JP2010226444A - Image sensing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the following problem: the operation of a conventional image sensing device is troublesome. <P>SOLUTION: An image sensing device 1 includes a display for displaying an image, and at least one operating member 16 or 17 mounted on the surface of a housing different from a screen of the display. The image sensing device further includes a display control means for controlling the display to display the operated operating member and a portion of the surface of the housing in at least the periphery of the operating member when operating the operating member. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a photographing apparatus.

  Conventionally, as such a photographing apparatus, there is a camera disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example. On the rear liquid crystal of this camera, shooting conditions such as the currently set shutter speed and aperture value are displayed as shooting information. Further, when the shooting condition is changed based on the operation of the operation member by the photographer, the changed new shooting condition is displayed on the rear liquid crystal. By displaying the shooting conditions on the rear liquid crystal in this way, it is possible to improve the visibility of the shooting information by the photographer and the degree of freedom of the posture for holding the camera when viewing the shooting information.

JP 2006-18057 A

  However, in the above-described conventional photographing apparatus, when the photographer does not accurately store the type and arrangement of the operation member provided on the casing surface opposite to the rear liquid crystal, the user operates the desired operation member. Does not perform unnecessary operations such as pulling the imaging device to a position where the surface of the casing on which the operation member is provided can be visually confirmed to check the type and arrangement of the operation member, or by operating the operation member and searching for it. I must. As a result, the conventional photographing apparatus has a problem that the operation is troublesome.

The present invention has been made to solve such problems,
A display for displaying an image;
At least one operation member provided on a housing surface different from the display surface of the display unit;
When the operation member is operated, the photographing apparatus is configured to include the operated operation member and display control means for performing control to display at least a part of the surrounding casing surface on the display unit.

  According to this configuration, when an operation member provided on a housing surface different from the display surface of the display unit is operated, the operated operation member and at least the surrounding housing surface are controlled by the display control unit. Is displayed. For this reason, it becomes possible to visually recognize the operation member provided on the housing surface different from the display surface of the display unit on the display surface of the display unit facing the photographer. Therefore, even when the photographer does not accurately store the type and arrangement of the operation member provided on the housing surface opposite to the rear liquid crystal, the operation member is provided as in the conventional imaging device. The operation member can be operated without performing a wasteful operation such as pulling the photographing apparatus to a position where the housing surface can be visually observed, or swiftly operating the operation member and searching for it.

The present invention also provides:
A plurality of operation members are provided on the housing surface,
When one operation member is operated, the display control means performs control to display a plurality of operation members including the operated operation member on the display unit,
A setting function switching unit is provided for setting an imaging condition set by another operation member displayed on a display unit different from the operated operation member by an operation on the operated operation member. And

  According to this configuration, when one operation member provided on a housing surface different from the display surface of the display unit is operated, a plurality of operation members including the operated operation member are displayed on the display unit under the control of the display control unit. Is displayed. At this time, the setting function switching means can set the photographing condition set by another operation member different from the operated operation member based on the operation on the operated operation member. For this reason, even when an operation member different from the desired operation member is accidentally operated from among the plurality of operation members provided on the housing surface different from the display surface of the display unit, the operation member is changed to the desired operation member. On the other hand, it is possible to set the photographing condition set by a desired operation member as it is by performing an operation on the operation member that has been erroneously operated without re-operating the operation member. As a result, even when an operation member different from the desired operation member is operated by mistake, the target shooting condition can be quickly set, and a suitable shooting opportunity is not lost.

  In addition, the present invention is characterized by comprising angle changing means for changing the orientation of the display surface of the display unit.

  According to this configuration, the orientation of the display surface of the display unit can be changed to various orientations by the angle varying means. Therefore, the operated operating member and at least the surrounding casing surface displayed on the display surface of the display unit by the display control unit can be viewed from various directions. For this reason, high-angle shooting with the display device facing down with the imaging device positioned at a high position, such as overhead, or a low position, such as the feet, with the display screen facing up Even when shooting with the display surface of the display unit in a different orientation, such as low-angle shooting, the photographer can use the operation provided on the housing surface different from the display surface of the display unit. The member can be visually recognized and operated on the display surface of the display unit that faces the member.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that the display control means displays the type of the operation member on the display unit.

  According to this configuration, the type of operation member is displayed on the display surface of the display unit together with the operated operation member and the surrounding casing surface by the display control means. For this reason, the photographer can grasp the arrangement and type of the operation members provided on the housing surface different from the display surface of the display unit, and can set the photographing conditions more quickly.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the imaging device excellent in operability for a user can be provided.

It is a block diagram which shows the outline of the electric circuit structure of the digital camera by one embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the digital camera shown in FIG. 1. 3 is a flowchart showing an outline of a photographing process performed in a live view photographing mode by a CPU of the digital camera shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the display process of FIG. 3, S7. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the high angle display process of FIG. 4, S22. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the display process A of FIG. 5, S32. In the digital camera shown in FIG. 1, it is a figure which shows the state by which the lighting adjustment button discriminate | determined to be pressed and the surrounding housing | casing surface were displayed on the display surface of the back monitor. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the display process B of FIG. 5, S34 and FIG. 6, S47. In the digital camera shown in FIG. 1, it is a figure which shows the state by which the exposure correction button determined to be pressed and the surrounding housing | casing surface were displayed on the display surface of the back monitor.

  Next, an embodiment when the photographing apparatus according to the present invention is applied to a digital camera will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of an electric circuit configuration of a digital camera 1 according to this embodiment.

  The digital camera 1 includes a non-volatile memory 3 composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 2, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Lead Only Memory), and a buffer memory 4 composed of a RAM (Random Access Memory). Yes. The nonvolatile memory 3 stores a control program that is referred to when the CPU 2 performs various controls. In accordance with a control program stored in the non-volatile memory 3, the CPU 2 controls each part of the circuit using the buffer memory 4 as a temporary storage work area, and operates various device functions of the digital camera 1.

  Light from the subject is taken into the digital camera 1 through a lens unit 5 that is mounted on the front surface of the casing of the digital camera 1 and forms an optical system. The subject light captured in the digital camera 1 forms an image on the imaging surface 8 a of the imaging unit 8 via the mirror 6 and the shutter 7. The imaging unit 8 includes a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor), and the like, and a subject image formed on the imaging surface 8a of the imaging unit 8 is converted into an analog imaging signal. The converted imaging signal is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 9. The image processing unit 23 acquires the imaging signal converted into a digital signal by the A / D conversion unit 9, performs image processing such as white balance processing and gamma correction on the acquired imaging signal, and is captured. Generate image data of an image. The image data generated by the image processing unit 23 is subjected to compression processing by the CPU 2 and stored in the buffer memory 4, and the I / F (interface) circuit 10 is connected to the memory card 11 detachably attached to the digital camera 1. Recorded through.

  A back monitor 12 made of TFT (Thin Film Transistor) liquid crystal is provided on the back of the housing of the digital camera 1. The digital camera 1 can select a normal shooting mode in which a subject is photographed with an optical finder (not shown) or a live view shooting mode in which a subject is photographed with the rear monitor 12. When the live view shooting mode is selected, the rear monitor 12 is imaged on the imaging surface 8 a of the imaging unit 8, subjected to image processing and compression processing, and the captured image temporarily stored in the buffer memory 4 is read out. Displayed as a through image. On the rear monitor 12, shooting conditions such as a shutter speed and an aperture value set in the digital camera 1 are displayed as shooting information. The rear monitor 12 constitutes a display unit that displays an image. The rear monitor 12 is attached to the casing so that the orientation of the display surface can be changed with respect to the casing of the digital camera 1.

  2A, 2 </ b> B, and 2 </ b> C are schematic side views of the digital camera 1. In the figure, the same or corresponding parts as in FIG.

  The lower end of the rear monitor 12 is attached to the lower rear portion of the housing of the digital camera 1 so as to be rotatable in two directions by a pivot shaft 22. By this pivot shaft 22, the display surface 12a of the rear monitor 12 is opened at a desired opening angle X by rotating the upper end of the rear monitor 12 in the x direction as shown in FIG. Further, the rear monitor 12 is configured to be twisted and rotated in the y direction shown in FIG. When the rear monitor 12 is further rotated by a twist angle Y of 180 ° in the y direction from the state shown in FIG. 5B opened from the rear surface of the housing of the digital camera 1 by the opening angle X, the display surface 12 a Then, as shown in FIG. The pivot shaft 22 constitutes an angle changing means for changing the direction of the display surface 12a of the rear monitor 12. The opening angle X and the twist angle Y of the rear monitor 12 with respect to the rear surface of the housing of the digital camera 1 are detected by the opening angle detector 13 and the twist angle detector 14 shown in FIG.

  The CPU 2 is connected to operation members such as a shutter button 15, a lighting adjustment button 16, an exposure correction button 17, a shooting mode dial 18, a command dial 19, and a multi selector 20.

  When the shutter button 15 is half-pressed, the auto focus function is activated, and when the shutter button 15 is fully pressed, the subject image is exposed on the imaging surface 8a of the imaging unit 8 for a predetermined time to shoot the subject. Make it. The lighting adjustment button 16 is operated when setting on / off of a local gradation control function for suppressing overexposure in a highlight portion and blackout in a shadow portion in a photographing scene having a large luminance difference. The exposure correction button 17 is operated when performing exposure adjustment by correcting the exposure value to a desired value during auto exposure. The shooting mode dial 18 is operated when an appropriate shooting mode is selected from a plurality of preset shooting modes such as close-up shooting, backlight shooting, and night scene shooting according to the shooting situation at that time. When the command dial 19 is operated while the above-described lighting adjustment button 16 is operated, the operation of the local gradation control function is switched to “on” or “off”, and the exposure correction button 17 is turned on. When operated in the operated state, the exposure value is positively corrected or negatively corrected according to the operation amount and the operation direction. The multi-selector 20 includes direction keys for detecting operation directions such as up and down directions and left and right directions, and is operated when selecting a menu item on the menu screen, selecting a captured image to be reproduced, and the like.

  In the present embodiment, the lighting adjustment button 16 and the exposure correction button 17 constitute an operation member provided on a housing surface different from the display surface 12 a of the rear monitor 12. In addition, when the lighting adjustment button 16 or the exposure correction button 17 is operated, the CPU 2 performs display control for performing control to display the operated button 16 or 17 and at least a part of the surrounding casing surface on the rear monitor 12. Means. In this embodiment, a plurality of buttons 16 and 17 are provided on a housing surface different from the display surface 12a of the rear monitor 12, and the display control means operates when one lighting adjustment button 16 or exposure correction button 17 is operated. Control is performed to display a plurality of operation members including the operated button 16 or 17 on the rear monitor 12, and the types of the buttons 16 and 17 are displayed on the rear monitor 12 by icons drawn on the buttons 16 and 17. Take control. Further, the multi selector 20 and the CPU 2 are operated by the other buttons 17 or 16 displayed on the rear monitor 12 which are different from the operated button 16 or 17 by the operation on the operated button 16 or 17. Setting function switching means for setting the photographing conditions to be set is configured.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an outline of the photographing process performed by the CPU 2 in the above-described live view photographing mode.

  When the shooting mode is switched to the live view shooting mode, first, in FIG. 3 and S1, the CPU 2 performs a mirror-up process for moving the mirror 6 that guides the subject light to the optical viewfinder side to a predetermined retreat position, and thereby the subject light is changed. The light enters the imaging unit 8. Subsequently, the CPU 2 performs a process of opening the shutter 7 in S2, captures a subject image by the imaging unit 8, and displays a captured image read from the buffer memory 4 on the rear monitor 12 in S3. To start. Subsequently, in S4, the CPU 2 determines whether or not an operation for ending the live view shooting mode is performed by the photographer and the live view shooting is ended.

  If the live view shooting has not been completed and the determination in S4 is “NO”, the CPU 2 measures the subject light to calculate the appropriate exposure and adjusts the focal length of the lens unit 5 in S6. Process. Subsequently, in S7, the CPU 2 displays the exposure value calculated in S6 and the adjusted focal length on the rear monitor 12, and performs a display process described later. When the display process in S7 ends, the CPU 2 determines in S8 whether or not the shutter button 15 has been fully pressed. When this determination is “YES”, the CPU 2 performs an imaging process in S9. In the imaging process, the CPU 2 causes the image processing unit 23 to perform the above-described image processing on the imaging signal output from the imaging unit 8. Subsequently, the CPU 2 stores the image data generated by the imaging process in S9 in the buffer memory 4, and performs a process of recording this image data in the memory card 11 in S10. When the shutter button 15 is not fully pressed and the determination in S8 is “NO”, or when the process of S10 is completed, the process returns to S4 and the above-described processes are repeated.

  On the other hand, when the photographer performs the live view shooting end operation and the determination in S4 is “YES”, the CPU 2 returns the mirror 6 moved to the retracted position in S5 to the original position in S5. The mirror-down process to return is performed, and the photographing process is terminated.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing details of the display processing of FIGS. 3 and S7.

  In this display process, first, the CPU 2 receives the opening angle X (see FIG. 2B) of the rear monitor 12 from the opening angle detection unit 13 in FIG. Then, based on the received angle signal, the opening angle X of the rear monitor 12 with respect to the rear surface of the housing of the digital camera 1 is in the range of 160 ° to 200 °, and the display surface 12a of the rear monitor 12 is shown in FIG. It is determined whether or not it is facing downward as shown. When the opening angle X is in the range of 160 ° to 200 ° and this determination is “YES”, the CPU 2 determines that high-angle shooting is being performed, and in S22, high-angle display processing described later is performed. Do. On the other hand, if the opening angle X is not in the range of 160 ° to 200 ° and the determination in S21 is “NO”, the CPU 2 determines that high-angle shooting has not been performed, and the normal display is performed in S23. Process. In this normal display process, as described above, the captured image captured by the imaging unit 8 is displayed on the rear monitor 12 as a through image. When the process of S22 or S23 ends, the display process ends.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing details of the high angle display process of FIG. 4 and S22.

  In this high-angle display process, first, the CPU 2 determines whether or not the button A, for example, the lighting adjustment button 16 is pressed in FIG. When the lighting adjustment button 16 is pressed and this determination is “YES”, the CPU 2 performs a display process A described later in S32. On the other hand, if the lighting adjustment button 16 is not pressed and the determination in S31 is “NO”, the CPU 2 determines in S33 whether or not the button B, for example, the exposure correction button 17 is pressed. When the exposure correction button 17 is pressed and this determination is “YES”, the CPU 2 performs a display process B described later in S34. On the other hand, if the exposure correction button 17 has not been pressed and the determination in S33 is “NO”, the process returns to S31. When the process of S32 or S34 ends, the high-angle display process ends.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing details of the display process A in FIGS.

  In this display process A, first, the CPU 2 displays the lighting adjustment button 16 of the button A determined to have been pressed in the processes of FIGS. 5 and S31 in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 4, processing for displaying on the display surface 12a of the rear monitor 12 is performed. In FIG. 9A, the same or corresponding parts as in FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 6A, the lighting adjustment button 16 determined to be pressed is blinking. In the information display field 21 on the lower right side of the display surface 12a, the current gradation control function setting by the lighting adjustment button 16 is set to “ON” along with an icon indicating the type of the pressed button. The setting status is displayed.

  When the processing of S41 ends, the CPU 2 determines in S42 whether or not the multi-selector 20 has been operated in the right direction with the lighting adjustment button 16 kept pressed. When the multi-selector 20 is operated rightward and the determination in S42 is “YES”, the CPU 2 performs a display process B described later in S47. If the multi-selector 20 is not operated and the determination in S42 is “NO”, the CPU 2 determines in S43 whether or not the pressing operation on the lighting adjustment button 16 has been released. If the pressing operation on the lighting adjustment button 16 has not been released and the determination in S43 is “NO”, the CPU 2 performs a one-click operation on the command dial 19 while the lighting adjustment button 16 remains pressed in S45. It is determined whether or not it has been done. If this determination is “YES”, the CPU 2 changes the setting state of the gradation control function from ON to OFF in S46 and displays it as “ON” in the information display column 21 as shown in FIG. The set state that has been set is displayed as “OFF” as shown in FIG. The process of S46 is performed each time the command dial 19 is clicked leftward or rightward with the lighting adjustment button 16 being pressed, and the gradation control function is set by the lighting adjustment button 16. The states are sequentially switched such as “ON”, “OFF”, “ON”,..., And the switched setting state is displayed as a display value in the information display column 21 each time. If the command dial 19 is not operated and the determination in S45 is “NO”, the process returns to S41, and the above-described processes are repeated.

  On the other hand, when the pressing operation on the lighting adjustment button 16 is released and the determination in S43 is “YES”, the CPU 2 displays the current setting state of the gradation control function by the lighting adjustment button 16 in the nonvolatile memory 3 in S44. To store. For example, when the pressing operation on the lighting adjustment button 16 is released while the screen shown in FIG. 7A is displayed on the display surface 12a of the rear monitor 12, the setting state of the gradation control function is “ON”. Certain information is stored in the non-volatile memory 3. If the pressing operation on the lighting adjustment button 16 is released while the screen shown in FIG. 5B is displayed on the display surface 12a of the rear monitor 12, the setting state of the gradation control function is “off”. Some information is stored in the non-volatile memory 3. Thereafter, the display on the rear monitor 12 returns to the original and a through image is displayed. When the process of S44 or S47 ends, the display process A ends.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing details of the display process B of FIGS. 5, S 34 and FIGS. 6, S 47.

  In this display process B, first, the CPU 2 determines exposure correction of the button B determined to have been pressed in the processes of FIGS. 5 and S33 in FIG. 8 or S51 or selected in the processes of FIGS. The button 17 and the surrounding casing surface are displayed on the display surface 12a of the rear monitor 12 as shown in FIG. In FIG. 9A, the same or corresponding parts as in FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 5A, the exposure correction button 17 determined to be pressed or selected is blinking. In addition, the information display field 21 displays an icon representing the exposure correction button 17 that has been pressed or selected, and that the current exposure correction value by the exposure correction button 17 is set to “0.0”. .

  When the processing of S51 ends, the CPU 2 determines in S52 whether or not the multi-selector 20 has been operated in the left direction with the exposure correction button 17 being pressed. When the multi-selector 20 is operated leftward and the determination in S52 is “YES”, the CPU 2 performs the above-described display process A (see FIG. 6) in S57. If the multi-selector 20 is not operated and the determination in S52 is “NO”, the CPU 2 determines in S53 whether or not the pressing operation on the exposure correction button 17 has been released. If the pressing operation on the exposure correction button 17 is not released and the determination in S53 is “NO”, the CPU 2 determines in S55 whether the command dial 19 has been operated with the exposure correction button 17 still pressed. Determine whether or not. If this determination is “YES”, the CPU 2 changes the exposure correction value and changes the display value of the exposure correction value displayed in the information display column 21 in S56. For example, if it is determined that the command dial 19 has been operated to the right by one click, the CPU 2 shows the display value of the exposure correction value displayed in the information display column 21 in S56 as shown in FIG. The displayed value is changed from “0.0” to “+0.3” as shown in FIG. In the process of S56, every time the command dial 19 is operated by one click in the right direction with the exposure correction button 17 being pressed, the exposure correction value is set to “0.0”, “+0.3”, .. Are sequentially increased in predetermined steps, such as “+0.7”,..., And the increased exposure correction value is displayed as a display value in the information display column 21 each time. Further, every time the command dial 19 is clicked to the left by one click, the exposure correction values are sequentially set in predetermined steps such as “0.0”, “−0.3”, “−0.7”,. The reduced exposure correction value is displayed as a display value in the information display column 21 each time. If the command dial 19 is not operated and the determination in S55 is “NO”, the process returns to S51 and the above-described processes are repeated.

  On the other hand, when the pressing operation on the exposure correction button 17 is released and the determination in S53 is “YES”, the CPU 2 stores the current exposure correction value in the nonvolatile memory 3 in S54. For example, when the pressing operation on the exposure correction button 17 is released while the screen shown in FIG. 9A is displayed on the display surface 12a of the rear monitor 12, the exposure correction value is “0.0”. Is stored in the nonvolatile memory 3. Also, when the pressing operation on the exposure correction button 17 is released while the screen shown in FIG. 5B is displayed on the display surface 12a of the rear monitor 12, the exposure correction value is “+0.3”. Is stored in the nonvolatile memory 3. Thereafter, the display on the rear monitor 12 returns to the original and a through image is displayed. When the process of S54 or S57 ends, the display process A ends.

  According to the digital camera 1 according to the present embodiment as described above, when the lighting adjustment button 16 or the exposure correction button 17 provided on the housing surface different from the display surface 12a of the rear monitor 12 is operated, as shown in FIG. 6, S41 or FIG. 8, S51, the lighting control button 16 or the exposure correction button 17 that is operated by the control of the display control means, and at least the surrounding casing surface as shown in FIG. 7 or FIG. It is displayed on the rear monitor 12. Therefore, the buttons 16 and 17 provided on the housing surface different from the display surface 12a of the rear monitor 12 can be visually recognized on the display surface 12a of the rear monitor 12 facing the photographer. Therefore, even when the photographer does not accurately store the types and arrangements of the buttons 16 and 17 provided on the housing surface different from the display surface 12a of the rear monitor 12, Each button can be used without performing unnecessary operations such as pulling the digital camera 1 to a position where the surface of the casing on which the buttons 16 and 17 are provided can be seen, or operating the operation members such as the buttons 16 and 17 in a hurry. 16 and 17 can be operated.

  Further, in the present embodiment, when one lighting adjustment button 16 or exposure correction button 17 provided on a housing surface different from the display surface 12a of the rear monitor 12 is operated, the processing of FIG. 6, S41 or FIG. 8, S51 is performed. Thus, a plurality of operation members including the operated lighting adjustment button 16 or exposure correction button 17 are displayed on the rear monitor 12 as shown in FIG. 7 or FIG. 9 under the control of the display control means. At this time, in the processing of FIG. 6, S42 and S47, or FIG. 8, S52 and S57, the setting function switching means is different from the operated button 16 or 17 based on the operation on the operated button 16 or 17. The shooting conditions set by the button 17 or 16 can be set.

  That is, in S42 of the display process A shown in FIG. 6, when the multi-selector 20 is operated with the lighting adjustment button 16 being pressed, the button actually pressed by the photographer is the lighting adjustment button 16. Although not changed, the screen displayed on the rear monitor 12 is switched from the state shown in FIG. 7 to the state shown in FIG. 9 by the process of S51 of the display process B shown in FIG. When the command dial 19 is operated with the contents displayed on the rear monitor 12 being switched as described above, the exposure correction button 17 is not operated again by the processing of FIG. The exposure correction value set by the button 17 can be changed while the lighting adjustment button 16 is held down. On the other hand, when the multi-selector 20 is operated in S52 of the display process B shown in FIG. 8 described above while the exposure correction button 17 is being pressed, the button actually pressed by the photographer is the exposure correction button. However, the screen displayed on the rear monitor 12 is switched from the state shown in FIG. 9 to the state shown in FIG. 7 by the processing in S41 of the display processing A shown in FIG. When the command dial 19 is operated with the contents displayed on the rear monitor 12 being switched as described above, the lighting adjustment is not performed again with respect to the lighting adjustment button 16 by the processing of FIGS. The setting state of the gradation control function set by the button 16 can be changed while the exposure correction button 17 is held down.

  For this reason, even when a button different from the desired button is mistakenly operated from among a plurality of operation members provided on the housing surface different from the display surface 12a of the rear monitor 12, the desired button is again applied. Thus, it is possible to set the photographing condition set by a desired button as it is by performing an operation on the button that has been mistakenly operated without re-operating. As a result, even when a button different from the desired button is operated by mistake, the target shooting condition can be quickly set, and a suitable shooting opportunity is not missed.

  In this embodiment, the orientation of the display surface 12a of the rear monitor 12 is changed to various orientations by the pivot shaft 22, and the rear monitor 12 is displayed by the display control means in the processing of FIG. 6, S41 or FIG. 8, S51. The operated lighting adjustment button 16 or exposure correction button 17 and at least the surrounding housing surface displayed on the display surface 12a can be viewed from various directions. For this reason, the display surface 12a of the rear monitor 12 is faced down as shown in FIG. 2B, and the digital camera 1 is held at a high position such as overhead or the display surface 12a of the rear monitor 12 is placed. As shown in FIG. 2 (c), the display surface 12a of the rear monitor 12 is taken with different orientations, such as low-angle shooting in which the digital camera 1 is held at a low position such as a foot with the face up. Even when performing the above, the photographer can visually recognize and operate the buttons 16 and 17 provided on the housing surface different from the display surface 12a of the rear monitor 12 on the display surface of the rear monitor 12 facing each other. it can.

  In the present embodiment, the lighting adjustment button 16 or the exposure correction button 17 operated by the display control means in the processing of FIG. 6, S41 or FIG. 8, S51 and its surroundings are displayed on the display surface 12a of the rear monitor 12. The type of button is displayed by an icon drawn on the button. Further, the type of the operated button is displayed by an icon displayed in the information display field 21. Therefore, the photographer can grasp the arrangement and type of the buttons 16 and 17 provided on the housing surface different from the display surface 12a of the rear monitor 12, and set the photographing conditions more quickly. be able to.

  In the above embodiment, a case has been described in which a plurality of operation members including the lighting adjustment button 16 and the exposure correction button 17 are provided as operation members on a housing surface different from the display surface 12 a of the rear monitor 12. However, the number and type of operation members provided on a housing surface different from the display surface 12a of the rear monitor 12 can be changed as appropriate. For example, one operation member is provided on the housing surface opposite to the display surface 12a of the rear monitor 12. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which only this is provided. Even in this configuration, it is possible to confirm the arrangement and type of one operation member provided on the housing surface that cannot be visually recognized by the photographer, and the same operations and effects as in the above-described embodiment are achieved.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the right shoulder of the digital camera 1 is displayed on the rear monitor 12 as a housing surface different from the display surface 12 a of the rear monitor 12 has been described. However, the housing surface displayed on the rear monitor 12 may be a surface different from the display surface 12a of the rear monitor 12. For example, when an operation member provided on the side surface or the rear surface of the digital camera 1 is operated, It is good also as a structure by which a side surface and a back surface are displayed on the back monitor 12. FIG.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the button 16 or 17 determined to have been pressed in the processing of FIG. 6, S41 or FIGS. 8 and S51 and the surrounding casing surface are shown in FIG. The case where it is displayed on the display surface 12a has been described. However, it may be configured such that the entire casing surface provided with this button is displayed on the display surface 12 a of the rear monitor 12 together with the button 16 or 17 determined to be pressed.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the operated buttons 16 and 17 are blinked on the rear monitor 12 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. The manner in which the operated buttons 16 and 17 are identified and displayed on the rear monitor 12 can be changed as appropriate. For example, the operated button may be displayed with a color or contrast different from that of the other buttons so that the operated button is identified.

  Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated the case where the kind of button was displayed on the button itself or the information display column 21 with an icon, this invention is not limited to this. The type of button may be displayed by explanation of characters on the display surface 12a. Further, the rear monitor 12 may be configured such that only the arrangement of operated buttons is displayed and the type of button is not displayed. Further, only the buttons operated by the photographer may be displayed.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, it operated by the operation with respect to the lighting adjustment button 16 or the exposure correction button 17 which was operated by the setting function switching means by the process of FIG. 6, S42 and S47 or FIG. 8, S52 and S57. The case has been described where the exposure or lighting adjustment shooting conditions set by the other buttons 17 or 16 different from the buttons are set. However, the setting function of the button switched by the setting function switching unit is not limited to this, and the setting function is switched by the setting function switching unit between a plurality of buttons to which setting functions different from the buttons 16 and 17 are assigned. The structure which can be switched may be sufficient.

  In the above embodiment, in the processing of FIG. 6, S42 and S47, or FIG. 8, S52 and S57, the setting function switching means operates on the operated button, and the other button is different from the operated button. The case where the setting of the shooting conditions to be set is performed has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the processing of FIG. 6, S42 and S47, or FIG. 8, S52 and S57 is not performed, and the processing of FIG. 6, S41 or FIG. 6, S43 to S46, or FIG. 8, S53 to S56 may be performed so that the switching process by the setting function switching means may not be performed.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2B, when the high-angle shooting is performed with the display surface 12a facing downward, the buttons 16 and 17 are displayed on the back surface in the process of FIG. 5, S32 or S34. Although the case where it displays on the monitor 12 was demonstrated, this invention is not limited to this. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2C, the buttons 16 and 17 may be displayed on the rear monitor 12 when the display surface 12 a faces upward and low-angle shooting is performed.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the high-angle display process is performed in S22 when the opening angle X of the rear monitor 12 is in the range of 160 ° to 200 ° in FIGS. The range of the opening angle X in which the display process is performed can be changed as appropriate. Even when the buttons 16 and 17 are displayed on the rear monitor 12 when low-angle shooting is performed, the range of the opening angle X of the rear monitor 12 can be changed as appropriate.

  In the above embodiment, when the opening angle X of the rear monitor 12 is in the range of 160 ° to 200 ° and high-angle shooting is performed, the operated button 16 or 17 and the surrounding casing surface are displayed. Explained the case. However, even if such high-angle shooting is not performed, the button 16 is used when the photographer shoots himself / herself when the opening angle X of the rear monitor 12 is in the range of 180 ° to 200 °, for example. Alternatively, 17 and the surrounding casing surface may be displayed.

  In the above embodiment, the case of the free angle in which the orientation of the display surface 12 a of the rear monitor 12 is changed by the pivot shaft 22 has been described. However, the pivot monitor 22 is not provided, and the rear monitor 12 is the digital camera 1. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the orientation of the display surface 12a of the rear monitor 12 is not changed by being fixed to the rear surface.

  Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated the case where it was judged by FIG.4, S21 that high angle imaging | photography is performed by CPU2 based on the angle X detected by the opening angle detection part 13, this book The invention is not limited to this. For example, a sensor that detects the distance between the housing of the digital camera 1 and the ground is provided, and based on the detection result of the sensor, the digital camera 1 becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined height by the CPU 2. It is also possible to configure so that it is determined that high-angle shooting or low-angle shooting is being performed when it is determined.

  In the above-described embodiment, the lighting adjustment button 16 or the exposure correction button operated on the display surface 12a of the rear monitor 12 when the opening angle X of the rear monitor 12 is in a predetermined angle range such as 160 ° to 200 °. Although the case where 17 and the surrounding casing surface are displayed has been described, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the opening angle X of the rear monitor 12 is within a predetermined angle range for a predetermined time, the operation member such as the button 16 or 17 and the surrounding casing surface may be displayed.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the button 16 or 17 and the surrounding casing surface are displayed when high-angle shooting is performed has been described. However, in addition to high-angle shooting and low-angle shooting, the operation member and the surrounding casing surface may be displayed when the rear monitor 12 is checked away from the normal time during shooting. Good.

  In the above-described embodiment, when the button 16 or 17 is pressed incorrectly, the multi-selector 20 is operated while the button being operated is operated, whereby the button 16 or 17 is operated by the setting function switching means. A case has been described in which the shooting conditions can be set without modification. However, if the button 16 or 17 is pressed incorrectly, it is possible to cancel the operation of the button that has been pressed incorrectly and to operate the desired button 16 or 17 again. In this case, by canceling the operation of the wrong button, the display on the display surface 12a of the rear monitor 12 is switched from the screen shown in FIG. 7 or 9 to the normal through image display.

  Moreover, although the case where the imaging device according to the present invention is applied to the single-lens reflex type digital camera 1 has been described in the above embodiment, the present invention can also be applied to digital cameras other than single-lens reflex cameras.

  Even with each of these configurations, the same operations and effects as the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the photographing apparatus according to the present invention is applied to a digital camera has been described. It is also possible to apply the present invention. Even when the present invention is applied to such a photographing apparatus, the same effects as the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

1 ... Digital camera 2 ... CPU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 ... Non-volatile memory 4 ... Buffer memory 12 ... Rear monitor 12a ... Display surface 13 ... Opening angle detection part 14 ... Twist angle detection part 15 ... Shutter button 16 ... Lighting adjustment button 17 ... Exposure compensation button 18 ... Shooting mode dial 19 ... Command dial 20 ... Multi selector 21 ... Information display field

Claims (4)

A display for displaying an image;
At least one operation member provided on a housing surface different from the display surface of the display unit;
An imaging apparatus comprising: a display control unit that performs control to display the operated operation member and at least a part of the casing surface around the operated operation member on the display unit when the operation member is operated. The imaging device according to claim 1,
A plurality of the operation members are provided on the housing surface,
The display control means performs a control to display a plurality of the operation members including the operated operation member on the display unit when one of the operation members is operated,
Setting function switching means for setting a shooting condition set by the other operation member displayed on the display unit different from the operated operation member by an operation on the operated operation member. An imaging apparatus characterized by comprising: In the imaging device according to claim 1 or 2,
An imaging apparatus, comprising: an angle changing means for changing a direction of a display surface of the display unit. In the imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit displays the type of the operation member on the display unit.

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