U.S. patent application number 10/383430 was filed with the patent office on 2003-08-07 for electronic camera.
This patent application is currently assigned to Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Hatakenaka, Akira, Terane, Akio, Tomizawa, Masaomi, Yoshida, Hideaki.
Application Number | 20030146979 10/383430 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 17119271 |
Filed Date | 2003-08-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030146979 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hatakenaka, Akira ; et
al. |
August 7, 2003 |
Electronic camera
Abstract
An electronic camera for coupling with a printer including a
recording medium for recording a plurality of images and a menu
switch for displaying, on a display device, a page of a menu
applicable to select an item of SINGLE PRINT for printing only a
selected image, of the plurality of images recorded on the
recording medium and another page of a menu applicable to select
another item of PRINT ALL for printing all the images recorded on
the recording medium.
Inventors: |
Hatakenaka, Akira; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Terane, Akio; (Sagamihara-shi, JP) ;
Tomizawa, Masaomi; (Tokyo, JP) ; Yoshida,
Hideaki; (Tokyo, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
VOLPE AND KOENIG, P.C.
UNITED PLAZA, SUITE 1600
30 SOUTH 17TH STREET
PHILADELPHIA
PA
19103
US
|
Assignee: |
Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
17119271 |
Appl. No.: |
10/383430 |
Filed: |
March 7, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10383430 |
Mar 7, 2003 |
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09149618 |
Sep 8, 1998 |
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6563542 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
348/207.2 ;
348/333.02; 348/E5.047 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 1/00458 20130101;
H04N 1/00461 20130101; H04N 2201/3215 20130101; H04N 1/2112
20130101; H04N 1/00416 20130101; H04N 1/00466 20130101; H04N
2201/3271 20130101; H04N 1/00469 20130101; H04N 1/00453 20130101;
H04N 2201/3214 20130101; H04N 1/32144 20130101; H04N 1/00482
20130101; H04N 5/232939 20180801; H04N 1/00435 20130101; H04N
5/232933 20180801; H04N 2201/3273 20130101; H04N 1/00442 20130101;
H04N 1/00474 20130101; H04N 1/00427 20130101; H04N 1/00413
20130101; H04N 2101/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
348/207.2 ;
348/333.02 |
International
Class: |
H04N 005/222 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 9, 1997 |
JP |
9-244478 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An electronic camera comprising: an optical system which
includes a focusing lens for adjusting the focal point to form a
subject image and an image sensing unit for converting the subject
image formed on an imaging plane thereof into an analog image
signal and further producing a digital image signal corresponding
to the analog image signal; a signal processing unit which performs
various processes for the digital image signal issued from the
image sensing unit; an encoding/decoding unit which performs
encoding to compress output data issued from the signal processing
unit, the compressed data issued from the encoding/decoding unit
are stored into a recording medium applied thereto; a printer
interface which is disposed for outputting data decoded by the
encoding/decoding unit to an external printer connected to the
electronic camera; a display device which is mounted on the
electronic camera so as to display various information with images
and/or characters; a control unit which is disposed in the
electronic camera in association with the optical system, the
signal processing unit, the encoding/decoding unit, and the display
device, and the control unit integrally controls the electronic
camera; and a plurality of switches which are disposed on the
electronic camera in association with the control unit; wherein the
control unit is capable of making the display device display a page
of a menu applicable to select an item of SINGLE PRINT for printing
only a selected image, and another page of a menu applicable to
select another item of PRINT ALL for printing all the images
recorded on the recording medium, in the case where the electronic
camera is set at a printing mode for image printing via the printer
interface, in response to an operation of a predetermined switch
among the plurality of switches.
2. The electronic camera of claim 1, wherein the control unit is
further capable of making the display device display a page of a
menu applicable to select an item of INDEX PRINT for printing a
plurality of images on one printing sheet in the order of the frame
number.
3. The electronic camera of claim 1, wherein the control unit is
further capable of making the display device display a page of a
menu applicable to select an item of MIRROR PRINT for printing a
reversed image with respect to the central vertical axis.
4. The electronic camera of claim 1, wherein the control unit is
further capable of making the display device display a page of a
menu applicable to select an item of MULTIPLE PRINT for printing
the same image on one printing sheet a plurality of times.
5. The electronic camera of claim 1, wherein the control unit is
further capable of making the display device display a page of a
menu applicable to select an item SELECT IMAGE for selectively
identifying a plurality of images.
6. The electronic camera of claim 5, wherein the control unit is
further capable of making the display device display a page of a
menu applicable to select an item of SELECT PRINT for printing said
plurality of selectively identified images.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/149,618, filed Sep. 8, 1998, which is
incorporated by reference as if fully set forth.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present invention relates to an electronic camera and,
more particularly, to an electronic camera for reconstructing an
image file, outputting it to a printer for printing it.
[0003] In recent years, electronic cameras for electrically
recording an optical image of a subject by converting the image
into an electrical signal using the photoelectric conversion action
of a semiconductor represented by silicon have practically been
used instead of so-called silver salt cameras for recording an
image on a film using the chemical photosensitive action of silver
halide. Of such electronic cameras, so-called digital cameras for
digitally recording an electrical signal are becoming a major
stream.
[0004] In such a digital electronic camera, image information of a
subject is digitally recorded on a recording medium fixedly or
detachably mounted on the camera body. The recorded image data is
transferred to a general-purpose personal computer (to be referred
to as a PC hereinafter) by cable connection, radio (in many cases,
infrared ray) communication, or the like via a data communication
port formed at a proper portion of the camera body.
[0005] When the recording medium can be detached, data can also be
transferred by removing the recording medium (in many cases, formed
in a card shape) from the camera and reading data from the
recording medium using a proper data reader (drive).
[0006] In the PC, the transferred image data is freely displayed on
the display, processed (edited), saved, or printed out using a
printer connected to the PC.
[0007] Since the electronic camera has a function as an image input
device to the PC, image data is generally treated as a file
similarly to the PC. One still image typically corresponds to one
file.
[0008] In the electronic camera, the image data is accompanied with
attendant data. The most typical attendant data is data related to
the image-pickup date and time for the image data (also referred to
as date data or "date"). The date data is recorded using a
timepiece function incorporated in the camera.
[0009] In a conventional silver salt camera (at least before the
advent of a recent advanced photo system), the date can only be
technically recorded by superimposing the date as an image
(character pattern) on a film. For this reason, a "date-imprinted
photograph" in which the date is superimposed as a character at one
corner of the photograph is very popular. Whether the date
character is superimposed is inevitably determined in photographing
(film exposure), and cannot be changed after that.
[0010] To the contrary, in the electronic camera, since the image
itself is digitized, as described above, the date and time can be
recorded without superimposing them on image data by adding digital
data about date information as attendant data to image data and
processing these data as one image file. Accordingly, whether the
date character is superimposed on the image can be arbitrarily
selected in display or printing, and the date data can be used to
manage the image in a reconstruction device (e.g., the camera
itself or the PC).
[0011] In an actual camera, if necessary, various image-pickup
data, e.g., the frame number, so-called comment data as recording
contents arbitrarily input by the camera operator, data about the
image quality such as the number of pixels and the compression
ratio, exposure data such as the shutter speed, the f-number, and
the electronic flash, lens data such as the subject distance, the
lens focal length, and macro image pickup, data about the white
balance and the light source, and image-pickup mode data such as
the self-timer and a set of series pictures or a set of related
pictures are employed as attendant date in addition to the date
data.
[0012] In an electronic camera using a conventional general PC,
when such attendant data is to be displayed or printed, how to
display or print the data can be freely optimized in software in
use. That is, since the display window area of the general PC has a
sufficient resolution and a wide area, a plurality of images can be
simultaneously displayed, and the print mode and the operation menu
can be simultaneously displayed in a space other than the
images.
[0013] Recently, in addition to PC users, general users have also
demanded electronic cameras, and an apparatus (to be referred to as
a direct print apparatus hereinafter) for printing an image by
connecting the camera and the printer directly via a cable or radio
communication without any PC is receiving a great deal of
attention. In an electronic camera having this function, the image
display is only a display incorporated in the electronic camera
body. The major stream of the image display incorporated in the
electronic camera body is a 2" or less color LCD because the usable
device is limited by the size, cost, power, and the like.
Therefore, simple display must be implemented within the limited
display performance (resolution and area).
[0014] One example of the implementation is a so-called
hierarchical menu wherein, instead of simultaneously displaying all
the menus of one related operation, a limited number of menus are
displayed in one window called a page which includes a menu for
shifting to the next page or returning to the previous page by
selecting and executing this menu.
[0015] As is well known, the electronic camera has a variety of
functions, and the number of functions tends to increase even
before the advent of the direct print function. In the prior art,
the whole operation cannot be made simple even with various
implementations.
[0016] In employing the direct print function, it is therefore very
effective for technical significance to simplify operation and
display and decrease the number of operation procedures.
SUMMARY
[0017] It is an object of the present invention to provide an
electronic camera with good operability which facilitates
identification of whether attendant data is superimposed on image
data in printing.
[0018] According to the present invention, there is provided an
electronic camera comprising an image sensing unit for sensing an
image, a recording medium for storing an image file including image
data obtained by the image sensing unit and attendant data, a
reconstruction unit for reconstructing the image file from the
recording medium and outputting the reconstructed image file to a
printer, a display unit for displaying the image data and attendant
data of the image file, a selection unit for selecting a first
print mode of printing only the image data in printing by the
printer, and a second print mode of superimposing and printing the
attendant data on the image data in printing, and a control unit
for selectively executing the first print mode and the second print
mode in accordance with selection of the selection unit, wherein
when the first print mode is selected, the control unit executes a
first display mode of superimposing and displaying the attendant
data of the image file on the image data for a predetermined period
after start of display of the image file on the display unit, and
displaying only the image data, and when the second print mode is
selected, executes a second display mode of always superimposing
and displaying the attendant data of the image file on the image
data during display of the image file on the display unit.
[0019] In the electronic camera, the attendant data is data
including at least one of a date and time.
[0020] In the electronic camera, in the first display mode,
attendant data is superimposed and displayed on image data for a
predetermined period in response to a predetermined operation, and
then the display window returns to display of only the image in
which no attendant data is superimposed on the image data.
[0021] According to the present invention, the first print mode of
printing only image data in printing, or the second print mode of
superimposing and printing attendant data on image data in printing
is selected by the selection unit. When the first print mode is
selected, the first display mode is set to superimpose and display
the attendant data of an image file on the image data for a
predetermined period after the start of display of the image file
on the display, and to switch the display window to display of only
the image data. When the second print mode is selected, the second
display mode is set to always superimpose and display the attendant
data of an image file on the image data during display of the image
file on the display, and to print the image file by reconstructing
an image file having the attendant data independently of the image
data and outputting the image file to a printer.
[0022] The attendant data includes at least one of the date and the
time.
[0023] In the first display mode, the attendant data is
superimposed and displayed on the image data for a predetermined
period in response to a predetermined operation, and then the
display window returns to display of only an image in which no
attendant data is superimposed on the image data.
[0024] Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be
set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be
obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the
invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be
realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and
combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S)
[0025] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of the specification, illustrate presently
preferred embodiments of the invention, and together with the
general description given above and the detailed description of the
preferred embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles
of the invention.
[0026] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of an
electronic camera according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0027] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the front-side outer
appearance of the electronic camera according to the
embodiment;
[0028] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the rear-side outer
appearance of the electronic camera according to the
embodiment;
[0029] FIGS. 4A and 4B are views showing a print menu displayed on
the display of the electronic camera according to the
embodiment;
[0030] FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, and 5D are views showing examples of
selectable items on the first page of the print menu in the
embodiment;
[0031] FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, and 6D are views showing examples of the
menu of the electronic camera according to the embodiment; and
[0032] FIG. 7 is a view showing image data on which date data is
superimposed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
[0033] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below
with reference to the several views of the accompanying
drawing.
[0034] An electronic camera 1 is constituted as shown in FIGS. 1 to
3. More specifically, an optical system 2 comprises a focusing lens
for adjusting the focal point in order to form a subject image on
an imaging plane (to be described later), and faces an image
sensing unit 3 for photoelectrically converting the subject image
formed on the imaging plane by the optical system 2 and further
converting the analog signal into a digital signal. The image
sensing unit 3 is connected to a signal processing unit 4 for
performing various processes for the digital signal output from the
image sensing unit 3. The signal processing unit 4 is connected to
an encoding/decoding unit 5 for performing encoding to compress
output data from the signal processing unit 4 and decoding to
decompress data compressed and recorded. The encoding/decoding unit
5 is connected to a recording medium 6 constituted by, e.g., a
flash memory which records and saves data encoded by the
encoding/decoding unit 5 and is incorporated in or detachably
mounted on the electronic camera 1. The encoding/decoding unit 5 is
also connected to a printer interface 19 for outputting data
decoded by the encoding/decoding unit 5 to an external printer
connected to the electronic camera 1.
[0035] A display control unit 7 outputs a signal for displaying an
image upon reception of an output from the signal processing unit
4, and incorporates a character generator for generating a frame
number display character and the like. A display 8 is controlled
based on an output from the display control unit 7, and is
constituted by, e.g., an LCD arranged on the rear side of the
electronic camera 1 in order to display an image, a frame number,
and the like.
[0036] A power supply recognition/determination unit 20 is arranged
to determine whether the electronic camera 1 is driven by a battery
21 or an external power supply, and to recognize the residual
battery amount and output it to a control unit 10 (to be described
later) by measuring the voltage upon battery driving. A focusing
motor 9 is arranged to drive the focusing lens of the optical
system 2.
[0037] The control unit 10 is connected to the image sensing unit
3, the signal processing unit 4, the encoding/decoding unit 5, the
recording medium 6, the display control unit 7, and the power
supply recognition/determination unit 20, and integrally controls
the electronic camera 1 in association with switches 11 to 18.
[0038] The image-pickup/reconstruction switch 11 is arranged to
switch the mode of the electronic camera 1 between image-pickup and
reconstruction modes. The increment switch 12 is arranged to
increment an item whose order is defined, e.g., the frame number,
whereas the decrement switch 13 is arranged to decrement it. The
trigger switch 14 is arranged to input an instruction for
instructing an image-pickup and a recording operation to the
electronic camera 1. The power supply switch 15 is arranged to
input a command of turning on/off the main power supply of the
electronic camera 1. The menu switch 16 is arranged to display
various setting menus on the display 8, and the print switch 17 is
arranged to display a setting print menu on the display 8 in
printing from an external printer. The execution switch 18 is
arranged to determine and execute items and the like selected on
the menu and the print menu.
[0039] The power supply switch 15 is arranged as a depression
button switch at almost the center of the top of the electronic
camera 1. The image-pickup/reconstruction switch 11 is arranged as
a substantially ring-like pivot switch around the power supply
switch 15. The trigger switch 14 is arranged as a depression switch
at a position where the user can depress it with the user's
forefinger when gripping the electronic camera 1 with his or her
right hand. The print switch 17, the increment switch 12, the
decrement switch 13, and the execution switch 18 are sequentially
aligned as depression switches from the top to the bottom on the
right side of the display 8.
[0040] The image-pickup operation of the electronic camera 1 having
this arrangement will be explained.
[0041] In an image pickup, the mode of the electronic camera 1 is
set at the image-pickup mode by the image-pickup/reconstruction
switch 11. Then, power is supplied to the image sensing system
including the image sensing unit 3 and the focusing motor 9. A
subject image formed on the imaging plane of the image sensing unit
3 by the optical system 2 is converted into a digital image signal
by the image sensing unit 3, and the digital image signal is output
to the signal processing unit 4. The digital image signal is
processed by the signal processing unit 4 and displayed on the
display 8 via the display control unit 7. The user determines,
e.g., the composition of the subject while seeing the display on
the display 8.
[0042] The output from the signal processing unit 4 is also input
to the control unit 10, and the control unit 10 determines whether
the focal position is proper. When the focal position is improper,
the control unit 11 controls the focusing motor 9 to drive the
focusing lens of the optical system 2 to an in-focus position.
[0043] When the focal position, the composition, and the like are
proper, and the user depresses the trigger switch 14 to record the
image, the image signal of the signal processing unit 4 is encoded
by the encoding/decoding unit 5, and the encoded signal is recorded
as, e.g., one file unit per image on the recording medium 6 on the
basis of a predetermined format.
[0044] At this time, the image file includes image data, and if
necessary, attendant data such as date data, the frame number,
comment data, image quality data (e.g., the number of pixels and
the compression ratio), exposure data (e.g., the shutter speed, the
f-number, and the electronic flash), lens data (e.g., the subject
distance, the lens focal length, and the macro image pickup), data
about the white balance and the light source, and image-pickup mode
data (e.g., the self-timer, a set of series pictures, and a set of
related pictures). Of these attendant data, date data is generated
by a timepiece incorporated in the electronic camera, and comment
data or image quality data is manually set by the user. Exposure
data, lens data, white balance data, image-pickup mode data, and
the frame number are automatically set by various function control
devices inside the camera. To add these data to the image file, the
data are temporarily stored in a memory incorporated in the control
unit by the control unit 10 upon the image pickup, transferred to
the display control unit 7 by an operation switch, as needed, and
converted into character information by the character generator of
the display control unit 7.
[0045] The operation of reconstructing an image recorded by the
electronic camera 1 will be explained.
[0046] In reconstruction, the mode of the electronic camera 1 is
set at the reconstruction mode by the image-pickup/reconstruction
switch 11.
[0047] When a frame number is designated by the increment or
decrement switch 12 or 13, an image corresponding to the designated
frame number is reconstructed, and image data corresponding to this
frame number is read out from the recording medium 6. For example,
when the first frame is to be reconstructed, image data of the
first frame is read out, decoded by the encoding/decoding unit 5,
and displayed on the display 8 via the signal processing unit 4 and
the display control unit 7. The display control unit 7 generates a
character corresponding to the frame number (in this case, 1) with
the incorporated character generator, superimposes the character on
the image data, and displays them on the display 8.
[0048] When the user wants to reconstruct the second frame and
operates the increment switch 12, the control unit 10 starts
control to reconstruct the second frame and display the image of
the second frame on the display 8 together with the frame number
(in this case, 2).
[0049] Such display is similarly performed when display of the
second frame is shifted to display of the third frame, when the
number of a frame to be displayed is decremented by operating the
decrement switch 13, and when display is shifted to a frame
arbitrarily designated.
[0050] The operation of printing an image recorded by the
electronic camera 1 will be explained.
[0051] In printing, the user depresses the print switch 17. Then, a
print menu like the one shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B is displayed on
the display 8. This print menu is made up of, e.g., two windows. A
print menu like the one shown in FIG. 4A is displayed immediately
after the print switch 17 is depressed, and the next window like
the one shown in FIG. 4B is displayed after an item (NEXT) for
shifting to the next page on this menu is executed.
[0052] The print menu made up of two pages is set to allow the user
to select an item requiring a short time to execute printing from
the first page, and to allow the user to select an item requiring a
relatively long time to execute printing from the second page.
[0053] More specifically, the print menu on the first page shown in
FIG. 4A displays the following items so as to allow the user to
select them: SINGLE PRINT (see FIG. 5A) for printing only a
selected image, INDEX PRINT (see FIG. 5B) for printing a
predetermined number (e.g., 16) of images on one printing sheet in
the order of the frame number, MULTIPLE PRINT (see FIG. 5C) for
printing the same image on one printing sheet a predetermined
number (e.g., 16) of times, MIRROR PRINT (see FIG. 5D) for
reversing only one selected image with respect to the central
vertical axis and printing it, an item (NEXT) for shifting to the
next page, and an item (END) for ending the print menu.
[0054] On the left side of these items, an arrow indicating a
target item is displayed. The arrow moves upward by one when the
user depresses the increment switch 12, and downward by one when
the user depresses the decrement switch 13.
[0055] When the arrow moves to an item to be selected, the user
depresses the execution switch 18 to select and determine this
item.
[0056] When the user executes the item (NEXT) for shifting to the
next page out of the items shown in FIG. 4A, the next window like
the one shown in FIG. 4B is displayed. The print menu on the second
page shown in FIG. 4B displays the following items so as to allow
the user to select them: PRINT ALL for printing all the images
recorded on the recording medium 6, SELECT IMAGE for selecting an
arbitrary image (or a plurality of images) of the images recorded
on the recording medium 6, SELECT PRINT for printing all the images
selected by SELECT IMAGE, an item (PREV) for shifting to the
previous page shown in FIG. 4A, and an item (END) for ending the
print menu, similar to the first page.
[0057] SELECT IMAGE is an item for selecting an image to be
printed, as described above. By selecting this item, images
recorded on the recording medium 6 are sequentially displayed. When
an image to be printed is displayed, the user depresses the
execution switch 18 to mark the image, and marked images are
printed by executing SELECT PRINT.
[0058] In printing, whether attendant data, and particularly date
data are to be superimposed on image data and printed is selected
from a menu displayed by operating the menu switch 16. This will be
explained with reference to FIG. 6.
[0059] Immediately after the user depresses the menu switch 16
while the electronic camera 1 is set at the image-pickup mode by
the image-pickup/reconstruction switch 11, the first page of a menu
made up of two pages like the one shown in FIG. 6A is displayed.
That is, the menu on the first page shown in FIG. 6A displays the
following items so as to allow the user to select them: an item for
selecting the image quality of image data to be recorded on the
recording medium 6 from a super high quality (SHQ), a high quality
(HQ), and a standard quality (SQ), an item (AE+/-) for correcting
the exposure, an item (ERASE ALL) for erasing all the recorded
image data, an item (FORMAT CARD) for initializing the recording
medium 6, an item (NEXT) for shifting to the next page, and an item
(END) for ending the menu.
[0060] When the user executes the item (NEXT) for shifting to the
next page, the menu on the second page shown in FIG. 6B is
displayed on the display 8.
[0061] The menu on the second page shown in FIG. 6B displays the
following items so as to allow the user to select them: an item
(DATE) for setting date data, an item (BRIGHTNESS) for setting the
brightness, an item (PREV) for returning to the previous page shown
in FIG. 6A, and an item (END) for ending the menu, similar to the
first page.
[0062] If the user selects the item (DATE) for setting date data,
the first page of a date setting menu as a hierarchical menu lower
by one level made up of two pages like the one shown in FIG. 6C is
displayed on the display 8. The date setting menu on the first page
shown in FIG. 6C displays the following items so as to allow the
user to select them: an item (YEAR) for setting the year, an item
(MONTH) for setting the month, an item (DAY) for setting the day,
an item (HOUR) for setting the hour, an item (MINUTE) for setting
the minute, an item (NEXT) for shifting to the next page, and an
item (EXIT) for returning to the hierarchy higher by one level
shown in FIG. 6B.
[0063] If the user selects the item (NEXT) for shifting to the next
page, the date setting menu on the second page shown in FIG. 6D is
displayed on the display 8. The date setting menu on the second
page shown in FIG. 6D displays the following items so as to allow
the user to select them: an item (FORMAT) for performing setting of
each country, an item (TIME) for setting whether the hour and
minute are displayed, a print item (PRINT) for setting whether date
data is superimposed and printed in printing, an item (PREV) for
returning to the previous page shown in FIG. 6C, and an item (NEXT)
for returning to the hierarchy higher by one level, similar to the
first page. That is, in the state shown in FIG. 6D, by setting the
print item, the user can select the first print mode of printing
only image data in printing, and the second print mode of
superimposing date data on image data and printing them in
printing.
[0064] Display on the display 8 in accordance with the print item
representing whether date data is superimposed and printed will be
explained.
[0065] When the second print mode of superimposing date data on
image data and printing them is selected in the electronic camera
1, an image like the one shown in FIG. 7 obtained by superimposing
the date data of an image file on the image data is always
displayed while the image file is displayed on the display 8.
[0066] To the contrary, when the first print mode of printing only
image data in printing is selected in the electronic camera 1, an
image like the one shown in FIG. 7 obtained by superimposing the
date data of an image file on the image data is displayed for a
predetermined period (e.g., 3 sec) after the display 8 starts
displaying the image file. Then, the display window is switched to
display of only the image data, as shown in FIG. 5A. Accordingly,
the user can easily confirm whether the electronic camera 1 is in
the first print mode or the second print mode without depressing
the menu switch 16 and displaying the menu.
[0067] The above embodiment has exemplified the case of selecting
whether date data is printed. However, the present invention is not
limited to this, and whether another attendant data is printed can
also be selected. Also in this case, similar to the above
embodiment, whether attendant data is superimposed and displayed on
the display 8 only for a predetermined period after the start of
the display or continuously is controlled in accordance with the
first or second print mode.
[0068] According to this embodiment, even if the menu for setting
the print mode is not displayed, only displaying an image on the
display allows the user to easily identify whether attendant data
is superimposed and printed, which improves the operability of the
electronic camera.
[0069] The above embodiment is the first embodiment, and the second
embodiment will be described below.
[0070] In the first embodiment, when the first print mode is
selected, date data is superimposed and displayed only for a
predetermined time (e.g., 3 sec) after the start of displaying the
image file on the display 8. In this case, however, if the user
wants to confirm the data contents upon the lapse of a
predetermined time after the start of displaying the image file,
the user must perform a cumbersome operation of switching the print
mode, or temporarily displaying another image and then displaying a
target image.
[0071] In the second embodiment, when the user operates a proper
operation switch (e.g., the trigger switch), date data is
superimposed and displayed only for a predetermined time (3 sec),
and the display window returns to display of only the image. As the
operation switch, a dedicated one may be arranged, but the trigger
switch is used to prevent an increase in the number of switches.
Since the trigger switch is used in the image-pickup mode, it can
be used as a date data display switch required in the
reconstruction mode without any problem.
[0072] According to the second embodiment, when the user wants to
confirm data contents while the first print mode is selected, the
user only depresses the trigger switch to display the data for 3
sec, and can easily confirm the data contents. After 3 sec, the
display window returns to display of only the image, and thus the
user can easily confirm the print mode, similar to the first
embodiment.
[0073] As has been described above, according to the present
invention, an electronic camera with good operability which
facilitates identification of whether attendant data is
superimposed on image data in printing can be realized. Whether at
least one of the date and time is superimposed on the image data
and printed can be easily identified. Further, the data contents
can be always easily confirmed.
[0074] Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur
to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its
broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and
representative embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly,
various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit
or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the
appended claims and their equivalents.
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