspect of the invention, the first area in the
electronic camera corresponds to a whole area of the captured image,
and the second area corresponds to a central area in the captured
image. Consequently, in the case of capturing an image in which
the subject is positioned in the center, whether focus is accurately
achieved on the subject or not can be confirmed.
According to another aspect of the invention, the second area in
the electronic camera is variable. Consequently, the range to be
displayed on the second display can be changed according to the
intention of the user.
According to further another aspect of the invention, the electronic
camera further has a memory for storing information in the second
area, and the second display controller displays an image in the
second area based on information stored in the memory onto the second
display when power is turned on. Consequently, when the power of
the electronic camera is turned off and is again turned on, the
user does not have to set the same area as that at the time of turn-off
of the power. It facilitates the operation.
The present invention also provides a display control method of
an electronic camera having a first display capable of displaying
a captured image and a second display capable of displaying a captured
image having a display size smaller than that of the first display.
The display control method has the steps of: capturing an image
of a subject; displaying an image in a first area in a captured
image on the first display; and displaying an image in a second
area narrower than the first area in the captured image on the second
display.
Further, the present invention also provides a display system having
an electronic camera and an external display device capable of displaying
an image captured by the electronic camera in a state where the
display device is connected to the electronic camera.
The display system has: a first display capable of displaying a
captured image; a second display capable of displaying the captured
image; a first display controller for displaying an image in a first
area in the captured image onto the first display; and a second
display controller for enlargedly displaying an image in a second
area narrower than the first area in the captured image onto the
second display.
Consequently, the image capturing range can be confirmed on the
first display, and the focus can be accurately confirmed on the
second display, so that the operability is excellent and an image
can be efficiently captured.
As described above, the invention intends to solve the problems
in the conventional techniques and provides an electronic camera
and a display system capable of confirming both an image capturing
range and focus and efficiently capturing an image.
These 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 a plan view showing the configuration of a digital camera
1A according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a cross section taken along the line II--II of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a rear view showing the configuration of the digital
camera 1A according to the preferred embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the digital camera 1A;
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the internal functions realized
by the whole including an CPU and memories in an overall control
unit 211A;
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing data arrangement of a memory card;
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the procedure of an initial setting
when power is turned on;
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a display mode switching
control process;
FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate a display screen on an LCD and a display
screen on an EVF, respectively, in a third display mode;
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a display magnification
setting process;
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the procedure of an image capturing
process;
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the procedure of an ending process;
FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram of a display system according
to a second preferred embodiment of the invention; and
FIG. 14 is a partial block diagram of a digital camera according
to the second preferred embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described hereinbelow
with reference to the drawings.
1. First Preferred Embodiment
<Configuration of Digital Camera>
FIGS. 1 to 3 are diagrams each showing the configuration of a digital
camera 1A (1B) according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 1 is a plan view, FIG. 2 is a cross section taken along the
line II--II of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a rear view. The drawings are
not always according to triangular diagrams but mainly aim at conceptually
showing the configuration of the digital camera 1A as an example.
As shown in the diagrams, the digital camera 1A has a structure
mainly divided into a camera body 2 having an almost rectangular
parallelepiped shape and an image pickup unit 3.
The image pickup unit 3 is provided with an image pickup circuit
302 having a CCD color area sensor 303 in a proper position behind
a lens group 30 having a macro function as image pickup lenses.
The lens group 30 includes a zoom lens 300 and a focusing lens 301.
On the other hand, the camera body 2 has therein a motor M1 for
zooming which changes the zoom ratio of the zoom lens 300 and moves
the zoom lens 300 between an enclosed position and an image pickup
position and a motor M2 for obtaining focus by driving the focusing
lens 301.
A grip G is provided on the front face of the camera body 2. In
a proper position at the upper end of the camera body 2, a pop-up
type built-in flash 5 is provided. A shutter button 9 is provided
on the top face of the camera body 2.
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, a liquid crystal display
(LCD) 10 and an electronic view finder (EVF) 20 for displaying a
live view of a captured image, reproducing a recorded image, and
the like in an almost center position are provided on the rear face
of the camera body 2. The LCD 10 has a width of 4 cm and a length
of 3 cm. The EVF 20 enlargedly displays a liquid crystal display
having a width of 1.2 cm and a length of 0.9 cm by an eyepiece.
In the LCD 10 and the EVF 20, an image is displayed in color. On
the rear face of the camera body 2, an image capturing/reproducing
mode setting switch 14 for switching and setting "image capturing
mode (REC mode)" and "reproducing mode (Play mode)"
is provided. The image capturing mode is a mode of taking a picture,
and the reproducing mode is a mode of reproducing and displaying
the captured image recorded in a memory card 8 onto the LCD 10.
The image capturing/reproducing mode setting switch 14 is slidable
in the vertical direction. When the switch 14 is positioned on the
upper side, the image capturing mode is set. When the switch 14
is positioned on the lower side, the reproducing mode is set. When
the switch 14 is positioned in the middle, the power can be turned
off.
A four-way switch 35 is provided on the right side of the rear
face of the digital camera 1A. By pressing the buttons L and R,
the motor M1 is driven for zooming. By pressing buttons U, D, L,
and R, various operations which will be described hereinlater are
performed.
An LCD button 31, a determination button 32, a cancellation button
33, and a menu button 34 are provided on the rear face of the camera
body 2. The LCD button 31 is a button to turn on/off the LCD display
or the EVF display. Each time the LCD button 31 is depressed, the
display mode is switched between the LCD display and the EVF display
(which will be described in detail hereinlater).
On a side face of the camera body 2, an external monitor terminal
222 is provided. The external monitor terminal 222 is a terminal
for transferring image data from the digital camera 1A to an external
monitor 223 (refer to FIG. 4).
As shown in FIG. 1, the memory card 8 can be inserted to the digital
camera 1A. The digital camera 1A uses a power supply battery E in
which four AA cells E1 to E4 are connected in series as a drive
source.
<Functional Blocks of Digital Camera 1A>
FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the digital camera 1A.
In FIG. 4, a CCD 303 photoelectrically converts an optical image
of a subject formed by the lens group 30 into an image signal (made
by a signal train of pixel signals received by pixels) of color
components of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) and outputs the image
signal. A timing generator 314 generates various timing pulses for
controlling the driving of the CCD 303.
An exposure control in the image pickup unit 3 is performed by
adjusting the aperture size of the lens group 30 by an aperture
control driver 306 and exposure of the CCD 303 by the timing generator
314, that is, charge storing time of the CCD 303 corresponding to
a shutter speed. In the case where a proper shutter speed cannot
be set when the luminance of the subject is low, by adjusting the
level of the image signal outputted from the CCD 303, improper exposure
due to insufficient exposure is corrected. In other words, at the
time of low luminance, the exposure control is performed by adjusting
both the shutter speed and the gain adjustment. The level adjustment
of the image signal is performed by adjusting the gain of an AGC
circuit in a signal processing circuit 313.
The timing generator 314 generates a control signal for driving
the CCD 303 on the basis of a reference clock transmitted from a
timing control circuit 202. The timing generator 314 generates,
for example, a timing signal of start/end of integration (start/end
of exposure), read control signals of photoreception signals of
pixels (horizontal synchronizing signal, vertical synchronizing
signal, transfer signal, and the like), and the like and outputs
the generated signal to the CCD 303.
The signal processing circuit 313 performs a predetermined analog
signal process on an image signal (analog signal) outputted from
the CCD 303. The signal processing circuit 313 has a CDS (correlation
double sampling) circuit and an AGC (automatic gain control) circuit,
reduces noises of the image signal by the CDS circuit, and adjusts
the level of the image signal by adjusting the gain of the AGC circuit.
A light control circuit 304 controls a light emission amount of
the built-in flash 5 in flash shooting to a predetermined light
emission amount set by an overall control unit 211A. In the flash
shooting, simultaneously with start of exposure, reflection light
of flash light from the subject is received by a light control sensor
305. When the light receiving amount reaches a predetermined light
emission amount, a light emission stop signal is outputted from
the light control circuit 304, and the light emission of the built-in
flash 5 is forcedly stopped in response to the light emission stop
signal, thereby controlling the light emission amount of the built-in
flash 5 to the predetermined light emission amount.
An A/D converter 205 converts each of pixel signals of the image
signal to a 12-bit digital signal. The A/D converter 205 converts
each pixel signal (analog signal) to a 12-bit digital signal on
the basis of a clock for A/D conversion supplied from the timing
control circuit 202.
The timing control circuit 202 is provided to generate clocks to
the timing generator 314 and the A/D converter 205. The timing control
circuit 202 is controlled by a reference clock in the overall control
unit 211A.
A black level correcting circuit 206 corrects the black level of
the pixel signal which has been subjected to the A/D conversion
to a reference black level. A WB (white balance) circuit 207 shifts
the level of pixel data of color components of R, G, and B. The
WB circuit 207 shifts the level of the pixel data of each of color
components of R, G, and B by using a level shifting table supplied
from the overall control unit 211A. A shift coefficient (gradient
of characteristic) of each color component (hereinbelow, called
a "WB parameter") in the level shifting table is automatically
or manually set every captured image by the overall control unit
211A.
A .gamma. correction circuit 208 corrects the gradation of the
pixel data. The .gamma. correction circuit 208 performs correction
adapted to the .gamma. characteristics of a monitor for a general
personal computer.
An image memory 209 is a memory for storing the pixel data outputted
from the .gamma. correction circuit 208. The image memory 209 has
a storage capacity of one frame. Specifically, the image memory
209 has a storage capacity of pixel data of 1600.times.1200 pixels
corresponding to the number of pixels of the CCD 303 and each pixel
data is stored in a corresponding pixel position.
A VRAM 210 is a buffer memory of image data to be displayed on
the LCD 10. The VRAM 210 has a storage capacity of image data corresponding
to the number of pixels (400.times.300) of the LCD 10.
A VRAM 220 is a buffer memory of image data to be displayed on
the EVF 20. The VRAM 220 has a storage capacity of image data corresponding
to the number of pixels (640.times.480) of the EVF 20.
In an image capturing standby state, each of pixel data of an image
captured every 1/30 second by the image pickup unit 3 is subjected
to predetermined signal processes by the A/D converter 205, black
level correcting circuit 206, WB circuit 207, and .gamma. correcting
circuit 208. After that, resultant data is temporarily stored in
the image memory 209, also transferred to the VRAMs 210 and 220
via the overall control unit 211A, and displayed on the LCD 10 and
the EVF 20 (live view display).
Consequently, the user can visually recognize the image of the
subject. In a reproduction mode, an image read from the memory card
8 is subjected to a predetermined signal process by the overall
control unit 211A. After that, a resultant image is transferred
to the VRAM 210 and is reproduced and displayed on the LCD 10. An
image is similarly displayed also on the EVF 20.
A card I/F 212 is an interface for writing and reading image data
to/from the memory card 8. An I/F 224 for communication is an interface
conformed to, for example, the USB standard for connecting a personal
computer 225 to the outside for communications. Control programs
recorded on recording media such as the memory card 8 and a CD-ROM
226 can be loaded into the overall control unit 211A via the card
I/F 212 and the I/F 224 for communication.
An RTC 219 is a clock circuit for managing date and time of image
capturing and is driven by another power source (not shown).
An operating unit 250 is constructed by the above-described various
switches, buttons, and the like such as the shutter button 9, LCD
button 31, and determination button 32.
The shutter button 9 is a switch of two levels capable of detecting
a half-pressed state and a fully-pressed state, which is adopted
in a camera for silver halide film. When the shutter button 9 is
half-pressed in a standby state, automatic focusing control (AF),
automatic exposure (AE), and white balance (WB) adjustment are performed
under the control of the overall control unit 211A as will be described
hereinlater.
An NTSC converter 221 converts an image signal stored in the VRAM
220 into a signal of the NTSC system format and transfers a resultant
signal to the EVF 20 and the external monitor 223 via the external
monitor terminal 222. In a state where the external monitor 223
is connected to the external monitor terminal 222, the same image
as that on the EVF 20 is displayed on the external monitor 223.
The overall control unit 211A takes the form of a microcomputer
having therein a work RAM 211a made by a DRAM, a flash ROM 211b
and CPU, organically controls the driving of the above-described
members of the digital camera 1A, and has centralized control of
image capturing operations of the digital camera 1A.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing internal functions realized by
the whole including a CPU and memories in the overall control unit
211A. The overall control unit 211A has a display control unit 211c.
In an image capturing mode, the display control unit 211c performs
a display control of the LCD 10 and the EVF 20 in accordance with
each of the zeroth to fourth display modes on the basis of a mode
set value which will be described hereinlater. When the power of
the digital camera 1A is OFF, the display control unit 211c stores
the mode set value s, an EVF display magnification m, and the like
into the flash ROM 211b. On the contrary, when the power of the
digital camera 1A is ON, the display control unit 211c reads the
mode set value s, the EVF display magnification m, and the like
at the time of turn-off of the power last time from the flash ROM
211b and, in accordance with the read values, performs the display
control of the LCD 10 and the EVF 20 in the display mode and the
magnification at the time of turn-off of the power last time.
The display control unit 211c has a unit 211c1 for changing the
number of pixels (hereinbelow, number of pixels changing unit),
a frame display unit 211c2, and an icon display unit 211c3.
In the third display mode (which will be described hereinlater)
for enlargedly displaying an image in the central area of the LCD
10 onto the EVF 20, the number of pixels changing unit 211c1 stores
image data which has been subjected to a thinning (interpolating)
process which will be described hereinlater into the work RAM 211a
and the VRAM 220, thereby displaying an enlarged image obtained
by enlarging the central area of an image by the EVF 20.
The frame display unit 211c2 superimposes a frame image on image
data read from the image memory 209 and writes a resultant image
into the VRAM 210 so as to display an image of a frame (which will
be described hereinlater) indicative of a range of an image displayed
on the EVF 20 in the third display mode onto the LCD 10.
The icon display unit 211c3 superimposes an enlarged display icon
(which will be described hereinlater) indicating that the central
area of the image is enlargedly displayed on the EVF 20 in the third
display mode on the image data to be displayed on the LCD 10 and
writes a resultant image onto the VRAM 210.
An AF control unit 211d, an AE control unit 211e, and a WB control
unit 211f are connected to the display control unit 211c. When the
shutter button 9 is half-pressed in the image capturing mode, the
display control unit 211c controls those control units so as to
perform AF, AE, and WB, respectively, with reference to image data
in the image memory 209 in the zeroth, first, second and fourth
display modes which will be described hereinlater and with reference
to the image data in the work RAM 211a in the third display mode.
The AF control unit 211d achieves focus by reading out image data
stored in the image memory 209 or the work RAM 211a, and moving
the lenses by driving the motors M1 and M2 so that the contrast
of the image becomes the highest. At this time, as a control method
to make the contrast the highest, a known technique such as hill-climbing
or the like can be used.
The AE control unit 211e has therein a luminance determining unit
211e1 and an exposure amount setting unit 211e2 for setting exposure
control values (shutter speed (SS) and aperture value). The luminance
is obtained from image data stored in the image memory 209 or the
work RAM 211a by the luminance determining unit 211e1. The exposure
amount setting unit 211e2 adjusts the exposure by setting an aperture
value and SS adapted to the aperture control driver 306 and the
timing control circuit 202.
The WB control unit 211f obtains WB parameters from the image data
stored in the image memory 209 or the work RAM 211a and sets the
WB parameters in a WB circuit 207. With the WB parameters, the WB
circuit 207 performs a WB process on the image data obtained by
the CCD 303.
Further, in order to perform a process of recording the captured
image, the overall control unit 211A has a filter unit 211g for
performing a filtering process and a recording image generating
unit 211h for generating a thumbnail image and a compressed image.
In order to reproduce the image recorded on the memory card 8 onto
the LCD 10 and EVF 20, the overall control unit 211A has a reproduction
image generating unit 211i for generating a reproduction image.
The filter unit 211g is used to correct the picture quality regarding
an edge of subject by correcting high frequency components of an
image to be recorded by a digital filter.
The recording image generating unit 211h reads pixel data from
the image memory 209 and generates a thumbnail image and a compressed
image to be recorded in the memory card 8. The recording image generating
unit 211h reads the pixel data every 8 pixels in both of the lateral
and vertical directions from the image memory 209 and sequentially
transfers the read pixel data to the memory card 8, thereby recording
the thumbnail image to the memory card 8 while generating the thumbnail
image.
The recording image generating unit 211h reads all of pixel data
from the image memory 209, performs a predetermined compressing
process according to the JPEG system such as two-dimensional DCT
or Huffman coding on the pixel data to thereby generate image data
of a compressed image, and records the compressed image data into
a main image area in the memory card 8.
When image capture is instructed by the shutter button 9 in the
image capturing mode, the overall control unit 211A generates a
thumbnail image of an image captured in the image memory 209 after
the instruction of the image capture and a compression image compressed
according to the JPEG system at a set compression ratio, and stores
both of the images with information such as tag information related
to the captured image (frame number, exposure value, shutter speed,
compression ratio, date of image capture, data related to on/off
of a flash at the time of image capture, scene information, determination
result of an image, and the like) into the memory card 8.
In each of the frames of the image recorded by the digital camera
1A, the tag portion, high-resolution image data (1600.times.1200
pixels) compressed in the JPEG system, and image data (80.times.60
pixels) for displaying a thumbnail image are recorded.
When the image capturing/reproducing mode setting switch 14 is
set to the reproducing mode, image data of the largest frame number
in the memory card 8 is read and decompressed by the reproduction
image generating unit 211i, and the resultant data is transferred
to the VRAMs 210 and 220, thereby displaying an image of the largest
frame number, that is, an image most recently captured on the LCD
10 or EVF 20. By operating the button U, an image of a larger frame
number is displayed. By pressing the button D, an image of a smaller
frame number is displayed.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing data arrangement of the memory card
8. As shown in FIG. 6, the memory card 8 can store images stored
by the digital camera 1A of 230 frames at a compression ratio of
1/20. In each of the frames, tag information, high resolution image
signals (640.times.480 pixels) compressed in the JPEG system, and
image signals (80.times.60 pixels) for displaying a thumbnail image
are recorded. The signals can be dealt as an image file of, for
example, an EXIF format on a frame unit basis.
<Display Control in Image Capturing Mode>
A display control in the image capturing mode of the digital camera
1A according to the preferred embodiment will be described hereinbelow.
When the power is turned on in a state where the digital camera
1A is set in the image capturing mode, first, a process of initial
setting is performed. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure
of the initial setting when the power is turned on. The process
is performed by the display control unit 211c.
First, the mode set value (s) at the time of turn-off of the power
last time is read from the flash ROM 211b (step S1 in FIG. 7). The
mode set value is a value for designating the display mode of the
EVF 20 and the LCD 10 in the image capturing mode. In the digital
camera 1A, the mode set value (s) varies from "0" to "4".
The display modes designated by the mode set values (s) from "0"
to "4" are called the zeroth to fourth display modes,
respectively, hereinbelow. In the zeroth to fourth display modes,
the display states of the EVF 20 and the LCD 10 are as shown in
Table 1.
TABLE 1 Mode set values (Display mode) EVF LCD 0 (zeroth display
mode) Live view display m = 1 Off 1 (first display mode) Off Live
view display 2 (second display mode) Live view display m = 1 Live
view display Live view display Live view display 3 (third display
mode) (central area enlargedly (frame and enlarged display) m: Set
value display icon display) 4 (fourth display mode) Live view display
m = 1 Camera status display
In Table 1, the EVF display magnification (m) expresses a display
magnification for an image displayed on the LCD 10 of the image
displayed on the EVF 20.
The mode set value s=0 (zeroth display mode) is a display mode
in which the EVF 20 displays a live view (m=1) and the LCD 10 is
OFF.
The mode set value s=1 (first display mode) is a display mode in
which the EVF 20 is OFF and the LCD 10 displays a live view.
The mode set value s=2 (second display mode) is a display mode
in which the EVF 20 displays a live view (m=1) and the LCD 10 displays
a live view.
The mode set value s=3 (third display mode) is a display mode in
which the EVF 20 displays a live view (by enlargedly displaying
the central area and setting the EVF display magnification (m) to
a set value) and the LCD 10 displays a live view (with a display
area frame of the EVF 20).
The mode set value s=4 (fourth display mode) is a display mode
in which the EVF 20 displays a live view (m=1) and the LCD 10 displays
a camera status as information regarding an image capturing mode
setting state.
Subsequently, whether the mode set value (s) is "3" or
not is determined (step S2 in FIG. 7). When YES, the program advances
to step S3. When NO, the program advances to step S4.
In the case where the mode set value (s) is 3, the EVF display
magnification (m) at the time of turn-off of the power last time
which is stored in the flash ROM 211b (the data corresponds to area
data at the time of turn-off) is read (step S3 in FIG. 7).
Whether an image is displayed or not in the LCD 10 and the EVF
20 is controlled in practice on the basis of the setting (step S4
in FIG. 7).
After that, the initial setting process upon turn-on of the power
is finished. As described above, the digital camera 1A in the preferred
embodiment displays an image on the EVF 20 in the display mode and
the EVF display magnification at the time of turn-off of the power
last time, so that the area in the whole image displayed on the
EVF 20 is the same as that at time of the turn-off of the power
last time.
The display mode switching control will now be described. FIG.
8 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the display mode switching
process. In the digital camera 1A, each time the LCD button 31 is
pressed, "1" is added to the mode set value so as to switch
the display mode. A control of returning the mode set value to "0"
when the mode set value reaches "5" is performed by the
display control unit 211c.
First, whether the LCD button 31 is depressed or not is determined
(step S11 in FIG. 8). When NO, the display mode switching control
process is finished. When YES, the program advances to the next
step.
Subsequently, "1" is added to the mode set value (s)
(step S12 in FIG. 8).
Whether the mode set value (s) is 5 or not is determined (step
S13 in FIG. 8). When the mode set value is not "5", the
display mode switching control process is finished. When YES, the
program advances to the next step.
The mode set value (s) is set to "0" (step S14 in FIG.
8).
After that, the display mode switching control process is finished.
As described above, the digital camera 1A can perform various displays
by the LCD 10 and the EVF 20. The number of pixels of captured image
data, the number of pixels in the LCD 10, and the number of pixels
in the EVF 20 are different from each other. In order to display
an image on the EVF 20 or the LCD 10, it is therefore necessary
to perform a process of thinning or interpolating the image data.
The number of pixels changing unit 211c1 consequently reads out
image data in the image memory 209 and perform the process of thinning
(interpolating) the data. The process of thinning image data to
be displayed on the EVF 20 or the LCD 10 will be described hereinbelow.
The thinning (interpolating) process is performed by the number
of pixels changing unit 211c1 in the display control unit 211c.
When the enlarged display in the EVF 20 is not performed, a thinning
process to a quarter is performed on image data having pixels of
1600.times.1200 in the image memory 209 (by leaving only one pixel
every four pixels and deleting the other pixels), and the resultant
data is stored in the VRAM 210 as image data of 400.times.300 pixels,
thereby displaying the image on the LCD 10. A thinning process to
2/5 (by leaving only two pixels out of five pixels and deleting
the other pixels) is performed on image data of 1600.times.1200
pixels in the image memory 209 and storing the resultant image data
as image data of 640.times.480 pixels into the VRAM 220, thereby
displaying the image data on the EVF 20.
The interpolating or thinning process of image data executed in
the mode set value (s) of 3 (third display mode), that is, at the
time of enlargedly displaying the central area of a displayed image
on the LCD 10 by the EVF 20 will now be described.
FIG. 9A shows a display screen of the LCD 10 in the third display
mode. FIG. 9B shows a display screen of the EVF 20 displaying an
image obtained by enlarging the central area of the display image
on the LCD 10 by twice. In the digital camera 1A according to the
preferred embodiment, the LCD 10 has 400.times.300 pixels and the
EVF 20 has 640.times.480 pixels. In the case of enlargedly displaying
an image on the EVF 20, the LCD 10 displays a whole image and superimposes
the image in a frame F in the central area CA corresponding to the
display range of the EVF 20. Specifically, by writing image data
in the frame F into an area of Int(400/m).times.Int(300/m) pixels
corresponding to the central area in the VRAM 210, the frame F is
displayed. Int(a) is a function indicative of an integer part of
a numerical value (a).
Further, the LCD 10 displays an enlarged display icon L1 indicative
of the enlarged display mode (mode set value s=3) on the upper right
part in the screen. For this purpose, image data of the enlarged
display icon is written in the area of the VRAM 210 corresponding
to the right upper part in the image.
In order to display an enlarged image on the EVF 20, the image
data in the central area of only the Int(1600/m).times.Int(1200/m)
pixels in the image data of 1600.times.1200 pixels in the image
memory 209 is developed to the work RAM 211a. The data in the work
RAM 211a is subjected to a 2/5 m thinning (or interpolating) process
and the resultant data is transferred to the VRAM 220. As described
above, the AF control unit 211d, the AE control unit 211e, and the
WB control unit 211f perform the AF control, AE control, and WB
control, respectively, on the image data developed in the work RAM
211a.
When the user changes the EVF display magnification (m), the range
of the central area is changed by a process as described above (to
a central area CA2 or the like), the size of the frame is also changed
(to a frame F2 or the like), and the display range on the EVF 20
is accordingly changed.
A display magnification setting process will now be described.
In the case of changing the display magnification, the user presses
the buttons L and R, thereby enabling the display magnification
on the EVF 20 to be changed. The display control unit 211c decreases
the value of m by one step (on the unit basis of 0.1) when the button
L is pressed, and increases the value of m by one step (on the unit
basis of 0.1) when the button R is pressed. (m) is set in a range
from 1 to 10. The EVF display magnification (m) does not change
to values out of the range. The procedure will be described hereinbelow.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the display magnification
setting process. The process is also performed by the display control
unit 211c unless otherwise mentioned.
First, whether the button L is pressed or not is determined (step
S21 in FIG. 10). When NO, the program advances to step S24. When
YES, the program advances to the next step.
Whether the EVF display magnification (m) is 1 or not is determined
(step S22 in FIG. 10). When YES, the program advances to step S24.
When NO, the program advances to the next step.
"0.1" is subtracted from the EVF display magnification
(m) (step S23 in FIG. 10).
Whether the button R is pressed or not is determined (step S24
in FIG. 10). When YES, the program advances to the next step. When
NO, the program advances to step S27.
Whether the EVF display magnification (m) is "10" or
not is determined (step S25 in FIG. 10). When YES, the program advances
to step S27. When NO, the program advances to the next step.
"0.1" is added to the EVF display magnification (m) (step
S26 in FIG. 10).
The number of pixels changing unit 211c1 performs a 2/5 m thinning
(interpolating) process on the data in the image memory 209 and
transfers the resultant data to the VRAM 220 (step S27 in FIG. 10).
Whether the EVF display magnification (m) is "1" or not
is determined (step S28 in FIG. 10). When YES, the program advances
to the next step. When NO, the program advances to step S29.
The frame display unit 211c2 writes the image data of the frame
and the icon display unit 211c3 writes the image data of the enlarged
display icon to the image data stored in the VRAM 210 (step S29
in FIG. 10), and the display magnification setting process is finished.
On the contrary, when it is determined in step S28 that the EVF
display magnification (m) is "1", whether the frame and
the enlarged display icon are displayed or not is determined (step
S30 in FIG. 10). When YES, the program advances to the next step.
When NO, the display magnification setting process is finished.
The number of pixels changing unit 211c1 performs the thinning
of "1/4" on the image data in the image memory 209, overwrites
the resultant data on the VRAM 210, and erases the frame and the
enlarged display icon (step S31 in FIG. 10).
In the enlarged display mode (third display mode), the WB process,
the AF process, and the AE process are performed on the image in
the area (central area) displayed on the EVF 20. The procedure will
be described hereinbelow.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the procedure of an image capturing
process. The process is also performed by the display control unit
211c unless otherwise mentioned.
First, whether the shutter button 9 is half-pressed or not is determined
(step S41 in FIG. 11). When YES, the program advances to the next
step. When NO, the image capturing process is finished.
Whether the mode set value (s) is "3" or not is determined
(step S42 in FIG. 11). When YES, the program advances to step S44.
When NO, the program advances to step S43.
The AE, AF, and WB processes are performed on the image data in
the image memory 209 under the control of the AF control unit 211d,
AE control unit 211e, and WB control unit 211f, the lens position,
aperture value, and shutter speed are set, and the WB parameters
are obtained (step S43 in FIG. 11). After that, the program advances
to step S46.
On the contrary, when it is determined in step S42 that the mode
set value (s) is "3", the data in the central area of
Int(1600/m).times.Int(1200/m) pixels in the image data in the image
memory 209 is developed to the work RAM 211a (step S44 in FIG. 11).
Subsequently, the AE, AF, and WB processes are performed on the
image data in the work RAM 211a under the control of the AF control
unit 211d, AE control unit 211e, and WB control unit 211f, the lens
position, aperture value, and shutter speed are set, and the WB
parameters are obtained (step S45 in FIG. 11).
Whether the shutter button 9 is fully pressed or not is determined
(step S46 in FIG. 11). When YES, the program advances to the next
step. When NO, the image capturing process is finished.
Subsequently, the image data is obtained and temporarily stored
in the image memory 209 (step S47 in FIG. 11).
The WB circuit 207 executes the WB process on the image data in
the image memory 209 with the WB parameters obtained by the WB control
unit 211f (step S48 in FIG. 11).
Finally, the obtained image data is recorded in the memory card
(step S49 in FIG. 11) and the image capturing process is finished.
An ending process when the power of the digital camera 1A is turned
off will now be described.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a procedure of the ending process.
The process is also executed by the display control unit 211c.
First, the display control unit 211c writes the current mode set
value (s) to the flash ROM 211b (step S51 in FIG. 12).
The display control unit 211c writes the EVF display magnification
(m) into the flash ROM 211b (step S52 in FIG. 12).
Finally, the display control unit 211c turns off the display on
the LCD 10 and the EVF 20 (step S53 in FIG. 12). This is the end
of the description of the processes from the turn-on of the power
of the digital camera 1A to the turn-off of the power.
As described above, the digital camera 1A according to the first
preferred embodiment corresponding to the electronic camera of the
present invention has the third display mode in which the whole
captured image is displayed on the LCD 10 as the first display and
only the central area CA in the captured image is displayed on the
EVF 20 as the second display. Consequently, the image capturing
range can be confirmed by the LCD 10 and the focus can be confirmed
by the EVF 20. Thus, the operability is excellent and an image can
be captured efficiently.
Since the central area CA is in the center of the captured image,
in the case of capturing an image in which the subject is positioned
in the center, whether the focus is on the subject or not can be
confirmed.
In the third display mode, the whole image is displayed on the
LCD 10 having a large screen and the center image is displayed on
the EVF 20 of high resolution. The displays are adapted to the confirmation
of the image capturing range and the confirmation of the focus.
Since the central area CA is an area which is referred to at the
time of automatic focusing by an automatic focusing mechanism (automatic
focusing means), accurate focus on the main subject can be confirmed
also in an auto-focus camera.
The central area CA is an area referred to upon adjustment of automatic
exposure by an automatic exposure adjusting mechanism (automatic
exposure adjusting means). Consequently, the result of the automatic
exposure adjustment on the main subject can be confirmed also in
an AE (automatic exposure) camera.
Since the central area CA is an area referred to upon automatic
white balance adjustment by a white balance adjusting mechanism
(white balance adjusting means), the result of the automatic white
balance adjustment on the main subject can be confirmed by a WB
(automatic white balance adjusting) camera.
Since the central area CA is variable, the range of an image displayed
on the EVF 20, that is, the ratio of the main subject to a whole
image can be changed according to the intention of the user.
At the time of turn-on of the power of the digital camera 1A, the
EVF 20 displays the same area as that displayed on the EVF 20 at
the time of the turn-off of the power last time, that is, it is
controlled so that an image is displayed in the same display mode
at the same EVF display magnification. Consequently, when the power
of the digital camera 1A is turned off and is again turned on, it
is unnecessary for the user to set the same area as that at the
time of turn-off of the power, so that the operation is facilitated.
In the third display mode, the frame corresponding to the central
area CA is displayed on the LCD 10. The range of the main subject
can be therefore easily recognized.
Since the enlarged display icon as a notification image for notifying
the user of the third display mode is displayed on at least one
of the LCD 10 and the EVF 20, it can be confirmed that the range
of image capturing is not limited to the central portion, so that
the user can be prevented from being confused.
Further, by pressing the LCD button 31 twice in the third display
mode, the mode is switched to the zeroth display mode, thereby finishing
the image display on the LCD 10. The EVF 20 finishes the display
of an image of the central area CA and displays the whole image.
When only the EVF 20 is used, a problem such that the image capturing
range and the display range do not coincide with each other can
be eliminated.
2. Second Preferred Embodiment
FIG. 13 is a construction diagram of a display system 100 according
to a second preferred embodiment of the invention. The display system
100 mainly has a digital camera 1B and the external monitor 223
which are similar to those in the first preferred embodiment (refer
to FIGS. 1 to 4). By connecting the external monitor terminal 222
of the digital camera 1B and an input terminal 223a of the external
monitor 223 via a cable, the zeroth to fourth display modes in the
first preferred embodiment can be realized by the LCD 10 of the
digital camera 1B and the external monitor 223.
In the second preferred embodiment, however, an image displayed
on the LCD in the digital camera according to the first preferred
embodiment is displayed on the external monitor 223, and an image
displayed on the EVF in the digital camera according to the first
preferred embodiment is displayed on the LCD 10. For this reason,
a display control unit 211j of the digital camera 1B according to
the second preferred embodiment is slightly different from the display
control unit 211c of the digital camera according to the first preferred
embodiment.
FIG. 14 is a partial block diagram of the digital camera 1B according
to the second preferred embodiment. In the display control unit
211j of the digital camera 1B of the second preferred embodiment,
a display switching unit 211j1 is provided. The display switching
unit 211j1 detects whether the external monitor 223 is connected
to the external monitor terminal 222 or not. When it is determined
that the external monitor 223 is connected to the external monitor
terminal 222, the display switching unit 211j1 turns off the EVF
20 and switches between image data outputted to the VRAM 210 and
that outputted to the VRAM 220. Since the image data written to
the VRAMs 210 and 220 are therefore switched between them, images
can be displayed on the LCD 10 and the external monitor 223 in the
zeroth to fourth display modes in a manner similar to those in the
first preferred embodiment. Especially, in the third display mode,
only an image in the central area CA in an image displayed on the
external monitor 223 can be enlargedly displayed on the LCD 10.
The image can be seen at hand, so that the focus can be accurately
confirmed.
At this time, it is sufficient to change the thinning rate at the
time of transferring an image from the image memory 209 to the VRAM
220 to 2/5 and to change the thinning rate at the time of transferring
an image from the image memory 209 to the VRM 210 to 1/4 m. Since
the process of changing the magnification (m) when the button R
or L is pressed is similar to that in the first preferred embodiment,
the description is not repeated here.
The other construction in the digital camera 1B according to the
second preferred embodiment is similar to that in the first preferred
embodiment.
As described above, according to the second preferred embodiment,
the display system 100 has the digital camera 1B as an electronic
camera having the LCD and the external monitor 223 as a display
device capable of displaying an image captured by the digital camera
in a state where the external monitor 223 is connected to the digital
camera 1B for communications. In the third display mode, the central
area CA of an image displayed on the external monitor 223 is enlargedly
displayed on the LCD 10 of the digital camera 1B. Consequently,
the image capturing range can be confirmed on the external monitor
223 and the accurate focus can be confirmed on the LCD 10 of the
digital camera. Thus, the operability is excellent and an image
can be efficiently captured.
3. Modification
Although the examples of the electronic camera and the display
system have been described in the foregoing preferred embodiments,
the invention is not limited to the above.
For example, although the enlarged display icon is displayed only
on the LCD in the first preferred embodiment, it may be displayed
only on the EVF or on both the LCD and the EVF.
Although the central area of a whole image is displayed on the
EVF in the third display mode in the foregoing preferred embodiments,
the position is not limited to the central area. It is also possible
to provide a designating mechanism (designating means) for designating
a display position and to display an arbitrary portion in a whole
image in accordance with designation of the user.
Although an image is enlargedly displayed on the LCD 10 of the
digital camera 1B in the second preferred embodiment, in a manner
similar to the first preferred embodiment, the LCD 10 may display
a whole captured image and the external monitor 223 may enlargedly
display the central area CA.
Although the present invention has been fully described by way
of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to
be noted that various changes and modification will be apparent
to those skilled in the art. Therefore, unless otherwise such changes
and modifications depart from the scope of the present invention,
they should be construed as being included therein.
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