JP4543858B2 - Imaging device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus and an imaging apparatus that can select an object on a screen.

  In recent years, electronic devices have become more multifunctional. For example, many imaging devices are provided with not only a moving image function but also a function for processing a moving image with some effect and a function for recording a still image on a semiconductor memory card. The user can perform setting operations of these functions while imaging. For example, a setting menu is displayed with a captured image as a background, and a user selects and determines a function by directly touching and operating a so-called touch panel. However, in the touch panel method, the user has to point the icon or menu button displayed on the display with a finger, and the panel of the display unit may be soiled or damaged due to dirt or fingerprints.

  As a technique for solving such a problem, Patent Documents 1 to 4 describe a configuration in which an input unit is provided on the back surface of a display screen. Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2 describe a keyboard specialized for character input, and Patent Literature 3 describes a configuration in which an operation selection key is provided. Patent Document 4 describes that a touch panel is provided.

JP-A-8-137801 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-3159 JP 2002-354085 A Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 8-1670

  However, in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, since the input means is a keyboard specialized for character input, the operation method is not simple and requires user's skill. In Patent Document 3, an operation selection key that allows easy input operation is provided. In order to reach a target icon displayed on the display screen, the operation selection key must be repeatedly pressed. It is not an intuitive operation method. Further, in Patent Document 4, a touch panel capable of intuitive operation is provided. However, a fine operation and a reliable operation of the user are required in the screen area. In particular, in recent years, electronic devices have been downsized to improve portability, and the screen area has been limited. Therefore, buttons that can be displayed on the screen at the same time considering the size of the user's finger. The number of is limited.

  In addition, when using a touch panel in an imaging apparatus, particularly among electronic devices, not only the screen on which the captured image is displayed is covered with a finger, but also the captured image cannot be displayed clearly due to screen dirt or scratches. there were. Further, when an operation is performed while imaging with an operation key, it is necessary to move the line of sight between the screen and the operation key.

The present invention has been proposed in view of such a conventional situation, and provides an imaging apparatus capable of keeping a line of sight to a screen constant and performing an intuitive input operation. Objective.

In order to achieve the above-described object, an imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes an imaging unit, a display unit that displays an image captured by the imaging unit, and is movable so that a display direction of a screen faces a predetermined direction. The operation input unit provided on the back surface of the display unit, which is operated from the back side of the screen and detects contact, and the operation on the operation surface of the pointer indicating the position of the screen And a control unit that controls the operation direction on the operation surface and the pointer movement direction on the screen to be in a mirror image relationship, and the control unit is located at a position on the operation surface corresponding to the pointer. It is characterized in that it is determined whether the tap operation in the operation input unit is valid or invalid, and when the tap operation is invalid, the pointer is not displayed for a certain period of time .

According to the present invention, an image pick-up part, an image picked up by the image pick-up part, a display part that is movable so that the display direction of the screen is directed to a predetermined direction, and the touch panel are operated from the back side of the screen to detect contact. The operation input unit provided on the rear surface of the display unit and the operation on the operation surface of the pointer indicating the position of the screen are operated on the operation surface and the pointer movement direction on the screen. By providing a control unit that controls the image to have a mirror image relationship , the user can keep the line of sight to the screen constant and can perform an intuitive input operation.

  Hereinafter, specific embodiments to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are external perspective views showing the imaging apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the imaging apparatus 1 includes a lens 2 and an operation surface 3 capable of selecting an object displayed on the screen. Hereinafter, a surface on which light is incident on the lens 2 is a front surface. As shown in FIG. 2, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 4 is provided on the back of the operation surface 3, and an object such as a button displayed on the screen can be selected from the back of the LCD 4. The operation surface 3 and the LCD 4 are installed to be openable and closable by a hinge, and the operation surface 3 or the LCD 4 can be disposed on the side surface of the housing of the imaging device 1 as shown in FIG. The screen of the LCD 4 and the operation surface 3 are preferably parallel. A finder 5 and a switch 6 are provided on the back surface of the imaging apparatus 1.

  The operation surface 3 is a flat plate that detects contact, and operates to select an object displayed on the screen of the LCD 4 in accordance with the position of the XY coordinate axis of the operation surface with which the user's finger or the like has contacted. To do. On the operation surface that detects the contact of a finger or the like, a pressure-sensitive type that detects a voltage change due to pressure, or a layered X electrode and Y electrode are formed, and a change in capacitance between the grid electrodes is detected. A touch pad such as a capacitance type can be used.

  The LCD 4 is disposed on the back surface of the operation surface 3 and has a finder function for displaying a captured image.

  With such a configuration, the user can touch the operation surface 3 on the back surface of the LCD 4 with a finger while picking up an image, select and determine an object on the screen of the LCD 4, and change settings.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the imaging apparatus 1. The imaging device 1 uses an operation switch 31 corresponding to the switch 6, an auxiliary input device 32 having an operation surface 3, a controller 33 that controls the operation switch 31 and the auxiliary input device 32, and graphics such as buttons and menus. A graphical user interface (GUI) 34 displayed on the screen, an image of a subject via the lens 2 using a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), and generating digital image data; An image processing unit 36 that performs signal processing and a display unit 37 that corresponds to the LCD 4 that displays digital image data are provided.

  The auxiliary input device 32 is an input device such as a pointing device, for example, and corresponds to the operation surface 3 shown in FIG.

  The display unit 37 corresponds to the LCD 4 shown in FIG. 2, and displays an image captured by the image capturing unit 35 and buttons and the like by the GUI 34.

  Next, an operation method of the auxiliary input device 32 will be described with reference to FIG. On the screen of the LCD 4, an object such as a button in which a program is registered by the GUI 34 is displayed. Then, for example, when the user's finger contacts an area on the operation surface 3 corresponding to the desired button, the program for the desired button can be selected and executed.

  FIG. 5 shows the screen 50 and the operation surface 60. On this screen 50, buttons 51 to 59 in which programs are registered are displayed. On the rear surface of the screen 50, an operation surface 60 that is substantially equal to the size of the screen 50 is disposed. The operation surface 60 detects contact in areas 61 to 69 interlocked with buttons 51 to 59 on the screen 50. For example, when the user taps the area 65 on the operation surface corresponding to the spot metering button 55 with the finger 70 while looking at the screen 50, contact is detected in the area 65 on the operation surface, and spot metering is performed. A program is selected and determined. In this way, by performing the operation at a position on the operation surface 60 corresponding to the object on the screen 50, the user can intuitively perform an input operation from the back of the screen 50 while confirming the screen 50. Can do.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the timing of a tap operation on the operation surface 3 for performing an object selection / determination operation. Here, a tap operation on the pressure-sensitive operation surface 3 will be described. When the finger 70 shown in FIG. 5 is in contact with the operation surface 60, the electrical resistance of the pressure detection element in the portion changes with the pressure of the finger 70, the voltage changes, and the voltage is turned on in that portion. When the finger 70 is not in contact with the operation surface 60, the voltage does not change and the voltage is turned off. These determinations are made by the controller 33 shown in FIG.

  The controller 33 starts the tap timer by detecting the voltage OFF, and determines whether or not the tap is valid in one cycle of the tap timer. For example, when the voltage ON is detected twice in one cycle of the tap timer as shown in FIG. 6A, it is determined that the tap is valid, and the program of the buttons 51 to 59 registered on the coordinate axis of the screen 50 is executed. Do. Further, as shown in FIG. 6B, when the voltage ON is not detected in one cycle of the tap timer, it is determined that the tap is invalid. By such a tap operation, it is possible to prevent an operation error that occurs because the finger 70 is once touched.

  Next, the control of the auxiliary input device 32 will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG. The controller 33 detects a voltage change of the operation surface 3 in the auxiliary input device 32 (step S701). When the voltage change due to the contact on the operation surface 3 is detected, the coordinates of the voltage change point on the operation surface 3 of the auxiliary input device 32 are measured (step S702).

  In step S703, it is determined whether there is a program registered in the voltage change point measured in step S702. If there is no program registered at the voltage change point, the process returns to step S701.

  If there is a program registered at the voltage change point in step S703, the controller 33 starts a tap timer (step S704). The tap timer starts when the voltage 70 when the finger 70 shown in FIG. Then, the controller 33 detects a voltage ON, that is, a tap in which the finger 70 is in contact with the operation surface 60 (step S705). After one cycle of the tap timer (step S706), the controller 33 calculates a voltage change in one cycle of the tap timer (step S707), and determines whether the tap is valid (step S708). For example, the controller 33 determines that the tap is valid when the voltage ON is detected twice in one cycle of the tap timer shown in FIG. 6A, and sets the voltage ON in one cycle of the tap timer shown in FIG. When not detected, it is determined that the tap is invalid.

  If it is determined in step S708 that the tap is invalid, the process returns to step S701 to set a voltage change detection state. If it is determined that the tap is valid, the program registered at the voltage change position is executed (step S709).

  According to such control, the user can prevent an operation error and can perform an input operation intuitively.

  In the above-described input control, when there is a program registered at the voltage change position measured in step S702, that is, the user's finger touches an area on the operation surface corresponding to the area where the program is registered. In this case, it is determined whether or not the tap is valid, but an input operation may be performed using a pointer indicating the position on the screen. By using this pointer, it is not necessary to consider the finger area on the operation surface with respect to the size of the object to be displayed on the screen, so that the number of objects to be displayed on the screen at a time can be increased.

Next, an input operation using this pointer will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an operation when using a touch pad which is one of pointing devices for operating a pointer indicating a position on the screen. Movement from the pointer position 82 ₁ on the screen 81 to the pointer position 82 ₂ (arrow A) is moved by tracing the operating surface 83 of the touch pad in the direction of arrow a by a finger 84. Also, movement from the pointer position 82 ₂ on the screen 81 to the pointer position 82 ₃ (arrow B) is moved by tracing the operating surface 83 of the touch pad in the direction of arrow b with a finger 84. That is, an arrow a and an arrow b that are directions in which the finger 84 is moved on the operation surface 83 are an arrow A and an arrow B that are movement directions of the pointer on the screen 81 when viewed from the screen 81 side arranged on the back. Are in the same mirror image relationship.

  The user moves the pointer over the object in which the program is registered by performing such a pointer operation, and executes the program by performing a tap operation. The determination of the tap validity in the tap operation at this time is the same as that described with reference to FIG.

  By using the points indicating the position of the screen in this way, the number of objects displayed on the image is not limited as compared with the touch panel type. In addition, since the operation surface for operating the point is arranged on the back surface of the screen, an input operation can be performed directly.

  Next, the pointer operation will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The controller 33 detects the voltage change of the operation surface 83 of the touchpad which is the auxiliary input device 32 (step S901). When a voltage change due to contact is detected, the coordinates of the voltage change point on the operation surface 83 are measured (step S902), and a pointer is displayed at a position corresponding to the screen 81 of the display unit 37 (step S903).

  In step S904, the movement of the voltage change point on the operation surface 83 is detected. When the controller 33 detects the movement, the process returns to step S902, and the coordinates of the voltage change point are measured. Then, the pointer position 82 on the screen 81 is moved according to the moving amount of the voltage change point on the operation surface 83 (step S903).

  If the voltage change point does not move in step S904, the finger 33 is not in contact with the operation surface 83, and therefore the controller 33 detects a voltage OFF that is a state where the voltage does not change (step S905). If the voltage OFF is not detected in step S905, that is, if the finger 84 is in contact with the operation surface 83, the process returns to step S902. When the voltage OFF is detected, that is, when the finger 84 is not in contact with the operation surface 83, the coordinates of the pointer position 82 on the screen 81 are measured (step S906).

  In step S907, it is determined whether there is a registered program on the coordinates of the pointer position 82 measured in step S906. If there is no program registered on the pointer coordinates, the process returns to step S901. That is, the pointer is not displayed on the screen 81. At this time, it is desirable to display a pointer on the screen 81 for a certain period of time.

  If there is a program registered in the pointer coordinates in step S907, the controller 33 starts a tap timer (step S908). The tap timer starts when the voltage is turned off when the finger 84 leaves the operation surface 83. Then, the controller 33 detects a voltage ON in which the finger 84 is in contact with the operation surface 83, that is, a tap (step S909). The controller 33 calculates a voltage change in one cycle of the tap timer (step S910), and determines whether or not the tap is valid (step S911). For example, when the voltage ON is detected twice in one cycle of the tap timer as shown in FIG. 6A, it is determined that the tap is valid, and the voltage ON is set in one cycle of the tap timer as shown in FIG. When not detected, it is determined that the tap is invalid.

  If it is determined in step S912 that the tap is invalid, the process returns to step S901, and the pointer is not displayed on the screen 81 for a certain period of time. If it is determined that the tap is valid, the program registered at the pointer position is executed (step S913).

  According to such control, even if the tap position on the operation surface and the displayed voltage OFF position of the pointer do not correspond to each other, it is determined whether the tap is valid. Intuitive operation is possible even when the operating surface 83 having a size cannot be installed.

  According to the present invention, the touch pad for operating the pointer is arranged on the back of the screen displaying information such as the setting menu, thereby minimizing the movement of the line of sight necessary for the operation and reducing the burden on the user. Can do. In addition, there is no obstruction of the field of view such as covering the screen as seen with the touch panel with a finger, and the screen is not stained or damaged. In addition, since the line of sight to the screen can be kept constant, an intuitive input operation can be performed.

  In the above description, the pressure-sensitive operation surface that detects a voltage change due to pressure is used. However, the X electrode and the Y electrode are formed in layers, and the capacitance change between the grid electrodes is measured. It is also possible to use a capacitive operation surface to be detected.

It is an external appearance perspective view which shows the imaging device in this Embodiment. It is an external appearance perspective view which shows the imaging device in this Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the imaging device in this Embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the auxiliary input device in this Embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating operation of the auxiliary input device in this Embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating tap operation of the auxiliary input device in this Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the control action in this Embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating operation of the auxiliary input device in this Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the control action in this Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Imaging device, 2 Lens, 3 Operation surface, 4 LCD, 5 Finder, 6 Switch, 31 Operation switch, 32 Auxiliary input device, 33 Controller, 34 GUI, 35 Imaging part, 36 Image processing part, 37 Display part,

Claims (2)

An imaging unit;
A display unit that displays an image captured by the imaging unit and is movable so that a display direction of the screen is in a predetermined direction;
An operation input unit that is operated from the back side of the screen and has a flat operation surface that detects contact, and is provided on the back side of the display unit;
A control unit that controls an operation on the operation surface of the pointer indicating the position of the screen so that an operation direction on the operation surface and a pointer movement direction on the screen are in a mirror image relationship ;
The control unit determines whether the tap operation in the operation input unit is valid or invalid at a position on the operation surface corresponding to the pointer. When the tap operation is invalid, the control unit does not display the pointer for a certain period of time . The screen and the image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the same size as the above operation surface.

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