U.S. patent application number 16/130867 was filed with the patent office on 2019-01-10 for display control apparatus and method for controlling the same.
The applicant listed for this patent is CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Satoshi Ishimaru, Koichi Nakagawa, Akio Yoshikawa.
Application Number | 20190014257 16/130867 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58585097 |
Filed Date | 2019-01-10 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190014257 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yoshikawa; Akio ; et
al. |
January 10, 2019 |
DISPLAY CONTROL APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME
Abstract
An apparatus includes a display control unit configured to
display a first type of image captured with a first gradation
characteristic and a second type of image captured with a second
gradation characteristic having a higher gradation quality on a
high-luminance side than the first gradation characteristic, and a
control unit configured to perform control such that luminance of a
display unit is set to second luminance higher than first luminance
of a case where the first type of image is displayed, in a case
where the second type of image is displayed.
Inventors: |
Yoshikawa; Akio;
(Yokohama-shi, JP) ; Ishimaru; Satoshi;
(Kawasaki-shi, JP) ; Nakagawa; Koichi;
(Kawasaki-shi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
58585097 |
Appl. No.: |
16/130867 |
Filed: |
September 13, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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15346511 |
Nov 8, 2016 |
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16130867 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G09G 5/10 20130101; H04N
5/23293 20130101; H04N 5/2352 20130101; G06F 3/04886 20130101; H04N
5/202 20130101; H04N 5/23222 20130101; H04N 5/232939 20180801; H04N
5/2353 20130101; H04N 5/232935 20180801; H04N 5/2351 20130101; G06F
3/0482 20130101; G09G 2320/0673 20130101; G09G 2320/0613 20130101;
G09G 2320/0271 20130101; G06F 3/04817 20130101; G09G 2320/0606
20130101; H04N 9/045 20130101; H04N 5/23216 20130101; H04N 5/23245
20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04N 5/232 20060101
H04N005/232; H04N 9/04 20060101 H04N009/04; H04N 5/235 20060101
H04N005/235; G09G 5/10 20060101 G09G005/10; H04N 5/202 20060101
H04N005/202 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 10, 2015 |
JP |
2015-220703 |
Nov 10, 2015 |
JP |
2015-220756 |
Nov 10, 2015 |
JP |
2015-220757 |
Claims
1. An apparatus comprising: an image sensor; and a memory and at
least one processor and/or at least one circuit to perform the
operations of the following units: a display control unit
configured to display a first type of image captured with a first
gradation characteristic, and a second type of image captured with
a second gradation characteristic having a higher gradation quality
on a high-luminance side than the first gradation characteristic; a
control unit configured to perform control such that luminance of a
display unit is set to second luminance higher than first luminance
of a case where the first type of image is displayed on the display
unit, in a case where the second type of image is displayed on the
display unit; and a mode setting unit configured to set a mode to
any of a plurality of modes using gradation characteristics
different from one another at the time of imaging by the image
sensor, the plurality of modes including at least a first mode
using the first gradation characteristic and a second mode using
the second gradation characteristic, wherein in a case where a live
view image being captured by the image sensor in the second mode is
displayed, the control unit performs control such that the
luminance of the display unit is set to brighter luminance than
luminance of a case where a live view image being captured by the
image sensor in the first mode is displayed.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit
performs control such that the luminance of the display unit is set
to the first luminance in response to a screen switching from a
state in which the second type of image is displayed with the
luminance of the display unit set to the second luminance to a
state in which a video image that is not the captured image is
displayed.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in a case where a
luminance setting of the display unit is a luminance setting as
bright as or brighter than a predetermined value, the control unit
performs control such that an output gamma characteristic with
which the second type of image is output on the display unit is set
to a second output gamma characteristic that enables a
low-luminance side to be displayed more brightly than a first
output gamma characteristic with which the first type of image is
output on the display unit.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined
value is the second luminance.
5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the luminance
setting is a luminance setting set by a user.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a setting
unit configured to set whether to turn on an assist function for
visibility of when the second type of image is displayed, wherein
in a case where the assist function is not turned on, the control
unit performs control such that the luminance of the display unit
is not changed from the first luminance even when the second type
of image is displayed.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an
acquisition unit configured to acquire a recorded image and
attribute information of the image, wherein based on the acquired
attribute information, the control unit performs control such that
the luminance of the display unit is set to the second luminance
when the image to which the attribute information indicating that
the image is the second type of image is added is reproduced.
8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein based on the
acquired attribute information, the control unit performs control
such that when the image to which the attribute information
indicating that the image is the second type of image is added is
reproduced, a display item indicating that the image is the second
type of image is displayed together with the image.
9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when an image
display is performed in a multiscreen form in which a plurality of
images is displayed on a single screen, the control unit performs
control such that even in a case where the second type of image is
included in the plurality of images, the luminance of the display
unit is not changed from the first luminance.
10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit
performs control such that the luminance of the display unit is set
to the first luminance in response to the screen switching from a
state in which the second type of image is displayed with the
luminance of the display unit set to the second luminance to a menu
screen where a setting of the display unit is set.
11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein when a setting
screen, which is provided under a hierarchical level of the menu
screen, to be displayed together with the second type of image is
displayed, the control unit performs control such that the
luminance of the display unit is changed from the first luminance
to the second luminance.
12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in a case where the
second type of image is displayed with the luminance changed from
the first luminance to the second luminance, the control unit
performs control such that a display item to be displayed together
with the second type of image is drawn with lower brightness.
13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the first
gradation characteristic and the second gradation characteristic is
a gradation characteristic when luminance of an object is converted
into a gradation value, and the second gradation characteristic is
a gradation characteristic that exhibits a lower gradation quality
on an intermediate-luminance to low-luminance side of the object
and has a larger number of gradation values allocated to the
high-luminance side than the first gradation characteristic.
14. A method comprising: displaying a first type of image captured
with a first gradation characteristic, and a second type of image
captured with a second gradation characteristic having a higher
gradation quality on a high-luminance side than the first gradation
characteristic; performing control such that luminance of a display
unit is set to second luminance higher than first luminance of a
case where the first type of image is displayed on the display
unit, in a case where the second type of image is displayed on the
display unit; and setting a mode to any of a plurality of modes
using gradation characteristics different from one another at the
time of imaging by a image sensor, the plurality of modes including
at least a first mode using the first gradation characteristic and
a second mode using the second gradation characteristic, wherein in
a case where a live view image being captured by the image sensor
in the second mode is displayed, the controlling performs control
such that the luminance of the display unit is set to brighter
luminance than luminance of a case where a live view image being
captured by the image sensor in the first mode is displayed.
15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the performing
performs control such that the luminance of the display unit is set
to the first luminance in response to a screen switching from a
state in which the second type of image is displayed with the
luminance of the display unit set to the second luminance to a
state in which a video image that is not the captured image is
displayed.
16. The method according to claim 14, wherein in a case where a
luminance setting of the display unit is a luminance setting as
bright as or brighter than a predetermined value, the performing
performs control such that an output gamma characteristic with
which the second type of image is output on the display unit is set
to a second output gamma characteristic that enables a
low-luminance side to be displayed more brightly than a first
output gamma characteristic with which the first type of image is
output on the display unit.
17. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a
computer-executable program of instructions for causing a computer
to perform a method comprising: displaying a first type of image
captured with a first gradation characteristic, and a second type
of image captured with a second gradation characteristic having a
higher gradation quality on a high-luminance side than the first
gradation characteristic; performing control such that luminance of
a display unit is set to second luminance higher than first
luminance of a case where the first type of image is displayed on
the display unit, in a case where the second type of image is
displayed on the display unit; and setting a mode to any of a
plurality of modes using gradation characteristics different from
one another at the time of imaging by a image sensor, the plurality
of modes including at least a first mode using the first gradation
characteristic and a second mode using the second gradation
characteristic, wherein in a case where a live view image being
captured by the image sensor in the second mode is displayed, the
controlling performs control such that the luminance of the display
unit is set to brighter luminance than luminance of a case where a
live view image being captured by the image sensor in the first
mode is displayed.
18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according
to claim 17, wherein the performing performs control such that the
luminance of the display unit is set to the first luminance in
response to a screen switching from a state in which the second
type of image is displayed with the luminance of the display unit
set to the second luminance to a state in which a video image that
is not the captured image is displayed.
19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according
to claim 17, wherein in a case where a luminance setting of the
display unit is a luminance setting as bright as or brighter than a
predetermined value, the performing performs control such that an
output gamma characteristic with which the second type of image is
output on the display unit is set to a second output gamma
characteristic that enables a low-luminance side to be displayed
more brightly than a first output gamma characteristic with which
the first type of image is output on the display unit.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a Divisional of U.S. application Ser.
No. 15/346,511, filed Nov. 8, 2016; which claims the benefit of
Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-220703, filed Nov. 10, 2015;
No. 2015-220756, filed Nov. 10, 2015, and No. 2015-220757, filed
Nov. 10, 2015, which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in
their entireties.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0002] The aspect of the embodiments relates to a display control
apparatus and a method for controlling the display control
apparatus, and, in particular, to control of luminance of a display
apparatus.
Description of the Related Art
[0003] Conventionally, there have been known video systems
configured to image an object by an imaging apparatus and display
this video image on a display apparatus to enable a user to view
the video image. In such a kind of video system, when imaging the
object, the imaging apparatus converts a tone of the object into a
video signal by converting luminance of the object into a code
value based on a gamma characteristic of the imaging apparatus.
Then, when displaying the video image, the display apparatus
converts the code value provided as the video signal into an output
luminance value based on a gamma characteristic of the display
apparatus. By the processing performed in this manner, the video
system can cut out a range covering limited brightness from the
real-world object that has an extremely wide dynamic range, and
display the video image while making it fall within a limited
narrow dynamic range of the display apparatus. Generally, a measure
for extending an input dynamic range with use of knee correction
processing is employed to secure a practical input dynamic range at
the imaging apparatus when the object is imaged (Japanese Patent
Application Laid-Open No. 2002-223373).
[0004] Generally, the imaging apparatus is configured to secure the
practical input dynamic range by compressing a contrast in a region
which is from intermediate luminance to high luminance. However, in
such a case, a gradation characteristic as a system total, which is
a total of the gamma characteristic of the imaging apparatus and
the gamma characteristic of the display apparatus, ends up becoming
an unnatural gradation characteristic in which the contrast is
compressed at a high-luminance portion compared to a low-luminance
portion. One possible solution to avoid such a disadvantage is that
the gradation characteristic as the system total, which is the
total of the gamma characteristic of the imaging apparatus and the
gamma characteristic of the display apparatus, is linearized with
respect to the luminance. Linearizing the gradation characteristic
with respect to the luminance allows an entire region from a dark
portion to a highlight portion to be expressed with a more natural
gradation. However, when the video image having the gradation
characteristic linearized with respect to the luminance is
displayed on the display apparatus, the intermediate luminance and
the low luminance are darkened although the natural gradation can
be attained, compared to the generally used gradation
characteristic that is not the gradation characteristic linearized
with respect to the luminance.
[0005] Further, monitors built in reproduction apparatuses are
configured to allow luminance thereof to be controlled according to
the video image to be reproduced, but, regarding monitors connected
to external video output terminals, such as High-Definition
Multimedia Interface (HDMI) (registered trademark), the luminance
cannot be controlled from the reproduction apparatus side on many
of them. Therefore, there is such a situation that, when the video
image captured so as to achieve the gradation characteristic
linearized with respect to the luminance is output to such an
external monitor and the video image is displayed with a normal
luminance setting, the displayed video image is unintentionally
darkened.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] According to an aspect of the present invention, an
apparatus includes a display control unit configured to display a
first type of image captured with a first gradation characteristic,
and a second type of image captured with a second gradation
characteristic having a higher gradation quality on a
high-luminance side than the first gradation characteristic, and a
control unit configured to perform control such that luminance of a
display unit is set to second luminance higher than first luminance
of a case where the first type of image is displayed, in a case
where the second type of image is displayed.
[0007] Further features of the aspect of the embodiments will
become apparent from the following description of exemplary
embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a
configuration of an imaging apparatus.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an external
appearance of the imaging apparatus.
[0010] FIGS. 3A to 3C are diagrams each illustrating gamma
characteristics.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating processing for the gamma
characteristic which is employed at the time of imaging.
[0012] FIGS. 5A and 5B are flowcharts illustrating camera mode
processing.
[0013] FIGS. 6A to 6D are diagrams each illustrating a display
example in the camera mode processing.
[0014] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating reproduction mode
processing.
[0015] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating processing for setting
panel luminance.
[0016] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating guide display
processing.
[0017] FIG. 10 is a diagram including the flowcharts of FIGS. 10A
and 10B. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating processing regarding a
screen where a moving image is stopped.
[0018] FIGS. 11A to 11E are diagrams each illustrating a display
example in the reproduction mode.
[0019] FIG. 12 is a diagram including the flowcharts of FIGS. 12A
and 12B. FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating editing
processing.
[0020] FIGS. 13A to 13C are diagrams each illustrating a display
example in the editing processing.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0021] An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be
described in detail below with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0022] It is to be noted that the following exemplary embodiment is
merely one example for implementing the present invention and can
be appropriately modified or changed depending on individual
constructions and various conditions of apparatuses to which the
present invention is applied. Thus, the aspect of the embodiments
is in no way limited to the following exemplary embodiment.
<Hardware Configuration>
[0023] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic configuration diagram of a
digital camera (hereinafter referred to as an imaging apparatus
100) as one example of a display control apparatus.
[0024] In FIG. 1, lenses 101 are a lens group including a plurality
of lenses, such as a focus lens and a zoom lens, and a diaphragm
102 is disposed behind the lenses 101. Light introduced via the
lenses 101 and the diaphragm 102 is imaged on an imaging plane of
an image sensor 105 as an object image. The formed object image is
converted from an optical signal into a video signal (video data)
at the image sensor 105. The video signal acquired by the image
sensor 105 is transmitted to a signal processing unit 112. The
signal processing unit 112 performs white balance correction
processing by a white balance (WB) correction unit 107, edge
enhancement processing by an edge enhancement unit 108, and gamma
correction processing by a gamma correction unit 109 on the video
signal under control by a camera microcomputer 111.
[0025] Further, a luminance/color information detection unit 110
divides the image in a horizontal direction and a vertical
direction to set a plurality of luminance/color information
detection frames, and integrates pixel values in the
luminance/color information detection frames, thereby detecting
luminance information and color information in each of the
detection frames of the object. The luminance information and the
color information detected by the luminance/color information
detection unit 110 are transmitted to the camera microcomputer 111.
The camera microcomputer 111 calculates correction values to be
used in the white balance correction processing, the edge
enhancement processing, and the gamma correction processing with
use of acquired object information, such as the luminance and the
color, and performs the white balance correction processing, the
edge enhancement processing, and the gamma correction processing
based on the calculated correction values. Then, a gamma
characteristic of the imaging apparatus 100 to be used in the gamma
correction processing is a gamma correction curve for
high-luminance priority if an imaging mode of the imaging apparatus
100 is a high-luminance priority mode, and a gamma correction curve
for normal imaging if the imaging mode of the imaging apparatus 100
is a normal imaging mode. The gamma correction curve for the
high-luminance priority will be described in detail below. Further,
the present disclosure will omit illustration and a description
with respect to other processing performed by the signal processing
unit 112 than the white balance correction processing, the edge
enhancement processing, the gamma correction processing, and the
luminance/color information detection processing.
[0026] After being subjected to the signal processing by the signal
processing unit 112, the video signal is output to a main body
display 116 or is output to an external display 120 via an external
interface (I/F) 119. The external I/F 119 can output the video
image to an external display apparatus. Examples of the external
display apparatus include HDMI (registered trademark), Serial
Digital Interface (SDI), Composite, Component, and the like. The
camera microcomputer 111 can detect whether the external display
120 is connected to the external I/F 119.
[0027] The main body display 116 is a display unit provided in the
imaging apparatus 100. The image (a moving image/a still image)
captured by the image sensor 105, and an image reproduced from a
recording medium, such as a memory card 118, a magnetic tape 115,
and a digital versatile disk (DVD) 117, can be displayed on the
main body display 116. Further, various kinds of setting
information, a menu screen, and the like are displayed on the main
body display 116. In the present exemplary embodiment, the main
body display 116 is a touch panel capable of receiving a touch
operation onto a screen. The main body display 116 is, for example,
an organic electroluminescence (EL) display, and a luminance
setting thereof that will be described below is a luminance setting
of light emitted by the organic EL display itself. However, the
main body display 116 is not limited to the organic EL display, and
a display using another method, such as a liquid crystal display,
may be employed therefor. In the case where the main body display
116 is the liquid crystal display, the luminance setting is a
luminance setting of backlight.
[0028] Although not illustrated in FIG. 1, the same display content
as the main body display 116 can also be displayed on an electronic
viewfinder (EVF) 204, which will be described below with reference
to FIG. 2. The external display 120 is not configured to be
included in the imaging apparatus 100 but is an external apparatus,
connectable via the external I/F 119, such as a television, a
professional-use display for confirming the video image, and a
tablet-type personal computer (PC). Further, the signal subjected
to the signal processing by the signal processing unit 112 is
recorded into the magnetic tape 115, the DVD 117, or the memory
card 118.
[0029] Further, the camera microcomputer 111 controls accumulation,
readout, and the like of the signal at the image sensor 105 via a
sensor control unit 106. Further, the camera microcomputer 111
controls focusing, zooming, and the like of the lenses 101 via a
lens control unit 103. Further, the camera microcomputer 111
controls the diaphragm 102 via a diaphragm control unit 104 based
on the luminance information and the color information detected by
the luminance/color information detection unit 110. Further, the
camera microcomputer 111 controls an exposure by controlling a
shutter speed via the sensor control unit 106. Further, the camera
microcomputer 111 corrects a camera shake at the time of the
imaging by driving the lenses 101 via the lens control unit 103 or
controlling the signal processing unit 112.
[0030] The camera microcomputer 111 is a control unit that controls
the entire imaging apparatus 100, and is a processor, such as a
central processing unit (CPU). A read only memory (ROM) 111a is a
nonvolatile recording medium that stores a constant and various
kinds of setting values for an operation of the camera
microcomputer 111, and a program for realizing various kinds of
flowcharts that will be described below. A random access memory
(RAM) 111b is a work memory for the operation of the camera
microcomputer 111. The camera microcomputer 111 develops the
program recorded in the ROM 111a into the RAM 111b and executes the
developed program, thereby realizing processing illustrated in the
various kinds of flowcharts that will be described below.
[0031] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an external
appearance of the imaging apparatus 100. In FIG. 2, a main body
portion 201 is a main body portion of the imaging apparatus 100. A
detachable recording medium, such as the DVD 117, the magnetic tape
115, and the memory card 118, is contained inside the imaging
apparatus 100, allowing the imaging apparatus 100 to record and
reproduce the video signal and the still image. The imaging
apparatus 100 may include a built-in recording medium. A lens unit
202 is a lens unit including the lenses 101. A microphone 203 is a
sound collection unit provided to record a sound at the time of the
imaging. The EVF 204 is an electronic viewfinder (Electronic View
Finder). The user can confirm a current content of a setting and a
live view (hereinafter referred to as an LV) of the object being
imaged when imaging the object by the camera, by looking into the
EVF 204.
[0032] A moving image trigger switch 205 is a push button, and is a
switch with which the user operates to instruct the imaging
apparatus 100 to start and end the imaging of the moving image (the
recording of the moving image). A still image trigger switch 206 is
a push button, and is a switch with which the user operates to
instruct the imaging apparatus 100 to start and end the imaging of
the still image. A mode dial 207 is a rotational switch with which
the user can select any of "REPRODUCE" for setting a mode to a
reproduction mode, "CAMERA" for setting the mode to a camera mode,
and "OFF" that is none of them. In the present exemplary
embodiment, the imaging apparatus 100 has three modes, which are
the camera mode, the reproduction mode, and the power-off,
selectable with use of the mode dial 207, but may be configured
such that the mode can be switched to another mode (for example, a
communication mode for wirelessly communicating with an external
apparatus).
[0033] An operation switch group 208 is a switch and a key for the
user to operate the main body, and includes, for example, a key for
inputting an image-quality filter mode, and keys for another menu
operation, a reproduction-related operation, and the like. Further,
the operation switch group 208 also includes, for example, a menu
button for displaying the menu screen, an arrow key including an up
key, a down key, a left key, and a right key to be used in, for
example, an operation for selecting an item from choices, and a set
button to be used in an operation, such as entering the
selection.
[0034] The main body display 116 is provided in a vari-angle
monitor rotatably coupled to the main body portion 201. The
vari-angle monitor is rotatable around two axes, i.e., an axial
direction from a closed position where a display surface of the
main body display 116 faces the main body portion 201 to an opened
state, and an axial direction from an opened position where the
display surface faces a user side (a side where the EVF 204 is
located) in the opened state to an inverted opened position where
the display surface faces an object side. FIG. 2 illustrates an
example in which the vari-angle monitor is located at the opened
position. A speaker 210 is a sound generation unit for outputting
the sound when the moving image is reproduced and outputting an
alarm sound. A battery 211 is a power source unit configured
detachable from the main body portion 201.
<Gamma Characteristics in High-Luminance Priority Mode and
Normal (Standard) Mode>
[0035] The imaging apparatus 100 allows the user, to image the
object, to select which to use (an imaging gamma mode) the normal
(standard) gamma characteristic or the gamma characteristic for the
high-luminance priority, as the gamma characteristic (the gamma
correction curve) at the time of the imaging. The imaging apparatus
100 sets the mode to the high-luminance priority mode (a Highlight
Priority mode, hereinafter may be abbreviated as an HP mode) if the
gamma characteristic for the high-luminance priority is used, and
sets the mode to the standard mode if the normal gamma
characteristic is used. The imaging gamma mode is set by, for
example, an operation on a screen for switching the imaging gamma
mode, which will be described below with reference to FIG. 6B, and
a result of this setting (the HP mode or the standard mode) is held
in the RAM 111b.
[0036] Next, the gamma correction characteristic for the
high-luminance priority mode will be described with reference to
FIGS. 3A to 3C. FIGS. 3A to 3C illustrate the gamma characteristic
for the high-luminance priority mode of the imaging apparatus 100.
In FIG. 3A, a gamma characteristic 301 is a gamma characteristic
corresponding to an input dynamic range x.sub.1, and is a gamma
characteristic standardized under, for example, International
Telecommunication Union Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R)
Broadcasting Service (BT). 709. A gamma characteristic 302 is a
gamma characteristic corresponding to an input dynamic range
x.sub.2, and indicates an input dynamic range extended to a
practical range. The gamma characteristic 302 is formulated as a
characteristic that maintains a constant relationship of an output
code to an input code and fixes bit allocation from low luminance
to high luminance without compressing a contrast of a part of the
gamma characteristic if the gamma characteristic 301 is taken as a
basis.
[0037] FIG. 3B illustrates examples of the gamma characteristic for
the high-luminance priority and the normal (standard) gamma
characteristic. A gamma characteristic 303 (a second gradation
characteristic) is the gamma characteristic for the high-luminance
priority in the imaging apparatus 100 (the image sensor 105), which
is used when luminance (an imaging signal) of the object is
converted into a gradation value (a video signal) in the HP mode. A
gradation characteristic 305 can be acquired as a system total that
is a total of the gamma characteristic 303 at the time of the
imaging and a gamma characteristic 304 at the time of the display
(a gamma characteristic when the image is output on the main body
display 116). In the gradation characteristic 305 when the HP mode
is used, a linear characteristic can be realized in an entire
region from a low-luminance portion to a high-luminance portion
without the contrast compressed even in a region from the
intermediate luminance to the high luminance.
[0038] Now, assuming that y=f(x) represents the gamma
characteristic of the imaging apparatus 100 corresponding to the
input dynamic range x.sub.1 serving as a reference, a gamma
characteristic of the imaging apparatus 100 when the input dynamic
range x.sub.1 is extended by t times can be acquired by modifying
y=f(x) into y=f(x/t). The input dynamic range may be set
appropriately for each product, may be set appropriately for each
imaging mode in the same product, or may be set adaptively for each
imaging scene in the same imaging mode.
[0039] In this manner, the use of the HP mode can prevent the
contrast from being compressed due to the gamma correction
processing regardless of the input dynamic range, thereby allowing
a further natural gradation, color reproducibility, and sharpness
to be realized in the entire region from a dark portion to a
highlight portion. Especially, the gradation, the color
reproducibility, and the sharpness can be significantly improved
with respect to shininess of metal, transparency of water,
three-dimensionality of a blue sky and a cloud, a skin tone, and
the like.
[0040] On the other hand, a gamma characteristic 306 (a first
gradation characteristic) is a gamma characteristic of the imaging
apparatus 100 (the image sensor 105) to be used when the luminance
(the imaging signal) of the object is converted into the gradation
value in the normal (standard) mode. A gradation characteristic 307
can be acquired as the system total that is a total of the gamma
characteristic 306 at the time of the imaging and the gamma
characteristic 304 at the time of the display (the gamma
characteristic when the image is output on the main body display
116). The gamma characteristic 303 in the HP mode exhibits a higher
gradation quality on a high-luminance side between the gamma
characteristic 303 in the HP mode and the gamma characteristic 306
in the normal mode. In other words, a larger number of gradation
values (code values) are allocated to the high-luminance side in
terms of the luminance of the object. Conversely, the gamma
characteristic 303 in the HP mode exhibits a lower gradation
quality on a low-luminance to intermediate-luminance side between
the gamma characteristic 303 in the HP mode and the gamma
characteristic 306 in the normal mode. In other words, a smaller
number of gradation values (code values) are allocated to the
low-luminance to intermediate-luminance side in terms of the
luminance of the object. Therefore, the gradation characteristic
307, which is acquired when the video image captured with use of
the normal (standard) mode is displayed, leads to an unintentional
reduction in a change in the luminance at the high-luminance
portion compared to the gradation characteristic of the actual
object, resulting in lower reality (the natural gradation, the
color reproducibility, and the sharpness) than the gradation
characteristic 305. That is, when the video image captured with use
of the normal mode is displayed, a blown-out color (a highlight
detail loss) more likely occurs at the high-luminance portion of
the object than the video image reproduced when the video image
captured with use of the HP mode is displayed. Further, when the
video image captured with use of the HP mode is displayed, the
gradation appears smoother at the high-luminance portion of the
object than the video image reproduced when the video image
captured with use of the normal mode is displayed. Therefore, the
video image captured with use of the HP mode can provide improved
visibility of the high-luminance portion, such as the shininess of
metal, the transparency of water, and the three-dimensionality of a
blue sky and a cloud. On the other hand, the gradation
characteristic 307 of the portion from the low luminance to the
intermediate luminance becomes higher than the gradation
characteristic of the actual object, the portion from the low
luminance to the intermediate luminance therefore appears brighter
than the image using the gradation characteristic 305.
[0041] Next, the gamma correction processing and metadata recording
processing in the high-luminance priority mode, which are performed
by the camera microcomputer 111 of the imaging apparatus 100, will
be described with reference to a flowchart illustrated in FIG. 4.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating processing for correcting the
camera gradation that is performed by the imaging apparatus 100.
This processing is processing repeatedly performed when the imaging
apparatus 100 is activated in the camera mode and the imaging of
the live view (LV) is started, and applied to both the LV image and
the captured image for the recording after the recording of the
moving image is started. The processing illustrated in FIG. 4 is
processing focusing on and detailing a portion corresponding to a
process for displaying the LV and a process for recording the
moving image prepared differently for each of the gamma
characteristics that are performed in camera mode processing, which
will be described below with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B.
[0042] In step S401, the camera microcomputer 111 determines the
input dynamic range. The input dynamic range according to the
present exemplary embodiment is either a predetermined value preset
for each of a plurality of imaging modes included in the camera
mode, or a value calculated based on the luminance information and
the color information detected by the luminance/color information
detection unit 110. In step S402, the camera microcomputer 111
controls the exposure based on the luminance information and the
color information detected by the luminance/color information
detection unit 110.
[0043] In step S403, the camera microcomputer 111 determines
whether the imaging gamma mode held in the RAM 111b is the
high-luminance priority mode (the HP mode). If the held imaging
gamma mode is the high-luminance priority mode (YES in step S403),
the processing proceeds to step S404, in which the camera
microcomputer 111 determines to use the gamma correction curve for
the high-luminance priority as the gamma correction characteristic
for the gamma correction processing. In step S405, the camera
microcomputer 111 records metadata corresponding to the
high-luminance priority mode regarding the image to be captured.
The metadata to be recorded is a flag for indicating the
high-luminance priority mode, the input dynamic range, a preset
magnification ratio of display luminance to a reference value, a
peak luminance value, gamma shape information and a base gamma of
the imaging apparatus 100, and/or the like.
[0044] On the other hand, if the camera microcomputer 111
determines that the held imaging gamma mode is not the
high-luminance priority mode but the standard mode in step S403 (NO
in step S403), in step S406, the camera microcomputer 111
determines to use the gamma correction curve for the normal imaging
as the gamma correction characteristic for the gamma correction
processing. In step S407, the camera microcomputer 111 records
metadata corresponding to the standard mode regarding the image to
be captured. The metadata to be recorded is a flag for indicating
the normal imaging mode, the input dynamic range, the preset
magnification ratio of the display luminance to the reference
value, the peak luminance value, the gamma shape information and
the base gamma of the imaging apparatus 100, and/or the like.
[0045] In step S408, the camera microcomputer 111 performs the
gamma correction processing based on the determined gamma
correction characteristic. Then, the processing for correcting the
camera gradation is ended. The camera microcomputer 111 repeats the
processing for correcting the camera gradation until the camera
mode is ended.
<Camera Mode Processing>
[0046] FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate flowcharts of the camera mode
processing performed by the imaging apparatus 100. The processing
illustrated in FIG. 5A is started when the imaging apparatus 100 is
activated in the camera mode.
[0047] In step S501, the camera microcomputer 111 determines
whether the imaging gamma mode held in the RAM 111b is the
high-luminance priority mode (the HP mode). If the imaging gamma
mode is the HP mode (YES in step S501), the processing proceeds to
step S502. If the imaging gamma mode is not the HP mode (NO in step
S501), the processing proceeds to step S503.
[0048] In step S502, the camera microcomputer 111 performs
processing for setting panel luminance (which will be described
below with reference to a flowchart illustrated in FIG. 8). In step
S503, the camera microcomputer 111 reads out user setting luminance
for the main body display 116 that is stored in the ROM 111a, and
presents a display on the main body display 116 with the user
setting luminance. The setting luminance of the main body display
116 is set from a luminance setting screen, like an example that
will be described below with reference to FIG. 6D. Further, if a
monitor gamma has been changed when a view assist is set to ON, the
camera microcomputer 111 presents the display according to a normal
monitor gamma after resetting the changed monitor gamma to a
setting before the change. Hereinafter, when the following
paragraphs include the phrase "presenting the display on the main
body display 116 with the user setting luminance", the employed
monitor gamma is not the monitor gamma changed when the view assist
is set to ON (a gamma characteristic 312, which will be described
below) but the normal monitor gamma (the gamma characteristic 304,
which will be described below). In step S504, the camera
microcomputer 111 displays the video data (the LV image) captured
by the image sensor 105 and subjected to the signal processing by
the signal processing unit 112 on the main body display 116. FIG.
6A illustrates a display example of an LV image 600 on the main
body display 116. This screen is displayed with the luminance
according to the processing for setting the panel luminance in step
S502, if the imaging gamma mode is the HP mode.
[0049] In step S505, the camera microcomputer 111 determines
whether an instruction to display the screen for switching the
imaging gamma mode on the main body display 116 is issued. If the
instruction to display the switching screen is issued (YES in step
S505), the processing proceeds to step S506. If not (NO in step
S505), the processing proceeds to step S510.
[0050] In step S506, the camera microcomputer 111 generates the
switching screen (a screen for setting the imaging gamma mode),
like an example illustrated in FIG. 6B, and displays the generated
switching screen on the main body display 116. A choice 601 for
selecting the standard mode (a first mode) and a choice 602 for
selecting the HP mode (a second mode) as the imaging gamma mode are
displayed on the screen for switching the imaging gamma mode. When
any of the choices 601 and 602 is selected by the arrow key or a
touch operation, an explanation (a guide) regarding the selected
choice is displayed. In the example illustrated in FIG. 6B, because
the choice 602 for selecting the HP mode is selected, a guide 603,
which is an explanation regarding the HP mode, is displayed. The
displayed guide 603 reads as follows: "This mode allows even the
high-luminance region to be imaged with a natural gradation without
being compressed. You can enjoy a further high-definition video
image by setting the external monitor to relatively high
brightness." In other words, the displayed guide 603 presents an
explanation indicating how the image can be captured in the HP mode
and a message prompting the user to increase the setting luminance
of the external monitor.
[0051] In step S507, the camera microcomputer 111 determines
whether any of the choices 601 and 602 (the standard mode or the
high-luminance priority mode) is selected and an operation for
entering the selection is performed by the user on the switching
screen. When the set button is pressed or a close icon 604 is
touched with any of the choices 601 and 602 selected, the camera
microcomputer 111 determines to use the selected imaging gamma mode
(sets the selected imaging gamma mode). If any of the choices 601
and 602 is selected and the operation for entering the selection is
performed by the user on the switching screen (YES in step S507),
the processing proceeds to step S508. If not (NO in step S507), the
processing proceeds to step S509.
[0052] In step S508, the camera microcomputer 111 determines the
imaging gamma mode selected by the user in step S507, and holds the
determined imaging gamma mode into the RAM 111b. The determined
imaging gamma mode may be recorded into the ROM 111a. In step S509,
the camera microcomputer 111 determines whether an operation for
closing the switching screen is performed. If the operation for
closing the switching screen is performed (YES in step S509), the
processing proceeds to step S501. If not (NO in step S509), the
processing proceeds to step S507. Examples of the operation for
closing the switching screen include pressing of the menu
button.
[0053] On the other hand, if the instruction to display the screen
for switching the imaging gamma mode is not issued in step S505 (NO
in step S505), the processing proceeds to step S510, in which the
camera microcomputer 111 determines whether an instruction
operation for displaying the menu screen is performed. Examples of
the instruction operation for displaying the menu screen include
the pressing of the menu button. If the instruction operation for
displaying the menu screen is performed (YES in step S510), the
processing proceeds to step S511. If not (NO in step S510), the
processing proceeds to step S531.
[0054] In step S511, the camera microcomputer 111 reads out the
user setting luminance for the main body display 116 that is held
in the ROM 111a, and displays a top menu of the menu screen on the
main body display 116 with the user setting luminance. In other
words, even when the luminance of the main body display 116 has
been increased to a higher setting than the user setting luminance
set by the user because a view assist setting has been turned on
and the imaging gamma mode has been the HP mode, the luminance is
reset to the user setting luminance according to the switching of
the display to the menu screen. This is because the menu screen is
a screen where a video image that is not the captured image is
displayed (a screen where the captured image is not displayed).
[0055] In step S512, the camera microcomputer 111 determines
whether a menu item for setting the view assist is selected from
among a plurality of menu items included in the menu screen. If the
menu item for setting the view assist is selected (YES in step
S512), the processing proceeds to step S513. If not (NO in step
S512), the processing proceeds to step S516. In step S513, the
camera microcomputer 111 displays a screen for setting the view
assist on the main body display 116, and determines whether a
setting is selected by the user.
[0056] FIG. 6C illustrates a display example of the screen for
setting the view assist on the main body display 116. A choice 611
for turning on (enabling) the view assist, and a choice 612 for
turning off (disabling) the view assist are displayed on the screen
for setting the view assist, and the user can select and set any of
them. The view assist is an assist function regarding visibility of
when the image is captured in the HP mode and of when the image
captured in the HP mode is reproduced and displayed on the main
body display 116. If the view assist is set to ON, the luminance of
the main body display 116 is automatically increased (the luminance
is automatically changed) when the live view image captured in the
HP mode is displayed and when the image captured in the HP mode is
reproduced and displayed. The view assist is applied not only when
the imaging apparatus 100 is in the camera mode but also when the
video image recorded in the HP mode is reproduced and displayed in
the reproduction mode or the like.
[0057] The input gamma characteristic in the HP mode that is
employed at the time of the imaging is the gamma characteristic for
expressing the entire region from the dark portion to the highlight
portion with a more natural gradation by linearizing the gradation
characteristic as the system total, which is the total of the input
gamma characteristic and the output gamma characteristic when the
image is displayed and output on the main body display 116, with
respect to the luminance. However, when the video image having the
gradation characteristic linearized with respect to the luminance
is displayed, the intermediate luminance and the low luminance are
unintentionally darkened compared to the video image recorded with
the normal input gamma characteristic, although the natural
gradation can be attained. The view assist function is provided to
improve appearances of these intermediate luminance and low
luminance, and turning on the view assist setting can increase the
display luminance of the main body display 116 and display the
intermediate luminance and the low luminance so as not to be
darkened. If the view assist setting is turned OFF, the display
luminance is not automatically increased even when the imaging
gamma mode is the HP mode.
[0058] If an operation for selecting any of the choices 611 and 612
is performed with an operation on the up or down key of the arrow
key or a touch operation onto the choice 611 or the choice 612 (YES
in step S513), the processing proceeds to step S514. In step S514,
the camera microcomputer 111 holds the setting selected in step
S513 (ON/OFF of the view assist) into the RAM 111b. This setting
may be recorded into the ROM 111b so as to be kept held even after
the imaging apparatus 100 is powered off. If the setting of the
view assist is changed from ON to OFF, the view assist is stopped.
In other words, the HP moving image displayed after this change is
displayed in such a state that the luminance of the main body
display 116 that has been increased at the time of the view assist
is reset to the setting before the increase, or the monitor gamma
is reset to the setting before the change if the monitor gamma has
been changed when the view assist has been set to ON. In step S515,
the camera microcomputer 111 determines whether an operation for
closing the screen for setting the view assist (the pressing of the
menu button or a touch operation onto a close icon 613) is
performed. If the operation for closing the screen for setting the
view assist is performed (YES in step S515), the processing
proceeds to step S501. If not (NO in step S515), the processing
proceeds to step S513.
[0059] In step S516, the camera microcomputer 111 determines
whether a menu item for transitioning to a setting screen where the
LV image (the video data) subjected to the signal processing by the
signal processing unit 112 is displayed in the background is
selected among the plurality of menu items included in the menu
screen. Examples of the menu item for transitioning to the setting
screen where the LV image is displayed in the background include
the luminance setting, soft zooming control for selecting whether
to add inertia to a start point and an end point at the time of a
zooming operation, and a zooming speed level for changing a zooming
speed at the time of the zooming operation. Regarding these menu
items, displaying the LV image in the background allows the user to
further easily recognize a change in the setting. If the menu item
for transitioning to the setting screen where the LV image is
displayed in the background is selected (YES in step S516), the
processing proceeds to step S517. If not (NO in step S516), the
processing proceeds to step S521.
[0060] In step S517, the camera microcomputer 111 determines
whether the imaging gamma mode held in the RAM 111b is the
high-luminance priority mode. If the held imaging gamma mode is the
HP mode (YES in step S517), the processing proceeds to step S518.
If the held imaging gamma mode is not the HP mode (NO in step
S517), the processing proceeds to step S519. In step S518, the
camera microcomputer 111 performs the processing for setting the
panel luminance (which will be described below with reference to
the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 8). In step S519, the camera
microcomputer 111 displays the setting screen (the setting screen
where the LV image is displayed in the background) according to the
menu item selected in step S516, and changes a setting according to
an operation for changing the setting input from the user.
[0061] FIG. 6D illustrates a display example of the luminance
setting screen as an example of the setting screen according to the
menu item selected in step S516. This screen is a setting screen
displayable together with the image captured in the HP mode that is
under a hierarchical level of the menu screen. The user can select
and set any of setting values of two levels as the luminance of the
main body display 116 on the luminance setting screen. A choice 621
for the high luminance (HIGH) and a choice 622 for the normal
luminance (NORM) are displayed on the luminance setting screen
while being superimposed on an LV image 623. When the user selects
any of the choices 621 and 622 with an operation on the up/down key
or a touch operation, the luminance is set to the selected
luminance, and the LV image 623 is displayed with the selected
luminance. The user can set the luminance to his/her desired
luminance while confirming an appearance of the LV image 623 in the
background. The selected luminance is recorded into the ROM 111a,
and is applied to the display of when the imaging gamma mode is not
the HP mode and the display of when the imaging gamma mode is the
HP mode but the view assist function is turned OFF. Hereinafter,
the luminance set on this screen will be referred to as the "user
setting luminance". In the present exemplary embodiment, there are
two levels prepared as the luminance levels selectable by the user
as the user setting luminance, but the imaging apparatus 100 may be
configured in such a manner that the user can select the luminance
from as many levels as three or more.
[0062] In step S520, the camera microcomputer 111 determines
whether an operation for closing the setting screen displayed in
step S519 is performed. If the operation for closing the displayed
setting screen is performed (YES in step S520), the processing
proceeds to step S501. If the operation for closing the displayed
setting screen is not performed (NO in step S520), the processing
proceeds to step S519.
[0063] In step S521, the camera microcomputer 111 determines
whether an operation for closing the menu screen is performed. If
the operation for closing the menu screen is performed (YES in step
S521), the processing proceeds to step S501. If not (NO in step
S521), the processing proceeds to step S522. In step S522, the
camera microcomputer 111 performs other processing according to
another menu item selected on the menu screen. Examples of the
other processing (other setting processing) include a setting
regarding an image quality of the moving image to be captured, a
setting regarding an automatic focus (AF) method, and the like.
[0064] In step S531, the camera microcomputer 111 determines
whether the moving image trigger switch 205 is pressed. If the
moving image trigger switch 205 is pressed (YES in step S531), the
processing proceeds to step S532. If not (NO in step S531), the
processing proceeds to step S538. In step S532, the camera
microcomputer 111 determines whether the imaging gamma mode held in
the RAM 111b is the HP mode. If the camera microcomputer 111
determines that the held imaging gamma mode is the HP mode (YES in
step S532), the processing proceeds to step S533. If the camera
microcomputer 111 determines that the held imaging gamma mode is
not the HP mode (if the held imaging gamma mode is the standard
mode) (NO in step S532), the processing proceeds to step S535.
[0065] In step S533, the camera microcomputer 111 starts recording
the video image in the HP mode that has been captured by the image
sensor 105 and acquired from the signal processing unit 112 into
the magnetic tape 115, the DVD 117, or the memory card 118. The
video image in the HP mode is the video image acquired with use of
the gamma correction curve for the high-luminance priority (the
gamma characteristic 303), as described in the description of step
S404. In step S534, the camera microcomputer 111 adds attribute
information that makes this image identifiable as being captured in
the HP mode (hereinafter referred to as HP information), as the
metadata of the moving image recorded in step S533. The HP
information may be recorded as a header of a moving image file, or
may be recorded into a management file associated with the moving
image file.
[0066] In step S535, the camera microcomputer 111 starts recording
the video image in the normal mode that has been captured by the
image sensor 105 and acquired from the signal processing unit 112
into the magnetic tape 115, the DVD 117, or the memory card 118.
The video image in the normal mode (the standard mode) is the video
image acquired with use of the gamma correction curve for the
normal imaging (the gamma characteristic 306), as described in the
description of step S406.
[0067] In step S536, the camera microcomputer 111 determines
whether the moving image trigger switch 205 is pressed. If the
camera microcomputer 111 determines that the moving image trigger
switch 205 is pressed (YES in step S536), the processing proceeds
to step S537, in which the camera microcomputer 111 stops recording
the moving image, and performs processing for closing the moving
image file. On the other hand, if the camera microcomputer 111
determines that the moving image trigger switch 205 is not pressed
(NO in step S536), the processing returns to step S536, in which
the camera microcomputer 111 continues capturing and recording the
moving image.
[0068] In step S538, the camera microcomputer 111 determines
whether the mode dial 207 is operated. If the camera microcomputer
111 determines that the mode dial 207 is operated (YES in step
S538), the processing proceeds to step S539. If not (NO in step
S538), the processing proceeds to step S505. In step S539, the
camera microcomputer 111 determines whether a result of the
operation in step S538 is the reproduction mode. If the camera
microcomputer 111 determines that the result of the operation in
step S538 is the reproduction mode (YES in step S539), the
processing proceeds to step S540 (the mode is switched to the
reproduction mode), in which the camera microcomputer 111 performs
reproduction mode processing. The reproduction mode processing in
step S540 will be described below with reference to FIG. 7. On the
other hand, if the camera microcomputer 111 determines that the
result of the operation in step S538 is not the reproduction mode
in step S539 (NO in step S539), the camera microcomputer 111 powers
off the imaging apparatus 100, and the processing is ended.
<Reproduction Mode Processing>
[0069] FIG. 7 illustrates a flowchart of the reproduction mode
processing performed by the imaging apparatus 100. The processing
illustrated in FIG. 7 is started when the imaging apparatus 100 is
activated in the reproduction mode or shifts from the camera mode
to the reproduction mode. The processing illustrated in FIG. 7 is a
detail of the reproduction mode processing performed in step S540
illustrated in FIG. 5B.
[0070] In step S701, the camera microcomputer 111 reads out the
user setting luminance held in the ROM 111a, and presents the
display on the main body display 116 with the user setting
luminance. In step S702, the camera microcomputer 111 reads out
images stored in the magnetic tape 115, the DVD 117, or the memory
card 118, and the attribute information of each of the images, and
displays thumbnails of the images in a list on the main body
display 116.
[0071] FIG. 11A illustrates a display example of the thumbnail list
display (an index display or an image display in a multiscreen
form) displayed on the main body display 116 in step S702.
Thumbnail images 1101 to 1108 are displayed, and thumbnail images
corresponding to the images captured in the HP mode among them are
displayed with HP icons 1109 added thereto, which indicate that
these images are the HP moving images. Hereinafter, the image
captured in the HP mode will be referred to as the HP moving image.
Further, the image captured in the normal mode and the live view
image being captured in the normal mode will be collectively
referred to as a first type of image, and the image captured in the
HP mode and the live view image being captured in the HP mode will
be collectively referred to as a second type of image. In the
illustrated example, the moving images represented by the thumbnail
images 1101, 1102, and 1108 are the HP moving images. Whether the
image is the image captured in the HP mode is identified based on
whether the HP information is added to the attribute information of
each of the read images. The view assist function does not change
the luminance in this thumbnail list display even when the
thumbnail of the HP moving image is included therein.
[0072] In step S703, the camera microcomputer 111 determines
whether a user operation for selecting any of the thumbnail images
1101 to 1108 displayed in the thumbnail list is performed (whether
any of the moving images is selected). If any of the thumbnail
images 1101 to 1108 is selected (YES in step S703), the processing
proceeds to step S704. If not (NO in step S703), the process of
step S703 is repeated (the camera microcomputer 111 waits for the
selection of the thumbnail image). In step S704, the camera
microcomputer 111 starts reproducing and displaying the moving
image corresponding to the thumbnail image selected by the user in
step S703. More specifically, the camera microcomputer 111 reads
out the moving image to be reproduced that is recorded in the
magnetic tape 115, the DVD 117, or the memory card 118, reproduces
the read moving image by controlling the signal processing unit
112, and displays the reproduced moving image on the main body
display 116. Alternatively, the camera microcomputer 111 outputs
the moving image from the external I/F 119 to display the
reproduced moving image on the external display 120.
[0073] FIGS. 11B and 11C each illustrate a display example during
the reproduction of the moving image on the main body display 116.
The example illustrated in FIG. 11B is a display example when a
button display is "ON" (enabled), and the HP icon 1109 and button
icons 1111 are displayed while being superimposed on a reproduced
moving image 1110. The button icons 1111 are button icons for
performing various kinds of operations (including a stop,
fast-forward, and rewind) regarding an operation related to the
reproduction of the moving image, and trigger corresponding
processing when being touched with a touch operation. The user can
switch the button display between "ON" and "OFF" (disabled) (steps
S715 and S716). The example illustrated in FIG. 11C is a display
example when the button display is "OFF", and the HP icon 1109 and
the button icons 1111 are not displayed although the reproduced
moving image 1110 is displayed in this example.
[0074] In step S705, the camera microcomputer 111 analyzes the
attribute information added to the moving image being reproduced,
and analyzes whether the HP information is included therein. If the
HP information is included in the attribute information of the
moving image being reproduced, i.e., the HP moving image is being
reproduced (YES in step S705), the processing proceeds to step
S706. If not (if the moving image that is not the HP moving image
is being reproduced) (NO in step S705), the processing proceeds to
step S708. In step S706, the camera microcomputer 111 performs the
processing for setting the panel luminance (which will be described
below with reference to the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 8). In
step S707, the camera microcomputer 111 performs guide display
processing (which will be described below with reference to a
flowchart illustrated in FIG. 9). On the other hand, if the moving
image being reproduced is not the HP moving image (NO in step
S705), in step S708, the camera microcomputer 111 reads out the
user setting luminance held in the ROM 111a, and displays the
moving image on the main body display 116 with the user setting
luminance.
[0075] In step S709, the camera microcomputer 111 determines
whether the moving image being reproduced reaches an end thereof.
If the camera microcomputer 111 determines that the moving image
being reproduced reaches the end thereof (YES in step S709), the
processing proceeds to step S710. If not (NO in step S709), the
processing proceeds to step S713. In step S710, the camera
microcomputer 111 hides a guide if the guide has been displayed in
the process of step S707. In step S711, the camera microcomputer
111 determines whether there is a next moving image stored in the
magnetic tape 115, the DVD 117, or the memory card 118. If the
camera microcomputer 111 determines that there is a next moving
image (YES in step S711), the processing proceeds to step S712. If
the camera microcomputer 111 determines that there is no next
moving image (NO in step S711), the processing proceeds to step
S702. In step S712, the camera microcomputer 111 starts reproducing
the next moving image. Then, the processing returns to step
S705.
[0076] In step S713, the camera microcomputer 111 determines
whether a stop operation for stopping the moving image being
reproduced is performed. If the stop operation is performed (YES in
step S713), the camera microcomputer 111 stops reproducing the
moving image, and the processing proceeds to step S714. If not (NO
in step S713), the processing proceeds to step S715. In step S714,
the camera microcomputer 111 performs stop screen processing (which
will be described below with reference to a flowchart illustrated
in FIG. 10).
[0077] In step S715, the camera microcomputer 111 determines
whether an instruction operation for switching the button display
is performed by the user. If the camera microcomputer 111
determines that the instruction to switch the button display is
issued (YES in step S715), the processing proceeds to step S716. If
not (NO in step S715), the processing proceeds to step S718.
[0078] In step S716, the camera microcomputer 111 switches the
button display between "ON" and "OFF". More specifically, if the
instruction to switch the button display is issued when the button
display is "OFF" (FIG. 11C), the camera microcomputer 111 switches
the button display to "ON", and displays the button icons 1111 as
illustrated in FIG. 11B. This switching also causes the HP icon
1109 to be displayed if the displayed moving image is the HP moving
image. On the other hand, if the instruction to switch the button
display is issued when the button display is "ON" (FIG. 11B), the
camera microcomputer 111 switches the button display to "OFF", and
hides the button icons 1111 as illustrated in FIG. 11C. Further, if
the displayed moving image is the HP moving image, the camera
microcomputer 111 also hides the HP icon 1109 along with hiding the
button icons 1111. In step S717, the camera microcomputer 111
performs the guide display processing (which will be described
below with reference to the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 9).
[0079] In step S718, the camera microcomputer 111 determines
whether the mode dial 207 is operated. If the mode dial 207 is
operated (YES in step S718), the processing proceeds to step S719.
If not (NO in step S718), the processing proceeds to step S709. In
step S719, the camera microcomputer 111 determines whether a result
of the operation on the mode dial 207 is the camera mode. If the
result of the operation on the mode dial 207 is the camera mode
(YES in step S719), the processing proceeds to step S720, in which
the camera microcomputer 111 switches the processing from the
reproduction mode to the camera mode (FIGS. 5A and 5B). On the
other hand, if the result of the operation on the mode dial 207 is
the power-off (NO in step S719), the camera microcomputer 111
powers off the imaging apparatus 100, and the processing is
ended.
<Processing for Setting Panel Luminance>
[0080] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a detail of the
processing for setting the panel luminance that is performed in
steps S502 and S518 illustrated in FIG. 5A and step S706
illustrated in FIG. 7. This processing is processing for presenting
the display on the main body display 116 with the high luminance
independent of the user setting luminance if the mode is the HP
mode or the moving image is the HP moving image, and the view
assist function is turned on.
[0081] In step S801, the camera microcomputer 111 reads out the
state of the view assist setting held in the RAM 111b, and
determines whether the view assist setting is currently turned on.
If the camera microcomputer 111 determines that the view assist is
turned on (YES in step S801), the processing proceeds to step S802.
If not (NO in step S801), the processing is ended. In step S802,
the camera microcomputer 111 reads out information indicating the
user setting luminance, which is for the main body display 116,
held in the ROM 111a. Then, the camera microcomputer 111 determines
whether the user setting luminance is a predetermined luminance
setting or higher (a luminance setting that makes the luminance as
bright as or brighter than a predetermined value). In the present
exemplary embodiment, the camera microcomputer 111 determines
whether the user setting luminance is the high luminance (HIGH)
based on whether the user setting luminance is the predetermined
luminance setting or higher. If the luminance setting value is the
predetermined value or higher (the high luminance (HIGH)) (YES in
step S802), the processing proceeds to step S804. If not (if the
luminance setting value is the normal luminance (NORM)) (NO in step
S802), the processing proceeds to step S803.
[0082] In the present exemplary embodiment, the processing is
branched according to whether the user setting luminance is the
high luminance (HIGH) or the normal luminance (NORM) since the
settable user luminance settings are the high luminance (HIGH) and
the normal luminance (NORM) (FIG. 6D), but is not limited thereto.
For example, in a case where the user setting luminance can be set
from three or more levels of setting luminance, the process of step
S802 may be arranged in such a manner that the processing proceeds
to step S804 if the user setting luminance is a maximum value among
the settable luminance levels, and proceeds to step S803 if not.
Alternatively, for example, in a case where the user setting
luminance can be set from five levels of setting luminance, the
process of step S802 may be arranged in such a manner that the
processing proceeds to step S804 if the user setting luminance is a
brightest or second brightest luminance level (if the user setting
luminance is 4 or 5 among settable values 1 to 5), and proceeds to
step S803 if the user setting luminance is another luminance
level.
[0083] In step S803, the camera microcomputer 111 controls the
luminance of the main body display 116 in such a manner that this
luminance matches predetermined luminance for the view assist, so
as to exceed the user setting luminance. This control, if the HP
moving image is reproduced with the view assist set to ON, leads to
a display with the high luminance (HIGH) even with, for example,
the user setting luminance set to the normal luminance (NORM). In
such a case, if an icon or the like is displayed excessively
brightly, burn-in may occur on the main body display 116.
Therefore, a display item, such as an icon, may be drawn with lower
luminance than the luminance when the view assist setting is turned
off so that a display element other than the LV image or the
reproduced image, such as the icon, is displayed on the main body
display 116 with the same display luminance as the display
luminance of when the view assist setting is turned off. In other
words, the display item may be drawn with lower brightness. After
the camera microcomputer 111 changes the display luminance in this
manner, the present processing is ended.
[0084] In step S804, the camera microcomputer 111 changes the
monitor gamma for the main body display 116 so as to make
brightness in the intermediate region higher than the brightness of
when the view assist setting is not turned on. Since the user
setting luminance is already the high luminance (HIGH) (the
settable maximum luminance), a display with higher luminance than
that is impossible (the luminance of the main body display 116
cannot be increased more than that). Therefore, when the view
assist is on, the camera microcomputer 111 makes luminance of the
portion from the low luminance to the intermediate brighter than
the luminance of when the view assist setting is not turned on,
like the gradation characteristic 307, by changing the gamma
characteristic at the time of the display. After the camera
microcomputer 111 changes the gamma characteristic in this manner,
the present processing is ended.
[0085] Since the camera microcomputer 111 determines the user
setting luminance in step S802, step S803 is performed every time
the processing for setting the panel luminance is performed, while
the user setting luminance is set to the normal luminance (NORM).
Similarly, step S804 is performed every time the processing for
setting the panel luminance is performed, while the user setting
luminance is set to the high luminance (HIGH). If step S803 is
performed after the user setting luminance is changed from the high
luminance to the normal luminance while the view assist is on, the
camera microcomputer 111 returns the monitor gamma changed in step
S804 to the setting before the change. On the other hand, if step
S804 is performed after the user setting luminance is changed from
the normal luminance to the high luminance while the view assist is
on, the camera microcomputer 111 changes the monitor gamma to the
characteristic of when the view assist is on.
[0086] The change in the luminance that is made by the view assist
will be further described with reference to FIG. 3C. If the display
is presented with the gamma characteristic 304 (a first output
gamma characteristic) of the main body display 116 when the gamma
characteristic of the imaging apparatus 100 is the gamma
characteristic 303 in the HP mode, the gradation characteristic 305
linearized with respect to the luminance is acquired as the
characteristic as the system total. Presenting the display in this
state can achieve excellent reproducibility throughout the entire
region in terms of the luminance of the object in the HP mode.
However, this display tends to make the intermediate-luminance
portion appear darker unintentionally compared to the gradation
characteristic 307 at the time of the normal mode. Setting the view
assist to ON leads to an increase in the luminance of the main body
display 116 in step S803, and thus formulation of the
characteristic as the system total like a gradation characteristic
311. As a result, the luminance of the intermediate-luminance
portion can be increased, and the visibility can be improved.
[0087] In the case where the main body display 116 is, for example,
the liquid crystal display, the gradation characteristic 305 can be
changed to the gradation characteristic 311 by increasing the
luminance of the backlight by x (larger than 1) times.
Alternatively, in the case where the main body display 116 is the
organic EL display, a gradation characteristic 311 can be acquired
by increasing the gamma characteristic of the display by x (larger
than 1) (i.e., increasing the luminance of the organic EL display).
When the luminance of the organic EL display is increased, the
luminance is increased at all tones at the same rate. In other
words, the luminance of a brightest tone is also increased.
Further, if the user setting luminance is the high luminance (HIGH)
when the view assist is turned on, the characteristic as the system
total like a gradation characteristic 313 is acquired by employing
the gamma characteristic 312 as the gamma characteristic at the
time of the display on the main body display 116. The gamma
characteristic 312 (a second output gamma characteristic) is a
gamma characteristic that displays the intermediate-luminance to
low-luminance side more brightly than the gamma characteristic 304.
As a result, the appearance of the intermediate portion can be
further improved. The luminance of the brightest tone in the
gradation characteristic 313 of when the gamma characteristic 312
of the display apparatus is employed is the same as the gradation
characteristic 311, but the tones of the low to intermediate
portion are increased, improving the appearance of this
portion.
<Guide Display Processing>
[0088] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a detail of the guide
display processing performed in steps S707 and S717 illustrated in
FIG. 7. The guide display processing is processing for displaying a
guide prompting the user to change the luminance of the external
display 120 (increase the luminance) when the HP moving image is
reproduced with the external display 120 connected to the external
I/F 119.
[0089] In step S901, the camera microcomputer 111 determines
whether the external display 120 is connected to the external I/F
119, and the video image is being output to the external display
120. If the video image is being output to the external display 120
(YES in step S901), the processing proceeds to step S903. If not
(NO in step S901), the processing proceeds to step S902. In step
S902, the camera microcomputer 111 turns off a
guide-already-displayed flag held in the RAM 111b. This
guide-already-displayed flag is used to store whether the guide is
already displayed in order to prevent the guide from being
displayed again until the external display 120 is disconnected
after the guide is displayed once.
[0090] In step S903, the camera microcomputer 111 determines
whether the setting of the button display is "ON". In other words,
the camera microcomputer 111 determines whether the button icons
1111 are in the displayed state. If the button display is "OFF" (NO
in step S903), the processing proceeds to step S904. If the button
display is "ON" (YES in step S903), the processing is ended at this
point. The process in which the processing is ended if the button
display is "ON" (YES in step S903) is to prevent the button icons
1111 from being hidden by the guide display, making it impossible
for user to issue an instruction for an operation, such as the
reproduction and the stop of the moving image.
[0091] In step S904, the camera microcomputer 111 confirms whether
the guide-already-displayed flag held in the RAM 111b is turned
off. If the guide-already-displayed flag is turned off (YES in step
S904), the processing proceeds to step S905. If not (NO in step
S904), the processing is ended at this point. In step S905, the
camera microcomputer 111 superimposes the guide display prompting
the user to change the luminance of the external display apparatus
on the video signal output from the external I/F 119 and the video
signal displayed on the main body display 116. Further, the camera
microcomputer 111 turns on the guide-already-displayed flag held in
the RAM 111b. The guide display is automatically deleted when a
predetermined time period has elapsed since the start of the
display in step S905.
[0092] FIG. 11D illustrates a display example of the guide display
on the main body display 116 and the external display 120 in step
S905. A guide display 1120, which prompts the user to reproduce the
moving image after setting the external monitor to relatively high
brightness, is displayed while being superimposed on the reproduced
moving image 1110, which is the HP moving image. The user can be
aware of the fact that the user had better perform an operation for
changing the luminance setting of the external display 120 to
increase the luminance by himself/herself, by viewing this guide
display 1120. The camera microcomputer 111 starts displaying the
guide display 1120 if the reproduction of the HP moving image is
started for the first time after the external display 120 is
connected or if the external display 120 is connected in the middle
of the reproduction of the HP moving image. Then, the camera
microcomputer 111 hides the guide display 1120 and displays only
the reproduced moving image 1110 after the predetermined time
period has elapsed since the start of the display of the guide
display 1120.
[0093] The guide display 1120 is the guide regarding only the
external display 120 connected to the external I/F 119. Therefore,
the external display 120 may be controlled so as to be displayed
only on the video signal output from the external I/F 119 without
being displayed on the main body display 116. Further, the imaging
apparatus 100 can be set about whether to permit or prohibit
superimposition of a display item, such as a character display,
onto the image output from the external I/F 119. Then, the display
may be controlled so as to permit only this guide display 1120 to
be superimposed (the guide display 1120 to be output while being
superimposed on the HP moving image) even when the superimposition
is set to the prohibition. This control can reduce a possibility
that the user may end up viewing the moving image with the external
display apparatus remaining set to an inappropriate luminance
setting (the luminance setting that causes the portion from the low
luminance to the intermediate luminance in the gradation
characteristic of the HP moving image to unintentionally appear
darker than the image captured with the normal gamma).
[0094] The above-described guide display processing illustrated in
FIG. 9 has been described, by way of example, assuming that this
processing is performed in step S707 (i.e., when the reproduction
of each moving image is started) and in step S717 (i.e., after the
button display is switched) illustrated in FIG. 7, but is not
limited thereto. This processing may be performed at a timing when
the connection of the external display 120 to the external I/F 119
is detected. More specifically, upon detecting that the external
display 120 is connected to the external I/F 119 in the middle of
the reproduction of the moving image, the camera microcomputer 111
determines whether the moving image being reproduced at this moment
is the HP moving image. Then, if this moving image is the HP moving
image, the camera microcomputer 111 outputs the guide display 1120
prompting the user to change the luminance of the external display
apparatus from the external I/F 119 to the external display 120.
Further, if the HP moving image is included in a plurality of
moving images to be reproduced when the plurality of moving images
is continuously reproduced, the guide display 1120 prompting the
user to change the luminance of the external display apparatus may
be output from the external I/F 119 (output while being
superimposed on the moving image) before a first moving image is
reproduced. For example, if receiving an instruction to
continuously reproduce N moving images from a first moving image to
an N-th moving image based on a playlist, the camera microcomputer
111 determines whether at least one HP moving image is included in
these N moving images. Then, if at least one HP moving image is
included, the camera microcomputer 111 performs the guide display
processing illustrated in FIG. 9 when the reproduction of the first
moving image is started even when the moving image to be reproduced
first is not the HP moving image. Then, the camera microcomputer
111 outputs the guide display 1120 prompting the user to change the
luminance of the external display apparatus from the external I/F
119 if the video image is being output outward. Alternatively, the
camera microcomputer 111 may be configured to calculate a time
period left until a start of the reproduction of the HP moving
image included in the moving image list and display the guide when
this time period reduces to a predetermined time period or shorter,
instead of displaying the guide display 1120 when the first moving
image is reproduced. In other words, the camera microcomputer 111
outputs the guide display 1120 from the external I/F 119 when the
time period left until the start of the reproduction of the HP
moving image reduces to the predetermined time period even during
the reproduction of the normal moving image, when continuously
reproducing the plurality of moving images and outputting them from
the external I/F 119.
[0095] Further, not only displaying the guide display 1120 when the
moving image is reproduced, but also the camera microcomputer 111
may be configured to display the guide display 1120 when the
thumbnail, a filename, or the like representing the HP moving image
is displayed on the screen where, for example, the moving images
are displayed in the list. Further, in this case, not only simply
presenting the guide display 1120 when the thumbnail, the filename,
or the like representing the HP moving image is displayed, but also
the camera microcomputer 111 may be configured to present the guide
display 1120 when a display of a selection cursor or the like
overlaps the thumbnail, the filename, the HP icon 1109, or the like
representing the HP moving image. More specifically, the camera
microcomputer 111 outputs the guide display 1120 when the
information for identifying the HP moving image or the display item
(the HP icon 1109) indicating that this moving image is the HP
moving image is selected at the time of the output of the screen
where the plurality of images including the normal image and the HP
moving image is listed. The information for identifying the HP
moving image is the thumbnail, the filename, or the like.
[0096] Further, the example illustrated in FIG. 9 has been
described assuming that the guide display 1120 is presented if the
button display is off (NO in step S903) by way of example, but the
guide display processing may be performed so as to present the
guide display 1120 even when the button display is on. Further, the
guide display processing may be performed so as to acquire the
information indicating the luminance setting set to the external
display 120 from the external I/F 119, and refrain from presenting
the guide display 1120 if the luminance setting of the external
display 120 is a setting as bright as or brighter than a
predetermined setting value.
<Processing Regarding Screen where Moving Image is
Stopped>
[0097] FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a detail of the
processing regarding the screen where the moving image is stopped,
which is performed in step S714 illustrated in FIG. 7. The
processing regarding the screen where the moving image is stopped
is processing performed when the reproduction of the moving image
is stopped from the state in which the moving image is being
reproduced in the reproduction mode processing.
[0098] In step S1001, the camera microcomputer 111 displays a
button-equipped stop screen on the main body display 116. More
specifically, a button icon is displayed first when the moving
image is stopped regardless of whether the setting of the button
display during the reproduction of the moving image is "ON" or
"OFF". FIG. 11E illustrates a display example at this time. The
camera microcomputer 111 displays a button icon group 1131 while
superimposing the button icon group 1131 on a stopped moving image
1130. At this time, the camera microcomputer 111 also displays the
HP icon 1109 if the stopped moving image 1130 is the HP moving
image.
[0099] In step S1002, the camera microcomputer 111 determines
whether an operation for advancing a scene (an operation for
selecting a next moving image) is performed by the user with an
operation on the operation switch group 208 or a touch operation
onto the button icon. If the camera microcomputer 111 determines
that the operation for advancing the scene is performed (YES in
step S1002), the processing proceeds to step S1003. If not (NO in
step S1002), the processing proceeds to step S1009. In step S1003,
the camera microcomputer 111 reads out the next moving image scene
from the magnetic tape 115, the DVD 117, or the memory card 118,
performs decoding processing, and analyzes the metadata (the
attribute information) of the moving image scene.
[0100] In step S1004, the camera microcomputer 111 determines
whether the next moving image scene is the HP moving image from the
metadata analyzed in step S1003. More specifically, the camera
microcomputer 111 determines whether the HP information is added to
the attribute information of the moving image of the next scene. If
the camera microcomputer 111 determines that the next moving image
scene is the HP moving image (YES in step S1004), the processing
proceeds to step S1005. If the camera microcomputer 111 determines
that the next moving image scene is not the HP moving image (NO in
step S1004), the processing proceeds to step S1007.
[0101] In step S1005, the camera microcomputer 111 performs the
processing for setting the panel luminance that has been described
above with reference to FIG. 8. In step S1006, the camera
microcomputer 111 performs the guide display processing described
above with reference to FIG. 9. In step S1007, the camera
microcomputer 111 reads out the user setting luminance recorded in
the RAM 111b or the ROM 111a, and sets the luminance of the main
body display 116 to the read user setting luminance. In this
process, if the user setting luminance is the normal luminance
(NORM), the moving image of the previous scene is the HP moving
image, and the view assist function is on, this step leads to a
change and an automatic reduction in the luminance of the main body
display 116 according to the transition to the next normal moving
image. In step S1008, the camera microcomputer 111 displays a frame
of the moving image of the next scene decoded in step S1003 on the
main body display 116 as the stop screen equipped with the button
display.
[0102] In step S1009, the camera microcomputer 111 determines
whether an instruction operation for reproducing the displayed
moving image is performed by the user with an operation on the
operation switch group 208 or an touch operation. If the camera
microcomputer 111 determines that the instruction operation for
reproducing the displayed moving image is performed by the user
(YES in step S1009), the processing proceeds to step S704
illustrated in FIG. 7, in which the camera microcomputer 111 starts
reproducing the moving image selected by the operation for
advancing the scene. If the instruction operation for reproducing
the displayed moving image is not performed (NO in step S1009), the
processing proceeds to step S1010.
[0103] In step S1010, the camera microcomputer 111 determines
whether an operation for opening the menu is performed by the user
with an operation on the operation switch group 208 or a touch
operation. If the camera microcomputer 111 determines that the
operation for opening the menu is performed by the user (YES in
step S1010), the processing proceeds to step S1011. If not (NO in
step S1010), the processing proceeds to step S1021.
[0104] In step S1011, the camera microcomputer 111 reads out the
user setting luminance set on the menu from the RAM 111b or the ROM
111a, and adjusts the luminance of the main body display 116 in
such a manner that this luminance matches the read user setting
luminance. Further, the camera microcomputer 111 displays a top
hierarchical level (the top menu) of the menu on the main body
display 116.
[0105] In step S1012, the camera microcomputer 111 determines
whether the item of the luminance setting menu is selected by the
user from among the plurality of menu items included in the menu
screen with an operation on the operation switch group 208 or a
touch operation. The luminance setting menu is the menu for setting
the luminance (the user setting luminance) of the main body display
116, and the moving image is also displayed in a paused state while
the luminance setting menu is displayed. If the camera
microcomputer 111 determines that the luminance setting menu is
selected (YES in step S1012), the processing proceeds to step
S1013. If not (NO in step S1012), the processing proceeds to step
S1019.
[0106] In step S1013, the camera microcomputer 111 determines
whether the paused moving image is the HP moving image (whether the
HP information is added) from the attribute information of the
paused moving image. If the camera microcomputer 111 determines
that the paused moving image is the HP moving image (YES in step
S1013), the processing proceeds to step S1014. If not (NO in step
S1013), the processing proceeds to step S1015. In step S1014, the
camera microcomputer 111 performs the processing for setting the
panel luminance that has been described with reference to FIG.
8.
[0107] In step S1015, the camera microcomputer 111 displays the
luminance setting screen on the main body display 116. The
luminance setting screen is a similar screen to the screen
described with reference to FIG. 6D. However, the image displayed
in the background is not the LV image but the stopped video image
of the reproduced moving image that has been displayed until
immediately before that. In step S1016, the camera microcomputer
111 determines whether the luminance setting is changed (whether a
choice of a luminance setting different from the set user setting
luminance is selected) by the user with an operation on the
operation switch group 208 or a touch operation. This is similar to
the process exemplified by the display example illustrated in FIG.
6D and step S519 illustrated in FIG. 5A. If the camera
microcomputer 111 determines that the luminance setting is changed
(YES in step S1016), the processing proceeds to step S1017. If the
camera microcomputer 111 determines that the luminance setting is
not changed (NO in step S1016), the processing proceeds to step
S1018.
[0108] In step S1017, the camera microcomputer 111 stores the set
luminance into the ROM 111a as the user setting luminance, and also
changes the luminance of the main body display 116 in such a manner
that the luminance of the main body display 116 matches the set
luminance. In this process, the stopped video image of the
reproduced moving image is displayed in the background on the
luminance setting screen, whereby the user can set the luminance to
his/her desired luminance while confirming the appearance of the
video image. Assume that the processing for setting the panel
luminance in step S1014 is not performed again when the luminance
is changed. This is because, if the moving image is displayed with
the high luminance (HIGH) regardless of the user setting luminance
for the reason that this video image is the HP moving image and the
view assist function is on, even changing the luminance to the
normal luminance (NORM) does not cause a reduction in the display
luminance by the processing for setting the panel luminance. If the
luminance is not reduced according to the change to the normal
luminance (NORM) in this manner, the user cannot get feedback
indicating that the luminance change has succeeded.
[0109] However, the present processing may be configured such that
the processing for setting the panel luminance in step S1014 is
performed again if the displayed image is the HP moving image and
the luminance is changed from the normal luminance (NORM) to the
high luminance (HIGH). Configuring the present processing in this
manner allows the employed display gamma (monitor gamma) to be
changed provided that the displayed image is the HP moving image
and the view assist is turned on, resulting in improvement of the
appearance of the HP moving image. Further, this configuration can
also make the user aware of the change in the setting because the
display state is changed according to the change in the user
setting luminance.
[0110] In step S1018, the camera microcomputer 111 determines
whether an operation for exiting the luminance setting screen is
performed by the user with an operation on the operation switch
group 208 or a touch operation. If the camera microcomputer 111
determines that the operation for exiting the setting screen is
performed (YES in step S1018), the processing proceeds to step
S1011. If not (NO in step S1018), the processing proceeds to step
S1016.
[0111] In step S1019, the camera microcomputer 111 determines
whether an operation for exiting the menu screen is performed by
the user with an operation on the operation switch group 208 or a
touch operation. If the camera microcomputer 111 determines that
the operation for exiting the menu screen is performed (YES in step
S1019), the processing proceeds to step S1001. If not (NO in step
S1019), the processing proceeds to step S1020. In step S1020, the
camera microcomputer 111 performs other menu processing according
to selected another menu item.
[0112] In step S1021, the camera microcomputer 111 determines
whether an instruction to switch the button display is issued by
the user with an operation on the operation switch group 208 or a
touch operation. If the camera microcomputer 111 determines that
the instruction to switch the button display is issued (YES in step
S1021), the processing proceeds to step S1022. If not (NO in step
S1021), the processing proceeds to step S1024.
[0113] In step S1022, the camera microcomputer 111 switches the
button display between "ON" and "OFF". If the button display is
switched from "ON" to "OFF", the camera microcomputer 111 hides the
button icon group 1131, which has been displayed as illustrated in
FIG. 11E. In this process, if the displayed image is the HP moving
image, the camera microcomputer 111 also hides the HP icon 1109. On
the other hand, if the button display is switched from "OFF" to
"ON", the camera microcomputer 111 displays the button icon group
1131 as illustrated in FIG. 11E from the state in which the button
icon group 1131 is not displayed. In this process, if the displayed
image is the HP moving image, the camera microcomputer 111 also
displays the HP icon 1109. In step S1023, the camera microcomputer
111 performs the guide display processing illustrated in FIG.
9.
[0114] In step S1024, the camera microcomputer 111 determines
whether an instruction to perform an editing operation is issued by
the user with an operation on the operation switch group 208 or a
touch operation. If the camera microcomputer 111 determines that
the instruction to perform the editing operation is issued (YES in
step S1024), the processing proceeds to step S1025. If not (NO in
step S1024), the processing proceeds to step S1026. In step S1025,
the camera microcomputer 111 performs editing processing (which
will be described below with reference to a flowchart illustrated
in FIG. 12).
[0115] In step S1026, the camera microcomputer 111 determines
whether an operation for switching the mode is performed by the
user with an operation on the mode dial 207. If the camera
microcomputer 111 determines that the operation for switching the
mode is performed (YES in step S1026), the processing proceeds to
step S1027. If not (NO in step S1026), the processing proceeds to
step S1002. Further, in step S1027, the camera microcomputer 111
detects a position of the mode dial 207 operated by the user, and
determines whether the detected position is a position
corresponding to the camera mode. If the camera microcomputer 111
determines that the detected position is the position corresponding
to the camera mode (YES in step S1027), the processing proceeds to
step S1028, in which the camera microcomputer 111 performs the
camera mode processing. If the position of the mode dial 207 is not
the position corresponding to the camera mode (if the position of
the mode dial 207 is a position corresponding to the power-off) (NO
in step S1027), the camera microcomputer 111 performs processing
for powering off the imaging apparatus 100, and the present
processing is ended. The camera mode processing performed in step
S1028 is the processing described with reference to the flowcharts
illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B.
<Editing Processing>
[0116] FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a detail of the editing
processing performed in step S1025 illustrated in FIG. 10. This
editing processing is performed when the editing instruction is
issued from the state in which the moving image is displayed while
being stopped (i.e., a state in which a moving image that is an
editing target is specified) in the reproduction mode processing.
As described above, the information indicating that the image is
captured in the HP mode is added to the image (or the video image)
as the specific attribute information regarding the gradation
characteristic at the time of the imaging. In the following
description, copying and trimming will be described as an example
of editing processing in which, if the specific attribute
information indicating that the image is captured in the
above-described HP mode is added to the image before the editing,
this specific attribute information is also added to the image
after the editing. Further, transcoding will be described as an
example of editing processing in which, even when the specific
attribute information is added to the image before the editing, the
specific attribute information is not added to the image after the
editing.
[0117] In step S1201, the camera microcomputer 111 presents the
display on the main body display 116 with the user setting
luminance recorded in the RAM 111b or the ROM 111a. In step S1202,
the camera microcomputer 111 displays a screen where editing
choices are listed on the main body display 116. FIG. 13A
illustrates a display example of the screen where the editing
choices are listed. The screen where the editing choices are listed
is a screen where a plurality of choices is displayed regarding
which editing operation the user wants to perform on the moving
image specified as the editing target (the specified moving image)
that has been displayed immediately before that. In the present
exemplary embodiment, four choices of editing operations, namely,
deletion, trimming, transcoding (a conversion of Moving Picture
Experts Group-4 Part 14 (MP4), i.e., a format conversion), and
copying are displayed as the choices. Each of the choices can be
selected with a touch or the arrow key and the enter button
included in the operation switch group 208.
[0118] In step S1203, the camera microcomputer 111 determines
whether the copying choice is selected by the user with an
operation on the operation switch group 208 or a touch operation.
If the camera microcomputer 111 determines that the copying choice
is selected (YES in step S1203), the processing proceeds to step
S1208. If not (NO in step S1203), the processing proceeds to step
S1204. In step S1204, the camera microcomputer 111 determines
whether the transcoding choice is selected by the user with an
operation on the operation switch group 208 or a touch operation.
If the camera microcomputer 111 determines that the transcoding
choice is selected (YES in step S1204), the processing proceeds to
step S1213. If not (NO in step S1204), the processing proceeds to
step S1205.
[0119] In step S1205, the camera microcomputer 111 determines
whether the trimming choice is selected by the user with an
operation on the operation switch group 208 or a touch operation.
If the camera microcomputer 111 determines that the trimming choice
is selected (YES in step S1205), the processing proceeds to step
S1221. If not (NO in step S1205), the processing proceeds to step
S1206. In step S1206, the camera microcomputer 111 determines
whether the deletion choice is selected by the user with an
operation on the operation switch group 208 or a touch operation.
If the camera microcomputer 111 determines that the deletion choice
is selected (YES in step S1206), the processing proceeds to step
S1229. If not (NO in step S1206), the processing proceeds to step
S1207.
[0120] In step S1207, the camera microcomputer 111 determines
whether an operation for closing the screen where the editing
choices are listed is performed by the user with an operation on
the operation switch group 208 or a touch operation. If the camera
microcomputer 111 determines that the operation for closing the
screen where the editing choices are listed is performed (YES in
step S1207), the camera microcomputer 111 closes the screen where
the editing choices are listed, and ends the editing processing.
Then, the processing proceeds to step S1026 illustrated in FIG. 10.
If the camera microcomputer 111 determines that the operation for
closing the screen where the editing choices are listed is not
performed (NO in step S1207), the processing proceeds to step
S1203.
[0121] In step S1208, the camera microcomputer 111 displays a
screen for confirming the execution of the copying on the main body
display 116. This screen for confirming the execution of the
copying is not displayed with the user setting luminance but
displayed with the luminance for the HP moving image if the moving
image is the HP moving image and the view assist function is on, by
processes of next steps, steps S1208a and S1208b. In step S1208a,
the camera microcomputer 111 analyzes the attribute information of
the displayed moving image, and determines whether the HP
information is added thereto. If the camera microcomputer 111
determines that the HP information is added (YES in step S1208a),
the processing proceeds to step S1208b. If not (NO in step S1208a),
the processing proceeds to step S1209. In step S1208b, the camera
microcomputer 111 performs the processing for setting the panel
luminance (FIG. 8).
[0122] In step S1209, the camera microcomputer 111 determines
whether the execution of the copying is selected by the user on the
screen for confirming the execution of the copying with an
operation on the operation switch group 208 or a touch operation.
If the camera microcomputer 111 determines that the execution of
the copying is selected (YES in step S1209), the processing
proceeds to step S1211. If not (NO in step S1209), the processing
proceeds to step S1210. In step S1210, the camera microcomputer 111
determines whether an operation for canceling the copying is
performed by the user with an operation on the operation switch
group 208 or a touch operation. If the camera microcomputer 111
determines that the operation for canceling the copying is
performed (YES in step S1210), the processing proceeds to step
S1235. If not (NO in step S1210), the processing proceeds to step
S1209.
[0123] In step S1211, the camera microcomputer 111 displays a
copying execution screen on the main body display 116. In step
S1212, the camera microcomputer 111 performs copying processing. In
the copying processing, the camera microcomputer 111 first reads in
the data (the moving image file) of the moving image that is the
editing target (a copying target) from any of the magnetic tape
115, the DVD 117, and the memory card 118. Then, the camera
microcomputer 111 stores the same moving image as the read moving
image into any of the magnetic tape 115, the DVD 117, and the
memory card 118 as a different file. The same attribute information
as the moving image that is the copying source is added to the
moving image file generated from the copying processing (the
attribute information is also copied). In the other words, if the
moving image with the HP information added thereto is copied, the
HP information is also added to the newly generated moving image
file. Upon completion of the copying processing, the processing
proceeds to step S1235.
[0124] In step S1213, the camera microcomputer 111 displays a
format selection screen for selecting a format after the conversion
on the main body display 116. The format refers to a resolution and
a bit rate of the moving image data, and, for example,
"1920.times.1080, 24 Mbps", "1920.times.1080, 17 Mbps",
"1280.times.720, 4 Mbps", and the like are displayed as choices
thereof. In step S1214, the camera microcomputer 111 determines
whether any of the format choices is selected by the user with an
operation on the operation switch group 208 or a touch operation.
If the camera microcomputer 111 determines that the format is
selected (YES in step S1214), the processing proceeds to step
S1216. If not (NO in step S1214), the processing proceeds to step
S1215. In step S1215, the camera microcomputer 111 determines
whether an operation for issuing an instruction to cancel the
transcoding is performed by the user with an operation on the
operation switch group 208 or a touch operation (whether a cancel
button is pressed). If the camera microcomputer 111 determines that
the operation for issuing the instruction to cancel the transcoding
is performed (YES in step S1215), the processing proceeds to step
S1235. If not (NO in step S1215), the processing proceeds to step
S1214.
[0125] In step S1216, the camera microcomputer 111 displays a
screen for confirming the execution of the transcoding (an editing
screen for the transcoding) on the main body display 116. FIG. 13B
illustrates a display example of the screen for confirming the
execution of the transcoding. Choices for selecting whether to
execute (START) or cancel the transcoding are displayed on the
screen for confirming the execution of the transcoding together
with the stopped video image of the moving image that is the
editing target. The processing for setting the panel luminance
(FIG. 8) is not performed when this screen is displayed, whereby
the moving image that is the editing target is displayed with the
user setting luminance regardless of whether this moving image is
the HP moving image. This is because the HP information is not
passed over (the HP information is not added) to the converted
moving image generated by executing the transcoding, even when the
moving image that is the editing target is the HP moving image. In
other words, the HP information is not added to the moving image
after the conversion even when the moving image before the
conversion is the HP moving image, so that the moving image after
the conversion is displayed with the user setting luminance even
when the view assist function is on. Therefore, the camera
microcomputer 111 displays the moving image on the screen for
confirming the execution of the transcoding with the user setting
luminance even when the moving image that is the editing target is
the HP moving image and the view assist function is on, so as to
allow the user to confirm in advance how the moving image after the
conversion will be displayed.
[0126] In step S1217, the camera microcomputer 111 determines
whether an operation for issuing an instruction to execute the
transcoding is performed by the user with an operation on the
operation switch group 208 or a touch operation. If the camera
microcomputer 111 determines that the instruction to execute the
transcoding is issued (YES in step S1217), the processing proceeds
to step S1219. If not (NO in step S1217), the processing proceeds
to step S1218. In step S1218, the camera microcomputer 111
determines whether an operation for issuing an instruction to
cancel the transcoding is performed (whether a cancel button is
pressed), similarly to step S1215. If the camera microcomputer 111
determines that the operation for issuing the instruction to cancel
the transcoding is performed (YES in step S1218), the processing
proceeds to step S1235. If not (NO in step S1218), the processing
proceeds to step S1217.
[0127] In step S1219, the camera microcomputer 111 reads in the
moving image that is the editing target from any of the magnetic
tape 115, the DVD 117, and the memory card 118, and decodes the
read moving image. Then, the camera microcomputer 111 starts
reproducing the read moving image on a transcoding execution
screen. In step S1220, the camera microcomputer 111 reads out the
format information selected in step S1214 from the RAM 111b, and
performs processing for transcoding the moving image that is the
editing target according to the read format information. In the
transcoding processing, it is also possible to combine a plurality
of moving images. Therefore, inconsistency occurs in the attribute
information if the HP moving image and the normal moving image are
combined with each other, so that the HP information of the moving
image processed as the conversion source is not passed over and
discarded in the transcoding processing.
[0128] In step S1221, the camera microcomputer 111 displays a
trimming execution screen on the main body display 116. FIG. 13C
illustrates a display example of the trimming execution screen (an
editing screen and a confirmation screen). On the trimming
execution screen, the moving image that is the editing target is
displayed in the stopped state, and display items for various kinds
of operations for specifying a trimming position are also
displayed. This trimming execution screen is not displayed with the
user setting luminance but displayed with the luminance for the HP
moving image if the moving image is the HP moving image and the
view assist function is on, by processes of next steps, steps S1222
and S1223. In step S1222, the camera microcomputer 111 analyzes the
attribute information of the displayed moving image, and determines
whether the HP information is added thereto. If the camera
microcomputer 111 determines that the HP information is added (YES
in step S1222), the processing proceeds to step S1223. If not (NO
in step S1222), the processing proceeds to step S1224. In step
S1223, the camera microcomputer 111 performs the processing for
setting the panel luminance (FIG. 8).
[0129] In step S1224, the camera microcomputer 111 determines
whether an operation for changing the trimming position is
performed by the user with an operation on the operation switch
group 208 or a touch operation. If the camera microcomputer 111
determines that the operation for changing the trimming position is
performed (YES in step S1224), the processing proceeds to step
S1225. If not (NO in step S1224), the processing proceeds to step
S1226. In step S1225, the camera microcomputer 111 updates trimming
position information managed in the RAM 111b with use of
information indicating the position selected by the user in step
S1224.
[0130] In step S1226, the camera microcomputer 111 determines
whether the execution of the trimming is selected by the user with
an operation on the operation switch group 208 or a touch
operation. If the camera microcomputer 111 determines that the
execution of the trimming is selected (YES in step S1226), the
processing proceeds to step S1228. If not (NO in step S1228), the
processing proceeds to step S1227. In step S1227, the camera
microcomputer 111 determines whether cancel of the trimming is
selected by the user with an operation on the operation switch
group 208 or a touch operation. If the camera microcomputer 111
determines that the cancel of the trimming is selected (YES in step
S1227), the processing proceeds to step S1235. If not (NO in step
S1227), the processing proceeds to step S1224.
[0131] In step S1228, the camera microcomputer 111 reads out the
trimming position information from the RAM 111b, and divides the
moving image specified as the editing target that is read out from
any of the magnetic tape 115, the DVD 117, and the memory card 118
based on the trimming position information. Then, the camera
microcomputer 111 stores a moving image generated by diving the
editing target into any of the magnetic tape 115, the DVD 117, and
the memory card 118 as a moving image file. Attribute information
of the moving image file generated from the trimming processing is
controlled so as to become the same as the attribute information of
the moving image processed as the editing source. In other words,
if the moving image with the HP information added thereto is
trimmed, the same HP information is also added to the generated
moving image.
[0132] In step S1229, the camera microcomputer 111 displays a
screen for confirming the deletion of the moving image that is the
editing target on the main body display 116. A button icon for
issuing an instruction to execute the deletion, a button icon for
issuing an instruction to cancel the deletion, and the stopped
video image of the moving image that is the editing target are
displayed on the screen for confirming the deletion. Processes of
steps S1230 and S1231 are similar to the processes of steps S1222
and S1223.
[0133] In step S1232, the camera microcomputer 111 determines
whether the button icon for issuing the instruction to execute the
deletion is selected by the user with an operation on the operation
switch group 208 or a touch operation. If the execution of the
deletion is selected (YES in step S1232), the processing proceeds
to step S1234. If not (NO in step S1232), the processing proceeds
to step S1233. In step S1233, the camera microcomputer 111
determines whether the button icon for stopping (canceling) the
deletion is selected by the user with an operation on the operation
switch group 208 or a touch operation. If the cancel of the
deletion is selected (YES in step S1233), the processing proceeds
to step S1235. If not (NO in step S1233), the processing proceeds
to step S1232.
[0134] In step S1234, the camera microcomputer 111 deletes the
moving image (the moving image file) specified as the editing
target that is stored in any of the magnetic tape 115, the DVD 117,
and the memory card 118. Upon completion of the deletion, the
processing proceeds to step S1235.
[0135] In step S1235, the camera microcomputer 111 reads out the
user setting luminance recorded in the RAM 111b or the ROM 111a,
and changes the luminance of the main body display 116 according to
the read user setting luminance. In step S1236, the camera
microcomputer 111 displays the screen data of the screen where the
editing choices are listed on the main body display 116 again.
After that, the processing returns to step S1203, followed by a
repetition of the above-described processing.
[0136] In the present exemplary embodiments, the above-described
various kinds of control are performed by the camera microcomputer
111. Alternatively, a single hardware device may perform them, or a
plurality of hardware devices may realize the control of the entire
apparatus by dividing the processing among them.
[0137] Further, having described the present invention in detail
based on the representative exemplary embodiment thereof, the
aspect of the embodiments is not limited to this specific exemplary
embodiment, and also covers various embodiments within a range that
does not depart from the spirit of the aspect of the embodiments.
Further, the above-described exemplary embodiment merely indicates
one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and the
exemplary embodiment can also be arbitrarily combined with another
embodiment.
[0138] Further, in the above-described exemplary embodiment, the
present invention has been described based on the example that the
present invention is applied to the imaging apparatus 100, but this
is not limited to this example. The aspect of the embodiments can
be applied to any display control apparatus that can display an
image captured with use of a gamma curve exhibiting a lower tone in
the low-luminance to intermediate-luminance region compared to the
normal gamma curve, like a gamma curve at the time of the imaging
that is employed in the high-luminance priority mode (the HP mode)
in the above-described exemplary embodiment. In other words, the
aspect of the embodiments relates to the control at the time of the
display, and may be unequipped with a configuration regarding the
imaging. Therefore, the aspect of the embodiments can be applied to
a digital camera, a personal computer, a personal digital assistant
(PDA), a mobile telephone terminal and a mobile image viewer, a
digital photo frame, a music player, a game machine, an electronic
book reader, and the like. Needless to say, the digital camera
includes a digital single-lens reflex camera, a digital still
camera, and a digital video camera.
[0139] According to the above-described exemplary embodiment, it is
possible to improve the visibility of the intermediate-luminance
portion and the low-luminance portion when display is performed for
the video image having the gradation characteristic closer to the
linearity with respect to the luminance than the conventional
characteristic on the display apparatus.
OTHER EMBODIMENTS
[0140] Embodiment(s) of the present invention can also be realized
by a computer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executes
computer executable instructions (e.g., one or more programs)
recorded on a storage medium (which may also be referred to more
fully as a `nontransitory computer-readable storage medium`) to
perform the functions of one or more of the above-described
embodiment(s) and/or that includes one or more circuits (e.g.,
application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the
functions of one or more of the above described embodiment(s), and
by a method performed by the computer of the system or apparatus
by, for example, reading out and executing the computer executable
instructions from the storage medium to perform the functions of
one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or controlling
the one or more circuits to perform the functions of one or more of
the above-described embodiment(s). The computer may comprise one or
more processors (e.g., central processing unit (CPU), micro
processing unit (MPU)) and may include a network of separate
computers or separate processors to read out and execute the
computer executable instructions. The computer executable
instructions may be provided to the computer, for example, from a
network or the storage medium. The storage medium may include, for
example, one or more of a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM),
a read only memory (ROM), a storage of distributed computing
systems, an optical disk (such as a compact disc (CD), digital
versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)), a flash memory device,
a memory card, and the like.
[0141] While the aspect of the embodiments has been described with
reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the
aspect of the embodiments not limited to the disclosed exemplary
embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded
the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such
modifications and equivalent structures and functions.
* * * * *