DIGITAL CAMERA

Abstract

A digital camera comprising an imaging device, a memory, a monitor, and a monitor controller is provided. The digital camera is used for photographing an optical image of an object as an image of a first rectangle. An aspect ratio of the first rectangle is a first aspect ratio. The imaging device generates an image signal. The monitor is a second rectangle. An aspect ratio of the second rectangle is a second aspect ratio. The second aspect ratio is decided to be lower than the first aspect ratio if the first aspect ratio is higher than one. The second aspect ratio is decided to be higher than the first aspect ratio if the first aspect ratio is lower than one. The monitor controller makes a displayed-image be displayed on the monitor according to a first or a second replay mode.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a front side appearance of a digital camera of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a back side appearance of a digital camera of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the digital camera;

FIG. 4 illustrates an arrangement of the imaging device in the digital camera as viewed from the front side;

FIG. 5 illustrates an image displayed on the monitor in the photographing mode when the digital camera is kept in a regular position;

FIG. 6 illustrates an image displayed on the monitor in the photographing mode when the digital camera is kept in a vertical position;

FIG. 7 illustrates an image displayed on the monitor in the first replay mode;

FIG. 8 illustrates an image displayed on the monitor in the second replay mode;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart to explaining some operations in the photographing mode carried out by the system controller and the DSP; and

FIG. 10 is a flowchart to explaining some operations in the replay mode carried out by the system controller and the DSP.

Claims

1. A digital camera for photographing an optical image of an object as an image of a first rectangle, an aspect ratio of said first rectangle being a first aspect ratio, said first rectangle having first long sides and first short sides, said digital camera comprising: an imaging device that generates an image signal corresponding to an optical image of said object;a memory that stores said image signal generated by said imaging device;a monitor on which an image corresponding to said image signal is displayed, said monitor being a second rectangle, an aspect ratio of said second rectangle being a second aspect ratio, said second aspect ratio being decided to be lower than said first aspect ratio if said first aspect ratio is higher than one, said second aspect ratio being decided to be higher than said first aspect ratio if said first aspect ratio is lower than one, said second rectangle having first sides and second sides; anda monitor controller that causes a displayed-image corresponding to said image signal stored in said memory to be displayed on said monitor according to a first or a second replay mode, said displayed-image being displayed as said first long side is parallel to said first side and such that an aspect ratio of said displayed-image is the same as said first aspect ratio in said first replay mode, said displayed-image being displayed as being rotated by 90 degrees such that said first long side is parallel to said second side and such that an aspect ratio of said displayed-image is the same as a reciprocal number of said first aspect ratio in said second replay mode.

2. A digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said displayed-image is displayed at maximum along said first side in said first replay mode, and said displayed-image is displayed at maximum along said second side in said second replay mode.

3. A digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said second aspect ratio is substantially one.

4. A digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising a switch that causes said monitor controller to switch between said first replay mode and said second replay mode.

5. A digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising a position sensor that generates an inclination-signal when said position sensor detects that said digital camera is inclined with respect to a straight line perpendicular to a light receiving surface of said imaging device, said memory storing said inclination-signal, generated at the same time as when said image signal is generated, associated with said image signal, andsaid monitor controller switching between said first replay mode and said second replay mode based on said inclination-signal.

6. A digital camera according to claim 5, wherein said monitor controller displays photographing information on a portion of said monitor separate from a portion of said monitor for displaying said displayed-image on said monitor, andsaid monitor controller changes a direction of said displayed photographing information based on said inclination-signalin a photographing mode where said image signal generated by said imaging device is stored in said memory when photographing command is input.

7. A digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said monitor controller displays photographing information on a portion of said monitor separate from a portion of said monitor for displaying an image corresponding to said image signal generated by said imaging device on said monitor in a photographing mode where said image signal generated by said imaging device is stored in said memory when photographing command is input.

8. A digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said memory stores photographing signal, corresponding to photographing information, associated with said image signal, said photographing signal and said image signal, which are associated with each other, being generated at the same time, andsaid monitor controller displays said photographing information on a portion of said monitor separate from a portion of said monitor for displaying said displayed-image on said monitor in said first or said second replay mode.

9. A digital camera according to claim 1, wherein an image receiving area, which captures an optical image of said object, of said imaging device is similar in aspect ratio to said first rectangle.

10. A digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising a signal processor that carries out a trimming process for said image signal generated by said imaging device so that a processed image corresponding to an image signal having undergone said trimming process is similar in aspect ratio to said first rectangle, said processed image being displayed on said monitor.

11. An image replay machine, comprising: an image signal receiver that receives an image signal corresponding to an image of a first rectangle, an aspect ratio of said first rectangle being a first aspect ratio, said first rectangle having a first long side and a first short side;a monitor on which an image corresponding to said image signal is displayed, said monitor being a second rectangle, an aspect ratio of said second rectangle being a second aspect ratio, said second aspect ratio being decided to be lower than said first aspect ratio if said first aspect ratio is higher than one, said second aspect ratio being decided to be higher than said first aspect ratio if said first aspect ratio is lower than one, said second rectangle having a first side and a second side; anda monitor controller that causes a displayed-image corresponding to said image signal received by said image signal receiver to be displayed on said monitor according to a first or a second replay mode, said displayed-image being displayed such that said first long side is parallel to said first side and such that an aspect ratio of said displayed-image is the same as said first aspect ratio in the first replay mode, said displayed-image being displayed as being rotated by 90 degrees such that said first long side is parallel to said second side and such that an aspect ratio of said displayed-image is the same as a reciprocal number of said first aspect ratio in the second replay mode.

12. An image replay machine according to claim 11, wherein said image signal receiver receives a photographing signal, corresponding to photographing information, associated with said image signal, said photographing signal and said image signal, which are associated with each other, being generated at the same time, andsaid monitor controller displays said photographing information on a portion of said monitor separate from a portion of said monitor for displaying said displayed-image on said monitor in said first or said second replay mode.

13. A digital camera for photographing an optical image of an object as an image of a first rectangle, an aspect ratio of said first rectangle being a first aspect ratio, said first rectangle having first long sides and first short sides, said digital camera comprising: an imaging device that generates an image signal corresponding to an optical image of said object;a memory that stores said image signal generated by said imaging device;a monitor on which an image corresponding to said image signal is displayed, said monitor being a square, said square having first sides and second sides; anda monitor controller that causes a displayed-image corresponding to said image signal stored in said memory to be displayed on said monitor according to a first or a second replay mode, said displayed-image being displayed as said first long side is parallel to said first side and such that an aspect ratio of said displayed-image is the same as said first aspect ratio in said first replay mode, said displayed-image being displayed as being rotated by 90 degrees such that said first long side is parallel to said second side and such that an aspect ratio of said displayed-image is the same as a reciprocal number of said first aspect ratio in said second replay mode.