This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-000842, filed Jan. 5, 2005, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field
Embodiments of the present invention relate to an electronic camera apparatus and operation guide method therefor. In particular, the present invention is effective for an electronic camera apparatus, configured with a removable mass-capacity recording medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, an electronic camera apparatus is loadable with a recording medium, such as semiconductor memory. Picked-up (captured) image data is stored in the semiconductor memory. When the user operates the electronic camera apparatus, the image data stored in the semiconductor memory is read, and thereafter, displayed on a liquid crystal display monitor on the electronic camera.
In the conventional electronic camera apparatus, the picked-up image data is stored with a given file number (e.g., see JPN. PAT. APPLN. KOKAI Publication No. 2002-199334).
In recent years, the storage capacity of semiconductor memories has increased; therefore, a great many image files can be stored. Moreover, the function in which the electronic camera apparatus is connected to a personal computer to display image data on the personal computer has been developed. However, an effective arrangement and management method of the image files has not been developed as yet.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
Embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
A reference numeral 211 denotes a movie-recording button, which is operated when making moving image (video) recording. A numeral 212 denotes a zoom bar, which is used for zoom control. A numeral 213 denotes a jog dial, which is used for selecting various functions, and the function selected by pressing an OK button 214 is defined. Operation content and status of the jog dial 213 is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 201. A numeral 215 denotes a menu button, which is used for displaying various menus on the monitor. A numeral 216 denotes a mode lever, and 217 denotes a cover of a slot receiving a removable semiconductor memory.
If a shutter operation is not made in a normal shooting status (mode), video data from the signal processor 14 is inputted to an image display processor 61 via a memory controller 15. In this case, conversion and menu synthesizing are carried out to display the shot image on the liquid crystal monitor 201. The image data from the image display processor 61 is supplied to the liquid crystal monitor 201. By doing so, a shooting image or aimed subject image in a standby state is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 201.
When the shutter operation is made, the picked-up image data is compressed (e.g., compression confirmable to JPEG) in an image compression/decompression processor 16. Thereafter, the image data is stored in a hard disk 32A or semiconductor memory (e.g., SD card) 32B via a recording media interface 31 under the control of a CPU (central processing unit) 20. The recording media is not limited to above, and an optical disk may be used.
When image data stored in the recording media is read, the image data is decompressed in the image compression/decompression processor 16 under the control of the CPU 20. Thereafter, the image data is inputted to the image display processor 61 via the memory controller 15. By doing so, a playback (reproduction) image is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 201.
A work memory 17 is used to edit image data, to create thumbnail image and to make replacement of the image order. In addition, the work memory 17 is used to edit various icons. The work memory 17 is able to save (store) image data equivalent to one or more screens. The image data saved in the work memory 17 is inputted to the image display processor 61 via the memory controller 15. Therefore, it is possible to confirm image editing.
In editing or shooting, audio data is captured via a microphone 42 and audio interface 41. The audio data is paired with the shot image data, and thereafter, is recorded to recording media. If the user desires to reproduce the recorded audio data, it is read from the recording media together with the shot image data. The audio data is output as sound from a speaker 203 via the audio interface 41 while playing back an image. In this case, according to the present invention, it is possible to mute the sound when during playback and confirm the image.
In a shooting mode, the CPU 20 carries out zoom control, auto-exposure (iris) control (AE), auto-focus control (AF) and flash control in accordance with a control signal via a controller 18. An external operation signal is given to the CPU 20 via operation tools 21 and a remote control signal-receiving part. Moreover, the CPU 20 is connected with an external connection interface (not shown); therefore, the camera is connectable with an external display device such as a TV. Here, the foregoing operation tools 21 are shown collectively calling various operation buttons shown in
The CPU 20 controls the status LED 205 as a status display device. The status display device is able to make color display. The display pattern and the kind of display color are combined, thereby giving various informations to the user, who is situated in front of the camera main body. For example, six colors may be displayed. Various kinds, slow, quick, continuous and intermittent flashing are given as the display pattern. The foregoing display pattern is combined with the kind of color.
The user can arbitrarily set and customize the combination of the display pattern and the kind of display color.
The following is an explanation about a typical configuration and method in the electronic camera apparatus of the present invention.
[Album Identifier Information]
Here, album identifier information is information for identifying the kind of album. The album identifier information is composed of an icon, mark, symbol, graphic, character, or combination of those. In the following, icons are used.
In the electronic camera apparatus of the present invention, the mode lever 216 of
When a desired menu item is selected, the user presses the OK button 214, and thereby, a screen for setting the details of the selected menu item appears.
In this case, if several albums already exist in the hard disk, album icons 61, 62 and 63 appear with the rotating operation of the jog dial 214 as seen from
When the user presses the OK button 214 to select the album corresponding to the album icon 62, imaging data is associated with the album. In
Now,
In such a case, the son presses the downward triangular arrow of the OK button 214, thereby selecting a menu item “create new file”. When the OK button 214 of
Then, as shown in
In either case, the user presses the upward or downward triangular arrow of the OK button 214, thereby, selecting which “YES” or “NO”.
In the state shown in
In the shooting mode, if the user shoots without designating a specified album or newly creasing an album, the shot image file is automatically stored in the album of the icon “Calendar” shown in
[Monitoring]
As described above, the electronic camera apparatus is able to set the foregoing album. Therefore, it is possible to display which picked-up still image or video image is stored in an album on the monitor screen.
In
The following is an explanation about other icons. 7-1 is an icon indicating a battery residual level, and 7-2 is a video mark, that is, video shooting icon (disappearing in half shutter mode). 7-3 is an icon indicating shoot-able time (disappearing in half shutter), and 7-4 is a still image mark, that is, still image shooting icon indicated exclusive of the video image shooting. 7-5 is an icon indicating the number of shoot-able photographs, and 7-6 is an icon indicating the state of the zoom. 7-7 is a camera shake warning icon, and displayed as warning when the shutter speed for a still image is too slow. The icon 7-7 is not displayed in the video shooting mode. An icon 7-8 is a focus reference mark, and is not displayed in auto-focus mode. An icon 7-9 is a scene mark, and displayed excluding auto-mode. An icon 7-10 indicates a flash, and changes into yellow in half shutter mode if it flashes. 7-11 is an exposure correction icon, and 7-12 is a self-timer icon.
7-13 is a white balance icon, 7-14 is a sensitivity icon, and 7-15 is a metering system icon. Moreover, 7-16 is an icon indicating video image quality, 7-17 is a wind noise reduction icon, and 7-18 is a still image size icon. 7-19 is an icon indicating still image quality, and 7-20 is a continuous shooting icon. 7-21 is an icon indicating media described before, and 7-22 is an album icon. 7-23 is an icon indicating date/time. 7-24 is a focus area icon.
[Detail and Normal Indications of Shooting Condition]
The electronic camera apparatus of the present invention is able to make a changeover of normal and detail indications when displaying icons on the liquid crystal monitor. According to the normal indication, the minimum icons necessary for shooting are displayed. On the other hand, according to the detail indication, various setting conditions are additionally displayed. For example, the detail indication is displayed for three seconds when the shooting condition is variously set and when the screen is returned to a monitoring screen after any setting is changed using the menu.
As seen from
[Pause in Video Shooting Mode]
The electronic camera apparatus of the present invention has a pause function in the video shooting mode. In this case, recording data is managed as the end of a video file (or chapter) at paused scene. Therefore, a pause button is operated in the video shooting mode, and thereby, video files are successively created.
Explanation will be given below with reference to
[Display in Combination with Key (e.g., Jog Dial) to be Operated and Icon Indicating Operation Content]
The electronic camera apparatus makes exposure correction and manual focus; in this case, operation icons for control are concurrently displayed together with their control values. Namely, a display screen shown in
The user rotates the jog dial 214 in a menu mode, and thereby, a manual focus item appears. Here, the user presses the OK button, and thereby making manual focus control. In this case, when the user rotates the jog dial, icons displayed on a guide screen 201a are changed into an icon display state shown in a guide screen 201b. In the guide screen 201b, a jog dial mark and a control value are displayed. Here, the user rotates the jog dial 214, thereby adjusting focus.
When the user presses the right triangular arrow of the OK button 214 from the display state of the guide screen 201b, the screen is shifted to a guide screen 201c for adjusting exposure. In this state, the jog dial 213 is rotated to adjust the exposure. In this case, a jog dial mark appears on the left side of an exposure control icon 10-3.
If the user desires to shift the screen from the guide screen 201a to the guide screen 201c for adjusting exposure, the user presses the right triangular arrow of the OK button 214 to achieve the foregoing shift. When the user presses the OK button 214 from the state of the guide screen 201c, the screen is returned to the shooting mode screen after five seconds.
As described above, the jog dial mark is indicated on the side the icon, and thereby, the electronic camera apparatus is able to visually guide operation tools to be operated by the user. In
[Display Shooting Mode Icons Affected by the Result when Setting Shooting Conditions]
When the shooting conditions are set, the electronic camera apparatus is able to show icon that indicates the setting result of conditions giving its influence to which video shooting mode or still image shooting mode.
In
Moreover, if the foregoing sensitivity control is made, the electronic camera apparatus is able to display icons 7-2 and 7-4 to easily inform the user of video shooting or still image shooting. After sensitivity setting is completed, when the user presses the left triangular arrow of the OK button 214, the guide screen is returned to the guide screen 201-1.
In the shooting menu indication mode, the user rotates the jog dial 213, and thereby, the title “image quality” appears as an image-quality setting item (see guide screen 201-3). Here, when the user operates the OK button 214, the screen changes into a guide screen 201-4, that is, a screen for setting the quality in detail. In this case, the user rotates the jog dial 213 to select “normal” or “fine”.
The foregoing example shows the case of setting still image quality and IOS sensitivity. In this case, the setting result is also given to the user using icons even if other shooting conditions are set. Specifically, it is possible to readily indicate icons that show the setting result giving an influence to which video shooting mode or still image shooting mode, or to both of them.
[Icon Indicates From Which Recording Medium and Which Album Video Image is Reproduced From in Playback Mode]
The above explains the state that the screen changes in the still image playback mode. Likewise, the screen changes in the video image playback mode. Specifically, a normal screen is as shown in a guide screen 201-9 in the video image playback mode. In this case also, recording media icon 7-21 of playback image data and album icon 7-22 appear together. The user presses the OK button 214 in the state that the guide screen 201-9 is shown, and thereby, the screen is shifted to the indication state shown in the guide screen 201-7.
[Displaying Zooming Area when Still Image is Zoomed and Reproduced]
The electronic camera apparatus is able to make zoom-in and zoom-out indication in the still image playback mode. A guide screen 201-11 of
It is possible to recognize where position is zoomed in the entire screen area by confirming the zoom-in position mark area appearing in zoomed-out entire screen area. The zoomed-out entire screen area and zoom-in position mark area disappear when a predetermined time (e.g., three to five seconds) has elapsed after the user has not operated the zoom bar 212 or OK button 214. In this case, a zoomed-in screen is given as shown in a guide screen 201-13. However, when the user starts operating the zoom bar 212 or OK button 214, these zoomed-out entire screen area and zoom-in position mark area appear again.
[Display the Boundary Between Albums, and to Make Consciousness of the Users' Album Feeling, in Thumbnail Indication]
The electronic camera apparatus is able to display thumbnail. Also, it is possible to indicate that which album's thumbnail is displayed using the album icon.
[Chapter Select Display is Made in the Form of Film in Video Playback Mode]
In the electronic camera apparatus, when chapter select is made in the video playback mode, several continuous images forming the chapter are simultaneously displayed. In the guide screen 201-9 prepared for the video playback mode shown in
In the foregoing initial screen when chapter select is made, several images of the selected chapter are displayed in the form of a film. In other words, part of the film including several frames is displayed. The reason why several images are displayed in the form of a film is as follows. In general, the form of a film serves to enable the user to think of a movie. Namely, this serves to give an impression that the current playback mode is the video playback mode. Moreover, the reason why several frames are displayed is as follows. For example, if the user sees one frame only, there is a possibility that the user will not understand the content of the chapter. In view of the foregoing circumstances, several frames are used so that the user can easily understand the content.
[Protection with Respect to Album, Protection with Respect to Image Files in Album]
[Preceding Album is Displayed]
In a playback menu, the jog dial 213 is rotated to select a protection item.
If the user desires to protection the whole of the album storing the currently displayed image, the user operates the OK button cursor to move a cursor in the downward triangular arrow direction. Then, the user moves the cursor on an item “select all”, and thereafter, presses the OK button 214, and thereby, protection is given to the whole of the album. If the user desires to release the protection given to the whole of the album, the user makes the following operation. Specifically, the user rotates the jog dial 213 in a state that the cursor is positioned on an item “select all”, and thereby, the cursor is moved. Then, the user moves the cursor on an item “release all”, and thereafter, presses the OK button, and thereby, protection given to the selected album is released.
The user rotates the jog dial 213, and thereby, the cursor is moved on an item “decision”. In this state, if the user presses the OK button, protection or protection release set so far is entered, and thereafter, the screen is returned to the playback menu screen.
If the user desires to select another album, the user operates the OK button 214 in the left or right triangular arrow direction, and thereby, access to another album is made. The accessed album is recognizable by confirming the icon 7-22.
The user can readily recognize the boundary of the album via the foregoing operation. Specifically, the thumbnail of the image file stored in the accessed album is displayed while scrolling the thumbnail indication (display). When scrolling advances and access to the next album is made, album icons of the next album are displayed in the thumbnail arrangement. In the guide screen 201-26 of
According to the foregoing operation, protection is set while seeing image files stored in the album. Moreover, it is possible to make protection setting and release for each album.
The user presses the zoom bar 212 to the W side in the guide screen 201-26 (also shown in
The user presses the downward triangular arrow of the OK button 214, and thereby, the cursor moves to an item “select all”. Further, the user rotates the jog dial 213, and thereby, the cursor is moved to items “release all”, “enter” and “cancel”.
The user selects the item “select all” and presses the OK button 214, and thereby, protection of the center album, that is, family album 100 is released. In addition, the key mark 19-a disappears.
If the user desires to give protection to another album, the user operates the jog dial on the guide screen 201-27 (i.e., state that item select by cursor is not made), and thereby, the album icon is scrolled. Therefore, the preceding or backside album is scrolled to the center position.
The user presses the zoom bar to the W side in the guide screen 201-27, and thereby, a guide screen 201-28 for selecting the drive is given. A hard disk or SD memory (semiconductor memory) icon is displayed. Thus, an arbitrary recording medium is selectable. In order to select the recording medium, the user rotates the jog dial 214 to position a desired recording medium icon to the center on the screen, and thereby, the recording medium is selectable. The user presses the zoom bar 212 in the T-direction, and thereby, the screen is returned to the guide screen 201-27, that is, a state of displaying the album recorded in the selected recording medium.
As described above, the electronic camera apparatus is able to give protection for each album, and to give protection for each image file stored in each album. Therefore, there exists an album having protected image files and image files to which protection is not given. The album described above is called a protection-mixed album. Moreover, the album to which protection is not given is called a non-protection album. Three kinds of albums exist with respect to the foregoing protect. However, the electronic camera apparatus is designed to readily distinguish the kind of album when the album is displayed.
In
[Select Specified Album or All Albums in Slide Show]
As seen from a guide screen 201-31 of
When the user further rotates the jog dial 213 in the guide screen 201-33, a guide screen 201-35 is given. In the guide screen 201-35, an album executing slide show is selectable. Here, the user presses the right arrow of the OK button 214, and thereby, a guide screen 201-36 is given, and the cursor specifies an item “current album”. The user further rotates the jog dial 213, and thereby, the cursor is moved to an item “all albums”. The user moves the cursor to a desired item, and thereafter, presses the left arrow of the OK button 214, and thereby, the screen is returned to the guide screen 201-35.
In the guide screen 201-35, the user rotates the jog dial 213, and thereby, a guide screen 201-37 appears. The guide screen 201-37 is a screen for setting the time interval of each screen in a slide show. Here, the user presses the right arrow of the OK button 214, and thereby, a guide screen 201-38 is given in a state that the cursor specifies an item “one second”. The user rotates the jog dial, and thereby, the cursor is successively moved to items “three seconds”, “five seconds,” “ten seconds” and “one second”. The user selects a desired time interval, and thereafter, presses the left arrow of the OK button 214, and thereby, the screen is returned to the guide screen 201-37. Further, the user presses the left arrow of the OK button 214, and thereby, the screen is returned successively to guide screens 201-35, 201-333, and 201-32.
When the guide screen 201-33 is given, the user presses the right arrow of the OK button 214, and thereby, the slide show starts. During the slide show, the current playback recording medium icon, album icon, and image file number are displayed.
[Set Existing Album and New Album as Copy Destination in Copy Function]
As seen from a guide screen 201-40 of
Thereafter, as seen from a guide screen 201-44 shown in
The user moves a desired icon on the center of the screen, and thereafter, presses the OK button 214, and thereby, the selected image is copied to the album corresponding to the icon.
If the user desires to create a new album in the guide screen 201-46, and to copy the image to the newly created album, the following operation may be made. Specifically, the user presses the downward arrow of the OK button to move the cursor to an item “copy to new album”. Then, the user rotates the jog dial 213, and thereby, several icons shown in
The electronic camera apparatus has a move function, as seen from the guide screen 201-40 of
The blocks are mainly comprised of memory controller 15, memory 43, image processor 61 and liquid crystal monitor 201, which are shown in
The functional blocks are largely classified into the following sections. For example, a new album creation function and its guide screen processor 413, a shooting menu processing function and its guide screen processor 414, and a playback menu processing function and its guide screen processor 415 are given. Further, an album management function and its guide screen processor 416 is given, and includes the following functions. One is a function of selecting a saving album destination of the shot image file. Another is a function of selecting a playback target album when reproducing the image file. Further, still image shooting and its guide screen processor 417, and video image shooting and its guide screen processor 418 are given as a block operating in the shooting mode. Further, still image playback and its guide screen processor 419, and video image playback and its guide screen processor 420 are given as a block operating in the playback mode.
The following sections are given as a block for executing processings relevant to an album. An album protection processing function and its guide screen processor 421a, and an image file protection processing function and its guide screen processor 421b are given. Further, a copy (or move) processing function and its guide screen processor 422, a slide show executing function and its guide screen processor 423, and a thumbnail indication processing function and its guide screen processor 424 are given.
The electronic camera apparatus of the present invention has features described in the foregoing drawings. In addition, the electronic camera apparatus has means for realizing the following functional features. Specifically, when pause is executed in video shooting, the apparatus has a function of displaying the pause icon on part of the display screen (see
Moreover, when the zoom-in or zoom-out operation is made in still image playback, a sub-screen showing the entire screen appears in the zoomed-in screen (see
In video playback, the chapter select guide screen is given (
Even if a large-capacity recording media is used, the foregoing means are given; therefore, it is convenient for the user to classify and properly arrange the image file, and to manage the album. The foregoing album identifier information is effective in enabling the user to accurately and readily operate the camera apparatus.
The present invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiment. In this case, constituent components are modified within the scope without diverging from the subject matter of the invention in the working step. Several constituent components disclosed in the foregoing embodiment are properly combined, and thereby, various inventions may be formed. For example, some components may be deleted from the whole constituent components disclosed in the embodiment. Moreover, constituent components disclosed in different embodiment may be properly combined.
Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2005-000842 | Jan 2005 | JP | national |