KR101595255B1 - Digital camera and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A digital camera and a control method thereof are disclosed in the present invention. Wherein the digital camera has a first side and a second side facing each other and has a touch screen for sensing a first touch position related to menu selection and a second touch position relating to a set value of a selected menu, And a digital signal processor for forming a slide-bar for sensing a second touch position on the second side of the menu block.

According to the present invention, there is provided a digital camera and a control method thereof, in which the ease of operation is improved so that the setting operation of the user, such as photographing conditions and reproduction conditions, can be conveniently performed.

Description

[0001] Digital camera and controlling method thereof [0002]

The present invention relates to a digital camera and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to a digital camera and a control method thereof, in which the ease of operation is improved so that a setting operation of a user, such as a photographing condition, .

The digital camera displays many menus on the screen through the OSD (On Screen Display). For example, you can select shooting conditions such as exposure and focus during shooting, and you can select many shooting conditions including EVC, ISO, Flash, Focus, and White Balance as well as shooting menus such as scenery, portrait, and night .

As a user interface (UI) for receiving a setting of a user, a plurality of mechanisms, generally operating buttons, structurally protruding from the case are employed. However, such a button-type user interface increases the number of component parts and, in particular, in view of the taste of recent customers who emphasize the outward appearance of the product, damages the overall appearance of the digital camera, .

In recent years, studies on a user interface employing a touch screen method have been actively carried out, but a large number of operations are required until a desired sub menu is displayed in an upper layer menu that is hierarchically developed from entering a setting screen. Is complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a digital camera and a control method thereof that support an improved user interface so that a setting operation of a user regarding photographing conditions,

In order to achieve the above object and other objects,

A touch screen having a first side and a second side facing each other and sensing a first touch position relating to menu selection and a second touch position relating to a set value of the selected menu; And

And a digital signal processor for controlling the touch screen to form a menu block for sensing a first touch position on the first side and a slide bar for sensing a second touch position on the second side.

Preferably, the slide-bar has the other end extending from one end adjacent to the second end to the first end, and sensing a second touch position between the one end and the other end.

Preferably, the slide-bar displays a settable interval in which the lowest and highest values of the selected menu are set as one end and the other end,

On the slide-bar, a setting pointer whose position is changed to follow the second touch position is displayed.

Preferably, the digital camera calculates a set value corresponding to the touch position according to a relative distance of the second touch position with respect to one end and the other end of the slide-bar.

Preferably, the touch screen is provided in a rectangular shape having a long side and a short side, and the first side and the second side form a short side of the touch screen.

Preferably, the digital camera recognizes a menu block corresponding to the first touch position and displays a slide-bar for setting the recognized menu block. At this time, when the menu block corresponding to the first touch position includes the lower menus, the digital camera may display the slide-bars for setting the lower menus in a plurality of columns.

At least two menu blocks may be arranged along the first side of the touch screen. At this time, each of the menu blocks is provided with menu items such as zoom adjustment (AF), exposure adjustment (AE), white balance adjustment (AWB) related to the shooting conditions, image selection related to the playback conditions, zooming, A menu item can be assigned.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling a digital camera,

Displaying a menu block on the touch screen in accordance with the touch input of the user;

Sensing a first touch location of the user with respect to the menu block;

Displaying a slide bar corresponding to the detected menu block;

Sensing a second touch location of the user on the slide-bar; And

And calculating a set value corresponding to the touch position according to a relative distance of the second touch position with respect to one end and the other end of the slide-bar.

Preferably, when the touch screen has a first side and a second side facing each other,

The menu block is displayed on a first side of the touch screen, and the slide-bar is displayed in a line shape having the other end extending from one end adjacent to the second end to the first end.

According to the digital camera and the control method therefor of the present invention, a touch screen type user interface is provided in which the convenience of the operation is greatly improved so that the user can set and operate the shooting conditions, the reproduction conditions, and the like even in a state where the user holds the camera with both hands do.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings attached hereto. Throughout the present specification, a digital camera is not limited to a camera of a consultation classified on the basis of a morphological characteristic of a camera as a mobile device having an appropriate photographing function, and is not limited to a camera having a portable function and a photographing function such as a camcorder, It is used in a broad sense to cover all devices.

Fig. 1 schematically shows an overall configuration of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to the drawings, the digital camera includes an optical unit 110 including a plurality of optical lenses to image an object image with respect to an image sensing plane, and an image sensor (not shown) An analog front end circuit 130 (Analog Front End: AFE circuit) for converting an output signal of the image pickup element 120 into a quantized digital image signal, an operation for signal processing A buffer memory 140 for temporarily storing a video signal to provide an image area, a recording medium 170 in which image data of a subject is stored in the form of a still image or a moving image file, and a recording medium 170 for collectively controlling the overall data flow and respective constituent parts And a digital signal processor 150. The digital camera includes a touch screen 180 that receives an image signal from the digital signal processor 150 and displays the received image signal on the screen, and senses the touch position of the user and transmits the sensed position to the digital signal processor 150 .

The optical unit 110 includes a zoom lens 112 for changing the focal distance while moving back and forth along the optical axis direction, a shutter 114 and an aperture 116 for adjusting the exposure time and the amount of incident light to the image pickup device 120, And a focus lens 118 for adjusting the focus of an object image formed on the image pickup device 120. [ The photographing operation of the optical unit 110 can be controlled by the digital signal processor 150 via the driver 111. [

The image pickup device 120 is a CCD (Charged Coupled Device) or CMOS (Comple Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensor, for example, and converts an image of an object incident via the optical unit 110 into an electrical image signal do. The operation of the imaging element 120 may be controlled by the digital signal processor 150 via a timing generator 121 (TG).

The analog front end circuit 130 (AFE circuit) performs CDS (Correlated Double Sampling) processing and ADC (Analog Digital Conversion) processing on the output signal of the image pickup element 120, Converts an analog image signal into a digital image signal. The digital video signal is transmitted to the encoder / decoder 160, converted into encoded data according to a prescribed compression method, and then stored in the recording medium 170. The buffer memory 140 is a volatile memory that provides a work area for various types of data processing and may be configured as a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory or SDRAM). The encoder / decoder 160 and the digital signal processor 150 Provides a work area for data processing.

The digital signal processor 150 controls the operation of the entire digital camera related to image capturing and processing of image data by executing a program recorded in an EEPROM 155 (Electronically Erasable and Programmable ROM).

For example, the touch screen 180 may include a conductive mesh pattern extending in a direction intersecting with a horizontal axis and a vertical axis and maintaining a predetermined voltage difference, and may be electrically connected to the electrical contact of the mesh pattern And generates a sensing signal indicating a touch position of the user as a coordinate value based on the horizontal axis and the vertical axis. Then, the digital signal processor 150 determines which region of the touch screen 180 the touch position recognized from the sensing signal corresponds to, and recognizes a specific command of the user according to the determination result.

Fig. 2 shows a touch screen 180 for displaying a setting screen relating to shooting conditions. Referring to the drawing, the touch screen 180 may be formed in a substantially rectangular shape having long sides 183 and 184 and short sides 181 and 182. For example, the touch screen 180 has first and second sides 181 and 182 side by side forming the short sides 181 and 182 and third and fourth sides 183 and 184 side by side making up the long sides 183 and 184. At least one menu block mb is provided on the first side 181 of the touch screen 180 and each menu block mb has a function of an input key for activating a menu item allocated according to a user's touch do. For example, in the illustrated drawing, "AF" for zoom adjustment, "AE" for exposure setting of a subject, and "AWB" for a light source setting are displayed. The "AE" item is activated according to the input. More specifically, in each menu block mb, quantitative menu items to which a specific value is input as a set value among the settable ranges from the lowest value to the highest value are allotted.

One menu block mb among the menu blocks mb of "AF", "AE", and "AWB" can be selected according to the touch input of the user, Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > sb. ≪ / RTI > The slide-bar sb has another end extending from one end adjacent to the second side 182 of the touch screen toward the first side 181, and extending in a line shape between one end and the other end. The slide-bar sb is provided with a setting pointer P whose position is changed so as to follow the touch position of the user, while displaying the current set value among the settable intervals with the highest value as one end and the lowest value as the other end do. If the selected menu block mb includes the detailed items, the slide-bars sb for setting the detailed items may be displayed in a plurality of columns. For example, if the "AE" menu block mb is selected, the IRIS of the iris, the Sh speed, and the sensitivity of the image sensor Three slide-bars sb related to ISO can be displayed in a plurality of columns.

The user interface to which the principle of the present invention is applied senses the touch position on the slide-bar sb and calculates a specific set value corresponding to the touch position. One end and the other end of the slide-bar sb correspond to the respective lowest and highest values of the menu, and a set value corresponding to the touch position is proportional to the relative distance of the touch position to one end and the other end of the slide- Can be calculated.

FIG. 3 is a view showing an operation state of the touch screen 180 shown in FIG. The user approaches the menu block mb provided on the first side 181 side of the touch screen by using the left hand LH while stably gripping both sides of the camera with the left hand LH and the right hand RH, This is possible. For example, the upper part of the camera is supported by the index finger of the left hand LH, and the menu block mb can be selected by using the thumb.

Further, in the state where the camera is stably gripped with both hands LH and RH, the user can approach the slide-bar sb provided on the second side 182 side of the touch screen using the right hand RH to perform a touch operation Do. For example, the detection of the right hand RH can be performed on the slide-bar sb using the thumb of the right hand RH while the shutter button is in the position of the shutter button. At this time, the operation for the slide-bar sb may be a touch input or a drag input. By forming the menu block mb and the slide-bar sb on the first side 181 and the second side 182 of the touch screen 180 facing each other and by using the both hands LH and RH, In the state of holding, it is possible to operate using the free thumb of the left hand (LH) and the right hand (RH).

4A to 4C are views for explaining a modified embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4A, the touch screen 180 displaying the live-view screen may be switched as shown in FIG. 4B according to the user's instructions, and the slide-menu may be displayed on the live-view screen. At this time, menu blocks mb of "AF", "AE", and "AWB" are displayed on the first side 181 of the touch screen and slides corresponding to the selected menu block mb are displayed on the second side 182 - bar (sb) can be displayed. For example, the touch screen 180 displaying the live-view screen can display the slide-menu by sensing a user's touch input sensed on the left side of the screen. If the "AF" menu block mb is selected, one end and the other end of the slide-bar sb may correspond to wide and tele states, respectively. If you are a beginner who is not accustomed to camera operation, it is preferable to explicitly indicate the icons ("AF", "AE", "AWB") corresponding to each menu block mb. For example, appropriate icons ("W "," T ", "Zoom") may be displayed at the first and second ends along the slide-bar sb.

However, if the person skilled in the camera operation is skilled, an icon for each menu block mb will be unnecessary, as shown in Fig. 4C. At this time, although there is no detailed indication of each menu block mb, another slide-bar sb 'may be provided along the first side 181 of the touch screen, and on the slide-bar sb' A setting pointer P " whose position is changed so as to follow the touch position of the user may be displayed. The menu item can be switched according to the touch position of the user sensed on the slide-bar sb '. For example, the digital camera can confirm the current operation mode and provide different setting screens according to the novice mode (e.g., FIG. 4B) or the expert mode (FIG. 4C).

5 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of a digital camera according to another aspect of the present invention. For example, when driving power is inputted, the touch screen can display a live-view screen (S10, S11), and a plurality of menu blocks are displayed on the first side of the screen in accordance with a user's input touching the left screen area (S12, S13). When the first touch position of the user with respect to the menu block is detected, a slide bar corresponding to the detected menu block is displayed (S14, S15). Then, when the second touch position of the user is detected on the slide-bar, the set value corresponding to the touch position is calculated and stored (S16, S17).

Then, when the shutter operation of the user is sensed, the digital camera starts the photographing operation, captures the subject image in accordance with the set photographing conditions, processes it by signal processing, files it in a proper form, and ends the photographing operation (S18, S19 , S20).

On the other hand, the touch screen of the present invention may provide an interface for setting a playback condition, for example, in addition to shooting conditions such as "AF", "AE", and "AWB". Referring to FIG. 6A, on the first side 181 of the touch screen, menu blocks mb for "image selection" and "zoom in / out" are provided. In each of the menu blocks mb, menu items relating to reproduction conditions are assigned, and in the illustrated drawing, the menu block mb of "image selection" is activated. A slide-bar sb is provided at a position adjacent to the menu block mb. The slide-bar sb is formed from the second side 182 of the touch screen to a position adjacent to the menu block mb. The slide-bar sb displays the settable interval between one end and the other end, with the lowest value and the highest value of the menu being one end and the other end, respectively. The slide-bar sb is provided with a setting pointer P that changes its position following the touch input of the user. For example, the minimum value and the maximum value corresponding to the menu block (mb) of "image selection" may mean the serial number assigned to the image file. That is, the file stored in the digital camera may be assigned a serial number ranging from 1 to 9999 according to DCF (Digital Camera File format), and each position of the slide-bar sb may be assigned the lowest number ex.1 And can correspond to individual serial numbers between the highest number currently stored. As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, another file can be reproduced by moving the setting pointer P on the slide-bar sb through touch input.

As shown in Fig. 7A, when the menu block mb of "zoom" is selected, a slide bar sb related to the screen magnification is displayed. As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the magnification displayed on the screen can be enlarged by moving the setting pointer P on the slide-bar sb toward the high magnification through the touch input.

The "move" menu block mb shown in FIG. 8A is a menu item for moving the display position on the two-dimensional screen. When the "move" menu block mb is selected, a setting pointer mp is displayed on the screen. The setting pointer mp indicates the center of the screen, for example, and moves to an arbitrary position on the screen according to the touch input of the user. 8A and 8B, the display position is shifted such that the new position (mp ') of the setting pointer mp becomes the center of the screen. The touch input relating to the screen movement can be performed at any position on the two-dimensional screen, and the slide-bar (sb) type in which the touch input is restricted on the one-dimensional line may not be suitable. The present invention is mainly configured to detect the touch position on the slide-bar (sb) and to calculate the set value according to the relative distance of the touch position with respect to one end and the other end of the slide-bar (sb) And a menu item (ex. "Move" menu item) set in a format other than the slide-bar sb.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, You will understand the point. Accordingly, the true scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the appended claims.

1 is an overall block diagram of a digital camera according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 shows a touch screen for providing a setting screen relating to shooting conditions.

FIG. 3 is a view for explaining the operation of the touch screen shown in FIG. 2. Referring to FIG.

4A to 4C are views for explaining a modified embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of a digital camera according to another aspect of the present invention.

Figs. 6A and 8B show a touch screen that provides a setting screen relating to playback conditions.

Description of the Related Art

110: Optical unit 111: Driver

112: zoom lens 114: shutter

116: aperture 118: focus lens

120: Imaging element 121: Timing generator

130: Analog front end circuit (AFE circuit)

140: buffer memory 150: digital signal processor

155: EEPROM 160: Encoder / decoder

170: recording medium 180: touch screen

181, 182, 183, 184: first to fourth sides of the touch screen

mb: Menu block P, mp, mp`: Setting pointer

sb, sb`: Slide-bar

Claims (11)

A touch screen having a first side and a second side facing each other and sensing a first touch position relating to menu selection and a second touch position relating to a set value of the selected menu; And And a digital signal processor for controlling the touch screen to form a menu block for sensing a first touch position on a first side of the touch screen and a slide bar for sensing a second touch position on the second side and, The first touch position is touched by one finger of the left hand holding the digital camera, the second touch position is touched by one finger of the right hand holding the digital camera, And a set value corresponding to the touch position is calculated according to a relative distance of the second touch position with respect to one end and the other end of the slide-bar. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the slide-bar has the other end extending from one end adjacent to the second end to the first end, and detects the second touch position between the one end and the other end. The method according to claim 1, The slide-bar displays a settable section in which the lowest and highest values of the selected menu are set as one end and the other end, And a setting pointer that changes its position to follow the second touch position is displayed on the slide-bar. delete The method according to claim 1, Wherein the touch screen is provided in a rectangular shape having a long side and a short side, Wherein the first side and the second side constitute a short side of the touch screen. The method according to claim 1, Recognizes a menu block corresponding to the first touch position, and displays a slide-bar for setting the recognized menu block. The method according to claim 6, Wherein when the menu block corresponding to the first touch position includes lower menus, the slide bar for setting the lower menus is displayed in a plurality of columns. The method according to claim 1, Wherein at least two menu blocks are arranged along a first side of the touch screen. 9. The method of claim 8, Each of the menu blocks is provided with menu items such as zoom adjustment (AF), exposure adjustment (AE), white balance adjustment (AWB) and menu items of image selection, enlargement / reduction, And an item is assigned. A control method of a digital camera in which a first touch position is touched by one finger of a left hand holding a digital camera and a second touch position is touched by a finger of a right hand holding the digital camera, Displaying a menu block on the touch screen in accordance with the touch input of the user; Sensing a first touch location of the user with respect to the menu block; Displaying a slide bar corresponding to the detected menu block; Sensing a second touch location of the user on the slide-bar; And And calculating a set value corresponding to the touch position according to a relative distance of the second touch position with respect to one end and the other end of the slide-bar. 11. The method of claim 10, When the touch screen has a first side and a second side facing each other, Wherein the menu block is displayed on a first side of the touch screen, Wherein the slide-bar is displayed in a line shape having an end extending from one end adjacent to the second end to the first end.

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