JP2004364137A - Digital camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital camera in which an area required to display the number of remaining images and imaging conditions by pointers is reduced. <P>SOLUTION: The digital camera 1 provided with a storing means for storing digital images is provided with a first pointer 55, second pointers 53 and 54, display boards 44 and 49 for showing a scale for the number of images which is a scale representing the number of images and is indicated by the first pointer 55 and for showing the imaging conditions indicated by the second pointers 53 and 54, a first driving means for driving the first pointer 55 so as to make the first pointer 55 indicate the number of remaining images of digital images that can be additionally stored in a storing means, and a second driving means for driving the second pointers 53 and 54 so as to make the second pointers 53 and 54 indicate one of the imaging conditions in accordance with an input from a user, wherein a movement area of the first pointer 55 is overlapped at least partially upon a moving area of the second pointers 53 and 54. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a digital camera.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a digital camera in which a display mode of an LCD is indicated by a pointer (for example, see Patent Document 1). The wrist-mounted electronic camera (digital camera) described in Patent Literature 1 has a clock function. In a mode (camera mode) in which the wrist-mounted electronic camera functions as a digital camera, a long hand having a clock function is provided. , The display mode of the LCD is indicated by at least one of the short hand and the second hand. The wrist-mounted electronic camera described in Patent Document 1 has three modes of a display mode of the LCD: a “photographing mode”, a “reproduction mode”, and an “erase mode”, and indicates one of the modes set by the user. .
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2000-152060 A
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The preference for camera operability depends on individual differences, and some users prefer operability like a silver halide camera. Many users who prefer the operability of the silver halide camera are many users who have been using the silver halide camera for many years and have become accustomed to the operability. If the imaging conditions unique to the digital camera are displayed with hands, the number of remaining digital images that can be stored in the storage means is displayed with hands, or if a winding lever is provided, the operability becomes closer to that of a silver halide camera, Such users are likely to like it.
[0005]
In the case of the conventional digital camera, the display target by the pointer is only the display mode of the LCD. However, when the imaging condition and the number of remaining images are displayed by the pointer, the display target is plural. However, digital cameras have a limited area in which they can be displayed. Even if only one display object can be displayed, if two or more objects can be displayed, it may not be possible to display them due to restrictions on the area.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and has as its object to provide a digital camera capable of reducing the area required for displaying the number of remaining images and a guideline of imaging conditions.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a digital camera that can reduce the area required for displaying the number of remaining images and the indicator of the remaining battery power.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a digital camera according to the present invention is a digital camera including a storage unit for storing a digital image, wherein the digital camera includes a first pointer, a second pointer, and a scale indicating the number of images. A display plate on which the number of images indicated by the first pointer and the imaging condition indicated by the second pointer are indicated, and the number of remaining digital images that can be additionally stored in the storage means are set to the The first driving means for driving the first pointer as indicated by one pointer, and the second pointer as indicated by the second pointer indicating any imaging condition in response to an input from a user. Second driving means for driving, and an optical image formed by the optical system, which is converted into a digital image based on the imaging conditions indicated by the second pointer, and stored in the storage means. Comprising a stage, and wherein the at least partially overlaps with the first movement region and said second moving area of the pointer of the pointer. According to this digital camera, at least a part of the moving area of the first hand and the moving area of the second hand overlap, so that the moving area of the first hand and the moving area of the second hand do not overlap. The area of the entire moving area can be reduced as compared with Therefore, the number of remaining images and the area required for displaying the guidelines of the imaging conditions can be reduced.
[0008]
Further, in the digital camera according to the present invention, the display panel is characterized in that white balance is described as an imaging condition. According to this digital camera, the user can confirm which white balance is to be converted into a digital image based on the second guideline.
Further, in the digital camera according to the present invention, the display panel displays a compression ratio as an imaging condition, and the first driving unit controls the remaining capacity of the storage unit and the compression ratio indicated by the second pointer. The second pointer is driven so that the second pointer indicates the number of remaining images corresponding to the second pointer. The number of remaining images differs depending on the compression ratio at which the optical image is converted into a digital image. For this reason, when the compression ratio is described as the imaging condition, it is appropriate that the number of remaining images is indicated according to the remaining capacity of the storage unit and the compression ratio indicated by the second pointer. It is. According to this digital camera, it is possible to appropriately indicate the number of remaining images while enabling the user to check and change the compression ratio.
[0009]
In order to achieve the above object, a digital camera according to the present invention includes an imaging unit that converts an optical image formed by an optical system into a digital image, and a storage unit that stores the digital image converted by the imaging unit. A digital camera, a battery for supplying power to the imaging unit and the storage unit, a first pointer, a second pointer, and a scale indicating the number of images, which is indicated by the first pointer. A display plate on which an image number scale and a battery level scale indicated by the second pointer are written, and the first pointer indicates the number of remaining digital images that can be additionally stored in the storage means. First driving means for driving the first pointer, and second driving means for driving the second pointer so that the second pointer indicates the remaining battery level of the battery, At least a part of a moving area and the second moving area of the pointer in the first pointer, characterized in that the overlap. According to this digital camera, the moving area of the first pointer and the moving area of the second pointer do not overlap because at least a part of the moving area of the first pointer and the moving area of the second pointer overlap. The area of the entire moving area can be reduced as compared with Therefore, the area required for displaying the number of remaining images and the remaining battery level can be reduced.
[0010]
Further, in the digital camera according to the present invention, the first pointer rotates around one end as an axis, and the movement area of the second pointer is within a circle centered on the axis and having the radius of the first pointer. It is characterized by being included in. According to this digital camera, the moving area of the second pointer is included in a circle having the radius of the first pointer, so that the listability is improved. Further, the range in which the scale of the number of images can be described is wider than the range in which the imaging conditions or the remaining battery level can be described.
[0011]
Furthermore, in the digital camera according to the present invention, the number-of-images scale is written so that the number of images represented by the unit width increases from the start end to the end. According to this digital camera, the number of remaining images can be appropriately transmitted to the user even when the area on which the scale can be displayed is limited.
Each function of the plurality of means provided in the present invention is realized by a hardware resource whose function is specified by the configuration itself, a hardware resource whose function is specified by a program, or a combination thereof. The functions of the plurality of means are not limited to those realized by hardware resources which are physically independent of each other.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on examples.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the digital still camera 1 as a digital camera according to one embodiment of the present invention.
The control unit 27 includes a CPU 27a, a flash memory 27b, and a work memory 27c. The CPU 27a controls the entire digital still camera 1 by executing a computer program stored in the flash memory 27b. The CPU 27a also functions as a first driving unit, a second driving unit, and an imaging unit by executing a program stored in the flash memory 27b. The flash memory 27b is a memory that stores various programs and data. Various programs and data stored in the flash memory 27b may be downloaded from a predetermined server via a network and stored, or may be read from a computer-readable storage medium such as the removable memory 31 and stored. The work memory 27c is a memory for temporarily storing programs and data.
[0013]
The optical system 20 includes a lens, a diaphragm, and the like. The optical system 20 forms an optical image of a subject on the light receiving surface of the image sensor 21.
The image sensor 21 as an imaging unit is an area image sensor including pixels discretely arranged in a two-dimensional space and a charge transfer element such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device). The image sensor 21 is driven by the sensor controller 25. The image sensor 21 accumulates a charge obtained by photoelectrically converting the optical image formed by the optical system 20 for each pixel for a certain period of time, and outputs an electric signal corresponding to the amount of received light for each pixel. Four complementary color filters of C (Cyan), M (Magenta), Y (Yellow) and G (Green) or primary color filters of R (Red), G (Green) and B (Blue) are provided on the light receiving surface. Thus, a color image can be formed.
[0014]
An A / D converter (ADC) 22 as an imaging unit quantizes an electric signal output from the image sensor 21 and converts the electric signal into a digital signal. Specifically, for example, the ADC 22 performs a process of reducing noise included in the electric signal, a process of adjusting a level of the electric signal by adjusting a gain, a quantization process, and the like.
A digital image processing unit 23 as an imaging unit performs image formation processing, white balance correction, γ correction, color space conversion, and the like on the digital signal output from the ADC 22, and performs R, G, B gradation for each pixel. A digital image representing values, gradation values of Y, Cb, and Cr is created. Here, the image forming process means that a digital image having three gradation values of RGB or YCbCr for each pixel is obtained by interpolating luminance information for one color output from a pixel with luminance information of different colors of neighboring pixels. Output processing. White balance correction refers to a process of correcting a white subject so that it looks white regardless of the type of light source. In general, with a digital camera, a white subject looks white when captured in sunlight, but looks reddish when captured using indoor incandescent lighting. Therefore, the white object is corrected by white balance correction so that the white object looks white on the digital image. Since how to correct the white balance differs depending on the light source, the digital still camera 1 allows the user to set the type of the light source as a white balance, and performs correction according to the set light source.
[0015]
A compression / decompression unit 24 as an imaging means compresses the created digital image or decompresses the compressed digital image. The compression / decompression unit 24 specifically compresses data in a JPEG format, which is lossy compression with data truncation, or a Raw format, which is lossless compression without data truncation. The compression / expansion unit 24 is also configured to be able to convert to a TIFF format digital image that does not perform compression. In the case of the TIFF format, the compression ratio is "no compression". The digital signal output from the ADC 22 may be stored in the removable memory 31 as Raw format data that is not subjected to image processing. The JPEG format has a variable compression ratio, and when the compression ratio is high, a large amount of data is truncated to reduce the amount of data. Therefore, when the compression ratio is high, the image quality of the digital image is degraded. Conversely, when the compression rate is low, the amount of data to be truncated is small, so that the data amount of the digital image after compression is larger than that at the time of the high compression rate.
[0016]
The storage unit 30 as a storage unit includes a card slot for connecting the removable memory 31, a memory controller, and the like. The storage unit 30 is controlled by the control unit 27, and stores the digital image compressed by the compression / decompression unit 24 by writing the digital image to the removable memory 31. Further, the storage unit 30 is controlled by the control unit 27, and also reads a digital image stored in the removable memory 31.
[0017]
The power supply unit 36 includes a battery 36a, a control circuit, and the like, and is electrically connected to each unit. The battery 36a supplies power to each unit.
The driving unit 35 includes a stepping motor as a first driving unit that drives the first pointer 55 (see FIG. 1), and a stepping motor as a second driving unit that drives the second pointer 52 (see FIG. 1). A stepping motor as a second driving means for driving the second pointer 53 (see FIG. 1) and a stepping motor as a second driving means for driving the second pointer 54 (see FIG. 1). It is composed of a stepping motor, a driving circuit as a first driving unit and a second driving unit, and the like. The drive unit 35 is controlled by the control unit 27, drives the second hands 53 in response to an input from the user, and indicates the compression ratio as an imaging condition by the second hands 53. Similarly, white balance as an imaging condition is indicated by the second pointer 54 in response to an input from the user. In addition, the second pointer 52 is driven based on the remaining amount of the battery 36a included in the power supply unit 36, and the remaining amount of the battery 36a is indicated by the second pointer 52. Further, the first pointer 55 is driven in accordance with the remaining capacity of the removable memory 31 connected to the storage unit 30 and the compression ratio indicated by the second pointer 53, and is additionally stored in the removable memory 31. The number of remaining possible digital images is indicated by the first pointer 55. Details will be described later.
[0018]
An LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 34 is controlled by a display controller 33 and displays digital images, various setting menus, and the like.
The display controller 33 includes a frame buffer for storing data for one screen of the LCD 34, and a display circuit for driving the LCD 34 based on the data stored in the frame buffer.
[0019]
FIG. 1A is a top view of the digital still camera 1, and FIG. 1B is an enlarged view of a broken line portion A shown in FIG. 1A.
The display unit 32 (see FIG. 2) includes a disk-shaped display plate 44 shown in FIG. 1 as a display plate and a display plate 49 formed as an annular frame. It has a second pointer 52, a second pointer 53, and a second pointer 54. Although the display panel of this embodiment includes the display panel 44 and the display panel 49, the display panel 44 and the display panel 49 may be configured as one display panel. Further, the housing of the digital still camera 1 may be used as the display plate without separately providing the display plate.
[0020]
The display plate 49 includes an annular frame and side walls (not shown) extending annularly from the outer periphery of the frame. The inside diameter of the display plate 49 is formed to have a size substantially matching the diameter of the display plate 44, and the opening is sealed with a transparent member such as glass. On the display panel 49, an image number scale indicating the number of images indicated by the first hands 55 is written so that the number of images indicated by the unit width increases from the start end to the end. In the illustrated example, the image number scale is scaled from 0 to 500, where 0 is the start end and 500 is the rear end. As shown in the figure, for example, the scale of the number of images is different in width from 0 to 10 and from 10 to 20. When the width from 10 to 20 is used as the unit width, the unit width represents 10 images in the range from 10 to 20, but the number of images represented by the same width in the range from 0 to 10 is about 1 to 2 It is about the size of an image. That is, the number of images represented by the unit width is larger in the section from 10 to 20 than in the section from 0 to 10. Similarly, the number of images represented by the unit width of the section from 100 to 500 is larger than the number of images represented by the unit width of the section from 10 to 100. Therefore, the image number scale is written such that the number of images represented by the unit width increases from the start end to the end. In general, when the number of remaining images is 100 or more, it is sufficient for the user to obtain information of about 100 images such as 200 images and 300 images, and does not need accurate information of one image unit. Therefore, when the number of remaining images is 100 or more, it can be said that it is appropriate to provide information of about 100 image units. Conversely, when the number of remaining images becomes 10 or less, it is necessary for the user to perform imaging while being aware of the number of remaining images one by one, and it is necessary to accurately know the number of remaining images in units of one image. Therefore, it can be said that it is appropriate to provide the information of one image unit when the remaining 10 images or less. In the middle, it is appropriate to provide information in units of 10 images. If the number of images is expressed so that the number of images represented by the unit width increases from the start end to the end, the interval corresponding to one image becomes narrower on the end side of the scale, so that the area required to express the scale can be reduced. . If the interval corresponding to one image is narrow, it is difficult to obtain information in one image unit, but it is easy to obtain rough information such as one hundred image units. Therefore, even if the interval corresponding to one image becomes narrower on the end side, provision of appropriate information is not hindered. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the area required for notation of the scale while maintaining appropriate information provision. On the other hand, the start end side can provide information of one image unit. Therefore, if the image number scale is described so that the number of images represented by the unit width increases from the beginning to the end, the number of remaining images can be appropriately transmitted to the user even when the area where the scale can be described is limited. .
[0021]
The first pointer 55 is specifically provided to be rotatable around, for example, one end. The first pointer 55 is provided so as to be rotatable about a straight line passing through the center of the display panel 44 and perpendicular to the plate surface of the display panel 44, and is rotated by being driven by the drive unit 35. As described above, since the image number scale is scaled from 0 to 500, the first pointer 55 rotates from an angle indicating 0 to an angle indicating 500. The area where the first pointer 55 rotates is equivalent to the area 71 in FIG. In this embodiment, the case where the first pointer 55 rotates is described as an example, but the first pointer 55 may be moved in parallel. The second pointers 52, 53, and 54 described below may be similarly translated.
[0022]
The display board 44 is arranged so that the center thereof coincides with the center of the display board 49. On the display panel 44, a plurality of white balances as imaging conditions and a plurality of compression ratios as imaging conditions are written, and further, a remaining battery scale indicating the remaining battery of the battery 36a is written. In this embodiment, the white balance refers to the type of the light source, and the display plate 44 is provided with a symbol indicating the type of the light source or an auto mode in which the digital still camera 1 determines the type of the light source. Here, the symbol 58 in the figure indicates "auto mode", the symbol 59 indicates "daylight (sunlight)", the symbol 60 indicates "cloudy", and the symbol 61 indicates "incandescent light". The user operates the pointer 54 by using the operation unit 19 described later to indicate a target symbol. For example, when the operation is performed so as to point to the symbol 61, the white balance correction corresponding to the “incandescent lamp” is performed on the digital image. The compression ratios are indicated as “R”, “T”, “H”, and “N” in the figure. Here, the symbol "R" means Raw format, and "T" means TIFF format. “N” (Normal) and “H” (High) are in the JPEG format, “N” means a high compression rate, and “H” means a low compression rate. How to set the compression ratio of “N” or “H” is a design item that can be appropriately selected. The scales marked “E” (Empty) and “F” (FULL) on the display board 44 are scales indicating the remaining battery level. As shown in FIG. 3, the compression ratio and the remaining battery scale are written so as to be completely within the moving area 71 of the first pointer 55. On the other hand, regarding the white balance, the symbols 60 and 61 are described so as to fit within the moving area 71, and the symbols 58 and 59 are written outside the moving area 71.
[0023]
Similarly to the first pointer 55, the second hands 52, 53, and 54 are provided so as to be rotatable around one end. Specifically, it is provided so as to be rotatable about a straight line that is a point on the display plate 44 and that is perpendicular to the plate surface of the display plate 44 and passes through a point in the movement area of the first pointer 55. It is rotated and driven by being driven by the unit 35. As described above, since the compression ratio and the remaining battery level are written so as to be within the movement area of the first pointer 55, the second pointer 53 and the second pointer 52 are replaced with the first pointer 55. Is provided so as to rotate about a point in the movement area of the second hand 53 and the movement area of the second hand 52 is completely included in the movement area of the first hand 55. The moving area of the second pointer 53 and the moving area of the second pointer 52 correspond to shaded areas 73 and 72 shown in FIG. 3, respectively. On the other hand, regarding the white balance, the symbols 58 and 59 are described outside the moving area of the first hands 55 as described above, so that the second hands 54 Although it moves out of the movement area of the pointer 55, since the symbol 60 and the symbol 61 are within the movement area of the first pointer 55, when pointing to the symbol 60 or the symbol 61, the second pointer 54 The first pointer 55 moves within the movement area. The moving area of the second pointer 54 corresponds to the shaded area 74 shown in FIG. Therefore, a part of the moving area of the second pointer 54 overlaps the moving area of the first pointer 55.
[0024]
As shown in FIG. 3, the moving area 74 of the second pointer 54 partially protrudes from the moving area 71 of the first pointer 55, but the first pointer 55 is moved around the axis of the first pointer 55. It is included in a circle 62 having a radius. Similarly, the moving area 73 of the second pointer 53 and the moving area 72 of the second pointer 52 are also included in the circle 62. As a result, the number of remaining images and the imaging conditions can be confirmed with a small movement of the line of sight, and the listability is improved. Further, in the case of the image number scale, particularly when the number of remaining images becomes small, it is necessary to accurately notify the user of the number of remaining images in units of one image, and therefore, it is necessary to express the scale finely. Therefore, a wide range is required for the scale notation. Since the number of imaging conditions is generally smaller than the number of images that can be stored in the storage unit, the range required for expressing the imaging conditions may be smaller than the scale of the number of images. Therefore, it can be said that it is appropriate to make the range in which the number of remaining images is described wider than the range in which the imaging conditions are described. In addition, for example, if the end of the scale indicates full charge and the start indicates empty, the remaining battery level can be roughly grasped by the position indicated by the second pointer 52. Not done. For this reason, the moving area of the second pointer 52 may be smaller than the moving area of the first pointer 55. Therefore, it is appropriate to make the range in which the number of remaining images is described wider than the range in which the remaining battery power is described. If the movement area of the second hands 52, 53, and 54 is included in the circle 62 having the radius of the first hand 55, the range in which the number of images can be indicated is the range in which the imaging condition and the remaining battery level can be indicated. Become wider. Therefore, the number of remaining images, the imaging conditions, and the remaining battery level can be appropriately displayed while improving the listability.
[0025]
In the present embodiment, the white balance and the compression ratio are described as an example of the imaging condition. However, when the optical image is converted into a digital image according to the shooting mode such as normal, portrait, landscape, or macro, the imaging mode is set to It may be a condition.
The operation unit 19 includes a dial switch 47 as a second driving unit, a dial switch 41 as a second driving unit, and a shutter button 46 for instructing photographing. The dial switch 47 is a switch for selecting a shutter speed, a type of imaging condition, and the like. The dial switch 41 is a switch for setting a desired imaging condition among the selected types of imaging conditions. In addition, the operation unit 19 includes a dial switch 43, a changeover switch 42, a winding lever 45, and the like. The dial switch 43 is a switch for setting the sensitivity of the pixel, and the changeover switch 42 is a switch for changing the angle of view. The winding lever 45 is provided to inherit the operability of the silver halide camera, and is configured so that the shutter button 46 can be pressed by performing the winding operation with the winding lever 45. The operation unit 19 further includes operation switches (not shown) for displaying stored digital images and various menus on the LCD 34 and operating the displayed menus.
[0026]
The hardware configuration of the digital still camera 1 has been described above. Next, the operation of the digital still camera 1 will be described.
When performing imaging, the user first turns on the power of the digital still camera 1 with a power switch (not shown).
When the power is turned on, the controller 27 turns on the LED 48 (see FIG. 1A) and updates the position indicated by the first pointer 55. Updating only the position indicated by the first pointer 55 after being turned on may be different from immediately before the remaining capacity is turned off by replacing the removable memory 31 while being turned off. Because there is a nature. The control unit 27 controls the storage unit 30 to acquire the remaining capacity of the removable memory 31 and adds the remaining capacity to the removable memory 31 according to the acquired remaining capacity and the compression ratio currently indicated by the second indicator 53. The number of images that can be stored (the number of remaining images) is determined, and the first pointer 55 is rotated to an angle corresponding to the number of remaining images determined by controlling the driving unit 35. More specifically, the number of remaining images may be obtained, for example, by storing an average data amount in advance for each compression ratio, and dividing the remaining capacity by a data amount corresponding to the currently set compression ratio. Then, the relationship between the remaining capacity and the number of remaining images may be stored in advance in a table format for each compression rate, and the number of remaining images may be specified from the acquired remaining capacity and the currently set compression rate.
[0027]
Next, the user operates the operation unit 19 as necessary to set imaging conditions such as a white balance and a compression ratio. When setting the imaging conditions, the user first turns the dial switch 47 and matches the symbol 56 or 57 indicating the type of the imaging condition written on the dial switch 47 with the triangle mark 51. Here, the symbol 56 is a symbol representing the compression ratio as a type of the imaging condition, and the symbol 57 is a symbol representing the white balance. Thus, the type of the imaging condition to be set is determined. Next, the user turns the dial switch 41. When the dial switch 41 is turned, the control unit 27 drives the second hand 53 or 54 so that the second hand 53 or 54 indicates one of the imaging conditions according to an input from the user. Specifically, for example, the drive unit 35 is controlled to rotate the second pointer 53 or 54 corresponding to the selected type of imaging condition to an angle corresponding to the rotation angle of the dial switch 41. The control unit 27 determines the imaging condition indicated by the second pointer 53 or 54 after the rotation, and stores the determined imaging condition in, for example, the flash memory 27b. Thereby, the imaging conditions are set. In the present embodiment, the pointer 53 or 54 is electrically driven by the driving unit 35. For example, a gear for transmitting a force for rotating the dial switch 41 by the user to the pointer 53 or 54 is provided, and is mechanically driven. You may do so. The user checks whether or not the pointer after the rotation indicates the target imaging condition, and if not, repeats the operation of the dial switch 41 until the pointer indicates the target imaging condition. Note that this operation is unnecessary if the imaging condition currently indicated is not changed.
[0028]
In this embodiment, the user performs an input by rotating the dial switches 47 and 41. For example, a menu for setting an imaging condition is displayed on the LCD 34, and the user selects the imaging condition in the menu to input the input. May be performed, and the control unit 27 may control the driving unit 35 according to the selected imaging condition.
When the compression ratio indicated by the second indicator 53 is changed by the above-described operation, the control unit 27 determines the remaining capacity of the removable memory 31 and the compression ratio indicated by the second indicator 53 based on the acquired remaining capacity. The position indicated by the first pointer 55 is updated. Therefore, according to the digital still camera 1, it is possible to appropriately indicate the number of remaining images while enabling the user to check and change the compression ratio.
[0029]
When the shutter button 46 is depressed by the user, the control unit 27 controls each unit, and the optical image formed by the optical system 20 is formed based on the imaging conditions indicated by the second hands 53 and 54. Convert to digital image. For example, if "daylight" is set by the second indicator 54, the control unit 27 controls the digital image processing unit 23 to execute white balance correction according to "daylight". Similarly, the compression / expansion unit 24 is controlled so as to be compressed at the compression ratio indicated by the second pointer 53.
[0030]
Next, the control unit 27 controls the storage unit 30 to store the converted digital image in the removable memory 31.
Next, the remaining capacity of the removable memory 31 is reacquired from the storage unit 30, and the angle of the first pointer 55 is updated based on the compression ratio indicated by the second pointer 53.
[0031]
The control unit 27 obtains the remaining battery level of the battery 36a from the power source unit 36 at predetermined time intervals while the power is on, for example, and controls the driving unit 35 based on the obtained remaining battery level. Thus, the second pointer 52 is driven, and the remaining amount of the battery 36a is indicated by the second pointer 52.
According to the digital still camera 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention described above, the entire movement area 73 of the second pointer 53 overlaps the movement area 71 of the first pointer 55, and the movement area of the first pointer 55. Since at least a portion of 71 and the moving area 74 of the second hand 54 overlap, the moving area 73 of the second hand 53 and the moving area 74 of the second hand 54 become the moving area 71 of the first hand 55. The area of the entire moving area can be reduced as compared with a case where the moving areas are not overlapped. Therefore, the area required for displaying the number of remaining images, the white balance, and the compression ratio can be reduced.
[0032]
Furthermore, according to the digital still camera 1, the entire moving area 72 of the second pointer 52 overlaps the moving area 71 of the first pointer 55, so that the moving area 71 of the first pointer 55 and the second pointer 52 The area of the entire moving area can be reduced as compared with the case where the moving area 72 is not overlapped. Therefore, the area required for displaying the number of remaining images and the remaining battery level can be reduced.
Furthermore, according to the digital still camera 1, since the pointer is used for displaying the imaging conditions and the number of remaining images, the user can always check the imaging conditions and the number of remaining images. When displaying on the LCD 34, power must be consumed because the display must be continued on the LCD 34 in order to always be able to check, but the digital still camera 1 does not consume power after driving the hands. Therefore, it is possible to make it possible to always check the imaging conditions and the number of remaining images while suppressing power consumption.
[0033]
In the present embodiment, the digital still camera 1 has been described as an example, but the present invention may be applied to a digital video camera.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1A is a top view of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is an enlarged view of a broken line portion B shown in FIG.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the digital camera according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a moving area according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 digital still camera (digital camera), 20 optical system, 21 image sensor (imaging means), 22 A / D converter (imaging means), 23 digital image processing section (imaging means), 24 compression / decompression section (imaging means) ), 25 sensor controller (imaging means), 27 control section (first driving means, second driving means, imaging means), 30 storage section (storage means), 35 driving section (first driving means, second driving means) , 36a battery, 44 display panel, 49 display panel, 52 first pointer, 53 second pointer, 54 second pointer, 55 second pointer

Claims (6)

A digital camera comprising storage means for storing a digital image,
The first guideline,
The second guideline,
A display plate on which a scale representing the number of images and an image number scale indicated by the first pointer and an imaging condition indicated by the second pointer are written,
A first driving unit that drives the first pointer so that the first pointer indicates the number of remaining digital images that can be additionally stored in the storage unit;
A second driving unit that drives the second pointer so that the second pointer indicates one of the imaging conditions according to an input from a user,
An imaging unit that converts an optical image formed by an optical system into a digital image based on imaging conditions indicated by the second pointer, and stores the digital image in the storage unit.
Wherein the moving area of the first hand and the moving area of the second hand overlap at least partially. 2. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the display board displays white balance as an imaging condition. On the display plate, a compression ratio is described as an imaging condition,
The first driving unit is configured to display the second pointer so that the second pointer indicates the number of remaining images corresponding to the remaining capacity of the storage unit and the compression ratio indicated by the second pointer. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the digital camera is driven. An imaging unit that converts an optical image formed by an optical system into a digital image, and a digital camera including a storage unit that stores the digital image converted by the imaging unit,
A battery that supplies power to the imaging unit and the storage unit;
The first guideline,
The second guideline,
A display plate on which a scale indicating the number of images and a battery level scale indicated by the image number scale and the second pointer indicated by the first pointer are indicated,
A first driving unit that drives the first pointer so that the first pointer indicates the number of remaining digital images that can be additionally stored in the storage unit;
A second driving unit that drives the second pointer so that the second pointer indicates the remaining battery level of the battery,
Wherein the moving area of the first hand and the moving area of the second hand overlap at least partially. The first pointer rotates around one end as an axis,
5. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein a movement area of the second pointer is included in a circle having the axis as a center and a radius as the first pointer. 6. The digital camera according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the image number scale is written such that the number of images represented by the unit width increases from the start end to the end.

Images