Imaging apparatus and display control method
17 claims: 16 independent, 1 dependent
- 1被写体を撮像して画像データを取得する撮像手段と、 前記撮像手段により取得された画像データに基づいて前記被写体の画像を表示する表示手段と、 前記表示手段に表示された前記被写体の画像に重畳させて、表示位置があらかじめ決められた位置である情報表示と表示位置が移動可能な枠とを表示するように制御する表示制御手段と、を有し、 前記表示制御手段は、前記情報表示と前記枠が重複する場合、 前記枠の所定部分が前記情報表示と重複するときは前記枠を前記情報表示より優先的に表示するように制御し、前記枠の所定部分が前記情報表示と重複しないときは前記枠を前記情報表示より優先的に表示しないように制御 することを特徴とする撮像装置。
- 2前記枠は、前記表示手段に表示された画像の一部の領域を囲む矩形の枠であり、前記表示制御手段は、前記枠の少なくとも一辺の全部が前記情報表示と重複する場合、前記枠を前記情報表示より優先的に表示するように制御することを特徴とする請求項 1 に記載の撮像装置。
- 3前記枠は、前記表示手段に表示された画像の一部の領域を囲む矩形の枠であり、前記表示制御手段は、前記枠の少なくとも一辺の両端部が前記情報表示と重複する場合、前記枠を前記情報表示より優先的に表示するように制御することを特徴とする請求項 1 に記載の撮像装置。
- 4前記枠は、前記表示手段に表示された画像の一部の領域を囲む矩形のうち各辺の両端部のみを表示する枠であり、前記表示制御手段は、前記枠の少なくとも一辺の両端部が前記情報表示と重複する場合、前記枠を前記情報表示より優先的に表示するように制御することを特徴とする請求項 1 に記載の撮像装置。
- 5被写体を撮像して画像データを取得する撮像手段と、 前記撮像手段により取得された画像データに基づいて前記被写体の画像を表示する表示手段と、 前記表示手段に表示された前記被写体の画像に重畳させて、表示位置があらかじめ決められた位置である情報表示と表示位置が移動可能な枠とを表示するように制御する表示制御手段と、を有し、 前記表示制御手段は、前記枠の全体に対する前記情報表示と重複する部分の割合が所定値以上の場合、前記枠を前記情報表示より優先的に表示するように制御することを特徴とす る撮 像装置。
- 6前記枠は、前記表示手段に表示された画像の一部の領域を囲む円形の枠であり、前記表示制御手段は、前記枠の円周の半分以上が前記情報表示と重複する場合、前記枠を前記情報表示より優先的に表示するように制御することを特徴とする請求項 5 に記載の撮像装置。
- 7前記表示制御手段は、前記枠の円周の半分以上が連続して前記情報表示と重複する場合、前記枠を前記情報表示より優先的に表示するように制御することを特徴とする請求項 6 に記載の撮像装置。
- 8前記撮像手段により取得された画像データに基づいて前記被写体の顔を検出する顔検出手段と、 前記顔検出手段により検出された被写体の顔から主被写体とする顔を選択する選択手段と、を有し、 前記表示制御手段は、前記顔検出手段により検出された被写体の顔を囲む前記枠を複数表示する場合、前記選択手段により選択された主被写体とする顔を囲む前記枠に対してのみ、 前記枠の所定部分が前記情報表示と重複するときは前記枠を前記情報表示より優先的に表示するように制御し、前記枠の所定部分が前記情報表示と重複しないときは前記枠を前記情報表示より優先的に表示しないように制御する ことを特徴とする請求項1ないし 4 のいずれか1項に記載の撮像装置。
- 9前記撮像手段により取得された画像データに基づいて前記被写体の顔を検出する顔検出手段と、 前記顔検出手段により検出された被写体の顔から主被写体とする顔を選択する選択手段と、を有し、 前記表示制御手段は、前記顔検出手段により検出された被写体の顔を囲む前記枠を複数表示する場合、前記選択手段により選択された主被写体とする顔を囲む前記枠に対してのみ、前記枠の全体に対する前記情報表示と重複する部分の割合が所定値以上の場合、前記枠を前記情報表示より優先的に表示するように制御することを特徴とする請求項5ないし7のいずれか1項に記載の撮像装置。
- 10前記表示制御手段は、前記情報表示と前記主被写体以外の被写体の顔を囲む前記枠が重複する場合、前記情報表示を優先的に表示するように制御することを特徴とする請求項 8または 9に記載の撮像装置。
- 11被写体を撮像して画像データを取得する撮像手段と、 前記撮像手段により取得された画像データに基づいて前記被写体の画像を表示する表示手段と、 前記表示手段に表示された前記被写体の画像に重畳させて、表示位置があらかじめ決められた位置である情報表示と表示位置が移動可能な枠とを表示するように制御する表示制御手段と、を有し、 前記表示制御手段は、 前記表示手段に前記枠が複数表示され、前記複数表示される枠のうちの2つが互いに重複する場合 、大 きさが小さいほうの前記枠を優先的に表示するように制御することを特徴とす る撮 像装置。
- 12前記表示制御手段は、前記枠の表示位置または大きさの少なくとも一方をユーザーの操作に応じて変更することを特徴とする請求項1ないし11のいずれか1項に記載の撮像装置。
- 13被写体を撮像して画像データを取得する撮像手段と、 前記撮像手段により取得された画像データに基づいて前記被写体の画像を表示する表示手段と、 前記表示手段に表示された前記被写体の画像に重畳させて、表示位置があらかじめ決められた位置である情報表示と表示位置が移動可能な枠とを表示するように制御する表示制御手段と、を有し、 前記表示制御手段は、 前記枠の所定部分の位置が前記情報表示の表示される位置であるときは前記枠の全体を表示するように制御し、前記枠の所定部分の位置が前記情報表示の表示される位置でないときは前記枠の一部のみを表示するように制御する ことを特徴とする撮像装置。
- 14撮像装置の表示制御方法であって、 撮像手段により取得された画像データに基づいて被写体の画像を表示手段に表示する表示ステップと、 前記表示手段に表示された前記被写体の画像に重畳させて、表示位置があらかじめ決められた位置である情報表示と表示位置が移動可能な枠とを表示するように制御する表示制御ステップと、を有し、 前記表示制御ステップは、前記情報表示と前記枠が重複する場合、 前記枠の所定部分が前記情報表示と重複するときは前記枠を前記情報表示より優先的に表示するように制御し、前記枠の所定部分が前記情報表示と重複しないときは前記枠を前記情報表示より優先的に表示しないように制御 することを特徴とする撮像装置の表示制御方法。
- 15撮像装置の表示制御方法であって、 撮像手段により取得された画像データに基づいて被写体の画像を表示手段に表示する表示ステップと、 前記表示手段に表示された前記被写体の画像に重畳させて、表示位置があらかじめ決められた位置である情報表示と表示位置が移動可能な枠とを表示するように制御する表示制御ステップと、を有し、 前記表示制御ステップは、前記枠の全体に対する前記情報表示と重複する部分の割合が所定値以上の場合、前記枠を前記情報表示より優先的に表示するように制御することを特徴とする撮像装置の表示制御方法。
- 16撮像装置の表示制御方法であって、 撮像手段により取得された画像データに基づいて被写体の画像を表示手段に表示する表示ステップと、 前記表示手段に表示された前記被写体の画像に重畳させて、表示位置があらかじめ決められた位置である情報表示と表示位置が移動可能な枠とを表示するように制御する表示制御ステップと、を有し、 前記表示制御ステップは、前記表示手段に前記枠が複数表示され、前記複数表示される枠のうちの2つが互いに重複する場合、大きさが小さいほうの前記枠を優先的に表示するように制御することを特徴とする撮像装置の表示制御方法。
- 17撮像装置の表示制御方法であって、 撮像手段により取得された画像データに基づいて被写体の画像を表示手段に表示する表示ステップと、 前記表示手段に表示された前記被写体の画像に重畳させて、表示位置があらかじめ決められた位置である情報表示と表示位置が移動可能な枠とを表示するように制御する表示制御ステップと、を有し、 前記表示制御ステップは、 前記枠の所定部分の位置が前記情報表示の表示される位置であるときは前記枠の全体を表示するように制御し、前記枠の所定部分の位置が前記情報表示の表示される位置でないときは前記枠の一部のみを表示するように制御する ことを特徴とする撮像装置の表示制御方法。
Independent claims17
95 paragraphs, as filed
The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus, and more particularly to an image pickup apparatus having a live view photographing function.
Some conventional digital cameras have a live view shooting function that allows a subject image incident on an image sensor through a lens to be displayed on a display screen such as an LCD in real time for shooting. During Live View shooting, various settings can be made easily while viewing the displayed image by displaying various setting information that indicates settings related to shooting such as white balance, recording image quality, and color space by superimposing it on the displayed image. Can be confirmed in. In addition, an AF frame for specifying the area to be autofocused in the displayed image, an enlarged frame for specifying the area to be enlarged and displayed, and a face detection frame for notifying the user of which face is the face of the subject whose face has been detected. Etc. can also be displayed by superimposing them on the displayed image.
However, the position and size of the AF frame and enlarged frame can be freely changed by the user's operation, and the position and size of the face detection frame changes according to the subject, so the following problems may occur. There is. For example, if the display of the AF frame overlaps with the display of various setting information such as white balance, recording image quality, and color space, one display is hidden by the other display, making it difficult to recognize the displayed contents.
In order to solve such a problem, Patent Document 1 describes a technique of hiding the display of the setting information when the display of the AF cursor indicating the focusing position and the display of the setting information overlap. There is.<patcit num="1"><text>Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-134358</text></patcit>
<p> However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, when the display of the AF cursor indicating the in-focus position and the display of the setting information overlap, the setting information is hidden. Therefore, during the duplication, the setting information is displayed. The displayed contents cannot be recognized.</p><p> The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image pickup apparatus capable of optimally recognizing information and a frame displayed superimposed on a display image. To do.</p>
<p> In order to achieve the above object, the imaging apparatus according to the present invention displays an image of the subject based on an imaging means that images the subject and acquires image data and the image data acquired by the imaging means. Display control that controls the display means and the information display in which the display position is a predetermined position and the frame in which the display position can be moved are superposed on the image of the subject displayed on the display means. When the information display and the frame overlap, the display control means has means.<u style="single">When the predetermined portion of the frame overlaps with the information display, the frame is controlled to be displayed with priority over the information display, and when the predetermined portion of the frame does not overlap with the information display, the frame is displayed with the information. Control not to display with priority over display</u>It is characterized by doing.<u style="single">Further, in order to achieve the above object, the imaging device according to the present invention captures an image of the subject based on an imaging means for capturing an image of the subject and acquiring image data, and an image data acquired by the imaging means. The display means to be displayed and the information display in which the display position is a predetermined position and the frame in which the display position can be moved are controlled so as to be superimposed on the image of the subject displayed on the display means. The display control means includes a display control means, and when the ratio of a portion overlapping the information display to the entire frame is a predetermined value or more, the display control means preferentially displays the frame over the information display. It is characterized by controlling.</u><u style="single">Further, in order to achieve the above object, the imaging device according to the present invention captures an image of the subject based on an imaging means for capturing an image of the subject and acquiring image data, and an image data acquired by the imaging means. The display means to be displayed and the information display in which the display position is a predetermined position and the frame in which the display position can be moved are controlled so as to be superimposed on the image of the subject displayed on the display means. The display control means includes a display control means, and when a plurality of the frames are displayed on the display means and two of the plurality of displayed frames overlap each other, the smaller frame is used. Is characterized by being controlled so as to be displayed preferentially.</u> Further, in order to achieve the above object, the imaging device according to the present invention captures an image of the subject based on an imaging means for capturing an image of the subject and acquiring image data, and an image data acquired by the imaging means. The display means to be displayed and the information display in which the display position is a predetermined position and the frame in which the display position can be moved are controlled so as to be superimposed on the image of the subject displayed on the display means. The display control means has a display control means, and the display control means has a display control means.<u style="single">When the position of the predetermined portion of the frame is the position where the information display is displayed, the entire frame is controlled to be displayed, and when the position of the predetermined portion of the frame is not the position where the information display is displayed. Controls to display only a part of the frame</u>Characterized by<u style="single">。</u></p>
<p> According to the present invention, information and frames displayed superimposed on a display image can be optimally recognized.</p>
(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 100 is the camera body, and 150 is a lens unit that is interchangeably attached to the camera body 100. Reference numeral 12 denotes a shutter for controlling the amount of exposure to the image sensor 14, and reference numeral 14 denotes an image sensor that converts an optical image into an electric signal. Reference numeral 16 denotes an image processing circuit, which performs predetermined pixel interpolation processing on the digital signal (image data) acquired by converting the analog signal output of the image sensor 14 with an A / D converter or the image data from the memory control circuit. Perform color conversion processing. Further, the image processing circuit 16 performs a predetermined arithmetic process using the image data. Based on the obtained calculation results, the system control circuit 50 performs AF (autofocus) processing, AE (automatic exposure) processing, and EF (flash pre-flash) for the shutter control unit, distance measurement control unit, and aperture control unit. Control the process. Further, the image processing circuit 16 also performs AWB (auto white balance) processing based on the obtained calculation result. Reference numeral 24 is an image display unit including an image display memory, 28 is an image display unit including a liquid crystal monitor, and the image data for display written in the image display memory 24 is displayed on the image display unit 28 via a D / A converter.
50 is a system control circuit that controls the entire camera body 100, and 52 is a memory that stores constants, variables, programs, etc. for the operation of the system control circuit 50. Reference numeral 54 denotes a display unit that displays an operating state, a message, or the like using characters, images, voices, or the like according to the execution of a program by the system control circuit 50. The display unit 54 is installed in one or more positions near the operation unit 68 of the camera body 100 so that it can be easily seen, and is composed of, for example, a combination of an LCD, an LED, a sounding element, and the like. Reference numeral 56 denotes a non-volatile memory that can be electrically erased and recorded, and for example, EEPROM or the like is used.
62 is a shutter switch SW1 that turns on when the shutter button (not shown) is pressed halfway, and instructs the start of operations such as AF processing, AE processing, AWB processing, and EF processing. 64 is the shutter switch SW2, which turns on when the shutter button (not shown) is fully pressed, and instructs the start of a series of processing related to shooting. The processing related to photography includes exposure processing, development processing, recording processing, and the like. Reference numeral 68 denotes an operation unit composed of various buttons, a touch panel, and the like.
Reference numeral 70 denotes a display control unit that displays various information by superimposing it on the image displayed on the image display unit 28. The information to be displayed includes setting information showing settings such as white balance and recording image quality, a histogram showing the brightness distribution of the image during Live View shooting, status information showing the remaining battery level and the number of remaining shots, and usage. There is warning information that warns that the condition is not suitable for. The display position of these various information displays is fixed to a predetermined position of the image display unit 28.
In addition, the display control unit 70 notifies the user which of the AF frame for specifying the area to be autofocused in the displayed image, the enlarged frame for specifying the area to be enlarged and displayed, and the face of the face-detected subject. A face detection frame for this is also displayed. The display position of these various frames is not fixed, and the display position can be moved to an arbitrary position by a user operation or the like.
Further, when the position where various information is displayed and the position where various frames are displayed overlap, the display control unit 70 controls which is displayed on the front surface according to the overlapping state.
Reference numeral 82 denotes a face detection unit, which performs a predetermined face detection operation on the image data from the image processing circuit 16 or the image data from the memory control circuit. 90 and 94 are interfaces with recording media such as memory cards and hard disks, and 92 and 96 are connectors for connecting with recording media such as memory cards and hard disks. 110 is a communication unit, and has various communication functions such as RS232C, USB, IEEE1394, P1284, SCSI, modem, LAN, and wireless communication. Reference numeral 112 denotes a connector for connecting the camera body 100 to another device by the communication unit 110, or an antenna in the case of wireless communication. 120 and 130 are recording media such as a memory card and a hard disk.
FIG. 2 is a rear view of the digital camera of the present embodiment, showing a state in which the image formed on the image sensor 14 is displayed on the image display unit 28. Shooting in a state where the image formed on the image sensor 14 is displayed on the image display unit 28 is referred to as live view shooting.
The 200 is provided with a liquid crystal monitor 201 on the back of the camera body, and the liquid crystal monitor 201 corresponds to the image display unit 28 in FIG. 210 to 220 are various buttons and correspond to the operation unit 68 in FIG. 240 is an optical finder.
The image formed on the image sensor 14 through the lens is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 201 in real time, and various information and various frames can be displayed by superimposing the image on the displayed image. In FIG. 2, setting information 221, warning information 223, and histogram 224 for functions related to shooting are displayed as various information. In addition, the AF frame 222 showing the area where the autofocus is performed is also displayed. The various displayed information will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 3 described later, and the AF frame 222 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 6 described later. Various information and display control of the AF frame 222 are performed by the display control unit 70.
Next, various information displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 201 during Live View shooting will be described with reference to FIG.
301 to 304 are setting information about the function related to shooting, and display the contents set by the user. 301 is white balance, 302 is recording image quality, 303 is photometric method, and 304 is setting information about color space. The setting information given above is an example, and other items may be displayed as long as the function is related to shooting.
310 is warning information for warning that there is no free space on the recording medium inserted in the image pickup apparatus, and 320 is a histogram showing the brightness distribution of the image captured in live view.
Various information is displayed superimposed on the front of the image displayed on the image display unit 28 during Live View shooting. At this time, semi-transparent processing is performed to semi-transparent the image displayed under the various information display. You may let me. However, when displaying various information in front of various frames such as an AF frame that overlaps, even if the various information display is semi-transparent and the image displayed under the various information display is semi-transparent, the various frames are displayed. Do not make it transparent.
FIG. 4 is a diagram in which display items of various information to be displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 201 are switched. In FIG. 3, various information is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 201, and the display items can be switched by operating the INFO button 218 instructing the display switching shown in FIG. 4 (a) shows only the histogram 320 hidden from the state of FIG. 3, and FIG. 4 (b) shows setting information 301 to 304 and warning information about the functions related to shooting from the state of FIG. 310 and histogram 320 are hidden.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a screen for changing the setting of the function related to shooting, and shows a screen for changing the white balance setting as an example.
When the menu button 210 for displaying the menu item shown in FIG. 2 is pressed, the display of the LCD monitor 201 changes from the screen of FIG. 3 to the screen of FIG. 501 is a selection frame for selecting a white balance setting.
When you move the selection frame 501 by operating the cross buttons 213 to 216 shown in Fig. 2 and press the SET button 217 that instructs the decision shown in Fig. 2, the settings selected in the selection frame 501 are reflected in the digital camera. The screen changes to the screen shown in Fig. 3. At this time, the white balance setting information displayed on the image display unit 28 is also changed to the selected setting content.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an AF frame displayed during Live View shooting.
601 represents an AF frame, which is similar to the AF frame 222. The AF frame 601 may be a solid line or a broken line, and the color of the frame may be any color. In addition, the screen can be freely moved by operating the cross buttons 213 to 216 shown in FIG. In addition, the size can be freely changed. When the enlargement button 219 instructing enlargement shown in FIG. 2 is pressed, the size of the frame increases as 604 or 605, and when the reduction button 220 instructing reduction shown in FIG. 2 is pressed, the size of the frame increases. Is smaller, such as 602 or 603. The internal area surrounded by the AF frame 601 is transparent, and the displayed image can be confirmed.
AF processing during Live View shooting is performed by the TVAF method. The TVAF method calculates the AF evaluation value, which is the sharpness of the image, based on the image signal of the image obtained by photoelectric conversion by an image sensor or the like, and drives the focus lens so that the AF evaluation value is maximized. Adjust the focus. The AF evaluation value is calculated based on the high frequency component of the video signal extracted by the bandpass filter, and the focus lens position where the AF evaluation value is maximized is usually the in-focus point. When the AF frame is displayed on the image display unit 28, AF processing is performed on the area surrounded by the AF frame.
The setting for displaying the movable AF frame on the image display unit 28 can be selected from the AF frame setting of the menu item. In the AF frame setting, for example, the area where the AF processing is performed is set to a predetermined area in the center of the image display unit 28, and the area where the AF processing is performed is set to a plurality of predetermined areas of the image display unit 28. You can select settings that are automatically selected according to the shooting conditions.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a determination criterion of the display control unit 70 that determines and controls which of the various information and the AF frame is to be displayed on the front surface according to the overlapping state of the various information displays and the AF frame.
The display control unit 70 displays various information on the front when the size of the AF frame can be estimated even if the various information is displayed on the front of the AF frame when the various information displays and the AF frame overlap. When the size of the AF frame cannot be estimated, the AF frame is displayed on the front.
Figures 7 (a), (b), and (c) are cases where it is determined that the AF frame is displayed in front of various information displays. Figures 7 (d), (e), and (f) are cases where it is determined that various information is displayed in front of the AF frame. Figure 7 (g) shows a case where the size of the AF frame is changed so that the front display is changed from the AF frame to various information.
In FIG. 7A, the entire AF frame 802 overlaps with the histogram 801. In this case, it is difficult to recognize the AF frame 802 when the histogram 801 is displayed in front of the AF frame 802. Therefore, the display control unit 70 controls the AF frame 802 to be displayed in front of the histogram 801.
In FIG. 7 (b), the side 812 of the AF frame, a part of the side 814, and all of the sides 813 are visible, but all of the sides 811 of the AF frame overlap with the histogram 815, and the histogram 815 is in front. It is difficult to estimate the size of the AF frame when displayed on. Therefore, the display control unit 70 controls the AF frame to be displayed in front of the histogram 815.
In FIG. 7 (c), all the sides 821 of the AF frame overlap with the display of the white balance setting information 825, and all the sides 823 of the AF frame overlap with the display of the color space setting information 826. .. In this case, it is difficult to estimate the size of the AF frame when the white balance setting information 825 and the color space setting information 826 are displayed in the foreground. Therefore, the display control unit 70 controls the AF frame to be displayed in front of the setting information display.
In FIG. 7 (d), some of the sides 831 and 834 of the AF frame overlap with the histogram 835, but all of the sides 832 and 833 of the AF frame are visible. In this case, since the size of the AF frame can be estimated even if the histogram 835 is displayed on the front side, the display control unit 70 controls the histogram 835 to be displayed on the front side of the AF frame.
In FIG. 7 (e), a part of the side 841 of the AF frame overlaps with the display of the white balance setting information 845. A part of the side 843 of the AF frame overlaps with the display of the color space setting information 846. A part of the side 844 of the AF frame overlaps with the display of the white balance setting information 845 and the display of the color space setting information 846. As described above, although there is a part where the side of the AF frame and the setting information display overlap, the side 841, the side 843, a part of the side 844, and the entire side 842 of the AF frame can be visually recognized. In this case, the size of the AF frame can be estimated even if the white balance setting information 845 and the color space setting information 846 are displayed on the front side. Therefore, the display control unit 70 displays the setting information on the front side of the AF frame. Control to let.
In FIG. 7 (f), a part of the side 854 of the AF frame overlaps with the display of the white balance setting information 855, but all of the sides 851, 852, and 853 of the AF frame are visible. In this case, since the size of the AF frame can be estimated even if the white balance setting information 855 is displayed on the front side, the display control unit 70 controls so that the setting information is displayed on the front side of the AF frame.
In Fig. 7 (g), when the AF frame is small, the entire upper side of the AF frame 861 overlaps with the display of the white balance setting information 865. Therefore, when the white balance setting information 865 is displayed in the foreground, the AF frame is displayed. It is difficult to estimate the size of. Therefore, the display control unit 70 controls the AF frame to be displayed in front of the setting information display.
If the size of the AF frame is changed and enlarged by the user's operation, the upper side of the AF frame will only partially overlap the display of the white balance setting information 865. By changing the size of the AF frame, it is possible to estimate the size of the AF frame even if the white balance setting information 865 is displayed on the front, so the display control unit 70 displays the setting information on the AF frame. Control to display on the front.
If the size of the AF frame is changed to a small size and it becomes difficult to estimate the size of the AF frame until then, the display control unit 70 is set to be displayed on the front. Control to change from information to AF frame.
As described above, when at least one of the sides of the AF frame overlaps with various information displays, it is difficult to estimate the size of the AF frame if various information is displayed in front of the AF frame. Therefore, the AF frame is displayed in front of various information.
In addition, when displaying only both ends of each side of the AF frame to indicate the size of the AF frame as shown in Fig. 7 (g), even if only a part of the side of the AF frame overlaps with various information displays. It may be difficult to estimate the size of the AF frame. For example, when both ends of the side of the AF frame overlap with various information displays. In such a case, the display control unit 70 controls the AF frame to be displayed in front of various information displays.
Further, in FIG. 7 (e), if the display interval between the white balance setting information 845 and the color space setting information 846 is narrower, the size of the AF frame is estimated even if a part of the side 844 is displayed. May be difficult. Therefore, when both ends of at least one side of the AF frame overlap with the various information displays, the AF frame may be controlled to be displayed in front of the various information displays as shown in FIG. 7 (h).
Next, the process of controlling whether the AF frame or various information is displayed on the front side will be described using the flowchart of FIG. The display control unit 70 performs the processing of S102-S108.
First, when the live view button 211 for instructing the start and end of the live view shooting shown in FIG. 2 is pressed, the system control circuit 50 starts the live view shooting (S101).
Next, it is determined whether or not the setting information about the function related to shooting and various information such as the histogram are set to be displayed on the image display unit 28 (S102). Items of various information to be displayed on the image display unit 28 can be changed by operating the INFO button 218, and it is also possible not to display various information on the image display unit 28.
In the case of setting to display various information on the image display unit 28, it is determined whether or not to display the AF frame on the image display unit 28 (S103). When displaying the AF frame on the image display unit 28, the user may select the setting for displaying the AF frame, and then the user specifies the position for displaying the AF frame before displaying the AF frame. Alternatively, when the user selects the setting for displaying the AF frame, the AF frame may be displayed at a predetermined initial position.
When displaying the AF frame on the image display unit 28, the size of the AF frame is large even if various information is displayed in front of the AF frame from the position and size of the AF frame and the position where various information is displayed. Judge whether it can be estimated (S104). Whether or not the size of the AF frame can be estimated even if various information is displayed on the front of the AF frame is determined based on the judgment criteria shown in Fig. 7.
If it is determined that it is difficult to estimate the size of the AF frame when various information is displayed in front of the AF frame, the AF frame is displayed in front of the various information (S105).
On the other hand, if it is determined that the size of the AF frame can be estimated even if various information is displayed on the front of the AF frame, various information is displayed on the front of the AF frame (S106).
Next, it is determined whether or not the position or size of the displayed AF frame has been changed (S107), and if there is a change, the process returns to S104, and if there is no change, the process proceeds to S108. If the displayed AF frame disappears, the process shifts to S108. Also, if the AF frame was not displayed but is newly displayed, it returns to S104.
Next, it is determined whether or not the setting for displaying various information on the image display unit 28 has been changed (S108). The items of various information to be displayed on the image display unit 28 can be changed by operating the INFO button 218, and it is possible that the AF frame, which did not overlap with the various information until then, may overlap with the newly displayed various information. Be done. On the contrary, it is conceivable that the duplicated information may not be displayed even in the AF frame which was duplicated with the various information displays until then. The processing of S108 is performed for such a case.
After that, the system control circuit 50 determines whether or not the end of the live view shooting is instructed by the live view button 211 (step S109), and if the end is instructed, the live view shooting is ended (S110). If the end is not instructed, the process returns to S107.
As described above, by controlling which of the AF frame and various information is displayed on the front according to the overlapping state of the AF frame and various information displays, the user can optimally display both the AF frame and various information displays. It becomes possible to recognize and the user interface is improved.
The same display control may be performed not only on the AF frame but also on an enlarged frame that specifies an area to be enlarged and displayed in the displayed image.
(Second embodiment) The block diagram showing the configuration of the digital camera according to the second embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1, which is the same as that of the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof will be omitted.
In the first embodiment, how to control the display of the AF frame and various information will be described, but in the second embodiment, how to control the display of the face detection frame and various information will be described.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an image displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 201 during Live View shooting. 1001, 1002, and 1003 are face detection frames, and are displayed by surrounding the area recognized by the face detection unit 82 as the face of the subject. When multiple faces of the subject are detected, multiple face detection frames are displayed surrounding the area recognized as a face, and are mainly based on the size of the area recognized as a face and the position in the image. It is divided into a frame and a sub-frame. The determination of the main frame and the sub-frame is performed by the system control circuit 50 based on the result detected by the face detection unit 82, and the image display unit 28 determines the main frame for the face determined to be the main subject. It is displayed, and the sub-frame is displayed for faces other than the main subject. The user can also select which face detection frame is used as the main frame by operating the operation unit 68. In FIG. 9, 1001 is the main frame and 1002 and 1003 are the sub-frames, and different control is performed when the main frame and the sub-frame overlap with various information displays. Since the sub-frame is displayed for faces other than the main subject, it is considered to have a low priority for the user. Therefore, when the sub-frame overlaps with the display of various information, the display of various information is prioritized, and various information is displayed in the foreground regardless of whether or not the size of the sub-frame can be estimated.
In FIG. 9, the entire upper side of the face detection frame 1001 overlaps with the display of the white balance setting information 1006. Since 1001 is the main frame, the display control unit 70 controls the face detection frame 1001 to be displayed in front of the setting information 1006. Whether to display the main frame or various information on the front is determined based on the judgment criteria shown in FIG.
The entire upper side of the face detection frame 1003 overlaps with the display of the histogram 1005, but since 1003 is a sub-frame, the display control unit 70 controls the histogram 1005 so that it is displayed in front of the face detection frame 1003. ..
When the face detection frame 1001 becomes the sub frame and the face detection frame 1003 becomes the main frame by the user's operation, the display control unit 70 controls the setting information 1006 to be displayed in front of the face detection frame 1001. Control 1003 to appear in front of histogram 1005.
Next, the process of controlling whether the face detection frame or various information is displayed on the front side will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The steps similar to the steps in the flowchart of FIG. 8 are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. The display control unit 70 performs the processing of S203-S209.
In the case of setting to display various information on the image display unit 28 at the time of live view shooting, it is determined whether or not to display the face detection frame on the image display unit 28 (S203). The face detection frame is displayed so as to surround the automatically detected face when the face detection mode is selected by the user and the face of the subject is detected in the image of the live view shooting. When multiple faces of the subject are detected, multiple face detection frames are displayed, and the face detection frame is divided into a main frame and a sub frame based on the size of the area recognized as a face and the position in the image. Divided.
When the face detection frame is displayed on the image display unit 28, it is determined whether the face detection frame to be displayed is the main frame or the sub frame (S204). If it is determined to be the main frame, it shifts to S205, and if it is determined to be the sub-frame, various information is displayed in front of the face detection frame regardless of the overlapping state of the face detection frame and various information (S207). ).
When the face detection frame is the main frame, the size of the face detection frame is large even if various information is displayed in front of the face detection frame from the position and size of the face detection frame and the position where various information is displayed. Is presumable (S205). Whether or not the size of the AF frame can be estimated even if various information is displayed on the front of the AF frame is determined based on the judgment criteria shown in Fig. 7.
If it is determined that it is difficult to estimate the size of the face detection frame when various information is displayed in front of the face detection frame, the face detection frame is displayed in front of the various information (S206).
On the other hand, if it is determined that the size of the face detection frame can be estimated even if various information is displayed in front of the face detection frame, various information is displayed in front of the face detection frame (S207).
After displaying the face detection frame in S206 or S207, determine whether there is a face detection frame that has not been displayed yet (S208), and if there is still a face detection frame that has not been displayed, display it in S204. Go back and move to step S209 if it does not exist.
Next, it is determined whether or not the position or size of the displayed face detection frame has been changed (S209), and if there is a change, the process returns to S204, and if there is no change, the process proceeds to S108. If the displayed face detection frame disappears, the screen shifts to S908. If a new face detection frame is displayed, the process returns to S204. Further, even if the position or size of the displayed face detection frame is not changed, the process returns to S204 even when the main frame is changed to the sub frame or the sub frame is changed to the main frame.
As described above, by controlling differently depending on whether the face detection frame is the main frame or the sub frame, the user can optimally recognize both the face detection frame and various information displays, and the user interface is improved. ..
In the flowchart of FIG. 10, when displaying a plurality of face detection frames, it is determined one by one whether or not the face detection frame is the main frame, but at the same time, the main frame is used for the plurality of face detection frames. You may make a judgment as to whether or not there is.
In addition, when determining whether or not the face detection frame is the main frame one by one, if only one main frame is displayed in the same image, the face detection frame after the determination as the main frame is performed. However, it is possible to omit the judgment as to whether or not it is the main frame and shift to S207.
Further, although FIG. 10 is a flowchart at the time of live view shooting, the face detection frame and display control of various information as described above are not limited to the live view shooting state. For example, it can be applied to the case where the playback mode is set by operating the playback button 212 for starting the playback of the previously captured and recorded image shown in FIG. When playing back an image shot and recorded in the past, various information and a face detection frame are displayed at the same time in order to confirm various information when the played image was taken and who was the main subject among the detected faces. It can be applied when displaying.
(Third embodiment) The block diagram showing the configuration of the digital camera according to the third embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1, which is the same as that of the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof will be omitted.
In the second embodiment, the face detection frame is rectangular, but in the third embodiment, the face detection frame is circular. In the case of a circle, the criterion for determining whether to display the face detection frame or various information on the front is different from that in the case of a rectangle.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a determination criterion of the display control unit 70 that controls which of the face detection frame and various information is displayed on the front surface according to the overlapping state of the circular face detection frame and various information displays.
FIG. 11A shows a case where it is determined that the face detection frame is displayed in front of various information displays.
11 (b) and 11 (c) are cases where it is determined that various information is displayed in front of the face detection frame.
In FIG. 11 (a), the portion of the face detection frame 1201 that continuously overlaps with the histogram 1202 is more than half of the circumference. In this case, it is difficult to estimate the size of the face detection frame 1201 when the histogram 1202 is displayed in front of the face detection frame 1201. Therefore, the display control unit 70 controls the face detection frame 1201 to be displayed in front of the histogram 1202.
In FIG. 11 (b), the portion of the face detection frame 1211 that continuously overlaps with the histogram 1212 is less than half of the circumference. In this case, the size of the face detection frame 1211 can be estimated even if the histogram 1212 is displayed in front of the face detection frame 1211. Therefore, the display control unit 70 displays the histogram 1212 in front of the face detection frame 1211. To control.
In FIG. 11 (c), the total of the parts of the face detection frame 1221 that overlap with the display of the histogram 1222, the white balance setting information 1223, and the color space setting information 1224 is more than half of the circumference. However, since all the continuously overlapping parts are less than half, the size of the face detection frame 1221 can be estimated even if the histogram 1222, the white balance setting information 1223, and the color space setting information 1224 are displayed in the foreground. Is. Therefore, the display control unit 70 controls so that various information is displayed on the front surface of the face detection frame 1221.
In addition, in FIG. 11 (c), when the display interval of various information is narrower, the size of the face detection frame 1221 is large even if all the parts that continuously overlap with various information are less than half of the circumference. It may be difficult to estimate. Therefore, when the total of the parts overlapping with various information is more than half of the circumference, the face detection frame 1221 may be controlled to be displayed in front of the histogram 1222 as shown in FIG. 11 (d). ..
Further, even when the face detection frame is not only circular but also elliptical, it may be possible to control whether the face detection frame or various information is displayed on the front surface under the same conditions.
Further, when the AF frame or the enlarged frame for specifying the area to be enlarged and displayed in the displayed image is circular in addition to the face detection frame, the display control may be performed under the same conditions.
The flowchart of the process for controlling which of the face detection frame and various information is displayed on the front in the present embodiment is the same as that in FIG. 10, and the description is omitted because only the determination criteria of S205 are different.
As described above, even when the face detection frame is circular, the user can determine the overlapping state of the face detection frame and various information displays and control which is displayed in the foreground, so that the user can use the face detection frame and various types of information. Both information can be optimally recognized, improving the user interface.
In the above three embodiments, the lens unit is a replaceable digital camera, but a digital camera having a live view shooting function may be a lens-integrated type.
Further, for example, different types of frames such as an AF frame and a face detection frame may be displayed on the image display unit 28 at the same time.
Further, when a plurality of frames are displayed on the image display unit 28 and the frames overlap with each other, a frame having a small size may be displayed on the front surface. Alternatively, it may be determined which frame is to be displayed in the foreground according to the type of the frame. For example, when the AF frame and the face detection frame overlap, the face detection frame is displayed according to the position of the face of the subject, so the AF frame displayed at the position reflecting the user's operation is placed in front of the face detection frame. Display it.
Further, the shape of various frames is not limited to a rectangle or a circle, and may be various shapes such as a star shape or a heart shape. The criterion for determining which of the various frames and the various information is to be displayed on the front may be set depending on whether or not the size of the various frames can be estimated even if the various information is displayed on the front of the various frames. For example, if the ratio of the part that overlaps with the various information display to the entire frame is greater than or equal to the predetermined value, the frame is displayed in the foreground, and if it is less than the predetermined value, the various information is displayed in the foreground. Good. Alternatively, if a predetermined portion of the frame overlaps with various information displays, the frame may be displayed on the front side, and if not, various information may be displayed on the front side. The predetermined value and the predetermined portion may be set according to the shape of the frame.
In addition, if the various information displays are semi-transparently processed to make the image displayed under the various information displays semi-transparent, if the various frames and the various information displays overlap, various information is sent to the front of the various frames. It may be displayed on the screen to determine whether or not to make various frames semi-transparent according to the overlapping state.
<figref num="1">It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the digital camera which is embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="2">It is a rear view of the digital camera which is an embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="3">It is a figure which showed various information displayed at the time of a live view shooting.</figref><figref num="4">It is the figure which switched the display item of various information displayed at the time of a live view shooting.</figref><figref num="5">It is a figure which showed the screen which changes the setting of a white balance.</figref><figref num="6">It is a figure explaining the AF frame displayed at the time of live view shooting.</figref><figref num="7">It is a figure which showed the judgment criterion which of AF frame and various information is displayed in the foreground.</figref><figref num="8">It is a flowchart which showed the process which controls the display of the AF frame in 1st Embodiment.</figref><figref num="9">It is a figure which showed the display state of the face detection frame in the 2nd Embodiment.</figref><figref num="10">It is a flowchart which showed the process which controls the display of the face detection frame in 2nd Embodiment.</figref><figref num="11">It is a figure which showed the determination criterion which of the face detection frame and various information is displayed in the front when the face detection frame is circular.</figref>
Code description
12 shutter 14 Image sensor 16 Image processing circuit 24 Image display memory 28 Image display 50 System control circuit 52 memory 54 Display 56 Non-volatile memory 62 Shutter switch SW1 64 Shutter switch SW2 68 Operation unit 70 Display control unit 82 Face detector 90 interface 92 connector 94 interface 96 connector 100 camera body 110 Communication Department 112 Connector (or antenna) 120 Recording media 130 Recording media 150 lens unit
4 sheets
Sheet 1 Sheet 2 Sheet 3 Sheet 4
Every citation, both ways
| Document | Relation | Office |
|---|---|---|
| JP2007199311A | Cites | Japan |
| JP2003134358A | Cites | Japan |
| JP09027921A | Cites | Japan |
| JP2006254129A | Cites | Japan |
| JP2007274587A | Cites | Japan |
| JP2008242921A | Cites | Japan |
| JP2006303961A | Cites | Japan |
| JP2007329784A | Cites | Japan |
5 members in 2 offices
Priority claims2
| Document | Office | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008061289 | Japan | A | |
| JP20080061289 | – | – | – |
Members5
| Document | Office | Kind | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US2009231470A1 | United States of America | A1 | |
| JP2009218915A | Japan | A | |
| US2012162480A1 | United States of America | A1 | |
| JP5116514B2This record | Japan | B2 | |
| US8773567B2 | United States of America | B2 |
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Numbers
- Publication
- 5116514
- Publication, DOCDB
- 5116514
- Publication, EPODOC
- JP5116514B
- Application
- 61289
- Application, DOCDB
- 2008061289
- Application, EPODOC
- JP20080061289
Titles2
- Japanese
- 撮像装置および表示制御方法
- English
- Imaging device and display control method
Classification
- CPC, 3
- H04N23/61
- H04N23/635
- H04N23/611
- IPC, 4
- H04N5 225
- G09G5 377
- G09G5 00
- H04N101 00
