U.S. patent application number 10/352207 was filed with the patent office on 2004-01-22 for electronic device and electronic camera.
This patent application is currently assigned to NIKON CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Kawamura, Koichiro, Miura, Kosho, Wakabayashi, Tsutomu.
Application Number | 20040012699 10/352207 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29253337 |
Filed Date | 2004-01-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040012699 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wakabayashi, Tsutomu ; et
al. |
January 22, 2004 |
Electronic device and electronic camera
Abstract
An electronic device includes: a display element that displays a
numeral; an auxiliary display element that displays an expression
other than a numeral; an arithmetic operation device that executes
an arithmetic operation to obtain an integer; and a display control
device that implements control so as to display the integer
obtained through the arithmetic operation executed by the
arithmetic operation device by using the display element and the
auxiliary display element.
Inventors: |
Wakabayashi, Tsutomu;
(Yokohama-shi, JP) ; Miura, Kosho; (Kamakura-shi,
JP) ; Kawamura, Koichiro; (Ichihara-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OLIFF & BERRIDGE, PLC
P.O. BOX 19928
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22320
US
|
Assignee: |
NIKON CORPORATION
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
29253337 |
Appl. No.: |
10/352207 |
Filed: |
January 28, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
348/333.01 ;
348/E5.047 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 5/232941
20180801 |
Class at
Publication: |
348/333.01 |
International
Class: |
H04N 005/222 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 30, 2002 |
JP |
2002-021410 |
Jan 23, 2003 |
JP |
2003-014433 |
Claims
What is claimed is;
1. An electronic device comprising: a display element that displays
a numeral; an auxiliary display element that displays an expression
other than a numeral; an arithmetic operation device that executes
an arithmetic operation to obtain an integer; and a display control
device that implements control so as to display the integer
obtained through the arithmetic operation executed by the
arithmetic operation device by using the display element and the
auxiliary display element.
2. An electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising:
an operating member, wherein: the arithmetic operation device
executes an arithmetic operation to obtain an integer which changes
by 1 in response to an operation of the operating member.
3. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein: the
auxiliary display element displays a mark representing a
predetermined number of digits.
4. An electronic device according to claim 3, wherein: the
auxiliary display element displays an alphabet letter K to indicate
thousands.
5. An electronic device according to claim 3, further comprising: a
decimal point auxiliary display element that displays a decimal
point.
6. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein: the
auxiliary display element displays a decimal point; and a display
of the decimal point is equivalent to a display of a mark
indicating a predetermined number of digits.
7. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein: when the
integer has more digits than a number of display digits in the
display element, the display control device employs the auxiliary
display element.
8. An electronic device according to claim 7, wherein: the
auxiliary display element displays information related to the
number of display digits in the display element.
9. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein: the display
element displays a 3-digit numerical value; the auxiliary display
element displays a mark indicating thousands; and the display
control device displays the integer by using the display element
alone when a number of digits in the integer does not exceed three
and displays the integer by using the display element and the
auxiliary display element when the number of digits in the integer
is equal to or greater than four.
10. An electronic device according to claim 9, further comprising:
a decimal point auxiliary display element that displays a decimal
point, wherein: the display control device displays the integer by
using the display element, the auxiliary display element and the
decimal point auxiliary display element when the number of digits
in the integer is equal to or greater than four.
11. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein: the
arithmetic operation device executes an arithmetic operation to
obtain an integer which is affected as a setting element set at the
electronic device is changed.
12. An electronic device comprising: a display device; a setting
change operation member operated to change a setting element
currently set; and a display control device that controls the
display device so as to display the setting element changed through
an operation of the setting change operation member and display a
numerical value affected by a change of the setting element when
the setting element is changed.
13. An electronic device according to claim 12, wherein: there are
a plurality of setting elements.
14. An electronic device according to claim 13, wherein: the
plurality of setting elements are each related to an image
recording capacity.
15. An electronic device according to claim 12, wherein: the
display device includes a display element that displays a numeral
and an auxiliary display element that displays an expression other
than a numeral; and the display control circuit uses the display
element and the auxiliary display element to display the numerical
value affected by the change of the setting element.
16. An electronic camera comprising: a numeral display element that
displays a numeral; an auxiliary display element that displays an
expression other than a numeral; an arithmetic operation device
that executes an arithmetic operation to obtain a number of
remaining frames; and a display control device that implements
control so as to display the number of remaining frames obtained
through the arithmetic operation executed by the arithmetic
operation device by using the numeral display element and the
auxiliary display element.
17. An electronic camera according to claim 16, wherein: a 3-digit
numerical value can be displayed at the numeral display element; a
mark indicating thousands is displayed at the auxiliary display
element; and the display control device implements control so as to
display the number of remaining frames by using the numeral display
element alone when the number of remaining frames is equal to or
smaller than 999 and to display the number of remaining frames by
using both the numeral display element and the auxiliary display
element when the number of remaining frames is equal to or greater
than 1000.
18. An electronic camera according to claim 16, further comprising:
a setting element display element that displays information related
to a setting for at least either a number of recording pixels or an
image recording quality; and a setting element change device that
changes the setting for at least either the number of recording
pixels or the image recording quality, wherein: the arithmetic
operation device recalculates through the arithmetic operation the
number of remaining frames based upon the setting for at least
either the number of recording pixels or the image recording
quality having been changed by the setting element change device;
and the display control device implements control so as to display
the recalculated number of remaining frames by using the numeral
display element and the auxiliary display element and display the
information related to the setting for at least either the number
of recording pixels or the image recording quality having been
changed by the setting element change device by using the setting
element display element.
19. An electronic camera according to claim 18, wherein: the
display control device implements control so as to substantially
turn off display at display elements other than the numeral display
element, the auxiliary display element and the setting element
display element in a display device during change processing
executed by the setting element change device.
Description
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
[0001] The disclosures of the following priority applications are
herein incorporated by reference: Japanese Patent Application No.
2002-021410 filed Jan. 30, 2002 Japanese Patent Application No.
2003-014433 filed Jan. 23, 2003
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to an electronic device and an
electronic camera that display a numerical value.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] There are electronic devices in the known art that display a
numerical value that changes by an increment of 1 at a time as in
the display of the number of frames at an electronic camera. When a
memory card with a large recording capacity is used to record image
data obtained through photographing operations executed in an
electronic camera, a large number of photographic frames, sometimes
in excess of 10,000 frames, must be handled in the electronic
camera.
[0006] If the number of display digits at the display device is
increased in order to display such a large value, the display
device is bound to become large in size, which leads to an increase
in the production cost of the display device and also an increase
in the size of the electronic device. If the number of display
digits is increased without changing the size of the display
device, the display size of each digit will become extremely small
and the user will have difficulty reading the displayed value.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention provides an electronic device and an
electronic camera that display a large value that can be read
easily.
[0008] An electronic device according to the present invention
comprises: a display element that displays a numeral; an auxiliary
display element that displays an expression other than a numeral;
an arithmetic operation device that executes an arithmetic
operation to obtain an integer; and a display control device that
implements control so as to display the integer obtained through
the arithmetic operation executed by the arithmetic operation
device by using the display element and the auxiliary display
element.
[0009] In this electronic device, it is preferred that an operating
member is further provided and the arithmetic operation device
executes an arithmetic operation to obtain an integer which changes
by 1 in response to an operation of the operating member.
[0010] Also, it is preferred that the auxiliary display element
displays a mark representing a predetermined number of digits. In
this case, it is preferred that the auxiliary display element
displays an alphabet letter K to indicate thousands. Moreover, it
is preferred that a decimal point auxiliary display element that
displays a decimal point, is further provided.
[0011] Also, it is preferred that: the auxiliary display element
displays a decimal point; and a display of the decimal point is
equivalent to a display of a mark indicating a predetermined number
of digits.
[0012] Also, it is preferred that when the integer has more digits
than a number of display digits in the display element, the display
control device employs the auxiliary display element. In this case,
it is preferred that the auxiliary display element displays
information related to the number of display digits in the display
element.
[0013] Also, it is preferred that: the display element displays a
3-digit numerical value; the auxiliary display element displays a
mark indicating thousands; and the display control device displays
the integer by using the display element alone when a number of
digits in the integer does not exceed three and displays the
integer by using the display element and the auxiliary display
element when the number of digits in the integer is equal to or
greater than four. In this case, it is preferred that a decimal
point auxiliary display element that displays a decimal point is
further provided, and the display control device displays the
integer by using the display element, the auxiliary display element
and the decimal point auxiliary display element when the number of
digits in the integer is equal to or greater than four.
[0014] Also, it is preferred that the arithmetic operation device
executes an arithmetic operation to obtain an integer which is
affected as a setting element set at the electronic device is
changed.
[0015] Another electronic device according to the present invention
comprises: a display device; a setting change operation member
operated to change a setting element currently set; and a display
control device that controls the display device so as to display
the setting element changed through an operation of the setting
change operation member and display a numerical value affected by a
change of the setting element when the setting element is
changed.
[0016] In this electronic device, it is preferred that there are a
plurality of setting elements. In this case, it is preferred that
the plurality of setting elements are each related to an image
recording capacity.
[0017] Also, it is preferred that: the display device includes a
display element that displays a numeral and an auxiliary display
element that displays an expression other than a numeral; and the
display control circuit uses the display element and the auxiliary
display element to display the numerical value affected by the
change of the setting element.
[0018] An electronic camera according to the present invention
comprises: a numeral display element that displays a numeral; an
auxiliary display element that displays an expression other than a
numeral; an arithmetic operation device that executes an arithmetic
operation to obtain a number of remaining frames; and a display
control device that implements control so as to display the number
of remaining frames obtained through the arithmetic operation
executed by the arithmetic operation device by using the numeral
display element and the auxiliary display element.
[0019] In this electronic camera, it is preferred that: a 3-digit
numerical value can be displayed at the numeral display element; a
mark indicating thousands is displayed at the auxiliary display
element; and the display control device implements control so as to
display the number of remaining frames by using the numeral display
element alone when the number of remaining frames is equal to or
smaller than 999 and to display the number of remaining frames by
using both the numeral display element and the auxiliary display
element when the number of remaining frames is equal to or greater
than 1000.
[0020] Also, it is preferred that: there is further provided a
setting element display element that displays information related
to a setting for at least either a number of recording pixels or an
image recording quality and a setting element change device that
changes the setting for at least either the number of recording
pixels or the image recording quality; the arithmetic operation
device recalculates through the arithmetic operation the number of
remaining frames based upon the setting for at least either the
number of recording pixels or the image recording quality having
been changed by the setting element change device; and the display
control device implements control so as to display the recalculated
number of remaining frames by using the numeral display element and
the auxiliary display element and display the information related
to the setting for at least either the number of recording pixels
or the image recording quality having been changed by the setting
element change device by using the setting element display element.
In this case, it is preferred that the display control device
implements control so as to substantially turn off display at
display elements other than the numeral display element, the
auxiliary display element and the setting element display element
in a display device during change processing executed by the
setting element change device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the structure adopted
in an electronic camera in an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0022] FIG. 2 illustrates the display segments at the display
device;
[0023] FIG. 3 presents a flowchart of the camera operation
processing executed in the arithmetic operation circuit of the
electronic camera;
[0024] FIG. 4 presents an example of a display that maybe brought
up after the frame number display processing;
[0025] FIG. 5 presents an example of a display that may be brought
up after the frame number display processing;
[0026] FIG. 6 presents an example of a display that may be brought
up after the frame number display processing;
[0027] FIG. 7 presents a detailed flowchart of the setting and
display processing;
[0028] FIG. 8 presents an example of a display that may be brought
up after the frame number display processing;
[0029] FIG. 9 presents an example of a display that may be brought
up after the frame number display processing;
[0030] FIG. 10 presents an example of a display that may be brought
up after the frame number display processing; and
[0031] FIG. 11 presents a detailed flowchart of the frame number
display processing.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0032] The following is an explanation of an embodiment of the
present invention, given in reference to the drawings.
[0033] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure adopted in
the electronic camera in the embodiment of the present invention.
An image-capturing element 102 in FIG. 1, which may be a CCD,
outputs image-capturing signals by capturing a subject image having
passed through a photographic lens 3. A drive circuit 103 generates
a timing signal and provides a drive signal to the image-capturing
element 102. The image-capturing signals output from the
image-capturing element 102 are provided to an image-capturing
signal processing circuit 104.
[0034] The image-capturing signal processing circuit 104 includes
an A/D conversion circuit (not shown) and converts the analog
image-capturing signals input from the image-capturing element 102
to digital signals. The image-capturing signal processing circuit
104 also executes image processing such as a white balance (WB)
adjustment on the digital image-capturing signals, compression
processing for compressing image data obtained through the image
processing into a predetermined format, decompression processing
for decompressing compressed data and the like. A recording circuit
105 records image data into a memory card 106 such as a flash
memory. The memory card 106 is a recording medium, in which image
data having undergone the image processing are recorded, that can
be detachably loaded into the electronic camera. The state of the
memory card 106, i.e., whether or not it is currently loaded in the
electronic camera, and the recording area inside the memory card
106 are monitored and controlled by a controller 107.
[0035] A photometering device 114 detects a subject brightness
level and outputs a detection signal to an arithmetic operation
circuit 101. In addition to the exposure calculation executed by
using the brightness detection signal, the arithmetic operation
circuit 101 executes the various arithmetic operations that need to
be performed in the electronic camera and implements camera
operation sequence control. A photographing sequence device 115
implements control on the photographing sequence that includes
moving up/down a mirror (not shown), driving an aperture (not
shown) and charging a shutter (not shown) by controlling the drive
of a sequence motor (not shown) in response to a command issued by
the arithmetic operation circuit 101. A display device 12, which
may be constituted of, for instance, a liquid crystal display,
displays information indicating details of the settings selected
for the electronic camera in the form of characters or icons. A
display drive circuit 116 drives the display device 12 in response
to a command output by the arithmetic operation circuit 101.
[0036] A shutter release switch 113, which interlocks with a
shutter release button (not shown), outputs a release operation
signal to the arithmetic operation circuit 101. An image recording
setting switch 112 outputs an operation signal that is related to
the image recording capacity when recording image data into the
memory card 106, to the arithmetic operation circuit 101.
[0037] A pixel number setting switch 14 may be constituted of, for
instance, dial switches 110 and 111. If the pixel number setting
switch 14 is rotated while the image recording setting switch 112
is in an operated state, the pixel number setting switch 14 outputs
operation signals indicating whether the number of recording pixels
at which image data are to be recorded into the memory card 106 is
to be increased or decreased in correspondence to the rotating
operation. The switch 110 and the switch 111 respectively generate
an A-phase operation signal and a B-phase operation signal in the
known art. The arithmetic operation circuit 101 detects the
direction along which the pixel number setting switch 14 has been
rotated based upon the phase difference between the A-phase signal
and the B-phase signal. The arithmetic operation circuit 101
adjusts the number of signals to be read out from the
image-capturing element 102 per image plane, i.e., the number of
pixels corresponding to one image, in conformance to the operation
signals provided by the pixel number setting switch 14. The number
of recording pixels may be set at one of the following three
levels, for instance.
[0038] Pixel number 1 "L size" at which a single image plane is
made up with 2048.times.1536 pixels
[0039] Pixel number 2 "M size" at which a single image plane is
made up with 1024.times.768 pixels
[0040] Pixel number 3 "S size" at which a single image plane is
made up with 640.times.480 pixels
[0041] An image quality setting switch 13 may be constituted of,
for instance, dial switches 108 and 109. If the image quality
setting switch 13 is rotated while the image recording setting
switch 112 is in an operated state, the image quality setting
switch 13 outputs operation signals for adjusting the image
recording quality at which image data are to be recorded into the
memory card 106 in correspondence to the rotating operation. The
switch 108 and the switch 109 respectively generate an A-phase
signal and a B-phase signal in the known art. The arithmetic
operation circuit 101 detects the direction along which the image
quality setting switch 13 has been rotated based upon the phase
difference between the A-phase signal and the B-phase signal. The
arithmetic operation circuit 101 issues instructions for the
image-capturing signal processing circuit 104, indicating whether
or not the image processing needs to be executed and the
compression rate to be set for compression processing, in
conformance to the operation signal provided by the image quality
setting switch 13. The image recording quality may be set at one of
the following five levels, for instance.
[0042] Image quality 1 "RAW" at which the image data are recorded
directly, without undergoing image processing
[0043] Image quality 2 "TIFF" at which the image data having
undergone image processing are recorded in an non-compressed
state
[0044] Image quality 3 "FINE" at which the image data having
undergone image processing are recorded at a compression rate of
approximately 1/4
[0045] Image quality 4 "NORMAL" at which the image data having
undergone image processing are recorded at a compression rate of
approximately 1/8
[0046] Image quality 5 "BASIC" at which the image data having
undergone image processing are recorded at a compression rate of
approximately {fraction (1/16)}
[0047] Among displays brought at the display device 12 of the
electronic camera described above, the display of the number of
photographed images (the number of frames) that can be recorded
constitutes a feature of the present invention. More specifically,
the present invention is characterized by the display brought up to
indicate a large number of frames, e.g., in excess of 1000 frames,
of images that can be recorded into the memory card 106 with a
large recording area. The number of frames increases or decreases
as the required image recording capacity for recording image data
changes, i.e., as at least either the number of recording pixels
per image or the image recording quality changes.
[0048] FIG. 2 shows the display segments of the display device 12.
A pixel number segment 21 is used to display the number of
recording pixels. "L" is displayed in the pixel number segment 21
if the pixel number 1 mentioned earlier is selected. "M" is
displayed in the pixel number segment 21 if the pixel number 2
mentioned earlier is selected. "S" is displayed in the pixel number
segment 21 if the pixel number 3 mentioned earlier is selected.
[0049] An image quality segment 22 is used to display the image
recording quality. "RAW" is displayed in the image quality segment
22 when the image quality 1 is selected. "TIFF" is displayed in the
image quality segment 22 when the image quality 2 is selected.
"FINE" is displayed in the image quality segment 22 when the image
quality 3 is selected. "NORM" is displayed in the image quality
segment 22 when the image quality 4 is selected. "BASIC" is
displayed in the image quality segment 22 when the image quality 5
is selected
[0050] A segment 23 is used to display a shutter time (shutter
speed) during a photographing operation. A segment 24 is used to
display the aperture value set for the photographing operation. A K
display segment 25 is used to indicate a unit flag Q in
correspondence to the image recording quality 1 through 5 explained
earlier. "NORMAL" is selected as the initial image recording
quality setting. One of values 1 through 3 is set for the pixel
number flag S in correspondence to the recording pixel number 1
through 3 explained earlier. "L-size" is selected as the initial
recording pixel number setting.
[0051] In step S2, the arithmetic operation circuit 101 makes a
decision as to whether or not an operation signal has been input
from the image recording setting switch 112. The arithmetic
operation circuit 101 makes an affirmative decision in step S2 if
an operation signal has been input from the image recording setting
switch 112 to proceed to step S3, whereas it makes a negative
decision in step S2 if no operation signal has been input to
proceed to step S4.
[0052] In step S3, the arithmetic operation circuit 101 executes
setting and display processing before the operation proceeds to
step S4. The setting and display processing is to be detailed
later. In step S4, the arithmetic operation circuit 101 performs a
photometering operation to calculate the subject brightness level
by using a detection signal input from the photometering device
114, and then the operation proceeds to step S5. In step S5, the
arithmetic operation circuit 101 executes specific exposure
calculation processing before the operation proceeds to step
S6.
[0053] In step S6, the arithmetic operation circuit 101 outputs a
command for the controller 107 to access the memory card 106, and
then the operation proceeds to step S7. In step S7, the arithmetic
operation circuit 101 makes a decision as to whether or not the
memory card 106 has been loaded into the camera. If the controller
107 having accessed the memory card 106 as described above detects
the presence of the memory card 106 in the camera, the arithmetic
operation circuit 101 makes an affirmative decision in step S7 to
proceed to step S8, whereas if the presence of the memory card 106
is not detected, the arithmetic operation circuit 101 makes a
negative decision in step S7 to proceed to step S15.
[0054] In step S8, the arithmetic operation circuit 101 calculates
the number of frames of images that can be recorded into the
available (remaining) area, i.e., the number of remaining frames N,
based upon the recording capacity corresponding to the available
area at the memory card 106 detected by the controller 107 and the
number of recording pixels and the image recording quality set at
the electronic camera, and then the operation proceeds to step S9.
The number of remaining frames N is determined by dividing the
remaining capacity by the required image recording capacity per
image. The number of remaining frames N changes if either the
number of recording pixels or the image recording quality is
changed.
[0055] In step S9, the arithmetic operation circuit 101 outputs a
command for the display drive circuit 116 to bring up a display of
photographing information such as the shutter speed and the
aperture value, the image recording quality and the number of
recording pixels at the display device 12, and then the operation
proceeds to step S9A. In step S9A, the arithmetic operation circuit
101 executes frame number display processing before the operation
proceeds to step S10. FIGS. 4 and 5 present examples of displays
that may be brought up at the display device 12 after the frame
number display processing. In FIG. 4, "M-size" and "NORMAL" are
selected respectively for the number of recording pixels and the
image recording quality . "168" displayed in the numerical value
segment 27 indicates the number of remaining frames N corresponding
to the selected image recording quality setting in FIG. 4. "S-size"
and "BASIC" are selected respectively for the number of recording
pixels and the image recording quality in FIG. 5. The display "1.7
K" indicating the number of remaining frames N corresponding to the
selected image recording quality setting in FIG. 5 is achieved with
the numerical value segment 27, the K display segment 25 and the
decimal point display segment 26 . "1.7 K" indicates that the
number of remaining frames N is within a range of
1700=<N<1800. It is to be noted that the frame number display
processing is to be explained in detail later.
[0056] In step S10, the arithmetic operation circuit 101 makes a
decision as to whether or not a release operation signal has been
input from the shutter release switch 113. The arithmetic operation
circuit 101 makes an affirmative decision in step S10 if a release
operation signal has been input to proceed to step S11, whereas it
makes a negative decision in step S10 if no release operation
signal has been input to return to step S2.
[0057] In step S11, the arithmetic operation circuit 101 engages
the drive circuit 103 to start drive of the image-capturing element
102 and also outputs a command for the photographing sequence
control device 115 to implement exposure control including aperture
control (not shown) and shutter control (not shown), before the
operation proceeds to step S12. In response, the image-capturing
element 102 stores electrical charges over a predetermined length
of time in correspondence to the intensity of the subject light
entering its image-capturing surface. In step S12, the arithmetic
operation circuit 101 outputs a command for the drive circuit 103
to read out the image-capturing signals from pixels, the number of
which corresponds to the value indicated at the flag S, from the
image-capturing element 102, and then the operation proceeds to
step S13.
[0058] In step S13, the arithmetic operation circuit 101 issues an
instruction for the image-capturing signal processing circuit 104
to execute the image signal processing and then the operation
proceeds to step S14. It is to be noted that if Q=1 (the image
recording quality is "RAW"), the operation proceeds to step S14 by
skipping step S13. In step S14, the arithmetic operation circuit
101 issues an instruction for the image-capturing signal processing
circuit 104 to execute the compression processing at the
compression rate corresponding to the value set at the flag Q and
also issues an instruction for the recording circuit 105 to record
the image data having undergone the compression processing into the
memory card 106. It is to be noted that if Q=1 (the image recording
quality is "RAW") or Q=2 (the image recording quality is "TIFF"),
the image data are recorded uncompressed and, accordingly, the
compression processing is skipped.
[0059] Once the image data are recorded into the memory card 106,
the arithmetic operation circuit 101 returns to step S2 and ends
the sequence of photographing processing. Since the processing
shown in FIG. 3 is repeatedly executed when the photographing
processing ends, the display indicating the number of remaining
frames N is updated each time a frame is recorded.
[0060] In step S15, to which the operation proceeds after making a
negative decision in step S7, as described above, the arithmetic
operation circuit 101 outputs a command for the display drive
circuit 116 to bring up a display of the photographing information
such as the shutter speed and the aperture value, the image
recording quality and the number of recording pixels at the display
device 12 before the operation proceeds to step S15A. In step S15A,
the arithmetic operation circuit 101 executes the frame number
display processing before the operation proceeds to step S16. FIG.
6 presents an example of a display that may be brought up at the
display device 12 after the frame number display processing. FIG. 6
shows that "L-size" and "RAW" are selected respectively for the
number of recording pixels and the image recording quality . In
addition, "-E-" indicating that the memory card 106 has not been
loaded into the camera is displayed in the numerical value segment
27 in FIG. 6. It is to be noted that the frame number display
processing is to be explained in detail later.
[0061] In step S16, the arithmetic operation circuit 101 makes a
decision as to whether or not a release operation signal has been
input from the shutter release switch 113. The arithmetic operation
circuit 101 makes an affirmative decision in step S16 if a release
operation signal has been input to proceed to step S17, whereas it
makes a negative decision in step S16 if no release operation
signal has been input to return to step S2.
[0062] In step S17, the arithmetic operation circuit 101 engages
the drive circuit 103 to start drive of the image-capturing element
102 and also outputs a command for the photographing sequence
control device 115 to implement exposure control including aperture
control (not shown) and shutter control (not shown). When the
exposure control is completed, the arithmetic operation circuit 101
returns to step S2 to end the sequence of photographing processing.
If no memory card 106 is loaded, the image data are not
recorded.
[0063] The setting and display processing is now explained in
detail in reference to the flowchart presented in FIG. 7. In step
S101, the arithmetic operation circuit 101 makes a decision as to
whether or not operation signals indicating an upward rotation have
been input from the dial switches 108 and 109 constituting the
image quality setting switch 13. The upward rotation may be, for
instance, a clockwise rotation. The arithmetic operation circuit
101 makes an affirmative decision in step S101 if operation signals
indicating an upward rotation have been input to proceed to step
S102, whereas it makes a negative decision in step S101 if no
operation signal indicating an upward rotation has been input to
proceed to step S105.
[0064] Instep S102, the arithmetic operation circuit 101 makes a
decision as to whether or not the flag Q is set to 5. The
arithmetic operation circuit 101 makes an affirmative decision in
step S102 if Q=5 (the image recording quality is set to "BASIC") to
proceed to step S104, whereas it makes a negative decision in step
S102 if Q not=5 to proceed to step S103. In step S103, the
arithmetic operation circuit 101 adds 1 to the value of Q before
the operation proceeds to step S117. In step S104, the arithmetic
operation circuit 101 sets Q to 1 and then the operation proceeds
to step S117. Since 1 is set for Q following 5 when an upward
rotation is indicated, the value of Q is cyclically set.
[0065] Instep S105, the arithmetic operation circuit 101 makes a
decision as to whether or not operation signals indicating a
downward rotation have been input from the dial switches 108 and
109 constituting the image quality setting switch 13. The downward
rotation may be, for instance, a counterclockwise rotation. The
arithmetic operation circuit 101 makes an affirmative decision in
step S105 if operation signals indicating a downward rotation have
been input to proceed to step S106, whereas it makes a negative
decision in step S105 if no operation signal indicating a downward
rotation has been input to proceed to step S109.
[0066] In step S106, the arithmetic operation circuit 101 makes a
decision as to whether or not the flag Q is set to 1. The
arithmetic operation circuit 101 makes an affirmative decision in
step S106 if Q=1 (the image recording quality is set to "RAW") to
proceed to step S108, whereas it makes a negative decision in step
S106 if Q not=1 to proceed to step S107. In step S107, the
arithmetic operation circuit 101 subtracts 1 from the value of Q
before the operation proceeds to step S117. In step S108, the
arithmetic operation circuit 101 sets Q to 5 and then the operation
proceeds to step S117. Since 5 is set for Q following 1 when a
downward rotation is indicated, the value of Q is cyclically
set.
[0067] In step S109, the arithmetic operation circuit 101 makes a
decision as to whether or not operation signals indicating an
upward rotation have been input from the dial switches 110 and 111
constituting the pixel number setting switch 14. The upward
rotation may be, for instance, a clockwise rotation. The arithmetic
operation circuit 101 makes an affirmative decision in step S109 if
operation signals indicating an upward rotation have been input to
proceed to step S110, whereas it makes a negative decision in step
S109 if no operation signal indicating an upward rotation has been
input to proceed to step S113.
[0068] In step S110, the arithmetic operation circuit 101 makes a
decision as to whether or not the flag S is set to 3. The
arithmetic operation circuit 101 makes an affirmative decision in
step S110 if S=3 (the number of recording pixels is set to
"L-size") to proceed to step S112, where as it makes a negative
decision in step S110 if S not=3 to proceed to step S111. In step
S111, the arithmetic operation circuit 101 adds 1 to the value of S
before the operation proceeds to step S117. In step S112, the
arithmetic operation circuit 101 sets S to 1 and then the operation
proceeds to step S117. Since 1 is set for S following 3 when an
upward rotation is indicated, the value of S is cyclically set.
[0069] In step S113, the arithmetic operation circuit 101 makes a
decision as to whether or not operation signals indicating a
downward rotation have been input from the dial switches 110 and
111 constituting the pixel number setting switch 14. The downward
rotation maybe, for instance, a counterclockwise rotation. The
arithmetic operation circuit 101 makes an affirmative decision in
step S113 if operation signals indicating a downward rotation have
been input to proceed to step S114, whereas it makes a negative
decision in step S113 if no operation signal indicating a downward
rotation has been input to proceed to step S117.
[0070] In step S114, the arithmetic operation circuit 101 makes a
decision as to whether or not the flag S is set to 1. The
arithmetic operation circuit 101 makes an affirmative decision in
step S114 if S=1 (the number of recording pixels is set to
"S-size") to proceed to step S116, whereas it makes a negative
decision in step S114 if S not=1 to proceed to step S115. In step
S115, the arithmetic operation circuit 101 subtracts 1 from the
value of S before the operation proceeds to step S117. In step
S116, the arithmetic operation circuit 101 sets S to 3 and then the
operation proceeds to step S117. Since 3 is set for S following 1
when a downward rotation is indicated, the value of S is cyclically
set.
[0071] In step S117, the arithmetic operation circuit 101 outputs a
command for the controller 107 to access the memory card 106, and
then the operation proceeds to step S118. In step S118, the
arithmetic operation circuit 101 makes a decision as to whether or
not the memory card 106 has been loaded into the camera. If the
controller 107 having accessed the memory card 106 as described
above detects the presence of the memory card 106 in the camera,
the arithmetic operation circuit 101 makes an affirmative decision
in step S118 to proceed to step S119, whereas if the presence of
the memory card 106 is not detected, the arithmetic operation
circuit 101 makes a negative decision in step S118 to proceed to
step S121.
[0072] In step S119, the arithmetic operation circuit 101
calculates the number of remaining frames N of images that can be
recorded into the available (remaining) area based upon the
recording capacity corresponding to the available area at the
memory card 106 detected by the controller 107 and the number of
recording pixels and the image recording quality set at the
electronic camera, and then the operation proceeds to step
S120.
[0073] In step S120, the arithmetic operation circuit 1010 outputs
a command for the display drive circuit 116 to bring up a display
of the image recording quality and the number of recording pixels
at the display device 12, and then the operation proceeds to step
S120A. In step S120A, the arithmetic operation circuit 101 executes
frame number display processing before the operation proceeds to
step S122. FIGS. 8 and 9 present examples of displays that may be
brought up at the display device 12 after the frame number display
processing. In FIG. 8, "L-size" and "FINE" are selected
respectively for the number of recording pixels and the image
recording quality . "45" displayed in the numerical value segment
27 indicates the number of remaining frames N corresponding to the
selected image recording quality setting in FIG. 4. "S-size" and
"BASIC" are selected respectively for the number of recording pixel
and the image recording quality in FIG. 9. The display "5.9 K"
indicating the number of remaining frames N of images that can be
recorded and corresponds to the selected image recording quality
setting in FIG. 5 is achieved with the numerical value segment 27,
the K display segment 25 and the decimal point display segment 26.
"5.9 K" indicates that the number of remaining frames N is within a
range of 5900=<N<6000. It is to be noted that the frame
number display processing is to be explained in detail later.
[0074] In step S122, the arithmetic operation circuit 101 makes a
decision as to whether or not an operation signal has been input
from the image recording setting switch 112. The arithmetic
operation circuit 101 makes an affirmative decision in step S122 if
an operation signal has been input from the image recording setting
switch 112 to return to step S101, whereas it makes a negative
decision in step S122 if no operation signal has been input to end
the processing shown in FIG. 7 and proceed to step S4 in FIG.
3.
[0075] In step S121, to which the operation proceeds after making a
negative decision in step S118, as described above, the arithmetic
operation circuit 101 outputs a command for the display drive
circuit 116 to bring up a display of the image recording quality
and the number of recording pixels at the display device 12 before
the operation proceeds to step S121A. In step S121A, the arithmetic
operation circuit 101 executes frame number display processing
before the operation proceeds to step S122. FIG. 10 presents an
example of a display that may be brought up at the display device
12 after the frame number display processing. FIG. 10 shows that
"S-size" and "BASIC" are selected respectively for the number of
recording pixels and the image recording quality . In addition,
"-E-" indicating that the memory card 106 has not been loaded into
the camera is displayed in the numerical value segment 27 in FIG.
10. It is to be noted that the frame number display processing is
to be explained in detail later.
[0076] In FIGS. 8 through 10, the display segments other than the
pixel number segment 21 used to indicate the number of recording
pixels, the image quality segment 22 used to indicate the image
recording quality and the numerical value segment 27 used to
indicate the number of remaining frames N or to indicate that the
memory card 106 is not present in the camera remain off. However,
the K display segment 25 and the decimal point display segment 26
are turned on as necessary to indicate the number of remaining
frames N. Since the setting and display processing in FIG. 7 is
executed to adjust the setting for the number of recording pixels
or the image recording quality , the pixel number segment 21 and
the image quality segment 22 corresponding to the setting elements
(the number of recording pixels and the image recording quality in
the example) undergoing the adjustment and the segments 25 through
27 used to indicate the numerical value (the number of remaining
frames N which is changed as a result of adjusting either of the
setting element) affected by the adjustment of the setting elements
are used, while the other segments which are not used during this
processing remain off. The segments which are not used and thus are
set in an OFF state during the setting and display processing are
reset to the ON state when the processing in FIG. 7 ends. FIGS. 4
through 6 present examples of displays that may be brought up at
the display device 12 after the segments having been in an OFF
state during the setting and display processing are reset to the ON
state.
[0077] The frame number display processing is now explained in
detail in reference to the flowchart presented in FIG. 11. In step
S201, the arithmetic operation circuit 101 makes a decision as to
whether or not the memory card 106 is present in the camera. The
arithmetic operation circuit 101 makes an affirmative decision in
step S201 if the controller 107 having accessed the memory card
106, as described earlier, detects the presence of the memory card
106 in the camera, to proceed to step S202, whereas it makes a
negative decision in step S201 if the memory card 106 is not
detected to proceed to step S207.
[0078] In step S202, the arithmetic operation circuit 101 makes a
decision as to whether or not the number of remaining frames N is
equal to or greater than 1000. The arithmetic operation circuit 101
makes an affirmative decision in step S202 if N>=1000 is true to
proceed to step S203, whereas it makes a negative decision in step
S202 if N>=1000 is not true to proceed to step S206. In step
S203, the arithmetic operation circuit 101 performs a calculation
expressed as 1=N/1000 before the operation proceeds to step S204.
In step S204, the arithmetic operation circuit 101 outputs a
command for the display drive circuit 116 to turn on "K" indicating
1000 in the K display segment 25 of the display device 12 and turn
on "." indicating the decimal point in the decimal point display
segment 26 of the display device 12, and then the operation
proceeds to step S205.
[0079] In step S205, the arithmetic operation circuit 101 outputs a
command for the display drive circuit 116 to turn on a display of
the value of 1 to one decimal place in the numerical value segment
27 of the display device 12 before the subroutine processing shown
in FIG. 11 ends. FIGS. 5 and 9 present examples of displays each
indicating a numerical value that includes the tenths place digit,
the decimal point and the thousands indicator character. It is to
be noted that the value of I that is displayed in the numerical
value segment 27 at the display device 12 in step S205 may be
obtained by rounding off the numeral in the hundredths place to the
nearest tenth to display the value to tenths place.
[0080] In step S206, the arithmetic operation circuit 101 outputs a
command for the display drive circuit 116 to turn on the display of
the value of N in the numerical value segment 27 of the display
device 12 before the subroutine processing in FIG. 11 ends. FIGS. 4
and 8 present examples of displays, each indicating a value N
within a range of 0=<N=<999. In step S207, the arithmetic
operation circuit 101 outputs a command for the display drive
circuit 116 to turn on "-E-" in the numerical value segment 27 of
the display device 12, before the subroutine processing in FIG. 11
ends. FIGS. 6 and 10 present examples of displays that include
"-E-".
[0081] The following advantages are achieved in the electronic
camera in the embodiment described above.
[0082] (1) If the number of remaining frames N of images that can
be recorded into the memory card 106 loaded in the camera is large
and the number of digits in the value N exceeds the number of
display digits (three digits in the example) at the numerical value
segment 27 of the display device 12, the K display segment 25 and
the decimal point display segment 26 are turned on and used as
auxiliary display segments and the value N/1000 calculated to 1
decimal place is displayed at the 27. If no auxiliary display
segments are used, "999" is invariably brought up on the display
for values exceeding 999 regardless of the actual number of
remaining frames, for example 1000 or 5000. Therefore, and the user
will be unable to ascertain the actual value. In contrast, by using
auxiliary display segments as in the embodiment, the display in
segment 27 switches in units of 100 frames at a time for values
calculated for the number of remaining frames which are equal to or
greater than 1000, and thus, the user is able to ascertain the
number of remaining frames N with ease. In addition, the number of
display digits in the numerical value segment 27 does not need to
be increased to 4 or more, the size of the display device 12 can
remain compact and the display in the numerical value segment 27
does not become reduced and illegible due to an increase in the
number of display digits.
[0083] (2) The display brought up at the display device 12 during a
setting operation executed to adjust the setting of a setting
element (the number of recording pixels or the image recording
quality in the example) is achieved by using the pixel number
segment 21 used to indicate the number of recording pixels which
may be being adjusted, the image quality segment 22 to indicate the
image recording quality which may be being adjusted and the
numerical value segment 27 and the auxiliary display segments 25
and 26 used to indicate the number of remaining frames N which
changes as a result of the adjustment of either setting element,
while the other segments that are not used remain off. Since no
display not relevant to the adjustment of the setting is turned on,
a display which is less confusing and allows the photographer to
check the setting adjustment with greater ease compared to a
display having all the display segments including irrelevant
display segments turned on can be achieved. Furthermore, the
display of the number of remaining frames N allows the photographer
to adjust the number of recording pixels or the image recording
quality by checking the number of remaining frames N, and thus, an
improvement in operability is achieved.
[0084] In the explanation given above, the K display segment 25 and
the decimal point display segment 26 are used as auxiliary display
segments of the 3-digit numerical value segment 27. However, the K
display segment 25 may be omitted and the decimal point display
segment 26 alone may be used as an auxiliary display segment. Since
the number of remaining frames N changes by one frame at a time as
a picture is taken, it is not necessary to display a decimal value
if the number of remaining frames N is less than 1000. The display
of a decimal place number becomes necessary only when the number of
remaining frames N is equal to or greater than 1000. Accordingly, a
display of a decimal value achieved by engaging the numerical value
segment 27 and the decimal point display segment 26 indicates to
the photographer that the number of remaining frames N is equal to
or greater than 1000. The photographer needs to multiply the
displayed value by 1000 only in case that the decimal value is
displayed.
[0085] While an explanation is given above on an example in which
the present invention is adopted in an electronic camera, the
present invention may be adopted in electronic devices other than
electronic cameras. For instance, it may be adopted to display the
number of sets of data that can be recorded into a specific
recording area of a data storage device. The number of display
digits in the numerical value segment used to display the number of
sets of data in this case does not need to be three and the unit
indicated in the character display segment does not need to be
1000. These are elements that can be adjusted in conformance to the
number of digits in numerical values to be displayed.
[0086] In the explanation given above, the number of frames of
images that can be recorded into the available area of the memory
card 106, i.e., the number of remaining frames N of images that can
be photographed, is displayed. Instead, the number of recorded
frames of images that have already been photographed and recorded
or a value achieved by adding 1 to the number of recorded frames
(which indicates the frame number assigned to the frame of an image
to be recorded in the next photographing operation) may be brought
up on display. It is to be noted that the number of frames is
expressed as an integer, and more specifically, as a natural number
such as 1, 2, 3, . . . . The number of frames can be also expressed
as a negative natural number by using an auxiliary display segment
used to display a minus sign.
[0087] In the explanation given above, the alphabet letter "K" (the
lowercase k may be used) is used to indicate thousands. The term
"thousands" means that the actual numerical value can be determined
by multiplying the value on the display by 1000. In other words,
the term "thousands place" indicates three digits. For instance,
the alphabet letter "K" in "1 K" represents three digits with the
numeral "1" being the fourth digit located to the left of the three
digits represented by K. When the alphabet a letter "K" is used in
combination with the decimal point, the alphabet letter "K"
indicates three digits and the first numeral before the decimal
point indicates the fourth digit in the number. In this embodiment,
the three digits in a value which does not include the decimal
point are 000 through 999. The three digits in a value that
contains the decimal point are determined by taking into
consideration the numeral following the decimal point. For
instance, the three digits represented by the alphabet letter "K"
in "1.7 K" are 700 through 799. It is to be noted that the symbol
that may be used to indicate thousands is not limited to the
alphabet letter "K". Another mark may be used to represent
thousands by adopting a different specific rule.
[0088] While the term "circuit" is used in the explanation given
above, as in the arithmetic operation circuit 101 and the drive
circuit 103, the term "circuit" may be replaced with a term
"device". For instance, the arithmetic operation circuit 101 and
the drive circuit 103 may be instead referred to as the arithmetic
operation device 101 and the drive device 103 respectively.
[0089] In the explanation given above, the display brought up at
the display device 12 during a setting operation executed to adjust
the setting of a setting element (the number of recording pixels or
the image recording quality in the example) is achieved by using
the pixel number segment 21 used to indicate the number of
recording pixels which may be being adjusted, the image quality
segment 22 used to indicate the image recording quality which may
be being adjusted and the numerical value segment 27 and the
auxiliary display segments 25 and 26 used to indicate the number of
remaining frames N which changes as a result of the adjustment of
either setting element, while the other segments that are not used
remain off. However, the segments other than the segments 21, 22
and 25 through 27 do not all need to remain off. Basically,
segments around the segments 21, 22 and 25 through 27 should stay
in an OFF state so that the setting being adjusted can be displayed
clearly.
[0090] The above described embodiment is an example, and various
modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention.
* * * * *